Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If you plan to come to Canada as a tourist, student or as an immigrant, I invite you to visit our website to get information about the services we provide to people who intend to come to Canada: Website: http://www.xxx.com/index_e.htm We offer the following services: Crook alert.  Most of this stuff, you can easily do by yourself.  Paying an intermediary to do it is just throwing good money after bad. Especially spammers.

If you didn’t know anyone here though, someone who knows their way around red tape and TO could be helpful. It’d depend on the price anyhow. For Canada it’d be somewhat of a bust since you can just walk up to people on the street and ask for stuff, I’d bet 75% would give you a hand.

Response:

No. We offer the following services: Crook alert.  

I second. devil’s Advocate.  :-)

Response:

If you plan to come to Canada as a tourist, student or as an immigrant, I invite you to visit our website to get information about the services we provide to people who intend to come to Canada: Website: http://www.xxx.com/index_e.htm We offer the following services:

Crook alert.  Most of this stuff, you can easily do by yourself.  Paying an intermediary to do it is just throwing good money after bad. Especially spammers.

Response:

If you plan to come to Canada as a tourist, student or as an immigrant, I invite you to visit our website to get information about the services we provide to people who intend to come to Canada: Website: http://www.vamosacanada.com/index_e.htm We offer the following services: A) Services for the immigrant (who has the visa already and will be moving to Canada soon): 1. Airport pickup (Toronto only) 2. Temporary lodging * 3. Apartment search 4. Resume adaptation 5. Transportation from temporary lodging to apartment 6. SIN (Social Insurance Number) and Health Card obtention 7. Driver license 8. Bank Account 9. City map and info (Toronto only) 10. Kids school registration 11. Temporary Health Insurance (IHIP) 12. Accounting Services (I.e., Tax return) 13. Retirement (RRSP) and Education Savings (RESP) plan consultation 14. Auto insurance 15. Airplane tickets 16. Car rental 17. Help buying a car B) Services for students: 1. Airport pickup (Toronto only) 2. Homestay * 3. Bank Account 4. School registration 5. Competitive prices and promotions in only the best schools 6. English, French, TOEFL, TESL, IELTS and English for business courses 7. Acting and Film courses 8. City map and info (Toronto only) 9. Summer and winter camps 10. Airplane tickets (with student discounts) 11. Transportation to schools (Toronto only, from our homestay) 12. Tours (provided by a 3rd party) C) Services for tourists: 1. Airport pickup (Toronto only) 2. Lodging * 3. City map and info (Toronto only) 4. Airplane tickets (with student discounts) 5. Tours (provided by a 3rd party) * The lodging / homestay is provided at our home, subject to availability and at an additional cost. Our home is located north of Toronto, in the suburbs. Students may opt for the school homestay. These services describe what we offer in general. If you have special needs let us know what it is and we will try to acommodate it. I hope this helps. If you have any question or comment please let me know. Regards, Tina

Response:

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Holland’s Right-Wing Calls For Hijab Ban By Khaled Shawkat, IOL Correspondent THE HAGUE, February 6 (IslamOnline.net) – The Dutch anti-immigration party List Pim Fortuyn (LPS) has called on Parliament to enact a law banning hijab in public areas, including schools, courts and other administrative bodies owned or finaced by the government. The jurists and teachers should shun out whatever throwing doubt on their neutrality, LPS MP Eerdmans Joost said Wednesday, February 4. Joost, one of eight party members in the legislature, said that clothes that portary one’s religious affiliations should be rather abandoned at work and only worn at home. The statements are to revive controversy on the religious signs as that now raging on in France, where a ban in state-runs schools is take into effect as of next academic year in September. The LPS had earlier called on former Justice Minister Korthals to prevent employees from putting on religious insignia. But Korthals did not take the proposal seriously, leaving open the issue with no real discussion. Unlike his predecessor, current Justice Minister Donner promised to issue a ban on the religious dresses among justices and lawyers. The minister even urged other ministers follow suit, the MP Joost told Nederlands Dagbald newspaper. Hijab Rather Targeted The MP Joost said that the party did not want the Dutch citizens to clash with court employee in ostensible religious signs. These signs are disturbing, and the public sector should stay away from showing personal – including religious – beliefs, he said. Asked whether Christian insignia should be included in the proposed ban, the far-right extremist parliamentarian said they are cultural rather than religious symbols. Unlike hijab, Christian signs are not of religious implications, he said, but added that skullcaps of Judaism and turbans should be also abandoned. Joose said the LPS seeks to maintain secular principles in the country, noting that Islamic groups pose a genuine threat accordingly. Ruled Out Analsysts ruled out the country would ban religious insiginia thanks to numerous considertaions. Religious eductation in The Netherlands is different from that in France, as religious schools are financed by the government here. The ruling Christian Democrats (CDA) would also fight any move towards the ban, as it would be hostile towards its support base, mostly conservatives connected with Catholic and Protestant schools. Hijab-clad women are also taking up top posts in the country, including in the justice bodies, as the government attempts to integrate Muslims – estimated at one million of the overall 16 million population. Hijab is no obstacle to the integration of women in Holland, as hijab-clad Muslims have achieved a remarkable success in various fields of study and work, Rabiaa Bouhalhoul, a Dutch official, told IslamOnline.net on Tuesday, January 27. In September last year, setting a good example for Muslim females in the West, two hijab-clad students were honored  by a Dutch faculty for their excellence and dedication. As Muslims are growing in The Netherlands, accounting for 6% of the population, they have established over the past 30 years hundreds of religious, social and cultural organizations, many of which receive grants from the Dutch authorities. Anti-Islam Analaysts said that the LPS’s calls for hijab ban could be an attempt to attrcat attention of media outlet after the assassination of its founder. The party got only eight seats in 2003 elections, and analysts belive it would be dismantled after getting empty-handed in coming 2006 elections. The LPF was a vehicle for Pim Fortuyn, a right-wing populaist known for his anti-Islam rants including that "I am also in favour of a cold war with Islam" and "I see Islam as an extraordinary threat, as a hostile society". Since Fortuyn’s murder it has begun falling apart. "We feel like orphans," admitted the party’s new leader Mat Herben, a pocket-sized former Defense Ministry civil servant was quoted by the Guardian as saying. But challenges are still there. Former Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende?s far-right coalition collapsed in 2002, with the move mainly blamed on the squabbles created by his party which is infamous for its xenophobia platform and anti-Muslim stances. Muslim women took to the streets of Helmond city, southeast of the Netherlands, to protest a decision by the city’s municipality to withhold an annual grant for a government-aided social organization, allocated for women-only swimming classes. In May 2002, the buildings of Ibn Khaldoun Islamic school, south of Rotterdam, had come under attacks. The attacks were largely blamed on extremist Dutch groups, particularly that several major Dutch towns, which host Muslim and foreign communities, have been theater for anti-Arab and Muslim propaganda since the 9/11 attacks. Five Dutch people, ageing between 16 and 23, were also arrested  in July on charges of setting an Islamic school on fire in Eindhoven, south east of the Netherlands. Police then said the five were driven by Xenophobia and hatred of Arabs and Muslims in particular, said the police statement. The two parties of the ruling Dutch coalition were locking horns  over banning Islamic education in the European country last year. On July 1, five Dutch people, ageing between 16 and 23, were arrested  on charges of setting an Islamic school on fire in Eindhoven, south east of the Netherlands. http://islamonline.net

Five Dutch people, ageing between 16 and 23, were also arrested  in July on charges of setting an Islamic school on fire in Eindhoven, south east of the Netherlands. They should be called, "Dutch Patriots". They’re trying to prevent a stone-age cult from destroying hundreds of years of democracy. Religious education in The Netherlands is different from that in France, as religious schools are financed by the government here.

Big mistake. It is suicide to finance the very groups (in the name of democracy) that will bring about your destruction. It is democracy itself which needs to be defended, not its enemies. The U.S. is in crisis because many ignorant people believe that criminal speech is protected under the First Amendment, and that criminalty for religious reasons is acceptable. We’ve been flooded with muslim immigrants, (legal and illegal), who preach the destuction of the U.S. openly in their mosques and schools). There is a large number of people who think that illegal immigration should be allowed. (Strange, their ancestors had to go through legal channels to become citizens). You can’t pander to you enemies, it only makes them stronger. People need to speak out more aggresively in defending their freedom against religious cults.

Response:

