From 5 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Dr. Cara Steinkeler of Kaiser-Permanente will be answering questions from the KGW.com audience about the swine flu outbreak.

To submit a question, simply click on and submit a "comment."

======================================================
Hi Doctor:
I have an illness with the symptoms like swine flu, and I've been extremely ill for at least two weeks. When I get a swab taken, it will be four weeks to get confirmation. So, how do we know if the swine flu is in Oregon or not???? I've never been this sick before.

Dr. Steinkeler:
People with flu symptoms (high fever, headache, cough, sore throat, muscle aches) should stay home from work and see their doctor if symptoms persist. It is true that the usual "rapid flu test" is used to diagnose influenza A. However, if any influenza virus is suspected, your doctor will do a respiratory swab for swine flu and influenza B, and will contact the local health department to arrange testing.
=======================================================
Lynn said:
How concerned should someone with on or all of the following be? Asthma, diabetes & heart failure. Are there any extra precautions that can be taken?

Dr. Steinkeler:
People with chronic diseases should have had a flu shot this winter, but it will not protect them from swine flu. Swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions, but there are no additional recommendations to help prevent flu beyond those already mentioned.
======================================================
Maryellen said:
My son flew in from Cancun Mexico last night.Should he be taking Tamiflu or wait to see if symptoms occur?

Dr. Steinkeler:
Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is not recommended unless a case of flu (human or swine!) is confirmed with a rapid influenza test. So, in the absence of symptoms, Tamiflu is not indicated.
=======================================================
======================================================
Gina said:
I will be getting a steriod/lidocaine injection in my back on Friday. will that make my immune system not as strong? considering that this flu could be hitting Oregon anytime... Thanks! Gina

Dr. Steinkeler:
Some of the steroid in an epidural or joint injection can be absorbed into your system, however the amount is minimal and would not be enough to suppress an otherwise healthy immune system. Therefore your planned injection should not put you at greater risk for getting a flu virus.
======================================================
Dennis said:
We are scheduled to go to Nuevo (Puerto) Vallarta with my inlaws and 2 kids - age 2 and 4. Should we be concerned or not go?
Would you take your family?

Dr. Steinkeler:
Check the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention website for the latest update. I believe that they have recommended avoiding non-essential travel to Mexico.
If you go, take greater precaution with hand washing (carry some alcohol-based hand gel with you, and use it frequently if you don't have access to soap and clean water). If you or your family have specific health issues, call your doctor or a travel clinic for advice.
======================================================
Becky said:
Could you tell me if a mask really works? If so, what should someone buy? What type?

Dr. Steinkeler:
Viruses spread in three ways:
Respiratory droplets (coughing, sneezing)
Direct contact (hand touches infected surface, then touches nose,mouth, or eyes)
Blood (not a common means of transmitting influenza)

Whether or not a mask is effective at blocking respiratory droplets depends on the size of the virus particles and the quality of the mask. We are not certain how effective routinely available masks are at preventing the spread of swine flu.

======================================================
Dennis said:
How would a virus of this type be formed in nature? Is this even possible to have a Swine/Avian/Human virus occur naturally?

Dr. Steinkeler:
Some viruses are specific to a certain species (monkeys, birds, pigs) and cannot spread to other species. Other viruses can be shared between species. In the past, swine viruses have been transmitted to humans. Genetic things like this occur frequently in nature.

======================================================
Frank said:
What precautions should you take to reduce your chances of getting the swine flu? Does it matter whether you got a flu shot this winter??

Dr. Steinkeler:
Since you do not live in an area of the country with confirmed cases of swine flu, there is not much that you should do differently. Just wash your hands often and avoid touching your mouth or nose, as this is how viruses spread. The flu shot you got this winter will not protect you from swine flu.

From 12-1 p.m. on Monday April 27th, Dr. Jill Ginsberg, a Family Practice Physician at Kaiser Permanente, will be blogging live from the KGW studios, and answering questions about the flu.

To submit a question, just fill out the comments section below.

