Memorial Day Weekend: Honoring Ancestors, Family, Friends, Fun!

Hey World Family,
Falcon here, wishing you all a great weekend, and a happy Memorial Day weekend to our U.S. family, and Victoria Day to our Canadian Brothers and Sisters!

There are plenty of things to do this weekend, outdoors and in: movies (Terminator: Salvation opens and is a magnificently terrifying trip), get out to many festivals (eat all those foods you never allow yourself to have the rest of the year, in moderation), get out to the park, pool, or just clean up the yard (like Falcon), and remember what Memorial Day is for: honoring our war dead, and those who served who have passed on. Falcon and Dove honor all ancestors during this period, and we hope you will have some reflective time to do the same.

One important point about this weekend is history. Our holidays frequently honor our history, yet many don’t really know that much about why we honor what we celebrate. Keeping up the places that help remind us of our wonderful, tragic, mournful, and triumphant history is something that goes overlooked frequently. Falcon and Dove love history, so we are going to do our part to support organizations that support education us all on the history that has brought us to where we are...and reminds us to remember the lessons of that past lest we repeat the most challenging lessons our that past due to inattention to those lessons.

Falcon visited the Derry Area Historical Society this week, for a wonderful presentation and screening of Andy McAllister’s important film, Out of the Ground”, which we have told you is an extremely moving and important film. Again, it will be shown as part of the Film and Wine Festival in Johnstown, PA on July 11, and we hope you can come out and see it, meet the director, and have some serious fun!

DAHS is in a wonderful cabin in Derry, PA of course. It is a wonderful trip back into history, and is in great hands with John Matviya. He is warm and thoroughly informed about the history of the region. Get out this summer, visit Pennsylvania and make sure you stop there and say hello. The region is so stunningly beautiful (this is the shire, after all), you may never want to leave. Can get here, but still would like to help out, here is a way to help. Falcon got this fine invitation from John:

357 Pittsburgh Street
P. O. Box 64
New Derry, PA 15671
724 – 694 – 8808
www.derryhistory.org

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING A DAHS INNKEEPER
This is the fourth year that our historical society has been able to conduct its business and maintain the historic Fulton House without continual fundraising efforts due to the great success of our Innkeeper Patron program. The “Innkeepers” are a generous group of people and businesses who have each donated $175.00 to cover the monthly costs of running our society during the course of the year. Our 2009 Innkeepers, listed on the back, agreed last year to fund our general operating expenses in 2009 allowing our general membership dues and other donations to go directly into outreach and educational activities in our community. Because of their generosity, the DAHS Board of Directors does not have to waste time worrying about how to pay the utility bills each month!

Our historical society continues to be very active and involved in numerous exciting initiatives. This year we have expanded to the corners of the Derry Area with the relocation of our Family and Community Research Center to the New Alexandria Public Library. The relocation allows us to be open and available to our members and visitors 5 days a week, every week, while freeing up the Fulton House to provide more historical exhibits throughout the warmer season. A separate fund drive, when completed, will fulfill our dream to reconstruct the Fulton House’s fireplace, encouraging better use of that facility in the cooler months.

Without our 2009 Innkeepers none of what we have accomplished could have been undertaken. We sincerely thank them and appreciate their interest in our society’s mission. It is now time to sign up to become one of the 2010 Innkeepers. If you would like to help by being a 2010 Innkeeper, please send your tax-deductable contribution of $175 by June 1st to the address below. If you have questions, please contact me, John Matviya, via email at jjmatv@comcast.net. A fantastic Innkeepers’ Dinner awaits you! Thank you!!
357Pittsburgh St.
P. O. Box 64
New Derry, PA 15671

General meetings are held the fourth Monday of each month at 7:00p.
www.derryhistory.org


NEW MUSIC NEWS

Soihadto

Has had a fierce week! They have signed with Grape Juice Records, and are recording right now with J. Robbins! There will be a tour, beginning in June! Stay tuned. There are some amazing new pics on their My Space page! Check it out!
www.myspace.com/soihadto

Queensryche

They did an amazing Internet live concert performance for two hours and are now immersed in a major tour. Check out their My Space for some additional information:
www.myspace.com/queensryche

BROTHER

On May 28th, BROTHER will return to the Waterfest Concert Series at the
Riverside Park in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It's been a couple of years since the fellas have played in Oshkosh and the guys say they are looking forward to it.

Keep in touch by visiting the band at BROTHERmusic.com, on myspace,
Twitter, and the BROTHER blog.
BROTHER
http://www.brothermusic.com/


Billy Sherwood, Tony Kaye, Alan White

TODAY-release of CIRCA : Overflow! These are 7 previously unreleased songs that did not appear on either the debut or on Circa: HQ CD. It is on iTunes now! Search ‘circa overflow’. Sweet!!! BTW, CIRCA :LIVE DVD is also available on iTunes. They do a killer version of the Yes anthem, “The More We Live”.