Holland’s Right-Wing Calls For Hijab Ban By Khaled Shawkat, IOL Correspondent THE HAGUE, February 6 (IslamOnline.net) – The Dutch anti-immigration party List Pim Fortuyn (LPS) has called on Parliament to enact a law banning hijab in public areas, including schools, courts and other administrative bodies owned or finaced by the government. The jurists and teachers should shun out whatever throwing doubt on their neutrality, LPS MP Eerdmans Joost said Wednesday, February 4. Joost, one of eight party members in the legislature, said that clothes that portary one’s religious affiliations should be rather abandoned at work and only worn at home. The statements are to revive controversy on the religious signs as that now raging on in France, where a ban in state-runs schools is take into effect as of next academic year in September. The LPS had earlier called on former Justice Minister Korthals to prevent employees from putting on religious insignia. But Korthals did not take the proposal seriously, leaving open the issue with no real discussion. Unlike his predecessor, current Justice Minister Donner promised to issue a ban on the religious dresses among justices and lawyers. The minister even urged other ministers follow suit, the MP Joost told Nederlands Dagbald newspaper. Hijab Rather Targeted The MP Joost said that the party did not want the Dutch citizens to clash with court employee in ostensible religious signs. These signs are disturbing, and the public sector should stay away from showing personal – including religious – beliefs, he said. Asked whether Christian insignia should be included in the proposed ban, the far-right extremist parliamentarian said they are cultural rather than religious symbols. Unlike hijab, Christian signs are not of religious implications, he said, but added that skullcaps of Judaism and turbans should be also abandoned. Joose said the LPS seeks to maintain secular principles in the country, noting that Islamic groups pose a genuine threat accordingly. Ruled Out Analsysts ruled out the country would ban religious insiginia thanks to numerous considertaions. Religious eductation in The Netherlands is different from that in France, as religious schools are financed by the government here. The ruling Christian Democrats (CDA) would also fight any move towards the ban, as it would be hostile towards its support base, mostly conservatives connected with Catholic and Protestant schools. Hijab-clad women are also taking up top posts in the country, including in the justice bodies, as the government attempts to integrate Muslims – estimated at one million of the overall 16 million population. Hijab is no obstacle to the integration of women in Holland, as hijab-clad Muslims have achieved a remarkable success in various fields of study and work, Rabiaa Bouhalhoul, a Dutch official, told IslamOnline.net on Tuesday, January 27. In September last year, setting a good example for Muslim females in the West, two hijab-clad students were honored  by a Dutch faculty for their excellence and dedication. As Muslims are growing in The Netherlands, accounting for 6% of the population, they have established over the past 30 years hundreds of religious, social and cultural organizations, many of which receive grants from the Dutch authorities. Anti-Islam Analaysts said that the LPS’s calls for hijab ban could be an attempt to attrcat attention of media outlet after the assassination of its founder. The party got only eight seats in 2003 elections, and analysts belive it would be dismantled after getting empty-handed in coming 2006 elections. The LPF was a vehicle for Pim Fortuyn, a right-wing populaist known for his anti-Islam rants including that "I am also in favour of a cold war with Islam" and "I see Islam as an extraordinary threat, as a hostile society". Since Fortuyn’s murder it has begun falling apart. "We feel like orphans," admitted the party’s new leader Mat Herben, a pocket-sized former Defense Ministry civil servant was quoted by the Guardian as saying. But challenges are still there. Former Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende

Question:

Every time you speak, you prove there is nothing more ignorant than a low life muslim. Fuck your pedophile mohammad and his moon god ahley. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Press Groups React Angrily To Cameraman Slaying WASHINGTON, August 18 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Palestinian Journalist Syndicate has called Monday, August 18, for forming an international committee of journalists to sue those responsible for killing reporters. "We call upon all Arab journalists as well as international journalists to take the stand and resolutions through which U.S.-Israeli recklessness can be stopped. We call for the formation of an international committee to bring those responsible for such crimes to fair international prosecutions," the syndicate’s communiqu

Question:

COWS EXPLAIN WORLD IDEOLOGIES FEUDALISM You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk. PURE SOCIALISM You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else’s cows. You have to take care of all the cows. The government gives you all the milk you need. BUREAUCRATIC SOCIALISM Your cows are cared for by ex-chicken farmers. You have to take care of the chickens the government took from the chicken farmers. The government gives you as much milk and eggs the regulations say you should need. FASCISM You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them, and sells you the milk. PURE COMMUNISM You have two cows. Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all share the milk. REAL WORLD COMMUNISM You share two cows with your neighbors. You and your neighbors bicker about who has the most "ability" and who has the most "need". Meanwhile, no one works, no one gets any milk, and the cows drop dead of starvation. RUSSIAN COMMUNISM You have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the government takes all the milk. You steal back as much milk as you can and sell it on the black market. PERESTROIKA You have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the Mafia takes all the milk. You steal back as much milk as you can and sell it on the "free" market. CAMBODIAN COMMUNISM You have two cows. The government takes both and shoots you. MILITARIANISM You have two cows. The government takes both and drafts you. TOTALITARIANISM You have two cows. The government takes them and denies they ever existed. Milk is banned. PURE DEMOCRACY You have two cows. Your neighbors decide who gets the milk. REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY You have two cows. Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the milk. BRITISH DEMOCRACY You have two cows. You feed them sheeps’ brains and they go mad. The government doesn’t do anything. BUREAUCRACY You have two cows. At first the government regulates what you can feed them and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk them. Then it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows. PURE ANARCHY You have two cows. Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors try to take the cows and kill you. PURE CAPITALISM You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull. CAPITALISM You don’t have any cows. The bank will not lend you money to buy cows, because you don’t have any cows to put up as collateral. ENVIRONMENTALISM You have two cows. The government bans you from milking or killing them. POLITICAL CORRECTNESS You are associated with (the concept of "ownership" is a symbol of the war mongering, intolerant past) two differently-aged (but no less valuable to society) bovines of non-specified gender. SURREALISM You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.

Response:

And to Carol, I don’t think Wendy could work at/go to Mt. Holyoke, which is in Massachusetts, if she lived in California, although I guess she could come from there! Guess you’ve never heard all those California jokes about "sharing."

I’m from California and I don’t want anyone to share. : ) Killfile Cat the Pest. I can’t believe she’s so dense she doesn’t realize how ridiculously stupid, unfunny and OLD her jokes are. Martha

Response:

And to Carol, I don’t think Wendy could work at/go to Mt. Holyoke, which is in Massachusetts, if she lived in California, although I guess she could come from there!

Guess you’ve never heard all those California jokes about "sharing."

Response:

Cat, please tell me, how long have you been online?  Seriously, I’m trying to understand you.   I’ll killfile you if I have to, but I’d really rather understand where you are coming from.  Can you share? Wendy

Wendy, are you from California?

Response:

I’ll killfile you if I have to, but I’d really rather understand where you are coming from.  Can you share?

Why? Killfiling takes care of the problem. It’s not like she’s posting original research to the group, she’s just a pest. And to Carol, I don’t think Wendy could work at/go to Mt. Holyoke, which is in Massachusetts, if she lived in California, although I guess she could come from there! Barbara Hirsch, Publisher OBESITY MEDS AND RESEARCH NEWS The latest in obesity research and weight loss drug development http://www.obesity-news.com/

Response:

Cat, please tell me, how long have you been online?  Seriously, I’m trying to understand you.   Haven’t you caught on yet that posting old jokes is a faux pas?  Or are you being passively aggressive?  Or are you that weird guy (Diaper Boy?) who was going to destroy our newsgroup? Do you send all the jokes to everyone in your addressbook each day, too?  I’ve got a friend who still does that and I haven’t had the heart to tell her I delete them unread. We get information overload online.   I just came back from 5 days away and had about 200 email messages, two of which were actually from friends or clients.  I come online and just don’t want to wade through off-topic posts the way I have to wade through my mailbox.   I’ll killfile you if I have to, but I’d really rather understand where you are coming from.  Can you share? Wendy

Response:

The downfall to complaining about these stupid jokes is that she has most of the group killfiled because of profanity.   So, she doesn’t even see that people are complaining.

Aw, hell, I’m keeping my language clean for the bitch and she’s already kill-filed me?  Fuck. Wendy

Response:

In article The downfall to complaining about these stupid jokes is that she has most of the group killfiled because of profanity.   So, she doesn’t even see that people are complaining.

Then email her if her addy isn’t munged.

Response:

The downfall to complaining about these stupid jokes is that she has most of the group killfiled because of profanity.   So, she doesn’t even see that people are complaining. Maybe so. I don’t know what kind of filters the woman has. But sooner or later everyone will have her killfiled, and she’ll have to figure it out when no one answers her posts.

I vote on later. Martha

Response:

The downfall to complaining about these stupid jokes is that she has most of the group killfiled because of profanity.   So, she doesn’t even see that people are complaining.

Maybe so. I don’t know what kind of filters the woman has. But sooner or later everyone will have her killfiled, and she’ll have to figure it out when no one answers her posts. Barbara Hirsch, Publisher OBESITY MEDS AND RESEARCH NEWS The latest in obesity research and weight loss drug development http://www.obesity-news.com/

Response:

Wendy, are you from California?

lol

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Cat, please tell me, how long have you been online?  Seriously, I’m trying to understand you. Haven’t you caught on yet that posting old jokes is a faux pas?  Or are you being passively aggressive?  Or are you that weird guy (Diaper Boy?) who was going to destroy our newsgroup? Do you send all the jokes to everyone in your addressbook each day, too?  I’ve got a friend who still does that and I haven’t had the heart to tell her I delete them unread. We get information overload online.   I just came back from 5 days away and had about 200 email messages, two of which were actually from friends or clients.  I come online and just don’t want to wade through off-topic posts the way I have to wade through my mailbox. I’ll killfile you if I have to, but I’d really rather understand where you are coming from.  Can you share?

The downfall to complaining about these stupid jokes is that she has most of the group killfiled because of profanity.   So, she doesn’t even see that people are complaining.

Response:

Cat, please tell me, how long have you been online?  Seriously, I’m trying to understand you.  

Here comes the Itsy Bitsy Band Of Usenet Owners to tell us all how to act in "their" place. Haven’t you caught on yet that posting old jokes is a faux pas?  Or are you being passively aggressive?  Or are you that weird guy (Diaper Boy?) who was going to destroy our newsgroup?

Note the "our newsgroup". You wish. You don’t own a damn thing around here, Bitsy wannabe. We get information overload online.   I just came back from 5 days away and had about 200 email messages, two of which were actually from friends or clients.  I come online and just don’t want to wade through off-topic posts the way I have to wade through my mailbox.  

Aw, poor thing. Let’s all change just for Marsden sake.

Response:

In article The sig. Martha The best ever sig collection belongs to The Baba who was here briefly

but his spreading laughs oin my soap group.  His sigs are sacred but his language is profane. he makes "fucktard’ sound like church language.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In article That Cat’s been bagged a long time ago along with Detrimental and Judgemental — Diva ***** Who thought auto erotiicism was sex in the back seat This is your best!! : D Martha The signature or the process of elimination?

The sig. Martha

Response:

In article That Cat’s been bagged a long time ago along with Detrimental and Judgemental — Diva ***** Who thought auto erotiicism was sex in the back seat This is your best!! : D Martha

The signature or the process of elimination?

