Bush Signs Bill Extending Jobless Pay

This had to be a great relief to a great many people who have been laid off. President Bush has signed into law a bill that Congress approved to keep unemployment checks flowing to jobless Americans through the holiday season. It would be tough enough being laid off at Christmastime but to be without any income would be even worse. Thankfully, President Bush signed the bill just before leaving for Peru to attend the 21 nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative forum.

The Senate approved the bill after an earlier report, saying that new claims by laid-off workers for jobless aid had reached a 16 year high and the number of people looking for work had surged past 10 million. Now, that is a lot of people out of work. The White House had opposed broader legislation containing the benefits extension and urged passage of the new version.

UGG Boots

Christmas is right around the corner and this website has a sale going on besides their always low prices. They are the authorized retailers of fine Australian footwear. Get your UGG boots here and you will get free shipping on orders over $60 and no sales tax. That is a savings right there. Check out their low price guarantee. You will be amazed at what they offer you. Order now for Christmas and save yourself the stress of pushing and shoving among customers fighting for bargains in the stores. Check out their full line of footwear and accessories. You will be delighted.

Britain Begins Identity Card Program

You know that everything that starts in Britain, eventually ends up here too so this is something to keep an eye on. The British government began its identity card program for foreign nationals Tuesday. This is six years after heated debate over whether the costly plan is an effective tool against terrorism, identity theft and welfare fraud. The last time Britain had ID cards was at the end of World War II.

The program will start with roughly 50,000 foreign students and spouses of permanent residents who will receive cards if they qualify for visa extensions. Other foreign nationals living and working in Britain will not be immediately affected. However, they will eventually need cards as the program is expanded. Officials have not provided details about the national plan, although airport workers are expected to need cards next year out of security concerns.

The Bible says the day is coming when everyone will have a mark or some sort of identification or they won't be able to buy or sell anything. Think about it. That is a scary thought because you will have to swear allegiance to the Anti Christ and deny God, causing you an eternity in Hell instead of Heaven. Those not taking the mark will be killed.

Is Your Baby Formula Safe?

I think this is pretty scary. We heard about all the babies that got sick in China and a number of them died due to melamine being in their formula. Now on the news they said traces of the industrial chemical melamine has been detected in samples of top-selling U.S. infant formula. However, federal regulators insist the products are safe. That does not make me feel safe about it at all. What is any amount of melamine doing in something that could effect our smallest little human beings?

The Food and Drug Administration said last month it was unable to identify any melamine exposure level as safe for infants, but a top official said it would be a "dangerous overreaction for parents to stop feeding infant formula to babies who depend on it." They said the levels that they are detecting are extremely low but that does not restore my confidence. How about you? I raised 5 babies on canned carnation milk with Karo syrup added per the baby doctors measurements and they grew to be the healthiest of babies anywhere. And no doubt it is still a good formula but is cheaper and would put a great many companies out of business and save the parents money, so it isn't going to happen.

Gas Falls to 2004 Levels

Yay! The oil prices are falling and so are the gas prices and just in time for Holiday travel. Tuesday oil prices fell nearly 7 percent and gas prices fell to levels not seen since 2004. There was a bunch of lousy news about the economy, housing and the consumer state of mind that suggested that the U.S. is headed toward the worst recession in decades. That is scary. I know everyone I talk to is planning on cutting back on Christmas presents and decorations and everything else connected to the Holidays. It is getting too expensive to eat out and you can hardly afford to take your kids to McDonald's anymore. I heard they are even changing their dollar menu.

Consumers and businesses have pulled back on energy spending, with massive layoffs and cost-cutting across almost every sector. That means less money will go toward powering everything from industrial plants to automobiles. And tonight on the news they said we could expect our groceries to rise another 4 percent in 2009. It is getting harder and harder to budget for everything. It means cutting back on those little luxuries like ice cream and popcorn and chips and dips and all the other extras we have come to take for granted. Even in our small town, the layoffs are starting to take a toll on businesses. If people don't have a job, they don't have the money to spend and they stay home more. I know we do. It is the wise thing to do.

Those First Steps

We got the cutest video this morning of our little great grandson, taking his first few steps. He is a husky little boy and he was so proud of himself, laughing with glee. He can crawl really fast but he could also stand right up from a sitting position to walk. That is really good. It won't be long and he will be everywhere and his Mother won't be able to keep up with him. I think kids run the first 10 years of their lives. They never seem to walk anywhere. It will be fun to see him in another month at Christmas because he will be walking really well by them. We can't wait to see him.

