S: Is for Savings!

How much money do you spend on laundry detergent? What if all you had to spend was $39.99 and that was for 3 years? What if by doing all this you would also be saving the environment? I am so excited to introduce you to the Green Wash Ball an Eco-friendly way of doing your laundry without using harmful detergent or chemicals. Not only is the Green Wash Ball easy to use but it is also re-usable which is a great way to save money. The powerful remote infrared rays emitted by GREENWASHBALL ceramics break the hydrogen molecules of water to increase molecular movement. This gives water a high penetration capacity and improves its washing properties. The GREENWASHBALL emits negative ions which weaken the adherence of dirt on fabric so that it is easily removed without the use of detergent. The GREENWASHBALL has a pH of about 10 which is equivalent to that of an ordinary chemical detergent. This treats grease, organic or chemical stains efficiently. It eliminates chlorine compounds in water and decreases its superficial pressure, increasing therefore its washing power. Finally, the GREENWASHBALL eliminates pathogen germs in the water of your washing machine, giving clean and healthy linen. GREENWASHBALL has an antibacterial effect and eliminates bad odors. GREENWASHBALL will last for 3 years based on one wash per day. For extra large machines use two GREENWASHBALL.

You can also place the GREENWASHBALL in the refrigerator to help maintain the freshness of fruit, vegetables, meat and fish. You can add natural aromas to fragrance your laundry.

Here's where to buy it: http://greenwashball.com/_product_30740/Green_Wash_Ball

It is now cool to turn green and that is a F.A.C.T.

T: IS FOR GOOD OLD BOY TEAMWORK

The incoming Democratic freshmen of the House of Representatives are about to get their first lesson in good old boy politics. Unfortunately, the example being set by Reps. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) is exactly the kind of initiation these new members don’t need.

Dingell and Rahall are hosted a Washington, D.C., fundraiser Wednesday to help the newly elected Democrats retire their campaign debt. According to the invitation, political action committees (PACs) are encouraged to contribute $20,000 apiece, while individuals are asked to consider chipping in $10,000 each.
What’s wrong with this picture? Before they’re even sworn in, these 23 lawmakers will be exposed to the quid pro quo relationship between elected officials and their wealthy benefactors – lobbyists and corporate power brokers. It’s a potentially corrupting cycle of influence-peddling that could largely be done away with if we had public financing of congressional elections.

As for Dingell, who is facing a serious challenge from Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) for his powerful chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, he should be aware how suspect it looks for him to be currying favor with incoming legislators the same week the freshmen and sitting members will decide his fate. We should also note that like many of their fellow members of Congress, Waxman and Dingell contributed to the election campaigns of the new lawmakers, though, according to Congressional Quarterly, Waxman gave more through his LA PAC than Dingell did through his Wolverine PAC.
If voters were clear about anything this past election, it was that they are tired of Washington’s business-as-usual style of politics. It’s time for a change. These freshmen should graciously decline Dingell and Rahall’s hospitality and, instead, pledge to sign on to public financing legislation.

President Elect Obama you promised us change and that is a F.A.C.T.

C: Is for Contests!

P!NK and the awesome nail salon Dashing Diva are collaborating. Customers are invited as Dashing Diva celebrates their Rock star status! From now until December 31, you can enter to win in the ‘Passionate about P!nk Sweepstakes.' The sweepstakes will be highlighted in all salons, however customers enter directly through her web site.

P!NK is a two-time Grammy award winning singer-songwriter and a highly distinguished diva. To celebrate the release of P!NK’s FUNHOUSE album on October 28, 2009, Dashing Diva will be playing the songs in all stores nationwide, giving customers a first ever preview of P!NK'S unreleased album.
Both Dashing Diva and LaFace Records are passionate about pink, literally and figuratively. Robert Cleary, of DD states, “Not only is P!NK a DIVA but she is one of the most socially responsible artists out there so we are proud to help celebrate her new album release in our salons.

Here’s what you can win:

One (1) lucky winner will be flown to a Dashing Diva nail spa for a special ‘Day of Rock star Beauty,’ plus tickets to the Summer 2009 Tour. The winner will indulge in an All-Out Diva Manicure and Pedicure, the most pampered treatment of all for nails, plus an hour-long facial, massage and wax treatment.
Five (5) second-place winners will receive an autographed copy of the album.
Ten (10) third-place winners will receive a limited edition P!NK poster!
You heard at first here on Examiner.com
For more information on Dashing Diva, visit their web site.

