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Xilinx reports $83.9M Q1 profit Silicon Valley / San Jose Business

Chipmaker Xilinx Inc. on Wednesday reported first quarter net income of $83.9 million, or 30 cents a share, compared to $84.3 million, or 28 cents a share in the same period last year.

San Jose-based Xilinx (NASDAQ:XLNX) reported record revenue of $488.2 million, up 9 percent from the year-ago quarter's $445.9 million.

Included in the figures was a pre-tax restructuring charge of $19.5 million as well as a pre-tax charge of $4.6 million related to impairment losses on equity investments.

Analysts had expected, on average, earnings of 35 cents a share on $481.35 million revenue.

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Probe Announces Signing Letter of Intent for Acquisition of Solar

Probe is committed to continued profitable operation of its contract electronics manufacturing business, while investing and expanding its portfolio of alternative energy technologies and products, through organic development or acquisitions.

About Probe Manufacturing, Inc.

Probe Manufacturing, Inc. was founded in 1995 and is one of Southern California's highest quality electronics manufacturing, and renewable energy companies. Probe Manufacturing Inc. provides a full range of electronics design, manufacturing and supply chain management services to some of the world's leading aerospace, industrial, alternate fuel, electric/hybrid, and medical device manufacturing firms. The Company also designs, manufactures, and markets alternative energy products. Probe Manufacturing's headquarters are located in Lake Forest, California. more

Clouds follow Merrill's brokerage business

Weaker retail brokerage profit is itself bad news for equity investors, but there's an added negative: income from the business is a key source of support for Merrill Lynch's debt ratings, and a downgrade could be painful for the bank.

For now, the company's retail brokerage is still performing well -- it recorded second quarter net revenue of $3.4 billion, while writedowns brought the investment bank's net revenue to negative $5.3 billion.

But historically, when unemployment rises and equity markets fall, it takes investors only one or two quarters to start pulling funds from their brokerage accounts, said Brad Hintz, analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein in New York.

"(Merrill Chief Executive John) Thain right now is in the midst of a perfect storm in his institutional businesses and unfortunately, right now the clouds are gathering for his retail business," Hintz said. more

Jingwei International Announces Appointment of Winston Liu as

The New Media business unit will concentrate on outdoor advertising, interactive mobile campaigns and digital bus signs. This unit will provide additional marketing channels for Jingwei's clients as part of the company's integrated marketing services and will assist Jingwei in expanding into the outdoor media business.

The New Media business unit is expected to provide incremental growth to the growing diversified marketing business of Jingwei and is targeted to expand the company's services into significant new markets.

Mr. Liu brings to Jingwei over three decades of experience in outdoor advertising, marketing and technology. Prior to joining Jingwei, he was the CEO of Magic Media Advertising Ltd., a Beijing-based company that owns the primary right to advertise on Beijing's bus system. more

Latest Starting A Family Business News

Bella Sera, in Market Square, opts for 'Italian-Pittsburgh classics' - PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Notes: Full-service catering and delivery. Major credit cards accepted. Reservations accepted. Handicapped accessible. Wine pairings suggested. Open on Feb. 13 with three seatings, at 5:30, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., with reservations. Fat Tuesday party ...

SC dogs (Boykin) and hogs (barbecue) - Island Packet Online

It's all here, starting with the little stray from a traveling circus who founded the breed, on through the dog's history, abilities as a hunting dog and family pet, with advice ... from the major entrepreneurs in the business, and take a cautious ...

AP: More migration has meant more economic stress - Sacramento Bee

Christy Nameche moved with her family to Kendall County, Ill., in 2007, joining thousands of other hope-filled newcomers who made the county No. 1 in population growth in the nation that year. Nameche liked the farms around her new neighborhood, the ...

Michael Russo's Sunday Insider: A hockey titan mourns - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Brian Burke, general manager of the U.S. Olympic team and of the Toronto Maple Leafs, lost his son, Brendan, in a car accident on Friday. The death of his son comes at a time when Toronto GM Brian Burke is lighting up the NHL with his trades and his ...

Influx of new residents as recession started worsened its effects, AP ... - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Palin e-mails reveal a powerful ‘first dude’ - MSNBC

Officially he was the first gentleman of Alaska. More people called him the "first dude." But newly released e-mails show that Todd Palin was busy doing more than snow machine driving and salmon fishing during Sarah Palin's two and a half years as ...

Reputable pro key to home project success - Dayton Daily News

By John North, Better Business Bureau 11:50 PM Saturday, February 6, 2010 Home improvement projects can either be a great experience or a terrible nightmare. Careful planning from start to finish, along with a ...

Peyton Manning eager to put studies to test in Super Bowl - AZCentral.com

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Peyton Manning knows every trick in the playbook. He sees through every disguise. He confounds the best defensive coaches in the business . His brain has become the most dangerous weapon in the NFL. But he's never encountered a ...

Marquette honors Little Rock 9 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Thomas was the youngest of eight children, and when he was little, his older sisters would read to him from their schoolbooks, teaching him to read and write. "When I got into the first grade, they thought I was a genius," says Thomas, a member of ...

Walter Fondren, conservationist, ex-UT quarterback - Houston Chronicle

Walter Fondren III hunted and fished from Alaska to Australia. Walter Fondren III, the first starting quarterback under University of Texas coach Darrell Royal and a founding member of the Coastal Conservation Association, died Jan. 28. He was 73 ...

Open Question: How do I explain anti-depressants & the loss of sex drive to a stubborn man who doesn't believe in depression?

I have been on anti-depressants for two years this time around. I have suffered bouts of depression for numerous years, inlcuding before I met my husband. We have been together for 13 years and he is still arrogant enough to tell me there is no such thing as depression! He has seen me at my absolute worst so I know he knows there is! This time around I am taking Prozac 40mg and the loss of libido is SERIOUSLY interfering in our relationship. He is 13 years older than I am with an EXTREMELY active libido that cannot or will not understand that my loss of libido is mainly to do with the Prozac, as well as an abusive past. His moods rely on him having sex at least 3 or 4 times a week if we want the house to be a bearable place to be. I could live without ever having sex again, though I make sure that he gets it 2 or 3 times a week just so I can have some peace. This is a man who is asking me when we're having sex again...while we are having sex! He asks all the time and doesn't care where we are or who we are with. I am starting to find the whole thing a real chore. I know men need sex to know they are loved, but he is making me responsible for his every mood. He is also an Italian, alcoholic workaholic who thinks he is invincible and always right. Unfortunately he is also quite manipulative and dishonest without seeming to be. We are a blended family and my eldest daughter (20) and our son (7) live with us. My daughter cannot contain her disdain at his treatment of myself & my son any longer and she has made many different attempts to get close. My son is now starting to notice the tensions in our relationship and can be quite fearful of his father. My husband was a very angry man when we met and is becoming this way again. We own our own business where he works hard 6 days a week and is exhausted. I work there 3 days a week and run the house, children and everything else that isn't connected to our business, but he tells me I have no reason to be tired or exhausted because what I do isn't work. I am at my wit's end, please help! more

Open Question: WYA Saturday Night of Freedom Results + Steve Austin or HBK?

Out comes GM Cliff he says that last nights Monday Night Demolition was 1 night to remember he says that bcause he is proud of 1 superstar he is gonna be CO-GM his name is TED DIBIASE JR.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and Ted comes out and they shake hands, Ted says it's an honour to be CO-GM and he thanks Cliff for the chance, Ted and Cliff shake hands and hug and the crowd chants THIS IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jacob vs Jeffan Jacob and Jeffan faced eachover on Demolition last night but neither won due to Ted DiBiase Jr being involved in the match and winning but Jacob and Jeffan still put on a great match, Jacob and Jeffan lock up with Jeffan over powering Jacob and pushing him away, Jeffan poses to the crowd while Jacob is layed down embarrassed, Jeffan picks Jacob up and hits a clothesline on Jacob to big effect. But finally Jacob fights back and continues his momentum by hitting a spinning backbreaker for a close 2 count this frustrates Jacob and he gets a chair he goes to hit Jeffan but Jacob hits a heel kick and the chair hits Jacob and you can hear the affect on Jacob when Jacob gets up Jeffan hits a chokeslam and Pins Jacob for the Big,Big,Win Winner : Jeffan Backstage there is a party for Ted DiBiase Jr and King Cliff and everyone seems to be enjoying it as everyone is dancing. "The GM's" King Cliff and Ted DiBiase Jr vs ScarFace in a handicap match Cliff starts it out with ScarFace and Scarface takes him down and locks him and a hurtful guilituin but Cliff manages to surpass the pressure and get to the ropes much to the fans delightment, Cliff tags in DiBiase and Ted goes straight for ScarFace's leg that he injured during preparation for this match but ScarFace kicks Ted off and locks him in a leglock but Cliff tags himself in and elbows ScarFace in the throat Cliff and DiBiase try to go for the 3D but ScarFace fights out but Cliff kicks ScarFace over and they try to hit the BMI but ScarFace fights out but Ted pushes ScarFace into a Carbon Footprint by Cliff and they hit the BMI for the Win Winners : King Cliff and Ted DiBiase Jr. Dylan Klein vs Marq "The Bolt" Banks Klein is in his WYA debut but last night Bolt got injured after an attack by AJ Styles, Klein attacks Bolt from behind and the bell rings and Klein starts hitting Bolt with punches and kicks much to the fans dismay and Klein starts torturing Bolt and the crowd and the fans start throwing sandwiches at Klein but none hit him and Klein starts shouting at the crowd the crowd shouts KLEIN SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!,KLEIN SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,KLEIN SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and Klein laughs in amazement and Bolt low blows him and rolls him up but He kicks out and AJ Styles runs to the ring and Dylan rolls up Bolt for the win after the match Klein and AJ attack Bolt and AJ hits Bolt with a Styles Clash on Steel Steps Winner : Dylan Klein Kawajai and Christian Backstage promo :Kawajai: All of you fans better show us some respect. We are better than all of you dumb losers. Christian: That's right. All of my peeps better show me some respect. Because we will rise to the top. And when we do, you guys will regret it. Kawajai: You guys better listen when we talk. You better watch when we wrestle. You're gonna want to tell your kids, you grandkids, your great-grandkids, and the rest if your dysfunctional family that YOU WITNESSED HISTORY IN THE MAKING!!! Divas Champion, Javeria vs Loni "Queen" B vs Red Sexy Cerebral Phenom for the title Loni attacks Javeria before the match and she is unable 2 compete, Javeria comes out at the start of the match and hits Loni with the chair and RSCP attacks Javeria and shoves her outside of the ring RSCP hits Loni with a chokeslam, another chokeslam a last ride, another last ride and a Huge Tombstone Piledriver WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION RSCP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!… Winner and new Divas Champion : Red Sexy Cerebral Phenom Main Event : Risky Business & Edge vs Dark Demon & The Rock Demon and Edge start out but before that we show you highlights of Demolition's dark match with Demon defeating Risky Business,King Cliff and Ted DiBiase Jr in a 4-way and Demon takes out Edge with a DDT and he locks Edge in a sharpshooter but Edge makes it to Business and tags him in and Risky is on fire and Risky hits Demon with snakeyes and knocks The Rock off the apron, Rock gets back in and spinebusters Risky but Risky gets up and hits Rock with a clothesline but Demon hits Risky with a Russian leg sweep and hits a Pele Kick he pins Risky for a 2 count but Demon turns around unaware Edge is setting up for a spear but Demon moves and Edge spears Risky, Demon throws Edge over the apron and hits a Swinging Neckbreaker, Demon does the GTS and locks in The Plunge to Hell and Business taps Winners : Dark Demon & The Rock Demon celebrates to end the show Announced for WYA's 1st PPV. Time to ShineWYA Time 2 Shine Card : WYA Heavyweight Champion Risky Business/Ted DiBiase Jr. vs Dark Demon for the Title Marq "The Bolt" Banks vs AJ Styles in a Extreme Rules match Kawajai vs Dylan Klein King Cliff vs ScarFace Ted DiBiase/Risky Business vs SUPERPOOPER for the Television Title More to be announced... more

Open Question: Training a new puppy?

