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Tooth Sensitivity Causes
By: Dr Azhar Sheikh
Tags: Dentistry, Dental Care

Tooth Sensitivity Causes

Tooth sensitivity leads to a great deal of discomfort, and can take away the pleasure of enjoying meal times. Those who suffer from sensitive teeth are aware that a single, sharp jolt of pain — triggered by cold or hot food — can be enough to destroy the whole dining experience. This painful response is caused by the teeth being exposed to extreme changes in temperature, such as eating or drinking something extremely hot or when a frozen item is consumed. When the sensitive inner parts of the tooth — such as the dentine and the roots — are exposed due to worn enamel, even the slightest change in temperature can trigger a sharp jolt of pain. Determining the causes of teeth sensitivity can help in the proper management of this problem, so that painful episodes can be avoided or at least decreased in frequency.

Teeth grinding can wear down the tooth enamel, which is the protective layer of the teeth. When the enamel is worn away, the sensitive inner portions of the teeth are exposed and easily react with sudden temperature changes. Another reason why the enamel is worn away prematurely is because of heavy consumption of acidic food and beverages. The high acidity works in slowly dissolving the enamel so that the inner sensitive parts become exposed. The teeth enamel can also get thinner, or become worn down, due to forceful tooth brushing. Brushing the teeth using vigorous, forceful strokes can eventually wear away the tooth enamel, and may even cause the gums to recede. When the gums recede, the roots of the teeth become exposed and will cause teeth sensitivity as well.

Improper oral hygiene can also contribute to the development of teeth sensitivity problems. Healthy oral hygiene habits, such as regular tooth brushing and regular visits to the dentist, are essential in ensuring that harmful plaque buildup does not occur. If these healthy habits are not followed, food debris can react with harmful bacteria and cause the buildup of plaque. Plaque buildup in between the teeth and the gum line can cause tooth decay and gum recession — and both can cause sensitive teeth problems. Damaged teeth are also highly susceptible to sensitivity issues. This is because when the enamel is damaged, the protective layer of the tooth is worn away to expose the sensitive tooth roots and dentine inside. Cracked, chipped, or decayed teeth will experience sudden painful jolts when something extremely hot or cold is consumed.

Dr Azhar Sheikh, founder of Life Dental Implants, is one of the UK’s most experienced dentists specializing in implant treatments. His unique approach to dental implant treatments takes into account not only your teeth, but your overall well-being as a person. Whether you are looking for cheap dental implants, Victoria dental implants or just want to know dental implants cost, visit our clinic today.
College Of Dentistry Student Alexis Cohen Named Student Speaker For 2012 Commencement
By: Nyu Local
Tags: On Campus News, Dentistry, Graduation

By Ian Hartz

As the year draws to an end, the graduating class prepares to brave the real world and a frightening job market. But before we start scavenging for job opportunities and attempt to integrate ourselves into the “grown-up” world, we have cause for celebration. The commencement exercises offer us an opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication that we have shown at our time here at NYU, and the commencement speakers serve as examples of how hard work can take you to the top.

Sonia Sotomayor worked her through the legal system to become the first Hispanic justice of the Supreme Court and its third-ever woman. College of Dentistry student Alexis Cohen has also been dedicated to her work, both in dentistry and public health, which has earned her the honor of being the student speaker at the 2012 commencement.

Selection of the student speaker is no arbitrary task. All of the deans select an individual student, based generally on their academic record, how well they represent their fellow students, their leadership skills, and their presentation skills. Then, a selection committee representing the President’s Office, Provost’s Office, Student Affairs, and others select between 3 to 5 finalists. These finalists submit a rough draft of their possible speech and come in for interviews, and one is chosen to represent the graduating student body at commencement.

Alexis Cohen’s credentials definitely set her apart as a competitive candidate to speak on our behalf. Cohen taught English outside of Tokyo after graduating from Northwestern University in 2003. Since then, she has participated in disease prevention in partnership with the U.N., served as president of the College of Dentistry’s Student Council Executive Board, received multiple honors, and founded an organization to help sell goods that are handmade by African women. The list goes on and on.

Alexis Cohen is receiving both a D.D.S. from the College of Dentistry and a M.P.H. from the Master of Public Health Program. After graduating, Cohen plans to travel and help to develop preventative programs for avoidable dental problems.

[image via]
Sinus infections can cause toothaches
By: Desert Valley Oral Surgery
Tags: Dentistry, Toothache

Sinus infections can cause toothaches

It’s that time of year. Allergens permeate the air we breathe, irritating our sinuses and making us feel all sick in the head. Viral infections, allergies, pollution… all can trigger sinusitis, which often leads to the dreaded sinus infection.

The painful pressure behind your eyes and cheekbones. The constant need to grab for a tissue (or five). The sore throat and irritating cough. The pain in your teeth. Wait… pain in… what? That can’t be right.