=============================

1: 02 pm - From Dr. Ginsberg: Thank you all for the great questions. In summary, I think it is important to keep this in perspective. Serious illness from this virus is very rare. If you want to keep up to date, a great resource is the CDC website www.cdc.gov. The experts are working very hard and information will be evolving over the next days or weeks. Wash your hands frequently and stay home from work or school if you have a fever and respiratory illness (as opposed to the sniffles). Stay well!

===============================================

Dave said:

Where did the Swine Flu come from? Is it a weaponized virus that got loose?
Same thing for the Bird Flu?
Thanks,
Dave

Dr. Ginsberg: As far as I know, the origin of the virus is still being investigated. We do know that viruses change and we discover new strains all the time.

=========================================================

Candice said:

How come people in the US have gotten better from the virus, but this is killing people in Mexico. What are we doing differently that is getting rid of the virus?

Dr. Ginsberg: Candice, this is a very interesting question that is also puzzling the experts at the CDC. The virus in the US appears to be genetically very similar to that in Mexico, but it is affecting people differently. The reason is not yet known.

=====================================================

merrily said:

What exactly is causing the deaths as a result of the flu? Does age make a difference? Does it cause dehydration or pneumonia?

Dr. Ginsberg: Merrliy, the cause of death seems to be respiratory problems related to an out-of-control immune response to the infection. The people getting most sick are older children and adults into their 50's. This is different from the typical flu, where we are most worried about very young children, people with chronic health problems and older folks, who might have an immune system that doesn't work as well as normal.

=============================================

arnie98683 said:

I am 67 year old man with COPD. I'm going to Las Vegas in two weeks. I will probably be playing the slots and usually move around many times from machine to machine throughout a session. It's not practical to carry around wipes (too many machines) and I won't wear gloves. If I squirt some Purel on my hands, will it kill the germs I might pick up from the arms of slots and last for an hour or more? Any suggestions?

Dr. Ginsberg: Arnie, It's always a good idea to wash your hands frequently if you are out in public and handling items that are touched by a lot of different people. The alcohol-based hand sanitizers are effective (make sure they are 60% alcohol) in between hand washings. There have not been any confirmed cases in Nevada at this time. Interestingly, the people that have gotten most sick from this flu are between 9 and 54, which is different from the typical influenza which can make little babies and older people very sick.

==========================================

Erica said:

What happens if you get the swine flu. Is there medication for it.

Dr. Ginsberg: Erica, many of the cases have been confirmed after the patient's illness is resolved. What that means is that most people in the places where cases have been confirmed are getting mild symptoms and getting over this on their own, often without seeing a doctor. If the virus is confirmed, there are some anti-viral medications that appear to be effective in the laboratory.

==========================================================

Lisa said:

I had a bad flu case that started back on April 4th and ran for a very unpleasant week. Is there any reason to be tested to find out if it was this particular flu?

Thanks,
Lisa

Dr. Ginsberg: Lisa, the testing is being done on people when they are ill, so it would not be helpful to get tested now that you are feeling better. It's important to remember that other viruses are very much more common than this new virus, and we haven't had any confirmed cases here in Oregon.

====================================================

Channah said:

I have SPMS with exacerbations and take the anti-viral med Amantadine for fatigue. Will this med protect me from Swine Flu if I am exposed? Should I speak to my neurologist about increasing the dosage if Swine Flu does appear in Oregon or Washington (I travel periodically to Northern Washington by train)? I am, of course, concerned with contracting any viral disease which often results in exhasterbation but particularly Swine Flu as it carries with it additional risks.

Dr. Ginsberg: Channah, this new virus is not susceptible to Amantadine.

=================================================

Cydney Schuetze said:

We are supposed to go to Manzanillo, Mexico in a week. Should we change our plans? We will be staying at a condo, so we will need to buy groceries. What would you suggest we avoid? Also we haven't had our flu shots... would it be advisable to get them now?

Dr. Ginsberg: Keep your eye on the CDC website (www.cdc.gov) for information about travel advisories. Getting a flu shot will not offer protection from the swine flu, and the regular flu season is winding down so most health care providers are not recommending flu shots until next fall.

