​Searching for stock images today turned up a recent news story from NBC calling, "raw water," dangerous.  It was labeled as an opinion piece which we see all too often in the, "news," lately.  An opinion is a view or judgement held without necessarily having all the facts.  In other words:  It's prejudice, not journalism.  To the untrained eye the author may have some solid points.  But to what end?  Right away I notice the author is playing on people's ignorance and calling anyone who disagrees inherently anti-science.  To the contrary his very nature is itself anti-science.  Since objectivity is the highest ideal in science, his bias and discouragement of dialogue is what actually makes his article anti-science.  









Unless you are drinking straight from a pond without a life straw, marketed raw water is not dangerous.  Very few companies like Tourmaline Spring have what is called a, "treatment exemption."  But some water bottlers have managed to achieve this status because their raw water, bottled at the source, already meets FDA, CDC, EPA and DPH standards.  If it did not meet these standards one of these agencies would shut them down immediately and they would likely have a slew of lawsuits on their hands.  The seemingly paranoid author would have you believe some haphazard mountain freaks were trying to sell you pooh water in a conspiracy to kill you Oregon Trail style; dysentery.  But if you don't believe him based on his usage of big words you're an anti-science, purist bigot accomplice to the pooh conspiracy who is intolerant of his (prejudice) opinion.  (That last bit was sarcasm.)  We saw this tactic throughout the 2016 presidential campaign and we've seen it with other lobbies such as genetically engineered foods and tobacco. ​

​
One of the author's most alarming points is that natural, untreated water could contain arsenic *gasp*
Well guess what?  Arsenic is allowed by the FDA in your "clean" bottled water.  Is that because it is naturally in what he calls "clean" water?  No, the FDA allows a small amount of arsenic to be added to your water to disinfect the plastic bottles. 

This reminds me of the inverse of the LWV 'People not Polluters' campaign in support of the Clean Air Act.  The ads featured children who already had breathing difficulties.  Rolling back Clean Air Act regulations could have literally meant life or death for them.  But the LWV were portrayed by a local outlet as global warming alarmists.  Alarmist or not the ads worked because they were accurate.  Scott Brown lost his next election and the Clean Air Act regulations stayed in place. Now it seems certain propagandists have launched the same strategy if only to justify their continuing to poison our municipal water supplies, further driving the market for water privatization conglomerates like Nestle. 

The underlying message is, "trust the government," "ingesting poison in small amounts is good for you so long as it's artificial."  Here is the ironic part; unless you are buying a brown jug from a non-permitted road side stand the DPH, EPA, and FDA likely approved that water for market.  If this was real journalism the author would have explained treatment exemption.  So who is not trusting the government now?  Ironic how an author could pose such logical fallacies and accuse raw water consumers of the exact same thing.

​Perhaps even more disturbing is the author's parlay that what happened in Flint, Michigan is rare.  While the specifics of the incident are indeed rare it's not rare at all for municipal drinking water to be contaminated.  It's just that these incidents often go unreported.  Here in Massachusetts it was only recently found that toxic coal ash and radioactive water from an abandoned Texas Instruments enrichment facility was contaminating reservoirs.  However the EPA removed the superfund sites from their schedule despite black water still coming out of faucets.  Can you even trust journalists though?  Don't take my word for it.  When Maria hit Puerto Rico recently US officials warned Puerto Ricans not to drink water from superfund sites.  Yet here is Weather.com and CNN telling you it's perfectly safe.  

Superfund sites are sites so toxic they've become a national priority.  You can find the National Priorities List of over 1,340 superfund sites here on the EPA website.  To put our toxicity problem into perspective Flint does not even qualify as one of the 65 Superfund sites in Michigan.  This also doesn't account for the effects of fracking's byproducts and proprietary chemicals on drinking water.  One thing we do know is water bottlers like Nestle, Pepsi, and Coca Cola continue to profit from these practices as do companies like Dow Chemical and Dupont.  The author of the NBC article is aiming his pen at the small start ups trying to remedy the centralization and unabashed contamination in water privatization.  These small start ups are among the few providing real clean water.

BUYER BEWARE - You may have seen these ads plastered all over social media selling fun boxes full of feminine goodies.  If you shop at Sephora or other chains like Ulta then you’re aware of how expensive those products are on their own.  $200 worth of products for $40?  That’s a steal!  It sounds too good to be true!  Plus “Fit” means it’s good for me right?  Healthy, natural… Then upon first look at the products I discovered it is in fact too good to be true.  One of the first ingredients in the most desirable (IMHO) product, the Pure Cosmetics Nude Collection palette, is talc.  Perhaps “fit” means perfectly tailored to give it’s demographic cancer.  


Talc is linked to ovarian cancer.  Classified as probable carcinogen by the National Library of Medicine (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov):  The most reliable long term study saw 33% increase in likelihood.  There is enough evidence to support class action lawsuits.  Yet here is a heavily advertised product, marketed to women, that likely causes cancer.  


After learning all of this I started to take a closer look at the rest of my cosmetics.  The other day I was really excited to get my VIB Birthday gift from Sephora.  The gift I chose was Tarte which advertises, “high performance naturals.”  “Awesome,” I thought.  It was the 12-hour blush in Paaarty and Tarteist Lip Paint in Birthday Suit.  I loved them!  Then I read the back… Talc.  Sure it’s natural.  But so is uranium as it goes.  Even the previously mentioned palette deceptively touts that it's, "paraben free," giving the illusion of safety.  I see this as predatory marketing given the market and public knowledge of the risks.  


There is the FDA for drugs and supplements.  There is the USDA for food and agriculture.  There is the EPA for the environment.  But there is no body governing the literal Wild West of cosmetics.  Talc is the bottom of the barrel when it comes to gender specific carcinogens in cosmetic products.  (Search:  Parabens; breast cancer, formaldehyde in hair dye) The ncbi.gov website recommends using corn starch based cosmetics.  Therein lies another problem:  Persistent pesticide residues including glyphosate; another probable carcinogen, BT toxin, etc.  At least those aren't gender specific.  


That was enough research for me.  What can you do about it?  Well some groups like EWG.org are advocating legislation like the Cosmetics Safety Bill.  