I have had a new puppy for little over a month now hes an american cockapoo and is about four months old, my family and I have trained to go to a specific part of the house to do his business before he had his vaccinations and he did it perfectly, we are doing everything the same as we have done with other puppies but for some reason this one is a slow learner, this week he has started to go outside but still goes to the toilet around the house. We bleach and scrub the house throughly but he still goes in the same spots, is there anything we can do to stop him from doing this. All our other dogs have been trained within a couple of weeks but this one is very difficult.We do leave him out there on his own for a while and he plays around and stuff then comes in and goes to the toilet, im starting to wonder whether he thinks outside is for playing and inside is for going to the toilet.lol. more

Open Question: Miniature Doll Food For Sale?

My family, and I have decided to create a business at ebay creating miniature doll food in the 1:12 scale using Japanese clay. So far we're doing pretty well with the miniatures, but I can't say we're professionals at it yet. But still they are nicely detailed miniatures, and I was wondering if everyone could tell me if they would be willing to pay for them if they were avid doll collector's, and such. The pictures didn't come out too well since I had to take them using a net sharing cam, but when I get my digital camera working I will take better pictures. But just for now, here they are, and their prices. Don't forget to comment please, and thank you. Pictures Of Miniatures: http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c157/tasukilover/MiniatureFood005-1.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c157/tasukilover/MiniatureFood006-1.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c157/tasukilover/MiniatureFood007-1.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c157/tasukilover/MiniatureFood009-1.jpg http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c157/tasukilover/MiniatureFood011-1.jpg Prices: White Loaf Bread/Sandwich Loaf - $3.99 Sourdough Loaf - $3.99 Muffins - 4 for $2.99 Biscuits - 6 for $3.29 White Mountain Bread - 4 for $2.99 Butter - 2 sticks for $2.99 Baguette - $1.99 Hot Cross Bun - 2 for $2.99 Cookies With Sprinkles - 6 for $4.00 Strawberry Cake With Slice - $5.99 Iced Cinnamon Buns - 4 for $5.99 Donuts - 6 for $3.99 It would be most appreciated if any, and everyone would please answer this. I need as many opinions as I can get before we start selling. So don't overlook this question please, and thank you. more

Open Question: Please give me some reassurance about my recent relationship ending? Help!?

My boyfriend and I recently broke up. We have had a 6 1/2 year relationship. A few important points: he is 46 years old and lives with his manipulating, controlling mother, his family spends an unbelievable amount of time together! My relationship with him consisted of 1 weekly phone call and Saturday nights only - yes.... for 6 1/2 years! Honestly, I am not a very needy person, I work alot and I'm very independent, so this arrangement worked for me in that respect, although I know it wouldn't work for many other women!!! I started having a huge issue with him not having any privacy during phones calls, his mother would be in the background, commenting, listening, or whistling! Yes, whistling - especially if we were having a disagreement! I wanted to reach through the phone and take her head off!! I wanted him to get a cell phone - he said no, "he didn't have to keep up with technology, he has a home phone" blah, blah, blah!!! In my opinion the house, phone, etc. belong to his mother, not him! Long story short and getting to my question - I have had some medical issues in the last few weeks and really wanted to talk with him - called a few times, no answer, and I just couldn't make myself leave a voice mail. I just wanted to have a private conversation with him - it is absolutely none of his mother' s business what is going on with my health! I never did get to talk to him about it! The following Saturday, he blew me off, never called etc. The next day he said that he was the one doing all the calling, I told him I was plain tired of having to find out from his mother, where he was, when he would be back, etc.- it makes me feel like an idiot! I guess I feel insecure because I have had a few unsuccessful relationships, and even though I know I am not the one living with my mother at the age of 46, I feel like their must be something wrong with me! I wonder if he would be different with another women, even though his longest relationship before me was only six months! I just need some reassurance and support, if anyone has any to give! more

Open Question: Should I divorce now or later?

My husband is very secretive, has online dating profiles, hides his emails from me, chats with strangers and doesn't talk about his plans or his financial situation or his business deal with me at all. He has seen a lawyer for divorce and as he is saying the divorce papers are ready. He is still hesitant because we have a 3 year old daughter. I am the one holding this marriage together, but I can't take all this emotional drama and detachment anymore. After we talked he said, if I stop talking to my family altogether on the phone or online, like my mom and dad, and always clean the house and have warm food ready he may consider staying. I did that because I am scared of divorce, we were OK for a couple of days, but the secretive behavior stays the same. Today I said maybe you're right and we should get divorce. He was like a person jumping for a candy and said yes, don't change your mind. I will move out with my daughter, you stay here and I will serve you with the divorce papers. The problem is, I am a conditional green card holder based on marriage, and I want to keep this marriage together at least for another year until my paperwork is done, because I don't want to lose my baby to him. I think after I am a permanent resident, I will have a better chance of full custody. He really wants to deport me if he can. I had a phd scholarship when we came here, I studied for 1 year with straight A marks, but I recently quit the university for no reason, I think I am extremely depressed due to his behavior and don't see that energy in me to continue my phd now. I thought maybe I start a business from home, so I formed a corporation, but I seriously want to hold this marriage together at least until my paperwork is done. Do you think I should just let him go and face the dangers of deportation and all the hassle of divorce and paying for divorce lawyer as well as immigration lawyer, which I don't really have money for, or I should take his emotional detachment, suck it up and wait for another year? more

Resolved Question: What should I do about my mom and dad fighting?

Well, they are broken up (never married) and have separate houses, which I change every week. Ever since my dad had his girlfriend move into his house, him and my mom have been fighting (verbally). This has been going on for about 2 weeks now. My mom is mad because my dad doesn't come over and visit anymore, doesn't call, and ignores the family. We were planning a family trip, but my dad called and cancelled about the vacation. I don't know the reasons why, but I know for sure he had vacation and had nothing else important. She's also saying how she's just going to exclude my dad from her life. My dad is mad because my mom shouts at him every time they actually do talk. My dad has also made my sister cry, saying to stay out of it and it's none of her business (that really hurt her). Every time I try to talk to them, they say it's not our problem. I haven't said it to them, but it's the whole family's problem. My sister has been crying every night because of this, and I know she's on the verge to start cutting herself. I've been trying to keep the whole family together, and trying to talk with them, but every time my parents say 'it doesn't concern us.' I'm trying to stay calm, but so far fixing the problem verbally is not working. Now, they won't even talk to each other. Also, I know for sure it's not my dad's girlfriend's fault, but I know that my dad is changing because his girlfriend moved in. more

Resolved Question: what woulddd you doo?

so the girl i wanted to marry said that she couldnt commit to me forever so naturally i was crushed and still am. i am in the culinary business so i have been trying to move over seas to kind of get a fresh start but now i am questioning moving because that would mean that i would move away from my parents and other family and have to learn another language. Am i running more than moving on? Do i tell my ex that i am leaving or do i just not reopen communication since we havent spoken since thanksgiving??.... please help me with serious advice! more

Open Question: Am I making a mistake getting married?

My fiance and I have been together for almost 4 years and are expecting a child in April, and we decided to get married in August. Both our families are very excited about the baby (first on both sides) and the wedding, As much as I enjoy spending time with his family, I sometimes have serious issues dealing with their behavior. My fiance was mostly raised by his father and is the second of three brothers, we have a lot of fun together but they constantly fight and swear and act disrespectfully towards each other, and sometimes me, whereas I come from a family where respect and consideration for one another is a priority. I don't want our child to be in this environment. Also, they are very dependent of their wealthy father, whom I have heard talk to them miserably but they seem to accept anything from him. He has wanted the three of them to go into business together and has even given them a large sum of money to do so, but as an outsider I see this as a way to keep them very close to him. They disagree on what to invest on and my fiance has often complained to me about their (and especially his father's) way of doing business, and especially the way he makes them feel... I'm worried that if he ever does do business with them, things will turn very sour and make family life miserable... and I really don't want our child to see this type of family relationship - run by money. My fiance is very good at what he does and is successful without needing his father's money, and I'm on my way to having a successful career myself. And so I've asked him that when we get married he do not get involved in business with his father or brothers... I've even agreed to him investing from our own money for his business. I in no way want to keep him from his family, we spend a lot of time with them and I want to keep it that way.... but I'm afraid my future husband will learn his father's manipulative ways, and so I would prefer that all our relationships with family involve no money whatsoever. He had agreed to this several months ago and told me he understood and would work on improving relationships with his brothers/father, but now an issue involving money has come up and he doesn't agree to this anymore, he says he wants to do business with them if he chooses to and that I shouldn't decide for him. I feel like he is unable to let go of his father and brothers to start a new life with me. He is free to make his own choices but I know these issues will come back and stronger if we leave things as is. What should I do? Desperate for advice. more

Open Question: What should i do about this runaway wife?

I married this girl from another country about four years ago. We had what many could say a perfect marriage the first two years. Then she started changing. She always wanted to go abroad. I didn't since i was still at the campus and this would have disturbed my schooling. I had already missed a year when we relocated for a year to her country. Things didnt work for us in her country and we had to come back to my country. She stayed behind for three months and when she came back i thought we had reconciled and would work things out. One day after two months she insisted on visiting her family for some business. She was to come back after a week. she overstayed. During this time she got a Visa to the USA and left without telling me. I was devastated. She came back to her country after three months and tried to call me, i was so bitter to talk but have since learned to live peacefully with myself. Last month, she started calling me. We talk when she does and she does not talk like someone who understands that she really hurts me. Soemtime i feel like she expects me to say sorry that i was the one who was wrong. I have no intentions of us coming back together and i'm waiting for two years since she left to end before ican get an automatic divorce here in my country. How can i move through this phase of my life without hurting myself more.We both come from progressive countries. more

Open Question: I feel very depressed what can i do?

