Terri Rimmer,

You've been published on Associated Content! View your content here:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/628783/south_coast_air_district_funds_open.html

I saw an article in the Star-Telegram awhile back and they did an article on these sites:

Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs:

crbestbuydrugs.org


Rxaminer.com


DestinationRx.com


BenefitsCheckupRx:

benefitscheckup.org


The Partnership for Prescription Assistance:

pparx.org

Check out tradeaway.com

Subject: Comedy Central's Joke of the Day






Name That Animal, Kids

Eddie's first-grade class was having a game of Name That Animal. The teacher held up a picture of a cat and asked, "What animal is this?" "A cat!" said Suzy.
"Good job! Now, what's this animal?"

"A dog!" said Ricky.

"Good! Now what animal is this?" she asked, holding up a picture of a deer.

The class fell silent. After a couple of minutes, the teacher said, "It's what your mom calls your dad."

"A horny bastard!" called out Eddie.




Payin' The Bills
KFC’s Sauceless Hot Wings.
Spicy on the inside. Crunchy on the outside.
Get a bucket of 20 or try 6 wings for $2.99, Only at KFC.

Strategies to save on travel expenses

Here's one: Booking flight at last minute may be a loser


01:07 PM CST on Wednesday, February 20, 2008

The Boston Globe

Are you one of those people who waited till the last minute to book a flight, thinking you would snag a bargain airfare? You might wish you had heeded this from the United States Tour Operators Association:

"When it comes to airfare ... waiting for last-minute bargains, contrary to popular belief, does not guarantee the best price. Booking early will often help lock in the best price and the best routing."

That is one bit of advice that emerged when the association surveyed its members, who move more than 11 million vacationers yearly. Here are more hints and strategies:

*A strong euro means that a four-star hotel can cost $450 or more per night, and meals and sightseeing can cost more than you had counted on. Both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Europe suggest looking for cruise-tour prices bundled in dollars at the time of purchase. That protects against further devaluation.

*Choose train travel over renting a car.

*Travel in the shoulder seasons (just before and after a destination's busiest time) to get value pricing.

*Look for discounts for children 17 and younger.

*With an escorted tour, more features are usually included in the package price than if you visited the same places on your own.

*A lower-priced tour may not always be the best buy, because it may not include as many features as another. Look for packages and tours that include as many meals as possible, because dining is one of the biggest expenses on the road.

The Boston Globe

Daniele Dockter
www.badlandsbullterrier.com

I saw some job-hunting tips in the March Glamour that you might could use now or in the future or pass on to someone who could use them:

"How Facebook Can Land You a Job":

1. Create a professional profile - Treat it like a resume - as in ax, the love meter. And set your personal stuff to "private" so work people can't find it.

2. Rack up contacts. Recruit colleagues past and present (if they don't reply, let it go). To invite a stranger, ask a mutual colleague for an introduction.

3. Work your page. When job hunting, email your contacts. Meanwhile, e-schmooze by posting smart commments on other profiles and blogs.

You've been published on Associated Content! View your content here:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/593145/women_who_could_be_president_ca.html

Terri Rimmer
Terri Rimmer has 24 years of journalism experience, having worked for ten newspapers and some magazines. Currently she writes for http://associatedcontent.com. She has a daughter, McKenna, whom she placed for adoption in August 2000. Ms. Rimmer published her e-book "MacKenzie's Hope" on http://booklocker.com under the family heading. It's also listed on http://adopting.com. She resides in Fort Worth, TX. In 2007 she won a Media Award from Associated Content and in 2005 she received a grant from Change, Inc.
View all articles by Terri Rimmer
Condition Has Various Names


My sister Debbie was just diagnosed with a condition known as swollen thyroid nodules and recently underwent a biopsy.



In this test, a thin needle is inserted into the nodule to remove cells and/or fluid samples from the nodule for examination under a microscope.



She is only 49.



The doctor gave her some medication to help the swelling go down regarding the cysts found in her throat. Hopefully the treatment will help but she has to wait and see. To complicate matters Debbie, a mother and grandma who has no insurance has Diabetes and her vision has been affected by that primary illness.



According to healthbanks.com, thyroid nodules are abnormal growths or cells or lumps in the thyroid gland. The nodules feel round or oval-shaped and differ from normal thyroid tissue. Some symptoms of thyroid nodules include palpitations, insomnia, weight loss, anxiety, and tremors, common in hyperthyroidism, as explained on thyroid.about.com. Some doctor prescribe hormone pills to shrink the size of the nodules which are usually more than one quarter of an inch in diameter that may protrude from the neck's surface or may form in the thyroid gland itself.