We covered talc as one of our Cancer Cocktail© segments LIVE here on The Real News radio show on May 13th, 2014.  You heard it here first.  Thanks for reading The Real News.  


-A

Well, it has been a while since I last wrote to you.  I was optimistically caught up in the prospect of an anti-establishment presidential election.  Boy, was I naive.

The corruption in our government goes far deeper than even I had suspected. The activists involved in the Bernie Sanders campaign (myself included) watched scandal after scandal unfold.  From voter rolls being breached, to #ExitPollGate, and the #PodestaEmails; it was relentless and hasn’t let up. 

Now we're faced with an unconscionable choice:  A corporate business tycoon or a warmongering criminal.  It seems that very few people I know are voting for a candidate because they want to.  They are voting against the other.  Even their commercials come across as saying, "Vote for me because the alternative is terrifying."  They're both terrifying.

Not long ago, a little-known Senator from Vermont was taking the country by storm with a message of universal love, accountability, and shared responsibility. He awakened millions and inspired a revolution. Issues once considered fringe are now part of the Democratic platform.  Even if he was treated unfairly by the DNC and the media, Bernie Sanders showed us how far we can go without sacrificing our integrity.  In fact he was so focused on issues that it seemed he perpetually took the high road.  Where was the Bernie that held people accountable?  His unwillingness to call out his opponent for her misdeeds was starting to come off as weak and that is what prompted me to create the @Bernie_or_bust_ Instagram and Twitter.  If he wouldn't call Hillary out, I would.

​So, I guess you could say I’m a die-hard Bernie fan.  

In the beginning, 

I remember when I heard Bernie was running I thought how wonderful it would be if he won.  With his lofty goals and all the years of anti-socialist propaganda I didn’t think he had a chance.  But people identified with his simple message:  Cut military spending, take care of our Veterans, invest in infrastructure and clean energy, free higher education, expand Medicare etc.  170 of the world’s top economists endorsed his plan. Suddenly his poll projections were through the roof and he seemed like the only candidate who could beat Trump by a large margin.  He was against Monsanto and for the people.  He walked with Martin Luther King Jr.  He was a once in a lifetime candidate with a sterling record and a campaign that was electric.  Perhaps it wasn’t him per say but the truth he spoke that drew in support.  That’s why people loved him.  Bernie Sanders is a man of his word and he rode that #BernieLoveWave all the way to the Golden Coast.  

With Bernie, activists and disenchanted voters felt the excitement of a real progressive movement bubbling up.  Our eyes lit up with hope as we realized most of the country felt the same way.  Even Trump’s candidacy and supporters brought to light a sort of anti-establishment solidarity on both sides of the aisle.  We felt the power of collective will; and on Good Friday, a little birdie told us he was going to win... 

America had long been sick with politics as usual in Washington.  Suddenly Bernie Sanders had what some would consider a religious following. Nearly every event had an overflow of supporters or curious voters wanting to hear his message. His message was: Truth, Integrity, and Accountability. My fondest memories of the campaign will always be getting to meet some of the best people around; our #BernieFam.  We ran a winning campaign.

See more about my #BernieJourney to California:  (Coming Soon)

Then on December 18th, 2015 Bernie’s campaign lost access to their DNC contact list.  Their contact list and software operations are supplied to the campaign by the DNC Services Corporation.  This vendor accidentally supplied Bernie’s campaign with one of Hillary Clinton’s contact lists.  Once the breach in data was reported by one of Bernie's staff, the DNC shut Bernie’s campaign out of the system].  That cost them about $600,000 a day in donations according to this lawsuit.   

At this point the bias was already apparent.  However the DNC is supposed to be a neutral organization.  This well cited article from December 20th, 2015 covers 5 Times Former DNC Chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz had already violated DNC Rules and Stacked the Deck in Favor of Clinton.


Debbie Whatshername? Schultz

Now that was before any vote was cast.  Today we find out just how biased DWS really was.  This infographic pretty much explains it:  

If that research wasn’t enough to clue you in on the collusion perhaps Debbie’s swift return to work on the Clinton campaign after her embarrassing resignation will do.  She resigned due to revelations in #WikiLeaks emails that she indeed was suppressing the Sanders campaign.  So that kind of refutes any of their claims that Wikileaks are fake or from Russia.  The DNC lawyers even admitted in a Florida class action lawsuit that they did indeed tilt the odds in Hillary’s favor.  She even said the super delegate system was designed to keep out grassroots activists.  Despite all of this clear evidence and over 200,000 signatures on a White House petition, there was no Presidential address.  Obama's silence was deafening.  Rhode Island and Puerto Rico reduced their number of polling places despite a record voter turnout being expected.  Then there was the voter purge in New York and the fiasco in Arizona. He finally dismissed the election fraud allegations as a 'conspiracy theory.'  He dismissed it even though the Arizona Secretary of State confirmed there was election fraud.  Yeah, well theories require evidence.  


#BernieBlackOut

My point is, all or most of the, “revelations,” coming out in the WikiLeaks emails were already part of the public record.  It was a failure on the part of the American media to report such malfeasance adequately.  #BernieBlackOut became a hashtag as many Berners counted the skewed minutes Sanders was allotted on CNN and other major networks compared to his counterparts.  Then we saw headlines completely fabricated when mainstream outlets reported Sanders supporters were, “throwing chairs.”  Multiple videos of the event show an agitated crowd where just one man picked up a chair.  He didn’t throw it.  Instead a fellow supporter convinced him to put it down and gave him a hug.  It was that kind of warmth that made Bernie’s campaign such a success.  But that success was soon snuffed out.  It was stolen from us.  The announcement of Hillary’s nomination came the day before the biggest primary day of the race; California.  

Yes, the mainstream took a dark turn.  They turned their noses away from the blatant disregard for the law being perpetrated by what is arguably America’s biggest crime family; the Clintons.  They favored blatant fabrications.  Even alternative media producers like myself were surprised at the audacity of it all.  Then again Bill Clinton signed the Telecommunications Act in 1996 allowing for the consolidation of media outlets.  Now 90% of all US media is owned by just 6 corporations.  Bill Clinton made a few men in media very rich.  Perhaps they’re now returning the favor.  Perhaps the right-wing is beginning to regret their sponsored, anti-science climate change denialism for discrediting them now that they have legitimate claims.  


