So Robert Zemeckis makes a comment about making a Roger Rabbit sequel that's made some people excited. Who Framed Roger Rabbit? is one of my favorite movies, but I have my reservations, a lot of them mentioned by Jaime J. Weinman. In addition, there's been a lot of time that's passed since the first movie. In addition, there's Disney and Amblin' co-owning the rights that might put the kibosh on it. The rift between Disney and Spielberg prevented a lot of Roger Rabbit attractions from popping up as planned when Disney-MGM (now Disney Hollywood Studios) was looking to expand the park. Upon rereading the link I saw that a lot of it was actually animosity between Spielberg and then Disney head Michael Eisner, who has since departed. Maybe this will go forward, but I'm not holding my breath.

A qualified electrician is another one of those things that you don't think about until you need one. And usually in those situations you're not thinking that clearly, just wanting to get the problem properly resolved. But it won't be done right if you rush in and call the first name you see in the phone book. That's why you need to have a plan in place for just in case such a situation arises you can be ready and not create further problems down the road for yourself. Or as I usually put it to myself when thinking of things like this to be like Batman. It seems that Batman's got a plan in place for every contingency, and his preparedness gives him an edge over the other superheroes who rely on their powers to get by.
Even if you don't live in the area and don't see the need to get Raleigh Electricians to help you out, there's some practical advice to help you get the best electrician service that won't have you dealing with the fallout afterwards. And if you do live in the Wake county North Carolina area, Ambassador Electrical Service would be a good company to determine if the right ones for the job for you. They offer free estimates with no job too big or small, and there's a coupon on their website for $20 off any work done. Just make sure you check them out further so you can have peace of mind, if nothing else.

Have you been reading about all the problems with Forced Arbitration stacking the deck even more in favor of companies and corporations over people like us? Are you still on the fence over efforts to remove those clauses because you're hearing those scare tactics from the same folks that scared you away from improving health care, working conditions, etc. leading to the wonderful shape we're all in today? Then check out this post about how it can affect your job.

If you were reading this blog back in January, you might recall that I was in the midst of unfreezing the water pipes here and was barely able to catch the news of movies shown at the Sundance Film Festival. One of them was Big Fan, a movie starring Patton Oswalt in a dramatic turn as a sports fan whose meeting of an athlete he admires ends in violence. I didn't know it was written by the same guy who wrote The Wrestler Robert Siegel. Better yet, there's a distribution deal announced, so hopefully it'll come to a theatre near me, or can see it on video.

Since the home market collapse last year, a lot more people are learning to make do with what the home that they have right now. And I'm sure there's a lot of people like me who prefer to stay put who are looking to make some improvements in their home. The scale at which a lot of people are looking to remodel their homes are resulting in them looking for a contractor MD to help them achieve their dreams. If you live in the Bel Air Maryland area, then you should consider using the services of Total Makeover Home Improvement. Their home makeovers include (but not limited to) additions (first or second floor), kitchen remodels, bath remodels, garage conversions, in-law suites, patios, decks, porches, siding, retaining walls, landscaping, etc. Their goal is to strive to be the best in the industry with their competitive rates, excellent customer service and an industry leading Five-Year craftsmanship warranty. They believe that quality work should be backed with a great guarantee. Whether you're looking to make do with the home you have right now because the current financial market is keeping from moving into a new home, or you just want your current home to be more like your dream home, Total Makeover Home Improvement can help you transform your current domicile into the home of your dreams.

Hey Kids! Recession's got you down? How about doing something to take your mind off your troubles, like taking in a ball game? Hey, the Yankees sympathize. They even cut prices on their more expensive seats from $2500 to $1250! Kicking yourself for paying the higher price? They won't give you a refund, but they'll give you credit for other front row seats. Isn't that nice of them? And you won't have to see all those empty seats when you watch the game on TV?
What's that? The new stadium was paid for with the help of taxpayers, of which you are one? You think you should get something for that? That's good. That's a good one. That's better than the guy wanting some money back on those front row seats he bought. Ha ha ha ha ha--
No.

Peter David's site has mainly been going between publishing chapters of a "Twilight" satire called "Potato Moon" and reprinting old columns from the Comics Buyer's Guide. One of them is from 1992 when he talks about the change in format (to clarify: he's talking about the change to a foldable paper, to facilitate mailing; and not the monthly magazine format it became). What I found eerily prescient was this quote:
"My father, a reporter, went from newspaper to newspaper, and they kept folding under him. Eventually he got out of newspapers entirely. How long before newspapers are gotten out as well?"
Eerie, given what's happened lately. And it looks like a first time when a subsequent format really did kill off it's predecessor.