===================================================

Rose C said:

I am scheduled for medical treatment in Zona Rio May 18th--I will be staying at a Resort in San Diego, and be bussed across the border Daily to a hospital/clinic in Zona Rio---are there any cases of S. flu in San Diego, and or Zona Rio/Tijuana???

Dr. Ginsberg: Rose, San Diego County is one of the counties where there have been confirmed cases of the new virus. You should discuss your personal situation with your physician to decide what is best.

======================================================

Anonymous said:

my 2 year old has a high fever cough and runny nose . she is going to the doctor at 3. She has had it since late friday. Should i be worried

Dr. Ginsberg: It is likely that your child has one of a large number of viruses that can cause this type of illness.It is NOT likely to be the swine flu.

==================================================

Tracy said:

I am watching the news right now and they said in New York there have been 20 cases. My husband and I are flying out there next week where I am going to become a surrogate mother. With me being pregnant is there any special I should do besides getting a flu shot?

Dr. Ginsberg: Tracy, you should be sure to use the good handwashing techniques that we are talking about, and if possible avoid getting together with people who are coughing, sneezing or otherwise sick.

===============================================
Mike S. said:

Wait, so you want us to get our flu shots when it wont even help with the one currently on the lose?

Dr. Ginsberg: Mike S, I am referring to the routine immunization every year with the flu shot. The season for this illness is coming to an end but it's a good reminder for next fall that it's important to do what we can to prevent these illnesses, and the flu shot is usually very effective in reducing serious complications from the typical flu.

===============================================

Lisa said:

As a healthcare worker, how should I protect myself and my patients?

Dr. Ginsberg: Lisa, you should use the same precautions you normally use, primarily good handwashing.

==============================================

David said:

Going to Cabo in two weeks. should we worry about the swine flu? what part of mexico is this happening in?

Dr. Ginsberg: As events are developing, it's best to keep an eye on the CDC website for the latest information about travel advisories.

==============================================

Rigo said:

Are there any different symptoms that we need to look for with the swine flu that we wouldn't have with the normal flu?

Dr. Ginsberg: The swine flu does not have any unique symptoms. It can be very similar to the typical influenze cases we see every year, with fever and cough, body aches and sore throat. There may also be nausea, vomiting and diarrhea and some reports I have read said that these GI symptoms may be more severe than we normally see with typcial influenza.

===============================================

Lisa said:

We are scheduled to fly to Cabo San Lucas in 3 weeks. Should we cancel our trip or could it possibly be safe since no cases have been reported from that area?

Dr. Ginsberg: This is entirely going to come down to your own personal preference unless the US issues travel advisories. The risk is probably small if you are traveling to an area without any known cases.

=================================================
Nick said:

Isn't this a wake up call for universal health care ?
People can't afford to leave work, let alone pay the ridiculous prices for it!
I lost my mother and little sister within two weeks of each other because they had insurance but not good enough,{sister left a 6 mo old and two preteens]

Dr. Ginsberg: Your comments point out that every day is a potential health emergency for people who are going without health insurance, and there are currently 48 million in our country. I'm very sorry to hear that this has impacted your family in such a devastating way.

===================================================

K said:

What should I do if I or someone in my family develops flu symptoms - is it recommended to seek medical care/testing immediately, or should we proceed as usual since we haven't found local cases yet?

Use the measures you would normally use if you become sick with flu symptoms. If you have a high fever, severe cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, are unable to keep fluids down or have other symptoms that you are concerned about - call your doctor's office. We would prefer to keep people at home as much as possible to avoid exposing others, but if you need to be seen your regular doctor's office will help.

=====================================================

Franklin said:

What specifically can a person do to be extra safe and reduce the chance of catching this?

D. Ginsberg: The best prevention is to use good handwashing, especially after handling objects that others have been handling. Avoid touching your nose and mouth and stay home if you are sick to avoid exposing others.

===================================================

Leonard said:

How concerned should we be if we are in Oregon and aren't traveling out of state?

Dr. Ginsberg: There is no reason to panic at this point; for the moment, let's consider this a reminder of what we should be doing in general to protect ourselves from communicable illnesses: stay home from work or school if you are sick and wash your hands frequently.

