In The Foreclosure of America Berkley 25

Retailer Provides Motivation with a Value-Filled Option for Customers toBecome Smoke-Free in 2009 BENTONVILLE, Ark., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ To help motivatedconsumers quit smoking and to further its Operation Main Street efforts tosave customers money on prescription medications, Walmart today announced thatit has expanded its affordable pharmacy program to include a smoking cessationprescription starter pack for $9, the lowest price on the market. The $9starter pack of bupropion ER 150mg, the generic equivalent of Zyban, is nowavailable at Walmart, Neighborhood Market and Sam's Club pharmacies in a17-tablet, 10-day supply. This announcement is part of the retailer's JanuaryHealthy Living initiative, which aims to help Americans maintain their bettereating, smoking cessation and exercise pledges in 2009."Times are tight right now, and Walmart is committed to helping our customersmaintain their healthy lifestyles in both good economic times and bad," saidDr. "With our affordable smoking cessation offerings, we're hopeful thatsmokers who are committed to quitting will be able to get the tools they needto stop smoking and still be able to afford everyday household items so theycan live better."According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 43million Americans currently smoke, with 70 percent of them saying they want tostop. However - given today's current economic landscape - money previouslyset aside for smoking cessation products may now be re-allocated toward itemsAmerican families need most.

Smoking cessation medication for $9 at Walmartmay help reverse this trend as the bupropion ER starter pack - initiated atthe request of both health care professionals and customers - is low-pricedand affordable for consumers who want to quit."The public health community has long recognized that the cost of eithercigarettes or smoking cessation medications has served as a determining factorfor smokers to continue smoking or finally to decide to quit," said Cheryl G.Healton, Dr P.H., President and CEO of the American Legacy Foundation. "Thismove by Walmart to provide science-based smoking cessation therapies thatsmokers can more easily afford is a huge step forward in helping millions ofsmokers finally quit for good.We applaud Walmart and hope other retailerswill follow their example.It can only result in longer, healthier lives."According to the CDC, smoking cessation treatments, including counseling andmedications, can double quitting success rates. In addition to the bupropionER starter pack, Walmart also currently offers the following over-the-counterand prescription products for consumers and physicians to consider forcontinued success toward a smoke-free lifestyle:Nicorette Coated Gum 120-count bonus pack, assorted flavors ($39.84)NicoDerm Step 1 21-count bonus pack patches or Step 2 14-count patches($39.84)Commit Lozenges 96-count bonus pack, assorted flavors ($34.84)Equate-Brand Nicotine Gum, Patches, and Lozenges60-tablet, 30-day supply of bupropion ER 150mg ($27)"Quitting smoking is tough, but we know that when smokers have the resourcesavailable to help, their rates of success are higher," said Terry Music, chiefmission officer, American Cancer Society. "In addition to accessing smokingcessation medications, smokers wanting to quit should make a quit plan tofurther increase their chance of success. By calling the American CancerSociety Quitline(R) at 1-800-227-2345, smokers can talk with a trainedcounselor who can explain how best to use the cessation treatments and provideother tips and tools to help in a successful quit attempt."At more than 3,000 stores and supercenters nationwide, customers can now findover-the-counter smoking cessation products permanently featured in thetobacco area.

For additional information and resources, consumers can visit or the American Legacy Foundation's website at Lowest price for bupropion ER 150mg 10-day starter packAbout Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.(NYSE: WMT)Every week, millions of customers visit Walmart Stores, supercenters,Neighborhood Markets, and Sam's Club locations across America or log on to itsonline store at company and its Foundation are committedto a philosophy of giving back locally.Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) is proud tosupport the causes that are important to customers and associates right intheir own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $296 million to localcommunities in the United States.More information about Walmart can be foundby visiting Online merchandise sales are available at Stores, Inc.Christi Gallagher of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 1-800-331-0085. Get ready for it Alabama fans, the media has turned on the Tide. In fact, Texas has already been moved ahead of Alabama in the all major polls this weekend and Alabama dropped in the BCS standing down to third. Texas now holds the second spot.Why Because Alabama has not exactly looked like world beaters lately and have not exactly been blowing teams like Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Tennessee off the field in their past three games.It doesn't matter that Alabama was at the end of a very difficult eight-game stretch or that the Tide lost one of their best defensive players in Dont'a Hightower. It doesn't matter that they lost their leading receiver Colin Peek either because they don't care.It also doesn't seem to matter that Alabamas offense just faced three of the top 25 defenses in the country, or that Alabama's starting quarterback was going through a slump much in the same way Colt McCoy and Tim Tebow did earlier in the season because that doesn't matter either.Nope, according to the drum that ESPN, CBS, and ABC are beating, Alabama was all smoke and mirrors, and they may not have been what the talking heads thought they were just a few weeks ago.Not so long ago the same media pinheads were saying things like, "Alabama is the most consistent team in college football" and "Alabama is the most complete team in college football along with several of the same people saying, Alabama should be No 1. Now they are using terms like one dimensional and unimpressive.If the media is starting a campaign designed to influence the voters in hopes of dropping Alabama or raising teams like Texas, Cincinnati, Boise State, TCU, and Iowa, they have forgotten one very important thing.Alabama still controls its own destiny.Alabama will play No. 9 LSU this week in Tuscaloosa at 3:30 EST and if they win that game and keep winning they will play No.

1 Florida in the SEC Championship game in Atlanta on Dec 5.Then if they beat No. 1 Florida in that game, it really won't matter what the talking heads were saying way back in the first part of November.So what is it going to take to get Alabama back up to speed and playing like they were earlier in the year(1) The most important thing has already happened, Alabama has had a chance to rest.Alabama played eight straight games without a break and even though they weren't the only team in the nation to do that, they were the only team ranked in the top five to have to do that and that wears on any team.Nick Saban said this team was tired mentally and it has shown in Alabama's past two games.(2) They have to get their swagger back and start having fun again.Alabama has been playing like a team that is playing not to lose.Instead they should be playing the way they were earlier in the year. In Alabamas first five games they looked like they were having fun, knocking teams off the ball and running and passing at will.Everyone on the team was playing like there was no tomorrow. Now they look like everyone is trying to take away their Championship Trophyyou know the one that they haven't even earned yet.(3) Last but not least they need to stop listening to the media and the fans.All the Heisman Trophy and No 1 talk has gone to their heads. Have you noticed that every time one of them that was mentioned as the star of the team or a potential Heisman candidate by the media they have gone straight into the tank immediately afterwardAll of a sudden this team looks like they are trying to pose for pictures instead of playing Alabama football.In Alabama's defense I know they are under a lot of pressure and all of this National Championship and Heisman talk has to have a negative effect on these players.There is no doubt that the crown is heavy, and Alabama has been wearing this one all season long.There is no doubt that they have been getting every opposing team's A game and it gets harder and harder to fend them off when you are playing not to lose.There is also no doubt that if Alabama keeps playing to not lose, that is exactly what will happen, they will lose.With only five games left between this Alabama team and their first trip to the BCS National Championship Game, I would suggest these players wake up and snap out of it!If the Crimson Tide doesn't get back to business, they may end up watching the BCS Championship Game on television with the rest of the us when someone like LSU or Florida plays someone like Texas or Boise State for the BCS Title on Jan 7, 2010 in Pasadena, Ca.. In "The Foreclosure of America" (Berkley, $25.95), formerCountrywide Senior Vice President Adam Michaelson has chronicledhis time at the one-time top U.S. mortgage lender, from his hiringin 2003 during the housing boom to his layoff in late 2006, whenthe market showed signs of imploding.