Heroin and the op iates derive from the poppy plant, Papaver somniferum, which displays a beautiful flower when in full bloom. Opium is the sticky, tarry substance produced within this plant’s seed pod

      For the past 6,000 years, the opium poppy has been cultivated for use in various medicinal preparations. Some of the earliest medicinals from this plant were probably in the form of teas. We have evidence that people began smoking opium about 3,000 years ago in areas of Asia, Egypt, and Europe. In the Middle Ages, a preparation of opium called laudanum gained popularity in Europe. In 1803 the psychoactive substance morphine was isolated from an opium base, and in 1898 the semisynthetic heroin was refined from morphine.

      The opiates have many medical uses, and many have been used for years as painkillers (analgesics). Also, because they cause respiratory depression and constipation, various preparations have been used as cough suppressants or antidiarrheals. To meet medical demands each year, the U.S. pharmaceutical industry imports more than 500 tons of opium or its equivalent in poppy straw concentrate for the production of prescription opiates.

      Today we have dozens of opiates. Some, such as heroin, are produced and sold illegally; others are produced legally but find their way into illegal markets on the streets. The opiates fall into three general categories: naturally occurring (opium, morphine, codeine, and thebaine), semisynthetic (heroin, hydromorphone, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and buprenorphine), and synthetic (meperidine, methadone, LAAM, dextropropoxyphene, fentanyl, and pentazocine).

Options

Opium. This product is made from the thick, glue-like liquid that oozes from the plant’s seed pod. Producers dry it into a ball (gum opium) or pound it into a powder (opium powder). Opium is the active ingredient in various medicines used for the treatment of diarrhea (trade names: Paregoric, Parepectolin, Donnagel-PG). It’s also available in a couple of pain remedies (trade names: Pantopon, B&O Supprettes). AKA: O, Big O, Zero, Dreams, Gem, Hop, Tar, Skee, Toys, Chinese Molasses, Gong, Black Stuff, Black Pills. AKA for paregoric: Blue Velvet.

      Morphine. This substance was named after Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams who was often depicted with a handful of opium poppies. Morphine is the principal psychoactive chemical in opium, ranging in concentrations from 4% to 21%. It is probably the most effective painkiller (analgesic) known to humans. In fact, it provides a standard against which new analgesics are measured. Morphine is prescribed mainly for the treatment of pain and sometimes as an adjunct to anesthesia. Trade names: Morphine Sulphate, Morphine Sulphate Injection, MS Contin, Oramorph SR, Duramorph, Roxanol. AKA: M, Morph, M.S., Dreamer, Miss Emma.

      Codeine. This psychoactive alkaloid occurs in opium in concentrations ranging from 0.7% to 2.5%. Compared to morphine, it produces less sedation and respiratory depression and less analgesia. It is prescribed for relief of moderate pain or as an effective cough suppressant. Codeine has become the most widely used naturally occurring opiate in medical treatment in the world. Trade names: Codeine Phosphate Injection, Acetaminophen with Codeine, Aspirin with Codeine, Fiorinal with Codeine, Phenaphen with Codeine, Synalgos, Tylenol with Codeine, Robitussin AC, Empirin with Codeine. AKA: Schoolboys, Pops.

      Thebaine. This chemical occurs in small quantities in opium. It’s similar chemically to morphine and codeine but has stimulant rather than depressant effects. Thebaine has no therapeutic value but is the precursor to a variety of other psychoactive or therapeutic compounds. These include hydrocodone, oxycodone, oxymorphone, nalbuphine, naloxone, naltrexone, and buprenorphone.

      Heroin. This drug was first synthesized from morphine in 1898 by the Bayer Company in Germany. It got its name from the German heroisch, which means “powerful.” This semisynthetic enters the brain more quickly than morphine because chemically it’s more soluble in fat. Once in the brain, it turns back into morphine. Heroin is most commonly available in powder form. Its color varies from pure white to dark brown. Sellers package it by the “bag,” each of which contains one dose equal to about 100 milligrams. In recent years, the purity of heroin on the street has improved. In 1980, the national average purity of heroin was 3.6%. In 1993, it was 37%. Another form of heroin known as “black tar” has hit the streets in recent years. Some varieties are gummy and sticky, whereas others are as hard as coal. It ranges in color from brown to black. This product hails from Mexico, where crude processing methods prevail, thus the dark color. Its purity ranges from 20% to 80%. AKA: H, Big H, Horse, Smack, White Lady, White Stuff, Junk, Dope, Mojo, Downtown, Brown, Mexican Brown, Mud.

      Hydromorphone. This semisynthetic opiate has an analgesic potency two to eight times that of morphine. Trade names: Dilaudid, Dilaudid-HP Injection, Hydromorphone Hydrochloride. AKA: D, Dilly, Fours, Lords.

