There is no way on God's green earth that we elected them to pull off the biggest fraud in this great country's history. Has anyone else been watching this? Has anyone else been hearing what I am hearing? This is ridiculous and a disgrace. All of this crap in this stimulus bill is shameful. Gold courses, Frisbee courses, atv trails and the list goes on and on. All in the name of stimulus for the economy...give me a break. This is why they are banking on their constituents being totally out of touch and idiots that can be taken advantage of.

Only two Senators have actually stood up for the people of this country and those are the Senators from Oklahoma and South Carolina. I heard their debates so don't tell me I don't know what I am talking about. I heard all of the debates. They are the only two that stood up and want to put more money into our pockets and actually do something that makes sense.

Do you know there are actually people that "you" elected that are saying that putting more money into your pockets will not stimulate the economy? Do you know that? Legalized theft is what this is I tell you! I am sorry but the democrats are banking on you being totally oblivious to their intentions. Many of them standing up and saying that cutting taxes (not talking about corporate taxes either) but cutting taxes in order to put money back into the pockets of the people that actually earn it is not a good thing.

What economics class did they attend? No matter what, if I had an extra $200 dollars a month I will either spend it or save it. No matter what this helps the economy in the form of consumption or improving the books of the bank that I saved this money in. We are being taxed to death people, don't you get it? We are being taxed so much that it makes the "tea party" well, seem like a "tea party."

For those that depend on the government for their income will not get it at all and they will comment about how much I do not know what I am talking about. For those that actually pay taxes on income of any sort will agree. Only two senators are actually standing up and fighting for the working class, period. Yes they happen to be republicans but so what. Now we know why democrats don't mind raising taxes and spending, they don't pay their taxes anyway.

More money in the hands of the people of this great nation is the only way to stimulate the economy. Yes their needs something to be done about the housing market and government should step in since it was a fraud perpetrated by the government on the people with Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac. Lowering taxes on you and your neighbor and family and friends is the only way for long term economic growth. Hell I need a bailout. If you are going to truly give us a bailout, don't give me a check, give me a break every week, every other week or every month to pay for groceries, good and services. Don't be the sheep that these politicians are counting on you to be. Demand more of your hard earned money to keep and spend how "YOU" feel it should be spent. You worked hard for your money; don't you think you deserve to keep it? Please tell me you do.

Ram

PS: A $15,000 tax cut to those that buy a new car. Hmmmmmm how much of a tax cut is that if you can't afford to buy that new car because you were laid off or fired or are paying so much in taxes? What is $15,000 of nothing? Another point that they are seriously hoping and praying that we (the American public) don't catch on to what they are doing in the name of good faith and caring.

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1. Wash Your Hands

Most cold and flu viruses are spread by direct contact. Assume Someone who has the flu sneezes onto their hand, and then touches the telephone, the keyboard, a kitchen glass. The germs can live for hours -- in some cases weeks -- only to be picked up by the next person who touches the same object. So wash your hands often. If no sink is available, rub your hands together very hard for a minute or so. That also helps break up most of the cold germs.

2. Don't Cover Your Sneezes and Coughs With Your Hands

Because germs and viruses cling to your bare hands,

muffling coughs and sneezes with your hands results in passing along your germs to others. When you feel a sneeze or cough coming, use a tissue, then throw it away immediately. If you don't have a tissue, turn your head away from people near you and cough into the air.

3. Don't Touch Your Face

Cold and flu viruses enter your body through the eyes, nose, or mouth. Touching their faces is the major way children catch colds, and a key way they pass colds on to their parents.

4. Drink Plenty of Fluids

Water flushes your system, washing out the poisons as it rehydrates you. A typical, healthy adult needs eight 8-ounce glasses of fluids each day. How can you tell if you're getting enough liquid? If the color of your urine runs close to clear, you're getting enough. If it's deep yellow, you need more fluids.

5.Take a Sauna

Researchers aren't clear about the exact role saunas play in prevention, but one German study found that people who steamed twice a week got half as many colds as those who didn't. One theory: When you take a sauna you inhale air hotter than 80 degrees, a temperature too hot for cold and flu viruses to survive.

6. Get Fresh Air

A regular dose of fresh air is important, especially in cold weather when central heating dries you out and makes your body more vulnerable to cold and flu viruses. Also, during cold weather more people stay indoors, which means more germs are circulating in crowded, dry rooms.

7. Do Aerobic Exercise Regularly

Aerobic exercise speeds up the heart to pump larger quantities of blood; makes you breathe faster to help transfer oxygen from your lungs to your blood; and makes you sweat once your body heats up. These exercises help increase the body's natural
virus-killing cells.

