PHILLY, NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ACTION:

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IMPORTANT: Planning to Join Veterans for Peace are holding a demonstration in Washington, D.C. on December 16 to protest the futile and endless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

      ! GETTING THERE!  Make sure to make a reservation so you won't be left out in the cold.

      (Thanks to Helen for pointing this out)

There's:  megabus.com or the Chinatown Bus tel: 215-627-2666/2222 @ 55-57 N 11th St

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Pennsport Parks’ Holiday Open House Tour

      Self-Guided Walking Tour         

  Sunday, December 12, 2010

 

Come celebrate the holidays with the Pennsport Parks Holiday Open House Tour.  The Friends of Dickinson Square and Jefferson Square Parks have joined forces to raise funds for the upkeep of these Pennsport Parks.  Originally developed during the colonial period, Pennsport boasts architectural gems of great historic significance. 

            Take a stroll through one of the oldest neighborhoods in South Philadelphia to tour homes ranging from the nineteenth-century to the contemporary and post-modern.  This self guided tour will give you the chance to explore homes featuring meticulous historic restoration, sophisticated contemporary designs and in some locations, festive holiday spirit.     Advance purchases are encouraged.

     To reserve your spot and purchase a ticket,

Call the friends of Dickinson Square Park at 215-685-1885 and leave a message or email info@dickinsonsquare.org

     Please visit our website at http://www.dickinsonsquare.org   /  Cost $20.00 per person

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Stop Comcast from blocking Netflix

 

It's as brazen as it is outrageous. At the very same time that the FCC is

deliberating the fate of our open Internet, cable giant Comcast threatened

to block Netflix from delivering streaming movies to Comcast's own

broadband customers.   

I just signed a petition to telling the commissioners of the FCC not to

let Comcast block Netflix and to support strong net neutrality

protections.

      Please consider signing on too. It's easy to do so at the link below.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/comcast_netflix/?r_by=-3453131-rav_Stx&rc=mailto2

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December Peace Events and Updates from Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA)

 

December is turning out to be a very active time for peacemaking, which is consistent with the theme often associated with the holiday season: Peace on Earth. All of the events and updates summarized below are in easy-to-read format on our updated web site at http://www.peacecoalition.org/.

 

In Pennsylvania, the Bucks and Eastern Montgomery County chapters (Buxmont) of CFPA are having a program featuring Zak Ebrahim, the son of a convicted Al Qaeda terrorist, who is now a strong advocate for nonviolence at 7:30 PM on Tuesday December 7 at the Mennonite Church in Ambler, PA. Click here for details.

 

In Princeton, CFPA's Annual Pre-Holiday 5:00 PM Vigil at Palmer Square; and 6:00 PM Potluck, and 7:00 PM Program & Concert for Peace at Nassau Presbyterian Church, will be on Thursday, December 9, which is the eve of Human Rights Day and also as the US Senate considers ratification of the new START nuclear reduction treaty. Click here and/or see the press release below my name for all the details.

 

Speaking of ratification of new START, CFPA has been heavily involved in working with Senate allies and making over 1,000 phone calls to constituents in states with swing Senators. One of the targets of those calls, Sen. Voinovich of Ohio, just announced yesterday that he supports ratification by the end of the year! 

How to Beat Swords Into Plougshares and Create Good Jobs in America is the title of a Peace Economy Program at 7:30 PM on Tuesday, December 14 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton, 50 Cherry Hill Road. The main speaker will be Mike Prokosch, who is a coordinator of the New Priorities Campaign. Solidarity Singers will also perform. Click here for details.

 

At 10 AM on Wednesday, December 15, Mike Prokosch will do a presentation on How to Beat Swords Into Plougshares and Create Good Jobs in America for the Monroe Township, NJ chapter of CFPA at the Monroe Township Municipal Building. Click here for details. All welcome, whether you've come to a chapter meeting previously or not.

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Join Sen. Bernie Sanders on DFA Live

 Tuesday, December 7, at 8 p.m. Eastern to hear what progressives in Congress are doing to make that happen and what you can do to help.

Sen. Sanders

was one of the first members of Congress to step up and call out the so-called "Deficit Commission" for what it really is -- an attack on the middle class.
Join DFA and Sen. Bernie Sanders on our telephone town hall Tuesday, December 7, at 8 p.m. Eastern to learn how the Deficit Commission is planning to cut Social Security, what progressives in Congress are doing to stop it and how you can help.

RSVP now for DFA Live with Sen. Bernie Sanders.
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MEDICAL INFOR RE: HEART ATTACK

 

Heart attack info:

NEW ASPIRIN/ Serious stuff, no joke!!  (My friend who is in the medical field sent this to me.)

   Just a reminder to all: purchase a box, keep one in your car, pocketbook, wallet, bedside, etc. 

   IMPORTANT READ...... 

      Bayer is making crystal aspirin to dissolve under the tongue. They work much faster than the tablets. 

Why keep aspirin by your bedside? 

About Heart Attacks

     There are other symptoms of an heart attack besides the pain on the left arm. 

One must also be aware of an intense pain on the chin, as well as nausea and lots of sweating,

 however these symptoms may also occur less frequently.

. Note: There may be NO pain in the chest during a heart attack

The majority of people (about 60%) who had a heart attack during their sleep, did not wake up.

 However, if it occurs, the chest pain may wake you up from your deep sleep.

      If that happens, immediately dissolve two aspirins in your mouth and swallow them with a bit of water.

