Feeding your dog can be filled with stress.

Many dog owners take a zealous approach to how they feed their dog and can be quite judgmental of other dog owners when the issue of a dog's food comes up.

The reality is that what you feed your dog is your decision. It will be guided by how you have always fed your dogs and what you think is right for your current dog or dogs.

A dog's food is only one part of raising a healthy and happy dog, but it's a very important part, and worth some careful consideration.

How to Choose a Dog Food

If you go shopping for dog food, you quickly see that there are many options. There's premium dog food, low-cost dog food and so many dog food brands your head can spin.

Here are some tips for finding the right dog food:

* Start your search before you go the store. If you make your choice in the store, it could quite easily be the wrong one.
* Ask friends and family for recommendations. If they use a particularly good dog food, consider that as one of your viable choices.
* Ask your vet for a recommendation. Based on your dog's age and health, your vet may have specific recommendations for your dog.
* Remember that the best dog food for one dog isn't necessarily the best for another. Consider your own needs and budget before settling on a dog food choice.
* Read dog food reviews. If they are reputable and published in well-known publications or web sites, you can usually trust them.
* Remember that puppy dog food is a completely different beast than food you feed an older dog. Don't feed a puppy regular dog food, and don't feed an adult dog puppy dog food.


When looking at learning more about Best Dog Food, read as much as you can.

The health of your dog depends on it!

What About Homemade Dog Food?

Recently, the safety of pet food was questioned when many dogs became sick and died after eating commercial dog food. Some of the brands in question were even considered premium dog food brands, so it seemed that no brand was safe.

This safety scare led many people to decide to give their dog a homemade dog food diet. It's an excellent option if you have the money and time. Feeding a dog a homemade dog food diet can be expensive and somewhat time consuming, though it does get easier the longer you do it.

If you are thinking you might skip the dog food brands and go for the homemade dog food, consider these tips:

* Make sure the dog food you make is nutritionally balanced. Dogs need a good amount of carbohydrates, fat and protein. Do some reading ahead of time to make sure that you get just the right proportion of nutrients for your size and breed of dog.
* Be willing to cook animal body parts that you might not consider desirable. Dogs can eat necks.legs and organs. In fact, many believe that one of the main advantages of a homemade dog food diet is that your dog can get more raw meat and bones, which many consider to be the ideal dog food diet.
* Don't forget that if you start Rover on a homemade dog food diet, it can be hard to switch to a more traditional diet. You can't just put a bowl of kibble down because you are too tired to make your dog's dinner. To that end, it's best to do a lot of preparation ahead of time so there are packages in the freezer you can pull out and thaw.

Conclusion

The best dog food diet for your dog is the diet that proves to be best for you. Depending on your budget and time available, you might make a different choice from your neighbor. The key is to find dog food brands that are accessible, affordable and that feed your dog healthfully. Or make your own. It's truly your choice.

More Information

More information about Dog Food or Dog Food Reviews can be found here.


About the Author
Find out more of the vital things you need to know about dog food brand. Our complimentary Healthy Dog Food newsletter is available for a limited time from our website.

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The recent swine influenza outbreak has brought the fear of a global pandemic to the forefront of the public consciousness. But before pigs, the suspected carriers of the next pandemic were of the avian species. But what does it mean to have swine or avian influenza and how do they differ from the regular flu? Can you be vaccinated against it? How do these viruses spread from animals to humans? Read the ScienceBlogs posts below to find out.

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As you may or may not know, I work for the local health department in my area. My official title is Office Technician and, among other things, I check-in patients that come in for immunizations. Beside verifying their address, phone number, insurance information, I also check and see what required immunizations are due and then I also recommend additional vaccines. One of those additional vaccines is the new HPV vaccine recommended for girls ages 9-26 years of age.

Cervical cancer is caused by the HPV virus. HPV is spread by skin-to-skin genital contact and can be prevented by abstaining from skin-to-skin genital contact or having fewer sexual partners. See www.cancerutah.org/prevent for more information.

The Utah Cancer Control Program is having a contest to get the word out about the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer and so for the next 3 weeks I'll be posting a random fact about HPV in order to provide knowledge about the virus and the vaccine. I could win a $300 spa pass, a stay in a Park City resort, or an iPod with an iTunes gift certificate if I'm chosen for participating so thanks for indulging me.

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If curing colon cancer is very difficult, it is quite contrary to prevent it. In fact, the majority of cancers of the rectum and colon could be prevented through regular checkup (examination or inspection), healthy lifestyle (eating healthy foods, regular colon cleansing, exercise, etc.), and chemoprevention.

Annual Check-up - annual health checkups is recommended to help detect health problems in their early stages. Early medical visit is the best preventive method to save your life from bowel cancer. Bowel cancer tends to develop in the polyps. Most polyps are present no symptoms at early stage, they are usually discovered at the time of colon cancer screening (digital rectal exam, flexible sigmoidoscopy, Barium enema, colonoscopy or virtual colonoscopy).

Being present microscopically, benign colon polyps tend to transform with time into colon cancer. These abnormalities can be detected and removed early during a colonoscopy (a visual examination of examination of the large colon and the distal part of the small bowel) to avoid complications. It is estimated that this procedure could be reduced by 80% the risk of occurrence of intestinal cancer when you begin these tests at around 45, then every 5 or 10 years.

Diet and Lifestyle - it is no doubt that your lifestyle can increase the risk of cancer. The incidence of colorectal cancer (colon cancer or large bowel cancer) is very frequent in places where people practice the following: physical inactivity, excess calories intake (especially of saturated fat, protein, and sugar), alcohol abuse, consumption of a diet rich in red meat, sausages and hot dogs. Conversely, physical activity and a eating a diet rich in fruit and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, watercress, bok choy, etc.) containing antioxidant micronutrients would reduce the risk of cancer or its reoccurrence. In fact, these foods can be used as preventive and curative methods; a diet composed mostly of fruits, cruciferous veggies and fish may reduce the risk or cure certain bowel cancers at their genesis.

Chemoprevention - this method consist of the use of natural or synthetic substances in order to prevent, reverse, or delay the development of cancer cells. Micronutrients such as iron, cobalt, chromium, copper, iodine, manganese, selenium, zinc and molybdenum, as well as other nutrients like calcium, folic acid (Vitamin B9), and certain medications such as aspirin may inhibit cancerogenesis, according to some studies in animals. Others studies show significant inhibition of spontaneous intestinal polyps in mice and rats.

Other substances used in chemoprevention include Cyclooxygenase-2-Selective Inhibitors (COX2), a form of Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that directly targets COX-2, an enzyme responsible for inflammation and peptic ulceration. When it comes to your health, prevention is always better than treatment, which does always lead to cure; make your first step today to prevent or eradicate colon cancer; visit cancerofolon.com, or click on the in the resource box below.



About the Author
Remy is a multi-topic writer with years of experience in nutrition and naturotherapy. He loves to share his own personal beneficial experience with natural alternative to others. For your research on health problems, beauty and personal care, please visit cancerofcolon.