The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland that lies across the trachea (windpipe) below the Adam's apple, is controlled by the pituitary, a small gland at the base of the brain that sends out Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). (Source: Healthlink.mcw.edu). The thyroid is part of the endocrine system, the system of organs that secrete hormones into the blood.



Thyroid nodules increase with age and occur in almost ten percent of the adult population, states Endocrineweb.com at http://www.endocrineweb.com/fna.html.



Most nodules are benign or non-cancerous and can be treated with medication, revealed by helium.com. (http://www.helium.com/tm/613012/nodules-small-lumps-found).



According to WebMD.com, most nodules are so small that you can’t feel them and they do not cause symptoms. But if they are big you will feel that your neck is swollen.



The Mayo Clinic dictates that usually thyroid nodules are found by a doctor during a routine medical exam. Large nodules can press against other structures

in the neck. Lymph nodes can also swell in response to any infection or irritation.



The American Family Physician stated in an article dated Feb. 1, 2003 that thyroiditis may present as a nodule.

In rare cases, you may also:

Feel pain in your throat or feel like your throat is full.
Have a hard time swallowing.
Have a hard time breathing.
Feel nervous, have a fast heartbeat, sweat a lot, lose weight, or have other symptoms of hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone).
Feel tired or depressed, have memory problems, be constipated, have dry skin, feel cold, or have other symptoms of hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone).
(Reference: Meritcare.com).

Thyroid nodules usually run in families, according to Cigna.com.

An older lady gets pulled over for speeding...

Older Woman: Is there a problem, Officer?

Officer: Ma'am, you were speeding.

Older Woman: Oh, I see.

Officer: Can I see your license please?

Older Woman: I'd give it to you but I don't have one.

Officer: Don't have one?

Older Woman: Lost it, 4 years ago for drunk driving.

Officer: I see...Can I see your vehicle registration papers please.

Older Woman: I can't do that.

Officer: Why not?

Older Woman: I stole this car.

Officer: Stole it?

Older Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.

Officer: You what?

Older Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see

The Officer looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car and calls for back up. Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.

Officer 2: Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please! The woman steps out of her vehicle.

Older woman: Is there a problem sir?

Officer 2: One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner.

Older Woman: Murdered the owner?

Officer 2: Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car, please.

The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.

Officer 2: Is this your car, ma'am?

Older Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers.
The officer is quite stunned.

Officer 2: One of my officers claims that you do not have a driving license.

The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and hands it to the officer.

The officer examines the license. He looks quite puzzled.

Officer 2: Thank you ma'am, one of my officers told me you didn't have a license, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up the owner.

Older Woman: Bet the liar told you I was speeding it, too!

Alanon and Privacy
By Terri Rimmer
Published Today
Health & Medicine
Rating: Unrated
Terri Rimmer
Terri Rimmer has 24 years of journalism experience, having worked for ten newspapers and some magazines. Currently she writes for http://associatedcontent.com. She has a daughter, McKenna, whom she placed for adoption in August 2000. Ms. Rimmer published her e-book "MacKenzie's Hope" on http://booklocker.com under the family heading. It's also listed on http://adopting.com. She resides in Fort Worth, TX. In 2007 she won a Media Award from Associated Content and in 2005 she received a grant from Change, Inc.
View all articles by Terri Rimmer
Traditions Dictate How Privacy Works
I got a call from a friend of mine in recovery Feb. 5 who was upset about a recent article I wrote about Alanon.



She said I shouldn’t have quoted a mutual friend of ours from a meeting even though I only used her first name and no one besides members of our group could even guess who she is. Or not.



“I hope you’re not going to write about what I say in meetings,” my friend said to me. “That is private.”



“I hadn’t planned on it,” I told her.



I listened to her point of view but didn’t apologize because I don’t agree with her.



I took it upon myself to triple check the traditions of Alanon and sure enough as long as you don’t use someone’s full name and/or picture, you are not violating the traditions talking about something they might say in a meeting. (http://www.al-anon-co.org/12_tradition.html).



I have heard theories such as my friend’s before and while I can understand why she feels the way she does and I wouldn’t want my dirty laundry aired in public or online either, I did not violate the traditions of Alanon.



I’m not saying I have all the answers but it’s not like I said the Alanon member’s full name and ran it with her picture (either/or).



Online in chat rooms and support groups via the web everyone in a 12-step group is anonymous as far as having their full identity disclosed.



There even is an Alanon video on You Tube with a man standing against a colorful backdrop. But the man’s identity is not disclosed.



