It’s been over a year since I’ve had a problem with stories getting mixed up. These two are really a mess.

The Obama administration on Monday offered a raft of incentives for private investors to help rid banks of up to $1 trillion in toxic assets that plunged the world economy into crisis.

As part of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Americans are being urged to schedule a colonoscopy to check for this common and highly preventable type of cancer.

But many people are too nervous or scared to have the important screening test, which is recommended if you’re age 50 or older or have a family history of colorectal cancer.

President Barack Obama said the plan was critical to a U.S. economic recovery, but added, “We still have a long way to go and we have a lot of work to do.”

The most difficult part of the procedure may be the preparation, when patients take a laxative pill or drink to “flush” the colon. This is necessary to make sure the colon is as clean as possible so that the doctor gets the best possible view of the colon.

Public fury over big bonus paid to executives at bailout recipient American International Group has made some investors wary of partnering with the government. But some of the world’s most powerful investors said the plan could work and indicated interest in participating.

The colonoscopy exam itself is probably the easiest part. “The patient is awake, but with sedation, there’s little or no discomfort. Many patients have told me it wasn’t nearly as scary as they expected,” Burleson said.

In an effort to spur participation, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said private investors will not face executive pay restrictions.

The plan is the latest step in a series of aggressive actions to restore credit flows and combat a virulent recession. Less than a week ago, the Fed ramped up its efforts, vowing to pump an additional $1.15 trillion into the economy.

During the procedure, a long, flexible tube with a tiny video camera is inserted into the colon. The camera sends images to a monitor viewed by the doctor. The images can be printed and stored in a computer.

Geithner said investors will set the price for toxic assets through the degree of interest they show in buying them, sparing the government from having to make that decision.

Well that’s just unpleasant. I need to get this straightened out.