June 29, 2017
01. Why Obama’s Silence is Troubling
02. More Cyber Attacks Comings
03. Iraqi Christians Under Fire
04. Should Millionaires Decide Our Health Care?
05. July 4th, Hot Dogs and Betty White
06. Great July 4th Show – Veterans and PTSD
07. Independence Day: Is America Independent Anymore?
08. Why Smart People Fall for Scams
09. We Heart Wonder Woman
10. Healthcare – If We Cared about Health
11. July is Family Reunion Month
12. Single’s Guide to Wedding Season
13. Survival Strategies – Summer with a Teen
14. Can Dogs have Autism?
15. Kids + Water = Danger: Swim Safety
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1. ==> Why Obama’s Silence is Troubling
The contrast could not be more extreme: a loud, pushy,
anti-intellectual President Donald Trump versus a soft-
spoken, recessive, philosophical former president,
Barack Obama. The difference has become especially
glaring in recent days, with Trump repeatedly breaking
the tradition of a new president refraining from
dissing his predecessor. Jay Parini says Obama’s muted
response as Trump tries to shift blame on to him is
troubling. “Obama needs to find his voice now in ways
that, during his time in the Oval Office, he was too
often reluctant to do, perhaps fearing the immense
power of the bully pulpit,” he says. “But now there is
a real bully in the pulpit, and Obama — like the rest
of us — has no choice but to speak, and to act. …not
indirectly on Facebook, but to declare himself more
publicly and without reservation.” Jay Parini, a poet
and novelist, teaches at Middlebury College in Vermont.
His latest book is “New and Collected Poems,
1975-2015.” Contact him at (802) 443-5042;
parini@middlebury.edu
2. ==> More Cyber Attacks Comings
Europol warned yesterday that there’s not yet a “kill
switch” able to stop the cyberattack that has slammed
businesses around the world.
The ransomware virus spread quickly beginning on
Tuesday, shutting down entire computer networks and
demanding users pay a ransom to get their files back.
Meantime, researchers at two security companies have
finally found and analyzed the malware that triggered a
Kiev blackout last December, and it’s far worse than
imagined. The only thing that’s certain, says security
researcher Robert Lee, founder and CEO of the cyber
security company Dragos, is that the malware wasn’t
built as a one-time weapon. “It’s a nightmare,” Lee
says. “The malware in its current state would be usable
for every power plant in Europe. This is a framework
designed to target other places.” “What makes this
thing a holy-crap moment is the understanding of grid
operations encoded within it,” he says. Robert Lee is
also a non-resident National Cybersecurity Fellow at
New America focusing on policy issues relating to the
cyber security of critical infrastructure. Contact him
at Rob@Dragos.com; @RobertMLee
3. ==> Iraqi Christians Under Fire
When Donald Trump won Michigan, he did so with the
support of the Christian Iraqi community because the
president promised to protect Iraqi Christians, who as
minorities in their home country are subject to torture
and possible death. But the president, ICE and the
Justice Department have gone back on that promise and
more than 100 Iraqi Christians—also known as
Chaldeans—from Detroit have been threatened with
deportation. While last week a district judge halted
their deportation for two weeks now is a good time to
discuss this unfolding humanitarian crisis with Weam
Namou, the Baghdad-born journalist who has been
covering the story for The Chaldean News. She will
explain why she sees the rounding up of Iraqi
Christians in the U.S. as an attack on Christians, and
why what is happening in Detroit is likely to spread to
other major cities in which Iraqi Christians reside
hoping for better lives. Weam has been a guest on a
hundred radio talk shows. She’s the author of “The
Great American Family: A Story of Political
Disenchantment.” Contact her at (586) 212-4490;
weamn@hotmail.com
4. ==> Should Millionaires Decide Our Health Care?