I have 16 years old and I am doing A levels at Regent college, the problem is that when i go to business class i feel very nervous, because there are people that laugh at me every time i say something wrong and then other people laughs, because my main language is spanish. But thats not all, when i finish the business class i feel dizzy and i start vomiting the things I ate at lunch. Any help please!!! Other thing, I am living alone my family left 4 weeks ago and its too hard for meWell thank you vey much for your answers, I have registered with an NHS, should I go there??, and well I am not from Spain, I am from VEnezuelaI spoke to the Business teacher I think he could help because that happens in his class, and then he told me that everything will be ok 100%, and i will see thank you very much!And actually I have a carer , that I call him my Uncle because is a very good friend of my father!So the thing that makes me vomit its called anxiety thank you guys, i will ask my GP to see if she can help, and now I have a business exposition with 3 people they live with me in the same house, but i get so nervous, my heart beat its fast and well i fell very nervous!! more

Open Question: Cake baking business? where do i start?

Ok i'm thirteen and most people think its early to be thinking about a cake business but my teacher said she wants us to start thinking about careers... so me and my 15 year old sister watch the show cake boss we are italian just like them and have family in New Jersey! we think it would be cool if one day we could open up a bakery like that here in California...SO Here's my plan: bake lots of cakes as child go to culinary school graduate college get a job at a bakery quit job and get married have a family if my cakes were any good, open up a bakery but a few questions first, when do i go to culinary school? in college? in high school? when!?!?!?!?!?!? where would i go to culinary school for cake baking? how long would i be in culinary school? is that a good plan above? more

Resolved Question: I got scammed what should I do?

On Thursday, January 14, 2010 11:18 AM, a costumer by the name of "Amy Morgan" <morganamy5@gmail.com>, was interested in one of my few collection watches, my Concord, which I placed on Craigslist on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 12:59 PM. She said we wanted to send it to her cousin in Milwaukee. She said she was sending 1300 dollars which includes shipping, through paypal. It is my first time ever using Paypal for selling purposes. She was in a hurry too. On Saturday, January 23, 2010 we received an email saying that she sent a complaint. We didn't know until the next day. So we promised we'd send it to her on Monday, which we did on Monday, January 25, 2010 9:45 AM. We used Express Mail, Speed Post, so that her cousin would be able to receive it as soon as possible. We even paid for the insurance. So, we sent the item to Stella Burchett, 3425. N-60th st, Apt# 250 Milwaukee, WI 53216. We waited for a response Then the problems started happening. The supposed Paypal Service email kept on sending us emails for us to send them the tracking number (EH 941821795 US)through email. Several of times. We never received our money. The email came three times. We ask Amy what the problem was she said Paypal was having difficulties. So she said that "Micheal i also got the notification from paypal that $500 has been deducted from account which is not to be and i contact paypal view minutes ago to know what is going on and they said $500 has been deducted from my account and has been deposite to your account again which is not to be and they trying to solve the problem so micheal we have to be patient because the money that paypal deduted from my account is money that want to send to my daughter who is schooling in Malaysia so we should try and be patient and just alert me as soon as you heard from paypal,Just keep me update.Thanks. Amy. " So we were confused. After that she was saying that the wrong person received the item. Her cousin was not there. That was not right. We paid for insurance. The post office would only give it directly to the person. Soon I was annoyed. My family really needed the money, why was she stalling? So I called paypal and they said we were Scammed. Paypal is a big name business shouldn't they be protecting me from these things? Also it was in the name of Paypal that we were scammed.' Pretty much, we need to know what to do. And yes, we did report it. more

Open Question: Is it even worth it to come out?

I'm 18 ... in HS ... definitely closeted. Not your stereotypical gay guy, I guess. I was the president of the basketball team ... played varsity football currently coach swimming. I dated a few girls in HS, but nothing serious. But since I was young I've kinda been attracted to guys ... I've just never really told anyone. When I was in 7th grade, I told the priest at my church and felt like the world had ended once I admit it to someone. I told my mom and she told me it was phase (typical) and I remember even telling her "I don't really think I'm gay" and not to tell my dad, that I would do it on my own. We basically agreed that it was because of the content I was being exposed to online (older brothers would leave pornography on the computer etc). Anyways, so the same day I went to the grocery store with my dad and started the convo with "well, I definitely like women, but ..." and my dad, usually the joking/funny type, gave me this shocked, terrible, look. I will never forget it. I quickly pretended that it was nothing and gave some odd excuse that it was just the thought of seeing a guy's good body and thinking I want to look like him, not that I want HIM. My dad even asked "but you do like women, right?" And I said, "yeah, don't worry." I don't know if my mom then told my dad, but it was never brought up again ever. I know everyone is going to say that I am young and all ... but I really don't think I'm ever going to come out. Ever. Why? My family is really well known in the city I am in ... even in other states/cities. I would give them and their business a bad reputation ... imagine all of my parents clients/friends finding out his kid is gay. Also, my mother and sister have been very nice to me and I could never see them get hurt. I feel like she would feel disappointing, especially since I am her only son. I just couldn't do that to her. My family on both my mom and dad's side is so homophobic!!! It's sick ... and they are both HUGEEE gossips and want to know every little thing happening happening in every family member's life. I would definitely never ever tell any of them. I remember a time when I was sexually attracted to women ... I don't know why I'm just not as much anymore. Is that normal? It's funny because I never could see myself with a man sexually years ago ... then around 15 I admitted that I was attracted to men to myself, but could never see myself romantically or in a relationship with one. Now, I wouldn't mind at all ... I'd even rather be with a man than with a woman. I think it would feel more like me. However, sometimes I think couple wise I'd look better with a woman ... we would fit together more. I just don't know why it happened to me out of anyone. It seems like everything else in my life is perfect ... good grades, good parents, good future, good health ... but that detail. It almost feels like I am an experiment or something ... I've never been in any accidents or even broken a bone ... Never get into fights ... why did that one thing have to happen to me? Once I come out, there is no turning back, right? I mean, let's say someday I DO meet a girl and am attracted to her ... there is no way it will be the same. Someone will let out that I dated men once or something of the sort. And imagine explaining that to my kids! So should I even bother coming out? I've never really had a serious boyfriend or had sex with any guys ...but at the same time, I hate not knowing something as serious as my sexuality. more

Resolved Question: Would you give a large sum of money to a person you have never met?

someone you have just talked with.....someone you know is a descent person...I think it could change their quality of life...give them the freedom to do what they want for once in their life...they are very happy in their life, but I think that this would let them retire, or start a new business...just let them relax....my only worry is that it would change them and their relationship with their family....would you do it? more

Open Question: Help in raising a girl ? I have no experience raising a daughter. I got custody of my niece when my sister-->?

I got custody of her when my sister passed. I'm not even married yet but my home business keeps me close. We always got along, communicated fine. Now that she is 14 she has been upset alot. Once she started developing she became extraordinarily busty. She is upset about staring at school and even "mistreatment" from other girls. I'm her only family so not fitting in female friends is esp important. she wants a breast reduction operation. We talked and I explained that she is so young and surgery should always be a last resort to any problem and such things cannot be rushed into. But she gets very hostile with me and the fits of anger are becoming more frequent. She was screaming and stomps through the house topless "you can't force me to live with this!". I agreed to go with her to several different doctors to tell her what they think but before we left she broke into one her tantrums and ran to her room. I am stumped about what I am doing right or wrong. more

Open Question: I'm writing this book ( I'm not finished yet?, do you like it?

June 15, 1920 I hear mother screaming, I want to help her, but I am at a mere age 14. My father is helping the doctor but my mother is still in agony. I have been waiting for my little sister for nine months, my family too. I am an only child now. I used to have an older brother but he died in a fire accident. When father announced mother was pregnant I was very excited to have another sibling again, I was still depressed over my brother’s death. I agreed to help with the child and my mother. We have been a family with just enough money to get by on living. I will start working at the store my father owns next month. There is a boy there, he is 15 and his name is Peter. I have feelings for him but my parents say I am too young to start dating or go on dates with boys. I hope that my feelings will now still be kept a secret. I hear mother scream again and I see my little sister’s head now. She looks beautiful! Oh, I can’t wait to hold her. I now hear my mother scream again when the tiny baby pops out of her. She doesn’t have a name yet. I hope I can name her! At the door I don’t hear my mother screaming or crying anymore, she is not moving either, I hope this isn’t what I think happened. I see the doctor examine mother and tell my father something. He starts crying, the baby is in his arms crying with my father, I run and ask what happened and the doctor says to me “Your mother has died”. I start sobbing “mama, mama, come back, I love you, please don’t leave us, I love you, please!” I see mama take a breath helplessly and she took my hand giving me a small heart locket. Then she whispered her last words at me “I love you, don’t forget me and take care of your family, good-bye my beautiful daughter, I love you” And then she died, I feel tears fill my eyes and started sobbing for what seemed like years on her deathbed and didn’t want to stop. ~Elizabeth June 16, 1920 I fell asleep that night with my sister and father on the chair beside me. The day I woke up I was sad, grumpy and weary. My father had gone to arrange a funeral for mother and the baby was in the crib we bought for her. I stood up with to get to the morning chores. The doctor was in the guest room next to my mother’s room. He stayed to watch my sister and me for the day. He was a close family friend so my father trusted him. I could never remember his name, was it Bob, Billy, Brendan? I just call him Mister. Then I heard the doctor call my name “Elizabeth, Elizabeth Williams, where are you?” I say to him “I am here, in the kitchen.” He asked me if I was alright and if I wanted some rest, I said that it was okay, anyway I was still the host, right? I just remembered right this moment my baby sister hasn’t been named yet, I will name her Hope because she has given hope to me. I don’t know if my father has named her yet but he will not be home until next week. He has traveled to Boston which is pretty far from our home in Lexington, Virginia. We have some family there so he has gone to Boston to tell our family about the death of my mother and to borrow some money. I expect my father will be home in one week. Hope is crying again in her crib, I walk to the crib and calm her. The doctor is cooking breakfast for himself. I have to start breakfast for me and Hope. I walk to the kitchen and look for some milk and a milk bottle in the cupboards. I then go to the stove, standing next to the doctor, to warm Hope’s milk and cook some oatmeal for myself. While the milk warms, I think of the days my family lived in England. We used to live in a big house there, but then my dad lost a lot of money at his store because some robbers came. We had to move to Virginia then, to start a better life. I hear the doctor call my name, I was startled for a minute. I see that the milk and oatmeal is ready. I walk to Hope’s room and feed her the milk. I have to be like a mom to Hope, I feel bad for her because she never got to meet her mom. I think of mama and start to silently sob. I never got a chance to speak to her after her last words. I continue the day like always, stopping shortly to think about mama and cry. Night finally comes and I am tired, I cry myself to sleep. ~Elizabeth June 23rd, 1920 The past week has been sad, lonely, and full of tears. I have been taking care if Hope and the doctor has been living here for a week now. Father isn’t home yet, I wonder why. Earlier this week a paperboy came to give the doctor a telegram. I saw him sighing and mumbling to himself a little while later. I wondered what the letter was about but I didn’t think it was my business since he didn’t have to tell me about it. Hope has been growing pretty fast, I don’t know if we’ll have enough money left to buy more milk, Father took most of the money to Boston with him. The doctor hasn’t been very helpful; all he doesI'm 12 btw more

Open Question: Does anyone know a good stay at home job?

