Cronin had been battling acute myelogenous leukimia since 2005 and had been in remission several times. During his battle, he started the Rich Cronin Hope Foundation for Leukimia that is dedicated to the care, compassion and life enrichment of individuals and families impacted by leukimia. The foundation also encourages people to become blood donors and to register with the National Marrow Donor Program, the country’s most comprehensive list of volunteer bone marrow and stem cell donors.

LFO is responsible for the ’90s ear worm ‘Summer Girls’ that Cronin wrote. He also wrote the song ‘Girl on TV’ which was written about Jennifer Love-Hewitt–whom he also dated for a short time.

Related:

• Prop 8 Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
• Morgan Freeman Advocates the Power of Preparedness for Natural Disasters
• Alexander McQueen’s Ashes Have Been Buried at Kilmuir in Scotland
• The Frisky is Looking for a New Insult for Spencer Pratt

Her name is Devin, she is a mostly-black Calico with hues of brown going through her and she is gorgeous. She has been with me for almost four years now and it has been great seeing her personality develop and come to terms with the fact that I am not the ruler of my own house because as anyone with a cat knows, they very much do as they please, when they please and if you don’t like what they’re doing, well, that’s just your problem. Devin is very true to that statement and I also often wake up to her batting me in the face with her paw not because she’s hungry, because she has had food every time I have woken up at an obscenely early hour because of her, but because I think she just thinks I should be awake.

Obviously, my connection to my cat is a very strong one and I think rather highly of her, so I was pretty excited when MyBlogSpark informed me that they were working with 9Lives to spread the word about feline nutrition.

When 9Lives recently surveyed “feline pet parents” (How much do you love that title? I know I do.) they found that 94% of people who had a cat were confident that they fed their felines the most nutritious meals possible. They also found that 48% of feline pet parents fed their cats table scraps an average of seven times per month and that 30% of people surveyed knew that giving cats milk may not be healthy for their cats due to the common incidence of lactose intolerance in adult cats. Furthermore, 23% of people believe that it is healthy and beneficial for cats to be kept on a strictly vegetarian diet, however, that may actually be harmful because vegetarian diets do not provide cats with the nutrients they need for a long, healthy life.

The 9Lives survey found that 92% of feline pet parents would switch cat foods if it would improve their cat’s health and 91% would switch food if they could add years onto their feline’s life. That’s where the 9Lives new Advanced Nutrient System comes in, a cat food that contains essential nutrients cats need to help promote healthy skin and coat, strong muscle growth, a healthy immune system and heart and clear vision.

I had the opportunity to let Devin try out the 9Lives Advanced Nutrient System Daily Essentials dry food, which I received from 9Lives through MyBlogSpark. I also received a magnetic picture frame, pet food scoop and cat toys. She seems to really like the dry food, there is no change in how much or little she eats as opposed to her food prior to 9Lives and I will definitely continue to give it to her. Devin has always been on the small side; I think she must have been the runt of the litter and I was very concerned about her not putting on much weight although she eats very normally. Our vet explained that Devin is just small and will most likely stay small, but she’s very healthy and I like knowing that the food she is given is completely balanced and full of all the right nutrients.

Devin also very much enjoyed her new cat toys. One in particular has pretty much become her go-to toy and it’s probably because it’s a toy full of catnip. She has been playing with it so much that I couldn’t help but take a little video of her.

Giveaway

To help spread the word about 9Lives Advanced Nutrient System, we are giving away a bag of 9Lives Daily Essentials dry cat food and prize pack that should delight cat lovers everywhere!

Mandatory Entry

To win the 9Lives Advanced Nutrient System prize pack all you have to do is leave a comment telling us a little about your pet. That’s super easy, right? I know I could talk about my cat all day (and if I don’t end this post soon, I just might!) so I’m eager to hear about all of the other pets out there bringing their caretakers joy every day.

Extra Entries:

Leave a comment for each additional entry.

• Head on over to 9Lives.com and learn a little more about the Advanced Nutrient System and leave a comment here telling us what you’ve learned.
• Subscribe to Woman Tribune
• Follow @WomanTribune on Twitter
• “Like” Woman Tribune on Facebook
• Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use the following tweet or write your own. [Can be done once per day.]
  

  Attention cat lovers! Win a 9Lives Advanced Nutrient System prize pack from @WomanTribune & #myblogspark: http://t.co/wnvglCM ends 9/16

• Leave a comment on any other Woman Tribune post and come back here and leave a comment telling us what post you commented on.
• Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and to 9Lives.com. [5 entries, so leave 5 comments.]

This giveaway ends Thursday, September 16th at 11:59PM EST. This giveaway is open to all US residents over the age of 18 at the time of entry. The winner will be contacted by email and has 48 hours (2 days) to respond to that email or another winner will be picked.

Full Contest Disclaimer

Disclosure: 9Lives provided me with a bag of 9Lives Daily Essentials dry cat food, prize pack, information and giveaway through MyBlogSpark. All opinions expressed throughout this post are 100% mine.

Related:

• $25 Walmart Gift Card Giveaway to Benefit Box Tops for Education Winner
• Support Your Kids’ Education with Box Tops for Education at Your Local Walmart [$25 Gift Card Giveaway]
• Gluten-Free Chex VIP Coupon and Prize Pack Giveaway Winner
• Chex Cereal Goes Gluten-Free — Review and Giveaway

Have you ever tried a button-down shirt and found that if it fits your waist it gapes or pulls around the chest, or, alternatively, if it fits your chest it makes you look like a box everywhere else? If so, we have the perfect event for you! On Tuesday, September 21st, join Urban Girl Squad as we partner with Rebecca & Drew Manufacturing to present a workshop on finding the perfect fit for YOUR body. Rebecca & Drew Manufacturing created the patented TrioFit system, which is a shirt and dress sizing technique based on bra size and height (currently addresses bra sizes 32A-38H). Founder Drew Paluba will teach us how to identify your shirt and dress size, give you tips and suggestions on how to best dress your body, and give you inside tricks to understanding true quality clothes (i.e. where to splurge and where to skimp). You’ll also learn techniques to care for your clothes in order to preserve the fit and quality of your garments.

At this event, you’ll meet great women in NYC and receive:

• A workshop on fit and quality of clothes, with Q&A with Drew
• Bra sizing and fitting to ensure that you’re wearing the right size (the foundation of any good outfit!)
• Personal fittings in Rebecca & Drew shirts, which come in sizes 32A to 38H and are available in two lengths, regular and long, and in two body shapes
• Wine and h’ors d’oeuvres
• Gift bag
• Special discounts: 30% off in-stock shirts and dresses and free monogramming

Space is very limited in this event so that each attendee gets personal attention, so sign up early to secure your spot!

Fast Facts:
Date: Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Location: Rebecca & Drew Manufacturing Studios
333 West 39th Street, Suite 701
New York, NY 10018

Time: 7:00PM-9:00PM

RSVP: Finding Your Perfect Fit

Info: Urban Girl Squad

Cost: $30

- – – – – – – – – -

About Urban Girl Squad
Amanda Hofman created Urban Girl Squad, a community-based social group for women in their 20’s and 30’s in New York City, in January 2008. Urban Girl Squad creates opportunities for these women to try new things, spend time with friends, and meet new people. Our events include food and wine tastings, beauty and fashion nights, dance and fitness classes, sports events, cocktail parties and more. We provide special, discounted access to the city–you’ll meet store owners and designers, taste gourmet food and drinks, receive personal attention from popular venues, and score some amazing gift bags. The welcoming atmosphere at our events makes it easy for members to attend on their own or with friends!

Related:

• Urban Girl Squad Moms: Functional to Fabulous — Finding Your Style
• Private Jewelry Sale with Gioielli and Urban Girl Squad
• Thursday Shop It To Me Sale Alerts
• Monday Shop It To Me Sale Alerts

It’s Monday and that means we’re sharing some of our favorite items seen in our Shop It To Me sale mails.