It’s As Plain as the Nose on Your Face

No, really. It’s true. Consider… your nose is located just above your mouth, and your maxillary sinuses just above your teeth. Sometimes that severe toothache in your upper molars and premolars isn’t actually the result of a dental problem. In fact, the inflammation in your maxillary sinus caused by a sinus infection can put pressure on the roots of your upper molars. This can create rather significant pain, which often occurs before the other symptoms of the sinus infection set in.

Patients suffering from this type of tooth pain tend to run to their dentist’s office only to find out they are actually in great oral health. If dental causes are ruled out, your dentist should advise you to give your doctor a call.

Pain, Pain Go Away

If it turns out you have a sinus infection, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic (if it appears the infection is the result of bacteria) to help kick the infection. However, if it’s the result of a virus or just aggravated allergies, you’ll just have to wait it out. And in the meantime, remember the following to keep the pain and irritation to a minimum:

Humidifiers are our friends. Consider dragging the old humidifier out of the closet, dust it off, plug it in, and breathe easier. The hydration can reduce swelling and the pressure on your upper teeth.

Consider dragging the old humidifier out of the closet, dust it off, plug it in, and breathe easier. The hydration can reduce swelling and the pressure on your upper teeth. Sniff, sniff. Get yourself some nasal spray with phenylephrine or ephedrine, and give your sinuses (and teeth) a little relief.

Get yourself some nasal spray with phenylephrine or ephedrine, and give your sinuses (and teeth) a little relief. Somewhere over the counter. There are a number of over-the-counter oral decongestants and medications that can relieve most of those pesky sinus-infection-induced symptoms and help alleviate tooth pain.

There are a number of over-the-counter oral decongestants and medications that can relieve most of those pesky sinus-infection-induced symptoms and help alleviate tooth pain. Get well soon!

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How to keep your mouth health
By: East Bay Dental
Tags: Dental Care, Dentistry

The health of your mouth and teeth are conducive to your overall health. Taking care of your mouth can prevent serious health problems down the road as you get older. The first step to a healthy mouth is brush and floss daily and visit your dentist regularly.

According to the Fremont cosmetic dentist a healthy mouth begins with the first set of teeth. Caring for your baby’s teeth from the onset will determine the health of his/her mouth. As a general rule it is recommended not to let your baby go to sleep with a bottle in his/her mouth. The milk or juice your baby is drinking van lead to tooth decay. From the very first tooth begin brushing with a soft toothbrush. If your baby is under the age of 2 it is recommended not to use toothpaste. Instead you can brush using water. The American Dental Association recommends that children see their dentist beginning at 1 year of age. Children’s dentistry is important for the overall health of your child.

Moving into the teens means flossing teeth at least once a day and brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. A visit to the dentist every 6 months is recommended. Smoking or chewing tobacco can stain your teeth and cause cancer.

As adulthood approaches its still as important now more than ever to continue the practice of healthy oral habits. Tooth care now means looking for signs of irritated gums, mouth sores, and other changes. Even though you may be flossing regularly and brushing twice a day other problems may arise as you begin to age. If you have cosmetic concerns you can look into Cosmetic Dentistry in Fremont. Living in the Fremont or surrounding areas? We have Dental Care Treatment in Fremont. Taking care of your teeth will keep you healthy and feeling confident. You’re also welcome to visit our Cosmetic dentistry Fremont.
Cleansing Tooth & Gum Brush
Tags: Dental Care, Dentistry

Cleansing Tooth & Gum Brush

Currently, many Canadians and Americans battle with gum erosion and recession. After many years of harsh and excessive brushing, your gums begin to wear away and recede. This is called gum recession. As increasing numbers of gum tissue wears away, more of the tooth is exposed prior to the tooth root and nerves start becoming exposed causing sensitivity and consequently pain. Gum bleeding is the one other results of gum recession. Other than excessive tooth brushing, plaque buildup and genetics are other reasons for gum recession and sensitive gums.

GelGrade gives a better improved tooth brush. GelGrade Tooth & Gum Brush is designed to provide the unique benefits of medical silicone bristles. GelGrade provides effective protection of tooth enamel and healthy gums. Our material is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. Cleaning and looking after gums is a vital component of dental hygene. If you use GelGrade, you not only brush your teeth, in addition, you brush your gums adding a deeper clean. Our medical silicone material fails to irritate the gums but massages them and stimulates the circulation of blood, keeping them healthy. Using Medical Silicone Polymer as being a base material rather than nylon for bristles supplies a larger surface area contact provides a deeper lathering clean effect. GelGrade is not going to scratch at gums but instead develops natural affinity with skin cells. Cleansing Tooth & Gum Brush can be used to directly brush deep corners of gums removing plaque buildup, which current brushing techniques miss. GelGrade Massages gums and promotes blood circulation.