      Hydrocodone. This semisynthetic opiate works as an analgesic and as a cough remedy (antitussive). Trade names: Anexsia, Hycodan, Hycomine, Lorcet, Lortab, Tussionex, Vicodin.

      Oxycodone. This substance is more potent than codeine and more addictive. Trade names: Percodan, Percocet, Tylox.

      Meperidine. Compared to morphine, this synthetic opiate produces similar analgesia but has a shorter duration of action and reduced antitussive and antidiarrheal effects. Trade name: Demerol.

      Fentanyl. This synthetic opiate acts as a highly potent form of heroin. It has medical uses as an analgesic and as an anesthetic (trade name for anesthetic fentanyl: Sublimaze). At least 12 analogs of this drug have been created. Some have medical uses as analgesics, such as alfentyl (trade name: Alfenta) and sufentanil (trade name: Sufenta). Drug marketers have produced numerous fentanyls that are sold on the street. Some of these are 100 times more potent than street-quality heroin. AKA: China White, Tango and Cash.

      Pentazocine. This synthetic provides mild analgesia. Trade names: Talwin, Talacin.

      Methadone and related synthetics. Methadone acts like heroin or morphine but doesn’t resemble the opiates in chemical form. Medically, it’s used in heroin detoxification and maintenance programs. Methadone’s effects last longer than heroin’s—up to 24 hours—so it’s ideal for once-a-day maintenance doses (AKA: Dollies, Dolls, Wafers, Ten-Eight-Twenty). A chemical cousin to methadone, levo-alphacetylmethadol (LAAM) produces similar effects to methadone but lasts even longer. In 1994 this drug was approved as an alternative treatment for narcotics addiction (trade name: ORLAAM). Currently, researchers are testing yet another drug, the semisynthetic opiate buprenorphine, for use in treatment of narcotics addiction (trade name: Buprenex). Another relative of methadone, propoxyphene, acts as a weak analgesic and is not much stronger than aspirin (trade names: Darvon-N, Darvon Compound-65, Darvocet-N 100, Wygesic). AKA: Pinks-and-Greys.

      Other synthetics. This group includes alphaprodine (trade name: Nisentil), which is prescribed for pain; diphenoxylate (Lomotil) for diarrhea; levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran) for pain; loperamide (Immodium) for diarrhea; buteorphanol (Stadol) for pain; and nalbuphine (Nubain) for pain.

      Combinations. Users have combined this group of drugs with many other substances. Some of the more popular combinations (along with the street names for each) include heroin and cocaine (Speedball, Whizz Bang, Dynamite, Murder One), heroin and tobacco (Duster), heroin and marijuana (Atom Bomb, A-Bomb), heroin or another opiate with amphetamines, opium with marijuana (O.J.), Talwin with the antihistamine pyribenzamine (T’s and Blues).

How They’re Used

A large percentage of heroin users go for the high by injection, either intravenously (“mainlining”), subcutaneously (“skin popping”), or intramuscularly. As the purity of heroin has increased, however, more occasional users, called “chippers,” have entered dreamland by snorting or smoking the powder. Opium users almost always smoke the substance.

      Hardcore heroin addicts will seek most any analgesic when the smack supply runs short. A favorite is Dilaudid. If the substance comes in tablet form, as Dilaudid does, users will often grind it into powder, dissolve it in water, and shoot it. Otherwise, both chippers and hardcore addicts will take analgesics the way they were intended, that is, orally in tablets, capsules, or liquid preparations.

      The high from most of the opiates lasts from two to six hours. However, at one extreme fentanyl lasts only an hour or so, and at the other LAAM lasts a couple of days. The high from fentanyl injection is the quickest of all the analgesics to reach peak levels in the brain (two to four seconds). Heroin is slower, taking a couple of minutes, and morphine takes about five minutes. The high from snorting heroin takes even longer to reach peak levels, and anyone who takes analgesics orally must wait the longest for the high to hit, about a half hour or so.

      Researchers find two patterns of abuse. In one pattern, users start on the streets with illicit opiates. These users start as chippers, some of whom graduate to greater and greater use and some of whom don’t. Typically, they begin by snorting, smoking, pill popping, or drinking liquid preparations such as cough syrups or Paragoric. Those who graduate go to skin popping or mainlining. In the other pattern, users get started on analgesics in a medical setting and, over a period of time, develop “a habit.” They become addicted to their prescribed medication. Typically, these users begin “doctor shopping.” They bounce from doctor to doctor seeking scripts for painkillers, often faking symptoms with the premeditated poise of great actors and actresses. Many who follow this pattern of addiction will, at some point, begin seeking illicit opiates on the street.

Popularity

About 5.5% of Americans have used illicit analgesics. About 2.1% have used illicit analgesics within the past year, and about 0.9% have used them within the past month. That’s about 1.9 million current users.

      About 2.5 million Americans have used heroin at some time in their lives. About 455,000 have used it within the past year.

