Guest lineups for the Sunday news shows

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Guest lineups for the Sunday TV news shows:

ABC's "This Week" ? Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty, R-Minn.; David Axelrod, adviser to President Barack Obama's re-election campaign.

___

NBC's "Meet the Press" ? Reince Priebus, Republican National Committee chairman; Gov. Scott Walker, R-Wis.; Axelrod.

___

CBS' "Face the Nation" ? Stephanie Cutter, deputy campaign manager for the Obama campaign; Eric Fehrnstrom, adviser to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

___

CNN's "State of the Union" ? Axelrod; Ed Gillespie, Romney campaign adviser; Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.; Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis.; Gov. John H. Sununu, R-N.H.; Rep. Ron Kind, R-Wis.

___

"Fox News Sunday" ? Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.; Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/guest-lineups-sunday-news-shows-183815643.html

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Self improvement - Spirituality - Personal Growth - Mcdowell - Typepad

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Source: http://octaviomckay48.typepad.com/blog/2012/08/self-improvement-spirituality-personal-growth-mcdowell-typepad.html

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CEO salvages JC Penney 2Q earnings disaster

NEW YORK (AP) ? J.C. Penney Co. CEO Ron Johnson hasn't run out of magic yet, as far as Wall Street is concerned.

The former Apple executive's soothing words drove the retailer's stock higher even after the company offered up grisly details Friday of a terrible second quarter.

The midpriced department store chain reported a bigger-than-expected loss and plummeting sales. Shoppers are still not buying into a bold new pricing strategy. Penney even withdrew its full-year profit guidance.

After the report, Moody's Investors Services downgraded Penney's rating deeper into junk-bond terrain.

The bleak performance marked the second-straight quarter of severe sales declines since Penney got rid of most steep, temporary discounts in favor of everyday lower prices. The report confirmed it's going to be a hard sell to shoppers who are used to big sale signs and coupons.

Yet, after appearing queasy in premarket trading, investors pushed up Penney's stock price by as much as 9 percent following some reassuring words from Johnson during a 90-minute conference call.

The shares ended up 6 percent, or $1.30, at $23.40 on Friday. The gains show Wall Street still wants to believe the mastermind behind the success of Apple's retail stores and Target's cheap-chic strategy has the magic to deliver.

"The more he sells the hope, the more investors are buying into it," Brian Sozzi, chief equities analyst for research firm NBG Productions, who is still staying on the sidelines as far as Penney's stock is concerned.

Johnson, dressed in a navy blue blazer, white shirt and blue jeans, remained confident and calm as he vowed he was sticking to the plan. He shared more details of his vision for creating a new breed of specialty department stores and said that the latest fixes to simplify the pricing plan are resonating with customers. He and CFO Ken Hannah also allayed concerns about how much cash the company has.

While admitting to mistakes in pricing and marketing, Johnson told investors, "I am completely convinced that our transformation is on track."

Under Johnson's stewardship, Penney is changing everything from the items it stocks to store design. But the riskiest move has been its pricing. The goal is to offer consumers more predictability so they will visit more often. That will help break the vicious cycle of discounting that has soiled the brand, a laggard behind Macy's Inc. and other competitors.

Penney's stock is beaten up ? still down by nearly half since their peak above $42 in the afterglow of Johnson's hiring. And business can't get any worse, said Ron Friedman, head of the retail and consumer products group at accounting firm Marcum LLP.

"People are optimistic. They really believe in him," Friedman said. That goodwill means Johnson has at least another year to deliver, he said.

Johnson has said he's used to naysayers. Back in January, Johnson told investors how he faced lots of critics on Wall Street in 2001 when he launched the first Apple store. "There wasn't one positive believer that thought an Apple retail store would work." Of course, they were wrong.

Johnson's task at Penney is more challenging.

In May, Penney's stock plunged 20 percent, its biggest one-day decline in four decades, after the retailer posted a larger-than expected first-quarter loss and a 20.1 percent drop in revenue because of the poor reception from shoppers. Customer traffic was down 10 percent.

Things got even worse in the second quarter as Penney backpedaled a bit on discounts, withdrew TV advertising and canceled some print ad campaigns in mid-June as it figured out its new game plan.

The company lost $147 million, or 67 cents per share, in the quarter ended July 28. That compares with net income of $14 million, or 7 cents per share, a year ago.