Commercial Collection Agencies

You know that the most important part of your business is your relationship between your customers and you. This company stands out among commercial collection agencies in that they can adjust to suit your business. They are a full service company and will be able to adjust to your business in order to do the best job of bill collecting for you. They use the latest technology and keep up with it so it doesn't get out-of-date. For an exciting new, experienced, and knowledgeable bill collection agency, give them a call, check them out on the internet or check out their services online.

Snow is on the Way

We got a little snow last night and now the wind is picking up. It was very cold last night. We turn down the furnace at night and when you hear it run several times in the night, you know it has gotten very cold. They said it would snow after midnight and it did. But it is just a very light coating and we are sure glad of that. There is plenty of time yet for snow this winter. We want a nice clear week for this week as Thanksgiving is Thursday and lots of people will be traveling to see their families. We hope for good clear roads and low winds for a decent winter day. We are looking forward to Thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful all year long.

Have You Made Out A Will?

I know. You are saying, I am too young to make out a Will. If you are married or have a great deal of wealth or property and no matter how young you are, you should have a Will. If you don't, the state will decide who gets your possessions when you die. Everyone who is young thinks they will live forever. But I have news for you. Everyone dies. That is 100% of the people, 100% of the time will die.

It seems to me lately there have been more young men especially, having heart attacks between 30 and 50 and dying. I don't know if it is all the stress we live under these days or what it is. It could be too any Big Macs and plugged arteries. I read the other day that young boys have the arteries of old men due to poor diet. So think about it, do you need a Will? Some people think if they make one out, then they will die. That is foolishness. It is smart to have your affairs in order no matter what your age.

Cancun Vacations

In planning your next vacation, indulge yourself in one of Karisma Hotels' all inclusive cancun vacations For the finest in luxury accommodations and the finest of service, you will be pampered in every way possible. Your luggage will be unpacked by your very own butler. And then you can choose to lie out on the beautiful white sand private beach, or go swimming right up to your room. They have the finest of Gourmet chefs preparing all the delicacies you can wish for, along with wonderful wines. And although it may sound like it, it isn't going to cost you a lot of gold. On the contrary you will find just the right reservations to accommodate your budget.

They have five wonderful hotels. One is exclusive for adults, another is prepared for family life and has games and much to keep the children occupied and happy. Still another is for the stressed out business person who needs to get away from it all and relax but that isn't all. Check out their website for more information and plan your getaway now.

Home Depot Gives Investors Good News

In the midst of all the bad news coming in from Wall Street, there was a little shining light. Home Depot Inc. gave investors a welcome surprise, posting a better than expected third quarter profit and offering Wall Street a second straight day of good news for the battered home improvement sector. However, the 31 percent drop in earnings still shows just how badly the chain has been pummeled by the economic meltdown which executives warned was unlikely to abate anytime soon as they predict a steeper drop in full-year sales. Well I hope things make a turn around soon for everyone. It is sad to see so many people laid off at Christmas time. Unemployment is high and going to go higher from the sounds of it, all over the country. It has taken its toll in our area.

Woolly Mammoth DNA Found

It is all over the news. Scientists have deciphered much of the genetic code of the woolly mammoth. They say this could allow them to recreate the shaggy, prehistoric beast in as little as a decade or two. Shades of "Jurassic Park"! Do we really want to do this? Did anyone ever think that maybe there is a reason it is extinct. What would they do with such a large beast once they had it alive and well? I think it downright scary.

The project marks the first time researchers have spelled out the DNA of an extinct species and it raised the possibility that other ancient animals such as mastodons and sabertooth tigers might someday walk the Earth. Yikes! The questions they ask themselves, and I ask too, is that if it can be done, should they do it.

This study cost a million dollars. I can think of a million ways they could have better spent that money, can't you? And the study is only 80 percent complete. We could see an instruction sheet one day on how to build a mammoth. Sounds like one of those science fiction movies come true in another 20 years.

Designer Jewelry

This is the place to get really good Designer Jewelry. You will be amazed at the quality of their fine jewelry. In addition, they have put together fine sets of jewelry and you will want to buy more because you are able to save more here. It is all specialized at their store so that you won't find it in retail stores and you won't run into your friends wearing the exact same jewelry you have on. They have gorgeous stacked rings and other stacked jewelry that will catch your eye and make you wish to buy some for everyone on your gift list. And the jewelry isn't just for women but for men too so look through their website because you will be so delighted with what you find there.

Tobacco Settlement Wasted?

Most of the billions of dollars that began flowing from cigarette makers to the states a decade ago, in a landmark legal settlement, have been spent on things that have nothing to do with public health or smoking. Even once falling teen smoking rates have stagnated. So how was it spent?

