MAKE A NOTE!! -- December 17th, 2003
CIRCULATION - 38,121 (From Around the World! :-)
WEB SITE VISITORS - 78,828
A Free Twice Monthly (1st and 3d Wednesday of each month) Ezine with (Hopefully) Useful Info on a Wide Variety of Topics
NEXT ISSUE TO BE PUBLISHED ON/ABOUT JANUARY 7TH, 2004
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NOTE: Each entry has a suggested "POST IT..." location at the end. We recommend that you print out the ezine, cut out each entry, & post it in these locations to make it easier for you to find when you need it. And if you like what you read, be sure to pass it on to someone else who can use it.
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FluWatch.com & Prevention
You can go to http://www.fluwatch.com for the latest info on where, & to what extent, the flu is rearing its ugly head. You can see which states are being hit hardest, can click on the state and actually click on counties to get zip code reports. Be sure to click on the back button on the site itself to get back to the US map, otherwise you'll have to go through the intro all over again. If you have someone with weakened health, you may want to reconsider trips to areas that are being hit hard. Get that flu vaccine if you can find it, wash your hands with soap/water or hand sanitizer frequently (send a bottle of sanitizer to school in your kids' book bags as well), and avoid crowds if possible. Get into the habit of using the sanitizer after using the bathroom, getting into the car after being in a public place (keep a bottle in the car), and for your kids after they have been out playing with their friends. Children are being hit especially hard by this current flu.
POST IT...on your computer and shopping list.
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Dry House Solutions
Speaking of the flu, did you know that a dry house can hinder your body in
fighting off germs? A dry house can also cause the following problems: dry skin
(for people & pets), dandruff due to dry skin, stuffy noses, static shocks, dry
coughs that you have trouble shaking, wheezing, cracking caulking/walls/wood,
nose bleeds, high heating bills (makes you feel colder), and more. A good
humidity level to shoot for is 50%. The Sahara Desert averages about 25%, the
AVERAGE house being heated during the winter season about 15%. Recently we found
out our house was at 12% (and this was running a table top humidifier
constantly). If you are having problems with any of the above, I would encourage
you to do everything you can to elevate the humidity in your home. If you are on
a tight budget, here are some ideas to help a little. Run table top
vaporizers/humidifiers as much as possible, but do not leave unattended. Keep a
pan of water boiling on your stove, but again, NEVER UNATTENDED. Periodically
open all the windows for a few moments to bring the outside air in, this will
often increase the humidity level by as much as 7%, even in winter. Avoid using
the fireplace, which would further dry out the air. Some laundry closets can be
set up to vent the dryer air into the house, check with your local hardware
store for kits. Hang wet clothes up to dry in the bathrooms. But ultimately the
best method to keep the humidity at the right level is a whole house furnace
mounted humidifier. It is not as expensive as you may think, the flow-through
models (you want to avoid anything with pads/sponges that can breed bacteria)
run about $500 installed, and are usually guaranteed for 5 years. Before you
renters stop reading, remember that often owners will pay for improvements to
their rental properties if you ask because it would be a positive feature with
future renters. If they balk at paying the entire amount, ask if they would
consider paying half or at least a portion (we've also worked out deals with our
past landlords for deadbolts & security systems). The advantages of the furnace
mounted humidifiers is that you don't have to worry about refilling the water
(they use your water supply), and for the newer little-maintenance models the
only thing you have to do is replace the metal evaporator plate once a year
($6). Some technicians still call this a "pad", but it does not allow for
bacteria build up like the real pads/sponges. It took them about 90 min to
install ours. If you start out with a humidifier at the beginning of the colder
months (you turn it off in the summer), then it will keep your house at whatever
level you set it on. But if you start out during the winter with a dried out
house, it can take several weeks to get the humidity level to a good level, but
you will still notice an improvement almost immediately. We have had the
humidifier for about 5 days now and it has brought our house from 12% to 22%,
and even though it still needs to get to 50%, it is amazing how much better we
all feel. The coughs, wheezing, nose bleeds, dried out skin, scratching dog (the
scratching, not the dog:-), and static shocks are all gone. Instead of keeping
our heat at 82 degrees and STILL feeling cold, we have been able to lower it to
72 degrees and feel very comfortable. Normally your water bill might go up
$5-$10/month (depending on your area's costs), but you will save money on
heating bills, and possibly cold remedies. If you get the humidifier when your
house is already dry, use the tips above to help the humidity get to a good
level more quickly. You can also leave your fan in the "on" position, instead of
"auto" until it gets to 50% humidity, the machine only works when the fan is on.
For more information contact your favorite air conditioning/heating business (if
necessary, ask friends for recommendations & check the people out on the Better
Business Bureau's web site...
http://www.bbb.org )
POST IT...near your thermostat, and/or by your phone.
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Party Shoes
How many of you ladies have those dressy shoes that pinch your feet terribly, but you never remember until you're at that party and miserable? Well, if you have a party coming up, now's the time to find better fitting shoes. Recently I discovered "Easy Spirit" shoes. These shoes advertise as being designed like athletic shoes inside, but looking dressy outside. You may have seen their old commercial where a bunch of ladies are playing basketball in heels. I don't know about that, but these shoes ARE very comfortable. They rarely have higher than a 2" heel, but then the higher you go, the more likely you are to have feet & back problems. But these are very nice, very comfortable shoes, and they have a good selection as well. To find the store closest to you, go to... http://www.easyspirit.com They can be a bit pricey, if you're used to discount stores, but watch for the sales and if you have an Easy Spirit store at an outlet mall, watch for free coupon book sales. One site that might have a coupon book for an outlet mall in your area is... http://www.premiumoutlets.com So spend the money if you need to, you'll enjoy the party so much more, and the shoes will probably last longer than the expensive designer shoes. POST IT...on your shopping list, or on your calendar near the party dates.
