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Saturday, November 19, 2011

10 Ways to Boost Your Social Security Checks

The age you first sign up for Social Security can impact the payout you will receive for the rest of your life. Here are some strategies to maximize your monthly benefit.

Workers can begin receiving payments at age 62. But payouts are reduced unless you wait until your full retirement age, typically age 66 or 67. Benefits further increase for each year you delay claiming up until age 70.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Sarah Palin Iowa Organizer: 'She'll Run'

The Undefeated, the Sarah Palin documentary, isn't what you'd call a summer blockbuster. In fact, the sympathetic biography flopped in theaters, grossing only $175,000 at the box office. In Iowa, where the former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee seems to be laying the groundwork for a presidential bid, just a few have seen it. Iowa Palin organizer Peter Singleton puts the number of screenings at "dozens," but "less than 100." And, adds Singleton, only a "handful of people" have attended each showing.
[See political cartoons about Palin.]
For anybody else, that would spell disaster. If Tim Pawlenty ended his presidential hopes after getting just 2,293 votes in last weekend's Ames Straw Poll, can Palin hang around if even less Iowans have shown up to see her movie? You betcha, says her gang.
"A big theater showing was never the intention," says director Steve Bannon. "My plan was always to get this shown in every nook and cranny in the country." To that end, he's lined up a pay-per-view and stores like Walmart are releasing 250,000 DVDs of The Undefeated. The goal: Give people a chance to see the real Palin and, should she decide to run, use it as the campaign introduction. [See photos of Sarah Palin and her family.]
"We're confident she'll run, and we've worked to build that really strong grassroots base that you have to build for a candidate to be successful just in case she does," says Singleton, the Iowa "Organize4Palin" representative.
Bannon took on the project after a few of Palin's aides approached him in 2008 about making a series of videos for YouTube promoting Palin. Bannon proposed the film instead, insisted Palin's crew stay out of it and bankrolled the project himself. [See a collection of political cartoons on the Tea Party.]
The film unpacks Palin's record as Alaska's guv where she tackled ethical issues in her administration, took on Exxon and negotiated the state's largest gas pipeline project.

"She really has a stellar record of achievement, but the established media didn't ever cover that," says Singleton. And, for the record, the McCain-Palin campaign didn't tell it very well.
Bannon says it's changed many mainstream reporters' perceptions of Palin. CBS reporter Jan Crawford, for example, says the film debunked the "tired narrative" during the 2008 campaign that Palin couldn't and didn't think for herself.

Says a long-time GOP campaign operative, "If she runs for president, the movie will be useful as the introduction she never got. It's a very effective under-the-radar tool/tactic in gearing up for the Iowa Caucuses if she decides to play."

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Zogby: Voters Might be Tuning Obama Out

Pollster John Zogby updates our weekly Obama Report Card with a grade on the president's performance. Zogby uses his polling, expert analysis and interaction with major players to come up with a grade and some comments that capture how he sees the president's week ending.

John Zogby on Week: 135
"Both the stock market and President Obama's poll numbers are tanking. So Obama has gone into campaign mode, and even threw some light jabs at the Republicans. Meanwhile, the new GOP candidate to beat, Rick Perry, opened his campaign with wild haymakers that draw cheers from the Republican right, but not from mainstream voters who may have qualms about electing another governor from Texas. Rep. Michele Bachmann won the high visibility, low impact Ames, Iowa Straw Poll, thus providing another welcome diversion from the pickle Obama is in. Obama promises a speech on jobs next month, but one wonders if his words are losing their power with voters. At least he is getting ahead of the curve, as elite and popular opinion now seem to realize that spending cuts and deficit reduction should not be our highest priorities with jobs scarce and demand stagnant. Obama was elected as a new FDR. Now he must answer whether his role model will be Harry Truman in 1948 or Jimmy Carter in 1980."

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Food Feud: Anthony Bourdain Unleashes His Claws on Paula Deen

(Getty)

Paula Deen (PCN) Anthony Bourdain has no reservations about calling it like he sees it.

The celebrated chef and television personality cut loose during an interview with TV Guide (via People) this week, bluntly stating, "The worst, most dangerous person to America is clearly Paula Deen. She revels in unholy connections with evil corporations and she's proud of the fact that her food is f**king bad for you. Plus, her food sucks."

