/PRNewswire/ -- Slightly more than 72 percent of U.S. households believed to be occupied mailed back their 2010 Census forms, the same rate that was achieved in 2000, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. In the fall of 2010, the Census Bureau will release a final "mail return rate" after census workers double-check the occupancy status of all households that didn't return a census form.
"This is a significant achievement; the nation has stepped up to the challenge of participating in this once-a-decade civic event," said Census Bureau Director Robert Groves. "We knew the job would be more difficult in 2010 than in 2000, yet the nation responded tremendously."
America responded despite trends over the past decade toward declining survey participation, a more diverse population, a difficult economic environment and a growing distrust of government.
To motivate increased mail participation, the Census Bureau challenged communities nationwide to work to improve the participation rates they achieved in the 2000 Census. Twenty-eight states met or exceeded their 2000 Census rates, and 11 more were within one point of matching their rates (see separate news release). Numerous cities and counties also matched or exceeded their rates. (See the "Take 10 Challenge Map" for detailed results, or results from the largest cities and counties on the news conference press kit page: http://2010.census.gov/news/press-kits/operational-press-briefing/april-28-201 0.html)
States with the highest mail participation rates include: Wisconsin (81 percent), Minnesota (80 percent), Iowa (78 percent) and Indiana (78 percent). North Carolina and South Carolina achieved the greatest percentage point increase among all states, both increasing by 9 percentage points (North Carolina jumped from 66 to 74 percent; South Carolina from 65 to 73 percent).
Cities with populations of 50,000 or more with the highest rates were Livonia, Mich. (87 percent), Rochester, Minn. (82 percent) and Sterling Heights, Mich. (82 percent). Charleston, S.C., achieved the greatest point increase (jumping 9 percentage points from 64 to 73 percent). Three cities increased by 8 percentage points: Minneapolis (from 68 to 76 percent); Miramar, Fla. (from 65 to 73 percent) and Surprise, Ariz. (from 63 to 71 percent).
The rates for all states, counties, cities, towns and neighborhoods are on the Census Bureau's interactive mail participation rate map at http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/.
The nation's response helps pave the way for the next phase of the 2010 Census: the deployment of 635,000 census takers across the country who will go door to door to obtain census responses from all remaining households. The temporary census workers are in training this week and will begin obtaining census responses this weekend. The Census Bureau is urging households to open their doors to their local census taker and will provide more information on this operation at a news briefing May 3.
ABOUT THE 2010 CENSUS
The 2010 Census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. Census data are used to apportion congressional seats to states, to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to tribal, state and local governments each year and to make decisions about what community services to provide. The 2010 Census form is one of the shortest in U.S. history, consisting of 10 questions, taking about 10 minutes to complete. Strict confidentiality laws protect the respondents and the information they provide.
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Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Help Reverse Slide in Tax Checkoff Funding for Georgia Wildlife
A convenient but critical way to support Georgia’s wildlife needs your help this tax season.
State income tax checkoff contributions to the Georgia Wildlife Conservation Fund have declined in recent years. While not an all-time low, contributions for the most recent fiscal year fell another 20 percent, or nearly $60,000 from the previous year.
Yet, the checkoff is a key fundraiser for the Wildlife Conservation Fund. The fund is administered by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Nongame Conservation Section and dedicated to the conservation of nongame and endangered animals and plants statewide.
The Nongame Conservation Section receives no state funding for its mission to conserve nongame wildlife. Nongame includes native Georgia animals not legally hunted, fished for or trapped, as well as native plants, from sea turtles to songbirds and pitcherplants.
Jon Ambrose, assistant chief of the Nongame Conservation Section, said the Wildlife Conservation Fund is also used to attract federal and private research and conservation funding to Georgia. By using the fund as match, DNR gained $1 for every 25 cents spent from the fund over the past two years. The Nongame Conservation Section has averaged about $1.5 million a year in federal State Wildlife Grants over the past decade, Ambrose said.
The checkoff “is critical in terms of providing the match we need to get this funding from other sources,” he said.
The Give Wildlife a Chance checkoff has been a success since its creation in 1989. Thanks to the generosity of Georgians, more than $6 million has been raised. Contributions played a part in many conservation achievements, varying from the restoration of bald eagle populations to land acquisitions such as the prized Silver Lake Wildlife Management Area near Bainbridge.
That success story can continue with the help of conservation-minded Georgians.
This year, even in the midst of a recession, citizens can reverse the decline in checkoff contributions by filling in any amount more than $1 on line 27 of the state’s long tax form (Form 500) or line 10 of the short form (Form 500EZ). Contributions can be deducted from refunds or added to payments.
For more information, go to www.georgiawildlife.com/node/338, or call Nongame Conservation Section offices in Social Circle (770-761-3035), Forsyth (478-994-1438) or Brunswick (912-264-7218). State income tax forms are available online at https://etax.dor.ga.gov/.
The Nongame Conservation Section also benefits from sales of the bald eagle and ruby-throated hummingbird license plates, an annual fundraiser called Weekend for Wildlife, and donations. Details at www.georgiawildlife.com.
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State income tax checkoff contributions to the Georgia Wildlife Conservation Fund have declined in recent years. While not an all-time low, contributions for the most recent fiscal year fell another 20 percent, or nearly $60,000 from the previous year.
Yet, the checkoff is a key fundraiser for the Wildlife Conservation Fund. The fund is administered by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Nongame Conservation Section and dedicated to the conservation of nongame and endangered animals and plants statewide.
The Nongame Conservation Section receives no state funding for its mission to conserve nongame wildlife. Nongame includes native Georgia animals not legally hunted, fished for or trapped, as well as native plants, from sea turtles to songbirds and pitcherplants.
Jon Ambrose, assistant chief of the Nongame Conservation Section, said the Wildlife Conservation Fund is also used to attract federal and private research and conservation funding to Georgia. By using the fund as match, DNR gained $1 for every 25 cents spent from the fund over the past two years. The Nongame Conservation Section has averaged about $1.5 million a year in federal State Wildlife Grants over the past decade, Ambrose said.
The checkoff “is critical in terms of providing the match we need to get this funding from other sources,” he said.
The Give Wildlife a Chance checkoff has been a success since its creation in 1989. Thanks to the generosity of Georgians, more than $6 million has been raised. Contributions played a part in many conservation achievements, varying from the restoration of bald eagle populations to land acquisitions such as the prized Silver Lake Wildlife Management Area near Bainbridge.
That success story can continue with the help of conservation-minded Georgians.
This year, even in the midst of a recession, citizens can reverse the decline in checkoff contributions by filling in any amount more than $1 on line 27 of the state’s long tax form (Form 500) or line 10 of the short form (Form 500EZ). Contributions can be deducted from refunds or added to payments.
For more information, go to www.georgiawildlife.com/node/338, or call Nongame Conservation Section offices in Social Circle (770-761-3035), Forsyth (478-994-1438) or Brunswick (912-264-7218). State income tax forms are available online at https://etax.dor.ga.gov/.
The Nongame Conservation Section also benefits from sales of the bald eagle and ruby-throated hummingbird license plates, an annual fundraiser called Weekend for Wildlife, and donations. Details at www.georgiawildlife.com.
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Friday, April 9, 2010
Special Olympics Georgia: Officers Are 'Cuffed for a Cause' April 10
/PRNewswire/ -- Local police officers brave moving treadmills for EIGHT hours straight... On April 10th, Special Olympics Georgia and Georgia police officers join forces to raise money for the Law Enforcement Torch Run®.
WHO: Special Olympics Georgia and Georgia Law Enforcement Officers
WHAT: Georgia Law Enforcement officers are once again teaming up with Special Olympics Georgia to raise money for the Law Enforcement Torch Run® of Special Olympics Georgia. Officers will be handcuffed to moving treadmills for EIGHT hours (or until they reach their fundraising goal) for Georgia's third annual "Cuffed for a Cause" Saturday, April 10th. They will collect donations from customers as they walk, walk, walk and walk some more.
WHEN: The officers will start their treadmills across the state at various locations on Saturday, April 10th.
Dunwoody Police Department: Perimeter Mall; 4400 Ashford Dunwoody Road
Gwinnett County Police Department: Wal-Mart; 3795 Buford Drive, Buford
Milton Police Department: Wal-Mart; 5200 Windward Parkway, Milton
Paulding County Marshal Bureau: Wal-Mart; 4166 Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway, Hiram
For more information about Cuffed for a Cause and the Law Enforcement Torch Run®, visit www.SpecialOlympicsGA.org
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WHO: Special Olympics Georgia and Georgia Law Enforcement Officers
WHAT: Georgia Law Enforcement officers are once again teaming up with Special Olympics Georgia to raise money for the Law Enforcement Torch Run® of Special Olympics Georgia. Officers will be handcuffed to moving treadmills for EIGHT hours (or until they reach their fundraising goal) for Georgia's third annual "Cuffed for a Cause" Saturday, April 10th. They will collect donations from customers as they walk, walk, walk and walk some more.
WHEN: The officers will start their treadmills across the state at various locations on Saturday, April 10th.
Dunwoody Police Department: Perimeter Mall; 4400 Ashford Dunwoody Road
Gwinnett County Police Department: Wal-Mart; 3795 Buford Drive, Buford
Milton Police Department: Wal-Mart; 5200 Windward Parkway, Milton
Paulding County Marshal Bureau: Wal-Mart; 4166 Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway, Hiram
For more information about Cuffed for a Cause and the Law Enforcement Torch Run®, visit www.SpecialOlympicsGA.org
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Thursday, April 8, 2010
It's Not Too Late to Return Your 2010 Census - Communities Plan 'March to the Mailbox'
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With just over one week left for households to mail back their 2010 Census forms, thousands of volunteers in more than 6,000 neighborhoods plan to participate in "March to the Mailbox" parades, marches, walks, rallies and motorcades on Sat., April 10 -- hoping to remind people that it's not too late to mail back their forms and be counted.
The grassroots outreach, led by census partners, volunteers and local residents, is being held nationwide in neighborhoods with low mail participation rates -- from Miami to Seattle and Detroit to Houston. During the events, volunteers will come together in high traffic areas to remind residents that it is not too late to mail back their Census forms and encourage those who have delayed to "March to the Mailbox" and mail it back today.
"This is a great example of neighbors working together to ensure their community gets its fair share of federal resources for roads, schools and other important community services as well as congressional representation," U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Groves said. "For those who have not yet responded, we ask that you join your neighbors and mail back your easy-to-complete, 10 question census form today."
The "March to the Mailbox" is one final effort to boost mail back rates in hard-to-count communities before personal visits to non-responding households start May 1. Households have until April 16 to mail back their form, as the Census Bureau must begin preparing to train temporary census workers to obtain census responses in person from households that did not send back their forms.
The Census Bureau saves about $85 million in operational costs for every percentage point increase in the nation's participation rate by mail. If every household completed and mailed back their census form, taxpayers could reduce the cost of taking the census and save $1.5 billion. In 2000, the nation reversed a three-decade decline in mail response rates and saved $305 million.
Nationwide, currently 65 percent of households have mailed back their census forms. In 2000, the mail participation rate was 72 percent. For the first time, the Census Bureau has mailed replacement forms to areas with historically low mail response rates. Research shows that the replacement forms will help increase mail response in those areas, which significantly reduces the cost of taking the census.
The Census Bureau has created tools to help communities track their census participation through a campaign that is urging everyone to "Take 10" minutes to fill out and mail back their form. The Take 10 Challenge Map on the 2010 Census Web site shows the latest daily participation rates, giving users the option to download and embed a local rate tracker "widget" on their own Web site.
All census responses are confidential. Answers are protected by law and cannot be shared with anyone. Extreme measures are taken to protect the identity of individuals and businesses. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents' individually identifiable answers with anyone, including tribal housing authorities, other federal agencies and law enforcement entities.
If you did not receive a Census form or cannot locate it, visit: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/ to find a "Be Counted" site in your neighborhood, where forms are available. Or, call the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance Center at 1-866-872-6868 for help.
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The grassroots outreach, led by census partners, volunteers and local residents, is being held nationwide in neighborhoods with low mail participation rates -- from Miami to Seattle and Detroit to Houston. During the events, volunteers will come together in high traffic areas to remind residents that it is not too late to mail back their Census forms and encourage those who have delayed to "March to the Mailbox" and mail it back today.
"This is a great example of neighbors working together to ensure their community gets its fair share of federal resources for roads, schools and other important community services as well as congressional representation," U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Groves said. "For those who have not yet responded, we ask that you join your neighbors and mail back your easy-to-complete, 10 question census form today."