In case you have no idea what a Shop It To Me sale mail is: Shop It To Me is a super awesome personal shopping email service that sends you personalized emails alerting you when all of your favorite designers and brands have a great sale going on. Your emails can contain not only apparel, but also accessories, lingerie and footwear. Best of all, Shop It To Me is completely free.

Want sale mail emails of your own? Sign up at Shop It To Me.

Please note: Woman Tribune is in no way endorsed or sponsored by Shop It To Me and we do not, nor will we ever receive compensation of any kind for these posts. We just like sharing our fashion crushes of the moment.

Ella Moss monaco dress from Shopbop.com Regular Price: $141.00 Now: $70.50	L.A.M.B. racer back dress from Shopbop.com Regular Price: $275.00 Now: $192.50	Nanette Lepore honeysuckle dress from Shopbop.com Regular Price: $298.00 Now: $208.60
Alice + Olivia katya seamed bodice dress from Shopbop.com Regular Price: $484.00 Now: $242.00	Haute Hippie wrap dress from Shopbop.com Regular Price: $575.00 Now: $287.50	7 For All Mankind high waist ruffle dress from Shopbop.com Regular Price: $189.00 Now: $132.30
Free People tiered jeweled dress from Shopbop.com Regular Price: $118.00 Now: $59.00	Alice + Olivia harper safari dress from Shopbop.com Regular Price: $298.00 Now: $208.60	Alice + Olivia miniskirt with pleated waistband from Shopbop.com Regular Price: $264.00 Now: $132.00
Ella Moss printed tunic from Shopbop.com Regular Price: $99.00 Now: $69.30	Free People Nigerian tulip tank from Shopbop.com Regular Price: $88.00 Now: $61.60	Theory ariadne top from Shopbop.com Regular Price: $75.00 Now: $37.50
Juicy Couture heather terry wide leg pant from Shopbop.com Regular Price: $118.00 Now: $59.00	Haute Hippie asymmetrical sexy tee from Shopbop.com Regular Price: $145.00 Now: $72.50	Juicy Couture stripe ruffle sleeve tee from Shopbop.com Regular Price: $58.00 Now: $40.60

Related:

• Thursday Shop It To Me Sale Alerts
• Thursday Shop It To Me Sale Alerts
• Finding the Best Fit for Your Body with Rebecca & Drew Manufacturing and Urban Girl Squad
• Shop It To Me Sale Alerts

The prostate is a small, squishy gland that sits under the bladder and in front of the rectum. The uretha–the narrow tube that runs the length of the penis that carries urine and semen out of the body–runs directly through the prostate. The prostate is located very close to several vital structures in the male body, so a healthy prostate will produce healthy and normal, urinary, bowel, sexual and fertility functions; likewise, prostate cancer and its treatment strategies can disrupt these functions. While we know a lot about the prostate, there are a great deal of myths and fun facts about it that a lot of us probably don’t know, so I cannot urge you enough to check out Sarah Sloane’s article on ’10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Prostate’ over at the MyPleasure blog.

When it comes to exploring the prostate in terms of sexual pleasure, a lot of men can find themselves to be a little hesitant, but when they hopefully feel ready to explore it further, they’ll find themselves wondering how they’ve lived without this type of pleasure for so long! The prostate, when stimulated, is said to feel much like g-spot stimulation; and any woman who has experienced fantastic g-spot stimulation will tell you that’s a feeling no one should be living without.

There are a great deal of prostate health toys on the market that are all suitable to not just begin your p-spot sexual health journey, but build upon it throughout your lifetime. September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and the awesome folks over at MyPleasure are running a fantastic promotion throughout this month. When you a buy a prostate health toy, you will save 10% on your purchase through MyPleasure; they will also donate 10% of your purchase to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the leading philanthropic organization funding and accelerating prostate cancer research globally.

Curious about prostate play, but don’t know where to start? A long-term favorite in our house is the Aneros MGX. This men’s stimulator is medically-researched and designed specifically for simultaneous massage of the prostate and perineum, allowing for more intense and longer lasting orgasms!

There are so many really great choices when it comes to finding a toy that will satisfy your prostate, but if none of the prostate health toys do anything for you, remember that prostate and g-spot sex toys can often be interchanged–the curve of a toy for both is the same, and as long as the girth of the toy is something you’re comfortable with and you’re not hurting yourself when trying to use a g-spot toy for anal stimulation, then you have nothing to worry about.

Related:

• What You Can Do to Fight Migraines
• Bloggers Unite for People First: Empowering People with Disabilities
• Find Your Perfect Sex Toy with MyPleasure — Aveline G-Spot Dildo and Vamp Dildo Reviews
• Swirled G-Spotting Goodness

This is a notable concern, especially since the use of business credit cards has significantly increased in recent years. According to the Federal Reserve, a little more than a third of small businesses used business credit cards in 1998. Now that rate stands at about 64 percent.

Issuers are aggressively marketing credit cards to small businesses. According to Synovate, issuers mailed out 46 million professional credit card offers in the first quarter of the year, a 256% increase from the 13.2 million offers mailed during the first quarter of 2009. During that same period, total credit card mail solicitations increased only 29%, so there is an emphasis on the business sector among issuers. Some of these professional offers seem to be crossing over and landing in the hands of consumers.

“The credit card industry is rebounding and issuers are trying to generate account and revenue growth again. The CARD Act regulations eliminated billions of dollars of annual revenue from banks and issuers, so they are looking under every seat cushion they can to find extra money. Small business cards seem to be where issuers see some potential and these cards are not governed by the CARD Act,” says Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com and author of The Credit Card Guidebook.

The terms and conditions of professional credit cards is a bruising step backwards for consumers who are finally benefiting from almost all of the CARD Act protections. Signing up for a small business card returns customers to the less-protected loans with penalty rates close to 30% that can begin the day after a late payment, immediate interest rate increases for any reason, and total payments applied to the balance with the lowest rate first.

Small business owners questions why the corporate cards don’t get the same protections as consumer cards. One of the arguments against extending consumer protections to small business cards is that it would restrict credit to borrowers. Banks say restricting their ability to “price for risk” will force them to reduce credit and raise rates.

The National Small Business Association has lobbied for legislation to include small business cards in the CARD Act protections. For now, small businesses are stuck with what they have. It may be tempting to use personal cards for business so they can receive protections, but that may not be a wise move. Interest payments on a consumer credit card are not a business expense tax write off. Separating business expenses from personal expenses can also create an accounting nightmare.

Business debt that appears on personal credit cards can negatively affect your credit score. An important factor in a FICO score is amount of debt you have as a percentage of your available credit. Ideally, this figure should be about 30%. If business debt is put on your personal card, it increases this debt-to-available-credit percentage which usually lowers your credit score.

Bank of America now extends many of the CARD Act protections to small business credit card customers, including an agreement not to raise interest rates on existing balances and 45-days-notice of future rate changes.

Related:

• Study Analyzes Changes in Credit Card Industry Since CARD Act
• Clarifying Interest Rate Changes Allowed with the CARD Act
• Many Credit Card Issuers Not Providing Full Disclosure on Penalty Rates
• Credit Card Changes in the First Half of 2010

Thanks to everyone who entered our Gluten-Free Chex VIP coupon and prize pack giveaway. Chex has long been a favorite cereal and snack in this house and I’m super glad we had the chance to share the love, thanks to Chex cereal through MyBlogSpark by giving away a VIP coupon for a free box of new Gluten-Free Chex and a prize pack that includes a big microwavable bowl, measuring spoons and cup and a gluten-free recipe card.

