Former VP Dick Cheney Recovering After Heart Transplant Surgery

By Susan Duclos


Former Vice President Dick Cheney, 71 years old, underwent a heart transplant after waiting 20 months on the heart transplant list and suffering five heart attacks since the late 1930's and is recovering in the intensive care unit of Inova Fairfax Hospital in the Falls Church area from the surgery.

“Although the former Vice President and his family do not know the identity of the donor, they will be forever grateful for this lifesaving gift,” Cheney aide Kara Ahern said in a statement issued Saturday night. Ahern said Cheney “is thankful to the teams of doctors and other medical professionals at Inova Fairfax and George Washington University Hospital for their continued outstanding care.”

Cheney started his political career in 1969 and throughout the years he has been an intern, Congressman, Secretary of Defense, and held many a committee positions in between, and last but not least, Vice President under George W. Bush.

You can read his full biography over at Biography.com.

Speedy recovery to Dick Cheney and best wishes to his family and friends.

[Update] Liberals are keeping it classy!! (NOT)

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Michelle Malkin Launches TWITCHY.COM

By Susan Duclos

A fun new site called TWITCHY has been launched by conservative pundit Michelle Malkin. Malkin's announcement HERE and press release reprinted below:

MICHELLE MALKIN LAUNCHES CUTTING-EDGE TWITTER CURATION WEBSITE

HotAir.com founder recruits new team for “newswire of the 21st century”

Colorado Springs, Col., March 7 – Leading new media entrepreneur Michelle Malkin today announced the launch of TWITCHY.COM, a ground-breaking entrant in the Twitter curation/aggregation space. The founder of powerhouse blogs MichelleMalkin.com (established 2004) and HotAir.com (established 2006 and sold to Salem Communications in 2010) has recruited a savvy team of editors from across the country to staff the new must-read website.

“TWITCHY.COM is a ground-breaking Twitter curation site powered by a kinetic staff of social media junkies,” Malkin said. “We’re mining Twitter to bring you ‘who said what’ in U.S. politics, global news, sports, entertainment, media, and breaking news 24/7.”

Malkin added: “If it’s news, TWITCHY.COM is on it. If it should be news, TWITCHY.COM is ahead of it.”

Round-the-clock TWITCHY.COM editors will bring readers buzz-worthy tweets, reactions, and memes long before traditional media outlets decide it’s “breaking.” Unlike the current generation of Twitter aggregators, TWITCHY.COM will be driven by an eclectic mix of human curators whose judgment can’t be replicated by computer algorithms.

“TWITCHY.COM is the newswire of the 21st century,” Malkin explained. We’re always wired. Never static. And we’re completely freed from slow-moving, obsolete corporate media restraints and biases against ‘non-traditional’ sources of news.”

From plane crashes and earthquakes, to political scandals and Hollywood catfights, to democracy revolutions abroad and the death of Osama bin Laden, more and more users get their news from Twitter.

TWITCHY.COM cuts through the noise and sifts through massive amounts of data to keep both casual news consumers and consummate newshounds up to speed. “Whether you’re a Twitter addict or a Twitter newbie, TWITCHY.COM will become a central part of your go-to, daily Internet diet,” Malkin promised.

Twitter is the online social network and microblogging service with more than 100 million active users and an estimated half-billion registered users worldwide. Celebrities, media moguls, journalists, political leaders, business executives, and athletes share the global messaging platform with ordinary citizens who trade scoops, gossip, jokes, photos, and video in real time to the tune of 290 million tweets per day.

# # #

About Michelle Malkin

Michelle Malkin, owner and founder of Twitchy LLC, is a newspaper columnist in her 20th year of national syndication with Creators Syndicate, author of four best-selling books, Fox News Contributor, and longtime blogger. HP Labs’ Social Computing Lab ranked Malkin’s Twitter feed (@michellemalkin) as one of the “most influential” in the Twitterverse. The liberal-leaning web site Mediaite ranks Malkin one of the most influential conservative print/online columnists in the U.S. The conservative-leaning U.K. Telegraph ranked Malkin the third-most influential female conservative in the U.S. Internet search company PeekYou determined that Malkin had the largest digital footprint on the Internet among political bloggers.

Been browsing TWITCHY and signed up for the US Politics newsletter, but other options are available including Global News, Media, Entertainment and Sports.

Also a section called "Fresh off the Twire", current tweets for interested parties in all the topics listed above.

The site is user friendly, very easy to navigate and original.

Kudos to Michelle Malkin. Nice job.