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Appellants/Plaintiffs Lyn Leone, Omari Vaden, et al., (“the Class”) appeal from the trial court's denial of their motion for a preliminary injunction against Appellees/Defendants the Commission of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, et al., (“the BMV”). The Class contends that it has satisfied all of the requirements for the grant of a preliminary injunction, while the BMV argues that the Class has satisfied none. Because we conclude that the Class has shown that the BMV's challenged policy violates constitutional guarantees of due process by failing to provide ascertainable standards, but that a preliminary injunction would not be in the public interest, we affirm the trial court's denial of the Class's request. * * *
The Class argues that the BMV violates Indiana law by essentially deferring to the SSA on the question of one's legal name, when the matter is purely one of Indiana law. The General Assembly has endowed the BMV with broad powers governing the issuance and regulation of driver's licenses and state identification cards. * * *
We conclude that the BMV's policy, as embodied in Indiana Administrative Code Title 140, rule 7-1.1-2, does not violate Indiana law. The Class cites to no authority that explains why requiring a person to update information with the SSA or BMV violates Indiana law in any way, nor are we aware of any. We are unwilling to essentially invalidate the BMV's program without clear authority that it has somehow violated Indiana law. The burden was on the Class to establish a clear violation of Indiana law, and it has not done so.
While we agree that it is the law of Indiana that a person can change his or her legal name without resort to formal legal process, it does not follow that all others, including governmental agencies like the BMV, are required to simply accept the word of the applicant that he is who he claims to be. In other words, the ability to change one's name at will does not equate to freedom from all of the consequences of such a decision. In our view, the public interest in curtailing identity theft shifts the burden and inconvenience to the person seeking to change his name. * * *
Taking all of the relevant statutes into account, we conclude that implicit in the broad statutory authority granted to the BMV is the power to verify the information submitted to it by an applicant for a driver's license or identification card by any reasonable method. As previously mentioned, the BMV has the power to revoke a license on any reasonable ground, and the failure (or refusal) of a cardholder to establish his or her identity seems eminently reasonable to us, even if that means using federal records. By taking away the BMV's power to verify the information given to it using the SSA standard it has chosen, the Class's position on this question would effectively eviscerate the statutory provisions granting the BMV broad powers in this area. In summary, we conclude that the policy does not violate Indiana law by using the SSA's database to verify the information supplied by applicants. * * *
The Class alleges two distinct due process violations, contending that the BMV has acted without ascertainable standards and that the program at issue is without a rational basis. We agree with the Class regarding the first claim, but not the second.
I. Ascertainable Standards * * *
Even though we believe that the BMV has failed to provide ascertainable standards, we do not accept the Class's argument that the policy lacks a rational basis. * * *
The question, then, is whether the presence of an unresolved discrepancy between BMV and SSA records is a rational basis for suspending or revoking a driver's license or identification card. We conclude that it is. In short, the policy effectively blocks a well- known avenue for identity theft by making it much more difficult to appropriate another's social security number in order to obtain state identification. Moreover, although objective proof of the success of the program is unnecessary, all indications are that the program in question is in fact effective. * * *
II. Public Interest
Even though we are convinced of the lack of ascertainable standards in the BMV's policy, thereby relieving the Class of its burden of proving irreparable harm and that the balance of harms weighs in their favor, it must still establish that a preliminary injunction would be in the public interest. This it has failed to do. We conclude that an injunction in favor of the Class would clearly disserve the public interest in preventing and detecting identity theft. Suspension of the BMV's program would have the effect of restoring a well- known avenue for fraud and identity theft. We simply cannot agree that the inconvenience of a few Hoosiers (which is really all the record before us shows) outweighs the very real threat that identity theft poses to all of us. * * * We conclude that the Class has failed to establish that a preliminary injunction is in the public interest and affirm the trial court's ruling on that basis.
Conclusion
We conclude that the BMV policy does not violate Indiana law by using the SSA's files to verify the accuracy of its own information and by requiring that individuals correct any discrepancies. We also conclude, however, that the policy fails to provide ascertainable standards and so violates the federal Constitution's guarantee of due process. Even so, we nevertheless affirm the trial court's denial of the Class's request for a preliminary injunction, as we conclude that it has failed to show that it would be in the public interest. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
BAILEY, J., concurs.
RILEY, J. dissenting with separate opinion:
I respectfully dissent. The majority has chosen to author its opinion without telling the factual history of the real people identified by the Appellants-Plaintiffs that are being hassled by the BMV's policy shift. Additionally, they have chosen to ignore Indiana law controlling administrative actions that an agency may not by its rules and regulations add to or detract from the law as enacted, nor may it by rule extend its powers beyond those conferred upon it by law. Lee Alan Bryant Health Care Facilities, Inc. v. Hamilton, 788 N.E.2d 495, 500 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003), clarified on reh’g, 793 N.E.2d 29 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). * * *
The majority relies upon the testimony of Detective Eads to find a “rational basis” for the BMV's ultra vires acts. However, the law as codified by our legislature is that a person applying for a drivers license or identification card must provide the BMV with their “full legal name.” See I.C.§§ 9-24-11-5(a)(1) and 9-24-16-3(b)(1).

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Adam Lambert and Danny Gokey topped "American Idol's" fashion--and singing--contest last night, with Allison Iraheta looking strong as well... but Kris Allen and Matt Giraud at the back of the pack.
With the contestants whittled down to a mere five -- four boys and a girl -- and the Rat Pack theme -- well, the dress code was sort of obvious … snazzy suits, a touch gangster. Not gangsta’ but gangster, like guys named Bugsy carrying violin cases, or entertainers named Frank, Dean and Sammy.
Danny Gokey did it best in an elegant, inky three-piece suit, bright white shirt worn with cufflinks, soft blue satiny tie with tie bar, and matching pocket square – sharp as a knife. The look, combined with his fabulous bluesy take on “Come Rain and Shine,” and much noted “swagger” virtually transformed him into a modern day Rat Packer. In terms of fashion, and maybe vocals, he won the night.
Adam Lambert’s white satin suit, black shirt and white tie was evocative of the white dinner jacket favored in the day, but not imitative (the Rat Packers wore black pants) … pure Adam. His edgy rendition of “Feeling Good,” was nasty and nice, hard to pull off. He wins it in the drama department (the lighting, shiny suit …what an entrance), and he will probably win the whole shebang. And for the record, that dude is getting a lot of use out of those white cowboy boots.
We’ve been saying all along how Allison Iraheta needs to go girly and she did it without entirely losing her edge in a fitted black top with sweetheart neckline, fluffy, flowered skirt of chiffon petals and chunky black sandals. Her bright red hair had new black streaks and even Randy said she looked “dope.” Did Simon sabotage her? We’ll see, but we think hers was one of the top three performances of the night, and she looked both fab and age-appropriate.
Contrary to Simon Cowell’s opinion, we think Kris Allen sounded great, especially when listening to the playback but here’s one case when his boyish, rumpled look was not the best. A mousy gray suit with narrow lapels, skinny tie -- eh, he should have gone crisper. Likewise, Matt Giraud’s duds were duds -- the blue shirt/burgundy tie combo -- sort of grandpa-ish -- and his vocals did not blow us away.
Off the stage, it’s been a kick to watch the yin-and-yang of the lady judges throughout the season. It’s as if they go out of their way to wear opposite styles -- Kara plain, Paula fancy -- and last night was no exception. Kara wore a slim, robin’s egg blue fitted jersey dress with straps, no necklace, small earrings and a couple of bracelets. Paula seemed as if she were set in the center of a giant red rose, petal ruffles everywhere, with massive bling including a sparkling butterfly necklace that could double as an evening purse.
– Anne Bratskeir
Which "American Idol" finalist looked the best to you? Which sounded the best.

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As a physician I often find myself comparing everyday situations and political problems to medical dilemmas. I suppose it is only natural to do so. I am trained in medicine and I am more comfortable with medical issues than I am with subjects about which I am not as well versed. Medical decisions are scientifically based, require rigorous analysis and logic, as well as the diligent application of ethical principles.

