MAKE A NOTE!!--MAY 2ND, 1998

CIRCULATION 55

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EARLY MOTHER'S DAY ALERT!!!

In case you hadn't checked the calendar, Mother's Day is just 8 days away, it comes early this year. Trying to think of something to get her? If you still have the Mother's Day note from the Make a Note #5 (I said to post it under florists in your phone book), then you have all the info you need. If not, here is a reminder. If you are purchasing a corsage for your mom (you can order them from the florist just like an arrangement or even along WITH an arrangement), then it is supposed to be pink or red flowers if the wearer's mother is alive, it is supposed to be white flowers if their mother is deceased. Moms love corsages because they can wear them to church and people will ask about them and they can brag about the wonderful children and/or grandchildren they have. Also consider sending a box of cut flowers instead of anything in a vase that will just add to the stacks of vases under moms' sinks everywhere, and make sure you are ordering from a local florist. Usually calling a local florist is always cheaper, even with the long distance call, than ordering through a national 800 service. POST IT...under florist in the yellow pages.

AVOCADO NOT RIPE YET??

Making that friend's guacamole recipe ( Lynn? :-) and have an avocado that is still hard as a rock? Microwave the whole avocado on high in the microwave for 1 minute. Cool completely before peeling. If you cut the avocado in half before you peel it & discover it isn't ripe, just put the two halves back together & microwave it. POST IT...in your microwave cookbook under the general vegetable section.

ORANGES CLUE

Don't know if the navel oranges are sweet or not? USUALLY the smaller the navel, the sweeter the orange. POST IT...near your shopping list. WEB SAFETY/SECURITY (ESP. FOR KIDS) Our local TV station recently posted a great, comprehensive article on this subject with links to pertinent info, on their web site. It has tips for kids AND parents, info on filtering sites/software, and more great links. Check it out at www.wraltv.com/news/wral/techtalk/web-guide/ POST IT...by your computer.

IN THE MEANTIME

If you think you don't need something for your kids that may be using the computer on their own, you are probably wrong. The best advice I have heard is to keep the computer in a family room, or the door must be open to the computer room while it is in use. Locally some kids were suspended from school for getting onto a porn web site which somehow made it past the filter, through a link of a popular TV show. The kids said they accidentally logged onto it and the father protested that it was an accident. Unfortunately the school said they also ACCIDENTALLY hit the PRINT button.

:-) Some software actually tries to find all the bad sites and block access to them, other software will screen for certain words and not let kids log on if those words are there. There are obvious problems with both. With the first ...they can't possibly keep up with ALL the bad sites, with #2 they might screen out good sites by mistake (once a site rejected a Christmas entry I submitted because it had the word "pudding" in it. They people said it was due to an overzealous web filter). One of the best ideas I've heard of is EdView which allows you to select the sites you want your kids to have access to. They are only allowed to go to those approved sites. Unfortunately, last time I checked it was only available for MAC, but they were working on a PC version. Check out their link at the web filter article listed above. Also make yourself familiar with the HISTORY file of your Explorer, Netscape or whatever. This will give you a record of what sites have been visited. If you have a computer savvy child though, they may have figured out how to delete the sites. So have a rule that you can come in at any time and check the history. I'm not saying you all have bad kids, but this stuff can be very tempting for them. POST IT...by your computer.

AIRLINE SAVINGS

Recently there was a "20/20" TV show segment on saving on air fares and I thought with the summer coming up it might be a good thing to include. 

1. ASK if it is a Code Share. For example, is it an ASA flight that Delta bought seats on? Continental or American West? One airline may sell the tickets cheaper, check both. 

2. ASK if there is a COMPANION FARE? They won't always offer this info. Two may fly cheaper than one or 2 separately. 

3. ASK if using an ALTERNATE AIRPORT may be cheaper. Sometimes it can be up to $1000 cheaper. Dulles or National? Ontario, CA or Los Angles? In some cases, even with limo ride to the other airport may be cheaper. 

