About Lackawanna County, PA

It has been many years since our government honored our returning war dead. Dover Air Force base has long been the destination for our fallen heroes return to.

Having served their country in war and conflict, they have made the ultimate sacrifice for us. The first U.S. soil they come home to is Dover Delaware.

For years that somber sorrowful moment has been withheld from the public. The press has been forbidden from covering it. The returning remains in flag draped coffins are handled respectfully by a military team.

They are slowly carried down a ramp from a cargo plane while taps is played and transferred to waiting hearses. The only other people to mourn for them or pay respects are the devastated families.

This practice has existed through several administrations. President Bush did not feel it was appropriate for him to be there, but rather to meet privately with the families.

Our heroes returned to their homeland, having proudly served their government, without any significant government official present to receive them.


On Thursday a clear fall night, the president and staff members traveled to Dover on a 40-minute helicopter ride from the White House. He immediately sat down privately with all the family members in a base chapel.

The solemn process of transferring remains of 15 soldiers and three Drug
Enforcement Administration agents unfolded in four separate movements.
Obama took part in all of them. A chaplain offered prayers for the fallen.

President Obama lifted the ban on the press and allowed families to determine whether or not their loved ones remains would be photographed during the return.

President Obama arrived after midnight and met with the families. He solemnly saluted the coffins as each of our brave Americans passed by him. He returned to the White House at about 4:45 am.

I don't believe the ban should have ever been placed on this moment and hidden from the American Public. I commend President Obama for choosing to remove the ban and that he was present to honor a large number our valiant soldiers.

Thank you President Obama.

This is a public post.

These are the rules of conduct. Anyone who wishes to comment regardless of ideology are welcome to do so. Posters who leave comments that are personal attacks or name calling directed at the blogger or other commentators will be deleted. Posters who include an accusation of racism either against the commentators or the content of the post will be deleted. There will be no tolerance for racism of any kind. At the discretion of the author non-conforming or inflammatory comments will be deleted.

________________________________________

It was reported today that The National Institute of Health is conducting studies into the affects that guns have on health.

This same type of study was discontinued by the CDC more than 10 years ago and deemed useless. Under the Obama administration it has been handed quietly to another agency to continue.

Gun owners should be aware that this is taking place and the possible implications it may have. I'm sure anyone with common sense will know that teenagers who carry guns, drink and hang out on corners are more likely to be involved in a shooting incident than other teens.

Read the linked article for more. U.S. Quietly begins to study gun safety.

The administration is spending your tax dollars why?

"Gun related violence is a public health problem - it diverts considerable health care resources away from other problems and, therefore, is of interest to NIH," Don Ralbovsky, NIH spokesman, wrote in an e-mail responding to questions about the grants.

"These particular grants do not address gun control; rather they deal with the surrounding web of circumstances involved in many violent crimes, especially how alcohol policy may reduce the public health burden from gun-related injury and death," he said.

Republican lawmakers have questioned the value of these studies. "They're also leery of NIH research relating to firearms in general, recalling how 13 years ago the House voted to cut CDC funding when critics complained that the agency was trying to win public support for gun control.

"It's almost as if someone's been looking for a way to get this study done ever since the Centers for Disease Control was banned from doing it 10 years ago," Rep. Joe L. Barton, Texas Republican, said of one of the NIH studies. "But it doesn't make any more sense now than it did then."(Washington Times)

________________________________________________

President Obama certainly has enough on his plate these days - no doubt.

He is busy saving the nation from itself and saving the world from us. One would think he could find a micro minute between flights to sign a pardon.


Late black heavyweight champion Jack Johnson was sent to prison nearly a century ago because of his romantic ties with a white woman.

John McCain has been urging a presidential pardon for Johnson, who was convicted in 1913 of violating the Mann Act, which made it illegal to transport women across state lines for immoral purposes. The law has since been heavily amended, but has not been repealed.


Since Johnson’s death, there have been a couple attempts to grant him a posthumous pardon, and Sen. John McCain is now asking President Obama for a second time to pardon Johnson.

Senator John McCain of Arizona spoke publicly October 17, 2009 about pressing President Obama to posthumously pardon black heavy weight champion boxer, Jack Johnson. McCain, and cohort, Rep. King (R) from New York, who both have amateur boxing in their background, drafted a letter to the President in August stating that after years of trying, the resolution to pardon the boxer, Jack Johnson, has been passed in both chambers of Congress. Now, they would like the President to take action on this matter.

In Friday’s new letter they wrote, “Regrettably, we have not received a response from you or any member of your administration,” adding that they hoped Obama would be eager to “right this wrong and erase an act of racism that sent an American citizen to prison.”He and New York Rep. Peter King requested one in April of this year, but the White House did not respond, so they’re trying again.

______________________________________________

GET DEBT OFF YOUR BACK !

When It's Raining ~

The Ideas Are Pouring

On Active Rain

Whether you are a potential home buyer, a renter or you already own your home debt is a burden you can live without.

Last year I started listening to Suzy Orman and Dave Ramsey tout the benefits of being debt free. Like many Americans today I felt debt was a necessary evil.

I was making higher than minimum payments on credit cards. My balances still did not go down significantly.

Some of the advice from hard core "debt free" devotees is a little hard to follow, at least for my lifestyle. You do not have to change ALL your habits to be successful at paying down debt.

Debt translates directly to your FICO or credit score. Your credit score dictates the cost you will pay for a mortgage or car loan. In some instances it prevents you from owning the home of your dreams. You can make a significant impact on your score by adopting new habits.

The road to changing my life came gradually. We will be writing a few articles to give you some ideas. If you want to improve your credit score and reduce your debt you may find this information valuable.

Start by reviewing your spending. Keep a log of everything you spend for an entire month.

Write down lunches, newspapers, magazines, movies, latte etc. I was astounded at how much I frittered away.

I listed all of my "necessary evil" payments. Mortgage, car payment, car insurance, cable, phone service etc. Looking at the necessary payments I could not see any wiggle room. Where will I get additional money to pay down credit card and loan balances?

I decided to investigate the cost of auto insurance. A word of caution here. Many insurance companies base your premium on your credit score. Inquires by insurance companies into your credit file can cause your FICO score to go down.

I googled all the insurance companies who do not pull a credit report. Many national firms will quote you and not base your premium on credit score.

My first call was eye opening. I was quoted by a national company a premium that was $2300.00 less annually then what I had been paying for years. The coverage was identical. Additionally by having the same insurance company write my homeowners I saved an another $500 a year.

I had just paid my annual homeowners premium so I received a $500 refund check. I was saving about $180 a month on my car insurance under the new company.

The first month I paid $680.00 on my credit card balances.

That was a nice chunk. What was nicer was seeing a balance go down significantly.

My next project was my phone bill. I need a land line and a dedicated fax line. I had unlimited free calling in the U.S. with Verizon. My bill was $90 per month. My dedicated fax line cost $32.00 a month.

I investigated Vonage. For $42.00 a month I have all the same features, 2 lines plus International free calling. A savings of $80 per month.

Two changes in my comfort zone equaled a savings of $260.00 per month that I could use to pay down debt. That's an additional $3120.00 to apply to my debt annually.

Look at your own lifestyle. What can you change? It does not have to be painful to be successful.

In subsequent articles we'll outline more finance strategy.

Find more spare change - Budget Expense

Which credit or debt to pay down first

Balance credit to maximize your score

_____________________________________

Information provided by Scranton Board of Realtors and deemed to be correct. Author is not responsible for any inaccuracies or typographical errors.