A: Is for Art being Honored

Mayor Bloomberg presented the 2008 Mayor's Awards for Arts & Culture to six individuals and organizations in celebration of their outstanding contributions to New York City's cultural life. The 2008 NYC Handel Medallion, New York City's highest award for achievement in the arts, to playwright and Bronx native Neil Simon.

The event, held at the world famous Apollo Theater, was hosted by Ugly Betty star Vanessa Williams and featured live performances by the Queens Jazz Orchestra, an American Sign Language poet and his students, the cast of Hair, actor Matthew Broderick, and Statler & Waldorf of the Muppets.

The Mayor's Awards for Arts and Culture were created in 1974 by the Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission to honor individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the cultural life of New York City.

2008 Mayor's Awards Recipients

Alliance of Resident Theatres / New York
For their thoughtful and inspired service to over 330 member theatre companies. ART/NY provides advocacy, technical assistance, financial services, loans, grant opportunities, and affordable office and rehearsal space, helping to make the challenging work of making theatre that much easier for artists and administrators throughout the City.

Arthur Aviles
For founding the Arthur Aviles Typical Theatre and the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance (BAAD!). Mr. Aviles was born in the Bronx and has chosen to make his artistic home there as a dancer and choreographer. He brings the excitement of contemporary dance to local, national, and international audiences.

Dr. Sharon Dunn
For over three decades of work in arts education for New York City's public school students. A tireless and inventive educator and administrator, most recently Dr. Dunn oversaw the creation of the Blueprints for Teaching and Learning in the Arts and inaugurated the annual Arts in Schools Report.

Galt MacDermott
For his work as a composer and pianist, creating and performing musicals, ballet settings, film scores, chamber music, incidental music, and band repertoire. Best known as the composer of HAIR and Two Gentlemen of Verona, Mr. MacDermott has also composed and presented his other work through the New Pulse Jazz Band that he founded in 1979.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
For its longstanding and innovative commitment to the performing arts, and museums and art conservation. The Foundation works to build, strengthen and sustain institutions and their core capacities, developing long-term collaborations with grant recipients and investing in them for an extended period of time.

Rush Arts Gallery & Corridor Gallery
For offering exhibition opportunities to underrepresented artists and artists of color, and for providing disadvantaged urban youth with exposure and access to the arts. The Galleries present the work of 40 to 50 artists each year and expose 10,000 New Yorkers to that work annually, including 1,500 public school students.

Art gives back so it is only fitting that it should get back ad that is a F.A.C.T.

F: Is for Fashion Saves Lives!

Housing Works kicked off their fifth-annual Fashion for Action fundraiser last night at the Rubin Museum of Art on 150 West 17th Street. Chaired this year by Marc Jacobs, the event started with a sample sale of top brand designers and silent auction to raise money for HIV/AIDS charities. $1.63 million dollars of merchandise was donated by a handful of designers like Diane Von Furstenbeg, Theory, Dolce and Gabanna, Calvin Klein and more, and it was available at 50 to 70% off retail. For the silent auction you could of won dinner with fashion guru Tim Gunn, tickets to Speed the Plow and dinner at Frederick’s, photo shoot with a fashion photographer and so much more. In attendance were top fashion models Ermina Cunmulaj,Ana Mihajlovic, Ryan Molley, Fashion Designers John Bartlett, Jane Mayle, Steven Alan, Frank Tell, Heike Jarick, Leigh Taylor-Smith (Miss New York), Kate Shindle (Broadway actress, starred in Legally Blonde the Musical.Companies like HBO and Essence joined in to raise money for projects like The Women's Health Center in downtown Brooklyn. Housing Works just opened a $3 million structure that features a kids area, dental and medical offices and counseling. The clients are women who are HIV positive.They have also just opened a family residence building on 130th street Housing Works raises money by selling donated clothing and furniture at their seven thrift stores
For more information on Housing Works sale, go to a
http://www.fashionforaction.com.

S: Is for Checking before Speaking or Writing!

Tonight, I received this from a very trusted friend. Knowing how companies, especially credit card companies are hiking up the rates, I thought this was true. I immediately sent this to my friends and then I decided I could do even more and add it to today's column. Looking for a picture I typed in cookies and Neiman-Marcus and I found out, this is an urban legend. To my friends Bob and Gary, yes I should of checked first and yes, I am a friend to the underdog. To my readers this looks like a good recipe and supposably it is from Mrs. Fields. We should all be a little more cautious and check things out before we forward. You never know who you could be hurting.

