Please take a moment of your time to share what you are thankful for, and stay tuned until thanksgiving day when I share to you what I am thankful for.
Miscellaneous
Breast Cancer Screening Changes
Changes over breast cancer screenings are becoming quite controvercial by some, even saying that the effects of the proposed health care reform is already taking shape. So what exactly are the changes?
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
- The USPSTF recommends against teaching breast self-examination (BSE).
- The USPSTF recommends against routine screening mammography in women aged 40 to 49 years.
- The USPSTF recommends biennial screening mammography for women aged 50 to 74 years.
American Cancer Society Responds to Changes to USPSTF Mammography Guidelines
Below is a statement from Otis W. Brawley, M.D., chief medical officer, American Cancer Society.“The American Cancer Society continues to recommend annual screening using mammography and clinical breast examination for all women beginning at age 40. Our experts make this recommendation having reviewed virtually all the same data reviewed by the USPSTF, but also additional data that the USPSTF did not consider. When recommendations are based on judgments about the balance of risks and benefits, reasonable experts can look at the same data and reach different conclusions.”
For more of the statement, please click here.
Making Sense of New Mammography Recommendations
That fact that the USPSTF and the American Cancer Society now have different screening recommendations for women in their 40s simply reinforces the importance of educating yourself about the potential risks and benefits of screening, talking with your physician, and making the decision that’s right for you. This point is highlighted by the USPSTF, which notes “The decision to start regular, biennial screening mammography before the age of 50 years should be an individual one and take patient context into account, including the patient’s values regarding specific benefits and harms.”
My Personal Story
Fourteen years ago, at the age of 36, my mother was performing a self breast exam and found a lump. The worst thing a woman could find while doing an exam. Some of the most horrifying thoughts raced through her mind, only to be confirmed in a few weeks. That’s right. She had full on, heavily advanced stage breast cancer. The operation soon followed with a radical mastectomy, and chemo appointments soon filled her schedule. Fast forward through nine horrible years of cancer, having lost half of her intestines, and being bed-riden, she lost her life. At the age of 45, my mother passed away from breast cancer. She was a healthy person. She ate well. She was slightly active. However, the breast cancer didn’t care about any of that.
Ultimately, people will say these new guidelines aren’t all that bad. Then they will try to throw statistics at you. All you need to know, male and female, is to check yourself. Educate yourself on the proper way to perform a self breast exam. Husbands, help remind your spouse. Wives, help remind your spouse. The two of you could even help eachother.
Do not rely on someone else to do everything for you. Take an active role with your lives.
Ford Posts $1 Billion Third Quarter Profit
Years ago when everyone was scratching their heads at Ford Motor Company as they made huge changes, the tables have turned as Ford posts a third quarter profit of $997. It seems that when the private sector is allowed to correct itself, it does. Ford saw problems in the future and adjusted their way of business, while General Motors and Chrysler continued down the same failed path.
Bloomberg – Ford Earns $997 Million on Better Prices for Vehicles
Ford Motor Co., the only major U.S. automaker to avoid bankruptcy, rose after posting an unexpected third-quarter net income of $997 million, its first operating profit since early 2008 on smaller discounts and higher sales.On an adjusted basis, Ford reported a quarterly pretax profit of $1.1 billion, or 26 cents a share, compared with a year-earlier loss of $3 billion, or $1.32. Ford beat the 20 cents a share adjusted loss estimated by an average of 11 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. It expects to be “solidly profitable” in 2011.
Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally, who kept Ford out of Chapter 11 as General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC reorganized, increased market share and collected more from each sale. The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker rose as much as 12 percent, its biggest gain in more than six months, after posting its first consecutive quarterly net profit under Mulally.
“Ford is a company that’s well into a turnaround,” said Bernie McGinn, president of McGinn Investment Management of Alexandria, Virginia, which owns about 320,000 Ford shares. “They did it by themselves and didn’t take government money. That gives people a good gut feeling and they’re being rewarded for that.”
Obama Dumped by Olympic Committee for 2016
United States President Barack Obama campaigned for the 2016 Games to be held in his hometown, Chicago. Rejected in the first round, many were stunned by the announcement. Of those shocked, Senior Australian IOC member Kevan Gosper said, “The whole thing doesn’t make sense other than there has been a stupid bloc vote. To have the president of the United States and his wife personally appear, then this should happen in the first round is awful and totally undeserving.”
From the White House, Obama said, “I’m proud I was able to come in and help make the case in person. I believe it’s always a worthwhile endeavor to promote and boost the United States of America and invite the world to see what we’re all about.”
One critic, GOP consultant Brad Blakeman said:
“It demeans the office. For the president to be reduced to the effect of the Billy Mays pitchman for the United States to get the Olympics for his home city of Chicago is just not something that presidents do. His priorities are screwed up and the American people are seeing that this president just doesn’t get the effects and importance of governing.”
