I am really saddened by Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s decision to stop funding breast screenings to Planned Parenthood. I would like to hear more from Komen on this issue. But it appears that politics played a role in a group (albeit, a private one) that is supposed to promote women’s health cutting off funding to cancer screenings. I am not donating to Susan G. Komen until further notice. They are a private organization and I am a private citizen that can also choose where to put my hard-earned dollars.

I posted this on Facebook last night with a fairly simple statement, I am not donating until I hear more – the screenings they are going to be denying women could help save women’s lives against breast cancer. And what I got from friends was pure politics due to PP being an abortion provider.

I am looking at this as the father of a daughter, the son of an amazing mother, a future husband, and an ex-husband. And all of those women in the roles I just mentioned – all have incidents of cancer in their families. I ran 40 miles about a month ago to fight cancer with Team in Training. And I have no time or money for anyone or group that stands in my way to fight that disease.

To me, this is about fighting cancer, not congressional investigations (which seriously, there is zero legal requirement for an investigation to be started by Congress, so skip that – that IS purely political). And OK, if SGK’s motives were political, why not find a right wing cancer screening group of hospitals that you could donate those funds ear-marked for PP to provide those screenings for women in need?

SGK has made waves previously for their lawsuits against other cancer fighting non-profits for using the “for the cure” slogan. While legally they were fully acting within their rights, I have to ask, are you really fighting cancer or just spending the money you are raising to pay attorneys and talk to right wing lobbyists?

One last time, I get that SGK is a private organization and they can make their own choices. Just like I and millions of others can as we make our donations this year and in the future.

UPDATE: A petition has started, sign and share please if you care to do so.

Movie Reviews…

Cave of Forgotten Dreams – this was a pretty impressive documentary. Cave art that goes back 32,000 years filmed by Werner Herzog in 3D, awesome.

Small Business/Tech Links…

• SEO Tips for E-commerce Sites
• Writing Google Places Reviews to Improve Rankings
• Google clarifies what isn’t changing with new privacy policy
• Firefox 10 out now: full screen apps, fewer crashes, disappearing forward button
• How Lanyrd Uses HTML5 for a Great Mobile Web App
• Firefox Adds Powerful New Developer Tools
• The Other 99% of Entrepreneurs
• Wunderkit Launches Beta For Its Wunderbar-designed Productivity Platform - I’ll definitely try this out, I love Wunderlist

Funny/Interesting Links…

• Top 10 Racist Cartoon Moments - thanks David
• Peavey Builds An Auto-Tuning Guitar
• T-Rex trying things (11 Photos)
• How the 7 deadly sins look when applied to your workday
• Shockingly wise kids’ answers to questions about dating
• How to let your coworkers know you’re one cup of coffee away from an office rampage - this really doesn’t mean much to my officemates, Ziggy (cat) and Titan (dog), but I still love it
• The World of Corporate Logos as Seen By a Five-Year Old
• Breaking Bad as an 8-bit RPG

Who wants an applesauce sandwich?

It’s time to get in those last-minute donations! We have only a few days until our deadline, so please visit our team page before we no longer have one. Thank you to everyone who has already donated! And one last reminder… if we do not raise the remaining $1,100 – that money will come our of our pockets. Yes, my small business-owning and Abbe’s unemployed pockets. We need your help folks, the deadline is December 16th. PLEASE donate if you can.

Movie Review…

Beginners - slow, but very well-acted and very good.

Small Business/Tech Links…

• Twitter gets a new look: faster, simpler, cleaner
• Facebook Timeline: 10 Fresh Designs for Creative Inspiration [PICS]
• Google Currents is No Flipboard Killer
• How to Design the Best Navigation Bar for Your Website

Funny/Interesting Links…

• Topton musician creates Key of See, helps in search for a cure for blindness - Very proud to call Jim a friend, please take a minute and read about one of Abbe’s awesome uncles!
• Dancing With An iPod In Public – Christmas Edition - thanks Mary!
• What If Everything Worked Like BCS: The Spelling Bee – thanks Tim
• Tradition
• Best 10 Memes of 2011 [VIDEO]
• Louis CK on Female Culture
• The A.V. Club’s Annual Band Name Retrospective
• And here are some of the very, very well-deserved Rick Perry “Strong” responses… Rick Perry “Weak”, Rick Perry “Weak, man”, Rick Perry is an Ass, Jesus Responds to Rick Perry

I’ve got nothing today. I guess with all of the negativity in the media right now, how about everyone try and do one small good thing for someone else today.

“I would like to explain the meaning of compassion, which is often misunderstood. Genuine compassion is based not on our own projections and expectations, but rather on the rights of the other: irrespective of whether another person is a close friend” – Dalai Lama

Here are four things that I wish weren’t in the news… Heavy D Dead at 44, Chris Myers placed on administrative leave, Penn State Said to Be Planning Paterno’s Exit, RIP Joe Frazier.

