It’s a rant day today. Actually this has been ranting around in my brain for more than a day and today just happens to be the day it comes pouring out.

I am SO angry at the manipulation of insurance and pharmaceutical companies and the inherent opposition to any proposed solution to bail this country out of the HUGE mess the former President and Company put us in – and yes it was him do not even try to tell me otherwise – that I am hoping, nay praying, that for those of you thinking health care reform means “pulling the plug on your grandmother” or some such idiotic nonsense, that you’ll be SENSIBLE ENOUGH to actually watch this.

In fact, all you Fox News fans, I dare you to watch this clip:

The most sensible thing I’ve read lately is this Letter to the Editor written by a local Henderson woman. I am quoting it in its entirety because for god’s sake all of us just waiting for things to magically happen for us (isn’t that what got us in this mess to begin with thanks to Bush, Cheney, and company?!? yes!), and for those who amazingly seem to believe anything their party tells them (yes I’m talking to Republicans or at least some – and remember I’m actually a registered Republican but that’s another story and NO I did not go the McCain/Palin way more than a half year ago) listen up because this woman, in a nutshell, expresses everything even our elected officials (and this time I’m talking to all you USELESS Democrats elected to office overwhelmingly this term, you bunch of idiots!!!) don’t have the GUTS to pull off (and here 70+ percent of the country believed YOU would make a difference – HA!):

Angry at industry’s misguided pawns

I hear there is “angry opposition” to health care reform.

Well, I’m angry, too, because these so-called angry opponents, in their zeal to “break” President Barack Obama at any cost, risk cheating themselves and the rest of us out of needed change and our very survival.

Please don’t refer to the town hall spectacles as “vigorous debate.” Unlike serious people who have real questions, concerns and suggestions, the “disrupters” have only been manipulated by the status quo forces (the insurance/pharma companies and lobbyists) to disrupt town meetings and unnerve legislators, to keep legitimate concerns and issues from being discussed. They prefer to scare people with outright lies.

If you don’t want your doctor to be reimbursed for counseling you on “end-of-life” decisions, then execute a living will yourself to make your wishes known.

If you don’t want “socialized medicine,” protest the Veterans Affairs system, our only health service that is in fact owned and operated by the U.S. government.

If you want fewer insurance benefits for more money, oppose a public option that would keep your insurance company honest and efficient.

The disrupters don’t seem to fear losing their insurance with their jobs, or worry that their employers will stop subsidizing their insurance, or that an insurance company bureaucrat will tell them they can’t have a procedure, or that a preexisting condition will disqualify them for coverage, or that high premiums and co-pays will force them into bankruptcy.

If we lose this chance to fix health care in America, it will be because the disrupters put their narrow political interests and the profits of insurance and pharmaceutical companies ahead of the best interests of the American people. We cannot let them!

(For privacy’s sake I am not putting in the woman’s name)

With 10% (or more most likely because a lot of people have run out of benefits) unemployment in this country and more states so underwater we’ll all need diving bells in the very near future just to breath, I am inflamed that so few can influence the outcome for so many.

How dare you Democratic’s sit there in Washington cringing and crippling not only yourselves but the rest of the country and LETTING THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN.

Frankly, I HAD faith that the current President and his staff and Congress could finally pull off fixing the biggest challenges our country faces and put us back on course. Now, I sit here ashamed FOR THEM for not sticking to their guns. At the moment to hell with “bi-partisanship!” Just do what you were elected to do.

This country needs SERIOUS help willingly given by SERIOUS people. For god’s sake open your eyes and think and act with the brain given to you!

Here’s one more quoted Letter to the Editor (again written to our local paper by another local woman with a brain on her shoulders – and no I’m not putting in her name – though I’m sure neither of them would mind if I did):

Obama’s critics have selective memory

Many people are upset with President Barack Obama over the current conditions. Wow, what short memories!

Where was the anger in 2002 when the previous administration took a trillion-dollar surplus and began squandering it on tax breaks for big oil companies posting unprecedented profits, then started a war that was suppose to be paid for with Iraqi oil revenue?