Revenue tumbled almost 23 percent to $3.02 billion. Revenue at stores open at least a year fell 21.7 percent, worse than the 18.9 percent drop the quarter before. Customer counts fell 12 percent.

Excluding one-time items, Penney's loss was 37 cents per share. Analysts had expected a 26-cent loss on revenue of $3.2 billion.

Penney on Feb. 1 began using a three-tier pricing with consistently lower daily prices that were 40 percent below last year, deeper monthlong sales on specific items and periodic discounts that are even more generous throughout the year.

But on Aug. 1, Penney eliminated the monthly sales events and increased the frequency of the periodic sales to every Friday. These had been called "Best Price" sales but are now being called "clearance."

Penney is tweaking its advertising to better explain the change. TV ads tout free children's haircuts at stores to draw shoppers.

But Penney is sticking to its "Every Day" low price guns. Items sold under that pricing represent 70 percent of sales since the company began the new strategy.

Investors also seemed to embrace Johnson's more detailed vision laid out Friday for rejuvenating the Penney store experience.

Johnson told analysts he's creating a new kind of store ? the specialty department store, which will be carved up with different branded shops to replace the typical sea of clothing racks.

It will also have an area in the middle of the store that will be meeting places for shoppers. At these so-called "Town Squares," which will offer different attractions every two months, shoppers would be able to create greeting cards or take yoga or Pilates classes. Johnson wants to transform the aisles into lively paths leading to the shops. They will feature lots of mannequins, comfortable seating, coffee and juice bars as well as tables built with iPads.

The changes extend to the merchandise, which has been seen as tired and lackluster. Starting this fall, almost half the merchandise will change, with brands either new or redesigned. This fall, shoppers will see such names as Betsey Johnson and Vivienne Tam, who are creating affordable versions for the store.

Penney just launched shops for Levi's and its own jeans brand, Arizona. Johnson said the Levi's shop, which has a denim bar, has seen a 25 percent increase in revenue compared with last year. It plans 100 such shops within each of its stores by 2015 that will either focus on one brand or a variety of labels.

Still, Penney said Friday that it no longer expects to meet its earnings guidance for 2012. It had expected a profit of $2.16 per share. But Johnson cautioned that even though he's seeing some early signs of improvement this month, the company is assuming business will be the same as the first half of the year.

Analysts expected the company to earn $1.26 per share for the year.

Johnson also took the time to chastise Wall Street.

"We said this would be a really tough year," he told investors. "Somehow, I don't think that message got through. Your expectation was much higher than ours, but transforming a company is a marathon. It's not a sprint. It takes time."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ceo-salvages-jc-penney-2q-earnings-disaster-194448674--finance.html

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matthew's house abbotsford: support for parents and respite

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One of the hardest things to do is parenting a child. I say it?s hard because well ? it truly is. Loving this tiny person from the moment they are born, always worrying about them, making sure they are fed properly, healthy, happy both emotionally and mentally and that no matter what. They are safe from harm.

Even harder than just parenting a child is parenting a child with special ?abilities? I like to call them or ?needs?. ?From the moment our children are born, we know deep down inside something may not be right but it doesn?t matter. The love we shelter for them holds no boundaries, no regrets and rewards with every smile and moment shared with one another. ?Still? sometimes all parents, no matter what is happening, need a break from things.

What is Matthew?s House?

Matthew?s House is an organization that will provide respite for children with life-limiting disabilities. It is the first of its kind in Abbotsford as, within a campus of care, it offers children a safe, welcoming place where they can stay, while allowing their parents time to rest. It will offer long and short term respite based on the needs of individuals and their families.?Matthew?s House is?Inspired by a boy?whose family wish to stay very involved in his life but also understand that to give him the quality care he needs, they must occasionally step back and let others help.?Matthew?s House is not an institution. Its intention is to create a place for children who receive support there that reminds them of home, and honours each family?s beliefs and desires for their child?s care.?Matthew?s House will be run by experienced nurses and staff through Communitas Supportive Care, an organization that for over 35 years has provided various resources to persons living and dealing with mental, physical and/or emotional disabilities.

After a wonderful dinner this evening with my family and neighbors, I spoke with one of my neighbors when I learned she had recently lost her son who had special needs and how she?d cared for him for so many years, alone and without much help and that she is now an advocate and volunteer to this wonderful project ? called Matthew?s House. And although Trace has minor ?special abilities? I knew immediately I wanted to get involved.

