MZUZU--Malawi Defence Force (MDF) commander Henry Odillo has pledged to safeguard the territorial integrity of the country and support its civilian rule.
Odillo said this to Malawian journalists at Kamuzu Barracks in Malawi's capital Lilongwe where he observed that the army demonstrated a deep understanding of its role in a democracy and continued to support civilian rule as per dictates of this country's constitution.
On on-going discussions between Malawi and Tanzania on the Lake Malawi border dispute, Oddillo assured all Malawians that he was aware of what was going on.
He Malawians should "not to live in fear in their own house" as this is their country where military would always protect them. --- (c) The Maravi Post 2012. Reproduction without acknowledgement prohibited
Recently I did a radio interview with longtime friend Al Korelin and blurted out that anyone who actively followed the gold/silver markets and did not appreciate how manipulated they are, was a moron. Not sure how that went over with Al?s listening audience, but I would like to parlay that comment here to deal with its significance.
You truly have to be mentally challenged if you follow the gold/silver market action and cannot appreciate something is very amiss, as per the confused Mitsui gold people, as brought to your attention the other day. There is NOTHING to be confused about. The more bullish the news for gold, the more reasons for the price to soar and the more The Gold Cartel deviants go into action to suppress both the gold and silver prices. How many times does the GATA camp have to point this out before the dingbats at Mitsui, and the rest of the mainstream gold world, will go there? The answer is infinity. These mainstream establishment gold pundits will NEVER tell their people the truth about what the gold market is all about. Hara-kiri would be their first choice before telling the truth.
Most people naturally think the Mayans got it wrong about the world ending on December 21. Of course it is that way at first glance, but if what takes place in the economic/financial market arenas in the years ahead that I see coming, it might prove them correct in a way not commonly thought of (just a few years off and in a different articulation). Whatever is done with our fiscal cliff issue, it represents how incapable our politicians are of dealing with our mounting fiscal deficits and debt in America. It will not signify the end of the world, but could very well come to represent a moment when it becomes CLEAR our standard of living is going to significantly deteriorate ? and an end to a standard of living as we Americans have known it ... the end of that world. If the Mayans are correct in that regard, which I believe to be the case, the standard of living of most Americans, and others around the world, is going to change dramatically for the worse.
As this all kicks in, the realization of how broke the US is, along with many other nations, will take center stage. The understanding of the US money printing game will command the same attention on that stage. The dollar will begin its tapioca swan dive. Gold and silver will begin launches to doubling their prices for starters. The Gold Cartel will have to go into a retreat mode like we have not seen yet.
The Gold Cartel knows what is coming as presented above, which is why they have bombed gold and silver the past month+ when the fundamentals registered the most bullish factoids imaginable. PRICE ACTION MAKES MARKET COMMENTARY. The clueless (or disingenuous) out there in the mainstream gold world refuse to explain why the price of gold has behaved so counterintuitively ?, but the GATA camp will, and does, all the time.
Now, this is what I really want to get to ? in what I truly believe could be of meaningful support during this time of the investing public RUNNING AWAY FROM THE GOLD/SILVER/SHARE MARKETS, just when the focus should be on them the most! The bullish sentiment is really that bad.
To get right to the point, and to try and be of assistance, this is what I have done well at in the past ? getting into a major market move when few investors are paying attention to incredibly bullish fundamentals. That said, I am among THE WORLD?S WORST at dealing with market tops and taking profits. But, since we are dealing with major corrections in gold and silver, accompanied by dreadful bullish sentiment, that should not be of most concern at the moment.
SO, it is my opinion the prices of gold and silver are going to go into an EPIC move up stage, especially silver, next year. Silver will make all-time highs and be streaking for $100 an ounce. If there ever was a time to skew your investment portfolio towards silver, and pay extra attention, it is right now!
It is just human nature to NOT get it at market bottoms, or after significant corrections like we have just had, and to think out of the box. I was fortunate to have learned about all of this from three truly legendary financial market figures, and now there is a fourth. All of them understood true supply/demand numbers which were not appreciated by the investment world at the time. Each could spot a big picture trade and act on their knowledge way ahead of the pack. They were the smart ones, not me. I knew they knew what they were talking about with successful investment backgrounds to prove it. I listened to everything they had to say and learned from them what to spot and why, and then go with them.
I realize many veteran Caf? members know some of this and of those whom I am referring to, but it is worth repeating, right now, and focusing on just where we are after the recent Gold Cartel waterfall attacks. Each of these big picture thinkers could spot markets out of sync and knew how to take advantage of them and play for big money. They have been my mentors and are extraordinary individuals (what I cumulatively learned from them all those years I am hoping is indirectly passed on your way) ?.
*Daniel L. Ritchie
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Daniel L. Ritchie became chairman and CEO of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, one of the nation?s largest cultural complexes, in January 2007. He is the immediate past chairman of the Daniels Fund board, and is president of the Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation, which focuses on early childhood education and development.
Dan was chairman of the board of the University of Denver from 2005 to 2007, where he served as the university's sixteenth chancellor from 1989 until 2005. During his tenure, the DU pioneered the teaching of ethics at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Chancellor Ritchie collaborated with Bill Daniels to incorporate ethics, values, and social responsibility throughout the business school curriculum. The business school was renamed Daniels College of Business in 1994 in honor of Bill Daniels.
In June 1994, Dan announced a personal gift to the university of $15 million, achieved through sale of some 19,600 acres of his Colorado ranch. Since then, he has given the university the remainder of the ranch, and its sale has netted more than $50 million for various projects?
I met Dan at the New York Athletic Club in the mid 1970?s. We were in the gym lifting weights and he asked me about a pork belly quote, like in the Daily News, which was not there. What a nice man, I thought, and after taking a futures market class at the Cornell School of Hotel Administration, I thought why not go after what this seemingly bright man told me. I called my Merrill Lynch broker and bought a pork belly contract with a $500 margin requirement at the time. The first day after my broker put on my trade, I lost half my money. What a mistake I thought. Pork bellies went LIMIT UP the next nine out of ten days! I was hooked to go into the commodity futures industry. I asked Dan what I should do after a $4500 gain on a $500 investment in two weeks. I will never forget what he said, "Bill, you have done pretty well for your first trade, take those profits," which I did in a nanosecond. If I only had done that for the rest of my investment career!
Dan was very tied into the astute Refco operation out of Memphis, and made a fortune trading the cattle, hog and pork belly markets, with some great soybean trades thrown in there too.
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I will never forget talking to Dan over a dinner when he was pondering whether to resign from Westinghouse Broadcasting, after being the number two guy under Lew Wasserman at MCA pictures, to run D.K. Ludvig?s empire. Ludvig was the richest man in the world at the time. And I will never forget that we flipped a coin to determine who would pay for dinner that night.
