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The GOP theme song in 2013

12/31/2013 Nativegrl77

Dear MoveOn member,

Thanks to House Speaker John Boehner and his Republican caucus, the “Do-Nothing Congress” was so awful this year that I decided it deserved its own theme song.

Check it out:

I had fun putting together this video—which also calls out some uplifting wins MoveOn members and other progressives were able to achieve this year despite the “Do-Nothing Congress.” I hope you’ll take just a minute to watch and, if you enjoy it, pass it on.

Thanks for all you do—and all the best in 2014.

–Robert Reich

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Help us give the gift of life

12/31/2013 Nativegrl77

Thank you for your support this year. Because of you we are closer to metting our goal of planting ten million trees within the next five years.

In the new year, you can give the gift of a sustainable future by donating to plant trees in the world’s poorest communities.

Trees bring joy and festivity into people’s homes, it’s a symbol of new life.

But for many people, trees aren’t just about joy and celebration. They’re about providing food for their children, securing their land from erosion and feeding their livestock. They’re about providing long-term economic and environmental sustainability.

Each dollar you donate will help plant one tree.

Now, through Earth Day Network’s Canopy Project, you can even donate to plant a plot of trees in someone’s name and send it as a gift.

Your gift will help people and the planet we share.

Give the gift of trees today!

-The Earth Day Network Team

P.S. – Check out the special gifts from our partner

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Top 10 2013: least and most expensive places to live

12/30/2013 Nativegrl77

COLI Release Highlights, Quarter 3 2013

<!–This report represents the sixth edition of a new format for the Cost of Living Index. Starting in 2007, C2ER has published an Annual Review of data for the preceding year. The data contained within the report represents unweighted average prices submitted for the first three quarters of the year, with new index numbers calculated using the modified weights for the upcoming year applied to these average prices. For further details on the annual average methodology, please visit our website at http://www.coli.org/Method.asp.

–>Among the 306 urban areas that have participated the third quarter 2013 Cost of Living Index, the after-tax cost for a professional/managerial standard of living ranged from more than twice the national average in New York (Manhattan) to just over 19 percent below the national average in Norman, OK. The Cost of Living Index is published quarterly by C2ER – The Council for Community and Economic Research.

The Ten Most and Least Expensive Urban Areas in the Cost of Living Index (COLI) Third Quarter 2013 National Average for 306 Urban Areas = 100
Most Expensive			Least Expensive
Ranking	Urban Areas	COL Index	Ranking	Urban Areas	COL Index
1	New York (Manhattan) NY	221.3	1	Norman OK	82.4
2	New York (Brooklyn) NY	175.6	2	Pueblo CO	82.5
3	Honolulu HI	167.5	3	Harlingen TX	83.4
4	San Francisco CA	159.9	4	Memphis TN	84.9
5	New York (Queens) NY	151.4	5	Youngstown-Warren OH	85.5
6	Hilo HI	149.1	6	Covington KY	85.7
7	San Jose CA	148.8	7	Tupelo MS	85.8
8	Stamford CT	143.3	8	Augusta-Aiken GA-SC	85.9
9	Washington DC	141.6	9	Birmingham AL	85.9
10	Orange County CA	140.7	10	Sherman-Denison TX	86.2

The Cost of Living Index measures regional differences in the cost of consumer goods and services, excluding taxes and non-consumer expenditures, for professional and managerial households in the top income quintile. It is based on more than 90,000 prices covering almost 60 different items for which prices are collected three times a year by chambers of commerce, economic development organizations or university applied economic centers in each participating urban area. Small differences in the index numbers should not be interpreted as significant.

The composite index is based on six components – housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care and miscellaneous goods and services.

www.coli.org

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Season’s Greetings … NMAAHC

12/30/2013 Nativegrl77

National Museum of African American History of Culture

As you reunite and celebrate with your loved ones this holiday season, I want to thank you for all that you have done to help build the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
With your support, 2013 has been a great year for the Museum. The future museum site is a frenzy of activity as we continue to raise the walls and support columns. To date, we’ve collected over 23,000 artifacts including two large pieces — a Southern Railway railroad car (segregated) and a guard tower from Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola — that will be a part of our inaugural exhibition on segregation. All of this progress is thanks to friends like you.
I wish you and your loved ones peace and joy this holiday season and into the New Year.

Sincerely, Signature

Lonnie G. Bunch Director

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Harassing scientists needs to stop — now

12/30/2013 Nativegrl77

The Virginia Supreme court just agreed to hear a disturbing case. The question: whether to hand over the private emails of climate scientist Dr. Michael Mann to people who have been trying to destroy him professionally for a decade—all because they disagree with his research.¹

When Dr. Mann’s scientific findings angered the oil industry, an industry “think tank” sued for access to Dr. Mann’s private correspondence.² Another “think tank” compared him to a convicted child molester.³ His research has been twisted again and again by the media.

Researchers are often ill-equipped to deal with media or politicians. That’s where we come in—to help them defend their science in the court of public opinion. Thanks to you, UCS is the first place many scientists turn when they’re targeted.

There are only a few days left, and we need you with us to help provide scientists the training and resources they need to stand up to attacks and effectively counter misinformation in 2014. Make a tax-deductible donation today.

Sadly, Dr. Mann is just one of many scientists under threat. Luckily, they can count on UCS members to have their backs. In fact, thanks to you, we’re often the first group scientists turn to when dragged into court or defamed in the media:

Climate scientist Dr. Katharine Hayhoe was called a “babe” by Rush Limbaugh and sued by a Koch-affiliated group for access to her emails.⁴ We provided Dr. Hayhoe with extensive media training in order to handle the firestorm she faced.
Researcher Dr. Shaun Marcott was sent hate mail and online bloggers twisted his groundbreaking findings to obscure the facts.⁵ We helped Dr. Marcott overcome the misreports and take his actual findings directly to Congressional leaders.

For Dr. Mann, we were able to fact check the court filings in his case. We’re here to support researchers as they defend their work—and these scientists are counting on you to stand with them.

Help do even more for scientists in 2014—make your year-end gift before December 31!

The climate deniers aren’t resting—so neither can we. Almost every day, there’s a new need to stand up for scientific facts or to expose the money and influence behind a lobbyist, ideologue, or corporation out to undermine scientists in pursuit of their own private interest. That won’t change in the New Year, so I’m glad you’re on our side.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Rest, PhD, MPA Executive Director

P.S. I wanted to share something Dr. Hayoe told us: “I received a lot of advice about how to respond to the attacks, but the Union of Concerned Scientists was the group that had my best interests as a scientist at heart.” Hearing that scientists value our work always inspires me, and I hope you understand the powerful impact you have as a part of this community. Thank you for considering a year-end gift today.

1. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/local/wp/2013/10/09/prince-william-foia-case-on-global-warming-headed-for-virginia-supreme-court/ 2. http://www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity/abuses_of_science/va-ag-timeline.html 3. http://blog.ucsusa.org/cei-compares-climate-scientist-to-a-child-molester 4. http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2012/01/newt-dumps-leading-climate-scientist 5. http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2013/03/response-by-marcott-et-al/

The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet’s most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.