Mother's Day is coming up, and a lot of people are wondering what to give her for that special day. And by train of thought, some are reliving their memories of their mom by thinking of those special moments. I'm certainly no exception, especially how my mind works. Sometimes train of thought jumps the tracks, sometimes jumps the station. But one of my mom's favorite stories that she likes to tell is about how sometimes when my brother and I would go out we'd see some nice flowers and pick them for you. She would rave so much about them, and it made such an impression, that whenever one of us was in imminent trouble with her we'd hastily scoop up whatever flowers (be they dandelions in the yard, or whatever) and try to stave off the trouble by saying "I picked you some flowers, mommy". It never worked, but she loved telling that tale, and in one of those "twenty years from now I'll look back on this and laugh" type of things I realize that at least I was able to make her happy, if not at the moment of trouble, at least afterwards reflecting on it, and in telling the story to friends and relatives. Maybe that would be a fitting present: to pick out one of these mothers day flowers bouquets and give them to her, telling her I picked them for her.

And if your mind isn't reeling enough from reading about the Miracleman case, here's Mental Floss with an essay of Fair Use of Copyright in the era of YouTube. Unfortunately, vigorous protection of copyright is how you have to protect it. If you don't, it can be argued that you don't have much of a claim. It's the only part of law I know of where "but they let so-and-so do it" is an adequate defense. Pity the author could let his work finishing his father's music video be displayed. It might even stir some sales of the song, even. Some people may say "I haven't heard that song in years" and didn't buy it before since it was played more often, then as it works it's way into the brain, they decide to buy the mp3 or the CD that it's on. At least I don't see where it would hurt it.

ComicMix has a report about the offering of motion picture rights to Miracleman. Instead of jumping up and down singing "We're going to get a Miracleman movie! We're going to get a Miracleman movie!" they offer an overview of the rights situation that has kept it from being reprinted or finished. Complicated, but it does cover the situation well. If only some of their words didn't run together.

Are you in the market for gems on a wholesale level? Maybe a jeweller looking for massive quantities of that favorite of the home shopping cable channes cubic zirconia? Then look no further than Pahnec Gems. They can provide you with whatever lab-created gemstones you're in the market for, in whatever shape and size that you need. And they've been in business far longer than those shopping channels on TV, having been in business since 1961. And they're experienced in providing the gems you need and offering service beyond what would be needed for a wholesale jeweller. They have a large selection of loose stones in a variety of quality CZ diamonds for jewelry making and distribution. In addition, they offer a large variety of shapes and sizes including popular round and square sizes, and also unique heart, oval, octagon, square, marquise, pear and star shapes. They make ordering online easy and hassle-free, as all items on their site are in-stock and ready to ship unless otherwise noted. These laboratory created diamonds and other gemstones are increasing in popularity and many people now consider them to be just as beautiful (if not more so) than their natural counterparts.

Greg Burgas talks about getting the newest issue of Mental Floss and getting some good deals on Marvel trade paperbacks. He says the trades were part of a clearance Diamond was doing, so maybe some of them will make their way to the comic shops in time for Free Comic Book Day. And I got the new issue of Mental Floss today as well. I was also hoping to get a copy of The Incredible Hulk on blu-ray for $15.99 that's on sale at Best Buy, but they were out. But getting the new Mental Floss was worth it. I link to their blog a lot here, but check it out if you haven't already and see if the magazine interests you. It's a lot more than just reprinting from the magazine, a worthy supplement to it.
While checking out with the magazine, I saw that Star Trek was featured in the latest issue of Newsweek, but I didn't get it. One, I'm still getting copies for some reason even though my subscription expired and I haven't renewed, and two (as you can see from the earlier link) I realized I could read the article online. Says something about the print vs. web thing going on, doesn't it? But I got the Mental Floss because it's a magazine worth consulting again and again. And when you come across an old issue, like an old friend it's well worth revisiting.

I was reading today's installment of Journalista and clicked on one of the links talking about the strangest Garfield book ever released. Garfield: His 9 Lives was strange for so many reasons that is covered in the link. And like the comments section points out: there was an animated special, but any resemblence to The Three Stooges was removed from "The Exterminators" segment. And I recall a "Krazy Kat" like animated sequence that wasn't in the book. And the "Sam Spayed" sequence was expanded in another Garfield TV special "Babes and Bullets".
All this talk about it got me to wondering if it was collectible, but a search on Amazon shows copies as low as 1 cent. So for $4 with shipping, you too can share in this weird book. If you though "Garfield Without Garfield" was edgy, this will blow your mind.