The Senate will hold off on fixing its health care bill
until after it returns from recess. But what can we
expect upon their return? With our health care in the
hands of 51 millionaires, Steven Wightman says the
adjusted bill is likely to continue to benefit the
wealthy at the expense of the rest of us. “Why is
Washington dodging its responsibility to put health
into their health care plan?” he asks. The Senate bill
as presently written is a boon for the top 1 percent
who would receive lower incomes taxes while the bottom
40 percent would lose via higher premiums, deductibles,
and copays. States, employers and employees face higher
costs as well. Wightman is a veteran certified
financial planner, blogger and author of the upcoming
book, “Don’t be “Trumped: 7 Ways to Protect Your Assets
and Retirement Savings Now.” He is often quoted in the
press on financial topics like health insurance and
employee benefits. Reach him at (305) 340-1459;
stevenwightman@gmail.com
5. ==> July 4th, Hot Dogs and Betty White
As we celebrate our nation’s independence, millions of
Americans will gather around the grill to enjoy an all-
American hot dog, and that makes it the perfect time to
celebrate National Hot Dog Month. The National Hot Dog
and Sausage Council (NHDSC) estimates that Americans
will eat 150 million hot dogs on July 4th alone! “At a
time when so many issues divide us, hot dogs stand as a
food that unites,” says NHDSC president Eric
Mittenthal. He’ll share results of a new survey about
what type of frankfurters are most popular, and why
Betty White is the famous person (past or present) with
whom Americans would most like to share a hot dog. (The
95-year-old White has said she regularly enjoys hot
dogs for lunch on the set of her TV shows.) Hot dogs
are a food that inspires plenty of smiles and humor,
and in that spirit the NHDSC is seeking the best
(tasteful) hot dog jokes. Mittenthal will explain the
rules and talk about anything – and everything – you
want to know about hot dogs. Contact him at (202)
587-4238; emittenthal@meatinstitute.org or Janet Riley
at (202) 587-4245; jriley@meatinstitute.org
6. ==> Great July 4th Show – Veterans and PTSD
Chad Robichaux, Force Recon Marine and Pro MMA
Champion, had successes and failures both in
Afghanistan and in the MMA cage, but his biggest fight
was coming home and struggling with PTSD, a near
divorce and almost becoming another veteran suicide
statistic. Invite Robichaux, now the founder/president
of the Mighty Oaks Warrior Programs, to share glimpses
of his life in special operations and professional
fighting and the spiritual battles into which he was
thrust and that nearly took his life. Chad Robichaux’s
new book is “”An Unfair Advantage.” A certified
pastoral counselor, he’s appeared on national radio and
TV and testified in Veterans’ Court regarding combat
trauma and PTSD. The Mighty Oaks Warrior Program is a
Christian peer-based program for veterans suffering
PTSD. Contact Judy McDonough at (615) 243-5994;
judy@serveliterary.com
7. ==> Independence Day: Is America Independent
Anymore?
Independence Day is meant to commemorate America’s
securing its independence from Great Britain but all
these years later, James Stuber says America has let
that independence slip away, and unwittingly become the
victim of a new, self-imposed “reverse colonialism,”
reliant on countries like China for manufactured goods,
while exporting raw materials, farm goods, and scrap.
Stuber will recount how the United States secured its
borders and set the terms of trade, intentionally
building up its domestic manufacturing capabilities and
then, after 150 years, set out on the road of free
trade following World War II, with disastrous results.
He’ll discuss how, in the last 30 years, the U.S. sent
$16 trillion and six million jobs offshore, and what
this dependence on other countries has done to American
workers, families and communities. Fortunately, he
says, consumers have the power to solve the problem.
James Stuber is an attorney and entrepreneur and
formerly served as legislative assistant to a member of
the United States House of Representatives. He’s the
author of “What If Things Were Made in America Again:
How Consumers Can Rebuild the Middle Class by Buying
Things Made in American Communities.” Contact him at
(610) 608-5074; jstuber@miaa.us
8. ==> Why Smart People Fall for Scams
While the rest of us take vacations, scammers never do.
Now is the perfect time to interview Bill Francavilla
to learn the latest financial scams and why even
intelligent people fall for them. Francavilla spent 30
years in the financial services industry and he knows
exactly how the bad guys’ operate to push your greed
and fear buttons. He’ll reveal the top six scams going
on right now and how to protect yourself from them.
He’ll also offer sobering statistics: did you know that
after being fired, 44 percent of financial advisors are
working for another company within a year or that scam
artists steal more than $100 billion from Americans
each year? Francavilla is the author of the upcoming
book “The Madoffs Among Us: Make Better Financial
Decisions and Protect Your Future.” He’s a CFP and
former senior vice president, director of Wealth
Management for Legg Mason who has extensive media
experience. Reach him at (757) 870-4590;
wmfrancavilla@gmail.com
9. ==> We Heart Wonder Woman
The big screen superhero flick Wonder Woman is cleaning
up at the box office. Based on the D.C. Comics
character, the movie is an epic action/adventure, with
a heavy emphasis on female empowerment. “Wonder Woman
is a goddess, literally!” says Cat Dolls. “She
transforms from not knowing who she really is, to
owning her power and finally being able to defeat the
darkness! We all have a darkness in our life somewhere
and women can really relate to the movie’s story. The
discovery of the goddess within is what changes
everything.” Dols says, “The whole story is so powerful
and beautiful, but there was a great deal of conflict
along the way. Wonder Woman is inspiring, uplifting and
shows us everything we can all be, in our own ways.”
Cat Dols is the author of “Get Your Goddess On: Own
Your Power. Love Your Life!” The former Ford model is a
life coach, home stager, decorator, master gardener and
art class teacher. Contact her at (262) 388-3222;
catdols22@gmail.com
10. ==> Healthcare – If We Cared about Health
As health care costs skyrocket out of control,
Americans increasingly wrestle with how to come up with
the money. Solutions — whether Obamacare or Trumpcare —
focus mainly on responding to disease once it has
struck. We can do much better by focusing more on
preventing disease from striking in the first place.
