Unique Retirement Gifts

Do you think the folks down at Sunny Acres Retirement home would like it if I sent Ronald McDonald for the day Or would all the singing and laughing and balloons and gaiety make them blow a gasket?

Does Hillary know something about Social security the trustees of the program dont? "This is the most successful domestic program in the history of the United States," Clinton said to applause from seniors gathered in Washington to push their policy agenda. "When I'm president, privatization is off the table because it's not the answer to anything." She also said she does not support cutting benefits or increasing the retirement age. Seniors can begin collecting partial benefits at age 62, with full benefits available at age 67 for those born in 1960 or later. The program's trustees issued a report in April that made clear the deficits Social Security faces: Has the size of the Social Security problem changed over the last year? * In net present value terms, Social Security owes $6.8 trillion dollars more in benefits than it will receive in taxes. That number includes $2.0 trillion, in net present value terms, to repay the bonds in Social Security's trust fund. This $300 billion increase is almost 4.5 percent higher than last year's $6.5 trillion number. The 2007 number consists of $2.0 trillion to repay the special issue bonds in the trust fund and $4.8 trillion to pay benefits after the trust fund is exhausted in 2041. Net present value measures the amount of money that would have to be invested today in order to have enough money on hand to pay deficits in the future. In other words, Congress would have to invest $6.8 trillion today in order to have enough money to pay all of Social Security's promised benefits between 2017 and 2081. This money would be in addition to what Social Security receives during those years from its payroll taxes. .... * Social Security spending will exceed projected tax collections in 2017. These deficits will quickly balloon to alarming proportions. After adjusting for inflation, annual deficits will reach $67.8 billion in 2020, $266.5 billion in 2030, and $330.9 billion in 2035.

Why do libs think health care is a right? What next, car insurance? How about free food for everyone? Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of 'Free' Health Care Every new 'right' the U.S. government has promised has turned into a massively expensive failure, yet the media continue to cheer supporters of tax-funded programs. Americans are obsessed with rights. We always have been. But the concept of rights our forefathers laid out in the Declaration of Independence has changed dramatically. Those rights – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – were acknowledged to come from the Almighty, given equally to all people. Today’s rights come from Almighty Government. Health care is the newest “right.” From presidential candidates’ universal plans to the return of HillaryCare to Michael Moore’s movie “Sicko,” it’s all over the media. Calling it a “right” is an emotional argument advanced by those who want others to pay for their health care. They bring out the children and ask whether anyone can deny them the “basic human right” of health care – but don’t bother with the evidence showing how health care in this country would be harmed by government control. A look at other modern “rights” might give us a clue about how well a new system would work. These rights started out as privileges, among them education and a paid retirement. Now education is not only considered a right, it’s a mandate. How well has it worked? American students attend school at least until their teen years, but 15-year-olds ranked 24th out of 29 countries in aptitude for “real-life math problems,” according to The Washington Post. Literacy surveys suggest one in five American adults is functionally illiterate. And taxpayers keep shelling out money to fund the system. Americans also cherish the right to retire – but we expect to be supported in our old age. Younger workers and employers are forced to support retirees, funding another right. And how well has that worked? The poorly designed, outdated Social Security system is disintegrating rapidly as the number of retirees balloons. But once you’ve established a right, it’s difficult to take it away. The government, which promises such rights, must go to its sugar daddy – taxpayers – to keep the rights coming. We’re already well on our way toward the health care right/mandate. Want to be more like Canada? It’s not that far off. Cato’s Michael Cannon has pointed out that third parties in America pay 86 cents of every dollar of our health care – about the same as Canada’s socialized system. What we – or rather, those third parties – pay