4. ASK about a SENIOR CITIZEN'S DISCOUNT or others (AAA, Military, Etc). If you are traveling with a Senior or someone else with a discount, they may give you the discounted fare also. Sometimes the savings can be 20%-40%. 

5. ASK for a COMPASSION/BEREAVEMENT rate if applicable. 

6. Is there a HIDDEN CITY? Can you get off at a stopover instead of flying to the end of the flight cheaper than with a direct flight? So if you find a flight that goes from NY to LA, but it has a stopover in Charlotte, NC which is where you want to go, then just don't finish the flight. The problem with this one, BE WARNED, is that the airlines don't like it and MAY CHARGE you extra if they catch you doing it, but travel agents are fighting this. 

7. Trying to get your COLLEGE STUDENT home?? Check out American's College Saver Fares. They range from $119-$259 & usually allow longer than the usual 30 day stay. Purchase by May 5th for outgoing travel through June 25th, and return travel Aug. 13th through Sept 17th. Call 800-624-3500. 8. Flying DELTA? If you plan to travel during the month of June enroll in Delta's Executive Woman's Travel Network, it is OPEN TO EVERYONE, regardless of gender or profession and is FREE. With the welcome pack you get a $99 companion fare certificate, a $100 discount coupon and a free upgrade. And don't forget to use those frequent flyer miles or enroll in their programs. Or get a credit card that will give you miles for every dollar you charge. 40% of people pay too much for tickets. USUALLY it is better to buy through a travel agent than the airline. Ask friends for travel agent referrals, check with 2-3 or more to find who can get you the best rate. POST IT...in the yellow pages under airline.

WHILE WE ARE ON THE SUBJECT...

Some have asked me about the PriceLine.Com where you set your own ticket price. But most people I heard who tried to use it either did not get their answer back by the time they were supposed to, were being put on a red-eye flight, or were trying to get to a city they didn't cover. They may be working out some bugs.

GREAT CHRISTIAN BOOK WEB SITE

This web site is the best, most comprehensive, user friendly site I have encountered. It is for the Christian Book Distributors company and they have great prices. Check it out at www.christianbook.com This is a great site for those of you overseas because you can order easily online. I've dealt with this company for a number of years and their service is fantastic. POST IT...by your computer.

REQUESTS

Let me know if have any subjects you would like to see covered in future editions. Make-A-Note@worldnet.att.net

JOKE (Condensed version, original from the Casinellis)

There were 3 chemistry majors who were preparing for their finals. They had studied hard and decided to go out partying the night before the test. Well, they were so hung over the next morning that they overslept. They went to the professor and gave him a big story about how they had planned to be back in time, but they had gone to another city and on the way back had a flat tire, the spare was flat, and it was a long time before they got some help. So the professor agreed to let them take a make up exam. He called them in the next day and put each of them in a separate room. The only question on the first page was an easy one about morality for 5 points, they were so relieved. Then, each in their separate room, turned to the next page, they read..."for 95 points, 'which tire was flat?'". 

QUOTE

In our county, along with many others I am sure, the schools are demanding more money and often try to tie grades into how much money a school system gets. I'm not sure where they get their information, but our own U. S. Dept. of Education shows that while the USA spends more per pupil than any other country, we are usually very far down the list in performance. Another example, while home schoolers only spend $545 a year on the average, their scores on national standardized tests are 30-37% higher than their public school counterparts. Another example, the Washington, DC school systems spends an astonishing $8,290 per student, and yet they have the nation's highest drop out rate, and rank near the bottom in every measure of efficiency and competence. I have been hunting to no avail, to find an article that I read that actually showed that it almost seemed that the reverse was true, that the less a school system spent, the better they performed. I read it a little over a year ago, but can't find it. So if the powers that be want to ask for more money, I think they should examine the FACTS and not use this particular argument.

God Bless,

Sharon

^i^

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