Education: Master of Business Administration, Harvard University; Bachelor of Arts / Science, Long Island University
Marital Status: Married
Children: 4
***
?
Ray is obviously a genius. Now famed CEO Sandy Weill didn?t think so when he fired Ray from his hedging director position at Shearson Hayden Stone in the mid 1970?s. Mr. Weill did not appreciate that, to make a hedging point, Ray brought in a girl with a fur coat on during a presentation of his in San Francisco. Her naked body was all that was left when Ray asked her to take off the coat.
So Ray started Bridgewater Associates. I had just joined Shearson and he needed someone to do a lot of grunt work for him. Many a night I took the subway from downtown Manhattan to midtown around 11:00. Ray got me going financially back then with his buy corn and feeder cattle futures and sell cattle futures when their margins were too fat. We did the reverse when they were too unprofitable. Made 100% on my money in days to weeks every time.
I know a number of you have seen this picture of Ray and me in Rio way back when, but it is too much fun to pass up here.
?
*Frank Veneroso
I was recruited to join the ill-fated Drexel Burnham on Park Avenue in 1980. That is where I met Frank as he was interested in buying bond futures when the interest rates were running up to 20%. He was early and took some hits, but then sold THE HIGH TICK after their first mega rally. I know, I did the trade. He made a killing.
Frank was known as a Wall Street Whiz Kid back then who was making money every year during the DOW dog days. He was then a consultant to a number of governments. One of my favorite financial stories ever is this one:
The Stock Market
Recollections of the Greatest Market Bubble Ever?
Memories of the Souk al Manakh
How large can a bubble grow before it bursts? Farther than you think. And there need not be a fatal pinprick that makes it burst. And when it bursts, the crash that ensues can be deeper and more discontinuous than you could ever imagine?
Frank was commissioned by the World Bank to do a study on the copper market in 1986. Copper was nowhere back then, the price depressed to around 46 cents a pound. Frank was stunned to learn how bullish the fundamentals were because of the obvious demand which would be surfacing from Asia. FEW realized what was about to transpire, preferring to concentrate on the increasing importance of fiber optics. We muddled with the copper futures trade for a year. Then in May of 1987 there were no deliveries on the May contract. That was it I thought, the KEY to getting the trade right. I bought thousands of out of the money copper options. Copper went to $1.46 per pound by the end of the year, surviving the 1987 stock market crash in October of that year. I made $27 million on the trade and then found a way to blow a good deal of it. But, being Jackie Onassis? neighbor in Bernardsville, N.J. for a couple of years is still a fond memory.
***
All of that brings me to where we are today and the reason I would like to make a commotion out of this commentary?
*Eric Sprott
Eric, who is one of GATA?s most ardent supporters, is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet and a true genius. As my good friend John Embry (brilliant in his own right) has told me for years, Eric is the best student of supply/demand dynamics he has ever come across. His presentation at the Dos Passos Table is just one example of what John is referring to.
Eric has been jumping up and down about the price of silver?s potential for many years now and was very visible at certain conferences not that long ago when the price was $14/16 an ounce. He has been all over the place this year talking to investors about what he thinks the price of silver is going to do and why. Eric has publicly stated silver is going to $100 per ounce and higher. He is my anchor when I pound the table about silver ? that same anchor of formidable insight I learned so long ago from the likes of Dan Ritchie, Ray Dalio, and Frank Veneroso. It is not me you need to pay attention to, but Eric!
I don?t need to be able to break down the supply/demand numbers like Eric has done; and like Dan, Ray and Frank have done for so many years. I know they know what they are talking about. What I can bring to the table is an appreciation of just how much gold and silver have been manipulated, and orchestrated down to artificially low prices, which will not stand in the years ahead. JP Morgan, and others suppressing the price, has to be close to being forced into backing off. Their use of derivatives to suppress the price in the face of an extremely tight physical market ought to be very close to having run its course. Knowing what we know in the GATA camp about what JP Morgan has done will prove to be invaluable in the months and years ahead. No one knows that more than Eric.
The investment opportunity of a lifetime is staring us in the face and not that many investors out there get it. Eric does and he has backed it up publicly with his investments: his ETF (PHYS) is an example. Fortunes will be made in silver over the years ahead for those willing to do their homework and take a plunge ? and that will be most true in the silver shares whose firms have the goods in the ground.
Investing in many of the junior/exploration stocks in the gold/silver sector has been a horror show these last years. While I have been so right about gold and silver for the past 12 years, my second biggest investment mistake ever was not to take profits around 2008 with my share selections when the legendary Bob Bishop told the attendees at GATA Goes To Washington conference in April of 2008 that the move up in the gold/silver shares was over for the time being. As you may know, Bob is going to let his latest thoughts known at GATA?s fundraiser in Vancouver on January 21 at the Pan Pacific Hotel following the Cambridge House conference.
BUT, as bad as the junior/exploration sector has been in recent years, it will be that good by double or triple, or much more, in the years ahead. Think NEWTON?S LAW!
Silver is on its way next year to $100 per ounce. You want to bet against Eric Sprott? And that is the reason for this special commentary. Ritchie, Dalio, and Veneroso are true legends in the futures trading arena, and in the making big money in the markets arena. So is Eric. Keep that in mind and spread the word.
While the standard of living in America and other places is likely to deteriorate significantly in the years ahead, those who have stayed with various gold/silver investments ought to be happy campers. Should that Mayan prediction be all about a drastic change in our standard of living as we have known it (the end of that world), owning silver and the silver shares in the years ahead will be a counter to some darker times on the horizon.
If you are looking for a Profession in auto repair, you will soon discover that automotive service technician Instruction is provided in trade schools, vocational schools and community colleges across the nation. Automotive service technician Instruction is ideal for these who appreciate utilizing their minds to resolve issues, and do not mind obtaining their hands dirty.
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To reach the level of certified automotive service technician can take up to a year of study and practical knowledge. Some automotive service technician schools offer you an advanced two-year associate degree system, which would be quite useful Once in search of employment immediately after graduation. The moment you are a certified automotive repair technician, you will be topic to standard critique and recertification. You must be able to depend on your school update their curriculum to keep existing with emerging technologies, and to periodically provide refresher courses for operating technicians.
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Copyright 2007 ? All rights reserved by Media Sure Communications, Inc.