Ellen Moyer, Ph.D., author of “Our Earth, Our Species,
Our Selves: How to Thrive While Creating a Sustainable
World,” says, “It’s hard to imagine any good way to pay
for all the irresponsibility and senseless waste in our
current health care system. Some schemes are of course
better or worse than others. Citizens should condemn
the Republicans’ current effort to slash health care
coverage in order to further enrich the wealthy. But
fixing health care for real will require fundamental
changes and putting health at the top of our priority
list.” Moyer is an environmental consultant and
registered professional engineer with an MS in
environmental engineering, a PhD in civil engineering,
and more than 30 years of environmental engineering
experience. She is a regular contributor to The
Huffington Post. Contact her at (413) 862-3452;
ellenmoyer@em-green.com.
11. ==> July is Family Reunion Month
Half of all family reunions take place in the summer
when children are out of school; weather conditions are
less restrictive; and people are more willing to travel
to meet up with cousins, uncles, aunts and assorted
other relatives they may see infrequently, if at all,
according to the travel booking website
GroupTravel.org. Event planner Lynn Fuhler is a big fan
of family reunions. “If they’re done right, they can
bridge the geographical and emotional distance in
today’s mobile society.” She adds, “Thanks to online
surveys and online invitations, pulling off a well-
received family reunion is now easier than ever!”
Invite Lynn and learn how long you should plan in
advance, great places to hold reunions for families of
all ages, and how to delegate tasks so you’re not doing
all the work! Lynn Fuhler is the former tourism
director of Clearwater Beach, Fla., and former chairman
of the largest free jazz festival in the Southeast. She
is the author of “Secrets to Successful Events: How to
Organize, Promote and Manage Exceptional Events and
Festivals,” which has been used as a college textbook.
Contact her at (336) 499-6372; contact-
lynn@lynnfuhler.com
12. ==> Single’s Guide to Wedding Season
Now that wedding season is here, it is nearly
impossible to ignore the steady drumbeat of engagement
ring photos, wedding proposal videos, shower
announcements, wedding invitations and party photos.
Yet all these reminders of true love can be
particularly challenging for single people who haven’t
found their “one and only” and struggle with feelings
of envy, loneliness and unworthiness. Jennie Lynn can
empathize and hopes to empower millions to finally find
their soul mate just in time for summer. Invite the
author of “Magnetic Love: Stop Chasing What You
Want…Start Attracting It” to share simple principles
that helped her find the love of her life almost
instantly. Jennie Lynn is a writer, professional model
and a worldwide triple pro champion in natural figure,
physique, and bodybuilding. Contact her at (508)
965-3053; JennieLynn@JennieLynn.com
13. ==> Survival Strategies – Summer with a Teen
School is out for the summer and millions of parents
are feeling anxious about spending more time with their
moody teen. Ideally, summer is a time to bond and
connect but teenage drama can hijack even the best
family vacation. Laura Lyles Reagan, the Teen and
Parent Relationship Whisperer, has tips for creating a
fun and meaningful summer with your teen. A family
sociologist with her own teenage daughter, Reagan will
suggest ways to connect with a surly teen, where to
draw the line in the sand, how to get a grip on teen
culture without your teen thinking you’re lame, and
even how to get your teen to want to spend time with
you! Reagan is a parenting expert, speaker, experienced
talk show guest, and the author of “How to Raise
Respectful Parents.” Contact her at (956) 250-3689;
LauraLReagan@gmail.com
14. ==> Can Dogs have Autism?
Dog autism may seem unserious, but investigating
possible autism-like behavior in canines could also
help people. With ASD now affecting 1-in-68 human
beings, psychiatrists are eager to find a faster, more
accurate way of diagnosing and understanding the
disease in people. Paul Louden, a radio show host and
adult living with autism spectrum disorder, says,
“Humans aren’t the only living creatures with complex
social behaviors that range along a spectrum. From
meerkats to California condors, animals in groups
protect, instruct, compete with, and support one
another. As for stereotypies, nonhuman animals often
develop intense repetitive behaviors. Polar bears pace
and bob; horses crib and huff; dogs lick their flanks
or chase and chew objects.” Louden is the author of
“Behind The Locked Door: Understanding My Life as an
Autistic.” Contact Mark Goldman at (516) 639-0988;
mark@goldmanmccormick.com
15. ==> Kids + Water = Danger: Swim Safety
A big part of summer is being outside, playing at the
pool and beach, and swimming! But along with the sun
and fun comes countless horror stories about kids and
drowning incidents. Carolanne Caron says everyone
should be able to enjoy the water, but there are
definitely safety issues that need to be taught to
everyone, especially kids. She says, “Many children
don’t know what rules they should follow when they’re
near water and end up getting in a situation over their
skill level.” Carolanne, a swimming and water safety
expert, can share 10 rules to teach children to be
safer around the water. She’s the author of “Water
Safety with Swimmy” and “Swimmy’s Water Safety Coloring
Book.” Contact her at (603) 424-4100;
CoachCaron@SwimCoachCaron.com