The "March to the Mailbox" is one final effort to boost mail back rates in hard-to-count communities before personal visits to non-responding households start May 1. Households have until April 16 to mail back their form, as the Census Bureau must begin preparing to train temporary census workers to obtain census responses in person from households that did not send back their forms.
The Census Bureau saves about $85 million in operational costs for every percentage point increase in the nation's participation rate by mail. If every household completed and mailed back their census form, taxpayers could reduce the cost of taking the census and save $1.5 billion. In 2000, the nation reversed a three-decade decline in mail response rates and saved $305 million.
Nationwide, currently 65 percent of households have mailed back their census forms. In 2000, the mail participation rate was 72 percent. For the first time, the Census Bureau has mailed replacement forms to areas with historically low mail response rates. Research shows that the replacement forms will help increase mail response in those areas, which significantly reduces the cost of taking the census.
The Census Bureau has created tools to help communities track their census participation through a campaign that is urging everyone to "Take 10" minutes to fill out and mail back their form. The Take 10 Challenge Map on the 2010 Census Web site shows the latest daily participation rates, giving users the option to download and embed a local rate tracker "widget" on their own Web site.
All census responses are confidential. Answers are protected by law and cannot be shared with anyone. Extreme measures are taken to protect the identity of individuals and businesses. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents' individually identifiable answers with anyone, including tribal housing authorities, other federal agencies and law enforcement entities.
If you did not receive a Census form or cannot locate it, visit: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/ to find a "Be Counted" site in your neighborhood, where forms are available. Or, call the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance Center at 1-866-872-6868 for help.
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Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Georgia Child Welfare Reforms Endangered by New Litigation
/PRNewswire/ -- Legal action by a group that calls itself "Children's Rights" (CR) threatens child welfare reforms that have made Georgia's children safer, a national child advocacy group said Tuesday.
CR issued an inflammatory press release alleging that Georgia "may" be endangering thousands of children by keeping them out of foster care. "They rely largely on horror story cases from the state's Office of Child Advocate (OCA)," said Richard Wexler, executive director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform. "But when you try to make policy based on horror stories the results for children are horrible.
"In fact, since Georgia instituted its 'diversion' program, child safety has significantly improved. That's clear from the reduction in re-abuse of children known to the child welfare agency - a reduction seen both in formally-opened cases and in cases where families are helped through a process known in Georgia as 'diversion.'
"In contrast, independent court-appointed monitors overseeing a consent decree negotiated by CR concerning foster care in Atlanta found that there is a huge problem of abuse in foster care itself. Just two months ago, CR's own Associate Director, Ira Lustbader declared that 'We are extremely concerned that children in the Atlanta foster care system are simply not safe. ...' Yet now, CR is back in court, initiating a process apparently designed to shovel more children into this unsafe system."
At the moment, Wexler said, CR is seeking only further information - information even the court monitors refuse to help them get. "As a matter of principle, we believe almost every record maintained by a child welfare agency should be public. So we believe that even though CR may misuse the information, they should get it."
In addition, Wexler said, though diversion has made Georgia's children safer, OCA found real problems in the process, including a lack of statewide standards.
"Georgia has contracted with an outside expert to design a statewide system based on best practice in other states. OCA should monitor the process and make sure it's implemented. That's a far better approach than the one taken by CR, which seems intent on scaring Georgians away from a safe, proven alternative to needless foster care," Wexler said.
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CR issued an inflammatory press release alleging that Georgia "may" be endangering thousands of children by keeping them out of foster care. "They rely largely on horror story cases from the state's Office of Child Advocate (OCA)," said Richard Wexler, executive director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform. "But when you try to make policy based on horror stories the results for children are horrible.
"In fact, since Georgia instituted its 'diversion' program, child safety has significantly improved. That's clear from the reduction in re-abuse of children known to the child welfare agency - a reduction seen both in formally-opened cases and in cases where families are helped through a process known in Georgia as 'diversion.'
"In contrast, independent court-appointed monitors overseeing a consent decree negotiated by CR concerning foster care in Atlanta found that there is a huge problem of abuse in foster care itself. Just two months ago, CR's own Associate Director, Ira Lustbader declared that 'We are extremely concerned that children in the Atlanta foster care system are simply not safe. ...' Yet now, CR is back in court, initiating a process apparently designed to shovel more children into this unsafe system."
At the moment, Wexler said, CR is seeking only further information - information even the court monitors refuse to help them get. "As a matter of principle, we believe almost every record maintained by a child welfare agency should be public. So we believe that even though CR may misuse the information, they should get it."
In addition, Wexler said, though diversion has made Georgia's children safer, OCA found real problems in the process, including a lack of statewide standards.
"Georgia has contracted with an outside expert to design a statewide system based on best practice in other states. OCA should monitor the process and make sure it's implemented. That's a far better approach than the one taken by CR, which seems intent on scaring Georgians away from a safe, proven alternative to needless foster care," Wexler said.
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Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The new love rules: Even love letters have gone digital
(ARA) - For centuries, people have expressed their words of love and affection through love letters, a meaningful tradition that continues to this day. Though much has changed since the days of Shakespearean sonnets, love letters are still a personal and inexpensive way to show someone special you care this Valentine's Day. Today, jobs, family and jam-packed schedules mean that not everyone has time to sit down and pen the perfect sonnet - which helps explain the recent trend of love letters going digital.
A recent survey of busy young professionals (ages 22-35) conducted by Microsoft indicates that more people are trading in calligraphy and scented stationery for e-mail and even text messages. In fact, 79 percent of busy young professionals surveyed have sent or received an e-mail love letter within the past two years, with more than 77 percent reporting that they love receiving e-mail love letters, since e-mail is their primary means of communication.
Sending a love letter online doesn't mean that it's less sincere or romantic than a handwritten note. In fact, there are major advantages to sending or receiving a love letter via e-mail, including the ability to refer back to it easily, and from anywhere. Eighty-six percent of people surveyed who have received an e-mail love letter say they saved them in their inbox. With very large storage limits available through free e-mail providers like Windows Live Hotmail, it's especially simple to access an old love letter from any computer, a Web-equipped mobile phone, or print them out as a permanent keepsake, as one survey respondent did. "I saved all of the [e-mail] love notes that my boyfriend-at-the-time wrote while we were in a long-distance relationship - now he's my husband. I printed them out and have them in a binder that I look at on occasion."
A love letter doesn't necessarily have to be a lengthy soliloquy professing your eternal love - it can be a simple "I love you" - in fact, more than 27 percent of people surveyed report that they've been told "I love you" for the first time over e-mail or instant messenger programs like Windows Live Messenger - or a short note recalling a fond memory you share. Another survey respondent recalled a particularly sentimental love note she received: "The day after my husband asked me to marry him, he sent me a beautiful e-mail saying how great he felt asking me, seeing the ring on my finger on the way in to work the next morning, watching how excited I was to show it off to everyone and how excited he was to spend the rest of his life with me."
Thanks to the convenience of e-mail, you don't have to be Casanova to send a memorable love letter that will make someone's day. With the recent trend of love letters going digital, these five simple tips will have you well on your way to sending a memorable e-mail love note that your significant other will cherish for years to come.
1. Set the mood: Find a quiet place and a dedicated time to write your love letter. Be sure to minimize distractions so you can focus your thoughts on your loved one and put your emotions into words.
2. Be your most romantic self: A well-written love letter should make your beloved fall more in love with you, so think personal. Focus on the other person and express your emotions, dreams and vulnerability. Never be negative, but try to avoid being too funny. A love letter shares deep and often difficult-to-express feelings and should always sound like it comes from you.
3. Be specific and sincere: Highlight unique quirks or characteristics you love about the person, recall special memories you've shared, or write about the reasons why you fell in love with him or her in the first place. Don't be too casual and don't be afraid to let your true feelings show.
4. Spice up the presentation: Try adding color, special photos of the two of you or graphics. Using e-mail features like Hotmail Quick Add, you can easily search for and add images without leaving your inbox. If your relationship is long distance, or if you're looking to add some more creativity to your letter, you can make and edit a short movie of yourself, a recent trip, or a favorite outdoor spot using free movie-making programs like Windows Live Movie Maker, available at download.live.com.
5. Double-check details before hitting "send": Don't let writing errors distract from the meaning of your words. Read over your letter to make sure it conveys what you really mean and check for spelling and grammar errors. Most importantly, before sending an e-mail love letter, double-check that the "to" line is correct - 1 out of 10 people surveyed have sent love letters to the wrong person by mistake!
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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A recent survey of busy young professionals (ages 22-35) conducted by Microsoft indicates that more people are trading in calligraphy and scented stationery for e-mail and even text messages. In fact, 79 percent of busy young professionals surveyed have sent or received an e-mail love letter within the past two years, with more than 77 percent reporting that they love receiving e-mail love letters, since e-mail is their primary means of communication.
Sending a love letter online doesn't mean that it's less sincere or romantic than a handwritten note. In fact, there are major advantages to sending or receiving a love letter via e-mail, including the ability to refer back to it easily, and from anywhere. Eighty-six percent of people surveyed who have received an e-mail love letter say they saved them in their inbox. With very large storage limits available through free e-mail providers like Windows Live Hotmail, it's especially simple to access an old love letter from any computer, a Web-equipped mobile phone, or print them out as a permanent keepsake, as one survey respondent did. "I saved all of the [e-mail] love notes that my boyfriend-at-the-time wrote while we were in a long-distance relationship - now he's my husband. I printed them out and have them in a binder that I look at on occasion."
A love letter doesn't necessarily have to be a lengthy soliloquy professing your eternal love - it can be a simple "I love you" - in fact, more than 27 percent of people surveyed report that they've been told "I love you" for the first time over e-mail or instant messenger programs like Windows Live Messenger - or a short note recalling a fond memory you share. Another survey respondent recalled a particularly sentimental love note she received: "The day after my husband asked me to marry him, he sent me a beautiful e-mail saying how great he felt asking me, seeing the ring on my finger on the way in to work the next morning, watching how excited I was to show it off to everyone and how excited he was to spend the rest of his life with me."
Thanks to the convenience of e-mail, you don't have to be Casanova to send a memorable love letter that will make someone's day. With the recent trend of love letters going digital, these five simple tips will have you well on your way to sending a memorable e-mail love note that your significant other will cherish for years to come.
1. Set the mood: Find a quiet place and a dedicated time to write your love letter. Be sure to minimize distractions so you can focus your thoughts on your loved one and put your emotions into words.
2. Be your most romantic self: A well-written love letter should make your beloved fall more in love with you, so think personal. Focus on the other person and express your emotions, dreams and vulnerability. Never be negative, but try to avoid being too funny. A love letter shares deep and often difficult-to-express feelings and should always sound like it comes from you.
3. Be specific and sincere: Highlight unique quirks or characteristics you love about the person, recall special memories you've shared, or write about the reasons why you fell in love with him or her in the first place. Don't be too casual and don't be afraid to let your true feelings show.
4. Spice up the presentation: Try adding color, special photos of the two of you or graphics. Using e-mail features like Hotmail Quick Add, you can easily search for and add images without leaving your inbox. If your relationship is long distance, or if you're looking to add some more creativity to your letter, you can make and edit a short movie of yourself, a recent trip, or a favorite outdoor spot using free movie-making programs like Windows Live Movie Maker, available at download.live.com.
5. Double-check details before hitting "send": Don't let writing errors distract from the meaning of your words. Read over your letter to make sure it conveys what you really mean and check for spelling and grammar errors. Most importantly, before sending an e-mail love letter, double-check that the "to" line is correct - 1 out of 10 people surveyed have sent love letters to the wrong person by mistake!
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Double-Dip Recession Anyone? Forty Percent of People Now Say 'Yes'
/PRNewswire/ -- The Wealth Hazards Worry Index now indicates that the number of people who believe that the U.S. economy could enter another recession in 2010 now stands at 40 percent. Another 32 percent of survey respondents are unsure if a "double-dip" recession is on tap for 2010, while only 28 percent of people are confident that no recession will occur in 2010.
"The government stimulus and support programs in 2009 were instrumental in holding the economy together so that the recovery process could get underway, the fragility of the recovery is now center stage," says Thomas Hertog, editor at Wealth Hazards. Respondents to the Wealth Hazards Worry Index survey cited continuing concerns about the expiration of government stimulus and support programs and how this might impact their own financial health.
Specifically, people are anxious about the high rate of unemployment, rising interest rates, price inflation, more foreclosures, and flat wages or even wage deflation as employers bargain hunt for new employees. In summary, 40 percent of people expect another recession-like downturn and nearly one-third of people are not sure if another recession is waiting just around the corner.
