The core safeguards protecting our health and our communities have been cut to the bone in recent years, and we can't afford to keep slashing away.

We provide health alternatives and give them something to start with.

I share this story to give other parents a warning about what can happen with the cost of health care in Oregon that is out of control. I believe that exposing a wide range of prices will help consumers stand up and demand more accountability for the money we are paying for hospital care.

Areas of concern are more numerous. Most important, continuing deterioration of the financial health of U.S. automakers is a major risk to ad spending, already visible in the third quarter of 2005, and notwithstanding General Motors Corp.'s recent shift back to incentives.

Nails, hair and skin are the window to health.

The thought is, the earlier the better. The goal is to make them feel comfortable around health professionals. If they're comfortable at an early age, they can consider medicine as a possible career. Then, as they get older, they can think about taking more math and science classes.