In the Know: Norway Shooting

-The Scene-

A man in Norway went on a rampage Friday killing over 80 students at a Labor Party summer camp, after a bombing in Oslo. The police arrested, Anders Behring Breivia an anti-Muslim, right wing extremist who allegedly set out to stimulate political change via his actions. This is the worst attack on Norwegian soil since WW2.

Read more:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/23/world/europe/23oslo.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14259356


-Breivia-

Blogger Daily Dose

The whole blogging world is still a bit of a mystery to me. I continue to come up with thoughts of interest (or that I think might be of interest), pictures that will make you laugh, and rants and raves about places I've been or heard about. One trend in blogging I have come to like is a daily theme. One day is "Yummies" the next is "Fashion Flash." One day is "Dream Home" the next is "Love It or Leave It." And "Wordless Wednesday" seems to be a popular one, if only because it lets people take a short breather from their writing duties.

The best blogs usually have a theme, such as modern home decor, having a child with autism, or cooking chicken 1,000 ways. But then there is the Pioneer Woman, one of the most successful bloggers of all time, who just says what's on her mind at any given moment.



People love pictures, and some of the most popular blogs don't have much text at all. Just pretty pictures.


(How's this for pretty?)

Some people find my website, because of my blog posts. One of my photographs is being used for an interpretive display in a state park. Some of my other blog posts go largely unseen. But overall I think blogging is good for me and good for Bon Lemon.

I am not a master novelist, nor do I aspire to be. Once Bon Lemon has "gone big time," (starting later this year and really hitting it hard next year) people will read this blog just because we will be that cool. Until then, I am going to continue to incorporate ideas I think will make this blog better. This week, I am going to start doing a "Daily Dose." Each day, you will get a daily dose of something different. I hope this helps you all know when you want to tune in.

Mondays will be "In the Know" (News, politics, and other facts. I know I am supposed to stick to style, but I can't help myself.)



Tuesdays will be "I Want That" (Self explanatory. I want that. Fabulous dresses, chaise lounges, trinkets, and treasures.)



Wednesdays will be "Hump Day Special" (50% off one item, for one day only. Available on our Facebook Page.)



Thursdays will be "Something Tasty" (Food, travel, and experiences that are good enough to eat.)



And Friday, Saturday, Sundays will be whatever I want. Whenever I want. Just because it feels fun to say that.

Hope you like the new format. Would love to hear your feedback.

Bon Lemon Revue: Episode 2

Due to some difficulties with my face, i.e. a cold sore, today's episode of the The Bon Lemon Revue is a bit dull visually. I also learned my iPhone video isn't high enough quality for the web. Live and learn. Thanks for hanging in there as we get the hang of it.

Not much to report in the news. More of the same with Libya, Charlie Sheen, and private v. public sector protests. But Bon Lemon has some great new stuff in!

The Bon Lemon Revue: Episode 1

It isn't quite as pretty as I would have liked. I need to get the camera angle figured out so I don't look chubby and squinty eyed, And it is a lot harder to summarize the news than I thought it would be, so there are some weird transitions, because I am still learning how to edit. But you have got to start somewhere, right?

I present: The Bon Lemon Revue: Episode 1. We promise it will only get better.

The Bon Lemon Revue (Almost): The Middle East

My video camera is set to arrive today. Yay! Soon, The Bon Lemon Revue will start giving you well edited news to keep you savvy. Thank you to www.vanns.com (a Missoula company) for having such a great deal on an affordable video camera made just for bloggers. And it is pink :)



Even though we don't have our video camera yet, with all of the turmoil in the Middle East, we wanted to keep you savvy. So here is a little, written preview of The Bon Lemon Revue. Enjoy.

Protests in Egypt

The US and Iran are not friends. The US's BFF in The Middle East is Egypt. Most Middle Eastern (and Northern African) countries are run by variations of authoritarian governments. (One dude tells everyone what to do and they do it. If they do not, things get nasty.) The US has to maintain friendships with the right people to protect their interests in The Middle East. Egypt has been our most important friend. (The US has limited options, because many countries are friends with Iran. Remember: Iran and the US don't play nice.)

