SILVER

What if I told you the price of gas hadn’t really gone up over the years? You’d say I was nuts. However, in some ways that’s very true. U.S. currency used to be backed by silver when gas was a quarter of gallon. It isn’t anymore, but the same amount of silver is still worth a gallon of fuel. Paper currency’s buying power has decline, but the value of precious metals hasn’t. That’s why it’s a great investment for many people, especially during uncertain times. You might want to add silver or another precious metal to your investment portfolio. Many experts recommend it. You can talk with a company like Monex, who has been helping investors include precious metals as part of their overall investment strategy since the 1960s if you’d like to know more.

WEDDING EXPENSES

Did you just get engaged? Let me share some potentially unsettling news with you: the price tag associated with the average 150 guest wedding is now at around twenty five thousand bucks. Yep. $25K.

Okay, now take a deep breath and relax. I know the idea of buying a wedding gown, cake, paying the officiant, booking a space, finding a photographer, outfitting guests with wedding cameras and all of those other expenses can seem overwhelming.

It is, however, possible to have a great wedding, even if prices are climbing higher.

Once upon a time, you could count on the bride’s family to pay the bills. That isn’t always the case these days and your family--and you--are likely to be on the hook, too. That’s why every engaged couple needs to pin down a solid dollar figure from both families in terms of their planned contribution. They then need to look carefully at the probable costs of their wedding and find a way to come up with the difference.

For many, the combination of a suitably long engagement and some lifestyle changes will provide the means by which to afford the nuptials. Others may have to take more drastic actions in order to fund the big day.

The main thing is to plan properly. If you plan and budget with a clear head, you can have a successful wedding. Think about it, millions are getting hitched every year! It IS possible.

Irish hospital relents to mother's request for cord blood collection...

In Cavan, Ireland, the hospital wasn't going to let an expectant mother arrange for the collection of umbilical cord blood that would later be stored. Citing vague ethical concerns and arguing that the likelihood of the cord blood being used dejustified the practice, the hospital refused requests for collection. That changed after The Sunday Times highlighted one particular case.

You can read the whole story here.

Here's an excerpt:

"A CAVAN hospital has relented to a pregnant woman’s request that she be allowed to harvest stem cells from her baby’s umbilical cord when she gives birth. Cavan General entered into a confidential deal with Catherina McCauley to have the procedure carried out after her case was highlighted by The Sunday Times.

McCauley, a scientist who was due to give birth this weekend, was told by hospital officials last month that staff would not permit her to collect stem cells from her newborn’s blood. McCauley, who wants to freeze the stem cells to combat illnesses her children may suffer in the future, has signed a legal waiver absolving Cavan General of liability should the procedure fail."

I don't know if, in pure economic terms, cord blood banking is a solid financial decision, but I do support freedom of choice with respect to the matter and am glad the hospital acquiesced to McCauley's wishes. Congratulations, Ms. McCauley, and best wishes for the child's healthy birth!

New system said to be helpful in cord blood collection...

According to a US Newswire press release, the AutoXpress system is designed to harvest stem cells from cord blood quickly in a sterile fashion. The device is highly touted by the press release, which can be read here.

Here's a highlight:

"NEW YORK, June 7 /U.S. Newswire/ -- New York Blood Center (NYBC) and GE Healthcare (GEHC) announced today NYBC's National Cord Blood Program (NCBP) is completing the automation of the key production steps for their cord blood stem cell units by adopting the AutoXpress(tm) System. The AutoXpress automates the harvesting of the stem cell rich mononuclear cell fraction from cord blood into a user determined final volume of approximately 20 ml in a functionally closed sterile system. Since 1999, the NCBP has utilized the BioArchive technology to automate the cryopreservation, storage and retrieval of cord blood units. The AutoXpress and BioArchive technology platform products, developed by ThermoGenesis Corp. (Nasdaq: KOOL) are exclusively distributed world wide by GEHC."

Worries about the misuse of stem cells...

As the popularity of cord blood banking increases, so does speculation about its potential downside. Some have gone so far as to argue that stem cells could be used to alter the genetic composition of populations. Nefarious forces, they maintain, could breed armies of "super men" or, more subtly, commit genocidal offenses.

