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Published on PR Watch (https://www.prwatch.org)
Home > Some of America's Biggest Corporations Help Finance Anti-Impeachment Ads
Some of America's Biggest Corporations Help Finance Anti-Impeachment Ads [1]
Submitted by Alex Kotch [2] on January 2, 2020 - 4:42pm
In the last few months, two conservative political spending groups have peppered the airwaves and the internet with ads against Democrats' impeachment efforts, often slamming representatives in swing or conservative districts.
As of Dec. 7, the two groups had spent roughly $10 million [3] targeting Democratic representatives in districts that Donald Trump had won in 2016, according to The Washington Post. After the impeachment vote, which occurred on Dec. 18, one group announced a new $2.5 million ad campaign [4] attacking 29 Democrats who represent Trump districts and voted to impeach the president.
Who might be funding these ads?
The answer is tricky because both groups-the American Action Network (AAN), which is closely tied to House Republican leadership, and the pro-Trump America First Policies (AFP)-are dark-money nonprofits that are not required to disclose the names of their donors. But based on previous reporting and new CMD research, we can identify the sources of nearly $36 million to AAN and $5.7 million to AFP in the last decade.
American Action Network
Of the known donors to AAN since 2010, most represent corporate interests. Companies, corporate PACs, and trade associations have provided $28.3 million, or 79 percent, of the known $36.1 million of AAN funding. The rest came from 501(c)(4) "social welfare" nonprofits, one union, and one campaign committee.
This report builds on research [5] on AAN's funders by Issue One, a campaign finance reform nonprofit. The findings come from annual federal tax records, Federal Election Commission data, and voluntary corporate disclosures. AAN raises tens of millions of dollars each year, so the majority of the sources of its funding are still unknown.
The AAN website features five key issues [6]-defense, energy, health care, the opioid crisis, and tax reform-all of which directly impact its corporate donors.
Easily the biggest AAN contributor is the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the most prominent drug industry trade group in the country. From 2011 to 2018, PhRMA gave over $16 million to the AAN, including $2.5 million in 2018.
AAN published a memo this summer that promoted health care industry talking points [7] against Medicare for All, a policy that drug companies oppose because it would allow the federal government to negotiate drug prices.
In October, AAN launched a $2.5 million ad campaign [8] against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-CA) drug pricing negotiation plan, targeting more than 20 House Democrats, and kicked off a similar $4 million campaign [9] in December.
Another pharmaceutical industry donor to AAN is PhRMA-member Eli Lilly, which donated $200,000 through its corporate PAC in 2017. Additional PhRMA members, including Allergan, Johnson & Johnson, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, and Teva Pharmaceuticals, are opioid manufacturers and have been sued by multiple states over their roles in the national crisis.
In mid-2018, AAN produced ads [10] supporting congressional efforts to pass a bill addressing opioids, the same bill that pharmaceutical companies attempted to "hijack" and turn into "a giant pharmaceutical company bailout [11]," according to Democratic Sen. Tina Smith (MN). PhRMA and its members wanted to "correct" a provision in a February 2018 budget bill that required drugmakers to offer deeper discounts to Medicare beneficiaries whose spending on prescription drugs fell within a range called the coverage gap. The change would have effectively given the drug industry $4 billion [12] that was intended to be spent on combating opioid addiction.
Major health insurer Aetna gave over $3.3 million in AAN in 2011 as the group was fighting the Affordable Care Act. Years later, health care interests were still giving, and AAN was still fighting the same law. In 2017, AAN spent [13] millions [14] of dollars to support Republican efforts to repeal the ACA by passing the American Health Care Act. The bill passed the House but not the Senate that year.
In 2017, corporate trade association Business Roundtable made its first known contribution of $6 million to AAN. Business Roundtable's members [15] are CEOs of the nation's largest companies, including multiple PhRMA members and opioid manufacturers, such as Allergan, Johnson & Johnson, and Mallinckrodt. Other members include chief executives of some of the same corporate interests that have donated directly to AAN and AFP, such as aerospace and defense giant Boeing, aerospace and manufacturing conglomerate Honeywell, aerospace corporation United Technologies, and chemical company Dow. Health insurers Anthem and Cigna, fossil fuel interests Chevron and ExxonMobil, and financial firms Citigroup and Goldman Sachs are also Business Roundtable members. The group has lobbied for corporate tax cuts [16] and deregulated international trade policies, and against restrictions on executive compensation and increased power for shareholders.
Other major donations to AAN include $4 million from the Republican Jewish Coalition in 2010 and $2.3 million from the Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition in 2017. The coalition supported the 2017 Republican tax cut bill [17], which cut taxes for big corporations and wealthy Americans. AAN helped pass the law by spending tens of millions of dollars [18] on advertising, much of which praised Republican lawmakers for supporting the bill during the legislative process.