11:22 p.m.: Al Franken comeback! He trails by less than 4,700 votes with more than 2.2 million counted.

11:11 p.m.: It looks as though the Democrats may get their supermajorities in the Oregon Legislature. This tally shows as many as 39 blue seats out of 60 in the House, and 18 out of 30 in the Senate.

11:03 p.m.: Smith is giving a "see you in the morning" speech. No winner in that race tonight.

10:59 p.m.: Smith is way ahead in Marion County. If I had to bet, I'd say he's going to win the state.

10:50 p.m.: Merkley-Smith has closed to less than 3,400 votes.

10:26 p.m.: While we await more complete numbers on some hot races, a pop quiz: What were the greatest and worst moments in the Obama-McCain contest?

10:24 p.m.: I just overheard that convicted U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens may get himself re-elected in Alaska despite his troubles. That one may not be decided tonight.

9:57 p.m.: Maybe not a shut-out for Sizemore, after all: Measure 64, the government employee union dues iniitiative, is currently ahead by 19,000 votes out of roughly 782,000.

9:55 p.m.: Congratulations to Amanda Fritz, the newest member of the Portland City Council. As expected, an easy win over Charles Lewis.

9:54 p.m.: Al Franken is starting to fade.

9:50 p.m.: Looks like Gregoire is the winnah in Washington. Death with Dignity/Assisted Suicide also passing, handily.

9:45 p.m.: Merkley-Smith -- still wayyyyy close.

9:40 p.m.: The blue tsunami is spilling over into the state and local races, and even the ballot measures. That voters in the Portland area can dig into their wallets so willingly for the zoo and the kids in such hard times is a bit of a surprise. Even $370 million plus for PCC expansion may pass. Lots of blue votes in there, for sure.

9:22 p.m.: Sizemore's been completely shut out (although 64 is still close). The top-two primary is also dead.

9:12 p.m.: PCC bonds are 13 votes behind -- not a typo. Out of 185,000.

9:07 p.m.: It's gotten pretty quiet in here. Even seasoned political reporters and producers are lending an ear to the President-elect.

8:59 p.m.: Here's Obama. What a moment.

8:57 p.m.: Franken and Coleman are 250 votes apart in Minnesota. Not a typo.

8:56 p.m.: Schrader wins. Merkley-Smith gets a little tighter.

8:44 p.m.: Merkley-Smith continues to tighten: 49-46%.

8:38 p.m.: Kahl ahead of Nelsen in Karen Minnis's old district; VanOrman stomping Lindland out Hood River way.

8:35 p.m.: Schrader's stomping Erickson; Wu won, of course.

8:30 p.m.: Merkley's lead over Smith is now down to 50-44%, with Brownlow spoiling at 6%.

8:28 p.m.: Zoo bonds are ahead; PCC construction bonds have a razor-thin margin.

8:24 p.m.: Senator McCain has his gracious hat on. Nice speech.

8:22 p.m.: Merkley 53% to Smith 42% now, with 17% of precincts counted (240,000 votes or so).

8:20 p.m.: Double majority repeal (Measure 56) is way ahead in early returns -- likely Multnomah County.

8:18 p.m.: Al Franken in a virtual dead heat in Minnesota.

8:14 p.m.: The top-two primary is going down hard so far, 61-39%.

8:12 p.m.: In the battle of the duelling crime ballot measures, the more mellow Measure 57 leads Measure 61 by 64-57% with around 200,000 votes total so far.

8:08 p.m.: Quite a crowd for the celebration in Chicago. Hope it stays safe and peaceful for the tens of thousands out on those streets.

8:05 p.m.: Merkley down to a 60-36% lead, with a little over 200,000 votes counted.

8:01 p.m.: Merkley 69% to Smith 28% -- probably Multnomah County.

8:00 p.m.: Here come the first Oregon numbers!

7:56 p.m. Big topic in the newsroom: How much weather coverage for Matt Zaffino on Channel 8 tonight? It's snowing up top...

7:53 p.m.: Interesting phrase heard on the airwaves earlier this evening: "Barack-olypse Now."