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In article Hirsch And to Carol, I don’t think Wendy could work at/go to Mt. Holyoke, which is in Massachusetts, if she lived in California, although I guess she could come from there! Guess you’ve never heard all those California jokes about "sharing." I’m from California and I don’t want anyone to share. : ) Killfile Cat the Pest. I can’t believe she’s so dense she doesn’t realize how ridiculously stupid, unfunny and OLD her jokes are. Martha That Cat’s been bagged a long time ago along with Detrimental and Judgemental — Diva ***** Who thought auto erotiicism was sex in the back seat

This is your best!! : D Martha

Response:

In article – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – And to Carol, I don’t think Wendy could work at/go to Mt. Holyoke, which is in Massachusetts, if she lived in California, although I guess she could come from there! Guess you’ve never heard all those California jokes about "sharing." I’m from California and I don’t want anyone to share. : ) Killfile Cat the Pest. I can’t believe she’s so dense she doesn’t realize how ridiculously stupid, unfunny and OLD her jokes are. Martha That Cat’s been bagged a long time ago along with Detrimental and

Judgemental — Diva ***** Who thought auto erotiicism was sex in the back seat

Response:

The downfall to complaining about these stupid jokes is that she has most of the group killfiled because of profanity.   So, she doesn’t even see that people are complaining. Aw, hell, I’m keeping my language clean for the bitch and she’s already kill-filed me?  Fuck. Wendy Oops, I just had a cow

There’s a rumor that humor is not welcome here I don’t frown when the scales’s down but otherwise shed a tear! — Diva The Best Man for the Job is a Woman

Response:

I’m sorry I didn’t catch on to this last week…  Now I’m seeing just how many OT posts there are, and it IS annoying.

Then shut up. This post is about "Cows" and Humor neither of which you posted anything about here. Hypocrite. Usenet Control Freak. "Live To Eat? Nyet. Eat To Live!"

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Cat, please tell me, how long have you been online?  Seriously, I’m trying to understand you. Haven’t you caught on yet that posting old jokes is a faux pas?  Or are you being passively aggressive?  Or are you that weird guy (Diaper Boy?) who was going to destroy our newsgroup? Do you send all the jokes to everyone in your addressbook each day, too?  I’ve got a friend who still does that and I haven’t had the heart to tell her I delete them unread. We get information overload online.   I just came back from 5 days away and had about 200 email messages, two of which were actually from friends or clients.  I come online and just don’t want to wade through off-topic posts the way I have to wade through my mailbox. I’ll killfile you if I have to, but I’d really rather understand where you are coming from.  Can you share? The downfall to complaining about these stupid jokes is that she has most of the group killfiled because of profanity.   So, she doesn’t even see that people are complaining.

I’m sorry I didn’t catch on to this last week…  Now I’m seeing just how many OT posts there are, and it IS annoying.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The downfall to complaining about these stupid jokes is that she has most of the group killfiled because of profanity.   So, she doesn’t even see that people are complaining. Aw, hell, I’m keeping my language clean for the bitch and she’s already kill-filed me?  Fuck. Wendy Mad Cow Disease? LOL!

 I posted from Google and it seems to like this post as it registered it three times. Once something is marked ‘read" on Thoth, it’s sometimes hard to recover the post if you have second thoughts and more to say in response. — Diva The Best Man for the Job is a Woman

Response:

The downfall to complaining about these stupid jokes is that she has most of the group killfiled because of profanity.   So, she doesn’t even see that people are complaining. Aw, hell, I’m keeping my language clean for the bitch and she’s already kill-filed me?  Fuck. Wendy

Mad Cow Disease? LOL!

Response:

Question:

If so were you able to import all your data? thank you

Response:

I recently converted a company’s DacEasy customers, invoices, vendors and bills to QuickBooks US. We converted reports printed to text files to QB import files. — Karl E Irvin, CPA Arlington, Texas

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If so were you able to import all your data? thank you

Response:

Question:

Hi,          i want some info on " stock based compensation " item on the income statement of the company.what is it , why it is added to the net income in the operating section of the cash flow. Thanks

Response:

Don’t be lazy!  Do a search on Google. — Ken Russell Sydney Australia

Hi,          i want some info on " stock based compensation " item on the income statement of the company.what is it , why it is added to the net income in the operating section of the cash flow. Thanks

Response:

This is an expense on the income statement that did not require cash.  On the cash flow statement, you are taking net income and converting it to the actual cash inflow and outflows.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi,          i want some info on " stock based compensation " item on the income statement of the company.what is it , why it is added to the net income in the operating section of the cash flow. Thanks

Response:

Question:

Several cities in WA State are considering putting their building permit process online.  I’ve been asked to share my thoughts about this with my city’s staff. Anyone in a city that already does this?  If yes, can you give me the website address so I can see what it looks like.  And if you’ve tried it out, please let me know what you thought of the process. Elizabeth Paulsen

Response:

glynn paulsen asked about the permit process online. Our county does it: http://www.co.frederick.md.us/pas/index.html It’s pretty handy.  Note you still have to submit the application the old way, all this does is let you track the review process and status.  But it was convenient to know how things were going.

Response:

Hi. The City of Regina (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada) does provide the ability to download an application on line.  The completed app still has to be submitted in person though. You can find it at www.cityregina.com/pdfs/building_app.pdf

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – glynn paulsen asked about the permit process online. Our county does it: http://www.co.frederick.md.us/pas/index.html It’s pretty handy.  Note you still have to submit the application the old way, all this does is let you track the review process and status.  But it was convenient to know how things were going.

Response:

Houston Texas. http://www.cityofhouston.gov/ First link on left take me to: http://Houston.onlinepermits.com/ Take many moons to load… me not need permit so me not wait. Me think permits on-line because somebody had brother-in-law with nothing to do. C. Aveman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Several cities in WA State are considering putting their building permit process online.  I’ve been asked to share my thoughts about this with my city’s staff. Anyone in a city that already does this?  If yes, can you give me the website address so I can see what it looks like.  And if you’ve tried it out, please let me know what you thought of the process. Elizabeth Paulsen

Response:

If you get any non-news based replies, can you share them with us/me? As it so happens, the software company I work with (and am typing this from) does software for municipalities (accounting/financial type stuff), and we’ve got a permitting module.  And we’re in the process of releasing an "Internet" module, allowing municipalities to display selected customer information over the Internet.  The permitting side is one that we haven’t done yet, but will be a phase 2 type thing. Of course, as I type this, I realize that we could be competitors.  If it helps, all our municipal clients are in Canada. Clint

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Several cities in WA State are considering putting their building permit process online.  I’ve been asked to share my thoughts about this with my city’s staff. Anyone in a city that already does this?  If yes, can you give me the website address so I can see what it looks like.  And if you’ve tried it out, please let me know what you thought of the process. Elizabeth Paulsen

Response:

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Brandon, while I agree that the Mass proposal appeared to be somewhat light on details, I believe that the intent was in the right direction. Your "Joe & Jim" analogy is centered around the same thinking of the old AMA contention, i.e., that "socialized medicine" is, somehow, bad for the US.. but without ANY supporting data.  If you don’t like UC, simply say so, but please don’t insult the intelligence of many within this group by dragging out that tired old line. It’s semantics.  Universal coverage, I favor.  Equal access, I oppose. These are two very separate issues.  In its purest form, socialized medicine is very bad for the US.  It runs contrary to the ideology that this country is founded on.  This, I believe, is what you would have. The other extreme is the view that to each his own and if you can’t afford insurance then you won’t be covered.  This is not an acceptable moral approach.  I feel that all people should be covered for the basic public health needs, such as vaccinations, emergency care, prenatal exams, etc.  I also believe that those who pay substantially more for healthcare should be entitled to additional access.  The exception is with children, who I believe should be fully covered until they reach their 18th birthday.  At that point, there MUST be individual accountability and responsibility.  I do not find it "fair" that MY progressive tax should subsidize a liver transplant for an alcoholic who has never been able to keep a job and is a burden to society.  It’s no different than not feeling guilty when I occasionally spring for a nice dinner somewhere with my wife – knowing full well that there are millions who couldn’t even dream of eating at such a place.  We do not live in a socialist government.  Have you ever eaten at a nice restaurant?  Have you ever passed a homeless person on the street?  We accept these things as part of our society… or do you believe we should just ban private ownership?  Please don’t take this as an attack.  I admire the fullness of your heart and people like you.  I just happen to hold a view that finds your position impractical (is that a word?). B I don’t have any problem with that line of thinking, Brandon; it’s just when that tired old phrase, "Socialized Medicine" is trotted out that makes be a bit sick. We already have a form of that in existance today, and while it’s far from perfect it DOES provide some level of security to the elderly and some of the indigent, yet ignores about 15% of the citizens entirely. I’ve never envisioned a single, all-encompassing, plan existing in the US; we’re strongly tied to a multi-level system of care and there’s no reason why those levels couldn’t.. and shouldn’t.. continue.  We DO need, however a reasonably comprehensive plan of basic benefits.. perhaps a bit more that you outlined.. that would be available to every citizen, regardless of their status.  And that’s where we’ve failed to date. pixie

That being said, I think we agree on more than we disagree.  We could spend all day bickering in the details, but steps (multiple) need to be taken before those details have any meaning.  I think we’re a long way off right now.

Response:

Good for Mass!  A bit lean on details but a great start. It will be VERY interesting to see what develops from this latest effort. Of course one major question remains; How will they pay for this plan and the "Big Dig" at the same time?  The last I read about the dig was that they couldn’t even calculate the exact amount of funds necessary to complete.

Guess there were more pockets to fill than they counted on?

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –         I do, socialized programs exist even in capitalist countries.         Health Care should be one of them.         If you want to be a banker or a computer builder then I am         with you. But a doctor ought to have a little more than the         wish to make money. You’re pulling a Conklin.  I will correct you as I have corrected him. The issue of UC is a separate issue from physician salaries.  No one knows, given the current dynamics (to be nice….) if MD’s would make more, less, or the same under your proposed system.  This is not an argument that has anything to do with doctor salaries.  It’s an argument that involves a balance of moral responsibility (on behalf of the government AND/OR its citizens) and the principles of a democratic republic. I know, I know… Why is so difficult for people to admit their self interests? I would respect them more for it.