Additional trade groups that have donated to AAN in recent years include the Retail Industry Leaders Association ($800,000 in 2017), the Association of American Railroads ($300,000 from 2014 to 2017), and the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America ($120,000 from 2013 to 2017).
Companies have donated large sums to AAN directly and through their corporate PACs. In addition to Aetna and Eli Lilly, Dow Chemical gave $500,000 to AAN from 2017 to 2018, according to its own corporate filings; Boeing gave $250,000 in 2017 through its PAC; and the PACs of Honeywell and United Technologies each gave $50,000 in 2017 and 2018.
In 2015, AAN spent over $400,000 [19] on ads advocating for increased Department of Homeland Security funding. Under Trump, DHS contracts with Honeywell and United Technologies have skyrocketed. In 2016, Honeywell [20] made just under $5 million from DHS; two years later, the company had scored almost $30 million in DHS contracts. United Technologies [21] earned $388,000 from DHS in 2016; in 2018, that figure was nearly $4.1 million.
AAN Chairman Norm Coleman, a lobbyist and former Republican senator from Minnesota, wrote several essays extolling the war on terror [22] in 2016.
In previous years, fossil fuel interests have donated to AAN. In 2010, the Natural Gas Alliance gave $35,000, and the American Petroleum Institute gave $250,000 in 2012. Since then, AAN has advocated for oil, gas, and coal industry interests, including running ads in 2015 opposing the Paris Climate Agreement.
America First Policies
The Trump-inspired AFP launched a $2.3-million [3] anti-impeachment ad campaign in early December targeting 27 vulnerable Democratic House incumbents, adding to its earlier $1 million effort when the impeachment inquiry begun earlier this year.
The group was founded by veterans of the Trump presidential campaign, and AFP official Brian O. Walsh told [23] The New York Times, "America First Policies exists for one reason: to support the president of the United States and his agenda."
Most donors to AFP are largely still a secret, but previous reporting has identified four companies and two trade groups that have made six- and seven-figure donations to the group. PhRMA is an AFP donor, having given $2.5 million in 2017. The other donors are tobacco giant Reynolds American, gas and electric utility Southern Company, Dow Chemical, pharmacy benefit manager CVS Health, and the American Financial Services Association, a trade group of credit companies, including many auto lenders. The $125,000 grant from AFSA in 2017 was the organization's only donation that year.
These known donors accounted for $5.7 million out of AFP's nearly $22.2 million in contributions in 2017, meaning that the sources of roughly three-quarters of the group's revenue that year are unknown. In 2018 [24], AFP took in $15.6 million in donations.
In 2018, CVS Health, Dow, and Southern Company said they would cease donations [25] to AFP, which has employed multiple staff members who espoused racist [26], sexist, homophobic, anti-Muslim, and antisemitic [27] sentiments, after the contributions were uncovered [28] by MapLight. Reynolds American did not post a list of its 2018 donations to nonprofit political groups, a practice it did from 2012 to 2017 [29], so it's unclear if the company continued to donate to AFP.
The term "America First," which Trump adopted as one of his main policy taglines, has a long racist and antisemitic history [30]. Perhaps most well known is the America First Committee, a group that opposed the U.S.'s entry into World War II and was led by antisemitic figures like Henry Ford and Charles Lindbergh.
Connected Groups
AAN and AFP both have sister super PACs, which are required to disclose their donors and, therefore, may provide a window into the identities of the unknown donors to the dark-money nonprofits.
AAN's connected super PAC, the Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF), is a giant super PAC that spent $138 million [31] on independent expenditures in the 2018 elections. That cycle, Sheldon and Miriam Adelson donated a combined $50 million to CLF.
CLF receives funding from American Action Network, as well as a number of fossil fuel companies and GOP megadonors. In the first half of 2019, finance executives Paul Singer and Ken Griffin each gave $1 million, oil companies Valero and Chevron gave $500,000 a piece, Koch Industries pitched in $250,000, and Reynolds American gave $100,000.
AAN has another affiliate, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit American Action Forum (AAF), to which PhRMA has also donated. From 2012 to 2018, the trade group gave $555,000 to AAF, according to tax records. Aside from AAN, other donors include the Financial Services Forum ($1 million from 2013 to 2016), the Motion Picture Association of America ($120,000 for 2014 to 2017), the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association ($85,000 from fiscal year 2016 to fiscal year 2018), pharmaceutical trade group the Association for Accessible Medicines ($55,000 in 2016), and the Business Roundtable ($50,000 in 2017).
America First Action is the super PAC linked to AFP. In May, the Trump campaign took the unusual action of officially "approving [32]" the super PAC, saying, "There is one approved outside, non-campaign group, America First Action, which is run by allies of the President and is a trusted supporter of President Trump's policies and agendas."
Since 2017, America First Action has raked in close to $47 million in contributions, including $6 million from real estate developer Geoffrey Palmer, $10 million from Sheldon and Miriam Adelson, $3 million from Cherna Moskowitz, wife of businessman Irving Moskowitz, and $2 million from bank CEO Andrew Beal [33], who formerly advised Trump, according to a CMD analysis of Federal Election Commission data.