I was fortunate enough this past weekend to travel down to California to visit my sister and her beautiful two-year-old daughter. Happily, my sister is not a California liberal and had her radio station tuned to Rush Limbaugh. While there, however, I began thinking about conversations I previously had with people from California both in the state and in many different parts of the country. I remembered a trip to Yellowstone several years ago with my wife and children. Two weeks of discovery in our high carbon emission motor home that took us through eastern Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, back through Idaho and through Washington State. I recalled conversations with people who had left California for greener pastures that they found in beautiful settings that were then populated by few people. People who were quite different from those they had left behind in California. Sun Valley, Idaho was home to a large number of displaced Californians, many of whom had moved there permanently, while some maintained a temporary residence. We found similar stories in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Bozeman, Montana as well as in other places. From Hollywood stars to disaffected financial advisers, they soon outnumbered the natives in many of these places.

The conversations I had with the Californians usually began with a friendly hello, followed by introductions and the inevitable discussion of present goings on and past lives. Pretty much without exception the people who had moved from California bemoaned the crowds, traffic, high taxes, high crime, expensive real estate, social discord and decreased livability of California. Interestingly, however, their political attitudes had not changed. They were invariably liberal, yet had left a state they had helped to remake into a far left liberal Shangri-La out of disgust for what it had become, for what they had helped make it. Yet, they were hard at work trying to remake their new communities in the political image of California. They had in many cases successfully converted these communities from conservative red to liberal blue in short order.

Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. Large sections of these bastions of conservative individualism were being converted into pockets of far left liberalism. I wondered how it could be possible for these people not to realize the irony here. There seemed to be a total logical disconnect. They had succeeded in making California a place where every liberal wanted to live. High taxes, widespread social programs, lack of traditional morality, concern for what a person looks like instead of who a person is. The very dream of liberal elitism. Yet after years of regulating California into the far left socialist haven they craved they jumped ship looking for simpler places, simpler people and less regulation. Was it possible that these malcontents were so numbed by their ideology that they did not, or could not see what they were doing?

I began to think about how modern liberalism could be compared to malignancy. Not a pleasant thought but an applicable thought. A well known conservative radio personality wrote a book entitled : "Liberalism is a Mental Disorder." I began to consider that it may be a malignant disorder as well.

Let's look at what cancer, a malignancy, really is. A human organ is made up of many billions of tiny cells. These cells are of many different types but they all seem to work together for the common good. It doesn't matter which organ we're talking about; be it liver, breast, kidney, lung, etc. Each cell in the organ, with its own purpose and individual strengths, grouped together with similar cells, then grouped with other dissimilar cells to make up parts of and ultimately an entire organ. There may be dozens of different types of cells in just a small, microscopic area of a particular organ numbering in the millions or even billions of cells. Yet, these cells work individually, industriously, seemingly with a singular purpose. Yet in their individuality they are still mindful of their neighbors and the common good. These cells, simply put, are good neighbors. They each work hard for themselves and in so doing they benefit their community. They have physical connections with nearby cells and biochemical connections with others within the organ and beyond. There are certain acceptable behaviors for these cells and certain unacceptable behaviors. Yet, as long as the cells act within a broad range of acceptable behaviors they continue individually working in their own particular arena. When stray cells begin to act in ways far enough outside the mainstream that they could present a danger, other cells act as police, secreting suppressor substances that are designed to bring the stray cell back into the fold and in most cases preventing malignancies from forming. The good neighbor cells go on living, working, producing and sometimes making new baby cells, yet always behaving as good neighbors.

Cancer! the very word sounds evil, apart from the disease or group of diseases that it represents. What is cancer really? It begins with an interloper. Initially a single cell that decides it wants to be completely free. Why concern itself with the constraints of the society of the organ? Why concern itself with its neighbors? It is obcessed only with its own self perceived beauty, its own goals and purpose. It no longer cares about the constraints of the cells around it. It casts off suppression substances and these constraints like a Californian casts off his or her clothes on a sunny day. Liberation! Freedom! "I want to do whatever it is I want to do!" the cell cries. It doesn't matter that all of the other cells in the organ neighborhood have worked hard for years to maintain health and productivity. It doesn't matter that the newly liberated individual cellular freedom seeker will be redistributing fruits of the labor of the other hard-working cells yet it will produce nothing except pain and suffering. "Cell Guevera" it shall be called. All cells will be free or die. Why should this emancipated interloper work? Why should it contribute? As a matter of fact, as long as its own freedom to choose can be fostered, why not kill the other hard-working cells if those cells don't want to play along?

First there is one invader, then there are two. Two become four, four become eight, eight become 16. After a brief interval an entire area within the organ is occupied by self loving, freedom fighting cellular guerrila cells that now band together to fight for their singular purpose; their collective freedom. Freedom from the restraints of the normal cells. "Power to the malignancy!". "Power to the Cells" Carrying aloft their manifesto they prevent the growth and reproduction of the original cells, ultimately killing off those normal cells that try to hold on to their outdated ways. Chemical messages are interrupted between the normal cells, restricting the communication so vital to their co-operation. The new "fairness doctrine" substitutes other messages causing the previously hard-working, highly productive cells to become confused, then transformed and if not compliant, they are killed. Finally, when these freedom fighting substrate stealing invaders find that the environment has become too toxic for even their own continued and unrestricted growth, a few decide to break away. They're sick and tired of the situation they've created and they want to find greener pastures. They jump onto the superhighways called lymph vessels and blood vessels and transport themselves to other places of beauty and symmetry.

Once they arrive, they don't assimilate into the culture of the cells next to which they have taken residence. Despite the fact that they've been unable to continue living in the organ they initially destroyed they take root once again, stealing the hard work of their neighbors, aborting the production of new normal cells and finally destroying their new home as well. Freedom, rights without responsibilities, the lack of concern for cellular tradition are the evils of malignancy. It doesn't matter how many years the cells functioned individually for the good of the entire organ and the entire organism. Tradition means nothing. The old ways of doing things have been replaced. Only absolute freedom, unrestricted, unlimited, and undeterred. And so it goes.

Is this liberal metastatic propensity simply an inability to understand cause and effect? How can there be such a degree of logical disconnect? How can liberals maintain this single-minded commitment to an ideology of absolute freedom and guaranteed happiness leading invariably to progressive dysfunction and death? The liberal promotes a goal that is never attainable, yet the persistent attempt ultimately destroys the society. This is the undeniable similarity between modern liberalism and malignancy. Modern liberals are self absorbed and have an ideology that seeks to remake everyone in such a way as to promote their own ideals. Individual desires become social agendas despite the harm to society that occurs as a result.

The problem is that liberals misunderstand individual freedom in the most fundamental way. The word freedom is derived from two words, free and domination. Freedom is the right of each person to be free of domination or coercion and by their own efforts to work toward a life of their choosing within those wide parameters that define the rules of society. It does not guarantee perfection in society nor does it guarantee equal outcomes for people of different individual abilities and initiative. It does not mean the right to bring everyone down to promote equality but attempts to allow everyone to bring themselves up if able and willing.

Modern liberals seek to remake the very fabric of society so that everyone's desires must be guaranteed by society as a whole and in so doing the freedom of those who object is suppressed. In the liberal view it is no longer the responsibility of the individual to work in a manner that fosters his own survival and the promotion of his own goals, thereby strengthening all of society. It is now society's obligation to guarantee equal outcomes for all. Individual responsibility is replaced by collective guilt. Modern liberalism necessarily results in the destruction of the society just as malignancy results in the destruction of the organ and ultimately the organism. True individual freedom must be suppressed so that liberalism can grow.

These far left liberal metastatic deposits from California simply try to remake wherever they have gone into a political carbon copy of California. The saddest reality is that with all of their supposed concern for society they are really only concerned about themselves. Another sad reality is that when they break away they always pick the most unspoiled, the most beautiful destinations in which to plant their ideology. Yes, liberalism is truly a malignancy. The question before us is whether we will have the moral strength to prescribe effective therapy before it destroys us all.