8. Eat Foods Containing Phytochemicals

"Phyto" means plants, and the natural chemicals in plants give the
vitamins in food a supercharged boost. So in addition to supplements,
eat dark green, red, and yellow vegetables and fruits.

9. Eat Yogurt

Some studies have shown that eating a daily cup of low-fat yogurt can reduce your susceptibility to colds by 25 percent. Researchers think the beneficial bacteria in yogurt may stimulate production of immune system substances that fight disease.

10. Don't Smoke

Statistics show that heavy smokers get more severe colds and more frequent ones. Even being around smoke profoundly zaps the immune system. Smoke dries out your nasal passages and paralyzes cilia. These are the delicate hairs that line the mucous membranes in your nose and lungs, and with their wavy movements, sweep cold and flu viruses out of the nasal passages. Experts contend that one cigarette can paralyze cilia for as long as 30 to 40 minutes.

11. Cut Alcohol Consumption

Heavy alcohol use destroys the liver, the body's primary filtering system, which means that germs of all kinds won't leave your body as fast. The result is, heavier drinkers are more prone to initial infections as well as secondary complications. Alcohol also dehydrates the body -- it actually takes more fluids from your system than it puts in.

12. Relaxation

There's actually some evidence that when you put your relaxation skills into action, your interleukins -- leaders in the immune system response against cold and flu viruses -- increase in the bloodstream. Relaxation is a learnable skill; train yourself to picture an image you find pleasant or calming and do this 30 minutes a day for several months. An interesting observation is that people who visualize nothing, and are simply bored, show no change in blood chemicals.

Vision & Health Newsletter courtesy of:

Suzanne Day, O.D.
1040 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Suite 210
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561

850-932-4184

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The most commonly encountered "bump" on the eye concerning patients is a fleshy-appearing growth called a pinguecula (ping-gwek-u-lah). They may be yellow, gray, white, or colorless. They are usually found on the white part of the eye in the space between the eyelids, almost always on the side closest to the nose. pingueculae are more common in middle-aged or older people but they can also be found in younger people and even children.

Causes

Overlying the white part of the eye (sclera) is a transparent mucous membrane called
the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva also lines the inside of the eyelids. A pinguecula is a slow growth caused by the degeneration of the conjuctiva’s collagen fibres. Thicker yellow fibres, or in some cases calcified deposits, eventually replace the original transparent fibres. In rare cases, the conjunctiva can also become red and irritated. Pingueculae can be found in one or both eyes and do not affect vision.

The exact cause or causes of this disorder is unknown, but it occurs more frequently in people who live in sunny and windy climates and people whose jobs expose them to ultraviolet (UV) light (for example, farmers and arc welders). The frequency of pingueculae increases with age lending credence to the idea that they are primarily the result of prolonged exposure to UV, infrared light and irritation.

Signs and Symptoms

There are often no symptoms of a pinguecula other than a cosmetic concern. Dry eye can sometimes contribute to increased irritation, resulting in a "foreign-body" sensation and inflammation.

Treatment

Most people with pingueculae do not require treatment unless their symptoms are severe. Lubricating eye drops are normally recommended to relieve irritation and foreign-body sensation. Steroidal eye drops may be prescribed if significant inflammation and swelling are present. Everyone with pingueculae should wear UV-blocking sun protection to help reduce the irritation that contributes to the formation and progression of pingueculae. Surgical removal of pingueculae is sometimes considered if they are large or result in the the inability of contact lens wearers to wear their lenses.

Pterygium

A less commonly encountered "bump" on the eye is a pterygium. A pterygium is a triangular or wing-shaped growth on the white part of the eye that also extends onto the clear front window of the eye called the cornea. A pterygium contains blood vessels and can be of greater cosmetic concern than the typical pinguecula. In extreme cases, pterygia may grow far enough onto the cornea to interfere with vision. A pterygium can result from the progression of an initial pinguecula. As with pingueculae, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet, wind and dry conditions seem to play a significant role.

Symptoms

Many people with a pterygium are asymptomatic but others can experience a significant foreign-body sensation. Because a pterygium can stretch and distort the cornea, some people acquire astigmatism from a pterygium. When the astigmatism induced by the pterygium is significant, reduced visual acuity can be the result.

Treatment

Usually, no treatment is needed. Artificial tears can be used to relieve the sensation of a foreign body in the eye and to protect against dryness. Surgery to remove the pterygium is advisable when the effect on the cornea causes visual defects or when the thickening is causing excessive and recurrent discomfort or inflammation. surgical removal can also performed for cosmetic reasons.

