MAKE A NOTE!! -- July 19th, 2006
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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 AUGUST 2ND, 2006
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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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My Favorite: Books
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Cell Phones in Emergencies
Today we're not addressing HAVING a cell phone in an emergency, but what you might do if you come on an emergency and the victims have cell phones. AFTER you have called 911 and administered aid (if possible), you might want to consider trying to contact the victims' families. A lot has been made of having ICE (In Case of Emergency) numbers in your cell, but many law enforcement agencies are skeptical of whether it is legal for them to access a victim's phone. If a phone does not have an ICE listing, then someone might be able to go to recently made or received calls and try calling that person, since they are most likely to know the victim. But check with your local law enforcement to find out what is legal and acceptable in your area.
POST IT...in your glove compartment with emergency supplies.
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Vinegar for Jellyfish Stings
Heading to the beach this summer? You should know that many areas are
experiencing a jellyfish population explosion. Also the warmer the water, the
more likely you are to have jellyfish around. A very dedicated man lived near
the beach and decided to check out the jellyfish sting remedies to see which
worked the best (I hope he received some kind of compensation for that kind of
pain). He found that the best remedy for the stings was vinegar. Many lifeguards
and dive boats now carry vinegar in case of stings. First, rinse the area with
salt water (fresh water worsens the reaction, the same goes for having someone
relieve themselves on it), and carefully remove any tentacles (with
tweezers/forceps). Apply the vinegar to the area. If you are having a bad
reaction, do not hesitate to seek medical care, sometimes reactions can occur up
to 4 weeks after stings. So if you are heading to the beach, throw a bottle of
vinegar (or buy a little spray bottle & fill it with vinegar) in the bag to play
it safe. It also helps to cover more skin (t-shirt over suit or wet suit). There
is also a new product out there that is supposed to keep you from getting stung,
but it is too new to have any reviews. You can read about it at...
www.buysafesea.com And you can
order it on Amazon.
POST IT...with your suntan lotion.
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Disaster Tax Relief
Now that we are in the midst of hurricane season, you might want to consider preparing for the worst, just in case. You may be able to get a tax break if your property is damaged "from a sudden, unexpected or unusual event," like "hurricanes, lightning, fires, floods, earthquakes, vandalism, theft, and similar disasters." To be able to make a claim, before (take them now) and after photos are helpful, along with news stories describing the event. Keep records of what your insurance pays as well. You shouldn't need to turn this info in, but need to keep it with your records if you are ever audited. The Casualty Loss Deduction Form 4684 should be completed along with Schedule A. Rules related to this type of deduction can be complicated, so you might want to talk with a tax specialist, so as not to miss out on any available deductions.
POST IT...with your disaster prep list, or IRS records.
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Standing in Line for YOU
You HAVE to get into the Capitol Hill hearing for that special cause. OR...
you can't live without those Rolling Stones tickets. But you just don't have the
4-30 hours to stand in line to get the slots when they become available, whether
for tickets or the place in line. There is an alternative. For anywhere from
$30-$75/hr you can pay a line company to have someone stand in line for you, and
then you show up to take your place at the proper time (for those looking for a
part time job, line standers make anywhere from $10-$35/hr). But be aware that
some companies with discount prices may be using less reliable line-standers. If
the event is important enough to you to pay the money, make sure to go with a
reputable company. We recommend LaserShip, whose main business is a courier
service, but they also do line-standing. The majority of their line-standing is
done for Capitol Hill, but they can also do it for hard to get tickets in DC and
other cities where they have offices. You can check out their website...
http://www.lasership.com
To see the locations. If you would like to hire someone, you can contact Chris Harney at LaserShip toll free at 888-232-5273, or if you are calling from overseas, you can call 202-347-7663. LaserShip only uses their own people, they have clear ways of identifying themselves to the client, and wear appropriate clothing if they need to go into the hearing to hold the seat if the client runs late. In other words, you are hiring a professional, not someone who was hired off the street.
POST IT...under ticket agencies in the yellow pages.
