Haiti News

Ten lessons from a succesful local serial technology entrepreneur you don't want to miss!Beware of terminal creativityUnderstand how passion and profit interactHow to survive the killer factors.Designing a perfect cap tableCreating new revenue sourcesEnrolling and enlisting othersHow to avoid the founders dilemmaAnd more!----------------------------------------About the speaker:A serial entrepreneur, Mitch is also the co-founder of one of the fastest growing companies in the US -- The Active Network, Inc - Active.com - a software, marketing and registration powerhouse. He also co-founded and was the CEO for 7 years of The Active Europe Network, Ltd. which operates Actives business model in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. His initiative and efforts to rapidly consolidate participatory sports registration software companies worldwide, has without any doubt, created the "Ticketmaster " of participatory sports -- with his entrepreneurial ideas and initiative forever changing the global landscape of sports. Mitch also serves as the New Media Officer, Strategist & Senior Correspondent for Competitor Group, Inc., (CGI), based in San Diego, California -- a platform media and race event company specializing in the endurance sports sector which primarily includes marathons, cycling, and triathlons. The Company is comprised of several companies, Elite Racing, Triathlete Magazine, Inside Triathlon, Velo News and Competitor Publishing.Mitch is currently serving as founder and CEO of BUMP Network Inc. The worlds largest safety, communications, and membership network. Mitch was founder and CEO of The College Connection, Inc., and The Rail Connection, and has consulted for American Express, AT&T;, and Eurail. Mitch also serves as Chairman of The La Jolla Foundation, a foundation whose first initiative is Project Active, a non-profit program that provides money, mentoring, encouragement and education to areas of world tension, most recently providing soccer balls and jerseys to the children of Iraq, Haiti and Afghanistan. Thrower is a 18 time Ironman triathlete, and the only photo journalist to ever photograph and video the Ironman Triathlon World Championships while doing the event. Remember: we can only fit 30 attendees!

Sherita is a Changemaker Besides her role as a radio personality (talk radio format discussing grants, community empowerment and nonprofit development.), she has aided in securing millions of dollars in funding, while helping to develop more than 600 businesses. Sherita is the Founder and President of the Kreative Images Foundation (K.I.), established in August 1994. Her motto is YAYOL (pronounced yah-yoal), which is the acronym for You Are Your Only Limitation. YAYOL is also the title of her weekly radio broadcast. As the chief officer of K.I., she has served as a speaker, grant writing workshop facilitator and community strategist focusing on city-wide sustainable strategies aiding small businesses, schools, churches and organizations in securing grants for development, while also working with political and community leaders to strengthen their constituency. Since K.I.�s inception Sherita has structured and coached nonprofits throughout the United States and the world, including Australia, Belgium, Central America, China, France, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Mexico, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, the Philippines, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Trinidad, Tobago and other countries. Following Hurricane Katrina, she launched the only Hurricane Katrina National Housing Database, listing housing all over the country for displaced persons. Following her personal coaching and business development efforts, many of her clients have appeared on some of television�s top shows: NBC�s Today Show with Matt Lauer, the Oprah Winfrey show, Larry King Live, Fox News, Dr. Phil, and others. Sherita has appeared in numerous news and magazine publications, and on radio and television shows all over the world, while also speaking at business conferences, churches, transitional facilities, and correctional institutions (empowerment speaker at the Chino Institution for Men (prison) for three years). She possesses extensive experience in grant procurement and facilitation, and economic development. In addition to the above, Sherita�s accomplishments include (not limited to the below): o Traveled to Trinidad and Tobago to aid in forming the Caribbean Collaboration Project � meeting with members of Parliament and local nongovernmental organizations (November 2009) o Your browser may not support display of this image. Your browser may not support display of this image. Featured in Women of Wisdom Performance Magazine with First Lady Michelle Obama, and other influential women (June 2009) o Best-selling Author (Law of Business Attraction) � Co-authored with 30+ world-renowned experts (2009) o African Focus Humanitarian Award Recipient (April 2009), along with songstress Chaka Khan, Mo�Nique the comedian and others for their charitable efforts o Received several accommodations from former Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn for community and economic development achievements (2004, 2005) o Served as Co-Host of �L.A. Inside Out�, a Los Angeles talk show highlighting LA�s talents, hot spots, political leaders and businesses (2003-2005) o Your browser may not support display of this image. Featured speaker at the California Women�s Empowerment Conference, with Judge Mabeline Ephraim (former court TV judge) (2005) o Recipient of California �s Women of Achievement Award with Congresswomen Diane Watson and Maxine Waters (2004) o Featured in �Women of Color� magazine with the late Coretta Scott-King, Maya Angelou and numerous other renaissance women (Los Angeles, CA) (2003) o Performed key strategies for city-wide redevelopment efforts following the Rodney King riots of 1992 in Los Angeles, CA Listen to Sherita�s live weekly radio broadcast (talk radio interviewing celebrity philanthropist, discussing grant procurement and more), every Monday from 2:30pm � 3:00pm Central Standard Time (check your time zone). The show airs live in Kansas City, MO (KGGN radio 890 AM) and streams on the Internet, reaching listeners all over the world at www.kggnam.com. www.kifoundation.org WE HAVE A NEW LOCATION New Member, Roger Kessler, has offered World Financial Group as our meeting place. THURSDAY, July 15, 2010 6:30 - 7 PM Check-in & General Networking 7 - 9 PM Q & A, Coaching Circle, Cooperative Networking, Free Coaching Offices of WFG Group 23201 Lake Center Drive Suite 100 Lake Forest, CA 92630 [masked] FREE PARKING! It's easy access from the freeway. Right off off Lake Forrest Drive Next To Holiday Inn Express PLEASE RSVP SO I KNOW HOW MUCH SNACKS & FREFRESHMENT TO PROVIDE