I absolutely love their logo: ?A Place for Children Living with Disabilities and the Parents Who Support Them.?

Raising a special needs child isn?t easy by any means. It?s hard work, not just emotionally and physically but spiritually and many parents find themselves at a loss without the proper help for respite or care, and they are often left on the doorstep to handle everything themselves until eventually a burn-out comes. ?Matthew?s House is going to help ease that burden.

Matthew?s Story

You can read Matthew?s story and how Matthew?s House became a reality for those parents raising a child with severe special needs or disabilities. It?s an amazingly courageous story and one that is felt through the heart.

You don?t have to be a special needs parent to understand the loss, the lonliness, the guilt, the isolation, the lack of energy and time it takes to raise such incredible human beings, blessed by God in his own uniqueness to show us all there is a tenderness in this world that needs to be embraced.

If you would like to donate to Matthew?s House (please do so) and help this incredible cause and resource for people in BC. You can also follow all the latest news on Matthew?s House Facebook?and on Twitter @matthews_house

I was not compensated for this post. All opinions are 100% my own. I appreciate you taking the time to read this post and hope you will share it with others to help this great cause.

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Source: http://rantsnrascals.com/2012/08/matthews-house-abbotsford-support-for-parents-and-respite/

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Why? What's our real motivation? | seequence.ca

Today?s feature article, by spiritual + fitness guru Alyssa Huntley owner of 11:11 Life Styling.

I?ve been doing a lot of studying lately on yoga philosophy and spirituality?.? and it?s got me wondering some of the big ?Whys?? in life?.

There are obviously the Big Why questions?.but also some of the smaller day to day Why?s, that have to do with my lifestyle and occupation.

For example, in reading the Yoga Sutra?s by Patanjali, the text is about purifying the body, heart, mind and then God Realization?.. and it has me wondering what is the real motivation behind health and nutrition and personal fitness?

Is it mostly ego driven ? to look great and feel great, or is there a hidden motivation that is perhaps much deeper, that maybe we?re not even consciously aware of??

Are we purifying ourselves in fitness and health, to become enlightened?? We naturally and instinctively know that when we eat healthy and exercise that we feel better ? our mood lifts, we have more pure energy and are generally happier and more carefree? These are signs of purification, of detoxing?they are steps to finding our True Nature.? As our body cleans and clears, we can better listen to our heart, our mind can also begin to de-clutter, quiet and truly hear and be present?.we can more readily focus and calm and find inner peace?.? It?s an interesting thought?..? And personally I think it like it, it has more depth and meaning than just wanting to be fit, firm and look cute.

?For me personally in teaching fitness and nutrition, I?ve had a strong duality within ? people are coming to loose weight, and so that?s what I do with them, help them reach their goals?but inside, that?s never been my dream.? I got into fitness and nutrition because I wanted people to love their body?s and enjoy being active, and do so in a healthy and fun way.? After suffering from an eating disorder, weight obsession, and body dismorphic disorder?. the last thing I wanted to do was promote ?weight loss? ? because to me personally it has been linked to so much pain, both physically and mentally.? I just wanted people to enjoy their body and get active?..so it?s kind of been a strange journey for me, and sets me apart from so many other instructors and trainers, who are very hard core into ?loosing weight?.

Anyhow, with looking at fitness, nutrition and health with the possibility of Self Realization, purity and enlightenment, it gives me new hope?..maybe, just maybe, I?ve been unknowingly on the right track the whole time <3

Author:?Alyssa? www.eleveneleven-coaching.com

Click here?for similar articles by Alyssa

Source: http://seequence.ca/?p=3101

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US women, Auriemma go for Olympic basketball gold

LONDON (AP) ? Geno Auriemma never thought he'd have a chance to coach the U.S. women's Olympic basketball team.

He had heard the talk: He was too abrasive, too politically incorrect.

None of that mattered to USA Basketball. And when Auriemma was offered the job he 2009, he jumped at it. Now he has the U.S. women's basketball team one victory from a fifth straight gold medal.

The Americans will play France on Saturday night in the Olympic final.

"Being able to coach this team, there are no other opportunities you could possibly hope for," Auriemma said. "For me, winning the gold medal is something that I probably won't be able to talk about or fully express until it actually happens, cause I'm sure you can't prepare for it, how you're going to feel or what it means to you personally."

