When I owned my first car, I knew nothing about insurance, how it worked, or where to go to get it. I basically asked my parents and they set me up with their company. I assumed that my parents knew about insurance. I’m sure there are plenty of people out there that are the same draw and have probably stuck with their car insurance or any insurance for that very reason. However, like the dozens of television commercials say, “You might be paying too much for your car insurance”. In some cases that’s not a bait and switch, that is reality. There are probably a lot of people out there who are paying a ton on car insurance for terrible coverage. We must remember that insurance companies are like any other business and are out to acquire a profit. They like to paint themselves as “do-gooders”, but for the most part they are providing a service just like any company. With this in mind, we should be approaching car insurance like we do when we shop at a department store. If you take the time and shop smart, you could literally achieve hundreds.

First, go online and search for a good list of auto insurers. There are plenty out there. Make a list on a piece of paper of all the one’s you would feel the most comfortable. This involves reading their websites, reviews, and other outside information on each company. Once you are finished getting on the preliminary information you will start to behold what the quotes will be for each company. Most insurance companies today have forms you can fill out on their websites to get an estimated premium quote. This means that they can give you a good ballpark figure of what you would be paying. This does not mean that it is the actual amount. One thing to keep in mind during this step is that once you fill these quote forms out they will be hunting you down for your business. You’ve figured out the ball park numbers, write them down next to each of the insurance companies names.

Before we become too hasty, the thing that you have to remember is that buying insurance can be like buying from Wal-mart in comparison to Target. Sometimes, you can engage the same DVD at Wal-mart for a cheaper price than you would at Target. There are insurance companies out there that are just more expensive than others and in a lot of ways there is no reason for them to be that expensive. First, weed out the companies that fair seem a little too “shady” or have bad reviews and a bad reputation. Even if the premium is really low, I would contemplate twice before jumping into something that might end up being a can of worms. Second, get rid of the high premium companies. Their coverages probably aren’t worth the money. Once you’ve reached a shorter list, then now you will start going to their local offices. Finally, get the phone numbers to the local insurance agent business office and set up an appointment to talk more in depth about their services. This doesn’t mean you’re set to buy the insurance necessarily, but it’s a design for you to get more information.

Before you make a bad decision by choosing your insurance company purely for low premium only, I will advise a few things. First, does it seem like they value customer service? When you call in to make a claim, or score something changed on your policy, the last thing you are going to want to deal with is a call representative or agent that is a jerk or doesn’t care. You don’t want your insurance company hassling you about service they should be providing you. Second, how reputable is this insurance company? Just because they are an “insurance” company doesn’t mean they are going to automatically be stand up business people (See AIG). Insurance companies are selling you “Peace of mind”. Peace of mind in their coverage and peace of mind that they will take care of you if something bad happens. If this company has a bad reputation for not paying out claims, or giving more hassle than it’s worth, then I would think twice before signing your business over to them. Third, what extra services are they willing to provide? A lot of times insurance companies might have a little higher of premium, but will be providing extra services in return. For instance, there are “Forgiveness” programs where if you get into one accident they won’t jack up your premium. Sure, you might be paying a little extra, but probably not even close to what you would pay after you got into an accident. In the waste, low premium is good and is what you want to strive for, but at the same time keep in mind the extra value that some insurance companies can provide. Ultimately, you want to get somewhat of a happy medium. Acquire that gross premium, but also with the added value of a quality insurance company that you know you can trust.

At this point you are ready to invent the final decision and the good news is is that insurance never does the “contract” stuff that cell phone companies or what have you try to pull. So, if you aren’t satisfied with the company or service you can always breeze and find another company. Hopefully by this time you are overjoyed to make the switch to assign some money and hopefully have a new relationship with an insurance company.

The communications department is no longer considered just another bullpen of flaky slackers. Companies now peep value-added dollar signs in them. Writers are in huge demand these days and a Golden Age may be upon us. It’s no exaggeration to speak that writers drive the progress of civilization. Without our skills, how can ideas be communicated?

But let’s not celebrate yet. Writers may be invaluable but they are also misunderstood.

As writers are added to a company’s rank and file, a problematic arises: how do you integrate writers with the rest of the staff. Writers are not an easy fit in corporate culture.

“Islands in the Stream / That is what we are” … “And we rely on each other ah-ha” … “And we can ride it together, ah-ha.” Remember that giant Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton hit? Sorry if the song is stuck in your head now, but we can behold the corporation/writer relationship in it. Though instead of “love,” we have something like a “win-win” situation-no one can afford to be too misty-eyed here.

Progressive companies with enlightened management understand the care, handling, and retention of writers. There are five steps to enlightenment.

1. To get results, separate writers from the hum. Ideally, and whenever possible, a writing team’s office should be set apart from the rest of the company on another floor, or even in a different building. Invite them to the odd meeting, let them circulate among the rest of the staff as needed, but let them twirl their hair by themselves. No one needs to see this.

As writers acquire knowledge, they can exercise a powerful, and sometimes weird or even vulgar, sense of humour that may tend toward bitter at times. It’s best if they don’t fraternize too much with others. They need to mediate, ponder, and imagine.
Sadly, not all writers are courteous or professional. Some are temperamental and others are just long-winded, pompous asses. Some may not even be good. Alas, there are even a few ingrates among us. But, more often than not, we pull through for a fine finish.

2. Let writers out of the stable. A loyal, trustworthy writer who can sit at a desk for hours upon demolish is a great procure. But even the most steadfast of the breed eventually succumbs to the roaming instinct. Let them wander and they will return to their desks for the deadline.

Every single thing in their lives is scrutinized with a ruthless sense of purpose. Ideas may come just by going to a public washroom. Valid managers can tell when a writer is on his or her game. So they perform the executive decision! They let the writer take off for a couple of hours.

3. Provide autonomy; it is required for creativity. And creativity is what you need most from your writers. If you must have your writers stay in-house, then try to make them feel unrestricted.

Anything can disturb the delicate ecosystem that is their mind. If asked to be just another cog in the wheel don’t count on them to think straight. When writers feel the environment is poisoned or toxic, they lose almost all motivation to be creative. They’re only there to pay their bills. The loss for the manager in this is dramatic. Writers become so preoccupied, they forget all about your SWOT analysis and your need for added value. Stop leaning on them and watch as they create beauty and method profitability toward you.

The moment managers mutter the words “Tough luck, this is how it is here,” they have spiritually lost the writer forever. To preserve your writer¬-and remember you have invested a lot in this employee-never issue any kind of ultimatum. It will contain the writer with indignation and pride and, since these are enemies of creativity, the writer must leave at the first opportunity.

Despite a revolution in the work force, where employees value independence more than ever before, you still need to befriend to the needs of a writer with special care. Treat them like entrepreneurs. Work out a fair and equitable contract, spell out all needs, and you and your writers will be happy.

4. Let writers be the eyes and ears of your company as you become truly global. Writers read-a lot. It’s how they win their wisdom. And, yes, shocking as it may seem, sometimes they do it on company time. But your scribe is not slacking! Please, no lashes!

Haven’t they suffered enough over the ages?

Writers are driven by curiosity. They’re never elated or comfortable with what they know. Often, they’re filled with doubts-self-doubt and other kinds. This keeps them reading and reading … and reading.

And in their research, they net out stuff. This is a huge asset for the writer and for the forward-thinking company that realizes it can’t buy that sort of knowledge just anywhere-unless they abduct a librarian or hire a marketing company whose wisdom and writers come at a higher price.

So when office staff scoff at writers or report their behaviours, companies should dismiss the tattletales: “This is why we have given the writers their own space. And how arrive you have time to spy on them? ” But colleagues who like to stir the pot should watch it. They may end up being mocked in the next office sitcom.

5. Tell writers that their text has been read. They’d like to know. Better yet, when something they have written hits the mark, it’s wise to acknowledge this success with some form of praise. Often, a simple “Thank you for the superb effort” will suffice. But in some instances, a detailed discussion of what worked and why will succor similar or greater efforts in the future.

Of course, bonus cheques (or cash) will never be refused; client satisfaction certificates and gifts of watches are not necessary.

Now, go give your writer a hug.

With special contribution from Christine Hastie.

My name is Harold A Yelle II, PE, PLS. I am a 56 year old French/Mexican American. My grandfathers immigrated from Quebec and Mexico City in the early 1900's. My Mexican grandfather ranched and farmed in Montana on land he homesteaded. My Canadian grandfather was a Union machinist in Boston for most of his life.

As a result of my childhood I have lived all over the USA from Cape Cod to San Francisco from Detroit to Atlanta before I turned 18. I truly am a product of the USA in its entirety. I have lived in North Carolina since 1971, married for 20 years with a wife I love dearly and three cherished and well loved children.

I entered the labor market in 1968. I have been aware of political and economic events in our country and in the world since the Nixon Kennedy election of 1960. My perspective is considered middle of the road to progressive, yet I vote Republican. I believe in self reliance and righteous neighbor policies.

I have been in the land surveying and civil engineering profession my entire adult life and a professional engineering and land surveying business owner most of my adult life. I am a graduate of Wake Technical with degree in Civil Engineering. I also have 2 years fo economics and accounting at NC Site University. I have helped design and get a city's worth of projects and have helped a lot of regular people with a dream deal with government regulations to make that dream a reality. I enjoy helping people. When they smile it makes me smile. I like to smile.

I tell you this so you can understand my perspective and my experience. The testimony may lend some credence to what I am about to put forth. I also have training in accounting, economics, law and the rest of the skills needed to run a business and be an effective employer.

I also own an interest in a book keeping service for contractors and sub contractors. A lot of my clients were illegal immigrants in the construction industry that my mom sent to me for abet. In addition I am Chairman of the Board of a small solar thermal company promoting the “Solartech Genius” thermal solar water heater. I am trying to put people back to work.

Where we are

As a civil engineer I am in a particularly good spot to foresee trends in the economy. I have noticed that this profession is like being the canary in the cave of our economy. The coal miners old canaries to alert them of toxic gases in the mines. The saying goes “if the canary dies you better head out quick”. So I tell people “if you want to know how the economy will be doing go talk to your local engineer. If he is busy pumping out plans for expansion your going to be busy soon. If the engineer is sing the blues you better watch out because the blues are coming to a neighborhood near you.”

In early 2007 I began to see declines in my company's revenues. In 2008 the decline in revenues accelerated. By the end of 2008 I foresaw serious times ahead, Christmas was, for me, the last good time of the era. In 2009 the rough road really began. Company revenues declined to the point that I was forced to lay off workers and secure hunkered down for the long storm. We gash salaries and I went without pay for the last 4 months of the year.

Where are we? There are a lot of canaries dying all around me. The land surveyors and architects are also dying. The canaries that are still holding on are, as echoed by all that I talk to nationwide, just barely surviving. All of us in this profession foresee rough times ahead. I think that tells you where we are as a nation.

Now on to how we got here.

I think you need to go back to 1980 to fully understand how we got to this place in time in the poorest economic state this nation has experienced in 80 years. I go support to 1980 which is a point where this country was in a similar economic condition. The root cause of the sour economy was the inept management and spending policies of the Carter administration. The government was sucking up all the credit. This sent interest rates, 21% prime rates and 16% mortgages, to the moon and all expansion stopped. No one bought homes, cars, furniture and the rest of the big ticket items. Unemployment rates went to 11% in my site.

The Reagan years brought fiscal restraint and a new ride of credit. I remember when mortgage rates hit 10% in 1982 it was like some one opened the dam gates and homes started selling like hot cakes. The next 4 years were boom years for genuine estate development and other industries shared in the snort. My company went from me, my partner and 2 guys to 65 employees in 3 different cities. 1986 looked like a good year. The economy was rolling and all was good until they went and screwed with the US tax code.

However in July, 1986 the fresh tax code took effect. The result of the tax code change was devastating to our economy through 1992. It was akin to you coming to work one day and you have a new computer at your desk with new software and a manual sitting on the desk. Then to kick you in the pants some they took away the major tools you old-fashioned to be productive. Your productivity would come to a grinding halt and so did America's. By the end of September most of the new development projects I had coming up were cancelled and I had to lay off employees. By July 1987 my firm was 1/3 the size of just one year earlier. The stock market took a nose dive September, 1987 and the Savings & Loan crisis rocked the country.