You know how they say that you should spend two months' salary to get an engagement ring? The first thing that pops in my mind is Rat's response in the comic strip Pearls Before Swine: "Of course they say that. They get the money." But you don't want to skimp on something that will be cherished by your loved one. And if you're like me, if you can get a deal that leads you to get more than you planned, all the better. But you can get more than a good deal with these diamond rings for sale. There's no salesmen hovering over you hungry for a commission. And with no physical store, that's savings that's passed on to you. And they can educate you on selecting a diamond and build your own engagement ring. And with free Fed Ex shipping so you get it the next day, that's all the better.

Did MGM turn down a distribution deal with Walt Disney because studio head Louis B. Mayer was afraid of mice? Find out here, with an entertaining story about Disney's distribution history. And as a bonus, get to the bottom of that whole story about the actors playing the Munchkins being wild and raucous. Ironically, it isn't true, but it was for the person who started that story.

What if you find yourself needing to get food stamps to get by? And what if you find the place you're calling is overseas in India? And what if the company contracted to administer the program was getting a bailout from the government? It has happened. Fortunately, it's good to read that Indiana is one of the states requiring companies administering their food stamp program to open a call center in the state. It's about time we were progressive in something.

Are you planning to visit Washington DC anytime soon? If there's a group of you planning a trip to that area you might want to check out the deals you can get with a bus rental Washington DC package. If you're coming to town for a bailout it wouldn't look good to have limo transportation, but that is one of the types of vehicles they have available for people to hire to get around the area. So whether you're travelling alone or with or family, or there's a whole lot of you coming America Limousine & Bus has the vehicles and service to suit your needs, such as sedans and limos, luxury SUVs, limousines, stretch limos, vans, limo bus, mini buses (with seating options for 15, 24 and 33 passengers), mini coaches (seating options for 40-45 passengers), and luxury coach buses (seating options for 57 passengers) Worrying about getting a large enough bus and planning a tour of the nation's capital? Let them take care of it for you. In addition to their fleet of buses, they also offer tour packages that you can customize to suit the needs of your group. Not planning to go to DC anytime soon but wish they had something like this where you're headed? No problem. In addition to Washington, they also offer transportation services to Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York,Atlantic city (Casino Trips) for special/large groups only, Niagara Falls, ground transportation to Florida Beaches, Disney and more.

They're showing the 100th episode of Lost tonight. It's better than last week's recap, which was a grade above a clip show (in that the characters didn't set up the clips with "remember that one time...?") But we're coming to the end of the season, which means we'll be going through the longest stretch without episodes since we started watching the show last September and zipping through the episodes on DVD. Christopher Knight talks about tonight's episode and links to this list of the top 100 scenes from Lost.

While I'm not as interested in travelling as I used to be, one of the destinations I want to go back to someday is the Orlando Florida area. And I think I'm getting to the age where the interest in going to the amusement parks isn't as interesting as just kicking back and enjoying the weather and water, there's still some parks that I want to go to. I haven't been to Sea World since I was a kid, they've added a lot of things since I last visited. If you like the rides aspects of parks, some tend to associate Sea World with exhibits and shows, not rides. But they've added some rides where if you want some excitement in your vacation, they can help you out. And in a few weeks, they're going to add a new ride. Their new coaster the Manta is designed to simulate being a manta ray, with the spinning, gliding, flying and more, all packed into a thrilling coaster ride. And their site has some fun activities that you can participate in to win a manta photo (if you do two) or front of the line passes to this exciting new attraction (if you do all 6). Fun activities like pick 3 friends to fill your row on this new ride, take the manta quiz, upload a picture to flickr or a video to YouTube, and more. It'll get you stoked for the Manta coaster and get you a front row pass as well.

Johnny LaRue's Crane Shot profiles book #7 in The Destroyer series. I hadn't thought of the series for years. I picked up the Marvel Comics years ago, which led me to check out Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins on video. I picked up whatever the current release of the latest in the series of paperbacks around that time but I never got around to reading it. It got me to wandering if the book series was still being published. The Wikipedia page on the series shows that it is, with it changing publishers last year.