For all his perceived faults, Auriemma has proved the right choice.

He is used to the pressure of being expected to win and knowing that anything less than a title is considered a failure. He has guided Connecticut to seven national championships, including four perfect seasons and an NCAA-record 90 straight victories.

The U.S. team, which has won an unprecedented four straight gold medals and hasn't lost a game in 16 years, hasn't missed a beat under Auriemma.

It helps that half the players on the Olympic team are UConn alums, used to his system and his personality.

"Coach really hasn't changed much," said Diana Taurasi, who helped Auriemma win three NCAA titles in college. "He's the same guy, just gives us a little more freedom now that we're older and pros. He listens to us more. Everyone knows what coach has done for women's basketball. He brought a different point of view to things.

"It's not all flowery, flowery women's basketball. It's not just skirts and cupcakes. Sometimes there's some steak and cussing. That's life, it's not all that pretty."

Taurasi fully supports Auriemma and said if the Americans win the gold medal the first thing she'll do is "put it around his neck. That's how much he means to me."

Before that can happen, the Americans have to deal with upstart France, which is playing well in only its second Olympic appearance.

"They're a team nobody really talked about heading into the tournament, but personally I knew that was going to be a team we might have to face," said U.S. point guard Sue Bird.

France is undefeated in the tournament like the U.S. although the Americans have beaten teams by 34 points a game, France just eight.

Nonetheless, Bird knows a win won't be automatic.

"I've played with all their girls and know how talented they are," she said.

Both teams are assured of walking away with at least the silver medal, but anything less than gold for the Americans would be considered a monumental failure.

The Americans have cruised through the Olympics during their remarkable run. Only one team has come within single digits of them since the streak started in 1996. They've won by nearly 30 points a game. The Americans have only lost once in major international competitions since 1996 with the lone blemish coming against Russia in the semifinals of the 2006 world championships.

The U.S. faced its first challenge of the London Games when Australia took a four-point halftime lead. It was the first time in 12 years that the Americans had been trailing at the half. There was no panic or worry. They just stepped up their defense and vanquished the Aussies, winning by 13 points.

The players are very aware of the legacy.

"This is USA Basketball's streak," Candace Parker said. "We're just trying not to be the people that end it. I want a second gold medal. There are people that want a third. And some are looking for their first. So all of us are fighting for something in our own way."

First order of business is winning the gold ? which would extend the streak.

"We've been taking it one game at a time all along, so this is just the next one," Bird said. "Obviously there is a lot more at stake, but we really aren't thinking that way."

France already has made great strides ? clinching its first medal in women's basketball.

The victory over Russia in the semifinals set off a wild celebration for the unbeaten French, who have been on the rise in women's basketball over the past few years. They won the European Championship in 2009 and qualified for the Olympics for the first time since the 2000 Sydney Games where they finished fifth. In this tournament France has already defeated Australia in an overtime thriller and now topped Russia twice.

A win over the Americans would be incredible.

"Nobody talks about us. We don't exist in the Olympic Village," said French coach Pierre Vincent. "The only way to exist is to win. I told the girls in the locker room, if we win, we will exist."

The French have been led by flashy point guard Celine Dumerc. She has been the catalyst for this remarkable run. Her 3-pointer with 0.2 seconds remaining in overtime helped beat Britain in the preliminary round. She also hit a big 3-pointer against Australia and two clinching free throws in the team's four-point win over Canada.

"She's having a tournament for the ages," Auriemma said of Dumerc. "She's definitely been the MVP."

Bird wasn't surprised at France's incredible run to the championship game. After all, the French had been her sleeper team all along.

It will be the first time the two teams have played in the Olympics. France isn't scared of the world's top team.

"They are a very good basketball nation. I play against them the whole year round," French forward Sandrine Gruda said. "It's going to be good. We're not going to give up because it USA. We're competitors."

___

Follow Doug Feinberg on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/us-women-auriemma-olympic-basketball-gold-110341994--oly.html

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New fuel economy rules favor Detroit Three: report

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Obama administration's proposed fuel economy standards for 2025 are unfairly tilted in favor of the three U.S. automakers and put their foreign-based rivals at a disadvantage, according to a House Republicans report released on Friday.

According to the report written by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee staff, the standards are also based on an "overly optimistic" outlook of American consumers' willingness to buy hybrid and electric cars. The committee is chaired by California Republican Darrell Issa.