for health care is already determined by the government as well. Emory University medical professor Robert Swerlick has noted that “the pricing of medical care in this country is either directly or indirectly dictated by Medicare.” This market meddling even causes doctor shortages, he says, in needed areas of specialty. Prescription drugs are already considered a right, thanks to political moves like the Medicare drug benefit and massive media support. A Business & Media Institute study found broadcast journalists treating prescription drugs as though they grew on trees. Overall, the coverage supported the idea that medications should magically be available to everyone at far lower costs. Of course, the magic behind new “rights” is your money. Cannon and fellow Cato expert Michael Tanner explained problems with tax-funded care in their book “Healthy Competition: What’s Holding Back Health Care and How to Free It.” If health care is guaranteed to everyone, how much does everyone get? Who decides who receives what, and how would the care be administered? What happens if everyone wants the most expensive treatment available? “With the wide variety of medical tests and treatments that consumers may claim as their right, someone at some point must decide where the right to health care ends, lest the nation be bankrupted,” they wrote. We’re well on our way toward that as well. Our “rights” to Social Security and Medicare devour about 40 percent of the federal budget. State and local property tax revenue, which normally funds education, mushroomed about 35 percent between 2000 and 2005, according to the Tax Foundation. We can’t afford any more “rights” like that. But the left says tax-funded care is right for the children. Meanwhile, what becomes of them? They’re growing up in an America where the “rights” mentality is deeply ingrained, and the media continue to feed them with it. When the children come of age, perhaps they’ll want the right to a job. They won’t remember that France already tested that idea for us, and it led to high unemployment and rioting. Perhaps they’ll guarantee Disney vacations for all families and force childless Americans to pay for it. “The pursuit of” will conveniently fade away as they look to government to guarantee happiness. They will know less and less of a true right – liberty – and have no idea where it comes from.

anyone out there good at arranging parties? im having a retirement party/luncheon for my friend, about 40 people will be attending ..besides food, balloons and flowers i dont know what else to do a slide show??? please need some imput!!!

Why not pay for your own health care? Americans are obsessed with rights. We always have been. But the concept of rights our forefathers laid out in the Declaration of Independence has changed dramatically. Those rights – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – were acknowledged to come from the Almighty, given equally to all people. Today’s rights come from Almighty Government. Health care is the newest “right.” From presidential candidates’ universal plans to the return of HillaryCare to Michael Moore’s movie “Sicko,” it’s all over the media. Calling it a “right” is an emotional argument advanced by those who want others to pay for their health care. They bring out the children and ask whether anyone can deny them the “basic human right” of health care – but don’t bother with the evidence showing how health care in this country would be harmed by government control. A look at other modern “rights” might give us a clue about how well a new system would work. These rights started out as privileges, among them education and a paid retirement. Now education is not only considered a right, it’s a mandate. How well has it worked? American students attend school at least until their teen years, but 15-year-olds ranked 24th out of 29 countries in aptitude for “real-life math problems,” according to The Washington Post. Literacy surveys suggest one in five American adults is functionally illiterate. And taxpayers keep shelling out money to fund the system. Americans also cherish the right to retire – but we expect to be supported in our old age. Younger workers and employers are forced to support retirees, funding another right. And how well has that worked? The poorly designed, outdated Social Security system is disintegrating rapidly as the number of retirees balloons. But once you’ve established a right, it’s difficult to take it away. The government, which promises such rights, must go to its sugar daddy – taxpayers – to keep the rights coming. We’re already well on our way toward the health care right/mandate. Want to be more like Canada? It’s not that far off. Cato’s Michael Cannon has pointed out that third parties