Clay Aiken, Inclusion Fans Plan September Rally

I Am NORM initiative seeks Pepsi grant for inclusion.

Secretariat-Style Finish

I Am NORM Sets $50k Grant Goal

Entering the second half of September's Pepsi Refresh at #41, I Am NORM, youth initiative of the National Inclusion Project, is in position for a Secretariat-like finish in this month's campaign for a $50,000 grant.

Just as the legendary thoroughbred thrived on coming from behind, I Am NORM must follow suit. NORM doesn't have to be #1 to win, but the organization must finish in the top 10 charities of the $50k category for a grant.

To accomplish this, all supporters of inclusion -- fans of singer Clay Aiken, co-founder of the National Inclusion Project; followers of I Am NORM; persons and organizations who have benefited from programs, Let's ALL Play Camps, and funding from the Inclusion Project -- need to mount a no-holds-barred effort.

1. Engage the aid of friends, family, and associates in collecting as many Pepsi/Diet Pepsi power codes as you can locate in your area.

The 10-character codes from the yellow caps or canned carton tops immediately convert single votes from 5 - 100 points. The more power votes the quicker this campaign becomes a horse race with I Am NORM closing in on Sept. 30 celebration.

2. Vote for I Am NORM three ways in the Pepsi Refresh, and encourage others to do the same.

(a) At the Pepsi site
(b) Via Facebook
(c) By texting 109076 to 73774 (PEPSI) daily.

The above link takes you to NORM's Pepsi page, but you can also use the widget at the top of the Carolina sidebar.

Other charities on the widget are partners who are casting reciprocal votes with NORM. Be sure to leave a comment so the groups know to return a vote for I Am NORM. A sample comment is on the "How To Vote" panel.

In a statement during Labor Day Weekend, Jerry Aiken, executive director of the National Inclusion Project, urged inclusion supporters to participate in this campaign:

WE are I AM Norm. This is a program within National Inclusion. We work in conjunction with other funders and are focusing on youth movement to build awareness about inclusion. National Inclusion receives the funds and manages the program.

Power Codes Prove Pepsi X-Factor

No matter how you slice it, the key to being in the winner's circle of the Pepsi competition lies with power codes. Here are a few suggestions for gathering the magical caps.

1. Contact all your Pepsi-drinking friends for assistance in obtaining these codes.

2. Befriend your cleaning lady and ask her to keep watch for the power code caps with other clients. Do the same with cafeteria workers at work/school.

3. A friend or contact working at a bottle recycling plant might agree to gather the yellow caps for you.

4. If your school, daycare, or sports team is having an event, offer to provide drinks. Solicit assistance from other fans to help record the power codes.

5. Ask acquaintances to report the availability/sales of Pepsi products with yellow power caps in your area.

6. Accept donations from supporters who live in (a) other countries or (b) areas where yellow caps are depleted and purchase the Pepsi products for them.

7. Hold an online Power Vote Party in a message board thread, Facebook Chat, OFC Chat, etc. Serve "refreshments" and provide entertainment/clack while participants vote the codes. Post party totals on Facebook and in NORM threads.

8. Host a challenge for "the most interesting picture of clack" (t-shirts, pins, anything) with a backdrop of Pepsi power caps.

9. Host an all-night online clack party that requires Pepsi so participants can stay awake watching.

10. Make this list grow with your suggestions in the comments below.

POWER OF YOUTH - The bold beginning for I Am NORM, a youth-led movement of inclusion throughout the US. View more videos at the I Am NORM YouTube Channel.

NORM Promotes Inclusion of Youth

Designed to promote the acceptance, respect, and full inclusion of all youth, I Am NORM was formed on a wintry January 2010 weekend in Washington, DC, by 20 young people with and without disabilities from diverse backgrounds and places throughout the United States.

These paragraphs from NORM's website outline the bold mission of these young people:

We are united in our commitment to a world where people of various abilities have equal opportunities. We believe that diversity makes us stronger and that discrimination breaks us down.

We know that hatred is a learned behavior and that we can all strive to rise above fear and prejudice. We understand firsthand what we gain when everyone is included in our schools and our communities and how much we lose when anyone is left out.

The organization's work is driven by a Youth Inclusion Task Force and supported by a coalition of youth-serving partner organizations.