The root cause of the collapse was the tax code, which reduced tax rates from 70% to 28% max, removed tax shelter options used by all the doctors, lawyers and other well off people. These shelters helped people race the punitive 70% income tax rates. The tax shelters were and still are useful tools the government can use to recede capital to areas of national concern.

One of the areas that received tax incentives was real estate development through the LLP (Limited Liability Partnerships). LLP were semi corporations that could attract capital based on the ability to transfer paper losses to the partners. Basically a doctor could invest $25,000 and see paper losses of $100,000 over a 5 year period which he could use to reduce his taxable income. The net result of this tax shelter was projects that did not execute sense economically could exist. This stimulus kept home prices and rents down due to the increasing supply of dwellings that were available. The S&L's loaned money based on this capital stream and in 1986 the real estate market was still hot and life was good.

The tax code change of 1986 stopped the claim of losses by inactive partners. So these people stopped investing and the capital flow dried up, the real estate market collapsed, the S&Ls closed in large numbers and the anemic economy era of the late 80's and early 90's began. The tax code change of 1986 had an unintended consequence, examine for McMansions increased. The only tax write off left to the well of people was interest expense on 1^st and 2^nd homes and so they bought bigger and bigger homes. The rest of the country languished in the lack luster economy. The 80's was the beginning of an era of thinking that the US could deficit spend each year to balance the books. This mentality will eventually cook our goose

As I stated earlier the economy unbiased treaded water during late 80's up until early 1992. In 1992 the technology revolution began to have its effect on the US and world economies and we were beginning to see the positives from the tax code changes of 1986. I call the period from 1992 through the end of 1999 as the roaring 90's. Technology was creating wealth and jobs in bucket loads. The US was a job factory. This country was spinning off jobs throughout the world. Our leaders and captains of business began to press for “free trade” agreements with our trade partners.

I will mention the 1^st Iraq war occurred in early 90's. This is important because of the impact this action and the unintended consequences that were the final result 10 years later. It is my belief that we should have taken Saddam out in 1992 like the garbage he was. By leaving Saddam in power we had to occupy bases in Saudi Arabia to enforce the no fly zones. We provided Saddam a moral victory in the eyes of his Arab brothers. He lived long enough to encourage terrorism and plots against the US. The unintended consequences have been devastating including the September the 11^th, 2001 attack. The presence of the US military in Arabia and the military action Bill Clinton sporadically inflicted on Iraq angered certain parties to plan and execute the most devastating day in our history.

Bill Clinton was elected to office, the economic table was set for him to like a prosperous eight years. He really had nothing to do with the economic expansion of the roaring 90's. The engine of that prosperous period was micro electronics and the advances in our lives it afforded. All Clinton had to do to be known as a great president was don't screw things up. He screwed up and his legacy has brought us great pain. The unintended consequences of his actions and lack of actions are what have hurt us today. He is not alone in this blame.

The first of the trade agreements was the North American Free Trade Agreement of 1994. This agreement was between the US, Canada and Mexico. It is a much maligned agreement that does not deserve the level of criticism recently espoused during the 2008 Us elections. Bill Clinton signed this agreement into law much to my surprise. I think that a good trade environment between neighbors is a good thing. The effect was that some low skill manufacturing work like textiles and furniture was lost but it was replaced by other higher tech jobs. The problem is that most of the folks that lost their jobs due to NAFTA and the Chinese trade agreements lived in rural areas. The people that lost their jobs used the income to supplement small farm incomes, in their eyes a good life. Those itsy-bitsy town jobs were never to be seen again. These country folks had to relocate or commute to survive. The erosion of puny town jobs continues today at alarming rates due to the 2000 trade deal with China. More on China later on.

By 1996 the country and the world started to concern themselves with the Y2K problem. The Y2K problem, if you capture was due to a small program bug in almost every computer in the world. The Y2K scare included massive failure of all systems controlled by computers from financial to operational even national security. This glitch led to some glowing profound economic aberrations that have dramatically affected our country and the world even to this day. The net effect is that the retrofit required, in some case by law, massive outlays in capital to catch new computers and software updates so that the Y2K problem would not become a reality. This worldwide modernization of computers and software in governments and the smallest of businesses led to a rotund employment condition in the United States.

Our leaders thought that this unique period of full employment was going to continue forever. They must have believed the premise to have lead to the decisions by our leaders that we are paying for now. They allowed this country to enter into trade agreements with countries that would compete with our countrymen's jobs. The people in small town America have borne the blunt of these decisions. Clinton and others entered into these agreements in order to attain protection of intellectual property, patents and copyrights and to gain access to those markets including service contracts with those governments. Remember these people believed that the tech yelp was going to continue for ever and we could spare the jobs.

Life was good for most of America during the roaring 90's. Our tech industry had powered us into economic boom period. That all changed on December 31, 1999. The political and regulatory decisions of the late 90's need to be mentioned these decisions were key elements in the coming perfect economic storm. Also to be mentioned our CIA Director in 1997 declared war on Al Qaeda. In 1997 Osama Bin Laden authorized the attacks of September 11^th. It should be noted that UBL was motivated to strike at the US for several reasons. Those reasons include our support for Israel, our occupation of bases in Saudi Arabia and the continued harassment of Iraq through enforcement of the no cruise zone policy in northern and southern Iraq.

The table was now spot for the looming economic perfect storm. The first of the storm waves was the Y2K – Telecom recession. This recession began on a specific date, that date was January 1, 2000. This was the beginning of the 2000- 2001 recession. Two things occurred on this date, first the Y2K scare led to a rare economic condition. As a result of the Y2K period at the end of the 90's the request curve for computers, hardware and software was 99% satisfied. The second event was the all out failure of the retail internet industry to make a profit during the 1999 Christmas holiday season. This failure resulted in a near collapse of the dot com industry and the heavily invested telecom industry.

The tech industry, the engine that powered us through the 90', had a big hiccup. As a result of the dramatic down turn in seek information from of tech equipment including computers and internet equipment the tech industry showed losses in the first quarter of 2000. This report of losses led to the collapse NASDAQ from 5000 to 2000 points. The loss of demand led to the first round of job losses and tech industry consolidations. The losses in the stock market and the tech industry combined so that by early 2001 the Y2K recession was in full bloom. During this period the 2000 China trade was signed into law and soon it will have a famous ill effect on or economy.

The 2000-2001 recession was short lived. By summer of 2001 the economy had rebounded. The rebound was powered by tax cuts, the tech industry that was recovering and illegal immigration. The generous thing about the tech industry is that in 4-5 years obsolescence requires businesses, governments and individuals to update their computer software and equipment. The fed also dropped interest rates which also spurred economic activity. Illegal immigration fueled our economy by providing cheaper labor and consumers of our class C products. By September 10 2001 life in America seemed to be on the move upward. However our national debt was continuing to grow at an unsustainable rate.

Let me briefly explain the economic effect that illegal immigrants had on our economy. When they arrived in America they brought a will to succeed, a work hard ethic and an appreciation of freedom found in America. The also arrived here with few possessions. Once they arrived and were absorbed into the work force they began to buy the necessities of American life, things like furniture, clothes, TV's, cell phones and used cars. They also occupied dwellings like apartments and other C class rental property. Many illegal aliens started businesses, lived the American dream and were absorbed into the fabric of America.

After a while the illegals began to buy C class homes or better. The lending vehicle of choice was the sub prime mortgage. When you have a million people a year entering our economy it will have substantial positive and negative effects. One positive effect, short term, was that illegals bought or rented C class homes or better which meant that the landlord's incomes were up or the guy who owned a C class home could sell his house and buy the B class house his wife wanted. In short the economy was growing because of the millions of illegals entering the USA. This is an important element in our current economic malaise.

However it all changed in a blink of an eye on September 11, 2001. On that day our country's economic foundations were shook to its base. We all know how that day affected each of us and most of us will never forget the sense of loss, fear of the future and anger at those responsible. That anxiety and sense of loss translated into a severe economic down turn in America. People stopped buying most non distinguished consumer items including real estate. We were shocked by the collapse of the stock market and we were uncertain of our future. Personally I experienced a significant recession in my business. The example I give to illustrate is “on September 10^th the phones at my office were ringing with work orders, on September 12^th the phones in my office stopped ringing for the next 7 months”.

The after effects of the 911 attacks have been a significant burden for our country which included a severe recession that lasted a year. We detached are reeling from the attacks even though the memory of that day has faded in many people. The Bush administration and the Federal Reserve responded to the aftermath by attacking the Taliban and dropping the bottom out of interest rates. The success in Afghanistan in 2002 allayed the fears in Americans and the drop in interest rates stimulated Americans to prefer.

Also during this time the political climate was hostile. The 2000 election angered the democrats. They were so sure their man would win and he lost. All of their grand plans would have to wait 8 years. As a result of their anger they used every means possible to smear, obstruct and destroy the Bush administration. After the 911 attacks the democrat leaders were forced to ease up their obstruction and attacks to protect their image as patriotic Americans. The response by Bush to the 911 attacks and his success in Afghanistan resulted in 80% approval ratings the democrats were reeling but they had to be seen as team players so they cooled their jets for the short term.

By 2003 the economy was stabilizing and the construction boom fueled by record low interest rates and government wartime spending was gaining momentum. This actual estate boom was impacted by the illegals as I have mentioned. They bought the “C” class home as a rule using the sub prime mortgage but this demand by illegals fair part of the overall demand for all things sincere estate related. All this demand led to unsustainable inflated real estate values in 2005 through 2006. In real estate there is a limit to the demand. That limit is the size of our population and marvelous buyers seeking real estate.

The Federal Reserve dropped interest rates in 2002 to get the US economy going but they left the rates too low for too long. This extended period of low interest rates encouraged the inflated right estate values and risky real estate investment. The extended period of low interest rates eventually sucked all of the legitimate buyers out of the market. The secondary more risky buyers were allowed to enter the housing market as a result of government regulations that required the banks to lend to these people.

Most banks complied for in the end they sold the mortgages to Freddie and Fannie and others investment banks which eliminated the risk of bad loans for the originators of the mortgages, like your local bank. These mortgages were bundled into securities and sold abroad. These securities were insured by AIG which insured that foreign investors would not lose the money they had invested. Personally I assume AIG was lured into these insurance policies by the US government in an effort to prop up Freddie and Fannie which was being poorly managed.

The period from spring 2003 to the summer of 2006 life was good in the US and worldwide. The consumerism that was powered by the dependable estate pronounce and wartime spending in the US also fed the economies of the world. There was record employment and expansion during this period. The US economy was spinning off jobs at a record breeze.

The US employed increased from 132.4 million to 144.4 million from January, 2001 to July, 2006. This is an amazing stat considering that during this same period we lost 4 million manufacturing jobs to China. Yes, the Bush economy created 16 million new jobs during this period. Bush did a pretty gracious job during that period considering that the Democrats were keen with dirty partisan politics and obstruction risking our well being to attain power.

The whole scenario of nearly free credit and limitless expansion was like a house of cards. For a while it was working well but like a house of cards one slight breeze or change in the smallest of the parts would result in a economic perfect storm. Two significant changes in the economic house of cards occurred in this period.

The first change was the rising tide of the Chinese manufacturing sector. The Chinese had successfully entered the World Trade Organization and negotiated generous trade agreements worldwide. Their ability to nearly compel all manufacturing of the worlds products, with the encourage of Wal Mart, et al, to be “Made in China” enriched China beyond their expectations.

This new found cash surplus led to a massive Chinese expansion of their infrastructure. In 2004 the Chinese, with all their cash, won the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The massive building projects associated with the Olympics just add demand for commodities. The short term result of the New China was that we all paid more for fuel, cement and all things related except “Made in China”.

The second change was the illegal immigration problem or region in the US was starting to become a real political articulate. The cumulative accomplish of years of illegal migration of South Americans was stating to take a toll on all of the natives. For unlit and white people it was loss of jobs to the cheap priced illegals, security and infringement on long held territories to name a few reasons.

Local and set governments were complaining about the added burdens on government services by the poor immigrants. In 2006 a comprehensive immigration bill was offered by the Bush Administration but it was beaten back by an odd coalition of black and white, Republican and Democrat politicians. By the destroy of 2006 a lot of local and space governments were passing laws that basically stated “Go Home Now” to all illegal immigrants.

By late 2006 the demand for housing started to plain down, significantly and abruptly in many parts of the US. An example was eastern North Carolina. The real estate boom from 2004-2006 was hot in this position. Real estate prices doubled and some times tripled in just 2 years and everything was selling quickly. However in October, 2006 I began hearing about enormous builders having no sales for September and October in the Wilmington, NC market. It was like all the home buyers were not buying they just disappeared.

