Carols and Choirs Christmas Show!

Don't miss the Carols and Choirs Christmas show tomorrow, featuring the Multnomah Vocal Jazz Ensemble and choirs from Clackamas High School, Horizon Christian High School, and Portland Christian High School. We'll be broadcasting live from Multnomah University from 6 - 10 a.m. with lots of fun surprises. Click here for more information!

Keeping people warm this Christmas!

This Christmas season is a great time to help keep those in need warm! Here are a few places that are taking donations such as blankets, clothes and jackets.

City Team
526 SE Grand Ave
Portland, Or 97214
503-231-8894

Mt Scott Church Of God also takes donations for City Team.
10603 Southeast Henderson Street
Portland, OR 97266-8004
(503) 771-1195

Portland Rescue Mission
111 W Burnside
Portland, Or 97209
503-mission

My Fathers House
5003 W Powell Blvd.
Gresham, Or 97030
503-492-3046

LET'S TALK TURKEY!

According to the National Turkey Federation, close to 90% of Americans will eat turkey on Thanksgiving. Other findings:

- Over 46 million birds will be eaten tomorrow. 88% of Americans ate turkey last Thanksgiving.

- Americans will gobble over 690 million pounds of turkey tomorrow

- 75% of America will devour pumpkin pie for dessert

- 575 million pounds of cranberry sauce will be eaten while 1.4 billion pounds of sweet potatoes have been grown for Thanksgiving and Christmas consumption.

- The average weight of this year's Thanksgiving turkey is 15 pounds.

- According to a survey by Pepperidge Farm, 70% of American women will be doing the cooking on Thanksgiving.

- 34% of Americans love to watch football on Thanksgiving while only 22% enjoy Thanksgiving Day parades.

- Thanksgiving Eve ranks as one of the top five busiest days for pizza delivery in the United States.

THE LEGEND OF POCAHONTAS AT MHCC

The Christian Youth Theater is presenting The Legend Of Pocahontas at Mt. Hood Community College this weekend and next (Nov. 27-29 and Dec. 4th and 5th). Purchase tickets at www.cyt.org and enter this code for a discount PPEF09

Thanks to Emily Wright, who plays Pocahontas, for dropping by the studios!

VETERANS DAY WEBSITES

Ways to thank the troops .. http://www.amillionthanks.org/

Care packages to our troop .. http://www.opgratitude.com/

Ways to Salute and Celebrate Veterans ... http://www.military.com/veteransday/Celebrate_Kids.htm

WE SALUTE YOU!

Several restaurant chains plan to honor veterans tomorrow as part of their Veteran's Day celebration. Here are a few I know of...

- Outback Steakhouse is offering a free Bloomin' Onion appetizer and a drink.

- Krispy Kreme is giving away donuts

- Applebee's is offering a free entree to vets and active-duty military from 11 am until midnight.

WHAT WAS YOUR NAME?

Some people have gift for remembering names but for far too many of us, they go in one ear and right out the other. Unfortunately, referring to everyone as "hey" or "you" can be a poor decision when it comes to networking.

Here are a few ways to remember:

1. Repeat the first name or confirm the last name. Simply saying, "It's nice to meet you, Chuck" or "and your last name was...?" will help you register the name and give it a better chance to implant itself into your memory.
2. Ask a question or make a comment about the person's name. "Nice to meet you, Julia. My college roommate's name was Julia, so I'll have no problem remembering you."
3. Ask the person to spell his or her name. "Abby, do you spell your name with a 'y' or with an 'ie'?"
4. Associate the name with a picture in your mind. If you meet a CEO named Arthur, visualize him as King Arthur with the knights of the Round Table.
5. Ask how the person got his name. "Savannah, were you named after the city?"
6. Tell the person what you have heard about him. "I heard you organized this whole event, Peter."
7. Keep your energy level high. Let your body language and tone of voice signal that you are honestly trying to learn the other person's name and teach her yours.
8. Always say the person's name again as you leave her. "It was good to meet you, Jen."

My trip to Haiti with Food For The Poor

Here are some pictures of my trip to Haiti with Food For The Poor. Listen on Tuesday, October 20, or visit www.foodforthepoor.org/kfis to help those in need!

CARMEL PECAN APPLE PIE

We were talking about this on the show. Just a little slice should do!

