The “NEW” American Dream is to:

• NOT have your house foreclosed or to NOT have the Sheriff on your doorstep, eviction notice in hand.
• NOT have your job outsourced to Podunktut, India.  And, to NOT have to train your replacement by video link as you sit with the want ads on your desk.  And, to NOT have that Indian replacement possess a third grade vocabulary of English with an accent even a mother couldn’t understand.
• NOT have your car repossessed at 4 AM, with the alarm  waking your neighbors to announce your new carless status.
• Make it from one payday to the next and NOT have to use credit cards (if you’re lucky enough to have one) or savings (if you’re lucky enough to have any) to meet the mortgage or rent, make the car payment, keep the utilities connected, pay the phone bill.
• Remain healthy enough to NOT need medication that costs $1700 a month, and is NOT covered by your Health Plan…assuming you’re lucky enough to HAVE a health plan.
• NOT be disabled and in need of assistance from the government.  If you are disabled, the Dream is to NOT have your disability claim rejected out of hand, which happens fully two-thirds of the time for Social Security and Disability applications.
• If you are disabled and drawing benefits, the Dream is for it NOT to stop because some worker at some desk in some office in some city far, far away ticked the wrong check box and your payments are stopped arbitrarily, without notice and NOT one word of explanation as to why.
• NOT have to park your SUV because you can’t buy gas, and to NOT have to ride your kid’s bicycle to work.
• To have your children vaccinated and NOT be struck with Autism Spectrum Disorder the next week.
• NOT need social services, because they’re NOT there anymore.  If you are fortunate enough to actually be receiving services, the Dream is for those services NOT to stop because the budget requires a cut, the agency decides you do NOT qualify anymore and they give you a phone number to call for help that is NOT answered…NOT ever.
• NOT be trapped in a dead end, go nowhere job for year after year.  Can’t NOT work, can’t quit, can’t get promoted, can’t get a raise.  Can’t talk to the boss, twenty years younger (or older) than you and you do NOT speak the same language, and you are NOT able to avoid the conflicts that causes.
• Have your children make it home NOT having been molested, shot at, threatened, raped, beat up or robbed on their way home from grammar school.
• NOT be arrested due to profiling.  The Dream is to NOT be noticed and to NOT match any names on the “No-Fly” list.
• NOT have to fly in a commercial aircraft in the first place.  To NOT have to pay for the oxygen mask that will drop when the aircraft runs out of fuel because the company does NOT fill the tanks, in order to save money they do NOT have because they just filed bankruptcy.
• NOT flunk out of school, to NOT have student aid stopped, to NOT have your laptop stolen.  The Dream is also NOT to die of alcohol poisoning from ingesting as much booze in as short a time as is humanly possible.
• NOT have your personal data phished, pharmed or otherwise compromised.  The Dream is to NOT have your bank account cleaned out, to NOT have your savings disappear and to NOT have your credit score tank because of identity theft.
• NOT fail.  The Dream is NOT to succeed, it’s to NOT fail.  Big difference.
• NOT be carjacked, assaulted, murdered, beaten, raped or robbed. To NOT be in the invaded home, to NOT be taken hostage by a mentally deranged, just fired, extremely unstable man (or woman) with several guns and a LOT of ammunition and even more anger, who does NOT care about living or dying.
• NOT be shot at work by a disgruntled employee with a grudge.
• Have your teenagers NOT die while they’re teenagers.  Although invulnerable and immortal, the young DO die, through violence, accident and even intentionally.  The Dream is to have sufficient contact and communication so you have at least a peripheral awareness of the trials of growing up in this new and terrifying world.
• NOT come down with Alzheimer’s Disease.  The Dream is to NOT be relegated to a long term health care facility, to NOT fall and break a hip, to NOT develop diabetes, dementia or any debilitating disease that will rob you of your faculties, your job, your home, your savings and your children’s inheritance.
• NOT see your parents decline into abject poverty because the social programs have deteriorated, do NOT provide for even the necessities of life and do NOT have a chance in hell of getting any better.
• NOT die because you opened a letter bomb or slit open an envelope with spores of destruction in it.
• NOT have cancer. Period.
• NOT be on the radar.  NOT the Justice Department, NOT the IRS, NOT the Immigration and Naturalization Service, NOT the Department of Homeland Security, NOT the DEA, CIA, FBI, DIA or the Secret Service.
• NOT be shot on the highway by an enraged motorist carrying automatic weapons in the back seat of his armored Hummer.
• NOT need.  Pure and simple, to NOT NEED!  If you DO need, that need will NOT be met, and future needs will NOT be met, either.
• NOT lose a family member, friend, spouse or neighbor to an unwinnable war in a faraway place, where Americans are NOT welcome, NOT wanted, are reviled, resented and truly hated.
• NOT be poor, miserable, disabled, sick, injured or unemployable.
• NOT be a victim. To NOT be stashed in a trunk, NOT thrown from the bridge, NOT buried in the woods, NOT tied to a tree, NOT shot and left to die and NOT stabbed 28 times.
• NOT be a “person of interest.”  NOT for anything, NOT ever.
• NOT be old, NOT be fat, NOT be unpopular, NOT be on the outside, looking in.
• NOT have a Dream.  Because dreams are artificial, false, hopeful and NOT attainable.  NOT in today’s society, NOT in today’s economic climate, NOT with today’s politics, NOT with today’s policies.