Gelgrade is ideal for people who have sensitive gums and gum sensitivity. E.g. Elderly, women that are pregnant. It is additionally just the thing for brushing teeth for infants and brushing teeth for babies. It will be the ideal tooth brush for babies. This supplement can be great for health-conscious consumers, who want another cleanse and healthy gums. Users who may have tried the merchandise felt an in-depth cleansing sensation. It is a deep cleansing tooth brush which works besides regular brushing and flossing. It can be used to avoid smelly breath. One of many factors behind bad breath is bacteria buildup from the gum. Ignoring your gums causes foul breath. Keeping proper care of your respective gums provides a fresh breath, a kissing breath and also a clean feel. Overall this really is a unique and funky supplement that may put in a new tool to tackle bad breath. It can be the most effective a new product to use in 2016. Try this cool product now.
Eat Your Way to Good Teeth
By: Charisse Barlow
Tags: Health, Dentistry

Eat Your Way to Good Teeth

Just as you’ll find certain foods damaging to your teeth, so will you find specific foods beneficial to your teeth. These types of foods promote oral health and make your pearly whites look like you’re meant for Hollywood’s big screen. So what should you stock up on to keep your teeth in “good shape?”

Chew on These

Fruits

The best fruits for your teeth include cranberries, raisins, and apples (of course!). Cranberries, according to a study published in the Caries Journal, lower the risk for cavities. Thanks to the presence of polyphenols, cranberries prevent plaque from fixing to your teeth by slowing down bacteria growth. Raisins, meanwhile, contain phytochemicals. Phytochemicals destroy cavity-causing plaque bacteria.

Apples, on the other hand, can cleanse and brighten your teeth. This is attributed to the mild acidic nature of the fruit that acts as an astringent for your pearly whites. Also, apples are pretty crunchy, which lead to a whole lot of chewing. Chewing can disturb dental plaque, which means the insidious “beasts” don’t stick around, causing your teeth harm.

Cheese

Yum. Cheese, it turns out, is not just delectable to your tummy but valuable for your teeth, too. A study published in General Dentistry reveals that cheese can prevent cavities. The delightful dairy product increases pH levels in the mouth; higher pH levels lower the chance of getting cavities.

Leafy Green Vegetables

Kale and spinach promote good oral health because they contain calcium and folic acid. Calcium builds your teeth’s enamel while folic acid can treat gum disease, particularly with pregnant women. You can eat them in stir fries and salads, or drink them up in smoothies for a power breakfast or pre-workout beverage.

Almonds

These super tasty nuts are high in protein and low in sugar. So you will definitely want to have them in your “dental diet.” Instead of snacking on salty chips or deadly sweet pastries, try almonds.

Drink Up!

Tea

Like cranberries, tea contains polyphenols. But don’t just drink any old tea. Choose black and green teas. A study from the University of Illinois discovered that people who rinsed with black tea every day had less plaque buildup than people who rinsed only with water. The Journal of Dental Research also adds that black tea can fight halitosis.

Milk

If you listened to your mom about drinking milk, then you probably have fantastic teeth now. The American Dental Association shares that drinking a glass of milk daily can lower levels of acid, which is good for your teeth.
They just can’t get enough Benghazi
By: Peter Warski
Tags: Politics, Hillary Clinton, Benghazi, Republicans

C’mon, Rand, you can do better than that.

Last week on Thursday, I cited recent polling of 2016 hypothetical presidential election match-ups that must be giving Republicans nightmares more than three years before the fact.

One in particular shows Hillary Clinton tied with Rand Paul in his deep red home state of Kentucky. (If she really will be competitive there — and yes, it’s about 36 months too early to know — her opponents can pretty much pick up the ball and go home.)

I then went on to speculate — perhaps a bit cynically, I know — that maybe, just possibly, the GOP obsession over the U.S. Embassy attacks in Benghazi, Libya, last September 11, could conceivably, theoretically, be a witch hunt to preemptively derail the presidential chances of the former First Lady and Secretary of State, who absolutely terrifies them.

Again, that was Thursday. So, on Friday, the very next day, guess who takes to the bully pulpit in Iowa, as though on cue, to confirm exactly what was already so excruciatingly obvious to anyone who’s been paying any kind of attention at all?

It [the initial response to the Benghazi attacks] was inexcusable, it was a dereliction of duty, and it should preclude her [Hillary Clinton] from holding higher office.

And, just what might that higher office be, Senator Paul?

To what could you possibly be referring? Please, do tell.

Now, let’s give Rand Paul the benefit of the doubt. I’m sure he just happened to be in Iowa when he decided to make such forceful, provocative, condemning remarks.

Certainly it had nothing to do with the Hawkeye State’s role in kicking off presidential elections. That would be just too…obvious, right? Particularly from a young, ambitious, outspoken senator who clearly has presidential ambitions of his own?