Other GOP megadonors have helped bankroll America First Action, including Linda McMahon, who became the group's chair this year after serving as Trump's Small Business Administration administrator ($1 million), tech billionaire Darwin Deason ($1 million), and Uline president Richard Uihlein and his wife, Elizabeth ($500,000 each). Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta [34],Trump allies and co-founders of Zuffa, LLC, each gave $1 million.
Corporations Wheatland Tube ($2 million) and Vital Pharmaceuticals ($250,000), and fossil fuel companies Murray Energy ($1 million), Continental Resources ($578,000), and JMA Energy ($65,000), have also contributed.
A $325,000 donation to American First Action by Global Energy Producers was part of a scheme by Rudy Giuliani associates Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman to mask illegal foreign sources of big political donations, a crime for which both have been indicted [35].
In the 2018 election cycle, America First Action spent over $29 million [36] on ads supporting Republican congressional candidates or opposing Democratic candidates.
Corporations [37]
Democracy [38]
Politics [39]
Right Wing [40]
U.S. Government [41]
Alex Kotch [2]
Alex Kotch is an investigative reporter based in Brooklyn, New York, and a contributor for the Center for Media and Democracy. A campaign finance expert, Alex helped launch money-in-politics website Sludge, and his work has been published by more than two dozen media outlets including International Business Times, The American Prospect, The Nation and Vice.com.
Read more here. [43]
Source URL: https://www.prwatch.org/news/2020/01/13522/some-america%E2%80%99s-biggest-corporations-help-finance-anti-impeachment-ads
[1] https://www.prwatch.org/news/2020/01/13522/some-america%E2%80%99s-biggest-corporations-help-finance-anti-impeachment-ads
[2] https://www.prwatch.org/users/35548/alex-kotch
[3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-mount-ad-blitz-on-impeachment-making-some-vulnerable-democrats-nervous/2019/12/07/b771f2b4-1781-11ea-a659-7d69641c6ff7_story.html
[4] https://americanactionnetwork.org/press/aan-announces-2-5-million-tv-and-digital-impeachment-advertising-campaign/
[5] https://www.issueone.org/dark-money-groups-american-action-network/
[6] https://americanactionnetwork.org/issues/
[7] https://readsludge.com/2019/11/17/big-pharma-keeps-bankrolling-house-republicans-dark-money-arm/
[8] https://mailchi.mp/aanmail/aan-launches-25-million-campaign-against-pelosis-socialist-drug-bill?e=240ca0f9c1
[9] https://americanactionnetwork.org/press/aan-slams-pelosis-heartless-drug-plan-announces-4-million-in-advocacy-fo
[10] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYX9ItNOjWM
[11] https://twitter.com/SenTinaS
[12] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/24/us/politics/opioid-bill-drug-companies.html
[13] https://www.americanactionnetwork.org/press/aan-dedicates-minimum-5-million-members-backing-aca-repeal-efforts/?_ga=2.104336834.330407188.1577120856-1985798104.1577120856
[14] https://americanactionnetwork.org/press/american-action-network-launches-targe
[15] https://www.businessroundtable.org/about-us/members
[16] https://maplight.org/story/corporate-trade-organization-increased-donations-by-18000-percent-to-boost-tax-legislation/
[17] https://www.mainstreetgrowthandopportunity.org/31-years-lawmakers-release-tax-overhaul-bill/
[18] https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/23/conservative-dark-money-group-american-action-network-reveals-spending-blitz-to-push-trump-tax-cut.html
[19] https://americanactionnetwork.org/
[20] https://www.usaspending.gov/
[21] https://www.usaspending.gov/#/search/235babb8038e3e5ab6e84d4b26024387
[22] https://www.americanactionnetwork.org/protecting-america-in-a-better-way/?_ga=2.213168534.303515484.1577207872-1615060067.1577207872
[23] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/21/us/politics/trump-stepien-lewandowki.html
[24] https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6550511-America-First-Policies-2018-990.html
[25] https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/01/politics/kfile-cvs-trump-advocacy-group/index.html
[26] https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/16/politics/kfile-carl-higbie-america-first-policies/index.html
[27] https://www.mediaite.com/online/watch-policy-advisor-for-trump-tied-america-first-g
[28] https://maplight.org/story/southern-co-cvs-dow-chemical-funding-trump-dark-money-group-tied-to-racist-anti-semitic-views/
[29] https://www.reynoldsamerican.com/transforming-tobacco/Corporate-Political-Expenditures/default.aspx
[30] https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/apr/21/end-of-the-american-dream-the-dark-history-of-america-first
[31] https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?cycle=2018&strID=C00504530
[32] https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/10/politics/trump-2020-and-big-money/index.html
[33] https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/16/trump-rnc-turn-to-titans-of-industry-to-help-raise-over-100-million.html
[34] https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tariniparti/the-bros-of-the-ultimate-fighting-championship-are-all-in
[35] https://www.vox.com/2019/10/10/20907972/lev-parnas-igor-fruman-rudy-giuliani-arrested
[36] https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/indexpend.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00637512
[37] https://www.prwatch.org/topics/corporations
[38] https://www.prwatch.org/topics/democracy
[39] https://www.prwatch.org/topics/politics
[40] https://www.prwatch.org/topics/politics/right-wing
[41] https://www.prwatch.org/topics/us-government
[42] https://www.prwatch.org/news-types/news
[43] http://www.prwatch.org/news/35548