Rik Emmett

Has been a busy guy: new album coming out with co-troub Dave Dunlop, Push and Pull, available beginning May 26 in CD form (Tuesday), but can be preordered now through Maple Music (www.maplemusic.com), socially networking for new peeps ‘cause he is now on Facebook and Twitter, in addition to the My Space page and his website, www.rikemmett.com. There’s a new contest for members and friends. Details on the blog: www.myspace.com/rikemmettnetwork

Push and Pull harkens like their debut project of Strung-Out Troubadours, and has a similar mix of instrumental and vocalized pieces. One tune, “A Deeper Kind of Blue” appears both as a dueling guitar instrumental and as a p.s. version with Rik’s emotional tenor conclusion. Most of this project is fun stuff, with extremely impressive pieces like “52 Pick Up” and “Red Hot” burning up the axes like only Emmett can. Dave gets a more balanced presentation and the load seems more evenly split on this project, including his surprising lead vocals on “Only Time Will Tell” (original, not an Asia cover; I only mention this because three people have already asked me that question). “Way, Way Kooler (a nod to Way Cool from the late 1990’s Swing Shift) actually is, and “Declaration” seems to be an anthem-like affirmation of daily renewal. “Miracle of Love” is a nice piece that would make a good mainstream rock single, although Falcon has to admit that the version done with Orchard Studios live from Brampton on the Internet broadcast with just Rik and Dave is more favored that the retro background vocals on the studio recording. The first single from this project, “Why, Baby” had been out since December, and it is now joined by these and one more masterpiece, “And The River Still Runs” which thematically has its origins in the same vein as “Dos Arroyos” from the debut Troubs (“Two Streams”, although this piece flows like water or consciousness, depending on your mood) which also brought about the construction of “State of Grace”, from the same project- which was one of the most elegantly constructed songs Emmett has written in his solo career. Overall, Push and Pull should be added to your collection.

RAISE THE CURE

I received this message from our Sister Julie, the President and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network:

You’re making a difference.

Through your continued support, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is making progress on several fronts. One of the areas where we have had the most impact is heightening awareness among elected officials about the urgent need to do more about fighting pancreatic cancer. Due to our advocacy efforts, Congress is now considering the first-ever substantive bill regarding the disease: The Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act, H.R. 745. This landmark legislation will dedicate more federal funding towards research and finding a cure for pancreatic cancer.

Although we are moving forward, much remains to be accomplished. If you have not already done so, click on this RAISE THE CURE campaign link and make a donation to become a part of finding a cure for pancreatic cancer.
YOUR CONTRIBUTION GROWS THE RESEARCH THAT GROWS CURES.
Your contribution to RAISE THE CURE will be put to work on two fronts. You’ll be directly funding more private research to ensure the development of early detection diagnostics, improved therapies, more clinical trials, finding key biomarkers and expanding the scientific understanding of pancreatic cancer. You’ll also help us ensure that Congress passes The Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act, H.R. 745. Once enacted and fully funded it will provide a greater focus on this disease and will provide the National Cancer Institute with the tools it needs to develop the diagnostic methods and treatments that are currently lacking for pancreatic cancer patients.

Jai Pausch, the wife of the late Carnegie Mellon University Professor Randy Pausch, PhD, whose fight against pancreatic cancer inspired millions through his book, The Last Lecture, remains committed to our mission. "Through research, patient support and advocacy, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and all of its supporters are making a real difference in the lives of pancreatic cancer patients and their families,” she said. “Together, we can raise the cure and make every day matter in the fight against pancreatic cancer."

Please join Jai and support the effort to find a cure. Your generous donation will provide real hope for pancreatic cancer patients and keep progress moving forward in the fight to find a cure.
Best regards,
Jason Kuhn, Board Chair
Julie Fleshman, JD MBA, President and CEO

https://netcommunity.pancan.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=537

To donate by phone, please call Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at 877-272-6226

Falcon has to run, it is time to put her talons into the dirt for some serious gardening this weekend (yes, Falcon and Dove prefer our own organic fruits and veggies when we have them). Stay strong, World Family; have a great weekend!

Peace,
Falcon and Dove

Another Slumdog Millionaire Child Actor Homeless

Hello World Family,
Falcon here with a story that just boggles her mind. Two young stars of the OSCAR award winning Best Picture. “Slumdog Millionaire” Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail and their families are homeless after police evicted them and tore down their homes right in front of them. Ali’s father was also beaten and hospitalized. These children came from the slums of Mumbai, and have been returned to those conditions, and now have no place to live.