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Life Insurance Eagan MN You will see more and more drivers on the road every year. This can lead to a higher possibility of a car accident. If you get in a car crash, the auto insurance you own can make a large difference in the experience you have. So how can you find out what insurance you need and the quantity you should purchase? Mandated coverage varies by state/province but typically includes the following: Liability: Bodily injury and property damage that you have caused will be covered under liability insurance. Bodily injury damages include medical fees, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Property damage can refer to damaged property or loss of use of property. It can also cover your defense and court costs if you are sued. State laws typically require minimum amounts of liability insurance, but higher amounts are available and very beneficial. Personal Injury Protection: Personal injury insurance is mandated in some states and is optional in others. It pays you or your passengers for medical treatment resulting from a crash, regardless of who may have been at fault, and is often called no-fault coverage. This insurance can also cover lost earnings, replacement of services and funeral expenses. State government typically sets minimum amounts. Medical Payments: Medical payment coverage is available in states that are not considered no-fault; it pays regardless of who may be responsible. This insurance will pay for an insured person?s reasonable and necessary medical or funeral expenses for bodily injury from a crash. Collision: Damages resulting from a car accident will be covered under this kind of insurance. Comprehensive: This applies if your vehicle is stolen or damaged by something other than a collision, including fire, wind, hail, flood or vandalism. Uninsured Motorist: Thousands of drivers are breaking the law by driving without having the right amount of car insurance. This insurance will protect you if one of these drivers hit you. Under-Insured Motorist: Similar to uninsured motorist protection, this kind of insurance protects you against drivers without enough insurance protection. Emergency road service, car rental, and other types of car insurance can also be purchased. Your car insurance payments vary by company and will depend on multiple factors, including: *Your selected coverage *Your vehicle?s make and model * Your driving record * Your age, sex and marital status * The place where you live Many people think of car insurance as a necessary evil, but it can save you from a financial fiasco. Review your needs, do your research , and with the guidance of your insurance agent, choose the option that best suits you.
The Italian researcher faced prejudice and adversity as a woman and as a Jew, but went on to elucidate a growth factor essential to the survival of nerve cells
By Marguerite Holloway
Editor's Note: Neurobiologist Rita Levi-Montalcini, a Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine in 1986, died December 30 at the age of 103. We are making this profile of her free online for the next 30 days. This story was originally published in the?January 1993?issue of Scientific American.
As a feminist in a family with Victorian mores and as a Jew and free-thinker in Mussolini?s Italy, Rita Levi-Montalcini has encountered various forms of oppression many times in her life. Yet the neurobiologist, whose tenacity and preciseness are immediately apparent in her light, steel-blue eyes and elegant black-and-white attire, embraces the forces that shaped her. ?If I had not been discriminated against or had not suffered persecution, I would never have received the Nobel Prize,? she declares.
Poised on the edge of a couch in her apartment in Rome that she shares with her twin sister, Paola, Levi- Montalcini recalls the long, determined struggle that culminated in joining the small group of women Nobelists in 1986. She won the prize for elucidating a substance essential to the survival of nerve cells. Her discovery of nerve growth factor led to a new understanding of the development and differentiation of the nervous system. Today it and other similar factors are the subject of intense investigation because of their potential to revive damaged neurons, especially those harmed in such diseases as Alzheimer?s.
The journey from Turin, where she was born in 1909, to this serene and impeccable Roman living room laden with plants and with the etchings and sculptures of Paola, a well-known artist, tested Levi-Montalcini's mettle from her earliest years. "It was a very patriarchal society, and I simply resented, from early childhood, that women were reared in such a way that everything was decided by the man, she proclaims. Initially, she wanted to be a philosopher but soon decided she was not logically minded enough. When her governess, to whom she was devoted, died of cancer, she chose to become a doctor. There only remained the small matter of getting her father, an engineer, to grant permission and of making up for the time she had lost in a girls? high school, where graduation led to marriage, not to the university. That ?annoyed me so much that I decided to never do as my mother did. And it was a very good decision?at that time, I could never have done anything in particular if I had married.? Levi-Montalcini pauses, leans forward and asks in- tensely, ?Are you married? ? She sighs with relief at the answer. ?Good,? she says, smiling.
After she received her father?s grudging consent, Levi-Montalcini studied for the entrance examination and then enrolled in the Turin School of Medicine at the age of 21. Drawn to a famous, eccentric teacher, Giuseppe Levi, she decided to become an intern at the Institute of Anatomy. There Levi-Montalcini became adept at histology, in particular at staining nerve cells.
Since Levi was curious about aspects of the nervous system, he assigned his student a Herculean labor: to figure out how the convolutions of the human brain are formed. In addition to the overwhelming undertaking of finding human fetuses in a country where abortion was illegal, ?the assignment was an impossible task to give your student or an established scientist,? Levi-Montalcini explains, her voice hardening. ?It was a really stupid question, which I couldn?t solve and no one could solve.?
She abandoned the project?after a series of unpleasant forays for subject matter?and with Levi?s permission began to study the development of the nervous system in chick embryos. Several years later she was forced to stop that work as well. Mussolini had declared his dictatorship by 1925 and since then anti-Semitism had grown in Italy. By 1936, hostility was openly apparent, and in 1939, Levi-Montalcini withdrew from the university, worried about the safety of her non-Jewish colleagues who would be taking a risk by letting her study.
MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Nikola Pekovic poured in 28 points and Kevin Love added 23 with 18 rebounds Saturday, boosting the Minnesota Timberwolves over Phoenix 111-107.
Minnesota snapped a two-game losing streak with the help of Andrei Kirilenko, who contributed an all-around game of 20 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Alexey Shved (12 points, 10 assists), J.J. Barea and Derrick Williams (10 points apiece) also helped out with big nights for the T-Wolves, who were playing without guard Ricky Rubio (back spasms).
Minnesota logged the win after three-time all-star guard Brandon Roy announced earlier Saturday he intends to try to come back from a seventh surgery last month to treat chronic pain in his right knee.
Luis Scola fired in 33 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, but it wasn't enough for the Suns, who fell to 2-13 away from home.
Shannon Brown contributed 21 points and Goran Dragic provided a double-double of 16 and 12 assists for Phoenix.
With the recent winter storm bringing record snowfall in some areas of the country, a little known travel insurance benefit may help some travelers recover costs from cancelling expensive vacations. When a destination is made uninhabitable due to natural disaster, travelers may have the option to receive reimbursement for cancelling a trip.
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- David Ash threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes, the last a 36-yard strike to Marquise Goodwin with 2:24 left, to give Texas a 31-27 comeback victory over No. 15 Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday night.
Complete Beavers coverage
The Longhorns (9-4) never led before Goodwin scored his second touchdown on a deep post pattern, just a play after Texas converted a fourth-and-1 play to keep its chances alive.
Storm Woods ran for 118 yards and scored two touchdowns for Oregon State (9-4). The Beavers left stunned after looking as though they would wrap up their first 10-win season since 2006.
The victory was a dose of much-needed good news for Texas after coming into the game under a cloud of questions following the suspensions of two players.
NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) ? People drawn to Newtown to share in its mourning brought cards and handmade snowflakes to town Monday while residents prepared to observe Christmas less than two weeks after a gunman killed 20 children and six educators at an elementary school.
On Christmas Eve, residents planned to light luminaries outside their homes in memory of the victims. Tiny empty Christmas stockings with the victims' names on them hung from trees in the neighborhood where the children were shot.
"We know that they'll feel loved. They'll feel that somebody actually cares," said Treyvon Smalls, a 15-year-old from a few towns away who arrived at town hall with hundreds of cards and paper snowflakes collected from around the state. Organizers said they wanted to let the families of victims know they are not alone while also giving Connecticut children a chance to express their feelings about the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Police say 20-year-old Adam Lanza killed his mother in her bed before his Dec. 14 rampage and committed suicide as he heard officers arriving. Authorities have yet to give a theory about his motive.
While the grief is still fresh, some residents are urging political activism in the wake of the tragedy. A grassroots group called Newtown United has been meeting at the library to talk about issues ranging from gun control, to increasing mental health services to the types of memorials that could be erected for the victims. Some clergy members have said they also intend to push for change.
"We seek not to be the town of tragedy," said Rabbi Shaul Praver of Congregation Adath Israel. "But, we seek to be the town where all the great changes started."
Since the shooting, messages similar to the ones delivered Monday have arrived from around the world. People have donated toys, books, money and more. A United Way fund, one of many, has collected $3 million. People have given nearly $500,000 to a memorial scholarship fund at the University of Connecticut. On Christmas Day, police from other towns have agreed to work so Newtown officers can have the time off.
In the center of Newtown's Sandy Hook section Monday, a steady stream of residents and out-of-towners snapped pictures, lit candles and dropped off children's gifts at an expansive memorial filled with stuffed animals, poems, flowers, posters and cards.
"All the families who lost those little kids, Christmas will never be the same," said Philippe Poncet, a Newtown resident originally from France. "Everybody across the world is trying to share the tragedy with our community here."
Richard Scinto, a deacon at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, which was attended by eight children killed in the massacre, said the church's pastor, Rev. Robert Weiss, used several eulogies this week to tell his congregation to get angry and take action against what some consider is a culture of gun violence in the country.
Praver and Scinto said they are not opposed to hunting or to having police in schools, but both said something must be done to change what has become a culture of violence in the United States.
"These were his mother's guns," Scinto said. "Why would anyone want an assault rifle as part of a private citizen collection?"
A mediator who worked with Adam Lanza's parents during their divorce has said Lanza was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, an autism-like disorder that is not associated with violence. It is not known whether he had other mental health issues. The guns used in the shooting had been purchased legally by his mother, Nancy Lanza, a gun enthusiast.
Gun control and mental health have also been topics at Newtown United meetings, along with what types of memorials would be most appropriate and any other action residents can take to feel like they are doing something.
"We don't want Newtown to go on the list with Columbine, Tucson and Virginia Tech and only have it associated with horrible acts," said Lee Shull, who moderated a Newton United meeting just days after the shootings. "We want to turn this into something positive. What can we do?"
A handful of people showed up to the group's first meeting at the town library two days after the Dec. 14 shooting. The next night, 35 attended, most scrawling ideas and notes on white paper covering the tables. A few days later there was barely room to maneuver around the meeting room when two guests showed up: Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Sen.-elect Chris Murphy, Connecticut Democrats who told the group they planned to push for gun control legislation and needed their constituents to help them press the issue in Washington.
The group sees itself as a way to spark a local and national dialogue and action in the aftermath of a tragedy. It's also a way to do something, anything, to cope with the sadness that has settled over Newtown.
Said resident John Neuhall: "Our hearts are broken wide open and we're here out of grief and out of love for those families."
___
Associated Press Writers Pat Eaton-Robb and John Christoffersen contributed to this report.
We see more and more cars on the road every year. With so many vehicles on the road, crashes can happen. The difference between a little aggravation and large obstacle can be your insurance. So how can you find out what type of car insurance you need and the quantity you should buy? Coverage requirements will differ by state/province, but usually include the following: Liability: Personal injury and property damage that you are responsible for will be paid for under this type of insurance. Bodily injury damages can include medical expenses, and lost wages. Property damage includes car repair costs and loss of use of property. It also covers your defense and court costs if you are sued. Recommended, more comprehensive levels of insurance can be purchased that take care of more than the stripped-down, state-mandated insurance. Personal Injury Protection: Personal injury insurance is mandated in some states and is optional in others. It pays you or your passengers for medical treatment resulting from a crash, regardless of who may have been at fault, and is often called no-fault coverage. Local government usually sets minimum amounts. Medical Payments: This coverage can be purchased in non-no-fault states; it will pay regardless of who carries responsibility for a crash. This insurance will pay for all insured person?s necessary medical or funeral expenses resulting from a crash. Collision: Damages that occur from a car accident will be covered under this type of car insurance. Comprehensive: This type of insurance protection takes care of all damages not caused by a collision. This could include fire and wind damage, vandalism, and robbery. Uninsured Motorist: Many drivers are breaking the law by driving without owning the right amount of insurance. This type of coverage will cover you if one of these irresponsible drivers hit you. Under-Insured Motorist: Just like uninsured motorist protection, this type of insurance covers you from people driving without sufficient insurance protection. Other types of car insurance, like emergency road service and car rental, are also available. Your auto insurance payments vary by company and will depend on several factors, such as: * Which policies you choose * The make and model of the vehicle you own * Your driving record * Your age, sex and marital status * Where you live Many people think of auto insurance as a necessary evil, but it can rescue your finances. Evaluate your needs, research your options, and with the support of your insurance agency, choose the option that best suits you. Home Insurance Delano TN
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Efforts to save the nation from going over a year-end "fiscal cliff" were in disarray as lawmakers fled the Capitol for their Christmas break. "God only knows" how a deal can be reached now, House Speaker John Boehner declared.
President Barack Obama, on his way out of town himself, insisted a bargain could still be struck before Dec. 31. "Call me a hopeless optimist," he said.
A look at why it's so hard for Republicans and Democrats to compromise on urgent matters of taxes and spending, and what happens if they fail to meet their deadline:
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NEW YEAR'S HEADACHE
Partly by fate, partly by design, some scary fiscal forces come together at the start of 2013 unless Congress and Obama act to stop them. They include:
? Some $536 billion in tax increases, touching nearly all Americans, because various federal tax cuts and breaks expire at year's end.
? About $110 billion in spending cuts divided equally between the military and most other federal departments. That's about 8 percent of their annual budgets, 9 percent for the Pentagon.
Hitting the national economy with that double whammy of tax increases and spending cuts is what's called going over the "fiscal cliff." If allowed to unfold over 2013, it would lead to recession, a big jump in unemployment and financial market turmoil, economists predict.