in America pay 86 cents of every dollar of our health care – about the same as Canada’s socialized system. What we – or rather, those third parties – pay for health care is already determined by the government as well. Emory University medical professor Robert Swerlick has noted that “the pricing of medical care in this country is either directly or indirectly dictated by Medicare.” This market meddling even causes doctor shortages, he says, in needed areas of specialty. Prescription drugs are already considered a right, thanks to political moves like the Medicare drug benefit and massive media support. A Business & Media Institute study found broadcast journalists treating prescription drugs as though they grew on trees. Overall, the coverage supported the idea that medications should magically be available to everyone at far lower costs. Of course, the magic behind new “rights” is your money. Cannon and fellow Cato expert Michael Tanner explained problems with tax-funded care in their book “Healthy Competition: What’s Holding Back Health Care and How to Free It.” If health care is guaranteed to everyone, how much does everyone get? Who decides who receives what, and how would the care be administered? What happens if everyone wants the most expensive treatment available? “With the wide variety of medical tests and treatments that consumers may claim as their right, someone at some point must decide where the right to health care ends, lest the nation be bankrupted,” they wrote. We’re well on our way toward that as well. Our “rights” to Social Security and Medicare devour about 40 percent of the federal budget. State and local property tax revenue, which normally funds education, mushroomed about 35 percent between 2000 and 2005, according to the Tax Foundation. We can’t afford any more “rights” like that. But the left says tax-funded care is right for the children. Meanwhile, what becomes of them? They’re growing up in an America where the “rights” mentality is deeply ingrained, and the media continue to feed them with it. When the children come of age, perhaps they’ll want the right to a job. They won’t remember that France already tested that idea for us, and it led to high unemployment and rioting. Perhaps they’ll guarantee Disney vacations for all families and force childless Americans to pay for it. “The pursuit of” will conveniently fade away as they look to government to guarantee happiness. They will know less and less of a true right – liberty – and have no idea where it comes from.

For Charmed Fans .... what do you think? Phoebe drives into the parking lot of the Bay Mirror. This will be her last time, she wanted to say goodbye to her workers and friends. Phoebe decided to retire her advice column “Ask Phoebe”. After talking a long pause to take in the finality of this she gets out of her car, she opens up the back car door and gets her child out of the baby carrier. Phoebe walks towards the Bay Mirror’s main floor and see’s everyone has been waiting for her.Happy Retirement Banners, balloons and streamers hang from the wall.Everyone quietly says “Surprise” they knew Phoebe was bringing her new daughter and didn’t want to scare or make her cry. Phoebe, truly surprised says “You guys, this is so nice, Thank You” . Elise , Phoebe’s former boss speaks up “ Even though you are too young to retire, we wanted to tell you how much you meant to all of us and we wish you only the very best”, with a big and proud smile Phoebe says “I would like to introduce you to Penny Patricia Halliwell ( Penny named for her Grams who raised her and Patricia for her Mother ) . Everyone started to gather around her to see the new baby. Paige who decided to open her own social worker company was taking her daily walk , breathing in the fresh air and enjoying the calm of the day. Ever since the big battle, things have been fairly quiet on the demon front. She generally pauses at this large shaded tree during her walks to just appreciate it’s calming beauty, but today was different there is a very old lady that was trying to stand up from a sitting position. Paige said let me help you, the little old lady said that is so kind of you young lady. Just as she was helping the older lady up a very large and heavy branch was falling quickly towards the both of them. Paige using her powers said “branch” then altered the path so it wouldn’t fall on either of them. The older lady said Thank You in a strong voice, had a evil smile, her eyes turned red with fire then she disappeared. Paige said out loud “great, here we go again”. Phoebe walks into her home across the street from the Halliwell Manor, both her and paige purchased homes within feet of each other. They finally had separate places to live but had the strength of the