There is a trust fund for the young actors and other children in the slums called Jai Ho, but it is for homes and education in their adulthood, not for living expenses right now. They are in school for the first time in their lives, but without a place to live, it seems a bit ridiculous that something cannot be done about their circumstances.

Okay…that was my really nice presentation of the facts: Here’s how I really feel: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Why in the hell can’t someone do something to improve the overall conditions for these families? These children are in an Oscar winning film that has made in excess of $300 million, and NO ONE can help these families?! COME ON!

It makes no sense to me that in the midst of all that success and affluence, people can live in Mumbai and simply ignore the abject poverty around them. It is equally grotesque that those who are making millions in part because of the artistic contribution of these young people cannot step up and help their families and bring them into a tolerable human condition.

I know personally of cases (too many to mention) where individuals and/or groups have made lot of money at the expense of/or from direct intellectual property of contributions made by people who are completely uncompensated and frankly, I don’t know how they sleep at night. Probably, they don’t sleep well. I am sure that there is some human metaphysical malfunction that allows them to reason through their indifference that it is somehow not their responsibility or that they are actually entitled to their prosperity, while others are simply doomed to their misfortune. Again, sleeping at night must be difficult, if they still have enough connection to human compassion to realize their arrogance. Here’s the facts: those that feel most separated and entitled to their feigned prosperity are the most responsible. Your deeds are built on the backs of those who are exploited in your presence, or as a result of your inaction. If you have prospered while someone you know has faltered and you used their energy to garner your spoils, you are on the pathway of despicable and reprehensible contribution to those less fortunate.

Rectification can be somewhat achieved by the following actions: do what you can as a person who has more than others to improve the condition of others in whatever way you can. Those sitting in the high-rise towers looking down on the slums of Mumbai must have a higher tolerance for pain than I do; I couldn’t look down on that situation and do nothing. So do something. Help those in your community to empower themselves more profoundly. Take a meal to an elder in the community; donate to the food bank, volunteer at a shelter, regularly. Work in the community to improve conditions for everyone. I know, we are all busy, but anytime that you can spend will be more rewarding to your soul than you realize, and it will make someone else’s life better, sometimes in ways you can’t foresee.

Second, pay it back and forward. If you know where the contributions to your quality of life come from, make sure to let people know that they are appreciated every day. Be kind to service workers, and those who serve you, usually without thanks. Give an extra tip to a maid, waiter, service-worker at the holidays who may just be planning simply to get by, rather a lavish celebration of a given day. Give it where you owe it. Pay it forward where it can do an expanded good. Pay it both ways, because that’s how you got where you are.

It would be easy to make whole cultures responsible, and that blanket doesn’t put individuals in the position of becoming activists to change intolerable conditions within a system that is clearly depraved. There is no excuse for lack of courage when so many are suffering. There are so many atrocities around the world every day; this is a microcosm.

These children got a taste of life away from that poverty, and did a job that has earned them the opportunity to be out of it, along with their families. These young people need to be fairly compensated the way a union actor would have been and give them a quality of life that anyone would be proud of today for the same amount of work.

I am constantly reminded of how lucky I am to live where I live, and do what I do. I am committed to spending time doing more for those who cannot, teaching those to fish so that they can be fishermen, as it were. I hope that we all do that in our lives. This example is making me more aware of how frequently (or infrequently) I participate in paying it back and forward.

Peace,
Falcon and Dove

Tell Congress: Protect Children from BPA

Hello, World Family,
This is a message from Falcon concerning our U.S. based Brothers and Sisters to take action concerning pending legislation on BPA, a nasty chemical additive that is in children's drinking cups that can cause some serious problems. Moms Rising sent this out this morning, and it is so important that everyone know to contact your Congress-person and ask them to co-sponsor this legislation.

There is a sample letter below that you can modify for you:

I urge your support of the Ban Poisonous Additives Act of 2009 (H.R. 1523/S. 593). Sponsored by Rep. Markey and Senator Feinstein, this important measure would eliminate the use of the toxic chemical bisphenol-A (BPA) from food and beverage containers.

MomsRising members are committed to eliminating BPA from products that pregnant women and children are exposed to on a daily basis. Over the last several decades, children have faced an increasingly challenging time making it through what should be normal stages of growth and development. Incidences of reproductive defects, childhood obesity, early onset puberty, learning disabilities, and many other chronic health problems are on the rise. Many of these problems have been linked with exposure to toxic chemicals.

BPA was first synthesized as an estrogen replacement therapy in the 1930s but was discarded in favor of other therapies. In the 1940s, chemists discovered they could use BPA to make plastic. Now BPA can be found in baby bottles, water bottles and food storage containers. It is also used the lining of metal food cans, including infant formula cans.