If successful in the Pepsi drive, the charity will utilize the $50k grant for hosting the 2012 Youth Summit, presenting the I Am NORM program at other youth conferences, and advertising the cause to the youth demographic.

Read more about the cause at the I Am NORM Pepsi Page and at the I am NORM Share It website.

There is much more information about 1973 Triple Crown winner here. View the movie Secretariat on Starz and Neflix. Be sure Pepsi products are served for refreshments.

Have an awesome rest of the week, Clay Nation. Let's win this horse race!

Caro

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Dragon*Con Honors Inclusion Project of Clay Aiken

Clay Aiken - Photo by Curtis Brown is expandable.

Labor Day Convention in Atlanta

Dragon*Con Spotlights Inclusion

Atlanta, the city where singer Clay Aiken began his sojourn on American Idol and subsequently launched a successful career as an entertainer, will always and forever be special to his fans. This Labor Day Weekend, there will be yet another connection.

Dragon*Con, the largest multimedia, pop culture sci-fi fantasy convention on the planet, celebrates its 10th anniversary at the Hilton Atlanta Sept. 2-5 with the National Inclusion Project as its designated charity.

Link to Dragon*Con website with this image.

Aficionados of science fiction, fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film will gather at the Hilton Atlanta Hotel for the annual event. Link to the Dragon*Con website for links, apps, and tracks galore!

In addition to tax deductible donations, Dragon*Con is accepting submissions for the 2011 Charity Auction. Various programs of the National Inclusion Project are outlined on the Dragon*Con website, providing an excellent intro to the charity co-founded by Clay and Diane Bubel in 2003.

The National Inclusion Project has worked with hundreds of programs, trained numerous staff members and leaders, and provided inclusive opportunities for over 20,000 children.

A donation to the National Inclusion Project provides maximum impact in communities as they move to being fully inclusive.

* $25 allows a child with disability to go swimming with his peers for the first time.

* $100 provides a field trip for children to experience their community together.

* $1000 provides curriculum, training, and supplies to implement inclusive service learning.

* $5000 opens the door for five children with a disability to spend a week at camp with their friends.

I Am NORM initiative seeks Pepsi grant for inclusion.

I Am NORM Opens $50k Grant Drive

The National Inclusion Project's race for a miracle finish in the August Pepsi Refresh was running on all cylinders right up until midnight Wednesday. Time will tell if supporters were successful in voting enough power codes to move the charity into the Top 10.

Meanwhile, I Am NORM, sister charity of the Inclusion Project, is competing in the $50k category of September's Pepsi Refresh giveaway.

An initiative designed by young people to promote the acceptance, respect, and full inclusion of youth with disabilities in schools and communities, I Am NORM was formed on a wintry January 2010 weekend in Washington, DC, by 20 young people, with and without disabilities, from throughout the United States.

You can vote for I Am NORM at the Pepsi site, via Facebook, and by texting 109076 to 73774 (PEPSI) daily. Read more about the cause at its Pepsi page and at the I am NORM Share It website.

If successful, the organization will utilize the $50k grant for hosting the 2012 Youth Summit, presenting the I Am NORM program at other youth conferences, and advertising the cause to the youth demographic.

Power Codes Prove Pepsi X-Factor

Under the new guidelines, power codes have become the x-factor in the Pepsi Refresh competition. The 10-character code from the yellow caps or canned carton tops can increase a single vote from 5 - 100 points. Erica, an 8th grade violin student, brought the month's first yellow cap to her Thursday lesson.

Royalle has compiled a list of partner/reciprocating charities for Scarlett to create an I Am NORM Voting Widget. Updated daily, this handy device will appear at the top of Carolina blog sidebar throughout September.

When voting for other Pepsi Refresh charities, be sure to leave a comment so they will reciprocate with I Am NORM. This sample appears in the widget's "How To Vote" panel:

Votes from I Am NORM / National Inclusion Project of Raleigh, NC. Thank you for your reciprocal support. http://www.refresheverything.com/iamnorm ... Text 109076.

Special thanks to all who voted/provided power codes for the National Inclusion Project in August. On a personal note, my daughter Jennifer; Maria, a friend from Ohio; and the Fulp and Justice families among my music students/parents were especially helpful.

Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend, Clay Nation -- in Atlanta or wishing you were there, too!

Caro

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Clay Aiken Sings 'Both Sides Now,' Spurs Campaign

BOTH SIDES NOW - Singer Clay Aiken and signer Debra Leisey perform beautiful duet that describes the purpose and programs of the National Inclusion Project. View 2010 Gala video by Scarlett full screen at YouTube.

Aiken's BSN Defines Inclusion



Song Inspires $50k Grant Drive



Throughout August, this blog has outlined the mission and importance of the programs of the National Inclusion Project so that everyone who can will support the Raleigh, NC, charity in its campaign to obtain a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh grant.



All along, no words, photos, or voting links were needed. Just co-founder Clay Aiken performing the Joni Mitchell song "Both Sides Now" with Debra Leisey signing the inclusive lyrics.



Enjoy their performance from the 2010 Champions of Change Gala, annual meet when honorees are recognized for achievements opening doors for young people with disabilities.

In 2003, singer Clay Aiken and Diane Bubel of Charlotte co-founded the National Inclusion Project, formerly the Bubel/Aiken Foundation. to expand inclusive programs for all children.

One Pepsi Power Code a Day!



After watching the video, please make it your goal to purchase one -- or more -- Pepsi/Diet Pepsi products with a yellow cap each of the final four August days.



Email, text, or PM an NIP supporter the 10-character power codes by 6 p.m. ET Aug. 31. The codes will be voted before the contest ends at midnight ET Wednesday.

Clickables show much-needed power code caps.

In one swoop, the "powerful" codes increase a single vote from 5 - 100 points. The National Inclusion Project must be in the Top 10 to land a grant, and we definitely need your help.



The Pepsi site linked above is complicated for casual voters. However, everyone can easily follow this simplified routine for four days:

1. Text a daily vote: 108169 to 73774.

2. Vote for the NIP daily via Facebook.

3. Gather 4 power codes from Pepsi products and email/PM them via Facebook to an Inclusion Project supporter.

The National Inclusion Project has four days to secure the Pepsi grant. Thank you to all who join in this final power code effort!



Power caps are at a premium this final week. If you have trouble locating them at grocery stores, check the coolers at Best Buy, the Dollar Store, and other establishments.

BOTH SIDES NOW



Bows and flows of angel hair

And ice cream castles in the air,

And feathered canyons everywhere,

I've looked at clouds that way,

But now they only block the sun.

They rain and they snow on everyone.

So many things I would have done,

But clouds got in the way.



I've looked at clouds from both sides now,

From up and down, and still somehow,

It's clouds illusions I recall.

I really don't know clouds ... at all.



Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels,

The dizzy dancing way that you feel

As every fairy tale comes real,

I've looked at love that way.

But now it's just another show.

And you leave 'em laughing when you go

And if you care, don't let them know,

Don't give yourself away.



I've looked at love from both sides now,

From give and take, and still somehow

It's love's illusions I recall.

I really don't know love at all.



Tears and fears and feeling proud

To say "I love you" right out loud,

Dreams and schemes and circus crowds,

I've looked at life that way.

But now old friends, they're acting strange

They shake their heads and tell me that I've changed.

Something's lost and something's gained from living everyday.



I've looked at life from both sides now,

From win and lose, and still somehow

It's life's illusions I recall.

I really don't know life.



I've looked at life from both sides now,

From up and down, and still somehow

It's life's illusions that I recall.

I really don't know life ... at all.

MAKING INCLUSION A REALITY: Inclusion is giving people their rightful opportunity to participate. The National Inclusion Project works every day to make full inclusion a reality. Montage by SueReu features Clay singing "These Open Arms."

While coming home from camp, my son asked if I knew that everyone's brain was different. He explained that some kids at camp are different from other kids because they have certain disabilities.



When asked what he thought about that, he replied, "It's all good, Mom. We're all special and unique in our own way." -- Profound statement by a 7-year-old participant in a Let's ALL Play Camp.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE - The National Inclusion Project provides opportunities for all children to participate through nationwide Let's ALL Play Camps and other programs throughout the year.

Have an awesome week, and thank you for joining the cause of inclusion for all!



