It’s a sad situation for those who live along our southwestern border these days. Good citizens are living in fear because of our federal government allows the Mexican border to remain an open gateway for drug smugglers and a flood of illegal aliens.

Not only are they worried about the safety of their families but their tax dollars are being wasted to provide social services for these illegals. Texas reports that it delivers 60,000 babies to illegal parents each year and of course, the babies are by current law US citizens. The annual cost Texas spends for health care for these illegals is currently $96 million per year.

The federal government’s refusal to secure the Arizona border has also brought its citizens to a breaking point. Yet when Arizona passed state law to enforce the existing US law, Obama and Attorney General Holder sued the state. Holder is also threatening to bring charges against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpio for arresting illegals and enforcing local law.

As safety has become more of a critical issue near the border, the federal government has put up warning signs and does little else to actually make a difference. In 2010, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency has arrested 900 illegal workers compared to 6,000 arrests and deportations under Bush in 2008.

This short video shows the frustration and seriousness of this problem:

As bad as this problem is in the southwest, it is quickly spreading throughout the rest of the United States. I hope we will all wake up before this problem becomes more dangerous. We have reasonable immigration laws and welcome those who come here legally. We must start enforcing those laws before we lose what so many sacrificed for over 200 years to build for us.

It’s a great time to travel if you can get your car out of the driveway. I’ve got one cousin in New Jersey who has a glacier surrounding his house and another in California who has been dodging mudslides, so I know that isn’t much of an exaggeration for a lot of people. Texas and Mississippy are getting snow and even northern Florida is expecting flurries.

With this kind of weather across the country, I don’t think there are many who don’t wish you could be somewhere else for a change. If you are one of the lucky ones who still has any money left and the time to travel, you can find some great bargains now.

Because of the current economy, the tourist industry is really taking a beating this year. Even the Ritz Carlton in Las Vegas just announced they will close in May due to lack of demand. As a result most resorts are offering impressive incentives to lure those who are able to travel.

If you have been considering a trip, do some research and you should be able to get a very affordable and welcome stay. Please wait until the roads are safe and enjoy your trip.

If you travel often and enjoy reading but hate trying to keep up with a suitcase full of books and magazines, I’m sure you’ve probably considered a Kindle Reader from Amazon. A major advantage for seniors other than portability is that you have the choice of 6 font sizes so you can adjust the text size immediately to meet your needs. You no longer need to try to find large print editions or fumble around with a magnifying glass.

For those who have trouble reading or vision which tires easily, the Read-to-Me feature on both Kindle models can read books, newspapers and magazine out loud to you. This is another major benefit for seniors.

Over 360,000 books, newspapers and magazines are now available for instant wireless delivery to your Kindle Reader. Bestsellers and new releases are only $9.99 unless marked otherwise. Newspapers and magazines can be auto-delivered to your reader if you want.

There are currently 2 versions of the Kindle, the 6 inch Kindle and the 9.7 inch Kindle DX. Other than the difference in screen size, the 6 inch model can store up to 1,500 books while the 9.7 inch DX stores up to 3,500 books. The 6 inch Kindle costs $259 and the DX is $489.

Now if the price is currently a barrier for not having a Kindle yet, I have a pleasant surprise for you. Amazon has just announced that you can download the Kindle for PC application to your PC computer for free. This will allow you to download and read the Kindle format products on your Windows PC. Your PC must be running Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 to run the application. A version for MACs is supposed to be “coming soon”.

This free application gives you the means to purchase and read any of the 360,000 books but magazine and newspapers are not available now. You can learn more about this new application at Kindle for PC.

Click on this link for more details on the Kindle Reader.

Whether you are interested in one of the Kindle Readers or the free Kindle application, I hope this information has been helpful for you. To comply with new FTC rules, I also need to inform you that this site generates income from affiliate links for products that interest my readers. In case you didn’t notice.

Thank you for visiting and best wishes for a Merry Christmas.

