| myfirstcoffee.org would like to thank the following companies for their continued support: IBC Solutions Specialty Roast Coffee Gotham Sports Media Local Interactive Paintball Real Estate Ventures Home Flooring Center ...not just floors The Chiro Loft |
| MY First Coffee.org is a program of the ANDROID Foundation. American National Deployment of Resources for Opportunity & Intellectual Development, Inc., was founded in 1994 by Andrew Perretti as an internship and scholarship fund for college bound youth with job placement. We can structure a relationship with your organization allowing us to share the proceeds from the sale of over one hundred inter-net affiliates. This type of revenue sharing solution is destined to create a paradigm shift in the way NPOs and local charities approach their fund raising. For more info contact us at: android@ibcsolutons.net Copyright © 2006 IBC Solutions Media Services. |
About Home Bistro:
We deliver great
tasting meals right to
your home. We use
the finest ingredients
and do all the cooking
for you. Your meal is
then flash frozen for
home delivery using
an innovative Sous
Vide process that
preserves the great
taste. If you love great
food, try Home Bistro .
Also try our healthy
low carb and low
sodium dinners. Just
use our fast and easy
online meal ordering,
and we'll do the rest.
We deliver great
tasting meals right to
your home. We use
the finest ingredients
and do all the cooking
for you. Your meal is
then flash frozen for
home delivery using
an innovative Sous
Vide process that
preserves the great
taste. If you love great
food, try Home Bistro .
Also try our healthy
low carb and low
sodium dinners. Just
use our fast and easy
online meal ordering,
and we'll do the rest.
Let 2008 be the year
you evolve into the
best person you can
be. This tarot reading
will reveal potential
personal
developments based
on your past history
and present reality.
Exploring this
alternative
perspective will get
you inspired to build a
positive course of
action in the coming
year, and the practical
suggestions will help
you validate, reinvent
and transform your
life!
you evolve into the
best person you can
be. This tarot reading
will reveal potential
personal
developments based
on your past history
and present reality.
Exploring this
alternative
perspective will get
you inspired to build a
positive course of
action in the coming
year, and the practical
suggestions will help
you validate, reinvent
and transform your
life!
At Just Flowers we
have over 9 years of
experience in the gift
basket and floral
industry. We work with
preferred gift basket
vendors and floral
suppliers worldwide to
bring the highest level
of service and
satisfaction to our
customers online.
JUSTFLOWERS.COM
is committed to
offering exceptional
service to our
customers. We
understand that the
gifts that you send
represent you both
personally and
professionally.
have over 9 years of
experience in the gift
basket and floral
industry. We work with
preferred gift basket
vendors and floral
suppliers worldwide to
bring the highest level
of service and
satisfaction to our
customers online.
JUSTFLOWERS.COM
is committed to
offering exceptional
service to our
customers. We
understand that the
gifts that you send
represent you both
personally and
professionally.
For three generations
the Webster family and
The Fruit Company
have been bringing the
nation the World’s
Finest Fruit™, grown
primarily in the lush
Hood River Valley of
northern Oregon.
The Fruit Company’s
roots extend back to
1942, when Roy
Webster founded
Webster Orchards and
began delivering
extraordinary pears
and apples to the
region.
In fact he initiated a mail-
order service that sent
Webster pears and
apples, or as he called
them, “Oregon Gems” and
“Oregon Beauties” for
$7.50 a bushel. An old
catalog we found boasts,
“Our aim is to do
everything possible to
elicit expressions of
genuine pleasure from
your friends for the gift
fruit we send them.” 65
years later that sentiment
hasn’t changed.
the Webster family and
The Fruit Company
have been bringing the
nation the World’s
Finest Fruit™, grown
primarily in the lush
Hood River Valley of
northern Oregon.
The Fruit Company’s
roots extend back to
1942, when Roy
Webster founded
Webster Orchards and
began delivering
extraordinary pears
and apples to the
region.