15 oz. pkg. Pillsbury All Ready Pie crust
1 tsp. flour

FILLING:

6 c. thinly sliced, peeled apples
3/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. butter

GLAZE:

1/3 c. Kraft Caramel Topping
2 to 4 tbsp. chopped pecans

Prepare pie crust according to package directions for two crust pie. Heat oven to 425 degrees.

In large bowl, combine apples, sugar, flour and salt; toss lightly. Spoon apple mixture into pie crust lined pan. Dot with butter. Top with second crust and flute; cut slits in several places.

Bake at 425 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes or until apples are tender. Remove pie from oven; immediately drizzle with caramel topping. Sprinkle with nuts.

FREE ICE CREAM!

If you like ice cream then you should circle this Thursday on your calendar! On that day Cold Stone Creamery will give away free small ice cream sundaes between 5-8 p.m. during the 8th annual World's Largest Ice Cream Social.

KIDS EAT FREE!

The battered restaurant industry is about to go wide on a risky tactic to nudge cash-strapped parents to take the family out for grub: Kids eat free. IHOP has unveiled plans to offer free kids meals seven nights a week for the next month.

IHOP's move is another signal of just how tough times are in the $566 billion restaurant industry. Restaurant operators have reported customer traffic declines for a staggering 22 consecutive months, according to the National Restaurant Association.

HAVE A LAUGH! DOG DIARY VS. CAT DIARY

DOG DIARY

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!

9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!

9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!

10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!

12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!

1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!

3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!

5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!

7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!

8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with my people! My favorite thing!

11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

CAT DIARY

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape.

In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Idiots!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormenters by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is clearly brainwashed, stupid, or both.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now...

HOW TO STAY COOL IN THE SUMMER

1. Step 1

   Make the most of cool air and night time cool downs to save money on your heating bill and lower the heat in your house. This simple stay cool tip focuses on just making sure you open your windows on days that are cool and at night. Open enough to create a cross breeze and this will lower the temperature quickly.

2. Step 2

   Use your blinds and curtains to control the heat coming into your home. If you have very sunny rooms a stay cool tip is to be sure to block the sun from coming in. Close over curtains and close up blinds. Sun will make your house warmer if you do not block it out.

3. Step 3

   Have fans around the house to help keep the air moving. Turn on your ceiling fans and buy an oscillating fan for rooms you hang out in the most. This stay cool tip will help ensure the warm air does just sit and build moisture in the room.

4. Step 4

   When you go outside be sure to have on light colored clothing. Dark colors will making your body warmer. Also be sure the clothing is not tight but very loose fitting. This stay cool tip will help make any errand you need to run reasonable on a hot summer day.

5. Step 5

   Try to avoid going outside or staying in sunny areas between the hours of 10 AM and 6 PM. These are the hottest hours of the day and if possible try to do what you need outside around that time frame.

6. Step 6

   The last stay cool tip is the most important. Drink a lot of water during the day. Water will help replenish what you sweat out and maintain a cooler body temperature.

Thanks to eHow.com

MORE HOMEMADE CLEANING PRODUCTS

One of the ways I save money is by not buying too many cleaning products. It’s not only less expensive, but often it’s better for the environment to avoid harsh chemicals. And with the right mix of ingredients, homemade cleaning solutions often work just as well, and sometimes better, than their store bought counterparts.

The three ingredients I always have on hand for cleaning are baking soda, vinegar, and Dawn dishwashing detergent. You can clean almost anything with these three items.

To clean windows, mix 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar, and up to 1/2 teaspoon of Dawn in a spray bottle. It cleans windows beautifully!

For floors, add 1 cup vinegar to 1 gallon hot water and mop away!

My favorite bathroom cleaner is a spray bottle filled with 1/2 cup Dawn and as much vinegar as the bottle holds. It works better than any commercial tub cleaner I’ve ever tried!

For cleaning toilets, mix 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup Dawn, and 1/4 cup water. Let sit on the toilet bowl for a couple of hours, swish with a toilet brush, and flush.

Plain baking soda works just like scouring powder. It’s also great for deodorizing carpet. Just sprinkle on the carpet, let sit for a while, and vacuum up!