Sherita is a Changemaker Besides her role as a radio personality (talk radio format discussing grants, community empowerment and nonprofit development.), she has aided in securing millions of dollars in funding, while helping to develop more than 600 businesses. Sherita is the Founder and President of the Kreative Images Foundation (K.I.), established in August 1994. Her motto is YAYOL (pronounced yah-yoal), which is the acronym for You Are Your Only Limitation. YAYOL is also the title of her weekly radio broadcast. As the chief officer of K.I., she has served as a speaker, grant writing workshop facilitator and community strategist focusing on city-wide sustainable strategies aiding small businesses, schools, churches and organizations in securing grants for development, while also working with political and community leaders to strengthen their constituency. Since K.I.�s inception Sherita has structured and coached nonprofits throughout the United States and the world, including Australia, Belgium, Central America, China, France, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Mexico, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, the Philippines, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Trinidad, Tobago and other countries. Following Hurricane Katrina, she launched the only Hurricane Katrina National Housing Database, listing housing all over the country for displaced persons. Following her personal coaching and business development efforts, many of her clients have appeared on some of television�s top shows: NBC�s Today Show with Matt Lauer, the Oprah Winfrey show, Larry King Live, Fox News, Dr. Phil, and others. Sherita has appeared in numerous news and magazine publications, and on radio and television shows all over the world, while also speaking at business conferences, churches, transitional facilities, and correctional institutions (empowerment speaker at the Chino Institution for Men (prison) for three years). She possesses extensive experience in grant procurement and facilitation, and economic development. In addition to the above, Sherita�s accomplishments include (not limited to the below): o Traveled to Trinidad and Tobago to aid in forming the Caribbean Collaboration Project � meeting with members of Parliament and local nongovernmental organizations (November 2009) o Your browser may not support display of this image. Your browser may not support display of this image. Featured in Women of Wisdom Performance Magazine with First Lady Michelle Obama, and other influential women (June 2009) o Best-selling Author (Law of Business Attraction) � Co-authored with 30+ world-renowned experts (2009) o African Focus Humanitarian Award Recipient (April 2009), along with songstress Chaka Khan, Mo�Nique the comedian and others for their charitable efforts o Received several accommodations from former Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn for community and economic development achievements (2004, 2005) o Served as Co-Host of �L.A. Inside Out�, a Los Angeles talk show highlighting LA�s talents, hot spots, political leaders and businesses (2003-2005) o Your browser may not support display of this image. Featured speaker at the California Women�s Empowerment Conference, with Judge Mabeline Ephraim (former court TV judge) (2005) o Recipient of California �s Women of Achievement Award with Congresswomen Diane Watson and Maxine Waters (2004) o Featured in �Women of Color� magazine with the late Coretta Scott-King, Maya Angelou and numerous other renaissance women (Los Angeles, CA) (2003) o Performed key strategies for city-wide redevelopment efforts following the Rodney King riots of 1992 in Los Angeles, CA Listen to Sherita�s live weekly radio broadcast (talk radio interviewing celebrity philanthropist, discussing grant procurement and more), every Monday from 2:30pm � 3:00pm Central Standard Time (check your time zone). The show airs live in Kansas City, MO (KGGN radio 890 AM) and streams on the Internet, reaching listeners all over the world at www.kggnam.com. www.kifoundation.org WE HAVE A NEW LOCATION New Member, Roger Kessler, has offered World Financial Group as our meeting place. THURSDAY, August 12, 2010 6:30 - 7 PM Check-in & General Networking 7 - 9 PM Q & A, Coaching Circle, Cooperative Networking, Free Coaching Offices of WFG Group 23201 Lake Center Drive Suite 100 Lake Forest, CA 92630 [masked] FREE PARKING! It's easy access from the freeway. Right off off Lake Forrest Drive Next To Holiday Inn Express PLEASE RSVP SO I KNOW HOW MUCH SNACKS & FREFRESHMENT TO PROVIDE