You can even exercise several options of anonymity when you choose to receive emails, updates, or messages from Alanon online. (http://www.ola-is.org/olais/anon.htm).



Beth Daniell of Clemson University came up against the anonymity issue when writing a dissertation on Alanon. Several members were upset with her for addressing various problems that Alanon members discussed in meetings. But Daniell did not identify these women. She did, instead, research the tradition regarding anonymity and pointed it out to the parties of women who were upset with her. The women were questioning her methodology methods. For details, see http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0010-096X(199505)46%3A2%3C284%3AICTBEA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-O.



Sometimes when I’ve been to live meetings, either Alcoholics Anomyous or Alanon, I have seen students take notes as part of a class project on AA groups. I have also witnessed college students ask the chairperson ahead of time if it’s okay if they sit in and why they are there. The chairperson of the meeting usually says yes, as long as they don’t identify who shares in the meeting. It has long been a tradition of colleges and various other institutions who are learning about recovery to sit in on meetings to gain an education about how this stuff works.



Back in the 80s and 90s I didn’t like these “imposters” coming into “our meetings.” But now I realize what they’re doing is a gift to recovering people and to society because the students are learning about AA and they, in turn, are going back and reporting their findings to their class. If in the process some people are getting educated about recovery and what really goes on in meetings regarding honesty, humility, recovery, and new beginnings, how can that be a bad thing?



The same thing applies to online meetings.

As You Slide Down the Banister of Life, Remember


1. Jim Baker and Jimmy Swaggert have written

An impressive new book. It's called .........

"Ministers Do More Than Lay People"



2. Transvestite: A guy who likes to eat, drink

And be Mary

3. The difference between the Pope and

Your boss, the Pope only expects you

To kiss his ring.



4. My mind works like lightning, One brilliant

Flash and it is gone.



5. The only time the world beats a path to

Your door is if you're in the bathroom.



6. I hate sex in the movies. Tried it once.

The seat folded up, the drink spilled and

That ice, well, it really chilled the mood.



7. It used to be only death and taxes

Were inevitable Now, of course, there's

Shipping and handling, too.



8.. A husband is someone who, after taking

The trash out, gives the impression that

He just cleaned the whole house.



9. My next house will have no kitchen - just

Vending machines and a large trash can.



10. A blonde said, "I was worried that my

Mechanic might try to rip me off.

I was relieved when he told me all

I needed was turn signal fluid."



11. Definition of a teenager?

God's punishment...for enjoying sex.


12. As you slide down the banister of life, may

The splinters never point the wrong way.

Subject: Comedy Central's Joke of the Day






Man, Woman, Sleeping Compartment

A man and a woman who have never met before find themselves in the same sleeping carriage of a train. After the initial embarrassment they both go to sleep, the woman on the top bunk, the man on the lower.
In the middle of the night the woman leans over, wakes the man and says, "I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm awfully cold and I was wondering if you could possibly get me another blanket."

The man leans out and, with a glint in his eye, says, "I've got a better idea... just for tonight, let's pretend we're married."

The woman thinks for a moment. "Why not," she giggles.

"Great," he replies, "Get your own damn blanket!"

Check out petsmo.com

Kangaroos

Two kangaroos were talking to each other, and one said, "Gee, I hope it doesn't rain today, I hate it when the children play inside."

Look at myetrek.com

You've been published on Associated Content! View your content here:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/556151/rx_hope.html

Lovefraud Blog
Wake up to the danger of sociopaths
Jan. 24, 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New blog posts
-- Ask Dr. Leedom: Are sociopaths (and psychopaths) vindictive?
-- Will you help others by recommending a professional resource?
-- After he's gone: Looking at the sociopath through open eyes
-- The psychopath's bewildering ways of talking
-- Aggression
-- Differentiating narcissists and psychopaths
Terri,
Because you've expressed an interest in Lovefraud, I'm sending you this update of our blog articles and discussions. If you do not wish to receive updates, you may unsubscribe by clicking the link at the bottom of this email.



Ask Dr. Leedom: Are sociopaths (and psychopaths) vindictive?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr. Liane Leedom explains what sociopaths really mean when they say, "I love you," and why, even though they don't really care about you, they turn vindictive when you leave. Read Ask Dr. Leedom: Are sociopaths (and psychopaths) vindictive?


Will you help others by recommending a professional resource?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Almost every day, someone calls Lovefraud asking for help--a therapist, a lawyer, an investigator. If you know a qualified professional--someone who gets it when it comes to dealing with sociopaths--will you help others by telling us who it is? Please contact us with your referral right away. Some other victim's sanity--or life--may depend on it.
Read: Will you help others by recommending a professional resource?