In reality we had saturated the market with housing and due to the record low interest rates everyone who wanted a home or vacation home had one. The only buyers that kept sales of homes afloat were the immigrants to the USA. This included illegal immigrants, remember they were buying “C” class homes and used cars in substantial numbers.

I believe the illegal immigrants stopped buying used homes and cars almost at once by gradual 2006 because of the uncertainty of the new political attitude toward them by a lot of US citizens, black and white citizens. Personally I judge the answer was “be careful of what you wish for” it may not turn out like you intended. When they stopped buying used homes and cars that meant the legal citizens could not buy new homes and cars, Hence the wind that upset the house of cards.

By early 2007 I began to see illegal immigrants, in large numbers, start to leave the US to go back to South America. I remember reading a telling local story of a young nice professional couple leaving the USA to return to Venezuela. They were returning to their home country, as troubled as Venezuela is, so they could return on their terms not as prisoners in shackles as prisoners of the USA. I own that when they left the USA many of the illegals who had bought homes defaulted on their mostly sub-prime mortgages.

This scenario of fear was playing out all over the US by spring of 2007. I saw it my sub contractor clients using my book keeping service going home to South and Central America. The signs of a slow down were every where including the stale car sales in 2007 and of course my own businesses were slowing down.

This was the beginning of the economic “Perfect storm”. As we labored through 2007 the Democrats did nothing to help head of the economic disaster. In my opinion the Democrats helped engineer this economic decline. The biggest contributing factor was the bankruptcy of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae who were protected by the likes of Barney Frank and Charles Todd. The Bush administration tried to warn congress of the insolvency caused by lenient lending policies enacted by earlier congress (1992). They offered solutions to the mounting mortgage problems in 2004 but the efforts were stymied by Democrats who would not vote to recede bills out of committees.

By January of 2007 the Democrats had control of both the House and the Senate. Their campaign of personal destruction and double crosses had the desired effect on the Bush administration and the Republican Party. As expected the Democrats did nothing to help America, we the people, pull out of the economic down turn from January 2007 through October of 2008, their reason, ultimate political power and destruction of the Republican Party.

The general public had no idea of the looming economic problems. However the financial industry knew full well what was going on. By April the mortgage backed securities sold worldwide were not selling very well. In fact the losses to foreign investors were mounting. As a result the available capital for mortgages was declining and investors were looking for other ways to make money, like commodities and war making. The real estate market had lost its steam and the real estate recession was beginning to reach full bloom. If you recall my business is expansion and construction design. By the end of 2007 I had to down size my firm again and 2008 was looking like a abominable year for the housing industry.

During the same period our manufacturing sector was losing jobs to the Chinese. Our tech industry was also beginning to lose jobs to the Indian and Chinese tech industry due to cheap labor cost and less restrictive government regulations. We were a country that manufactured a lot of things once which was our source of wealth, prosperity and decent jobs for the average Joe. In 2000 we forfeited that legacy left to us by the “greatest generation”. Now the average Joe is working for peanuts at Wal Mart or other service industry low paying job.

By 2008 the Chinese had the hottest economy in the world. Their economy and wealth was growing at a 10% rate. They were sucking up commodities to feed their fresh manufacturing sector and capital expansion projects. The Chinese had the cash and they were on a mission to raise themselves out of the 1970's economy and into the 21^st century. The growth of China was a source of income for the US financial industry, the tech industry and US based international retailers. The Chinese also bought our US debt it was a means to control our government.

This expansion by the Chinese required a lot of commodities like steel and concrete. It also required a lot of oil and diesel fuel as an example. There was a wild card in play in the commodities market and it was about to play out with disastrous effects on the US and world economies. That wild card was the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing China.

In 2004 the Chinese won the rights to the 2008 Olympics. By January 2008 the massive infrastructure improvements China was involved with were in full force all over China including preparation of Beijing for the simmer games. It seemed that the closer the Chinese got to the July, 2008 summer games the higher most commodity prices got. This was especially true for oil.

At first speculators world wide were making significant gains through speculation in oil markets. The price of oil went to a $100/brl and more by March, 2008. The financial industry prediction was oil prices would rise to $200/brl. The speculators were bidding the designate of oil up and the Chinese were caught up in the escalation of oil prices because they needed the oil to finish their expansion before the 2008 Olympics. The Asian oil market was controlling the world oil imprint due to the Chinese extraordinary demand for oil that was a result of the massive Chinese expansion. Our maintain government was not helping the situation either with large consumption of oil by our military and the continued purchase of oil for our national oil reserve.

The increase in oil prices led to higher fuel prices and food prices here in the USA. We were paying as much as $5.00 a gallon for gas and $5.50 for diesel fuel. The net execute of this was our economy, which was already reeling from the collapse of the real estate industry and decline in sales of gigantic ticket items like cars, furniture and electronics etc, started to free fall. Everybody, nationwide, was cutting befriend on purchases of non essential expenses like vacations, restaurants and extras. Each month the unemployment rate grew by hundreds of thousands.

By mid July, 2008 we were being told that the oil price would soon reach $200 a barrel and it sure looked that plan with oil prices at nearly $150 a barrel. It seemed that all the big players in the financial industry were riding the oil bubble to its heights. This included hedge funds and investment banks and average investors. They were all caught up in the hype of $200 a barrel before years end. They all bought oil contracts on the margin. This meant that they were buying contracts based on credit offered by the investment banks and commodity brokers. We the average people were paying a bad cost. Our cost of living had just increased by a astronomical amount..

Everybody was feeling the pinch even the rich people were hurting. The increased oil prices affected every facet of American. In short all of our extra money, regular people and corporations, was being sucked up by these increases. I remember a feeling of “we are screwed” by the end of July. My business was dying and the economic “perfect storm” was not over.

The oil bubble was getting ready to burst buy the end of July. The Chinese had completed their massive expenditures and now they were cleaning up their nation for the party of the century in August. The Chinese were slowing their purchase of all commodities, including oil. The commodity markets were now being controlled by the speculators and soon the oil prices began to collapse. This collapse of oil prices from $147 to $ 35 a barrel was good for “we the people” because by Christmas the price of gas was $1.60 but it was very dreadful for the speculators, investment banks and the common investor.

The effect of the oil collapse on banks was disastrous by the end of September. Why? The banks and others were now required to come up with hard cash to hide the losses on oil contracts purchased with credit at 147. It was cash they did not have. The speculators and investment banks gambled on flawed projections and lost, big time. The big investment banks, private and union retirement investment managers and hedge funds now faced bankruptcy and they were going to suck 'we the people” down with them unless something was done by the federal government.

October of 2006 Bush and his team of financial wizards in consultation with the world's best and brightest acted quickly and put a program and legislation together to avoid a worldwide economic catastrophe of epic proportions. The congress passed the legislation and we got TARPed. TARP is a $700 billion blank check issue by “we the people” to be used by the Treasury Department at their discretion to rescue the least affected of our financial institutions.

The democrats required that the auto industry to be included in this rescue in order to get the democrat caucus support for TARP. They needed to save the union, for obvious reasons, at all cost, remember if GM goes bankrupt all union contracts become null and void including the sweet retirement deals and health care coverage.

TARP or the Fearful Asset Relief Program was designed to allow the federal government to buy, finance or flat out acquire anything they need to stabilize the effects of bad gambles by our countries financial wizards. They stole GM and Chrysler from the legitimate investors like pension funds and investors small and large like hedge funds and turned the majority holding over to the unions.

It is hard to bear that the China summer Olympics caused all of that misery in 2008 but it is moral. At first I did not think of the connection but by November of 2008 it became true clear to me that this was the case. This collapse of the financial industry was the final card in our economic house of cards to fall. The economic “perfect storm” was over and our economy laid in rubble like New Orleans laid after Katrina and our national debt was growing by leaps and bounds.

In 10 years we have lost 38% our manufacturing sector to the Chinese. We began a program of expulsion of our illegal immigrants and we lost our housing industry and our car industry. Our country is exporting high paying tech industry abroad to Asia and India at a time when we need all the jobs we can get. Our financial industry bet the farm on oil and lost and now we have an injured limited banking system that is currently involved in the biggest ponzi scheme ever contrived to save their tails at our expense.

As a result of politics and bad decisions by our elite we now were heading head long in to a deep recession. You could construct the case that the Democratic Party plan to destroy Bush and the National Republican Party worked. The economy was in shambles and they could blame it on the Republicans and the Bush administration. Remember the Democrats were in charge of the House and Senate since January, 2007. If they wanted they could have taken the initiative to avert thus disaster. By the end of 2008 the Democrats were now in full control of our government.

“We the people” elected a new president, a Democrat congress and an administration that do not understand basic economic facts or they chose to ignore them in favor of ideology. The Democrats believed they could rescue the country with massive spending programs and life would be worthy for them again. Since the Democrats thought the economic problem was handled they rammed a health car bill through that we may all regret soon.

I think it is certain to all fair minded people that the Democrat belief has not worked to revive our economy or save our health care system. Due to the policies of the Democrats our national debt is out of control and we are close to being unable to avert total economic disaster. To compose matters worse the ponzi scheme the financial industry in partnership with our federal government and the Federal Reserve has left little money to finance private industry and “we the people”.

Briefly this ponzi scheme involves a cycle of loans, like check kiting, between the banking system that borrows money from the federal reserve at 0% interest, more or less, then the banks loan the US treasury the money at 3.5%. The substantial losers in this scheme are the poor slobs, we the people, who leave this work to the elite, the same group of smart people who got us into this financial mess. The kicker in this deal is “we the people” get to pay interest charges on our fill money and the bankers and money handlers are making fat bonuses once again at our expense. And our national debt is out of control and inflation is beginning to mount do to our governments extensive monetizing policies.

I think you now understand my view and perspective. I fill my recital of the main events or milestones that have shaped our current economic condition is accurate enough. The root causes were politics, war and the attack on the mainland, bad financial decisions by many Americans and institutions, a singularly bad trade deal with China and abominable decisions by leaders of government and industry. Now China has all the cash and we have all the debt. Soon we will feel the effects of the golden rule, he who has the gold rules.

Ideas and Solutions to secure a better future

Our Government

I have some ideas on what we should do as a nation to be great again. I think that the situation is at a point where by “we the people” must realize the facts of the matter and not the dribble propaganda spewed by the ignorant people in power. We, the common people, must act as one cohesive unit with one goal, restore the USA so all people are productive, prosperous and motivated to make things better for us.

I think the first step has already begun. The TEA party is mostly approved citizens outrage by the actions of the elite to construct a utopian society were their buddies and pals do fine and those opposed do poorly. This movement will grow, buoyed by unique electoral success and more regular folks will wake up and take active part in all levels of elected offices. I hope they are successful in getting the ship of plot back on course to prosperity.

Next step would be restoring fiscal sanity to all of our government spending from the local level to the federal level. We must begin a sustained period of austerity by our governors. Some ideas are:

Render all union contracts with local, state and federal governments null and void and make it illegal to government employees to belong to a labor union.

Roll back all government employee pay 15% for those government employees who make more than $100,000 per year, no layoffs, vacant positions that have not been filled in 60 days are eliminated. I would also suspend any creation of new job classifications. This action would be suspended once the federal deficit spending has stopped. This action would not apply to active US military personnel; I recommend a 5% pay increase for all military making less than $80,000 per year.

Roll back presidential, senate and house of representative pay and administrative budgets 15% until they get our federal budget balanced. Our leaders must feel the same pressures “we the people” are feeling. If they feel our afflict they will surely respond. This is a symbolic measure

Reduce our military presence in Europe unless NATO is willing to finance the expense.

Reduce our military presence in Korea unless the South Koreans finance the expense.

Reduce our military presence in Japan unless the Japanese finance the expense.

Make government regulators more responsive and require them to expedite all permits and simplify the processes. Effect legal time limits that require permits for reasonable expansions to be issued.

Modernize our government systems to make the regulatory agencies more efficient. The government will save money and the regulated will put money.

Reduce discretionary spending by 10% of 2009 Government Budget levels, except military and police.

Reduce entitlement spending by 10%.

Change Social Security by limiting its scope of services like disability insurance and survivorship benefits.

Limit Social Security loans to the federal government to a maximum of 50%. Require Social Security to invest in Real Estate similar to a Real Estate Investment Trust. It would be Americans owning America.