In fact he initiated a mail-
order service that sent
Webster pears and
apples, or as he called
them, “Oregon Gems” and
“Oregon Beauties” for
$7.50 a bushel. An old
catalog we found boasts,
“Our aim is to do
everything possible to
elicit expressions of
genuine pleasure from
your friends for the gift
fruit we send them.” 65
years later that sentiment
hasn’t changed.
| myfirstcoffee.org |
| & Specialty Roast Coffee invite you to |
| Reviews |
| Features |
| News |
| Supporters |
| HOTELS | CREDIT CARDS | LOANS | GIFTS | GAMBLING | INVESTING | EDUCATION | HEALTH & FITNESS | FLOWERS |
| Affiliates |
| "The best part about being the final say between the truth... as how you personally relate to it, versus reality... is in and of itself a good place to launch..." |
| send your original quotes to us at: info@myfirstcoffee.org |
| Make Your Quote Famous on... myfirstcoffee.org |
Things we do in the morning
differ from town to town, city to
city, or state to state. One thing
found common among most
American mornings is coffee.
differ from town to town, city to
city, or state to state. One thing
found common among most
American mornings is coffee.
Hot Links Direct To Hot Products
Vincent Van Gogh Vase Of Flowers
Coffee Pot Gold Wood-Mounted Art
Poster Print - 16" X 20"
List Price: $99.99
Our Price: $39.99
Sale Price: $29.99
You Save: $70.00 (70%)
Usually ships in 11-15 business days
Coffee Pot Gold Wood-Mounted Art
Poster Print - 16" X 20"
List Price: $99.99
Our Price: $39.99
Sale Price: $29.99
You Save: $70.00 (70%)
Usually ships in 11-15 business days
With our Gourmet Gift
Service, you can send
the same premium
foods we serve at our
award-winning
restaurants, anywhere
in the continental USA.
Whether you're looking
for unique rewards,
corporate holiday gifts,
or incentives to
enhance your
business
relationships, Legal
Sea Foods Mail Order
Gourmet gift division is
the place to start.
Impress your office
executives with a
delicious seafood gift
delivered to their door.
Our wide array of
offerings include fresh,
live lobsters, succulent
shrimp, hearty
chowders, choice-cut
steaks and other high
quality seafood
products. In addition,
our gift packages can
be customized for your
clients, employees,
business associates
or even your family
reunion. Many of our
accessories can also
be personalized with
your own company logo.
Service, you can send
the same premium
foods we serve at our
award-winning
restaurants, anywhere
in the continental USA.
Whether you're looking
for unique rewards,
corporate holiday gifts,
or incentives to
enhance your
business
relationships, Legal
Sea Foods Mail Order
Gourmet gift division is
the place to start.
Impress your office
executives with a
delicious seafood gift
delivered to their door.
Our wide array of
offerings include fresh,
live lobsters, succulent
shrimp, hearty
chowders, choice-cut
steaks and other high
quality seafood
products. In addition,
our gift packages can
be customized for your
clients, employees,
business associates
or even your family
reunion. Many of our
accessories can also
be personalized with
your own company logo.
The Sting II
by Dan Suarez
"Drug Switching Study Finds
Increase in Heart Problems
among Patients on Generic
Drugs..."
With the practice of drug switching
on the rise, there is growing
concern among doctors, nurses,
patient advocates and other health
professionals that patients are at
risk for negative consequences.
Drug switching, or therapeutic
substitution, as it’s known in the
pharmaceutical world, is a process
in which prescribed, brand name
medications are replaced by
generic alternatives. Unfortunately,
drug switching may have a drastic
impact on the health of those who
experience it.
In fact, a recently revealed study in
the United Kingdom found that
switching patients from Lipitor (a
name brand drug used to control
cholesterol) to a generic alternative
resulted in a 30 percent increase in
the risk of “major cardiovascular
events,” as compared to those
patients who remained on Lipitor.
The “major cardiovascular events”
referred to in the study include
heart attacks, strokes, certain types
of heart surgeries and even death.
While this is just one study involving
one type of medication, it certainly
opens the door to the possibility
that other generic substitutes are
less effective than their brand name
counterparts. And not only should
patients be concerned about the
type of medication they are
switched to, but also the dosage.