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From the review:
With the housing market still in tatters but showing some signs of life and the commercial markets starting their own freefall, many investors continue to consider real estate one of the last places to put their dollars to work.
In his new book, "After the Fall: Opportunities and Strategies for Real Estate Investing in the Coming Decade," veteran real estate and travel writer Steve Bergsman argues that now is precisely the time to start considering what types of real estate sectors -- whether residential, commercial or leisure -- should be on your shopping list, both today and in the future...
For each chapter, the author takes us through a brief business journey beginning with an overview, followed by "Where We Are Today," "Where We Were," "Where We Are Headed" and "Fundamentals."
Readers can easily thumb through to whichever chapters they deem most relevant for analysis on the past, present and future for their sectors of interest. In addition, a "Bonus Box" at the end of each chapter focuses on a recent trend for a particular land use sector, such as "The Office Condominium," "Flex Space" (for industrial uses) or "Locations for Knowledge Workers" (for retail uses).
In the case of the commercial real estate markets, Bergsman paints a future portrait of haves and have-nots, in which the largest investors will favor larger urban, international centers such as New York, Washington, D.C., or Los Angeles, while largely ignoring tertiary, largely domestic markets such as St. Louis or Minneapolis.
By 2012, however, the author thinks it will actually be the sleepy, stable apartment market that will be one of the best places for institutional dollars, having likely rebounded from several years of weakness in that sector's underlying fundamentals and a dearth of new construction...
One sub-sector expected to resist the outgoing tide is senior housing, which already went through its own boom-and-bust cycle earlier in the decade and, by 2010, will enjoy a strong surge of favorable demographics as boomers begin to retire in larger numbers.
Looking ahead, two residential sectors Bergsman expects to underperform the market include: condominiums (especially those in popular vacation areas such as Las Vegas or South Florida) and, at least until the next decade, second homes.
However, due to future demographic trends pointing to an aging population, smaller families and a growing preference for returning to the city centers, condos located in urban areas that haven't been overbuilt could return to health as early as 2010, he said...
Finally, although most real estate sectors are expected to return to basic fundamentals for most of the 2010-20 years, one heralded star of the housing boom -- the exurban McMansion built on the far fringes of metropolitan centers -- could likely become its most visible victims of the bust.
Featuring large lots at the expense of a long commute and few public transit options, some industry observers think such single-family homes will eventually be subdivided and become housing for the poor -- which, ironically, is exactly what happened to buildings in various downtown areas as a car-crazy populace moved out to new suburbs during the mid-20th century (see Inman News report on urban, suburban and rural growth and planning trends in the aftermath of the housing boom).
Of the 57 million existing single-family homes on large lots, nearly 40 percent, or 22 million, could have considerable trouble finding buyers in the years ahead as larger economic, political and cultural forces change the way Americans live and view residential real estate as an investment class...
Click here for entire review.

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I originally posted this on Facebook, and am re-posting this here to explain my absence from blogging....

Many of you have been asking what is going on and I wanted to share my story. My intention is not to freak you out or make you sad, but to share what has been a crazy two weeks for me. In addition, I hope my tale is a reminder to listen to your body and when you do get injured seek medical care from those who understand runners.

About a year ago I started having excruciating pain in my left knee. It would hurt running, walking up and down stairs, etc. It would last for a day or two and then completely disappear for another month or so.

At the time I was pregnant with my second child so I asked my OB about the pain. She attributed it to the normal pains that every pregnant woman endures.

My pregnancy was very uneventful other than this occasional pain. I didnt even have morning sickness. I ran up until the day of my induction. My second son, Porter, was born in June after a pretty easy labor and delivery. I felt great afterwards and resumed running 3 weeks later.

I continued to have pain through the summer and fall but it was less intense and more sporadic (every 1.5-2 months). I had read that the pregnancy hormones remain in your body while you are nursing so I chalked it up to residual pregnancy pain.

In January I started training for the Cincinnati Flying Pig marathon. The plan was to run it with my husband (his first) and my two college teammates.

As I increased my mileage my knee started hurting more often to the point it was chronic. I was constantly icing and stretching in order to keep it under control. When I stopped running and switched to cross training I had no pain at all.

Despite the knee pain during running, I felt great and was running really well. My workouts were tracking to a 3:10-3:15 marathon which would be a 12-17 minute PR for me. In fact, I ran a 5K time trial in early February of 19:36. This was a time I hadnt seen since college which was 10 years and two babies ago.

Finally, in mid-February after a painful 2 hour run on hills at South Chagrin I finally decided I needed to see a doctor. I made an appointment with Dr. Nilesh Shah who is a runner and is well known in the running community.

It was about a week and a half before I could get an appointment. I was really worried about losing my fitness and hurting my marathon prospects so I replicated my workouts on the bike and elliptical during this time. In retrospect I find this hilarious.On February 25, I finally saw Dr. Shah. Runners tend to get a handful of injuries, most of them due to overuse. I was sure I had an overuse injury because I felt so good and because the pain went away when I stopped running.

First, two residents saw me. They checked me for the standard running injuries and seemed a little baffled. Next, Dr. Shah took a look at my knee. After eliminating the standard problems he ordered up xrays. I took the xrays and sat down with Dr. Shah to review.

He brought up the images on his computer and then abruptly got up and left the room. That was my first indication that things werent going well. He came back a few minutes later and explained that he had observed patchiness on my left femur and wanted to consult with a radiologist. Dr.Shah and the radiologist suspected it may be from bone loss from the pregnancy but wanted an MRI to make sure it wasnt anything more sinister.

I had the MRI on Friday. They gave me a copy of the images on CD and I spent the weekend Googling MRI images of the knee. While the internet has a lot of info, its no substitute for medical school and I was unable to diagnose anything.

On Sunday night, I checked my phone and saw that there was a voicemail from Dr. Shah. From the timing of the call and the urgency in Dr. Shahs voice, I knew things werent looking good. One agonizing hour later, I got a hold of Dr. Shah. He informed me that my MRI showed a suspect tumor on my distal femur. I knew right then that I had cancer even though the official diagnosis wouldnt come for another week and a half.

I saw an orthopedic oncologist that Monday and had a bone biopsy on Thursday. After the surgery, the orthopedic oncologist informed my husband and parents that it was very probable that I had cancer.

I received the official diagnosis on Wednesday, March 11. Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Diffuse B Cell to be exact.Im thirty years old. Ive never had a cavity. In seventeen years of running Ive never experienced anything worse than shin splints (and a dog bite). I drink organic milk. I ran the Boston Marathon. I once did a 5 mile race 9 months pregnant while pushing a toddler in a jog stroller. I thought people like me dont get cancer. But they do and I did.

Im starting to realize that this is just one of those random things that happen. It can happen to anyone, children, Lance Armstrong, me. I think I may play the lottery.

That said, Ive already learned two important lessons.

First, listen to your body. I am so thankful I was running because it clued me in that there was a problem. I had no symptoms other running pains and would have never gone to the doctor otherwise. Who knows how bad things could have progressed?

Second, when you are injured make sure you see someone who understands runners. It would have been so easy for any run of the mill doc to misdiagnose me and tell me I was running too much and to back off. I am so thankful Dr. Shah knew what was normal and abnormal for runners and took an appropriate course of action.

I have an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic tomorrow, followed by presumably more tests. Once all the results are back a course of treatment will be developed.