"Many people remain vigilant as they wait and see if the other shoe is going to drop in 2010," said Hertog, "the fatigue factor has set in and consumers want to know that their jobs are safe, their home values will not fall another 10%, and that folks in government are not going to choke-off the recovery by letting support programs end before they fully stimulate the economy."
For example, the Federal Reserve program to buy mortgage-backed securities has kept 30-year mortgage rates at all time lows, but an exit from this program or a hasty retreat that is poorly timed, could result in another real estate downturn. The new $174 billion Jobs for Main Street Act stimulus bill appears to be facing an uphill battle in Congress as the Obama administration tries to provide support to a struggling job market recovery. The hope that "shovel-ready" infrastructure projects would ease unemployment in construction and materials was shared by many in early 2009, but now nearly one year later the actual improvement is more difficult to measure. Bottom line, consumers are not completely convinced that the recovery is fully underway and that their own lives and financial health is about to improve. "Our new book, 'Wealth Hazards - Surviving the Recovery,' discusses the areas of personal finance that are most critical to address and provides many insights and tips to avoid, manage, and recover from life's wealth hazards," says Hertog. Wealth hazards come in all shapes and sizes and very often in disguise. The most important areas to watch include: investing, saving, credit, retirement, insurance, taxes, health and your career.
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"The government stimulus and support programs in 2009 were instrumental in holding the economy together so that the recovery process could get underway, the fragility of the recovery is now center stage," says Thomas Hertog, editor at Wealth Hazards. Respondents to the Wealth Hazards Worry Index survey cited continuing concerns about the expiration of government stimulus and support programs and how this might impact their own financial health.
Specifically, people are anxious about the high rate of unemployment, rising interest rates, price inflation, more foreclosures, and flat wages or even wage deflation as employers bargain hunt for new employees. In summary, 40 percent of people expect another recession-like downturn and nearly one-third of people are not sure if another recession is waiting just around the corner.
"Many people remain vigilant as they wait and see if the other shoe is going to drop in 2010," said Hertog, "the fatigue factor has set in and consumers want to know that their jobs are safe, their home values will not fall another 10%, and that folks in government are not going to choke-off the recovery by letting support programs end before they fully stimulate the economy."
For example, the Federal Reserve program to buy mortgage-backed securities has kept 30-year mortgage rates at all time lows, but an exit from this program or a hasty retreat that is poorly timed, could result in another real estate downturn. The new $174 billion Jobs for Main Street Act stimulus bill appears to be facing an uphill battle in Congress as the Obama administration tries to provide support to a struggling job market recovery. The hope that "shovel-ready" infrastructure projects would ease unemployment in construction and materials was shared by many in early 2009, but now nearly one year later the actual improvement is more difficult to measure. Bottom line, consumers are not completely convinced that the recovery is fully underway and that their own lives and financial health is about to improve. "Our new book, 'Wealth Hazards - Surviving the Recovery,' discusses the areas of personal finance that are most critical to address and provides many insights and tips to avoid, manage, and recover from life's wealth hazards," says Hertog. Wealth hazards come in all shapes and sizes and very often in disguise. The most important areas to watch include: investing, saving, credit, retirement, insurance, taxes, health and your career.
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Monday, January 4, 2010
NASA's Kepler Space Telescope Discovers Five Exoplanets
/PRNewswire/ -- NASA's Kepler space telescope, designed to find Earth-size planets in the habitable zone of sun-like stars, has discovered its first five new exoplanets, or planets beyond our solar system.
Kepler's high sensitivity to both small and large planets enabled the discovery of the exoplanets, named Kepler 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b and 8b. The discoveries were announced Monday, Jan. 4, by the members of the Kepler science team during a news briefing at the American Astronomical Society meeting in Washington.
"These observations contribute to our understanding of how planetary systems form and evolve from the gas and dust disks that give rise to both the stars and their planets," said William Borucki of NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. Borucki is the mission's science principal investigator. "The discoveries also show that our science instrument is working well. Indications are that Kepler will meet all its science goals."
Known as "hot Jupiters" because of their high masses and extreme temperatures, the new exoplanets range in size from similar to Neptune to larger than Jupiter. They have orbits ranging from 3.3 to 4.9 days. Estimated temperatures of the planets range from 2,200 to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit, hotter than molten lava and much too hot for life as we know it. All five of the exoplanets orbit stars hotter and larger than Earth's sun.
"It's gratifying to see the first Kepler discoveries rolling off the assembly line," said Jon Morse, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "We expected Jupiter-size planets in short orbits to be the first planets Kepler could detect. It's only a matter of time before more Kepler observations lead to smaller planets with longer period orbits, coming closer and closer to the discovery of the first Earth analog."
Launched on March 6, 2009, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the Kepler mission continuously and simultaneously observes more than 150,000 stars. Kepler's science instrument, or photometer, already has measured hundreds of possible planet signatures that are being analyzed.
While many of these signatures are likely to be something other than a planet, such as small stars orbiting larger stars, ground-based observatories have confirmed the existence of the five exoplanets. The discoveries are based on approximately six weeks' worth of data collected since science operations began on May 12, 2009.
Kepler looks for the signatures of planets by measuring dips in the brightness of stars. When planets cross in front of, or transit, their stars as seen from Earth, they periodically block the starlight. The size of the planet can be derived from the size of the dip. The temperature can be estimated from the characteristics of the star it orbits and the planet's orbital period.
Kepler will continue science operations until at least November 2012. It will search for planets as small as Earth, including those that orbit stars in a warm habitable zone where liquid water could exist on the surface of the planet. Since transits of planets in the habitable zone of solar-like stars occur about once a year and require three transits for verification, it is expected to take at least three years to locate and verify an Earth-size planet.
According to Borucki, Kepler's continuous and long-duration search should greatly improve scientists' ability to determine the distributions of planet size and orbital period in the future. "Today's discoveries are a significant contribution to that goal," Borucki said. "The Kepler observations will tell us whether there are many stars with planets that could harbor life, or whether we might be alone in our galaxy."
Kepler is NASA's 10th Discovery mission. Ames is responsible for the ground system development, mission operations and science data analysis. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., managed the Kepler mission development. Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. of Boulder, Colo., was responsible for developing the Kepler flight system. Ball and the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado in Boulder are supporting mission operations.
Ground observations necessary to confirm the discoveries were conducted with ground-based telescopes the Keck I in Hawaii; Hobby-Ebberly and Harlan J. Smith 2.7m in Texas; Hale and Shane in California; WIYN, MMT and Tillinghast in Arizona; and Nordic Optical in the Canary Islands, Spain.
For more information about the Kepler mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/kepler
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Kepler's high sensitivity to both small and large planets enabled the discovery of the exoplanets, named Kepler 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b and 8b. The discoveries were announced Monday, Jan. 4, by the members of the Kepler science team during a news briefing at the American Astronomical Society meeting in Washington.
"These observations contribute to our understanding of how planetary systems form and evolve from the gas and dust disks that give rise to both the stars and their planets," said William Borucki of NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. Borucki is the mission's science principal investigator. "The discoveries also show that our science instrument is working well. Indications are that Kepler will meet all its science goals."
Known as "hot Jupiters" because of their high masses and extreme temperatures, the new exoplanets range in size from similar to Neptune to larger than Jupiter. They have orbits ranging from 3.3 to 4.9 days. Estimated temperatures of the planets range from 2,200 to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit, hotter than molten lava and much too hot for life as we know it. All five of the exoplanets orbit stars hotter and larger than Earth's sun.
"It's gratifying to see the first Kepler discoveries rolling off the assembly line," said Jon Morse, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "We expected Jupiter-size planets in short orbits to be the first planets Kepler could detect. It's only a matter of time before more Kepler observations lead to smaller planets with longer period orbits, coming closer and closer to the discovery of the first Earth analog."
Launched on March 6, 2009, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the Kepler mission continuously and simultaneously observes more than 150,000 stars. Kepler's science instrument, or photometer, already has measured hundreds of possible planet signatures that are being analyzed.
While many of these signatures are likely to be something other than a planet, such as small stars orbiting larger stars, ground-based observatories have confirmed the existence of the five exoplanets. The discoveries are based on approximately six weeks' worth of data collected since science operations began on May 12, 2009.
Kepler looks for the signatures of planets by measuring dips in the brightness of stars. When planets cross in front of, or transit, their stars as seen from Earth, they periodically block the starlight. The size of the planet can be derived from the size of the dip. The temperature can be estimated from the characteristics of the star it orbits and the planet's orbital period.
Kepler will continue science operations until at least November 2012. It will search for planets as small as Earth, including those that orbit stars in a warm habitable zone where liquid water could exist on the surface of the planet. Since transits of planets in the habitable zone of solar-like stars occur about once a year and require three transits for verification, it is expected to take at least three years to locate and verify an Earth-size planet.
According to Borucki, Kepler's continuous and long-duration search should greatly improve scientists' ability to determine the distributions of planet size and orbital period in the future. "Today's discoveries are a significant contribution to that goal," Borucki said. "The Kepler observations will tell us whether there are many stars with planets that could harbor life, or whether we might be alone in our galaxy."
Kepler is NASA's 10th Discovery mission. Ames is responsible for the ground system development, mission operations and science data analysis. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., managed the Kepler mission development. Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. of Boulder, Colo., was responsible for developing the Kepler flight system. Ball and the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado in Boulder are supporting mission operations.
Ground observations necessary to confirm the discoveries were conducted with ground-based telescopes the Keck I in Hawaii; Hobby-Ebberly and Harlan J. Smith 2.7m in Texas; Hale and Shane in California; WIYN, MMT and Tillinghast in Arizona; and Nordic Optical in the Canary Islands, Spain.
For more information about the Kepler mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/kepler
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Friday, January 1, 2010
Bring 'Em Back Alive: These Words Deserve Wider Use; 'Word Warriors' Is Promoting the Return of Expressive but Neglected Words
/PRNewswire/ -- Last year Wayne State University launched a Web site designed to recall some of the English language's most expressive words that have fallen out of use and deserve to return to conversation and prose.
Word Warriors is a list of neglected but eminently useful words that visitors to the site - and we - would like to bring back into fashion. And though a few of these words may never have been heard everyday, we believe they deserve to be.
"The English language is a spectacularly supple and precise, rich and capacious means of expressing ourselves, which is to say we've got plenty of great words," says Jerry Herron, dean of Wayne State University's Irvin D. Reid Honors College. "But those words are only as good as our ability to use them. We've got so many words to deal with, in fact, that often a truly wonderful and necessary word will just get overlooked, so that our ability to express ourselves is diminished. What Word Warriors aims to do is to enlist the aid of everybody who cares about words, to make sure we are not letting essential parts of our language fall silent. There is perhaps no finer pleasure -- or greater fun -- to be had than in an act of precise expression, and there's no better language to be doing that good work in than our own English. And that's what Word Warriors is aiming for -- the pleasure of being able to say exactly what you mean."
The Word Warriors site (www.wordwarriors.wayne.edu) is a natural complement to the Lake Superior State yearly list of banished words. Wayne State solicits words from visitors to the site and allows them to vote on the current year's list. There is a word of the week and an annual list of words that WSU and visitors to the Word Warriors site feel should be used more often.
Fanfare, please. Here's the Word Warriors' 2010 list of sadly neglected but eminently useful words that should be brought back to enrich our language:
-- Antediluvian
Very old, old-fashioned, or out of date; antiquated; primitive. Literally "before the flood," referring by implication to the Biblical tale of Noah.
Though antediluvian by today's standards, the buggy whip was once at the forefront of transportation technology.
-- Bamboozle
To cheat or steal.
Stop trying to bamboozle me out of my money!
-- Bloviate
To speak at length in a pompous or boastful manner.
I was totally put off by the winning coaches' tendency to bloviate ad nauseam.
-- Charlatan
Quack. Imposter.
This guy claims his anti-aging cream really works, but I think he's just a charlatan.
-- Concupiscence
Sexual desire or longing. Lust.
Too many political figures, drunk on power and the heady liquor of self-esteem, let concupiscence get the best of them.
-- Festoon
To adorn or decorate, principally in a loop between two points.
After lunch we decided to festoon the tree with garlands of electric loons, moons, spoons, puccoons, cocoons, bassoons, baboons and vinegaroons.
-- Galoshes
Waterproof shoes or boots. "Galoshes" may be said to be onomatopoeic, mimicking the sound they make when splashing through puddles.
In rainy weather like this I always wear my galoshes; they may be garish, but they keep my feet dry.
-- Indefatigable
Tireless; endlessly persistent.
The English privateer Francis Drake was indefatigable in his pursuit of Spanish gold.
-- Insouciance
The quality of being carefree; a lack of concern.