Out of the $615 billion divided among 46 states between 2000 and 2006, only 30 percent was spent on health care. This is according to federal Government Accountability Office data analyzed by The Associated Press. Less than 4 percent went to anti-smoking efforts. The states defend the many ways they have spent their tobacco money, which, by the way, is still being paid out in annual installments and is expected to total $294 billion over 25 years in today's dollars. I think the problem was that no strings were attached to the settlement reached on Nov. 23, 1998, and that anti-smoking campaigns do not cost billions. I think the whole thing stinks.

Miley Cyrus Dead?

No, Miley Cyrus is not dead. You don't need to grieve, tweens, because she is not dead. The "Hannah Montana" star was the victim of an Internet hoax over the weekend. Someone hacked into her YouTube account and posted a video alleging she had been killed by a drunken driver. I don't think that is a bit funny, do you? Whoever did this has a sick mind.

The video had a fake message from Miley's pal, Mandy Jiroux, who quickly denied the rumor in a posting on her official MySpace page. She wrote "MILEY IS OK!! Some 1 hacked our youtube account." So that should put everyone's mind at ease.

Denver Restaurants

Denver is a beautiful city set deep in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. It has some of the finest wineries and beer breweries in the country. Just living there is a delight and many fine fashion designers have moved to Denver because they know there is a great market there. Some of the best chefs are located in Denver as well and if you are looking for Denver Restaurants while you are visiting, you will find a huge array of them listed here. Building is ever growing in Denver as well as people move there and they are doing their very best to build "green". Check out Denver if you are planning to relocate, go on a vacation or take a trip.

Doctors Transplant Stem Cell Windpipe

Now here is a great new happening where stem cells are concerned. This woman needed a donor windpipe. They found one in Italy and the doctors there stripped it of all its cells. This left only a tube of connective tissue. So the doctors in Bristol, England, took a sample of the bone marrow from the woman's hip. They used this bone marrow's stem cells to create millions of cartilage and tissue cells to cover and line the windpipe. Then they were able to transplant the windpipe into the woman in June. By using her own stem cells, she will not need the drugs to keep her body from rejecting the new windpipe. I feel this is amazing and it shows that we don't need to grow embryos (which are little babies) and kill them for the stem cells. I heard too they can get stem cells for you right from your arms. This is the right way to go.

Phentermine

When starting on a diet pill, there are so many to choose from. This website Phentermine has researched many of the diet pills on the market today so that you do not have to. This particular drug is a prescription drug that has very few side effects and has been approved by the FDA since 1959. It has been shown to be quite effective along with the proper diet and exercise program. It is well tolerated, however, you need to check out this website and read up on it before you ask your Doctor if they will prescibe it for you.

Family Visit

My brother came to visit me today. He hasn't been over for a long time. We had a really good visit and he told me all about two heart tests that he has had this week. One was an echocardiograph and it was very interesting to hear how they go about it. You hear about people having these tests but no one ever sits down with you and really tells you what happens during the test.

He also had a chemical treadmill test. He had 5 nurses, each in charge of a different monitor or ultra sound or giving him the shot of chemicals. Each time they gave him a bit more, it would speed up his heart and it wasn't long until he could feel it beating in his chest. They give you enough to get your heart beats up to 125 per minute and at the same time they take pictures of your heart as it is beating. They also look at the ultrasound at the same time. It was very interesting to me

He has two leaking valves and one they found has a small hole in it that he was born with. The doctor said these holes usually close within 2 or 3 days of birth, but it isn't unusual for them to stay open. Luckily he is on blood thinner or he probably would have had a bad stroke by now. He does remember passing out twice when he was probably in his 20's and 30's and he couldn't move for a few minutes. Apparently those were little stroke that passed without leaving damage or paralysis. He will find out in a few days the results of both of these tests. We are anxious to learn the condition of his heart valves now as it had been two years since he had the last tests.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is getting closer. We have gotten two invitations to have dinner with family but we will be going to our daughter's. Many of the churches in all the towns will be having community dinners, as well. They are really nice for folks to get together and visit with people they haven't seen for a while. Many of them volunteer to bring in the food, others prepare the food and other deliver food to shut-ins. It is really nice. I know we will enjoy having dinner with our children, grandchildren and great grandchild this year. We look forward to it. We have so much to be thankful for. Everyone needs to stop and count their blessings because we all have them, but we don't always stop and think about them.