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GPS for Outdoor Enthusiasts (or their families)
For all of you outdoor enthusiasts, and those who love you, why not consider a Personal Locator Beacon/GPS for Christmas this year? This summer, the use of Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) were authorized for personal use. With these beacons (about the size of a walkie-talkie) you can activate the emergency beacon whenever you have an emergency anywhere in the world, and it will send out a distress signal, helping rescuers to zero in on your location. They are not cheap, anywhere from $500-$700, but are well worth it if you spend a lot of time in the back country. If you are one of those people who don't worry about emergencies at all, but have parents or other family members who do, consider getting it for their peace of mind. While only a few PLBs are in use at this time, a rescue was already facilitated by the use of a PLB in Alaska. For more information go to... http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000ARZYU/makeanote
POST IT...on your shopping list, or near your outdoor gear.
EDITOR'S NOTE: For a personal GPS Locator that works with cell phone towers for city use, see our Back Issue Treasure feature below...great for kids.
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Recipe: Christmas Recipes
For those of you still looking for holiday cooking fun, most of our all time favorite recipes can be found in our December back issues. We have 6 years of December issues, with all our favorites, so be sure to check them out (see directions under "Back Issue Treasure" below). And if you can't find that one special recipe, http://www.allrecipes.com Is a great place to find a lost one.
POST IT...near your computer.
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Back Issue Treasure: February 6th, 2002 Issue
Personal Locators, Random Acts of Kindness, Door Notes to Save Time, Holiday/Historical Date Info, & more. Go to this back issue to find out about GPS Locator Watches for kids. They have come down in price from $400 (when they first came out) to a current special of $200. They are very sturdy watches for kids and with a monthly service fee ($20 & up depending on how often you will use it) you can locate your kids down to the street address if you need to, by computer or phone. You can also find out how Random Acts of Kindness can make a difference in your life and those around you. See a great article on finding out what happened on this day in history, and how to make someone else's holiday a special one.
To retrieve this back issue click HERE.
POST IT...by your computer.
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Missing Child Info: Koah Vincent
Koah (6 yrs-old, white male, sandy hair, blue eyes, 4', 45 lbs, taken from Acworth, GA) was abducted by his non-custodial mother, Djuana Highsmith (37 yr old, white female, brown hair, blue eyes, 5'5", 130 lbs). A felony warrant was issued for Djuana on November 24, 2003. They may still be in the local area or they may have traveled to Roswell or Saint Mary's, Georgia or Gastonia, North Carolina. They may be traveling in a maroon 1991 four-door Toyota Corolla with Georgia license plates 9726WP. Koah has a scar between his eyes. Djuana may go by the alias first name Angela or Carolyn and the alias last name Cheatam or Hufstetler. Please keep an eye out, esp. if you are in the GA/NC area. For photos go to... http://www.ncmec.org/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewPoster&caseNum=977218&orgPrefix=NCMC&searchLang=en_US
or go to http://www.ncmec.org click on "More Search Options" in the middle of the page, then enter in "Koah Vincent" at the bottom, then click on either the child's name or "View Poster" under their name.
POST IT...in your car.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Some of you have tried to access files of children featured in past issues without success. This usually means the children were found and the files were removed.
Final Words
JOKE
"Norman and his wife live in snow country, high in the northeast. One winter morning while listening to the radio, they hear the announcer say, "We are going to have 8 to 10 inches of snow today. You must park your car on the even numbered side of the street, so the snowplow can get through." Norman's wife goes out and moves her car. A week later while they are eating breakfast, the radio announcer says, "We are expecting 10 to 12 inches of snow today. You must park your car on the odd numbered side of the street, so the snowplow can get through." Norman's wife goes out and moves her car again. The next week they are having breakfast again, when the radio announcer says "We are expecting 12 to 14 inches of snow today. You must park..........." then the electric power goes out. Norman's wife is very upset, and with a worried look on her face she says, "Honey, I don't know what to do. Which side of the street do I need to park on so the snowplow can get through?" With all the love and understanding in his voice he could muster, Norman said: "Why don't you just leave it in the garage this time?"
QUOTE
In response to the FCC's decision that a certain curse word, is ok to say on TV as long as it is used as an adjective... "You want to split hairs? I'm going to shave your head." --Rep. Doug Ose (R-Calif.) who, w/ Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), has proposed legislation to overturn the ruling and ban a list of 8 words/phrases from being used on broadcast TV. If you would like to express your support of this legislation to your congressman, go to... http://www.house.gov And you can find your representative's contact info.
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Sponsorship Information
If you are interested in helping to sponsor our ezine, or others in the Dollar Stretcher family, drop an email requesting additional info to: mailto:marketing@stretcher.com?subject=MAN.
It may be more reasonable than you realize. And check out the other free helpful ezines offered at
http://www.stretcher.com/menu/subscrib.cfm
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AT&T's Community Port
AT&T has a site about WorldNet members, like us, who have created their own personal web pages. If you think our site deserves to be featured on AT&T's Community Port , send them an e-mail about it, at communities@att.net. Be sure to include the page's URL http://home.att.net/~make-a-note/index.htm and why you think our site is special.
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Thank you to Pastor Wilson & Gary Foreman for all they do for the Make a Note.
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