BPA is of particular concern to moms because even minuscule amounts--parts per billion or parts per trillion--have been shown to cross the placenta and disrupt normal prenatal development. Early life exposure to BPA has been linked to a host of developmental problems, such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, obesity, early onset puberty, abnormal brain development , hyperactivity, and the genetic defect that causes Down’s syndrome. The CDC found BPA in 93% of all Americans and the scientific literature points to food as being the major route of exposure.

There are more than 200 studies that document the adverse impacts of this extremely toxic chemical on human health. This is why Canada has announced it will ban BPA in baby bottles and has signaled its intent to regulate it as a toxic substance. Recently Suffolk County, New York banned BPA from baby bottles and sippy cups. In addition Minnesota became the first state in the nation to ban BPA from consumer products and similar legislation to regulate BPA-containing products has been introduced in more than 20 states.

State action is not enough, however. Congressional action is needed to ensure all food and beverage containers are free of BPA to protect the American public, particularly children, from this toxic chemical.
I urge you to co-sponsor and support the Ban Poisonous Additives Act of 2009.

Sincerely,
(your name here)

If you are in a hurry, just to to this link:
www.momsrising.org

Thanks, World Family!
Peace,
Falcon and Dove

QUEENSRYCHE Live in HD on the 'Net 5/19!!! Full Show!

Hello Brothers and Sisters,
Falcon here with a big announcement! We couldn't let this one go by:

QUEENSRŸCHE CONCERT FROM AMERICAN SOLDIER TOUR TO BE BROADCAST LIVE AT CDPULSE.TV

Fans Worldwide Can Access High Definition Live Stream Of Complete Concert From Clearwater, Florida On May 19

Band Will Play Suites From Rage For Order, American Soldier, and Empire During Two Hour Performance



LOS ANGELES -- Queensrÿche will take their acclaimed American Soldier Tour online by broadcasting an entire show live in high definition at cdpulse.tv. When the band takes the stage at the Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida on May 19 at 8PM ET, fans worldwide can watch a high definition stream of the performance live as it happens. Fans can gain access to the show by purchasing an e-ticket at cdpulse.tv for the cost $5.95 for an advance ticket or $7.95 for a ticket on the day of the show. The show can be viewed virtually worldwide in high definition clarity via premium content delivery access systems featuring 43,000 servers in 17 different countries. For more details and technical information, please visit cdpulse.tv.

As with all shows on the American Soldier Tour, Queensrÿche will be performing three separate suites during the two hour performance, each focusing on a different album. The show opens with a suite from the band's 1986 gold album Rage For Order, including some tracks the band has not played live in over 20 years. The second suite focuses on the new epic concept albumAmerican Soldier, which was released on March 31 from Atco/Rhino. The Soldier suite features guest vocal performances by Navy rescue swimmer and Blue Angels crew chief A.J. Fratto on the intense set opener "Sliver" and lead singer Geoff Tate's daughter Emily on the moving ballad "Home Again." The final suite revisits 1990's triple platinum opus Empire with performances of some of the band's most beloved tracks including "Jet City Woman," "Silent Lucidity," and "Best I Can."

For additional information and technical questions about the May 19 live stream, please contact David Gans at cdpulse.tv at (727) 470-9971 or david@cdpulse.com.

Cdpulse.tv is in a technology partnership with Akamai Technologies for worldwide delivery of high definition Internet broadcasts.

Good News from Frito-Lay, Cancer Research Grants; Bad News about Poverty in PA

Hello World Family,
What a busy week it has been! Falcon has a variety of stories for you this weekend.
Good news for chips, bad news for PA; research money for Pancreatic Cancer. Read and enjoy! Oh, there have been some updates in previous posts, so make sure you check them out. Have a fantastic weekend!