text:
Q: Null References - Where in the C++ Standard
Possible Duplicates:
C++: null reference
When does invoking a member function on a null instance result in undefined behavior?

Is there any section in the C++ standard the shows that NULL references are ill-formed?
I am trying to show my lecturer (this is for an assignment for which I am being graded) that the following expression is undefined behaviour:
AClass* ptr = 0;
AClass& ali = *ptr;
std::cout << "\n" << (AClass*) &ali << '\n';

The violations I see, is dereferencing of a null pointer, and then referencing a null reference. In an a program he is using as a correct example, he is comparing the return of the dereferenced pointer reference:
(AClass*) &ali != (AClass*) 0

As a test for an objects validity. I saw this as completely undefined behavior; I want to find a quote from the standard that is a bit more concrete for my explanation.
If I'm wrong, then please show where I have made an error.

A: §8.5.3/1: "A variable declared to be a T&, that is "reference to type T" (8.3.2), shall be initialized by an object, or function, of type T or by an object that can be converted into a T."
The code above does not initialize the reference with an object or function of type T or an object that can be converted to T. The violates the "shall". At that point, the only room for question is whether it's undefined behavior, or whether this qualifies as a diagnosable rule, in which case the compiler would be required to give an error message. Either way, it's clearly wrong though.

A: You should use pointers, and not references, if you wish to reassign. References are initialized once and for all and cannot be reassigned. Pointers can be created but left uninitialized, plus they can be reassigned.
8.3.2/1:
A reference shall be initialized to refer to a valid object or function.
[Note: in particular, a null reference
cannot exist in a well-defined program, because the only way to create such
a reference would be to bind it to the
"object" obtained by dereferencing a null pointer, which causes undefined
behavior. As described in 9.6, a reference cannot be bound directly to a bit-field]

1.9/4:
Certain other operations are described in this International Standard as undefined
(for example, the effect of dereferencing the null pointer)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Hi everyone, my mum has been feeling extremely weak and sick for a few weeks, she does not suffer from hypo/hyper thyroids, no heart related problems, does anyone out there have the same issues and perhaps a diagnosis?
Well, no one here could possibly diagnose her. Most of us aren't medical professionals, and those that are would need a lot more information.
Be that as it may, since thyroid has been apparently ruled out, I'd be looking in the direction of things like anemia and the Epstein-Barr virus. There are of course a million other possibilities but those two spring to mind immediately.
All of this, naturally, would be under the direction of her doctor giving her tests and following up with questions, etc. I'm sorry she's feeling poorly, and I hope you very soon get the answers that you seek.
I'd also look at blood pressure issues. But, hey, easy enough if she has access. she should go to the doctor.