So you lack the intellect to divide two clearly separate issues?  So sad.  What kind of doctor are you again?

Response:

Question 5 would have been a disaster for MA.  It speaks ominously of a "patient bill of rights" giving it lip service, leaving it WIDE open to interpretation.  There would likely be a flood of bogus litigation following it.  It has NO cost control measures built… none at all. There is nothing even resembling a ceiling for spending (yes, I hope we’ve learned our lesson about limitless spending… as in the Big Waste.. I mean, Dig).  It would strive to provide (and having read the entire text, I’m still not sure HOW) complete health coverage to every person.  This is not a feasible or acceptable plan.  Access to all is one issue… equal access is quite another.  I’m for access, but firmly opposed to equal access for all people… at MY expense.  It’s not what this country stands for.  Mass residents, I believe, have beat it back, despite it once being a favored question.   There are steps that can and should be taken to improve the health care system here and in the country…. but this would have been a blind leap of faith which would have ultimately left this state’s health care system financially crippled… and there would have been a whole lot of angry taxpayers… especially in light of the fact that Question 4 passed – LOWERING income taxes.  My state is already heavily taxed and heavily in debt.  It’s time for fiscal responsibility. Brandon – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Good for Mass!  A bit lean on details but a great start. It will be VERY interesting to see what develops from this latest effort. Of course one major question remains; How will they pay for this plan and the "Big Dig" at the same time?  The last I read about the dig was that they couldn’t even calculate the exact amount of funds necessary to complete. pixie QUESTION 5  Health Insurance and Health Care "AN ACT TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF PATIENTS AND TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH" Be it enacted by the People, and by their authority, as follows: SECTION 1. Whereas, Massachusetts residents are entitled to and desire a system of health care that has the needs of patients as its central purpose and priority; Whereas, the quality and availability of health care services and treatments is threatened by unreasonable restrictions on patient choice and interference with medical decision making; Whereas, the affordability of health care is jeopardized by continued increases in health insurance costs and by reductions in health plan coverage, and many Massachusetts residents are uninsured or underinsured; Therefore, it is the purpose of this act to ensure that there will be access to health care for all Massachusetts residents, including strong patient protections and a bill of patients’ rights. SECTION 2. Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 1 the following new sections:– Section 1C. There shall be established a patient-centered system of health care that will ensure comprehensive, high quality care and health coverage for all residents of the commonwealth, to be in effect no later than July first, 2002. To establish such system, there is hereby created a health care council that shall consist of seventeen members to be appointed by the commissioner of public health and shall serve without compensation. The members shall include moral, academic and community leaders, health care advocates, consumers, providers and third-party payors and shall include at least one member from each of the following organizations selected from nominations by such organizations: Ad Hoc Committee to Defend Health Care, American Association of Retired Persons, American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Health Care for All, Massachusetts Association of Health Maintenance Organizations, Massachusetts Business Roundtable, MassCARE, Massachusetts Hospital Association, Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, Massachusetts Medical Society, Massachusetts Nurses Association, Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group, and Massachusetts Senior Action Council. The council shall allow for public participation, including but not limited to the holding of at least four public hearings in different regions of the commonwealth. The council shall study various health care proposals, and make recommendations to the commissioner and the legislature on a plan for the establishment of health care policies, laws, and other mechanisms to ensure that the following requirements are met: (a)access shall be provided to health care services for all Massachusetts residents and barriers eliminated to such services, medications, and supplies necessary for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliation of physical and mental illness; (b)patients shall be guaranteed the right to freely choose their health care providers, to have a second medical opinion and to appeal denials of care; and the clinical freedom of physicians, nurses and other health professionals to act solely in the best interests of their patients shall be assured; (c)affordable health care coverage shall be ensured to all Massachusetts residents, with health care expenditures that rise no faster than those of the nation as a whole; (d)the high quality of health care in Massachusetts shall be preserved and promoted; and the well-being of medical research, training, and innovation shall be protected and fostered; (e)no less than ninety percent of all payments made for health care coverage shall be used for patient care, public health, or the furtherance of medical skill and knowledge, and no more than ten percent of such payments shall be used for administrative costs or any other purpose; and the paperwork and administrative tasks of patients, hospitals and health care professionals shall be simplified;                           and (f)no financial incentives shall be permitted that limit patient access to health care services and medications that are appropriate or necessary, and incentives, direct or indirect, that promote the provision of inappropriate care which does not benefit patients shall be minimized. The council shall review proposed and enacted health care legislation in the Commonwealth and make recommendations to the commissioner as to whether such legislation meets the requirements of this section. Section 1D. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, until such time as the health care council established pursuant to section one C determines that the requirements set out in said section one C have been met, there shall be a moratorium on the conversion of non-profit hospitals, non-profit health maintenance organizations, and non-profit health insurance firms to entities owned and operated for profit. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, until such time as determination is made, the commissioner and the commissioner of insurance, as appropriate, shall not grant, renew, convert or otherwise provide a license to any such entity that attempts to undergo such a conversion. SECTION 3. The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 176N the following chapter: Chapter 176O: Patients’ Bill of Rights Section 1. The purpose of this chapter is to protect the rights of patients and to strengthen the relationship between patients and their physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals. To achieve these goals, this chapter, which applies to all health insurance carriers, including health insurance plans, blue cross and blue shield plans, health maintenance organizations, and preferred provider plans, establishes, as more specifically detailed in the following sections, the right of patients to choose their health care professionals, health care facilities, and other health care providers; the right of health care professionals to make all medical decisions in consultation with their patients; the right to continuity of care during the course of treatment; the right to a referral to a specialist if such a referral is a medical necessity; a limitation on and the requirement of open disclosure of financial incentives in contracts between carriers and health care professionals; protection of the right of health care professionals to discuss provisions of health benefit plans with insured patients;           prohibition of termination of health care professionals by carriers without cause; the right to receive emergency services; the right to clear utilization review programs that include the right to a second opinion and the right to appeal an adverse determination to the commissioner of public health, and a requirement that at least ninety percent of the premiums of carriers be spent on patient care. Section 2. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary of sections 108 to 111, inclusive, of chapter 175 of the General Laws, of chapter 176A of the General Laws, of chapter 176B of the General Laws, of chapter 176G of the General Laws, and of chapter 176I of the General Laws, or of any other special or general law, the provisions of this chapter shall apply to all insurers licensed or otherwise authorized to transact accident or health insurance under said chapter 175; a non-profit hospital service corporation organized under said chapter 176A; a non-profit medical service corporation organized under said chapter 176B; all health maintenance organizations organized under said chapter 176G; and all organizations entering into a preferred provider arrangement under said chapter 176I; but not including an employer purchasing coverage or acting on behalf of

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Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –         I do, socialized programs exist even in capitalist countries.         Health Care should be one of them.         If you want to be a banker or a computer builder then I am         with you. But a doctor ought to have a little more than the         wish to make money. You’re pulling a Conklin.  I will correct you as I have corrected him. The issue of UC is a separate issue from physician salaries.  No one knows, given the current dynamics (to be nice….) if MD’s would make more, less, or the same under your proposed system.  This is not an argument that has anything to do with doctor salaries.  It’s an argument that involves a balance of moral responsibility (on behalf of the government AND/OR its citizens) and the principles of a democratic republic.

I know, I know… Why is so difficult for people to admit their self interests? I would respect them more for it. Marcio V. Pinheiro MD http://pw2.netcom.com/~mvp1/soloproviders1.htm

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Brandon, while I agree that the Mass proposal appeared to be somewhat light on details, I believe that the intent was in the right direction. Your "Joe & Jim" analogy is centered around the same thinking of the old AMA contention, i.e., that "socialized medicine" is, somehow, bad for the US.. but without ANY supporting data.  If you don’t like UC, simply say so, but please don’t insult the intelligence of many within this group by dragging out that tired old line. It’s semantics.  Universal coverage, I favor.  Equal access, I oppose. These are two very separate issues.  In its purest form, socialized medicine is very bad for the US.  It runs contrary to the ideology that this country is founded on.  This, I believe, is what you would have. The other extreme is the view that to each his own and if you can’t afford insurance then you won’t be covered.  This is not an acceptable moral approach.  I feel that all people should be covered for the basic public health needs, such as vaccinations, emergency care, prenatal exams, etc.  I also believe that those who pay substantially more for healthcare should be entitled to additional access.  The exception is with children, who I believe should be fully covered until they reach their 18th birthday.  At that point, there MUST be individual accountability and responsibility.  I do not find it "fair" that MY progressive tax should subsidize a liver transplant for an alcoholic who has never been able to keep a job and is a burden to society.  It’s no different than not feeling guilty when I occasionally spring for a nice dinner somewhere with my wife – knowing full well that there are millions who couldn’t even dream of eating at such a place.  We do not live in a socialist government.  Have you ever eaten at a nice restaurant?  Have you ever passed a homeless person on the street?  We accept these things as part of our society… or do you believe we should just ban private ownership?  Please don’t take this as an attack.  I admire the fullness of your heart and people like you.  I just happen to hold a view that finds your position impractical (is that a word?).   B

I don’t have any problem with that line of thinking, Brandon; it’s just when that tired old phrase, "Socialized Medicine" is trotted out that makes be a bit sick. We already have a form of that in existance today, and while it’s far from perfect it DOES provide some level of security to the elderly and some of the indigent, yet ignores about 15% of the citizens entirely. I’ve never envisioned a single, all-encompassing, plan existing in the US; we’re strongly tied to a multi-level system of care and there’s no reason why those levels couldn’t.. and shouldn’t.. continue.  We DO need, however a reasonably comprehensive plan of basic benefits.. perhaps a bit more that you outlined.. that would be available to every citizen, regardless of their status.  And that’s where we’ve failed to date. pixie

Response:

        I do, socialized programs exist even in capitalist countries.         Health Care should be one of them.         If you want to be a banker or a computer builder then I am         with you. But a doctor ought to have a little more than the         wish to make money.