Stop the ponzi scheme of our government and the US financial industry. All ponzi schemes end badly, we need to stop monetizing our debt and get our government spending under control now.

These actions will reduce our Federal spending and earn our government leaner and more responsive. We must have an efficient government and responsive government or progress stops.

The Private Sector

The private sector has taken a beating due to the economic perfect storm and the democrat's on free enterprise and regulation. Many businesses have been laid to ruin with no hope of rebuilding due to lack of capital and lack of demand for the products and services. We must create an environment that enhances a businesses success which means that the government must re-establish a more business friendly regulatory attitude and corporate tax structure. Here are a few ideas on that issue:

Set the Personal income tax levels at current levels for 20 years. This means all income brackets. Allow all deductions instead of the current minimum deduction level in order to claim things like interest expense on small portion time business owners etc.

Reduce the corporate tax rate from 28% to 18% of procure income for 20 years. This would make the USA more glorious to all international corporations. The effect would be to allow capital to flow back to the USA that has been withheld due to the current 2^nd highest corporate tax rate in the world.

There is an estimated 2 trillion in cash held by US corporations and individual outside of the US. This flow of capital would include this cash and new corporate head quarters and manufacturing facilities and good paying jobs. It would also give our US based businesses an advantage in the world market, which means more jobs.

The taxes from this increase in corporate and business activity would loyal increase the income level of our government. Economics 101 more economic activity more revenue for our government, extreme tax rates encourage economic activity in our country.

Suspend all free trade negotiations with Korea, South America and other nations. The only reason we sign these deals is for protection of our intellectual property such as copy rights, patents for folks like Bill Gates and movie stars and musicians. Yes we get access to their markets but their environmental and labor cost and corporate tax rates put our workers at a disadvantage and out of work.

Suspend the 2000 Chinese Free Trade Agreement, signed into law by Bill Clinton and vehemently opposed by Jesse Helms, until lawsuits can be brought against China for violation of the current trade agreement and the damages associated with those violations. In other words we need a new deal with the Chinese because the 2000 deal sucks from our point of understanding.

It is my notion that the Chinese continues to be interested with piracy of intellectual property and corporate and state espionage against the United States, a clear violation of the trade agreement. China is guilty of dumping products in the USA at low prices to gain large market share to achieve its competition out of business. It is guilty of manipulating commodity prices and sucking the wealth, trillion of dollars out of the United States. The land of the free is in an economic war with China, the land of the oppressed and enslaved, and we are losing.

I also judge China's relentless destruction of their/our air and water resources has had a negative effect on our country and the other countries of the world. It is my conception as stated earlier that the Chinese lack of pollution control and conservation measures like their continued loss of marginal agricultural land to sand and desert due to over grazing and bad farming practices will eventually adversely impact the world's population. They need to be sued in the world court for all to perceive and condemn.

Stop all expulsion of illegal immigrants under a program to document them. This program is simple. Stop the flow of illegals across our border to a trickle. Issue a mandate that all illegal immigrants have a period of 12 months to two years to visit a local federally operated identification facility. They would be photographed, finger printed and a sample of DNA would be taken. They would have to provide a valid address to be verified in the field. This information would be filed on a nation data bank accessible by every agency in the US. Then give them an Id card and they must check in every 2 years or face deportation.

In 15 years they can apply for citizenship or join the military and be a citizen after 2 years of service. After 2 years if the illegal is caught without this Id card they are deported. At the border increase the number of temporary workers that can cross the border to work our fields etc, the most abundant in the world. In other words let the legitimate immigrant use the front door instead of being forced to use the back door and the cracks in the wall like thieves and smugglers.

Offer investors incentive, through government tax credit to invest in US based alternate energy technologies to include the old like solar thermal, the new like solar PV and Hydrogen technology and the future like nuclear fusion. Allow a maximum investment of $100,000 in these industries. The investor would be able to claim 100% of the investment as a tax credit in equal parts for 5 years. In other words there is no risk to the investment and a needed industry gets the capital it needs to lower our energy cost and give “we the people” big returns for our investments. Tax all profits from these investments at a 38% tax rate and there will be profits since the.

Repel all “Closed Shop” laws and send the Unions packing. They have gotten greedy and fat. Their expectations have harmed or bankrupted stout companies and sent our jobs over seas. They have corrupted our democracy and set standards traditional by criminals not decent people. This will save the rust belt states like Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania and make the US more competitive.

Limit the Federal government's use of the interstate commerce clause in our constitution. The misuse of this part of our constitution has led to profound intrusion into our daily lives by the federal government. The Democrats have expanded the interstate commerce clause to a historic level with the passage of the new heath car law.

Repeal the original health care law that expanded the power and scope of the federal government to incredible levels and pass a modern law that incorporates incentives to keep costs down and insure the uninsurable. We are not in a position to change such a established element of our life so drastically. The changes imposed on us by a deaf Democrat party will certainly impact the majority of a “we the people” adversely.

When you glean proper down to it the problem with our health care system is “we the people”, our life styles have led to record rates of high trauma injuries, obesity, cancer and other maladies associated with abominable health and behavioral habits that lead to higher health care costs for all of us.

Sadly our health care system is glad to suck our wealth right out of our wallets, this includes the doctors, lawyers, insurance industry and the unions. The health industry has no incentive to reduce per capita health care costs, 3% profit on a trillion dollars is serious money. We need to give them the incentive stop the yearly 10% leaps and bounds in our insurance rates.

My final suggestion involves the energy supply for this country. I would suggest we stop this hysteria about carbon dioxide. The reality is carbon dioxide is a life giving gas needed by the majority of living things on the face of the planet. What is advantageous for the trees is good for me, right? I understand we need to conserve and limit our energy consumption but carbon dioxide regulation is not he answer.

Personally I absorb the rising earth temperature is due to the massive amount of pollutants being dumped into our atmosphere and the misuse of the land by the Chinese and other Asian countries. We and the Europeans at least try to retract pollutants in our industrial emissions and practice land conservation.

Briefly the idea I have involves imported oil, 60% of the oil we use we import at volatile market rates. A lot of this oil is imported from OPEC nations including Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and similar minded nations. They limit the oil production to manipulate our oil price and our quality of life. Their power needs to stop.

The solution is simple a 50% import tariff on all OPEC oil imported into this country. Conversely all oil produced in the USA or non OPEC nations will not have to pay that tariff. This singular action would have profound effects. For instance OPEC revenues will fall and their ability to export their radical ideology stops, our friends now have more capital, we strengthen our allies instead of our enemies. This action will also increase domestic production. World oil prices will fall since OPEC now has a lot of oil that is harder to sell and they aloof need cash.

The money generated by this tariff now belongs to “we the people” to be used to reduce federal debt and finance energy efficiency improvements to our electric system, transportation system and mobile energy delivery systems to accommodate future fuels like hydrogen and electric vehicles. We could consume the money to promote nuclear energy expansion and nuclear waste management, and our enemies will suffer while “we the people” prosper and secure a better future for ourselves.

I agree that our oil product prices will increase as a result of this action, but the benefits are tremendous. For instance we will conserve our energy and go our technology towards cheaper more energy efficient products, which means money in our pockets. This newer technology that is obvious to be developed, like inexpensive and more efficient solar photo voltaic systems can be exported to the world and we assign “we the people” back to work in good jobs.

In Closing

I have offered this reciting of our history and the presentation of some solutions to our malaise. It is based on my witness, experience, wisdom of years, awareness and perspective. This paper was produces to educate others that need this information.

The history of our last 30 years has to be considered in order to understand how “we the people” got into this black state. You must correctly identify the reasons for the poor performance before you can enact solutions or you will end up with “garbage in garbage out” results. We do not need any more garbage solutions

My suggestions will decrease the size, scope and expense of our governments and the power and wealth of our enemies, which everyone with sanity would agree needs to be done to achieve our union. I have also suggested ways to increase the economic activity in the USA which will take care of a whole lot of our problems including the deficits our governments are dealing with.

This paper is my blueprint of screaming out at the idiots in power. Based on what I am hearing on our airwaves we all need to scream out at them and the ignorant “experts and professionals” that got us in this mess in the first place.

The main of my ideas is that if “we the people” can take care of ourselves because we are all employed because our businesses are profitable and productive, have positive productive lives and are generally healthy we do not need a spacious expensive non productive government. If we do not need a big government, that wants to intrude into every faucet of our lives, we can reduce its need for cash, pay off its debts and get our economic house of card back on solid foundations.

My hope is that this paper stimulates the discussion and is heard by those that need to peruse the side of the “truth of the matter” from my side of the ball. Maybe it will get a difference in our future, at least I have tried to help.

Respectable luck

Harold A Yelle II, PE, PLS

Raleigh, North Carolina

For many, shopping is a diagram to relax, have fun, or relieve stress. Just hearing the word “shopping” conjures up feelings of exhilaration at the idea of finding that perfect pair of shoes on sale. However, hearing the word “shopping” and “car insurance” in the same sentence often has quite the opposite do.

Shopping for car insurance is obviously nothing like spending the day at the mall, but it does not need to be something to terror, either. Navigating your way through all the numbers and terminology is not as difficult as it may seem. There are several tools available to help you with the shopping process. Investing time and effort is crucial in making an educated decision. In the end, choosing the right insurance company and policy can save you a substantial amount of money. After all, who doesn’t treasure a bargain, right?

The first step in the shopping process is to determine what kind of coverage you need. Since each state has their have requirements, it’s important to know how much insurance is critical in your particular region. Visit www.carinsurance.com for a detailed list of state-by-state requirements.

The next step involves a little bit of homework. Experts recommend that you take some time to research each potential insurance company’s ratings. Websites such as www.fitchratings.com and www.weissratings.com will wait on you learn about a company’s financial strength. It is also a good idea to earn opinions from friends and family on what the like or disapprove about their own insurance provider. Once you have done your research, produce a list of the companies you are interested in contacting.

Now comes the fun part, it’s time to score a quote. Although it may not be as enjoyable as shoe shopping, the concept is much the same. You are essentially hunting down a bargain. Dick Luedkke, spokesperson for Set Farm Insurance, offers this bit of advice regarding auto insurance, “It really pays to shop around. Premiums for exactly the same coverage can vary substantially from carrier to carrier.” Knowing that, it is important to take the time to compare rates of several different insurance companies so you don’t end up paying more than you need to.

The internet is flooded with websites such as www.esurance.com that offer free insurance quotes. Once you regain a site that suits you, begin by submitting the required information. Some websites offer instant quotes, while others will contact you later by email. If you prefer to speak to a live person, simply call each company on your list to receive a quote over the phone. Remember, don’t hesitate to ask questions. It’s always a ample idea to educate yourself before, rather than after, you need to make a claim.

After you have done your research and sorted through all the quotes, it’s time to determine which company to choose, and which policy to purchase. By now, you know how much insurance you need, as well as what policy will be most beneficial to you. Contact an agent and arrange a meeting to review the policy, discuss any concerns, and sign the contract. Make sure to read your policy carefully before you sign it to avoid any unwanted surprises in the future.

By being proactive in the shopping process, and educating yourself along the way, you can be confident knowing that you made the right choice for your auto insurance needs. Now go out and reward yourself with those new shoes!

Source: http://ideas.thenest.com/buying-guides/buying-a-car/Articles/shopping-for-insurance.aspx

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“Feeble Navy Has Such Cool Stuff” Media Mogul States While Sharing Cinnibon With Best Friend in the Whole Wide World at Food Court

—

>An Age-Old Quest Could Be at an End: Chinese Hail Viagra

“An Hour Later and You’re Horny Again” to Become Passé

Billions of Chinese Not Satisfied Yet

—

>Terror Suspect Says He Wants U.S. Destroyed

“Feeling’s Mutual”

—

>U.S. Forces Out Head of Chemical Arms Agency

6 More Weeks of Winter Feared, Critics Claim Process is “Artificial”

—

>German State In Poor Shape Turns to Fair in Local Vote

Other European Nations “Very, Very Nervous”

—

>Gore, on Earth Day, Says Bush Policies Help Polluters

Tipper Calms Deranged Ex-Veep With Tranquilizer Dart

—

>With Alaskan Exploration Rejected, Senate Looks to Ethanol

“Teddy Kennedy (D-MA) Turned Us On to This Stuff”, Affirms Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)

—

>Ex-Chairman Of Sotheby’s Gets Jail Time

“Raising the Paddle” Suddenly Causes Fear Response in Former Auctioneer

—

>Panel Endorses Utilize of Claritin Over Counter For Some Hives

“This Will Really Help Our Allergy-Prone Swarms. Plus, It Gives You a Killer Buzz” Says Spokesbee.