Have you ever tried homemade cleaners? What is your experience? Do you have any great recipes? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

(Thanks to Holly in Battle Ground and beingfrugal.net)

101 FUN THINGS FOR TEENS TO DO THIS SUMMER

Summer Fun For Teens

Here is a list of fun things for your teen to do this summer. Print it out and give it to your teen the first time they tell you they are bored. Or be proactive and give it to them before they complain about nothing to do. Most of these things can be done with friends or alone.

1. Invent a new type of pizza¹.
2. Make a music video.
3. Grow a tomato or sunflower plant.
4. Walk barefoot through the grass.
5. Build a sandcastle.
6. Have a wet t-shirt relay race².
7. Picnic at a local park.
8. Make the best ice cream sandwich³ ever.
9. Have an overnight movie marathon.
10. Play frisbee golf.
11. Have a car wash to fundraise for a club or charity.
12. Grab a blanket, spread it out in the grass and cloud watch.
13. Make a card for a friend⁴.
14. Bike five miles.
15. Catch lightning bugs.
16. Eat the Best Banana Split⁵ ever.
17. Take a nap under a shade tree.
18. Go swimming.
19. Have a pool party⁶.
20. Play with water balloons⁷.
21. Make a summer tote bag⁸ out of a recycled tank top.
22. Soak in the bathtub with homemade summer bath salts⁹.
23. Sketch a flower that is growing in your yard.
24. Bury a friend in the sand.
25. Babysit and make paper airplanes.
26. Volunteer¹⁰ in a community effort.
27. Go fishing.
28. Sleep in your backyard, under the stars.
29. Create a photo journal.
30. Hike a rail trail.
31. Visit the local library and sign up for the summer reading list. You could win something.
32. Swap a favorite book with a friend and read it.
33. Make a friendship bracelet¹¹ and send it to your friend.
34. Write a poem
35. Write a song.
36. Write a play.
37. Start your novel.
38. Make a website.
39. Give your MySpace/Facebook page a summery look.
40. Friend someone famous on your MySpace/Facebook page.
41. Have an outdoor basketball free-throw contest.
42. Have a watermelon seed spitting contest.
43. Sketch your pet.
44. Make smoothies¹².
45. Have a high tea, only use iced-teas.
46. Help plan the family vacation¹³.
47. Make a root beer float.
48. Write in your journal, "My Top Ten Favorite Summertime Activities".
49. Make toe ring.
50. Paint your toe nails.
51. Make a barefoot sandal.
52. Make Hawaiian Pizza¹⁴ for your family dinner.
53. Paint your fingernails with bright sparkly polish.
54. Watch the sunrise.
55. Watch the sunset.
56. Get your community’s events list for the summer and attend an event.
57. Have a summer clothes fashion show.
58. Create a summer safety poster for the local library.
59. Volunteer to read to children at the library.
60. Learn to grill a hot dog¹⁵.
61. Learn to grill a hamburger¹⁶.
62. Learn to grill pizza crust¹⁷.
63. Eat some fruit with fruit dip¹⁸.
64. Make a collage out of old magazines.
65. Swing.
66. Skip stones at a lake.
67. Surf/boogey board at the beach.
68. Get a new hairdo.
69. Change something about how you wear your make-up.
70. Decide to pick up one good habit¹⁹, then pick which one you’ll do.
71. Make your own popsicles.
72. Watch last year’s hot summer flick.
73. Go to this year’s hot summer flick.
74. Make a list of your favorite summertime movies in your journal.
75. Make a summer sun shaped collage out of summer fashion magazines.
76. Make a leaf t-shirt²⁰.
77. Make a earring holder out of a branch²¹.
78. Make peach lemonade²².
79. Make a CD of your favorite summertime songs.
80. Enjoy a board game marathon on your backyard picnic table or on your back porch.
81. Have a scavenger hunt.
82. Make some summer jewelry²³.
83. Change something in or add something to your room.(You could clean it too.)
84. Give your dog/pet a bath outside.
85. Take your dog/pet for a walk.
86. Run through a sprinkler.
87. Make a whirlpool in a kids pool or play Ice Cubes and Piggies Game²⁴.
88. Visit a flower garden and/or butterfly house.
89. Grow some lavender so you can make your own potpourri.
90. Turn up the music and dance.
91. Go stargazing.
92. Sleep until noon – once.
93. Tie-dye your bed sheets.
94. See some fireworks.
95. See a local baseball game.
96. Play mini-golf.
97. Learn how to hula-hoop.
98. Create a sidewalk mural with chalk, use a tropical theme.
99. Organize your summer sandals and flip-flops.
100. Visit a college²⁵.
101. Plan and enjoy a luau.