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Recipe: Mixed Berry and White Chocolate Cheesecake
In our last issue we did an article on the book, "Super Foods for Babies and
Children," which covers (in amazing detail) how to help your children to eat
healthy with lots of great recipes. Well, here is one of those recipes that
isn't just for children. Yum! To read more about the book or order, go to...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743275225/
Mixed berry and white chocolate cheesecake
Crumb Crust
8 ounces graham crackers (2 1/2 cups crumbs)
1 stick butter, melted
Vegetable oil for greasing
Cheesecake
5 ounces white chocolate
10 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean
1 cup heavy cream
Topping
14 ounces mixed summer berries, such as strawberries, blackberries, raspberries,
blueberries, and red currants
2 tablespoons seedless raspberry jam
2 ounces white chocolate
To make the crust, put the graham crackers in a plastic bag and crush them with
a rolling pin; then mix with the melted butter. Press them into the bottom of a
lightly oiled 8-inch loose-bottomed tart pan or springform pan (this can be done
with a potato masher). Place in the refrigerator to chill.
Melt the white chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water.
Remove the bowl from the pan and beat in the cream cheese. Add the vanilla to
the cream or, if using a vanilla bean, split it lengthwise with a sharp knife
and scrape the seeds into the cream.
Whip the cream until it forms fairly stiff peaks and gently fold in the cream
cheese and white chocolate mixture. Pour on top of the crust and put in the
refrigerator for at least 2 hours to set.
Once the cake is set, carefully remove from the pan. Arrange the berries on top
of the cake. Heat the jam with 2 teaspoons of water and strain through a sieve.
Allow to cool for about 1 minute and gently brush over the fruits. Melt the
white chocolate and drizzle over the top of the fruits with a teaspoon.
8 portions
Summer berries are packed with vitamin C, which helps to strengthen the immune
system and fight infection. Vitamin C also aids in the absorption of iron.
Reprinted from SuperFoods for Babies and Children by Annabel Karmel. Copyright ©
2001, 2006 Annabel Karmel. Published by Atria Books; June
2006;$24.95US/$34.50CAN; 0-7432-7522-5.
POST IT...on your shopping list and recipe box.
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Back Issue Treasure: April 16th, 1997 Issue (Athlete's Foot, Laundry Aid, Presidential Greetings, Best Grocery Shopping Time, Stamps by Mail, & More)
Speaking of jellyfish and vinegar, head to this back issue (our very first issue) to read about a couple more ways to use vinegar to kill Athlete's Foot and help with cleaner clothes. You can also read how to send a greeting from the President, the best grocery shopping times, and how to get stamps by mail. To retrieve this back issue, click HERE.
The child (8-yr-old, black female, black hair, brown eyes, 4'3", 50 lbs) and
her grandmother Portia Washington(54-yr-old black female, black hair, brown
eyes, 5'7", 162 lbs) were last believed to be in the company of Kenneth Lynch
(46-yr-old black male, black hair, brown eyes, 5'11", 167 lbs) in West Columbia,
SC. His whereabouts are currently known; however, the child and her grandmother
have not been seen since June 10, 2006. The vehicle shown in the left corner of
Kenneth's photo (on the poster) is of a vehicle similar to the grandmother's tan
2005 Ford Focus with South Carolina plates 682SEH that was found in Seattle,
Washington on June 18, 2006. Anyone who may have seen Angelica, Portia, Kenneth
or the grandmother's vehicle are asked to call. For photos or more info, go
to...
http://www.ncmec.org/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewPoster&caseNum=1046779&orgPrefix=NCMC&searchLang=en_US
Or go to www.ncmec.org and enter in the name.
POST IT...in your car or business, esp. if you are in the area between West Columbia, SC and Seattle, WA.
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Final Words
JOKE
"An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have. The older she gets
the more interested he is in her."
~~Dame Agatha Christie (1891-1976, English writer...her second husband was an
archaeologist)
QUOTE
"I suppose it is because nearly all children go to school nowadays, and have
things arranged for them, that they seem so forlornly unable to produce their
own ideas."
~~Dame Agatha Christie (1891-1976, English writer)
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