Power of Three close at hand. Juggling little penny and a few of the retirement gifts given to her, she was a little surprised to see Piper sitting in her living room. “Hi, Piper” “what’s up ?” , “Well if like you didn’t already know, it’s time for penny’s wiccaning”. As Phoebe puts penny down in her bassinet she remarks “ I can’t believe I forgot, with my retirement and coop’s new buisness” ( Coop, a former cupid decided to open up a dating service called Cupid’s magical Ring ). Piper stood up by the circle of candles, Phoebe prepared herself for it was time to call Grams once again (as the matriarch of their family, it is grams responsibility to call every matriarch from each generation to introduce the new child and say a protection blessing over her ). "Here these words, hear my cry, spirit from the other side, come to me, I summon thee, cross now the great divide." (Colourful lights swirl inside the candle circle and then Grams appears.) Grams steps out of the circle and becomes corporeal. She hugs Phoebe and Piper. “Where is our new angel” grams said. Phoebe points to the sleeping baby in the bassinet. Grams noticed the pink blanket and says Phoebe it’s a girl, with a big smile Grams wanted the female Halliwell tradition to continue, Piper had 2 boys. “Oh she is so beautiful, Phoebe , what is her name” . With a devilish smile knowing how exicted Grams will get. Phoebe said I named her Penny Patricia” with a shock but elated happiness Grams said “ I an so honored, and that was very thoughtful naming her after your Grams”. Grams looked at both Piper and Phoebe and said this is a very special day not only will we perform little Penny’s wiccaning but it has been 5 years since you won the big battle. “The elders decided to give both of you a very special gift, and it is time that you both are ready” grams said. As Grams turned towards the circle of candles still lit from her entrance, once again ( Colourful lights swirl inside the candle circle ) this time it was longer then usual for that someone to appear as if it was for dramatic effect. Piper and Phoebe both were eagerly awaiting to see what grams was talking about, then it happened something that they were both so longing to see. With tears streaming down their faces and their hearts filled with joy both Piper and Phoebe in unison said her name “PRUE”. Prue also with a smile on her face walked out of the circle of candles and became corporeal like grams. Piper and Prue immediately rushed to her and hugged her and didn’t want to let go, The original Power of Three, the original Charmed Ones or more importanly the three sisters are together once again. Piper and Phoebe have been waiting for what seemed forever to see and be with their beloved Prue who died at the hands of Shax, those many years ago. Grams interuppted and said girls, she is here for today only as a special visit. Piper and Phoebe understanding what grams said but too excited to let that statement sink in and know their time is very limited. “I’ve been watching over you on your many adventures and I can say that I’m very proud of how you handled things and how much you have grown and matured, of course I haven’t gotten any older ( with a little smirk on her face ) “Cute” Piper says, remembering how competitive and sassy Prue can be. “So…. Tell us what it is like up there” phoebe asked. Prue responded “ You know I’m not allowed to say but I can tell you I’m very happy and can finally let you know that Andy and I are able to be together without distractions,demons,excuses or any obstacles that we had down here” ( Andy was Prue’s 1st love , they grew up together and rekinddled their love right after she learned she had became a witch, after all that they went through in that first year and with Andy finding out her secret, Andy was killed by a demon trying to protect Prue. Little did anyone know at that time that only 2 short years later Prue would be gone also but she was able to be reuntied with Andy in Heaven ). It has been an hour since Prue reunited with her sisters, Paige was already coming over for the wiccaning but she had other things on her mind. After opening the door at Phoebe’s house, Paige yells out “Guys we have a demonic problem” she turned the corner and saw Phoebe and Piper sitting, she could see both of their faces but saw the back of someone’s head. Piper and Phoebe looked up and Paige said “OOP’s, (with a cringe in her mouth, like she made a mistake saying the demon word out loud) I didn’t know you were going to have company over today, especially today of all days”. Both Piper and Phoebe stood up and with a big smile on their face ( Paige thought to herself that’s a weird reaction ) Piper said “ Paige I want to introduce you to someone very special, this is your sister