Thank you to Denise Witmer, About.com

FUN SUMMER TIME ACTIVITIES AND GAMES

The school year will be ending soon and your child
will have a lot of extra time and energy for play and
activities. Be prepared to prevent summer boredom by
keeping little hands and minds busy with a variety of fun
and interesting activities. Here are some suggestions of
summer activities that your child might enjoy.
- Enjoy Cloud Watching Together
On a nice sunny day when the sky is full of beautiful,
fluffy, white clouds, lie down with your child on the
ground and gaze up at the sky. Together imagine they are
animals, creatures, people, or monsters. Have fun as you
try to decide what the clouds look like.
- Make a Tepee
Give your child an old sheet which can be colorfully
decorated with markers, fabric crayons or fabric paint.
Let the sheet dry and then drape it over a card table for
an instant tepee. Help your child make an Indian head
dress out of construction paper and feathers.
- Blowing Big Bubbles
Blowing bubbles can be a great source of self amusement.
Shape a large homemade wand from a wire coat
hanger, making sure to wind any stray ends around the
main wire and to bind any sharp points with electrical or
duct tape. Have your child dip the wand in a large
container filled with bubble soap (recipe provided below)
and wave in the air to make big bubbles. Plastic
flyswatters with holes can also be used as bubble wands.
Bubble recipe: Mix l cup of dish detergent dishwashing
liquid, 8 cups water and 1 cup of corn syrup. The bubble
solution keeps well. Store the unused portion in a closed
container.
- Plant a Summer Flower or Vegetable Garden
This could be a small garden by itself or a small
portion of your family garden. Let your child help select
the seeds and plant them. As the plants grow, help him/
her water, weed, and care for the garden.
- Make a Mr. Green Grass
Have your child draw a face on plain paper or
Styrofoam cup. Fill the cup two-thirds full with soil and
add enough water to make the soil wet. Generously
sprinkle grass seed on top of the soil and cover the seeds
with another thin layer of soil. Place the cup by a sunny
window and wait for Mr. Green grass’s hair (the grass)
to grow.
- Magic Paint
For outdoor fun, take old paint brushes and coffee
cans filled with water out to the play area. Let your child
paint on the cement sidewalks, porches, or walls with
their magic paint.
-Plan a Scavenger Hunt
This can be an inside or an outside game. Make up a
list of fun items you want your child to find such as a
small rock, a bird feather, a twig, etc. If your child cannot
read, draw pictures of the items and write the name
underneath them. Go over the list so the child understands
what to look for and where to look. Give your
child a small bag or basket to put the collected treasures
in. Be sure to plan a special treat or surprise for when the
hunt is over.
- Chalk Drawing
Provide a variety of colored sidewalk chalk and
allow your children to express their creativity by drawing
on the driveway, sidewalk, or concrete patio.
Be sure to take a look at and compliment the masterpieces
designed by the young artist. Either you can wait
for the rain to wash the chalk away or you can provide a
water hose or a pail of water for clean up. On a warm day,
cleaning up with a water hose may be just as much fun as
drawing!
- Create Colorful Windsocks
For each windsock, cut a 2 x 16 inch strip of heavy
paper or poster board. Glue long 1-inch wide strips of
fabric or ribbon along the lower edge of the paper. Staple
the ends of the paper or poster board strip together to
form a circle.
Punch a small hole on each side of the circle and
attach a piece of yarn or string through it and tie. This is
what you will hang the windsock with. Hang the
windsock outdoors and watch it dance in the wind.
- Straw Painting
Provide a piece of construction paper with a small
blob of watered down tempera paint placed in the middle.
Give your child a plastic drinking straw (may be cut
in half to make shorter). Instruct them to blow through
the straw and move the paint around to make a design.
You may add more colors of paint if the child wants.
n Making Paper Hats
Place two pages from a newspaper on top of the
child’s head (cris-cross the pages). Press the paper down
around the top of the child’s head to form the top of the
hat. Have the child or someone else hold the paper in
place while you put a strip of masking tape around the
formed hat just above the child’s ears. Now let your child
be creative and roll or fold the edges to form a fancy or
funny hat. You may need to secure the rolled edges with
tape. The hat can also be painted and a feather or bright
colored ribbon can be added for a decorative touch.
- Items That Might Spark Interest
Put together a collection of items that will spark your
child’s interest and creativity. Some items might include:
prisms, magnets of different sizes, rulers, yardsticks,
tape measures, thermometers, scales, kaleidoscopes,
flashlights, magnifying glasses, measuring spoons
and cups, old clock, construction paper, scissors, glue,
washable markers, modeling clay and cookie cutters.
Check with your local library for books and other
resources on summer activities for children!