The Joy of It

When we take opiates, it’s as if Morpheus enters our very being. Everything becomes dream-like. Our cares and troubles float away. Our eyelids, like those of the meditating Buddha, rest serenely in a half-closed position. We feel comfortable. We become drowsy and sleepy, and sometimes we nod off into our very own slumberland. We feel as if we’ve entered a warm, safe place—a place where we’re protected, cared for, and tenderly held—a place very much like the womb.

      Mainliners get a rush, a climactic sensation that some compare to orgasm. Although this rush resembles the jolt from cocaine or methamphetamine, it’s not as powerfully orgasmic. Mainliners also typically experience a period of nausea along with, or just after, the rush. This discomfort is sometimes resolved by dedicating a few minutes to the act of vomiting.

      The opiates were originally called “narcotics,” a word derived from the Greek narcotikos, meaning “benumbing” or “causing sleep.” These numbing sensations, the absence of pain, and the warm, dreamy feelings create a powerful attraction for the recreational use of these drugs.

The Problems It Causes

Lung problems. The opiates cause a decrease in breathing rate and depth. In fact, breathing becomes dangerously impaired at higher doses. In addition, if you smoke opiates, you increase your chances of smoke-related lung problems. You might experience hacking cough, bronchitis, and other difficulties.

      Gastrointestinal problems. The opiates cause constipation. Many heavy users can’t move their bowels for days and sometimes go for even a week or more without any bowel movements. This problem resolves with abstinence.

      Sexual dysfunction. Users experience a decreased sexual desire and a decreased ability to perform sexually. Males often can’t get an erection (impotence). This problem usually resolves when opiates are discontinued. However, a small percentage who used opiates addictively, and in combination with other substances, report that their impotence continued long after they had quit all the drugs. Female addicts can experience lack of menstrual period (amenorrhea), which resolves when opiates are discontinued.

      Malnutrition. Heavy users tend to be malnourished or undernourished. The reason is uncertain. It may happen because heavy users don’t attend to the body’s need for food or because they spend too much time and energy acquiring more of the drug.

      Danger of infection. If you shoot heroin or other opiates, you run the risk of various infections. These include infections on the skin (abscesses) or under the skin (cellulitis) at injection sites, infection of the veins (thrombophlebitis), inflammation of the veins (often caused by injecting particles that were not ground fine enough to completely dissolve), infection of the liver (hepatitis B), infection of the heart valves (endocarditis), AIDS, and brain and lung abscesses.

      Danger of overdose. With opiates, the danger of overdose looms large. The problem arises mainly because these drugs depress the respiration. Death from depressed respiration usually occurs within minutes after an injection. The user falls into a coma and never revives.

      Usually, overdose occurs after a single injection. It happens because the dose from that injection is higher than the user could tolerate. With street heroin varying in purity from 10% to 80%, this becomes a real problem. Also with fentanyl and its analogs the danger is even greater because of the greater potency of these synthetics. Since fentanyl came on the scene, it has caused many deaths from overdose. Methadone, too, has led to many overdose deaths due to use in non-medical settings. A note on Darvon: It has numerous toxic side effects and, as reported by medical examiners in the United States, is one of the top 10 drugs in causing drug abuse deaths.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal begins with a runny nose, watery eyes, yawning, and sweating. Then you experience chills and goose bumps (where the term “cold turkey” came from), along with flu-like symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. You also get muscle aches and spasms and the typical leg-kicking response due to leg spasms (which gave rise to the phrase “kicking the habit”). You also feel pains in the muscles and bones. You’re unable to sleep. You might feel anxiety, tension, anger, or hostility. Finally, you feel like nothing is enjoyable in life, and you crave opiates.

      The physical symptoms peak at two to four days and disappear within seven to 10 days. The mental symptoms—feeling like nothing’s enjoyable and the craving of opiates—will continue. In fact, these two symptoms are connected. You know that opiates will take away any bad feelings and make life enjoyable again. You know this at a gut level. It happens in your mind, but it feels as if your whole body craves. These mental symptoms will last a few months at least, maybe even a year or more. However, they continue to diminish in frequency and intensity as long as you remain in recovery.  

Top

Amphetamines and Other Stimulants

Amphetamines, diet pills, methylphenidate (Ritalin), and phenylpropanolamine are products of the laboratory. All have been synthesized within the past 125 years. Other stimulants that occur naturally in plants have been used by indigenous peoples for thousands of years. These organic stimulants include cathinone, found in the leaves of the khat plant; ephedrine, found in Chinese ephedra shrubs; caffeine, found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cola nuts, and yerba mate; and nicotine, found in tobacco. (Cocaine is also a stimulant and is covered in a separate section in this chapter.)

Options

Amphetamines. Amphetamine (or amphetamine sulfate) was first available as an over-the-counter inhaler in the 1930s. Called the Benzedrine inhaler, it was recommended for treatment of nasal congestion. Benzedrine was later marketed, in the form of a pill, for the treatment of narcolepsy and for “minimal brain dysfunction” (MBD), which is now called “attention deficit hyperactive disorder” (ADHD). Trade name: Benzedrine. AKA: Uppers, Bennies, Peaches, Whites.