I am pregnant and don't have money to spend on daycare. I have looked everywhere and come to dead ends. I need to find a good stay at home job that will still help support my family. Please help. I also do photography on the side but just started the business and it's really slow. I wish I could get my name out there. Thanks more

Open Question: job stress is killing me currently?

i m a 20 yr old student currently done with my pre reqs for a ultrasound program at my college, i couldn't apply last yr because i was already taking my pre reqs for that program, so its been almost an 8 month layoff from school so i decided to get more hours at work back in august of last yr, i mean what are u gonna do sitting at home right? i work at a 7-Eleven and the main reason i came here was to learn the business so i too can someday start one of my own somewhere down the road when the time is right but that is turning out to be a bad decision right now. ive been employed here for about a year and a half and there are many problems that i have faced and i m currently frustrated with them today. Here are some of them: 1. The scheduling is very unrealistic and doesn't meet my demands. Everyone at the job inlcuding myself work at least 6 days a week, which is ok for me now since i don't have any school but at the same time is ruining my social life with my family, friends, and peers. I can't recall the last time i had a good time with my family or anyone for that matter. The problem also is we are really short of employees and these people are not making any effort on hiring new ones, which is why we have to work 6 days a week. 2. My boss is a complete ass hole. He doesn't understand how much effort i put into work and coming everyday, today was suppose to my day off but he had to go do other business so therefore i m stuck working today on an OFF day. He criticizes me and makes me look bad in front of the customers and my co workers to ruin my self esteem. Whenever i need something like a day off for a very important reason he doesn't listen or know where i m coming from and i try explaining in the clearest way I can, Instead he listens to other employees and give them what they want but refuses to give me any chance of having what i want. So whenever i need a day off or something i have to rely on my mother to call him and ask him if he give me a day off and he accepts. Its really stupid and i feel really bad that i can't defend myself because i fear i might lose my job. I really need some advice here on what should i do because the past couple of days ive been stressing about the lack of appreciation i have here and ive been not sleeping good either. What should i do? If i quit i ruin my chances of owning a business but on the flip side i could work somewhere part time where the scheduling does meet my needs. Its a tough decision but i don't know what to do at this point. My personal life has been seriously poisoned and i don't have time for myself anytime. more

Open Question: Is Feminism a Communist Ideology?

So women want equal pay to men, right? Feminism 101, will teach people that the ever evil PAY GAP!!!, is one of the biggest parts of Patriarchy, and that women should earn the same wage as men, right? Despite the fact that: Men on average work 3 hours more than women, which accounts to about 70% of the gap right there. Men tend to do more dangerous jobs than women, such as construction for example, which women are more than welcome to do, I spent a year at a construction college thinking I wanted to be a construction engineer, and the college was really trying to get women to enroll for years, had entire pamphlets about Women in the construction industry, trying to encourage them to become builders, yet 96% of the attendees were men, this fact also includes jobs like welding and metal work, asbestos removal, truck/taxi drivers, fishing or logging, and many more that I can't be bothered to list right now, but if a feminist starts saying "Yeah because there aren't any others", I suppose I will list. But all I know is that 93% of all on the job fatalities are Men. Men are usually called upon to travel more, say I did become an engineer, and my firm got a call from Vietnam, saying they need a guy to go over and help build a bridge for example, there is a bigger chance that I will be the one to go, but speaking of Women in high end, technical jobs, ya know, computer science, engineering and all that stuff, its actually proven that women actually make more than men whilst working in those fields on average! Men also take on lonelier jobs, 100% of tower crane drivers in the UK are men, and that is a well paid job, but its a damn depressingly lonely job, same with truck driers, I forget the percentage, but I know it was above 85% of truck drivers are male, spending days driving all alone, but they get a good wage for it, this may also explain why men are three time more likely to commit suicide. Small business owned by women GENERALLY!, please keep in mind that this doesn't apply to all women, I know how people who have blinded them selves by drilling a cause into their brains, can miss words out that are important, but pass them off as unimportant, and straw man the opposing side, I should know, I used to be the same with animal rights, but generally, women who own small businesses, do so to have more freedom to relax and earn her own income, whereas Men who own their own businesses, GENERALLY! (remember?), do so to earn money to support families, and because of this men tend to be more competitive, I don't think that this has anything to do with effort, which I think may be a counter argument to this, but I this book by Warren Farrel, he makes a good point of about how Men and Women view freedom differently. These are all facts that have been proven by Dr. Warren Farrel, who has written numerous books on the subject, and for years considered himself to be a hardcore Feminist, and if you read his books, which I suggest you do, especially if you are a Feminist, you will see that his work is unbiased, and he provides you with much more specific information, to why men earn more. BUT!, you may ask, what does this have to do with Communism? If you can't figure it out, just don't answer..... more

Open Question: break up and the aftermass?

Here is the long story MADE SHORT I promise!I dated this guy for 3 years or a bit over 3 years,close to 4.We called off the relationship,I started dating one of my close guyfriends who was also one of my best friends.I know,stupid move.Turns out that we had great chemistry and that we took our time.He is younger than I am,got into Grad School,has had family problems,dealt with a car wreck,etc and we ended up arguing too much.It was up to the point where last semester it took a huge toll on me and when I realized that something had to give.He said that I was criticizing him,I acussed him of cheating since he snapped when I tried to check time on his cell once and flipped out when I tried to check if I had hmwk. on his laptop.He told me that I bring too much drama in his life,that he has to study,etc.One of my friends is also a mutual friend who now is stuck in the middle.I went to her 2-3 days ago telling her that recently I had one of the worst meltdowns,after ar guing with my then bf(latest one) and went to bed at 5am.I was a wreck at her place emotionally and looked like hell with puffy eyes,etc.She told me that this relationship is not healthy and that my ex before the guy I was dating was better for me even though we had so much drama. So I said that maybe we should end it.That night she called him over to borrow a book since she really needed the book,told him what happened,that I wanted to break up with him and he well broke up with me instead.You would think "That was easy!"Try me taking it so hard that I had a meltdown today,almost passed out in class because I was not feeling well,the ex calls me asking me if I am okay and tells me that he has to deal with family problems.I understand that and told him that I want closure and to see him one last time so we can talk and he said no.I was thinking "What the heck have I done wrong?"All I hear when he called me last night was "Are you okay?Are you sure you are okay?You are positive you are okay?" and followed by how he has to go out with his friends to see some movie in 3 D.It seems like he does not even care which is so funny because most people would care if they broke up.I talked with my friend who is in the middle and told her that I got tipsy liek a week ago or 2 at the most.She flipped since I am epileptic and cannot have any alcohol with my meds!I was on speaker and well my ex who then broke up with me heard and he flipped!Seriously how is it his business?I can do what I want and if I want to get tipsy it is my body!Why does he care?I know I wanted him to break up with me but most of all I wanted him to try and work things out before he gave up and said "We are done" if that makes any sense.As of now after I almost passed out in my class I decided that if he picked up his life so can I and that I will do everything in my power to pick up my life from baking,cooking,spending time with my sister,family to my academics,friends and even having a nice dinner with my ex that I dated for 4 yrs. I have one life and I understand that he wants to give me space but by the time he is done with giving me space I will be graduated and moved away.We used to be best friends and now our friendship and relationship is ruined.What should I do except pick up my life and carry it on as normal?PS:the guy that I dated for almost 4 yrs. also turned to his friends after he broke up with me so I am dealing with 2 back to back break ups....Also that guy,the guy I dated for almost 4 yrs., who is now my ex at least called me the next day like 5-6 times to make sure that I am okay even though he broke up with me and we were on rocky terms...I am guessing that it is a guy thing when a guy deals with a break up to turn to friends for co. or closure more

Open Question: how do I go about getting my RHIA certification?

I am thinking of changing career fields. I herd that there is good money in medical bill coding I was just wanting to know how I would go about starting that process. I already have an Assoc. of Arts degree and I am half way done with my Bach. of Business Admin. But neither of those is making me money anytime soon. I got a family to Support and need to start making better money now. more

Open Question: I have been falsely accused of child medical neglect by my ex, what can I do?

Okay to start out my ex very rarely pays child support and doesn't work cause he uses excuses "there is no work" but he will not go and get a job outside the family business b/c he will get a U/A and most likely fail. he has a huge criminal record and I am clean I have never been arrested in my life and I am almost 29. So anyways long story short I am the custodial parent and live in TX and he lives in MT I moved due to the fact he was threatening to kill me so I left with our kids for safety. I am a stay-at home mom, I never go out to bars, never drink, never done drugs in my life compared to him he is or was a major pot smoker. My husband works his butt off to pay the bills and comes home from work. We are a typical family that does homework and adore my kids. Well Yesterday a social worker talked to my oldest daughter b/c she was called and I know it was my ex b/c I have been trying to get him to help out with health insurance with our 2 girls we have together b/c our oldest fell off the trampoline and hurt her ankle but it was nothing to go to the hospital about. She limps around here and there but I have seen her walk and jump on it so I know it couldn't be to bad. But I wanted to get her looked at when it happened just in case but had no insurance and it was a Sunday so of course that means the ER. But I didn't even have the money for that. So I did what a mom does and nurture her child and watch her, within 20 minutes of her falling off she was walking just fine so I new it was nothing. Well stupid me still wanted him to help out w/ insurance and was trying to talk to him and he made excuses about everything why he cant help. My husband now usually just carries insurance on them just so we do not have to deal with him, but due to the economy he lost his job but searched everyday until he found one but didnt make enough to cover insurance....so yesterday I was accused of neglecting my child medical attention to her "broken, swollen, bruised foot!!!!!!" Umm hello I never told anyone her foot looked like that and ev1 that knows me knows that I am a great mother and very few people new about my daughters foot. So I know it was him and his girlfriend that did this just to be immature and I find this very wrong!!! I didn't do anything to deserve this. he is the one that needs CPS called on him b/c he is drunk all the time when my kids are there and on top of it he throws a kegger every summer and calls it a "holiday party" for my kids but it invites a whole bunch of people over and they all get drunk. So I don't know what to do, I know I can eventually prove its him, but I want him to pay for what he has done! My kids and me are very upset about this and my husband is crushed at these accusations. I am sorry so long but will someone please let me know what I can do?!?!?Thanks Nick for your opinion, and as for this guy that is utting me down b/c of my name you are very immature and are missing the point and I am sure you did not even read what I wrote. This is my life and future. Just b/c my name says stop animal pro-creation means nothing about what I have said, I just dont think we should be over populated!look I do not need you negatives....he got his criminal background after we were married not while we were married. more

Resolved Question: Is it a bad idea to go to an isolated forest cabin for a cosy weekend with a married man i fancy?