The result of these actions was the precipitous rise in the price of oil (almost 400 percent) while the U.S. Treasury was drained of its surplus and plunged into debt by the cost of this unjustified war. The war cost is ongoing and the total treasure expended in lives is, as the commercials say, “priceless.”

Now the anger and the blame for the busted economy and tanked real estate get heaped on the current administration while it tries to right the ages-old wrong of poor, costly and unfair health care in this country. For many of us, this anger is eight years too late.

I’ll leave my rant – for now – with just this… ALL YOU TEMPORARY PUBLIC SERVANTS IN WASHINGTON – THE PRESIDENT INCLUDED WAKE UP AND DO YOUR PROPER AND RIGHTFUL DUTY TO THIS COUNTRY AND ITS PEOPLE.

I’m disgusted with the lot of you!

Today I’ll deviate slightly and present a mixture of current news you really need to know, along with a bit of economic projections, and a touch of energy saving. How’s that for really mixing it up

PHONY LOCKSMITHS

First, our local Channel 8 Las Vegas News team wants everyone to be aware of a huge (I should write HUGE) locksmith scam going on – not only here in the Vegas area but across the country.

“The scam emanates from New York and Florida and appears to be a highly organized criminal enterprise that flaunts local laws and has been known to use threats and intimidation against customers who are invariably in vulnerable situations.”

Phony locksmiths are popping up all over.  Many of these fake locksmith outfits take out large yellow page-type ads to appear more legitimate.

…legitimate locksmiths are appalled by the invasion of Las Vegas and other large cities by shady, unlicensed locksmith operators who are little more than a phone number. They take out huge ads in the Yellow Pages, have dozens of numbers under single listings, and essentially take over the market.

There are no background checks or work cards for the employees. Taxes aren’t paid and the whole operation seems to be routed back to a central dispatch in New York. “It’s millions of dollars. It’s big. That’s why they are doing it,” said Esposito. (Editors Note: Esposito is a legitimate locksmith)

…few, if any, of the companies have actual offices. Search Google for Las Vegas Locksmiths and hundreds pop up, but the addresses are bogus. They’re actually the addresses of fast food joints, Caesars Forum Shops, the Mandalay Events Center, or McCarran Airport. The office that sent out two of the men who were busted is, in fact, a locksmith shop but it’s been closed down for many months.

One of the bogus companies listed the address of its office and it seemed very familiar to our I-Team producer Ian Russell. That’s because it is his home address. He assures us there is no locksmith operation in his apartment.

To make sure you don’t become a mark for this type of scam – where that $30 fee to get you into your car turns into $50 or $100 or instead of $150 to change the locks in your house, the bill turns into $600 and the person won’t leave until you pay, check with AAA, your insurance company, and (as News 8 puts it) “know the signs of a scam.”

THE ECONOMY

Projections indicate that come next week the market will slow up as it traditionally does in August. With numerous variables thrown in, the key (as we’re all aware) still remains the unemployment crisis.

It is to be hoped that corporations are finally understanding/realizing that when you lay so many people off, you’re decimating your own target marketing – the very people who buy stuff WHEN they have money, but do not purchase if they are unemployed (how stupid can they really be?) . Kenneth Wink of SummitFC writes:

“I think it’s important to take a step back and realize that the market is rejoicing in what is corporate cost cutting. Firms need a real revenue stream. And they’ve been cutting so many workers, who are also consumers too that won’t be consuming. Employment will be taking a more important role.”

Who knows… while the rest of us pray “they” come to their senses, the question remains… will they?

AND A BIT OF GREEN

Going green thankfully is turning more into a habit then a trend, and there are plenty of bargains out there – in terms of tax credits. Just be sure as you “go green” that the equipment, etc., you are choosing is “certified” so you can take advantage of the multiple tax credits and rebates being offered.

While this section is written specifically for U.S. citizens, perhaps your country is also offering added incentives to go green. Check.

Here are a few “qualifying expenditures” worth investigating starting with big ticket items and working downward:

o Solar water heating equipment – residence and vacation home(s)

o Solar electricity-generating equipment for your residence and vacation home(s)

o Wind energy equipment, agains primary or vacation homes

o Fuel cell electricity generating equipment but only for your primary residence.

