" cm-
Of course not everywhere I have been is bare bones. We were talking about Hazardous Duty pay during deployment. We don't get special pay while stateside. And trust me, my husband (who is also Active Duty) and I do not spend money on 'Nice' things. With a 3 and 4 year old we are lucky to have the bare essentials. But we are doing ok and we are not complaining... We do what we do because we LOVE what we do. Someone has to do it, right????

And- Your Welcome. "

" If one was to drop everything that may kill them out of their diet --they would for sure DIE!
I am up to my ears in listening to this study that says DONT followed by another that says DO.

Most of obesity is because of emotional problems/family DNA--if it was from all the we eat-we'd all be huge or dead!

and the last study said-dark chocolate is very healthy for you!
I eat it no matter what study says what!
since I only have one life--I plan to live it my way.
"

" yes Hazel, if I had a child in a war-I would want them home instead of cash.
But I am sure not all places you have been were totally isolated-and I am sure you bought many things for your family.
I am not saying one gets rich off of being in the military unless they are high ranking, the average pay is that about of a teachers pay. I agree both deserve hazard pay-the good ones that is!
Thank-you for your service in the military!!! "

" CM, thanks for reminding me how many anesthesiologists are full blown drug addicts. I read an article in Men's Health a while ago. Stated are facts about how these DR. Junkies are shooting the painkillers in their bodies right as they are operating on you. They "skim" right off the same needle they give you. The stats were quite High on this kind of thing.

IMO I wish alcohol would be "illegal". Marijuana should replace Alcohol. I know some of you will want to argue with me till your hands get carpel tunnel, but I will stand by my opinion. I do have supporting evidence. "

" HazelEyes, I commend your service, THANK YOU! "

" CM-
Actually- where I was deployed to was complete BARE BONES. No BX/PX, porta-potties, tents, etc... We were even in 'Blackout Conditions'; which means no lights/flashlights etc after sun down. Even the DIRT runway was in blackout... meaning the pilots used NVG's to land. So no, I didn't use any money while deployed. Sure it was nice when I got home to have that banked, but what if I hadn't gotten home? Yes, family would have money... I think they would want their daughter even more... "

" AMEN, forrest! "

" Caffeine IS a drug -- I remember a course offered in college on addiction which included caffeine; it's an addictive drug based on how it behaves in your body. One of the textbooks was called something like: Addictive Drugs: Morphine to Chocolate.

[I dropped caffeine almost completely out of my diet more than 15 years ago, and that includes chocolate (hot cocoa has more caffeine than a cup of coffee) -- and I don't miss it. You can live a healthy and happy life without ever consuming caffeine in any form.]

Have you ever seen a college student strung out on super-caffeinated beverages? Or a smoker who has run out of cigarettes and can't get a nicotine fix? Or a small child who is wired on a sugar high? Of course these things are "drugs." I'm not for making them illegal, but I am for educating people on the negative effects of all kinds of substances we put into our bodies in excess.

We all pay, in the form of higher insurance rates, for all kinds of addictions of others -- from obesity and its related health problems, to cancer deaths from cigarette smoking, to DWI fatalities. I'd be curious to see the costs to the taxpayer for these addictions to legal substances, compared to the costs associated with illegal substance addictions.

Of course, I have little faith in regulation, but making drugs legal would certainly bring the cost down and cut deeply into the profit motivation of large-scale drug dealers.

How does Phillip Morris profit? As long as drugs are illegal, many law-abiding people with addictive personalities (a psycho-physiological disposition) turn to legal addictive substances like cigarettes. So, it helps the tobacco industry to keep drugs illegal.

As for doctors -- it's a lousy world where you can't trust your doctor. That said, it's a lousy world. You can't trust your doctor.