text:
Military Lending Act Protects Service Members and Institutions Supporting Them
Jason Laky
The men and women in the U.S. armed forces protect our country every day. To protect these service members and their families from predatory lending practices, Congress passed the Military Lending Act (MLA) in 2006. At that time at least 17% of uniformed personnel used payday loans with fees equal to 400% APR or higher.1 The MLA forbids lenders to:
Charge more than 36% APR
Secure loans with a personal check or access to a bank account, title, personal vehicle, or military allotment in certain situations
Charge prepayment penalties
Issue rollovers, renewals, refinancing, or consolidations on deferred presentment/payday loans unless the renewal was at better terms for the borrower
Last year the Department of Defense declared a Final Rule Amendment to the act, expanding coverage and helping close loopholes. The Final Rule incorporates significant changes to the original MLA law regarding eligibility, MAPR, and broader coverage, extending the protections of the MLA to all forms of payday loans, vehicle title loans, refund anticipation loans, deposit advance loans, installment loans, unsecured open-end lines of credit, and credit cards.
These changes will have serious implications for lenders, as failure to comply with MLA regulations beginning October 2016 (in most instances) can mean both civil and criminal penalties. If your institution offers products and services to military members and their families, the compliance process will likely require an extensive review of internal controls and risk management procedures. But rest assured that you have options.
So that you can better understand the scope of the Military Lending Act as it applies to financial institutions, your options, and steps you can take to ensure compliance, plan to attend our Military Lending Act webinar where we'll share details on how TransUnion can help you can comply.
Jason Laky is the business leader for consumer lending and auto finance within the TransUnion Financial Services vertical, and oversees the business strategy, market planning, business development and financial performance of the automotive and consumer lending sub-verticals. To contact Jason, please email jlaky@transunion.com.
1Department of Defense Report on Predatory Lending Practices Directed at Members of the Armed Forces and Their Dependents. August 9, 2009
2020 Predictions: Consumer Credit, Balance and Delinquency Rates
Exploring the Rise of Point-of-Sale Financing – Part 2
Auto Lending: How to Think Consumer First
Why Credit Unions Value TransUnion as a Data and Analytics Partner

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I d Rather Be in the Studio The Artist s No Excuse Guide to Self Promotion offers practical approaches that help you sell art and build an art career that lasts Alyson B Stanfield, the art marketing guru behind ArtBizCoach, shares self promotion tools that have enhanced the careers of thousands of artists You ll learn how to 1 Introduce yourself as an artisI d Rather Be in the Studio The Artist s No Excuse Guide to Self Promotion offers practical approaches that help you sell art and build an art career that lasts Alyson B Stanfield, the art marketing guru behind ArtBizCoach, shares self promotion tools that have enhanced the careers of thousands of artists You ll learn how to 1 Introduce yourself as an artist so people want to know 2 Nail your artist statement to discover the right words for all of your marketing messages 3 Expand your mailing list and use it to cultivate collectors 4 Create marketing materials that outshine the competition 5 Become a media magnet so buyers come to you 6 Take advantage of your Web site and blog to build a bigger audience and much It would be great if there were a precise formula for getting your art into galleries, museums and private collections But every artist s path is different That s why I d Rather Be in the Studio provides easy to follow self promotion practices that help you find your way at any point in your career Match Internet marketing strategies with sincere personal skills to take charge of your career.
If you're an artist trying to develop your business, this book is a must have. Alyson breaks down segments of being an artist into easy to digest "Actions" (not chapters) and has a ton of great ideas in the pages of this book. I had already read many different art business books by the time I came across this one, but Alyson Stanfield's book quickly moved to the top of the list.I highly recommend this book to any aspiring or established artist out there.
This book is an invaluable reference resource for artists. I ended up highlighting half of it, and I found advice that I hadn't read in The Artist's Way or any other marketing book.
I purchased this book ten years ago to educate myself on promoting and marketing art. Since then, I have given away many copies to artist who, well would rather be in the studio. This book provides a condensed, comprehensive breakdown on how one can focus on their passion while seeking avenues of self-promotion in an organized and professional manner.I strongly recommend it!
This book has a lot of great information. However, I would like to see an updated version.
This is a very helpful book for Artists who are wanting to move from hobby to business with their visual art. At some level the tips can be applied to other self-employed creative types as well. Some of the content can be skimmed through for the tech savvy reader. On the other end I skimmed some of it because my husband understands and will be helping me with aspects that are beyond my comprehension at this time.
This is a really practical book for any artist looking to run a business. There is no earth shattering advice here, but the book is instrumental because of how it is organized and sets forth goals and tasks. I would make it mandatory reading for all artists aspiring to make money from their efforts.
If you're not ready to take marketing actions, don't read this book! The book is basically a long todo list organized to help the reader overcome their excuses. Marketing is an area of weakness, so it helped to get some items to do, yet it was overwhelming to see all that wasn't being done.
Fantastic book, and I only wish I finished it when I got it. I feel a re-read is in order, though, so I can come up with a good plan for getting my art out in the world. It's a good playbook for self-promoting your art.
This book gives practical, good advice to artists of all kinds, but mostly visual artists, on marketing.I learned a lot from this book, and am working now to implement many of the ideas. Each idea takes time, but if you work on it bit by bit, a lot can be accomplished.
I believe Alyson Stanfield is the best author I have encountered who writes about the particulars of marketing for artists. For those artists out there - check out artbizcoach to view more of her gifts and talents.
Perfect for those of us who cringe at tooting our own horn. There are some good ideas and pointers in this, and some that might not apply at the moment but to be aware of. It gives a good starting place for promoting yourself and your work without being too starry eyed "make it and they will come."
If you are an artist and want to succeed in terms of finances, read this book and practice what she suggests. It works!
Tons of great information and advice and truly a fitting title! Have gone back to use this as a reference multiple times.
I highly recommend this book to any and every artist starting to sell or thinking of selling their creations.
I continue to learn more andmore about staying the course. very upbeat info and guidance for any artist working in the world.
Perfect for the individual looking to promote their art business or really any business. So helpful in several ways. Very easy read.
I'm marking this to-read, but I already know Alyson Stanfield gives amazing advice. This book will be more confirmation of that. I'll get it on my next book order for sure!
One of the best "Business of Art" books out there. She also has a good blog and wonderful podcasts. I would highly recommend this book to any serious artist.