As I indicated last week, Republicans will need to get significantly better at concealing their underlying motives — at not being so nauseatingly transparent — if they ever again want to taste success on pretty much anything at all as a national party.
President Obama Starts Our Month Off Right!
By: Every Mother Counts
Tags: Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, President Obama

On Thursday (January 30th), he signed a Presidential Memorandum to strengthen and expand US government capacity and coordination across all agencies to better promote gender equality and empower women and girls.

President Obama Starts Our Month Off Right!

We mentioned in our February kick-off that we’d be paying close attention to our government leaders and making sure they keep women at the heart of the political process. It appears, President Obama was thinking along the same lines and in fact, he got a head start on us. On Thursday (January 30th), he signed a Presidential Memorandum to strengthen and expand US government capacity and coordination across all agencies to better promote gender equality and empower women and girls. It will institutionalize former efforts to advance women’s and girl’s issues to carry equal weight in all levels of policy and will go further to ensure that all of the world’s citizens have the same rights and chances of reaching their full potential. It also means our new Secretary of State, John Kerry will designate an Ambassador at Large who will report directly to the Secretary to head the office of Global Women’s Issues- just as Melanne Verveer has so capably done.

You’ll note from the picture attached to this blog that our outgoing Secretary, Hillary Clinton played a major role in the development of this memorandum and we’re grateful that she helped insure that pen went to paper on this one. We’re pretty excited about this and hope you’ll read both the complete Memorandum and the blog post penned by Valerie Jarrett and Samantha Power.

We like Christy’s take on this new development: “It’s February 2nd and my heart is already warming. Thank you President Obama for prioritizing girls and women so soon after the inauguration. In my opinion, intention is everything. By signing this Memorandum on January 30th you have told us and the world that we matter, not just to ourselves, but to everyone.”

Thank you
Charles Ferguson and CNN Films Cancel Hillary Clinton Documentary
By: Christopher Campbell
Tags: Featured, News, Hillary Clinton

Charles Ferguson and CNN Films Cancel Hillary Clinton Documentary

CNN’s controversial documentary about Hillary Clinton has been canceled. The project, which was commissioned by the news network’s CNN Films division under the direction of Oscar winner Charles Ferguson (No End In Sight; Inside Job), received a good amount of media attention last month after the RNC threatened a boycott on account of an apparent bias on the part of the cable channel [Ed. Note: our sister site, Film School Rejects had two posts about it prior to the launch of Nonfics]. But that’s not exactly why the doc has now been shut down.

Ferguson took to The Huffington Post to personally write his explanation for canceling the production completely, and while certain pressures from the Republicans and also Democrats are relevant to the decision, it’s not necessarily that he gave in to these powers so much as he didn’t see a good movie being made with the resulting lack of access and support. After addressing his interests, intent and progress with the doc, he writes:

when I approached people for interviews, I discovered that nobody, and I mean nobody, was interested in helping me make this film. Not Democrats, not Republicans — and certainly nobody who works with the Clintons, wants access to the Clintons, or dreams of a position in a Hillary Clinton administration. Not even journalists who want access, which can easily be taken away. I even sensed potential difficulty in licensing archival footage from CBN (Pat Robertson) and from Fox. After approaching well over a hundred people, only two persons who had ever dealt with Mrs. Clinton would agree to an on-camera interview, and I suspected that even they would back out.

He says it was a painful decision to make, but he realized he had to cancel because he wouldn’t be able to make a film he’d be proud of. He acknowledges that this turn of events is likely what the RNC and other critics were hoping for, and it’s a win for the Clinton camp as well. The losers in all this, he claims, are the media and the American people.

Well, some lesser documentarian is sure to now jump into the void in order to deliver an unauthorized doc about Hillary that isn’t concerned about access or interviewing the right people and other things Ferguson understands are necessary for a proper film of this sort. And of course we still have the NBC miniseries [oops now that one is kaput, too] and another Hollywood biopic to look forward to.
Penn Jillette on the Clintons: Quote of the Day
By: Daniel Bier
Tags: Skepticism, Politics, Democracy, Voters, Hillary Clinton

Penn Jillette on the Clintons: Quote of the Day

“Why do people who support Hillary think that what she’s saying is to manipulate other people and not to manipulate them?” Daniel Bier Follow Oct 15, 2015 · 3 min read

On his weekly podcast, libertarian magician and skeptic Penn Jillette gave an incisive take on Hillary and Bill Clinton.

We have Hillary Clinton — while you were alive, while you were sexually active, three years ago — saying marriage is just between a man and a woman. … And yet many people in [the gay community] are supporting Hillary, and their reason for supporting her is that “she was always in favor of gay rights, but she had to say what she had to to be elected.” … She came out in favor of the pacific trade deal, very strongly in favor of it, and now she’s against it. And that’s not seen as flip-flopping, it’s not really seen as a revelation or learning something — it’s seen as “she is politically expedient, and we want someone who is politically expedient.” The followers of Hillary Clinton seem to think they have a secret deal with her — where they understand what she really believes, what she’s really going to do — and they are willing to support her as she bends the truth in order to be elected. … Why do the people who support Hillary think that what she’s saying is to manipulate other people and not to manipulate them?