Many patients who experience drug
switching, particularly those who
have taken one drug for an
extended period of time, may not
realize that they may need to take
the new drug more or less
frequently. If not, the effectiveness
of the drug can be compromised.
Another concern is the fact that
many patients don’t even realize
that their drugs have been
switched, mainly because it occurs
without the consent of the
prescribing doctor or a verbal
notification from the distributing
pharmacy. Quite often, the only
notification patients receive comes
from innocuously posted signs at
the pharmacy counter.
Why does drug switching occur?
Because it’s cheaper for healthcare
companies to push generics instead
of brand names. This cost-
motivated practice essentially
ignores certain considerations a
physician may have made in
prescribing a drug—perhaps the
brand name medication was
selected because of a patient’s
unique medical history or other
medications he may be taking.
Regardless of the physician’s
decision, when drug switching takes
place, these factors are overlooked.
Drug switching is an irresponsible
and oftentimes deceptive practice.
Allowing prescriptions to be driven
by healthcare companies’ bottom
lines shows a blatant disregard for
the insight provided by physicians—
the individuals who are extensively
trained to prescribe medication
based on a broad range of
information. Prescription
medications are controlled
substances for a reason: in the
wrong situations or under the wrong
conditions, they can do far more
harm than good. It is foolish and
negligent to allow money to be the
determining factor in their
distribution. We at the New York
chapter of the National Association
of Hispanic Nurses hope that
healthcare professionals, insurance
providers and pharmaceutical
companies can work together to
establish more responsible
prescription medication guidelines.
more...
by Dan Suarez
"Drug Switching Study Finds
Increase in Heart Problems
among Patients on Generic
Drugs..."
With the practice of drug switching
on the rise, there is growing
concern among doctors, nurses,
patient advocates and other health
professionals that patients are at
risk for negative consequences.
Drug switching, or therapeutic
substitution, as it’s known in the
pharmaceutical world, is a process
in which prescribed, brand name
medications are replaced by
generic alternatives. Unfortunately,
drug switching may have a drastic
impact on the health of those who
experience it.
In fact, a recently revealed study in
the United Kingdom found that
switching patients from Lipitor (a
name brand drug used to control
cholesterol) to a generic alternative
resulted in a 30 percent increase in
the risk of “major cardiovascular
events,” as compared to those
patients who remained on Lipitor.
The “major cardiovascular events”
referred to in the study include
heart attacks, strokes, certain types
of heart surgeries and even death.
While this is just one study involving
one type of medication, it certainly
opens the door to the possibility
that other generic substitutes are
less effective than their brand name
counterparts. And not only should
patients be concerned about the
type of medication they are
switched to, but also the dosage.
Many patients who experience drug
switching, particularly those who
have taken one drug for an
extended period of time, may not
realize that they may need to take
the new drug more or less
frequently. If not, the effectiveness
of the drug can be compromised.
Another concern is the fact that
many patients don’t even realize
that their drugs have been
switched, mainly because it occurs
without the consent of the
prescribing doctor or a verbal
notification from the distributing
pharmacy. Quite often, the only
notification patients receive comes
from innocuously posted signs at
the pharmacy counter.
Why does drug switching occur?
Because it’s cheaper for healthcare
companies to push generics instead
of brand names. This cost-
motivated practice essentially
ignores certain considerations a
physician may have made in
prescribing a drug—perhaps the
brand name medication was
selected because of a patient’s
unique medical history or other
medications he may be taking.
Regardless of the physician’s
decision, when drug switching takes
place, these factors are overlooked.
Drug switching is an irresponsible
and oftentimes deceptive practice.
Allowing prescriptions to be driven
by healthcare companies’ bottom
lines shows a blatant disregard for
the insight provided by physicians—
the individuals who are extensively
trained to prescribe medication
based on a broad range of
information. Prescription
medications are controlled
substances for a reason: in the
wrong situations or under the wrong
conditions, they can do far more
harm than good. It is foolish and
negligent to allow money to be the
determining factor in their
distribution. We at the New York
chapter of the National Association
of Hispanic Nurses hope that
healthcare professionals, insurance
providers and pharmaceutical
companies can work together to
establish more responsible
prescription medication guidelines.
more...