The new American Dream is unattainable, unless you have a lot of money, live in a gated and patrolled community, can afford state of the art security and have a room full of weapons (in your concrete and steel “safe room) to protect yourself from the people who do NOT have a lot of money, do NOT live in a gated and patrolled community, have NO security but DO have a room full of weapons at home.

Be talkin’ to you……………………………..Webrydr

Other posts will teach you to pronounce “semi-arcane” spirits such as Patxaran (PAH-cher-ahn), Korean and Filipino dishes, Italian wines, French cheeses and exotic cookware.

How utterly Boomerlicious!

With the long holiday weekend looming, be sure to look for the Star-Spangled Mixers pictured above … you’ll have to go to the site to get all of the mixing instructions. There’s a chocolate covered strawberry daiquairi that looks and sounds really yummy. Instead of swirling chocolate syrup in the glass, try Magic Shell, which hardens when something cold hits it. Looks gorgeous.

This site has a bunch of party themes with menu and decorating suggestions. Coming soon is a link with digital invites that you customize and use to keep track of your guest list.

Have fun!

P.S. I am not associated with any of the companies I mention. I just enjoy finding and sharing fun things.

CDC.gov shows that the 45-to-54 age group had a suicide rate of 17.6 per every 100,000 people. The second highest was the 75-to-84 age range, with a rate of 16.4, followed by those between 35 and 44, with a 16.3.

What was more saddening to me were the comments that followed the story from around the web:

“This world is rapidly becoming unlivable. I promised my late parents that I would never commit suicide or I’d be making such plans”
-Anonymous

“One of my neighbors mentioned that she hates to see her social security statement, because her survivor benefits for her young family are more than her current income. She says it means she’s worth more dead than alive.” -Anonymous

I found myself wondering how people in this great generation have found themselves in such misery that they question the value of life. I hope a site like babyboomers.com succeeds in its mission to unite baby boomers. It is more important now than it’s ever been.

Popular destinations for dental care

Mexico and Central America

Quality dental care is available in many countries around the globe.  For Europeans and people in the UK, Hungary is a popular location, though a bit distant for many Americans. India and Thailand also offer excellent care at considerable savings, but are really, really far away making them impractical for North Americans.

People in the States find Mexico and Central America to be the best bet. Those in border towns often drive to Mexico for dentistry, though the escalating drug wars are cutting into trips. Frequent flights, short flight times and inexpensive ticket prices make other Central American destinations attractive for dental travelers from the States.

Central American locations are popular choices for more than their proximity to the US and their temperate climates. Countries in that part of the Americas, being closer to the US, are more likely to dentists who speak English fluently, come here for training and maybe even have practiced here at some point in their careers.

Quality care can be found in all three countries. As the table illustrates, there are differences between the destinations. Overall, Pan American Dental Tours chose Panama because of its overall superior profile.

Comparing Dental Travel Locations

Flags (top to bottom): Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama

Why Panama

1. English-Speaking Dentists

The English-speaking tradition is a strong one. Many dentists have trained, or even practiced in the States  and belong to the American Dental Association.

2. Safety

Panama City is a modern, bustling metropolis. Forbes Magazine and Business Week, among many other sources, consider Panama to be a top choice for Americans choosing to retire to a safe country.  Headlines of drug wars, kidnappings and death make Mexico a dicey place to visit. San Jose, the Capital of Costa Rica, where dental tourists go, is in many ways a Third World city. The US State Department warns the visitor.

3. Ease of Travel

On the ground, you can drive comfortably in Panama.  Roads do not abruptly end and turn to rubble (you can lose your fillings driving in many parts of Costa Rica).

4. Eco-tourism

Lonely Planet says, “Panama’s biodiversity is staggering – the country is home to 218 mammal species, 226 species of reptile, 164 amphibian species and 125 animal species found nowhere else in the world. Panama also boasts 940 avian species, which is the largest number in Central America.