Caro

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Clay Aiken Montage 'Refreshes' Pepsi Grant Drive

Clay Aiken: 'Where Do I Begin' from Tried & True Tour.

View montage by SueReu at YouTube.

Download video with this Sendspace file.

Fans Ferret Out Power Codes



Montage Replays Tour Opener

While coming home from camp, my son asked if I knew that everyone's brain was different. He explained that some kids at camp are different from other kids because they have certain disabilities.



When asked what he thought about that, he replied, "It's all good, Mom. We're all special and unique in our own way." - Profound statement from a 7-year-old participant in a Let's ALL Play Camp.

Fans of Clay Aiken, co-founder of the National Inclusion Project charity that provides camps and a variety of activities for children with and without disabilities, are competing for a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh grant to fund more "special and unique" experiences.



What better way to open this blog than with the extraordinary new montage by SueRue of the singer performing "Where Do I Begin" (Theme from "Love Story") along the 2011 Tried & True Tour trail.



The montage should be inspiration for all inclusion supporters to seek new avenues for adding votes and the all-important power codes required to secure the Pepsi funds.



The video features footage by MBlovesClay, Scarlett, goldarngirl, dlh7777, and Thankful4Clay.



Below are three clickables SueReu provided from the montage.

Fan Successfully Dives for Codes



Less than a week ago, Shamrock took her own advice and attended a local minor league baseball game in search of yellow power caps. She and her sister located 32 yellow caps that night, yielding 500 points in the National Inclusion Project's August campaign for the $50k Pepsi Refresh grant.



Following lunch on the 20th, she and her sister had planned to drop by their state fair where Pepsi was the official drink. While driving to the fair, her car was struck by an inattentive driver and totaled.



Between them, the sisters have a cracked rib and a sore neck, and their power code mission was halted long enough for them to be checked at the emergency room.

Shamrock dives for power codes.

By Sunday, the sister duo was back dumpster diving at the ball field. Here is Shamrock's story in her own words:

Well, I did it. I went dumpster diving today, and my sister helped me. I went back to the ball field to ask someone in authority if I could look in their recycle bins. The gentleman in the ticket office gave me the name of someone to call, but I couldn’t reach him.



As we were driving away, we passed the recycle bin. All the little bins had been emptied into a dumpster. The bags were clear plastic, and we could see some yellow caps. We decided to open a few. We were able to find 111 caps before we had to stop.



Tomorrow I’m calling to get permission to continue. So far we were able to vote 60 caps by my mom, husband, sisters, and a friend. The first 60 caps were worth 700 votes.



Checking the bags in the recycle dumpster wasn't very messy. There were lots of yellow caps since the ball park only sells Pepsi products, beer, and water.



We couldn’t reach all the bags because we were not prepared. We needed a step stool, a pole with a hook, old clothes, and rubber gloves. Tomorrow we’ll be ready if I get the okay!

If you are reading this blog and drink Pepsi/Diet Pepsi or have a way to collect the power codes from yellow bottle caps or the carton tops of cans, send or take them to an Inclusion Project supporter via Facebook PM, Direct Message on Twitter, or some other means.



The NIP is in a real battle for a Pepsi grant position in the top 10. Power codes are the wild card in this competition, and efforts have been stepped up to locate them.



Online Power Vote Party Nets 965!



At 11:35 p.m. Sunday, Scarlett and I were chatting on Facebook and decided to enter as many codes from her stash as we could before midnight. Neither of us has seen the elusive "100," but we both hit an occasional "50." In 25 minutes, we cast 850 votes!



About five minutes before midnight, we started receiving messages asking if we were sure we wanted to continue as the day's deadline was approaching. Pepsi didn't realize how quickly we were moving.



I cast all my votes except one, which I saved for a few minutes into Monday. Just to be safe, I went back through and checked my list of codes to make sure they had all been used. Sure enough, there were five that I had skipped.



The early Monday votes amounted to 115 points, so in 30 minutes we logged a total of 965 votes. When you see supporters asking for you help in locating power codes, remember how many votes this 30-minute spree produced!

How Everyone Can Help



In a nutshell, here are ways fans, as well as friends, family, and associates, can help the National Inclusion Project continue funding programs for all children:

1. Text 108169 to 73774 daily.



2. Log into the Pepsi Refresh site and cast a vote for the National Inclusion Project through your Facebook account. See "sign in" at bottom left corner of the Pepsi page.