After he's gone: Looking at the sociopath through open eyes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While M. L. Gallagher was with the sociopath, she focused on coping with what he did. She did not focus on what she was doing--and that was the difference between living with abuse or freeing herself. Read After he's gone: Looking at the sociopath through open eyes


The psychopath's bewildering ways of talking
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr. Steve writes that psychopaths frequently make contradictory statements, construct strange words and talk in logical fallacies. He asks Lovefraud readers to supply examples of the bewildering speech of psychopaths--and a lively discussion ensued. Read The psychopath's bewildering ways of talking


Aggression
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New research seems to indicate that aggression can be as emotionally rewarding as food and sex, Dr. Steve writes. Many people who have tangled with a psychopath have learned to become more aggressive to protect themselves. Is there pleasure in it? Read Aggression


Differentiating narcissists and psychopaths
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a guest post, Steve Becker, LCSW, CH.T, explains that although narcissists and psychopaths behave in similar ways, the reasons for their behavior are different. Read Differentiating narcissists and psychopaths

Juno The Movie Versus Real Birth Moms
By Terri Rimmer
Published Yesterday
Chlidren
Rating: Unrated
Terri Rimmer
Terri Rimmer has 24 years of journalism experience, having worked for ten newspapers and some magazines. Currently she writes for http://associatedcontent.com. She has a daughter, McKenna, whom she placed for adoption in August 2000. Ms. Rimmer published her e-book "MacKenzie's Hope" on http://booklocker.com under the family heading. It's also listed on http://adopting.com. She resides in Fort Worth, TX. In 2007 she won a Media Award from Associated Content and in 2005 she received a grant from Change, Inc.
View all articles by Terri Rimmer
Does the film depict what adoption is really like?
A lot of talk has been going on about the popular teen movie “Juno” about a girl who gets pregnant and places her child for adoption.



The movie takes the typical safe route in a lot of ways when it comes to portraying birth moms in a realistic light, that is to say they did not do so. Instead they opted for the story to be a closed adoption and for the birth mom on screen to be viewed as a smart-alecky brat who moves on after saying goodbye to her baby without incident. This is, of course, what society preaches and the film did birth moms no favors with regard to telling a real story. I can tell you as a birth mom involved in a semi-open adoption that you don’t “just move on” after placing your child into the arms of his or her new parents. But society wants us to do just that so they don’t have to deal with our grief.



I can count on one hand how many people actually acknowledged my pain and let me grieve.



Many bloggers have made their opinions known on various boards across the country, some who have no experience with adoption, others who do.



But, I think this birth mom hit the nail on the head when she said, “Giving your child up is not the simple solution this movie has made it out to be nor is the closed adoption it advocates healthy for the mother or child.” (http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2007/12/31/juno-misses-chance-to-address-abortion-honestly).



One statement made by someone who saw the film was that just because the adoptive parents were rich was no reason for the birth mom to choose them. Yes, the adoptive parents of my little girl are better off than me, but that is not the entire reason I chose them

. No money does not necessarily equal happiness but in my case I knew they would be able to provide things for her that I would not be able to and I’m not talking about ponies and a tiara. As it turns out my birth daughter wound up with a medical condition and the adoptive parents I chose are both nurses though when I picked them I did not know she was going to have a problem at the time.



Another person stated on one of the websites after seeing the film that birth moms shouldn’t make sure that adoptive parents get their need fulfilled by furnishing them with a child. It’s not about getting their needs filled. It’s a lot more than that. In my case, the adoptive parents of my little girl went through three miscarriages and three birth moms changing their mind before they met me. So to say they have been through a lot in that arena is putting it mildly.



Someone else made the comment that if the character in the film is supposed to be so “whip-smart” as described in movie reviews, why did she get pregnant? Well, I have been called smart yet I got pregnant because for 14 years I didn’t think I could conceive.



The fact that the screenwriter chose to make the film “quirky, funny, and smarmy” says a lot about how society isn’t ready to deal with the real picture of adoption when it comes to birth moms. And they even have a line of merchandise to go with the movie like it’s all a game. Oh, and don’t forget the hip soundtrack.



And another thing: A closed adoption doesn’t mean that the birth mom hangs out at the adoptive couple’s house all the time. In fact, in reality she would have no idea of where they live or who they are.



Note to filmmakers: Next time you want to make a realistic adoption movie, talk to some real birth moms, adoptive parents, and adoptees.

Terri Rimmer,

You've been published on Associated Content! View your content here:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/550755/reproduction_rally_.html