"Home" for the Holidays?

Nov 21, 2009 - Most of my life I've often wondered why Thanksgiving seemed to be for many families a trigger word for family dysfuction.  Why individuals couldn't just let that disagreement with another family member go for one bloody day and enjoy some good food and conversation with more pleasant family members.  I have to keep reminding my self that I'm pragmatic by nature and that is apparently unusual. I found an article with some helpful tips.   Holidays are meant to be happy, joyous and life-affirming times. - 4 Comments

U.S. Fears Iraq Won't Keep Up Rebuilt Projects

Nov 21, 2009 - BAGHDAD — In its largest reconstruction effort since the Marshall Plan, the United States government has spent $53 billion for relief and reconstruction in Iraq since the 2003 invasion, building tens of thousands of hospitals, water treatment plants, electricity substations, schools and bridges. But there are growing concerns among American officials that Iraq will not be able to adequately maintain the facilities once the Americans have left, potentially wasting hundreds of millions of dollars and jeopardizing Iraq’s ability to provide basic services to its people. The projects run the gamut — from a cutting-edge, $270 million water treatment plant in Nasiriya that works at a fraction of its intended capacity because it is too sophisticated for Iraqi workers to operate, to a farmers’ market that farmers cannot decide how to share, to a large American hospital closed immediately after it was handed over to Iraq because the government was unable to supply it with equipment, a medical staff or electricity. - 5 Comments

Confused on what to do about my cousin's husband...

Nov 20, 2009 - Well I just Very Very recently turned 20... and I've noticed my cousin (by marriage) has been staring at me. The other day when I'd come home from a party I was dressed nice and my friend loet me borrow a low cut shirt - I don't usually wear them I feel uncomfortable wearing them, but I figured wth it's a party anyway - I hadn't really noticed he was staring at the time because my cousin and I were in a heated discussion about family problems. - 3 Comments

My father is unbearable and I can't get away

Nov 20, 2009 - This year has been rough for my family. My parents decided to up and leave their California home to move across the country--after quitting their jobs and realizing their new home was not for them they moved back only to lose money, a house, and are jobless in this economy. Myself included in this brought me to live with them again as I was away at school until budget cuts ceased my opportunity to stay there. - 3 Comments

Mary Landrieu sold her vote on health care for $100 million it appears.

Nov 20, 2009 - ABC News' Jonathan Karl reports: What does it take to get a wavering senator to vote for health care reform? Here’s a case study. On page 432 of the Reid bill, there is a section increasing federal Medicaid subsidies for “certain states recovering from a major disaster.” The section spends two pages defining which “states” would qualify, saying, among other things, that it would be states that “during the preceding 7 fiscal years” have been declared a “major disaster area.” I am told the section applies to exactly one state: Louisiana, the home of moderate Democrat Mary Landrieu, who has been playing hard to get on the health care bill. - 2 Comments