Hemlocks I've seen in the forest that have been tipped over by the wind have had root systems flat as a pancake. I suppose someone will now point out that the deep-rooted ones don't windthrow! But, I'm in agreement with the above comments........not likely to cause a problem. Bboy alludes to old pipes. While not an inexpensive proposition, new water and sewer laterals are wonderful things. +oM

Wow that was so cool!! I love that song too. Everyone should have been standing up, as is the tradition! It must take a lot of courage to be the person who stands up and sings first. Well done. We had something similar happen at our center city Macy's. Alexa posted it on FB. There were 650 participants! In this video you can see the amazing Wanamaker Organ as well as the iconic bronze eagle. In Philadelphia, it is tradition to say "meet you at the eagle." Macy's used to be the wonderful John Wanamaker store. It's a beautiful building and I wish it were still Wanamaker's. Here is a link that might be useful: Flash OPera in Philadelphia

If you'd like to see the overhead transpaencies that Dale Ennis, editor of "Canadian MoneySaver" magazine used at that meeting, go to www.canadianmoneysaver.ca and look for "Tips and Tools". There's a lot of other interesting stuff on their website, as well - some of it of interest only to Canadians. Plain paper, no slick stuff - mostly writing; no ads. Pictures of the guys who write the two - three page articles, and contact info at the end of their articles. They are good about answering questions related to those articles, which are often rather condensed to fully cover a substantial issue, if rather sketchily, on occasion. The mag is totally subscriber driven, as they carry no ads. Subscribers asked for seminars with the guys who write the articles - they've been happening for several years. Seminars in winter in warm climes, on cruise, etc. Subscribers meet in about 40 locations in Canada. Ours in London has been meeting for over 10 years, I've been attending for six or so. Usually about 20 attend the monthly two-hour meeting and one learns a good deal about various approaches to money management there - we have to defend our viewpoints, as well. Plus about half of us adjourn to a coffee shop for another hour: manager brought us over a plate of goodies, a few months ago. Cost: gas to get there (and some from nearby communities ride together). (But the coffee at the after-meeting is costly, though they have "loyalty" cards (they're not the biggest chain in the country, by far - Starbucks ain't, either). We usually have the first guy to arrive get a card, then get it stamped for other members' purchases, so often we accumulate nearly the ten needed to get a free coffee during one evening's business. I think the corporation would say that one can only accumulate the increments on one's own accont - but management doesn't appear to care (haven't shut us down, yet, anyway). Sorry - I forgot that this isn't the "frugal" forum! Hope you're all enjoying a great week. One of the great things about retirement - every day's holiday. As I used to say when I was a personal financial advisor - "If you give me 10% of your money - I'll have you retire early". Actually, that message gives a false impression: my main philosophy was that I wanted my clients to learn how to manage their own money more effectively. ole joyful

Sherrmann: I don't know how to do italics either, so I'm just going to use the age old quotes, should I quote you. =0) The different systems were all listed on a website at one time, but it was several months ago, I believe it's "hillaries" plan that has the communist bent I mentioned (though I could be wrong on that....). Obama had one that makes a immediate "check-up" mandatory, though I don't remember what happens if you tell them to pound sand. "WHY ARE YOU NOT BOTHERED BY THAT?" Who says I'm not?!? Ok, I'm not as bothered by companies restricting the folks who choose to use their company, because each and every one of those folks have the choice not to give that company their money. (I also understand that those companies have made agreements with the doctors on their list, that they can only charge their people certain amounts, thus saving the insurance company and the consumer both money. Thus the reasons for the lists.... of course you can go outside your system, but the company will only pay the amount they have worked out with the doctor on their list... you will have to pay the rest.) Consumers seem to have forgotten that what they buy, they get. If there is not an option out there that they find ok, then they have the choice not to buy at all. We had a post either here or in the money saving forum that proves that point to the letter. Someone wanted to be able to pay their bill by phone without charge. At least 5 folks came on saying that they should just accept what the company offered, even if it wasn't what they wanted. Excuse me WHAT?!?!?!? Why the heck should we do that? There are too many companies offering similar services to settle for what one company offers. My dad just had a woman for a satellite company tell him that he had to either pay $70 for a service call, or pay a monthly fee to have them come out and fix their equipment, that there was no other choice. She was actually shocked to find out that HIS choice would involve a rival company and NOT paying this company's bogus fees. (they came out and fixed their stuff without charge) Yes, I know, just like that lady on the phone, many believe that they do not have a choice in the insurance company they choose. It's simply not true. You always have a choice. It may be between something bad and something worse, but it is still a choice. "I DON'T THINK IT IS OK FOR "SOME OF US TO FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS." NO ONE IS MORE ENTITLED TO GOOD HEALTH CARE THAN ANYONE ELSE." No, it's not "OK", but it IS going to happen. No matter how good the system it's still run by people, and people aren't perfect. There are folks in every system in the world falling through those cracks. Are wealthy people "entitled" to more/better care simply because they can pay for it themselves? As much as it seems to go against the grain, and that I hate the word "entitled"....... Yes. In the same way as they are "entitled" to better houses, better cars, and even better tvs. They can pay to fly to where ever the expert in their particular problem is, they can afford to stay as long as they need to in that area, they can afford the fees that the best can charge. They can also chase all over the world for the latest "cure" not available here, to the scientists and the wackos who they think can help. They can pay to have a private nurse come to their home and stay with them for 24 hours a day for months and/or years. And as much as many may hate it, those wealthy folks chasing the fountain of youth, allow the experts to volunteer their time helping those that may not have as much. Allows them to charge less if anything to those who can not afford to pay. And in the case of a home health nurse... pays a living salary for someone else. This does not mean that everyone should not be able to get some basic care. It does not mean that everyone should be able to get good care. And if you need me to pay for your basic health care, then you should be willing to go through the systems currently in place. They may be broken, but they are in place. Somehow it seems to speak to the "throw away" society we have become that no one is interested in fixing what we have, they just want to go out and buy "healthcare 2.0". Kidney cancer (hopefully you are doing better now) is not a minor ailment. I believe that the comment was directed at those who could not be bothered to take a few hours off work to take a kid with a cold to the regular doctor. Anyone who has ever been in an ER has seen the number of folks with routine care concerns that are filling up the seats and bogging down the staff. Each and every one of those folks are going to be charged ER rates, which is probably 2-3 times more than a regular office visit, even including the time off work. Which may have something to do with Americans "paying twice as much" for care than other parts of the world, if in fact we do. If we do it is probably the ONLY thing we pay more for. I believe that I am intelligent enough to make my own decisions, and am old enough to take responsibility for my own actions or inactions. Whatever they may be. I wonder how many folks will be thrown into financial trouble by these plans (even those without a communist bent). With many living paycheck to paycheck and that's without insurance... how much worse off will those that we are supposedly trying to "help" be? How many will tank out and go under with the additional tax burden? Yes, it sounds good as long as you do not scratch the surface. So did ARM's and IO loans not too long ago......