—

>Abbott to Buy Full Ownership Of Japan Ally

Able to Enjoy Chunky Royalty Rights of “Who-san First” Routine

—

>Hawaii: Dog on Tanker Eludes Rescuers

Shouts of “Here Boy!” “C’mere, Sport!” “Hey, Buddy” Elicit No Response, Considering Rolling Down Ship Window, Addition of Couch

—

>2 Blows to Argentine President: Economy Minister Quits and Senate Balks at Crisis Bill

No Comment from People Magazine on Inclusion in “25 Sexist” Issue

—

>Israeli Snipers Play Cat to Palestinians’ Mouse At Church of the Nativity

Guys/Dolls, Jets/Sharks Rumored for Road Show

—

>Salt Lake Surplus Reported

IOC Declares “Gold Medals for Everybody”

—

>Achievers and Delinquents Via Melting Pot Recipe

Stunned Delinquents Respond to Achiever’s Marijuana Solubility Demonstration with Sustained “Whoooaaaa…”

—

>Gates Says Court Ruling Could Doom Windows System

Also Insists Sky Falling, Presence of Wolf

—

>Madstone Films Grows by Acquiring Art-House Company

A Skittish Sony Shakes in Boots

—

>Dot-Com Befriend, Wanted Again

WhiteElephant.com, Falsehopes.win Lead Pack of “Can’t Miss” Marketers

—

>Indonesia Resumes U.S. Military Talks, Lovely the Pentagon

U.S. Leaders Concerned in Dearth of Return Phone Calls; Indonesian Officials Claim They’re Not “Pissed at U.S., Just Been Working Crazy Hours” Lately

—

>After Welfare, Working Poor Tranquil Struggle, Report Finds

“Why Didn’t These People Unprejudiced Have Rich Parents Like Everyone Else? ” asks White House spokesman.

Can’t Get Past Velvet Ropes of Land of Milk and Honey Club, Bouncer Promises to “See What He Can Do”

—

>Burned-Out Stars Help Experts Reaffirm Universe’s Age

Garth Brooks, Celine Dion’s Contributions “Vital” in Calculations, According to Grateful Scientists

—

>Scientist Reveals Secret of Genome

Also Dishes on “Mystery of De-warf” and “Puzzle of Pe-ixy”

—

>Hunger in Southern Africa Imperils Lives of Millions

Hunger Merely Wretchedness Everywhere Else, Starving Cambodians Relieved By Findings

—

>Israel Refuses to Recognize Greek Orthodox Patriarch

Nation Coldly Says “I Fair Don’t Know Who You Are Anymore”

—

>House Panel Backs Nevada As Site to Bury Atomic Waste

“Think of the Savings on Electricity for The Sands Casino Alone” Say Congressmen

Situation Loses Game of Rock-Paper-Scissors With Montana

Radiation Causes Havoc in Prostitution Industry, “Things Are Pretty That Shouldn’t Be Glowing, If You Know What We Mean” Madams Claim

—

>Most Penn Relays Pole-Vaulters Shun Wearing Helmets

Least Skilled Easiest To Identify by Glazed Look, Drool

—

>Virgin Airlines Settles Case, Allowing Time Off for Religion

“Those Flight Attendants Had Better Punch Out Before Praying During Heavy Turbulence” Insists A Bitter Richard Branson

—

>Bristol-Myers Profit Off 55%; Inventories Worry Analysts

Company Spokesperson Urges Investors to “Take A Chill Pill”, Bill it to Insurance

—

>Viacom Reports $1.1 Billion Loss

Industry Insiders Cite Cause as New CBS Primetime Reveal “Who Wants to be a Billionaire”

—

>ABC Said to Ask Jennings To Accept a Cut in Salary

Network Also Requests Newsman Wash Koppel’s Car

—

>Masonic Rites, No Less. In Castro’s Bailiwick!

Cuban Leader’s Doctors Optimistic for Swift Recovery

—

>Russia Offers Alternatives On Reduction Of Warheads

Nation Cites Cuts in Sticks, Stones Stockpile

—

>Breakdown In Talks On Standoff At Church

Palestinian Gunman Claims Sexual Abuse During Siege

—

>China Faces Problems Creating Jobs, Officials Say

Nation Considers “Great Linoleum Floor” Project

—

>Citing Free Speech, Justices Acquire a Ban On Advertising Mixed-to-Order Drugs

Pharmacies Now Free to Claim “Special Orders Don’t Upset Us”

—

>Agency Again Seeks Snowmobile Ban in 2 Parks

Six Flags, Disney Each Relate Growing Vehicle Problem

—

>PENNSYLVANIA: EX-MAYOR TOPS POLL

Politician “Stunned” to pass Federer, Roddick in lastest power ranking

—

>DUPONT TO CUT 2,000 JOBS AND TAKE A CHARGE

Spokesperson “regrets downsizing, but when you’re down by three in the closing seconds of the game, you do anything you can to help your team get the ball back. You take one for the team.”

—

>Beware of Green Hats in China and Other Cross-Cultural Faux Pas

We Do Not Like Them, Uncle Sam-I-Am

—

>Authorities Say Strict Vegan Diet Endangered Life of Queens Baby

DYFS Representatives Concerned Infant May Never Execute Appetite for Crap

—

>Nassau Requires Churches to Represent Sex Abuse Complaints

County Claims Confession “Good for the Soul”

—

>MANHATTAN: CARNEGIE DELI JURY SELECTION

They’ll Take the “Joey Bishop”

—

>G.M. Is Spot To Complete A Takeover Of Daewoo

Consonants Put on Alert

—

>SPAIN: FLAT QUARTER AT BANK

Portugal Reports Sighting of Slightly Puffy Nickel

—

>NASA to View Interaction of Earth’s Water and Climate

Space Center Set to Open Blinds on Tuesday

—

>Post 9/11 Pain Found to Linger In Young Minds

Older Minds Content to Soothe Minds in Sweet, Sweet Nectar of Tequila

—

>Seizing Arms And Leaving An Upset Town

Municipal Leaders Struggle to Set on Shirts, Pants

—

>Drug Plans For Elderly Are Unveiled By 2 Parties

Moshe Goldblatt Bar Mitzvah Offers Manishevitz, Caffeine, Zyrtec; Ozzy Osborne Backyard Barbeque Features Cocaine, Nicotine, Zoloft

—

>MAINE: 34-YEAR-OLD WEEKLY CLOSES

34-Week-Old Annual Considered

—

>Ashcroft’s New Push on Internet Pornography

Attorney General “Embarrassed” as U.S. Falls Tedious Ghana in Extreme Hardcore Production; Gore Reflects on Woulda/Coulda/Shoulda “Double Penetration Initiative”

—

>Using Robotics, Researchers Give Upgrade to Lowly Rats

Sylvester, Tom Seek Government Protection

—

>Merrill Lynch Contemplates 3 Little Words For Its Ratings

“I Love You.” There. We’ve Said It. Was That So Hard?

—

>Kmart Seeks Additional Time To Finish Its Annual Report

Cites Scrape with Pet Dog

—

>Los Angeles Inner City Beset By Chronic Health Problems

Many Plagued with Persistent Bullet Infection

—

>Priests Told To Crop Back On Absolution For Groups

No Exceptions to “Reach Here and Sit on My Lap” Rule

—

>4 Lawmakers Hasten Transportation Dept. to Allow Pilots to Carry Guns

Upright-Seat Position Compliance Soars to 98%

—

>Report Recommends Building Simpler Schools

“The Last Thing that We Need to be Doing is Challenging Our Kids” Study Finds

—

>Kmart Inquiry Is Focusing On Executives

Original Idea to Pin Bankruptcy Woes on Assistant Manager of Milwaukee Store Shelved

—

>Aurora Foods to Halt Its Bagel Plant Near Buffalo

“The Droppings Those Things Leave Made the Situation Impossible” says Spokesperson

—

>Goldman Partner Returns to Board

“It’ll Take a Bigger Wipeout Than That to Withhold Me from Shredding” Claims Bemused Dude

—

>Muscles Ripple, Webs Unfurl, Hormones Race

Lust-Crazed Tipper Begs Al to “Tell Me the Internet Story Again, Stud”

—

>Lenders Trying An Alternative To Foreclosure

Stockpile of Severed Horse Heads Approved

—

>Burmese Dissident’s Expected Release May Have Hit a Snag

Refuses to Use the “Ridiculous” Term “Myanmarian” to Describe Self

—

>Vietnam: Russians Pull Out of Old U.S. Base

Officials Unsure What Hekawis Were Doing in Asia, Agarn Unavailable for Comment

—

>60 in Columbia Reportedly Killed During Battles

University Considers Disciplinary Action for Warlords

—

>Pride in President May Have an Expiration Date

“Evildoers” Consensus Jump the Shark Moment

—

>Father’s Library Can Hold Bush Papers, if Door is Ajar

Dubya Confused by Imagery, Paralyzed by SAT Debacle

—

>Clinton Forgoing Media Job (for the Present)

Former Chief Executive Holding Out Hope for Howard Stern Gig

—

>Investigation Begun Into Action by Army Secretary on a Weapon

Clerk-Tipped Warhead Program Said to Spur Job Growth

—

>EasyJet Says It Is Considering Acquisition of a Rival, Go Fly

A-Kite Seen as Next Target

—

>Steve Madden, Shoe Designer, Is Sentenced for Stock Fraud

Oprah Organizes Hunger Strike Club

—

>Police Say Woman Gave Teenager a Party With Drugs, Drink and Nudity

National Lampoon Files Lawsuit

—

>Even With Pink Tutus, Fearless Action Wins Out

New Bond Film Hailed as “Groundbreaking”, “Confusing”

—

>A Primitive Hollywood Power Broker Relinquishes His Talent Business

Spike Lee to Become Knick Point Guard

—

>Renegade Fish Is Outlasting Even Bombings

Odd Bombings Proven Effective

Freshwater Trout Five Sect Releases Aquaman as Impress of Good Faith

—

>Madagascar May Break Up In Dispute Over Election

To Be Known as Nations of “Mad” and “Agascar”

—

>Cambodia’s Mystery, the Horns That Never Were

Controversy Takes National Mind Away from Hunger Pangs

—

>From Hilltop Perch, British Troops Peer for Holdouts

RAF Spots Man in Purple Coat and Small Boy in Strange Aircraft, Suspect Bishop of Canterbury on Bender

—

>Jefferson Group Bars Slave’s Descendants

Claims Grace Slick was “Free to Leave Whenever She Wanted”

—

>Regular Season of ‘The Osbournes” Is Down to the Fine Print

Negotiations Hinge Upon Agreement to Meet VH-1′s “Iommi Clan” in Regional Playoffs

—

>Old Hewlett Is Preparing To Show Off Its Original Look

Jared Now Claims Loss of 400 “Virtual Pounds”

—

>Hyundai Joins 2 Automakers In Planning For Engine

40,000 Squirrels Facing Layoffs

—

>China Finds Way to Beat Chip Limits

“Rice Loophole” Found in Zone Diet

—

>Uncovering the Coverup of a Medical Scandal in Britain

British Dental Association Found to be Halitosis Fetish Webring

—

>Freed Burmese Democracy Leader Proclaims ‘New Dawn’

“Cuts Grease Faster” Claims Government Spokesperson

—

>Canadian-Led Troops Revisit Caves in Eastern Afghanistan

Battalion Defenses Include Stout Umbrella Adorned with Maple-Leaf

—

>Chirac’s Pick: A Premier Friendly to Small Business

Nominee “Psyched”, Plans to Open Frites Stand on Champs-Elysees

—

>Bush, at School, Promotes Education Bill

“You’re not ‘Just a Bill’ anymore, my friend,” proclaimed the proud President. “Today, you’re General Bill.”