One thing to keep in mind is investments in ways to heat your pool or hot tub do not apply.

o Replacing windows, skylights, and storm windows and doors

o Insulation designed to reduce heat gain or loss

o Metal and/or asphalt roofs that include heat reduction components

o High-efficiency central air conditioners

o Furnaces, water heaters and water boilers that run on natural gas, propane, or oil.

o Electric heat pumps and electric heat pump water heaters.

o Circulating fans used in natural gas, propane and oil furnaces.

o Biomass fuel stoves used for heating or hot water.

Again, these are just some of the green items to keep in mind that not only save the planet, but in many cases, money out of your wallet (sometimes over time).

For more information on going green and green living, visit the Forcedgreen blog written by Linda Rembowski.

Til next time!

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I’m sure you’ve got comments and opinions. Don’t be afraid to comment. You also gain a valuable do follow link for the search engines!

Finding income, or sources of income, in these tough economic times is no mean feat. That’s why I’ve taken to scouting around for the best spots online (all free mine you) to give you your best shot at making cash from home.

At the moment, I’m only going to recommend a small handful because, frankly, most of these services are not what they appear to be and are a complete waste of your time (and mine). However, there is hope – and really good places to look – above and beyond the obvious (like Monster.com).

The ones I’ll be talking about off and on are not “submit your resume and hope for the best” web sites. These are boards and/or opportunities that, with the right skill set, just might land you a coveted telecommuting job (i.e., working from home for decent money).

Let’s start off with: (more…)

With our son just graduating high school, and many hundreds of thousands of kids across the country doing the same, I’m sure that money is on the minds of many and the question, “How are we going to pay for further education?”

Of course you want to do right by your child, which actually (hopefully) starts from the moment he or she was even conceived. While many of us have children too old to qualify, right now there is a huge event going on to help you plan for your little tike’s future.

Conforts for Baby (Comforts, not my misspelling) is holding a contest so you can put $10,000 in the bank for your child’s future!

Nutrition makes a huge difference, and while that may be a common sense thing to say, it is amazing to me that so few people, parents in particular, have a complete understanding of what (and how much) nutritional supplements are vital to your child’s growth. I know this because many moon’s ago, the prenatal vitamins recommended to me during development did not have nearly enough – just as an example – folic acid (vital for brain development). I took it upon myself to ensure the proper balance of vitamins and minerals my child would need to “come out” whole and healthy. And, he really is brilliant (fact not just parental pride) and a nice “kid” (adult yikes now) to boot.

Luckily, nowadays, I believe the manufacturers of baby formula are much more in tune and in touch with the nutritional requirements babies need. For instance, the Comforts brand baby formula ensures your newborn receives all the vitamins, nutrients, and minerals (including just the right touch of iron), for a healthy start to his or her first year on the planet.

They’ve taken into consideration the need for lipids DHA and ARA for visual and mental development. Comforts for Baby actually has gone so far as to ensure that choline, lactose, and other naturally occurring nutrients are part of their nutritious formula – all based on research around mother’s milk btw.

One scare you will not have to worry about is, “Is it safe?” Their formula manufacturing facility is located in the United States (no worries about imports from, say, China, thank goodness!). In fact they follow the FDA ISO 9001:2000-certified standards (how’s that for facts).

So getting back to the money part – the scholarship contest is available to new parents right now, for your child’s future when he or she graduates. Just think, with caution and prudence, how much that $10,000 will mean when your child steps up and is handed that high school diploma! I know the money would mean the world to us right now!

Kroger-owned grocery stores are sponsoring this scholarship contest to help fund your child’s upcoming college education. All you need to do is enter to win, and help them name their Firefly mascot – how easy is that?

Just be sure to visit the link above, fill out all the information required on the entry form, and (be creative!), include a name for their mascot (25 characters or less please).

You’ve got time to enter, but I’d encourage you to do it now – the contest closes July 31, 2009. The winner will be announced online after September 21, 2009.

For a complete set of eligibility rules, just click here. (For instance, your child must be under the age of 2, etc.)

Trust me, you want to go for these opportunities! We’ve waited way too long and we will be scrambling come Autumn to get our son into just a community college.

Don’t be stupid (like we were). Start by entering to win this $10,000 Scholarship today!