Peace,
Falcon and Dove

Frito-Lay Introduces Compostable Snack Chip Bag

Frito-Lay’s popular line of multigrain snacks, announced today that in 2010 it will introduce the first fully compostable snack chip bag made from plant-based materials. The change is designed to significantly improve the environmental impact of its packaging.
This month, the SunChips brand is taking the first step towards this transformational packaging. The outer layer of packaging on 10 ½ oz size SunChips snacks bags will be made with a compostable, plant-based renewable material, polylactic acid (PLA). By Earth Day 2010, PepsiCo's Frito-Lay North America division plans to rollout a package for its SunChips snacks where all layers are made from PLA material so the package is 100% compostable.
“We know environmentally-friendly packaging is a priority for our SunChips consumer,” said Gannon Jones, vice president, marketing, Frito-Lay North America. “Today’s launch of packaging made with 1/3 renewable materials is an important first step towards having a fully compostable chip bag in market by Earth Day 2010.”
Current snack food packaging has three layers: a printed outer layer with packaging visuals/graphics, an inner layer, which serves as a barrier to maintain the quality and integrity of the product, and a middle layer that joins the other two layers. When the packaging is 100% compostable, it will fully decompose in about 14 weeks when placed in a hot, active compost pile or bin. NatureWorks LLC is providing the PLA, which is trademarked under the Ingeo name.
“Packaging is clearly the most visible interaction consumers have with Frito-Lay’s brands,” said Jay Gehring, vice president, packaging R&D, Frito-Lay North America. “To make packaging that would interact differently in the environment we had to change the composition of packaging and invent key technologies. Using plant-based renewable materials, we have a promising solution that will transform packaging and significantly impact the billions of snack food bags produced annually.”
Once the 100% compostable bag is introduced, the company anticipates the switch will lead to reduced greenhouse gas emissions in the production of the packaging and the elimination of petroleum-based packaging material.
Over the past few years, Frito-Lay’s packaging initiatives have made some significant strides. This includes reducing the amount of plastic in packaging by 10% over the last five years, and thereby eliminating 12 million pounds of materials annually used to make the snack bags. In addition, Frito-Lay will be the first snack food company to fund the collection and upcycling of its used packaging through a program in conjunction with TerraCycle.
To inform consumers about the new packaging initiatives, the brand will be communicating through traditional marketing efforts, including print, TV and digital advertising. As part of the current packaging change, the front panel of the current 10 ½ oz size SunChips package features a callout, “Renewable materials make up 33% of this bag.” To communicate the next improvement, the digital strategy includes a video showing how the bag decomposes over 14 weeks. Also, samples of the 100% compostable material will be distributed at major retailers across the country and as part of a special People magazine ad.

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Research Grants

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network combines its push for increased federal research funding with direct research support of Fellowships/Young Investigator Awards, Career Development Awards, and Pilot Grants for pancreatic cancer research through a peer-reviewed grant system.

Fellowship Award: One-year grant totaling $45,000 that is awarded to a postdoctoral or clinical research fellow at an academic facility, teaching hospital or research institution who is sponsored by a mentor. The intent of the award is to attract young scientists to a career in pancreatic cancer research.

Career Development Award: Two-year grants totaling $100,000 per award that are provided to junior faculty at academic and medical institutions. The intent of these grants is to support and encourage young scientists to establish a career path in the field of pancreatic cancer research.

Pilot Grant: Two-year grants totaling $100,000 - $200,000 per award that support innovative research in pancreatic cancer. This research may be basic, translational, or clinical in nature. Particular consideration is given to projects that are non-duplicative and have the potential for national application.

In 2009, nine grants were awarded, totaling $1.2 million in research funding. This year’s portfolio includes three Fellowship Awards, two Career Development Awards, and four Pilot Grants. Collectively, these grants support junior and senior scientists and provide funding for research in diverse fields of inquiry, including: the origin and causes of pancreatic cancer; the biology of the disease, including underlying physiological and biochemical processes; discoveries in detection, staging and diagnosis; and novel therapeutic strategies.

Since introducing the Research Grants Program in 2003, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network has provided nearly $5 million in funding for research. This includes nine Fellowship/Young Investigator Awards, 25 Career Development Awards, and 13 Pilot Grants.
2009 Grant Recipients
Fellowship Awards
Philippe Foubert, PhD
Eric Humke, MD, PhD
David Ting, MD
Career Development Awards
Maxence Nachury, PhD
Marina Pasca di Magliano, PhD
Pilot Grants
Qingshen Gao, MD
Brian Lewis, PhD
Jiayuh Lin, PhD
Kapil Mehta, PhD

FALCON and DOVE say kudos to these fine winners!

Poverty In Pennsylvania, new report

One in Four Pennsylvania Families with Young Children Can't Afford Basics

A surprising 535,000 Pennsylvanians live in working families that have one to three children under age 12 and do not earn enough to pay for basic necessities such as food, housing, child care and health care. Even in this period of national prosperity, that is 24 percent of such families, roughly one out of every four.
"Hardships in America: The Real Story of Working Families", released yesterday by the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, DC and analyzed by Pennsylvania’s Keystone Research Center, shows that the majority of families that can’t afford basic necessities are two parent families, often with one or more workers, and for the most part earning incomes above the official federal poverty level.
The report examines the cost of living in every community nationwide and determines separate basic family budgets for each community.

In Pennsylvania, basic family budgets for a two-parent, two-child family range from $33,193 in Erie, to $39,312 in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. In all of Pennsylvania’s communities, two-parent two-child family budgets are within range of the national median of $33,511, which is roughly twice the official federal poverty line of $17,463 for such a family.