PRUE”. Prue stood up and turned around and for the first time ever Paige finally got to meet Prue. They both smiled and Paige said (chocked up but able to get the words out) “ I’m so glad to meet you”, Prue said “Nice to meet you too….. (paused for a moment) then said “sis”.Ever since Paige reconstituted the power of three, she heard the stories of how powerful Prue was, how protective of her sisters Prue was and she was the best at her craft. Paige always felt she needed to become as good as Prue to be truly accepted by Piper and Phoebe, of course that wasn’t the case but she put that undo pressure on herself. Paige said “ok, I’m a little confused, what’s going on”. Phoebe spoke up and said Prue was sent to us for today only not only for penny’s wiccaning but as a special reward for winning the final battle”. “Yeah, about that !” Paige said. Before she said another word Grams entered the room with some cookies and tea. The minute she set that down on the table Paige let out a warm and elongated “Grams” they both hugged and paige said it’s nice to see you again. Piper still the worrier said “ok, Paige spill, what’s going on ?” with the curl of Paiges lip, which she does when she thinks she’s in trouble and a tilt of her head said “ I left my agency like I do everyday for a walk and say this little old lady by the tree I stop at, she looked like she was having a hard time getting up so I bent down to help her and this huge branch came swinging towards us, I used magic to avoid us both from getting hurt but as soon as that was over, her eyes glowed with fire and then she vanished”.Phoebe said “ she was probably testing you to see if you had powers, maybe if you are just magical or maybe even if you are a Charmed One”. Piper chimed in with a disappointed “paige” as to say why did you have to do that.Paige said “Sorry, How was I suppose to know she was a demon”, just then Prue spoke up and said “it’s ok Paige you did the right thing, we just need to figure out what she is up to”, with a smile and a nod paige said “thank You, Prue”. Piper called Leo at the manor, he already was home from running magical school for the day “Honey can you bring Wyatt and Chris over to Phoebe’s house”, Leo responded “ok, I thought we weren’t suppose to come over until later tonight”, “Yeah, the plans have changed, Paige found a demon for us to fight so I need you to watch penny while we do our thing” Piper said. Leo got the kids together and walked across the street to Phoebe’s house. Piper wanted to walk over to the manor to read the book of shadows to see if they could maybe find out about their newest demon but Paige wanted to show off in front of Prue so she orbed Piper,Phoebe,Grams and Prue to the attic where the book of shadows still remains. After going through the book cover to cover several times a frustrated paige said I can’t find her in here anywhere, everyone was looking at each other stumped and frustrated except for Prue she was looking around the attic looking at things and going through her memories of the years she spent there. Just then the demon that Paige ran into appeared in the attic and the old lady that could hardly stand up on her own turned into a beautiful young women she said “Aww, don’t be frustrated ladies, the fun is about to start”, she grabbed the person closet to her and disappeared, it was Prue.”Geez, can’t we have a normal family reunion or a peaceful wiccaning for that matter” Piper said, Phoebe said with a sarcastic tone “Well, Prue is dead,so it’s not really a normal family reunion” Piper in her usual funny frustration said you know what I mean. Grams the logical and most experienced said “ladies,Ladies, we need to focus, we need to get Prue back for penny’s blessing tonight”. “And how do you propose us to do that, she isn’t in the book of shadows, Prue isn’t really alive so we can’t scry ( a supernatual lowjack so to speak ) for her, we have no clues” a frustrated Piper said also mumbeling under her breath “the final battle, the final battle” a sarcastic comment on they all thought that was the last time they would have to deal with a major demon. Again the Demon re-appeared, this time with no Prue. “Where is Prue, What do you want from us?” Paige asked . My name is Astarte paige interuppted “The Spirit Queen of the dead ?” Phoebe gave Paige a confused look, “I read a lot” paige said with a roll of her eyes.”Yes !” answered Astarte . I want you to conjure Alastor “What is he an ex-demon boyfriend of something” piper said with a acerbic tone. Your side has become to powerful vanquishing the source, (which time, phoebe said with a smile) Astarte continued but with a little more annoyance, after the source,the avators, Zankou and Billie and Christy in the big battle just to name a few. Alastor is a powerful demon called the executioner . Piper is her usual summary said “ So, let me get this straight you want us to summon a poweful demon known as the executioner so he can kill innocents and probably us ?”