Taxes

Battling The Irs

There was once a song about battling the law and losing. Fortunately, battling the IRS is possible and sometimes inevitable. Battling the IRS There comes a time when many Americans must take action against the IRS. The IRS can come down swiftly and without mercy against taxpayers for issues ranging from simple mistakes to genuine tax evasion. When such a…

Continue Reading

Personal Finance

Financial Plans What Are Americans Banking On

Americans tend to have an optimistic view of retirement-but a recent poll found many people still have a lot of work ahead of them before they can leave their jobs. For instance, 47 percent of respondents said their retirement savings will last them 10 to 20 years. Those numbers seem promising until you consider that people should be actually planning…

Continue Reading

Recreation Sports

America S Mane Attraction The Golden Age Of Horses

More Americans are learning why riding off into the sunset equals living “happily ever after.” With recent movies such as “Seabiscuit” and “Hidalgo” topping the charts, it seems horses are more popular than ever – but it’s not just Hollywood. The trend is sweeping the nation as more people discover the wonderful world of horses. Participation in horse events is…

Continue Reading

Nutrition

Improving Eating Habits Can Be Easier Than You Think

Americans, now more than ever, recognize the need to change the way they eat. From reducing fat and sugar intake to cutting carbs, many are looking for extra steps they can take in the kitchen to improve their overall health. In fact, a recent survey administered by Opinion Research highlights this trend, revealing that 86 percent of Americans believe there…

Continue Reading

Black History

The Harlem Renaissance

The quest for equality and freedom for African Americans has been fought on many fronts. But there is no question that in the area of the arts, the contribution of black America has been so profound that it has greatly eased racial tensions and changed the image of black culture profoundly in the eyes of all Americans. Many have criticized…

Continue Reading

Weddings

What Currently Defines African American Culture

African American culture can be regarded as both part of, and distinct from American culture. From the days of the slave trade, Africans and African Americans have contributed by means of literature, art, agricultural skills, foods, music, and language to American culture. Even before the abolition of slavery, African Americans were known for their cultural ingenuity. Although in many cases…

Continue Reading

Politics

The Spurious Hero

The hero label is possibly the most ambiguous term in the English language. Recently I mentioned in a speech to some fellow Republicans that Thomas Edward Lawrence, Dian Fossey, and Paul David Wellstone were my heroes only to have the expressions of those in attendance change from being interested to being indifferent. And things quickly went from bad to worse…

Continue Reading

Insurance

Long Term Care The Ignored Need

Most Americans fear they’ll need long-term care at some point after retirement, but only a small percentage are are doing anything about it, according to a survey conducted for the John Hancock Life Insurance Co.* It states that 85 percent of respondents worry about needing long-term care at some time in their future, an increase from 80 percent a decade…

Continue Reading

Vacations

Mexico As A Concept And Not A Reality Part 3

Based on my going-on five years of expat experience in the city of Guanajuato, Mexico’s Heartland, I do not think the current expat guides such as Howell, Merwin, and Luboff, apply here. It is so stark in fact, that the difference between Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende is almost like comparing apples to oranges. Here are two cities, two…

Continue Reading

Insurance

Cover The Uninsured Week Provides Opportunities For All Americans To Get Involved In Solving National Problem

Nearly 46 million Americans-including more than 8 million children-have no health insurance and gamble each day that they won’t get sick or injured, and the problem is getting worse. As health care costs continue to rise, every family’s health care coverage could be at risk. Chances are someone in most families either is or has been uninsured. That’s why millions…

Continue Reading