We spent our two weeks at the beach in blissful insouciance, sleeping late and basking in the sun.
-- Mendacity
Untruthfulness. Lying.
Mendacity is a system that we live in. Liquor is one way out and death's the other. (Tennessee Williams, American playwright, 1911-1983)
-- Mercurial
Fickle; erratic.
She said she needed a break from trying to anticipate my mercurial moods. I haven't seen her in five years.
-- Numinous
Awe-inspiring; profoundly moving; evocative of transcendence. (Despite what Webster's Dictionary says, it never presumes the supernatural.)
As the full moon rose in numinous splendor over Mount Kilimanjaro, Ernie was stricken speechless with wonder and joy.
-- Quixotic
Excessively romantic; visionary but unrealistic. Like Cervantes' Don Quixote.
Many cherished ideals of the 1960s now seem more quixotic than even remotely practical.
-- Scuttle (verb)
A versatile verb meaning to sink a ship or boat deliberately; to sink figuratively, as to scuttle a project; or to scurry.
In 1939, the Germans scuttled the pocket battleship "Graf Spee" to keep the British from capturing her. ... OR ... When we turned on the light, mice scuttled under the furniture.
-- Unctuous
Oily or greasy; unpleasantly polite and insincerely earnest.
The mediator was so unctuous that both sides found him impossible to work with.
Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to more than 31,000 students.
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Word Warriors is a list of neglected but eminently useful words that visitors to the site - and we - would like to bring back into fashion. And though a few of these words may never have been heard everyday, we believe they deserve to be.
"The English language is a spectacularly supple and precise, rich and capacious means of expressing ourselves, which is to say we've got plenty of great words," says Jerry Herron, dean of Wayne State University's Irvin D. Reid Honors College. "But those words are only as good as our ability to use them. We've got so many words to deal with, in fact, that often a truly wonderful and necessary word will just get overlooked, so that our ability to express ourselves is diminished. What Word Warriors aims to do is to enlist the aid of everybody who cares about words, to make sure we are not letting essential parts of our language fall silent. There is perhaps no finer pleasure -- or greater fun -- to be had than in an act of precise expression, and there's no better language to be doing that good work in than our own English. And that's what Word Warriors is aiming for -- the pleasure of being able to say exactly what you mean."
The Word Warriors site (www.wordwarriors.wayne.edu) is a natural complement to the Lake Superior State yearly list of banished words. Wayne State solicits words from visitors to the site and allows them to vote on the current year's list. There is a word of the week and an annual list of words that WSU and visitors to the Word Warriors site feel should be used more often.
Fanfare, please. Here's the Word Warriors' 2010 list of sadly neglected but eminently useful words that should be brought back to enrich our language:
-- Antediluvian
Very old, old-fashioned, or out of date; antiquated; primitive. Literally "before the flood," referring by implication to the Biblical tale of Noah.
Though antediluvian by today's standards, the buggy whip was once at the forefront of transportation technology.
-- Bamboozle
To cheat or steal.
Stop trying to bamboozle me out of my money!
-- Bloviate
To speak at length in a pompous or boastful manner.
I was totally put off by the winning coaches' tendency to bloviate ad nauseam.
-- Charlatan
Quack. Imposter.
This guy claims his anti-aging cream really works, but I think he's just a charlatan.
-- Concupiscence
Sexual desire or longing. Lust.
Too many political figures, drunk on power and the heady liquor of self-esteem, let concupiscence get the best of them.
-- Festoon
To adorn or decorate, principally in a loop between two points.
After lunch we decided to festoon the tree with garlands of electric loons, moons, spoons, puccoons, cocoons, bassoons, baboons and vinegaroons.
-- Galoshes
Waterproof shoes or boots. "Galoshes" may be said to be onomatopoeic, mimicking the sound they make when splashing through puddles.
In rainy weather like this I always wear my galoshes; they may be garish, but they keep my feet dry.
-- Indefatigable
Tireless; endlessly persistent.
The English privateer Francis Drake was indefatigable in his pursuit of Spanish gold.
-- Insouciance
The quality of being carefree; a lack of concern.
We spent our two weeks at the beach in blissful insouciance, sleeping late and basking in the sun.
-- Mendacity
Untruthfulness. Lying.
Mendacity is a system that we live in. Liquor is one way out and death's the other. (Tennessee Williams, American playwright, 1911-1983)
-- Mercurial
Fickle; erratic.
She said she needed a break from trying to anticipate my mercurial moods. I haven't seen her in five years.
-- Numinous
Awe-inspiring; profoundly moving; evocative of transcendence. (Despite what Webster's Dictionary says, it never presumes the supernatural.)
As the full moon rose in numinous splendor over Mount Kilimanjaro, Ernie was stricken speechless with wonder and joy.
-- Quixotic
Excessively romantic; visionary but unrealistic. Like Cervantes' Don Quixote.
Many cherished ideals of the 1960s now seem more quixotic than even remotely practical.
-- Scuttle (verb)
A versatile verb meaning to sink a ship or boat deliberately; to sink figuratively, as to scuttle a project; or to scurry.
In 1939, the Germans scuttled the pocket battleship "Graf Spee" to keep the British from capturing her. ... OR ... When we turned on the light, mice scuttled under the furniture.
-- Unctuous
Oily or greasy; unpleasantly polite and insincerely earnest.
The mediator was so unctuous that both sides found him impossible to work with.
Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to more than 31,000 students.
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Thursday, December 31, 2009
Top Five Most Ridiculous Lawsuits of 2009 Announced
/PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) announced today the top five vote getters of its 1st Annual Most Ridiculous Lawsuit of the Year Poll. Nominees were drawn from the monthly Most Ridiculous Lawsuit poll winners, chosen by visitors to FacesofLawsuitAbuse.org, a public awareness campaign Web site that aims to show how abusive lawsuits affect small businesses and average families in very real ways.
"While ridiculous lawsuits may be easy fodder for late-night television hosts, they are no laughing matter for the defendants targeted," said ILR President Lisa Rickard.
The top five Most Ridiculous Lawsuits of 2009 are:
5. Neighbor sues woman for smoking in her own home;
4. Double-murderer sues to claim his victims' classic Chevy pickup;
3. Holocaust denier sues Auschwitz survivor, alleging memoir contains "fantastical tales;"
2. Tourist sues hotel, claiming swimming pool got daughter pregnant;
1. Illegal immigrants sue rancher who stopped them on his property at gunpoint and turned them over to the Border Patrol.
Links to the news stories about these lawsuits can be found at: http://facesoflawsuitabuse.org/polls-archive/.
Throughout the year, the monthly and annual polls collectively received more than 50,000 votes.
ILR seeks to promote civil justice reform through legislative, political, judicial, and educational activities at the national, state, and local levels.
The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.
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"While ridiculous lawsuits may be easy fodder for late-night television hosts, they are no laughing matter for the defendants targeted," said ILR President Lisa Rickard.
The top five Most Ridiculous Lawsuits of 2009 are:
5. Neighbor sues woman for smoking in her own home;
4. Double-murderer sues to claim his victims' classic Chevy pickup;
3. Holocaust denier sues Auschwitz survivor, alleging memoir contains "fantastical tales;"
2. Tourist sues hotel, claiming swimming pool got daughter pregnant;
1. Illegal immigrants sue rancher who stopped them on his property at gunpoint and turned them over to the Border Patrol.
Links to the news stories about these lawsuits can be found at: http://facesoflawsuitabuse.org/polls-archive/.
Throughout the year, the monthly and annual polls collectively received more than 50,000 votes.
ILR seeks to promote civil justice reform through legislative, political, judicial, and educational activities at the national, state, and local levels.
The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.
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Wednesday, December 30, 2009
New Year's Resolutions For Job Seekers
/PRNewswire/ -- Millions of Americans will be job hunting in 2010, and for many of those who are currently unemployed, the search will mark the continuation of a long and unsuccessful journey. Andy Chan, vice president for career development at Wake Forest University, says job seekers often encounter three major roadblocks to success: poor marketing, poor networking, and poor mind-set. He offers 10 New Year's Resolutions aimed at overcoming those obstacles.
Roadblock #1 - Poor marketing
"Many people don't realize that the way they are marketing themselves just isn't working, and they never get any feedback," Chan said. "The best way to get feedback is to ask for it from people who do a lot of hiring."
1. I will ask friends or acquaintances who manage and hire people to evaluate my cover letter and resume and give me real feedback - even if it hurts to hear it.
2. I will ask these same friends to conduct a practice interview with me and give me "tough love" feedback.
3. When I find an attractive job on the Web, I will apply immediately (with a tailored cover letter and resume) and search for friends and colleagues who could act as referrals to help me network into the organization.
Roadblock #2 - Poor networking
"We make the assumption that if we apply on the Web, it will get us in the door. But the truth is, if your experience doesn't line up perfectly with the job, the likelihood of getting seen is low," Chan says. "That's why networking is important. People hire people; they don't hire paper."
4. I will be thoughtful about when to send my resume, and I will not send my resume to everyone I know.
5. I will be specific about the type of work and organizations, including names of target organizations that I find most interesting.
6. I will network 80 percent of the time and use the Web 20 percent of the time.
Roadblock #3 - Poor mind-set
"A lot of people are looking at jobs through a narrow lens. But as the old Rolling Stones song says, 'you can't always get what you want,'" Chan says. "You may need to focus first on what you need and get the ideal job later."
7. I will be open to exploring many options because an interesting opportunity may exist beyond what I can see on the surface.
8. I will re-examine what my real financial NEEDS are so that I can be more open to opportunities that may pay me less than what I WANT.
9. I will evaluate opportunities by recognizing that this job can be a stepping stone to another job (inside or outside the company) - especially as the market improves.
10. Although I might want to quit and do a job search full-time, I am more attractive to employers when I am employed (and I have income which buys me more time to find a job that I am excited about).
Adopting these 10 resolutions can help refresh and rejuvenate your job search, and get your new year off to the best start possible.
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Roadblock #1 - Poor marketing
"Many people don't realize that the way they are marketing themselves just isn't working, and they never get any feedback," Chan said. "The best way to get feedback is to ask for it from people who do a lot of hiring."
1. I will ask friends or acquaintances who manage and hire people to evaluate my cover letter and resume and give me real feedback - even if it hurts to hear it.
2. I will ask these same friends to conduct a practice interview with me and give me "tough love" feedback.
3. When I find an attractive job on the Web, I will apply immediately (with a tailored cover letter and resume) and search for friends and colleagues who could act as referrals to help me network into the organization.
Roadblock #2 - Poor networking
"We make the assumption that if we apply on the Web, it will get us in the door. But the truth is, if your experience doesn't line up perfectly with the job, the likelihood of getting seen is low," Chan says. "That's why networking is important. People hire people; they don't hire paper."
4. I will be thoughtful about when to send my resume, and I will not send my resume to everyone I know.
5. I will be specific about the type of work and organizations, including names of target organizations that I find most interesting.
6. I will network 80 percent of the time and use the Web 20 percent of the time.
Roadblock #3 - Poor mind-set
"A lot of people are looking at jobs through a narrow lens. But as the old Rolling Stones song says, 'you can't always get what you want,'" Chan says. "You may need to focus first on what you need and get the ideal job later."
7. I will be open to exploring many options because an interesting opportunity may exist beyond what I can see on the surface.
8. I will re-examine what my real financial NEEDS are so that I can be more open to opportunities that may pay me less than what I WANT.
9. I will evaluate opportunities by recognizing that this job can be a stepping stone to another job (inside or outside the company) - especially as the market improves.
10. Although I might want to quit and do a job search full-time, I am more attractive to employers when I am employed (and I have income which buys me more time to find a job that I am excited about).
Adopting these 10 resolutions can help refresh and rejuvenate your job search, and get your new year off to the best start possible.
-----
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Tuesday, December 29, 2009
With a 'Zero' Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Just Ahead for 2010, Seniors and Congressman Vow Action
PRNewswire/ -- Today RetireSafe, representing 400,000 senior citizen supporters across America, announced a "Let's Get it Right" campaign for 2010 to establish a new Consumer Price Index for Seniors (CPI-S) so that Social Security benefits can be accurately and fairly determined each year. In addition, the group announced its support for the pending introduction of new legislation by U.S. Representative John "Jimmy" Duncan, Jr. (R-TN) which would direct the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to finally determine the "right" CPI-S formula for seniors. RetireSafe, an advocacy organization for older Americans, supports this critical first step to correct the faulty formula now used by the BLS, the same one resulting in a "zero" COLA for 2010.