Don't Miss:

Bourdain also proferred his thoughts on Rachael Ray ("Does she even cook anymore?"), Sandra Lee ("I hate her works on this planet") and Guy Fieri ("I'm glad that's not me"), all of whom have shows on the Food Network.

FOOD FIGHT!

So far, Deen has been the only celebrity chef to respond, telling Fox and Friends, "I was actually kind of shocked considering I've never met Anthony."

"I don't know if it was a publicity thing or if someone had just peed in his bowl of cereal that morning and he was mad."

Things are getting hot in the kitchen with celebrity chefs Paula Deen and Anthony Bourdain. Things first got sticky when Anthony slammed Paula telling TV Guide that she's “the worst, most dangerous person to America” for her home-style cooking.
Clearly the celebrity kitchen's not big enough for at least two TV chefs: Anthony Bourdain and Paula Deen. Bourdain, the bestselling author and host of Travel Channel's No Reservations, triggered a food feud by blasting the queen of down-home Southern
Deen has been a controversial figure not only for her cooking style but for her involvement with Smithfield Foods.

[Photoshop: Eater] Well, this was bound to happen eventually: Paula Deen is calling out Anthony Bourdain on Page Six for saying nasty things about her and other Food
[Photoshop: Eater] Well, this was bound to happen eventually: Paula Deen is calling out Anthony Bourdain on Page Six for saying nasty things about her and other Food

Paula Deen Grand Marshal Paula Deen leads the 122nd Annual Tournament of Roses Parade presented by Honda on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California.

Paula Deen - Star Chefs at the Barney's Window Display

Paula Deen - 2011 Pasadena Tournament Of Roses Grand Marshal Press Announcement

Paula Deen - Maria Shriver's Women's Conference 2010 - Day 2

Paula Deen - Maria Shriver's Women's Conference 2010 - Day 1

Paula Deen - CMT ONE COUNTRY & Second Harvest Present Paula Deen and Trisha Yearwood

Aubrey O'Day Shows Off Her Assets While Clubbing in Hollywood (Pictures)

Aubrey O'Day at the Verizon Party in Hollywood

Aubrey O'Day (Pacific Coast News) Aubrey O'Day arrived at the Kardashian Kollection launch party on Wednesday in a magenta and black striped bandage dress that left little to the imagination. When you're celebrating a fashion line with a reality star queen who's about to get married, you have to do something to stand out!

O'Day eventually headed out of the Kardashian promotion bash and met up with Alexis Bellino at an LG Revolution launch party. She and the "goody two shoes" Real Housewives of Orange County star sipped on Tequila Revolucion in the VIP section at The Sayers Club.

We can't imagine Bellino's helicopter-husband was very happy about his wifey hanging out with the not subtle O'Day.

aubrey o day Parties wear very short dress Parties Aubrey O day short dress with disabilities to use American officer in the service of veterans is available on Fridays, 10:00 to 14:00 at the Benson Visitor Center, 249 E. 4th St. Call Aubrey O. BMCM Nabb, USN Ret. (520) 265-2626. Meetings for Chapter No. 26 DAV meet every fourth Saturday from 11 am, CJ Rutter Monday, August 15, 2011 Photo by WENN while Jay-Z and Kanye West new album “Watch The Throne” is in the Number 23 countries, Aubrey O’Day said the LP is not a “classic hip-hop album.” Former Danity Kane star Aubrey O’Day Pop vixen Twitter has continued to show its continued support to the gay community that weekend, when they organized a celebration of pride in the Shark Club Costa Mesa, California. Ms. O’Day seems nice and all, but an upgrade from his album not to go to Hollywood club in a itty bitty mini-Sayers who had almost everything.Not only did he destroy his lady into pieces large, oval visible, the dress also featured a pure mesh inserted and a thigh-skimming the bottom edge of the spine.

Arrivals to the Kardashian Kollection for Sears Launch Party, LA

“Hold still, I want to get another picture of your cool phone, Aubrey.”
Listen, Aubrey O’Day is no idiot. Well… let’s say she knows who, or what, butters her bread. And it’s not her cellphone. It’s her boobs.
Apparently O’Day was also hanging out with reality blonde Alexis Bellino of The Real Housewives of Orange County, who also happens to be a singer, or something. Hey, maybe they’re working on an album together?! Ugh.
Check out more of O’Day putting her “cellphone” on display, after the jump.