The Chex Gluten-Free line includes five different varieties of Chex cereal, including Rice Chex, Corn Chex, Honey Nut Chex, Chocolate Chex and Cinnamon Chex. I tried the Chocolate Chex and it was delicious! I’ve had the non-gluten-free Chex several (hundred? thousand?) times and honestly, I could not spot a difference when it came to taste. That delighted me because the worst thing about healthy food, in my opinion, is that it tastes like health food. I am always very weary of trying food that has been reformulated or revamped in some way to be super healthy because usually, that means they took all the delicious flavor out. I was super happy to find that Chex still tastes great, even when gluten-free.

And the winner of the Gluten-Free Chex VIP coupon and prize pack is…

Michelle who left comment number 70!

Thanks to everyone who entered and congratulations, Michelle!

Related:

• Chex Cereal Goes Gluten-Free — Review and Giveaway
• Lawry’s Marinades Giveaway Winner
• Wanchai Ferry Prize Pack Winner
• Try Out Lawry’s Marinades the Next Time You Fire Up the Grill — Review and Giveaway

Moon Dough is not merely a re-creation of Play-Doh; it is a completely unique molding compound that is very safe for children as young as 2 years old since it’s hypo-allergenic and wheat-free.

I had the opportunity to unleash my two stepdaughters (ages 4 and 6) on the Moon Dough Magic Barnyard Playset and they had a blast with it! My partner unpacked all of the contents of the barnyard and snapped the few pieces together to create the barnyard which took a total of, oh about five minutes or so. After the barnyard was set up, we unpacked the Magic Dough and seriously, it has the weirdest consistency I have ever felt. It feels very marshmallow-like; it’s very light and airy and feels nothing like any other molding dough I’ve ever come across. I, in all of my 23-year-old glory was completely fascinated by it for a little longer than I would like to admit. Of course, I also had to take a turn putting the Moon Dough through the top of the barnyard, turning the crank in the back of the playset and create little barnyard animals and bales of hay.

Even though the Moon Dough Magic Barnyard Playset is recommended for children ages 2 to 4, my 6-year-old stepdaughter had just as much fun playing with it as the 4-year-old; maybe even a little bit more. Moon Dough is very malleable and it does have the ability to be formed into perfect barnyard animals and hay bales when put through the barnyard playset; however, it does flake apart very easily when not extremely compacted into these shapes. Within a short amount of time, I had a great big Moon Dough mess scattered over the entire area where the kids were playing. Luckily, Moon Dough is very easy to clean up–and you will have a good amount to clean up–by picking up the bigger pieces that scatter about and vacuuming up the smaller particles. The Magic Barnyard Playset has a price tag of $19.99 and it is worth every penny because of one, little thing about Moon Dough that gives them a one-up on their molding compound competition–Moon Dough never dries out so your children can use it again and again.

Moon Dough comes in a variety of different playsets in addition to the Magic Barnyard; there is also a pizza shop, doghouse and burger shop. You can also purchase additional refill packs of Moon Dough and all Moon Dough products are available at Tors “R” Us, Target, Walmart, Kmart, Amazon.com, A.C. Moore, Michaels and eToys.

Disclosure: Team Mom provided me with the Moon Dough Magic Barnyard Playset to review and keep. All opinions expressed throughout this post are 100% mine.

Related:

• A World of Endless Popabilities with Pop On Pals
• 5 Outdoor Toys for a Fabulously Fun Summer
• Child Expert Wendy Toone Keeps Kids Occupied with Mind Games
• Mom Central’s Summer Giveaway Bonanza

The baby aisle of any store can be a bit intimidating in terms of the plethora of choices you will have when looking to buy what you originally thought was one, simple product. If you’re brave enough to walk into a infant, baby and toddler care specialty store, multiply the amount of choices you will have by a couple hundred, at the very least.

One of the simplest and fundamental products you will need when it comes to infant and baby care is diaper rash cream. Simple and fundamental! But again, so many companies have come out with their totally awesome, better than that other stuff cream that it is not a weird sight when you see parents standing amongst the shelves of diaper rash cream, maybe three or seven different boxes and tubes in their hands, reading the list of ingredients on the back trying to make up their minds on which will get the job done while, of course, not overspending for something that will probably do the same job. This simple and fundamental product, and others just like them where there is a severe case of choices, is one product I would ask for some input on.

I know, ow horrible is that? “Hi, can you please tell me what your favorite brand of diaper rash cream is because I cannot make up my mind!” This is one of those times where I am oh so glad that I have a great group of other bloggy friends who aren’t shy when it comes to sharing their honest opinion on just about everything and one of the most raved-about diaper rash creams that seems to have delighted a great deal of parents across the board is Boudreaux’s Butt Paste.

Boudreaux’s Butt Paste was formulated by a pharmacist with a great deal of input from a respected pediatrician in order to provide an effective diaper rash cream. It has been seen on the Oprah Show, Today Show, While You Were Out on TLC, in People Magazine and many, many more. It treats diaper rash and soothes irritated skin and is made of 16% Zinc Oxide and Peruvian Balsam. It’s super convenient for all parents; it goes on and cleans off easily, it has a skin protectant, it has a pleasant scent and it’s available in handy travel sizes to keep in the car or in your purse or diaper bag in addition to the full size tubes and they also come in 16oz jars.

I know that I don’t go out on a limb when it comes to new products or products I’ve never experienced for myself before unless it has come recommended by someone I really, really trust and know I can take their opinion to the bank. So, you can get yourself a free sample of Boudreaux’s Butt Paste just by visiting their website!

Related:

• 7 Tips for a Stylish Nursery
• Newly-Designed Bright Beginnings Formula Now Available at Diapers.com
• Pampers by Cynthia Rowley
• Huggies Limited Edition Jeans Diapers — Am I Missing Something Here?

The LowCards.com Complete Credit Card Index is the most comprehensive and objective credit card comparison tool available on the Internet, helping consumers cut through the marketing slogans to the important facts of the credit card offer.

The LowCards.com Complete Credit Card Index actively tracks over 1,000 credit card offers, adding new cards as soon as they are introduced. The Index lists the cards alphabetically and consumers can clearly see the ongoing APR, introductory interest rate, the grace period and the annual fee for every card. The consumer can sort the list by any of these features, thus controlling the comparison based on what feature is most important in making the decision. The data is updated for accuracy several times each week.

“Comparing credit cards to find the right card for you can be overwhelming. The Complete Credit Card Index is an easy place to begin,” says Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com and author of The Credit Card Guidebook. “The index has every card we can find that is marketed online in the United States. It even includes cards from many local banks and credit unions which may offer lower rates for consumers in their region but are not available in all states.”

Some cardholders want more than the mainstream, general-purpose cards from big banks and issuers but they don’t know where to look. The Index includes a broad range of specific merchant, affinity and niche credit cards that are more specialized and targeted for individual preferences.

Related:

• Credit Card Changes in the First Half of 2010
• Study Analyzes Changes in Credit Card Industry Since CARD Act
• Many Credit Card Issuers Not Providing Full Disclosure on Penalty Rates
• Clarifying Interest Rate Changes Allowed with the CARD Act

Last night, President Obama addressed the American people about the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom, our military’s exit from Iraq and what influence American military will have over the government and people of Iraq and Afghanistan.

“So tonight I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended. Operation Iraqi Freedom is over and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country. This was my pledge to the American people as a candidate for this office.”

Watch President Obama’s full address below. For those who cannot watch the video, a full transcript is below.

Transcript:

Good evening. Tonight, I’d like to talk to you about the end of our combat mission in Iraq, the ongoing security challenges we face, and the need to rebuild our nation here at home.

I know this historic moment comes at a time of great uncertainty for many Americans. We’ve now been through nearly a decade of war. We’ve endured a long and painful recession. And sometimes in the midst of these storms, the future that we’re trying to build for our nation — a future of lasting peace and long-term prosperity — may seem beyond our reach.