According to RetireSafe President Thair Phillips, "The BLS, along with numerous other credible sources, has noted that each of the present methods now used (CPI, CPI-U, CPI-W, and CPI-E) to calculate inflation is severely flawed in measuring seniors' actual costs and expenses. While there may be other approaches to address this problem, we believe the first step should be an accurate CPI for seniors, a true CPI-S. Fortunately, Congressman Duncan agrees that seniors deserve a fair and accurate annual COLA that can only be determined with a fair and accurate CPI-S. He will be introducing the 'CPI for Seniors' Act next month, and we are fully committed to help Congressman Duncan enact this important legislation."
As Congressman Duncan notes, "The annual Social Security COLA is a crucial element to maintain a decent quality of life for our seniors, both in my District in Tennessee, and across the Nation. It must be based upon an accurate CPI-S that truly reflects the real impact of inflation on older Americans coping with ever-higher health care, energy, and food prices. I'm very pleased to be able to work with RetireSafe to enact new legislation that I believe will finally ensure fairness and accuracy for seniors," Duncan stated, pledging bill introduction in January.
Phillips continued, "This is the right approach to correct a longstanding wrong that has harmed our seniors for decades. They're not looking for a hand-out, which is what other measures propose, but rather they want the fair, accurate, and 'right' benefits they have worked for and rightly deserve. We are proud to work with Congressman Duncan to enact into law the 'CPI for Seniors' Act for America's seniors that he will soon be introducing in the U.S. House of Representatives."
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According to RetireSafe President Thair Phillips, "The BLS, along with numerous other credible sources, has noted that each of the present methods now used (CPI, CPI-U, CPI-W, and CPI-E) to calculate inflation is severely flawed in measuring seniors' actual costs and expenses. While there may be other approaches to address this problem, we believe the first step should be an accurate CPI for seniors, a true CPI-S. Fortunately, Congressman Duncan agrees that seniors deserve a fair and accurate annual COLA that can only be determined with a fair and accurate CPI-S. He will be introducing the 'CPI for Seniors' Act next month, and we are fully committed to help Congressman Duncan enact this important legislation."
As Congressman Duncan notes, "The annual Social Security COLA is a crucial element to maintain a decent quality of life for our seniors, both in my District in Tennessee, and across the Nation. It must be based upon an accurate CPI-S that truly reflects the real impact of inflation on older Americans coping with ever-higher health care, energy, and food prices. I'm very pleased to be able to work with RetireSafe to enact new legislation that I believe will finally ensure fairness and accuracy for seniors," Duncan stated, pledging bill introduction in January.
Phillips continued, "This is the right approach to correct a longstanding wrong that has harmed our seniors for decades. They're not looking for a hand-out, which is what other measures propose, but rather they want the fair, accurate, and 'right' benefits they have worked for and rightly deserve. We are proud to work with Congressman Duncan to enact into law the 'CPI for Seniors' Act for America's seniors that he will soon be introducing in the U.S. House of Representatives."
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Monday, December 14, 2009
Twelve Days of Holiday Safety From the American Red Cross
/PRNewswire/ -- With last-minute gifts to buy, social events to attend and family and friends to visit while the weather outside is frightful, the American Red Cross has 12 days of health and safety tips to make the holiday season safe, happy and bright.
1. Prepare your vehicle for traveling to grandmother's house. Make an emergency kit and include items such as blankets or sleeping bags, jumper cables, fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type), compass and road maps, shovel, tire repair kit and pump, extra clothing, flares, tow rope.
2. Drive your sleigh and reindeer safely. Avoid driving in a storm, but if you must, keep your gas tank full for emergency use and to keep the fuel line from freezing. Let someone know your destination, route and when you expect to arrive.
3. Help prevent the spread of the flu. Wash hands with soap and water as often as possible, or use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Use sanitizing wipes to disinfect hard surfaces such as airplane tray tables, luggage handles, cell phones, door handles and seat armrests.
4. Prevent hypothermia by following Santa's lead. Dress in several layers of lightweight clothing, which will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat. Wear a hat, preferably one that covers your ears. Seek medical attention immediately if you have symptoms of hypothermia, including confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering.
5. Use a Red Cross-trained babysitter when attending holiday festivities. Red Cross-certified babysitters learn to administer basic first aid; properly hold and feed a child; take emergency action when needed; monitor safe play and actively engage your child; and some may be certified in Infant and Child CPR.
6. Avoid danger while roasting chestnuts over an open fire. Stay in the kitchen while you are cooking and be alert. Keep anything flammable -- such as potholders, towels or curtains -- away from your stove top. Have a "kid-free zone" of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drinks are prepared or carried.
7. Be a lifesaver during the holidays and always. The Red Cross recommends at least one person in every household should be trained and certified in first aid and CPR/AED. Your local Red Cross chapter has conveniently scheduled courses and can have you trained and certified in a few hours.
8. Designate a driver or skip the holiday cheer. When you designate a driver who won't be drinking, you help make sure a good party doesn't turn into a tragedy. A good host ensures there are non-alcoholic beverages available for drivers. The designated driver should not drink any alcoholic beverages, not even one.
9. When the weather outside is frightful, heat your home safely. Never use your stove or oven to heat your home. Never leave portable heaters or fireplaces unattended. Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home and outside all sleeping areas and test them once a month.
10. Cut down on your heating bills without being a Grinch. Get your furnace cleaned by a professional; change the filters regularly. Make sure heat vents aren't blocked by furniture. Close off any rooms you aren't using and close heat vents or turn off radiators in those rooms. Use either insulating tape or caulking strips to surround your windows and door moldings. Put up storm windows or storm doors to keep the cold out.
11. Don't move a muscle, until they buckle. Each person in your vehicle should have their seatbelts securely fastened before driving off. Ensure children are buckled up and their car seats are installed appropriately based on their age and size. Children 12 and under should always sit in the backseat.
12. Resolve to Be Red Cross Ready in the New Year. You can take one or more actions to prepare now, should you or your family face an emergency in 2010. Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed.
Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday from the American Red Cross.
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1. Prepare your vehicle for traveling to grandmother's house. Make an emergency kit and include items such as blankets or sleeping bags, jumper cables, fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type), compass and road maps, shovel, tire repair kit and pump, extra clothing, flares, tow rope.
2. Drive your sleigh and reindeer safely. Avoid driving in a storm, but if you must, keep your gas tank full for emergency use and to keep the fuel line from freezing. Let someone know your destination, route and when you expect to arrive.
3. Help prevent the spread of the flu. Wash hands with soap and water as often as possible, or use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Use sanitizing wipes to disinfect hard surfaces such as airplane tray tables, luggage handles, cell phones, door handles and seat armrests.
4. Prevent hypothermia by following Santa's lead. Dress in several layers of lightweight clothing, which will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat. Wear a hat, preferably one that covers your ears. Seek medical attention immediately if you have symptoms of hypothermia, including confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering.
5. Use a Red Cross-trained babysitter when attending holiday festivities. Red Cross-certified babysitters learn to administer basic first aid; properly hold and feed a child; take emergency action when needed; monitor safe play and actively engage your child; and some may be certified in Infant and Child CPR.
6. Avoid danger while roasting chestnuts over an open fire. Stay in the kitchen while you are cooking and be alert. Keep anything flammable -- such as potholders, towels or curtains -- away from your stove top. Have a "kid-free zone" of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drinks are prepared or carried.
7. Be a lifesaver during the holidays and always. The Red Cross recommends at least one person in every household should be trained and certified in first aid and CPR/AED. Your local Red Cross chapter has conveniently scheduled courses and can have you trained and certified in a few hours.
8. Designate a driver or skip the holiday cheer. When you designate a driver who won't be drinking, you help make sure a good party doesn't turn into a tragedy. A good host ensures there are non-alcoholic beverages available for drivers. The designated driver should not drink any alcoholic beverages, not even one.
9. When the weather outside is frightful, heat your home safely. Never use your stove or oven to heat your home. Never leave portable heaters or fireplaces unattended. Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home and outside all sleeping areas and test them once a month.
10. Cut down on your heating bills without being a Grinch. Get your furnace cleaned by a professional; change the filters regularly. Make sure heat vents aren't blocked by furniture. Close off any rooms you aren't using and close heat vents or turn off radiators in those rooms. Use either insulating tape or caulking strips to surround your windows and door moldings. Put up storm windows or storm doors to keep the cold out.
11. Don't move a muscle, until they buckle. Each person in your vehicle should have their seatbelts securely fastened before driving off. Ensure children are buckled up and their car seats are installed appropriately based on their age and size. Children 12 and under should always sit in the backseat.
12. Resolve to Be Red Cross Ready in the New Year. You can take one or more actions to prepare now, should you or your family face an emergency in 2010. Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed.
Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday from the American Red Cross.
-----
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New Survey Shows Slow Decline in Youth Smoking, Troubling Increase in Smokeless Tobacco Use - Congress, States Must Step Up Tobacco Prevention Efforts
/PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement of Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids:
The 2009 Monitoring the Future Survey released today by the National Institute of Drug Abuse shows that the nation continues to make gradual progress in reducing youth smoking, but declines have slowed significantly compared to the dramatic gains early in the decade. In especially troubling news, the survey also finds that smokeless tobacco use has increased among 10th and 12th graders in recent years, a period during which tobacco companies have introduced a slew of new smokeless tobacco products and significantly increased marketing for smokeless tobacco.
There is no question that we know how to dramatically reduce youth tobacco use. The use of proven strategies has caused smoking rates (the percentage who have smoked in the past 30 days) to decline by 69 percent among 8th graders, 57 percent among 10th graders and 45 percent among 12th graders since peaking in the mid-1990s. This is a remarkable public health success story. Before the recent increase, youth smokeless tobacco use also declined significantly from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s. However, the much slower progress in recent years is a clear warning to elected officials at all levels that they must resist complacency and redouble efforts to implement proven measures - rather than cutting tobacco prevention programs, as 34 states did this year. It is unacceptable to stand still or risk backsliding in the fight against the nation's number one preventable cause of death. It is also unacceptable that one in five high school seniors still smoke (according to the survey, 20.1 percent of 12th graders, 13.1 percent of 10th graders and 6.5 percent of 8th graders reported past-month smoking in 2009).
In addition to the lack of further progress in reducing youth smoking, the increase in smokeless tobacco use among youth is very troubling. According to the survey, there have been significant increases in smokeless tobacco use among both 10th and 12th graders in recent years. The percentage of 12th graders reporting past-month smokeless tobacco use increased from 6.1 percent in 2006 to 8.4 percent in 2009 (a 38 percent increase), while the percentage of 10th graders reporting smokeless tobacco use increased from 4.9 percent in 2004 to 6.5 percent in 2009 (a 33 percent increase).
This increase coincides with the introduction of numerous new smokeless tobacco products and a big increase in smokeless tobacco marketing. In recent years, the top two U.S. cigarette manufacturers, Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds, have entered the smokeless tobacco market both by purchasing existing smokeless tobacco companies and introducing new smokeless tobacco products. These new products have included Marlboro snus and Camel snus that married the names of these companies' best-selling and most youth-popular cigarette brands to spitless, pouched smokeless tobacco products called snus. In 2008, R.J. Reynolds began test-marketing new dissolvable smokeless tobacco products called Camel Sticks, Strips and Orbs that look like gum and candy and come in "fresh" and "mellow" flavors. These new products no doubt appeal to kids because they are easy to conceal, carry the names of youth-popular cigarette brands and come in candy-like forms and flavors. In addition, more traditional smokeless tobacco products continue to be marketed in a wide variety of kid-friendly candy and fruit flavors.
There has also been a big increase in smokeless tobacco marketing. According to the latest data from the Federal Trade Commission, smokeless tobacco marketing expenditures totaled $354.1 million in 2006, an increase of 53 percent since 2004 and 143 percent since 1998. Smokeless tobacco marketing rose even as cigarette marketing fell slightly from 2003 to 2006. While most cigarette brands have stopped advertising in magazines with large youth readerships such as Sports Illustrated and Rolling Stone, many smokeless tobacco brands continue to advertise in these publications, most notably R.J. Reynolds' Camel snus. Also, more than 60 percent of smokeless marketing is spent on price discounts (including coupons) that make smokeless tobacco products more affordable and appealing to price-sensitive youth customers.
The Monitoring the Future survey also found a decrease in recent years in the percentage of 10th and 12th graders who perceive regular smokeless tobacco use as a great risk to health. This decline in risk perception comes as some smokeless tobacco companies have sought to portray their products as a less hazardous alternative to cigarettes. Rather than reducing the harm caused by tobacco use, today's survey indicates that the main consequence of current smokeless tobacco products and marketing is to increase the number of youth who use smokeless tobacco. That is bad news for health because smokeless tobacco is far from harmless. Smokeless tobacco, as traditionally sold in the U.S., has been found to increase risk of oral cancer, gum disease and cardiovascular disease. Constant exposure to tobacco juice has also been linked to cancer of the esophagus, pharynx, larynx, stomach and pancreas.