Patients frequently ask their eye doctor about surgery to remove a pinguecula or pterygium. It is important to realize that healing from this type of surgery, although usually painless, takes many weeks, and there is a high rate of recurrence (as high as 50-60% in some regions). Accordingly, surgery is usually not recommended unless discomfort is significant or vision is affected.

Prognosis

Most pingueculae and pterygia grow slowly and almost never cause significant damage, so the prognosis is excellent. Diagnosis should be made by an eye doctor to rule out other more serious disorders.

Prevention

There is nothing that has been clearly shown to prevent these disorders, or to prevent a pinguecula from progressing to a pterygium. However, the presence of pingueculae and pterygia have been linked to exposure to UV radiation. For that reason, UV exposure should be reduced. The American Optometric Association (AOA) suggests that sunglasses should block 99-100% of UV-A and UV-B rays. Patients should speak to their eye care professionals about protective coatings on sunglasses or regular spectacles. Protecting the eyes from sunlight, dust, and other environmental irritants is a good idea.

Sources:
1. American Optometric Association
2. Harvard Healthcare

Vision & Health Newsletter courtesy of:

Suzanne Day, O.D.
1040 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Suite 210
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561

850-932-4184

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What You Should Be Doing While Playing Hard To Get Like the song says, "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" - but it could be the best thing that ever happened to you and your
partner. It can actually bring you closer together if you play your cards right. If you want to know how to go about saving a relationship you'll soon find that most of the online advice out there will suggest playing hard to get. Which is good advice. But what else? What should you do in the meantime? Remember this: the process of saving a relationship will strengthen the bond between you and your partner. If you decide to reunite, there will be more openness and trust than before, and if you do it right, you will be able to confront obstacles with confidence that you can overcome them together.

So what should you do while you're playing hard to get? Staying away from your ex will be tough, excruciating even, so you'll need to do something to pass the time. At first
it won't be possible to avoid thinking about your ex. You could use that time in the beginning to reflect on the relationship and what went wrong. Try to think about it
from your ex's perspective - after all, no one is perfect. This practice can really inspire you to make some changes in your life. Make sure those changes are for you, though,
and not your partner. To change for someone else is counterproductive because most likely it won't last. Self improvement carries with it increases in self esteem and
confidence.

What to do with all this new self esteem and confidence? Go out. Spend time with friends. Keep yourself busy and put this newfound knowledge to good use. Get to know
yourself without your ex and have some fun. This is the time to expand your horizons and learn new things about yourself. Try out a new hobby or take a trip somewhere.
Let this part of the breakup determine your desire to reunite with your partner.

Now, consider saving a relationship, and if it's still something you want. If it is, on what terms? What changes would you make? Once you have your answer, it's time to
start communicating with your ex again. By this point, they may have already attempted to contact you. If you played your cards right, you remained aloof and
noncommittal, but polite. Now it's time to give a little more. Go slowly, maybe have a short phone conversation and make plans to have coffee together. Take baby steps in
saving a relationship, because too much too soon could have a detrimental effect.

Again, always keep in mind that saving a relationship should take time. If done correctly your relationship will continue into the future with a stronger bond than you had
before. You can be more honest and true to yourself and your partner after you've put the pieces back together, because you'll have renewed strength and confidence that
you didn't have before.

About the Author:
Kate Ryan wants to help you get back together with your ex.
Interested? See our FREE VIDEO case study and much much
more at http://rynoceros1.makingup.hop.clickbank.net

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What if you could strip down your current health insurance? What if you really don’t need office visit co-pays or co-pays to visit a specialist? Have you ever thought about what a “zero" drug deductible is costing you every month? If you are one of the many people that think about this everyday or maybe just that person who we talk to that tells us they don’t go to the doctor very often except for a physical, then why have you not opted to switch to the ever growing popular Health Savings Account?

Depending on your situation the Health Savings Account can really save you money every month and if done properly save your wallet. There are many companies marketing the plan these days but what really is the Health Savings Account? If you are familiar with Flexible Spending Accounts and IRA’s then you have won half the battle. The other half of the battle is the HDHP or High Deductible Health Plan that must be coupled with the HSA in order to qualify.

Think of the HDHP as a catastrophic cap on your out of pocket expenses. For an individual you could be looking at a $2600 deductible HDHP which means that your annual out of pocket would be $2600. The latter part of the HDHP will be what the company picks up after that. We always choose the 100% plan which means that after the deductible is met, the insurance company pays 100% of expenses. You have to have this in place in order to qualify for a Health Savings Account. Now $2600 seems like a lot of money but this is where the Health Savings portion comes into play.