But this milestone should serve as a reminder to all Americans that the future is ours to shape if we move forward with confidence and commitment. It should also serve as a message to the world that the United States of America intends to sustain and strengthen our leadership in this young century.

From this desk, seven and a half years ago, President Bush announced the beginning of military operations in Iraq. Much has changed since that night. A war to disarm a state became a fight against an insurgency. Terrorism and sectarian warfare threatened to tear Iraq apart. Thousands of Americans gave their lives; tens of thousands have been wounded. Our relations abroad were strained. Our unity at home was tested.

These are the rough waters encountered during the course of one of America’s longest wars. Yet there has been one constant amidst these shifting tides. At every turn, America’s men and women in uniform have served with courage and resolve. As Commander-in-Chief, I am incredibly proud of their service. And like all Americans, I’m awed by their sacrifice, and by the sacrifices of their families.

The Americans who have served in Iraq completed every mission they were given. They defeated a regime that had terrorized its people. Together with Iraqis and coalition partners who made huge sacrifices of their own, our troops fought block by block to help Iraq seize the chance for a better future. They shifted tactics to protect the Iraqi people, trained Iraqi Security Forces, and took out terrorist leaders. Because of our troops and civilians — and because of the resilience of the Iraqi people — Iraq has the opportunity to embrace a new destiny, even though many challenges remain.

So tonight, I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended. Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country.

This was my pledge to the American people as a candidate for this office. Last February, I announced a plan that would bring our combat brigades out of Iraq, while redoubling our efforts to strengthen Iraq’s Security Forces and support its government and people.

That’s what we’ve done. We’ve removed nearly 100,000 U.S. troops from Iraq. We’ve closed or transferred to the Iraqis hundreds of bases. And we have moved millions of pieces of equipment out of Iraq.

This completes a transition to Iraqi responsibility for their own security. U.S. troops pulled out of Iraq’s cities last summer, and Iraqi forces have moved into the lead with considerable skill and commitment to their fellow citizens. Even as Iraq continues to suffer terrorist attacks, security incidents have been near the lowest on record since the war began. And Iraqi forces have taken the fight to al Qaeda, removing much of its leadership in Iraqi-led operations.

This year also saw Iraq hold credible elections that drew a strong turnout. A caretaker administration is in place as Iraqis form a government based on the results of that election. Tonight, I encourage Iraq’s leaders to move forward with a sense of urgency to form an inclusive government that is just, representative, and accountable to the Iraqi people. And when that government is in place, there should be no doubt: The Iraqi people will have a strong partner in the United States. Our combat mission is ending, but our commitment to Iraq’s future is not.

Going forward, a transitional force of U.S. troops will remain in Iraq with a different mission: advising and assisting Iraq’s Security Forces, supporting Iraqi troops in targeted counter-terrorism missions, and protecting our civilians. Consistent with our agreement with the Iraqi government, all U.S. troops will leave by the end of next year. As our military draws down, our dedicated civilians — diplomats, aid workers, and advisers — are moving into the lead to support Iraq as it strengthens its government, resolves political disputes, resettles those displaced by war, and builds ties with the region and the world. That’s a message that Vice President Biden is delivering to the Iraqi people through his visit there today.

This new approach reflects our long-term partnership with Iraq — one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect. Of course, violence will not end with our combat mission. Extremists will continue to set off bombs, attack Iraqi civilians and try to spark sectarian strife. But ultimately, these terrorists will fail to achieve their goals. Iraqis are a proud people. They have rejected sectarian war, and they have no interest in endless destruction. They understand that, in the end, only Iraqis can resolve their differences and police their streets. Only Iraqis can build a democracy within their borders. What America can do, and will do, is provide support for the Iraqi people as both a friend and a partner.

Ending this war is not only in Iraq’s interest — it’s in our own. The United States has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people. We have sent our young men and women to make enormous sacrifices in Iraq, and spent vast resources abroad at a time of tight budgets at home. We’ve persevered because of a belief we share with the Iraqi people — a belief that out of the ashes of war, a new beginning could be born in this cradle of civilization. Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq, we have met our responsibility. Now, it’s time to turn the page.

As we do, I’m mindful that the Iraq war has been a contentious issue at home. Here, too, it’s time to turn the page. This afternoon, I spoke to former President George W. Bush. It’s well known that he and I disagreed about the war from its outset. Yet no one can doubt President Bush’s support for our troops, or his love of country and commitment to our security. As I’ve said, there were patriots who supported this war, and patriots who opposed it. And all of us are united in appreciation for our servicemen and women, and our hopes for Iraqis’ future.

The greatness of our democracy is grounded in our ability to move beyond our differences, and to learn from our experience as we confront the many challenges ahead. And no challenge is more essential to our security than our fight against al Qaeda.

Americans across the political spectrum supported the use of force against those who attacked us on 9/11. Now, as we approach our 10th year of combat in Afghanistan, there are those who are understandably asking tough questions about our mission there. But we must never lose sight of what’s at stake. As we speak, al Qaeda continues to plot against us, and its leadership remains anchored in the border regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan. We will disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Qaeda, while preventing Afghanistan from again serving as a base for terrorists. And because of our draw down in Iraq, we are now able to apply the resources necessary to go on offense. In fact, over the last 19 months, nearly a dozen al Qaeda leaders — and hundreds of al Qaeda’s extremist allies — have been killed or captured around the world.

Within Afghanistan, I’ve ordered the deployment of additional troops who — under the command of General David Petraeus — are fighting to break the Taliban’s momentum.

As with the surge in Iraq, these forces will be in place for a limited time to provide space for the Afghans to build their capacity and secure their own future. But, as was the case in Iraq, we can’t do for Afghans what they must ultimately do for themselves. That’s why we’re training Afghan Security Forces and supporting a political resolution to Afghanistan’s problems. And next August, we will begin a transition to Afghan responsibility. The pace of our troop reductions will be determined by conditions on the ground, and our support for Afghanistan will endure. But make no mistake: This transition will begin — because open-ended war serves neither our interests nor the Afghan people’s.

Indeed, one of the lessons of our effort in Iraq is that American influence around the world is not a function of military force alone. We must use all elements of our power — including our diplomacy, our economic strength, and the power of America’s example — to secure our interests and stand by our allies. And we must project a vision of the future that’s based not just on our fears, but also on our hopes — a vision that recognizes the real dangers that exist around the world, but also the limitless possibilities of our time.

Today, old adversaries are at peace, and emerging democracies are potential partners. New markets for our goods stretch from Asia to the Americas. A new push for peace in the Middle East will begin here tomorrow. Billions of young people want to move beyond the shackles of poverty and conflict. As the leader of the free world, America will do more than just defeat on the battlefield those who offer hatred and destruction — we will also lead among those who are willing to work together to expand freedom and opportunity for all people.

Now, that effort must begin within our own borders. Throughout our history, America has been willing to bear the burden of promoting liberty and human dignity overseas, understanding its links to our own liberty and security. But we have also understood that our nation’s strength and influence abroad must be firmly anchored in our prosperity at home. And the bedrock of that prosperity must be a growing middle class.

Unfortunately, over the last decade, we’ve not done what’s necessary to shore up the foundations of our own prosperity. We spent a trillion dollars at war, often financed by borrowing from overseas. This, in turn, has short-changed investments in our own people, and contributed to record deficits. For too long, we have put off tough decisions on everything from our manufacturing base to our energy policy to education reform. As a result, too many middle-class families find themselves working harder for less, while our nation’s long-term competitiveness is put at risk.

And so at this moment, as we wind down the war in Iraq, we must tackle those challenges at home with as much energy, and grit, and sense of common purpose as our men and women in uniform who have served abroad. They have met every test that they faced. Now, it’s our turn. Now, it’s our responsibility to honor them by coming together, all of us, and working to secure the dream that so many generations have fought for — the dream that a better life awaits anyone who is willing to work for it and reach for it.