The Monitoring the Future survey underscores the need for elected officials at all levels to step up the fight against all forms of tobacco use. Congress and President Obama have taken major strides this year by approving a 62-cent increase in the federal cigarette tax and enacting the new law granting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate tobacco products and marketing. The survey results do not reflect the full impact of the cigarette tax increase, which took effect April 1, in the middle of the survey period. There is evidence that the cigarette tax increase has had a significant impact. Manufacturers reported a 10 percent decline in cigarette sales in the third quarter of this year. The new FDA law took effect June 22 and will be implemented over several years.
There are many additional steps Congress and the states must take:
-- The pending health care reform legislation presents Congress with an
immediate opportunity for action. It is vital that health care reform
include robust funding for community-based disease prevention
initiatives, including tobacco prevention and cessation. Congress
should also require coverage for smoking cessation therapies in
Medicaid and other health insurance programs.
-- States must invigorate their efforts to implement three proven
strategies: higher tobacco taxes, smoke-free workplace laws and
well-funded tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Unfortunately,
as a report released last week by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
and our partners showed, the states have cut funding for tobacco
prevention programs by 15.4 percent this year and are spending barely
two percent of their $25.1 billion in tobacco revenue to fight tobacco
use. Instead, states should hike tobacco taxes to help fill budget
gaps and use some of the revenue to fund tobacco prevention programs.
As the new survey underscores, states should increase tax rates on
smokeless and other tobacco products to match those on cigarettes so
that differential rates do not encourage kids to use cheaper-priced
tobacco products.
Tobacco use causes more than 400,000 preventable deaths and costs the nation nearly $200 billion in health expenditures and lost productivity each year. We know what works to reduce tobacco use among both youths and adults. What's needed is the political will to implement these solutions as aggressively as the tobacco industry promotes its deadly products.
-----
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The 2009 Monitoring the Future Survey released today by the National Institute of Drug Abuse shows that the nation continues to make gradual progress in reducing youth smoking, but declines have slowed significantly compared to the dramatic gains early in the decade. In especially troubling news, the survey also finds that smokeless tobacco use has increased among 10th and 12th graders in recent years, a period during which tobacco companies have introduced a slew of new smokeless tobacco products and significantly increased marketing for smokeless tobacco.
There is no question that we know how to dramatically reduce youth tobacco use. The use of proven strategies has caused smoking rates (the percentage who have smoked in the past 30 days) to decline by 69 percent among 8th graders, 57 percent among 10th graders and 45 percent among 12th graders since peaking in the mid-1990s. This is a remarkable public health success story. Before the recent increase, youth smokeless tobacco use also declined significantly from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s. However, the much slower progress in recent years is a clear warning to elected officials at all levels that they must resist complacency and redouble efforts to implement proven measures - rather than cutting tobacco prevention programs, as 34 states did this year. It is unacceptable to stand still or risk backsliding in the fight against the nation's number one preventable cause of death. It is also unacceptable that one in five high school seniors still smoke (according to the survey, 20.1 percent of 12th graders, 13.1 percent of 10th graders and 6.5 percent of 8th graders reported past-month smoking in 2009).
In addition to the lack of further progress in reducing youth smoking, the increase in smokeless tobacco use among youth is very troubling. According to the survey, there have been significant increases in smokeless tobacco use among both 10th and 12th graders in recent years. The percentage of 12th graders reporting past-month smokeless tobacco use increased from 6.1 percent in 2006 to 8.4 percent in 2009 (a 38 percent increase), while the percentage of 10th graders reporting smokeless tobacco use increased from 4.9 percent in 2004 to 6.5 percent in 2009 (a 33 percent increase).
This increase coincides with the introduction of numerous new smokeless tobacco products and a big increase in smokeless tobacco marketing. In recent years, the top two U.S. cigarette manufacturers, Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds, have entered the smokeless tobacco market both by purchasing existing smokeless tobacco companies and introducing new smokeless tobacco products. These new products have included Marlboro snus and Camel snus that married the names of these companies' best-selling and most youth-popular cigarette brands to spitless, pouched smokeless tobacco products called snus. In 2008, R.J. Reynolds began test-marketing new dissolvable smokeless tobacco products called Camel Sticks, Strips and Orbs that look like gum and candy and come in "fresh" and "mellow" flavors. These new products no doubt appeal to kids because they are easy to conceal, carry the names of youth-popular cigarette brands and come in candy-like forms and flavors. In addition, more traditional smokeless tobacco products continue to be marketed in a wide variety of kid-friendly candy and fruit flavors.
There has also been a big increase in smokeless tobacco marketing. According to the latest data from the Federal Trade Commission, smokeless tobacco marketing expenditures totaled $354.1 million in 2006, an increase of 53 percent since 2004 and 143 percent since 1998. Smokeless tobacco marketing rose even as cigarette marketing fell slightly from 2003 to 2006. While most cigarette brands have stopped advertising in magazines with large youth readerships such as Sports Illustrated and Rolling Stone, many smokeless tobacco brands continue to advertise in these publications, most notably R.J. Reynolds' Camel snus. Also, more than 60 percent of smokeless marketing is spent on price discounts (including coupons) that make smokeless tobacco products more affordable and appealing to price-sensitive youth customers.
The Monitoring the Future survey also found a decrease in recent years in the percentage of 10th and 12th graders who perceive regular smokeless tobacco use as a great risk to health. This decline in risk perception comes as some smokeless tobacco companies have sought to portray their products as a less hazardous alternative to cigarettes. Rather than reducing the harm caused by tobacco use, today's survey indicates that the main consequence of current smokeless tobacco products and marketing is to increase the number of youth who use smokeless tobacco. That is bad news for health because smokeless tobacco is far from harmless. Smokeless tobacco, as traditionally sold in the U.S., has been found to increase risk of oral cancer, gum disease and cardiovascular disease. Constant exposure to tobacco juice has also been linked to cancer of the esophagus, pharynx, larynx, stomach and pancreas.
The Monitoring the Future survey underscores the need for elected officials at all levels to step up the fight against all forms of tobacco use. Congress and President Obama have taken major strides this year by approving a 62-cent increase in the federal cigarette tax and enacting the new law granting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate tobacco products and marketing. The survey results do not reflect the full impact of the cigarette tax increase, which took effect April 1, in the middle of the survey period. There is evidence that the cigarette tax increase has had a significant impact. Manufacturers reported a 10 percent decline in cigarette sales in the third quarter of this year. The new FDA law took effect June 22 and will be implemented over several years.
There are many additional steps Congress and the states must take:
-- The pending health care reform legislation presents Congress with an
immediate opportunity for action. It is vital that health care reform
include robust funding for community-based disease prevention
initiatives, including tobacco prevention and cessation. Congress
should also require coverage for smoking cessation therapies in
Medicaid and other health insurance programs.
-- States must invigorate their efforts to implement three proven
strategies: higher tobacco taxes, smoke-free workplace laws and
well-funded tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Unfortunately,
as a report released last week by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
and our partners showed, the states have cut funding for tobacco
prevention programs by 15.4 percent this year and are spending barely
two percent of their $25.1 billion in tobacco revenue to fight tobacco
use. Instead, states should hike tobacco taxes to help fill budget
gaps and use some of the revenue to fund tobacco prevention programs.
As the new survey underscores, states should increase tax rates on
smokeless and other tobacco products to match those on cigarettes so
that differential rates do not encourage kids to use cheaper-priced
tobacco products.
Tobacco use causes more than 400,000 preventable deaths and costs the nation nearly $200 billion in health expenditures and lost productivity each year. We know what works to reduce tobacco use among both youths and adults. What's needed is the political will to implement these solutions as aggressively as the tobacco industry promotes its deadly products.
-----
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Friday, November 13, 2009
Good News For Those Who "Do Good With Wood"
(NAPSI)-Reality TV shows and DIY programs featuring home makeovers and doing good in the community have never been more popular, but one contest has encouraged and rewarded that kind of volunteerism since 1992. It honors people who "do good with wood," improving their neighborhoods by donating their wood-finishing and woodworking skills to a worthy cause.
Winning entries through the years have been inspiring. A formerly homeless man now mentors at-risk youths in his furniture refinishing and repair business; a guild of woodworkers uses their wide range of woodworking skills to improve the lives of special-needs children by building wooden holiday toys; and a group of high school students designed and built a fanciful wooden boat in a classroom to improve literacy among grade-schoolers.
These are but a few examples of woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers of all skill levels who have been recognized by the Minwax Community Craftsman Award for improving the lives of others.
Once again, handy people who help build a better community through wood finishing and woodworking could soon see additional rewards beyond the gratification that comes from helping others. Entries are now being accepted for 2009's Award, with top honors going to one grand-prize winner and two runners-up. The grand prize is a cash grant of $5,000, a supply of Minwax wood-finishing products and a working consultation with author, television personality and wood-finishing expert Bruce Johnson.
Runners-up receive a supply of Minwax products. Additionally, a special recognition award and cash grant of $2,000 will be presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to his or her community by working with wood.
Who Can Enter
Eligible participants include individuals, community groups, schools and associations that engage in an activity that involves, but is not limited to, wood finishing and woodworking.
The deadline for submission is Dec. 31, 2009 and winners will be announced in the spring of 2010. All eligible applicants are encouraged to enter by writing a summary of recent woodworking projects that have been completed for the purpose of enhancing their community and helping others. Photos are optional but encouraged.
Contest entries can be submitted at minwax.com, e-mailed to minwaxcca@brushfireinc.com, or sent by mail to Minwax Community Craftsman Award, c/o Brushfire Inc., 2 Wing Drive, Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927. For more information, visit minwax.com.
NOMINATIONS WANTED-You or your organization may be awarded a $5,000 cash grant.
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Arts Across Georgia
Winning entries through the years have been inspiring. A formerly homeless man now mentors at-risk youths in his furniture refinishing and repair business; a guild of woodworkers uses their wide range of woodworking skills to improve the lives of special-needs children by building wooden holiday toys; and a group of high school students designed and built a fanciful wooden boat in a classroom to improve literacy among grade-schoolers.
These are but a few examples of woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers of all skill levels who have been recognized by the Minwax Community Craftsman Award for improving the lives of others.
Once again, handy people who help build a better community through wood finishing and woodworking could soon see additional rewards beyond the gratification that comes from helping others. Entries are now being accepted for 2009's Award, with top honors going to one grand-prize winner and two runners-up. The grand prize is a cash grant of $5,000, a supply of Minwax wood-finishing products and a working consultation with author, television personality and wood-finishing expert Bruce Johnson.
Runners-up receive a supply of Minwax products. Additionally, a special recognition award and cash grant of $2,000 will be presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to his or her community by working with wood.
Who Can Enter
Eligible participants include individuals, community groups, schools and associations that engage in an activity that involves, but is not limited to, wood finishing and woodworking.
The deadline for submission is Dec. 31, 2009 and winners will be announced in the spring of 2010. All eligible applicants are encouraged to enter by writing a summary of recent woodworking projects that have been completed for the purpose of enhancing their community and helping others. Photos are optional but encouraged.
Contest entries can be submitted at minwax.com, e-mailed to minwaxcca@brushfireinc.com, or sent by mail to Minwax Community Craftsman Award, c/o Brushfire Inc., 2 Wing Drive, Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927. For more information, visit minwax.com.
NOMINATIONS WANTED-You or your organization may be awarded a $5,000 cash grant.
-----
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Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Flyers Rights Renews Call for Congressional Action on Passenger Bill of Rights in Light of DOT Delays
/PRNewswire/ -- In response to reports that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) plans to push back the expected date for a final rule on airline passenger "protections" until February of 2010, the nation's leading flyers rights groups renewed its call for Congressional action. DOT had planned to publish its new rule, which deals with issues such as tarmac delays and chronically delayed flights, before the end of this year. This development would allow Congress to be the first to act on this important issue, but represents yet another delay in the fulfillment of airline passengers rights in the U.S.
"We think allowing Congress to act first, before the Administration does its part is appropriate," said CAPBOR Executive Director, Kate Hanni. "Providing airline passengers with a Bill of Rights, including a 3 Hour limit whereby airlines must return stranded passengers to the terminal, should be established by federal legislation, not and not simply by regulation."
The FAA bill, which contains a Passengers Bill of Rights that includes a 3 Hour Rule in the U.S. Senate version, has been bottled up in Congress for many months now and is overdue. As such, Congress has been forced to pass a series of short term extensions to fund the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) continued operations. The latest extension passed by Congress expires on December 31, 2009.