We sat down with one of Charleston's best bakers, Laney of Delicious Desserts, to talk all about sweets! She shared how she went from a chef on a Naval ship to making some of the lowcountry's best desserts. We also chatted about design trends for 2018 and her tips for brides looking for their ideal wedding cake. Check out the full convo in the video below!


text:
Author Aims to Make Books Accessible to Young Readers in Rural Areas: 'Reading Is an Adventure and a Skill'
The Appalachian Literacy Initiative gets books into the hands of young readers, teaching children in neighborhoods with limited library access that each page is a world of possibilities.
By Kelly Bryant November 09, 2021
If you're an avid reader, it's hard to imagine a world without books. Whether it be a fictional fantastical escape or a real-life memoir, books teach us so much about other people, places, and things we don't typically encounter in our everyday lives. However, for many children who either live in remote or underserved areas of the country, books aren't easily accessible.
This is why the Appalachian Literacy Initiative, based in Bristol, Tennessee, was founded. Through monetary donations, the organization buys books at a steep discount from publishers and social justice initiatives. A child enrolled in the program receives four books they get to keep each year. At the end of the school year, their teacher is given a classroom set of 24 books.
"Access to books is a large problem in this area," says Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, an author of 18 children's books and co-founder of the initiative. "If you live in a remote area and it takes you an hour round trip to get to a library of any sort, you're not likely to go there very often."
According to the United States Department of Education, 61 percent of low-income children don't have any books in their homes.
Brubaker Bradley is passionate about reading and always has been. As a child, a good book felt like an adventure, and it still does. This is why she's compelled to help local school kids gain access to those age-appropriate page-turners. They not only provide an escape from a daily routine but also practice with reading to help elevate their literacy skills.
When there are no jobs and you have no transportation and the nearest town is 30 miles away you really are in a hard place. You don't have a way to get resources and we ought to be able to get books into the hands of the kids and get them reading at a proficient level.
"One of the best ways to predict if a kid will graduate from high school is if they can read at a fourth-grade level by the end of fourth grade," she says. "At the beginning of fifth grade, all of the other subjects start to rely on the fact that the child knows how to read. If they can't, they're going to be in trouble when they have to start reading in order to learn history and science."
RELATED: 30 Best Children's Books of 2021
When the non-profit first started, they focused solely on fourth graders to help bring their reading proficiency up to speed. After a successful start in 2018, the initiative was able to expand enrollment to include fifth graders as well, and now third graders are added to the mix.
"What we're trying to do is get the same group of kids through three different years," she says. "Next year we hope to be in 60 classrooms in each of the three different grades, so a total of 180 classrooms. We want to build on success. We want to be able to say it's not just one book, here's four books, and now here's 12 books."
It's an impressive operation, and their hard work is paying off in spades.
Brubaker Bradley recalls a letter she received from a student enrolled in the program, who mentioned she keeps two of her books at home and two at school. This way she always has something to read. While the initiative's team isn't doing this for the accolades, the excitement generated by their book fairs is a lovely reward for their efforts.
"All we're trying to do is give them books that they have chosen, that they will enjoy, that they can keep, and that will help them learn that reading is something they can do," she says. "It's something that can be fun and it's valuable."
RELATED: I'm a Mom and a Literacy Specialist: Here's How to Read to Your Kids to Inspire a Love of Books
The initiative is also eager to support teachers who are doing the best they can with very limited resources. Ultimately, Brubaker Bradley would like to see the school systems reassess their spending and put more money towards buying books and less on testing. Until then, the Appalachian Literacy Initiative is here to help.
"Reading is just how you get to the story," she says. "And everybody loves stories."
To make a donation to the Appalachian Literacy Initiative, head to https://readappalachian.org/donate/. The site also features enrollment forms for teachers interested in getting their classrooms involved with the project.


