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Microsoft will officially release Windows 7 today for preorder from Amazon.com. They are offering 50% off of the price of two editions, Home Premium and Professional until July 11, or while supplies last.

If you want to be one of the first to get the new Windows 7, check out Amazon.com today.

I know I am a little behind the times in bringing you this news, but I couldn’t help but write about this. I read a great article by David Kravets on Wired.com which explains new proposed legislation. Under a new bill proposed by Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Los Angeles, hostile bloggers could face up to two years in prison. The bill, H.R. 1966, is labeled the Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act.

This bill would amend Title 18 of the United States Code by defining cyberbullying as

Sec. 881. Cyberbullying

`(a) Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication, with the intent to coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person, using electronic means to support severe, repeated, and hostile behavior, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
`(b) As used in this section–
`(1) the term `communication’ means the electronic transmission, between or among points specified by the user, of information of the user’s choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received; and
`(2) the term `electronic means’ means any equipment dependent on electrical power to access an information service, including email, instant messaging, blogs, websites, telephones, and text messages.’.

At first glance, this appears to be a great protection for all of our children who are so internet (and text messaging savvy) these days from people who will bully and stalk them online.

But, take a closer look at this bill. Will it be expanded to be a form on censorship for the internet? Will those of us who like to use our blogs to express our own opinions, be threatened with prison for exercising our First Amendment rights to free speech.

I’ll let you be the judge.

In today’s world, it is sometimes easy to forget that Memorial Day is more than just the start of summer and a great time to get some good buys on fun things! We all get so involved with our own little world that we forget what price was paid for us to have the freedom to be so self-engrossed.

We could wander, perhaps whistling, past graveyards all over the globe this Memorial Day—in Europe: France, Italy, England, Belgium; in the Pacific: Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines; in the Middle East: Iraq, Afghanistan; and in the U.S.: Concord, Valley Forge, Arlington, and so many more. We might pause to ponder the enormity of the sacrifice attached to each one of those ever-so-neatly arranged little white crosses. Row upon row ––– an endless stream of very still, very young Americans.

This is the beginning of a post entitled “The Harlot of the Harbor” on Liberty’s Army . Simple, eloquent, and sure to make you feel. What a fantastic reminder of what Memorial Day is all about, and also a reminder of what our responsibilities are as custodians of the freedom given us. As it is said, freedom is never free.

To me it is encouraging that there appears to be a resurgence of patriotism in the United States. The “common” person is taking an active interest in the affairs of our country. And, they are definitely paying homage to those who have fought, molded and preserved our liberties for us. Anywhere on the internet and television you find a grassroots movement to go back to the basic principals of our founding fathers.

Perhaps one of the reasons that patriotism is rebounding has to do with the Baby Boomer generation coming into power. With the shear numbers we possess, it is only natural that we have become the leaders. If it is important for us to honor all those who served and sacrificed for our freedom, we do it. In a small way, it might heal some wounds left in the hearts of those members of our generation who returned from fighting an unpopular war with hardly a hero’s welcome.

There’s a video on You Tube where Steve is singing the song “Because of the Brave” which hit the nail on the head about honoring those who have paid the price for our freedom.

Take the time to check out both of these posts and remember and pay tribute to those individuals so worthy of our appreciation and honor.

Affordable health care coverage for Baby Boomers has always created a dilemma. We are the population who has the greatest chance of needing health care overall, the population most likely to have pre-existing conditions, and the likelihood that a large number of us will be leaving the workforce soon is greater than for the younger generations.

In light of the recent events in the economy, Baby Boomers, and most specifically those of us age 50-64, may find themselves unable to get health insurance at a price they can afford. Too young for Medicare. Too young to retire in most cases, but at risk for being laid off as companies downsize.

The Commonwealth Fund reported that over 60% of adults aged 50 to 64 who are working, or have a working spouse, have been diagnosed with at least one chronic health condition. The per capita expenditure for health care for Baby Boomers is more than twice that of younger adults, with higher premiums and less coverage the norm.

The President of AARP recently addressed the U. S. Senate Finance Committee’s roundtable on expanding health care coverage. In her prepared statement, she said that “Health reform must make affordable coverage choices available to all Americans, especially those aged 50-64 who are not yet eligible for Medicare…. People in this age range who lose job-based coverage often find it impossible to get affordable individual coverage because insurers consider age and pre-existing conditions when setting rates and most Americans in this age range have one if not several such conditions. Industry data show that insurers reject between 17% and 28% of applicants aged 50-64. Those who can find individual coverage tend to receive less generous benefits than those with employer coverage, yet on average pay premiums that are three times higher and total out-of-pocket spending that is over twice that of those with employer coverage.”

What options do Baby Boomers have for affordable health care? One option is that the government might go through with the plan for universal health care for all. One stated problem with socialized medicine is the fact that the government, as the payor, can and will dictate what health care you receive, with the primary focus being to keep the bottom line as low as possible.

According to an article on Health Plan One, several companies are now offering limited insurance plans to cover medical needs on a short term basis, designed for people who have lost their jobs, retirees not eligible for Medicare, part-time or seasonal employees not eligible for employer-sponsored health plans, or new employees not eligible for company benefits yet.

An option that has surfaced is with medical professionals taking a stand individually to lower health costs. Some doctors are offering their own monthly payment plans to provide quality health care without insurance.

It has been suggested that individuals get the same tax breaks for paying for health insurance that employers get for providing insurance to its employees. This would make individual policies more affordable for many Baby Boomers.

One alarming outcome of the lack of affordable health care options for Baby Boomers is that those without insurance are putting off seeking medical care unless it is an emergency situation. Many would welcome some system to get preventive or non-urgent care that they could afford.

Walgreens has its own way of helping provide minimal health care through the Take Care Clinics located in local stores across the country. They have announced that for individuals and families that have been laid off since March 31, 2009, they will provide free services through their clinics. See their website for specific eligibility requirements and services provided.

Even if you are a Baby Boomer and currently have health insurance, it is also important for you to plan now to ensure that your coverage will continue if your circumstances change.

Make your health a priority. Take charge and research all of the options available to you. Your life may depend on it.

I suppose you’ve heard about the Tea Party movement that is organizing Tea Parties across the nation on April 15th. If you want to know if there is a local one in your area, you can check here at Tax Day Tea Parties. I plan to go.

I just read an article on Now Public.com about Fox News being a right wing organization who has shamelessly encouraged and promoted the Tax Day Tea Parties as part of their being funded by lobbyists.

Well I left a comment on the article, and here it is.

I, for one, appreciate Fox News bringing me information on how and where I can exercise my constitutionally protected right to peacefully assemble and let MY voice be heard. The elections are supposed to do that, but this past one surely didn’t. We have a President that refuses to prove he is eligible to hold the office and has proven that he is promoting friendship and harmony with all the Muslim world order. We have an election that has been proven to have been tampered with by the Acorn organization, who the President then rewards by wanting to give Acorn all the power to control, manipulate and tamper with our Census information.

I want MY voice heard. I will be at a tea party. Enough is enough. I want MY America back. Not the one that Obama is pushing down our throats and that my grandchildren and greatgrandchildren will be paying for his stupidity all their lives.

What’s YOUR opinion?