Wordstock 2010 is all about writingThe 15th edition of Wordstock will be held on Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Ryerson School of Journalism, at the corner of Gould and Church Sts. in Toronto. After a few years of dabbling successfully in the new journalism tools and styles, this is a retro version of Wordstock. It will be all about writing, both fiction and non-fiction. Were returning to a former format of three streams of seminars, one in the morning after the keynote (speaker to be determined) and then well break for a free barbecue lunch and networking at a nearby pub. Well resume at 1:45 p.m. with two streams of four seminars each, all on writing. The day ends at 4:30 p.m. In keeping with the economy, we are holding the cost of Wordstock at $75. If youre a bona fide member of the Ryerson Journalism Alumni Association (RJAA) or an accredited journalism student at any journalism school, the cost is $50. The preferred method of payment is by cash or cheque, payable to the Ryerson Journalism Alumni Association. You can also register through EventBrite. The programs PDF can be downloaded from the RJAA website at www.rjaa.ca and from the RJAA Facebook site. For more information by telephone, call Bryan Cantley at 416-575-5377. Email: bcantley@cna-acj.ca. The day kicks off with a registration and welcome from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m.Wordstock 2010 ProgramHere is the program for the traditional Wordstock on Saturday, Oct. 2Registration 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Rogers Communications Centre/School of Journalism. 80 Gould St. (NE corner of Gould and Church Sts.)Assembly in the Eaton Lecture Theatre at 9:45 a.m. Please note there is a special session on the future of digital media that is being held in conjunction with Wordstock. 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Keynote address. Speaker to be determined. 11 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.Coffee break and networking outside the Eaton Lecture Theatre11:20 to 12:30 (Choose one of four)1) Packing great writing into less than 1,000 wordsAs journalists, you may have more to say across multiple platforms, but youre being asked to do it with fewer words. Thane Burnett, Sun Medias award-winning creator of great short features, talks about techniques for writing in tight spaces. Burnett, whos covered everything from O.J. Simpson to Haiti, argues for targeting one human element, using quotes properly, salvaging color and reasons to leave out the mayors quotes.2) Successful freelance writing, as a business and a craftYoucan earnanincome writing for newspapers and magazinesor writing for the corporate market on a freelance basis. In this seminar, freelance writer and author Paul Lima (www.paullima.com) explores the process you need to follow if you want to write for newspapers or magazine or sell your writing services to the corporate market. Hewill also talk aboutthe types of articles you will most likely write for newspapers and magazines,share a list of thetype of writing you can do for the corporate market, and will discuss how much you can expect to earn writing for eithermarket and how to price your writing services.3) The mystery novel you have always wanted to writeWho hasnt wanted to write a mystery? Doing so involves journalistic narrative skills. This panel covers the techniques along with the ups and downs of writing and publishing a mystery novel. Discover the techniques that classic mystery authors use to help you in your own writing. Panelists: April Lindgren, Ryerson (author of Headline: Murder); Rosemary Aubert, author of the Ellis Portal mystery series, set in Toronto; one other TBA. 4) Magazine readers want storiesTo connect with magazine readers, writers and editors need to reconnect with character and narrative. Freelance writer and former Chatelaine editor Kim Pittaway, one of the most popular Wordstock seminar leaders over the years, offers a new seminar that looks at ways of injecting character and narrative into all kinds of magazine writing, from short pieces to service pieces to actual features.12:30 to 1:45 p.m.Free barbecue Lunch in the Ram in the Rye Pub, SE corner of Gould and Church Sts. (3-minute walk from Rogers Communications Centre. Be mindful of an optional special one-hour session from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Eaton Lecture Theatre on the future of digital media)1:30 2:30 p.m. (SPECIAL ONE-HOUR SESSION IN CONJUNCTION WITH WORDSTOCK) Eaton Lecture TheatreDigital media has been growing at an exponential rate over the past few years. But what does this mean for you and how will it impact your daily life? Please join us for a lively discussion that will explore the significance of digital media both today and into the future. This moderated discussion will feature a panel made up of industry insiders and experts who will share their thoughts and opinions on the future of this ever-expanding medium. Panelists: Adam Froman, CEO Delvinia; Abby Goodrum, the Velma Rogers Graham Research Chair, Ryerson School of Journalism; Marissa Nelson, senior editor, Digital News, Toronto Star; Chris Nguyen, co-founder of teamsave.com, Ryerson Digital Media Zone. Moderator is Dwight Drummond, CityTV News.REMAINING WORDSTOCK PROGRAM1:45 to 3 p.m. (Choose one)1) Telling great stories about the news of the dayPractical advice on the art of injecting storytelling into a newspaper and online reporting and writing after the breaking story has been told on the website. Speaker to be announced. 2) (re)Discover the joy of creative writingIf youre an aspiring writer or an experienced writer looking for a little spark, Paul Lima helps you rediscover the joy of creative writing. This session touches on the content in a book of the same name that Lima has written and published. The session includes many tools and techniques to get you writing novels, short stories, and poetry. 3) Sustaining the long feature in a readers interestJon Wells, the Hamilton Spectators award-winning feature writer and author, talks about crafting long features that hook readers from the start and do not let go. The session will include tips on preparation, interviewing, organizing material, working with editors, recognizing and employing different storytelling techniques, and staying inspired. Jon will also offer tips on serial story telling.4) What is this thing called voice and how do I find mine?Yes, you have one. Its your distinctive style as a writer. Sometimes it just shows up; other times it needs to be coaxed. Alas there are no miracle voice-enhancing drugs. However, Don Gibb, a renowned writing coach and a retired Ryerson journalism professor, will challenge you by offering ideas on how best to find and nurture your voice -- your individual writing style. If you already have a voice, bring it along. If you struggle with finding yours, well try to encourage your voice to speak up. 3 to 3:15 p.m.Refreshment break for 15 minutes3:15 to 4:30 p.m. (Choose one)1) Writing for multiple platformsThe future of writing is being able to tell stories on multiple platforms. Marissa Nelson of the Toronto Star discusses the various platforms (print, multimedia, video, social media) and how to adapt your writing to each.2) Self-editing: Making every word countWith fewer copy editors between the original story and the printed page and website, reporters and writers must pay more attention to their copy before it heads off to production. Self-editing entails making every word count and one of Canadas best, Kevin Scanlon of the Toronto Star, has developed a handy checklist, a tip sheet and an answer to the question: Whats my lede?3) Getting your opinions across with conviction and graceEffective opinion writing is a key to raising readers interaction with a publication, online or otherwise. We call upon a panel of columnists and editorial writers to impart their expertise in persuading readers that they are right or irritating those who disagree. Beautiful writing is again a key element. Speakers: Jim Coyle, Toronto Star; Susan Clairmont, Hamilton Spectator; Peter Haggert, Toronto Community News. 4) Writing with a Slow Hand: From Romance to Erotica and BeyondThere are few places in our writing more fearful to most of us than writing about sex. What will our mothers think? And what if our characters are the kinds of people who do things that we would never! How do we write about them and make it believable? Where do we draw the line between revealing just enough to tantalize but not so much that the reader is turned off. Join James Dewar and Susan Lynn Reynolds for an exploration of the continuum of sexuality in writing from romance to pornography and all the delightfully erotic places to linger between those two poles. 4:30 to 6 p.m.Join the delegates for a traditional post-Wordstock libation at the Library at the Imperial Tavern at Dundas and Victoria. For more information, contact Bryan Cantley at bcantley@cna-acj.ca.

Wordstock 2010 is all about writingThe 15th edition of Wordstock will be held on Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Ryerson School of Journalism, at the corner of Gould and Church Sts. in Toronto. After a few years of dabbling successfully in the new journalism tools and styles, this is a retro version of Wordstock. It will be all about writing, both fiction and non-fiction. Were returning to a former format of three streams of seminars, one in the morning after the keynote (speaker to be determined) and then well break for a free barbecue lunch and networking at a nearby pub. Well resume at 1:45 p.m. with two streams of four seminars each, all on writing. The day ends at 4:30 p.m. In keeping with the economy, we are holding the cost of Wordstock at $75. If youre a bona fide member of the Ryerson Journalism Alumni Association (RJAA) or an accredited journalism student at any journalism school, the cost is $50. The preferred method of payment is by cash or cheque, payable to the Ryerson Journalism Alumni Association. You can also register through EventBrite. The programs PDF can be downloaded from the RJAA website at www.rjaa.ca and from the RJAA Facebook site. For more information by telephone, call Bryan Cantley at 416-575-5377. Email: bcantley@cna-acj.ca. The day kicks off with a registration and welcome from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m.Wordstock 2010 ProgramHere is the program for the traditional Wordstock on Saturday, Oct. 2Registration 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Rogers Communications Centre/School of Journalism. 80 Gould St. (NE corner of Gould and Church Sts.)Assembly in the Eaton Lecture Theatre at 9:45 a.m. Please note there is a special session on the future of digital media that is being held in conjunction with Wordstock. It is at 1:30 p.m.10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Keynote address. Speaker to be determined. 11 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.Coffee break and networking outside the Eaton Lecture Theatre11:20 to 12:30 (Choose one of four)1) Packing great writing into less than 1,000 wordsAs journalists, you may have more to say across multiple platforms, but youre being asked to do it with fewer words. Thane Burnett, Sun Medias award-winning creator of great short features, talks about techniques for writing in tight spaces. Burnett, whos covered everything from O.J. Simpson to Haiti, argues for targeting one human element, using quotes properly, salvaging color and reasons to leave out the mayors quotes.2) Successful freelance writing, as a business and a craftYoucan earnanincome writing for newspapers and magazinesor writing for the corporate market on a freelance basis. In this seminar, freelance writer and author Paul Lima (www.paullima.com) explores the process you need to follow if you want to write for newspapers or magazine or sell your writing services to the corporate market. Hewill also talk aboutthe types of articles you will most likely write for newspapers and magazines,share a list of thetype of writing you can do for the corporate market, and will discuss how much you can expect to earn writing for eithermarket and how to price your writing services.3) The mystery novel you have always wanted to writeWho hasnt wanted to write a mystery? Doing so involves journalistic narrative skills. This panel covers the techniques along with the ups and downs of writing and publishing a mystery novel. Discover the techniques that classic mystery authors use to help you in your own writing. Panelists: April Lindgren, Ryerson (author of Headline: Murder); Rosemary Aubert, author of the Ellis Portal mystery series, set in Toronto; one other TBA. 4) Magazine readers want storiesTo connect with magazine readers, writers and editors need to reconnect with character and narrative. Freelance writer and former Chatelaine editor Kim Pittaway, one of the most popular Wordstock seminar leaders over the years, offers a new seminar that looks at ways of injecting character and narrative into all kinds of magazine writing, from short pieces to service pieces to actual features.12:30 to 1:45 p.m.Free barbecue Lunch in the Ram in the Rye Pub, SE corner of Gould and Church Sts. (3-minute walk from Rogers Communications Centre. Be mindful of an optional special one-hour session from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Eaton Lecture Theatre on the future of digital media)1:30 2:30 p.m. (SPECIAL ONE-HOUR SESSION IN CONJUNCTION WITH WORDSTOCK) Eaton Lecture TheatreDigital media has been growing at an exponential rate over the past few years. But what does this mean for you and how will it impact your daily life? Please join us for a lively discussion that will explore the significance of digital media both today and into the future. This moderated discussion will feature a panel made up of industry insiders and experts who will share their thoughts and opinions on the future of this ever-expanding medium. Panelists: Adam Froman, CEO Delvinia; Abby Goodrum, the Velma Rogers Graham Research Chair, Ryerson School of Journalism; Marissa Nelson, senior editor, Digital News, Toronto Star; Chris Nguyen, co-founder of teamsave.com, Ryerson Digital Media Zone. Moderator is Dwight Drummond, CityTV News.REMAINING WORDSTOCK PROGRAM1:45 to 3 p.m. (Choose one)1) Telling great stories about the news of the dayPractical advice on the art of injecting storytelling into a newspaper and online reporting and writing after the breaking story has been told on the website. Speaker to be announced. 2) (re)Discover the joy of creative writingIf youre an aspiring writer or an experienced writer looking for a little spark, Paul Lima helps you rediscover the joy of creative writing. This session touches on the content in a book of the same name that Lima has written and published. The session includes many tools and techniques to get you writing novels, short stories, and poetry. 3) Sustaining the long feature in a readers interestJon Wells, the Hamilton Spectators award-winning feature writer and author, talks about crafting long features that hook readers from the start and do not let go. The session will include tips on preparation, interviewing, organizing material, working with editors, recognizing and employing different storytelling techniques, and staying inspired. Jon will also offer tips on serial story telling.4) What is this thing called voice and how do I find mine?Yes, you have one. Its your distinctive style as a writer. Sometimes it just shows up; other times it needs to be coaxed. Alas there are no miracle voice-enhancing drugs. However, Don Gibb, a renowned writing coach and a retired Ryerson journalism professor, will challenge you by offering ideas on how best to find and nurture your voice -- your individual writing style. If you already have a voice, bring it along. If you struggle with finding yours, well try to encourage your voice to speak up. 3 to 3:15 p.m.Refreshment break for 15 minutes3:15 to 4:30 p.m. (Choose one)1) Writing for multiple platformsThe future of writing is being able to tell stories on multiple platforms. Marissa Nelson of the Toronto Star discusses the various platforms (print, multimedia, video, social media) and how to adapt your writing to each.2) Self-editing: Making every word countWith fewer copy editors between the original story and the printed page and website, reporters and writers must pay more attention to their copy before it heads off to production. Self-editing entails making every word count and one of Canadas best, Kevin Scanlon of the Toronto Star, has developed a handy checklist, a tip sheet and an answer to the question: Whats my lede?3) Getting your opinions across with conviction and graceEffective opinion writing is a key to raising readers interaction with a publication, online or otherwise. We call upon a panel of columnists and editorial writers to impart their expertise in persuading readers that they are right or irritating those who disagree. Beautiful writing is again a key element. Speakers: Jim Coyle, Toronto Star; Susan Clairmont, Hamilton Spectator; Peter Haggert, Toronto Community News. 4) Writing with a Slow Hand: From Romance to Erotica and BeyondThere are few places in our writing more fearful to most of us than writing about sex. What will our mothers think? And what if our characters are the kinds of people who do things that we would never! How do we write about them and make it believable? Where do we draw the line between revealing just enough to tantalize but not so much that the reader is turned off. Join James Dewar and Susan Lynn Reynolds for an exploration of the continuum of sexuality in writing from romance to pornography and all the delightfully erotic places to linger between those two poles. 4:30 to 6 p.m.Join the delegates for a traditional post-Wordstock libation at the Library at the Imperial Tavern at Dundas and Victoria. For more information, contact Bryan Cantley at bcantley@cna-acj.ca.

I copied it from a comments section of a news article; "Take the time and review Obama's performance so far..Obama OWNS all of this... THE SUMMER OF RECOVERY AT ITS FINEST ObamaCare...children go without insurance.....FAILURE Stimulus Scam...One Trillion dollar Job Scam....produced NO JOBS.....FAILURE Government Transparency...no 5 day posting and no t.v during the health care debate..FAILURE Closing of GITMO....Obama said within 1 year...FAILURE Unemployment...Obama said it would go no higher than 8% if they pass the stimulus.......FAILURE National Energy Plan...he has both houses but can't get anything done....FAILURE Prosecution of 9-11 Terrorists....Obama's first order was to give them more rights...FAILURE Health Care Premiums...have Increased by 18% under Obama...FAILURE National Debt...has tripled the debt in less than 18 months...FAILURE Border Security..Obama is in court against a state trying to protect the border...FAILURE Illegal Immigration..Obama wants to give citizenship to 12 million illegals..FAILURE Race Relations...Obama has made things Worse.......FAILURE Housing Market...Obama's 50 Billion Mortgage plan that nobody used...FAILURE Bowing to World Leaders..apologizes to everyone he can on bended knee...FAILURE Pay/GO..Obama demands Pay/Go only to pass the unemployment bill unfunded...FAILURE Mexico..drug war coming over the border and Obama has not made one trip...FAILURE Haiti Response..2 weeks and gone...FAILURE Iranian Uprising...Obama sat on his hands while people died in the streets...FAILURE Delayed Response to Oil Leak....Red States so Obama could care less...FAILURE Tennessee Flood response..there was no response..red state...FAILURE North Korea....laughing and taunting Obama.....FAILURE"