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WHAT IF THEY MISS THE DEADLINE?
If New Year's Day arrives without a deal, the nation shouldn't plunge onto the shoals of recession immediately. There still might be time to engineer a soft landing.
So long as lawmakers and the president appear to be working toward agreement, the tax hikes and spending cuts could mostly be held at bay for a few weeks. Then they could be retroactively repealed once a deal was reached.
The big wild card is the stock market and the nation's financial confidence: Would traders start to panic if Washington appeared unable to reach accord? Would worried consumers and businesses sharply reduce their spending? In what could be a preview, stock prices around the world dropped Friday after House Republican leaders' plan for addressing the fiscal cliff collapsed.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has warned lawmakers that the economy is already suffering from the uncertainty and they shouldn't risk making it worse by blowing past their deadline.
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WHAT IF THEY NEVER AGREE?
If negotiations between Obama and Congress collapse completely, 2013 looks like a rocky year.
Taxes would jump $2,400 on average for families with incomes of $50,000 to $75,000, according to a study by the non-partisan Tax Policy Center. Because consumers would get less of their paychecks to spend, businesses and jobs would suffer.
At the same time, Americans would feel cuts in government services; some federal workers would be furloughed or laid off, and companies would lose government business. The nation would lose up to 3.4 million jobs, the Congressional Budget Office predicts.
"The consequences of that would be felt by everybody," Bernanke says.
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THE TAXES
Much of the disagreement surrounds the George W. Bush-era income tax cuts, and whether those rates should be allowed to rise for the nation's wealthiest taxpayers. Both political parties say they want to protect the middle-class from tax increases.
Several tax breaks begun in 2009 to stimulate the economy by aiding low- and middle-income families are also set to expire Jan. 1. The alternative minimum tax would expand to catch 28 million more taxpayers, with an average increase of $3,700 a year. Taxes on investments would rise, too. More deaths would be covered by the federal estate tax, and the rate climbs from 35 percent to 55 percent. Some corporate tax breaks would end.
The temporary Social Security payroll tax cut also is due to expire. That tax break for most Americans seems likely to end even if a fiscal cliff deal is reached, now that Obama has backed down from his call to prolong it as an economic stimulus.
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THE SPENDING
If the nation goes over the fiscal cliff, budget cuts of 8 or 9 percent would hit most of the federal government, touching all sorts of things from agriculture to law enforcement and the military to weather forecasting. A few areas, such as Social Security benefits, Veterans Affairs and some programs for the poor, are exempt.
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THERE'S MORE AT STAKE
All sorts of stuff could get wrapped up in the fiscal cliff deal-making. A sampling:
? Some 2 million jobless Americans may lose their federal unemployment aid. Obama wants to continue the benefits extension as part of the deal; Republicans say it's too costly.
? Social Security recipients might see their checks grow more slowly. As part of a possible deal, Obama and Republican leaders want to change the way cost-of-living adjustments are calculated, which would mean smaller checks over the years for retirees who get Social Security, veterans' benefits or government pensions.
? The price of milk could double. If Congress doesn't provide a fix for expiring dairy price supports before Jan. 1, milk-drinking families could feel the pinch. One scenario is to attach a farm bill extension to the fiscal cliff legislation ? if a compromise is reached in time.
? Millions of taxpayers who want to file their 2012 returns before mid-March will be held up while they wait to see if Congress comes through with a deal to stop the alternative minimum tax from hitting more people.
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CALL THE WHOLE THING OFF?
In theory, Congress and Obama could just say no to the fiscal cliff, by extending all the tax cuts and overturning the automatic spending reductions in current law. But both Republicans and Democrats agree it's time to take steps to put the nation on a path away from a future of crippling debt.
Indeed, the automatic spending cuts set for January were created as a last-ditch effort to force Congress to deal with the debt problem.
If Washington bypassed the fiscal cliff, the next crisis would be just around the corner, in late February or early March, when the government reaches a $16.4 trillion ceiling on the amount of money it can borrow.
Boehner says Republicans won't go along with raising the limit on government borrowing unless the increase is matched by spending cuts to help attack the long-term debt problem. Failing to raise the debt ceiling could lead to a first-ever U.S. default that would roil the financial markets and shake worldwide confidence in the United States.
To avoid that scenario, Obama and Boehner are trying to wrap a debt limit agreement into the fiscal cliff negotiations.
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SO WHAT'S THE HOLDUP?
They're at loggerheads over some big questions.
Obama says any deal must include higher taxes for the wealthiest Americans. Many House Republicans oppose raising anyone's tax rates. Boehner tried to get the House to vote for higher taxes only on incomes above $1 million but dropped the effort when it became clear he didn't have the votes.
Republicans also insist on deeper spending cuts than Democrats want to make. And they want to bring the nation's long-term debt under control by significantly curtailing the growth of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security ? changes that many Democrats oppose.
Obama, meanwhile, wants more temporary economic "stimulus" spending to help speed up a sluggish recovery. Republicans say the nation can't afford it.
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IT'S NOT JUST WASHINGTON
Seems like they could just make nice, shake hands and split their differences, right?
But there's a reason neither side wants to give ground. The two parties represent a divided and inconsistent America. True, Obama just won re-election. But voters also chose a Republican majority in the House.
Republican and Democrats alike say they are doing what the voters back home want.
Neither side has a clear advantage in public opinion. In an Associated Press-GfK poll, 43 percent said they trust the Democrats more to manage the federal budget deficit and 40 percent preferred the Republicans. There's a similar split on who's more trusted with taxes.
About half of Americans support higher taxes for the wealthy, the poll says, and about 10 percent want tax increases all around. Still, almost half say cutting government services, not raising taxes, should be the main focus of lawmakers as they try to balance the budget.
When asked about specific budget cuts being discussed in Washington, few Americans express support for them.
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THE COUNTDOWN
Time for deal-making is short, thanks to the holiday and congressional calendars. Some key dates for averting the fiscal cliff:
? Lawmakers aren't expected to return to the Capitol until after Christmas, leaving less than a week to vote on a compromise before year's end.
? Obama and his family also were leaving town for a Christmas vacation in Hawaii. The president said because the fiscal cliff was still unresolved, he would return to Washington next week.
? If lawmakers reach Dec. 31 without a deal, some economists worry that the financial markets might swoon.
? The current Congress is in session only through noon Eastern time on Jan. 3. After that, a newly elected Congress with 13 new senators and 82 new House members would inherit the problem.
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Associated Press writers Jim Kuhnhenn, Alan Fram and Andrew Taylor and Director of Polling Jennifer Agiesta contributed to this report.
