Will

I'm looking for some advice.

I have not purchased a car since 1992. It was an unpleasant experience. Fortunately that car lasted 18 years.

I'm preparing to buy either a new or late model used car. Through the dealer, I can finance the car at 2.9%. My other option is to use my home equity line of credit at 3.25%. Obviously, all things being equal, the 2.9% through the dealer is the better deal. However, I am wondering if anyone thinks the dealer will give me a better deal if I use my home equity line of credit and pay cash for the car.

Also, my old car is a Honda accord. Loads of miles on it and a bad starter. Should I trade it in on a new car, find a private seller, or set it on fire and attempt to collect on the insurance. Ok, that was a joke. I don't have comprehensive insurance coverage on that old thing, so I can't collect if it burns up.

Cortie is a 10 year old neutered male Chihuahua. He apparently likes every other human being on the planet with the exception of one other guy (long story). The first time I met Cortie, he barked once or twice, gave my hands a nice long licking, then went back to his bed and fell asleep. No problem. The second time I met him, my girlfriend picked him up before he even knew I was there. She did this to prevent any barking because her daughter was asleep. Then, she needed to cook, so she handed Cortie to me. Everything seemed fine, so after a few minutes, I put him down and sat cross legged on the floor. At that point, he went nuts and started barking and biting me. His tail was between his legs. Again, since my girlfriend's daughter was sleeping, I had to pick him up and hold him. Clearly, he was not happy. His tail stayed between his legs and he would not smell or lick my hands.

Since then, every time I am around, he barks constantly. Holding him is the only way to make him stop.

Every other dog in the world likes me. I am afraid that the problem here is that when I got on the floor with him, I accidentally did it in a manner he interpreted as threatening.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get this dog to like me?

I thought I'd try walking him. Making friends with him that way. Do I need to watch more of the Dog Whisperer so I can learn to be the dominant alpha male?

Any serious ideas would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

I have 50/50 custody of a 7 year old girl. My ex. and I co-parent and usually get along well. We don't allow my daughter to wear certain clothes that might make her look slutty or even older than her age.

On new years eve, my girlfriend, my daughter, and myself were preparing for a party and my girlfriend and daughter were bonding by doing their hair and nails together. My daughter picked red. When my ex. saw the nails a few days later she called me. She was pretty upset and said that the red made my daughter look slutty. I don't know if this matters, but she has short nails. My only response was to say that I had no idea that any color mattered and that I would try to not allow it to happen again. Is my ex. correct about this or is she making something out of nothing?

Someone recently brought arsenic into the debate, so I want to expand on that. Hopefully I will not be reported for a violation, again. I know I run the risk, since I am challenging the dogma.

Here is my premise. Isn't it true that if we drink water with tiny amounts of arsenic in it, the arsenic will gradually build up in our system and we will die? The arsenic is a poison to our system. Lets assume I purposefully drop small amounts into someone's morning coffee, every day. If they die in a month of arsenic poison, the police would charge me with murder.

How does this compare to global warming? Well, the AGW crowd tells us that human use of fossil fuels creates vast quantities of CO2 that is the primary cause of global warming. Further we are supposed to believe that global warming is bad now and accelerating at an alarming pace. Eventually, the earth will be uninhabitable. In effect, burning fossil fuels is killing future generations.

Is starting my car murder?

This Associated Press article reports on a U.N. Panel's global warming forecast. The predictions are near apocalyptic? Does anyone believe it will really be that bad? If so, what are you doing to reduce your personal carbon footprint to zero? Bob, I'd love to know what do you have to say about this report? The link is below.

I find it odd that it included the phrase "U.N. panel of scientists" Isn't that an oxymoron? I mean, the U.N. is a political organization. How can we have unbiased science if the panelists are a bunch of politicians or are political appointees.

Here's the link:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071118/ap_on_sc/clima...

Many of the world's major faiths share some traits. The modern environmental movement seems to share some of those traits:

1. Dogma - the so-called truths that are believed, without question, by the adherents to the faith. Christians believe Christ is the son of GOD. Environmentalists believe there is "scientific consensus" on man made global warming.

2. Sin - An act or thought that goes against the dogma. Christians believe murder is a sin. Environmentalists believe burning fossil fuels is a sin, as is claiming man is NOT responsible for global warming.

3. Forgiveness - A way to atone for our sins or a way to continue to sin and still achieve salvation. Christians believe that a belief in Christ is the son of GOD and that he died so that we may be saved is how we get to heaven. Environmentalists believe that if they buy carbon credits from Al Gore, they can keep driving their SUVs without feeling guilty.

Go ahead, flame me, I can take the heat.

I have an approximately 15 year old border collie mix. At her age every day is a gift. Except for deafness and arthritis, she has been very healthy. I just discovered a hard lump, about the size of a quarter, on her chest. She's due for her an annual vet visit in 5 weeks. Should I make it sooner? How much more worried should I be.