OFFICE INVASION!

We are going to draw our first winner next week. We will bring goodies from Crossroads Coffee Cafe and I deliver!

Click here to enter!

YOGURT CHICKEN

INGREDIENTS
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 (6 ounce) container plain low-fat yogurt
1 lemon, juiced
1 cup dried bread crumbs, seasoned
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
salt to taste
1/4 cup butter
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley


DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Place yogurt in a small bowl and stir until creamy smooth. Add lemon and stir together. (Note: If you do not stir the yogurt first, the lemon juice will make the yogurt curdle.) In a separate shallow dish or bowl combine the bread crumbs, garlic powder and salt to taste; mix together.
In a 9x13 inch baking dish place 1 scant pat of butter or margarine for each chicken breast. Rinse chicken breasts and pat dry. Dip each breast in the lemon/yogurt mixture, then in the bread crumb mixture (coating completely but not heavily).
Place coated chicken in the baking dish and top each breast with a full pat of butter or margarine. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

WEEKDAY WORKOUT

Sitting behind a desk all day is just as abusive
to the body as playing a contact sport and each
year, thousands of people suffer from
desk-related injuries such as lower back pain,
Carpal-Tunnel syndrome and arthritis.

Here are a few ways to get a quick workout without even leaving your office:
1. The Chair Squat: While sitting up
straight, slowly proceed to a standing position.
Keep your arms straight out for balance. Repeat and perform 15-25 repetitions.

2. Chair Triceps Dips: Secure your chair
against the wall and place hands at the end of
the chair. Bend your knees so your thighs and
lower legs form slightly more than a 90-degree
angle. Bend your elbows and slowly lower your
body. Straighten the elbows to raise the body up. Repeat for 12-20 repetitions.

3. In-Place Marching: Stand up straight with
arms at your sides. Now, slowly lift your left
leg until it is waist height. Next take your arms
and-in a big fashion-circle them. As your arms
circle forward, drop your left leg to the ground
and follow by raising your right leg. You will
proceed in this fashion for 25 total repetitions
of total forward arm circles. After completing 25
forward circles, continue marching in-place and
circle arms backwards for 25 repetitions.

4. Open the Hips: Sit tall in your chair,
while drawing your abdominals inward. Next, lift
your left foot off of the floor a few inches:
keep the knee bent and flex your toes towards the
ceiling. Hold this position for 20-30 seconds.
Finally, lower and repeat for 20 reps. Repeat on the other side.

How to Make Your Own Laundry Detergent

Things You'll Need:
Fels Naptha Bar Soap
Washing Soda
Borax
6 Cups Water
5 Gallon Bucket
Grater
Large Pot

Step 1
Using a large pot, add 4 cups of water and bring to a boil. Turn heat to medium-high.
Step 2
Grate half a bar of Fels Naptha and mix into the water until soap is dissolved. Then stir in 1/2 cup Borax and 1/2 cup washing soda and again stir until dissolved. At this point, it should look like soapy water.
Step 3
Add soap mixture to bucket and then add 4 more cups of hot water. Mix well and then add about a gallon and a half of cold water. Again, mix well - about 2 to 3 minutes.
Step 4
Let mixture sit overnight and by morning it should be the texture of gel. Use 1/2 to 1 cup per load of laundry.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Here's some Mother's Day stuff from today's show...

A new Salary.com study reveals that the average stay-at-home mother performs 10 jobs.
- The jobs include: housekeeper, day care center teacher, cook, computer operator, facilities manager, van driver, psychologist, laundry machine operator, janitor and chief executive officer.
- These 10 jobs equate to an annual salary of $122,732 for a stay-at-home mom. A working moms 'at-home' salary is $76,184 in 2009.