The report comes days before the White House is expected to release the fuel economy standards in their finalized form. The proposed standards call for companies to roughly double their average fuel efficiency to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.

The figure was announced last year after more than a year of talks between the Obama administration and automakers. The House Republicans' report quotes emails and handwritten notes from executives and government officials that shed light on those negotiations over a new target for automakers' corporate average fuel economy, or CAFE.

White House spokesman Clark Stevens defended the new CAFE standards, saying they "will save families thousands of dollars at the pump and dramatically reduce oil consumption." Stevens said more than a dozen major automakers supported the new rules.

According to Friday's report, one key point of contention was the separate standards made for cars and light trucks, which some executives said favored General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co and Chrysler Group LLC.

According to the proposed standards, automakers must show an average annual increases in fuel economy of 5 percent for cars and 3.5 percent for light trucks through 2021, with a 5 percent increase for all vehicles after that.

In an email, Tom Lehner, a lobbyist for Toyota Motor Corp, described the separate fuel economy standards for light trucks as a "second auto bailout."

Toyota spokesman Steven Curtis said the Japanese automaker "has long supported a single national fuel economy program" and has worked with the Administration on the standards for Model Years 2017-2025.

"Our overriding objective was to help achieve a true, single national standard with some certainty, clarity and flexibility," Curtis said in an email to Reuters.

The three Detroit automakers build the vast majority of trucks sold in the United States. These vehicles also boast higher profit margins than passenger cars.

David Geanacopoulos, general counsel for Volkswagen's U.S. unit, said the overall proposal "lacks competitive equity." He added that the light truck proposal was unfair because the largest trucks made by the U.S. automakers were under "almost no burden in the first three years."

Volkswagen, one of the few automakers which did not back the proposed rules, was not immediately available for comment.

Automakers are now redesigning their cars and trucks by using lightweight, but costly materials like aluminum to meet the standards. They are also expected to build more electric vehicles and hybrids, which need pricier batteries.

(Reporting by Deepa Seetharaman; Editing by Richard Chang)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fuel-economy-rules-favor-detroit-three-report-004117000--finance.html

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North carolina mental health - HEALTH, BEAUTY & FITNESS

north carolina mental healthIn certain large organisations, it might we worth employing someone full- time within the HR department to be the safety and health manager. Their health can reflect among my friend? s north attitude and that he is really north carolina mental health a youthful physician smoking health heavily. A Brazilian study discovered that ladies who ate three apples or pears daily lost excess fat while going on a diet than ladies who didn? t eat fruit while going on a diet. These programs will have a larger share of person costs not just to condition and authorities, but to each individual who pays rates and insurance deductibles. Children who? re formally approved citizens of California can get north carolina mental health inexpensive vision and dental assurance through the health same Healthy Family Program. 4) Offer a choice of AARP intends to the employees. Listed here are men? s a healthy body tips that you could easily change and make sure they are your habits. You will find numerous Ayurvedic remedies that are effective to refresh the body and spirit. This would mean that you? re on offer mental lower rates, better coverage or just being able to escape from some restrictions which are enforced inside your current policy. If you? re Muslim you are able to opt from the Obamacare healthcare reform laws and regulations without any penalties Is not this nice. Rates for the business could be held lower by raising personal insurance deductibles and co- will pay for services. Healthcare Configurations include hospitals ( for- profit and public), health care treatment centers, home health agencies, HMOs and PPOs. The fight against terror wellness health and also the immigration laws and regulations are slowing down the doctors entering the U. S. A. Waiting Room Solutions effortlessly combines all the clinical and business functions needed for health care wellness companies ? all in an affordable cost. You? ll need a copy for the records. Flexcin is really a joint discomfort remedy that can help relieve bursitis, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, gout, fibromyalgia syndrome, and then any other type of joint disease. Kinds of Insurance Coverage You will find mainly three kinds of medical health insurance plans: self insured/ without insurance customers, indemnity healthcare plans and handled care plans. You are able to most likely think about some carolina good examples of the. Everybody can remain healthy, its only a matter of awareness and for your, you ought to go for daily updates on health problems and sign up for daily health news. Make sure to go to the vet regularly. Just how can they afford it? Anyone who pertains to bronchial bronchial asthma, allergic responses, or persistent chest common colds should consider purchasing one of these simple ? miracle? models. When you begin to consider inventory of the habits and life styles changes that you could make to higher your existence make sure that you dont overlook these two significant issues.

