Well I am in that same crowd who waits until the last minute to buy presents for the family. I cannot really see what is the cool thing this year. Instead, I am listening and watching my kids interest. One loves to hunt so I found some hunter figures with birds, moose and elk. The other loves Lego and who what where or when can you ever go wrong buying lego for a boy. Scanning the internet shopping I still see robots, new versions of Monopoly and life like dolls. Nothing has really changed. Have we maxed out all inventions? Is there ever going to be anything new? Who is say. Hey, my kid loves plastic army men. They are cheap and fun. I swear there is nothing shocking or worth standing in line for. Have fun instead with the simple toys.

Now it appears that over 17 billion will go to help the Big 3 bail themselves out. I heard that Ford may say no. I cant help but think that they should fail and go into bankruptcy. I realize that hundreds of thousands of jobs are at stake when you include all the outsourcing that goes along with the industry. Hence, I appreciate what the president is trying to do. But they still make cars that no one wants, cannot afford to buy and have virtually no feedback from the public that they use to make changes. I see that Chrysler will shut down for a month and that 4 months of inventory are out there right now. I guess I am still torn. We are all in a holding pattern and waiting to see what will happen. We only you can decide what will happen and decide what success looks like. That is the freedom of the Capitalism model. The market decides if they want your car. Let the recession takes its course is till my motto.

I have known only one person who was so overweight that they had to use bariatric surgery. It went ok, but the recovery was a challenge for her. I am very impressed with the results however, could there have been a better way? She had diabetes on top of it all and that has gotten better. Then I learned about lapband.

What I like so much is the in their FAQ’s, when asked about what their results could be they report that you could begin to lose perhaps 1 to 2 pounds a week. This normal and reasonable. New Hope Bariatrics is very professional in their promotion of this medical device. What they do is put on free Seminars to find out if your are qualified. You can find out your BMI on the site as a pre screening tool as well. There is a nice video from a patient who had nice and reasonable results.

The lap band itself is an adjustable band that wraps around the upper part of the stomach. Hence, you will eat less and feel full from your meals. There is only a small incision and they dont mess with your intestines.  It can be done in an outpatient center and adjustments can be made in a doctors office if need be. They also claim less mortality risk which I find the best benefit of all and it can always be removed.

They will help with financial help between you and your insurance company. They always vary so its nice to know these guys want to help. I really encourage you to go out to site for further information on the surgery, their locations in Kansas City and Charlotte, the seminars, what to expect questions.

Its that time of year again. Snow is falling, the roads are slick and the sales are huge. So hey, lets go driving! Sorry to be so sarcastic but really. The best defense in the world is, “Don’t Be there.” How many accidents could be avoided if we just stayed home and enjoyed our families this time of year. Dont we have everything we need. Then there is the crew just have to be at work to even just show the boss they tried. Now their car stuck in the road and it is a part of the problem and not the solution.  Now our public services are tied up because we just had to get out. Sleep in, enjoy the family, the deadline can wait.  Oh, dont forget your car deductible in the event of your accident. Wow, I am a little harsh but in these times why not save some money on gas, repairs and gadgets we really dont need on a snow day.

I was at recent community event last week where I met for the first time a person who had Autism. He was a young boy about 10 years old. It was one of his good days I was told but I could tell that playing with other children was a real challenge for him. He would strike out with fists and yelling when a particular toy was not shared. My kids were there. They drifted away from the otherwise polite young man. His mother was on edge all the time with no time to relax, always looking over his every word and action. I felt sorry for her and the situation. So what should she do, is there any hope.

I did some research and discovered there is an Autism Support Network out there. They can be found at www.autismsupportnetwork.com The goal is to connect families around the world who have general or even very specific needs. The website is geared for blogs, chat, contacts etc. What I found is that my new friend is not alone at all and that many families feel isolated and alone. I saw that first hand. Here they can exchange ideas. The family I met discovered that if they reduce the amount of Gluten in their child’s diet, he has better days. What a great idea to send to other families that need help with autism.