Help, i've never felt this overwhelmed before. I'm a 26yr old woman. I started working in an office 3 months ago. I developed a deep 'friendship' with a married man . He has two children (3yrs and 2yrs and baby due with current wife) a 5 yr old with ex wife and a 10yr old with an ex partner. The thing is we have a deep connection, beyoud anything pysical. Hes 31 years and time stands still when we talk, its like there are only us two in the room. We go to lunch together, we have even gone for drink sessions in pubs with roasting fires when his wifes away on business. We have never done anything pysical. We would never cheat by means of the flesh as we are concious of his marriage. We are at a real crossroads. We reallllly want each other, but we feel our love is strangled because of his committments. We are so comfortable we discuss this. We are constantly texting. He even bought me a whole Joe Malone Giftset for my birthday, very expensive gift and he doesnt earn much money. Our hearts are broken when the wife comes in here sometimes. Its a kick in my stomach to me, and it rips his heart out as he wishes i was his wife, we've discussed this. He says he really wants to be with me but feels so trapped by family life. We know we probably will never be together, but the connection is very real and strong for both of us. We are now going away for a night together this weekend. We have rented a small cottege in a forest park and he has even split some logs for our fire on Friday night and i've bought some special wine and we are going to cook. Yet again, we are NOT having s.x. Yet our feelings are so intense, a brush of our skin sends shockwaves through us. We just talk abuot everything. We both suffer from depression and anxiety. We never have discussed this with other people, we've never been so comfortale. Please help us. We both feel so in love. He said he has never felt this intensity before. I stress, there is no s.x so NO LECTURE watned. We have not cheated and we will never be phcicial. What we have is purely deeply emotional. Its not about s.x . We both discussed that we think about each other in this way. If he was trying to have s.x with me, we would not be able to talk about such deep mystical subjects that we have never discussed with anyone before. By the way, i just made this up! Tell me did you believe it as you read it as i want to be a writer! more

Resolved Question: Do you think i should go on this 'cosy' weekend with married work colleague.?

Open Question: What are Panic Attacks?

My 27 year old brother started acting weird a week ago, he owns a barber shop which is quiet busy all the time, recently he meet a chick that owns the restaurant next to his business and it looks that he fall in love he was rejected by this girl and now he keeps saying that everyone is connected and that the cops are after him he cant even establish a real conversation the situation is so bad that he cant even go to the shop anymore cause he doesnt feel safe there he just wants to be home if we go to the market he thinks the cameras are link to the secret service n that we are being watched i know he has done some marijuana in the past but i know he is clean now cause im with him 24/7 he has become like a little child, im suffering a lot as well as my family he has lost control of reality and im afraid i wonder if this is gonna go away, we have ask him if he did anything wrong and his answer is no i know is is stress with the shop and that he might be depress because of this girl but this is going too far he has become a totally different person my brother has always been a good guy please help me understand whats going on thank you more

Open Question: What's your thoughts on spirits aka "ghosts" or poltergeists, etc. (kind of long)?

First of all, I am Christian...but I also tend to analyze everything that I see, hear and read to double-check everything. The topic of "ghosts" and "demons" and "poltergeists" and such seems quite debatable nowadays. So, I'm asking this question simply to get others' thoughts and reasonings...not to start a theological debate or have other Christians tell me what I should or should not be doing. My questions are quite a few in number, but also something I've thought a lot about since I've read various articles and saw various documentaries about different locations being "haunted" and such. If people go to heaven or hell when they die, how is it that people see and hear things in old abandoned insane asylums, old houses where terrible things happen, the site of horrible accidents in buildings, armories, ships, etc. where terrible things happened. If people die and go to heaven or hell...who's "haunting" the buildings that millions of people around the world seem to see/hear/encounter? They see "mists" and forms of a human being (usually that looks very similar to that of a former employee, family member, etc.), unexplainable glowing "orbs" that dart around the room as if lit up like a laser pointer. Some people report "cold spots" as if a being just walked through them or is in the presence of them. Some hear "knocking" or see other physically visible signs of a "confirmation" by the supposed entity when they ask if it's x name or x person and if they died there, etc. I believe in God. But to be fair in the argument...theoretically speaking, if there is no God, where do any 'spirits' as well call them originate from? (don't you fellow Christians dare quote that "The fool has said in his heart "There is no God" verse to me...i'm doing this to prove a point) How are these ghosts/spirits/whatever visible sometimes but not in others, and only "felt" at other times as a cold, dark presence? How can they be a spirit in another realm and supposedly move objects around, cause liquids to leak out of walls randomly (usually resembling some sort of blood-like material red in color), etc.? Even a physical person can't exactly pull that off in such an instant manner without having rigged an entire building to do that. Yet rarely is there ever a case where the supposed "ghosts" physically hurt someone. I watched a video where one guy lived in a house where a little girl died and apparently the guy who killed her died, as well. The occupant of the house got live "cuts" on camera that would literally just appear and bleed on camera without any tricks, as if being attacked. That confuses me how things like this could happen, yet others don't seem to do anything to people but "scare" them by pushing things, some supposedly "speak" audibly or by what many people called EVP, etc. If there are "spirit realm rules" of sorts that prevents them from doing harm to humans...why are some more physically violent than others in these supposedly haunted locations? If we die and are a spirit, then technically we aren't dead. If there is no such thing as a spirit after we die (as some insist humans have no spirit at all)...what are these things that clearly occupy buildings and make noises, push and hit things to make noise, slam doors, etc. and are not visible? If they are "demons" or "angels" as some say...that's a spirit doing a physical thing in our realm, from their spirit realm. How is that possible? From a Christian perspective...angels are apparently "helpers" to strenghten us and guide us. Demons are apparently to try to cause and influence evil and pull us away from God (in a Christian viewpoint). I can't imagine either of these "haunting" a building when their purpose would be for other things as basically at war with one another in their causes. Some say "ghosts" are "people with unfinished business who died and are spiritually suffering over what physically happened to them. Doesn't make much sense...if they died from their physical body, their spirit shouldn't be "bound" by what happened in the body, correct? Plus, why would God theoretically let others go to heaven/hell and/or simply be 'dead' and leave a smaller number to drift around and "haunt" places? From a science perspective...if the body dies and there is no spirit...what's going on in these issues? If the body dies and there is a spirit...then we'd have billions of people walking around "watching" everything. But every building isn't said to be haunted, so that's not very plausible...those events don't happen everywhere. So the options are: demons, angels or the spirits of those who died. Theoretically lost spirits with desires that will never be fulfilled, if they are spirits of those who died. This means they wouldn't make it to heaven or hell or anywhere else than some house or building to reside in. How does science approach this? It's simple to say, "There's a scientific explanation for it." But I don't see any for the pHow does science approach this? It's simple to say, "There's a scientific explanation for it." But I don't see any for the present-day "haunted" attractions that thousands of people visit yearly and report seeing/hearing/feeling things there. We could blame it on paranoia...but people have brought cameras with them and recorded live sounds, things being pushed around in buildings they had not been in before, groups of people freaking out (you can tell they're not faking). Pictures taken in "haunted" houses, buildings, etc. occasionally capture a being-like form similar to that of a human, and sometimes a supposed face to go along with it. Other times it's orbs or "auras" of light.Do you think we'll ever find out what these things are, unless of course, until we die ourselves? The term "poltergeist" by meaning is: "a ghost that announces its presence with rapping and the creation of disorder" and "The name of unexplained rapping’s, noises and similar disturbances. Poltergeists can break fragile items and set fire to pieces of furniture or clothing." How do we address this from a physical, spiritual and scientific standpoint without being foolish? I know that most videos are faked, most pictures are faked, and it's a nightmare to try to figure out what's what with all of the fakes nowadays. For instance, I saw a documentary about the 1912 Villisca Axe Murders yesterday about this group of 8 people that came home from church and slept. While they were at church, somebody got an axe from the yard and hid in the house, apparently. They slept, and were each hit in the head and killed by an axe chop. The house they lived in is somewhat of an "attraction" now.Videos of people going there "playing ball" (with a rubber ball) with what is said to be one of the little children are all over the place. They roll the ball, no strings or anything seen around it...it stops and comes back, as if an invisible child is rolling it back. At one point, it rolled into some complex furniture which would have broken any fishing lines, thread or string that could have been pulling it. Others put their flashlight on the floor and asked the child to turn it off and back on again...it wasn't a voice command and no wires or video edits were visible.Note also that I have never encountered any of this personally...so I'm curious simply to find out the truth of it, just like many.Deenie - no, I actually made the choice to become Christian later on in my life, because there was so much that atheists, pagans and typical people couldn't answer. more

Resolved Question: Should I try to win her back or move on? I'm really stuck...?

I'm 30, she's 23. She's a very level headed, comes from a very wealthy stable family, ambitious, mature, and amazing woman. We've been together for about half a year and things have been great. My family loves her and has known her family since she was born and her family really likes me as well. I started having a lot of crap happen to me recently (house being broken into and robbed by an ex-friend, drama with my ex-girlfriend, financial issues, and much more). I started pushing her away and acting like a jerk until she got fed up with it and dumped my stupid *** after I threatened to break up with her. I knew right away what a terrible mistake I made and have been regreting it terribly since. This was about 4 days ago. Since then I wrote her a very long, sincere, and heartfelt letter which she appreciated very much but didn't change her mind. She said she needed time to think but was leaning towards breaking it off and just being friends. I've been giving her space but I know in my heart that we are good for eachother and that I'm a good catch. I have my own home, my own business, not into drugs, or drama. Just had a run of really bad luck and reacted badly towards her... I've been in a lot of relationships and few of them were very dysfunctional. This one was by far the healthiest one i've been in. I just wish there was some way I could convince her to give it one more try and that I'm worth it... Thanks in advance for any insightful advice any of you may have to offer... more

Open Question: In what ways can I work from home?

I am 2 months away from 18 years old, an I'm a stay at home mom. I need to make some more money to help my fiancé support our family, but I don't want my son to be in daycare all the time. Are there any legit online jobs or how could I start my own business? And what excactly am I to do to go on about these things? Thank you(; more

Resolved Question: moving away more than....?

Resolved Question: moving on by moving away?

so the girl i wanted to marry said that she couldnt commit to me forever so naturally i was crushed and still am. i am in the culinary business so i have been trying to move over seas to kind of get a fresh start but now i am questioning moving because that would me that i would move away from my parents and other family and have to learn another language. Am i running more than moving on? and do i tell my ex that i am leaving or do i just not reopen communication since we havent spoken since thanksgiving.... please help me with serious advice! more

Open Question: how to advertising my new business venture?

I just start a website that delivery gifts to vietnam. I figured that there are many other Vietnamese oversea that would love to send gifts, flowers during Tet, Birthday, funeral etc.... to they love one in Vietnam . Also this business would help out my family member still in Vietnam to have a JOb. How would I advertising this more affectively. It is www.123goiqua.com or www.vnnconnect.com any suggestion please. more

Open Question: 5 months prego, living with inlaws and want to move out but problems...?

