| A note to liberals about economics
Its economy declined from one of the strongest in Africa to one of the world's weakest after nationalization of industry and redistribution of private land.Then there is Ireland. Ireland's heavy industries, due to poor planning and international problems, almost disappeared by the early 1980s.Agriculture was constrained by production quotas. There was mass unemployment and the national debt had doubled, mostly due to welfare programs and subsidies.This changed in the mid 1990s when Ireland began to institute free market economics and lower taxes. Ireland is now ranked, by some measures, as the second wealthiest per capita country in the world.Then there is China. The socialist policies of Mao almost destroyed one of the most long-lasting societies on the planet. Since China opened up its economy with free markets, they have achieved the second highest GNP in the world, and unless they return to socialism, they will catch up to, and perhaps, even pass the United States.We could even conduct experiments in which one country is given all the resources except economic freedom and the other country gets almost no resources, but is given a more free market.
Novel inspired by trials of Japan's royal females
John Burnham Schwartz never writes the same type of book twice. Bicycle Days owes much to the bildungsroman template, but its freshness comes from the contemporary Tokyo setting; Reservation Road (recently turned into a film) is a family drama that devolves into taut suspense; and Claire Marvel puts Schwartz's own spin on doomed romance. Now Schwartz returns with The Commoner, markedly different from the previous three novels by virtue of its setting within Japan's cloistered, secretive monarchy. Nevertheless, surface trappings belie the undercurrent running through Schwartz's work: the transformation of melodrama into something authentic, bravura moments made more real and palatable. The Commoner clearly would not exist if not for the real-life trials and tribulations of Japan's current Empress Michiko and her daughter-in-law, Princess Masako.
Necrology 2007
Cooper 87 Billy Lue Kitchen 79 June Doreen Phillips 77 Dixie Jean Pogue 67 Jan. 19 Rachel Hunter Dickey 12 Esther J. Eubanks 87 Ovie Lee Alice Gibson 85 Dr. Henry C. Hink Jr. 89 Ethel Beatrice Jackson 89 Samuel J. Stafford 86 Jan. 20 Kathy Jane Copeland 55 Johnny Curtis III 57 Viva E. Dilbeck 91 Marlene Kay Mustain 65 Jan. 21 Harold F. Anderson 91 George Albert Ballard 67 Frances N. Souder 95 Barbara Stuthers 62 Cornelia Wallace 91 Jan. 22 Elery Louis Feltis 76 Clendon Jean Holcomb 78 Rose Lee Hushelpeck 46 Fredric Norman Morse 64 Lorrayne Peterson 83 Judy Kay West NA Jessy Darrell Whitlow 76 Jan. 23 Carl Chester Craig 61 Sharon Rankin 49 Robert F. ' Bud'Simmons 76 W. Glen Stromath 79 Jan. 24 Milton Irvin Dillard 87 Scharolot W. Prentice 65 Wanda Lee'Mom'Robinson 64 Montie J. Sievers 59 Arthur James'Art'Stacy 57 Jan.
Business Highlights
Oil prices rose following the news, and that unwelcome inflationary trend only added to Wall Street's uneasiness. In a bright spot, the Conference Board said its Consumer Confidence Index advanced to 88.6 in December from a revised 87.8 in November. It was the first increase since July and Wall Street had expected a slight drop. Thursday's drop was perhaps exaggerated by the fact that many traders were on vacation, making volume light and price swings more severe. Still, given the political uncertainty overseas, many investors were likely selling because they were uneasy about holding long positions going into a holiday weekend. ------ WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. factories saw orders for costly manufactured goods rise only marginally in November -- falling short of expectations for a much bigger gain and underscoring the strains on the economy from housing and credit problems.
Woman beats the odds
Six months later, in February 2007, Bill noticed something interesting. Becky had stopped drooling, which meant she was swallowing. He began crushing Popsicles and feeding her. He wanted to keep stimulating her, he said. In April, he got caught, but the doctor saw that what Bill was doing was working and allowed him to continue. Bill visited Becky before and after work every day after she left Arrowhead. He said he's grateful his employer, Yamaha of Cucamonga, has been so flexible during Becky's recovery. In October, Becky went home, but Stearns and Bill take her to Casa Colina three times a week for therapy. Now Becky can count on her fingers and is starting to talk and walk again in therapy. In the near future, Bill said he wants Becky to be able to use a walker.
Is Your Child’s Car Seat a Death Trap?
The Consumer Product Safety Commission keeps a list of recalls online, so you can check to find out if the car seat your child uses, or the one you plan to buy, is known to be defective. Some recalls simply involve replacing a defective part, while others mean replacing the entire unit. Common car seat defects and failures include:
• Buckle failure
• Harness failure
• Shoulder straps which come loose or unclip during an accident
• Area where the seat belt attaches to the car seat breaks or bends, allowing the seat to launch
• Separation of seat from base, allowing the seat to launch
• Inadequate support allows child to slip down in car seat during accident
• Poor shell design
• Padding inadequate to provide protection from injury Installation
More than 80% of car seats are improperly installed because the instruction manuals are too complicated or unclear.
Minooka girls move to 11-1 in SPC with win
Karleigh Cherveny had 9 points and 10 rebounds. Ridgewood Baptist 51, Lake County Christian 32 -- At Joliet, the Rams (15-6) were led by Jessica Menard's 24 points. Mary Schaack had 13 points and 3 assists. Christen Johnson had 6 points and 5 rebounds and Kendra Connor contributed 8 assists. .
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