Many companies are inserting forced arbitration clauses into their contracts, stacking the deck even more in their favor. Even in a worse case scenario, the clauses in that contract you sign from a cell phone agreement to a lease to a franchise agreement could prevent you from having any chance to address any injustices visited upon you. The Consumerist has one story about how a couple was wiped out from such a clause, even being ordered to pay over $500 for the lawyers' lunches. If you don't believe me, then try their choose your own adventure about mandatory binding arbitration.
Fortunately, there is a movement to get Congress to pass the Arbitration Fairness Act, with a major push taking place tomorrow. You can sign the petition in support of this, or contact your representative.

Have you seen neon signs in front of a business and realize how it drew your attention better than the other businesses that didn't have such a sign? Okay, maybe you didn't really think of it because it's subliminal, but after pondering the idea you can see where I'm coming from, right? Well, with the help of these better than neon signs you're more likely to call attention to yourself. Something to keep in mind as you compete in the open marketplace, huh? These signs are better than neon signs not only because they're more vibrant and brighter, but if you're dealing with a logo or other distinguishing design it can look more like it. You're impressed with neon signs that somewhat resemble your logo, but a sign that's brighter and looks more like the real thing? That's sure to draw attention. And even if you don't have a unique logo to advertise your business, they've got signs that can change back and forth between two things, like advertising you have pizza and beer. It would be just the thing for the place just down the road from where I live since more people think of the beer and not the pizza as much. And they're so convinced that you'll love these signs that you just pay for shipping to get your sign, and if you're not completely satisfied with how well it does for your business, send it back with no further payments. How many places offering advertising offer you that?

Have you ever seen one of those movies when the aliens attack Earth, and we ultimately save the day and drive the aliens off? Have you ever wondered what would happen to the survivors on Earth after that? Resurrection is a comic that answers that question. I read the original mini series when it came out and enjoyed it. Newsarama has an interview with writer Marc Guggenheim in anticipation of the trade paperback coming out tomorrow reprinting those issues (with a 26 page preview) and the relaunch of the series. It's one of the books that's coming in my weekly shipment and I'm looking forward to it. And if you're going out for Free Comic Book Day, there's an issue 0 that's a transition issue between the trade and the new series. If you're going out for free comics and see the free issue 0 and/or the trade paperback, I'd recommend picking it up. At $6 for the trade, you'll end up liking it more than the 2 comics you would pick up otherwise.

There was a movie that came out years ago about someone who just wanted to go out and have fun, not hurt anyone. But ended up committing many crimes, even enlisting the aid of his compatriots. Do you know what movie that was? Does anyone know? Bueller? Bueller?
And if you're wondering (especially after the Battlestar Galactica finale) when the machines will rebel and strike back, wonder no longer, it begins.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: it's all fun and games until later that night when you want a snack or something to drink, and you go to the fridge, and just when you grip the handle to open the door you think "wait a minute..."

Even with the warmer weather coming up, a lot of people are starting to plan their summer vacation travelling (if they haven't already) since a lot of families have children and they consider when they'll be out of school and all. One dream destination for a lot of vacations is travelling to the Caribbean to enjoy the scenery and tropical climate. If you're planning such a trip and haven't got your lodging set up, then it would behoove you to go check out the deals that can be found at Playa del Carmen Apartment Rentals. Encanto Travel can help you plan your dream vacation with a dream package and lodging that will allow you to fully appreciate the scenery and the chance to get away from it all. Why try to cram everybody into a hotel room when for about the same price you can get an apartment or condo that will allow you more space (and therefore more chance to relax) And with their locations close to the beach and other ideal vacation spots, you can select the one that's right for you. And with their selection of packages you can choose the right kind of getaway that will allow you to get the most from your vacation. The site is very easy to navigate, allowing you to select the destination and the package you wish, allowing you to do it all in one site. No worries, just relax and enjoy once you arrive.

Teen opens Nintendo DS box, finds newspaper and rocks. Wally World finally caved and issued a refund and gift card, but it was more due to public pressure and exposure of that store's incompetence. If you're making a major purchase that you don't want to be out of the money spent, you would do well to inspect the item at the store, or make sure it's in the box. That's what I did when I got my new TV and blu-ray player. Also, see about using a credit card so that if there's any disputes, the credit card company is on your side and can go to bat for you. Just make sure everything's in place to pay it instantly and doesn't end up adding to your debt. That's another thing I did.

Flu Epidemic vs. Flu Pandemic: what's the difference? Mental Floss explains it. Amaze your friends and amuse your enemies, and use your new found knowledge for good, not evil.
And didn't we have a Swine Flu scare back in the '70s? Here's a public service announcement about it. And here's what can be learned from the handling of that situation.