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Regulators start investigation into electric car battery fires
Easton & Easton2022-01-04T16:50:30+00:00November 22nd, 2013|
On behalf of Easton & Easton, LLP posted in Product Liability on Friday, November 22, 2013.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating California electric car company Tesla's Model S after two vehicles experienced battery fires.
In both of these cases, the car safety mechanisms worked properly, warning the drivers that the car was compromised. As a result, both were able to get out of the vehicle without experiencing any bodily harm.
Still, there are more than 13,000 cars on the road of this same made and model, so investigators are not taking any chances that there could be an underlying defect that may pose a risk to many more people. Experts say that the battery is located underneath the passenger compartment and that damage to the battery can cause sparks, leading to a fire. Since this design is consistent among all of the Model S vehicles, it could be a design defect that makes the car unreasonably dangerous for consumers. If that is the case, the NHTSA will likely institute a recall to get these cars off of the road and may require Tesla to redesign the battery to ameliorate this risk.
The founder and CEO of the company noted in a statement that their vehicles catch fire at a lower rate than gas-powered vehicles and that at this point there have been no injuries. In order to further reduce the likelihood of harm the company sent out an over-the-air software update to raise the suspension height slightly to keep the battery further from the ground where it could be damaged.
Car fires caused by defective parts can pose a very serious threat to the public. Car manufactures must act to protect drivers and passengers when a widespread problem is known to cause fires in their vehicles. If they do not act appropriately and people are injured or killed, the car company should be held accountable for their negligence.
Source: The Los Angeles Daily News, "Tesla car battery fires probed by US safety agency," Tom Krisher, Nov. 19, 2013
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This detached holiday home is located in the Roche development near Conil de la Frontera, within walking distance from the beach (about 700 m). The holiday home has a 1500 m2 garden where kids can play freely. There are various terraces around the house. You can also use the barbeque and dine al fresco with family and friends. The interior is homey and everything is present for a pleasant stay. The thick walls assure that the holiday home remains cool and no air conditioning is necessary. If youd like a bit of a cool off, then take a dip in the sea and enjoy the white beaches. The Roche development has a sports complex with tennis courts, a paddle court, a football and volleyball pitch where guests can play (for a fee). You walk right from the holiday home into a nature park where it is lovely to walk and/or cycle. Conil de la Frontera is a typical Andalusian fishing village. Stroll through the small streets and relax in one of the authentic restaurants and bars. Visit Jerez de la Frontera (45 km) which is famous for being the home of sherry. Here you can smell the scent of the sherry from the bodegas when you stroll through the streets. For culture, go to the historic cities of Cádiz (approx. 45km) or Sevilla (130km).
This luxury apartment is part of the 'Alcaidesa Golf & Beach Resort' and is close to several golf courses, which is handy! You have plenty to choose from; the Alcaides Links Golf is just around the corner and has two golf courses, 36 holes altogether. It is fantastically located with views of Gibraltar and even Africa. But also the golf courses of San Roque, Valderrama and Sotogrande are beautiful and easily accessible. Even if you are not a golfer, you will certainly enjoy yourself here. The apartment is comfortable and has a lovely covered terrace and a private garden with sunbeds. Cool off in the communal swimming pool and the beach is only approx. 800 m away (internet with fiber optics and provision of an internet touch pc for internet search). Alcaidesa is located between the cities of Estepona and Gibraltar and a few minutes from Sotogrande with a cosy, luxurious marina and many restaurants. Gibraltar is worth a visit, and from the rock (accessible via a cable car) you have a beautiful view of Morocco. Maybe a lovely idea for a day trip? If you just want to stay in Andalusia, then you are in a different world; the interior of Andalusia with beautiful nature and picturesque white caps.
Located in Cadiz Province. Sublet.com Listing ID 3730734. For more information and pictures visit https:// ... /rent.asp and enter listing ID 3730734. Contact Sublet.com at ... if you have questions.
Located in Cadiz Province. Sublet.com Listing ID 3710304. For more information and pictures visit https:// ... /rent.asp and enter listing ID 3710304. Contact Sublet.com at ... if you have questions.
Located in Cadiz Province. Sublet.com Listing ID 3710303. For more information and pictures visit https:// ... /rent.asp and enter listing ID 3710303. Contact Sublet.com at ... if you have questions.
Special Offer - "El Patio Apartment", City Center, Beaches, Sun.
Accommodation THE APARTMENT THE PATIO is located in the historic center of Chipiona, near the Castle and beaches.
Apartment for rent in Tarifa.
Tarifa house For Rent Long Term.
Holiday Country Home for rent in Tarifa.
Holiday rental 3 bedrom house close to Ibiza Ref: H203.
This seasonal villa rental in Ibiza enjoys a good geographic location. The house is located very close to Las Salinas, Sant Jordi, Playa den Bossa and Ibiza Airport, without close neighbors, offering total privacy on 15,000 square meters of land. The house comprises a living room with fireplace, dining room, kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Outdoor covered terrace with WEBER gas grill Infinity pool and beautiful 15,000 square meters outside the area / garden. Digital TV / SKY TV and fast WIFI / Internet connection Location: Ibiza town 8 minutes – Airport 5 minutes – Playa den Bossa 7 minutes – Blue Marlin 8 minutes – Las Salinas Beach 7 minutes.
Top renovated cottage with AC Costa Blanca, Wi-Fi, sea views v. Roof terrace.
In this great holiday region you can expect at least 300 days of sunshine a year. The clean, clean, sandy beaches are certified with the 'blue flag' and achieve in a short time of Casa Puschner.
Luxury villas located 6 (up to 8) persons.
Detached villa with private pool and parking space for the car with electric gate. southern orientation 3 bedrooms (2 rooms with double bed, 1 bedroom with two single beds). Each room has its own private bathroom.
Beachfront apartment Cala Del Pino - free WIFI - La Manga.
exceptionally bright and fresh apartment in Cala del Pino, aboard pine trees, 50 meters from the sea.
Beautiful apt with pool access.
This apartment, located in Villamartín, is ideal for 4 vacationers. It offers 2 bedrooms, a pool access, a furnished terrace and WiFi. The lounge is perfect for unwinding after a day of exploration.
Luxury Villa with Pool & Jacuzzi Overlooking Beach in Atlanterra,Zahara (Atunes).
At Villa Miramar we have sought to combine luxury with a high degree of comfort.
Luxury Holiday Apartment Overlooking Golf Course.
Located in San Roque Club Resort near Sotogrande, 5 minutes from the coast, between Gibraltar and Marbella in a very beautiful location.
Apartment in the historic center.
The apartment has 1 bedroom with 2 single beds, a living room with 1 double sofa bed, dining area and a balcony overlooking the street, fully equipped with washing machine and all the amenities you could need kitchen.
Bed and breakfast La Luciérnaga for 10 people.