3. Email, PM, or deliver Pepsi/Diet Pepsi power codes to a Clay Aiken fan/NIP supporter.



4. Register all of your email ID's with the Pepsi Refresh site (bottom left corner again) and vote daily.



5. Scroll back through the August Carolina blogs for a variety of creative ideas shared by supporters.

The campaign is heading into the final week. Be creative and bold in gathering power codes. Please share your successes, as well as businesses conducting Pepsi sales this week, and I will be add the information to this entry.



Have a powerful week, Clay Nation!



Caro

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Clay Aiken Fans Pursue Pepsi Power Codes, Votes

Vote THREE ways to fund inclusive programs for all children.

Supporters Enlist New Voters



Power Codes Prove Wild Card

The National Inclusion Project serves to bridge the gap that exists between young people with disabilities and the world around them.

Supporters of the National Inclusion Project are prowling for power codes and a greatly expanded voting force in the charity's quest for a $50,000 grant during the final days of the August Pepsi Refresh Challenge.



Fans of singer Clay Aiken, Inclusion Project co-founder, are casting votes for the NIP and a host of reciprocating charities. Having dropped to #13 Friday, foundation supporters hope to enlist an army of new voters this weekend.



Throughout the year, Pepsi gives away millions to fund charity ideas that refresh the world. No longer is there a month-to-month rollover, so supporters must complete the goal by midnight Aug. 31 and obtain as much mileage as possible from each day's allotment of votes at the Pepsi site, Facebook, and cell phone texting.



The wild card in this season's competition is the power code, which can be obtained from specially-marked Pepsi products inside yellow bottle caps and under the tops of appropriately marked cartons of canned drinks.

In addition to the normal 5 votes allowed (1 NIP + 4 Reciprocals), 10 power code votes can be cast for the Inclusion Project with each registered ID at the Pepsi site. Codes can expand a single vote by 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, or 100 points.



Fans Share Power Code Finds



Below are some of the ways supporters are rounding up more votes. Hopefully, these discussions will spark an idea that works for you. Share suggestions in the comments, and I will add them to the list.



scorpionlady45: My co-worker, who buys 2-liter Pepsi bottles to keep at the office, returned from lunch. I saw him with a bag and asked, "Did you get Pepsi with yellow caps?" He answered in the affirmative and said he had one at his desk that he could give me now.

I also sent out a text to six people and told them they have a mission to complete (text voting). Got three texts back so far with "mission complete."

all4luv: The best place to "shop" for Pepsi caps is a baseball game! Anyone going to a professional game, just stay afterwards and help clean up the park, so to speak. You can fill a bag with caps in no time at all! I'm hoping to go to an Indians game next week and see how many caps I can gather.



Shamrock: I went to our local minor league baseball team play tonight. The stadium sells Pepsi products, so I kept my eyes open for power caps. Most people were drinking beer or water, but my sister and I managed to find 32 caps.

I’m sure I would have found more if I could have opened the recycling bins. I did see one in the trash, and - YIKES! - I reached in for it.



Our 32 caps were worth 500 extra votes. The NIP is still in 13th place, so the charities above us must have lots of voters and lots of caps. I wish I could think of other ways to find yellow caps. The baseball team plays at home for the next 4 or 5 days, so I plan to attend another game.

Clayscience21: Word of caution. Pepsi Max has zero calories but double the caffeine of regular Diet Pepsi. I'll be up all night. But it did taste good, and the liter bottle did have a power code!



Desertrose: Just think of the energy it will give you to clean your house now that we know the wonders of Pepsi in all kinds of cleaning operations.

It is a win-win situation. We support the National Inclusion Project with bonus points, and we get the bonus of extra energy from all that caffeine to clean our houses. Not to mention all the ways Pepsi can be used to clean and repair. [See 51-item related list below].

CTLover1: We stopped at Sam's for a few minutes on our way home. They have a big recycling bin at the bottom of the parking lot and what did I see? A woman "diving"!!! She'd even brought her own ladder! My first thought was, "Wonder if she's looking for yellow Pepsi caps?!?!?!?"