Something good today folks, just one thing for someone else. Do it.

Small Business/Tech Links…

• Internet Video Formats: Which is Best for Video Marketing?
• Jailbreakers unearth hidden panorama mode in iOS 5 camera app
• How To Access The iPhone Field Test App
• How to Set Up a Google+ Brand Page
• Amazon’s HTML5 Kindle Cloud Reader Web App Comes to Firefox
• 12 Tips to Make Your Company More Creative
• HTML5 Apps Platform Creator Absorbed by Facebook
• 6 Best Practices for Modern SEO
• Steve Jobs Wins: Adobe to Give Up Mobile Flash for HTML5

Funny/Interesting Links…

• Occulting Telescope
• Ron Washington’s Game 7 Pre-Game Speech

For those of you that had not yet heard, The Carriage Trade Cheese Shoppe is closing. Abbe, Caroline, and Laurel are crushed. These are more tough times for Main Street. And for those folks in the Medford, NJ area that think, “oh what a shame, I loved that place!” – well, where were you? For all of the friends I have told the bad news that had that same reaction, I can count on one hand the number of them that had visited that shop more than once in the past 12 months.

There are now three restaurants left on Main Street and honestly, I would not be surprised if that number dwindles down to one before the end of the year. And yes, that is an honest and well-informed statement.

Shop locally folks, don’t just promise to do it and nod your head in agreement when I say it. Here’s an example… Pride Paws, a pet store on Main Street has better prices and is 5 miles closer than that Petsmart in Marlton. In addition, Pride Paws provides training and employment for people with such developmental disabilities as autism and Down Syndrome. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful.

That said, it is not just the consumers at fault. Medford Township, stop pushing away retailers. Stop trying to stop restaurants from putting sidewalk signs out to attract customers. Stop complaining that the Jamaican restaurant’s sign is too bright. Heaven forbid if these establishments actually make money and attract foot traffic for all of the other shops in the area.

My fiancee lost an incredible job that she loved. She honestly enjoyed every single day she went to work. She didn’t have health insurance, she didn’t make much money. But she happily went to her job every single day. And her customers loved her.

These local businesses aren’t looking for handouts. They want your business. And I know firsthand, that if you would just give them a chance, the customer service and knowledge of a business person investing in your local community will knock your socks off.

So stop it folks. Stop acting the part of a parrot and repeating what you think you should say, i.e. – “Shop locally, braaaaak. Now give me a bloomin’ onion.” Do it. These local business owners are the ground swell that can change this economy and provide jobs for all of us struggling.

Movie Review…

Captain America: The First Avenger – whew-weee!.. what a stinker. Well, I guess if you thought the Iron Man movies were frickin’ awesome, you might also like this one. The movie does stay fairly close to the original story of Captain America (one of my favorite super heroes as a kid), but the acting could have been done by cardboard cut-outs. Tommy Lee Jones, what the hell are you doing?

Small Business/Tech Links…

• What Facebook Changes Mean for Your Brand
• Two new Mac malware concerns: Tsunami and DevilRobber
• 9 Tips for Raising Startup Funds on AngelList

Funny/Interesting Links…

• November
• Lego porn

I miss Abbe. I am heading out in about a half hour to go do my long training run of the week (10 miles) without her. She has to work today, which is in by no means a complaint about her having a job. Don’t get me wrong, hard work is no problem for myself or Abbe. We are extremely proud of the tired feeling in the evening from an honest days’ effort.

We Are the 53% and a fairly very well done response - my take on this is that both sides are making generalizations that are far too broad.

The divide between the wealthy and poor has grown out of control. The middle class has become an endangered species.

I do not fear taxing the rich fairly but I also do not think anarchy is the answer.

On the other side, I don’t support forgiving student loans and as much as I think universal healthcare needs to happen, the infrastructure just can not be laid in the current economy and the healthcare/insurance company backed political interest groups funding so many politicians.

I also do not think telling the Occupy Movement to “shut up and take a shower, you hippies” will fix this problem. I believe in hard work and like the former marine (mentioned in the open letter linked above), I also regularly work 60-70 work weeks. I raise money to fight cancer. I support my local businesses, like the Medford Works festival website I put together to promote businesses in my town (done for free).

A conversation needs to be had, that’s all I’ve got at this point. So if you want to comment and debate, do it respectfully. I am absolutely willing to hear both sides tell me I’m wrong here – but if you call me stupid, I’m not listening any more. I deserve respect, just as you do.

Small Business/Tech Links…

• What Google+ Brand Pages Could Look Like [PICS]
• Siri, Seriously: 10 Ways We’re Really Using Apple’s Voice Assistant [POLL]

Funny/Interesting Links…

• ANIMALS TALKING IN ALL CAPS
• Yes, Wonder Woman Can Shred
• HOWTO recreate the Haunted Mansion’s singing busts