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5) Coconut water have been discovered very helpful like a natural dental re- hydration therapy ( ORT) , due to its isotonic qualities ( Tell them you have been identified rich in bloodstream pressure in the past and also have stored charge of it. Keeping the skin awesome Managers can monitor contemporary premiums safe practices issues within the area by getting use of an array of research and knowledge. Sometimes danger can An awareness of human sexuality. A great way to do that would be to seek advice from organizations for those who have this problem They? re going to have the positive on our bodies if bought in the reliable source. Focus on your breath and then try to

Source: http://curryrecipe-jp.net/health-2/north-carolina-mental-health/

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Government Cheese: Lessons Learned from ... - Creating Motherhood

This post about government assistance was originally published on EwokMama.com and is being shared here with the author?s permission.

government cheeseI grew up poor. For much of my early childhood we were at poverty level. My parents split when I was four, so my mother ? age 22 at the time ? was left with three young kids and a mortgage on a house she had borrowed money to get in the first place. She hadn?t graduated high school ? instead she took the California high school equivalency exam ? so she worked at a gas station where, on two separate occasions, she was robbed at gunpoint. After the second time she went to find a filing job with the county court system, where she eventually (when I was a teen) worked her way up to middle class wages.

Our family relied on my maternal grandmother for support, in spite of the fact that she was on disability and was only making it thanks to a man who couldn?t say no. My grandmother took this man for everything he had in order to care for us ? his car, his money, his house. If it wasn?t for this man who was used, abused, and driven into bankruptcy, there is no way our family would have survived.

My grandmother was always very focused on money. She herself was born in Oklahoma at the tail end of the Great Depression; I can only guess her parents passed on their experiences from that time to her. My grandmother carried the idea that women didn?t get ahead by working ? they had to use their bodies. In her mind, all actresses slept their way to the top. And she often said that she ?should have married a rich old man? so that he?d die and leave her his money. One of my clearest memories is when I told my grandma I wanted to be an artist and she said, ?Artists don?t make any money until after they?re dead.?

Pursuing a career in something you liked to do was a luxury that my family didn?t even acknowledge as being a possibility ? unless, of course, it was obtained in some disreputable manner.

At my grandma?s co-opted house, floor to ceiling cabinets held more canned goods than we could eat. There were two refrigerators and a deep freezer. An extra pantry was added to the hallway and I remember gazing up at the shelves full of cereal boxes each morning. There were at least twenty boxes in there at a time ? more than enough to feed three children under the age of five.

Our dinners came in tiny portions, of which included over-cooked meat (we couldn?t afford food poisoning!) and things from a can. I was a teenager before I learned that canned soup should have water or milk added to it; somewhere along the way my grandma must have internalized conservation of those precious liquids. On more than one occasion we used powdered milk with our cereal (which is more like milky water), and I never had a fresh vegetable unless I went to a friend?s house for dinner. My friend?s parents marveled at how much I ate when I visited ? I was tiny, after all, and didn?t hit 100 lbs until I was a teen.

Some of our food came from public assistance. My family stood in line at a local church once a month for ?government cheese,? a gigantic block of bright orange American cheese, along with a few other staples through a program subsidized by the government. I had subsidized lunches at school and the only baked things we got were the ?end of life? goods on clearance at the Hostess bakery.

Even with all of this, I knew I had it pretty good ? better than many (especially those kids in the Sally Struthers commercials). I had a house, even if I shared a room. I had clothes, even if they were bought on credit cards and my cheap shoes melted on the blacktop at school in the Sacramento heat. We had television (a second-hand working one on top of a dead one, naturally) and eventually we were able to get things like Nintendo, even if we weren?t early adopters. I?ve never been to Disneyland, but we had plenty of fun at our local Fairytale Town.

I focus on money a lot as an adult, in no small part due to my upbringing. The only money-related thing I?ve inherited is worry over finances. It eats me up when I owe money ? financial stress takes me right back to my childhood and that desperate feeling of having to rely on others to get by.

I often have to remind myself that I have a great job, a two-income household, and a beautiful (yet affordable ? for this area) home. I can pay my bills, even if it will take me longer than I?d like and I?ll have to pay interest. I can cancel cable if I need to, or offload a bunch of unnecessary stuff that I?ve got lying around. If I need money, I can easily get it. In fact, if it comes down to it ? I know exactly what to do to survive on a tiny fraction of what I am surviving on now.

