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POLITICAL REFLECTIONS: RALPH REED'S - AND THE REPUBLICANS' - RESURRECTION

By Mark Gabrish Conlan

September 4, 2012 (San Diego) – Guess which major Republican political leader recently made the following statement in Tampa, Florida, the home of this year’s GOP convention: “There was one candidate who stood in front of Greek columns and vowed to heal the planet and cause the oceans to recede.” If you guessed Mitt Romney, you’re half-right — he did rip off that line in his big speech accepting the Republican nomination for President on August 30 — but the line was actually delivered four days earlier on April 26, the day before the convention was supposed to start, by Ralph Reed.


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PURPLE MOUNTAIN SAGE: STORM OVER HEAD

 
By Sharon Courmousis, Sacred Rocks Reserve
 
September 1,2012 (Boulevard)--Do you remember your last storm? Those who live in the mountains get to experience the power of nature up close, sometimes too close. As clouds build from the vast openness of the sky, turn ever darker, the lightening begins touching the earth randomly. Thunder pounds us with larger and deeper sounds than any other thing in nature. Clouds darken the sky as I await the storm. The smell of rain is in the air. Birds flap and flutter and prepare to run for cover. The dusty leaves of sage and Manzanita seem to open wider as if inviting a cool drink, sensing the coming rain.

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EARTHTALK®: SUSTAINABLE FURNITURE OPTIONS

 
E - The Environmental Magazine
Written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss
 
September 1, 2012 (San Diego's East County) -- Dear EarthTalk: Are there certain brands or retail stores where sustainable furniture options can be had? And what should I look for when shopping for greener furniture?  -- W. Cary, Trenton, NJ

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POLITICAL REFLECTIONS: "LEGITIMATE RAPE"


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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: FAST FOOD DAMNATION (COMPLIANCE)


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FROM THE CHIEFS CORNER: WHAT TO DO BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE

August 27, 2012 (San Diego's East County)--With the recent Earthquakes and the anticipation of more aftershocks it’s a good time to review what to do before, during and after an earthquake says East County Magazine’s in-house Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

Before an Earthquake

The following are things you can do to protect yourself, your family and your property in the event of an earthquake.


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EARTHTALK®: CO2 IN THE ATMOSPHERE

E - The Environmental Magazine 
Written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss 
 
August 28, 2012 (San Diego's East County) -- Dear EarthTalk: I read that CO2 in our atmosphere is now more than 300 parts per million. Doesn’t this mean that we’re too late to avoid the worst impacts of climate change?                                                                                                                          -- Karl Bren, Richmond, VA

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HOME VIDEO HERALD: TONIGHT YOU'RE MINE (DVD)


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EARTHTALK® HOW EFFICIENT IS RADIANT HEATING?

 

E - The Environmental Magazine
Written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss
 
August 30, 2012 (San Diego's East County) -- Dear EarthTalk: How energy efficient (and comfortable) is underfloor heating, sometimes known as radiant heating? -- Marcy Dell, Boston, MA

Underfloor radiant heating involves under laying the floor with a hot element or tubing that transfers heat into the room via infrared radiation and convection, obviating the need for forced or blowing air.

 

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HOME VIDEO HERALD: IN DARKNESS (BLU-RAY)

By Brian Lafferty

 

August 29, 2012 (San Diego) – A harrowing sequence of events transpire during the first thirty minutes of In Darkness, atrocities that I could describe but I won’t. That’s because as shocking as they are, there is only one shot, seen later, that remains entrenched in my mind.

 


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EARTHTALK®: REDUCING OUR LIGHT FOOTPRINT

 
E - The Environmental Magazine

Written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss

 
August 25, 2012 (San Diego's East County) -- Dear EarthTalk: Has anyone calculated the energy wasted at night by unnecessary lighting in and around buildings? What can we do to reduce our light footprint?      -- Bill Rehkamp, via e-mail 
 

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HOME VIDEO HERALD: THE RAID: REDEMPTION (BLU-RAY)


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SOCIAL SECURITY NEWS YOU CAN USE

 
By Jeannette Nunes
Social Security District Manager
 
Make social security online services ‘par for the course’
 
August 25, 2012 (El Cajon) -- For many retirees (and near retirees), there is nothing that they look forward to as much as a day on the golf course. The game recently has been made more pleasurable by the use of computers and GPS technology.  A hand-held electronic unit acts just like a personal caddie, providing quick and accurate yardage information — and much more. It saves time … as well as mental and physical effort.

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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: DON'T RUN OVER THE MESSENGER (PREMIUM RUSH)


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FRONT AND CENTER: DONORS BEWARE

By Rick Rogers, Host of Front & Center: Military Talk Radio

August 23, 2012 (San Diego)--Charities rattling their cups for veterans and troop programs in Southern California have grown to epic numbers in recent years.