Even people who are critical thinkers get into a doctor's office and The Authority of doctors is so ingrained in our culture that it is very hard to question your doctor when you think s/he might be wrong. Plus there are many people who don't have the time, access to information or educational resources to do the research you need to do to be able to understand all the issues involved and to ask those questions of your doctor. Instead, most people have a health problem, see the doctor, who prescribes some drug, and we just take it, without thinking to question if it's a good idea or not, what side effects there might be, what long term consequences, possible alternatives, etc. In most cases, I would not lay the blame for prescription drug abuse on the patients.... "

" Paid Mercenaries now, and 30 years ago it was baby killers. No matter if you believe in the war in Iraq or any where else in the middle east or you donot believe in the war. Do not critize the men and woman who choose to volunteer and defend this country. Right or wrong they believe in what their doing. The American people should support them and pray for them. Right or wrong these service men and woman believe in what they are doing, they volunteered to service our country knowing full well they may die. It take a special person to knowly sacrifice his or hers life for a country. This the United States of America be proud of our country. You donot have to defend the leaders of this country who sent these young men and women to war, but support these young men and women. "

" I agree CM with the three strikes - if 3 times you display tendencies to have twisted logic and not think clearly, you are are a danger to society and should be put away. CM, you can get your college degree in prison that way.., and maybe learn to think critically. You sorely lack that capability on nearly every issue. "

" Quiver & AJ
you both be sure that when you have open heart surgery--you tell your doc NO DRUGS!
you choose to stay awake-have nothing before-during or after..
1st cut you'll beg for drugs! "

" AJ-have you smoked a bit too much tonight?
caffeinated coffee or soda? Drink? Smoke? Eat a lot of sugar?
DRUGS you say these are?

I have YET to witness someone "OD" off of pepsi, starbucks, cigarettes/cigars or a candy apple!

then you say:
The cost to contain one inmate for a year could buy a year at a prestigious college.
DAH--they get their college degree in prison!

Federal law should be 3 strikes!
ok--4 strikes/after 3 you get put to death!
"

" AJ, I agree with you. The only twist is that narcotics are pretty much legal. Doctors prescribe sooo much. Got a headache? I will prescribe you some tylenol 3. Big toe sore?? VICODIN! Then there are the ones that cannot deal with our "stressful world.... PAXIL, Prozac. The way I see it, doctors medicate the general public. They are kicked back money from pharmecutical companies. If a country has a society that is medicated and "non-agressive" they will not be too upset when our wonderful government strips our civil rights. They can do a lot to us. It's like we are in strait jackets. We are at their mercy. We are slowly losing freedoms. Our 2nd amendment is already slowly being taken away from us. "

" My take on drug dealers-------imprison for life, take what they have, and feel good they are off the street. How do you garnish their wages? I guess it would be through income tax records! "

" Longboard, if drugs were legalized and highly regulated, as they should be, there would be no more criminals to put in jail. Crime would go down precipitously. It seems you missed the whole point of Pent's argument.

This is largely a matter of personal freedom, which is what we've been told the US is the leader in the free world in. We know that is not true of course (we incarcerate more people than any country in the rest of the world these days).

Do you drink caffeinated coffee or soda? Drink? Smoke? Eat a lot of sugar? These are drugs I doubt you'd want to see banned and criminalized, and yet they have a profound effect on our society.

I know one thing - the ends don't justify the means, and there are plenty of hard-working people who casually use drugs for recreational use who could hardly be considered criminals. And the cost of incarceration and the court system is astronomical. The cost to contain one inmate for a year could buy a year at a prestigious college. It makes NO sense at all. We need to follow other countries examples (like Holland) and be done with this incredibly dumb system. "

" Auburn's population on drugs-20 thousand,
1 down and 19,999 to go!

keep up the good work APD! "

" just recieved this, lol..
Pres. Bush said that we would each get a $600 tax rebate. It was going to be $800 but was lowered due to budget issues.

If we spend the money at Walmart the money goes to China.
If we spend it on computers it goes to India or China.
If we spend it on gas it goes to the Arabs.

The only way to keep the money here is to buy beer, gamble and buy prostitutes

I am Elliot Spitzer and I approve of this message.

"

" paid mercenaries--I would like you to say that infront of/to the face of the guys who just came home ---you'll find them on south street at times!

of course you wont because yours arent big enough.... "

" Make them pay off their debts by garnishing wages???