. “You have 2 hours of your beloved sister Prue we be caught in between her corporeal body and her spiritual body she will endure torture and pain unimaginable for eternity” Astarte then disappeared. “What are we going to do grams” piper said. You are going to sumon Alastor and Astarte will regret the day she went up against the power of three, the power of four you mean with a wink of the eye by Phoebe referring to Prue. Exactly 2 hours later Astarte appeared and said “Time is up” . “We want Prue, here now !” demanded Piper. With a wave of her hand Prue appeared unharmmed but still bound by a lazer rope that wraps around he feet and legs, with a little humor Prue said “ You see why I don’t visit more often”. “Enough” Astarte said forcefully. “Alright,Alright relax for a few minutes, it’s not everyday we conjure a demon executioner” Paige said with a twinge of humor. The girls had a smoking pot with some type of potion, they threw in the picture of Alastor from the book of shadows and with a few words the whole room started to fill with white smoke then black smoke then finally red smoke, then with a blazing bright light Alastor appeared and as evil and horrifying as the picture shown in the book of shadows.With some grunting and menacing noises Alastor looked very much alive. Astarte was very pleased, Piper said “let Prue GO !” with a flip of the wrist the laser ropes disappeared. With a satisfied and evil smile Astarte said to Alastor “Kill them, Kill them all”. Alastor looked at Astarte with a menacing face and with a deep and ferocious voice said “Why would I want to do that dear” . Taken back by that weird statement Astarte looked confused and puzzled. Then with a swirl Alastor turned back into Grams. Astarte was tricked. Before she could do anything the power of four Prue,Piper,Phoebe and Paige read the vanquishing spell, Astarte started screaming in pain while the flames engulfed her body then disappears. Prue speaks up “ You can’t mess with sisters” they all smile. Now that their adventure is over everyone including Leo,Coop and Henry ( Piper,Phoebe and Paige’s husbands are there. GRAMS: (reciting) I call forth from space and time Matriarchs from the Halliwell line, Mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, (Behind GRAMS, white whisps of spirits move in the open area.) GRAMS: (reciting) Our family spirit without end, to gather now in this sacred place (Behind GRAMS, a white gold light flares as all the Matriarchs in their various ghostly/spiritual forms appear. They're dressed in the clothes of their own time period.) GRAMS: (reciting) and help us bring this child to grace. (Matriarchs young and old all stand behind GRAMS to bless WYATT. GRAMS turns around to address the Matriarchs.) GRAMS: The next generation has been born into our family, our legacy. Grams turns to Phoebe and Coop as they give penny to Grams to hold GRAMS: We pledge to be with this child, this beautiful girl, my namesake, always. Apart, but never separate, free, but never alone. She is one of us and because of that, we will bless her with all the goodness that we are. Welcome to the family, Penny Patricia Halliwell (GRAMS kisses Penny on her cheek) GRAMS: Blessed be. THE MATRIARCHS: Blessed be. The whole family says Blessed be. Phoebe and Piper are happy with the ceremony but also very sad because they know it is time for Prue to go back and they don’t know when they will see her again. Again with tears in their eyes the look upon Prue. Prue walks over to paige and says you have become a powerful and compasionate witch/whitelighter there is no one that could have done a better job of keeping the power of three going, you are as good as I ever was and with you here I feel the charmed ones will be just fine.With a embarrassed glance down after looking at Prue, Paige manages a smile although she felt like crying because she finally was able to meet her last sister and feels validated after all her work to be an important part of the charmed ones. Next Prue walks over to Piper and Phoebe and gives each of them a long hug and a kiss on the cheek. Prue seeing the tears in their eyes try’s to releave some of their pain “ You know as long as you have me in your heart and your memories I will never be gone , besides we all will be together again someday” Smiling through their tears in the Colourful swirl of lights The matriarchs vanish , grams vanishes then before Prue vanishes she has a wink and a smile for her sisters. Thank You, Yes I did write it. I always wanted closure with Prue for the Charmed Ones.