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Peregrines PS-targeting antibodies highlighted in AACR Annual Meeting studies
Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPHM), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of cancer and serious virus infections, today reported that two preclinical studies presented during the AACR 100th Annual Meeting 2009 provided further confirmation of the immunomodulatory mechanisms contributing to the anti-tumor activity of its phosphatidylserine (PS) targeting antibodies.

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The chemical changes that take place to individual nutrients, as excessive heat is applied will now be examined. It is well understood and recognized in scientific literature that heat breaks down vitamins, amino acids and produces undesirable cross-linkages in proteins, particularly in meat. When food is cooked above 117 degrees F for three minutes or longer, the following deleterious changes begin, and progressively cause increased nutritional damage as higher temperatures are applied over prolonged periods of time: proteins coagulate, high temperatures denature protein molecular structure, leading to deficiency of some essential amino acids, carbohydrates caramelize, overly heated fats generate numerous carcinogens including acrolein, nitrosamines, hydrocarbons, and benzopyrene (one of the most potent cancer-causing agents known), natural fibers break down, cellulose is completely changed from its natural condition: it loses its ability to sweep the alimentary canal clean 30% to 50% of vitamins and minerals are destroyed, 100% of enzymes are damaged, the bodys enzyme potential is depleted which drains energy needed to maintain and repair tissue and organ systems, thereby shortening our life span, pesticides are restructured into even more toxic compounds, valuable oxygen is lost, free radicals are produced, cooked food pathogens enervate the immune system, heat degenerates nucleic acids and chlorophyll, cooking causes inorganic mineral elements to enter the blood and circulate through the system, which settle in the arteries and veins, causing arteries to lose their pliability, the body prematurely ages as this inorganic matter is deposited in various joints or accumulates within internal organs, including the heart valves.
As temperature rises, each of these damaging events reduces the availability of individual nutrients. Modern food processing not only strips away natural anti-cancer agents, but searing heat forms potent cancer-producing chemicals in the process. Alien food substances are created that the body cannot metabolize.
For example, according to research performed by cancerologist Dr. Bruce Ames, professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at University of California, Berkeley various groups of chemicals from cooked food causes tumors: Nitrosamines are created from fish, poultry or meat cooked in gas ovens and barbecues, as nitrogen oxides within gas flames interact with fat residues; Hetrocyclic amines form from heating proteins and amino acids; Polycyclic hydrocarbons are created by charring meat; Mucoid plaque, a thick tar-like substance builds up in the intestines on a diet of cooked foods. Mucoid plaque is caused by uneliminated, partically digested, putrefying cooked fatty and starch foods eaten in association with protein flesh foods; Lipofuscin is another toxin: an accumulation of waste materials throughout the body and within cells of the skin, manifesting as spots in the liver as liver and in the nervous system including the brain, possibly contributing to ossification of gray matter and senility.
From the book Diet, Nutrition and Cancer, published by the Nutritional Research Council of the American Academy of Sciences (1982) and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) Office of Toxicological Sciences, additional carcinogens in heated foods include:

Hydroperoxide, alkoxy, endoperoxides and epoxides from heated meat, eggs, fish and pasteurized milk;
Ally aldehyde (acrolein), butyric acid, nitropyrene, nitrobenzene and nitrosamines from heated fats and oils;
Methyglyoxal and chlorogenic atractyosides in coffee;
Indole, skatole, nitropyrene, ptomatropine, ptomaines, leukomaines, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, cadaverine, muscarine, putecine, nervine, and mercaptins in cheese.
It is no coincidence since 1950 as processed food proliferated that cancer rates in the United States have steadily increased and are now at the highest point in history. The effect from consuming overly cooked food is minimal nutrition. The body is forced to raid its dwindling supply of nutrient reserves and remains hungry for quality nutrients after a typical meal on the SAD diet (Standard American Diet). This leads to further hunger even though the stomach is full. The result is chronic overeating and rampant obesity seen nationwide.

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It was getting a little crowded in Heaven, so God decided to change the admittance policy. The new law was that in order to get into Heaven, you had to have a really bad day on the day that you died. The policy would go into effect at noon the next day.

So, the next day at 12:01 the first person came to the gates of Heaven. The Angel at the gate, remembering the new policy, promptly asked the man, 'Before I let you in, I need you to tell me how your day was going when you died.'

'No problem, the man said. 'I came home to my 25th-floor apartment on my lunch hour and caught my wife having an affair . But her lover was nowhere in sight. I immediately began searching for him. My wife was half naked and yelling at me as I searched the entire apartment.

Just as I was about to give up, I happened to glance out onto the balcony and noticed that there was a man hanging off the edge by his fingertips! The nerve of that guy!

Well, I ran out onto the balcony and stomped on his fingers until he fell to the ground.

But wouldn't you know it, he landed in some trees and bushes that broke his fall and he didn't die. This ticked me off even more. In a rage, I went back inside to get the first heavy thing I could get my hands on to throw at him.

Oddly enough, the first thing I thought of was the refrigerator. I unplugged it, pushed it out onto the balcony, and tipped it over the side. It plummeted 25 stories and crushed him!

The excitement of the moment was so great that I had a heart attack and died almost instantly.'

The Angel sat back and thought a moment. Technically, the guy did have a bad day. It was a crime of passion. So, the Angel announced, 'OK, sir. Welcome to the Kingdom of Heaven,' and let him in.

A few seconds later the next guy came up. To the Angel's surprise, it was Donald Trump.

'Mr. Trump, before I can let you in, I need to hear about what your day was like when you died.'

Trump said, 'No problem. But you're not going to believe this. I was on the balcony of my 26th floor apartment doing my daily exercises. I had been under a lot of pressure so I was really pushing hard to relieve my stress. I guess I got a little carried away, slipped, and accidentally fell over the side!

Luckily, I was able to catch myself by the fingertips on the balcony below mine. But all of a sudden this crazy man comes running out of his apartment, starts cussing, and stomps on my fingers. Well, of course I fell. I hit some trees and bushes at the bottom, which broke my fall, so I didn't die right away.

As I'm laying there face up on the ground, unable to move and in excruciating pain, I see this guy push his refrigerator of all things off the balcony. It falls the 25 floors and lands on top of me, killing me instantly.'

The Angel is quietly laughing to himself as Trump finishes his story. 'I could get used to this new policy,' he thinks to himself. 'Very well,' the Angel announces. 'Welcome to the Kingdom of Heaven,' and he lets Trump enter.

A few seconds later, Bill Clinton comes up to the gate. The Angel is almost too shocked to speak. Thoughts of assassination and war pour through the Angel's head. Finally he says, 'Mr. President, please tell me what it was like the day you died.'

Clinton says, 'OK, picture this. I'm naked, inside a refrigerator...

E-mail received today from my friends, Tony and Rebecca Brewer.