...they would need to "sell" to clients in order to have a days wages!

and the last I knew cigarettes were legal..so how can phillip & morris be making bucks off of druggies? "

" who says rehab works for all?
how many times have the "stars" who have the best money any rehaber could buy--been in and out--a dozen times over!

why dont the druggies just stop breaking the LAW!! "

" Karl, I wouldn't get too excited about Obama. What I predicted seems true - he has been bankrolled to a large extent by the "Crown Dynasty", who have a large stake in General Dynamics. And who knows who else? So now we have three top tier candidates that the media have pushed on us as the front-runners, none of whom seem terribly interested in real peace. Maybe Obama really means what he says and is just playing along - his voting record is not exactly inspiring wrt the war funding. Cynthia McKinney is now the only one left who is talking about the kind of changes we need. When do you ever hear about her? Makes you wonder who controls the media doesn't it?

Pentangelli, I agree with you 100%. It's unfortunate that there is a system that profits so incredibly from this travesty, which is why it continues. Of course, CM is OK with that since profit=good no matter what. It is a public health issue and not a criminal issue, if it is an issue at all.

CM, call them what they are - paid mercenaries. They aren't fighting this war cause they believe in it (most not now anyways, unless they are incredibly stupid and gullible). If it weren't for the current bonuses and the stop loss, we wouldn't be over there. "

" Pentangelli - I like your thinking....its true, why send these drug dealers to prison? Especially the likes of pot / coke dealers? All these people do is flood our courts and prisons and the taxpayers pay for their "long stays" in the box. Instead of putting them in prison, FINE THEM. Make them pay off their debts by garnishing wages, confiscating their personall assets with no recourse, make them donate time to manual labor / cleaning projects, etc. And if they are minors, go after the parents. My feelings are that you want to stop people from doing something, hit them where it hurts the most - their wallets! And in the meantime lots of $$ and time would be saved starting with policemen to the courts, court appoointed lawyers, etc. But with all this said, I think we all know why the law is the way it is....someone (or some group(s) are benefiting from this...hello tobbacco companies! "

" Thanks movedsouth was hoping someone
would get the point, when you put your
name on the dotted line for a Paycheck,
" Don't complain" "

" WHY DO WE KEEP IMPRISONING DRUG ADDICTS?? WE CAN'T SEEM TO SHED THE PURITANICAL MINDSET. IN FACT WE SHOULD JUST LEGALIZE ALL THE DRUGS. THE PRISONS WOULD BE LESS POPULATED. THE ENFORCEMENT MONEY COULD BE USED FOR EDUCATION. THE EXTRA MONEY NOT BEING USED IN THE PENAL SYSTEM COULD BE SPENT IN RE-HAB FACILITIES. THE USERS ARE GOING TO GET THE STUFF ANYWAY. ONCE IT'S DECRIMINALIZED, THE PRICE WILL BE DECREASED GEOMETRICALLY, RESULTING IN LESS BURGLARIES AND ROBBERIES. SO CRIME GOES DOWN ALL OVER. "

" from earlier today
HazelEyez-Yes things differ from area to area..
I have good friends in NC-active..they walk into military,place name on list and are seen! like I stated earlier it may be long some days it may not on others.

what good is hazard pay when you are dead?
you are denying buying & sometimes smuggling in items aboard ship/plane..please --you are implying you dont spend a penny of it while out of the country. I am sure that is an untruth. Granted you dont have a "mall" but you have access to get what you want.
For I have great china, awesome blankets,beautiful kimono, silk robes, etc.!
I forgot to mention the sign on bonus--friends just got 35grand for 2 more years: They know the risks, hubby has already done 1 tour and is now on his second with a 2yr old and a baby on the way..he loves his job/career no less!

Anyone that "joins" now knows their chances of heading to REAL war are 80%+,
as they did 5 yrs ago!
Those prior to 5yrs ago--knew when they signed there is always a possibility-that is what they train for!
"

" I posted a comment about oldtimer, I think what he was getting at was it was a volunteer service. There are risks And rewards for whatever career we choose. If you volunteer for service, don't complain. As for the comments about my kids, they chose a different career. Does anyone have a problem with one's personal way of life? "

" Another Two Cents column, anther predictable slur against Obama from the local Obama-hater.
Yaaaaaawn.
Obama for President in November!
Vote Obama!!!!
YAAAAAAAY Obaaaaaamaaaaa!!!!! "

" Where's all the comments today? "