You’re pulling a Conklin.  I will correct you as I have corrected him. The issue of UC is a separate issue from physician salaries.  No one knows, given the current dynamics (to be nice….) if MD’s would make more, less, or the same under your proposed system.  This is not an argument that has anything to do with doctor salaries.  It’s an argument that involves a balance of moral responsibility (on behalf of the government AND/OR its citizens) and the principles of a democratic republic.

Response:

Brandon, while I agree that the Mass proposal appeared to be somewhat light on details, I believe that the intent was in the right direction. Your "Joe & Jim" analogy is centered around the same thinking of the old AMA contention, i.e., that "socialized medicine" is, somehow, bad for the US.. but without ANY supporting data.  If you don’t like UC, simply say so, but please don’t insult the intelligence of many within this group by dragging out that tired old line.

It’s semantics.  Universal coverage, I favor.  Equal access, I oppose. These are two very separate issues.  In its purest form, socialized medicine is very bad for the US.  It runs contrary to the ideology that this country is founded on.  This, I believe, is what you would have. The other extreme is the view that to each his own and if you can’t afford insurance then you won’t be covered.  This is not an acceptable moral approach.  I feel that all people should be covered for the basic public health needs, such as vaccinations, emergency care, prenatal exams, etc.  I also believe that those who pay substantially more for healthcare should be entitled to additional access.  The exception is with children, who I believe should be fully covered until they reach their 18th birthday.  At that point, there MUST be individual accountability and responsibility.  I do not find it "fair" that MY progressive tax should subsidize a liver transplant for an alcoholic who has never been able to keep a job and is a burden to society.  It’s no different than not feeling guilty when I occasionally spring for a nice dinner somewhere with my wife – knowing full well that there are millions who couldn’t even dream of eating at such a place.  We do not live in a socialist government.  Have you ever eaten at a nice restaurant?  Have you ever passed a homeless person on the street?  We accept these things as part of our society… or do you believe we should just ban private ownership?  Please don’t take this as an attack.  I admire the fullness of your heart and people like you.  I just happen to hold a view that finds your position impractical (is that a word?).   B

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It never ceases to amuse me how the doctors – or let’s say, a great number of docs are systematically against anything that will give patients universal access. For your information, some are and some aren’t.  It’s pretty well divided. As for my own opinion, it’s an ideological one.  In this country, the more money you have, the more you pay in taxes, correct?         Up to a point of course. Then you have deductibles and         all. A lot of corporations pay no taxes and even take money         back.

You ought to run for office.  You dodge things nicely.  Bottom line – the more more you make the more you pay in taxes. Of course. It’s tolerable because the added income also enables you to eat at nice restaurants, live in nicer living conditions, etc.  Why oh why should it not also beget a higher level of medical insurance???  You’re paying more for it, assuming this "universal health coverage" is government sponsored.  How is it fair that Joe spends $12,000 a year for medical insurance and gets the same exact treatment as Jim who spends $800 a year?         If everyone contributes – like in Canada, every ought to have         access. It is difficult to make a case that someone should have         a better appendectomy than the other guy.

Level of access.  At some point, there are procedures that are too costly to offer to everyone.  This is already done with "cosmetic" surgery.  Forgive me, but many of the so-called cosmetic surgeries SHOULD be fully covered.  Without getting into it, there are different levels of access, which would include a difference in waiting times for non emergencies, restriction of procedures, time allotted per visit, etc… That’s socialized medicine which flies in the face of our Democratic Republic.         We have many socialized things here. Like for instance         national security and public protection.         Would you like private armies to fight the enemy?

You don’t seem to understand the word "socialism".

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It never ceases to amuse me how the doctors – or let’s say, a great number of docs are systematically against anything that will give patients universal access. For your information, some are and some aren’t.  It’s pretty well divided. As for my own opinion, it’s an ideological one.  In this country, the more money you have, the more you pay in taxes, correct?         Up to a point of course. Then you have deductibles and         all. A lot of corporations pay no taxes and even take money         back. You ought to run for office.  You dodge things nicely.  Bottom line – the more more you make the more you pay in taxes.

        Up to a point… 31%         And it also depends on how many smart accountants and lawyers         you have.  Do you know who pays more taxes? The lower income         people… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Of course. It’s tolerable because the added income also enables you to eat at nice restaurants, live in nicer living conditions, etc.  Why oh why should it not also beget a higher level of medical insurance???  You’re paying more for it, assuming this "universal health coverage" is government sponsored.  How is it fair that Joe spends $12,000 a year for medical insurance and gets the same exact treatment as Jim who spends $800 a year?         If everyone contributes – like in Canada, every ought to have         access. It is difficult to make a case that someone should         have         a better appendectomy than the other guy. Level of access.  At some point, there are procedures that are too costly to offer to everyone.  This is already done with "cosmetic" surgery.  Forgive me, but many of the so-called cosmetic surgeries SHOULD be fully covered.  Without getting into it, there are different levels of access, which would include a difference in waiting times for non emergencies, restriction of procedures, time allotted per visit, etc…

        You mean a poor person with a myocardial infarction should               wait more to be seen as one who is rich and pay the doctor         out of pocket?         more That’s socialized medicine which flies in the face of our Democratic Republic.         We have many socialized things here. Like for instance         national security and public protection.         Would you like private armies to fight the enemy? You don’t seem to understand the word "socialism".

        I do, socialized programs exist even in capitalist countries.         Health Care should be one of them.         If you want to be a banker or a computer builder then I am         with you. But a doctor ought to have a little more than the         wish to make money.         I think medicine is a call. Marcio V. Pinheiro MD http://pw2.netcom.com/~mvp1/soloproviders1.htm

Response:

It never ceases to amuse me how the doctors – or let’s say, a great number of docs are systematically against anything that will give patients universal access. For your information, some are and some aren’t.  It’s pretty well divided.   As for my own opinion, it’s an ideological one.  In this country, the more money you have, the more you pay in taxes, correct?

        Up to a point of course. Then you have deductibles and         all. A lot of corporations pay no taxes and even take money         back. Of course. It’s tolerable because the added income also enables you to eat at nice restaurants, live in nicer living conditions, etc.  Why oh why should it not also beget a higher level of medical insurance???  You’re paying more for it, assuming this "universal health coverage" is government sponsored.  How is it fair that Joe spends $12,000 a year for medical insurance and gets the same exact treatment as Jim who spends $800 a year?

        If everyone contributes – like in Canada, every ought to have         access. It is difficult to make a case that someone should have         a better appendectomy than the other guy. That’s socialized medicine which flies in the face of our Democratic Republic.

        We have many socialized things here. Like for instance         national security and public protection.         Would you like private armies to fight the enemy?         Illnesses are a formidable enemy. Marcio V. Pinheiro MD http://pw2.netcom.com/~mvp1/soloproviders1.htm

Response:

It never ceases to amuse me how the doctors – or let’s say, a great number of docs are systematically against anything that will give patients universal access.

For your information, some are and some aren’t.  It’s pretty well divided.   As for my own opinion, it’s an ideological one.  In this country, the more money you have, the more you pay in taxes, correct?  Of course. It’s tolerable because the added income also enables you to eat at nice restaurants, live in nicer living conditions, etc.  Why oh why should it not also beget a higher level of medical insurance???  You’re paying more for it, assuming this "universal health coverage" is government sponsored.  How is it fair that Joe spends $12,000 a year for medical insurance and gets the same exact treatment as Jim who spends $800 a year?  That’s socialized medicine which flies in the face of our Democratic Republic.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It never ceases to amuse me how the doctors – or let’s say, a great number of docs are systematically against anything that will give patients universal access. For your information, some are and some aren’t.  It’s pretty well divided.   As for my own opinion, it’s an ideological one.  In this country, the more money you have, the more you pay in taxes, correct?  Of course. It’s tolerable because the added income also enables you to eat at nice restaurants, live in nicer living conditions, etc.  Why oh why should it not also beget a higher level of medical insurance???  You’re paying more for it, assuming this "universal health coverage" is government sponsored.  How is it fair that Joe spends $12,000 a year for medical insurance and gets the same exact treatment as Jim who spends $800 a year?  That’s socialized medicine which flies in the face of our Democratic Republic.