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April 9, 2009 - 5:46 am Dr. West   Most of the posts here are designed to educate, but a few are to vent or just observe.  As a medical oncologist, one of the things that I find most challenging is the rather rapid transition in medicine to away from longitudinal care and the movement of more and more medical fields to a team approach.   Fewer and fewer general doctors care for their patients in the hospital, as many (and I think most) hospitals have who are general medicine doctors working on shifts.  In our area, even specialists like cardiology groups are now moving away from having a patient assigned to a particular doctor over time, and instead seeing the cardiologist on a particular day.
Although there are definitely plenty of cross-covering partners in oncology when someone is out of town, I think oncology has been one of the specialties moving in this direction more slowly than others.    I think most oncologists originally went into the field to have a significant and longitudinal connection with their patients, though of course the downside is that having deep relationships can be very draining.  When I was doing my training at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center here in Seattle, I went to a national meeting where I was talking over lunch with a national leader in oncology from another part of the country, and he noted how unique the Hutch was, in that there was such an emphasis on research that patients there dont get assigned an oncologist, but rather have a team that shifts every few weeks.  This allows the faculty to continue their research when they arent working in the hospital, but it means that no patient can identify anybody as their doctor.   This physician was noting the uniqueness as a negative feature in the doctor-patient relationship, and I agree.
While Im sure many people here dont have a terrific longitudinal relationship with a particular oncologist, plenty do.  Where I work, many patients have such a limited relationship with their other doctors that they come to rely on their oncologist to provide all of their cancer care and also much of the direction of all of the rest of the health care.  I think thats probably appropriate when their cancer issues overwhelm all of their other medical problems, but sometimes it happens just because they have a better rapport with us than with the physicians who should really be managing the other issues.
Of course, its great to have meaningful, longitudinal relationships with patients: its why most of us went into the field.  But as doctors in many other fields become less and less accountable, having the oncologist become the primary source of dependable health care can lead to problems.  One of the biggest is burnout.   Every few months, I hear of another oncologist leaving their practice because they feel that there is just so much pressure falling on their shoulders.  As the population ages, the numbers of patients needing access will only increase, and if more and more responsibilities fall upon the oncologist because a patient cant really identify a primary care physician to call in their rotation of docs of the day, its a setup for more burnout.

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I feel confident I have covered this topic before, but after a week of being home I totally forgot that I have to yell at someone once a day here. It seems shocking that I have to advocate for things that seem so obvious to me, but then I am only looking at Sam, and not at dozens of kids and nurses and combinations of kids and combinations of staff and combinations of kids and staff. But I have to say I smell a transition in the charge nurse office. At least I hope that's what I smell.


Retroactively I know of course, that I should have been on higher alert, but today was a busy, full, and productive day for Sam and I am living so absolutely in the moment and forgot to plan on being watchful for the ever looming Event. I called the 3rd floor last night to ask what time Sam had to be in this morning. Sam and I had time to deliver Jeffrey to school where Mr. Pew was posted in his usual am spot. It was really great to see him. Sam loves his teaching and his offer to blow things up and Mr. Pew was able to tell Sam in person that he was looking forward to May when the weather would be brighter and the time would be just right for some hefty explosions. He also told Sam he has a chemistry set for him that he will be surprised by. I'm not even going to guess. I like seeing Mr. Pew because he has faced similar challenges and come out the other side. I drove the long way from SHA to 23rd until finally there was no where to turn but down the hill towards Childrens. Sam was in a great mood--his week at home bolstered him in so many ways.

I decided to try something new for the moving-in process and went to the Whale entrance where they have Valet. They don't have any wagons up there but they had strollers so I got one and put the little bags on it so all I would have to go back for was the suitcase on wheels. Sam used his walker as a workout tool. Yesterday I took him to Cappy's Boxing Gym where Cappy worked with him for a half hour. He taught Sam how to walk again starting with grounding his feet evenly, feeling his legs and hips align, helping find awareness about where his body actually is compared to where it wants to go and where he thinks it goes. He taught Sam drills for stretching and walking using the walker, sitting, and laying down. So Sam grabbed his walker and did a few stretches, aligned his body, and then we set off down the long corridors to hem/onc. We walked slowly, giving him plenty of time to work on his new walk. I was so happy to see him take the initiative and work these drills through. We got to the room and he saw it had a window and he went straight over and opened up the curtain--having an awareness of day and night makes his stays here easier. It keeps him on a rhythm and he likes the sun coming in. The room has plenty of space for us to unpack which is nice after the last one where we were living out of bags on the floor. We had no complaints while we were doing it, but when you get a sudden improvement you realize how nice it is to have cupboards and drawers.

Sam did a few more drills bedside and then climbed in to play the xbox. That little white machine has made such a huge difference in his life now. Uncle Jacob brought him a new game which he loves to play with his friends and one of them told him they can play online together somehow so he was trying to get that connection to work. Either we need to enter some kind of IP address (?!?) or get an adapter to make it work wirelessly. I have no clue--I am totally impressed with myself that I can set it all up for him and get the dvd/tv to the right channel and put a game in. But tonight I am going to get online and see if I can figure it out. It would be great for him because then even when he can't have his friends here, he can still actually play with them. What a world we live in.

Once they got him all hooked up and the pre-chemo fluids flowing we headed off for school, IV pole in tow. He could only stay for a half hour as he had to come back to get the chemo going. But we walked there, and again he did his walking drills. It really does make a difference in how healthy he looks when he walks strong as opposed to slinging his legs around from hips that have changed so much over the past 6 weeks. Even though the muscles have really weakened, when he lines up his body right he still looks strong and stable. Cap offered to keep working with Sam and I am going to find a way to make it happen--without that alignment the PT seems almost useless as he will just build himself up around a wobbly body.

I walked him into the classroom and it was busy today--lots of kids, several his age. I actually dropped him off and left and I felt like I did when Jeffrey went to Kindergarten and I could suddenly do anything! It was such a weird feeling--Robin texted to me quick, run three errands! I felt very independent--he was safe and busy and I had brought my own homework and sat down at the cafeteria tables to do it. Very weird. Alas, the 30 minutes flew by and I went back to pick him up. He was totally engaged with the teacher and other kids, working on Math. What a sight.

We walked back to the room and the nurses fiddled with his IV Tree of Fluids. They loaded on the chemo.

Sam sat up in bed at first, and then asked for a chair with no arms so he could sit correctly to play guitar (there is no amp hooked up although I'm working on getting him one for when we get back home because the guitar is so motivating for him and he might as well get to crank it up!). He sat up and played and watched sports center muted--his guitar teacher's suggestion. It really worked--first of all he can actually play which is amazing to listen to, and second of all it gets him sitting up straight which is great for the belly muscles. I began to wonder how much of a workout he could handle as the whole morning seemed to be drill unfolding after drill without the Queen of Torture even peeking in the door. Just as I got lost in thought the Physical Therapist walked in with an exercise band and a soccer ball. hmmm.

She was showing Sam some exercises with her band and it snapped in two so I gave her the one Cappy gave Sam and it snapped it two. That was so strange--I know how strong those are so it must have been something about the friction between her shoes and the flooring here. She tied them back together again and continued to give him exercises to work on. Then she asked if I would be on her soccer team against Sam and I was like, hey, that's dangerous. She said "don't worry we aren't really playing" and I had to correct her with my "not dangerous for me, dangerous for him!" as very little brings out my competitive side like soccer. Screw cancer, he was going down.

Something scared her (?) and she asked me to trail Sam instead, moving his IV with the now full of Chemo Tree of Fluids behind him while he and she passed the ball and dribbled it. Fine. Eeeggads. I settled into my role quite nicely and successfully prevented a few goals from getting through with my crafty maneuvering of the pole, chemo and fluids swaying and clinking against each other and all. I told Sam tonight that if he wants to in the middle of the night we'll go to one of the long corridors and have ourselves a little soccer game.

He finished PT, the PT lady was all in a sweat and Sam was just warming up : )


He sat back down to play guitar and I went to get a couple of chairs for his friends who were due to arrive soon. I went down to meet them at the door and a whole mob was there--he had ordered three but the pack came and he had 5 boys instead. It was fine today since he was feeling good but I realize I better tell whoever is driving if we get to do this again (which I doubt since the chemo is already catching up to him) to lock the doors and drive away from school on the double. Sam had a great time playing with them and kept asking me to add on 15 minutes to their time here but eventually I had to call it as it is was just too long to do that to the room mate (more below) and I knew the chemo was on board and would hit him sooner rather than later. Sam walked them all the way outside when they left and we stopped at Tulleys on the way back upstairs for some kind of three-syllable blended drink.