As I was packing for my own holiday vacation last night, I got to thinking about the excitement that comes with the final preparation for a family holiday—the sense of adventure, freedom, and anticipation that feels a bit like the first hill of a really fun roller coaster! The pleasure in knowing that the next seven days are being spent with the ones you love, the people that make all the hard work in life worth it. It's also all about breaking the routines of your daily life and making the small things large— things like connecting with the people and feelings most important to you.
I think this is also how our timeshare consumers feel as they embark on their vacations at wonderful resorts around the world. In our industry, we are the creators of these important memories for millions of families like yours and mine, which makes me love even more what we do as our core business: resort development. We should never forget that the thousands of people who comprise this wonderful industry get to be the "chefs" of the vacations du jour, and how fortunate we are.
So, my holiday challenge to you is to "walk the walk" of better vacationing. Take the time this holiday to plan that getaway with the ones you love. Make it a priority to stop and appreciate the small things and do what all satisfied timeshare owners do—plan a better vacation!
Happy New Year and best wishes for a successful and rejuvenating 2012!


It appears that under certain circumstances the dashboard does not show the activity stream properly. Instead of recent updates, you see a message saying "There are no stream activities yet" or similar. If you have not posted an update in a while, the system fails to retrieve the activity stream for you to view. This issue has affected a couple of us so far, and we are working on a permanent fix. For now, if your activity stream appears to be empty, simply post an update message from your dashboard and you should see your activity return as normal. Again, we are working on a permanent fix, thanks for your patience!!!


In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt mix well. Set aside.
In large bowl, combine peanut butter, honey, tofu, oil, and vanilla, and mix well. Add the flour mixture to the tofu mixture and mix well.
Cover dough with plastic wrap and chill for 1 to 2 hours.
Form the dough into 1-inch balls. Arrange on parchment-lined cookie sheets and press lightly with a fork to form a criss-cross design.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until soft to the touch. Let stand on cookie sheet for 1 minute before removing to wire rack to complete cooling.