—

>Suspect Gets Away From Police In Fifth Sprint of Last Six Weeks

Entire Keystone Kommunity Expresses “Disillusion” With Force

—

>Chief-to-Be Says AOL Has One Problem Area

“Geeks look down on us. Geeks!” Exclaims Bewildered Executive

—

>Hard-Traveling Quayle Misses a Perk

In Press Release, Former Vice President Laments Lack of Limoes

—

>Californians Call Enron Documents the Smoking Gun

Now Banned from Restaurants

—

>Nigeria: 100 Lashes for Premarital Sex

Post-Marital Sex Costs Much, Great More

—

>A Study Links I.Q. and Breast-Feeding

Leading Scientists Play Dumb

—

>Manhattan: Scout Leader Admits Molesting Boy

Church Files Copyright Infringement Lawsuit

—

>Pepsi Turning Blue With New Flavoring To Lift Cola Sales

Last-Ditch Breath-Holding Stunt Buoying Soda Giant

—

>Argentina Shakes, Uruguay Rattles

Peru Spoils Everything

—

>Rolling Stones Gather for a Tour, Floating on a Blimp in the Bronx

Aircraft Floats on Eco-Friendly Combo of Mick’s Enlarged Prostate, Keith’s Exhale

—

>Poultry Plants to Pay Workers $10 Million in Compensation

“Chicken Feed” Convey Union Leaders

—

>Congress Is Warned Not to Save a Weapons System President Demands

“If I’ve Told You Once, I’ve Told You a Thousand Times – Get Rid of that Slingshot!”, Threat Cited to Someone’s Eye

—

>E*Trade Chief Accepts A Cut in Compensation

$8 Trade Fee Reduced to Wink, Nod

Newly Structured Contract Cuts Annual Salary from $2.4 Million to Several “High Quality” Pets.com Pelts

—

>Yuppie Moonshine With the Old Kick, And It’s Lawful, Too

Hyannisport Gazette Claims Local Man’s Still Produces The “Lexus” of Rotgut

—
>Restaurant Robbery Briefly Evokes A Queens Holdup in Which 5 Died

Lacked Substance, “Derivative of Eastside Liquors Job”, Detectives Pan Heist

—

>City Codes Cloud Mayor’s Plan to Use Tweed Building as a School

Appeals to High Court to Revisit 1975 Law Mandating All Buildings to be Made From “Breathable Cotton”

—

>Manhattan: A Push to Improve Nuclear Detection Devices

Civil Defense Binoculars Deemed “Risky”

—
>Big Networks Show Respect to ‘Sopranos’

NBC’s Zucker Relents on Mob Drama After Nightmare Involving Mr. Ed’s Head

—
>Prada Plans Stock Sale To Pay Off Large Debt

Exploring American Idol, Wal-Mart Tie-In Deal

—
>There Are No Such Things As Small Games To Clemens

Roger, Jr. Rushes Mound after Backyard Beaning

—

>Sun and Yahoo! In Alliance

Nearest Star and Internet Juggernaut to Develop “Virtual Gravity”

—

>What’s in Those Nuggets? Meat Substitute Stirs Debate

McDonald’s Disputes Animal-Rights Activists’ Claims, Cite “Plausible Deniability” of “Chicken”

—

>Carnegie Hall vs. the Kimmel Center

Late-Night Host has “Very, Very Good Agent” According to ABC Executives

—

>U.N. Broadens List of Products Iraq Can Import

Cruise Missiles, ICBMs to Be Air-Delivered to War-Ravaged Nation

—

>Court Says Law School May Consider Race in Admissions

Lessens Reliance on Grades, LSATs

—

>Shea Needs $11 Million in Repairs, Engineering Report Says

Structural Integrity of Stadium Calm Suspect After “Darryl Strawberry Day”, After Which Former Mets Star Was Heard to Say, “I Know I Left a Kilo or Two Around Here Somewhere…”

—

>Arafat Was Willing To Face Voters, His Aides Say

Music Still Waiting

—

>U.N. Warns That Many Children, Rich and Poor, Are Obese

World Body Also Labels Sky “Blue”, Sea “Moist”

—

>Debate on Human Cloning Turns to Patents

Scientists to Test Theories on Patent Attorneys, Await Federal Approval for Trials on Actual Humans

—

>Archdiocese Vows to Report Abuse Sooner

At Least Before Victim Passes Lie-Detector Test, Explains Spokesperson

—

>Cardinal in Los Angeles Say He Let Abuser Remain a Priest

“Peep, I told him to ‘Turn the other cheek.’ How was I supposed to know he was into that, too? ” explains Archdiocese Head

—

>Jupiter Regains Moon Lead

Pulls Ahead of Saturn to Take an Eleven-Moon Lead in the Best of 25 Moon Series

—

>Airlines Report Hearing Only Vague Caution

“Let’s face it, ‘Hey, let’s be careful out there!’ doesn’t vow us much” Claims Spokesperson

—

>Police Dept. Reports Jump In Applicants

Many Recruits Said to Acquire Ability to Reach Curb Without Putting Down Doughnut

—

>HBO-Showtime Team Using Experienced Reporter to Cover Tyson Bout

Former “Monday Night Football” Analyst O.J. Simpson Brings Stability to Unproven Booth

—

>At AOL, Parting Without the Sweet Sorrow

Turner Advises Levin Not to Let Door Hit Ass on Device Out

—

>US Airways Tells Unions Details of Cost-Cutting Plan

Belt-Tightening Measures Include “Bring Your Own Seat” Policy, Celebrity Guest Co-Pilot Program

—

>Schwab Begins Grading Stocks on a Curve

Investors Can Pay Bankruptcy Court Fees With “A List” Stock

—

>Labor Talks at Hershey Stall Over Health Benefits

“Wonkasurance” Deemed Unsatisfactory

—

>NEC Plans Spinoff Semiconductor

Manufacturer Set to Develop New “Norm” Chip, Will Already Know User’s Name

—

>UPN Keeps Its Focus on Youth, So Its Leader Talks the Talk

Viacom Honcho Les Moonves Announces “Network Survivor” Format, Shows Voted Off Schedule by “High Council of Peoplemeters” Chosen by god Nielsen

—

>Mixing Operatic Tradition With Irony and High Jinks

Mel Brooks Casting Full Ladies for Oy! Traviata

—

>Living the Music: Brazilians and Americans Exchange Traditions

U.S. Gets Sergio Mendes and Bossa Nova, Brazil Gets N’Sync and One Hundred Trillion Dollars

—

>Financial Crisis May Sideline Part of England’s Soccer Tradition

Hooligans File for Bankruptcy Protection

—

>In Wisconsin, Scandal, Outrage and Deficit Churn Up a Storm of Political Change

Lactose-Intolerant Kenneth Starr Recuses Himself

—

>Terror Disclosures Pose Risks for Both Parties

Democrats, Republicans Each Cite “Indifference” to Welfare of General Population

—

>Study Finds Quitting Smoking Helps Odds for Cancer Patients

1943 Characterize Also Alludes to Dangers of Lead Paint, Opposition to Hitler

—

>Workers Contend Coke Sent Old Soda to Poor Neighborhoods

Congress Urged to Probe “Racial Bottling”

—

>In Hollywood, Everyone Wants to Be Ozzy

Woody Allen Gets Tattoo, Develops British Accent

—

>An Italian Pen Designed With da Vinci in Mind

Ran Out of Ink In 1503

—

>Foreigners Obtain Social Security ID With Fake Papers

Citizenship Acquired With Sammy Sosa Rookie Card and Two-Day Pass to Six Flags

—

>Midwest Towns Feel Gambling Is a Sure Thing

Dubuque Picks Middle Shell

—

>In Speak to Improve Nutrition, Schools Expel Soda and Chips

Sidebar: NEA Signs 10-Year Deal with Anheiser-Busch and Pop Rocks

—

>A ‘New’ Tape of bin Laden

Critics Say It Recalls Earlier Work With Anthrax

—

>Urging Young to Buckle Up, Officials Try Switch in Tactics

Officials “Cautiously Optimistic” in Dropping “Fair Say No” Anti-Drug Campaign, to Safety-First “That Belt Goes Great with Your Shoes”

—

>Clemens Overpowers Twins With 13 Strikeouts

Mary-Kate, Ashley Deny Crying

—

>Giuliani Defends Bush

W. Calls Rudy “The Best Wingman a Dude Could Ask For” Before Tapping New Keg

—

>In Fresh Focus on Quality of Life, City Goes After Petty Criminals

Tom, Lori on Lam After Loud Parties

—

>In Guatemala, a Rhode Island-Size Jade Lode

Unearthed Rock in Shape of Weeping Virgin Mary

—

>Transportation Security Chief Says He Opposes Pilots’ Carrying Guns Aboard Planes

Pilots’ Union Head: “Guns Don’t Kill People, Pilots Without Guns Raze People.”

—

>Washington: No Money in Pupil Sex Case

“Search For Fetish” Prostitutes Reportedly to be Near Ruin

—

>With a Step Right, Senator Clinton Agitates the Left

Bill Looking for Creamy Middle

—

>Piazza Responds to Gossip Column

Angered Catcher “Disappointed” Britney’s Smoking

—

>Gap’s Chief Executive Unexpectedly Calls It Quits

Insists “Called” by Guatemalan Jade

—

>Buffett Seeks Unusual Loan Deal

Will Gladly Pay You Tuesday for a Cheeseburger Paradise Today

—

>Body of Intern Found in Park In Washington

Lewinsky Faints

—

>Hormone May Explain Distress Dieters Have Keeping Weight Off

Twinkie-Shaped Chemical Calls Findings “Witch Hunt”

—

>Skip-the-Ads TV Has Madison Ave. Upset

Industry Contingency Plans Include Holding Minty-Fresh Breath Until It Turns New & Improved Blue

—

>Severe Water and Land Loss Predicted Over a Generation

Cherokees: “Tough Karma, Dude.”

—

>Thailand: Rifle-Toting Monk Takes Hostages

Frustrated Holy Man Converts to Catholicism, Demands Younger Captives

—

>As Bush Heads for Russia, Hopes for an Investment Opinion Fade

Treasury Secretary O’Neill Cites Concern That Chief Executive “Wasteful”, Won’t Have Enough Allowance Left For That Shiny Two-Wheeler W. Has Eyes On

—

>A Reshaped Israeli Legislature Backs Sharon’s Spending Plan

Will Purchase Bicycle for Bush’s Birthday

—

>Man Gets Six Years for Fraud Attractive a Hasidic Enclave

Beard Extensions Gave Him Away, Claim Witnesses

—

>After 20 Days of Freedom, an Escapee From New York Is Found in Virginia

Citing “Adulation Burnout”, Guiliani Returned on Gilded Amtrak Train

—

>Fingers Crossed Downtown As Firms Consider Moving

Spokesperson asks “Are they gone yet? “, Shuffles Feet

—

>Vatican Accepts Resignation of Milwaukee’s Archbishop

Made “Really Crappy Porter, Anyway” According to Pontiff

—

>U.S. Olympic Chief Quits Over Her Lies on College Degrees

To Seek Opening in French Figure Skating Organization

—

>Yugoslav Coalition to Replace 50 Lawmakers

“Not Corrupt Enough” Claims Prime Minister

—

>Montana Senator Gets Second Wind

Electorate “Amazed” by Participation in Indirect Democracy, Electric Lights

—

>Judge Curbs Florida’s Fight Against the Spread of a Citrus Disease

O.J. Denies Involvement, Warms Up Bronco

—

>Knicks to Take a Look at Connecticut’s Butler

Biddlecombe Prides Self on Being “Gentleman’s Gentleman,” Half-Court Defense

—

>The Bronx: Meatpacking Firm Recalls Hot Dogs

Butchers Fete All Beef Run of ’92

—

>Murdock’s Son Assumes Role of Publisher at New York Post

Nab Father in Image Slay Shocker

—

>For Auditing Reform, Pitt is the Last Hope

Heartthrob Summoned by Fed; DiCaprio, Prinze, Jr. Cite “Accounting Differences,” Pull Out of Project

—

>Kmart Loses $1 Billion in Five Weeks

Retailer Blames Faulty Blue Light

—

>Recession? Don’t Tell the Video Game Industry

“Dot-Com Nukem IV” Hot New Summer Title, “Al Gore’s Big Campaign Reform Discuss-o-Fest” Plain Mover

—

>Jetblue and Bally Say They Will Offer In-Flight Yoga

Airline Reports Disappointment with In-Flight Softball League

—

>On Visit to Paris, Bush Tries to Ease Wretchedness in Europe

Proves Solid Foundation in Geography, Proud to Be Among the “Terrific Belgian People”