Sure enough, not long after, he started to fade a bit and we cancelled the evening's planned visit from Boppers due to imminent sleep. I knew I needed to sleep when he did because we don't know what tonight will bring. Just as I was about to sit down the nurse asked to speak to me outside. They wanted to move Sam to another room sans window with another room mate. I was so surprised by this--as noted above, I forgot things happen here like this, having just been at home, where things like this just don't happen. So Surprise! Perhaps not such a big deal but it seemed like one to me when it came flying around the corner and landed in my face. I got the overwhelming feeling that they were asking us because we were one of the easiest to ask. I told her I was opposed to it--that being in a corner for a week with no sign of day or night completely threw Sam off last time, that every time we are here we get pushed around from room to room with poorly matched roommates, that we'll take our chances with the pretty easy seeming 4 yr old IHateEverythingMcGee in there. She said she would go back and talk to the charge nurse. I called Benjy, upset. The idea of moving everything when I had just almost sat down to relax for the first time today was beyond my ability to cope with. Layered with the prospect of taking away the first thing Sam was happy about in here (sign of outside life via the window) and forget about it--I was fit to be tied. If being nice had gotten me in this position I needed to gear up to make the most noise on the floor. Benjy stayed on the phone with me until our nurse, who I really do love, came back to find to me. She suggested I tell the charge nurse directly what I was thinking. By this time Benjy and I had come up with a list of things to be pissed about--starting with the fact that we only came in a few hours ago so it seemed mightily ODD that they didn't get us in the right room to begin with, even if that was a closet with no windows.
This is where the odor of transition in the charge nurse arena started to fester. I told the charge nurse what I thought about her big idea and why I thought she had chosen us. She offered me a private room but only temporarily, as surely there will be a kid in isolation who will need it shortly. ugh. I felt confident at that point that whoever they wanted to bump us out of our current room for could be placed somewhere temporarily while we stayed put. I walked back to our room and waited to hear. Shortly thereafter our lovely nurse came and told me we would stay where we are. Well OK.


When I told Sam I forgot I have to yell at someone once a day and told him what happened he was quite unhappy with the thought of being moved and I knew I did the right thing. Being here is like running a marathon with hurdles...you're just cruisin along and all of the sudden you've got to get over something that seems insurmountable until you are just doing it and then it's done and you don't have time to look back and appreciate what you've done because there's another one coming on fast.

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New radiation-free targeted therapy detects and eliminates breast cancer tumors in mice
Combining a compound known as a gallium corrole with a protein carrier results in a targeted cancer therapy that is able to detect and eliminate tumors in mice with seemingly fewer side effects than other breast-cancer treatments, says a team of researchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion) and the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

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For a few blessed hours this week, I nearly forgot about my cancer. After seven weeks of thinking/breathing/eating breast cancer, I got a reprieve and, oddly enough, I have Uncle Sam to thank.
Since the day the C-bomb dropped (January 29th), I’ve been upset about the fact that the IRS really expects me to pay taxes on April 15th. Ive never heard such crazy-talk. Everyone with cancer should automatically get an extension on their taxes because, when you have cancer, doing your taxesmuch less on timeis the absolute last thing you can (and should) worry about. But I’m a worrier. Therefore, Ive been worried about both my stoopid cancer and how in the hell I’m going to do my taxes. And by I mean paying someone else to do them because I’m too worried Ill screw them up.
I usually do my taxes in late January or early February. I close the door to my office, crank up the space heater, and let the receipts pile up like snowdrifts. I like the routine. I like the predictability. But, most of all, I like the office supplies. I adore office supplies. Last December, my Christmas stocking bulged with a box of my favorite pens, a collection of fashion binder clips, and six different styles of Post-it Notes. Normally, I stash these treasures in my desk and dole them out carefully throughout the year, but at tax time, I indulge my every office-supply fantasy. Everything from flower-shaped Post-it Notes to neon highlighters, even my fancy binder clips come into play. But this year, not even the sight of pretty office supplies could coax me out from under my cancer rock.
So, last week, in a session with my new cancer shrink,  I fretted about my taxes. We agreed that baby steps were needed. So, Friday afternoon I dug my 16-page tax booklet out from under three months worth of crap and called it a day. On Saturday I gazed at the sad, empty pages of the worksheet and I felt myself getting sucked in. The pull of the familiar. The comfort of routine. Yes, the lure of my taxes.
Sunday, as I started penciling in numbers, rubbing out mistakes with my over-sized pink eraser, and guiltily writing off my zillionth pair of yoga pants,  I noticed something weird happening. The more progress I made on my taxes, the more my mood lifted. To be honest, my taxes werent the only thing I did last weekend, but Id like to think they were instrumental in jolting me back to some sense of normalcy because then at least Ill know they are good for something.
Tomorrow afternoon is my appointment with my tax lady. And, yes, she is someone you’d describe as a lady. In fact, she resembles the Church Lady in poise, hairstyle, and demeanor. Right down to how she purses her lips when I mention my Im pretty sure, after I leave, she kneels down in her wood-paneled office and prays for my heathen soul. But, hey, I live in the middle of Indianaa girl cant afford to be choosy. So, maybe Ill play the breast-cancer card in hopes that shell give me a 10 percent discount or offer to file an extension for me for free. Or, maybe, just maybe, Ill forget to mention it.

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AIG gives "failure bonuses" to the cretins whose dalliances in derivatives brought the company and part of the nation to her knees? Spin off that division whose traders are owed the 165 million in bonuses, under fund it, and cause it to go bankrupt.
Enough!
Let those with bonuses owed, stand in line before a bankruptcy referee, and wind up just as you and I would with half a cent on the dollar. Northern Trust fires 450 employees in December. Then takes a billion six in bailout money. Sponsors a golf tournament. Flies hundreds of clients to Southern California for private Oscar Parties including the renting of an airplane hangar and the hiring of the group "Earth, Wind Fire?"
Enough!
Fire the executives. And fire up the Justice Department to figure out just how much fraud was involved in asking for a billion-six in bailout money when Northern Trust said nothing as the checks were written, even though it knew in advance that millions could be saved by simply cutting the fluff and the trumpery.
Thirteen more companies that took bailouts, signed the mandatory documents that said they owed no back taxes lied turned out, per Congressman John Lewis of Ways and Means today lied they owe, just among those thirteen firms, 220 million in back taxes?
Enough!
Have the IRS take these companies, immediately, to the tax courts to which the rest of us are liable. And strip those ancient, outdated laws of Corporation, so that the officers of the corporation are personally liable for their companies' debts, just as you or I would be. And if the monopolies of radio or television rear up to support the corporate structure, to say a contract is a contract, even though that isn't true for a union these days, only for an AIG Trader. Take the invisible, unused Sword of Damocles they still fatuously insist hangs over their heads, and make it real.
Enough!
Make sure both sides are heard. Re-regulate the radio and television industries to limit station ownership and demand diversity of management and product. Re-instate the old rules that denied one man all the voices in a public square. End all waivers of multiple ownership of television stations and networks and newspapers in the same market.
And, yes, if a voice of the privileged classes unfairly uses his cable platform to call our neighbors who are the victims of this, "losers" to insist he alone speaks for the real people.
Or if another, indicts without equal time for defense a particular elected official, and then offers himself as a candidate for that very official's seat, in violation of all canons of good or even fair broadcasting then tell the cable industry that the free ride is over and it is time that it too be regulated by the FCC.
Enough!
To all of you in the Corporate boardrooms.
Stop viewing the public's reaction to this naked, unhindered robbery of the public coffers, and your audacious, immeasurable sense of proprietorship and entitlement stop viewing our anger as some kind of brief impediment, some traffic delay that keeps you from your God-given corporate ballpark sponsorships, and perpetually remodeled offices, and the divine right of $38 million "compensation packages."
You, gentlemen and ladies, and not the good and long-suffering average people of this country, you are fomenting rage in this nation. You are the losers in this equation, and the people are the generous ones; they have not assembled in the streets with pitch-forks and flaming torches. You are the ones perceived understood in a visceral and even transcendent way as the committers of what is becoming class economic rape.
And heed this one word before these people grow weary of forgiving you, and instead decide to bring the "good life" which you have built on their backs crashing down on top of your heads. When the next boardroom needs re-modeling, or the next bonus paid, or the next jet purchased, remember that one word:
Enough.