Our most urgent task is to restore our economy, and put the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs back to work. To strengthen our middle class, we must give all our children the education they deserve, and all our workers the skills that they need to compete in a global economy. We must jump start industries that create jobs, and end our dependence on foreign oil. We must unleash the innovation that allows new products to roll off our assembly lines, and nurture the ideas that spring from our entrepreneurs. This will be difficult. But in the days to come, it must be our central mission as a people, and my central responsibility as President.

Part of that responsibility is making sure that we honor our commitments to those who have served our country with such valor. As long as I am President, we will maintain the finest fighting force that the world has ever known, and we will do whatever it takes to serve our veterans as well as they have served us. This is a sacred trust. That’s why we’ve already made one of the largest increases in funding for veterans in decades. We’re treating the signature wounds of today’s wars — post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury — while providing the health care and benefits that all of our veterans have earned. And we’re funding a Post-9/11 GI Bill that helps our veterans and their families pursue the dream of a college education. Just as the GI Bill helped those who fought World War II — including my grandfather — become the backbone of our middle class, so today’s servicemen and women must have the chance to apply their gifts to expand the American economy. Because part of ending a war responsibly is standing by those who have fought it.

Two weeks ago, America’s final combat brigade in Iraq — the Army’s Fourth Stryker Brigade — journeyed home in the pre-dawn darkness. Thousands of soldiers and hundreds of vehicles made the trip from Baghdad, the last of them passing into Kuwait in the early morning hours. Over seven years before, American troops and coalition partners had fought their way across similar highways, but this time no shots were fired. It was just a convoy of brave Americans, making their way home.

Of course, the soldiers left much behind. Some were teenagers when the war began. Many have served multiple tours of duty, far from families who bore a heroic burden of their own, enduring the absence of a husband’s embrace or a mother’s kiss. Most painfully, since the war began, 55 members of the Fourth Stryker Brigade made the ultimate sacrifice — part of over 4,400 Americans who have given their lives in Iraq. As one staff sergeant said, “I know that to my brothers in arms who fought and died, this day would probably mean a lot.”

Those Americans gave their lives for the values that have lived in the hearts of our people for over two centuries. Along with nearly 1.5 million Americans who have served in Iraq, they fought in a faraway place for people they never knew. They stared into the darkest of human creations — war — and helped the Iraqi people seek the light of peace.

In an age without surrender ceremonies, we must earn victory through the success of our partners and the strength of our own nation. Every American who serves joins an unbroken line of heroes that stretches from Lexington to Gettysburg; from Iwo Jima to Inchon; from Khe Sanh to Kandahar — Americans who have fought to see that the lives of our children are better than our own. Our troops are the steel in our ship of state. And though our nation may be traveling through rough waters, they give us confidence that our course is true, and that beyond the pre-dawn darkness, better days lie ahead.

Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America, and all who serve her.

Related:

• Barack Obama Appears on The View
• Recent Gallup Poll Shows GOP with an Unprecendented 10-Point Lead on Generic Ballot
• Blogging is Activism — 6 Blogging Events to Get Involved In
• Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston Have Reached a Custody Agreement

Anyone who watched “The Bachelor Pad” last night caught the big reveal of the “Dancing With the Stars” season 11 cast. The new line-up will be hitting the dance floor–and your television–on Monday, September 20th at 8 p.m. EST. The premiere event will take place over the course of two nights; after the cast’s first performances on the dance floor, the couple with the lowest combined judges’ scores and public votes will be sent home during the “Dancing with the Stars: The Results Show” on Tuesday, September 21st.

Last season, Nicole Scherzinger of The Pussycat Dolls fame took home the Mirror Ball trophy. Any bets on who will make it to the end this season?

The “Dancing With the Stars Season 11 Cast:

The Guys:

• Michael Bolton
• Rick Fox
• David Hasselhoff
• Kyle Massey
• Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino
• Kurt Warner

The Women:

• Brandy
• Margaret Cho
• Jennifer Grey
• Florence Henderson
• Bristol Palin
• Audrina Patridge

Bristol Palin is most definitely the talk of the upcoming season. Many were shocked when rumors started spilling out just a few days ago about Bristol becoming part of the cast and last night it was dutifully confirmed by the announcement of the upcoming cast. Sadly, after watching her interview with ABC News (below) I’m not too excited about seeing this “other side” of her that she wants people to see because she still does not seem to have a personality. Bristol Palin has always been very one-note to me; kind of catatonic-like, unable to muster up any inflection when she’s speaking and she’s just horrendously boring to me. I’m not hoping she makes it very far in the competition and I’m not drawn to watching this season of “Dancing With the Stars” because of her being cast.

The person who did pique my interest about this upcoming season was Margaret Cho. If I told you who I would never guess to appear on “Dancing With the Stars” that list would most definitely include Margaret Cho. Since I’m not a fan of the show in the least, I’m kind of disappointed about her agreeing to be on the show, but am happy that she gets the opportunity to appeal to more people, this time in the form of dance–and how awesome will she look in some of those ballroom dancing costumes? Being the very typical fangirl that I am, I did immediately check to see if Margaret Cho’s tour date for my city was still set, despite her run on the show just to make sure I would still have the chance to see her this October.

Who are you most excited to see hit the dance floor on this season of “Dancing With the Stars”?

Related:

• Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston are Shopping for a Reality Show — Really!
• 2010 Emmy Awards: Jimmy Fallon Hosts and a Roundup of Winners and Nominees
• Barbara Walters Plans Daytime Talk Show for Male Audiences
• Wubbzy Goes to School DVD Winner!

After all the years of companies trying to come up with shocking, totally out there products, I do not frequently come across something that makes me think “Wow, did they really do that?” But that’s exactly what I did when I came across the tampon flash drive from Meninos, an online retailer that reminds me, in a lot of ways, of ThinkGeek when it comes to simple products like t-shirts, mugs and yes, tech gadgets like flash drives that are utterly hilarious and not really compatible with everyone’s taste level.

Sadly, there is no definitive price on the tampon flash drive, which has to be horrible for sales because I know I’m not one to go ahead and email a company about a product they have failed to make openly available. I did immediately think that I needed this product when I first saw it though because, what can I say, I really like weird things that start some even weirder conversations. Not to mention that I also run a website called Menstrual Poetry. This tampon flash drive would be hilarious and I would love it, but what about you? Would you carry this flash drive around with you and undoubtedly collect very weird stares from people who catch a glimpse of it?

Related:

• How Boost Mobile is Changing the Way You Look at Phone Services
• Want to Find Out if Your Friend is Really a Zombie? There’s an App for That
• Where Will You be Picking Up Your iPhone 4?
• The Price of the Amazon Kindle Drops to $189

Jamie Oliver isn’t the only chef personally investing in the health of today’s generation of children with a very hands-on approach, Chef Ann Cooper is also taking a good, hard look at the way children today eat and wants to do something about it. The facts are simple (and terribly tragic): this could quite possibly be the first generation of children in our country’s history to die at a younger age than their parents.

Chef Ann Cooper has recently partnered with Whole Foods to create the Great American Salad Bar Project that will bring healthy salad bars into schools, giving children a choice of healthy vegetables, fruits, whole grains and proteins to choose from and implement into their daily diets.

The initial goal of the Great American Salad Bar Project is to raise money for a salad bar to be brought into at least one school in the surrounding communities of each Whole Foods store across the U.S.

Over $400,000 has been donated to this initiative so far and beginning September 1st, schools will be able to personally apply for a grant to get their own salad bar. Grant applications will be accepted from September 1st to November 1st and for a school to be eligible they must be an elementary, middle or high school participating in the National School Lunch Program, located within 50 miles of a Whole Foods Market store. Schools who are accepted for this Grant Award will receive a portable 5-well Cambro salad bar, the necessary pan inserts, chilling pads and utensils, as well as numerous training tools for school personnel.