Conflicts of Interest

But the media wasn’t the only body to be blamed for the bleakness of this election.  Loretta Lynch, the current U.S. Attorney General who accepted the FBI’s recommendation not to indict Hillary Clinton, was first appointed as a U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York in 1999 by then President Bill Clinton.  That was eight years after she worked at the Hogan & Hartson LLP law firm where the Clinton’s were clients.  Can someone say conflict of interest?  Had the the Attorney General imparted justice in due haste America’s beloved Bernie Sanders would have been the rightful Democratic nominee.  It is nepotism in the worst sense of the word; The Clinton crime family.  

Speaking of conflicts of interest:  FBI Director James Comey has a lot of interesting ties.  HSBC bank gave the Clinton Foundation $81 million when Mr. Comey served on their Board of Directors.  He resigned shortly thereafter to become the Director of the FBI.  Before that he worked for the weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin.  

Like Obama remaining silent on election fraud, collusion and racketeering, Comey and Lynch's failure to follow the law is likely due to the fact that they themselves would be implicated in the proceedings.  


SYRIA 

One of the more significant, “revelations,” contained in the WikiLeaks emails was Hillary’s involvement with backing the insurgency in Syria.  But this was well known back in 2012 when it was reported by Reuters and other reputable news agencies that don’t fall under the Clinton umbrella of influence.  Now some would argue that it’s the President and not the Secretary of State who makes foreign policy decisions.  That is true.  But it is the Secretary of State’s job to make foreign policy recommendations to the President.  Essentially she calls the shots and Obama signs the pen.  Now this group was a group called Al Nusra, another name for Al Qaeda in Syria.  Then again in 2013 Obama continued to give these, “moderate rebels,” weapons, training, and funding to the tune of $26 million dollars.  Soon after ISIS formed.  Coincidence?  Then again in 2014 Obama gave this “moderate opposition,” a staggering $500 million.  But new Secretary of State John Kerry would claim that they weren’t the same groups.  It’s very confusing and I’d be willing to bet that’s no accident.  Mike Morell, former Director of the CIA, claimed that they didn’t know that the moderate opposition would become radicalized.  He even admitted on Charlie Rose thatObama was directly funding ISIS because they shared the common goal in removing President Bashar Assad.  You may be asking yourself, “then why haven’t they been arrested for high treason?”  The answer:  Because we no longer live in a Democracy.  We live in an oligarchy.  The rules don’t apply to them.

Syria is the one issue that propels me to vehemently object to Hillary Clinton more than anything else.  Before she began funding rebels in Syria the death toll hovered around just 5,000.  Today, the UN estimates over 250,000 have died.  Over 4 million have fled the country, over 6 million have been internally displaced and 13 million are currently in need of humanitarian aid.  Think about that.  The Trail of Tears was genocide.  Did the officers escorting them kill them?  No.  They died from exposure during transport, malnutrition or from poor living conditions.  The same applies to the Holocaust.  They didn’t put most of the Jews in ovens or gas chambers.  Many of them died on the trains or working in the fields.  Syria is genocide.  

They are destroying our World Heritage Sites.  Many sites have been damaged or destroyed by ISIS or coalition forces.  When the US does it it’s an accident.  But if it truly was accidental then Obama wouldn’t be funding ISIS, Mossad wouldn’t be training them, and the Saudis wouldn’t be arming them.  If it was an accident they would work with Russia and Assad to take out ISIS.  Like the #NoDAPL conflict in North Dakota, Syria is about a shale gas pipeline.  Shale gas is the kind of gas that’s extracted through fracking.  Are you making the connection yet?  The difference is they only tear gas, pepper spray and shoot  rubber bullets at protestors in North Dakota.  In Syria, they send in automatic rifles, tanks and fighter jets.  They’re destroying our heritage so they can rewrite our ideology.  Power corrupts.  Now they’re doing the same thing in Yemen: 


YEMEN AND SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabia was involved in 9/11.  That was in the 28 recently declassified pages of the official 9/11 report.  When all planes in the US were grounded in the following days, the only plane allowed to fly flew Saudi Arabians from Florida back to their homeland.  15 of the 19 hijackers on the planes were Saudi Arabian.  So why then did Bush and Obama bow to the Saudi King?  Why did we go to war with Iraq instead of the Saudis?  I can't say for sure.  However, Saudi Arabia gives a lot of money to the Clinton Foundation.  Hillary’s State Department made many weapons deals with them.  American bombs are currently raining down on the people of Yemen.  She seems to have started a trend.  Hillary claims to be a feminist that supports the LGBT community.  But she has made Saudi Arabia a close ally even though they publicly execute homosexuals and stone women.  Oh, and she 'evolved' away from supporting DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act) and DADT (Don’t Ask Don’t Tell).  I won’t even get into the human trafficking.  Now we are helping them pillage Yemen where American bombs were recently found at a funeral massacre.  Do you feel like you’ve been duped yet?  


LIBYA

Obama calls Libya the, “worst mistake," of his presidency.  He’s right.  Why though?  Well because it, like in Iraq, left a huge vacuum of leadership.  That vacuum made if the perfect place for ISIS to create a stronghold.  He also more significantly came under fire for his bypassing Congress and leveraging NATO forces to step in.  Who expanded NATO in 1999?  Bill Clinton.  Who oversaw foreign policy recommendations at the time?  Hillary Clinton.  There are also so many dealings with State Department approvals of weapons deals that I can’t even begin to list them all.  But I know that nearly all the lines draw back to the corruption and influence the Clintons have had on American politics.


EMAILS

We’re all so sick of hearing about emails, aren’t we?  An email seems like a harmless thing; an electronic arrangement of pixels.  What’s in the emails?  Who sent them?  Who received them?  Who hacked?  Who leaked?  Who cares?  But I don’t know what’s more significant.  Is it the fact that she perjured herself under oath by saying she didn’t send or receive any classified emails?  Is it the fact that she deleted emails which were government property per the Freedom of Information Act?  Was it the fact that her careless mishandling of such sensitive material out of convenience was dismissed as an ignorant mistake?  Ignorance of the law is no excuse.  Personally, I think it’s the later because military personnel and whistleblowers like General Petraeus, Manning, and Snowden face job loss, prison time, property forfeiture and exile for doing much less.  Many Veterans will attest to this as they’ve been dishonorably discharged or faced charges just for accidentally leaving a piece of paper on a desk.  Here is just one example.  At the very least Hillary is guilty of Gross Negligence under the Espionage Act.  That’s a felony that disqualifies her from ever holding public office again.  That’s why the emails are significant.  Their contents are mere details in a much bigger picture.  