Still, that feeling of being right on the edge of disaster is ever near and less than comfortable. I can?t shake the lessons I learned from growing up poor.

times like theseAbout the guest blogger: Crystal is a 30-something remarried parent of one cancer-crushing boy living in San Francisco. She is a blogger, executive assistant, mental health advocate, and internet tinkerer. She is also an editor at Band Back Together. Read her blog EwokMama and follow her on Twitter at @EwokMama.

Source: http://creatingmotherhood.com/2012/08/10/government-cheese/

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Health and fitness agenda: Toronto&#39;s Canfitpro | Gymrat Fitness

Coming up, some 10,000 fitness enthusiasts are expected to attend Toronto?s fitness blowout trade event, Canfitpro, one of the largest fitness events of its kind.

Canfitpro International Trade Show
August 15-19
Toronto, Canada

Now in its 20th year, Canfitpro will spotlight itness trends Zumba, TRX suspension training, and CrossFit, as well as Toronto?s own STOTT Pilates and its vast array of Pilates training equipment. Similar to Los Angeles?s IDEA World Fitness Convention, the event also offers up-and-coming techniques a chance to gain wider appeal in the Canadian market.
http://www.canfitpro.com/en/toronto

World Humanitarian Day
August 19
Worldwide

World Humanitarian Day has been celebrated since 2009 and is a day to honor aid workers, shed light on populations that need humanitarian aid and find ways to give back to your community or international humanitarian aid organizations.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/annual/world_humanitarian_day/en/index....

Natural Products Expo Asia
August 23-25
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong

In a region where health and well-being top consumer priorities, the Natural Products Expo Asia show is an important trade show for industries hoping to set foot in the Eastern marketplace. Natural and organic food sales have grown by almost threefold over the last decade to US$85 billion and China has consistently outperformed the global market since 1995. This year?s show is forecast to bring 250 exhibitors to the region and attract 10,000 visitors. The show is open to the public August 25.
http://www.naturalproductsasia.com/ea12/public/enter.aspx

Wanderlust: Whistler, BC
August 23-26
Whistler Resort, BC, Canada

This festival continues to grow every year, with a smattering of events in North America, including urban one-day events in LA, New York, and San Francisco. Days are for downward dogs with 40+ yoga instructors, including a play lounge, hoop dance, hikes, and meditation. Nights are hedonistic dance parties featuring top musical acts and DJs. This year?s headliners in Whistler ? the last of the summer series of Wanderlust events ? include Baron Baptiste, Seane Corne, Marianne Williamson, and Michael Franti and Spearhead.
http://www.wanderlustfestival.com

EvolveFest
August 31 ? September 3
Vernon, New Jersey, USA

This event, now in its sixth year, brings together more than 50 musical acts, yoga instructors, artists, and speakers for a four-day open-air event. More than 30 workshops will be offered.
http://www.evolvefest.com

IHRSA/Fitness Brazil Latin American Conference and Trade Show
August 30-September 1
Transamerica Expo Center, S?o Paulo, Brazil

Now in its 13th year, this S?o Paulo event features three days of seminars, networking opportunities, and a trade show with more than 100 exhibitors and 10,000 visitors. According to IHRSA, Brazil is the second largest worldwide fitness market as measured by number of fitness centers: more than 18,000. Los Angeles also hosts an IHRSA convention and trade show in March.
http://fitnessbrasil.com.br/13ihrsa

Vitafoods Asia
September 5-7
AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong

Now in its 14th year, Vitafoods Asia is considered the trade event of the year in Asia for nutraceutical professionals to hobnob. Except some 160 exhibitors, a showcase of the latest and most innovative products on the market, and a slew of product launches.
http://www.vitafoodsasia.com

Yoga Journal Conference: Colorado
September 22-29.
Estes Park, Colorado, US

In one of the premier yoga events in the world, yoga publication Yoga Journal will offer more than 100 classes taught by more than 35 master and celebrity yoga teachers in the Colorado Rockies for seven days. The conference also takes place in San Francisco, New York, and Florida, with each drawing crowds of around four thousand.
http://www.yjevents.com

Source: http://www.gymrat-fitness.com/health-and-fitness-agenda-torontos-canfitpro

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