My husband and I have been living with our inlaws for almost a year now. We both work minimum wage jobs, and Im currently 5 months pregnant with our first on the way :) We decided to stay here because his parents dont mind us staying and want to help with our child, plus we could save for our own place. My husband was just helping to pay the water bill and food (approx. 250 a month). I still pay for our cell bill and car insurance (totaling around 200 a month) We are trying to save up the best we can and we both have kind of been looking for a place but havent made it official. We live with just his parents, my husband, me and my husbands cousin who is a marine. Well about 2 weeks ago his parents decide to have a 'family talk' and tells us that their mortgage hasnt been payed in about the past 4 months and they owe over $2000. Which just got raised to around $5000 for not being payed. They havent been paying for their van either which is around $600 late. My FIL says he been laid off the past months and JUST NOW got a job. My MIL doesnt work at all. My husband's cousin offered to take out a loan to help pay for the house so they dont lose it. Then my inlaws had the nerve to tell my husband that his job isnt cutting it and that he should get a second job. wtf?! Theyve known I was pregnant ever since we first found out and not once did they mention getting another job until they cant afford to pay their own bills? Then my MIL asks me if Im going back to work after the baby is born and suggests I help pay the electric bill... on top of my own bills I have been paying. I wanted to stay home and breast feed our child and then go back to work around a year later doing full time. It makes me so upset, we can barely afford to save up, I had to ask my own dad for help with paying for our babys stuff which I feel I shouldnt have to do because we are married and should be indepedant. I have helped buy things like a carseat/ other neccessities for the baby with my own money but my inlaws constantly ask my husband for extra money now (gas/ help with electric bill, more food) so he barely has money to spend/saved up now. I told him I want to move out :( I feel so depressed... I never felt at home here. My MIL is constantly asking us things and in our business. She talks like my baby is going to be her baby and Im already starting to feel smothered/becoming possessive with my unborn child. My FIL doesnt talk to me and the cousin is just plain rude/mean a lot to me. I even have to be quiet to make love to my husband which is a shame. My husband has been busting his butt doing overtime the past weeks now so hes barely home. I dont even want to leave the room when hes gone. I just agreed to stay here so we could save up and because he told me we would have it easy. Dont get me wrong, my inlaws are nice people and I love them, but were both ~20 years old. Were married and have a baby onthe way and I feel we shouldnt be staying here. now it just seems like were just stuck here. I feel like his parents are just keeping us here to pay their bills. Id rather be out paying for our own place, even if it has to be low income, then be stuck paying for their stuff. My husband says he doesnt understand me Am I wrong for feeling this way? What should I do...?Wow Little J, do you not read? My husband and I are basically paying his parents bills now. Were far from lazy. And we live in a military town and its ridiculous to find a decent job here that doesnt pay minimum wage. Have some respect. more

Resolved Question: Help. Me and married work colleague real close.Going away for weekend, but no S.X?

Open Question: Life. Stay in school or move to Mexico and start fresh with what I have.?

I live the typical college life and im tired of it! I'm bored! But this past weeeked I met a guy who made a decision 10yrs ago to just move to Mexico with 4,000 dollars. He was my age when he made the desicion only 20. He now owns two succesfull businesses a landscaping one and a security service one. This is stupid but it got me thinking. Should I just go down south? I have family in MX city, and my parents own an apartment too. And I'm tires of the typical college life. I feel likee I need some excitement. Should I stay in school and continue my education or should I go off to Mexico and try to do what the guy I met did? Take the risk of a life time? more

Voting Question: am I not worth anything??/?

im from another country and iv been working since i was a freshmen in highschool.. iv always been a shy gurl... when i first started working it was alright because it was a family business but then i had to work for some indian lady and i was soo scared she always use to say that i dont talk to the customers enough i mean i did asked if they needed help... and then i started working at another place where the manager laid me off work because he didnt need any people but the thing is if he didnt need employers why did he hire 2 and laid me off work that is just wrong .. i did my job honestly it was a mall job he had 2 carts.. i dont know i feel like i have no future in anything..managers seem to hate me just because i dont talk much .. im am no more shy but rather a non talkative person .. i do talk tho just not that much... i dont know am i that worthless i can never do good or impress people.. ? more

Voting Question: EWW RAW come pick who wins?

Welcome back to EWW RAW as Royal Rumble was a shocker Rated RKO def Team 3D, Natalya won the women's title from victoria, HBK retained his title and we found out Triple H and Mick Foley are working together as mick revealed himself after the triple threat, CM Punk retained and Kurt Angle can no longer have a world title match against Punk as long as he is champ and AJ Styles shocked everyone and won the Royal Rumble and has punched a ticket to Wrestlemania The show opens up with Royal Rumble winner AJ Styles AJ grabs a mic and gets in the ring and says" at the Royal Rumble i entered at number 1 and survived 29 other men and will head to Wrestlemania to face EWW Champ Shawn Michaels or World Heavyweight Champ CM Punk who are in my opinion great champs but whoever i face i will not back down i will be a world champion after Wrestlemania" Triple H music hits and he has Mick Foley with him Triple H grabs a mic and says" AJ nobody gives a damn that you won the Roiyal Rumble nobody cares about you going to Wrestlemania people should be caring about me i was screwed last night out of my EWW Championship HBK knows it Sting knows it hell even Shane McMahon know it i want my re-match" Shane music hits he gets in the ring with a mic and says"hunter you will not get any re-match because i am sick of you complaining now i have your wife coming here tonight and i have no time for your complaining so tonight Triple H because of your attitude you will face Sheamous and William Regal and hat match is next match 1. Triple H{with Mick Foley} vs Sheamous and William Reagl 2 on 1 handicap mach backstage is CM Punk with HBK they both start talking abbot the Royal Rumble then Shane comes up to them and says they both will team up and face Rated RKO in tonights main event match 2. Beth Phoenix and Victoria vs Natalya and ODB before this match Victoira gets a mic and says"Natalya you to lucky last night when you won my title but tonight me and Beth Phoenix will show you who the true domino women are and how weak the Hart Family is match 3. RVD and Rey Mysterio vs Cyme Tyme vs Priceless vs Motor City Machine guns 4 way battle Royal Number 1 world tag team contenders match winners face The Hardyz next week backstage is Sting" Shawn last night was a great match between me you and Triple H and since No Way Out is coming up i think me and you should go one on one 1 last tome for your EWW Championship because Shawn i know we can put on a great mach these fans deserve it match 4. Christian vs Chris Jericho during this mach Christian is on the top rope he jumps off and does a crossbody to Jericho then Christian picks up Jericho does the killswitch but is reversed by Jericho and Y2J does a low blow causing a dq then Jericho grabs a chair and hits Christian over the skull with it then he puts the chair on Christian's neck and goes to the top rope but AJ Styles comes out and knocks Y2J off the top rope then Swagger comes in and does a powerbomb to AJ we see a limo pull up in the parking lot and we see Stephanie McMahon the chairmen of the board she is greeted by Lilian Garcia but shoves her out the way as she makes her way ion the building match 5. Jack Swagger vs AJ Styles Stephanie McMahon music hits as she has a mic and gets in the ring" ever since i let Shane take over RAW this show has gone into the dumps Shane can not run a show even if it met to save his life Shane your not capable of running this show i am chairman of the board and i have to do whats right for the business so shane what i have to say to you has to be said face to face get out here" Stephanie waits then Triple h music hits as he comes out triple h gets in the ring with a mic" Stephanie where the hell have you been when i needed you to get soma order around here" Stephanie" i was recovering from a tombstone piledriver the undertaker gave me because you did nothing about it while you were whining about not getting a world title shot you were acting selfish and for that Triple H is why we are no longer together and that is why this will happen" the lights go out then come on and the Undertaker does a tombstone piledriver to Triple H we go to ringside with Jim Ross and Jerry The King Lawler Jim Riss announces that we just got word that the next to matches will be qualifying matches for a EWW Championship Scramble match and a World Heavyweight Championship Scramble match and we will find out who is both matches next week match 6. EWW Championship Scramble Qualifying match Sing vs Evan Bourne Shane is in his office and he announces "that members of miz's army Bobby Lashley and Ziggler will defend their tiles lushly you will defend your IC title against Evan Bourne and Ziggler you will defend your us title against a surprise opponent which i will reveal at No Way Out and Ziggler it will be someone you will least expect" then Stephanie enters shanes office and says" i just got off the phone with him he will be here nexnext week" who is Stephanie McMahon referring to? find out next week main event World Heavyweight Championship Championship Scramble Qualifying match Abyss vs John Cena{with Miz, Ziggler, Lashley, Sabu}pick who wins and rate the show wq from the looks of it Sheamous will walk into Wrestlemania as wwe champion, who in your opinion should he face? more

Open Question: POLL FOR THE GREEKS in the TRAVEL SECTION...?