      Dextroamphetamine (or dextroamphetamine sulfate) is marketed under the trade name Dexedrine (AKA: Dexies, Co-pilots, Oranges, Footballs). It’s also available in combination with amphetamine under the trade name Biphetamine (AKA: Black Beauties, Black Mollies, Blackbirds).

      Methamphetamine hydrochloride, the pharmaceutical product, comes in tablet form (trade name: Desoxyn). The methamphetamine appearing on the street is most often the product of clandestine chemical laboratories. It comes in the form of a crystalline powder (AKA: Speed, Crank, Meth, Crystal Meth, Crystal). Operators of clandestine labs have also produced a crystallized version of methamphetamine hydrochloride that can be smoked (AKA: Ice, Quartz).

      Methcathinone is the structural analog of methamphetamine and cathinone, the psychoactive stimulant found in the khat plant. This compound is also the product of clandestine labs. AKA: Cat, Khat, Goob, Crank.

      Diet pills. Pharmaceutical companies have developed amphetamine congeners (chemicals that are similar in nature) into today’s prescription diet pills. They are milder than the amphetamines yet stronger than caffeine. These include (along with trade names): benzphetamine (Didrex), diethylpropion (Tenuate, Tepanil), fenfluramine (Pondimin), mazindol (Mazanor, Sanorex), phendimetrazine (Bontril, Plegine, Prelu-2, Trimstat), phenmetrazine (Preludin), and phentermine (Adipex-P, Ionamin, Fastin).

      Methylphenidate. Manufactured under the trade names Ritalin and Methylphenidate Hydrochloride, this synthetic stimulant has a lower potential for abuse than the amphetamines. Although similar in action to the amphetamines, it packs a weaker punch. Currently, this medication is prescribed for ADHD and for the treatment of narcolepsy.

      Phenylpropanolamine. This mild stimulant can be found in many prescription and over-the-counter medications. It’s a common ingredient, sometimes in combination with caffeine, in over-the-counter diet pills (trade names: Acutrim, Appendrine, Dexatrim, Ordinex). It also appears in various over-the-counter cough, cold, and allergy remedies (trade names: Alka Seltzer Plus, Contac, Coricidin-D, Naldecon, Sinarest).

      Khat. For centuries, people in Arabia and East Africa have cultivated the shrub Catha edulis for the production of khat. This product consists of the fresh, young leaves of the khat plant. These are chewed to produce a mild stimulant effect. For the full effect, the leaves must be consumed quickly, usually within 48 hours of picking, because the psychoactive stimulant cathinone converts to a significantly milder stimulant (cathine) as the leaves dry.

      Ephedrine. This mild stimulant derives from Chinese ephedras. It has been used for centuries in China for the treatment of hay fever, asthma, and nasal congestion. In recent years, this herbal stimulant has become available through legal, over-the-counter markets in the United States.

      Caffeine. This psychoactive chemical occurs naturally in many plants all over the world. It’s both legal and widely available. Served in coffees, teas, and carbonated soft drinks as well as chocolate and cocoa concoctions, this mild stimulant acts as a social lubricant or “alertness booster” in low doses. In higher doses, it can turn anyone into a nervous wreck. What’s a low dose? One to two cups of coffee, two to three cups of tea, or two to three caffeinated sodas per day—a little more if you’re younger, a little less if you’re older.

      But there’s a problem. Caffeine is highly addicting. It’s not easy to curtail our consumption. We tend to press ourselves to our personal limit, to get that caffeine buzzing deep inside yet managing to hold the high just short of nervous frenzy. However, some of us can’t hold it there and repeatedly overconsume, venturing fitfully into the fray of nervous system overstimulation. This is the group of us who become flat-out caffeine addicts. It’s primarily to this group that other caffeine products appeal, such as over-the-counter caffeine tablets (trade names: NoDoz, Vivarin), diet pills, headache remedies and cold medications, and prescription headache remedies.

      Nicotine. This popular, widely available substance acts as a mild stimulant. It might very well be the single most addicting drug in the world. Few people can use it in moderation. For example, not many can limit their smoking to just a couple of cigarettes a week. In fact, more than 90% of people who use this drug use it addictively, and using tobacco addictively can be a major undertaking. Smokers light up a cigarette anywhere from five to 80 times a day and, with each one, draw in anywhere from 15 to 30 lungfuls of smoke. So that’s doing anywhere from 75 to 3,200 “hits” a day. What power this drug has to control our behavior!

      In one broad-spectrum study, people rated the difficulty they had quitting various drugs. When the scores were averaged, nicotine ranked the highest, beating out alcohol, heroin, cocaine, and all the other drugs of abuse.