If you’re a school interested in receiving a salad bar review the grant application [PDF] and take the necessary steps in order to get your school’s lunch room a salad bar. If you’re a parent or just someone concerned with how children today are eating and want to make a positive difference in their lives, donate to your local Whole Foods Market’s fundraising efforts now.

Related:

• Moms’ Spa Night at Exhale in NYC: Nutrition and Wellness Discussion and Core Fusion Workout Class
• Cast Your Votes for the 2010 Do Something Awards and Watch Live Monday Night on VH1!
• Bacardi’s 60 Second Cocktails, 10 Minute Meals and $100,000 Donated to the USO
• Woman Sues General Mills for Fruit Roll-Ups Being ‘Unhealthy’

This 10-point lead, which is based on aggregated data from registered voters surveyed August 23rd to 29th, is unprecedented in Gallup’s history, which dates back to 1942 and before this 10-point lead, the highest gap in which Republicans were leading over Democrats was five points which occurred both in July 1994 and June 2002.

2010 could very well hold another Republican wave, especially since Republican voters have also been polled as being more enthusiastic as Democrats to cast their vote. While these could be promising for Republican candidates and right-wing Americans, Gallup is reminding people not too get too set on the poll numbers, warning that Democrats moved ahead in Gallup’s generic ballot for several weeks earlier this summer, meaning some swaying in the numbers is very possible between now and Election Day. Still, this 10-point lead is making some people wonder just how far right we’ll see Congress go this year.

Related:

• Blogging is Activism — 6 Blogging Events to Get Involved In
• President Obama’s Address on Iraq and the End of Operation Iraqi Freedom (Video)
• Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston Have Reached a Custody Agreement
• Mexico Supreme Court Rules in Favor of All States Recognizing Gay Marriage

Credit card companies have had to find ways to make up for this lost revenue. Many issuers have increased balance transfer fees, cash advance rates and foreign transaction fees. There are not more cards with annual fees and most every fixed rate card has been changed to a variable rate card.

Based on the 1000+ cards found in the LowCards.com Complete Credit Card Index, the average APR the week before the CARD Act was signed into law (May 2009) was 11.64%. As of last week, the average interest rate had increased over two percentage points to 13.70%.

A new study from Synovate confirms that issuers have increased rates on existing cards. According to their statistics, the average APR in the second quarter of 2010 increased to 14.7% from 13.1% a year ago. Synovate reports the average interest rate is at the highest level since 2001 despite the prime rate being at an historic low. There is now an 11.45 percentage point gap between the two rates, the largest in at least 22 years.

“Higher interest payments are hard on consumers, but it will get even worse if the Federal Reserve starts to make changes that increase the prime rate. Nearly every credit card now has a variable rate and many of those cards have the prime rate as their base. Once the prime rate rises from its historic low, consumers will see a corresponding increase in the APR of those variable rate credit cards,” says Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com and author of The Credit Card Guidebook.

There seems to be some confusion among consumers on how the CARD Act can affect your credit card interest rates. Here is some information:

• The Card Act does not cap interest rates. Issuers can still increase your interest rates. However, competition provides its own regulatory-type influence to help anchor down rates and keep them from soaring.

• Issuers have to give a 45-day notice for rate increases unless it is a variable rate card and the card’s index (usually the prime rate or LIBOR rate) increases.

• If your credit card company does raise your interest rate, the new rate will apply only to new charges you make. If you have a balance, your old interest rate will apply to that balance.

• If your credit card’s rate has been increased since January 1, 2009, the new rules require issuers to evaluate whether the reasons for the increase have changed and, if appropriate, to reduce the rate. Since the beginning of last year, millions of cardholders have seen their interest rates increase. Some issuers raised rates to as high as 29.99% for cardholders with good credit. Issuers must also perform a review every six months on accounts that receive a rate increase. The review should determine if changes in key factors (such as cardholder credit risk, payment history, and market conditions) give reasons to reduce the rate.

• If your payment is 60 days past due, the issuer can raise your APR to the penalty rate (30% for some cards). If you immediately make at least your minimum payment on-time for six straight months, then your issuers needs to reevaluate your account. However, if you make another late payment during that six month period, the higher rate could apply indefinitely to new transactions.

• Issuers can still apply your minimum payment to the balance with the lowest interest rate. Due to the CARD Act provisions that went into effect this past February, the remainder of the payment has to be applied to the balance with the highest interest rate.

• Issuers can’t raise your rate during the first year of an account unless your payment is more than 60 days late, or unless it is a variable rate card and the card’s index (usually the prime rate or LIBOR rate) increases.

Here are some tips for consumers regarding their card’s interest rates:

• Shop around for a card with a low rate. Direct mail offers are increasing again. Don’t necessarily apply for the first offer you receive. Compare your offer with others found on the internet.

• Consider transferring your balance to a card with a 0% intro rate for twelve months and a lower ongoing rate. This could be beneficial if the amount of interest you save significantly outweighs the upfront balance transfer fee you will be charged. You need to do the mathematical calculations to determine if this is a financially prudent move for you.

• Pay down as much as  you can on the balance with the highest rate. Any amount above the minimum payment will be applied to the highest rate.

“Paying off your credit card debt is the only way to be unaffected by rate increases. Higher interest rates drain away money that could be used to pay off your debt, extending the time it takes to eliminate the balance. If you have a few extra dollars, make smaller payments more often. Micropayments save on the interest you pay and will help you eliminate your debt more quickly,” says Hardekopf.

Related:

• Credit Card Changes in the First Half of 2010
• Study Analyzes Changes in Credit Card Industry Since CARD Act
• Many Credit Card Issuers Not Providing Full Disclosure on Penalty Rates
• Business Credit Cards Not Protected by CARD Act

The 2010 Primetime Emmy Awards aired last night. I usually love awards shows and always watch them, rooting for my favorites to take home an award or complain about how my favorites shows and movies were robbed. This is typically a time of indulgence and enjoyment for me, but I realized last night just how much weight the host of an awards show has on the entire show and Jimmy Fallon hosting the 2010 Emmys really turned me off last night.

I do not like Jimmy Fallon. I don’t think he’s funny and I’m actually surprised his career in comedy has done as well as it has. I do hope that Jimmy Fallon has hit his peak with hosting the Emmys and we don’t have to see too much more of him in the future because I can honestly say that if he is chosen to host another awards show anytime soon, that is an awards show I will not be watching.

While watching the 2010 Emmys last night, I was also chatting with a friend and co-blogger of mine who I run the media and entertainment blog Women’s Eye on Media with. We published our Emmys chat from last night, so be sure to check that out for a lot (and I mean a lot) of snarky conversation all about who won last night, who walked away with nothing and of course, a whole lot about our hatred for Jimmy Fallon.