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Newt Gingrich Campaign's Unique Usage Of Social Media: Newt 2012 Influencers

By Susan Duclos

The Newt Gingrich campaign has been very active in using social media in their campaigning efforts and via Twitter, they posted a link to another unique type of campaign effort they named the "Newt 2012 Influencer."

There is a choice given of whether the announcements automatically get posted to the social networks your choose to include or whether you wish to approve those announcements before being posted to your choices of social media networks.

Once a user signs up, the page offers statistics on how many links the user has shared, how many clicks per link and how many total clicks.

Easy steps, via Newt.org.

1. Sign up to be an Influencer by clicking on the sign-up widget below. This takes just a few seconds. Specify which social networks you’re interested in sharing our information on.
2. Once we publish new and interesting articles and stories that match your preferences you’ll get an email about the latest news and we will ask if you would like to share it on the social networks you selected.
3. After you agree, with your approval, the content gets automatically shared to your networks right from your email. You never even have to log in! Your friends will see that you’ve shared this contact with them and have a chance to learn more about Newt.

Just another example of how social media like Twitter, Facebook and others are becoming an effective campaign tool for candidates.

[Update] The email sent after signup:

Dear Susan Duclos,

Thank you for signing up to be an Influencer for Newt 2012. We really appreciate your support! As a registered Influencer you are able to help us share new and interesting content on your various social networks. The way that this works is very simple:

1. You will receive an email notification whenever new content is posted that Newt 2012 would like your help sharing. This email will provide you with information about the content and provide you with an opportunity to view it on the website, so that you can decide if it is something you would like to share with your network.

2. Depending on your preferences, you will click a link in the email to either approve the content to be shared (if you have chosen to approve everything), or to opt-out of having the content shared (if you have chosen to auto-post everything).

3. That's it! If at any time you wish to stop sharing content altogether you simply have to log back into SocialToaster and update your preferences. You can do this by returning to the Newt 2012 website and logging back in.

Sincerely,
Newt 2012

If at any time you wish to stop sharing content altogether or change your preferences, simply log back into SocialToaster at http://www.newt.org/influencer.

You are receiving this email because you signed up to participate as an Influencer for Newt 2012 on their website. This service is provided to you through SocialToaster.com. If you do not wish to participate in this service you may click here to cancel your participation: http://my.socialtoaster.com/st/opt-out/MjI2MjA

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My Take On The Electability Argument... My Dog, Shamus, Is More Electable Than Barack Obama

By Susan Duclos

I click a lot of links throughout the day. I read through the Twitter comments of those I follow and click even more links. Over the past few days I have been watching a running debate, for lack of a better word, on the electability of Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney, from @aceofSpadesHQ,@justkarl @ctiberius, just among a few.

Let's talk about Obama's re-electability.

Unemployment has been well over 8.5 percent for the majority of Obama's term. Obama gave us Obamacare! Obama has reigned over the highest deficits over any president. Obamacare! More people have been put on food stamps since he has taken residence in the White House than ever before. Obamacare! America's credit rating has been downgraded. Obamacare! He pushed, passed and implemented a nearly trillion dollar stimulus plan that failed. Obamacare! The debt was $10.626 trillion on the day Obama took office, it is now over $15 trillion just three years later. Have I mentioned... yes, OBAMACARE!

And that is just off my head for a quickie.



Dudes.... It has been interesting, but to me, with Barack Obama's record over the last three years, my freaking dog, Shamus, a little cairn terrier, (seen at the top of this post) is more electable than Barack Obama in 2012.

While everyone has their preferred candidate, Newt or Mitt is more electable than Barack Obama.

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Friday Entertainment: Questions You Don’t Have to Ask Tea Partiers

By Susan Duclos

A little lighthearted entertainment from Big Government who went through Twitters "Questions you don’t have to ask Tea Partiers" hashtag last week and created a video from some of the amusing questions.

Video below:



My personal favorite was whether the lice could be considered dependents.

Enjoy!

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Twitter Tree Thursday

The Twitter Tree© will be hosted by a different shop each business day.

Monday: http://christiecottage.blogspot.com/
Tuesday: http://audreyscountrycrafts.blogspot.com/
Wednesday: http://elunajewelry-nc.blogspot.com/
Thursday: http://aneedleinthehaystack-debbie.blogspot.com/
Friday: http://sweetybird09.blogspot.com/2010/


Be sure and stop by and be a part of the twitter tree each day.
Instructions:
You tweet the item(s) for me and all the posts above yours, along with your twitter account so we can follow you, and list 1-3 items (clickable links) from any of your online shops that you would like for all those posting here to tweet for you. ( No "mature" items, please). Be sure the item is twitter ready. (See below) Check back throughout the day and tweet all the new items posted from other online shops. Etsy, ArtFire, Zibbet, Bonanzle, ebay, your own website, etc..
Please add this tag to your tweets. " #BlueBird"

This way we can Retweet later in the day, simply by searching the tag.
Thanks!
By reaching out thru blogger and blog follower's twitter accounts, we will reach a new audience of viewers and hopefully land some sales. After all, we all have our online shops to make sales.