I wrote the Mock Trial for Hillary Clinton along with a team of lawyers from BU, Suffolk, and Columbia Law to demonstrate how the trial would go if Hillary was not a well-connected veteran of political drudgery.  Many people outside the legal field think that a, “mock trial,” is meant to mock or make fun of someone.  But that’s not the case.  It is legal term for a sort of practice court to prepare law students and attorneys for the courtroom.  In the trial, we established motive and intent through publicly available information.  The evidence included:


1.  Exhibit A - Her email server:   

Hillary NEVER used a State Department email.  All her email correspondence was conducted through her personal server.  The State Department partially took the blame for this, having never assigned her an official state.gov email.  Hillary said in a February debate that she didn’t send or receive any classified emails on her private server.  But since she was briefed regularly and used her private email servers for ALL her Secretary of State email correspondence, there is no way she didn’t know at least some of that information was classified.  

2.  Exhibit B - Testimony

Then she testified under oath on national television that none of the emails were classified before revising her statement to say none were marked classified.  This flew contrary to the FBI’s release that, “an undisclosed number,” were in fact marked classified.  Comey later testified that 110 were classified and he believes it was 3 emails that were marked as such.  Either way she committed perjury on national television.  But again, Ignorantia juris non excusat - Ignorance of the law is no excuse.  

3.  Exhibit C - Classified Information Nondisclosure Agreement 

Upon taking to office of Secretary of State, Hillary signed a Classified Information Nondisclosure Agreement that specifically outlined classified information protocol.  Classification is often determined by the sensitive nature of the correspondence subject.  Therefore, if Secretary Clinton was aware of which information was sensitive then she should have known that 110 of the emails were classified at the time they were sent.  Now government documents can be long and hard to understand.  But we’re not talking about a 9,000-page health care reform bill.  We’re talking about a two-page document.  If I could ask Hillary one question it would be, “Did you not read the CINA or did you know exactly what you were doing?”  The only two possible explanations are that she either knew exactly what she was doing or she’s totally incompetent.  The fact that she lied under oath, being a Yale educated lawyer, is proof positive of intent.  



FRACKING 

Hydrafrac technology was patented to Stanolind Oil in 1949.   That same year Dick Cheney’s company, Halliburton was granted the exclusive license to use it.  Hillary’s State Department sold fracking to the world.  She was basically a glorified saleswoman for Halliburton and progressives are going to vote for her.  I’ve begun to refer to her as the female Dick Cheney.  Dick Cheney famously conducted a military drill on 9/11/2001 where they were to carry out a scenario of planes hitting the World Trade Center.  So, when the actual call came in they thought it was a drill.  Coincidence?  Cheney has praised Clinton calling her, “one of the more competent members,” of President Obama’s Administration; competent at making a mockery of our nation’s laws and ideals.  But if you’re an environmentalist or a progressive it doesn’t matter because she doesn’t need your vote and she thinks you should, “get a life.”  The level of corruption is so deep most people can’t even begin to fathom it.  I don’t think I’ve even reached the full depth because I'm discovering more even as I write this. 


HILLARY CLINTON THE RACIST 

One of my favorite memes from this election is the one above with Clinton and Trump together at a party.  It says, “Welcome to America.  Would you like your racism blatant or systematic?”  Hillary is the systematic option.  Personally, I prefer no racism but… that’s not divisive enough to placate the masses.  I’d like to pose a question.  Is Donald Trump even a real racist?  He’s done business with every color and creed.  He was a Democrat before this election.  Is he just pandering to the racism and bigotry that still exists in rural conservative America?  Probably.  If you believe WikiLeaks (ID #1120) that’s exactly what he was doing and the DNC put him up to it.  In fact, Trump and Bill probably thought it up over a game of golf since the two families are good friends.  They go to the same parties.  Chelsea and Ivanka basically grew up together.  ​

So, what makes Hillary racist?  Is it the way she kicked Black Lives Matter activists out of her rally and criticized Trump for doing the same thing?  Is it her previous work for the Goldwater lawfirm; Goldwater who voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act?  Is it her, “bring them to heel,” comment or the hot sauce in her purse?  No.  It’s her dealings with the for-profit prison industry.  Private prisons are creating dangerous incentives to create more crime laws as they guarantee 90% occupancy rates to gain contracts from local governments.  Their cheap labor has brought slavery back to the United States. Trump's policy of deportation would be preferable to Hillary's plan:  Forced prison labor for pennies on the dollar or time at immigration facilities where barbed wire keeps immigrant children inside playgrounds and cost taxpayers thousands per detainee.  Our justice system disproportionately incarcerates African Americans and other minorities.  Many blame Bill Clinton’s 1994 crime bill for today’s mass incarceration problem.  Hillary wants to keep harsh punishments for marijuana use while white collar crime goes unchecked.  Don’t worry, she’ll tell them to, “cut it out.”  

So knowing all this you can imagine how ironic it was for me to be told that my not voting for Hillary was because of my white privilege.  But Hillary Clinton is the poster child for white privilege!  She can recklessly break the law at will and not even face charges for exposing national security secrets and high treason. Meanwhile many African Americans fear for their lives and face decades in prison for a petty marijuana charge?  That's white privilege.  That's why I think we saw a rash of police shootings in the days following FBI Director James Comey's announcement that no charges would be filed.  These men, including a military veteran, felt as though they would never get justice within a two tiered Justice system.  After all, a two tiered Justice system is not Democracy.  It's tyranny.  