"Given this most recent delay by DOT, which follows a series of delays in Congress, it is essential that legislators work to pass this legislation as soon as possible before the holiday travel period begins," added Hanni. "Establishing basic enforceable standards in how airlines treat passengers will be one of the most significant consumer protections in recent history -- we need and deserve action now."
FlyersRights.org is the largest airline passengers rights group in the country committed to the Safety, Health, Well Being and Dignity of airline passengers. With 27,000 dedicated members and a hotline at 1-877-359-3776 or for employees of airlines 1-887-877-2678.
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"We think allowing Congress to act first, before the Administration does its part is appropriate," said CAPBOR Executive Director, Kate Hanni. "Providing airline passengers with a Bill of Rights, including a 3 Hour limit whereby airlines must return stranded passengers to the terminal, should be established by federal legislation, not and not simply by regulation."
The FAA bill, which contains a Passengers Bill of Rights that includes a 3 Hour Rule in the U.S. Senate version, has been bottled up in Congress for many months now and is overdue. As such, Congress has been forced to pass a series of short term extensions to fund the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) continued operations. The latest extension passed by Congress expires on December 31, 2009.
"Given this most recent delay by DOT, which follows a series of delays in Congress, it is essential that legislators work to pass this legislation as soon as possible before the holiday travel period begins," added Hanni. "Establishing basic enforceable standards in how airlines treat passengers will be one of the most significant consumer protections in recent history -- we need and deserve action now."
FlyersRights.org is the largest airline passengers rights group in the country committed to the Safety, Health, Well Being and Dignity of airline passengers. With 27,000 dedicated members and a hotline at 1-877-359-3776 or for employees of airlines 1-887-877-2678.
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Monday, November 2, 2009
Millions of Americans have a sleep debt to repay - Do you?
(ARA) - You're paying down your credit cards and making smart decisions about your home and auto loans. But are you overlooking the most important kind of "debt," a debt that you owe yourself to pay off in order to maintain good health? This is one kind of debt that will have a huge impact on your life if ignored, but is easy to pay off with minimal effort.
More than 75 percent of Americans are sleep deprived, according to the National Sleep Foundation. In fact, many have incurred a "sleep debt," says Dr. Michael J. Breus, a clinical psychologist and diplomat of the American Board of Sleep Medicine. "Many people deprive themselves of sleep during the work week, losing an hour or more a night, and try to make up for it on the weekends," says Dr. Breus. "But while you may be able to replace some of that lost sleep each weekend, you can still be sleep deprived, and your 'sleep debt' will just keep growing."
One quarter of the world's population is subject to a one hour time change twice per year. One study by Ludwig-Maximilian University in Germany shows that it is easier for people to adjust to the time change when we gain an hour rather than when we lose an hour. The majority of people, however, do not use that extra hour in the fall for sleep, and this occurs during a season when schedules get even busier for many Americans.
"Unlike our ancestors, who let the sun delineate between the hours of rest and work, we let the demands of everyday life choose when we can sleep, eat and work," Dr. Breus says. "And all of this has an effect on our bodies - we are more stressed, sleep less, and pack away more fat and calories. All this directly relates to our risk for illness and disease."
Repaying your sleep debt is relatively easy and can be one of the most healthful things you do for yourself, Dr. Breus points out. Here are a few tips to help decrease your sleep debt:
* Wake up to the light. Our brains are hard-wired to want to sleep when it's dark and waken with the sunlight. The shift in seasons and our busy modern schedules have many of us trying to wake up in the dark. Dr. Breus recommends sleeping with the shades open and allowing natural light to enter your room and wake you at an appropriate time.
* Once you get up and begin your daily routine, make sure you turn on all the lights. This will help stimulate the optic nerve to reduce the production of sleep-inducing melatonin.
* Go to bed when your body tells you you're tired. Don't waste the extra hour of sleep we gain when we shift our clocks back in the fall. Additionally, don't add to your sleep debt in the spring when shift our clocks ahead one hour.
* Sometimes, even if you get enough sleep, puffy eyes and dark circles can make you look sleep deprived. Even if you improve your sleep habits, it can take a while for your appearance to catch up. Looking well-rested will help you feel more rested, so try Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream to brighten and depuff. The potent cream uses a combination of natural ingredients, including Panax Ginseng, Caffeine, Vitamin B Complex and Magnolia Extract to combat puffiness and dark circles and help provide radiant, clear skin in the delicate eye area. Visit www.Origins.com to learn more.
* If your sleep/awake cycle is truly healthy you shouldn't need an alarm clock, but you may need the psychological comfort of having a backup wake-up system. In that case, position your alarm clock so that you can't see it once you're in bed. Look for a clock that has an LED time display that can be turned off or on, an adjustable volume control for the alarm, and the ability to have music or an MP3 player connected so you can wake to the sounds of your choice.
* Avoid napping the day before and three days after the seasonal time change. Napping can actually make it harder to fall asleep. Parents, keep in mind that your children will probably take longer to adjust to time changes than adults do.
* Stay active. Studies show that regular exercise helps the body better adjust to time changes, so continue your workouts throughout the seasonal transition. However, exercising too close to bedtime can have an over-stimulating effect, so schedule your workout several hours prior to turning in.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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More than 75 percent of Americans are sleep deprived, according to the National Sleep Foundation. In fact, many have incurred a "sleep debt," says Dr. Michael J. Breus, a clinical psychologist and diplomat of the American Board of Sleep Medicine. "Many people deprive themselves of sleep during the work week, losing an hour or more a night, and try to make up for it on the weekends," says Dr. Breus. "But while you may be able to replace some of that lost sleep each weekend, you can still be sleep deprived, and your 'sleep debt' will just keep growing."
One quarter of the world's population is subject to a one hour time change twice per year. One study by Ludwig-Maximilian University in Germany shows that it is easier for people to adjust to the time change when we gain an hour rather than when we lose an hour. The majority of people, however, do not use that extra hour in the fall for sleep, and this occurs during a season when schedules get even busier for many Americans.
"Unlike our ancestors, who let the sun delineate between the hours of rest and work, we let the demands of everyday life choose when we can sleep, eat and work," Dr. Breus says. "And all of this has an effect on our bodies - we are more stressed, sleep less, and pack away more fat and calories. All this directly relates to our risk for illness and disease."
Repaying your sleep debt is relatively easy and can be one of the most healthful things you do for yourself, Dr. Breus points out. Here are a few tips to help decrease your sleep debt:
* Wake up to the light. Our brains are hard-wired to want to sleep when it's dark and waken with the sunlight. The shift in seasons and our busy modern schedules have many of us trying to wake up in the dark. Dr. Breus recommends sleeping with the shades open and allowing natural light to enter your room and wake you at an appropriate time.
* Once you get up and begin your daily routine, make sure you turn on all the lights. This will help stimulate the optic nerve to reduce the production of sleep-inducing melatonin.
* Go to bed when your body tells you you're tired. Don't waste the extra hour of sleep we gain when we shift our clocks back in the fall. Additionally, don't add to your sleep debt in the spring when shift our clocks ahead one hour.
* Sometimes, even if you get enough sleep, puffy eyes and dark circles can make you look sleep deprived. Even if you improve your sleep habits, it can take a while for your appearance to catch up. Looking well-rested will help you feel more rested, so try Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream to brighten and depuff. The potent cream uses a combination of natural ingredients, including Panax Ginseng, Caffeine, Vitamin B Complex and Magnolia Extract to combat puffiness and dark circles and help provide radiant, clear skin in the delicate eye area. Visit www.Origins.com to learn more.
* If your sleep/awake cycle is truly healthy you shouldn't need an alarm clock, but you may need the psychological comfort of having a backup wake-up system. In that case, position your alarm clock so that you can't see it once you're in bed. Look for a clock that has an LED time display that can be turned off or on, an adjustable volume control for the alarm, and the ability to have music or an MP3 player connected so you can wake to the sounds of your choice.
* Avoid napping the day before and three days after the seasonal time change. Napping can actually make it harder to fall asleep. Parents, keep in mind that your children will probably take longer to adjust to time changes than adults do.
* Stay active. Studies show that regular exercise helps the body better adjust to time changes, so continue your workouts throughout the seasonal transition. However, exercising too close to bedtime can have an over-stimulating effect, so schedule your workout several hours prior to turning in.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
-----
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Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The scary waste of 'vampire power'
(ARA) – Vampires may be hot right now in the entertainment world, but “vampire power” – the slow, invisible energy drain caused by leaving electric devices plugged in – simply sucks.
Every electrical item you leave plugged in, from your home computer to your high-def, flat-screen TV, draws power even while it’s turned off. This “vampire power” drain adds up, costing consumers about $10 billion a year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Reducing Vampire Power in your home is an easy way to do your part, both helping the environment and reducing your family’s carbon footprint – plus it could save you 10 percent of your family’s electric bill, according to the Intrusive Residential Standby Report.
Vampire power – or “standby power” – refers to the power many electric and electronic items draw while in “stand by” mode, when they are plugged in, but not turned on. Virtually every item you plug in draws some standby power, but major electronic items like PCs and TVs are the biggest power-sucking culprits.
You can reduce vampire power drain with a few simple steps:
* Buy ENERGY STAR rated products. These products are designed to not only use less power when operating, but to draw less standby power as well. Items ranging from dishwashers to laptops carry the rating. Log on to www.ENERGYSTAR.gov to learn more about the product rating program.
* Don’t leave your laptop, cell phone, iPod or other chargers plugged into the wall outlet. Even these innocent-seeming cords draw vampire power. Instead, plug chargers into a product designed to halt vampire power, like the iGo Laptop Charger. The device uses up to 85 percent less power than standard chargers and you never have to turn it on or off. You can purchase a range of adapters that allows you to use the charger with virtually any electronic device that requires one. Visit www.iGo.com to learn more about this product.
* Streamline the number of devices you have to plug into the wall. Like most of us, you probably can’t live without your PC or DVR and need to leave it plugged in. But do you really need a TV in every room of the house and three game consoles – one for each kid? Reducing the number of devices in your home will reduce the amount of standby power you use and possibly help you to streamline your life a bit.
* Unplug your appliances when they are not in use. And when it’s not practical to unplug some devices, like the PC, Wii game system or flat screen TV, you can keep them plugged in using a power management device that halts vampire power, like the iGo Power Smart Tower. With an instant wake-up button and four always-on outlets, the iGo Power Smart Tower ensures that you’ll always have power for your devices as soon as you need it without wasting energy.
To learn more about vampire power, how it impacts the environment and consumers’ wallets as well as additional tips to minimize its effect, visit www.VampirePowerSucks.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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Every electrical item you leave plugged in, from your home computer to your high-def, flat-screen TV, draws power even while it’s turned off. This “vampire power” drain adds up, costing consumers about $10 billion a year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Reducing Vampire Power in your home is an easy way to do your part, both helping the environment and reducing your family’s carbon footprint – plus it could save you 10 percent of your family’s electric bill, according to the Intrusive Residential Standby Report.
Vampire power – or “standby power” – refers to the power many electric and electronic items draw while in “stand by” mode, when they are plugged in, but not turned on. Virtually every item you plug in draws some standby power, but major electronic items like PCs and TVs are the biggest power-sucking culprits.
You can reduce vampire power drain with a few simple steps:
* Buy ENERGY STAR rated products. These products are designed to not only use less power when operating, but to draw less standby power as well. Items ranging from dishwashers to laptops carry the rating. Log on to www.ENERGYSTAR.gov to learn more about the product rating program.
* Don’t leave your laptop, cell phone, iPod or other chargers plugged into the wall outlet. Even these innocent-seeming cords draw vampire power. Instead, plug chargers into a product designed to halt vampire power, like the iGo Laptop Charger. The device uses up to 85 percent less power than standard chargers and you never have to turn it on or off. You can purchase a range of adapters that allows you to use the charger with virtually any electronic device that requires one. Visit www.iGo.com to learn more about this product.
* Streamline the number of devices you have to plug into the wall. Like most of us, you probably can’t live without your PC or DVR and need to leave it plugged in. But do you really need a TV in every room of the house and three game consoles – one for each kid? Reducing the number of devices in your home will reduce the amount of standby power you use and possibly help you to streamline your life a bit.
* Unplug your appliances when they are not in use. And when it’s not practical to unplug some devices, like the PC, Wii game system or flat screen TV, you can keep them plugged in using a power management device that halts vampire power, like the iGo Power Smart Tower. With an instant wake-up button and four always-on outlets, the iGo Power Smart Tower ensures that you’ll always have power for your devices as soon as you need it without wasting energy.