7:44 p.m.: Mark it down -- the first call for impeaching Obama has already come in in the comments. Things happen quick in the blogosphere!

7:35 p.m.: It's generally not a good night to be a Republican. But can moderate members of the GOP survive the blue tsunami?

7:17 p.m.: Lots of action to unfold in the next few hours. Merkley or Smith? Does the Obama-Smith voter exist? Will the Democrats make it to 60 seats in the U.S. Senate? To 36 seats in the Oregon House? Will Oregon revamp its election system to a top-two primary system, essentially making every election nonpartisan? Do money measures have a prayer in this economy?

7:14 p.m.: I'm here at KGW, where the election night activity has ramped up to a roar. It's already over for McCain, but the fun for Oregonians has just begun with 45 minutes remaining until the polls close.

he'll share his unique take on the national and local races, and take your comments. It should be quite a night!

Like the Today Show, KGW anchors and reporters will soon have the living backdrop as city pulse beats right outside the windows on Pioneer Courthouse Square. Plus - we'll be there to capture all the excitement of the jammed calendar of events fill one of Portland's favorite spots.

This new kgw.com web section tracks the progress on our expansion as TV gear and sets go in to make Portland TV history.

And viewers now have a hand in contributing to history in the making - got some cool shots of you at the Square?
Tell us your story!

And keep checking back as the studio comes together.

Although billed as a "Town Hall" format, audience members didn't interact with the candidates except to pose their questions. Similarly, questions from the internet were read to the senators.

McCain needled Obama several times about running over his allotted time, which Obama pleased unsuccessfully to moderator Tom Brokaw to have the chance to rebut claims by McCain. Brokaw himself seemed to feel as though he had lost control, joking that he was just the hired help.

Did Obama get too much talking time? Did Brokaw let McCain get the last word too often? Did the so-called Town Hall format produce a more useful discourse than last week's more traditional debate format.

Fill out the "comments" form below and weigh in!

=========================

ten minutes to go and Biden seems to be getting stronger [domestic issues]...

Biden moment when he talked about his own family and life -- very authentic...Palin seems a little pale in comparison, probably should have come back with more personal stuff, not reference to slogan: maverick, greed and corruption, etc.

Biden just took a round house shot at Dick Cheney..."most dangerous..."
wonder if Palin will respond...probably most memorable line of the night

Exchange here by each of them to show how close they are to ordinary folks in ordinary neighborhoods...but "Say it ain't so Joe" -- must have been a line she had for a highly dramatic moment..but seemed to fall flat and I can't believe that won't be a moment repeated in all the clips...

Interesting line of argument -- for Palin to say of McCain "he knows how to win a war"...my guess is we will hear that a lot in the closing month...

A side thought -- it's clear that Palin goes out of her way to use the names of world leaders as a way of creating an impression of knowledge about international affairs...Biden is clearly the more knowledgeable -- but as the debate wears on, he seems to be the stern instructor to get his abundant knowledge across in these areas...

This focus on Israel is important related to international affairs but also resonates in battleground states like Florida

Regardless of the content of Palin's comments about Iran, she is much more comfortable here than in previous interviews...

Charles - I think the question of "respect" will come out more and more over the next couple of days as the analysts look to the non-substantive aspects of the debate

Lawrence and Mary - i just saw your questions -- I don't think the VP debate is hyped...the VP office has changed dramatically over the past two administrations -- what they think about issues is important, even if they never have to take over as President...both Gore and Cheney had important influence over the conduct of American affairs during their administrations...

Windfall profits exchange demonstrates how careful Biden has to be in dealing with Palin -- complimenting her on passing a windfall profits tax but pivoting onto the fact that Mccain doesn't embrace this policy...Palin poking at Biden as East Coast politician who won't let Alaska drill...see if Biden bites at that

Biden scored a strong point in response to the McCain health plan...he appears to have a stronger grasp of this plan and its defects than Palin

Most analysts think Palin will be at her best when she uses Biden's own words against him -- "the paying taxes is patriotic" is a good example of this...