      (Note: Although the methods in this book will help you quit smoking, the book was not intended for that purpose. The entry for nicotine has been included here so you’ll know that it’s a mild stimulant and a powerfully addicting drug. You'll find more on nicotine in Chapter 6, “How to Break a Habit,” and Chapter 7, “Healing Through Diet.”)

      Combinations. Some users inject methamphetamine with heroin in a variation of a speedball. Some smoke ice with other smokables: tobacco, marijuana, or opium. Some use amphetamines in combination with cocaine. However, the most typical combination is the upper-downer combo, pairing stimulants with depressants or analgesics or using the stimulants throughout the day and the depressants in the evening to help with sleep.

Drugs of Abuse 

An electrical circuit is a network that has a closed loop, giving a return path for the current. A network is a connection of two or more components, and may not necessarily be a circuit.

Electrical networks that consist only of sources (voltage or current), linear lumped elements (resistors, capacitors, inductors), and linear distributed elements (transmission lines) can be analyzed by algebraic and transform methods to determine DC response, AC response, and transient response.

A network that also contains active electronic components is known as an electronic circuit. Such networks are generally nonlinear and require more complex design and analysis tools.

the hole that we are going to live/in will be our permanent place for good and for ever till somehow if there are other places or people to come and rescue us, This could take a minute from our death or centuries , who the fuck knows but somehow these clergy men obviously know better since they talk like they make a round trip on daily bases to the other world . I have never known a person that lived to be 85 years old , however death might come in few years or just 5 minutes from now , get ready , be prepared , there might be another world that we may have to answer for our behavior to some real superiors or asholes , just remember while we are laying in that dark cold hole , what we did in life is important ( how wifes treat their husbands is a big thing up there ) , there is a chance for some real interrogation , just get ready , All I am trying to say is that try to be a human and do human things , fuck the greed and start helping people , yes PEOPLE , NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEIR NATIONALITY OR RELIGION MIGHT BE . time goes fast , just be prepared , today I lost just about all the rest of my investment in those stupid VSE and the Peix , yes the fucking Alternative energy but this is not the end , just listen to me for once , help your mankind , all the roads end to the same destination

The Iowa caucuses are noteworthy for the amount of media attention they receive during U.S. presidential election years: Since 1972, the Iowa caucuses have been the first major electoral event of the nominating process for President of the United States. Although only about one percent of the nation's delegates are chosen by the Iowa State Convention, the Iowa caucuses have served as an early indication of which candidates for president might win the nomination of their political party at that party's national convention.

The 2008 Iowa caucuses took place January 3 at 7 p.m. CT.^[11]. Candidates spent a total of tens of millions of dollars on local television advertisements^[12] and hundreds of paid staff^[13] in dozens of field offices^[14]. Participants in the Iowa Caucus were as follows

Democrats: Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson

Republicans: Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson

First in the Democratic caucus was Barack Obama, followed by John Edwards, then closely by Hillary Clinton. The other candidates scored much lower, none receiving any potential national delegates. Mike Huckabee won the Republican process, followed by Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson, John McCain, and Ron Paul. Rudy Giuliani and Duncan Hunter came in below Ron Paul, who took the last potential national delegates.

A caucus is most generally defined as a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement. The exact definition varies between many different countries

The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as the Commonwealth and sometimes as the British Commonwealth, is a voluntary association of 53 independent sovereign states, most of which are former British colonies (the exceptions being the United Kingdom itself and Mozambique

The Commonwealth is an international organisation through which countries with diverse social, political, and economic backgrounds co-operate within a framework of common values and goals, outlined in the Singapore Declaration.^[1] These include the promotion of democracy, human rights, good governance, the rule of law, individual liberty, egalitarianism, free trade, multilateralism, and world peace.^[2]

Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of the Commonwealth, recognised by each state, and as such is the symbol of the free association of the organisation's membe

President Bush Signs H.R. 6, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
U.S. Department of Energy
Washington, D.C.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, all. Mr. Secretary, thank you for that introduction. We're all pleased to be here at the Department of Energy. I particularly want to thank the employees here for their daily efforts to help our country meet its energy needs. Thanks for your hard work. Sam, thank you for your leadership.

As Sam mentioned, I firmly believe this country needs to have a comprehensive energy strategy, and I appreciate the members of Congress for understanding that as well. Two years ago I was pleased to stand with members -- many of whom are here -- to sign a bill that was the first major energy security legislation in more than a decade. At the time I recognized that we needed to go even further. And so in my State of the Union I proposed an aggressive plan to reduce oil consumption of gasoline by 20 percent over 10 years.

Today we make a major step with the Energy Independence and Security Act. We make a major step toward reducing our dependence on oil, confronting global climate change, expanding the production of renewable fuels and giving future generations of our country a nation that is stronger, cleaner and more secure. (Applause.)