Medco Settles Drug-Switching
Suit
Company Will Pay $29 Million to Settle Charges
Brought by 20 States
April 26, 2004
Medco has agreed to pay $29.3 million to settle a case that accused
the giant pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) of violating 20 states
consumer protection laws with its "drug-switching" practices.
Medco, a Merck spinoff, was accused of improperly hiking prices,
switching prescriptions to favor certain drugs, including Merck's, and
engaging in other practices aimed at boosting its profits. It will pay the
states $6.6 million to pay for the cost of the investigation and an
average of $1 million apiece in cash or prescription drugs for
low-income, elderly or disabled consumers.
more...
Suit
Company Will Pay $29 Million to Settle Charges
Brought by 20 States
April 26, 2004
Medco has agreed to pay $29.3 million to settle a case that accused
the giant pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) of violating 20 states
consumer protection laws with its "drug-switching" practices.
Medco, a Merck spinoff, was accused of improperly hiking prices,
switching prescriptions to favor certain drugs, including Merck's, and
engaging in other practices aimed at boosting its profits. It will pay the
states $6.6 million to pay for the cost of the investigation and an
average of $1 million apiece in cash or prescription drugs for
low-income, elderly or disabled consumers.
more...
Switching Epilepsy
Drugs Carries Risk
A study featured in the late
August issue of Neurology
concluded that switching from
brand name medications to
generic seizure medications
can result in toxic side effects or
loss of seizure control in some
epilepsy patients, according to
the Epilepsy Foundation.
The study authors from the
University of Florida in
Gainseville examined 24
healthy volunteers in a
single-dose, two-way crossover
study of generic and brand
name formulations of the same
epilepsy medication. The
bioavailability (the amount of a
medication's active ingredient
present in the blood following a
given dose) of the generic brand
administered with food was 13
per cent lower than observed
with the brand name drug. As a
result, in 46 per cent of the
people studied, the levels of
generic medication were below
the therapeutic range. According
to the Epilepsy Foundation, this
means that those people no
longer would have enough of
the medication in their bodies to
control seizures.
The Epilepsy Foundation
advises that brand name
medications not be substituted
for generics without the
permission of the physician and
patient. However, the foundation
also expressed recognition of
the need to take advantage of
savings from generic forms of
epilepsy medications and has
urged the Food and Drug
Administration to require that
generic products show closer
bioavailability to the standard
brand and to each other to
reduce the risk of seizure
breakthroughs or intolerable
side effects if patients are
switched from one product to
another.
Drugs Carries Risk
A study featured in the late
August issue of Neurology
concluded that switching from
brand name medications to
generic seizure medications
can result in toxic side effects or
loss of seizure control in some
epilepsy patients, according to
the Epilepsy Foundation.
The study authors from the
University of Florida in
Gainseville examined 24
healthy volunteers in a
single-dose, two-way crossover
study of generic and brand
name formulations of the same
epilepsy medication. The
bioavailability (the amount of a
medication's active ingredient
present in the blood following a
given dose) of the generic brand
administered with food was 13
per cent lower than observed
with the brand name drug. As a
result, in 46 per cent of the
people studied, the levels of
generic medication were below
the therapeutic range. According
to the Epilepsy Foundation, this
means that those people no
longer would have enough of
the medication in their bodies to
control seizures.
The Epilepsy Foundation
advises that brand name
medications not be substituted
for generics without the
permission of the physician and
patient. However, the foundation
also expressed recognition of
the need to take advantage of
savings from generic forms of
epilepsy medications and has
urged the Food and Drug
Administration to require that
generic products show closer
bioavailability to the standard
brand and to each other to
reduce the risk of seizure
breakthroughs or intolerable
side effects if patients are
switched from one product to
another.
The Sting II
(Editorial)
"Drug Switching Study
Finds Increase in Heart
Problems among Patients
on Generic Drugs..."
In the Redford classic The
Sting, a group of confidence
men band together to pull a
bait and switch. A con game
like that, can land you in jail.