Brandon, while I agree that the Mass proposal appeared to be somewhat light on details, I believe that the intent was in the right direction. Your "Joe & Jim" analogy is centered around the same thinking of the old AMA contention, i.e., that "socialized medicine" is, somehow, bad for the US.. but without ANY supporting data.  If you don’t like UC, simply say so, but please don’t insult the intelligence of many within this group by dragging out that tired old line. pixie

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Question 5 would have been a disaster for MA.  It speaks ominously of a "patient bill of rights" giving it lip service, leaving it WIDE open to interpretation.  There would likely be a flood of bogus litigation following it.  It has NO cost control measures built… none at all. There is nothing even resembling a ceiling for spending (yes, I hope we’ve learned our lesson about limitless spending… as in the Big Waste.. I mean, Dig).  It would strive to provide (and having read the entire text, I’m still not sure HOW) complete health coverage to every person.  This is not a feasible or acceptable plan.  Access to all is one issue… equal access is quite another.  I’m for access, but firmly opposed to equal access for all people… at MY expense.  It’s not what this country stands for.  Mass residents, I believe, have beat it back, despite it once being a favored question.   There are steps that can and should be taken to improve the health care system here and in the country…. but this would have been a blind leap of faith which would have ultimately left this state’s health care system financially crippled… and there would have been a whole lot of angry taxpayers… especially in light of the fact that Question 4 passed – LOWERING income taxes.  My state is already heavily taxed and heavily in debt.  It’s time for fiscal responsibility. Brandon

It never ceases to amuse me how the doctors – or let’s say, a great number of docs are systematically against anything that will give patients universal access. Marcio V. Pinheiro MD http://pw2.netcom.com/~mvp1/soloproviders1.htm

Response:

: QUESTION 5  Health Insurance and Health Care : "AN ACT TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF PATIENTS AND TO : PROMOTE ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR ALL : RESIDENTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH" For shorter pro/con statements and links to advocacy groups on either side of the issue: http://www.the-election.com/referenda-frameset.shtml — Adam Gaffin Editor, The-Election.com http://www.the-election.com

Response:

Good for Mass!  A bit lean on details but a great start. It will be VERY interesting to see what develops from this latest effort. Of course one major question remains; How will they pay for this plan and the "Big Dig" at the same time?  The last I read about the dig was that they couldn’t even calculate the exact amount of funds necessary to complete. pixie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – QUESTION 5  Health Insurance and Health Care "AN ACT TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF PATIENTS AND TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH" Be it enacted by the People, and by their authority, as follows: SECTION 1. Whereas, Massachusetts residents are entitled to and desire a system of health care that has the needs of patients as its central purpose and priority; Whereas, the quality and availability of health care services and treatments is threatened by unreasonable restrictions on patient choice and interference with medical decision making; Whereas, the affordability of health care is jeopardized by continued increases in health insurance costs and by reductions in health plan coverage, and many Massachusetts residents are uninsured or underinsured; Therefore, it is the purpose of this act to ensure that there will be access to health care for all Massachusetts residents, including strong patient protections and a bill of patients’ rights. SECTION 2. Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 1 the following new sections:– Section 1C. There shall be established a patient-centered system of health care that will ensure comprehensive, high quality care and health coverage for all residents of the commonwealth, to be in effect no later than July first, 2002. To establish such system, there is hereby created a health care council that shall consist of seventeen members to be appointed by the commissioner of public health and shall serve without compensation. The members shall include moral, academic and community leaders, health care advocates, consumers, providers and third-party payors and shall include at least one member from each of the following organizations selected from nominations by such organizations: Ad Hoc Committee to Defend Health Care, American Association of Retired Persons, American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Health Care for All, Massachusetts Association of Health Maintenance Organizations, Massachusetts Business Roundtable, MassCARE, Massachusetts Hospital Association, Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, Massachusetts Medical Society, Massachusetts Nurses Association, Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group, and Massachusetts Senior Action Council. The council shall allow for public participation, including but not limited to the holding of at least four public hearings in different regions of the commonwealth. The council shall study various health care proposals, and make recommendations to the commissioner and the legislature on a plan for the establishment of health care policies, laws, and other mechanisms to ensure that the following requirements are met: (a)access shall be provided to health care services for all Massachusetts residents and barriers eliminated to such services, medications, and supplies necessary for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliation of physical and mental illness; (b)patients shall be guaranteed the right to freely choose their health care providers, to have a second medical opinion and to appeal denials of care; and the clinical freedom of physicians, nurses and other health professionals to act solely in the best interests of their patients shall be assured; (c)affordable health care coverage shall be ensured to all Massachusetts residents, with health care expenditures that rise no faster than those of the nation as a whole; (d)the high quality of health care in Massachusetts shall be preserved and promoted; and the well-being of medical research, training, and innovation shall be protected and fostered; (e)no less than ninety percent of all payments made for health care coverage shall be used for patient care, public health, or the furtherance of medical skill and knowledge, and no more than ten percent of such payments shall be used for administrative costs or any other purpose; and the paperwork and administrative tasks of patients, hospitals and health care professionals shall be simplified;                           and (f)no financial incentives shall be permitted that limit patient access to health care services and medications that are appropriate or necessary, and incentives, direct or indirect, that promote the provision of inappropriate care which does not benefit patients shall be minimized. The council shall review proposed and enacted health care legislation in the Commonwealth and make recommendations to the commissioner as to whether such legislation meets the requirements of this section. Section 1D. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, until such time as the health care council established pursuant to section one C determines that the requirements set out in said section one C have been met, there shall be a moratorium on the conversion of non-profit hospitals, non-profit health maintenance organizations, and non-profit health insurance firms to entities owned and operated for profit. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, until such time as determination is made, the commissioner and the commissioner of insurance, as appropriate, shall not grant, renew, convert or otherwise provide a license to any such entity that attempts to undergo such a conversion. SECTION 3. The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 176N the following chapter: Chapter 176O: Patients’ Bill of Rights Section 1. The purpose of this chapter is to protect the rights of patients and to strengthen the relationship between patients and their physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals. To achieve these goals, this chapter, which applies to all health insurance carriers, including health insurance plans, blue cross and blue shield plans, health maintenance organizations, and preferred provider plans, establishes, as more specifically detailed in the following sections, the right of patients to choose their health care professionals, health care facilities, and other health care providers; the right of health care professionals to make all medical decisions in consultation with their patients; the right to continuity of care during the course of treatment; the right to a referral to a specialist if such a referral is a medical necessity; a limitation on and the requirement of open disclosure of financial incentives in contracts between carriers and health care professionals; protection of the right of health care professionals to discuss provisions of health benefit plans with insured patients;           prohibition of termination of health care professionals by carriers without cause; the right to receive emergency services; the right to clear utilization review programs that include the right to a second opinion and the right to appeal an adverse determination to the commissioner of public health, and a requirement that at least ninety percent of the premiums of carriers be spent on patient care. Section 2. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary of sections 108 to 111, inclusive, of chapter 175 of the General Laws, of chapter 176A of the General Laws, of chapter 176B of the General Laws, of chapter 176G of the General Laws, and of chapter 176I of the General Laws, or of any other special or general law, the provisions of this chapter shall apply to all insurers licensed or otherwise authorized to transact accident or health insurance under said chapter 175; a non-profit hospital service corporation organized under said chapter 176A; a non-profit medical service corporation organized under said chapter 176B; all health maintenance organizations organized under said chapter 176G; and all organizations entering into a preferred provider arrangement under said chapter 176I; but not including an employer purchasing coverage or acting on behalf of its employees or the employees of one or more subsidiaries or affiliated corporations of the employer. The provisions of this chapter shall be administered by the division of insurance. Section 3. As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: "Benefits", health care services and medications to which an insured patient is entitled under the terms of the health benefits plan. "Carrier", an insurer licensed or otherwise authorized to transact accident or health insurance under chapter 175; a non-profit hospital service corporation organized under chapter 176A; a non-profit medical service corporation organized under chapter 176B; a health maintenance organization organized under chapter 176G; and an organization entering into a preferred provider arrangement under chapter 176I; but not including an employer purchasing coverage or acting on behalf of its employees or the employees of one or more subsidiaries or affiliated corporations of the employer. "Commissioner", the commissioner of the division of insurance. "Emergency services" and "emergency care", services provided in or by a hospital emergency facility or a free standing emergency care facility after the development of a medical condition, whether physical or mental, manifesting itself by symptoms of sufficient severity that the absence of prompt medical attention could reasonably be expected by a prudent layperson who possesses an average knowledge of health and

… read more »