This time of year I like to encourage people to make the most of their vacations. Unfortunately, many who have already sacrificed and earned well deserved vacations can’t enjoy them this year because of the uncertain economy. It is a shame that arrogant and delusional politicians can disrupt so many lives in such a short time.

The economy is in such a mess right now that many people through no fault of their own are having to do without many of the benefits they rightly deserve. For your own good and your family, you do need to take advantage of any opportunity to relax and have some fun this summer.

This has already been a bad year and it looks like it won’t get better anytime soon. This means more stress and worry for all of us. You need to relax and recharge as best you can to effectively deal with whatever comes next.

I’m not suggesting that you throw caution to the wind but do things you can afford and enjoy to keep your spirits up. You need this not only for yourself but also your family.

If you are able to travel this summer, there are some great bargains available. So many people have lost jobs this year that resorts are offering very impressive incentives to lure tourists. Just do some research ahead of time and you’ll be impressed at how much you should be able to save.

Even if you can’t take your regular vacation this summer, you ought to be able to find places closer to home you can afford and enjoy. A lot of us are in the same boat this year. Do the best you can to make the most of this summer and enjoy the people closest to you. Even if its only backyard barbecues, have fun with your family.

This mess is not your fault. We’ve all got to look out for ourselves and our families the best we can for now. Just be sure you remember to vote in 2010.

All things considered, I hope you are able to make this summer a pleasant one.

I took a short trip this fall without a computer. Its always good to get away from everything, but most of us find it more and more necessary to at least check emails to stay in touch with family or business.  In my case I was later than I would have liked to reply to some business messages. Its like they know you’re trying to have fun and want you to feel guilty about it.

Anyway, when I got back I decided I needed to find a small laptop that wasn’t a lot of trouble for trips but powerful enough for business. The new smart cell phones are impressive but don’t always give you the capacity you want. Plus if you want to do a little work while traveling, they don’t provide the resources you need.

Laptop and notebook computers have really made amazing advances recently. They now have so much power and memory that a number of my friends use them as their primary work computer. In fact the next time I need to upgrade my desktop computer, I will probably choose a laptop that can accept all the accessories I need.

Although these laptops are great for ease of use and flexibility, many are not the best choice for travel, unless you are one of the business gurus that needs a traveling office.

Unfortunately I’m not that rich or famous (I don’t give a flip about the fame but rich would be a nice change). I do need to check messages and do some reports when I travel but I don’t need or want a trunk full of equipment.

I heard about mini laptops and after some research, I found one that offered all the options I need at a lower price than I expected. These minis have become so popular that most of the major companies are coming out with a version now. Prices vary quite a lot so be sure to do some research if you need one.

These minis are ideal for travel because they are much smaller than standard laptops and are very easy to pack or carry. They weigh around 3 pounds and are less than a foot wide. Mine is about 10×7 inches. Plus if they should get stolen or damaged on your trip, they are much less expensive to replace. The only caution I have for us seniors is that the screens vary around 9 to 10 inches and if you have bad eyesight, this could be a problem.

The mini that I liked the best was the Acer Aspire One, if you would like further details on that laptop simply click on that link. As small as they are, they are still very powerful and versatile computers. Its nice to be able to stay in touch while traveling without dragging a trunk of equipment with you.

We are all being bombarded with news reports of economic hardships and 2009 will definitely present many challenges for most of us. However, every crisis also presents benefits for people who are able to take advantage of them.

One of the areas where we can see significant benefits this year is travel. Resorts and hotels are seeing less traffic and some are offering great incentives to encourage tourists.

Between Christmas and New Year, Orlando tourism was down by 23% and Miami down by 10% according to tv news. Reporters covering conventions in Las Vegas state that there are some great bargains to encourage visitors there as well.

One of my favorite beach resorts in South Carolina is offering 30% discounts on reservations booked prior to March 1. So it seems that vacation spots everywhere are offering significant incentives to attract business this year.

If you are able to travel, do some research and you should be able to find some great offers to make your trip very affordable and enjoyable. This should hold true for your hotel and most of the attractions in the area but check ahead to be sure you are getting the best deal. If you are not familiar with the area you want to visit, websites like travelzoo.com can help with your research.

Do a little homework before planning your trip and you can travel for less this year and also have a fantastic vacation.

With increasing prices for gas, food and many areas affected by fires or floods, many of us are having to cut back on travel and stay closer to home this summer.

As we discover or revisit recreational areas close to home, a lot of us want to enjoy them with our pet. Whether out of loyalty or convenience, this seems to be a quickly growing trend. The expense of boarding a pet is not getting any cheaper either. There is also a growing mass of baby boomers that will refuse to travel if their pet cannot come with them.

Many of the recreational areas are also feeling the bind and are making themselves more accessible to pets. Luxury resorts to state parks are becoming more dog friendly but you need to check with them in advance to be clear on the privileges, restrictions and any extra fees. Although pet friendly options make your trip more practical, most pet accommodations are limited so be sure to plan ahead and make reservations to avoid problems.

You are also able to research pet friendly places on the web and find comments from past visitors that rate their experience there. This can be a major benefit if you have never been there before.

Whether you are visiting a resort, hotel, state park or campground find out what areas may be off limits for pets (pools, food areas, etc.) so you can make the most of your visit and avoid any aggravation.

Also be sure to provide for the welfare and comfort of your pet. Their favorite blanket or pillow, a leash, favorite toy, water bowl and enough pet food are items that can make your trip easier on your pet and you. Its also smart to have an address or phone number on the pet’s collar. A first aid kit is also a good idea.

If you are staying closer to home this summer or not but want your pet to travel with you, do some research and you should be able to plan a fun trip for your family and pet. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at some of the places that have recently started making provisions for pets.

In my last post I urged readers to do their best to take advantage of vacation for their own sake. In today’s world most of us don’t realize how close we are to running on empty in a physical and mental sense. Plus, I think all of us are close to running on empty in our cars these days.

However, after hearing the news this weekend, it seems that very many people just can’t afford to travel this year. If you are one of the fortunate ones who are still able to get away for a while, you should be able to find some bargains to make up for the higher gas prices.

Most of the hotels and vacation areas are feeling the crunch from so many people having to cut back.

If you can plan ahead and research in the area you want to visit, I’m sure there are going to be some impressive incentives offered to those still traveling.

I hope you are going to be among those who are able to enjoy a pleasant and affordable vacation this summer.

I noticed a comment on the web today that many people were thinking of doing without a vacation this year because of the economy. I urge you not to do this if at all possible.

I know that is a lot easier said than done for a lot of people now. Gas is hitting $4 a gallon, food keeps getting more expensive and all of us are feeling the effects. However, we all need time to rest and recharge our minds and bodies.

You may have to change plans by not traveling as far, staying as long or cutting back some on the hotel. I’m not suggesting you do the impossible but do what you reasonably can manage to enjoy yourself, rest and change your surroundings for at least a short time.

This has been a rough year for most of us and it is that much more important to get away and relax a little. None of us can really put ourselves in another’s shoes but I’ve lived through a situation where someone pushed too hard and did himself much more harm than good.

I hope you’ll be able to get away long enough to relax and enjoy yourself some this year. If you’d like some additional information, visit vital vacation.

With the holidays quickly approaching and a mild fall and winter predicted, this is a great time of year to enjoy travel. If you are lucky enough to be able to take a trip now, you can pretty much enjoy whatever pleases you this fall.

The scenery is great in the mountains and the weather is pleasant at the golf courses and most beaches. Plus many areas are getting ready for holiday festivals and places that don’t usually enjoy this mild weather now are great bargains.

If you are going to be in the southeast, I can recommend visiting Asheville, NC, Pinehurst, NC, Myrtle Beach, SC, Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA as just a few of the places you can travel this fall and find a great variety of choices for a great time. For details on each of these destinations, all you need to do is a google search.

So take a trip and enjoy yourself this fall, the weather is great and there is much to choose from this year.