MagicalMusic: If everyone purchased 5 bottles of Pepsi, that would be a minimum of 25 additional votes per person. As was mentioned before, CVS has 2 liter bottles for 88 cents. I bought 5 yesterday and will use the codes tonight. [NOTE: Some stores are running low on the power cap bottles, so call ahead!]



Vickie: Check your local Walgreen's this week. Starting Sunday, the ones around here will have 12-packs, six for $13.



SueReu: I dropped by the bottle return area at the store near my work and found three codes. I'll keep checking!



Thankful4Clay: A friend on Facebook just sent me seven codes. One was for 50 votes, and two were 25's!



morganette: Perhaps some of our Canadian members who live in the border cities will be in the U.S. during the next 12 days (for shopping, visiting, business, etc.) and they could help by picking up some bottles of Pepsi and PM the codes to US message board friends to vote.

I went to the Dollar Store again last night less than 10 minutes away and bought 10 bottles for $1 each. The first one I opened was 50 votes! I've only opened 3 so far. Hope there are some more 50's. Still waiting for a 100!

dancermom2: Wonder if any of our Canadian friends would like to sponsor buying Pepsi for those in the States who can vote?



goldarngirl: I'm in! Just let me know how you want to do this. It's cheaper than my driving across the border to buy 10 bottles.



Jerry Aiken: Power votes are "powerful!" Ask your convenience store about discarded cartons and bottle tops. Sports events have bottle tops being tossed away. CVS has Pepsi bottles on sale and a special for 2 six packs. Let's MAKE A DIFFERENCE!



Scarlett: This weekend hold an online Power Voting Party with entertainment, food, and all the extras. Bring clack, but mainly bring power votes.

Hopefully, the energy and excitement of the online party will generate ideas for obtaining more power caps. The whole group can contribute and have fun while doing so!

The NIP ensures that children nationwide can experience all that life has to offer.

Group Texts, Circles of Friends Help



Have you posted a request for assistance from church, school, workplace? A concise message in a daily/weekly communique or posted on bulletin boards could make a difference.



If you have access to a large gathering (club/faculty/business meeting, church group, wedding reception, etc.), conduct a GROUP TEXT. Have everyone take out a cell phone and text 108169 to 73774 with the volume turned up. The mass "thank you" replies from Pepsi will be resounding!



The Pepsi site is complicated for casual voters. However, everyone can easily follow this simplified version:

1. Text a daily vote: 108169 to 73774.

2. Vote for the NIP daily via Facebook.

3. Gather power codes from Pepsi products.

For friends, family, and associates willing to register and vote through Pepsi, point them to the link in the bottom left corner to cast ballots daily for the Inclusion Project. When voting for the reciprocal charities on the NIP Voting Widget, please leave a comment with this info:

The National Inclusion Project is voting for you. We really need your help as we must place in the Top 10 for a $50k grant. Thank you for all your return votes! http://www.refresheverything.com/inclusionproject ... Text 108169.

From the National Inclusion Project website: Need an email you can edit, modify, or use as is to enlist the aid of those in your circle. Click here to download a letter to family and friends to ask for their help.

Alternative Pepsi Uses Yield Codes



So what if Pepsi is not your preferred drink, how can you help gather the all-important power codes? The list below is from a 2008 WiseBread blog entry by Paul Michael: Living Large on a Budget.