—

>A Libel Suit May Establish E-Jurisdiction

Ruling Sets Stage for “Virtual Guilt,” Therapists Rejoice

—

>Shortage of Nurses Spurs Bidding War In Hospital Industry

Healthcare Providers Sight to Soft Porn Industry for Experienced Caregivers

—

>Amid Concern Over Ethics, Chrétien Shifts His Cabinet

French Leader Chafes Against His “Trading Spaces” Design Team

—

>Push to Move Alaska’s Capital Has Central Theme

Straw Poll Indicates Growing Support for Somewhere “Indoors”

—

>Simpson DNA Papers Go to Smithsonian

Groening “Honored” to Draw Yellow Genetic Code

—

>Milton Shedd, 79, Co-Founder of Sea World (Obituary)

Mouth-to-Mouth by Shamu Categorized as “Valiant,” “Misguided”

—

>Poland’s Top Scorer Gets a Cold Welcome

Fans Perplexed By Light Bulb Replacement Crisis, Miss Triumphant Arrival

—

>What Makes a Glacier Go? Scientists Look Inside

Researchers Cite Reluctance of Mothers to Go Out In Cold

—

>Sky Is Falling on Prairie Chicken, Sacrifice of a Rite of Spring

“Doomclucker” Poultry Cite Naked Chicken as Sign of “Orwellian Turmoil”

—

>Dual Treatment For Prostate Disease

Doctors Cite Success with Turn Head, Cough Process

—

>Amtrak Counts Its Assets

1982 Cheap Trick Concert Stub, 14 lbs. of Pocket Lint Highlight “A” List

When I was in 11^th Grade at Southfield Senior High School in Southfield, Michigan way back when, I wrote a paper for Advanced Placement English Class that got me suspended twice from the School Principal, a meeting directly in front of the System-wide Superintendent, and an opportunity as a 16 year old to hold on the Board of Education one on one, to fight that suspension. It was quite an eye opener for me, as all of the teachers at SHS supported me (my mom was a teacher in the school system and her fellow teachers also were there en-mass to support my fight as well). It was quite a sight over four weeks, where I was sent home several times upon arrival at school, the Necessary wanted me kicked off the track team, and several teachers actually locked their classroom door to prevent the Principal from coming in and trying to kick me out as well.

In the end, the Principal lost and I won, making for a Senior year that was awful at best as I was a target of the Principal if I walked the wrong way down the hall, sneezed in a classroom, or did something gross on the field (in my senior year, as aforementioned, I was part of a class act track team that set numerous position records, smash mouthed our opponents, won numerous state championships, and was a genuine team for the ages). In my final race, my partners and I ran the speed of a lifetime, fair in spite of the Principal who was there in attendance, hoping I would fall, tumble the baton, or just get bowled over by a Zamboni as I made my way down the anchor leg of the race. The Principal went out of his way to make my life a living hell on earth for me standing up to him.

What was all of the foolishness about? I had the dare, the audacity, the gall as the Important called it, to challenge proposed budget cuts in the school system — that he was championing, that would have led to havoc in the schools from the elementary level on up, and forced the teachers into an untenable position of having to make horrific choices on cutting back on books for the classroom, supplies for the classroom, other educated related materials for the classroom, etc. I want you folks to preserve in mind that at the time, the District was one of the wealthiest in the State, one of the wealthiest in the nation for that matter, and was number one across the board in so many areas of education and graduation rate around the nation itself. The budget cuts that the Principal was championing included teacher cuts in pay (which was a joke, as the cuts were not on an Administration level mind you), and other various in sundry things themselves.

As a student and a child of a parent who was a teacher then, I found those cuts, as did all of my student peers, exceptionally foolish, for this was still the 1970′s, and wealth was abound in the District and the State itself. I wrote what today would be called a position paper by Administration standards that blasted the cuts, blasted the stance of the Principal, and blasted any ill-conceived methods that would force the children to suffer on even the smallest level. My paper, which, OK, by admittance, began with the Genesis quote of “In the beginning..” and went progressively downhill from there, challenged the District itself on a humanistic level and was written to make people think.

What got me in trouble with the Principal were two particular passages, wherein he declared me a heretic, a mindless fool, a religious zealot, and someone who needed to be suspended because I broke with the “values of the District”. Wow, a 16 year old breaking values? Who knew teenagers could smash values? Oops, wait…sex, sex, sports and sex…yep, that is the life of a 16 year worn teenage male, so, I am guilty as charged! Oh, he meant RELIGIOUS values! What stirred his pot?

I said the following:

“If we continue these patterns, it is always the innocent that suffer while the children cry out in vain.”

“Perhaps, someday, an alien from a far distant planet will visit what was once a strong, educated, and amazing planet earth, but was now an earth that was devoid of human beings, for those human beings had died off as a species for lack of education, lack of teachings, lack of understandings, and had disappeared for wanton nots. Perhaps as that alien is wandering on a now barren planet earth, he or she shall stumble across a tombstone that shall read: Man, created in the image of G-d, destroyed in the image of his creation.”

Boom! Like an Atomic Weapon, this exploded the Principal into the stratosphere. I was to be burned at the stake, cooked on a spit, destroyed with all the books that needed to be burned for the budget cuts, and thrown into a mighty volcano as a sacrifice to the education G-d’s themselves!

Of course, after much self destruction by the Indispensable, the Board of Education saw me as neither a threat, nor as a heretic. They calmly agreed with me that first, the paper was a paper, that the written word should never be censored, that the student had a right to bear arms of the mighty pen as a sword, and that the budget cuts were indeed asinine and that the District would press on into the 1980′s and beyond as a solid District without changes at the time. I was saved the fate of being used as a lamb to slaughter, by using the mind of a 16 year old, for…

If a child can see the mistakes of the adults and point them out as mistakes, then should not the adults themselves who were wrong in the first place, see those before a child does? Ah, one would deem so. Accurate? NOT!

Fast forward to 2009, circa the State of Florida. You know Florida, don’t you? G-d’s waiting room? The land of the Yahoos. The land of elections gone wrong. The land of the most antiquated, backwards, foolish laws in the land. The land where the children ALWAYS suffer, while the innocent cry out in vain.

For the year 2009, Florida has proposed a Special Session that will begin January 5, 2009, where the Legislature, if we want to call them that — Frankly, I am not sure who or what these individuals are, except a good-ole-boy network that continues to piddle twiddle and settle, while not one damn thing do they solve. These are the same folks who if you were to tell them the sky is blue, would go into a special session just to offer a bill stating that the sky is turquoise, not blue, and utilize weeks debating the same. These are folks that continue to offer solid rules, as I have mentioned in previous articles, that all but guarantee a drug addicted parent with 22 arrests in five years or less, the chance to get their children back from Foster Care, even if they have tried to sell these children for the next fix, offer them into prostitution for the next fix, and have cared a less about them for years — But, hey, this is mommy or daddy, they HAVE to have their children, right?

The recession and the alleged budget shortfalls have already been increasing the pressures that Florida’s teachers (already just about the lowest paid nationally for their efforts, and those who have to teach the test, frack academics, it is the FCAT that counts, nothing else), face in the classroom daily. It does not matter to the Legislature that unlike any other state funded projects, a child’s education cannot be cutback to the point of raising Doofus’ for life. Nope, decisions made by this Legislature for the fiscal year 2009 will have a lasting impact on the children for years to come.

The Legislature is taking it’s previous decision of holdbacks of 4% in status funds for programs, and cutting them deeper. In some areas, a 50% across the board cut is being proposed, which would kill the Foster Care programs, the Early Education Programs, the ESOL programs, the Childcare Programs, Mental Health and other related programs, and, of course, Public Education itself. Other options being discussed are permanent redirection of trust fund balances to General Revenue, non-recurring sweeps of trust fund balances and transfers of additional Budget Stabilization Funds. It matter not to the Legislature that school Districts around Florida were already prepared for an over 2% holdback, which is devastating enough, but these folks want to raze education as it is (and trust me, when Florida ranks at near bottom of every category itself across the nation in 2008, you cannot get much worse).

Do you hear me now in 2008-2009, Mr. Old Principal? Can you see the problems here we are facing? The 1970′s are long gone, this is the precise time now and the problems we foresaw then are amongst us for real, with zealots and fools running amuck to destroy the last bastion of hope that this already suffering nation has…our children.

Education is not a toy to be played with. When a country of uneducated citizens are formed, even at the earliest age, we open ourselves up to devastating attacks from those more fortunate across the planet, who know they can manipulate the less-educated and make them ripe for takeover and attack. Am I suggesting that this E-Day scenario will commence in the come future? You BET your collective arses I am. To have a non-educated society is the single most prevalent thing that can lead to a society’s overall downfall. To take away the basics of education, of instruction, of culture, of history — will lead to a rapid downfall and the crumbling of the proverbial walls within society itself.

Let’s look at the record, shall we? This is from the Area of Florida itself and shows a galling concern that needs no further documentation…

“In the spot of Florida, public distinguished and secondary schools are administered by the Florida Department of Education.

Florida’s public-school revenue per student and spending per $1000 of personal income usually rank in the bottom 25 percent of U.S. states.^[1][2] Average teacher salaries deplorable near the middle to bottom of U.S. states.^[3]

Florida public schools have consistently ranked in the bottom 25 percent of many national surveys and average test-score rankings before allowances for race are made.^[4] When allowance for race is considered, a 2007 US Government list of test scores shows Florida white fourth graders performed 13th in the nation for reading (232), 12th for math (250); while black fourth graders were 11th for math (225), 12th for reading (208).^[5] White eight graders scored 30th for math (289) and 36th for reading (268). Neither score was considered statistically significant from average. Black eighth graders ranked 19th on math (259), 25th on reading (244).

Florida educators criticized former Governor Jeb Bush for a program that penalizes underperforming schools (as indicated by standardized tests, most prominently the FCAT) with fewer funding sources. Supporters say the program’s tough measures have resulted in vast improvements to the education system. Major testing organizations frequently discount the utilize of state’s average test-score rankings, or any average of scaled scores, as a valid metric (for details on scaled test scores, inspect psychometrics).

Florida, like other states, appears to substantially undercount dropouts in reporting.^[6]

In 2007, the state’s school population grew by 477 students to 2,641,598, which was far below the projected 48,376 increase. School boards blamed rising insurance and property tax costs and the major 2004 and 2005 hurricane season, which have glum migration into Florida. Growth in counties such as Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, Orange, Pinellas, and Duval counties was under state projections. Hillsborough County was the only one of these to have grown; growth in the county was projected to be 4,537, but the actual increase was only 536 students.^[7]

Some school districts have backed up the originate of the academic year well into August in order to complete the semester and exams before the December holiday wreck. In 2006, the legislature required districts to start no earlier than two weeks before the end of August.”

For those of you needing references — Here they are. I would like to thank the folks at Wikipedia for assisting me in presenting the above, for without them, our lives would be just a little more difficult. I humbly thank them for allowing me to present the sick stats as they are today. Keep in mind, I, as a writer, a political analyst, and someone who writes position papers for a living nowadays, always puts his references at the BACK of the paper. Not today, however, this is a far different animal that those of the past. The cites are:

1. ^“Elementary-Secondary Per Pupil Expenditure Amounts by State:2004-05″ (PDF), Public Education Finances 2005, U.S. Census Bureau, April 2007, p. 8, http://ftp2.census.gov/govs/school/05f33pub.pdf, retrieved on 13 September 2007
2. ^ “Table 12:States Ranked According to Relation of Elementary-Secondary Public School System Finance Amounts to $1,000 Personal Income:2004-2005” (XLS). U.S.Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-09-13.
3. ^ (PDF)Teacher Pay Review, Florida Department of Education, May 2006, http://www.fldoe.org/ARM/files/Teacher_Pay_Review.pdf, retrieved on 13 September 2007
4. ^ Matus, Ron, (6 March2005). “Schools still rank come the bottom“, St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 5 September 2007.
5. ^US Department of Education retrieved June 14, 2008
6. ^ Ramirez, Eddy (May 26-June 2 2008). Keeping Count of Students Who Drop Out. US News and World Report.
7. ^ “Comparison of 2006-07 third calculation FTE with projected 2006-07 FTE and 2005-06 FTE“. Florida Department of Education. Retrieved on 2007-09-05.