Under Re-Construction
Please bear with us as we make new changes to The Stafford Voice.
We value your opinion, so please feel free to comment on the changes as they take place.
Failure is Instructive
Recently, Dave Ramsey talked about the instructive power of FAILURE. With that, we will let Dave tell it to you. Please take the next nine or so minutes to hear what he has to say. You will, like many others, find yourself nodding your head yes and at times laughing.
Cash for Appliances and the New Green Agenda
While the government touts the cash for clunkers program as a success, with a reported 700,000 new vehicles sold, there seems to be an underlying plan with the Obama administration. A plan seemingly focused on furthering the green agenda, not only by removing thousands of gas-guzzling vehicles, but now with the introduction of removing energy-hogging household appliances.
Help would come in the form of rebates valued from $50-$200 from the Department of Energy that has already been approved for $300 million from the stimulus plan earlier this year. While you will hear that this will only help the economy, it’s what they fail to tell you up front.
Those unsuspecting individuals that bought vehicles under the clunker program are only now finding out that their rebate will be taxed as taxable income.
However, the debate over the green agenda raises some concern with people. It’s not the fact that everyone wants to waste energy, but more so that the government is stepping in and throwing so much money around. People are realizing the amount of wasteful spending and are getting frustrated.
First, it was the banks. Second, the auto industry. Third, the auto industry again. Billions of hard-working taxpayer money has been tossed at these faltering companies.
Two companies that seem to be doing quite well are the two appliance super-companies, Whirlpool and GE. Whirlpool is the leading company, while General Electric draws unwanted attention pulling them to the number two spot.
Unlike the auto industry, the top two appliance makers are American and look to be the top winners with this new program. Another reason Americans are a little upset with the cash for clunkers program was that American auto makers failed to make the top three autos sold under the program. First and second were filled by Toyota, third was Honda, fourth was Ford, and fifth was Hyundai.
General Motors and Chrysler were the two that could have benefited the most, but failed to make the grade again.
The positive side the the clunker program is that it did spawn traffic to dealerships, but there is fear surrounding dealers that the little traffic they do have will become stagnant. A similar feeling could be faced by appliance stores at the end this new program, and quite possibly before it even gets going.
Some are quick to see that some things are too good to be true, while others are slower at noticing.
Nation Mournes at Passing of Ted Kennedy
Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy Dies After Cancer Battle
A statement from the Kennedy family:
“We thank everyone who gave him care and support over this last year, and everyone who stood with him for so many years in his tireless march for progress toward justice, fairness and opportunity for all.”
Health Care Reform A ‘Moral Obligation’
Today, President Obama worked at pitching health care reform with religious leaders in various communities of faith in a conference call.
With huge opposition, Obama turns to a group of religious leaders in an effort to rethink how to sell the proposed health care reform. President Obama claims the opposition is distracting the country from its “core ethical and moral obligation.”
In his effort to sell his health care, Obama has teamed up with Fatih in Public Life. A group directly affiliated with ACORN.
They have started an enormous effort, 40 Days for Health Reform, to flood televisions with advertisements, prayer vigils, rallies, and also ministering debate in Sunday sermons.
The advertisements are produced by AKPD Message and Media, founded by White House senior strategist David Axelrod. The media firm looks to receive, along with GMMB, $12 million by Health Economy Now and Americans for Stable Quality Care, a coalition that includes PhRMA.
As the President thinks health care is a moral and ethical issue, many are in a stir as the line between the separation of church and state is severely questioned. Argument coming due to a conference call from President Obama to religious group leaders asking them to use their platform to further a political agenda.
Even more of a moral and ethical issue when many look at the bill as elderly genocide, or a way for the government to take over another industry and control more. For many, the issue isn’t health care reform. It’s health care control.
Health Care Reform – Townhall of Sorts
It seems to be the most talked about topic anywhere you turn. Health care this, townhall that. The problem for a lot of people is that they don’t have time to get out and ask questions or visit townhall meetings. Or, they are in an area that is represented by someone who doesn’t want to bother with all the drama.
That’s what this is. This is YOUR chance!
This is YOUR chance to speak. Take just a second and ask a question, or voice a concern. If you see a question asked by someone else, and you can help them answer it, then do it. If you participated in a townhall, or anything else related to health care reform, then share it here.
If you have family or friends that are just as concerned as you, then share this open thread with them. This is YOUR chance!
I am not an expert on the issue, but I am just as concerned as the next guy. I can’t answer every question, or respond to every post, but I will do my best to follow this thread.
Now, please be kind and respectful.
If you need to reference the bill, here it is: HR 3200