And onto the winners and nominees from the 2010 Emmy Awards…

Outstanding Comedy Series

• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Modern Family (WINNER)
• The Office
• 30 Rock
• Nurse Jackie
• Glee

Outstanding Drama Series

• True Blood
• Dexter
• Mad Men (WINNER)
• The Good Wife
• Breaking Bad
• Lost

Lead Actress in a Comedy

• Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
• Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie (WINNER)
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
• Toni Collette, United States of Tara
• Lea Michele, Glee
• Tina Fey, 30 Rock

Lead Actor in a Comedy

• Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Matthew Morrison, Glee
• Tony Shalhoub, Monk
• Steve Carell, The Office
• Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
• Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory (WINNER)

Supporting Actress in a Comedy

• Jane Lynch, Glee (WINNER)
• Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
• Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
• Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live
• Julie Bowen, Modern Family
• Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men

Supporting Actor in a Comedy

• Jesse Tyler, Modern Family
• Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
• Chris Colfer, Glee
• Ty Burrell, Modern Family
• Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family (WINNER)
• Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men

Lead Actress in a Drama

• Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
• Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer (WINNER)
• Glenn Close, Damages
• Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
• Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights
• January Jones, Mad Men

Lead Actor in a Drama

• Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
• Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (WINNER)
• Michael C. Hall, Dexter
• Hugh Laurie, House
• Matthew Fox, Lost
• Jon Hamm, Mad Men

Supporting Actor in a Drama

• Martin Short, Damages
• Terry O’Quinn, Lost
• Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age
• Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad (WINNER)
• Michael Emerson, Lost
• John Slattery, Mad Men

Supporting Actress in a Drama

• Rose Byrne, Damages
• Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
• Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife (WINNER)
• Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
• Sharon Gless, Burn Notice
• Christine Baranski, The Good Wife

Reality-Competition Program

• American Idol
• Dancing with the Stars
• Project Runway
• The Amazing Race
• Top Chef (WINNER)

Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program

• Jeff Probst, Survivor (WINNER)
• Phil Keoghan, The Amazing Race
• Tom Bergeron, Dancing with the Stars
• Heidi Klum, Project Runway
• Ryan Seacrest, American Idol

And the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award went to George Clooney.

Related:

• Cast Your Votes for the 2010 Do Something Awards and Watch Live Monday Night on VH1!
• MTV is Looking for the Next Great “Twitter Jockey”
• Glee Mania: Summer Camp Programs and the Release of Glee Books
• “Dancing With the Stars” Season 11 Cast: Margaret Cho, Bristol Palin, “The Situation” and Other Surprises

According to a recent study by Synovate Mail Monitor, households in the United States received 640.3 million credit card offers during the second quarter of 2010. This was an 83% increase over the 349.1 million offers mailed during the same quarter in 2009. Several issuers showed very significant increases in volume during the April-June period: Chase quadrupled their mailings and Citi nearly tripled their solicitations.

This increase in mailings follows a 29% jump during the first quarter of the year (481.3 million offers versus 372.4 million).

For the first six months of 2010, there have been 1.12 billion credit card offers sent through the mail. During the entire year of 2009, there were 1.39 billion offers.

“This is an indication that the financial outlook for credit card issuers has improved dramatically. Defaults and delinquencies continue to decline, and they have put new policies in place, as well as some increased rates and fees. They are one again aggressively pursuing new customers, but this time around, they seem to really be focusing on those with good or excellent credit scores,” says Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com and author of The Credit Card Guidebook.

In addition to increased mailings, issuers are using incentives to get potential cardholders to sign up for their credit card. 71% of these mail solicitations contain an introductory offer, the highest percentage in the 22 years of Synovate tracking this data. A number of these introductory offers have 0% APR for a certain number of months.

While these credit card mail solicitation figures are hefty increases over the previous year levels, they are substantially below the record 1.58 billion mailings sent during the third quarter of 2005.

Related:

• Clarifying Interest Rate Changes Allowed with the CARD Act
• Many Credit Card Issuers Not Providing Full Disclosure on Penalty Rates
• Credit Card Changes in the First Half of 2010
• Credit Card Debt and Delinquencies Fall Again

Fans of the pop icon can now purchase replicas of Lady Gaga’s famed silver sequin dress, American Flag get-up seen in the “Telephone” video, “Poker Face” swimsuit and the costume she wore during her VMA performance, among many others.

As any Lady Gaga fanatic knows, the essence that is Lady Gaga is not seen in merely her trendsetting and jaw-dropping clothing; what truly completes a Lady Gaga look is the accessories. Lady Gaga wigs can also be purchased to complete your costume in a variety of different Lady Gaga identities–her signature curly blonde hair, a blonde hair-like bow clip and a soda can wig.

Will you attempt to pull off a Lady Gaga-inspired costume this Halloween?

Related:

• What Does Lady Gaga Taste Like? “Taste of Gaga” Tea in Discussions
• Lady Gaga Gets Racy in Esquire
• Rich Cronin of LFO Dies at 35
• Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston Have Reached a Custody Agreement

Gender discrimination lawsuits are said to usually be brought to court by one employee at a time, but the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco voted 6 to 5 to uphold the class action status of the lawsuit originally filed by six women back in 2001. The lawsuit claims that Walmart has engaged in gender discrimination by paying female employees less than male employees and passing women over for promotions that ultimately were given to men, despite women’s higher performance ratings.

If this lawsuit is not blocked by the Supreme Court, it will be the largest class-action employment lawsuit in history. California has upheld the creation of the massive class of plaintiffs, which include all women who have worked in any of Walmart’s 3,400 stores across the country from 1998 to present. Lawyers for Walmart have stated that the class action process will undercut Walmart’s ability to defend itself against charges that they intentionally discriminated against each of the 1.5 million women who are plaintiffs in this case, who, as the chief judge added have “held a multitude of jobs, at different levels of Walmart’s hierarchy, for variable lengths of time, in 3,400 stores, sprinkled across 50 states, with a kaleidoscope of supervisors (male and female), subject to a variety of regional policies that all differed depending on each class member’s job, location and period of employment.”

A decision by the justices seeing over this case is not expected until sometime next year so it may very well be decided that the 1.5 million women will not be able to sue Walmart as part of a class action lawsuit. However, if all, or even a percentage of these women decide to sue Walmart on their own for discrimination, Walmart could find themselves in court quite often for a lengthy period of time for each lawsuit.

Related:

• St. Louis Adds Gender Identity to Anti-Discrimination Protections
• Woman Sues General Mills for Fruit Roll-Ups Being ‘Unhealthy’
• Alleged ‘Craigslist Killer’ Found Dead in Cell After Apparent Suicide
• Mexico Supreme Court Rules in Favor of All States Recognizing Gay Marriage

It’s Thursday and that means we’re sharing some of our favorite items seen in our Shop It To Me sale mails.

In case you have no idea what a Shop It To Me sale mail is: Shop It To Me is a super awesome personal shopping email service that sends you personalized emails alerting you when all of your favorite designers and brands have a great sale going on. Your emails can contain not only apparel, but also accessories, lingerie and footwear. Best of all, Shop It To Me is completely free.

Want sale mail emails of your own? Sign up at Shop It To Me.

Please note: Woman Tribune is in no way endorsed or sponsored by Shop It To Me and we do not, nor will we ever receive compensation of any kind for these posts. We just like sharing our fashion crushes of the moment.

from Nordstrom

Diane von Furstenberg Ferdon dress from Shopbop.com Regular Price: $298.00 Now: $208.60	Haute Hippie embellished skull tee from Shopbop.com Regular Price: $225.00 Now: $157.50	Milly Tortoise Discs necklace/belt from Shopbop.com Regular Price: $250.00 Now: $75.00
Haute Hippie Jackson stripe tunic dress from Nordstrom Regular Price: $145.00 Now: $86.90	Haute Hippie embellished tank from Nordstrom Regular Price: $345.00 Now: $206.90	Anne Klein belted dress from Nordstrom Regular Price: $129.00 Now: $85.90
Kate Spade Starlight Tate tote from Nordstrom Regular Price: $325.00 Now: $216.90	Kate Spade Tompkins square Billie satchel from Nordstrom Regular Price: $375.00 Now: $244.90	Marc by Marc Jacobs Flash Leola leather hobo from Nordstrom Regular Price: $498.00 Now: $332.90
Juicy Couture Modern Nostalgia long ribbon necklace from Nordstrom Regular Price: $118.00 Now: $78.90	Juicy Couture Modern Nostalgia long woven necklace from Nordstrom Regular Price: $128.00 Now: $84.90	Juicy Couture flower punk couture necklace from Nordstrom Regular Price: $118.00 Now: $78.90

Related:

• Thursday Shop It To Me Sale Alerts
• Shop It To Me Sale Alerts
• Monday Shop It To Me Sale Alerts
• Act Fast: Shop It To Me is Giving Away a $1,000 Shopping Spree to Celebrate their New Look

ABC is currently developing another daytime talk show to take the place of Oprah when it goes off the air. The difference between this new talk show and the already-airing The View, which Walters is a part of, is that this show will be made up of a male panel and targeted towards a male audience.