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Follow Connie Cass on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ConnieCass
So you're the very definition of generosity and plan to put a Wii U under the tree for that special someone. Nintendo just provided a helpful tip to keep the kindness going beyond Christmas morning, if it's not too late: update that Wii U's firmware before you wrap the box. Unless the recipients are wired up with Google Fiber, they'll likely face a long wait as that 5GB patch arrives. The process will spoil the unboxing experience, to be sure -- but so does realizing that it's another two hours before anyone can use the eShop and Netflix. Trust us, they'll thank you for it later.
SANAA, Yemen (AP) ? Yemeni security officials say a U.S. drone airstrike has killed two al-Qaida militants in a southern town.
They said one was a midlevel al-Qaida Yemeni operative who escaped a U.S. drone attack 10 years ago. The other was said to be a Jordanian.
The officials said Monday's airstrike on Radda in Bayda province also critically injured three militants.
The Yemeni militant, Abdel-Raouf Naseeb, escaped death in the first recorded drone attack in Yemen, on Nov. 3, 2002. That strike killed Abu Ali al-Harithi, suspected of masterminding the October 2000 attack against the USS Cole warship in a Yemen port.
A member of the Naseeb family confirmed his death to The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity fearing government reprisal.
The security officials also requested anonymity according to regulations.
KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich on Monday named Serhiy Arbuzov - who has until now run the central bank - first deputy prime minister in the new government, making him an important player in upcoming talks with the IMF.
The appointment to the No.2 government position also makes Arbuzov, who is a member of Yanukovich's inner circle, a likely successor to Prime Minister Mykola Azarov.
Ukraine's government resigned on December 3 after October's parliamentary election and its members have since served in an interim capacity, apart from Azarov who was reappointed on December 13.
The first major task of the new cabinet will be to secure a new bailout program from the International Monetary Fund.
An IMF mission is due to visit Ukraine late in January for what are expected to be tough talks on nailing down a new stand-by arrangement to help Ukraine repay, or refinance, more than $9 billion debt falling due to foreign creditors in 2013.
This includes $6.4 billion already owed to the IMF which Ukraine says it hopes to refinance.
The IMF has urged Kiev to cut subsidies on household gas and heating prices but Azarov has so far refused to take the unpopular step. However, Kiev may have to become more flexible.
Arbuzov, 36, will take over as first deputy prime minister from Valery Khoroshkovsky who quit the cabinet this month in protest at Azarov's re-appointment.
According to a separate decree issued by Yanukovich on Monday, Arbuzov will be in charge of economy, trade, state finances, agriculture and social policy.
Yanukovich's office also announced that Yuri Kolobov, Arbuzov's former deputy at the central bank, would keep his job as finance minister.
The president named former Energy Minister Yuri Boiko and former regional governor Olexander Vilkul as deputy prime ministers.
It was not clear who would succeed Arbuzov at the central bank but last week Boris Pryhodko, head of treasury at state-run Oshchadny Bank, was named its new first deputy chairman.
FAMILY TIES
Arbuzov emerged from relative obscurity to become a major figure in Kiev in September 2010 when he was named first deputy chairman of the central bank in a surprise reshuffle.
Less than four months later, Yanukovich named him central bank head, a position he has held since.
Before joining the central bank, Arbuzov, who was born and educated in Donetsk - Yanukovich's home region and power base - spent four months working at the state-owned Ukreximbank and his earlier career as a financier was in the private sector.
In particular, Arbuzov had worked at the Ukrainian Business Bank, a Donetsk-based lender which according to Ukrainian media is linked to Yanukovich's elder son Oleksandr.
Arbuzov's mother Valentina Arbuzova is the chief executive of the All-Ukrainian Development Bank, another private bank owned by Oleksandr Yanukovich.
Upon taking over the central bank, Arbuzov reshuffled its senior management but largely continued the policies of the previous administration such as maintaining the hryvnia's peg to the dollar.
Although Arbuzov comes across as media-shy and avoided open arguments with the government, official statements and leaked documents from the central bank indicated his opinions on economic matters sometimes differed from those of Azarov.
In June 2011, for example, UNIAN news agency published a leaked letter in which Arbuzov told Azarov his government was losing credibility after refusing to carry out reforms advised by the IMF.
More often than not, though, the government and the central bank worked together smoothly and Azarov has avoided public criticism of Arbuzov's policies.
The two will need to work hard to revive Ukraine's economy which shrank by 1.3 percent year-on-year in the third quarter as global demand for steel, the main Ukrainian export, fell.
(Reporting by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Pravin Char)
In this photo taken Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, a waiter delivers plates of fresh sushi at Wicker Park Seafood & Sushi in Terminal 2. Getting stranded at an airport once meant camping on the floor and enduring hours of boredom in a kind of travel purgatory with nothing to eat but fast food. Tough economic times are helping drive airports to make amends and transform terminals with a bit of bliss: spas, yoga studios, luxury shopping and restaurant menus crafted by celebrity chefs. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
In this photo taken Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, a waiter delivers plates of fresh sushi at Wicker Park Seafood & Sushi in Terminal 2. Getting stranded at an airport once meant camping on the floor and enduring hours of boredom in a kind of travel purgatory with nothing to eat but fast food. Tough economic times are helping drive airports to make amends and transform terminals with a bit of bliss: spas, yoga studios, luxury shopping and restaurant menus crafted by celebrity chefs. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
In this photo taken Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, travelers David Janesko and Tess Menotti relax between flights next to O'Hare's Urban Garden where fresh herbs are grown and used in airport restaurants. Getting stranded at an airport once meant camping on the floor and enduring hours of boredom in a kind of travel purgatory with nothing to eat but fast food. Tough economic times are helping drive airports to make amends and transform terminals with a bit of bliss: spas, yoga studios, luxury shopping and restaurant menus crafted by celebrity chefs. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
In this photo taken Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, a waiter delivers a drink to a table at ICE Bar in Terminal 3. Getting stranded at an airport once meant camping on the floor and enduring hours of boredom in a kind of travel purgatory with nothing to eat but fast food. Tough economic times are helping drive airports to make amends and transform terminals with a bit of bliss: spas, yoga studios, luxury shopping and restaurant menus crafted by celebrity chefs. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
In this photo taken Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, blues musician Cedric "Catfish" Turner has a drink at ICE Bar in Terminal 3 between flights. Getting stranded at an airport once meant camping on the floor and enduring hours of boredom in a kind of travel purgatory with nothing to eat but fast food. Tough economic times are helping drive airports to make amends and transform terminals with a bit of bliss: spas, yoga studios, luxury shopping and restaurant menus crafted by celebrity chefs. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
In this photo taken Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Marty Rapp relaxes at at ICE Bar in Terminal 3 between flights. Getting stranded at an airport once meant camping on the floor and enduring hours of boredom in a kind of travel purgatory with nothing to eat but fast food. Tough economic times are helping drive airports to make amends and transform terminals with a bit of bliss: spas, yoga studios, luxury shopping and restaurant menus crafted by celebrity chefs. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
CHICAGO (AP) ? Getting stranded at an airport once meant enduring hours of boredom in a kind of travel purgatory with nothing to eat but fast food. These days, it can seem more like passing through the gates of Shangri-la to find spas, yoga studios, luxury shopping and restaurant menus crafted by celebrity chefs in terminals with calming, sleek design.