This cultivated impression of insincerity allows her supporters project whatever beliefs and values they want onto her, rationalizing away any dissonant actions as just “savvy politics,” letting her be everything to everyone.

Penn notes that Bill Clinton exploited the same tendency when he ran for president in 1992:

I remember when Bill Clinton was running for president. He was in a capital punishment state, Arkansas, and he flew back during his campaign, during the Gennifer Flowers thing, to pull the switch on a mentally handicapped criminal. He went back to pull the switch, and I remember talking to a buddy of mine in Chicago … who said, “We know Bill Clinton is against capital punishment, we know he’s against it, but he had to make sure this guy was killed in order to be elected, and he knows that’s important.” And I said I know people who are pro-capital punishment who have never actually been part of killing a person, and who might balk at that. So this is what they postulate: you’ve got an anti-death penalty guy who think it’s worth it to kill this guy in order to be elected… so he can fight for not killing people?

Of course, this is not unique to Clinton supporters. Politics is a tribal game, where members of one team will always assume that their leaders are (at least secretly) really on their side and doing the right thing, and they’ll find ways to rationalize their disagreements as merely strategic or cosmetic.

Listen to the rest of the show here.
Grasping at straws, or…Benghazi
By: Peter Warski
Tags: Politics, Hillary Clinton, Benghazi, Republicans

If you’re wondering why Republicans are still fixated on the September 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya — even though it happened almost eight months ago, even though election season is over, and even though they’ve already ginned up an exhaustive volume of conspiracy theories — there’s a painfully simple explanation for this.

When Hillary Clinton is polling in a dead heat with Rand Paul in a hypothetical 2016 presidential match-up in his ruby-red home state of Kentucky, Republicans have good reason to be terrified of her.

They also have good reason to seek whatever they can find — however transparently desperate it may appear — to derail her chances.

So, like, Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State when the Benghazi attack took place, and the State Department she oversaw was supposedly complicit in the alleged cover-up that Republicans want so badly to exist.

The problem with GOP strategy is that their schemes are just a wee bit too obvious most of the time.

Like passing voting restriction laws in an effort to disenfranchise those who won’t support them.

Or rigging the electoral college in states they can no longer win.

Or killing gun control legislation that had near-unanimous public support because they’re owned by the NRA and didn’t want to be seen as helping the president.

Or deliberately turning our government into a dysfunctional calamity just to prove their point that government is a problem and that Obama is ineffective.

Or…this.
Penn Jillette on the Clintons: Quote of the Day | Anything Peaceful
Tags: Hillary Clinton, Politics

Penn Jillette on the Clintons: Quote of the Day | Anything Peaceful

On his weekly podcast, libertarian magician and skeptic Penn Jillette gave an incisive take on Hillary and Bill Clinton.

We have Hillary Clinton — while you were alive, while you were sexually active, three years ago — saying marriage is just between a man and a woman. … And yet many people in [the gay community] are supporting Hillary, and their reason for supporting her is that “she was always in favor of gay rights, but she had to say what she had to to be elected.” … She came out in favor of the pacific trade deal, very strongly in favor of it, and now she’s against it. And that’s not seen as flip-flopping, it’s not really seen as a revelation or learning something — it’s seen as “she is politically expedient, and we want someone who is politically expedient.” The followers of Hillary Clinton seem to think they have a secret deal with her — where they understand what she really believes, what she’s really going to do — and they are willing to support her as she bends the truth in order to be elected. … Why do the people who support Hillary think that what she’s saying is to manipulate other people and not to manipulate them?

This cultivated impression of insincerity allows her supporters project whatever beliefs and values they want onto her, rationalizing away any dissonant actions as just “savvy politics,” letting her be everything to everyone.

Penn notes that Bill Clinton exploited the same tendency when he ran for president in 1992:

I remember when Bill Clinton was running for president. He was in a capital punishment state, Arkansas, and he flew back during his campaign, during the Gennifer Flowers thing, to pull the switch on a mentally handicapped criminal. He went back to pull the switch, and I remember talking to a buddy of mine in Chicago … who said, “We know Bill Clinton is against capital punishment, we know he’s against it, but he had to make sure this guy was killed in order to be elected, and he knows that’s important.” And I said I know people who are pro-capital punishment who have never actually been part of killing a person, and who might balk at that. So this is what they postulate: you’ve got an anti-death penalty guy who think it’s worth it to kill this guy in order to be elected… so he can fight for not killing people?

Of course, this is not unique to Clinton supporters. Politics is a tribal game, where members of one team will always assume that their leaders are (at least secretly) really on their side and doing the right thing, and they’ll find ways to rationalize their disagreements as merely strategic or cosmetic.