51 Uses for Coca-Cola (But Use Pepsi Instead!)

1. Remove grease stains from clothing and fabric.

2. Remove rust; methods include using fabric dipped in Coke, a sponge or even aluminum foil.

3. Remove blood stains from clothing and fabric.

4. Make gooey Coke funnel cakes .

5. Clean oil stains from a garage floor; let the stain soak, hose off.

6. Loosen a rusty bolt; pour on some Coke and wait for the magic to happen.

7. Kill slugs and snails; a small bowl of Coke will attract them, and the acid will kill them.

8. Help a lawn become lush and green.

9. Prevent an asthma attack! Apparently, the caffeine in two 12oz cans can prevent the onset of an attack.

10. Defrost a frozen windshield. Apply liberally and wait.

11. Clean burnt pans; let the pan soak in the Coke, then rinse.

12. Descale a kettle using the same method in #11.

13. Neutralize a jellyfish sting.

14. Clean car battery terminals by pouring a small amount of Coke over each one.

15. Cure nausea; let a can of Coke go flat then take a teaspoon of Coke every hour.

16. Also, flat coke can help relieve an upset stomach (aka "the runs").

17. Make a Mentos & Coke exploding fountain. This one takes a 2-liter bottle of Coke.

18. Get rid of hiccups; gargle with a big mouthful of ice-cold Coke.

19. Shake up a can and pour it over your windshield to remove bugs and other crud. [Diet Pepsi works best for this!]

20. Use the method in 19 for your car bumpers, too.

21. Clean your engine; Coke distributors have been using this technique for decades.

22. Relieve congestion; boil a can of Coke and drink while hot to clear you up.

23. Make a sweet BBQ sauce. Mix a can of Coke with ketchup, and brush over ribs or chicken.

24. Baste a ham roast with Coke as it cooks. The sugars will caramelize; the ham will be moist.

25. Add a can of coke to your pot roast to tenderize it and add extra flavor.

26. Make pretty pennies; soaking old pennies in Coke will remove the tarnish.

27. Make your hair curly; pour flat Coke onto long hair, leave for a few minutes then rinse.

28. Age documents and photos; for that antique look, apply Coke, pat with paper, leave to dry.

29. Clean tile grout: pour onto kitchen floor, leave for a few minutes, and wipe up.

30. Mix a can of Coke with a packet of Italian seasoning; cook a tough steak in it.

31. Make better compost; Coke increases the acidity, adds sugars and feeds microorganisms.

32. Dissolve a tooth in it. Use a sealed container, this takes ages. Why would you want to though, unless you’re Hannibal Lector?

33. Remove gum from hair; dip into a small bowl of Coke, leave a few minutes. Gum will wipe off.

34. Get silky skin; mix a spoonful of Coke with regular lotion and apply liberally.

35. Make low-fat brownies .

36. Pour a little in a cup and set it out an hour before a picnic, away from your site; it will attract wasps and bees so they’re not bugging you and your grub.

37. Remove stains from vitreous china.

38. Got a dirty pool? Add two 2-liter bottles of Coke to clear up the water (it acts as rust remover).

39. Add Coke to your laundry to remove bad smells, especially fish.

40. Remove (or fade) dye from hair by pouring Diet Coke over it.

41. Mop a floor with Coke to make it sticky. It’s a movie industry trick to stop actors slipping.

42. Remove marker stains from carpet. Apply Coke, scrub, then clean with soapy water.

43. Clean a toilet; pour around bowl, leave for a while, flush clean. [Also great for cleaning drains!]

44. Apply to skin for a deep tan (although this seems like a recipe for skin cancer to me).

45. Supposedly, drinking an 8oz can of Coke every day can prevent kidney stones.

46. Add it to a Sloppy Joe mix

47. Perk up your azaleas or gardenias.

48. Coke and aluminum foil will bring chrome to a high shine.

49. Strip paint off metal furniture; soak a towel in Coke, sit it on the surface for days. Make sure you keep adding Coke to keep the towel wet.

50. Add it to vodka, rum, or bourbon.

51. Drink it straight from the can, if you can (too sweet for me)

Let's make August a huge fund-raising success for the National Inclusion Project so that children nationwide can experience all that life has to offer!



Have an wonderfully productive weekend, Clay Nation!



Caro

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Montage Spotlights Clay Aiken's Signature Song

Clay Aiken - Unchained Melody 2011

View montage by SueReu full screen at YouTube.

Download the video with this Sendspace.

NIP Swings from #8 to #11



Video Frames 'Unchained Melody'



This blog was supposed to be about the signature version of my favorite Clay Aiken song, "Unchained Melody," which SueRue this week fashioned into a beautiful new montage.



Since she uploaded the video a couple of days ago, links for the montage zipped through Clay Cyberspace and social networking sites faster than the speed of light. Video credits include ClayIzzaQT, MBlovesClay, dlh7777, Scarlett, canfly172, and goldarngirl.



If you are part of the minority who have not yet seen this montage, enjoy. If you have already played and downloaded it a zillion times, enjoy again. Included are five clickable screen caps SueReu created from the video.

