Hi porker with bounce, Some Tylenol up here is available without prescription, but I think that the stuff with codeine may require a prescription - I know that the kind with some levels of codiene does. A druggist on the radio the other morning said that for most of the drugs, the only difference is that they are labelled in French, as well. A number of the drug companies manufacture in Canada, as well - so their costs of production would be different. Governments are more heavily involved in the whole medical establishment, up here. And are the agency that pays for a substantial amount of the drugs - so there may have been negotiations with the drug companies over prices. A number of drug companies make drugs available in places like Africa at little more than the cost of production, as they realize that they can't afford the higher prices charged here, which pay for the research to develop new drugs, which is hugely expensive. With regard to the amount of the active ingredient involved - the prescription written by the U.S. doctor would specify, and the copy written by the Canadian doctor would be identical, in almost all cases. joyful guy/Ed

I have had and am now having major dental work. The dentist that I went to for years and really liked retired about 7 years ago. I was switched to another dentist who practiced in the same office. I have had some major work done by this dentist and almost every time I leave his office, I am black and blue and in severe pain. One time I ended up with over $800 in medical bills. The dentist gave me a hematoma which ended up getting infected, I had major swelling of my glands and a lot of pain. I went to a medical doctor and got penicillin and they referred me to a cardiologist who did an echocardiogram. I have a heart murmur and have to take antibiotics before having any work done on my teeth. Because of the severe infection, I was referred to a cardiologist to make sure no damage had been done. I am now having a bridge replaced and had a tooth pulled this week. I am having problems and the dentist looked at it again today and said I have a severe bruise on my gum and it is swollen but it should heal without further antibiotics. Last summer I had a crown done on a molar and ended up with two weeks of severe pain and had to exist on a pain reliever. My point in all of this is that I have always been afraid to go to a dental school and have students working on me since I have had so many problems with an experienced dentist working on me. If he can't do it without me ending up in severe pain and bruises, hematomas, and other problems, would a student do a better job?

I have often said that it was much easier to make one's way through college when I went 25 years ago. Back then, if I remember correctly, my annual costs were about $12,000. I had a large academic scholarship from my stepdad's union (I guess SPs are good for something), and I often worked two part time jobs, one in retail during the Christmas holidays, and the other one at Kraft Foods as a file clerk. During the summer, I worked full-time at Kraft and took classes that I knew would transfer at the community college. Incidentally, Kraft Foods would pay 100% tuition of full-time employees who were part-time students, both undergrad and grad school. That definitely would have been an option for me if I had run out of money. I never would have wanted to put my parents in the position of having to count on government subsidized health care in their old age. My sister also worked her way through the U of I-Champaign. She actually worked in a manufacturing plant at night. I'm not sure if it was full or part time, but I know it was at night. She did this, and still graduated Bronze Tablet, which is graduating in the top 3% of her class. I will admit that our parents did provide us with old junky cars, on which they paid the liability insurance. (You have no idea how cool it was to park my 10-year old, rusted out Chevy Nova in front of my sorority at Northwestern, where I was the token non-blond.) My DH went to an Ivy on some sort of combined athletic/academic scholarship, and worked part-time in the microfilm department (this was 35 years ago). I have many friends who worked their way through college, grad school or law school. The one that I have always admired was a close friend that worked his way through the University of Illinois-Chicago. It took him 7 years, but he graduated with an electrical engineering degree by working nights as a security guard ("highly trained security personnel" in his words), all the while taking care of his terminally ill mother. He now runs a group at MicroSoft. My point is that there are many ways to get a 4 year degree, and that it should not be incumbent upon parents who CANNOT afford it to have to sacrifice their financial security or compromise their retirements. I just could not do that to my parents with any clear conscience. TOS - Good for you for doing what YOU feel is right by your kids. Just because you are willing to make those personal sacrifices does not mean every family should. We are doing the same for our 5 kids, but we can afford to. I guess I will just hope that everything works out for you and all your kids. You know, no divorces and remarriages to evil second wives who would just as soon have you put out on the street ...

Joseph C. McMurray is a good implant guy/oral surgeon. My dentist sent me to him for a single implant. Haven't had it done yet but I am very comfortable with him and friends who used him were very satisfied. Most dentists don't do implants, They send you to an oral surgeon for the prep and then order the tooth/r teeth for you. Many dentists do dentures though. Not in house but through the lab. Be careful with the "we do it all cheap" implant ads you see. You get what you pay for. If he hasn't done so your DH should go to a dentist to see what would be best for him. They are getting away from yank and replace these days. I had a horrible mouth 20 years ago and expected to be in dentures by now. I will probably die with my teeth. DH went to dentures back in the c dark ages when he was only 20 years old. Regrets it now.