Stung by airline bankruptcies and mergers, more U.S. airports are hunting for alternative revenue streams by hiring top design firms to transform once chaotic and dreary way stations into places of Zen-like tranquility and luxury where people actually want to get stuck ? and spend money. As the holiday travel season is in full gear, airports are putting what one designer calls "terminal bliss" on display in hopes of drawing in higher passenger numbers and revenue.
"It's classy, it's very classy. ... It makes you feel good about the layover," said Marty Rapp, 70, who was getting rosy cheeked last week with the help of a large glass of merlot under ice-crystal chandeliers at Chicago-O'Hare's Ice Bar, whose white and softly reflective decor gives the feeling of being secluded in an igloo ? where everyone is drinking and merry.
Airport redesign has been accelerating in the U.S. over the past 10 years, fueled by a combination of things like an airline industry beset by bankruptcies and consolidation that is less able to shoulder as much of the operating costs for city-owned airports through landing fees and gate rental. More revenue from better retail and dining helps make up the shortfall.
At the same time, travelers are becoming savvier and want more than just to get from A to B. The airport has become almost a destination in its own right, a place worthy of stopping off for a while for a little shopping or pampering.
"There's the ability to go swimming at some airports, there's the ability to actually perfect your golf swing at some airports, there is the ability to ? it's not just getting a quick massage on your shoulders ? it's almost really going to a spa in some cases," said Bill Hooper, an architect at global design firm Gensler, which has transformed airport terminals, including San Francisco's Terminal 2, whose abundant natural light, art installations and cool club feel set a new benchmark for contemporary airport design.
The United States and Canada still lag behind Europe and Asia when it comes to the number of airports that are architectural gems and the array of unique offerings. Stockholm's Arlanda Airport has a wedding package where couples can tie the knot in the control tower balcony. And Seoul's Incheon International Airport is building a six-level terminal that will include a soaring glass-paneled ceiling giving passengers the feeling they are passing through a terrarium-like wonderland, complete with babbling brook, tropical plants and butterflies.
But American airports are catching up. Space-age-looking redevelopment at Denver International Airport slated to be finished by 2015 includes a Westin hotel and conference center with a rooftop pool and views of the Rockies. With an outdoor plaza for events and a fast new rail line, the airport hopes to be seen as an extension of downtown, about 23 miles away.
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport opened a nearly mile-long walking path over mosaic floor art inside Terminal D in April. There are two optional cardio step courses leading up 55-foot high staircases, and the path ends up at a free yoga studio, where barefoot travelers with a view of taxiing aircraft can stretch behind light-diffusing screens.
In a sense, airports have taken some of the members-only airline club lounge experience and opened it up for all.
"They're actually trying to create the same sort of sanctuary concept for the more casual traveler," Hooper said.
Business travelers in particular are catching on and actually choosing which airport they want to spend their layover in based on the offerings.
"Montreal (airport) has a smoked meat place ... that if I'm booking travel and I need to go back on the East Coast, sometimes I'll say, 'Can you get me to Montreal for an hour layover so I can have a smoked beef sandwich?' " said Wil Marchant, 40, who works for a financial services firm in Winnipeg.
The transformation is paying off.
Concessions revenue from food, beverage, retail and services at U.S. airports hit $1.5 billion in 2011, up 12 percent from the year before, according to Airports Council International-North America, which represents the vast majority of governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports.
The new business model has helped airports like San Francisco International, which finished a major refurbishment of Terminal 2 in April 2011 with the firm Gensler. The design is sleek, super modern and playful, with children and adults spinning in comfy swivel chairs around coffee tables placed at every gate. Check-in desks ? imposingly high at some airports ? were lowered to look more like hotel concierge desks.
"What we were aiming for is a four- or five-star hotel experience for passengers in the terminal building," said airport Director John L. Martin.
The average spent per passenger at the terminal is now about $14. That's 22 percent more than domestic travelers spend at the airport's other terminals.
At O'Hare, where once there was little more than hot dogs and souvenir shops, domestic terminals are now dotted with restaurants led by celebrity chefs like Rick Bayless, piano bars, and a tranquil aeroponic herb garden ? a mini forest of green on a quiet mezzanine level.
"It's pretty amazing. ... I didn't expect that to be here," said grad student David Janesko, 30, reading a book in a comfy lounge chair beside the garden on his way to see family in Pittsburgh.
But airport bliss doesn't come cheap, and its price can be a little jarring for passengers.
Back at the Ice Bar ? which offers 23 different vodkas and four different kinds of ice (crushed, cubes or sphere) ? blues musician and actor Cedric "Catfish" Turner was lamenting that his Jack Daniels on the rocks cost $11. But he needed it, he said, to ease a headache from a long layover.
"I could have stolen a bottle," he said with a laugh, his guitar propped next to his bar stool. "I'm a bluesman. Come on, you don't treat a bluesman like that."
Any dog owner will tell you that modern medicine plays a huge role in the quality of your pup?s life. This is especially true with senior pets who often become afflicted with ailments common in old age. From preventative remedies for heartworm to lifesaving ones for diabetes and heart disease, there are many common medicines that are essential to your pet leading a long, happy life.
One of the most common preventative medications for dogs and cats is heartworm medicine such as Advantage. This combination of imidacloprid and moxidectin is a topical solution applied monthly to the area between your pet?s shoulder blades. This insecticidal agent not only treats and prevents heartworm disease but also kills fleas, intestinal parasites and ear mites. Advantage can be administered to dogs older than 7 weeks of age and cats older than 8 weeks.
Another common ailment for older dogs is osteoarthritis. Stiffness in the joints can limit your pet?s mobility, making it difficult to climb stairs or even walk. While osteoarthritis is not curable, at least there are medications available to ease chronic pain and inflammation so your pup can be more comfortable in his daily activities. One such medication is Deramaxx (deracoxib). This chewable, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug is used both for arthritis and to relieve pain associated with orthopedic surgery. Deramaxx is usually well tolerated with few side effects but, as with any medication, be sure to keep aware of any changes in your pet?s behavior, appetite or bathroom habits.
