Thank you for sending this to me, mom. Some really hit home.

I’d love to know which one resonated for you most.

Happy Hump Day.

xoxEDxox

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What is this black Wordless image, you might ask?

Well, it’s a representation of many who are shutting down their sites today. Going black.

This blackout started at 12:00 a.m. eastern time on Wednesday morning and will last until 12:00 a.m. eastern time on Thursday. Database giant Wikipedia went dark as a protest against proposed anti-piracy legislation in the United States called SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act).

In fact, if you go to Wikipedia.org right now and attempt to do a search, this is what you’ll find. Crazy wild.

So what is SOPA exactly?

“Thousands of websites, including some of the most popular, are going dark today to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act, a bill which is designed to thwart copyright infringement but that Web experts warn could threaten the functionality of the Internet.

Encyclopedia giant Wikipedia, popular news-sharing site reddit, browser pioneer Mozilla, photo-sharing favorite Twitpic and even ICanHazCheezburger.com are blocking access to content throughout Wednesday, symbolizing what the bill may allow content creators to do to sites they accuse of copyright infringement. Other websites, including Google, are expressing solidarity with the protests by featuring anti-SOPA content on home pages.

The online protests are being joined by a physical demonstration in New York City, where thousands of representatives from the city’s tech industry plan to demonstrate outside the offices of Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.),co-sponsors of the Senate version of SOPA, beginning at 12:30 p.m. As pressure has mounted, both have expressed willingness to compromise.

SOPA would give both the government and major corporations the power to shut down entire websites accused of copyright infringement with neither a trial nor a traditional court hearing. The legislation is aggressively backed by Hollywood movie studios and major record labels, along with several major news providers, including Fox News and NBC-Universal, which have largely shied away from coverage of the bill. (Huffington Post)

You can watch this video as well, which might explain more.

Check out this woman’s point of view, “I’m horrified that Congress has crafted a law that will screw with the architecture of the internet in ways that will undermine free speech.” – (Blogher.com). Clearly many are outraged.

Today, I’d like to get the conversation going. Are you on the fence? What are your thoughts on this debate? I’d love to hear your reactions.

xoxEDxox

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• The Closing Of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

By the end of December, I have a feeling many of you feel this way.  I know I do.

This is the time of year that I actually relax, and break from blogging for a couple of weeks.  I spend quality time with my family, and they get all of me. No distractions, no deadlines, no stress. This year is no exception. In fact, I felt SO much like the baby above, that I decided to close shop early– today instead Friday. I have one more Skype consulting session in twenty minutes, and then I officially turn into a vegetable at noon.

But, I AM known to check in on vacation. Perhaps. You can also find me playing on Twitter or Facebook.

So, my precious friends, I wish you all a very Happy Holidays. As we ring in a New Year, 2012, here is a New Year’s Blessing for you…

Amen to that.

Thank you for another incredible year. Thanks to this community, I have finally gotten off the fence, and found my calling.

I’ll see you in 2012.

Peace.

xoxEDxox

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Things were getting a little heavy around here, so I decided to lighten the mood. Here is your Wordless Wednesday. And might I add, it’s definitely WORDLESS.

Here is the deal. Two of my friends forwarded me this video last night. I confess, I had to watch it twice. It’s just so, well… awkward, gross, funny, weird. I can come up with a million different descriptions.

This is from the show on TLC called Virgin Diaries. I think the title needs no explanation. CAUTION: Don’t forget to BREATHE.

Alright, now that that’s over, WHAT DO YOU THINK? For real. I’m on the fence here– is waiting until you’re 31 to share your first kiss even healthy? Human touch is a basic need. Confession: my favorite part is listening to the guy’s reaction. Too much!

Happy Hump Day! It’s a big day- one son lost a tooth, and the other is home sick with mommy. Never a dull moment.

xoxEDxox

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Gilad Shalit calls home after being released

The world watched this week as the drama unfold in Gaza and Israel, when kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was released from Hamas captivity after five years, in exchange for the release of more than 1000 Arab terrorists from Israeli prisons.

Shalit told a TV interviewer that he hoped his release would further the peace efforts and help end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

Some have celebrated and cheered. Others are outraged that the government would release one man in exchange for 1000 prisoners to freely walk the streets.

The ‘On The Fence’ Question: What is your stance on this breaking news? Is one free life worth 1000? I’d love to know you thoughts.

xoxEDxox

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I recently had the great honor of being the Celebrity Guest Chef in the kitchen on the fun-filled cooking TV show What’s Cooking. One thing my readers know about me– I love to eat, I can’t cook. I think that’s pretty clear, just by the way I handled that zucchini.

But I had a ball, and if you’re looking for a fun, healthy, easy, recipe, check out this chocolate chip zucchini loaf below.

If you missed the show last Saturday night, check out my episode of What’s Cooking. Click on each of the stills below, and they will bring you to the individual video segments, or watch the entire episode from the beginning– all delicious made with vegetables (at the bottom of this page). I would LOVE your feedback!

Have a great weekend readers. I’m on a plane now en route to Atlanta. Oprah, here I come!!!

Follow my journey this weekend on Twitter.

xoxEDxox

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The Segment. Check out my kitchen mishap! Oh am I a ROOKIE.

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The Conclusion of the show. I get to taste what I baked! It was quite delicious.

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“What’s Cooking” in my life and career

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Or, watch the entire episode from the beginning!

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Amanda Knox

Along with the rest of the world, I have been fascinated with the Amanda Knox case since day one. It had all the makings of a sensationalized media story– the beautiful American “girl next door,” goes to study in Perugia, Italy and then finds herself accused of brutally murdering her roommate in an alleged “sex-game” gone wrong involving a boyfriend.

And because of a guilty verdict four years ago, Amanda Knox and her then Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, have sat in prison since. But due to shotty police work and a real lack of DNA evidence at the crime scene, the case was appealed.

Yesterday, the verdict on that appeal was read: Amanda Knox murder conviction overturned! Her boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito: Murder conviction overturned! They were both free to go home. The family of 21-year-old murder victim, Meredith Kercher, left in a daze, said to be still trying to figure out what happened to their daughter four years ago.

The purpose of today’s vlog is not to rehash the case. You can familiarize yourself with the entire case here. The purpose is to ask your opinion.

Here is my take on The Amanda Knox verdict. When I say “they,” in the video, I am referring to Amanda Knox and her boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this case. What do you think about the verdict? Did the Italian Justice System get it right or did they set a cold-blooded murderer free?

xoxEDxox

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