I do welcome members of the Cabinet who've joined us. I particularly want to thank the Speaker and the Leader. I appreciate your leadership on this important issue. (Applause.) Speaker Pelosi is here with Congressman Steny Hoyer, House Majority Leader; welcome, Mr. Leader. (Applause.) Leader Reid has brought members of the Senate with him: Senator Inouye, Senator Bingaman, Senator Stevens -- I think that's Senator Domenici there is disguise -- (laughter and applause) -- looking pretty handsome, isn't he? (Applause.) I appreciate Congressman Dingell and Congressman Markey, Congressman Gordon -- these are all leaders on their respective committees that help bring this bill to my desk. I also want to welcome all the other members of Congress who have joined us. (Applause.)

One of the most serious long-term challenges facing our country is dependence on oil -- especially oil from foreign lands. It's a serious challenge. And members of Congress up here understand the challenge and so do I. Because this dependence harms us economically through high and volatile prices at the gas pump; dependence creates pollution and contributes to greenhouse gas admissions [sic]. It threatens our national security by making us vulnerable to hostile regimes in unstable regions of the world. It makes us vulnerable to terrorists who might attack oil infrastructure.

The legislation I am signing today will address our vulnerabilities and our dependence in two important ways. First, it will increase the supply of alternative fuel sources. Proposed an alternative fuel standard earlier this year. This standard would require fuel producers to include a certain amount of alternative fuels in their products. This standard would create new markets for foreign products used to produce these fuels. This standard would increase our energy security by making us less vulnerable to instability -- to the instability of oil prices on the world market.

The bill I sign today takes a significant step because it will require fuel producers to use at least 36 billion gallons of biofuel in 2022. This is nearly a fivefold increase over current levels. It will help us diversify our energy supplies and reduce our dependence on oil. It's an important part of this legislation, and I thank the members of Congress for your wisdom. (Applause.)

Second, the legislation also -- will also reduce our demand for oil by increasing fuel economy standards. (Applause.) Last January, I called for the first statutory increase in fuel economy standards for automobiles since they were enacted in 1975. The bill I'm about to sign delivers on that request. It specifies a national standard of 35 miles per gallon by 2020, which will increase fuel economy standards by 40 percent and save billions of gallons of fuel. This bill also includes an important reform that I believe is essential to making sure that we realize this strategy. It allows the Department of Transportation to issue what are known as "attribute-based standards," which will assure that increased fuel efficiency does not come at the expense of automobile safety. This is an important part of this bill, and again I thank the members for taking the lead. (Applause.)

The bill also includes revisions to improve energy efficiency in lighting and appliances. It adopts elements of the executive order I signed requiring federal agencies to lead by example in efficiency and renewable energy use.

Taken together, all these measures will help us improve our environment. It is estimated that these initiatives could reduce projected CO2 emissions by billions of metric tons. At the U.N. climate change meeting in Bali last week our nation promised to pursue new, quantifiable actions to reduce carbon emissions. Today we're doing just that. The legislation I'm signing today will lead to some of the largest CO2 emission cuts in our nation's history. (Applause.)

The legislation I'm about to sign should say to the American people that we can find common ground on critical issues. And there's more we can accomplish together. New technologies will bring about a new era of energy. So I appreciate the fact that Congress, in the omnibus spending bill that I'm going to sign later on, recognizes that new technologies will help usher in a better quality of life for our citizens. And so we're going to spend money on new research for alternative feedstocks for ethanol. I mean, we understand the hog growers are getting nervous because the price of corn is up. But we also believe strongly that research will enable us to use wood chips and switchgrass and biomass to be able to develop the ethanol necessary to help us realize the vision outlined in this bill.

I appreciate very much the fact that we're going to fund additional research on new battery technologies to power plug-in hybrids. We're spending money on innovative ways to capture solar power. We're making -- providing incentives for nuclear energy. If we're serious about making sure we grow our economy and deal with greenhouse gases, we have got to expand nuclear power. (Applause.)

It is going to take time to transition to this new era. And we're still going to need hydrocarbons. And I hope the Congress will continue to open access to domestic energy sources -- certain parts of the outer continental shelf in ANWR. And to protect us against disruptions in our oil supply, I ask Congress to double the current capacity of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

With these steps, particularly in the bill I'm about to sign, we're going to help American consumers a lot. We'll help them by diversifying our supplies, which will help lower energy prices. We'll strengthen our security by helping to break our dependence on foreign oil. We'll do our duty to future generations by addressing climate change.

And so I thank the members of Congress. I appreciate the fact that we've worked together, that we can show what's possible in addressing the big issues facing our nation. This is a good bill and I'm pleased to sign it.

(Applause

(

$1000

• New England vs NY Giants

  	New England	38
  	NY Giants	35

  • Final
  • Box Score

Happy New Year

Pop the cork tonight and get the Gholgholies ready & cleaned out  maybe get some strange stuff

By Jeff Wilson

Dec. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Corn fell from an 11-year high, the first decline in seven sessions, on speculation rains may improve crops in Argentina and Brazil, the biggest exporters of the grain after the U.S.