Answer: Yes. His presidency has been a colossal failure which is a bad thing because he has greatly damaged and endangered the country I love.

I am only 15, I just turned 15 in early July. I have watched stuff about it on the History channel. For me, it just seems like to much is going to happen for it to not be something spectacular that is going to happen, like the moon, venus, sun, and center of the galaxy alaigning. If this is true and it will happen, i do not want to die without finishing high school, and before I turn 18!!!! I am now going into 10th grade and for 11th grade it will be late 2011 to early 2012, and that means I will not finish high school if this is true. I can not choose to believe if this is true or not!!! I mean just like in the bible in revelations, it says more natural disasters will occur. Some things that have happened lately, such as the Iceland Volcano, the Chilean and Haiti earthquake, and all of the news of other earthquakes and volcanoes. Could you please tell me something about this to make me less worried. Hey Wilde space, I am probably smarter than you for my age. I am 15, and I have memorized all 50 states in alphabetical order. I have been able to do this for a few years. I like to watch history to see the cool stuff that happens now and in the past. And beside, I have never seen terminator or aliens, and I think transformers is a great movie, and i am not afraid of aliens, i am afraid of the world ending, hello 2012!!!! I remember one of the history shows where they said for every end of the 13 years or whatever for the myan calendar is, something bad happened. and this is the 13th end, the last one!! Well, like I just said, nothing significant happens at the end of our years, other than the next year coming, or decade, century, millenia, or whatever.

Answer: The short answer is the 2012 stuff is male cow droppings. Nothing bad is going to happen. Everything the History Channel said about the Mayan calendar is a lie. The calendar is ending the 13th Long Cycle, but the next day the 14th will start. The Mayans don't have the issue with the number 13 that we do, so their 13th cycle is no big deal. And the 60 million people descended from the Mayans in southern Mexico and Central America think the 2012 stuff is stupid. The Sun, Earth and the center of the galaxy align *every* year. Which means it has already happened 14 times in your life, and it will happen this year and in 2011 before the big bad 2012 comes along. Earthquakes and volcanoes are a fact of life on Earth, and always have been. I'm from California. Don't tell me earthquakes are something new. BTW memorizing the states is nice, but I will be impressed if you can do it in the order that they joined the union, tell me what was happening when they joined, and recite the state capitals. And relax about 2012. It really is just a scam. I'm not lying to you.