However, the old "bait and
switch" has taken on a whole
new dimension now that the
multi-billion dollar healthcare
industry is engaging in a
confidence game with
pharmacies to save a few
dollars. Is there any
difference?
info@empirestatenews.org
(Editorial)
"Drug Switching Study
Finds Increase in Heart
Problems among Patients
on Generic Drugs..."
In the Redford classic The
Sting, a group of confidence
men band together to pull a
bait and switch. A con game
like that, can land you in jail.
However, the old "bait and
switch" has taken on a whole
new dimension now that the
multi-billion dollar healthcare
industry is engaging in a
confidence game with
pharmacies to save a few
dollars. Is there any
difference?
info@empirestatenews.org
| Pictured above are State Senator Suzie Oppenheimer and her long time friend and Democratic State Committee woman Phyllis Ross handing out literature at the New Rochelle train station. on Thursday, September 11, 2006. Picture taken by Andrew Perretti |
Teens In Pornography
By Andrew Perretti
I've always maintained that the universe
is a strange but accommodating place. It
has a tendency to bring the right people
together in order to fulfill that which is
ordained to be. Shakespeare coined the
phrase "to be or not to be..." but it is the
universal field of energy that exists
purposefully that fulfills his famous quote!
When I began my advocacy to petition
state capitals to increase the legal age for
teens to access and participate in
pornography back in June 2006, I was well
aware that it wasn't going to be easy. Then
again Johnny Damon moved from Fenway
to take over center field replacing such
Yankee legends and Bernie Williams, Micky
Mantle and Joe DiMaggio making difficult,
easy.
By Andrew Perretti
I've always maintained that the universe
is a strange but accommodating place. It
has a tendency to bring the right people
together in order to fulfill that which is
ordained to be. Shakespeare coined the
phrase "to be or not to be..." but it is the
universal field of energy that exists
purposefully that fulfills his famous quote!
When I began my advocacy to petition
state capitals to increase the legal age for
teens to access and participate in
pornography back in June 2006, I was well
aware that it wasn't going to be easy. Then
again Johnny Damon moved from Fenway
to take over center field replacing such
Yankee legends and Bernie Williams, Micky
Mantle and Joe DiMaggio making difficult,
easy.
Since I set out on this journey to advocate for our youth ages 18-21, the most difficult part of the
journey has been the unexpected responses from each person. It seems that most rational adults are
in favor of increasing the legal age of our teens to access and participate in this multi-billion dollar
industry, however, some individuals ask me why I'm even bothering? I'm getting a knot in my stomach
just thinking about that mind set. Could you imagine your own son or daughter turning 18 and making
a porn? Well be advised that as long as they sign a model release form and provide proof of age, our
children do not need parental permission to do so! Even worse, I'll prove to you that any internet
savvy child can find and view pornography for free!
The internet is chocked full of porn sites that take advantage of our teens at this tender age. There
are unscrupulous porn producers who pay teens a few dollars which seems like a lot of money to a
them. There are sites that portrait teens as money grubbing whores that will do anything for cash!
This is the actual title of a porn site where elderly men deliberately seek out teens for cash. There are
sites that abuse our teens by making them perform degrading sexual acts. People all over the world
are watching as we the people of the land of the free and the home of the brave stand by idle and
allow our teens who represent the future of our nation to degrade themselves for a few dollars. All of
this being considered, there should be an army of advocates out there screaming at the top of their
lungs on behalf of our teenagers. This is the same age group (18-20) that NYS determined wasn't
responsible enough to drink alcohol until age 21. Wow! It's O.K. for your 18 year old daughter to
legally make pornography without parental permission, but she can't go to the bar with the cast for a
cold beer afterwards! What an absolute paradox. A paradox of the American paradise in which we live
in. It was the powerful Insurance Lobby that was behind raising the legal drinking age. Who among us
is willing to go head to head with a powerful Porn Lobby?