The male-themed View will be using a new set of celebrity panelists, said to include former ‘Today’ host Bryant Gumbel, comedian Alec Mapa, former BET news anchor Jacque Reid and former Fox News personality E.D. Hill.

This concept could potentially go over well, considering the current daytime television lineup is targeted predominately toward women. Do you think the potential co-hosts of the Male View could bring in the audience it needs to stay afloat?

Related:

• Barack Obama Appears on The View
• Sara Gilbert Develops New Hollywood Mom Daytime Talk Show
• Join Grand Central Publishing in a Live Interview with Sherri Shepherd
• Dina Lohan to Appear on “Today Show” to Talk About Lindsay

A lot of people have already come out and said Bill Gates is off the mark on this one, but after hearing the comments he made further along with his “predictions,” I’m inclined to agree with where he’s coming from. The overall point he was trying to make is that college, as it is right now and in this country, is too expensive and it’s too hard for young adults (and let’s face it, older adults as well) to get an upper-level education. According to Gates, a major problem with the education system today is text books, saying that even in grade schools, a math text book can be 300 pages — “They’re giant, intimidating books. I look at them and think: what on Earth is in there?” He also pointed out that text book in the U.S. are three times longer than the equivalents in Asia, a country that is currently beating the U.S. in many ways in terms of education and because text books are built by committee, these books are overloaded with information that really doesn’t need to be there.

While Gates’ comments about college education needing to be less “place-based” could very well be seen as radical, there are a number of excellent educational resources online, put online by prestigious and well-known educational institutions, that are free of charge. We’re a lot further with education being available on the web instead of in a typical classroom than many may think, you just have to know where to look to find the information you’re most interested in.

• MIT OpenCourseWare — With over 2,000 courses available online, MIT OpenCourseWare should be your first (and maybe your only) stop in online learning.
• Online Education Database — This website offers up a list of 200 free classes you can take online, from physics classes where you can learn about the phenomenon of superconductivity to algebra classes you struggled with in high school.
• OpenCulture — This website offers up a list of free classes from top universities like Stanford and UC Berkeley, and even some video lectures you can find on YouTube.
• Open Learning Initiative — Free courses, along with self-guided materials, help you learn biology, chemistry, economics and more at your own pace.
• UC Berkeley Webcasts — Skip the sky-high tuition and get free video and audio lectures from UC Berkeley professors.
• Free Online Classes — Get design and Photoshop tutorials to help you in the digital space.
• OpenCourseWare Consortium — This website hosts thousands of classes in several languages. Learn at your own pace, and even scan the professors’ notes, all for free!

Related:

• Bill Gates and Warren Buffet Approach Billionaires to Donate to Charity
• How Boost Mobile is Changing the Way You Look at Phone Services
• Twitter Releases Official Tweet Button
• Want to Find Out if Your Friend is Really a Zombie? There’s an App for That

We really, really love cereal. There are at least three boxes of different cereals in our kitchen at any given time and we eat cereal a lot more than just in the morning for breakfast. Cereal is a great breakfast food, but it also makes a fantastic snack, especially when you have a terribly backwards schedule and are up all night and most of the day. Cereal is there for you when you need to eat something after you’ve been up for far too long and you don’t feel like cooking. We obviously really love cereal and definitely consume more of it than what’s probably considered normal.

Given my love of cereal, I was pretty jazzed when I received the opportunity to receive a VIP coupon for a free box of gluten-free Chex and a pretty awesome prize pack from Chex cereal through MyBlogSpark. Yep, that’s right, Chex has an entire line of gluten-free cereals.

The Chex Gluten-Free line includes five different varieties of Chex cereal, including Rice Chex, Corn Chex, Honey Nut Chex, Chocolate Chex and Cinnamon Chex. I tried the Chocolate Chex and it was delicious! I’ve had the non-gluten-free Chex several (hundred? thousand?) times and honestly, I could not spot a difference when it came to taste. That delighted me because the worst thing about healthy food, in my opinion, is that it tastes like health food. I am always very weary of trying food that has been reformulated or revamped in some way to be super healthy because usually, that means they took all the delicious flavor out. I was super happy to find that Chex still tastes great, even when gluten-free.

To help spread the word (and the love) about Chex Gluten-Free, we are giving away a Chex Gluten-Free prize pack.

The prize pack we are giving away includes one VIP coupon for a free box of Chex Gluten-Free, a huge and super useful microwavable bowl, measuring spoons and cup and a Chex gluten-free recipe card, which really highlights just how versatile Chex is when it comes to snacks and even desserts.

Mandatory Entry:

To win the Chex Gluten-Free prize pack all you have to do is leave a comment telling us what flavor of Chex Gluten-Free you would pick up with your VIP coupon.

Extra Entries:

Leave a comment for each additional entry.

• Subscribe to Woman Tribune
• Follow @WomanTribune on Twitter
• “Like” Woman Tribune on Facebook
• Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use the following tweet or write your own. [Can be done once per day.]
  

  Chex is now gluten-free! Win a Chex Gluten-Free prize pack and VIP coupon from @WomanTribune & #myblogspark http://t.co/jFX5Rcb ends 9/2

• Leave a comment on any other Woman Tribune post and come back here and leave a comment telling us what post you commented on.
• Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and the Chex Gluten-Free website. [5 entries, so leave 5 comments.]

This giveaway ends Thursday, September 2nd at 11:59PM EST. This giveaway is open to all US residents over the age of 18 at the time of entry. The winner will be contacted by email and has 48 hours (2 days) to respond to that email or another winner will be picked.

Full Contest Disclaimer

Disclosure: Chex cereal provided me with the Chex Gluten-Free prize pack, information and giveaway through MyBlogSpark. All opinions expressed throughout this post are 100% mine.

Related:

• Gluten-Free Chex VIP Coupon and Prize Pack Giveaway Winner
• Lawry’s Marinades Giveaway Winner
• Try Out Lawry’s Marinades the Next Time You Fire Up the Grill — Review and Giveaway
• Wanchai Ferry Prize Pack Winner

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! is an Emmy Award-winning Nick Jr. preschool TV series that is super cute, engaging and encourages young viewers to embark on new, exciting adventures. Each episode has a lesson or teaches social skills like sharing, listening, compromising, helping and appreciating others and self-awareness.

In Wubbzy Goes to School, the cute and quirky bendy-tailed character is nervous about going to school for the first time and because he knows best, as all kids tend to think they do, he decides that he will learn everything he needs to know all by himself. Wubbzy realizes that he can’t teach himself everything and even worse, he has no friends to play with, he gives school a shot and realizes it isn’t so bad after all.

Because the first day of school–not to mention all the preparation leading up to it–can be an extremely hectic, stressful and downright scary time; especially if your child is just starting school and doesn’t know what to expect or even why they have to go in the first place, I was really happy to be able to host this giveaway and get this DVD out to someone who will undoubtedly get a ton of use out of it. So, the winner of our Wubbzy Goes to School DVD giveaway is…

pixie13 who left comment number 25!

Congratulations, pixie13!

Related:

• Wubbzy Goes to School Review and Giveaway
• $25 Walmart Gift Card Giveaway to Benefit Box Tops for Education Winner
• Support Your Kids’ Education with Box Tops for Education at Your Local Walmart [$25 Gift Card Giveaway]
• Child Expert Wendy Toone Keeps Kids Occupied with Mind Games