Florida is not alone in education cutbacks, mind you. They are far from being alone. In America, under the GW Bush Regime, ALL Children have been left late, as we sink further into the abyss of history. The first thing that always goes by the wayside in America is education. Why? It has become the Republican Mantra of the 1990′s forward. Frack education. We have more important things to do. You know — like war, aggression, democracy for all nations. Did I mention war? Did I mention protect our lands from Terrorist attacks? Did I mention personal coffers being filled as the rich get richer and the regular folks get schtupped? Yes, America, this is who we are today.

The children suffer, while the innocent wail out in vain.

In an educated society, teachers are not forced to teach a test, children of the night are not forgotten, parents do not accept their children back only to lose them again and again into a system gone imperfect. Children do not go hungry, children do not go without textbooks. Children ARE the future, and we do all we can to educate them for that future.

In a society that does not care, we gash back education, we cut back social services, we cut back programs to help our children. We treat teachers like dirt, force them to accept less wages, forcing them to quit and leave classrooms empty and devoid of minds that can negate. We let the children swagger the streets in a daze, a haze, a fog — where education means nothing from first grade on, and we raise a generation of fools. In a society that does not care, we hold our coffers with more money, while stopping the trickle down effects to the schools, to the programs, to the food banks.

In a society that does not care, we stop the food banks from operating, for, as Jed Bartlet once said, which holds even more true in 2008-2009, especially in Florida and my home state of Michigan, where the Legislature is as much out of touch with reality as Flori-duh…

“Today for the first time in history, the largest group of Americans living in poverty are children. One in five children live in the most abject, dangerous, hopeless, backbreaking, gut-wrenching poverty any of us could ever imagine. One in five and they’re children! If fidelity to freedom and democracy is the code to our civic religion then, surely, the code of our humanity is faithful service to that unwritten commandment that says we should give our children better than we, ourselves, received. Let me put it this method, I voted against the bill because I didn’t want to effect it harder for people to buy milk. I stopped some money from flowing into your pocket. If that angers you, if you resent me, I completely respect that. But if you expect anything different from the President of the United States, then you should vote for someone else.”

Do we have any idea of how true this is today? The children ARE suffering and the innocent ARE crying out in vain. More children are hungry than ever before, yet our Legislatures call for cutbacks to school lunch programs, school after care programs, and anything else that may remotely go towards feeding a hungry child even in the form of a snack.

We are a society that has become feckless thugs by allowing our very basic core of society — our children to lack the educational tools they need to succeed. We cut the very core of life itself by sustaining education cuts across the board that allow children to suffer and those who provide the education and shelter to the children of society to disappear.

Is it easy to cut education while we promote a stronger defense? You bet your arse it is. Hell, we need to defend ourselves from the next attack, so we have to PROTECT the children, right? Is it easy to promote travel and tourism to Florida than to have education? You bet your arse it is. Without tourism, we cannot survive as a state, right? Is it easy to cut education so that we can have small business and other business entities come into our status so we can collect tax dollars? You bet your arse it is. Without promoting tax dollars, we cannot survive as a location. Instead of spending billions to catch land from Large Sugar in the Everglades, let’s crop education as we cannot afford it, just? You bet your arse it is. Why not spend billions of dollars in Florida to pick land, instead of having the balls to come forward and TAKE those lands to protect the environment — frack the court challenges, this is preserving the lands forever. Nope, expend billions that could have gone into educational coffers, and let the rich accept richer.

I can go on and on ad nauseum, but I think you, as educated people, derive the point. In each budget, in each plot, in each community, there is so much pork that collectively exists, we can take away the abusive pork and effect our children. But that is too easy — Everyone likes pork, and pork gets these people elected.

Glance, the solution is easy, getting the Legislatures to get off their ASSES, see, I said it, ASSES, to do the factual thing by cutting the pork and the haphazard ways of doing business – ah, there is the tough section. Whenever it comes to taking the unnecessary pork out of any budget and deal with the hard cold reality of things such as children and education, Legislators suddenly become hard of hearing, have vision problems and claim ignorance to the voices rising up against them. In each and every budget within each and every state there is enough pork to feed, house, clothe, educate and deliver unto our children enough monies to acquire it through three calendar school years without cuts, let alone one calendar year.

In Florida, it is the worst. The Governor knows it, the Legislature knows it, hell, the poorest people on the street know that the pork and pork offerings in the state are the worst of the worst. Let us not forget the so-called Lottery money, where education was supposed to be, wink wink, nudge nudge – the end all be all. Almost all lottery monies taken in over the years were to go to education. No matter what the state will tell you, hardly any of it does, it is drained and funneled elsewhere.

Gape, solutions are not easy. Solutions are never fun. But reality dictates that raising a generation or two of fools is not an option. This is our future, this is our children, this is our legacy. But, sadly, saving education in America has not been a priority since the days of Lyndon Johnson forward. It is just all talk, election points, statistical points — if we tell them we believe in education and the future of our children — they will believe us, don’t worry.

Common sense dictates that Florida and all the other states facing budget problems can view within themselves and make the distinguished changes from pork barrel politics and propose enough funds be allocated to the schools, to the teachers, to the students — so that their survival becomes a first class legacy we can all be proud of. Taking away money for your pet farm, bridge, roadway, restaurant, or in the case of my fill City — the art by the side of the road project — and proceed these foolish porkers into a solid education plan where monies ACTUALLY arrive into the Districts and students can be taught. This requires real change, real dedication, compassion and caring – something that those in charge, especially the GOP of states like Florida, refuse to do, as it may lose them a vote here or there.

I challenge any politico to stand with me on a stage, debate me on the pork projects and how by cutting them out of a budget and passing those savings on to education — would harm the spot, their locality, or lose them votes. I know nobody will accept that challenge for this reason:

They are afraid to know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth – whereby education is indeed a priority to save our children and save our future. It is much easier to talk the talk, lead people like lambs to the slaughter, having them believe you actually care — then making those changes happen. As always, it is the innocent who suffer, while the children cry out in vain.

As we move succor to the future all these years later, I leave you with this thought:

“Perhaps, someday, an alien from a far distant planet will visit what was once a strong, educated, and unbelievable planet earth, but was now an earth that was devoid of human beings, for those human beings had died off as a species for lack of education, lack of teachings, lack of understandings, and had disappeared for wanton nots. Perhaps as that alien is wandering on a now barren planet earth, he or she shall stumble across a tombstone that shall read: Man, created in the image of G-d, destroyed in the image of his creation.”

Anybody out there wanna suspend me, take me to the Principals office or call me a heretic?

Sick of seeing all these commercials about saving money on car insurance? Why not bewitch them up on their offer attach some serious bucks, and use it to pay off some debt?

What the car insurance companies know, is that less than 30% of people shop around for car insurance to glean the best deals out there. They also know that if they can reveal that they can save you money on your car insurance, you will switch car insurance companies to do business with them. The truth of the matter is, they are right.

The time spent to shop around and glean the best comparison prices is well worth it. Most people do not realize that they could possibly achieve up to $500 a year on their car insurance if they comparison shop! You could use that money to pay down a credit card or pay off some other high interest debt. It also pays to comparison shop on a yearly basis as prices rise and fall, you could make out in the demolish on the best deals.

The car insurance companies know that many people are in debt and they are looking for ways to save money. That is why you are seeing all these commercials trying to get your business. There really is a big inequity in imprint quotes with the same kind of coverage from different car insurance companies. The key here is to make sure that you are getting the same kind of coverage. Be careful that you are not losing any coverage that you need to procure that cheaper quote. Call the car insurance companies and go over your current plan and ask them for an exact coverage comparison. You will be paralyzed at the various prices for the same coverage.

Car insurance companies are not the only ones that can help you save money. What about your homeowners insurance? What about other insurances? Most people don’t think about checking back on their quotes and shopping around after they already have a plan. You may have got a good deal 3 years ago, but now you might be paying outrageous premiums compared to other insurance companies with the exact same coverage.

So, shop around and establish yourself some money. You may be able to attach enough to splurge a little on yourself for a change! Gain an extra payment on any bills, if you can, to save on interest charges and pay the bills off sooner. You’d be surprised at how easy it is to save if you just keep on top of the car insurance price wars.

Auto insurance discounts can greatly help decrease your auto policy insurance premiums. Typical discounts could easily cut down 10-20% of your premium costs if you qualify.

The top auto insurance discounts that most companies offer are listed below.

• Suited driver discount – If you have a respectable driving history for 3-5 years, companies give a titanic discount. A good driving narrate implies no citations, violation or at-fault accidents.

• If your car comes with features like anti-theft devices, anti-brake locks, automatic seat belts, etc., you bustle a smaller risk of a severe loss and can get a discount.

• Mileage discount - If your average annual mileage is low and your work region is close to home, it implies that you will be parked longer than you will be on the roads. That qualifies for lower risk and higher discount.

• Affiliations discount - Your insurer may offer reduced group rates to member of organization like AAA or specific banks and credit unions.

• Low-risk occupation discount - Insurers assess risk based on your occupation or profession using years of statistical information on applicable demographics. For example, teachers and doctors are considered to be responsible drivers and may get an auto insurance discount

• Class discount – If you have traffic violations and citations, taking some motor vehicle administration approved classes on driving may reduce your points and qualify you for a discount.

• Good student discount – If you are a recent graduate and have a good GPA, you may get a discount.

All of these auto insurance discounts are easy to qualify for. But every insurance company has its have risk model and pricing policy – so you have to shop around to get the best auto insurance deal. When you ask for a rate quote, make sure you bring up all the points listed above to ensure that you do not miss any discounts.

Illinois ranks number 6 on the list of states with the highest number of licensed drivers. Even with a top rated public transportation system and thousands of taxis on the roads, more than 10 million Illinois drivers take to the roads each day. Auto insurance companies understand the increased risk congested roadways pose, so auto insurance rates will be higher in certain states than they are in others. Currently, the average annual auto insurance premium in the status of Illinois is $1,200.

While the space of Illinois ranks below the national average for auto insurance, which is approximately $1,800, the state falls into the mid-range when it comes to minimum auto liability insurance coverage amounts. In the state of Illinois, it is against the law to drive without minimum coverages of $20,000 injury or death of one person in an accident, $40,000 injury or death of more than one person in an accident, and $15,000 damage to someone else’s property (20/40/15). 20/40/15 might be enough to shroud a few drivers, but in most cases, the minimum coverages are not enough.

When determining rates, Illinois auto insurance companies will deem age, gender, employment, driving record, marital status, make and model of vehicle, and even credit history. Auto insurance providers will recommend determined coverages bases on your specific circumstances. According to Autoinsurancetips.com, most Illinois auto insurance providers will recommend uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage in as much UM/UIM as you can afford. This will protect you against drivers that have no insurance or not enough insurance. This is usually the case with drivers that carry the minimum amounts of coverage required by law.

Once you pick up your auto insurance policy, Illinois driving law requires that all drivers carry proof of insurance at all time. There are no exceptions to this rule.
In addition, the state of Illinois has random insurance screening. This means, if you do not provide proof of insurance upon request, your license plates will be suspended upon failure to provide proof.

Driving without auto insurance in the state of Illinois is against the law. If you get stopped for a traffic violation or for any other reason and you fail to produce proof of insurance, your registration will be suspended. In order to reinstate your registration, you will have to pay a fine of no less than $500 and $100 to reinstate your registration.

Now that you have the basics of how Illinois auto insurance works, here are some tips on how to purchase auto insurance and ways to save.

When purchasing auto insurance in the state of Illinois, look for auto insurance providers with a solid reputation in the industry. Log onto your favorite search engine to begin you search. Decide 3-4 top auto insurance providers. You can do an online quote or simply call an agent. Sometimes it’s better to talk to a live agent – especially if you think you’ll have lots of questions. After you have received several quotes, decide which policy offers the most coverage, not the lowest monthly payment. Ample amounts of coverage will save you a significant amount of money and aggravation in the long run.

If you want to save money, go for discounts instead of skimping on coverage. Illinois auto insurance providers offer expedient driver discounts and discounts for added safety features. If the insurance company is also a health, life, and
Homeowner’s insurance provider, you may qualify for a discount if you carry your other policies with the same provider. And finally, if you have more than one vehicle in your household, you can attach up to 15% if you add it to your policy.

For more information about Illinois Auto Insurance, Illinois driving statistics and more, please visit:

Illinois Secretary of State (DMV)
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/

Auto Insurance Tips
Illinois Auto Insurance

California Department of Insurance (Website)
http://www.insurance.illinois.gov/

United States Census Bureau
http://www.census.gov/