5. US Dollar

From the capital city to the smallest villages, you can pay with the US dollar and even get change in dollars and coins. No fumbling with conversion rates, and hefty credit cards exchange fees will not affect you.

How to Find a Dentist Abroad

As this quote from a respected travel authority notes, the prospective dental tourist must be prepared to spend time to locate dentists. It’s even more than locating the dentists. A patient needs to have a fair amount of knowledge about dentistry and the specific procedures they require, which takes even more time. The typical patient is looking to get quality care at a savings, not a dental degree. Sometimes language gets in the way. Frustrating long distance calls to offices where English is not spoke is costly, time consuming and sometimes nerve-wracking.

The dental tourist can simplify the process and reduce their anxiety about making choices.

Finding a dentist

Friends

Recommendations from satisfied friends who have been treated abroad is always a great way to start a search.  You should find out the work that was done, the factors that appealed to your friend and their impressions of the place where he/she was treated. Their needs may be very different than your own, because they had different work done or prefer a personality that you do not like.

Internet

Web searches for “dental tourism” will yield results, in fact at last count, 1.240,000 results. The top results will include many medical tourism companies, and even the sites of dentists who offer to treat dental tourists. There must be an easier way.

Dental Tourism Facilitators

A new industry has sprung to help the dental travelers find the care they need. Dental Tourism facilitators can help the patient looking for care.  These facilitators often have relationships with dentists and sometimes tour companies in one or more locations and they work to make the process easier.

Facilitators are usually paid by the dentists, so the patient can save time and also get the knowledge base of the facilitator at no cost.  Although the facilitator has a vested interest in promoting the professionals they are partnered with, they depend on satisfied clients and referrals, so their interest is in satisfying clients.

Travelers should vet the facilitator they choose. Many facilitators work across the spectrum of medical procedures, making it unlikely they have met dentists they recommend or ever inspected their offices. Ask how they chose the dentist they recommend and when they met.

Even then, the dental traveler should exert caution. Some facilitators are travel agents and may not have specific healthcare and dental experience.

Can the facilitator provide any references from patients treated by the dentist they recommend? Do the credentials of the dentist themselves meet a set of criteria—where and when were they educated and trained? What professional societies do they belong to?

On the Ground: What a patient needs to consider

How do I know exactly what work will be done when I get in the dental chair?

Reputable facilitators will only work with patients who provide Treatment Plans and x-rays from a US dentist. Why? A patient wants/needs to know what something will cost before flying to another country. The dentist who will do the work must be able to see what is needed. As professionals, they may recommend the same, more, or less work. So the patient will know what they are getting when they arrive for treatment.  (Note: Some patients are embarrassed or afraid to ask their dentist for a copy of records. Dentists get these requests often. Federal HIPAA law says that patients are entitled to copies of medical and dental records.

How much time will it take?

Different procedures require different amounts of time. Work such as veneers, root canals or fitting for bridges or dentures can be done in one trip, with time between fitting, lab work and placement.

Implants require two visits, each about a week in length. The first visit will be for the surgery. During that visit, the dentist will see a patient upon arrival to confirm the necessary work, do the surgery on Day 2, and then check the patient as needed before they leave for home. During the second visit, crowns are made and fitted.

Can a patient travel after the work?

Patients will be free to travel between appointments or even arrange appointments to maximize travel days. In the case of implants, the second trip is only for the fitting of the crowns, which allows for ample travel time. (author’s note: I recently had implants and was pain-free after leaving the office)

What if there is a problem after arriving home?

Most dental procedures are time tested and relatively uneventful. Even major procedures like dental implants are more than 95% successful. Most problems will be detected between the time of the surgery and the visit before returning home. Still, apossibility always exists that a problem may occur after arriving home.  There is no reason a patient cannot a local dentist if necessary. Extremely cautious patients may want to purchase low-cost insurance policies from their facilitator. These policies provide ample coverage for anything that may occur when the patient gets home.

Who is the Ideal Dental Traveler?

Although every dental patient wants quality dental care at the best price, not everyone is cut out for dental travel.  Let’s paint a picture of the ideal dental tourist. He or she:

1. realizes that the US is not the only country with qualified dentists. Dental “authorities” may downgrade the quality of care abroad, or claim that sanitary conditions are inadequate. The same authorities would not dare repeat those claims to International colleagues when they meet at the American dental Association meeting or at a post-grad class at NYU!

2. has the time.  Some people may find that travel is preferable to the routine of running off to the dentist at lunch hour and returning to the office. As the author of a feature on dental tourism in the New York Times said “Remarkably, some patients argue that a flight and a few hours in the dental chair is less hassle than having to rush back to the office half-sedated. For others, turning a trip to the dentist into a family vacation takes their mind off pending procedures.”