These conspiracy theories and far-fetched worries do not seem to have any real factual basis. One article noted (you can read the entire inform.kz piece here):

" Fanciful rumors have sprung up concerning the security of stem cells. Fears of their being used to manipulate the gene pools of countries to eliminate populations or create supermen circulate freely.

Keast dismissed the rumors as sheer fantasy."

Seacoast Online discussed the storage of cord blood. They have published an article that looks at the issue as a one of paying for possibility. Cord blood storage is an expense, the author implies, that makes sense only to those who believe there is a reasonably likelihood that the cells will later be used for the child to counteract a medical problem. It's gambling on hope, in essence, according to the article.

You can read the whole piece here. This is an excerpt:

"For a fee, usually about $2,000 upfront and $125 a year thereafter, a company will freeze and store the stem cells extracted from your baby’s umbilical-cord blood. Then, the ads say, your child can wait for science to develop cure-alls using those stem cells to treat everything from Alzheimer’s disease to diabetes and spinal injuries.

The idea is simple: Pay for possibility.

Depending on whom you ask, these private cord-blood banks are either selling an almost priceless form of medical insurance or are capitalizing on the buying power of nervous parents."

English concerned about health risks related to cord blood...

According to an article in The Sun, some in England are getting a little worried about the collection of cord blood. As the popularity of cord blood banking increases, there is some controversy among the Brits. Some argue that the likelihood of anyone benefiting directly from storage is minimal. That's an old argument with both sides making some good points. More interesting is this slant on the issue: the danger associated with the actual collection of cord blood. Sound far-fetched? This is what appeared in The Sun (by the way, the whole article is here):

"The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said that taking the blood may distract midwives from the care of mothers and babies and jeopardise their health in an already overstretched system."

Talk about overstretching...In my estimation that argument is an overstretch. There may be some powerful arguments about cord blood banking and its benefits, but this seems more like an argument about Britain's health care system needing improvement than an indict on storing umbilical blood and its stem cells, to me.

Tampa media covers cord blood banking...

Channel 10 in Tampa ran a story about cord blood banking. The overall tone of this brief look at the storage of umbilical cord blood storage is fairly positive. You can find the whole piece here. This is an excerpt:

"She did it with her first two boys, and now with twins on the way, Angela Maskin says cord blood banking just makes sense.

Angela Maskin, South Tampa:

“It's good peace of mind, if something were to happen, have something to fall back on. Kids are expensive to raise, and you'll spend money on all kinds of things that are not as important as their health. ”

England: Private Cord Blood Banks Criticized

The BBC News reports that some in England aren't particularly impressed with private cord blood banking operations there. Some believe the outfits are using fear as a marketing tool and are making some less-than-totally-honest claims when advertising their umbilical cord blood storage operations.

You can read the full story, but here's an excerpt:

"Professor Peter Braude, head of the Department of Women's Health at King's College London and Chair of the RCOG expert group, said: "We have had a huge amount of commercial companies offering cord blood storage to parents and medical practitioners wanted guidance on the validity of some of the advertising claims.

"The likelihood of use is extremely small and some of the uses are extremely speculative.

"Most people are unaware there is an NHS cord blood bank and most transplants are done with bone marrow."

ORLANDO VACATION RENTAL

Orlando is a hot vacation destination. In fact, the Florida city is currently the #1 tourist destination in the entire world. The city itself is home to nearly 200,000 people and the overall metro population comes to about one and a half million people. Tourism is booming and the population is growing.

Demand for quality properties is high because of the constant flow of guests and the popularity of the area as a residence.

There are, however, great places to live and stay. Downtown Orlando is a perfect choice for many people.

Downtown Orlando offers a cool mix of historic properties and luxury condos. Downtown is popular because the city's growth has created a spectacular assortment of restaurants, stores, nightclubs and other exciting entertainment opportunities. If you want to experience the urban lifestyle with a Florida touch, downtown Orlando is a perfect choice.

You can check out downtown Orlando residences and a host of other Orlando vacation rental properties by visiting some of the area's rental experts. If you are looking for a great place to live, or if you just want some very nice digs for you next trip to see Mickey Mouse & Co., do some research and you can find some awesome opportunities.