To learn more about vampire power, how it impacts the environment and consumers’ wallets as well as additional tips to minimize its effect, visit www.VampirePowerSucks.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
-----
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Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The Votes Are In, Spiders Win
/PRNewswire/ -- Results from Orkin's first-ever "Scariest Pest Halloween Poll" reveal spiders, one of Halloween's quintessential icons, are the scariest pests of 2009. According to Orkin experts, the pests people consider (and voted) the scariest are not necessarily the most dangerous.
From October 1 - 23, the Atlanta-based pest control leader invited people to vote online at Halloween.Orkin.com for one of six spine-chilling pests. Following are the scariest pest rankings and percentages from the online poll:
1. Spooky spiders (30 percent)
2. Hair-raising rodents (27 percent)
3. Creepy cockroaches (23 percent)
4. Terrifying ticks (10 percent)
5. Freaky flying/stinging insects (6 percent)
6. Menacing mosquitoes (4 percent)
Similar to plastic spider rings and cotton web decorations that run rampant this holiday season, most of the 3,500 spider species found in the United States - even if they bite - cause little harm to humans. However, the following few spider species rank among the most dangerous pests in North America because of their potentially harmful and even deadly bites:
-- Black widows
-- Brown widows
-- Brown recluses
-- Hobo spiders
According to Ron Harrison, Ph.D., technical director for Orkin, Inc., the few dangerous spider species like the black widow and brown recluse are so well known that people overlook the great benefit spiders provide. "Their food sources - moths, flies, cockroaches, bees and other bugs - are the same insects that pester us. Because of that, their presence in or around our homes is a good indicator that we have a larger pest issue that needs attention."
Harrison does not ignore the fact that most people consider spiders scary, or that they should protect themselves against spider bites. He offers these tips to make homes less attractive to spiders:
-- Target their food source. Contact a licensed pest management
professional to first control the insects that are attracting spiders
to your home.
-- Sweep, dust, clean and remove clutter to make areas uncomfortable for
spiders, which often like to hide.
-- Seal off potential entries like cracks and crevices, spaces under
doors, holes in screens, etc.
Harrison also warns that homeowners should understand the risks posed by rodents, cockroaches, mosquitoes, ticks and flying/stinging insects. Although not voted the scariest, these pests are some of the world's most dangerous because of the diseases they can carry and health threats they pose.
Following are Harrison's rankings for the most dangerous pests:
1. Blood-Suckers: Mosquitoes top Harrison's list as they pose a
significant danger to public health throughout the world - transmitting
West Nile virus, malaria and yellow fever. Harrison warns that ticks -
associated with Colorado Tick Fever, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and
Lyme disease - are actually the number one transmitter of disease in
the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), over 28,000 confirmed cases of Lyme disease were reported in the
U.S. in 2008.
2. Creepy Crawlers (including poll-topping spiders): In addition to
eliciting a scream, rodents can transmit numerous diseases - including
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and LCMV - through their urine, feces and
bites. Cockroaches can cause more than the chills, transferring
pathogens from the decaying matter they live and breed in to food and
food-preparation areas. With their cast skins producing allergens,
cockroaches have been proven to cause allergic reactions and even
asthma.
3. Stingers: Some species of flying and stinging insects are known to
protect their nests aggressively and inflict painful stings on
intruders. Stings from yellow jackets, hornets and wasps can cause
swelling, become infected easily and also aggravate skin conditions and
allergies.
According to Orkin, Halloween's cold weather often sparks an increase in activity from the creepy crawlers, but whatever the season, people should protect themselves and their homes from these scary and potentially dangerous pests. For more facts about frightful pests, visit orkin.com.
-----
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From October 1 - 23, the Atlanta-based pest control leader invited people to vote online at Halloween.Orkin.com for one of six spine-chilling pests. Following are the scariest pest rankings and percentages from the online poll:
1. Spooky spiders (30 percent)
2. Hair-raising rodents (27 percent)
3. Creepy cockroaches (23 percent)
4. Terrifying ticks (10 percent)
5. Freaky flying/stinging insects (6 percent)
6. Menacing mosquitoes (4 percent)
Similar to plastic spider rings and cotton web decorations that run rampant this holiday season, most of the 3,500 spider species found in the United States - even if they bite - cause little harm to humans. However, the following few spider species rank among the most dangerous pests in North America because of their potentially harmful and even deadly bites:
-- Black widows
-- Brown widows
-- Brown recluses
-- Hobo spiders
According to Ron Harrison, Ph.D., technical director for Orkin, Inc., the few dangerous spider species like the black widow and brown recluse are so well known that people overlook the great benefit spiders provide. "Their food sources - moths, flies, cockroaches, bees and other bugs - are the same insects that pester us. Because of that, their presence in or around our homes is a good indicator that we have a larger pest issue that needs attention."
Harrison does not ignore the fact that most people consider spiders scary, or that they should protect themselves against spider bites. He offers these tips to make homes less attractive to spiders:
-- Target their food source. Contact a licensed pest management
professional to first control the insects that are attracting spiders
to your home.
-- Sweep, dust, clean and remove clutter to make areas uncomfortable for
spiders, which often like to hide.
-- Seal off potential entries like cracks and crevices, spaces under
doors, holes in screens, etc.
Harrison also warns that homeowners should understand the risks posed by rodents, cockroaches, mosquitoes, ticks and flying/stinging insects. Although not voted the scariest, these pests are some of the world's most dangerous because of the diseases they can carry and health threats they pose.
Following are Harrison's rankings for the most dangerous pests:
1. Blood-Suckers: Mosquitoes top Harrison's list as they pose a
significant danger to public health throughout the world - transmitting
West Nile virus, malaria and yellow fever. Harrison warns that ticks -
associated with Colorado Tick Fever, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and
Lyme disease - are actually the number one transmitter of disease in
the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), over 28,000 confirmed cases of Lyme disease were reported in the
U.S. in 2008.
2. Creepy Crawlers (including poll-topping spiders): In addition to
eliciting a scream, rodents can transmit numerous diseases - including
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and LCMV - through their urine, feces and
bites. Cockroaches can cause more than the chills, transferring
pathogens from the decaying matter they live and breed in to food and
food-preparation areas. With their cast skins producing allergens,
cockroaches have been proven to cause allergic reactions and even
asthma.
3. Stingers: Some species of flying and stinging insects are known to
protect their nests aggressively and inflict painful stings on
intruders. Stings from yellow jackets, hornets and wasps can cause
swelling, become infected easily and also aggravate skin conditions and
allergies.
According to Orkin, Halloween's cold weather often sparks an increase in activity from the creepy crawlers, but whatever the season, people should protect themselves and their homes from these scary and potentially dangerous pests. For more facts about frightful pests, visit orkin.com.
-----
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You can get it all done before the holidays ... even learning to play the piano
(ARA) – Shopping, wrapping, baking, cooking ... not to mention untangling those dratted lights – does it seem like there’s no way you can get everything done that you need to accomplish before the holidays?
Actually, a little smart scheduling and some stress-relieving techniques are really all you need in order to check off everything on your “to do” list this holiday season. In fact, you probably already know what you need to do. Sometimes, it just helps to have a reminder or two of how to use your time wisely:
* Take the time-eating bite out of holiday shopping by doing it online. Secure Web sites, great deals and free shipping incentives from many sellers make online the easiest way to do your holiday shopping. Just keep in mind shipping times, and shop as early as possible to allow yourself extra time in case you need to return something before the holiday.
* Use laundry baskets to organize gifts by recipient. Have one basket of small, generic gifts that can be used for unexpected gift-giving occasions that may arrive – like the surprise last-minute gift from a co-worker or acquaintance.
* Set aside one afternoon a weekend for several weekends prior to the holidays and bake and freeze holiday goodies that you plan to serve or give as gifts. Or, organize a few baking parties with family and friends, and have each person bring a few dozen of a specific type of cookie to exchange during the party.
* Don’t forget to do something for yourself, like learn to play the piano. Seriously ... you can learn how to play some favorite Christmas carols in the weeks leading up to the holidays, even if you’ve never played the piano before. And it will probably take a lot less time than untangling last year’s lights.
“The trick is learning to play the way the pros play, learning a few simple chords rather than tackling the time-consuming task of learning to read sheet music well,” says Scott Houston, host of the Emmy-winning Public Television how-to show, “The Piano Guy.”
"It's much easier for people to focus on chords and interpretation, rather than spending years trying to figure out how to read notes," Houston says. He teaches people how to play piano in a flash by reading a "lead sheet," which is like the shorthand professional musicians use to follow a tune's melody line – matching the chords that work with the tune.
You’ll find three free lessons, teaching you how to play “Silent Night,” at www.scotthouston.com/freelessons/. So dust off that piano or keyboard, and, with a little help from the Internet, learn to play at least one favorite carol in time for this year’s family gathering.
* Dedicate one area of your home – which will be off-limits to potential gift recipients – where you can create a gift-wrapping center. Over-the-door towel racks – the kind with arms that swing out – make great holders for rolls of gift wrap. Store decorative supplies like ribbon, bows and mini ornaments in clear plastic bins. Invest in a new pair of scissors and only use them to cut wrapping paper or ribbon so they stay sharp and swift.
Wrap as you go. If you wait until Christmas Eve to wrap gifts, you not only run the risk of wandering eyes getting a preview of their holiday gifts, you’ll stress yourself trying to get everything done at the last minute. Plus, it’s much easier to purchase extra wrapping supplies two weeks before the holiday, than it will be if you run out the night before the big day.
As for untangling last year’s lights, consider how much time and effort – and aggravation – the chore will cost. If it’s going to raise your stress level and take hours, it’s probably better to toss last year’s tangle, buy new and do a better job of storing them when the season’s over this year.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
-----
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Arts Across Georgia
Follow us on Twitter: @GAFrontPage
Actually, a little smart scheduling and some stress-relieving techniques are really all you need in order to check off everything on your “to do” list this holiday season. In fact, you probably already know what you need to do. Sometimes, it just helps to have a reminder or two of how to use your time wisely:
* Take the time-eating bite out of holiday shopping by doing it online. Secure Web sites, great deals and free shipping incentives from many sellers make online the easiest way to do your holiday shopping. Just keep in mind shipping times, and shop as early as possible to allow yourself extra time in case you need to return something before the holiday.
* Use laundry baskets to organize gifts by recipient. Have one basket of small, generic gifts that can be used for unexpected gift-giving occasions that may arrive – like the surprise last-minute gift from a co-worker or acquaintance.
* Set aside one afternoon a weekend for several weekends prior to the holidays and bake and freeze holiday goodies that you plan to serve or give as gifts. Or, organize a few baking parties with family and friends, and have each person bring a few dozen of a specific type of cookie to exchange during the party.
* Don’t forget to do something for yourself, like learn to play the piano. Seriously ... you can learn how to play some favorite Christmas carols in the weeks leading up to the holidays, even if you’ve never played the piano before. And it will probably take a lot less time than untangling last year’s lights.
“The trick is learning to play the way the pros play, learning a few simple chords rather than tackling the time-consuming task of learning to read sheet music well,” says Scott Houston, host of the Emmy-winning Public Television how-to show, “The Piano Guy.”
"It's much easier for people to focus on chords and interpretation, rather than spending years trying to figure out how to read notes," Houston says. He teaches people how to play piano in a flash by reading a "lead sheet," which is like the shorthand professional musicians use to follow a tune's melody line – matching the chords that work with the tune.
You’ll find three free lessons, teaching you how to play “Silent Night,” at www.scotthouston.com/freelessons/. So dust off that piano or keyboard, and, with a little help from the Internet, learn to play at least one favorite carol in time for this year’s family gathering.
* Dedicate one area of your home – which will be off-limits to potential gift recipients – where you can create a gift-wrapping center. Over-the-door towel racks – the kind with arms that swing out – make great holders for rolls of gift wrap. Store decorative supplies like ribbon, bows and mini ornaments in clear plastic bins. Invest in a new pair of scissors and only use them to cut wrapping paper or ribbon so they stay sharp and swift.
Wrap as you go. If you wait until Christmas Eve to wrap gifts, you not only run the risk of wandering eyes getting a preview of their holiday gifts, you’ll stress yourself trying to get everything done at the last minute. Plus, it’s much easier to purchase extra wrapping supplies two weeks before the holiday, than it will be if you run out the night before the big day.
As for untangling last year’s lights, consider how much time and effort – and aggravation – the chore will cost. If it’s going to raise your stress level and take hours, it’s probably better to toss last year’s tangle, buy new and do a better job of storing them when the season’s over this year.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
-----
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Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
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Arts Across Georgia
Follow us on Twitter: @GAFrontPage
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