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QUESTION 5  Health Insurance and Health Care "AN ACT TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF PATIENTS AND TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH" Be it enacted by the People, and by their authority, as follows: SECTION 1. Whereas, Massachusetts residents are entitled to and desire a system of health care that has the needs of patients as its central purpose and priority; Whereas, the quality and availability of health care services and treatments is threatened by unreasonable restrictions on patient choice and interference with medical decision making; Whereas, the affordability of health care is jeopardized by continued increases in health insurance costs and by reductions in health plan coverage, and many Massachusetts residents are uninsured or underinsured; Therefore, it is the purpose of this act to ensure that there will be access to health care for all Massachusetts residents, including strong patient protections and a bill of patients’ rights. SECTION 2. Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 1 the following new sections:– Section 1C. There shall be established a patient-centered system of health care that will ensure comprehensive, high quality care and health coverage for all residents of the commonwealth, to be in effect no later than July first, 2002. To establish such system, there is hereby created a health care council that shall consist of seventeen members to be appointed by the commissioner of public health and shall serve without compensation. The members shall include moral, academic and community leaders, health care advocates, consumers, providers and third-party payors and shall include at least one member from each of the following organizations selected from nominations by such organizations: Ad Hoc Committee to Defend Health Care, American Association of Retired Persons, American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Health Care for All, Massachusetts Association of Health Maintenance Organizations, Massachusetts Business Roundtable, MassCARE, Massachusetts Hospital Association, Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, Massachusetts Medical Society, Massachusetts Nurses Association, Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group, and Massachusetts Senior Action Council. The council shall allow for public participation, including but not limited to the holding of at least four public hearings in different regions of the commonwealth. The council shall study various health care proposals, and make recommendations to the commissioner and the legislature on a plan for the establishment of health care policies, laws, and other mechanisms to ensure that the following requirements are met: (a)access shall be provided to health care services for all Massachusetts residents and barriers eliminated to such services, medications, and supplies necessary for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliation of physical and mental illness; (b)patients shall be guaranteed the right to freely choose their health care providers, to have a second medical opinion and to appeal denials of care; and the clinical freedom of physicians, nurses and other health professionals to act solely in the best interests of their patients shall be assured; (c)affordable health care coverage shall be ensured to all Massachusetts residents, with health care expenditures that rise no faster than those of the nation as a whole; (d)the high quality of health care in Massachusetts shall be preserved and promoted; and the well-being of medical research, training, and innovation shall be protected and fostered; (e)no less than ninety percent of all payments made for health care coverage shall be used for patient care, public health, or the furtherance of medical skill and knowledge, and no more than ten percent of such payments shall be used for administrative costs or any other purpose; and the paperwork and administrative tasks of patients, hospitals and health care professionals shall be simplified;                            and (f)no financial incentives shall be permitted that limit patient access to health care services and medications that are appropriate or necessary, and incentives, direct or indirect, that promote the provision of inappropriate care which does not benefit patients shall be minimized. The council shall review proposed and enacted health care legislation in the Commonwealth and make recommendations to the commissioner as to whether such legislation meets the requirements of this section. Section 1D. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, until such time as the health care council established pursuant to section one C determines that the requirements set out in said section one C have been met, there shall be a moratorium on the conversion of non-profit hospitals, non-profit health maintenance organizations, and non-profit health insurance firms to entities owned and operated for profit. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, until such time as determination is made, the commissioner and the commissioner of insurance, as appropriate, shall not grant, renew, convert or otherwise provide a license to any such entity that attempts to undergo such a conversion. SECTION 3. The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 176N the following chapter: Chapter 176O: Patients’ Bill of Rights Section 1. The purpose of this chapter is to protect the rights of patients and to strengthen the relationship between patients and their physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals. To achieve these goals, this chapter, which applies to all health insurance carriers, including health insurance plans, blue cross and blue shield plans, health maintenance organizations, and preferred provider plans, establishes, as more specifically detailed in the following sections, the right of patients to choose their health care professionals, health care facilities, and other health care providers; the right of health care professionals to make all medical decisions in consultation with their patients; the right to continuity of care during the course of treatment; the right to a referral to a specialist if such a referral is a medical necessity; a limitation on and the requirement of open disclosure of financial incentives in contracts between carriers and health care professionals; protection of the right of health care professionals to discuss provisions of health benefit plans with insured patients;           prohibition of termination of health care professionals by carriers without cause; the right to receive emergency services; the right to clear utilization review programs that include the right to a second opinion and the right to appeal an adverse determination to the commissioner of public health, and a requirement that at least ninety percent of the premiums of carriers be spent on patient care. Section 2. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary of sections 108 to 111, inclusive, of chapter 175 of the General Laws, of chapter 176A of the General Laws, of chapter 176B of the General Laws, of chapter 176G of the General Laws, and of chapter 176I of the General Laws, or of any other special or general law, the provisions of this chapter shall apply to all insurers licensed or otherwise authorized to transact accident or health insurance under said chapter 175; a non-profit hospital service corporation organized under said chapter 176A; a non-profit medical service corporation organized under said chapter 176B; all health maintenance organizations organized under said chapter 176G; and all organizations entering into a preferred provider arrangement under said chapter 176I; but not including an employer purchasing coverage or acting on behalf of its employees or the employees of one or more subsidiaries or affiliated corporations of the employer.  The provisions of this chapter shall be administered by the division of insurance. Section 3. As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: "Benefits", health care services and medications to which an insured patient is entitled under the terms of the health benefits plan. "Carrier", an insurer licensed or otherwise authorized to transact accident or health insurance under chapter 175; a non-profit hospital service corporation organized under chapter 176A; a non-profit medical service corporation organized under chapter 176B; a health maintenance organization organized under chapter 176G; and an organization entering into a preferred provider arrangement under chapter 176I; but not including an employer purchasing coverage or acting on behalf of its employees or the employees of one or more subsidiaries or affiliated corporations of the employer. "Commissioner", the commissioner of the division of insurance. "Emergency services" and "emergency care", services provided in or by a hospital emergency facility or a free standing emergency care facility after the development of a medical condition, whether physical or mental, manifesting itself by symptoms of sufficient severity that the absence of prompt medical attention could reasonably be expected by a prudent layperson who possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine, to result in placing the member’s or another person’s health in serious jeopardy, serious impairment to body function, or serious dysfunction of any body organ or part. "Facility", an institution providing health care services or a health care setting, including, but not limited to, hospitals and other licensed inpatient centers, ambulatory surgical or treatment centers, skilled nursing centers, residential treatment centers, diagnostic, laboratory and imaging centers, and rehabilitation and other therapeutic … read more »

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Question:

I tried the 4th item, Extracting Information.  Under  the tab for Statement Line Items, I selected Grab.   Kinda cool. One of my problems is all the compu-babble acronyms.  XFRML?   In my self-training, I encountered XQL – Extended Query Language.. Reminds me of my physics professor who proclaimed, "Quantum mechanics is intuitvely obvious once you understand it."  - Carl – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Here, what do you think of this? http://www.xfrml.org/demos.htm

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I found answers to some of my questions at; http://www.xmlmag.com/upload/free/features/xml/1999/01win99/glwin99/g…  - Carl

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Better late than later, I’m studying this ambrosia called XML. Two interesting sites; http://msdn.microsoft.com/xml/scenario/intro.asp http://www.webmethods.com/solutions/index.html  - Carl

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Better late than later, I’m studying this ambrosia called XML. Two interesting sites; http://msdn.microsoft.com/xml/scenario/intro.asp http://www.webmethods.com/solutions/index.html – Carl

Hello Carl!  Thanks for the links.  I’ve posted some XML links at http://www.gldialtone.com/XML-accounting.htm Here, what do you think of this? http://www.xfrml.org/demos.htm Charlie Hoffman maintains the XFRML website; he asked for comments on this section which is intended to become a future XML tutorial for CPAs.  It is in ‘beta testing’. What do you think? (this requires MSIE5, which has XML processing capabilities) I think this is extremely important stuff for accountants to understand.  It’s *not* particularly technical — it is just a perfect tool for accountants. TOdd * Todd F. Boyle CPA    http://www.GLDialtone.com/ * 9745-128th Av NE, Kirkland WA 98033       (425) 827-3107 * web ledgers, accounting ASPs, XML accounting, e-commerce, whatever. * Small business needs to send/receive invoices, payments and POs.

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Question:

I think what some people do for their pets is disgusting.

hey! they’ve got as much right to affordable healthcare as the rest of us do… how sad my home would be if my kits weren’t there to curl up with me after a cold day on the river… http://rivervision.netmegs.com/brooke/lnm.html -brooke

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Then again, I have no intention of getting an AARP card ’til I’m 70 or so…

I absolutely detested getting that AARP card. The wife made my application without my knowing about it. But, I’ve gotta admit, the discounts are nice . . . — Surf Usenet at home, on the road, and by email — always at Talkway. http://www.talkway.com

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I absolutely detested getting that AARP card. The wife made my application without my knowing about it. But, I’ve gotta admit, the discounts are nice . . .

My dog is on heart medicine I couldn’t afford without that AARP Pharmacy!

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I think what some people do for their pets is disgusting. I hear some guy up in Canada has his dog on estrogen which effectively fixes up her incontinence. But I never thought of using my drug plan to pay for it. … Hmmmmm. Lyle – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My dog is on heart medicine I couldn’t afford without that AARP Pharmacy!

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I used turning 60 as an excuse to buy a new boat. "Significant" birthdays should always be celebrated properly by doing something significant.

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I used turning 60 as an excuse to buy a new boat. "Significant" birthdays should always be celebrated properly by doing something significant.

i LIKE this idea. I wonder how significant I can make my next one, hmmm… — Glenn Ward To reply, remove nospam from sig.

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Before I was 40, I wanted to run the upper Gauley because I was convinced that after 40, I could never handle it.  At 57, I run the Gauley routinely.  What are the differences?  The challenge is still a kick, but Death Risk isn’t what it is cut up to be after a few close shaves.  The River is still constant.  The rules don’t change.  If you push the envelope, your good luck will eventually run out.  I won’t run the Cranberry at flood, the Gauley at 8000 cfs, the Upper Blackwater, the Russell Fork, etc.  Done that.  Wasn’t fun.  So, 50 is a stress landmark.  Playing a great hole is still every bit as fun, but survival ferries lose their mystique.

    My fifties were more fun than my forties.  Now that I’m in my sixties I’ve been thinking that I MIGHT think about slowing up, but hell, why should I?  I’m having too much fun.  Besides, I’m still running everything that I did back in my forties and then some. Jim

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Hmm….  Never occurred to me to change my style at 50.  I didn’t see 50 as a turning point at all, unless it was to do that year what I wasn’t quite able to do at 49. Then again, I have no intention of getting an AARP card ’til I’m 70 or so… Brad Snow

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     responding to Peik’s you gotta be in VERY bad shape to be unable to sit in a boat        said: Agreed.  That’s when I plan to take up kayaking.

Well, Floater,you’ve been my friend BUT this was a most unfortunate thing for you to LET OUT… NOW,I’m afraid, all my buds that saw me race up (and pass) 50 and thought "Wow, look at him paddling a Kayak all winter! and his Open all summer!" ; will now realize it didn’t have anything to do w/ testosterone…. but it’s those 80 year old knees attached to that lean 50 yr old machine…. what a shame and sham Grieving, Barnett.

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50 is like any other rapid . . . Scout it, but don’t think about it too long. Just pick your line and run it. There are plenty more rapids downstream.