Timeline:

July 5th -  Comey Announces No Charges

July 7th -  Philando Castile shot by police

July 8th - 5 Police killed in Dallas 

July 11th - Hillary blames white people for, "not listening enough,"

July 16th - Another police shooting in Baton Rouge

These things should upset everyone because people fought and died so that we could vote.  They fought for a land of equal opportunity, freedom, and fairness.   But instead of fair elections we have pre-selected candidates that can’t run on issues so they just sling mud and lies.  Each is knee deep in a fear mongering campaign against the other while issues like climate change don’t get so much as a mention at debates.  Their proverbial mud muddies the waters of our subconscious as we struggle to grasp the gravity of it all.  We become so disillusioned that we abandon politics altogether out of pure frustration.  But our silence makes us complicit to their crimes.  What we learned through the Bernie campaign is that most people across the political spectrum want justice and peace.  They’re sick of the deceitful and now criminal politics as usual in Washington.  


Those good intentioned people who unwittingly cast their vote for this corrupt system are what keeps me up at night.  I see the establishment not only breaking laws but laughing about getting away with it.  It is, “Weaponized hypocrisy,” as one Bernie supporter said.  Then the media  tries to say that anti-Hillary people are haters or full of hate; compounding the grief.  But we're not anti-Hillary.  We are anti-genocide.  We're environmentalists and full of love.  I can’t bear the thought of a good progressive waking up and realizing they voted for everything they’re against.  Day in and day out I’ve been talking to progressives and letting the establishment know they don’t have the true progressive vote.  That’s not hate.  That’s desperately caring for people and the planet.  That’s working for justice against all odds.  That’s hoping that someday you’ll wake up with a clean conscience and say #NoMoreWar.  Everything is politics and good people staying silent is what allowed the corrupt to take power in the first place. 

Conclusion

So after reading this some may ask Trump or Clinton?  My answer is neither.  I think they will both yield the same result:   WW3 with Russia.  But I do think HRC will be quicker and more involved in the planning of the genocide than Trump. She's already been so instrumental.  Putin has said, "If it's Hillary, it's war."  The crisis in Syria, Libya, Yemen, and Iraq are the aftermath of Hillary Clinton's failed foreign policy.  If Iraq was a mistake, then why does she keep opting for regime change? She thrives on chaos because her Clinton Foundation paycheck is dependent on weapons deals.  She is quite literally the Hollerith 2.0 engineer.  That's why, if I had to choose between the two of them I would choose Trump simply because he hasn't carried out genocide yet.  Isn't that awful?  That's literally the choice we're faced with.  But we don't have to choose.  It's not a choice.  It's coercion.  That's why I'm voting for Jill and phonebanking for a Bernie write-in in Vermont through VoteBernie.com.  I do not consent to either corrupt #Duopoly candidates with a vote.  The thing that motivates me is not hatred for Hillary.  It is the hatred of genocide.  It is the care that I have for innocent people dying in wars for profit. It is the fact that someday her supporters could wake up and say, "Oh my God, what have I done?" That's what I don't want.  Many of her supporters are just good progressive people who have no idea the monster they're voting for.  She is the female Dick Cheney.  That's what keeps me up at night. I wish for YOU a clean conscience and sound sleep. 

In Solidarity,

Andrea 


#PunishElectionFraud 
#BringBernieBack 
#BernieOrBust 
#NeverHillary 
#NoMoreWar 


"If a 3rd party vote is a protest vote then a duopoly vote is a surrender vote."


#NeverSurrender #Justice

An Editorial on the eve of Super Tuesday 

The Consensus:  Get Big Money Out of Politics 

Given the recent rash of terrorist attacks and mass shootings across the globe it can be hard to remain optimistic about upcoming elections.  Many Americans have a lot of questions and are wondering if their vote even counts within the electoral process.  Will the right candidates reach the right audiences if politicians can now accept unlimited campaign contributions from individuals?  This 2016 election cycle marks the first Presidential election since the McCutcheon, et al. v. FEC Supreme Court ruling.

There is hope!  For the first time we have leading candidates in both political parties that are unanimously against big money in politics.  Donald Trump has pledged to not accept campaign contributions from Super PACs.  Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders actually introduced legislation to take big money out of politics.  The people have spoken.  With a real estate tycoon and a democratic socialist leading the pack it's pretty obvious most Americans have had it with politics as usual.  That means for the first time in a while there seems to be a good majority of Americans across the political spectrum that agree.  We should all take note of this opportunity to unite for positive change.  


Hillary's Role:  Why she'll never win

For some reason HIllary remains relevant in the polls.  Her campaign has been cashing in on her, "electability," myth and is attempting to hone in on the herd mentality.  What is the herd mentality?  It's the psychological tendency of humans to do what everyone else is doing.  If her campaign can feign consensus more voters will follow.  Yet with all of her recent scandals and the seemingly constant releases of new emails, feigning consensus becomes increasingly difficult.  I've noticed that all or most of the polls among Democrats are always very close and nearly always fall within that 4% margin of error.  Something that most media outlets seem to neglect is the increasing numbers of unenrolled or Independent voters that don't count in Democratic or Republican polls.  In Massachusetts, Independents make up close to 51%; the staggering majority of the constituency.  Her attempts to feign electability have failed.  No Republican would ever vote for her if she manages to beat Bernie in the primary.  Many Republicans have already pledged to vote for Bernie.  That's why the GOP would prefer to run against Hillary.

As we entered into New Hampshire's primary her campaign seemed to be angling towards emotional extortion; insulting any women who didn't vote for her and threatening them with eternal damnation.  I'm sure the women on the fence appreciated that… not.  Way to alienate your audience.  Ironically voting based on gender alone is, by definition, sexist.

If you were thinking about voting for Hillary because she's, "pro-union," think again.  She once worked on Walmart's board of directors; a company that is notorious for being anti-union, paying poverty wages and enslaving people world wide.  Despite all of this she just can't say that she will not accept monies from Super PACs or swear to get big money out of politics.  No because then she would be even more lost.  Hillary get big money out of politics?  Don't worry, she'll, "consider it."

Hillary has betrayed her liberal base.  She voted for the Iraq wars and has flip flopped on many other issues like gay marriage.  I like to call her a closet Conservative.  Now Jeb Bush's case has quelled my doubts about American's short term memory.  Arguably, Jeb could have made a better president than his brother.  But most Americans seem to agree that Iraq was a mistake, especially since most of the 9/11 terrorists were Saudi Arabian.  Likewise Americans have not forgotten Bill Clinton's role in the economic crisis in signing NAFTA and deregulating Wall St. by eliminating Glass-Steagall.  (If you don't like the TPP you will hate NAFTA)  What's even more telling is her previous support of the Keystone XL pipeline.  Additionally, as the title of this article dictates, Americans remember it was Hillary Clinton's campaign video that caused Citizens United to become the law of the land.   It eliminated campaign spending limits for super PACs, injected big money into the political process and opened the secret door for foreign governments to influence and likely undermine American democracy.  That's why she can barely hold a majority within her own party.  