3. feels comfortable traveling.  People who like to travel find the “free” vacations in a spot they may have overlooked to be a bonus. And as noted above, the anticipation of a vacation may take some of the fearful anticipation from a dental visit. If you have never been out of the US, this may not be the best time to start.

4. needs more than $10 thousand of work in the US. Patients who need more work will save more money. A patient who needs one implant may pay for their vacation with the amount they save, but the patient who needs six implants will pay for their travel and realizes large cash savings. Summed Up

Summary

Escalating dental costs are making many Americans consider treatment alternatives.  The global economy has made it easier to get equivalent care at substantial savings.  And, dare we say it, dental tourism is an option that may make treatment more fun than a white-knuckled drive to the dentist’s office at lunchtime. It’s not for everyone, but if you do your homework, this may be a chance to combine the work you’ve been delaying with a great vacation.

Driving into Panama City, Panama

1. Get enough sleep! A rested mind is a sharper mind. Eight to 10 hours of sleep a night will aid both attention span and concentration.

2. Schedule study/homework sessions for the same time each day. A consistent schedule makes it easier to establish study time as a daily habit.

3. Choose a quiet, comfortable place for study where basic supplies, such as paper, sharpened pencils, erasers, scissors, dictionary, etc., are handy. Again, consistency is helpful. Turn off the television and any loud music.

4. Use a calendar or planner to keep track of daily assignments.

5. Don’t procrastinate! Begin working on assignments the same day they are given, even if it’s just to break the assignment into steps and set deadline dates for each task.

6. If you get bored, switch to another subject/task for a while.

7. Take short breaks every 30 to 60 minutes (the older the student, the longer he/she can go between breaks).

8. Read every day; elementary students should begin with a minimum of 15 minutes.

9. Whenever appropriate, encourage children to do their homework independently.

10. Eat healthy meals and snacks. Just as with adequate sleep, nutrition can influence performance.

Questions like these are common for children facing relocation away from their extended families. Increasingly, employees are rejecting bigger jobs with bigger salaries in order to keep the family together, notes Rita Goldhammer, co-author of “A Moving Experience”, but for those who do relocate, there are several strategies for bridging the miles.

“You can keep the family close spiritually, if not geographically,” Goldhammer asserts. “This issue is key to a successful relocation, and corporations are paying attention to the potential negative impact on families.”

Goldhammer and her co-author, Margery Pabst, note that there are specific, actionable strategies that spell success for relocation. Furthermore, they believe families can — and do — strengthen their relationships if these specific strategies are followed.

Before You Move:

* Establish a photo album for yourself and the family (grandparents etc.) you are leaving behind.

* Plan to take photos regularly to exchange.

* Create a video of your favorite family stories. Make sure everyone has a copy for viewing.

* Plan for the next time you will get together. This will help everyone seeing each other.

When You Are Apart:

* Collect clippings from papers, mementos from events in your new community to share with family when you see them.

* Send information on school progress.

* Establish a 1-800 number or shop around for best deals on long distance.

* Make or buy gifts that contribute to ongoing projects i.e. a stuffed animal collection a model railroad.

When you are together:

* Establish traditions. Make sure everyone gets to contribute to the building of the traditions.

* Celebrate when you are together. If this means having Thanksgiving in August, great!

* Celebrate multiple events. For example, celebrate all the birthdays that will be coming up when you are apart.

* Develop a family diary in a loose leaf binder. Everyone can write when you are apart and then assemble the diary when you are together.

* Meet at a midpoint (geographically) if traveling to a family household is too difficult.

According to Pabst’s and Goldhammer’s own research, families can grow stronger and closer as the result of a move when they enlist strategies such as those listed above. The authors central message to families “on the move”: focus on the positive aspects of growth and development presented by a move. “That makes relocation most rewarding,” Goldhammer concludes.

For more information, contact Pabst and Goldhammer at (612) 290-0205.

Courtesy of Article Resource Association, www.aracopy.com

At the Airport

• Never leave your bags unattended. Airport crime is prevalent because crowds provide good cover. Always have an eye on your belongings.
• Watch out at security checkpoints. Wait until the entrance to the checkpoint is clear before placing your bags on the x-ray conveyor. Criminals working in tandem often purposely set off the alarm and block the way as your belongings go down the conveyor belt and their partners take off with your things. If a guard stops you, do not take your eyes off of your bags on the conveyor. If you are traveling with someone, work as a team. One of you should pass through the checkpoint before anything is placed on the conveyor, so he/she can be waiting as the items come through.
• Exercise caution when using pay phones or ATM machines. It’s easy to have your long distance or ATM PIN (Personal ID Number) stolen in busy public areas.