"The official poverty line is a grossly outdated yardstick of what’s needed to keep a family afloat, as this report powerfully shows," says Stephen Herzenberg, Executive Director of the Keystone Research Center. "Families need to be well above the poverty line to cover the cost of the basics." Nationally, two-and-half times more families fall below basic family budget levels than below the federal poverty line, according to EPI.

The report documents the kinds of hardships faced by these low-income families
Nearly one-third of families with incomes below twice the poverty threshold -- a close proxy for the basic family budget level -- faced at least one "critical hardship," such as going without food, getting evicted or having to "double up" in housing with another family, or not having access to medical care during an acute illness.

Nearly three-quarters of families below twice the poverty threshold faced at least one "serious hardship," like worrying about food, failing to pay rent, using the emergency room as their main source of health care, having the telephone disconnected, or having children in inadequate child care arrangements.
Food insufficiency is the most common hardship. Eighteen percent of families below twice the poverty line missed meals involuntarily. Forty percent worried about having enough food to keep from going hungry. For single-parent families, food insecurities were experienced at rates of 23 percent and 57 percent, respectively.
Of families with incomes below basic budget levels,

• half include a parent who works full-time;
• nearly 60 percent are two-parent families;
• more than three-quarters are headed by a worker with a high school degree or more; nearly half are headed by a worker over the age of thirty; and
• about one-third live in the suburbs, one-third live in cities, and one-third live in rural areas.

"Our safety net is full of holes," says KRC Research Fellow David Bradley. "We phase working families out of supports for health care, child care, housing and other basic necessities well before they can afford them on their own."

"Work alone doesn’t ensure a decent standard of living," said Heather Boushey, an EPI economist and lead author of the study. "This report provides strong evidence of the need for policies that strengthen our social safety net and boost wages."
The EPI report includes policy proposals for raising the earnings of low-income and poor families, including a minimum wage hike, an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit, more comprehensive job training programs, and stronger pay equity policies that help to ensure that women are paid as much as men.

Policies to boost income, however, are only part of a plan to ensure that all American families can afford a safe and decent standard of living, according to the report. Families that earn enough income to be ineligible for Medicaid, for example, are still often unable to afford private health insurance. These experiences indicate that Americans at all income levels need a stronger social safety net, including:

Universal health insurance.
Families that lack private health insurance are far more likely to face other kinds of hardships. They are over twice as likely to miss meals and fail to pay housing or utility bills, even after accounting for income. The problem becomes a cycle when, for example, poor nutrition leads to other health problems.

Federally funded child care for children of all ages.

Families at all income levels have a hard time finding day care centers with the adult-to-child ratio recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. In 49 states, child care costs are greater than the tuition to public colleges.
Affordable housing and economic development. Affordable homes must be closer to work. One way to accomplish this is through "transit lead development," where mixed-use, high-density developments are built near transit hubs. Increased funds for affordable housing should also be made available, since national housing policy is biased in favor of middle-income homeowners.

"Even high school graduates working full time may not be able to support a family," said Boushey. "If the American Dream is to become a reality for all Americans, then there is a role for government in helping working families meet their basic needs."
---------------------------------
The Keystone Research Center is a Harrisburg-based research and policy center dedicated to improving economic performance and economic opportunity in Pennsylvania.
Summary
20% of the 3.4 million households lack income to meet basic needs

6% receive public cash assistance

75% spend more than 30% of their income on housing

Fayette and Somerset counties hardest hit

The Ultimate Battle

Hello World Family,
The Ultimate Battle, penned by Falcon

There are many sports playoffs going on right now: basketball, hockey, track is thriving; baseball and softball are well under way. The ultimate battle is not on a field or on a court, but, as Bobby Jones once described where competitive golf is played, “ on a five inch square space between a man’s ears”.

The ultimate battle for mankind is not in a space ship or on a battlefield: it is where the mind rages against its own fears.

There are only two motivators in the universe: love and fear. Both can coexist at the same time as propellers, sustainers, or forces of absolute stagnancy, depending on the circumstances and ratio of love to fear, or should I say, fear to love.

Love is accepting, patience, understanding, and all that stuff. Love increases our capacity to expand love, to sustain in troubled times, to emerge from impossible challenges, and to grow in strength and positive action when negativity and doubt are spiraling all around us.

Conversely, fear (unless you are escaping from a life threatening situation) increases anxiety, worry, stress, reduces creativity, and most importantly, mutates desires.

This last point is the most dangerous. Fear can create undue paranoid feelings, and those can translate into jealousy, arrogance, rage, and violence. Internalized fear can result in illness and take even the most sacred forms of love and alter them in a viral way into something that cannot be reasoned with.