The Subversive 28th Amendment


When the Supreme Court makes a ruling it is very difficult to overturn.  One way to go about it without going through Congress is to draft a Constitutional Amendment.  So that's what many people did when they drafted the 28th Amendment; an Amendment to get big money out of politics by acknowledging that corporations are not people.  Then, in what seems like intentional misdirection, a 2nd 28th Amendment was drafted to completely separate church and state, which many believe will infringe upon religious freedom.  Finally a 3rd wants to ensure Congressional benefits are not disproportionally privileged in comparison to other government employees.  There are snopes articles and other sites that say all this is half true or an internet rumor.  How many people will write to their legislator asking them to support the 28th Amendment without specifying which one they want them to support?  Who really knows?  It's all very confusing.  But the truth remains clear:  Money is corrupting our political process and Americans are recognizing the similarities between our current economical climate to that of Germany in the 1930's.  Benito Mussolini once said, “Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power.”  Many people confuse Hitler's fascism with socialism because he falsely identified with the popular Workers Party in order to come to power.  It's important to know the difference.


Bernie and Trump on Top


With so much hanging in the balance how is it that a Washington outsider and a democratic socialist are the front runners?  Both have made it more clear than any other candidates that they cannot be influenced by corporate donors or Super PACs.  Americans are also sick of the politicking in Washington and opting for anti-establishment candidates.

Bernie Sanders has made getting big money out of politics a pillar of his platform.  If you have attended any of his rallies you'll usually find Stamp Stampede outside soliciting donations and giving out stamps for stamping dollar bills (see top image).  The stamps have messages like, "Not 2 B used for bribing politicians," or, "Stamp big money out of politics."  It's all part of an effort to level the playing field by eliminating Citizens United, taxing the 1% and allowing everyday Americans to move out of poverty.  

Bernie has some great ideas but many are concerned about his ability to implement them.  But if we're able to create new, green energy jobs without the confines of oppressive tariffs.  If we can bring American jobs home from China and raise the minimum wage tied to inflation that means more tax revenue without having to raise taxes.  He says that it's on us to participate in our democracy.  I agree and Bernie's campaign has certainly inspired a growing number of young people to get involved in politics.  Thanks to his message his campaign broke the record for most individual campaign contributions totaling over 2.5 million.  


Even if you don't agree with his politics Bernie's message has steered the conversation towards the root of our issues:  The Federal Reserve, which is arguably a branch the IMF and World Bank.   Contrary to popular belief The Federal Reserve is not a governmental agency that falls under the jurisdiction of Congress.  It is privately owned.  These Middle Eastern wars aren't only about fighting terrorism but also maintaining the US Petrol Dollar, suppressing the Gold Dinar, the privatization of lands, commodification of resources, and the patenting of life.  Bernie Sanders is the only candidate that acknowledges these facts and aims to correct them garnering the support of movements like Occupy.    

As far as the patenting of life through the genetic contamination from GE foods, Bernie introduced a labeling Amendment to the Farm Bill.  He is the only candidate who has publicly criticized Monsanto.  His home state of Vermont is also one of the only states to pass a GMO labeling bill.  No other candidate even comes close to Sanders on this issue.  When it comes to the issues Bernie Sanders certainly has consistency and integrity on his side if nothing else.  People recognize that and that's why he's so popular.  Hillary on the other hand hired a former Monsanto lobbyist as her campaign manager.  

Alternately, Donald Trump may be wrong about a lot of things but he speaks his mind and is beholden to no one.  Candor is so rare in politics.  He is a household name, a familiar face, and that's why people like him.  Even if he is racist and proposes outrageous policies he'll be more upfront with you than someone like Hillary who constantly changes her position based on focus groups or what other candidates are saying.  Plus deep down I think voters are secretly hoping Trump will walk into Congress and employ his signature line, "You're fired!"  

Final Thoughts

Now that several esteemed universities have deemed America an oligarchy we must utilize what little bit of democracy we have left.  Even if you believe your vote doesn't count remember that people fought and died so that you could. Even if America goes to hell in a handbasket you can at least say you tried.  If it means getting big money out it's worth a shot.  We here at The-Regular.com will certainly be voting in the primaries this year.  Will you?  Click here for your local polling information and primary dates.  See you at the polls!     

​Hillary's PR problem in memes:

​A few of you have written to me and asked for a tutorial on my bead crochet bracelets.  My busy schedule does not permit me the time it takes to make a professional video with the kind of detail necessary to learn bead crochet.  The secret is I learned bead crochet thanks to a detailed animation in a Youtube video by Ann Benson from beadseast.com. [below]    

​With all the help and convenience of Youtube it still took me about 6 months to master the craft.  First you'll need 6-7 feet of thread.  You'll want to thread all your beads before you start crocheting.  The hardest part is the first chain, then the second round.  Usually after the second round, if you haven't made any mistakes, the rest is a breeze.  It's still not easy but the work is almost therapeutic.  It's a great night time activity while you're watching TV or, if your'e like me, taking a break from blogging.  You can see some of my work here.  

​A typical 7 inch, 6 round bracelet will take you about 5 hours to make at first.  With intense focus and practice you could finish in 3.  Let me know if you can beat my time!  At a leisurely pace it takes about 3 nights.  If you're like me you have too much to do during the day to dedicate 5 solid hours of crochet in one sitting.  A friend of mine takes her crochet on the train or bus.  It's a nice break from the usual headphone-wearing, eyes-glued-to-a-screen commuter.  But be prepared to answer questions.  

Beads - It's a good idea to start with larger beads.  Size 6 beads are great for starting out.  Japanese miyuki beads are the highest quality.  The uniformity in size and shape ensures a smooth, sleek looking bracelet.  Cheaper beads tend to vary slightly in size and can make for a lumpy looking bracelet.   