NIP Supporters Set $50k Goal



With Monday evening's drop to #11, supporters of the National Inclusion Project scrrambled for new avenues to add to the foundation's total votes in the August drive for a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh grant.



For days the NIP has held onto the 10th position, the lowest a charity can be to win a grant in the $50k division. Renewed efforts paid off, and the foundation moved up to slots 8 and 9, slightly safer waters, before slipping back to #11.



What's your latest creative move to round up additional votes? Several of my music students and their parents are texting daily. Some have promised to bring power codes from yellow Pepsi/Diet Pepsi bottle caps.



Remember the wedding queenmama247 attended this past weekend? Here is her report:

The wedding went off without a hitch. There were 210 guests. The DJ was so sweet when he asked everyone to take out their cellphones. He kept saying, "It's for kids."



We counted approximately 180 votes texted. Some people were having a hard time getting through, but it was a thrill to hear all the phones going off when the thank you messages started coming back!

Power Voting Can Be a Blast



Sunday afternoon Scarlett and I enjoyed a Power Voting Party via Facebook Chat with codes from several 20-ounce Pepsi bottles she had purchased at a 99-cent store. Our grand total was 445 extra votes for the NIP and was it ever fun!!!

My friend doesn't drink Pepsi, but she used the liquid remains as a type of Draino in her sinks. This morning she said her tub was a mite bit sticky. I have located at least three "Pepsi suppliers," so I hope to contribute additional codes soon.



One of the NIP's new voting partners, Nerdy Science, seeks to foster an early love for the science through multi-week, hands on programs.



Check out Exploding Soda in the Nerdy Baby blog. The Pepsi geysers provide an excellent science experiment for young children and provide an alternative way to utilize power code bottles for those who don't drink soda.



This week CVS has 2-liter Pepsi bottles on sale for 88 cents. Just be sure the caps are of the yellow power code variety!



See the previous entry, Clay Aiken Fans Pull Out Stops for Inclusion, for detailed voting instructions. Partner links and text numbers are in the NIP Voting Widget now situated in the Carolina sidebar.



Please share your successes for enlisting more voters and gathering power codes in the comments.

Dr. Phil and Clay AikenTake on Bullying.

View 2005 video full screen at YouTube.

Bullying Headlines Google Search



Somewhere there's a workshop ... or teachers are making lesson plans ... or students already have a school assignment related to preventing or stopping bulling.



During an eight-hour period Monday, Feedjit, the tracking tool associated with the Carolina blog, registered visitors who arrived by googling the phrase Clay Aiken End Bullying. The hits came from all corners of the US, as well as Aruba in the Caribbean and the Republic of Mauritius, an island nation off the southeast coast of Africa.



It's heartening to think that individuals from 27 cities wound up at the October 2010 entry: Clay Aiken Shares Insight on Bullying. Even then, the blog was pointing out the relevancy of remarks the singer had made five years earlier on the Dr. Phil Show.

Recent suicides by young people who reached the breaking point from constant bullying, hatred, and harassment have spurred nationwide efforts to bring an end to this epidemic.



On Oct. 28, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, giving the Department of Justice the authority to prosecute hate crimes, including attacks based on sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and disability.



Paralleling the new legislation, more and more citizens have begun recognizing the epidemic of hate and are choosing to go proactive, becoming informed and getting involved. Too many, however, remain silent.

The information trail continued into the evening. For whatever reason, surfers in these cities were on the Net exploring the topic of bullying: Birmingham, AL; Bessemer, AL; Phoenix, AZ; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Santa Rosa, CA; Denver, CO; Seymour, CT; Millsboro, DE; Miami, FL; Orlando, FL; Hephzibah, GA; Round Lake, IL; Wichita, KS;



Also Arnold, MD; Baltimore, MD; Genesco, NY; Cleveland, OH; Lebanon, OR; Malvern, PA; Addison, TX; Chatfield, TX; Woodway, TX; Bothell, WA; Ellensburg, WA; Oranjestad, Aruba, and Curepipe, Plaines Wilheme, Mauritus.



And they were still coming when I uploaded this blog. Hopefully, we are witnessing a nationwide -- maybe worldwide -- movement to end bullying forever!



Have a wonderful week, Clay Nation!



Caro

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