What is fear, really? I came upon an epiphany on this subject while spontaneously talking to someone who was clearly on the negative side of the balance sheet in their personal balance of love and fear. I will be the first to say that I am absolutely sure I did not come up with this answer, but it came from somewhere outside of me much more connected to The Divine than I am. Fear…is self-doubt. Doubt that I will survive against the mountain lion about to attack me; doubt that I can provide for my family after being laid off, doubt that I will be loved in return and end up alone. While the mountain lion thing means we better run much faster, and that is a good thing to do in that situation, the others can wear on the body and the soul, causing a series of events to trigger more negative decisions based in the ultimate battle that is between fear and no doubt.
So what is no doubt? No doubt is when you can say to yourself: I can handle whatever happens. “ If I lose my job, I will get another one; if one relationship doesn’t work out, I will find someone else who I can share my world with, or not…I will be fine regardless”. That is the direct result of self love.

Self love means that you love yourself when you are right and wrong, fat or thin, light or dark, employed or unemployed, rich or poor. It is kind of like the vows two people take to marry, but should be spoken to the soul of the self. Why? Because if you don’t love yourself, honestly and truly, fear will become your closest friend. It will alter the way to do your job, relate to those you try to love (because if you don’t love you, how does that translate in to how you share your affection with others?), and impact (and often poison) every single other emotion you think and feel. This is no small matter.

When you love yourself, you become more confident. You are not afraid to go for that higher goal, you share yourself more openly and honestly with others, you garner greater opportunities, and you are more patient, tolerant, and truthful with others. If you are exposed by other threatened souls, you don’t care, because you are comfortable in your own skin. Does that mean you will always do the right thing? Well, no, it doesn’t. You will still make mistakes, maybe laugh at them more easily, not be so hard on yourself, and let go of blame and anger of yourself and others and move on. This is not lip service to those emotions, but real surrender.

When you don’t love yourself, fear takes hold. You begin to doubt your worth and value to the world; you question others’ affections toward you, and you show signs of dissatisfaction in your work, play, and how you relate to others. Everything becomes a chore, and nothing seems sacred. As those feelings grow, more negative emotions can emerge like prejudice, judgment, bullying, self-deprecation, and alienation. These feelings can spiral until there is no real perspective on the balance of love and fear; indeed the love can now become a reinforcing element of the fear: For example: “I better do this, or they won’t love me, no matter how much I don’t want to do it”. Or…
“I have to hide my secret or others will judge me, and I will be hurt.”
“I have to protect my reputation, no matter what the cost”. “If I don’t go to that school, then I am worthless!”

Friends, this is the time of year when these emotions may fly higher and farther than usual. Many high school students are dealing with college acceptance decisions, prom, jobs, the military decision, etc. They can be overwhelmed, and it is hard when you are a teenager to feel self worth when all those pressures are upon you. If you know a young person who is dealing with all that drama right now, give them a hug, a break, and a laugh, even if they look like they are handling it all well.

Many companies are nearing the end of their fiscal year, and may realize that they need to lay off more employees. If you lose your job, do not despair. Network, and remember that you have friends, family and coworkers who can sympathize. Don’t assume that all will be doom and gloom. This may be the change you need to do something you never thought possible. Ultimately, this loss may become an opportunity.

Break ups happen all the time, but so do new relationships. Out of the ashes may come something completely different, or not. What is actually wrong with being single and unattached? Don’t think of being lonely, just alone. Is that such a bad thing? Maybe it is a time to do some introspection work. Maybe you are getting an opportunity to get out of a relationship that was no longer working and into one that will do more for you than you imagined. With someone else…or with yourself; this may be a sign of a type of graduation of sorts for you.

When love doesn’t triumph over fear, trouble brews. It is only a matter of time before things get ugly. Don’t let them. Remember the Commandment: Love they neighbor, as Thy Self. Love yourself first.

Good things happen when you love you. It doesn’t mean you won’t suffer, or have losses, or challenges, or disappointments. It will mean that you have a beautiful way to handle them: let go. Surrender and let that old stuff fall away. No matter what is on the horizon, rest assured you will handle it. Love combined with self acceptance gives you a whole new result in the equation: peace.

That is what I will leave you with…
Peace,
Falcon and Dove

Star Trek Rocks; Mother’s Day Thoughts; Update of Coal Film, “Out of the Ground”

Hey World Family, Falcon has heard from the Johnstown Area Heritage Association. Shelly Johansson said this:

We plan to show it as part of the Johnstown Film & Wine Festival, which is held July 8-11; although it's too long to be part of our film shorts competition, Andy McAllister has agreed to be part of a panel discussion for new and aspiring filmmakers. We are arranging for a showcase of films by our panelists, and "Out of the Ground" will be part of that. Schedule has yet to emerge, but stay tuned -- you can follow the Johnstown Area Heritage Association on Facebook, or go to www.johnstownfilmfest.org, or sign up for e-mail updates at www.jaha.org.