Biden has a solid knowledge of John Mccain's record and this answer is a good example of Biden taking McCain's record apart...Palin's charge of Obama raising taxes pretty well parried by Biden...

And it's clear that Biden is going to go after Mccain and make Palin a side actor

Palin's opening phrases show her plan to connect with "ordinary people" and to push John Mccain to the forefront

I am looking forward to loads of comments tonite, after all we have one candidate who has yet to demonstrate any depth and one candidate who has yet to demonstrate any discipline... so this could be a very entertaining, illuminating debate...

Thank you all for your questions today. We hope our answers have been helpful. See you next time....have a good weekend.

Ember Martin, CFP

------------
Stephen said:

"I keep hearing that the taxpayer will pay for the bailout of the financial institutions that created this mess. How does that work? Will I receive a bill in the mail. What if I refuse to pay? Will I receive a bailout too?"

What they mean by 'bailout' is that the US government will be footing the bill for much of these 'remedies' for financial institutions such as AIG, Fannie Mae and so on. The government gets its money by collecting taxes from the citizenry (that's you and me) so in effect we are all paying for the 'bailouts' via our taxes. It doesn't take genius to imagine taxes rising in the future due to this, especially if the war efforts continue costing so much.

------------
Jackie said:
"I have half of my PERS money in the variable account. Should I change it?"

everyone who has any investment accoutns should take this opportunity to review their holdings for diversification at the very least. If you've done any retirement planning then you should know roughly what your expected return should be so you could review the recent markets activity and how its affected your account balances. based on what you find you might want to revisit your planning. In short, do not neglect how you're invested.

----------------------
Cynthia Ignatovich said:
"My elderly parents just returned from WaMu and they told my parents that the news channels were lying, that they are/and will not be bought out. Then would not let them collect their money (talked them out of it). What should we do?"

This is the first I've heard of Wamu resisting withdrawals. They're a good company with good people and hopefully your parent's experience is an isolated case. If your parents wants their money they should return to the bank and demand it post haste.

As for the media rumors about Wamu it is not news that Wamu is up for sale. Most media outlets including the NYT and WSJ have reported this fact. That doesn't mean they're going out of business, however.

----------------
Jody said:
"The company my husband recently left went belly up last month
and our 401K is still with the investment company they used.
We are being told that we can't rollover our account until the
previous employer fills out all the legal papers needed. Is it true that
we have to wait on people who already didn't take care of important matters
and lost their company, to rollover our account? Thanks very much"

Sadly it is true that participants in your husband's retirement plan will have to wait for the plan sponsor (or their attorneys) to address administrative issues relating to the bankruptcy before rollovers can happen. The good news is that your husband had a 401k and not a defined benefit plan, where all his money would have been commingled with the company's and the PBGC would have to get involved.

---------------
Don Hebard said:
"We have invested in gold and silver....we were OK until about two months ago...what is causing the big changes in price....silver is worse..."

Gold and silver are not investments as they have no expected return like stocks and bonds. The commodities prices changes are 100% due to supply and demand, not any inherent fundamental characteristics. The returns are highly speculative and cannot be forecasted with any confidence.

Mike said:
"What will this do for the current real estate market? Will this put a stop to a lot of the short sales taking place? Also what will this do for lending guidelines? "

Most of the Fed's actions are indirectly leading to a better climate for borrowing which is the reason no sales are taking pace these days. Short sales will still go on since they are a function of homeowners not being able to make their payments. That won't change too much since the government can't bail everyone out. Lending guidelines were based on Fannie and Freddie's policies. Since they're being taken over by Uncle Sam we can't yet know what the new guidelines might be.

-----------------
Tom said:
"I have a interest-only 3 year arm mortgage that is adjusting November 1st. My payment is increasing by over $400.00 and my house is appraised for about $50,000 less that I owe. How will the Fed actions this week help me, if any?"

The Fed actions have indeed helped the market for home mortgage refinancing a little bit this week. I would check with your lender first to see if they can offer you a new more affordable loan. Also check with a reputable loan broker to check the whole market.

------------
Bob said:
"I have over 100K in one account in my 401K. I believe it is a money market type fund. Does the FDIC cover that type of fund? If so up to how much?"