I bet San Diego County charities have grown tenfold since 2008.

At least I think they have.


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DREAM DOGS: LOOKING FOR FOREVER HOMES

 
August 23, 2012 (Blossom Valley) -- Eight month-old, 69 lb. Olde English Bulldoggie. He is great with all dogs, people and children. He loves to run and play, but also knows the value of a good nap. He is crate-trained, and sleeps quietly through the night. We have lots of pictures on our Facebook page showing the fun our dogs have both during training; as well as playing with the other dogs.

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PURPLE MOUNTAIN SAGE: HOW A CHILD IS LIKE A TREE

 
By Sharon Courmousis, Sacred Rocks Reserve
 
August 23, 2012 (Boulevard)--I have a tree at Sacred Rocks, planted 5 years ago, a Purple Robe Locus. The tree specialist explained to me about watering, and nutrients, and pruning. Because I am away a lot, I have to trust people to do those things for good tree health. Last fall the wind whipped a large branch off, nearly cutting the tree in half. I thought we would lose the tree. But no! It survived.

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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: VICIOUS CIRCLE (360)


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POLITICAL REFLECTIONS: ORGANIZED LABOR'S LAST-DITCH STAND

By Mark Gabrish Conlan

August 22, 2012 (San Diego) – Whoever you think won last June’s elections, there can be no doubt that organized labor was one of the biggest losers.


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SOCIAL SECURITY NEWS YOU CAN USE

 
Social security and women
 
By Jeannette Nunes
Social Security District Manager
 
August 18, 2012 (El Cajon) -- August 26 is known as Women’s Equality Day.  On that date in 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was signed, giving women the right to vote.

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FROM THE CHIEF'S CORNER: BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY TIPS FOR MOTORISTS

 
From Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna East County Magazine’s “In-House Fire Chief” 
 
August 18, 2012  (San Diego) -- School is starting to begin for many of our districts. It’s important to use extra caution while driving as excited students will be walking, bicycling, driving, riding buses so excited and may not be paying attention while traveling to school and back home. Here are some safety reminders:

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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: NOLAN CALLS IT A "KNIGHT"


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HOME VIDEO HERALD: THE BLACKBIRD (DVD)


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FROM THE FIRE CHIEF'S CORNER: AFTER THE FIRE CONSIDERATIONS--REPLACING VALUABLE DOCUMENTS AND RECORDS

By Sam DiGiovanna, East County Magazine’s in-house Fire Chief


August 16, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--Below is a checklist of documents that are commonly lost in a fire. Under the type of document is the institution or agency to contact for a replacement. Do not forget to take any medications.


If you are asked to evacuate, please do so immediately… Don’t become part of the existing problem!



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ON THE SILVER SCREEN: GOOD SCOT!


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POLITICAL REFLECTIONS: PAUL RYAN—MITT DOUBLES DOWN ON THE RIGHT

 
By Mark Gabrish Conlan

August 14, 2012 (San Diego) --
Up until presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney named Wisconsin Congressmember Paul Ryan as his running mate on August 10, the safe bet seemed to be that Romney was going to base his general-election strategy on “a referendum, not a choice.” For one thing, that’s Politics 101: as pioneering American political scientist V. O. Key said in the 1960’s, Americans vote on issues but “retrospectively and negatively.”

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WHAT ARE AMERICA’S MOST POPULAR BABY NAMES?

 
By Jeannette Nunes
Social Security District Manager
 
August 11, 2012 (El Cajon) -- Each year, Social Security announces the top baby names for boys and girls, based on Social Security card applications for babies born in the previous year. If you have children or you’re friends or relatives with those who do, chances are you might know a few babies with the “in” names.

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POLITICAL REFLECTIONS: EARTH TO JERRY BROWN: SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL


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EARTHTALK®: MT. ST. HELENS -- A NATIONAL PARK?

 
E - The Environmental Magazine
 
Written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss
 
August 9, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) -- Dear EarthTalk: What ever happened to the idea of turning Mt. St. Helens into a national park?
                                                                                            -- Esther Monaghan, Boston, MA

Mt. St. Helens, one of the less prominent yet massive peaks of Washington State’s Cascade Range, made history on May 18, 1980 by erupting with the force of 500 atomic bombs, devastating 230 square miles of formerly verdant forest and killing 57 people.


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BIRD TALK: THE ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD

By Greg Dunne
                                                
August 8, 2012 (Lake Jennings)--I am going to make an assumption here, but I believe that the Hummingbird is everyone’s favorite backyard bird.


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