Thread - Always use a size 10 crochet thread.  You can choose from a variety of colors.  

Beading Needle - You're going to need a beading needle to thread the beads.  You'll want a fine, more flexible needle for smaller beads and a heavy, more stiff needle for larger beads.   Be careful!  If you drop one it will be lost in the carpet forever.

Crochet Hook - I use a 2.75 mm blue Boye.  Did you know that there is a United States Standard of crochet hook sizes?  Neither did I.  

So that should be all you need to get started with bead crochet.  Now lets get to finishing your bracelet.  You could end with caps and a clasp but I prefer the invisible join method seen here in another animation by Ann Benson [below]: 

Now that you've joined your bracelet and nailed your technique you can move on to advanced techniques like patterns, adding new thread, expanding and contracting.  But that's another blog post for another day.  If you're feeling ambitious you can browse my patterns on my Pinterest board.  Happy crocheting! 

Tag us in your bead crochet photos and get featured on our Instagram!  @on_the_reg_ 

Professor Emeritus, Noam Chomsky speaks out about special labs funding at MIT

You may be wondering what The-Regular has been up to since our last blog post.  Well we've been very busy over the summer helping new clients, filling custom orders and covering important issues for The Real News and Food News pages.

One of our most notable recent projects was with a group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology called Science for the People.  Together with students, scientists and concerned citizens, we organized seminars including, "Science at MIT:  From the Cold War to the Climate Crisis."   MIT's Radius, formerly known as the Technology and Culture Forum, also helped sponsor the lecture.  The event featured Noam Chomsky, once named the world's top public intellectual, and Subrata Ghoshroy.  They covered the history of special labs funding at MIT and how it has affected the trajectory of science in general.  The talk drew a crowd of over 450 people; overflowing the main lecture hall under MIT's iconic dome.

Now the talk took place on April 28th, which was right around the time Fossil Free groups were holding sit-ins at major college campuses so it created a lot of buzz.  MIT's TechTV captured a great video of the event.  When the student group Fossil Free MIT got a hold of it they edited it into clips.  One of those clips went viral with over 93,000 views once it was shared by 350.org!  In the clip below, Noam implores that the divestment opposition's arguments are, "irrelevant."  See for yourself.  Here's to getting the truth out there!  

What are the Facts?

Subrata Ghoshroy was the first to speak.  In his presentation he details the problem through a comprehensive compilation of data.  It seems most of MIT's special labs funding comes from classified defense projects and special interests; the likes of which led to the Aaron Swartz tragedy.  You can view Subrata's slides and analyze the data for yourselves here.  

See the FULL video:  http://techtv.mit.edu/videos/31775-science-at-mit-from-the-cold-war-to-climate-change​

What is Science for the People?   

(taken from Wikipedia;)  "Since Fall 2014, an effort has been underway to revive Science for the People at MIT (SftP-MIT).  Inspired by the original 1970s-1980s group, as well as MIT's tradition of campus activism, SftP-MIT aims to explore MIT’s larger social purpose, determine how well it is fulfilling that purpose, and work towards a research community that is more diverse, ethically informed, socially engaged, and democratic.  Inspired by the historical SftP group's view that science and technology aren't always neutral, SftP-MIT aims to explore the interaction between the science, technology and society. In particular, SftP-MIT provides a forum for a critical discussion of the social, political and ethical consequences of science and technology, through a seminar series and reading groups." 
​
Read more - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_for_the_People

It is an honor to work with some of the world's most brilliant minds at the world's top university.  This great work is proof positive that staying true to yourself, hard work, and integrity really do pay off.  

New low-grade knock-offs are being sold as stocking stuffers FOR THE SAME PRICE as the originals.  

You've probably seen the real thing recently.  They come in cute and ergonomic packaging.  If you've tried them you know they taste amazing too.  I'm referring to the original, ingenious EOS™ lip balm of course.  EOS™ stands for Evolution of Smooth.  But they are so much more than just smooth!  They're revolutionary!  If you read the labeling before you tear into these bulbous beauties you'll learn that the ingredients are 95% organic and plant based.  Most people don't know that EOS™ is organic.   Well the local, farm-to-table movement has been growing.  That, effectiveness, and great marketing strategies have made EOS™ very popular in recent years.  But now their competitors WANT IN.  Walgreens, CVS and Stop & Shop have all come out with their own similar looking, yet very different versions.  Watch out!  

In an effort to capitalize on the ignorance of consumers while simultaneously sustaining the petroleum industry these knock-off competitor brands are using similar packaging and tasty flavors to reel in customers.  But when you read the label the main ingredient is mineral oil (refined petroleum) with artificial dyes, flavors, and other petrol-based additives as secondary ingredients.  One of the less obvious dangers of petrol-based ingredients in cosmetics is that they are likely contaminated with carcinogens like benzene and butylene.  Then there is of course the obvious danger of supporting an outmoded, corrupt industry that is destroying the world.  But, you know, we'll save that for another post.  Even if you're a fearless bravado living life on the edge and laughing in the face of danger you'll probably find that EOS™ works way better than any petroleum based lip remedy anyway.

In conclusion make sure to always read labels.  Make sure your lip balm is plant based and contains at least 95% organic oils.  The price for the imitations were about the same.  But even if it's slightly cheaper the risks are not worth the money you'd save.  Don't get duped into paying more for a lesser quality product.  My favorite flavor is Summer Fruit.  But they're all amazing.  Check out THIS 2014 limited edition Holiday 4-pack from American designer Rachel Roy.  You can also save by buying in bulk!  Happy Holidays from The-Regular.com!  #ConsumeConsciously

Store Brand Ingredients:  (This one is Walgreens, but the CVS and Stop & Shop brands are very similar.)  Mineral Oil, Ozokerite, Petrolatum, Microcrystalline Wax, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax (Candelilla), Di-PPG-3 Myristyl Ether Adipate, Flavor, Isopropyl Myristate, phenyl trimethicone, Tocopherol, sucralose, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf extract, Bismuth Oxychloride, Red 6 Lake (CL 15850)

EOS Ingredients:   Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Beeswax (Cire D'abeille)*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Natural Flavor (Aroma), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract*, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract*, Fragaria Vesca (Strawberry) Fruit Extract*, Prunus Persica (Peach) Fruit Extract*, Linalool**. *Organic. **Component of Natural Flavor. Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth.

