This'n'That; November 11th[Vets;Health;politics;stocks]

Veteran's Day, 2008 I have my flag[s] out-Do you? We fly the American Flag EVERYDAY. On three holidays, we add U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army flags to the front porch collection. Those holidays are Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day and Veteran's Day [Your grandparents and other ol' duffers know Veteran's Day as Armistace Day-the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month {1918}]. The Kind Of Leadership America Needs!! If you're thinking I'm referring to PEBO, you're mistaken!! The information below came to me via one of those "forward-this-to-everybody" emails. So far as I know, it's a factual email. Here it is, verbatim: Prime Minister John Howard-Australia Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks. Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote: "IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians." "This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom." "We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society.... Learn the language!" "Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture." "We will accept your beliefs and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us." "This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, THE RIGHT TO LEAVE!" "If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted." "Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, American and Canadian citizens will find the backbone to start speaking and voicing the same truths." PEBO take note: Rather than raising the already high percentage of the federal largess that goes to those who refuse to be contributing members of society, you need an attitude adjustment!! Your administration would far better serve the economy and the country as a whole if you developed the level of testicular fortitude that Australian PM John Howard has!!! Dismal Market Results In my entry [T'n'T] of 11/03, I mentioned several stocks that might be a part of one's "watchlist." These stocks have continued to fall in price and bear watching, but with further patience: SIRI;[11/03>>11/07] $.338>>$.260; GM $5.79>>$3.36; DVD $2.14>>$2.00; TRK 15.95>>14.84; ISCA 31.39>>$28.65. [ISCA- Motley Fool is touting this stock as a "must own" due to it's intellectual property holdings] One of our family's portfolios has investments in KFN, Q and DFR. Each of these stocks were purchased with their dividend rates in mind. KFN: KKR Financial Holdings, LLC. Yup, these guys are Kolberg, Kravits and Roberts..... who were involved in some of the largest take-overs/buy-outs of the '80s and '90s!! This stock closed last Friday @$3.69, with a dividend of $1.60 [43+%]. Q: Qwest Communications International, Inc. They provide voice, data, Internet and video service in the United States. The corporation operates in three segments: Wireline Services, Wireless Services and Other Services. This stock closed last Friday @$2.98 with a dividend of $0.32 [10.7%]. DFR: Deerfield Capital Corp. This company started out life as a REIT [Real Estate Investment Trust]. They have since changed their charter to that of a "C" Corporation. This stock closed last Friday @$3.17 with a dividend of $3.40 [107.3%]. ***With the stock market in a state of flux to put it mildly, the exorbitant dividends and rates of return CAN NOT HOLD!!! For one thing, the companies couldn't afford the payouts to maintain the rates [KFN-43+%; DFR-107%]. If these stocks continue in freefall, their return rates will continue to rise. At some point the companies involved will readjust the rates to reflect their profitibility and investments.

A Hint Of PEBO's Direction

Some advocacy groups have been thwarted during the last 12-14 years. They now have a President they think will look kindly on their list of socialist legislative priorities. In the following categories, their wishlist includes:

JUSTICE REFORM

1. Eliminate sentencing disparity that is harsher on crack cocaine than powder cocaine.

2. Expand alternatives to incarceration.

3. Extend federal voting rights to people released from prison.

4. Restore welfare and food stamp eligibility to people with drug felony convictions.

GAY RIGHTS

1. Outlaw workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

2. Epand hate-crimes laws to cover violence motivated by anti-gay bias.

3. Modify immigration laws to accommodate same-sex partners from other nations.

4. Repeal "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bars gays from serving openly in the military.

FEMINIST RIGHTS

1. Close the gender wage gap and increase minimum wage.

2. Enable more workers to benefit from paid sick days and family/medical leave.

3. Ratify CEDAW [Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women], the United Nations treaty to end sex discrimination.

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

1. Expand access to birth control and family planning.

2. Eliminate federal support for abstinence-only sex education and support comprehensive programs that include teaching about contraception.

3. Limit or overturn policies that interfere with a woman's right to have an abortion.

IMMIGRATION RIGHTS

1. Halt or cut back on workplace raids tareting illegal-immigrant workers.

2. Enact comprehensive immigration reform that provides illegal immigrants with options other than deportation.

The Chia Pet Ain't Just For The Window Sill Anymore

Research has revealed that more than two-thirds of all deaths in the United States are diet related. More than half of all deaths are caused by coronary occlusion, blocage of blood flow to the heart/brain. 97% of all coronary occlusion could be eliminated by a vegetarian diet. In "Advances in Cancer Research,**" researchers have concluded "At present, we have overwhelming evidence....[that] none of the risk factors for cancer is... more significant than diet and nutrition." This brings up a possible "super" food, chia seeds [called 'The Ancient Food of the Future']. Chia seed, once valued so highly it was used as currency, is familiar to most as the seeds used in the Chia Pet[tm] clay animals. The Chia seed was used for centures as a staple food by the indigenous peoples of the American southwest, Mexico and Central America. It's use as a high-energy and endurance food has been recorded as far back as the ancient Aztecs. Southwestern indians would RUN from the Colorado River to the California coast on trading missions. Their only nourishment on the trip was chia seeds. Carbohydrates are the fuel for energy in the human body. Prolonging their conversion into sugar stabilizes metabolic changes, diminishing the surges of highs and lows, creating a greater duration in the fueling effects. Mixing appropriate measures of chia seeds and water produces a semi-solid gelatin-the result of mixing the seed's soluable fiber with the water. One of the exceptional qualities of the Chia seed is it's ability to absorb 12 times it's weight in water. This ability allows the body to more efficiently regulate the absorption of nutrients and the dispersion of fluid. Chia seed may be used inconjunction with almost any diet your doctor or nutritionist feels is necessary for your diet. There's LOTS MORE information in the original article I found; listed below:

**Advances in Cancer Research: A series of books highlighting on-going cancer research and research results. At latest count-100 volumes.

Important URLs:

Cited article: http://www.living-foods.com/articles/chia.html

Newspaper article: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_/ai_n24351311

Retail sources for seeds: http://www.nuchiafoods.com/ ; http://www.chiagrowers.org/ ; www.pronto.com/prices-chia-seed/ [this one seems to be the cheapest source]

Til Nex'time...............