Thank you, Shelly! We are thrilled that Andy will get an opportunity to share his insight on his journey making this extraordinary film. Falcon and Dove will see you there!
Please join us this July!

Falcon is still recovering from last night’s midnight screening of Star Trek. Here’s the quick review…

J.J. Abrams is a master filmmaker! This is his genre and he did some extraordinary work on this project! It is wonderful to watch, and may, just may be the best Star Trek movie. I know, that is tough, but see it for yourself, and you be the judge. I am talking cinematography right now, although the rest is pretty stellar, too.

Pittsburgh Native Zachary Quinto is marvelous as Spock. Go Central Catholic! Many, many people I talked to over the past many months doubted that he could do the job, not because of his acting, but because so many people saw him as Sylar from the hit television show, Heroes. He stepped right in as an intelligent, emotionally complex, completely authentic Mr. Spock. He had some very difficult scenes that could have fallen away under lesser thespian hands, but he completely claimed every glance, every eyebrow, and every near-tear. Nice job, Zack! You have shown tremendous versatility and flexibility. I hope you continue to advance your resume; you certainly have a future as a Vulcan for some time to come.

This entire cast was strong, right down to Karl Urban as Bones (who would have thought?) and Chris Pine as Capt. James T. Kirk (very well done for this young growing actor), Eric Bana as Nero (Eric, you are normally in roles where you are so hot; this character was nastily disturbed), Zoe Saldana as Uhura, (beautifully developed, smoldering, brilliant characterization), Simon Pegg as Scotty (I love Glaswegians, and he is no exception; reminds me a bit of Billy Boyd’s comic relief as Pippin in Lord of the Rings), John Cho as an extremely well-skilled Sulu, and Anton Yelchin channeled the voice of Ensign Chekov. He was a fey younger version of the classic character; simply adorable.

Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman should be commended for putting together a plot that had strong continuity and fascinating nuances. The material was handled with taste and reverence in spots where it was required, but could easily have become contrived. It didn’t.
This is a strong film, and the first great hit of the summer movie season.

Don’t forget Little Ashes, which is getting much more attention than I originally thought it would, but Robert Pattinson has exploded on the pop scene because of his role in Twilight. He is a strong, imposing actor, and portraying historic Surrealist Dali is not easy, yet he does it, and is doing another challenging film, How to Be. He is much more talented than he likely to get credit for right now. I hope the press gives him a break, and begins to talk about his versatility as an artist rather than who they think he is dating at this second.

MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND

It is that time of year again: honoring our mothers; your mom, sisters, daughters, cousins, friends, and of course, Mother Earth, and Mother Nature. Even if you don’t have a woman in your life to honor as a mom, please do something that honors the only mother that nurtures you from birth to death without question or judgment: the earth.

Do some clean-up project, help on a community garden, do some recycling, volunteer in your community…you know, something that honors the spirit of nurturing.

Many Race for the Cure events happen on Mother’s Day around the country. You can register right up until the day of the event, so go ahead and get involved. Spend the morning of Mother’s Day with others honoring the spirit of sacrifice and survival. Let’s keep moving toward a cure, and support the cause.

The typical flowers, chocolates, and brunch and dinner events are also nice, but thing about gardens instead of just cut flowers. First Lady Michelle Obama has embraced one of my passions: the organic garden. Everyone, whether they just have a couple of window sills, or some steps to place potted plants should have some sort of living botanical growth in their lives. Get together with family and friends and give a neighbor a container garden. Seriously, as little as $10 in plants and a couple of containers from the local dollar or thrift store and a little dirt can change someone’s whole outlook. Look around you; do you see anyone who needs a little emotional lift? Go for it!

Most importantly, say what you feel. Or don’t say it, and just give them a bug hug. Sometimes, what you don’t say can be even more powerful than what you do. There are emotions that defy description, and a hug can go a long way to convey it.

Mothers are not the only ones who should be honored on Mother’s Day. Teachers, mentors, those who have taken care of others in lieu of raising their own children should be honored. Yes, those who adopt are moms (I am amazed how often this comes up; of course they are moms), and don’t forget those that have lost their children. I know, that is a sensitive issue, and everyone handles this differently. I know one thing: they are still moms. They are probably still doing things to nurture others in their lives. You don’t have to bring up the loss; simply let them know how much you appreciate them in your life.

Have a great weekend. To all the moms out there: thank you for all that you do, and continue to do for others. Let’s help improve the condition of women al over the world. Let’s take care of the planet. That is the greatest way to give back on Mother’s Day.

Peace,
Falcon and Dove