On the Plane

• Take your seat promptly and stow your bags.
• Watch your alcohol consumption. Every alcoholic beverage consumed in flight equals three on the ground. Drunken passengers are a potential danger to all on board.
• If you’re traveling with children, come prepared. Pack books, crayons, toys, snacks, diapers, wipes, etc. You cannot count on the airline to provide anything. You may want to request seats at the bulkhead where there is more room.
• Improve your chances of getting some sleep on an extended flight by packing an inflatable neck pillow, a sleep mask and ear plugs. If you’re using a blanket, fasten your seat belt over the blanket so the flight attendants will not have to disturb you should the “fasten seat belts” light go on. Ask for a seat away from the galley and bathrooms so there is less traffic around you.
• Make sure you pack one small carry-on bag that contains the bare essentials for one to two days — e.g. toothbrush, underwear, an extra shirt, and all necessary documents. Knowing that you have the basics will allow you to relax if connecting flights are missed, etc.

Courtesy of Article Resource Association, www.aracopy.com

“Even if your tool box is somewhat scarce, there are several things around the house to get prepared for winter that just about anybody can do,” Allen said. Following is Allen’s list of the top ten fall projects that homeowners can do to prepare their homes for the cold winter months ahead.

10. Clean the chimney (you never know what might be coming down it)

9. Spread mulch over flower beds (don’t put mulch over wife’s flowered bedspread)

8. Inspect and clean the furnace (unless you have an enormous surplus of wool blankets)

7.. Install storm windows (trust me, it’s simple)

6. Check the roof for leaks and damaged shingles (I got that tip from Noah himself)

5. Clean the gutters (you wouldn’t believe the things I’ve found up there)

4. Drain sediment from the water heater (this one’s guaranteed to add excitement to your day)

3. Check for proper insulation (improper insulation is simply in bad taste)

2. Repair cracks in concrete walkways (before the winter ice finds them first)

1. Seal out drafts (remember, you go in your home to stay out of the wind)

Checking for proper insulation and sealing out drafts will make your home more comfortable and energy efficient during the winter months. Each fall, check doors and windows throughout your home for drafts. Use weather stripping around drafty doors and windows, and seal out drafts from windows with a custom insulator kit. Install insulation throughout your home where needed. Try using TAST’s award-winning Nack Knife for cutting weather stripping and insulation to size. The Nack Knife is the first utility knife to feature a rotary cartridge of 30 sharp blades that can be changed with the flick of a switch. This feature makes it safer than other utility knives because blades never have to be manually changed.

Fall projects also can be great opportunities to spend time with family. Encourage children to help, or supervise their work with projects around the house. Sealing out drafts and installing storm windows are examples of fall projects that are safe and easy enough to invite the participation of children. TAST has a line of children’s tools and project kits that introduce them to tools, enabling them to make small repairs and to build things on their own.

Tim Allen founded TAST in 1996 with the intent to take something he loves – tools – and turn it into a venture that allowed him to help children and their families. Allen donates a portion of his profits from TAST to kids’ educational and charitable programs. TAST aims to bridge the gap between the innovator and the end consumer by welcoming inventors to submit their tool inventions and ideas. TAST manufactures a full line of innovative tools and accessories for adults and children. For more information, contact Christine McConnell, Karwoski & Courage Public Relations, (612) 342-4344 phone, (612) 342-9700 fax, E-mail: cmcconn@martinwilliams.com.

Courtesy of Article Resource Association, www.aracopy.com

What should you get for your favorite grad?

• Don’t settle for a traditional personal calendar/address book. Buy a pocket-sized electronic one instead.
• Typewriters are a thing of the past, but a nifty laptop computer is bound to be well received.
• No more stationery! Send your graduate off with a pre-paid phone card, beeper or cellular phone as a way to stay in touch.
• Can’t afford a trip to Europe? A virtual vacation is the next best thing. Visit www.virtual-vacation.com send your graduate to an exotic location.
• Before you buy that suit, think khakis and cords. More and more businesses are loosening their ties and dressing down several days a week.
• Off to the dorm? Today’s college students aren’t content with a hot plate and Mom and Dad’s hand-me-down turntable. Boomboxes and CD’s are the ticket, and while you’re at it, throw in a VCR, color television and microwave, too.
• Or, if a monetary gift suits you best, don’t be too quick to give cash. Why not start your graduate off on the right foot with a contribution to a Roth IRA in his or her name?

Courtesy of Article Resource Association, www.aracopy.com