Listen to the rest of the show here.
Alexandra Chalupa
By: Kc Davis
Tags: Hillary Clinton

Alexandra Chalupa

Here is a short post attempting to describe some small, yet significant details of the former Democratic National Committee (DNC) operative Alexandra Chalupa. She is the woman mentioned by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) last Wednesday in his opening statement before witnesses testified in open impeachment hearings.

By now most people who follow political theater have heard of the former DNC operative Alexandra Chalupa. Those who have not should become familiar with the woman who boasted about interfering in the 2016 presidential election.

The details are quite disturbing and the fact that most people have never heard of her is even more disturbing. It only reinforces President Trump’s criticism and mockery of our mainstream media outlets, also known as Fake News and the Enemy of the People.

For three years without a shred of evidence to support Trump/Russia collusion hysteria, our media was responsible for creating anxiety, fear, anger, and unrest by constantly reporting provably false information. Even now, after the Mueller Report concluded there was no evidence of Trump conspiring with Russia to interfere in the 2016 election, they continue to push this false narrative when possible, either by outright lying or omitting pertinent information.

Clearly, there was never any real interest in election interference. Had there been legitimate concern, the name Alexandra Chalupa would be well known around the country.

The fact is, there is real election interference to be found and a good place to start unraveling the origins begin with Chalupa along with many of her Clinton-connected colleagues who are also deeply embedded in the D.C. swamp.

Chalupa has received some mainstream attention, however it is mostly spin implying that she is simply a proud American citizen, human rights advocate and former DNC staffer who has been randomly targeted by Republicans in some made up effort to smear her for no good reason, when in actuality her role in the election interference has been overlooked and downplayed.
Sen. Chuck Grassley Joins the Hillary Email Non-Scandal Circus
By: David Brock
Tags: Hillary Clinton, Politics, Republican Party

Sen. Chuck Grassley Joins the Hillary Email Non-Scandal Circus

The Right-Wing Congressional Circus has a new ringmaster: Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley.

Since the House Benghazi Committee, led by Trey Gowdy, failed so spectacularly in its attempt to find any wrongdoing in Secretary Clinton’s emails (because there wasn’t any), Senator Grassley is now taking a stab at it.

As a reminder, this is after the New York Times issued a frank mea culpa to admit it completely mis-reported the email non-story from the beginning.

…And after the Justice Department said the review of Clinton’s emails was not a criminal investigation.

…And after officials said the investigation is not targeting Clinton — or even suggesting that she did anything wrong.

It should be obvious by now that Republicans are hoping to drag this email non-scandal as far as it can stretch, and they hope it can stretch as far as Election Day 2016.

For evidence that this is a partisan fishing expedition, look no further than the Republican National Committee, which is pressing the State Department to investigate Clinton’s emails further. What reason does the committee — whose sole purpose is to get Republicans elected — have to investigate a former Secretary of State’s emails? Unless, of course, that former Secretary is a formidable Democratic candidate for President who stands in the way of the RNC seizing back the White House?

The latest email-scandal-revival strategy is to zero in on Clinton’s deputy chief-of-staff, Huma Abedin.

Grassley’s one-man “investigation” began as a crass probe into this committed public servant’s time off — ignoring the fact that someone who works for the Secretary of State has a 24/7 job and never gets a day off.

Grassley is asserting that there was some mysterious conflict of interest in Abedin’s role and her prior work for a private company. But, tellingly, his colleagues have refused to follow him down the rabbit hole — and are even telling him he does not have the jurisdiction to carry out his inquisition.

As Minority Leader Harry Reid said two weeks ago, “How much money will Republicans in Congress waste to try and bring down Hillary Clinton?”

It didn’t work the first time they tried, and it won’t work now. The simple fact is, there’s no there there — whatever these circus magicians try to pull out of their hats.
US, Mexico, Canada Sign New USMCA Deal: What’s Next?
By: Lili Török
Tags: Trade, Canada, Mexico, Politics, Business

The US, Canada, and Mexico have officially signed the USMCA, a new agreement governing trade between the three countries.

Although agreement on the deal replacing NAFTA was reached back in October, the official signing had to wait 60 days until the US Congress had a chance to review the text.

The November 30th signing, which occurred on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, marks the last day in office of Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto.

Among other features, the new trade deal provides US farmers with greater access to the Canadian dairy market, and ensures that Canada can continue exporting vehicles and auto-parts to the US.

What’s Next

Although USMCA is now officially signed, the new deal still needs to go through a ratification process in each of the three countries according to their own internal rules.

While Canada and Mexico are expected to ratify the agreement without major problems by early 2019, the process in the US is a different story.

Both parts of the US Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives, are supposed to vote on the deal. Since following the midterm elections Democrats will take control of the House, a difficult ratification process can be expected.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer promised he’d address legislators’ concerns about the new deal. While the text of the USMCA trade agreement can’t be changed, “we still need to put together an implementing bill so there are things that we can do,” he said at a press conference following the signing ceremony.

