Walt's Thoughts

The South Carolina Subversive Activities Act – A Trip Down Memory Lane

Walt Bristow — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:46:59 +0000

In a state that refuses to impeach its governor because his replacement would be even worse, it didn't surprise me to find a law that prohibits subversive activities. Takes you back to the 60's, doesn't it? Related articles:

8 Tax Tips for Starting a New Business

Hello Cash for Clunkers. Goodbye Inflation.

Walt Bristow — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:10:43 +0000

The August 2009 Consumer Price Index – the main indication of inflation – has a surprise. It's one that may mean no raises next year if you receive social security, invest in TIPS or if your income is somehow tied to the CPI. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) apparently decided those Cash for Clunkers checks decreased the price of new vehicles. With an estimated 700,000 cars bought under the program, that's a lot of money not being counted as what Americans spent on cars. Related articles:

What to Do if Your Family Gets Swine Flu

Walt Bristow — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:55:31 +0000

Even if you are not one of the millions expected to catch swine flu, a member of your family or a friend may. If you're called on to help care for them, as I was my daughter and granddaughter, here are some helpful hints and guidelines you'll want to read. Related articles:

What to Do If You Get Swine Flu

Walt Bristow — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:15:28 +0000

Even if you do everything possible to avoid getting swine flu, you may still find yourself feeling, as my daughter described it, as if you had been hit by a truck. Here are some things you can do if you begin feeling the symptoms of this pandemic flu. Related articles:

Getting Ready for Swine Flu: Ready or Not Here It Comes

Walt Bristow — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 04:15:06 +0000

In the first two weeks of classes at Washington State University, about 10% of students came down with swine flu. For most people, swine flu means three to five days of discomfort. But for some groups of people, it can be very serious and lead to a stay in the hospital or even death. Who are these high-risk patients? Even if you're not in a high risk group, how can you prepare in case the pandemic gets as bad as some think it will be – affecting up to half the population and putting millions into hospitals? Related articles:

Into the Belly of the Beast: My Family’s Experience with Swine Flu

Walt Bristow — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:10:58 +0000

Late on a Tuesday afternoon in June, I received an e-mail saying a granddaughter had tested positive for swine flu and that her mother, my pregnant daughter, was also ill. Hearing the words 'swine flu' in the same breath with the name of two family members caused a pang of anxiety and concern – perhaps even a bit of fear. This is the story of my journey into the "belly of the beast" in the hours and days following that e-mail. As the media frenzy again suggests an impending crisis, perhaps some of what I learned may benefit you and your family. Related articles:

Worldwide Study: Religious People Are Healthier

Walt Bristow — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:35:57 +0000

A new study by Angus Deaton (Princeton University) uses Gallup World Poll data from 146 countries to analyze the relationship between being religious and one's health. He concludes that religious people – especially men – are healthier than those who are not religious. In fact, there are some "startling differences in health outcomes and health behaviors by religiosity." Related articles:

Are You Drowning in the Information Glut of the Internet Ocean? Here’s a Life Preserver.

Walt Bristow — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:55:03 +0000

Learn to use e-mail (and other technology) far more sparingly and with far less dependency. Don't and you risk losing control of your life, emotional and physical burnout, workplace meltdowns, and unhappiness. That's the argument John Freeman makes in his new book, The Tyranny of E-mail: The Four-Thousand-Year Journey to Your Inbox (to be published in October by Scribner). Here are some his thoughts as expressed in a recent Wall Street Journal article titled "Not So Fast". Related articles:

Whither the Estate Tax?

Walt Bristow — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:45:31 +0000

Rumor has it that Congress will pass a temporary one-year extension of the estate tax before the end of the year. This would continue the estate tax at a 45% maximum rate and a $3.5 million exemption. Otherwise, the tax will be 'repealed' in 2010 and then, in 2011, revert to a maximum 55% rate and $1 million exemption. Related articles:

Preparing for Life’s Final Hours

Walt Bristow — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:35:13 +0000

Melinda Beck, writing in the Wall Street Journal, has a good summary of 'advanced directives' – those documents that give direction to family and medical professionals who "may have to decide whether you would want to be kept alive artificially, what level of disability you'd be willing to live with and how to let you die if you had no hope of recovery." Related articles: