European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 24, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Ann Landers Page 12 Fetters. The stars and stripes thursday january 24,1991 a a a. I says budget a slash Cut reduction Cra All of these terms to the professionals in our Field mean some amount of change for each of us and our organizations it is different. A million Dollar shortfall now Means we done to upgrade our automation initiatives. We will hold several fewer commanders Calls. Some units May not receive a new copier. Try temporary duty is Cut Back to a Mission essential  and you done to replace that 2-year-old typewriter. Maybe that 300-500k shortfall will Stop another of those a famous studies on How to avoid 300-500k $300,000-$500,000 shortfalls. Most people outside of our Field cannot understand the difference Between 100k, 400k, 800k shortfalls. They have trouble with How easily we Call and ask for another 90k or a i just need 156k or 236k to fix the a cinch so  we All understand this is just a a paper Money and that it is a Cut. A reduction in funding is to the organization not to our personal income. However i have noticed that soldiers and civilians not in the a a Bossy group understand this budget jargon decrements redistribution frs much better than we do. A a a slash in our budget Means someone does no to get his requested new office furniture to a specialist and his wife a a a slash in their budget Means no new Winter Coats. When analysts speak of a 15 percent reduction in our funding base this Means there goes the carpet one or two conus Continental United states trips maybe even fewer a flying  to a sergeant and his family a reduction in buying Power Means the children done to play sports because its now a fur. We analysts Are the Best at doing the a appearance offcuts bring sacrifice More with the appearance of  we Start a project betting on funds being freed up and if not we just string it out until they Are but to a civilian with three children and a wife who can to work because of the budget imposed freeze it Means driving this Winter on tires that maybe Are a a oks keeping the heat Down Low so More heating Oil wont have to be ordered and just hoping that the kids done to get sick. I personally understand currency fluctuation because with the Dollar Down to a 1,49 Exchange rate i am looking for a Par time Job to keep one of my most prize assets my daughter in College. Pressure on All of us both in the professional budget area and in our living room budgets has caused  increase on a daily basis. This has caused forced Many families lifestyles to go Down. Normal things of the past Are now a really Nice to have wishes. To some families its something they need now not next year. This a step Down in lifestyle Means less Money for entertainment to let off steam Babysitter so you can get up and get away less or no vacation time a the Mark going Down and furloughs going up. I believe that it is of to reduce budgets and even shortfalls May be Good for our organizations. The one thing i think we must remember is that while its of to slash Cut decrement build Down the budget etc., we must avoid at All Cost the same things from happening to the dignity of ourselves. A Steve Spraggins Schwet Zingen Germany Soldier sends Saddam personal message in a writing this letter in the Hope that Saddam Hussein himself will receive a copy. I imagine a lot of people have their own opinion of Why . Troops have been sent to saudi Arabia but i want Saddam to know what a going on in the mind of at least one person who a Here. In be been married for two years and nov. 5 was my second anniversary. Needless to say i missed it. I can handle that. In a a Soldier and sometimes these kinds of things happen. I just received a cassette tape on which i heard for the first time my 9-nine-month old daughter say daddy. Yes in a a Soldier but it still Hurt in a bittersweet kind of  Mother tried to talk to no Avail. All she could do was cry. My son said that he loves me and wants me Home. My wife god bless her is being Strong for the Sake of our kids but in the final portion of the tape when she was alone she also broke Down and cried. After listening to the tape i was depressed for about two seconds then that depression turned instantly into anger. The feelings i have go Way beyond patriotic duty. Basically what in a saying to you or. Saddam Hussein is that from Here on out its personal a spec. Raymond e. Dickson operation desert storm a thanks expressed to crisis volunteers 1 would like to personally commend the military and civilian communities throughout Germany for their Fine jobs of assisting and supporting the families left behind due to operation desert shield now storm. So far there have been parties gatherings meetings an commercials a newly installed help i line invitations to visit German Homes extended child care and family assistance Center hours plus in be just Learned you May Send your loved one a 30-word message which will reach him much sooner than mail. All of this out pouring of care and concern for other human beings seems just the thing for All of us to be doing when it seems so much of the world Isnit concerned i am a private person and like to handle my problems myself. However i must say it certainly feels a lot safer to know if one Ever needs assistance it could be As close As a phone Call away. Lastly to All of you employees military personnel volunteers and neighbors thank you and god bless you from All of us who done to need you now but Are nevertheless ecstatic to know you re there to help. A Mavis m. Carter Augsburg Germany clarification readers May have been misled by the reference to operation desert storm in a letter from cmdr. R. Bruce Pierce a Cost of extras in Italy a published sunday. Cmdr. Pierces letter was written before the Start of hostilities in the persian Gulf and should have stated As he wrote operation desert shield. The editing change put his comments in a different context than he intended. Dear Ann Landers our 35-year-old son died 18 months ago after a Long illness. His wife a Laurie a was a faithful care giver and we loved her for it. After a a John so death we thanked her for being so wonderful to our son. She has never acknowledged our financial help which was considerable and stills lives rent free in a House we own. Less than a year after John died Laurie started to Date a married Man 15 years her senior. He is now divorced and has moved in with her and our two granddaughters. This Man brought nothing to the relationship except a Hearty appetite and a pick up truck. He has a Job but most of his pay goes for Alimony and child support a a a a a a a a a a a a a a. A a. A a Quot. A a a one of our granddaughters is 15 and knows what is going on. We Are not Happy about the example their Mother is setting. We also feel that Laurie is taking advantage of us by living in our Home rent free although we done to heed the Money. Do we have any right to say or do something worried in Laws. In Kansas dear Kansas i can understand Why you disapprove of Laurie a lifestyle. I  be crazy about it either. But she is under no obligation to answer to you. You were generous to allow her to live rent free in your Home. I Hope that you Wilt continue to do so if not for her Sake for your songs children. They need you in their lives. If you have a confrontation with their Mother she could Cut you out and that would be a tragedy. So Swallow hard dear and close one Eye. Its in your own Best interest. Dear Ann Landers in Man old Fogie in my 50s and was never concerned about the effect Rock groups had on kids until my a new a to me a 1987 Cadillac Seville Hood and trunk ornaments were stolen. The replacements will Cost More than $100. In be since Learned that the kids Here in a suburb of grand rapids have caught on to wearing these ornaments upside Down As necklaces or Belt buckles As a Symbol against the establishment just like certain Rock groups do. In be worked hard for 16 years in real estate sales and finally was Able to buy my a dream  within four weeks some kid Ripper off the ornaments while i was at the county fair watching our 12-year-old grandson win grand Champion for his steer. Get the picture Ann dutch Reform area county fair 4-h achievers and kids stealing emblems off a car because some Rock Star started a fad. A i Hope All mothers who read this will Check their kids jewelry and Dresser drawers. If they find these ornaments its a cinch the kid is up to no Good. You should waste no time finding out exactly where the stuff came from when they were acquired and Why. I grew up in this town and there was none of this garbage going on when i was a kid. Please Ann print this letter and give me a hand. Things Are changing too fast for me. Life is less grand in grand rapids dear life the changes you refer to Are taking place far beyond the City limits of grand rapids. Its happening All Over. According to Marion Jelks at Grossinger a Village Cadillac in Chicago stealing Crest emblems is very common. Cadillac and Mercedes Are the prime targets. The Chrome emblems Cost $35 to $55. The Gold ones run about $90. Kids use them on Belt buckles walking canes gym bag zippers necklaces and even As earrings. Whoever said a a there a nothing new under the Sun a ought to Check around. A c creators Syndicate european edition circulation 200,000 col Gene e. Townsend Usan commander publisher Bernard a. Zovistoski a. Editor. It. Col Gayle w. Fix Usa Deputy commander Marie Kominicki Bob Wicker Deane b. Mcdermott production manager managing editor circulation manager this newspaper is an authorized unofficial publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of the stans and stripes do not necessarily reflect the official views of or endorsement by the . Government the department of defense or the  european command. Tho appearance of advertising in this publication including inserts or supplements does not constitute endorsement by the department of defense or the stars and stripes of the products or services advertised. 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