Now is the time in the marathon that the runners (dancers, hula hoopers, etc) start to feel the pain.

Image details: Marathon Dance served by picapp.com

They’ve been going long enough that they are tired - but there’s still a ways to go!

No worries, just turn up the iTunes and order more coffee! (okay, coffee is probably not good for or helpful to the real endurance participants - but as I’m fresh out of power bars and complex carbs - it’ll do just fine for me)

One thing that always peps up the marathoner is encouragement! So, here’s a list of the other B5 Business bloggers who are fighting the good fight - check out their posts, comment, and if you can, donate - Remember this really is all for charity - not just for fun!

Business and Blogging (www.businessandblogging.com)

Accounting Solver (www.accountingsolver.com)

taxgirl (www.taxgirl.com)

Doing Biz Abroad (www.doingbizabroad.com)

Home Biz Notes (www.homebiznotes.com)

Everyday Networker (www.everydaynetworker.com)

One Vote Matters (www.onevotematters.com) That’s us!

Interview Chatter (www.interviewchatter.com)

Biz Chicks Rule (www.bizchicksrule.com)

Buzz Networker (www.buzznetworker.com)

Digital Money World (www.digitalmoneyworld.com)

Franchise Pick (www.franchisepick.com)

Yielding Wealth (www.yieldingwealth.com)

Small Business Boomers (www.smallbusinessboomers.com)

My Organized Biz (www.myorganizedbiz.com)

Viva El Negocio (www.vivaelnegocio.com)

This post is part of the b5media Business Channel Great Blog Off! Find out more about the Blog Off here: http://www.b5media.com/b5media-blogs-for-a-cause-and-raises-money-in-support-of-charity/The Business Channel is supporting Accion International for the Great Blog Off. You can make a donation directly to Accion (http://www.accion.org/b5media). Donations are tax deductible.

Today is the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest day of the year.

This year, for the first time since 1975 - the summer solstice is falling on June 20th. In recognition of this event, B5 Media bloggers across the network will be blogging once an hour, for 24 hours!

We here at One Vote Matters decided that we wanted to make things a little more interesting/focused - if we were going to be blogging all day long - we may as well have a theme!

And the theme we’ve chosen is: Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts.

Senator Kennedy was recently diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor - he has had surgery and is undergoing treatment to combat the disease.

Throughout his personal, professional and political, life Senator Kennedy has fought the good fight and we have no doubt that he will give his all to defeat this foe as well.

Today we plan to look back on Senator Kennedy’s career and life - as well looking forward.

Whether you are a fan of Ted Kennedy or not - a Democrat or Republican - a citizen of Massachusetts or the World, Ted Kennedy has had an impact on your life and history.

And so we begin!!!

This post is part of the b5media Business Channel Great Blog Off!  Find out more about the Blog Off here: http://www.b5media.com/b5media-blogs-for-a-cause-and-raises-money-in-support-of-charity/

The Business Channel is supporting Accion International for the Great Blog Off. You can make a donation directly to Accion (http://www.accion.org/b5media).  Donations are tax deductible.

The B5 Blog Off at One Vote Matters begins in less than 12 hours (I need to take a nap now!).

We’ll be highlighting the life and career (so far) of Senator Edward M. Kennedy!

Be sure to check out our posts - all day long - and, if you can, be sure to donate to one of the great charities being endorsed across B5 Media!

You can donate to:
Actors Fund - on the Entertainment Channel;
Accion - on the Business Channel

You can read the official b5media Press Release here.

This year, the summer solstice will occur on 20th June (Friday). This is the first time this has happened since 1975 (it’s usually June 21st).

In honor of this historic phenomenon, One Vote Matters, the Business Channel and b5media are staging (also on June 20th) a phenomenon of their very own — The Great Blog Off!

What’s a blog off? Great question - here are the details…

At OneVoteMatters.com - and all over b5media - writers will blog at least once per hour for each hour of the day beginning at 12:00am our local time (for us, that’s EST).

When Thursday and I were discussing how to approach the blog off - we both first thought of: caffeine. Next we thought: we should have a theme! We tossed around a few ideas, but then, when we considered the task at hand, and the symbolism of light and longevity - we singled out one idea, one person really…

Senator Edward Moore Kennedy.

In the wake of the annoucement of Senator Kennedy’s illness, we (as is the rest of the world) are reminded of the scope of his involvement in US Politics - whether you agree with or oppose his policy positions, there is no denying that Ted Kennedy has been (and continues to be) a luminary of the US political system.

We plan to spend the day discussing and exploring the life and politics of Ted Kennedy - and we hope you will join us. And! if you’re interested in “guest blogging” during the day, just send us an email.

But wait! There’s more…

The Great Blog Off is also an opportunity to do something good. The Business Channel will be taking charitable pledges. You can make flat donations or you can pledge by the hour; that is, you could donate $1 for every hour we post, totaling $24.

The b5media Business Channel will be supporting Accion International as our charity for the Great Blog Off. The mission of Accion is to give people the tools they need to work their way out of poverty. By providing microloans, business training and other financial services to disadvantaged men and women who start their own businesses, ACCION’s partner lending organizations help people work their own way up the economic ladder, with dignity and pride. With just a little capital, people can grow their own businesses. They can earn enough to afford basics like running water, better food and schooling for their children.

Basically, Accion helps small businesses all over the world to become established through small, manageable loans and business advice. This concept of microlending is fabulous and their payback record is impressive.

You can make your donations here!

Charity Navigator gives Accion their highest rating for, among other things, having a low administrative expenses to donations ratio.