Letter: A little background: Neiman-Marcus, if you don't know already, is a very
expensive store; ie., they sell your typical $8.00 T-shirt for $50.00.

Let's let them have it! THIS IS A TRUE STORY!
My daughter and I had just finished a salad at Neiman-Marcus Cafe in Dallas & decided to have a small dessert. Because both of us are such cookie lovers, we decided to try the "Neiman-Marcus Cookie". It was so excellent that I asked if they would give me the recipe and the waitress said with a small frown "I'm afraid not." Well" I said, "would you let me buy the recipe?"

With a cute smile, she said YES". I asked how much and she responded, "Only two fifty, it's a great deal!" I said with approval, "just add it to my tab".. Thirty days later, I received my VISA statement from Neiman-Marcus and it was $285.00. I looked again and remembered I had only spent $9.95 for two salads and about $20.00 for a scarf. As I glanced at the bottom of the statement, it said, "Cookie Recipe - $250.00". That's outrageous!!!

I called Neiman's Accounting Dept. and told them that the waitress said it was "two-fifty," which clearly does not mean "two hundred and fifty dollars" by any POSSIBLE interpretation of the phrase. Neiman-Marcus refused to budge.. They would not refund my money, because according to them, "What the waitress told you is not our problem. You have already seen the recipe - we absolutely will not refund your money at this point." I explained to her the criminal statutes which govern fraud in Texas. I threatened to refer them to the Better Business Bureau and the State's Attorney General for engaging in fraud. I was basically told, "Do what you want, we dont give a damn, and we're not refunding your money." I waited a moment, thinking of how I could get even,or even try to get any of my money back. I just said, "Okay, you folks got my $250.00, and now I'm going to have $250.00 worth of fun."

I told her that I was going to see to it that every cookie lover in the United States with an e-mail account has a $250.00 cookie recipe from Neiman-Marcus... for free..She replied, "I wish you wouldn't do this" I said, "Well you should have thought of that before you ripped me off", and slammed down the phone on her.. So, here it is!!! Please, please, please pass it on to everyone you can possibly think of. I paid $250.00 dollars for this... I don't want Neiman-Marcus to ever get another penny off of this recipe....

(Recipe may be halved): 2 cups butter
4 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups brown sugar
5 cups blended oatmeal (measure oatmeal and blend in blender to a fine powder)
24 oz. chocolate chips
1 tsp. salt
1 8 oz. Hershey bar (grated)
4 eggs
2 tsp. baking powder
3 cups chopped nuts (your choice)
2 tsp. vanilla
Cream the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla; mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and soda. Add chocolate chips, Hershey bar and nuts. Roll into balls and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet..Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes 112 cookies.. Have Fun!!!

A lesson learned and that is a F.A.C.T.

T: Is for Tell Her To Go Away!

With Obama as our newly elected President and the way he is taking charge, I wasn't sure what I wanted to write. Things looked as if they were slowly righting themselves and then I saw a CNN article and I knew what I had to say. Somebody, anybody, please make Sarah Palin go away. I was hoping after the election she would be off the front page until after it was proven that Trig Palin, could be her daughter Bristol's, in which case I could say "see I told you so!" Just when I think she can not stoop any lower an article came out on CNN that I have to comment on. First she states she should of done more interviews. Ms. Palin do you not realize the 79% of women voted you off. We don't like you. The magazines tried to say we were jealous of you. Were not jealous. How could we be, when you are so uneducated? I state this because you don't even get that if you taught your daughter about sex education you would not be a grandmother. You state "you would be honored to help out Obama and his new administration -- even though he did hang around with an "unrepentant domestic terrorist." First of all he is President elect Obama. 2nd do your homework. How can you make such statements without proof. This is slander. Why is nobody bringing her up on charges and why is she being allowed to continue this tirade? You claim you can help him with energy and services for special-needs children. Why did you not do this as Governor or Mayor. I did do my homework and you took money away from disabled families until Trig was born, just like you charged women for rape kits. Are we suppose to believe because a disabled child was born into your household you had a change of heart? As for energy maybe you need to take a class from Al Gore. A new poll suggests that just less than half of all Americans have a favorable view of Palin and they are dropping more as each day goes by. Have you given back the clothing? You were wearing it still in Alaska upon your return.

I don't want to be irritated by Ms. Palin anymore. When John McCain pick her she was an obscure Governor, way can't she go back to where she came from, back to oblivion. We need to move forward as a country. Ms Palin, you were not even allowed to make a concession speech because your running mate wanted to bow out with grace and knew you could not. Maybe you should let that show you the F.A.C.T.S.