2 points to consider here: I’m 48 and my paddling is still improving. One day it won’t improve any more, but IME you gotta be in VERY bad shape to be unable to sit in a boat. One day this will happen to me, not soon I hope. Then it’ll be nice to have an alternative passtime to keep me happy off the river: — Peik Borud Norway

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you gotta be in VERY bad shape to be unable to sit in a boat.   One day this

will happen to me, not soon I hope. Then it’ll be nice to have an alternative passtime to keep me happy<< Agreed.  That’s when I plan to take up kayaking. Dick Creswell "The worst river trip I ever had was wonderful"

Response:

Before I was 40, I wanted to run the upper Gauley
because I was convinced that after 40, I could never
handle it.  At 57, I run the Gauley routinely.  What
are the differences?  The challenge is still a kick,
but Death Risk isn’t what it is cut up to be after a
few close shaves.  The River is still constant.  The
rules don’t change.  If you push the envelope, your
good luck will eventually run out.  I won’t run the
Cranberry at flood, the Gauley at 8000 cfs, the Upper
Blackwater, the Russell Fork, etc.  Done that.  Wasn’t
fun.  So, 50 is a stress landmark.  Playing a great
hole is still every bit as fun, but survival ferries
lose their mystique.
*** Posted from RemarQ – http://www.remarq.com – Discussions Start Here ™ ***

Response:

A River Rat looks at 50: Aside from the increase in the number and duration of minor aches and pains, I had never really thought much about aging.  Until, that is, I went to my family physician to get some medication for an ear infection.  He flipped through my chart and finally muttered "You don’t come to see us very often". "Only when I get broken", I replied. And then he spoke those words that have been on my mind every since; "At your age …" He was right.  I had neglected a fair amount of maintainence on my physical plant.  He scheduled and I submitted to all the tests that I should have had done periodically over the years.  The results only confirmed what I already knew.  I should be in better cardio-vascular shape.  I should watch my cholesterol, weight and blood pressure. Years back, when none of these were a concern, I really thought I could burn the candle at both ends. Heck, those were things that only plague *old* people.  Now, "at my age", apparently,  I am one.  Next year at 50, I can get my AARP card. By nearly any accounting, I stand on the threshold of the final third of my life.  8 inches of the ruler gone. I could buy 30 "Year at a Glance" charts, put them on the wall and view every day of the rest of my life.  Several friends have already died without every standing at the doorstep of this new frontier. Now some would find all of this depressing.  But I find it highly motivating. The imperative has become to make conscious choices about how that last 20+ quality years should be lived.  If I average one a year, what twenty adventures should I pursue? On the Gotta Do Rafting List: (#1) Top of this list is the Grand Canyon trip I am 4000 names away from taking.        I figure 6 to 8 years out for this.   (1 year sometime around 2005 – 2007) (#2) Minnesota to Hudson’s Bay.       First leg:      Little Fork Headwaters to Rainey River as far as Lake of the Woods.       Second leg:  Lake of the Woods to Lake Winnipeg via the Winnipeg river.       Third leg:      Lake Winnipeg.  (Sailed solo or with another hearty soul)       Final leg:      Nelson river to Hudson’s Bay.  (4 years – 1999 or 2000 for first leg) (#3) The Yukon river:  Whitehorse to as far as one can get on a summer vacation trip.        (1999 or 2000) (#4)  Nahanni River.  Another family summer vacation. (#5)  Rio Grande River:  Lajitas to Langtry.  Early summer or early autumn vacation. On the Nice Addition List: (no particular order) Copper River – Alaska A Barrens river trip – Thelon? The Mackenzie? Quebec. Then there are the permit lotteries:  Maybe a MF Salmon and/or Main Salmon sometime in the next 10 years. All of these trips match our family’s enjoyment profile:  Extended trips (150 miles+), all either wilderness or very remote.  This may change of course as my daughter moves deeper into her teenage years and I start getting dumber by the year. Not every summer can be spent on the river.  There will have to be a couple of European vacations:   One as the journey to our roots (both my wife and I are half Finnish), the other pure tourist. The original plan had been to continue rafting until the Grand Canyon permit came through and  then perform a paradigm shift:  Decommission the raft and move on to something else.  Sailing is a likely successor.  Or long distance hiking.  (Nevada – NE to SW).  The actual activity really doesn’t matter.  The intrinsic reward is still the same.  There is simply some great joy in following your sense of adventure.  It must be genetic.  A link to our ancestor’s need to move ever-westward (and northward). What I remember most about aging is my father’s comment when I had just turned 40.  I told him I felt still felt 21  inside.  At 72, in failing health and on oxygen, he looked at me, smiled, and said "Yeah, me too."  Our bodies will decline, but the spirit of our youth lives forever. Blakely LaCroix You are not what it is that you are not doing.

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A River Rat looks at 50:

<much good stuff snipped And then he spoke those words that have been on my mind every since; "At your age …"

<clip Now some would find all of this depressing.  But I find it highly motivating. The imperative has become to make conscious choices about how that last 20+ quality years should be lived.  If I average one a year, what twenty adventures should I pursue? On the Gotta Do Rafting List: (#1) Top of this list is the Grand Canyon trip I am 4000 names away from taking.        I figure 6 to 8 years out for this.   (1 year sometime around 2005 – 2007)

Hey, you don’t have to wait THAT long. Join a mailing list like the Grand Canyon Boaters list and see if someone would like company on their trip. Or phone in for cancellations – you may get a launch on short notice (30- to 90 days out) but it beats waiting for years by a long shot. None of us really can afford to wait 6 to 8 years at a point when 6 to 8 years may see vastly changed personal circumstances. I think that my point to you and other folks looking at 50 (from either side) is that you gotta do it now. Or at least much closer to now than you might have thought before. If I were you, I’d take some steps to increase your chances and options for a trip down the Colorado. See the GC Boaters archive at           http://songbird.com/gcboaters/archive/ See the Grand Canyon Private Boaters Association at http://www.flagstaff.az.us/~gcpba/ See Robert Marley’s Grand Canyon pages starting at         http://www.amug.org/~kwagunt/gctrips.html and there certainly are a lot of other web sources for Grand Canyon info. <snippo What I remember most about aging is my father’s comment when I had just turned 40.  I told him I felt still felt 21  inside.  At 72, in failing health and on oxygen, he looked at me, smiled, and said "Yeah, me too."  Our bodies will decline, but the spirit of our youth lives forever. Blakely LaCroix You are not what it is that you are not doing.

Let’s go rafting! — Michael (ageing as I write this) Dooley Grand Canyon Rafting http://www.sonic.net/mdooley/rivrpage.html

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A River Rat looks at 50:

                  < sniperooski Heck, those were things that only plague *old* people.  Now, "at my age", apparently,  I am one.  Next year at 50, I can get my AARP card.

– Hi Blakely :       Great post ! I also have a list like yours. BTW don’t bother AARP will send you a card. That’s when 50 really hit me. I stood in my driveway staring down at my shiny new AARP card for a long time. Ouch ! Floatin, John

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A River Rat looks at 50: (#3) The Yukon river:  Whitehorse to as far as one can get on a summer

vacation Nearly everyone goes to Dawson City. I hope to in 99 (#4)  Nahanni River.  Another family summer vacation.

See my video at: http://www3.bc.sympatico.ca/CanoeBC A Barrens river trip – Thelon?

If you haven’t been north of 60 and in particular north of the tree line — you never really lived. The Mackenzie?

A very big river. My choice would be the Bonnet Plume/Peel again. Sincerely, Carey Robson President – Recreational Canoeing Association of British Columbia Master Instructor http://www3.bc.sympatico.ca/CanoeBC

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hey blakely – i’m all for "burning the candle at both ends" whatever your age – the only moment we ever really have is now – so happy birthday! – and enjoy your tripping. . . . – Mothra  (aka Kathy Streletzky) "Life on the newsgroup is a strange gestalt of folks who are brethern at heart the long distance trippers, and rads throwing ends, and those who ask how to start" – CubicDog

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The fact that you are planning your life is telling me that you do have a 20 years old attitude … the fact you are 50 is just a fact of life, no big deal. Happy paddling, Fred Fred Mechini http://pluto.njcc.com/~fmec WEB page dedicated to the sport of Sprint Kayak

Response:

50 is like any other rapid . . . Scout it, but don’t think about it too long. Just pick your line and run it. There are plenty more rapids downstream. Dick Creswell "The worst river trip I ever had was wonderful" Dick Creswell "The worst river trip I ever had was wonderful"

Response:

50 is like any other rapid . . . Scout it, but don’t think about it too long. Just pick your line and run it. There are plenty more rapids downstream.

Good advice.  I tainted many a day on the Grand Canyon worrying about Crystal when I was still miles above it. I got 10 years until 50: I’ll swim it when I get to it. The longer you look at it, the harder it gets. —                      myron buck (riverman): DoD #9250                O                                             O_               /     ACGWB #2              1995 VN750   _____</_____            ( )( )   BWOB #4        1970 Bluehole 17A   ___ /_____/

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   The only problem about being 50 (or older) is dealing with how embarrassed the 20, 30, and 40 year olds often are when they can’t keep up with you.    Also – some advice:  laugh alot; it’s good for you and everyone else around you, on water and off.       /      / R     /   A                 /  /          _ _ _ _ _/        _ _ _ _ _/    _ _ _ _ _/ RI RIDERS http://members.aol.com/RWFarnum/Index.html

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A River Rat looks at 50: Now some would find all of this depressing.  But I find it highly motivating. The imperative has become to make conscious choices about how that last 20+ quality years should be lived.  If I average one a year, what twenty adventures should I pursue?

Saskia replies: Since you neglected to mention the Little Missouri River (300 miles of Prarie Badlands paddling) in western most North Dakota (yeah NoDaK), I can only assume you will be forcibly "re-born" until you "get it right" (like Bill Murray in Ground Hog Day)…..this river is a gem in our backyard…get no through tripping use…unchanged in 20 years…spent 21 days on it, in Spring flood in 1995…saw no one for 10 days, and then only 1 group of paddlers within the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Saw bison,elk,turkeys white tail and mule deer, white pelicans, and my wife discovered an intact buffalo skull there…IT WAS PARADISE. So don’t count on RIP, until you move it onto your list (Grin). (and do it). My wife wrote it up for Canoe& Kayak…Oct 96…probably upped usage by 1 solo paddler every year. On a serious note ( I am 45) know what you mean…but I say "I am getting TOO old not to be doing what I really want to be doing….so next summer we are heading for the headwaters of the Lockhart River in NWT’s BarrenGround….

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A couple of years ago we were waiting to launch on the Yampa. I was watching the group ahead of us put in and noticed an older gent on the oars of a dory. It was Martin Litton 80 + years old and the Yampa was at 19,500 cfs. I believe he set a record for oldest to row the Grand that year also. I like the example that man sets. Good Luck Blakely I hope you reach your goals ! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"At your age …" . Blakely LaCroix You are not what it is that you are not doing.

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