The FDIC generally does not cover 401k money. That's the job of the Pension benefit Guaranty Corp.

-----------
Mark said:
"Is now a good time to invest in Washington Mutual"

I would consider any purchase of Wamu or any of these financial stocks highly speculative at this juncture. By speculative I mean you could lose a great deal of your investment or you could make multiples of your investment. Don't do it with money you can't afford to lose.

------------
Dianna Butler said:
"How does this effect the FDIC? Will those of us with checking and savings in WAMU be okay? "

The FDIC is rumored to be near its capacity of covering bank failures. That said I wouldn't panic because I do think the government will support the FDIC in any scenario. Should Wamu fail getting your money back from the FDIC will take between 10 and 30 days, assuming normal procesing.

JM said:
"I purchased AIG at 2.41. When should I sell?"

Unlike Lehman Bros. stock AIG might recover somewhat. I would wait and see since selling it now wouldn't achieve anything except to lock in your presumed loss. If your position is large you should be aware of the decision to take a tax loss by Dec 31st.

------------------
Kelli Feller said:
"Hi Ember! I have a CD at WaMu for 500,000. It has 5 people tied to it, so I have been assured it is completely FDIC insured. This was told to me by an FDIC employee, also. My question: Would you feel comfortable with this, or would you 'break' the CD and move to a more stable bank?? I do realize I would take a substantial penalty for this. Thanks!"

With a CD of that size your penalty for breaking the CD is probably worth avoiding. If the bank and the FDIC assures you of your total coverage then I would stay put.

---------------
Cathy said:
"What is happening to bonds? What is GOING to happen to bonds as well?"

Cathy, first let's understand that no one knows what's going to happen to bonds or any other part of the market in the future. Many will claim to have insight but believe them at your peril. The question of what IS happening to bonds is easier to know.

The bond markets, like the stock markets are being convulsed, though bonds are suffering less than stocks. The part of the bond market that is made up of bonds build on mortgages is in terrible shape since many, many mortgages are defaulting, causing those bonds to default. Unfortunately many billions of dollars of bonds are backed by such mortgages and were issued and traded by the bank and other institutions were now hearing about defaulting.

---------------
Leonard asks: "Given the current market instability, should I cut back the number of stocks in my retirement plan and add more bonds?"

Reducing one's risk in a retirement account is really a decision driven by how close you are to retirement. If you're within a few years then perhaps you should lower your risk, if only to mitigate what might be even worse news in the future. However, if you have five or more years to go then its really a better idea to stay invested at your regular long term risk levels so your portfolio can recover fully when the recovery finally arrives.

Increasing your bond position is only one way to reduce the risk. You can also move to cash or money market funds.
---------------------------------

Wall Street is soaring...but is it realistic that the Fed can fulfill all these bailout promises?
Aren't they doing it with our money??

Well, yes today the markets are rising strongly on investor confidence that the government's actions will steady the panic. For now it appears to be working though the details are still to be learned.

----------------------

FRIDAY MONEY QUESTIONS

Ember Martin, CFP of Deschutes Investment Advisors answers your questions about the wild week on Wall Street, and what it means to your wallet.

• NW Republican calls Barack Obama a hypocrite
  
  
• Meghan McCain's book becomes a bestseller
  
  
• Barbra Streisand introduces Barack Obama
  
  
• Ralph Nader and the parrot
  

Ember Martin, CFP
Deschutes Investment Advisors
---------------------------------------------------
Raymond said:

Following up on our bank saying that our money
market account is covered by FDIC and you disagreeing, is there a difference between a "daily money market account" and a "money market fund"?

Again, there is a distinction between money market accounts, depending on whether its technically a mutual fund or a deposit account. You should check with your bank for a precise verification of which type you own.
------------------
Anonymous asked "Are retirement accounts insured under FDIC?"

The answer is yes, up to $250,000, provided they meet several criteria. IRAs, Roth IRAs, SEPs, SIMPLEs, Keoghs and some 457 plans all qualify, provide they are 'self-directed' and offer more investment choices than a single deposit account of the custodial institution. Coverdell, HSAs and MSAs, 401ks and 403bs, and Defined Benefit plans are NOT covered. as mentioned earlier the PBGC covers many large retirement plans under ERISA and DOL oversight.