Cold weather that is.   The changing of the seasons means dry skin and dry skin can lead to cracking, irritation, dead skin build-up and ultimately break-outs.  So what do you do when your normal SPF moisturizer isn't doing the trick anymore?  As you age your skin gets even more dry.  That's why last year I discovered oil cleansing.  You may have seen all the brands at Sephora coming out with different versions.  My favorite store brand is Fresh's Seaberry Face Oil with a plant based oil blend and omega fatty acids.  But that can be expensive at around $50.  It also contains a nominal amount of the preservative BHT.  Caudalie's Detox oil is even better at around the same price with no preservatives.  But there is still a cheaper, cleaner and more effective alternative to remedy winter skin.  

To find that alternative we look to the unique ecosystem of the Sonoran Desert in the South Western United States.  No, the Saguaro cacti and agave are not the only extraordinary plants exclusive to this region.  Here the jojoba plant grows wild.  For centuries Native American tribes have used it to make a salve for burns and skin irritations.  Today modern science gives us a closer look.  

As it turns out jojoba oil, pressed from the seeds, is not an oil at all but a wax esther.  The title, "oil," namely refers to it's substantive quality and feel.  Through science we've also learned that jojoba is the closest known substance to human skin oil (or sebum).  Sebum, although referred to as an oil, is also a wax esther.  Now your body uses this sebum, "oil," to rid the body of toxins through the pores.  Jojoba oil cleansing not only moisturizes your skin in the most natural way possible but it also accelerates the body's natural cleansing process.  Amazing huh?  The great news is you can buy the pure organic oil for less than 1/5th of the brand name designer oils.  Another great perk is that jojoba has virtually no odor so it won't overpower your favorite perfumes or lotions.  


Here is how I use it:  When my skin is super parched I will apply the oil directly to dry skin and rub it in (This seems so counterintuitive to someone with oily skin but it works!).  Then I take a hot, wet facecloth and wipe and rinse until my face feels replenished.  I'd recommend doing this once a week.  If your skin is less dry try wetting your face first and then repeat the same steps.  

So here we go, step-by-step:

1.  Apply oil to dry face

2.  Rub gently in circular motions

3.  Gently wipe off with hot, wet facecloth


Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Detox Overnight Oil Ingredients:  Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride*, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil*, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil*, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Leaf/Twig Oil*, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil*, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Oil*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Oil*, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil*, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract*, Linalool*, Geraniol*, Limonene*, Farnesol*. *Plant origin.

Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil Ingredients:  Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Fragrance, BHT, Linalool, Limonene, Citral, Coumarin, Geraniol.

Organic Jojoba Oil Ingredients:  100% Expeller Pressed  Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil

If you have received a gift from me recently chances are it was this:  Voluspa's Santiago Huckleberry travel candle.  The smell is intoxicating.  Everyone loves it.  It's affordable at $8-10.  I mean even the cashier at the store said it was her favorite candle and that she keeps it in her room.  Mine too!  Personally, I keep one in my bathroom, room, and living room.   The best gifts are the ones that will get a lot of use.  Trust me you will have a hard time giving these as gifts as you will want to keep them for yourselves!  

With a broad knowledge in Botany and her husband's business savvy the Traci and Troy Arnsten power couple started their family candle making business in Orange County, California, making the first candle in their kitchen in 1999.  Traci applied her cultured, classical aesthetic while Troy employed his engineering skills to develop a revolutionary formula coveted in the industry. Their winning combination has made Voluspa a favorite among a long list of A-list celebrities.

The best part of Voluspa is their ecologically sound, sustainable and pesticide free ingredients.  I don't know about you but I feel nauseous when I walk by the Yankee Candle store.  Something about petroleum based waxes just makes me sick and this was true before I knew what petroleum based paraffin wax was.  Of course only a few can really say for sure what exactly is in Yankee candles because it is proprietary information.  But they've admitted to using refined paraffin.  Some candle companies even use leaded wicks!  But not Voluspa.  They are proud of their ingredients because their candles are ultra clean burning  (up to 90% cleaner than soy candles in independent lab tests) and their wax is made from healthy coconut oil.  Coconut oil is not only ultra clean burning but it also blends better with the fragrance revealing the subtle notes and preserving the fragrance's character.

So I'm really excited about these lollipops I got from Whole Foods.  You can save yourself the trip though because they're on Amazon.com.  There is still time to order before Halloween too!  Anyways back to the pops... They're made by YumEarth Organics.  Not only are they free of artificial dyes and flavors, but they're made with real organic fruit juice and are packed with your daily value of vitamin C.  Phil Lempert, the food editor from the TODAY Show, said that they're the best lollipops he's ever tasted!  I have to agree.  I've eaten about 10 of them already.  You know I had to try all 8 flavors; Mango Tango, Pomegranate Pucker, Wet-face Watermelon, Strawberry Smash (favorite), Razzmatazz Berry, Perfectly Peach, Very Very Cherry, & Googly Grape!  I hope there is still enough for the kids on Halloween!  Rachel Ray has also featured YumEarth's gummi bears on her show.   YumEarth certainly has many more treats in store!

Of course the best part is probably the fact that YumEarth is a small family owned business that sources it's ingredients from sustainable family farms. So not only is this purchase good for your health and your taste buds, but it's good for the economy and the environment.  YumEarth products have even been featured on the Food Network and the Discovery Channel's Planet Green.   Someone thought out marketing really well or maybe they're just that good.  They have an unheard of, perfect 5 star rating on Amazon with over 190 reviews.  YumEarth is one to watch!  Hopefully they keep up their high standards and integrity.   In conclusion YumEarth is all treat and no trick.  Save the tricks for your little brother.  Boo!

If sweet and fruity isn't your style check out this great deal on BULK Justin's Organic Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups... Mmm.  

Ingredients:  Organic evaporated cane juice, organic brown rice syrup, non-gmo citric acid (from beet sugar - not corn), natural flavors, organic black carrots, organic black currant, organic apple, organic carrot, organic pumpkin, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C).  

VIDEO (below) Get to know YumEarth's CEOs Rob & Sergio!