Dear…, I am very devastated by the news of my dismissal from the my college and the university. I cannot blame anyone but myself. I have let many down but especially myself. My lack of focus and better judgment (should I even add this?) and (a word that means owning up to or taking care of??) my responsibilities has led to my poor and despicable (<--need a better word that compliments ‘poor’) performance. During my first semester, I admit I took my new found “freedom” from home a bit loosely. Too loosely. I come from a very sheltered Haitian culture. Although I was raised in such a strict manner, it is hard to dissuade one’s self from doing whatever you please. Especially when you realize that there is really no one around to tell you not to. And my family here in Florida was nowhere near as strict as my parents. But they still expected more out of me than I had put forth. I had slacked and managed my time poorly causing my grades to suffer. Then around the middle of the middle of the semester, towards the end, I became ill. Due to issues with my mother’s insurance, I could not seek proper medical attention. And so after seeing the school’s medical staff, I was still ill for an additional 3-4 weeks. This added to the academic carnage. I was better right before the time for finals, but for the amount of class time I had missed, I simply had no faith of making it out successfully. In hindsight, that is definitely a bad attitude to have, despite the (need a word here) circumstances. During my second semester, the devastating earthquakes in Haiti hit close to home. We were in and out of contact with our family for months and learned that a couple family members had been severely injured. Upon returning to the university, I endured several issues with Financial Aid with regards to lenders and cosigners. This prevented me from starting the semester when most of the student population did. I was told and am aware now that instead of missing class time to handle the issues, I should have worked them around my academic schedule. Once I was able to come back to campus and be officially registered, I thought things would be fine and that I could handle it all. I started out with a full course load (20 credit hours) which I quickly learned was too much for me to bear. And so, I reduced the amount of credits I was enrolled in to 12. During the middle of the semester, I received word that an uncle had unexpectedly passed away. Although my uncle and I weren’t particularly “close”, it was still quite a blow for the family. My aunt, with whom I have a strong relationship with, could not be in attendance of her husband’s funeral because she was in Haiti and the conditions at the time prevented her from coming. My father, whom I am also very close with, had lost his best friend since childhood. I am indeed a “daddy’s girl” and I felt extremely bad that I could not be there for him. During spring semester, I also had a (word for ‘not very nice’ that compliments the word coming up) argument with my mother. We do not have the greatest relationship. So when arguments arise, I usually am put in a very negative mood and it put a heavy toll on my depression. That, along with other factors, caused me to become very unfocused in my schoolwork. I should have communicated more with my therapist/counselor. Looking back, that would have helped me immensely. I began to “pick up the slack” but only managed to obtain two passing grades out of four. I deeply regret my decisions and how I went about dealing with the situations I was in. Some of what happened, I understand I had no power over. But some I did. I definitely did. I could have changed my irresponsible habits for the better during my first semester. I could have certainly better managed my time and even take up the time management that help that was offered on campus. I unquestionably should have sat it on all of my courses despite registration issues. And I most certainly should not have thought twice about speaking with my counselor especially during some of my roughest times. I am always quick to find an answer or give a response; always quick to act. Yet, I don’t sit down and take a while to think things through. I don’t know what led me to believe that once I hit college, this habit would die off. But thankfully I have realized it. And am beginning to think many of my decisions in life thoroughly. And doing so as I have done now might have saved me some trouble. But I cannot change the past. I can only move on using what I know now (my mistakes) as a guide. After receiving the letter and spending the time since to dwell on it, I now feel as though I am ready to do what I have to do to be who I want to be. As Og Mandino once said, “failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough”. And I am most definitely determined to perform infinitely much better than I did before, if I am permitted to return. I hope and beseech you to recons (rest of essay) reconsider my dismissal. I am ready to live up to, and even surpass expectations of, the small town girl you admitted and gave a home. Sincerely (is there a better word that I could use here?, N.A. I do not mind grammar policing at all! And should I mention that I am taking a semester worth of courses over the summer? Also here is the school's website with info on appeals... : http://www6.miami.edu/umbulletin/info/aca/grades.htm#sta Thanks so much!

Answer: Don't know if you've already sent this in or not, but here's my take: I think as it reads now it's just a sob story -- yes, there are many circumstances which lead to this but everyone has problems. Rather, I'd keep the circimstances to a paragraph or two: You had too much freedom and stress from family issues, long-term illness, and the earthquake. The reason to keep this part short is so you can stress this one and only key point: THIS WAS A ONE-TIME ISSUE, YOU'RE REALLY A BETTER STUDENT The bulk of the letter would be you trying to prove what will change. Talk about what, specifically, you plan to do to change your ways (counseling? changing roommates/friends so you're not going to go out partying? Attend office hours of your profs? using the writing center/ any other help the school can offer? etc)

We recently passed the six-month anniversary of the big earthquake in Haiti. As if things there hadn't been bad enough prior to the quake, they're not getting better very quickly since the quake. Why? It's because of bureaucracy and corruption in the Haitian government, as well as manipulation of the government by the few wealthy elite in Haiti - according to a recent ABC News investigative report http://abcnews.go.com/WN/conversation-things-stand-months-haiti-earthquake/story?id=11142788 and several other news agency reports. Haiti is a "free-market Democracy." If ever the free market could work it should work in Haiti but is not and had not. Why? (I could ask this same question about other countries such as Somalia or Mexico.)

Answer: Why would you think the "free market" would prevent corruption? If anything, it encourages it.