In order to improve the quality of life for our teens between the ages of 18-20, someone has to step
forward and present this disgusting image to the voters. I'm alone in shark infested waters swimming
with one arm. Imagine kicking as hard as you can in deep water and not getting anywhere? It seems
that every state representative is well aware of this sensitive issue, however, no elected official has
taken the lead to bring this to the floor. When I walked onto the train platform the other day and saw
Senator Suzie handing out palm cards, I thanked God for divine providence. Phyllis Ross handed me
a palm card and told me that Senator Suzi was greeting voters. I told Phyllis that I was the publisher of
the news service WestchesterNews.org and asked if I could take a picture. She was delighted to
introduce me to the Senator. After taking the above picture, I asked Suzi if she would support an
internet porn bill that would increase the legal age to access and participate in pornography from
18-21? Senator Suzi said; "Why sure, as long as you come up with a way to monitor and police it!" I
replied, "Leave that to me Senator. I just need to know that you are on board when I approach Jeff
Klein." I was elated! After three months of swimming with that proverbial one arm, I finally felt as if I'm
putting some distance between the sharks and our teens.
Ostensibly, Senator Suzie Oppenheimer, a ranking democrat on the Senate Education Committee,
Chair of the Senate Democratic Task Force on Women's Issues who sits on the Ethics Committee,
told me in one sentence that if I can come up with a way to monitor and police this most important
quality of life issue that she would support it! God bless you Suzie Oppenheimer. As soon as I
published this article and updated the WestchesteNews.org homepage, I called Senator Klein's office.
Unfortunately, his scheduler was on the other line. I left my number and message to get on the
Senator's calender to report the good new about our ranking Senator's position on this most
important issue. I was assured that a member of the Senator's staff would get back to me today. What
I am trying to accomplish is not easy. Getting on any senator's calender is time consuming, especially
when you are an advocate versus a supporter. Jeff Klein has listened patiently to other important
issues I've brought to him in him past. I intend on being relentless with this advocacy, not only with the
local politicians, but with the porn producers as well. My plan is to systematically ask every senator in
Bronx and Westchester the same question I asked Suzi and publish their response. The voters have
a right to know how their elected officials feel about the quality of life of our impressionable teenagers.
After Jeff Klein's position is published, I will put up a forum page with the picture of every NYS Senator
and their reply to this Q & A.
I need your help. Imagine this if you will; I visited a church (name withheld) on Castle Hill Avenue to make an
appointment with the Pastor to gain moral support for this most important issue. I spoke with the Pastor's secretary
over two months ago to get on his calender. I'm still waiting. I'm going to give the pastor another opportunity to
schedule a meeting to either come on board, or present me with acceptble reason when leaders of our religious
community would not be all over this advocacy. The moral of this story is that even the moral majority can't be counted
on. We as individuals, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers can only count on each other in times of need. We can
remain silent and without an opinion, or find each other and take a stand to improve the quality of life for our teens.
The issue is not freedom of speech, or pornography in general. It is at what age should our impressionable teens be
legally allowed to make such an important decision? A decision that will inevitably come back and haunt them for the
rest of their lives? A decision they can make at age 18 without parental consent.
After every Bronx and Westchester Senator has been contacted, I will expand out into other areas of NYS. I sincerely
hope that by that time, I'm not alone in this advocacy. I'm no Johnny Damon!
journey has been the unexpected responses from each person. It seems that most rational adults are
in favor of increasing the legal age of our teens to access and participate in this multi-billion dollar
industry, however, some individuals ask me why I'm even bothering? I'm getting a knot in my stomach
just thinking about that mind set. Could you imagine your own son or daughter turning 18 and making
a porn? Well be advised that as long as they sign a model release form and provide proof of age, our
children do not need parental permission to do so! Even worse, I'll prove to you that any internet
savvy child can find and view pornography for free!
The internet is chocked full of porn sites that take advantage of our teens at this tender age. There
are unscrupulous porn producers who pay teens a few dollars which seems like a lot of money to a
them. There are sites that portrait teens as money grubbing whores that will do anything for cash!
