All I know is that if the Government didn't take my money, from me and spend it on things they invent, I would spend it on me, and maybe put my neighbor to work. If the problem is all the stuff we buy comes from overseas, then look at the why the Government allows unbalanced trade, and also why any American company would have an advantage to move production overseas. It just seems that no matter what the problem, the government can't fix it, because at some level, they created it. OK, the FBI is knocking at my door, gotta go! lol George

A jug of Febreeze. I'm quite sure the guys in my son's dorm never did laundry the way you and I think of laundry...they Febreezed--EVERYTHING--shirts, jeans, sheets, towels, probably their armpits...lol I second the OTC med/first aid kit. Send the minimum until you know the kiddoes your son will be rooming with. Things like Sudafed can be abused. Still...I wish we'd done this. There was one very miserable night when my son (no longer in the dorm) called to tell me he was sick. Based on past experience, I knew immediately he had strep...probably 103 fever, raging sore throat, chills, in short he was alone, several miles from a store and miserable. I can guarantee you I spent a miserable night as well. While he was at the pharmacy the next day, I made him stock up on Tylenol and such. Extention cords and power strips. My son's dorm room had two outlets. Boys seem to need their electronics...Xbox, DVD players, Speakers system. Hopefully you can coordinate with the roomie so they don't overlap too much. Personally, I'd love to see game systems banned for dorms, but I'm sure schools fear no young men would come to school. lol Remember, you can't prepare for every instance. What you hope to see when your son or daughter goes away to school is some of the resourcefulness you've taught over the years. Do they know how to find information? Do they seek out the best way to do things? Can they face a challenge and deal with it? (Like getting a ride to the store when they don't drive. It's perfectly do-able.) Have fun and remember to enjoy these next few months.

Hello again everyone, I visited my daughter last weekend to pick up her dog (previously her Mom's prior to her death a couple of years ago) while daughter visits Bermuda with her SO, whose company's work is rather slack in winter. She does most of hers on internet, so could carry on work while visiting friends in AZ recently whom she knew when working there for a few years recently. Her Mom was from Iowa, so she has dual citizenship, thus no worries about work permits in U.S. While there, I picked up a book of her SO's called "The World is Flat - a Brief History of the 21st Century" by Thomas Friedman. Daughter's SO was travelling from FL to Bermuda - when she talked to him on the phone and told him that I was reading it, he said that he thought that I'd get a kick out of it. Though this century is about 5 years old, tremendous changes are taking place - giving youth in many parts of the world with internet connection the opportunity to participate in worldwide ideas - and business. Causing our old hierarchies to be flattened. Huge changes are taking place in the way the world operates - and at increasing speed. I feel that it should be required reading for all high school and univ. youth, plus youth in the work force: middle aged folks, as well. Much of it they know already, but there are a number of ideas and points of view that I doubt they've considered - though I must confess to be out of touch with the thinking of youth. He offers some suggestions as to creative ways to counter bin Laden and his cohorts - rather than battling them head-on, strategize to "cut them off at the pass" so to speak. I called the area school board this morning to recommend it to their policy and curriculum people. I imagine that many of you would find it not only interesting but informative, as well - possibly even life-changing. I have a feeling that the U.S. folks, whose country is top dog in the world (at the moment) will ignore its message at their peril. Hope you all have a lovely weekend. ole joyful

Best wishes to you , Kit - from another engineer. I am one of those that wanted to be an engineer from grade school. I am a computer engineer but the prospects are very good for all kinds of engineers. We have trouble these days finding people. Most of the engineers want to go on to management. Very soon we will have well trained managers but very few with the technical expertise to do the engineering work. When I was in grad school, I worked with the area high schools to encourage girls to go for engineering. Women are so underrepresented in the field that it is shocking. I'm always elated when a woman chooses engineering. Go for it. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. Vasu