I learned that 1 in 150 kids have Autism and that more kids are diagnosed with ASD than with diabetes and cancer combined.  WOW. I would like to applaud this outreach program. You should have seen this family, trying to discipline their child and try to find a gluten free dinner on top of all the stress of the world.

Well it happened again. Another team with stellar Mariner players. This time Philly has JJ Putz, Raul Ibanez and Jamie Moyer. Three class acts that we let go for a song. Yet another rebuilding year. What about those 119 losses on one side and a World Series on the other! Am I missing something here? Philly wants to win and we want to wait and see. How wonderful.

This story intrigued me from the WSJ because how should we treat international companies doing business with firms and other countries that do not operate with our norms. The article does not list a single American company, but the US District Attorney is involved so I must assume there was a crime with the USA. The $800 million dollar fine is huge! At any rate, Siemens used bribes to get contracts with China and Russia. Is that not the way business is always done in those countries, especially Russia? Are we to expect the Germans to impose their thought process onto Russia? Once you hit their territory its their rules. Perhaps I am just a novice and since we have WTO etc maybe there is a level playing field. Is the US involved because they are traded on the NYSE and hence the SEC can impose such fines? Too bad this rigorous investigation looked over the Madoff ponzi scheme. So, the question is when is Rome….Do we do business on the terms of the foreign government and their culture or ours? What’s really crazy is that OPEC is a larger scandal than Siemens will ever be. Im sure there is no bribery or corruption there…ha ha.

I want to thank Mr Markopolos who first contacted the SEC on Bernard Madoff in 1999 questioning his Ponzi scheme. Sure he may been a rival, but facts are facts. Thanks to WSJ for his excellent reporting and using Mr Markopolos. Steady returns with a veil of exclusive clients making very nice money in a special club for years…how did it all get past the SEC? It appears this was a country club of sorts for the elite who ironically, it appears, kept their heads in the sand as long as the returns just kept coming.  Now the WSJ has made a list of who’s who on the Madoff Investment club and it will shock you. Wake up America….but then again you have. You are tight with your money, you now examine what you buy and from whom. Perhaps now this type of scheme will be a thing of the past. It does not take more regulation. The rules are there. It take each of to look in the mirror and decide our actions and take responsibility for them. Let this be a lesson to us all.. gee if it sounds to good to be true, perhaps it is!

I have had a hard time coming to a solid opinion on this topic. I really struggle with liberty and my Christian beliefs. It appears the State of Washington has allowed a sign from the freedom from religion organization to post a sign in the Capital Rotunda stating that Christmas and Christianity is a hoax and superstition. It really hurts me to read this. However, it is a public building so can everyone post anything thing they want? Perhaps we should just take down all Christmas decorations and say no one can post anything. If we let one in we have to let them all in. Bill O Reilly was very upset and called our their Governor last week. Again, I do not have a solid opinion yet. I would rather there be nothing than for my children to see Christmas decorations on side and the superstition sign nearby. Just how far should we go. Now we are really going South if you know what I mean.

Hold your hat! Enron was a cakewalk. Now the leader of NASDAQ has been arrested for a 50 billion dollar ponzi scheme. Enron was a mere 38 billion. SO where are the headlines, where is the outrage. Thats right, we are too busy with the 30 billion Auto Bailout. They say love is blind, how about greed. Fix Asset Mangement of New York ran a Pyramid scheme, gee how original. Basically using your money to pay those who got in early, from the funds that come in from the bottom. Now the SEC is looking real bad, for this plan had been going on for years. We are going South my friends. Universities, hedge funds all put in money looking for great returns. Yes, schools who need those funds have had their investments vanish. What I truly wory about is those overseas looking yet again that our economy stinks, that the rich get away anything, that capitalism is the fraud that Marx talked about etc. By the way, Bernard was able to get out of jail on a 10 million dollar bond. He put up his house. Yikes, thats a ton of cash on available why poor schools suffer.