As much as 2.5 inches (6.4 centimeters) of rain fell unexpectedly overnight in the driest fields of Argentina, said Drew Lerner, president of World Weather Inc. in Overland Park, Kansas. Adequate moisture is likely in most of Brazil next month for crop reproduction, he said.

``The rains encouraged some people to liquidate long'' positions in the corn market, said Dale Durchholz, a market analyst for AgriVisor Services Inc. in Bloomington, Illinois. ``More rains will be needed next month or crop stress may return.''

Corn futures for March delivery fell 2.75 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $4.52 a bushel on the Chicago of Trade. The price reached $4.57 in intraday trading, the highest for the most- active contract since June 1996. Corn has climbed 16 percent this year, rising 1.9 percent this week, on record demand to produce ethanol and feed livestock, poultry and dairy cows.

The commodity is heading for a third straight annual gain, soaring 81 percent last year and 5.4 percent the year before.

Gold has jumped 32 percent this year as a weaker U.S. currency, record energy costs and continuing conflict in the Middle East sparked demand for the metal. Investment in the StreetTracks Gold Trust, an exchange-traded fund backed by bullion, surged 39 percent to a record 628 metric tons.

``One would be hard-pressed to find a reason for gold not to continue to rally at this point,'' said Matt Zeman, a metals trader at LaSalle Futures Group in Chicago.

Gold futures for February delivery rose $10.90, or 1.3 percent, to $842.70 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The metal gained 3.3 percent this week.

Lower borrowing costs have hurt the dollar this year. The U.S. currency dropped against the euro for a sixth straight day on concerns a slowing economy will force the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates again.

``We expect this monetary environment, one in which central banks around the world are cutting interest rates and injecting liquidity, to remain very bullish for commodities,'' said Chip Hanlon, president of Delta Global Advisors Inc. in Huntington Beach, California, which manages about $1.2 billion. The firm predicts gold will reach $925 in 2008.

The Fed lowered the benchmark lending rate 1 percentage point to 4.25 percent this year, sending the dollar in late November to $1.4967 against the euro, the lowest ever. Five of the past six bear markets in the dollar have rallied gold.

Longest Rally

"The global economy is growing by leaps and bounds, and U.S. businesses' participation in that growth is key to the success of our economy in the short term and the long term," Challenger said. "If you're a small manufacturer and you wanted to grow your business overseas -- and as a small manufacturer the weak U.S. dollar might help you a little bit -- you might say I need to hire people to count on to manage relationships I'm starting with customers in South America or suppliers in China."

"What's exciting about it is first- and second-generation Americans who have cultural ties, birth ties, to other countries may be able to overcome some obstacles that face immigrants and their children because of the demand for people to understand how to fit into those countries," he added.

The hospitality sector also looks set for growth, said Sophia Koropeckyj, economist at Moody's Economy.com in Westchester, Pa., because "there's been a lot of hotel construction and also because there are a lot of international tourists coming in to the United States." The leisure and hospitality sectors are expected to add 1.9 million jobs from 2006 to 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The falling dollar and an aging manufacturing work force are creating opportunities particularly in durable manufacturing, and in export and transportation-warehousing industries that move goods, Koropeckyj said. "Because the dollar has weakened, that has made U.S. manufactured goods more attractive overseas."

Health care will continue to see strong demand among a broad swath of positions encompassing direct patient care and allied fields. Nurses, physical therapists and pharmacists are especially sought after, Challenger said. Opportunities also will abound in energy, both among the traditional oil, gas and nuclear power sector and in development of "green" technology and alternative energy sources, he said.

Professional business services -- including compensation and benefits experts, accountants, lawyers and consultants -- are poised for growth, as well as security fields ranging from guards to information technology, Challenger said. Koropeckyj agreed that professional-service jobs likely will continue to grow because they won't be "heavily affected" by business-cycle weakening.

Vocational, teaching jobs hot too
Other jobs that employers can't fill fast enough are sales representatives, teachers and mechanics, said Melanie Holmes, a vice president who's involved in work-force development at Manpower Inc. in Milwaukee.

"Sales representatives are the No. 1 talent shortage we see in the United States," she said, noting the broad category has been the top crunch area for the past two years. "I don't see that changing."

Job prospects for mechanics are ramping up as fewer people take up the trade and as industrial machinery proliferates, said Arlene Dohm, an economist at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"Everything is automated in manufacturing now, and as machines are replacing people, people to work on the machines are needed more," she said. Technicians, managers and executives, truck and delivery drivers, accountants, laborers, and machine operators also are in demand, Holmes said, noting that most of these jobs are safe from potential outsourcing.

