Here are a few pets available for adoption currently at BARC, The Humane Society:

Are You Environmentally Conscious?

Have Access To Video Equipment?

Know How To Upload Video To The Internet? (You Know You Do!)

Then The CW Wants To See How You “Green Your World”!

The CW Network is looking for environmentally conscious video enthusiasts interested in potentially winning $10,000 in a new “Green Your World” contest as part of its on-going Free 2 Be Green campaign. As part of this new contest, viewers are encouraged to produce their own video (maximum 2 minutes in length) explaining how they are actively working to “green their world” and upload that video to www.cwtv.com/greenyourworld. All submissions must be received by Feb. 16, 2009 to qualify.

From all of the submissions, 5 lucky finalists will be selected to each produce a series of 4 (one per week) video blogs (or vlogs) about their contributions to the environment and making their communities a better place for everyone. One of the 5 finalists will ultimately be selected as the overall winner of the contest, earning the $10,000 prize and the chance to be featured online at cwtv.com and possibly be featured on-air on The CW Network during Earth Week.


No video equipment, no problem, as viewers can also submit a written essay (maximum 150 words) to www.cwtv.com/greenyourworld about their work and dedication to helping the environment and greening their world.


For complete details, guidelines, rules and restrictions regarding the “Green Your World” sweepstakes, please go to www.cwtv.com/greenyourworld.

Take a tour of the 2009 HGTV Dream Home. Every year HGTV gives away a home worth more than $1 million. Click here to enter the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway.

This year's home is located in Sonoma, California in the wine country. You can enter once daily through February 19.

In this short video, Monica Pedersen takes you on a quick tour of the home. But if you visit the HGTV Dream Home website, you can take an even better look at the home room by room.

What was your favorite Super Bowl commercial? Send us the link to the YouTube video in the comment section and we will post it.

The East Texas Chapter of the Romance Writers of America will hold an online writing workshop the week of Feb. 9-14.

The workshop will be led by published author Tracy Garrett, who will discuss “Rejection! When They Say Your Baby (manuscript) is Ugly.”

Workshop Details

Writers all know that feeling — the elation when a letter or email arrives, sporting a publisher's or agent's return address.. The thrill, the jolt of excitement, the anticipation. The punch in the gut when you read that word "unfortunately. " Rejected. The balloon deflates, sometimes taking the inspiration and energy with it.

When a writer receives a rejection, the toughest thing to do is step back from the manuscript, take an objective look, and try to see what the editor/agent/ contest judge saw.

As writers, we have to make a decision: ignore them, take their word and fix it — or toss it under the bed and move on to something else.

In this class, participants will look at the rejections they've received. What comments are you getting? Has more than one letter mentioned the same thing? Are you not sure what the editor/agent meant by a comment? And what can you do to locate that elusive Muse and drag her back to the keyboard? By reviewing the comments with objectivity, you can find your inspiration, make your manuscript stronger – and maybe change that “Not right for us” to “We want it right now!”

About the Author

Garrett is an active member of Romance Writers of America, Published Authors Network, Dallas Area Romance Authors , Published Authors Special Interest Chapter and Hearts Through History Romance groups. Her first novel is titled “Touch of Texas.” Her western historical, “Touched by Love,” was released in November, 2008.

More Details

Cost of the online workshop is $15 for RWA members and $20 for the general public.
You can register online and pay by Paypal online at http://easttexasrwa.com/html/workshops.php

Registration fee and form (which can be downloaded at http://easttexasrwa.com/html/workshops.php can be mailed to: RWA-ETC, P.O. Box 131322, Tyler, Texas 75713
For more information, contact Sarah Castleberry at sarahl castleberry@gmail.com or Cheril Vernon at cherilvernon@yahoo.com

Please note the online writing workshop is set up through a special Yahoo Group where those in the class are invited to the loop. Each day during Feb. 9-14, Garrett will provide a “lesson” on the topic and then takes questions from the class members.

Those taking the class can log on to the group site or they can receive individual messages directly to their email address. Class members do not have to be online at the same time, but should check for messages daily during the class.

You do not have to write romance to benefit from this class — as it is for all fiction writing genres.

On ebay, I found a listing for this circa 1908 view of a marching band postcard with a long line of men marching behind them in downtown Palestine. The postcard is in good condition with usual bumps and wears on the corners and edges. It is available for purchase for $39.95.

If you do a search for "Palestine, Texas" while on ebay, you will find many other postcards as well as other Palestine "items" of interest. You never know, you might find a real treasure.

Housing discrimination does not always mean having a door slammed in your face or a bigoted remark directed your way. Unsuspecting renters or home buyers may be politely turned away from the housing of their choice, even though they are qualified. Housing discrimination is a nationwide problem and often is severely under reported.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that more than two million instances of housing discrimination occur each year, however, less than one percent are reported. Many individuals are unaware that they have been victims of housing discrimination as they do not fully understand which activities are illegal under the Fair Housing Act.

Palestine Resource Center for Independent Living (PRCIL) will be hosting a Fair Housing workshop on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. Naomi Hubert, Housing Coordinator with United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) will be addressing fair housing accessibility and home ownership laws and how they affect individuals with disabilities. She will also be discussing UPC’s First Time Home Buyer Program.
PRCIL is located at 421 Avenue A in Palestine.

For more information contact PRCIL at 903-729-7505.