As with arthritis, another ?human? illness that also affects our pets is diabetes. Pets who are overweight, consume a diet high in table food and get too little exercise are prone to developing this disease as they get older. With diabetes, the pancreas either does not produce enough insulin or the insulin it does produce is not effective in controlling blood sugar. Like humans, dogs and cats with diabetes often need injectable insulin such as Humulin N Insulin to regulate blood sugar. This medication controls hyperglycemia in dogs and diabetes mellitus in cats by lowering blood sugar. Dosage is dependent on the size and breed of your pet and should be administered after a meal according to your veterinarian?s instructions. Often, getting the right dosage of insulin to alleviate the symptoms of diabetes is a matter of trail and error. Pets should be closely watched with regard to water consumption, urination, weight gain or loss and lethargy. If your pet shows these symptoms, the insulin dose will likely need to be adjusted.
Diseases of the heart, lungs and kidneys are also, unfortunately, quite common among older pets. Dogs and cats afflicted with congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, kidney and liver diseases often suffer from excessive body fluids which make it difficult for them to breathe and function normally. Often, veterinarians will prescribe a diuretic such as Furosemide to help remove excess fluids, treat high blood pressure and regulate electrolyte levels. Water pills such as Furosemide work by making your pet thirstier. This results in more frequent urination, which in turn, eliminates fluids. Dosage depends on the type and breed of your pet and should be administered according to your veterinarian?s prescription. Furosemide is available as both a pill and a liquid.
Asthma is yet another common medical problem for pets that can greatly affect their quality of life. When simple pleasures like playing fetch or chasing a string toy lead to wheezing and gasping for air, pet owners must find a medicine to alleviate that. But while it may seem odd, prescription inhalers such as the Advair HFA inhaler are also made for cats and dogs. The Advair HFA combines fluticasone propionate, the same inhaled corticosteroid medicine found in Flovent, with a long-acting medicine found in Servent. Together, these medicines work to prevent airway constriction and inflammation, thereby controlling symptoms such as wheezing. There are even specially made delivery chambers to administer the medicine such as the AeroKat and AeroDawg aerosol chambers.
As is evident by the development of asthma inhalers that are specially made for dogs and cats, veterinary medicine has come a long way in treating pets. With this in mind, the availability of antidepressants to control unwanted behavior should come as no surprise. Fluoxetine is one such medication prescribed to treat issues like separation anxiety, inappropriate urination, aggression and obsessive compulsive behaviors. This selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant comes in tablets, chewable tablets, capsules and liquid form and is often prescribed for both dogs and cats along with active behavior modification exercises. Dosage is usually once per day for several weeks, but your veterinarian may adjust this based on the animal?s breed and size. Side effects include lethargy, loss of appetite and nausea, so pet owners should pay attention to any such changes in Fido?s demeanor.
As most pet owners will tell you, your animals are more than just possessions; they are full-fledged family members who are doted on with fancy beds, treats, toys and even clothes. When they get sick, most people will do whatever it takes to fix whatever ails their four legged friends. Thanks to modern veterinary science, many of the medications used to treat the human equivalent of the diseases are now available for animals as well. These common medicines are lifesavers that go a long way in improving your pup?s quality of life, ensuring your best friend will be at your side for many years to come.
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Japan's economy has been struggling for two decades, and faces some of the same problems the U.S. has. Here, a man in Tokyo passes an electronic board displaying falling global markets.
In the 1980s, Japan appeared to be a world beater the China of its day. Japanese companies were on a tear, buying up firms in the U.S. and property around the world.
But these days, Japan is considered a cautionary tale for post-industrial economies around the world. The country is facing its fourth recession in what are commonly known as the "lost decades."
Japan's story resonates this holiday season as American politicians try to reach a debt deal.
"I really hope the U.S. is not getting into a Japanese situation," says Hiromichi Shirakawa, chief economist for Credit Suisse in Japan.
Shirakawa says a rapidly aging society, rising public spending and political paralysis have contributed to years of stagnation in Japan and that Americans should pay attention.
"If you look at some economic indicators, they're very, very similar," he says. "My concern is the U.S. economy may not will may follow the Japanese economy's path."
Over the years, the economies of Japan and the U.S. have faced some similar problems, albeit at different times and to different degrees.
Both had real estate bubbles that burst and banking systems that racked up tons of bad loans. Both Japan and the U.S. also have ultimately unsustainable public debts. Shirakawa says Japan's economic problems are about 10 years ahead of America's.
"The American people should learn from Japan that the economy could be like Japan without the political will to change the economic system," he says.
A Rapidly Aging Society
Robert Feldman, chief economist for Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities in Tokyo, says one big problem is Japan is rapidly aging, driving up health care and pensions costs. But the country's electoral system favors the elderly, so most politicians are afraid to slash services.
"It means they can't cut medical benefits, even though they are overgenerous," he says. "There's only a 10 percent copayment for older people when they go to the doctor, and they pay no insurance premiums."
So, Japan continues to shovel money toward older people running up the national debt instead of investing for the future.
Japan borrows money to fund current consumption. That does not help improve productivity, which is crucial to economic growth. Feldman says the problem in Japan, as in the U.S., is fundamentally political.
"There is an inherent myopia in the way democracies make decisions," he says. "Unless we can redesign our democratic institutions to think about the future a little bit more than we do now, then the sustainability of our living standards is called into question."
Some Key Differences
Of course, analogies only go so far and the U.S. has avoided some of the traps that have ensnared Japan.
For instance, the U.S. Federal Reserve has flooded the American economy with money, which prevented the potential price deflation that has plagued Japan.
And Naohiro Yashiro, who teaches economics at International Christian University in Tokyo, says that U.S. politicians are trying to force themselves to confront the debt.
"Japanese also need a device like the 'fiscal cliff,' " he says. "We don't have such schemes. So actually that is us who wants to follow the example of the United States."
Feldman says voters in both countries have to look past their short-term interests and think about the long-term health of their economies.
As an example and perhaps a metaphor he points to Japan's annual health exam, which includes body measurements. Among other things, the doctor measures your waist and let's you know if it's too big. Then, it's up to the patient to address the problem.
Feldman, a trim 59-year-old, went in for his exam last year.
"Fortunately, I was just under the limits," he says. "They are pretty tough limits here in Japan. I was quite proud of myself."
Feldman recalled the doctor said to him: "Hmm. Not bad for an American."
Copyright 2012 National Public Radio. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.
MZUZU--Malawi Defence Force (MDF) commander Henry Odillo has pledged to safeguard the territorial integrity of the country and support its civilian rule.
With the recent winter storm bringing record snowfall in some areas of the country, a little known travel insurance benefit may help some travelers recover costs from cancelling expensive vacations. When a destination is made uninhabitable due to natural disaster, travelers may have the option to receive reimbursement for cancelling a trip.
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