Did you here Rush today? RUSH: This is a fascinating, fascinating piece. It's right up my alley here, and I'm surprised that this piece got published in Newsweek -- and furthermore, that it was put on the PMSNBC website. The woman who wrote it is Paula Spencer who lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and I can't believe she will last there very long after having written this. "We Protect Kids From Everything But Fear -- With hand sanitizer and long-sleeved swimsuits, we're teaching our children a dangerous lesson." This is in the April 2nd issue of Newsweek, by the way. "Four 11- and 12-year-old girls stood in front of my open pantry, mouths gaping wide. 'Look! Fruit Roll-Ups!' 'Oh, my God! Chocolate-chip cookies!' 'You have regular potato chips? We only get the soy kind!' After 14 years and four kids, I thought I'd feel comfortable as a mother. Instead, I'm increasingly aware of a prickly new sensation: that I'm some kind of renegade. "Who knew that buying potato chips would become a radical act? Or that letting my daughters walk home from school alone would require administration approval? How did I, a middle-of-the-road mom, become a social deviant? Fear is the new fuel of the American mom. If it's not fear of her child becoming obese, it's the fear of falling behind, missing out on a sports scholarship or winding up with a thin college-rejection envelope. Apparently I'm not nervous enough. Last summer while I was loafing in front of the TV with my kids, the most benign things morphed into menaces. For example, the sun: long-sleeved, UV-protective swimsuits were all the rage at my neighborhood pool, while I could barely remember to bring the year-old sunscreen. The water wasn't safe either: at the beach I saw tots dressed in flotation belts and water wings -- for shelling along the shore." They weren't even in the water! "And goodbye, cotton candy and hot dogs! At a major-league game I saw moms and dads nix the stuff as if they'd never eaten the occasional ballpark treat. "As if their children would balloon into juvenile-diabetes statistics if a single swig of sugary soda passed their lips. Half my kids' friends -- who already make A's and B's -- had summer tutors in order to 'keep it fresh.' I thought vacation was for relaxing and recharging. What would our pioneer foremoms think? (You want something to worry about, let me show you frostbite, typhoid and bears!) Heck, what must our own mothers think? (Snap out of it! Go worry about something truly scary, like how you're going to pay for retirement!) I thought that once the kids were back in school, things would calm down. Instead, a fresh seasonal crop of anxiety sprouted, this time over corruptive candy fund-raisers and insufficient use of hand sanitizer. I know one mom who wants to change her son's schedule because he doesn't know anyone in his classes; she's worried he'll be 'socially traumatized' all year. "Another is afraid of a learning disability she just read about, though her child seems bright and charming to me. And then there's playground panic. I had to laugh when an Australian study recently found that playground injuries continue to rise despite safety improvements. One of the suspected reasons: the safe new play structures are so boring that kids are taking more risks in order to have fun. The fears are as irrational as they are rampant. Recently my children's elementary school failed to meet adequate yearly progress goals for a particular minority's reading progress under the No Child Left Behind Act and was placed on a warning list. This meant parents might gain the right to transfer their children to another school in the district. Never mind that this very same school sent more kids to the district's gifted program than any other, or that this entire district has the highest SAT scores in the state. The day the news broke, six different moms (none in the affected minority) asked me if I was planning to transfer my kids. From neighborhood pride and joy to threat to child's future overnight. "It's not that I think parents shouldn't worry about anything. I'm personally petrified of SUV drivers on cell phones. I fret as much as the next mom about how to pay for college. I pray my kids won't wander onto MySpace and post something dumb." Hey, that's probably already happened. "But you can't go around afraid of everything. It's too exhausting! No matter how careful you are, bad stuff happens (diaper rash, stitches, all your friends assigned to another class). And it's seldom the end of the world. Watching my daughter's friends ogle my pantry, I realized there's one big, legitimate fear that I haven't heard anybody mention: what's the effect of our collective paranoia on the kids? Yes, these very kids we want to be so self-sufficient, responsible, confident, happy and creative (not to mention not food-obsessed). The rest of the story. http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_032807/content/01125111.guest.html

Should we stay or move? I was born and raised in California. My husband has lived back east and wants to move back there in about 10 years to start retirement. He will be doing his own diesel engine thing and I will be doing my own balloon business thing. We want to buy 15 acres of land so we can have a farm and garden and such. The issue is, I like Cali and want to stay, he hates the heat and wants snow in the winter. Is there a city in Cali that is not TOO hot ,that gets snow or is close to mountains, where we can buy a large lot of land?