This is the actual title of a porn site where elderly men deliberately seek out teens for cash. There are
sites that abuse our teens by making them perform degrading sexual acts. People all over the world
are watching as we the people of the land of the free and the home of the brave stand by idle and
allow our teens who represent the future of our nation to degrade themselves for a few dollars. All of
this being considered, there should be an army of advocates out there screaming at the top of their
lungs on behalf of our teenagers. This is the same age group (18-20) that NYS determined wasn't
responsible enough to drink alcohol until age 21. Wow! It's O.K. for your 18 year old daughter to
legally make pornography without parental permission, but she can't go to the bar with the cast for a
cold beer afterwards! What an absolute paradox. A paradox of the American paradise in which we live
in. It was the powerful Insurance Lobby that was behind raising the legal drinking age. Who among us
is willing to go head to head with a powerful Porn Lobby?
In order to improve the quality of life for our teens between the ages of 18-20, someone has to step
forward and present this disgusting image to the voters. I'm alone in shark infested waters swimming
with one arm. Imagine kicking as hard as you can in deep water and not getting anywhere? It seems
that every state representative is well aware of this sensitive issue, however, no elected official has
taken the lead to bring this to the floor. When I walked onto the train platform the other day and saw
Senator Suzie handing out palm cards, I thanked God for divine providence. Phyllis Ross handed me
a palm card and told me that Senator Suzi was greeting voters. I told Phyllis that I was the publisher of
the news service WestchesterNews.org and asked if I could take a picture. She was delighted to
introduce me to the Senator. After taking the above picture, I asked Suzi if she would support an
internet porn bill that would increase the legal age to access and participate in pornography from
18-21? Senator Suzi said; "Why sure, as long as you come up with a way to monitor and police it!" I
replied, "Leave that to me Senator. I just need to know that you are on board when I approach Jeff
Klein." I was elated! After three months of swimming with that proverbial one arm, I finally felt as if I'm
putting some distance between the sharks and our teens.
Ostensibly, Senator Suzie Oppenheimer, a ranking democrat on the Senate Education Committee,
Chair of the Senate Democratic Task Force on Women's Issues who sits on the Ethics Committee,
told me in one sentence that if I can come up with a way to monitor and police this most important
quality of life issue that she would support it! God bless you Suzie Oppenheimer. As soon as I
published this article and updated the WestchesteNews.org homepage, I called Senator Klein's office.
Unfortunately, his scheduler was on the other line. I left my number and message to get on the
Senator's calender to report the good new about our ranking Senator's position on this most
important issue. I was assured that a member of the Senator's staff would get back to me today. What
I am trying to accomplish is not easy. Getting on any senator's calender is time consuming, especially
when you are an advocate versus a supporter. Jeff Klein has listened patiently to other important
issues I've brought to him in him past. I intend on being relentless with this advocacy, not only with the
local politicians, but with the porn producers as well. My plan is to systematically ask every senator in
Bronx and Westchester the same question I asked Suzi and publish their response. The voters have
a right to know how their elected officials feel about the quality of life of our impressionable teenagers.
After Jeff Klein's position is published, I will put up a forum page with the picture of every NYS Senator
and their reply to this Q & A.
I need your help. Imagine this if you will; I visited a church (name withheld) on Castle Hill Avenue to make an
appointment with the Pastor to gain moral support for this most important issue. I spoke with the Pastor's secretary
over two months ago to get on his calender. I'm still waiting. I'm going to give the pastor another opportunity to
schedule a meeting to either come on board, or present me with acceptble reason when leaders of our religious
community would not be all over this advocacy. The moral of this story is that even the moral majority can't be counted
on. We as individuals, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers can only count on each other in times of need. We can
remain silent and without an opinion, or find each other and take a stand to improve the quality of life for our teens.
The issue is not freedom of speech, or pornography in general. It is at what age should our impressionable teens be
legally allowed to make such an important decision? A decision that will inevitably come back and haunt them for the
rest of their lives? A decision they can make at age 18 without parental consent.
After every Bronx and Westchester Senator has been contacted, I will expand out into other areas of NYS. I sincerely
hope that by that time, I'm not alone in this advocacy. I'm no Johnny Damon!