it is a simple poll... i wont mention names or avatars. but i find this posting which appears on a very regular basis posted by ..people who like to provoke or demean greeks and greece its self ..this waring was for a riots that happeng in greece 4 years ago.. i personal find it offence each time its posted as provocation and its slap in the face..... so i ask all the greeks in the travel section and the regulars... for all to take a poll to have this postign permantley banded by yahoo answers by request... below is the posting i will paste even today it been posted twice so far all in travel questions..so here it is... Official US Embassy report : The U.S. Government remains deeply concerned about the heightened threat of terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and interests abroad. Like other countries that are members of the Schengen Agreement for free cross-border movement, Greece’s open borders with its European neighbors allow the possibility of terrorist groups entering/exiting the country with anonymity. As the first entry point into Schengen from points south and east, Greece’s long coastline and many islands also heighten the possibility that foreign-based terrorists might try to exploit Greece’s borders. Domestic terrorist organizations such as Revolutionary Struggle and “Sect of Revolutionaries” have become increasingly active against both domestic and foreign targets in Greece. Recent attacks and attempted attacks have included the use of Molotov cocktails (gasoline bombs), small arms and rifle fire, and improvised explosive devices, the largest being a 50-kilo car bomb which failed to detonate before the police arrived. The Greek police forces, other Greek governmental agencies, private American and Greek businesses, and the United States Embassy have been attacked in the last three years. Recent actions indicate that the perpetrators are indiscriminate. The risk of “being in the wrong place at the wrong time” in the event of a terrorist action is a concern for residents and visitors. U.S. tourists or residents in Greece should remain vigilant, exercise caution, and monitor local developments. Some current terrorist organizations are aligned with the ideology of the older Marxist terrorist group November 17 (N17) which targeted Greek businessmen and officials, as well as officials from NATO countries in Greece, from the mid-1970s until the early part of this decade. N17 terrorists murdered 23 people, including five U.S. Government employees. Strikes and demonstrations are a regular occurrence. Greece is a stable democracy and these activities for the most part are orderly and lawful. However, a wave of incidents started when a teenager was shot and killed in an encounter with the police in December 2008. Incidents occurred throughout Greece, but the primary sources of violence were in Athens and Thessaloniki, Protestors there engaged in violent confrontations with the police and carried out destructive vandalism and rioting in localized areas, some of which are areas frequented by tourists, injuring numerous police officers. Riot control procedures often include the use of tear gas. Visitors should keep abreast of news about demonstrations from local news sources and hotel security. When there are demonstrations, visitors should be aware of and avoid places where demonstrators frequently congregate, such as the Polytechnic University area, Exarchia, Omonia, and Syntagma Squares in Athens, and Aristotle Square in Thessaloniki. The Omonia and Exharchia areas of Athens are at particular risk for crime and politically-motivated violence; U.S. Embassy personnel and their families have been urged strongly to avoid these areas between 9 pm and dawn. A SIMPLE YES OR NO..FOR THE POLL IS SUFFICE... i will bring this to teh attention of yahoo answers team.... to deal with but we need the votes first.. THANK U ALL FOR UR COPERATION...@RAT...now this is where it becomes ugly..mate,,i specificly asked for a simple yes or no.. i dont need to know the reasons...now every body will have opionion...its bloody poll ,polls are yes or no ..with all due respect rat..@jen..and kosta which part of i dont want ur opions cant u understand? ... the only peopel feed ing the gloat not goat kosta... are u and jean and rat by givign ur opions what u greeks can never understand is they the trolls love to se us fight among each other.. i havent meet a greek who can follow orders..all are opioniated.. which is fine as individuals but jesus christ.. dotn u guys know where to staop and just follow a request? very disapointed ...and kosta ...i dotn particulay like the trolls shiitign on my front door each day u might and u consider them as people? ..ur delusional kosta......they will never beome civilized or stopp thsi crap..i been here for over 4 years and its all wasy the same... and many people like ur self have left beacuse of them u will see one day. u get sick and tired of this crap too..@kosta. u talk about educated people.... welll..... i dont know why u cant see..that what iam asking is not to ban the trolls..but ban that particular posting... all we had to do is to get enouhg YES in polls just simple yes and pass it on to the yahoo care team in an email ... and wait for thier response.. i never said they will act on it or not what is importan is that we greeks in here oppose this and say a yes to its elimination,the more yes the more the yahoo team will take notice... but it looks like the athens metting have other things in mind.. so much for a harmonuis enviroment....thats another thing... why do u greeks at greece think ur the only greeks in the world? we in the extoriko dont have a say?..this enviroment just dosent belong to greeks in greece only..@ my clone..you know i have a pretty good idea of who u are... but that dosent matter beacuse to me your nothing..anything u do or say is meaningless... and if u had guts u show ur true face instead of masking ur self with other avatars and pictures...esi dilous andras..ala ote andras kai ote paidi... enai paidi exei pio megala arxedia apo esena.... is gia tis kakomeras... kai akoma mavros@ THE VLAHO .. XESTIKA... AMAN..REALLY THEY CALL U .KRISTOS LIBRIS! EHH TORA TIN PATISA ME..EXO AKOUSI..OTI ESAI O MEGAS... EKI STA KATZAVARXA... DEN MOU LES HE GIDES ..ARMAZOUN OTAN TIS GAMAS KAI APOTUN KOLO AKOU ESAIS TA VLAHOPEDIA ESTI ENA GELEO..MALAKA EXO SEIS ME VLAXOU... ESTI OLI ME MIKRA ARXIDIA... ELLA EXIS AKOMA NA MEGALOSIS..ALLA TI MALAKIES LES .. DEN EXOUN OTE ENA KARFI EPANOU TIS... TRELATHIKES POLES GIDES NOMISO..ENDAXI ..KRISTO ..ella ta moutra mou ta exis u know where iam i cant run .. beacuse i dont..and u cant miss me. but tell me giati den vasis potes ta moutra sou? .. na sou pou giati esai dilous andras... exou to farmako gia dilous me fobases... more

Resolved Question: Relationship HELP!! In need of some real advice...?

This is totally new to me but I just read this article on MSN titled "The Case Against Settling" and I it spurred me to open the internet window for advice. I am in need of some advice because I am desperate to know if I am settling. Here is my story; I have been dating a man named Mick for 7 months. I am 22 he is 30 almost 31. I met him and started dating him within a month. Things were fun, he was romantic, mature and I know this sounds shallow but he had a great summer house right on a lake. We said I love you within three months and I moved in with him shortly there after. I know this is quick and I have never moved in with a man before but I cared about him and I was having major family issues that influenced our decision for me to move in. It has now been seven months we get along great and we have an adorable puppy. Here is the issue, I was previously seeing (never officially dated) a man named Dave on and off for almost two years. We met through a mutual friend and he was the sexiest man I’d ever met and on top of it he was smart, very confident, owned his own business and he was only 25. He encompassed everything I have ever wanted in a man. Regretfully however, we began seeing each other while he was dating another woman. He said they had been seeing eachother for about a year when in reality as I found out later on he had been dating her for three years. Honestly, I thought it was just a matter of time before he would leave her for me. In the beginning it was bliss, took me on the most lavish dates, we had the most amazing sex and the feelings I had for him were like none other. I was head over heals for him. He even said things like I havent felt this way about another woman in so long and I know this is hard but it will be worth it, he threw up the notion of us taking tropical vacations together…etc. As much as I loved him things started to crack when I began realizing that he wasn’t going to leave his girlfriend and I caught him talking to another women on his cell phone. After this I started to ask him questions about his girlfriend and other women often and often times I would get emotional when we saw each other. He started to push away and as much as I wish I could say I didn’t, I just chased even harder. Often times we would have horrible fights and I would end it saying I never wanted to speak to him again and then I would try to find someone new to replace him with for a month or two. But eventually, I would always go back and he would always take me back. We continued to have sex but the times he would take me out on dates were becoming fewer and fewer. I'd bring this up and he would say its because I cant handle it and I get the wrong impression he isnt looking to date me. I would say if you dont want to be with me then dont talk to me, lets not have sex because that just increases my feelings for you. Saying this never changed anything and it became a cycle I couldnt break. Everyone I knew told me he was using me but I convinced myself that he secretly loved me and couldn’t let me go and that’s why we would always go back to each other. I was very depressed and I think that due to my lack of control on our relationship I developed a slight eating disorder. I cut off 8 inches of my hair dyed it from blonde to dark brown and got a tattoo. I eventually stopped seeing him when I started dating Mick. Dave has contacted me many times since, mostly in the beginning of Mick and I’s relationship and to be honest I even met up with him to see if I could resist him. I couldn’t. I know admitting that isnt exactly glamourous but its the truth. I began to feel like Dave was an addiction of mine. I decided if I wanted to make it work with Mick I would have to block all communication with Dave which I have. His number and email are both blocked. I have seen him at the gym once since I decided to end it for good. We did not talk or even wave at each other but my stomach was in my throat the whole time. I feel like Mick may have been a rebound at first but things work with us and so I have continued to tell myself that I will eventually forget about Dave, but honestly I have not. I think about him almost every day. I feel so guilty about this. Mick knows most of my story with Dave and the topic is very touchy. He is understandably very insecure about Dave (insecure in general really) but we talk about that part of my life less and less. Other than this issue and his insecurity, everything works with Mick and I and he loves me so much. My problem is that I am so worried that I will never truely get over Dave and commit myself fully to Mick. And to make matters worse I feel like time is against me because I overheard him saying he is planning on asking me to marry him this summer. I worry my anxiety over this is holding my true feelings back but I am choosing to stay in this relationship with the hope that time heals all wounds and I will be able to love Mick fu more

Voting Question: Did God have a backup plan, you know, just in case the whole "Jesus thing" didn't work out?

If Jesus started hanging with the wrong crowd as a teenager, got into drugs and decided to be a performance artist instead of becoming the "Savior of Mankind", did God have a contingency for that? Another son, Morty perhaps, waiting in the wings to take over the family business? Morty Christ, Superstar. more

Resolved Question: I don't like my dad's new family. Any help?

So here's the story: My mom and dad were married for 17 years and had 5 children together. I am the youngest and the only girl, I always thought that my parents were always going to be together. They didn't get along very well when they were married, though.. They argued a lot and my dad would on rare occasion blow up and abuse my mom and my older brothers, but he's my dad, and I still love him even though he sometimes caused my family hell. I didn't know this until they separated. Which brings me to the next story. My Dad got a job in Colombia and started dating his spanish teacher. My mom found out and they got divorced. This women's interference in my family's life really screwed our family up. My dad started living in Colombia with this women, My oldest brother dropped out of high school from depression, same with the second oldest, the 3rd oldest became very rude and disrespectful after the divorce and after the two oldest kids moved out, he started to cuss my mom out on a regular basis, never did his chores, got into drugs, basically turned into a mothers worst nightmare because he had no father figure around to discipline him, the youngest brother, who is 2 years older than me, looked up to nightmarish brother, therefore, doing everything he did. I continued to do well in school, I wasn't as old as the other kids and the divorce didn't affect me as much, but it still had me kind of depressed. 6months ago my father decided to bring us down to Colombia so we would be closer to him and it would be easier to give child support. My mean brother stayed with my uncles because he did not like the idea of coming down here and he is 18 so my mom couldn't keep him with us if he didn't want to be with us. So it's just me, my mom, and brother #4. We get down here and everything is fine. Since my dad worked, his wife was usually the only one at their house, along with my two new half sisters. I will admit I am not very fond of those 2 girls and their mother. And I will explain. The two girls are very cute, everyone agrees, but their mother is spoiling them!!! They scream out in restaurants, they get into everything, they scream very loud if they don't get their way, they get new stuff all the time which never satisfies them, I know this stuff can be normal for a 1 and 2 year old, but their mom is not doing anything about it when it happens!!! Anyway that is just one of my problems. My next problem is the step mother. I will list some things about her that I dislike very much: She is selfish, she is dishonest, she does not have a job and spends a lot of my dad's money on pointless stuff, she is VERY inconsiderate, she makes people wait on he for the sake of feeling important, she is picky, she gets into everyone's business, she is petty, she will make my mom sit at home while we go eat dinner at a nice restaurant or else she will complain and make rude remarks all night, she is just a very unlikable person. I have been tolerating her for awhile now but I am just getting sick of her!! She will randomly insult me or "pick" on me, heres a recent example: Everyone was going to dinner except my mom and when we got in the car we realized that babies stunk. We couldn't go back home and fix this so we sat in the stinky car on the way to dinner. I happened to have the stinkier baby on my lap and the shirt she was wearing was making my hands smell bad so I kept my hands on the seat. She was laying against my chest which made my shirt stink but it would've been dangerous to have her sit on my knees with no support or anything. We made a stop somewhere, and even thought everyone else is the car was making comments on the unpleasant smell in the car, my step mom decides to be rude to me. she was sitting in the passenger seat and she got out at the stop and said, " Here, let me hold my daughter, if you think she is some sort of alien then you have no right to hold her." i give her the baby and go into the store to find my dad and brother, not wanting to be around her. This event had several arguments between my step mom and I but eventually my brother and dad agreed with my that it was really rude of her to say that to me when everyone else was saying the same things as me.. I'm sorry for who ever had to read all of this, but I really need some advice! I try to stay away from her as much as possible but sometimes we have to be together and it always turns into a fight between us. I am a fairly kind person who gets along with most anyone but this women is pushing me to my limits. I am like Cinderella right now! But just a few changes. My brother and I no longer get as many things and attention because my dad is giving everything to the spoiled sisters. I am not an attention hog, I am used to not getting a lot of attention because I had 4 older brothers, but I am getting even less because of my two half sisters. Now I know some people might start thinking I am the problem, or this is normal, or something else, but what e more

Voting Question: questions for guys in late 20's early 30's?

at what age do the games stop. seriously, great date with a guy meet him with some friends of his a week ago a few of them were into me but i kinda caught myself talking to him all night, he gave me his business card and invited me out for a drink with him next week, we had a great time talking for hours - he was asking me kinda serious stuff tho, opinions on kids, future plans, family history, but i liked talking with him about anything. i text him when i got home thanking him for drinks, that was FIVE DAYS AGO?! he hasn't called me? should i assume it wasn't that great of a date? and start talking to another man more

Voting Question: What can i tell my mother to get out of this?