As an individual you decided to pick the $2600 deductible, which is paid just like a regular insurance premium every month. Below is an example of premiums paid for a 30 yr old male non smoker living in Florida:

Typical Insurance 80/20

$1000 deductible $25 OV Copay

$0 Drug Deductible

Max Out of Pocket $3000

Total: $134.15

HDHP

$2600 deductible

no bells and whistles

Max Out of Pocket $2600

Total: $82.76

The savings is $51.39 a month

Since you opened up the HDHP, you now qualify for the Health Savings Account. The account is nothing more than a place to put the money you saved every month up to the deductible amount annually which for our example is $2600. This account is then used to pay for the bells and whistles that you stripped out of the typical insurance. When you go to the doctor you pull out your Health Savings debit card and pay for the doctor. You save money for qualified health expenses with tax deductible contributions and tax-free withdrawals.

Here is where the real savings happen. If you don’t go to the doctor or anything that year, the money that you saved rolls over into the next year where you can start saving again. This happens year after year, earning you interest and rolling over, again and again. You have the chance to build a little nest egg that you never thought you would never have. You have now taken control of your health care.

You can use the Health Savings Account for covered expenses that apply toward your annual deductible. You can also pay for qualified medical expenses that are not covered by the health plan such as vision care (glasses, contacts) or dental or braces or long term care. Some examples of qualified medical expenses are:

Dental

Hearing Aids

Diabetic Supplies

Physical Therapy

Vision

Laser Eye Surgery

Over the Counter Meds

Speech Therapy

And much, much more!

You will need to check with your insurer for a complete list as the lists vary among different insurance carriers.

The HSA is the only program around that puts you in control of your health care. Granted you do not have the office visit co-pays or the drug options. More and more companies are vying for this solution as the cost of health insurance continues to rise. This is a way for the companies to provide health insurance and a little nest egg for their employees with the convenience of one plan. I am telling you that this is the future of health care. You might think twice about going to the doctor for the typical cold but if you don’t at least you saved $100 by not going to the doctor and going to your pharmacy to get over the counter medication which you can use the HSA for. This is a chance for you and me to save real money so why have you not opened one up yet?

Gulf Breeze Insurance, Inc.

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Good dental health, as well as correcting dental problems, is essential to overall health. Many Americans are finding themselves without effective dental coverage to treat and maintain their dental needs. This is due in part to businesses increasingly cutting-back or offering inferior dental coverage for prices many can’t afford. So what are people to do? As a result, people have started looking for alternatives for their dental coverage needs especially online. The #1 question people are asking is, “What’s the difference between Dental Insurance and Discount Dental Plans?"

There are distinct differences between the way dental insurance plans and “discount dental plans work. Usually, dental insurance is used by large groups and businesses to cover their employee’s dental care. Dental insurance is true insurance where monthly premiums are paid for defined coverage. Dental insurance is not readily available to individuals and families, unless provided by their employer. The pitfalls of dental insurance include annual benefit maximums, deductibles, waiting periods for procedures, and limitations and exclusions. There are also claims forms to fill out and submit. Dental insurance a lot of times doesn’t even cover the cost of preventative measure until deductibles are met. You are able to use any dentist but the monthly premiums for dental insurance may be as much as $30 per month for individuals and over $100 per month for family plans.

Discount dental plans or “fee for service" plans, on the other hand, are available for everyone whether or not you are covered by a group plan. Fee for service plans are designed to provide clients dental networks at reduced rates or better yet, pay a certain amount and only that amount for services performed. Discount dental plans are affordable and are the most widely available dental programs for individuals and families. These discount plans work differently than dental insurance plans, yet provide consumers with real and substantial savings on most dental procedures. Discount dental plans are membership-based programs that usually provide coverage on an annual basis. Consumers pay a membership fee in exchange for secured discounts on most dental services, such as dental exams, routine cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals, dentures, crowns, and braces. These plans typically save the consumer ten to sixty percent off most standard out-of-pocket fees when visiting a participating network provider. Most discount dental plans provide a “fee schedule" with the discounted fees listed out in the membership materials to ensure consumers will receive their promised savings.

While there are several differences between traditional dental insurance plans and discount dental plans, they can also be used together in certain situations to maximize savings. Gulf Breeze Insurance Inc. offer both plans but prefer to off the fee for service plan for the basic fact our clients like to save money and most need dental coverage now with no waiting period or stipulations on the money they spend. The fact that you know exactly what you are getting and saving is enough to prefer these plans over any other. Many dentists will even tell you at the time you checkout how much you have just saved.You can even visit http://www.gulfbreezeinsurance.com to see if one of these plans is available in your area and how much it can help you.

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A life insurance agent sits across the dining room table from a couple. The couple is middle class with two children ages 2 and 10. After conferring with the couple for 45 minutes the agent has designed a plan to protect the family against death of either the mother or father or both. The agent slides the proposal across the table to the parents. The parents glance at the proposal and see that the plan will cost them $50.00 a month. The couple hesitates then glances at each other.

The agent observes the hesitation. He anticipates an objection and reaches into his pants pocket and pulls out 2 quarters, 2dimes, 3nickels and 4 pennies. He then puts the change on the table and states that “The children’s future will be protected in the event that a tragedy takes the life of one of you or both for a little over a dollar a day or a cup of coffee." In sales, the next one that speaks loses. The couple smiles and asks “Where do we sign?"

This is called “Reduce to the Ridiculous" and it is a form of “framing." In the sales profession this is a very effective way to overcome the “monthly objection." Millhouse framed his decision in the very same manner. The salesman reduced to the ridiculous and Millhouse bought. Forty cents a day sounds better than $12.40 a month. The couple in this example was faced with the dilemma of $50.00 a month. The children would still be taken care of financially in the event the parents died but $50.00 a month is a lot of money, that is $600.00 a year or just $1.61 a day. “Wait a minute, just $1.61 a day? We can do that! Where do we sign?" What does this say about our customer base?

People do not respond the same to prohibitions and allowances (Plouse, 1993). Take for instance the agent and the couple or Millhouse and the salesman, both were faced with a substantial amount of money out of pocket even though the need warranted it. When the agent and salesman turned the concept around to the point of value for only pennies a day, the customer’s frame was changed and the sale was made. The “framed" saw that the allowances far outweighed the prohibitions regardless of the fact that everything was the same. This is very powerful in the world of sales. “How you make a decision is often determined by how you view your choices or how you frame the questions around it" (Anderson, 1999).

In the Millhouse example the salesman framed the question around the future success of the company being worth “one can of soda." This statement is pretty ridiculous to the point that anyone would say yes to that statement. If the salesman framed the question any other way, the possibility of a sale at that moment could have been greatly diminished. For example, if the salesman stated that the future success of the company depended upon the purchase of this product today, there is no value associated with the gain or loss. Millhouse didn’t see a can of soda being the reason the company is successful rather Millhouse can easily validate that the decision could be made tomorrow and thusly rationalize against the purchase. For example, he could rationalize the overall cost versus gain, interest paid, and “Is it really a value." People tend to be against risk and will look for reasons to talk themselves out of the situation when given the chance (Anderson, 1999).

The can of soda a day is not a loss compared to the future success of the company. Framing in the business world can be a powerful ally to the salesman. Salesman are trained not to go into a sales pitch right away but rather “feel out" the prospect, gather information and find the hot spots. An experienced salesman knows his prospects as well as the product if not more. An experience salesman builds a relationship with the prospect. An experienced salesman asks the right questions. An experienced salesman frames the closing statement to the point that the prospect would be a fool not to buy.

A good listener as well as inquisitor can learn more about a person in one conversation than they think. The more the person knows the more power that person has to be an influence upon the decisions we make. In these cases knowledge is power. Successful businesses with products to sell have uncovered so much information about the people and markets to which their products are being sold to. Without this knowledge, the marketing departments would never know how to cleverly make that closing statement, or put that person there in that commercial or use those colors within the product they are marketing to sell. This is all a form of decision framing by influencing the way the customer sees the product, convinces themselves to purchase the product and rationalize that the purchase was a good decision. Framing a decision in part is controlled by the normalcy, habits and attributes of the decision maker (Plouse, 1993).

Morally, people must take the decisions they make into careful consideration and accountability. One can have a great influence over another when it is done right. We are all guilty in one way or another of framing, from the toy companies to convincing your boss you need a raise. The world is bought and sold face to face or across the airwaves using frames. Conflict and peace and the reasons for either one are thrust upon us by using frames. The key is to take time in making a decision.

Usually a decision can be made on a product or situation with a little bit of time in between. Will the decision be different? There is an extreme possibility that it will. If one was framed and took time to think about it, more than likely the decision will be different. Millhouse didn’t take time to analyze the total cost of the product on the extended payment plan and the difference that would make on the actual bottom line and whether it was worth it then. We are all guilty of framing and being framed. We all have a responsibility to take a few steps back and think about and realize the decisions we make. The fact of the matter is we would probably be surprised about how differently our lives might actually be.

Gulf Breeze Insurance, Inc.

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