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Tom said:

Is gold still a good investment or has it peaked?

Most investments professional do not consider gold an investment but rather a substitute for cash. There is no inherent return expectation for gold, since like most commodities, its return is based purely on supply and demand. An expectation for return is based upon the wealth creating dynamic of capitalist enterprises on the one hand, or interest on debts, on the other..

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Judy M. asks:

What will happen to my home mortgage loan and my home equity loan with Wamu if they fail?

Depending on the exact nature of any possible action by the regulators, your loan will almost certainly remain in place and your obligation to pay it remains unchanged as well. You may, however, end up paying it to someone other than your original lender.

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First, let's start with a couple of clarifications. Several readers have posted questions asking for clarification about the precise coverage afforded by FDIC insurance. Earlier today we posted comments about "money market funds" not being covered. In fact, FDIC insurance does covers 'money market DEPOSIT accounts' but doesn't cover 'money market mutual fund' accounts. Mutual funds are securities while 'deposit' accounts are banking products. Many Wamu personnel have commented that their money market accounts are deposit accounts and not securities, and so are covered by FDIC. To be safe I would ask my banker at Wamu to see the exact definition of the money market account I have.

Another question that came up this afternoon concerned a lesser known provision of FDIC insurance that applies to deposit accounts with beneficiary designations. If your deposit account is titled as a 'transfer on death', for example, then beneficiaries can be named. If these beneficiaries are 'qualifying' then the account could indeed be insured for up to $200k. These rules get pretty complex so its best to refer to the FDIC website at www.fdic.gov/deposits.

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Steven asks: "One of my stocks is WAMU. I have automatic purchase setup monthly. Should I continue to purchase this stock?"

No, Steven, you should stop buying WAMU stock. And try to avoid all other financial company stocks for quite a while. The risk in them is extraordinary and highly speculative and not appropriate for investing at this time. Look into diversified mutual funds with low expenses.

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Ken asks: "I have $100k cash and was thinking of buying a CD from WAMU. Is this safe""

Not at this time, Choose another bank such as Wells Fargo or Chase or Citibank or BofA

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Ron asks: "Are my the investments in my Merrill Lynch accounts safe? They are "Tiger Series Treasure Notes in an IRA"

Ron, your Merrill IRA and its investments are not at risk, irrespective of the BofA deal to buy Merrill. Call your broker and he'll explain it in detail.
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• John McCain's interview with Marie Claire.
  
  
• BlueOregon wants to give Bill Sizemore a taste of his own medicine.
  
  
• Oregon Catalyst says Measure 65 will destroy minor parties.
  
  
• The Republican convention gets BarackRolled. (Plus a bonus backgrounder on RickRolling.)

• Josh Marshall gives a shoutout to BlueOregon's Jeff Alworth, who says McCain has played into Obama's hand by admitting the presidential race is about change.
  
  
• At TheNextRight, Rob Bluey muses on the promise and peril of Sarah Palin.
  
  
• Vanity Fair has the authoritative Trig Palin conspiracy theory timeline. The conspiracy is winning the online poll.
  
  
• Oregon Catalyst says the new $1 coin is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

September 4, 2008

by Vance Day

I just returned from the final night of the 2008 Republican National Convention. How many words are there for energized? Enthusiastic. Invigorating. Electrifying. All the synonyms in the world cannot describe the feeling we just experienced.

Tonight, we all gathered in the Xcel Energy Center not for a show, but to nominate a man who has given decades of his life to his country to be President of the United States. What we saw was a leader who is ready for the White House.

We learned so much about John McCain and his family this week. Both John and his wife Cindy are such giving individuals who truly care about their country. "Country First" is not just a campaign slogan - it is how John McCain has lived his life.

As the thousands upon thousands of balloons fell from the ceiling, I took a brief moment to reflect on what John McCain said to the American people tonight. He asked us to fight with him, and that is exactly what I intend to do!