According to Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, Congress is very unlikely to vote on ratifying USMCA before the end of this year, since the internal processes of both legislative bodies require more time before an issue like this can be put on the agenda.
How to be tolerant with intolerants?
By: Carlos Eduardo Villalobos
Tags: Migration, Society, Xenophobia, Mexico

The first time I heard about the paradox of tolerance, described by Karl Popper in 1945 stating that “in order to maintain a tolerant society, the society must be intolerant of intolerance”. I understood it perfectly inside the context of the Second World War and the consequences from the Holocaust. However, during recent years I started watching several circumstances around the world where this statement needed to be addressed again.

At first, I saw it far from me. In Europe with the xenophobic reactions to immigrants arriving at the continent. Then I saw it closer, from the voice of a US presidential candidate and many of his followers, promoting hate against Mexican immigrants. And now I witnessed it in front of me.

Last Saturday, at a presentation from Juan Pablo Villalobos and his book ‘Yo tuve un sueño’ (I had a dream), about child migration stories across Mexico, during the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL). An old woman interrupted the presentation and started complaining about those who support and help immigrants from Central America.

“If we leave them to come and stay, they will steal our country and territory”. “I don’t want to leave my grandsons like the Kurds, without a nation” she shouted.

All the assistants, including me, didn’t know how to react. Because at the moment people started to ask her to shut up, she complained to us for being intolerant towards her beliefs and opinion.

“They are criminals” she continued, and naturally the words of Donald Trump during his campaign against Mexicans that were bringing problems, drugs or were rapists, came to my mind.

My intention writing this is not to approach the complex topic of migration. But what I want to point out is about the limits of intolerance.

Especially for those who witness any kind of hate demonstration, no matter if it’s about race, nationality, religion, or even soccer team preferences (referring to the chaos during a River vs Boca derby in Buenos Aires last weekend).

What is important to say is that we can’t be a passive witness of intolerance. Even if that makes us feel as we have become intolerants. Because when human dignity is under threat, that demand us to stand up and stop it. Not by the same means of hate and violence, but by the side of essential values and the law representing the inherent rights of equality.

Let’s say no to any kind of intolerance, and let’s be brave to defend what is right to be defended.
SOCIAL IMPACT BLOCKCHAIN PIONEER UULALA OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES GLOBAL FINTECH PLATFORM IN MEXICO
By: Matthew Loughran
Tags: Fintech, Blockchain, Mobile Apps, Mexico, Unbanked

SOCIAL IMPACT BLOCKCHAIN PIONEER UULALA OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES GLOBAL FINTECH PLATFORM IN MEXICO

Minority-Owned Software Company Uses Blockchain Technology To Empower The Unbanked

Mexico City, Mexico — Uulala announced today it will initially launch its global financial platform in Mexico; a fintech friendly country with a regulatory framework for financial services that supports open banking. As a minority-owned company and a mission-driven organization focused on empowering the unbanked and underbanked globally, Mexico represents the perfect country to launch because 70% of their population is either unbanked or underbanked.

According to Oscar Garcia, Founder & CEO of Uulala, “We believe our technology is a shining example of a mission-based company that will help the citizens of Mexico build their credit and help local businesses generate incremental revenue. We’ve solved a few critical issues plaguing the cash-based consumer. First, through our peer-to-peer loading locations, a user can load cash into their digital wallet and secondly, once the funds are loaded, they can be leveraged to build credit. With Uulala’s banking core technology, blockchain, mobile app, and partnerships, we’re set to facilitate and accelerate financial inclusion of the many people of Mexico who don’t have bank accounts.”

Once users have loaded in funds, they instantly have access to a virtual MasterCard to participate in ecommerce or other purchase means. Users can send payments across borders, pay their bills or top up their cell phone minutes all within a mobile app. The Uulala platform is a unique system that tracks all financial activities and combines that with blockchain technology to show an immutable ledger with the level of creditworthiness a user possesses.

Uulala has attracted global partnerships with organizations that have an aligned mission to impact the lives of the underserved, those partners include the likes of Humanity 2.0 and Laudato Si’. The mission of Humanity 2.0 is to identify impediments to human progress and work collaboratively across sectors to remove them by sourcing and scaling bold and innovative solutions. The Laudato Si’ Challenge seeks to ​sustainably improve the lives of 10 million people excluded from Our Common Home by 2020​ — anticipating the SDG2030 objective of leaving no one behind — through businesses that are: sustainable, empowering and ethical.
Alibre.io is named one of the best startups of San Diego/Tijuana region
Tags: Fintech, San Diego, Mexico, Tijuana, Startup

Rafa Jimenez TV appearance with San Diego Mayor

Rafa, Founder of Alibre.io, was invited to appear on Univision TV along with San Diego, CA Mayor Kevin Faulconer, after winning the San Diego Startup Circle and Plug and Play Tech Center pitch event.