When it comes to decorating the walls at my house, I don't have anything up myself. My wife has a few pieces up, but that's it. I think the main reason for that is that I think I haven't advanced much beyond the putting posters up on the wall stage of decorating. And I don't think my wife would like it very much if I put up pin up posters in the wall of our bedroom. But I'm grown up. Heck, some would say that I'm middle aged. So my tastes should be beyond the posters I can get from Spencer's Gifts.
But even though there are other aspects of my life that I don't follow "the plan", like being such a comic book fan and what-not, there are a lot of these wall art pieces that I would like to hang up on my walls. I like the ones that are 3 or 5 pieces that form a larger work of art. That's sure to attract interest to anyone seeing them hung up. And if your tastes aren't as old-fashioned as mine (or you don't want anything to do with women on posters) there's modern art pieces along with abstract art that you're sure to find something you like. And art should be a reflection of the person whose home it hangs in.

Everybody's talking about the Mark Waid interview that just came out. Well, that's what The Beat is saying, with some juicy excerpts. The only other place I saw any mention online was Lying in the Gutters, so I don't know. The excerpts are interesting, but you can read the whole thing here. Looks like it originated from Ain't It Cool News. Speaking of which, here's some Megan Fox pictures taken from the set of the now filming Jonah Hex movie.

One interest subset of sports fanaticism is the collection of memorabilia, particularly autographed items. Ironically it doesn't benefit from online commerce as other buying and selling has due to the ease and number of people selling counterfeit items that some unscupulous merchants have taken to doing. If you're interested in that kind of thing that's why it's beneficial to buy your sports collectibles from a reliable merchant such as Authentic Sports Collectibles. Their merchandise is hand-signed and comes with a certificate of authenticity. And not only can you be assured that what you're buying is the real deal, the shopping experience is enjoyable and service-oriented. For example, you can search for merchandise by price range or have a live agent assist you in purchasing the right item. Very handy if you're in the market for a gift. Also, they offer a vast selection of display bases so you can not only display your item, it can be preserved in it's condition. Plus, with their competitive price and offer to beat any other price out there, you know you're getting the best deal online. And with their flat $4.95 shipping on any order you know you're getting a better deal on top of your purchases from them.

Ain't It Cool News is running a giveaway for a CD set of Michael Giacchino's Star Trek score and Jerry Goldsmith's Star Trek Nemesis soundtrack. You can enter twice a day from now until Friday night at 11:59pm by sending an e-mail here. They've randomly chosen two times each day that the winning entry will be sent, and the e-mail sent closest to those times will win. Details at link.
I'm planning to enter as many times as I can. I have Giacchino's score from The Incredibles on my Walkman mp3 player, and one of the things we love on Lost is the music. And I like hearing his score on the Star Trek commercials. If I don't win, I plan to get the soundtrack anyway.

Kathy is feeling better today, thus convincing her that the pains she was feeling was stressed related. She is continuing to monitor the situation, and if it still doesn't improve or gets bad again she's going to the doctor.
I got some of the discs I ordered today, including Phantom of The Opera on HD-DVD. I made a color copy of that cover and the cover to Matrix Revolutions for getting blu ray copies of Phantom and The Ultimate Matrix set (Warner Bros says you just need the cover art to Revolutions to get the set) in the Red2Blu exchange program. And before you ask, the color copies goes into the sleeve, I'm not trying to pull a fast one here, I just like my collection to have covers, albeit a little poorer color versions of them. And although there was some back and forth in the DVD Bargains thread about this offer particularly WB's raising the price on the Ultimate Matrix set, $19.95 is a lot cheaper than the around $75 in my search of prices elsewhere online. So in addition to Phantom, Ultimate Matrix, and The Matrix, I'm getting 300, Batman Begins, Justice League: The New Frontier, and V for Vendetta. And in 4-5 weeks I should have blu ray copies of all of those movies. Now if Paramount and Universal would get in on this as well. But some of their selections haven't been released in blu ray yet.
And here's a couple of links of interest: 7 great side jobs for money. Maybe I should look into dog walking since we're planning to resume our walks with the warmer weather arriving.
And we missed out on the rain forecast for the area, but some weren't so lucky. Here's 10 interesting facts about rain.
Here's the latest comics gossip from Lying In The Gutters. And if you're like me and bought the first two trade paperbacks of Warren Ellis' Freakangels and want to read online from the end of the second trade, here's where you can start volume 3.
And not to toot my own horn, but if you haven't read my post on swine flu, or read it earlier, please check it out again. Additional information I came across while I was online today was added to the original post.