Digital Signage

Did you know it is easy to use digital signage and not only that but it is affordable for small businesses as well as large ones. You can check out this website digital signage to get all the necessary information on it. One nice thing about it is that it is easy to add or subtract or change the signage with little trouble at all. It catches the attention of everyone and is noticeable which draws your customers to buy. It is so much improved over ordinary signs.

Death Penalty for Jamaica

We always think of Jamaica as the place of beauty and fun and sun. But the crime rate has been soaring there and Jamaican islanders are demanding more executions. They are asking the politicians to work around restrictions imposed by Europe and overwhelming international opposition that have all but ended capital punishment in the Caribbean.

In Jamaica, the beheading of a young girl and the discovery of an 11 year old boy's dismembered body in a trash bag have increased pressure on parliament where debate began on Tuesday. They are to decide whether to resume the death penalty after 20 years. I think if criminals knew they could lose their lives, they might think twice before committing murder. As it is now, in the USA, you can get as little as 8 years for killing someone. I think we need the death penalty here in all 50 states and possessions.

Cosmetology Schools

Attending a fine cosmetology school should be the first priority on your list if you wish for a great career in salon work. Check into this website cosmetology schools and you will find one of the very best schools around. They were founded 50 years ago and they have a great deal to offer besides the education that will put you to work in upscale salons.

Now they have added a dedicated Career Service team to assist you in finding that perfect job you have only dreamed of before. Can you imagine working on a beautiful cruise ship? They now have a free, easy to use search engine to help you find that perfect job. Regency schools are found in nine states now and have 30 campuses to choose from.

How are your Bones?

Have you reached the age where you should have a bone density test? I have and I just had my 3rd one and my bones actually improved this time. I have been taking a prescription pill every Saturday morning for about 5 years now and it is working. You have to take the pill on an empty stomach with a full 8 ounces of water, then be sure you sit upright or stand for 30 minutes. You cannot lie down or bend over during this 30 minutes. Then you can eat your breakfast and get about your day. It was kind of a pain, upsetting the daily routine.

Now they have a new injection called Reclast that lasts one whole year. You continue taking your calcium and Vitamin D daily, but that's no problem as that has been a daily routine for many years. I am going to get that injection this morning and I think it is going to be wonderful not to have to remember to take my pill every Saturday, paying quite a bit of copay for the prescription also. My husband got his injection in June and I have been anxiously waiting for my bone density test to be due so that I could also take the injection and be freed up from the pills.

Crestor May Save Lives

A large study has been done on the use of Crestor, the cholesterol lowering drug. It was found that people with low cholesterol and no big risks for heart disease had dramatically lower rates of heart attacks, death and stroke if they took Crestor. This was reported last Sunday at a conference of the American Heart Association. They were quite excited about this study and that it could prevent heart disease.

It could lead to as many as 7 million more Americans considering taking the cholesterol lowering drugs such as Crestor, Lipitor, Zocor or in the generic form. The study gives the best evidence for using a new test to find people who would not otherwise be considered in need of treatment. Some doctors are urging caution though because there are so few deaths among those who are at low risk of heart attacks and it could cost as much as $9 billion a year to treat all these people. It is something to think about. I don't think I would take them as I am low risk and there are side effects to these drugs and I know people who have had such side effects.

Health and Dental Insurance

It is wonderful to get notification again today that our retiree health and dental insurance will be continued again for 2009. It is the most wonderful benefit we could have as retirees. Medicare does not pay for everything, although it is very good. However, you need a supplemental insurance to cover the difference. Having worked 25 years for the same company, they have extended our insurance into retirement. That is worth a great deal to us. Some companies, due to the economic conditions, have had to drop their retirees from their insurance plans. So we feel very blessed to have our health and dental insurance continued. It is a big load off your mind not to worry about being without insurance. I know many do not have insurance and it has got to be very hard for them.

Atlanta Jobs

If you are living in Georgia, and are looking for Atlanta jobs then you have come to the right website. You can post your resume here, enter some keywords and an industry and then let them find you a job. They have had over 2800 new jobs just in the past 2 weeks. If you need some other information such as career consultation or continuing education in order to get the job you want, they can also help you with that. They have companies listed with jobs also. Check in and see all they have to offer you.

New Microwave

Our old microwave started peeling off the interior walls and they say that isn't safe. I guess you can take them to someone somewhere and they will refinish them. But as old as it was, we figured it probably wasn't worth the trouble and expense.

Now we have a new microwave that looks like this one. It has all the bells and whistles you need in a microwave and we love it. I have to teach my husband all over again, though, how to run it. That shouldn't take too long though. You really miss them even for half a day when you don't have one.