Afterwards:

            CALL 911

- say "heart attack!"

- say that you have taken 2 aspirins.. 

- phone a neighbor or a family member who lives very close by

- take a seat on a chair or sofa near the front door, and wait for their arrival and...

**  DO NOT lie down **

     A Cardiologist has stated that, if each person, after receiving this e-mail,

      sends it to 10 people, probably one life can be saved! 

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A big {counter-recruitment} victory in heavily militarized San Diego!

 

On Nov. 30, the San Diego school board passed a policy to regulate and restrict recruiting in the district's many schools. It's a policy that applies to all recruiters, including civilian employers, colleges, trade schools and the military, but it's the military that will be affected most.   Several years ago Superintendent West decided to leave these issues in the hands of individual principals, a policy that has resulted in a very uneven playing field for recruiters.  Federal law calls for all recruiters to have equal access to students, but military recruiters typically enjoy far greater access to students in the schools.

 

The San Diego policy stipulates:

- no use of the ASVAB unless its under release option 8 (i.e., not for recruiting)

- only two recruiting visits/year

- no soliciting of personal information directly from students

- no disruption of classes or interfering with students

- recruiters must remain at a designated spot and not approach students

- no weapons displays

- equal access for organizations offering alternative information on military careers

- reporting of policy violations to the school board

- possible banning of recruiting organizations after two violations

For more:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/dec/01/military-recruiting-becomes-focus-of-new-city/

 Thank you, Pat Elder[mailto:patrickelder@verizon.net]

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Beware of Shopping Scams

 

It's a busy time of year for criminals as well as holiday shoppers.

 

"There is always somebody looking to separate you from your money,"

said DA Seth Williams.  "The best course of action is prevention.  Many

thieves choose their victims because the thieves see an opportunity. If

you take away the opportunity, chances are you won't become a victim.

The last thing that anyone needs during these touch economic times is to

lose their hard earned money because of a criminal."

        There are several new scams this year that the DA's Office and

the Police Dep. are monitoring.

 

Online Membership Programs

What it is: Scammers will use "rewards or discounts" pop-up windows

under the guise of mainstream companies to get people to sign up with

the scammer's company and unknowingly give personal or financial

information.

        What to do: Be skeptical of "rewards or discounts" pop-ups.  If

you do click on one, make sure to read the fine print and subsequently

check your credit card statement regularly.

 

Smishing

What it is: Automated text messages that ask for personal information.

        What to do: Check the call-back number on Google to make sure it

is legitimate.

 

Small and Frequent Charges

What it is: Scammers will "test" victims, making small charges on their

credit card to see if they are caught.  If they go undetected, the

scammer will later make larger and larger charges.

        What to do:  Review your bank statement monthly, and call the

company if you don't recognize any charges.

 

Skimmers

What it is: Scammers will capture keypad and card information when

consumers input their PIN number at ATMs, gas stations, restaurants,

etc.  They can then use this to extract money from victims' accounts.

        What to do: Always select the "credit" option at retailers, gas

stations, and restaurants, even if you are using a debit card.  By

selecting "credit," you do not have to input your PIN and you are less

liable for fraud. With ATMs, try to use those at your bank whenever

possible.

 

Counterfeit Products

What it is: Scammers will sell counterfeit electronics with faulty

wiring and fuses or dangerous chemicals.

        What to do: Verify that the product is real by checking the

package for any misspellings or otherwise abnormal qualities, and check

that the label is genuine at www.CSA-international.org.

 

Going Out of Business Sales--Many companies are going out of business or

are in bankruptcy protection.  Be sure to check on the company's

policies.  Many purchases are final sales, no returns or exchanges.

Also check to see if they are honoring coupons and/or

previously-purchased gift cards and for how long.

 

Gift Cards-As always, check for expiration dates and progressive fees.

Many cards expire if not used by a certain date.  Many cards add fees if

not used by a certain date.  The best gift cards never expire and do not

charge fees of any kind.

 

Online:

        Use a designated credit card rather than a debit card for online

shopping.  Most credit cards cap your liability at $50, whereas there

may not be a cap with a debit card, which is an open invitation to your

entire bank account.

        Dedicate one credit card for online shopping only.  It will be

easy to keep track of purchases-and unauthorized purchases. Your social

security number is the key to your identity.  * DO NOT give out your

social security number while shopping online.

        Online shoppers must be vigilant in avoiding scams and

protecting their personal info.

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Music for Xmas & Hanukah: Caroling next week

 

Gearing up for our December 10 TIAA-CREF day of action, with office visits and protests in different parts of the country--New York, Detroit, Chicago, Louisville, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, to name a few.

 

See if you can recognize this Chanukah song

Bulldozer, dozer, dozer

I smash your house to clay

And when I’m good and ready

Home destruction I shall play

 

...or this Christmas carol

You'd better divest

You'd better not buy

Each dollar to Cat helps fund apartheid

Caterpillar’s coming to town

 

- read the full lyrics and actually listen to the songs here: http://www.davelippman.com/CATsongs.html

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DEC 10: TELL TIAA-CREF: DIVEST FROM THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION

Sydney Levy

Director of Campaigns | Jewish Voice for Peace

1611 Telegraph Ave., Suite 550; Oakland, California 94612

ph: 510 465 1777 x302 | fx: 510 465 1616

sydney@jewishvoiceforpeace.org | www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org

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"Activism is my rent for living on this planet." - Alice Walker