As you may recall, a few months ago my water pipes froze after temperatures dipped down to 20 below zero. Fortunately, my dad was able to help me, and eventually the temperatures went up enough that everything worked again. But it was mainly my dad's work in getting the pipes wrapped up everywhere so that they wouldn't freeze up again. Not only that, but I have had problems where the bathroom sink was slow draining, and I tried everything. Plunging it, liquid drain unclogger, the baking soda and vinegar solutions, and it seemed like they all helped a little, but the problem was still there. While we were down there, we found that the drain pipe was slanted at an angle, trapping water that was draining down, and got the pipe righted.
But sometimes you're not as fortunate to fix plumbing problems, or know someone who can help you. That's why it's good to know that there's an Indianapolis Plumber available for assistance. And even if you don't live in the area, there's some valuable tips on selecting a plumber for service. Even in an emergency, there's online searches to vouch for a plumber's services.
And they would've come in handy a few months ago, if for no other reason than having to work in such a small space as under the floorboards of my bathroom.

You know how there's some books that you want but the bookstore doesn't have them sometimes? You can order them, but it takes a couple of weeks, and that's if the stars are in alignment and everything is going your way. And you can go online and see about ordering it, but if you're cheap and choose the super saver shipping, it takes a week or two for something you order on Amazon. Same with their used books and discs. Best case scenario is at least a couple of days on something you order online unless you pay through the nose for shipping overnight. But Wil Wheaton writes of a new innovation in London that I hope makes it's way here to the states: a machine that prints and binds books on demand in 5 minutes while the customer waits.
I think they tried that with music, with a local music store offering a machine to burn CDs of songs you select, but that was after the mp3 horse left the barn and joined the circus, plus their selection was limited. But hopefully this is something that can solve brick and mortar stores' space limitations and online stores' transit time.

Mike Sterling wasn't going to do it at first, but then he decreed: 'tis Galactus Week! Go see today's segment when he pines after Dazzler.
And finally there's a good link to the art that is part of the Full of Pryde showing, showcasing Kitty Pryde. Joss Whedon and Kathy should be happy now.
And apparently since the economic collapse, there's an increase of articles hyping comics as investments. Here's a brief explanation why this isn't a good idea.
And just for the heck of it, here's some Scarlett Johansson cariactures.

Whether you're aspiring to make it in the theatre or have a child in dance class you know how expensive it can be to provide what's needed to practice the art of dance. And there's too many instances of buying the cheapest turns out to wear out quicker, ultimately costing you more over the long run than if you went with better quality. But what if there were a way to get the dance outfits and accessories you need without breaking your budget? You can get great deals, tips on dance and getting the right dancewear, and more from this site.

Jim Hill Media pointed out this latest Beaker music video:

And if you like it, you can go and vote for it in the Webby Awards in the Music category. Voting's until this Thursday April 30th, so get cracking.
Jim's also got links to Beaker's other music videos in his article.

You've probably heard about the swine flu outbreak that started in Mexico, and cases being found in other countries including the US. However, for a reason unknown at this time the US cases aren't fatal like the ones in Mexico. I thought before the news stations got everybody whipped up in a panic mode I'd share this informative article that explains what's going on right now, the likely steps to be taken, and what it all means. Information is a good substitute for panic. But if you're interested in keeping track you can track actual and suspected cases online.
And guess which party wanted to strip flu pandemic preparedness from the stimulus bill? And guess which state has come crying to us for help with this? Um, didn't you guys want to leave not that long ago?
Instead of pointing fingers I will end this post with some common sense tips from Laura.

With Summer coming you'd probably think I was crazy to suggest you Travel Alaska as a possibility. But if you think Alaska Travel is snow and going by sled dog to see all the igloos, then head over to the link and be amazed at the scenery you can take in on such a trip. And according to their website, sunset is scheduled is going to be at 9:54pm. That's about as late as it gets in Indiana in the Summer. In fact their weather is comparable or better than Indiana's, which isn't much of a distinction.
And there are so many travel packages to choose from. I'd like one of the ones where you can do some travelling by train. And they also have their own tours, lodges and tour buses going to Denali Park, a national park that would be a vacation in and of itself. But they have so many possibilities available for travelling that you can select a package that fits what you want, not trying to fit your wants with their selection. Going to Alaska could turn out to be one of the most memorable vacations you've ever taken.