It seems like this year has been pretty active, because I've seen lots of earthquake reports on the news, like Chilie Haiti, i think turkey, California, etc. I never really heard a lot about earthquake reports last year, so i was wondering if this year is more active than other years, or is this normal?

Answer: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqarchives/year/eqstats.php Above is a link to the U.S.G.S. it shows how many earthquakes of each magnitude there are each year at the lower part of this page. You can decide for yourself if you believe levels are normal I personally believe we are close to normal levels compared to other years.

I was born in Coventry during WWII. The city was well and truly "Coventrated" ie razed to the ground. Every day ordinary men, women and children took time to help their neighbours and to clear away the bomb damage. The Haitian people seem to be merely standing by and accepting aid from all over the world. Why don't they appear to be doing anything to help themselves?

Answer: Haiti is not a country with a modern infrastructure. Coventry was one city which could help itself because the people had something to start with and nothing says 'screw you, Fritz' in a war louder than just getting on with it when you've been hit hard. London did, Coventry did, indeed every city hit in WW2 did. There's sod all in Haiti now and there was damn little before the earthquake. That place needs help just to bring most of it up the 20th Century, never mind the 21st. Not for one second do I believe that every single Haitian is sitting on their backsides fat dumb and happy. But in fairness I will point out that there is a world of difference between an attack that devastates a city and an earthquake that devastates an entire country. I cannot imagine exactly what that must do to you. But you can bet your bottom dollar that someone in that country is grabbing the opportunity even an earthquake will provide with both hands. I would also point out that appearances are very easily deceptive. Perchance did you see a couple of minutes of news footage? Filmed in Port au Prince? That's only one place, showing the things the news believes you want to see. It is not the whole reality. Ah... the thumbs down fairy has arrived. Thumbed down but no hint of being told why...

K, so all that stuff people are saying about the Mayan calender and the world ending, is it true? I'm really scared, i'm only 14 i don't wanna die when i'm 16 because of the world ending, you know? I started freaking out after i watched that movie, 2012. I know this a really stupid question from a stupid kid. it seems like it really impossible for this happening, and i know that the earth is still young. And people are saying the world will end because of this cosmic alignment or something, but it's happened before the world didn't end. There's lots of facts that say it wont happen but when i look around, the world does seem really messed up. There's all this war, and the news reports someone dieing everyday. There are huge sinkholes happening. Not to mention all those earthquakes that have happened like in Haiti and Chile. There's global warming and world hunger, and the earth is getting over populated. Everyone says it wont happen, but on the other there's all these horrible things happening and 2010 now, by 2012, what will happen?? Also, those other theory's about the world ending, are they true??? Can someone please answer my question and explain too? that would be really nice, thanks

Answer: There have always been problems in the world. Sinkholes and earthquakes aren't new. Neither is war. It is DISGUSTING that 2012 doomsday promoters are exploiting the suffering of natural disaster victims just to sell their books and DVDs. Every time anything goes wrong in the world, they blame it on 2012. It's stupid. The 2012 doomsday predictions are unscientific nonsense. People have been predicting the end of the world for centuries and they have ALWAYS been wrong. When the world doesn't end in 2012, they'll just pick a new date.

Why are people still living in tents and children going without antibiotics? I watched the pictures on the news and was very disappointed that they have only received 2% of aid that was given to them.

Answer: This was the topic of Anderson Cooper 360 last night, "Forgetting Haiti". It should be pointed out that a lot of money intended for Haiti raised through telethons, the Red Cross, and other independent organizations has found its way to the country. The problem these folks are (still) facing is the tremendous backlog at the airport and the red tape involved in distribution. The money that the United States has not delivered on is the actual money that the government allocated for relief efforts, and this is in the millions - if not billions - of dollars. This is still caught up in some sort of political red tape and not one dime of this has made its way down to Haiti yet. If it makes you feel better, there are governments from other countries as well, most notably Canada and France, who have not delivered on their promise to expedite funds. Australia is one of the few nations who initially pledged billions and have actually followed through and sent every penny to the ravaged country. My understanding from this CNN special last night was not that the money was falling into the wrong hands in Haiti; it was more that the countries, U.S. included, had not sent the government-approved funds at this point. But there was never any inference made that these countries were not going to eventually follow through on their monetary commitments to Haiti's restoration.

That wont live up to their pledge?

Answer: well they only say they will help but when the time comes they fail to go through with it ..

would there be as much help and media coverage given to the people that live there compared to the earthquake that just happened in Haiti? Why does the news make it seem like no big deal and nobody cares when a tornado wipes out trailer parks compared to other disasters like the hurricane in New Orleans. Why is this?

Answer: Because the story is not a new one. It has been covered so many times that your average citizen should not be so crazy as to put a mobile home in a tornado-prone area, but they do it anyways. THAT SAID------It doesnt make the deaths that happen any less shocking, horrifying and devastating, only more predictable.......