Right now, Egyptian people are protesting their government. There have been protests before, but none this large and none simultaneous with protests in other parts of The Middle East. The protesters want President Mubarak to leave. He has been in office for three decades and people are sick of of the widespread poverty and corrupt government associated with his tenure.

The Egyptian government has said (for now) it won't machine gun or bulldoze the protesters, but any offers for regime change have been weak and unsatisfactory. The US hasn't said much, because they are caught between a rock and a hard place. Mubarak is the US's friend and they want to remain friends with Egypt, because it is the largest, and arguably most stable, country in The Middle East. But Mubarak is a dictator and as champions of democracy, the US can't publicly support rigged elections and self-serving administrations.

The biggest problem in Egypt is the lack of viable alternatives. The most organized opposition to Mubarak is the Muslim Brotherhood, which is not known for being a democracy oriented organization. (It's links to violence and terrorism are debatable.) So if the protesters succeed and Mubarak and his entourage leave, then what?

That remains to be seen. We'll keep you savvy.

Cocktail Convo: "Aren't those protests in Egypt crazy?" - "Mubarak looks like he is on his way out." - "But the Muslim Brotherhood isn't a great alternative." - "I wonder what this is doing to my oil, commodities, ______ stock."

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The Bon Lemon Revue is not CNN, Fox News, BBC, or Al Jazeera. We do not have a team of reporters and fact checkers dedicated to ensuring the accuracy of this information. Because of our abbreviated format, we can not give you every explanation and detail. We aim to bring you well edited news and information in a format that is easy and quick to read and understand. Let us know if we misspeak. We welcome your comments. 2011. All rights reserved.

The Bon Lemon Revue

When I was going through my "lemon" phase and trying to figure out how to make lemonade, I was brainstorming a lot of business ideas. I contemplated entering the political world as an attorney or lobbyist (maybe someday), I thought seriously about an organic baby food company, and I wanted to start a weekly, online news program summarizing all things pertinent to savvy ladies.

I spoke to many of my friends who said they were too busy to listen to Fox News or CNN everyday. They wanted to know what was going on in the world, but with the limited free time they had, US Weekly was winning out. I have a variety of interests, want to stay informed, and have a short attention span, so I get my news from a variety of sources. I like to know what's happening with the economy, people, politics, fashion, and food. I don't have the patience for the six page articles in The Economist, and pundits like Glen Beck make me want to through myself on hot coals. (Give me facts and opinions not rhetoric.)

I read Vanity Fair, Fast Company, The Puget Sound Business Journal, and The Week religiously. I read at least ten other magazines recreationally. I stay up to date with current events via Facebook and Twitter. I don't watch the local news on television unless I am visiting 6 Par Farmer, because I find it sensationalized and one dimensional. The most important element of information these days is editing. I don't care if we are talking about shoes or taxes, I want someone who can synthesize the information succinctly. Brevity please.

Now that Bon Lemon is starting to hit it's stride, I have been thinking of new ways to build the Bon Lemon community. I keep coming back to the idea of a well edited news source. What if we could create a news source that combined a succinct explanation of the bombings in Moscow combined with a snippet on American Idol and a little fashion/wine/food tip thrown in? We won't replace Marie Claire, TMZ, or the Wall Street Journal, but we will give you enough info to decide whether you want to find out more. With that goal in mind: The Bon Lemon Revue is born!

The Bon Lemon Revue will bring you well edited news and info to stay savvy. Whether you are looking for cocktail conversation or a teaser to determine whether you want to know more, we hope The Bon Lemon Revue will be your source for brevity and relevant information in less than fifteen minutes per week (yes, it an be done!).

Coming soon to Bon Lemon: The Bon Lemon Revue!