Desserts for Holidays

What would a Holiday meal be without desserts. My mother-in-law made the best whipped cream dessert and it is so rich that I don't make it very often. But it is the best. Of course any kind of fruit salad is delicious and with Thanksgiving coming, it is time to dig out the favorite recipes and get ingredients lined up to make them. Oreo and Snickers salads are very popular with everyone. And jello salads are always a big hit too.

Jogger Flees - Rabid Fox

Now this one is really scary. A jogger in Prescott, Arizona was attacked by a rabid fox and she ran for a mile with the animal's jaws clamped onto her arm. Then with the fox still biting her arm, she pried it off and tossed it into her trunk and drove to the Prescott hospital.

The woman told deputies that she was on a trail near Prescott on Monday when the fox attacked and bit her foot. She said she grabbed the fox by the neck when it went for her leg, but it bit her arm. She wanted it tested for rabies so she was bound and determined to get it to where it could be tested. The sheriff's office said the fox later bit an animal control officer. He and the woman are both receiving rabies vaccinations. That took alot of guts on the part of the woman jogger.

Weather Report

The weather report is not too good today. We are getting heavy rain but that is not so bad. By this afternoon or tonight it is going to switch to snow. We don't want that. We are supposed to get 1-2 inches but it should melt quite fast as the ground is warm. There is a great deal of corn in the fields to be combined so we sure don't need any huge amounts of snow. I heard they are getting many inches of snow in South Dakota yesterday with over 60 mph winds. Now that is bad.

President Elect Barack Obama

There you have it. The election is finally over and the victory goes to Barack Obama. He will be the first black President ever, making yesterday a very historic day. Actually, he is half white, half black but the black people are overjoyed. I think it would have been really neat if we could have had the first woman Vice President too but you can't have both since they were in different parties. It will be interesting to watch the next four years unfold. Let us all pray it is for the better.

Election Night

Here it is election night, finally. It seems like we have been hearing about it for at least three years, maybe more. I thought it would never get here. Between the commercial ads and telephone calls, we have been bombarded by both parties. Now the big day is here and we are watching returns on the television set. Who will be out next president? What will be the changes over the next 4 years? It is kind of scary to say the least. But God is in control and people forget that.

Shopping for the Holidays

It is that time again to get busy and get that shopping list out. I know it is hard to decide what to get everyone but with the help of this online website black friday you will have a much easier time of it. I know there are many stores at this website so that you can get their sales ads ahead of time and plan out your strategy. You can also buy right online and have it shipped to your door and save you so much gasoline, wear and tear on you and stress.

Sears is handy to us and a great store to find almost anything for someone on your list. They have a great tool department and their Craftsman tools are guaranteed and are some of the very best. That takes care of many of the men on my list.

In the ladies department, they have all the latest fashions and accessories and it is so easy to find just the right gift for the women and girls on my list. However, if I don't find everything I want there, all I have to do is look through this website and I will find more stores and specials to buy for everyone. It is so much easier shopping on Black Friday if you do your exploring through the stores sales ads and the new ones as they add them ahead of time. You can sign up with them too to get the advance ads and they will let you know in advance what is coming up so you will be ready.

How's the Birthday Cake

Kaelyn got her chance to taste test her first birthday cake and it looks like she liked it. It is always so much fun to watch them try it at first and then really get into it and get it all over themselves. So cute. ou can tell she is really enjoying it. She had a very pretty cake with a crown on it for a princess. It looked like Christmas with all the gifts. Such a great deal of fun for all to watch. They are so precious when they are so little.

Oil Well Explosion

An oil well explosion in southern Illinois has killed two people and injured five others. Medical helicopters flew four of the injured victims from the scene of the explosion Wednesday morning west of Crossville, Ilinois. The County Sheriff's Department reported that Mason Well Servicing was working to cement a finished well when the explosion occurred. The fire was under control by the afternoon. Burns are a terrible thing to suffer. My brother was burned when he was 14 and spent about 4 months in the burn ward of the best hospital in our State. He had to have skin grafting and lost alot of the use of his fingers of his left hand. I sure hope these burned people will be alright.

Lady Bug Baby

Our little great granddaughter, Kaelyn, was dressed up like a Lady Bug for Halloween. She was the cutest Lady Bug on the block and then some. It is so much fun to see the little ones in their costumes.

The little girl next door came dressed in the most beautiful princess outfit complete with little lights that lit up on her skirt. She had a hat too but she didn't want to keep it on. She is just a little over 2, going on 3 and she was having fun with her Mom. Mom was dressed in a vikings outfit with a regular Viking cap with horns and chartreuse green eye lashes. It was funny. We have a lot of fun seeing the costumes.