Ok, my mom was having a affair with my dads best friend for like 10 years now because my dad has a lot of problems such as drinking, arguing, ect... i dont want to list them call because it would fill up the page... SO she had an affair and is trying to end it and im in my senior year of 12th grade and she is trying me to do the dirty work for her. The man my mom is having an affair with has a business with my dad and he said if she breaks up with him, he will sell the business and tell my dad whats been happening for the past 10 years. He is also saying move out of the house, get an apartment, and he WONT live with us, he will live with his family. He will just support us and buy food. This will basically hurt my dad real bad because he has a heart problem and cant support himself with the money he gets from his business. My mom is currently working 2 jobs to support the family. So my mom is telling me to tell the man she is having an affair with that i dont want to live like this anymore and when i turn 18 i want to leave, and there are a lot of family problems right now and i dont want to do this, and i want to flip burgers for the rest of my life and crap like that. BTW, all this im supposed to tell him is untrue and i will go to college and im planning to make a six figure salary. She wants me to basically do the dirty work and end it for her but i really dont want to because it makes me feel bad inside. I told her that i dont want to say this but she said i have to and she called him and told him that i said all this stuff and i couldnt deny it when he called me and asked me that and he gave me a lecture on the phone for like an hour. I couldnt even hang up. What could i do to get myself out of this mess. I dont want to fix the mess my mom started. What do i tell her? She cant get a divorce with my dad. I dont want to do her dirty work. If she breaks up with that man, it will just create troubles. What do i do? She really wants to end the affair because its giving her a lot of stress and she is starting to talk to my dad a lot once more and she doesnt want to talk to that man anymore because he lies way too much. more

Resolved Question: What are the pros and cons of going into business with a family member?

My brother in law and I are toying with the idea of a specialty store that we think would do great in our area. I trust him completely,he is great guy. I have had people advise me that it is not a good idea to start a business with a family member. What are your experiences? more

Voting Question: Why left wing to criticize United States always?

My name is Yori I live most of life in Russia (former soviets union ) you call 'communist' but there is called 'socialist' they don't like to be called communist. I leaved russia because socialism is failure for everybody, you go there most people will tell you this. My family could not save money because tax too high. Yes, medicine free. Education free. Housing free. But you end up with almost nothing left. If you healthy, educate, and smart you lose. If you sick, no educate, and not good work then is O.K. All society is weigh down by those who don't do well is socialism, all people made weak. This not fair? I come to USA in 1989 to gain from my own hard work. I buy house, own business, nice car, buy my own health insurince. This impossible with socialism, impossible in left wing polite. 'Liberal' here sounds very much like socialist in russia, always success is bad. People with success do bad thing. Anything not government is bad. This is first time I start to hear this in USA so much. Obama sounds like retorical in russia, very much the same philosophy. I tell USA people all the time now to watch out this guy, these politics very bad for people. more

Voting Question: Need some nsight into a small "issue"...?

I am launghing my very own small business. I have been working diligently in gathering what I need together. My husband has had some previous experience in the field but says its not something he's too into. He hasn't really sghown much interest in my field even though he has experience but ever since I started launching, he has become a little abrasive in what I should do. I know he is tryign to help but it seems to me he is doing a lot of what I should be doing for my business. he says he is only trying to help but I see him up at night working on things I should be working on (and I am). He starts to give me advice I didn't ask for and makes comments on things that tend to distract me from my own individual creativity. I spoke with him about this and he says he's just trying to help but I feel he's getting deeply involved too much. I also feel he is trying to get attention. of course these are my thoughts but I do think he has such qualities in him but he will never admit. I guess I am venting or unable to place how I feel (annoyed maybe?). The heavy focus on achievements is bothering me; to me, my family comes first and it seems he is a lot into acheiving success and recognition....help me put the puzzle together, it's scattered in my brain. thks. more

Voting Question: WHY DO MEMBERS OF UPPER MANAGEMENT IN FAMILY-OWNED COMPANIES DISRESPECT THEIR EMPLOYEES?

ME: A marketing manager for a family-owned business. I've been with my company for almost a decade and have worked my way to my current position starting off as a sales associate. I have a college degree and I am good at what I do. After getting promoted to my current position, I enjoyed great success as a leader and a mentor. MY COMPANY: A family-owned business that is operated by the owner's family members and "friends." It has been in business for almost 20 years and is a "profit-only" organization. They are not very progressive and tend to listen more to ideas which are presented by other members of upper management, "friends", and those that don't pose a "threat." COMPANY CORPORATE CULTURE: They tend fill upper management positions with business contacts that they have relationships with, and outsiders have middle-management positions and have little or no chance of moving upward. Favoritism, nepotism, and "brown-nosing" run rampant with the company. Tactics that are used by upper management to get their point across include intimidation and fear. OVERALL, THE WORK ENVIRONMENT IS VERY NEGATIVE. Although I have grown a lot with the company, I feel that my boss is trying to suppress my advancement. I get the feeling that my boss as well as many members of upper management do not like the fact that I have achieved my levels of success. I also sense that my boss is trying to prevent me from growing even more with the company because he feels threatened by me. My boss has no skills at all when it comes to business. Of course, he got his job because he is friends with the owner. I've also heard through the grapevine that a lot of the other employees, middle-management and regular employees alike share my thoughts. Without going any further, why is this "disrespect" happening? Is this a common occurrence in companies that are family-owned. I am not a genius, but if upper management in my company was pulling this same stunt in a corporate environment, they would either get fired or have a lawsuit filed against them. What do you think? more

Voting Question: How can I get over how pointless my life is now that I no longer believe in GOD?

I mean, aside from my career, my friends, my family, a start up business I am working on, two novels I've started writing, my desire to become a math professor in the future, my charitable works, and learning more about science, anthropology, linguistics, psychology, meteorology, and music, what is there left to live for? I mean really, what do I do? =8-O more

Resolved Question: If we mix church and state of any kind and only get war out of that mix is there something seriously wrong?

Do not over look this serious point of history! And is change coming fast enough for peace? And what is hampering peaceful growth? The United Nations as been around for over 60 years to stop all war after world war II and yet do we see peace and security? After World War I they set up the same idea program of nations and yet World War II came! So where is the proof mankind can rule without God's help? If not one person ever once ignored Romans 12:19 would there be peace and security on earth forever? From King James Bible "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." For that to work not one person can ignore that even once! But with imperfect free will today and bad attitudes earth wide can the world hope for that to ever be a real hope? If God said vengeance is mine is it his will any "Christian" nation go to war with any nation Christian or otherwise? Or does church and state of all kinds world wide at war time conflict with God's will? Obama speaking to the nation, "Change has not come fast enough," Obama said before a politician-packed House chamber and a TV audience of millions. "As hard as it may be, as uncomfortable and contentious as the debates may be, it's time to get serious about fixing the problems that are hampering our growth." Are counterfeit secular businesses that only put on a show of being a religion hampering our growth? Government leaders of all nations for world peace and security give power to the United Nations to tell all religious leaders to obey the vengeance right rule or we will back tax you out of business! Preach only peaceful things no vengeance in any form at all but God's if we preach otherwise! Make Peace and Security your focus point for all you’re preaching! Or we will outlaw you as a counterfeit religion working against world peace and security! God wants us all to get along not fight and he means you to! Internationally, nationally, locally, and family too! Are we in need of skills in that area of life? Where can we get those skills? Biblical Christian law for a start? How about Matthew 7:12 for a start? It says there, “All things, therefore, that YOU want men to do to YOU, YOU also must likewise do to them; this, in fact, is what the Law and the Prophets mean." And read right after that in the Bible of Matthew chapter 7 and note the bad things that will come to us if that one area is ignored by any of us big or little person in the world! One of the things said there is if we live upto the golden rule above we will do well but if not we do poorly see, 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone that hears these sayings of mine and does them will be likened to a discreet man, who built his house upon the rock-mass. And the rain poured down and the floods came and the winds blew and lashed against that house, but it did not cave in, for it had been founded upon the rock-mass. [Jesus Christ] Furthermore, everyone hearing these sayings of mine and not doing them will be likened to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rain poured down and the floods came and the winds blew and struck against that house and it caved in, and its collapse was great.” The collapse [of governments] will be great if they/we do not live by the Law and the Prophets which mean the golden rule of even treating our enemies right. Avenge not yourselves God said I will take care of your enenies myself! Might World War I and II have not been so great if all religious leaders of all faiths believed that same way? Or no such wars like that at all? Should not religion be a great force for peace not war? If we mix church and state of any kind and only get war out of that mix is there something seriously wrong with that picture and mix? What has that mix done for mankind in truth? more

Voting Question: I have a really big problem in life. Please read and help me?

My father was very abusive when I was younger. He would spent all his money on women, friends and relatives. He would hardly spend his money on us to buy us our necessary things. After a few years, we went really broke. We started to save up. We (my mom and siblings) wouldn't buy any clothing. We lived in a very small, old house with only two bedrooms. I didn't have a place to study or sleep. I would sleep on the floor. The house was filled with mice and mice stools. The roof would leak and the neighbors were a bunch of alcoholic, drug users, dangerous people. Our food was hardly nutritional. We didn't grow up well. I dropped out of high school to help my family. I had the worst life ever. Now with the help of us ( my mom and my siblings), with the poor-conditioned life we lived, and with all those terrible things we went through to save up some money, my father managed to save up some money. It is OUR money because we all worked hard for it. We cut on a lot of necessary things to save the money. Now, that we are in a more stable condition, my father wants to spend all this money on his brother who wants to marry. He loved his brother more than he loves us. He loves his relatives more than he loves us. He never cared about us. It's burning me to see that after all those hardship we went through, he is betraying us like that. I can't claim any money from him because first he's my father, second it's technically the money he gained through working (but we put ourselves under pressure and hardship to save money). What should I do to calm myself down. Can I do anything to stop him from spending all the money on his brother's wedding. We told him not to but he said that it's his money and it's none of our businesses but he doens't keep in mind that we went through hell to save this money. more