1. The deductible is the amount of the claim that you are willing to pay.

• If your claim is $2000 and your deductible is $500, you will pay $500 and your insurance company will pay $1500.
• Increasing the deductible from $500 -> $1000 can reduce your premium by 5%-10%.

1. Insure your Home and Automobile with the Same Company

   • Buying your home and auto insurance policies with the same company will give you a discount on BOTH policies. Sometimes up to 10%.

2. Insure all Vehicles under the Same Policy

   • If you have multiple vehicles, placing them under the same policy can save you up to 10%.

• You can get free comparative quotes online at: Kanetix

1. Shop the Insurance Market

   • Coverage may be pretty standard in your province, but premium differences can be vast. Make sure to shop around by getting quotes from multiple companies.

2. Follow the Speed Limit

   • Not only can speeding tickets be costly, they can jack up your auto insurance premiums also!

Some of you may be just starting out on your charitable giving pursuit and donating less than $200/year. Here are some tax strategies to maximize your tax credit return.

• If you have a spouse you can add all the charitable donations for that year under ONE spouse.
• You can carry forward your donation tax credit up to 5 years and only use the $200 limit once. For example, if you donate $100 every year, instead of getting the lowest tax credit every year, you can carry it forward up to 5 years so that out of your $500 donated, $300 will be given a tax credit at the highest marginal rate. In Newfoundland, that would result in a difference between getting $130 back or $197.56 after 5 years.

For those of you who are more affluent, you may want to donate stock instead of cash. With the new tax rules, donating stock to charity will result in 0% capital gains and a tax credit for the market value of the securities donated.. If you have a big capital gain on a stock and you want to sell, you can donate a portion of your gain to charity to reduce your capital gains tax to $0!

• Here is an article on StingyFinance.com, that was originally written by Tim Cestnick, that describes the number of shares that you can consider donating to reduce your capital gains tax payable.

… donate $20,000 worth of XYZ shares to charity and sell the rest worth $80,000. The result? The tax on the $80,000 worth of shares sold is $9,200. The tax on the $20,000 worth of shares donated is zero.

The donation tax credit for those donated shares will be $9,200 — exactly enough to offset the tax on shares you kept for yourself and sold to reinvest. You’d be left with $80,000 in your pocket after the donation (and no taxes).

Now, keep this formula handy:

• The amount you donate to charity should equal the fair market value (FMV) of all the shares ($100,000 in our example)
• Multiplied by the capital gain on the shares ($50,000).
• Then, divide that answer by the following: Three times the fair market value (3 x $100,000) less the adjusted cost base (ACB) of the shares ($50,000).
• The answer is $20,000 in our example.

In algebraic terms: Donation = (FMV)(FMV - ACB)/(3FMV - ACB). This formula will allow you to determine the exact value of the securities to donate to eliminate your tax. Call me a math geek, but it works every time, regardless of your tax rate…

Final Thoughts

Although the tax credits are great, I’m a firm believer in helping those who are less fortunate and donating to charities is one way to do this.

Do you regularly donate to charity? If so, which ones are your favorite?

1. Tax Loss Selling. If you have taxable capital gains this year in your non-registered account, you may want to sell some of your losing stocks.  Why?  The realized losses will offset your gains, thus reducing your taxable amount.  Capital losses can also be carried back against capital gains accrued in previous years.  Make sure you do this by December 24th (today) though as it takes 3 days to settle your trade.  Another note is that the markets close early on Christmas Eve,  so trade accordingly.
2. Be patient in taking stock profits. If you want to take profits in a stock, wait until the new year.  That way, you'll have a year of tax deferral.
3. Charitable Donations. You have until Dec 31 to make your charitable donations in order for it to count under the 2007 tax year.  Also when you file your taxes next year, make sure you file all the donations under one person. 
4. Donate Stock instead of Cash to Charities.  It may be a bit late for this now because of processing time, but if you donate stock to a charity instead of cash you'll get tax bonuses.  The tax regulations now state that stock donated to a charity will not face any capital gains taxes AND the contributor will receive a tax receipt for the amount donated.  Check out my article on "Charitable Donation Tax Credit Strategies" for more information on how to maximize this tax rule

I would love to buy this car & since I used to drive a caprice for many years , would like to buy one again but this cute has only 300 miles on it and is priced at 16000 $ . Maybe one day but not now

in Iran I noticed people love to drive , however there is nowhere to drive to and from & that could get very annoying , if there is one thing that I don’t like about Iran is the traffic and the way people drive

.Rapping hip hop music can be traced back in many ways to its African roots. Centuries before the United States existed, the griots of West Africa were rhythmically delivering stories over drums and sparse instrumentation

         By Lolly Gasaway                                                 University of North Carolina

 Definition:  A public domain work is a creative work that is not protected by copyright and
which may be freely used by everyone.  The reasons that the work is not protected include:
(1) the term of copyright for the work has expired; (2) the author failed to satisfy statutory
formalities to perfect the copyright or (3) the work is a work of the U.S. Government.