[Dec 12th, 2014] Alibre.io earned a spot in the Plug & Play Startup Camp accelerator program in Silicon Valley, after winning the first place in the San Diego Startup Circle and Plug and Play Tech Center pitch competition last may.

Plug and Play Tech Center is an accelerator from Sunnyvale, California, specializing in growing technology startups. With a global network that includes over 300 tech startups, 180 investors and a community of leading Universities and Corporate partners. Since its founding in 2006, Plug and Play startups have raised over $2.6 Billion in funding.

One of the things that are very important to me, is our startups, our innovation and economy that we are known for in San Diego, we have startups like Rafa’s who have grow into bigger companies, Plug and Play help companies to get started” — Said Mayor Kevin Faulconer.

Rafa explained how fin-tech is formalizing and bringing age-old informal finance mechanisms into the mobile/digital age, that could allow millions of people to leverage their digital community for immediate access to basic savings & credit in a more efficient, safer and 100% transparent way.
TO MY GRANDPARENTS..
By: Daisy Chairez
Tags: Grandparents, Grandmother, Grandfather, Mexico, Love

I don’t even know how to say this…

You guys have provided US with soo much support and have loved us unconditionally. The older I get, the more thankful I am for being RAISED by you guys.

I don’t hold a grudge against my mother for leaving us with you guys, I was too young to understand and to wrapped up in the love y’all gave me to never miss my mom. The only thing I “hold” against her, is the fact that once she brought us back to live with her, my childhood disappeared. We had to grow up so fast that i don’t remember a childhood with my mother…

BUT… I have y’all. I have the pictures, the videos, the memories of doing the simplest things yet having the time of my life. Even now that I’m an adult, you guys never fail to support me, never judge me, and are always so proud that you guys got to raise us even if it was hard for you guys. You guys are warriors! After having 10 kids, y’all still managed to raise my sister and I and never complained and gave it your all to make sure that we had everything we needed.

From my grandma staying up late/waking up early to make sure our uniforms were washed and ironed, making sure we had breakfast, making sure we had our homework done, and making sure that we prayed to god and thanked him for what we had…

From my grandpa always making sure that we went had food to eat, that we made it to school and all our appointments, to taking us out to his lands to make sure we’d never forget were we came from…

I thank you both soo much… You guys were instrumental in that y’all taught me that the world is a glorious place, to be thankful, to be joyful, to embrace humanity, and to take life by the balls.
Merida & Valladolid.
By: Emma Knight
Tags: Mexico, Travel, Backpacking

Merida & Valladolid.

Exploring Chichén Itzá and celebrating Día de Los Muertos in the candy floss towns of Yucatan state.

Día de Los Muertos.

Day of the dead has become super popular around the world since it was in the James Bond film, Spectre. However it’s been ingrained into Mexican culture for centuries, celebrated as a public holiday to remember the lives of people who have passed away. People set up altars in their homes in remembrance including photos of the deceased and offerings of their favourite things. Although it sounds kind of creepy (not helped by the fact everyone wears skull makeup), it’s ultimately a party where families and friends meet up, visit graves and honour the dead. I love the sentiment.

First things first we headed to the face-paint stall. Somehow I managed to get some kind of artist as (trying not to brag) my face-paint was epic! I honestly didn’t want to take it off at the end of the night. We did learn that face-paint standards vary considerably, as Tom found out later!

Face-paint donned we walked to the cemetery where the parade started. It was buzzing. The streets of Merida were decorated with bunting and altars had been bought out in-front of peoples homes for display. Families gathered around the altars in traditional white dress with embroidered colourful flowers on the neckline. The parade itself was a bit of an anticlimax (more of a group walk) but I’ll never get board of watching the outfits and face-paint!

2. Chichén Itzá.

One of the seven wonders of the world, the whole site is impeccably maintained and fascinating.

It blew my mind how clever the Mayans were and what they built in 1000AD. El Castillo may look like a normal temple but it was built to use as a calendar. Depending on how sunlight hits the temple the Mayans deciphered (amongst many things) the season, when to sow seeds and when to harvest crops. There are four stairways with 91 steps each, add on the top step to access the temple, and it totals 365 (the number of days in a solar year). Very clever stuff.

Slightly more morbid, but still impressive, are the skulls carved into the stone platform. The skulls represented prisoners that died in battle and were to scare off enemies.

The place was busyyyy, we hopped on the first collectivo from Valladolid to try and avoid the crowds – there were a shed load of people compared to the likes of Tikal!

3. Valladolid town.

Mainly a stop-off to get to Chichen Itzá, Valladolid is a very cute little town with candy floss coloured buildings lining the streets and retro beetles driving around, it’s also got lots of Cenotes nearby!

4. Accommodation.

We stayed in a wonderful Airbnb in Merida and cooked a lot for ourselves (it’s been a while!), a bit out of town but totally worth it.

We visited Merida & Valladolid in October 2018.