Please remember that your post can only be so long for Twitter or it will say  the post is to long  and then words have to be removed.

Please keep your post  to 3 listings and thank you for coming by to the Twitter Tree

Saint Patricks Day assorted set of 9 digital sheet  http://bit.ly/f8AEgM

#Bluebird #crochet18purple @ArtFire

The Bumble Bee and The Flower photo print http://bit.ly/doSSCP #Bluebird

#Crochet18purple @Artfire

Set of 9 what to wear assorted dresses on a by crochet18purple http://etsy.me/gh9OIM

#Bluebird #Etsybot

I started a thread on ArtFire for the Twitter tree take a moment and show it some love

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=forums&op=view_topic&page_no=1&topic_src=1&tid=29761

Etsy's new forum changes, What were they thinking?

They had been announcing for a while, and we were preparing, starting teams and such  and then we see a change and the promotion are still there but for how long?  The one thing that bugs me about all this  is the Christiecottage BNS thread.    ChristieCottage’s ♥BnS ♥ since 11/2008 with 13,607 sales thru 02/04/11

Should a thread like this be tossed away  I say a big fat NO!  look at the time and effort  that has been put into this with over 13000 sales.  I have to say I am a little upset with Etsy, I have been there since 07  and this change has caused alot of confusion with etsy sellers  who depend on and count on going to the forums to promote  their items, should  they go away all together  then what?  We hope  the "Teams"  are a good idea?  I guess we have to see what happens, but in the meantime  There are alot of us  that have ArtFire shops as well. Also good to have a back up plan

Today's Twitter Tree is hosted by..... http://sweetybird09.blogspot.com/

Twitter Tree Thursday

Monday: http://christiecottage.blogspot.com/
Tuesday: http://audreyscountrycrafts.blogspot.com/
Wednesday: http://elunajewelry-nc.blogspot.com/
Thursday: http://aneedleinthehaystack-debbie.blogspot.com/
Friday: http://sweetybird09.blogspot.com/2010/


Be sure and stop by and be a part of the twitter tree each day.
Instructions:

You tweet the item(s) for me and all the posts above yours, along with your twitter account so we can follow you, and list 1-3 items (clickable links) from any of your online shops that you would like for all those posting here to tweet for you. ( No "mature" items, please). Be sure the item is twitter ready. (See below) Check back throughout the day and tweet all the new items posted from other online shops. Etsy, ArtFire, Zibbet, Bonanzle, ebay, your own website, etc..


Please add this tag to your tweets. " #BlueBird"

This way we can Retweet later in the day, simply by searching the tag.

Thanks!

By reaching out thru blogger and blog follower's twitter accounts, we will reach a new audience of viewers and hopefully land some sales. After all, we all have our online shops to make money.

here are mine 

4 colors of a tulip digital sheets by crochet18purple

on @Etsy http://etsy.me/eXaIZr #Bluebird #Etsybot

Blue and black digital sheets you print by crochet18purple http://etsy.me/eCe8iD #Bluebird #Etsybot


 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Pink and black digital sheets you print

by crochet18purple http://etsy.me/ecCGqD #Bluebird #etsybot

Twitter Tree Thursday

Welcome to the Twitter Tree!

Instructions:

Here is a list of three items (clickable links) that I would like for you to tweet for me.

Digital Rooster sheet

http://tinyurl.com/287pe7x #Bluebird

Vintage look Fairy in a flower digital sheet you print

http://tinyurl.com/4afa2nw #Bluebird

Cotton Candy pink embossed polymer clay button

http://tinyurl.com/4vtuocu #Bluebird

You tweet one or all of them.
You post the item(s) you tweeted for me along with your twitter account so I can follow you, and list 1-3 items (clickable links) from any of your online shops that you would like for me to tweet for you. ( No "mature" items, please). Be sure the item is twitter ready. (See below
I will post what I tweeted for you.
By reaching out thru blogger and blog follower's twitter accounts, we will reach a new audience of viewers and hopefully land some sales. Afterall, we all have our online shops to make money.
The Twitter Tree will be hosted by a different shop each business day.