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Are you 'Asleep'? Christianity is "Dying in every nation in Western Civilization!" [A] Churches are closing rapidly! [B] Youth are leaving Church at a 90%-plus rate, [C] The 'All-Religions-Are-Equal-Doctrine' is invading denominations, [D] The "NAME of JESUS" is being outlawed in many nations: especially the USA. [E] RADICAL ISLAM is conquering Nations at an alarming rate! Ministers-Best-Friend.com is the "Official Website" of NewtonStein Academy: a 'Christian Think-Tank' having a 'Retired Scholar devoted to study of most urgent concern in 28 major categories'. We are calling 'All who believe Jesus-is-the-Christ' to renounce Denominational-Divisions Unite! ['Jesus guaranteed "the "House divided cannot stand, but will fall"!'] We're on the way as is. 'Islamic Globalism' is the most urgent threat the world has ever seen, dwarfing "Communism" - (which has no 'Faith-Basis' crumbles easily). Islamic expansion uses 'Fear of Terror' to [1] Threaten- -Silence Preachers, [2] which leads to Closing Churches, [3] which leads to Muslim Appeasement, [4] which leads to Muslim Sharia Law. Detroit, Michigan is the Muslim American Example! Do you realize we are only 3-decades from every US City becoming Detroit? (see "Detroit" in 'The Muslim Files') American Political Apostasy the 'Lukewarm-Modern-Church' reek with Islamic Sympathizers: i.e. Obama! We are calling 'All who believe in Jesus-as-Saviour: PERIOD! This is True Christianity! - Protestant-Catholic- -Orthodox!' If we don't stand together AGAINST ISLAMIC EXPANSION . . .

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Soma is also known by its generic name of Carisoprodol. It is a drug that relaxes the skeletal muscles, and relieves the acute pain arising out of muscle tissue injuries. It is a pain reliever, anti-depressant, and a sedative. This drug should not be used for general muscle and body pain, and should only be used for acute muscle pain conditions, and has to be prescribed by the doctor.
The medication is usually prescribed to be taken immediately after meals or with food to avoid any irritation in the stomach. You should not increase or decrease the dose on your own. This should be done under your doctor's advice, and in no situation the drug should be stopped suddenly. You need your doctor's advice as to how you should stop taking Soma. The dosage is usually reduced gradually before stopping it altogether. The drug is not a cure for your muscle damages if any. It provides a temporary relief from pain as you go through physiotherapy to tone up your muscles.
The medication may cause side effects when you first start on the drug. You could have nausea, and lack of orientation, lack of coordination, headache, dizziness, heartburn, stomach upset, and so on. These are side effects which should reduce by themselves, but if any of these prolong, or re-occur, you should see your doctor immediately. Soma cannot be prescribed to people who are already having any sort of anti-depressants, or sedative. If you are addicted to alcohol, or any drug, you cannot be prescribed with Soma, since it will cause drug overdose. Drug overdose may be fatal at times, and even can cause death.
If you have allergic tendency after having Soma, you need to report that to your doctor. Even if you have a history of allergic conditions from any drug that you have taken earlier, that has to be told to your doctor. Always remember that, even if you take Soma in its normal dose, this will add to any drug effect if you are an alcoholic, taking any drug of abuse, or having anti-depressants, and/or sedatives.

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A Washington, DC airport ticket agent offers some examples of why the Excited States of America is in trouble...

1. I had a New Hampshire Congresswoman ask for an aisle seat so that her hair wouldn't get messed up by being near the window. (On an airplane!)

2. I got a call from a candidate's staffer who wanted to go to Cape Town. I started to explain the length of the flight and the passport information. Then she interrupted me with, 'I'm not trying to make you look stupid, but Cape Town is in Massachusetts.' Without trying to make her look stupid, I calmly explained, 'Cape Cod' is in Massachusetts. Cape Town is in Africa. Her response, 'click'.

3. A senior Vermont Congressman called furious about a Florida package we did. I asked what was wrong with the vacation in Orlando. He said he was expecting an ocean view room. I tried to explain that's not possible, because Orlando is in the middle of the state. He replied, 'Don't get smart with me. I looked on the map and Florida is a very narrow state!' (Oh, my God!)

4. I got a call from a lawmaker's wife who asked, 'Is it possible to see England from Canada?' I said, 'No.' She then said, 'But they look so close on the map.'

5. An aide for a cabinet member once called and asked if he could rent a car in Dallas. When I pulled up the reservation, I noticed he only had a one-hour layover in Dallas. I asked him why he wanted to rent a car. He replied, 'I heard Dallas was a big airport, and we will need a car to drive between gates to save time.' (Aghhhh!)

6. An Illinois Congresswoman called last week. She needed to know how it was possible that her flight from Detroit left at 8:30 AM and got to Chicago at 8:33 AM. I explained that Michigan was an hour ahead of Illinois, but she couldn't understand the concept of time zones. Finally, I told her the plane went really fast and she accepted that.

7. A New York lawmaker called and asked, 'Do airlines put your physical description on your bag so they know whose luggage belongs to whom?' I said, 'No. Why do you ask?' She replied, 'Well, when I checked in with the airline, they put a tag on my luggage that said FAT and I'm overweight. I think that's very rude." After putting her on hold for a minute while I looked into it --I was laughing-- I came back and explained that the code for the Fresno, CA airport is , Fresno Air Terminal, and the airline was just putting a destination tag on her luggage.

8. A Senator's aide called to inquire about a trip package to Hawaii. After going over all the cost info, she asked, 'Would it be cheaper to fly to California, and then take the train to Hawaii?'

9. I just got off the phone with a freshman Congressman who asked, 'How do I know which plane to get on?' I asked him what exactly he meant, to which he replied, 'I was told my flight number is 823, but none of these planes have numbers on them.'

10. A lady Senator called and said, 'I need to fly to Pepsi-Cola, Florida. Do I have to get on one of those little computer planes?' I asked if she meant she was flying to Pensacola, FL on a commuter plane. She said, 'Yeah, whatever, smarty!'

11. A senior Senator called and had a question about the documents he needed in order to fly to China. After a lengthy discussion about passports, I reminded him that he also needed a visa. 'Oh, no I don't. I've been to China many times and I have never had to have one of those.' I double checked, and sure enough, his stay required a visa. When I told him this he said, 'Look, I've been to China four times and every time they have accepted my American Express!'

12. A New Mexico Congresswoman called to make reservations. 'I want to go from Chicago to Rhino, New York.' I was at a loss for words. Finally, I said, 'Are you sure that's the name of the town?' 'Yes. What flights do you have?' replied the lady. After some searching, I came back with, 'I'm sorry, ma'am, I've looked up every airport code in the country and can't find a Rhino anywhere.' The lady retorted, 'Oh, don't be silly! Everyone knows where it is. Check your map!' So I scoured a map of the state of New York and finally offered, 'You don't mean Buffalo, do you?' The reply? 'Whatever! I knew it was a big animal.'

Thanks Ralph.

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