Do you plan on having kids? POSITION : Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop JOB DESCRIPTION : Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an, often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required. RESPONSIBILITIES : The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, and embarrassing the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility. POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION : None. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you. PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE : None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis. WAGES AND COMPENSATION : Get this.....you pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more. BENEFITS : While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right. Forward this on to all the PARENTS you know, in appreciation for everything they do on a daily basis, letting them know they are appreciated for the fabulous job they do...or forward with love to anyone thinking of applying for the job. ** AND A FOOTNOTE: THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!! Smartgirl, my wife and I had five, raised six and I have eleven wonderful grandbabies. It's Sataur not a hate letter.

The two part Chinese Democracy quiz.? Which of the following will have occured by the time Chinese Democracy is released? a) GWAR records an album of children's lullabys. b) Meatloaf does "that". c) A worldwide economic growth surge takes place due in part to the Trixter reunion tour. Nelson serves as the opening act. d) Having "ballooned" to 150 lbs, the Olsen twins become participants in VH-1's Celebrity Fit Club. e) Joey Fatone is convicted for the murder of Justin Tmberlake. He spends the next 30 years in a mental facility crying that he's "not just the fat one". f) The Rolling Stones announce their retirement after Charlie Watts dies on stage during the show. No one notices until the next morning. ... more... Which of the following could Axl Rose do to ensure that, if it's ever released, Chinese Democracy will be a complete success. a) Die his hair black, get a f*cked up haircut, and start wearing women's jeans and lots of eyeliner for photo shoots. b) Duet with Kevin Federline and market it as a comedy album. c) Include naked photos of Jessica Alba. d) Hire singer, bassist, songwriter, and producer extraordinaire Jack Blades to do everything on the album. e) Feature a video with dancers performing moves choreographed by Joey Fatone. f) Change band name to Tools of Violence and Dead Flowers (abbreviated TOVADF). g) Include naked pictures of Bea Arthur. ... more... Bonus Question: It's a six man elimination tag match inside a steel cage. On team #1 we've got Prince Markie Dee (of the Fat Boys), Mike Tramp (of White Lion), and Colin Hay (ex-Men at Work). Their opponents are Ronnie James Dio, Steven Page (of Barenaked Ladies), and Tom Petty. What is the order of elimination, and who is the winning team? Additional points for detailed eliminations.

anb bank taken over by fdic/need to refinace home loan/no bank will/what to do? $10,000. for 5 years/??? fdic took over bank/we have 90 days to refinance or they sell our loan with a balloon note due in dec. but they refinanced it every 3 yrs.when due after first year/we have paid on it for 4 yrs, it is an older trailor on a lot/contacted over 7 places including banks,credit unions,fdic,fed.programs/have been early on payment/what is going on?we owe no other bills/always early/fdic said it was best to refinance/can't find a lender/what happens now?same job for over 16yr. with the state/nothing from ANB bank was reported to credit bureau so have no credit/saved all receipts and canceled checks/ bankruptcy 8yrs ago due to divorce but have paid everything early since/have checking and a little savings and retirement account/no credit cards/how can it be this way/thanks/any real help appreciated it was appraised with the land for $28,000.00...the land is part of the note/there are so many people having to refinance here that nothing is available since the second largest bank in ar. failed.....no way to save this much before dec. but thanks sorry, about the slash marks never done this before...I was trying to save space...won't do this again...banks couldn't give us other ideas....loan is totally due in dec. but were told they could ask for full amount in 3 months when sold....the bank failed so the fdic took over and will sell assets...loans are assets...thanks