Monday: http://christiecottage.blogspot.com/
Tuesday: http://audreyscountrycrafts.blogspot.com/
Wednesday: http://elunajewelry-nc.blogspot.com/
Thursday: http://aneedleinthehaystack-debbie.blogspot.com/
Friday: http://sweetybird09.blogspot.com/2010/

Please add this tag to your tweets. " #BlueBird"


This way we can Retweet later in the day, simply by searching the tag.
Thanks!

I will not let Christmas beat me this year

I know  that in the past I have let Christmas beat me down.  Through stress  and exhaustion.  It was a non stop rush  that left me with migraines, lots of stress  and by the time Christmas came I was to tired to enjoy things.  Well I made the decission  that I wasn't going to let that happen  and so a new tradition is born.

My family loves to eat, so with that in mind  I am doing the gift of food.  I am baking everyone cakes this year  so when they get up Christmas they will have a cake made by me to enjoy for Christmas day. I have 7 to make and really looking forward to it.

Cheese Party !  this year I decided that since we are cheese nuts (don't think I have ever met a Cheddar I didn't like  even the sharpest)  and my hubby and kids agree  so we are going to have a cheese party, all different kinds, with a variety of crackers and bread.  Followed with hot chocolate or coffee  and of course cheese cake

When my boys were little  they loved  the cheese ball I always made  so here is how simple it is and yes it will be at the party
ingredients:

cheddar spread
cream cheese
blue cheese
1tsp garlic salt
1 T Worcester sauce
crushed pecans
parsley (optional)

Let you cheeses come to room temperature. In a mixing bowl mix  the cheeses  and the garlic salt and Worcesters sauce.  blend well.  Form into a ball on a plate and then cover with pecans and parsley.
put in the fridge  to firm back up  and then serve with crackers or bread

Don't forget todays twitter tree  hosted by  http://christiecottage.blogspot.com/

Here is a picture to snag today Enjoy  click on the pic to view the animation

Check out this wonderful BNR on Etsy

Here are some wonderful handmade Christmas Gifts  for under 10.00.  Just click on the picture and it will take you to this wonderful treasury of handmade gifts

Todays Twitter tree is hosted by
 http://elunajewelry-nc.blogspot.com/

Twitter Tree Thursday

Welcome to the Twitter Tree!

Instructions:
Here is a list of three items (clickable links) that I would like for you to tweet for me.

Desmo orange leather handbag

http://tinyurl.com/32j52nn
EBISU Brown handbag
http://tinyurl.com/2wcwuo9
Beaded black and tourquoise beaded Bag
http://tinyurl.com/36la64r

You tweet one or all of them.
You post the item(s) you tweeted for me along with your twitter account so I can follow you, and list 1-3 items (clickable links) from any of your online shops that you would like for me to tweet for you. ( No "mature" items, please). Be sure the item is twitter ready. (See below
I will post what I tweeted for you.

By reaching out thru blogger and blog follower's twitter accounts, we will reach a new audience of viewers and hopefully land some sales. Afterall, we all have our online shops to make money.

The Twitter Tree will be hosted by a different shop each business day.

Monday: http://christiecottage.blogspot.com/

Tuesday: http://audreyscountrycrafts.blogspot.com/

Wednesday: http://elunajewelry-nc.blogspot.com/

Thursday: http://aneedleinthehaystack-debbie.blogspot.com/

Friday: http://seo-web-pro.blogspot.com/


Be sure and stop by and be a part of the twitter tree each day. We will promote this way until mid-December and then take a one month break.

Twitter Tree Thursday

Welcome to the Twitter Tree!

Instructions:
Here is a list of three items (clickable links) that I would like for you to tweet for me.

2 buttons in one polymer clay embossed buttons

http://tinyurl.com/23gakxz
Pretty little doggie handbag
http://tinyurl.com/393vk6h
embossed blue and mauve polymer clay button
http://tinyurl.com/2e7nbnl


You tweet one or all of them.
You post the item(s) you tweeted for me along with your twitter account so I can follow you, and list 1-3 items (clickable links) from any of your online shops that you would like for me to tweet for you. ( No "mature" items, please). Be sure the item is twitter ready. (See below

I will post what I tweeted for you.
By reaching out thru blogger and blog follower's twitter accounts, we will reach a new audience of viewers and hopefully land some sales. Afterall, we all have our online shops to make money.

The Twitter Tree will be hosted by a different shop each business day.



Monday: http://christiecottage.blogspot.com/


Tuesday: http://audreyscountrycrafts.blogspot.com/


Wednesday: http://elunajewelry-nc.blogspot.com/


Thursday: http://aneedleinthehaystack-debbie.blogspot.com/


Friday: http://seo-web-pro.blogspot.com/

Be sure and stop by and be a part of the twitter tree each day. We will promote this way until mid-December and then take a one month break.