Mother's Day Facts

- 1.2 billion calls will be placed on Sunday
- The average American will send out 2.6 Mother's Day cards
- 27% of Americans will purchase Mother's Day gifts for their Mother-in-laws.
- KFC says Mother's Day is their biggest day of the year.
- FedEx Express says today will be one of their busiest days of the year because they will make nearly 25 times more domestic flower deliveries than on any other day during the year.

9 REASONS TO DRINK MORE COFFEE

9 Reasons to Drink More Coffee!

It helps you shed pounds
People who drank more metabolism-firing caffeine gained less weight over 12 years than those who cut back on the coffee, say researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

It powers your workouts
Downing coffee and toast between back-to-back workouts can keep you humming, a study from the Journal of Applied Physiology reports. Athletes who drank a caffeinated carbohydrate beverage after cycling had 66 percent more glycogen (an energy reserve) in their muscles than those who had a caffeine-free version. Replenishing glycogen helps you go farther and faster in your next session.

It helps you wake up refreshed
Drinking a cup of coffee immediately before taking a 15- to 30-minute catnap can leave you alert and rested after waking up, according to research from The Sleep Research Centre, Loughborough University in Leicestershire, England. Caffeine takes a half hour to kick in, so it will rouse you after a short snooze.

It can ward off illness
Increasing your coffee intake may prevent liver cancer, The National Institute of Environmental Medicine in Stockholm, Sweden, finds. Two cups of java daily lowered a person's risk by 43 percent on average. In another study from University of Minnesota at Minneapolis, women who drank coffee had a 24 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease and other inflammatory conditions. Antioxidants in coffee are likely behind the protective benefits.

It can ease muscle cramps
Women who had the caffeine equivalent of two cups of coffee the day after their quadriceps were stimulated (as if they'd done squats) felt 48 percent less leg pain within an hour, research from the University of Georgia in Athens reveals. Caffeine may block the body's receptors for the ouch-causing chemical adenosine, scientists speculate.

It makes cardio feel like a cinch
Women given the caffeine equivalent of about two cups of coffee an hour before cycling reported 40 percent less pain than those who went decaf, according to a study from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Caffeine seems to block neurotransmitters that signal discomfort during exercise, researchers say.

It helps you get want you want
Dealing with a difficult person? Broach a tough topic over a cup of joe. Caffeine may make people more open to persuasion, the European Journal of Social Psychology notes. Researchers say it hones cognitive function, causing skeptics to be more receptive to a convincing case.

It may fight breast cancer
Young women drinking four or more cups of caffeinated coffee daily reduced their breast cancer risk by 40 percent compared with nondrinkers, a study in the Journal of Nutrition finds. The caffeine and polyphenols in regular coffee protect against cancer. Worried about getting the jitters? Even two cups every day can help.

It improves recall!
Caffeine perks up short-term memory, a study from the Medical University of Innsbruck in Austria reveals. One cup of coffee may be all it takes; drink it before a big meeting to be your sharpest.

WHAT'S NECESSARY?

Throughout history, luxuries have become necessities. It may have even happened to you.
The Pew Research Center did a study recently and asked Americans what they deemed a "necessity."
* In 2006, 70 percent deemed air conditioning a necessity. This year the figure was down to 54 percent.
* Dishwashers, clothes dryers, microwave ovens and television sets are also seen as necessities by fewer people now than in 2006.
* 52 percent of us think a television is a necessity. That is the lowest figure since that question was first asked in 1973. The older you are, the more likely you are to view it as a necessity.
* Similarly, the young are more likely to view a cell phone as a necessity, and less likely to see a need for a landline.
* There’s been no significant change in the number deeming a computer for home use to be a necessity (50 percent this year, 51 percent in 2006).
* The proportion who deem high-speed Internet service to be a necessity also showed no significant change (31 percent this year, 29 percent in 2006).
* 4 percent of Americans think an iPod is a necessity

What "luxury" is absolutely "necessary" to you?

Hi!

I just wanted to thank everyone who particapated in our "C" is for cookie contest for tickets to Seasame Street Live's "Elmo's Green Thumb." They were all winners!

Thanks to you for listening! Have a great weekend!

Tim

Click here to see the video replays of the "C is for Cookie" contest!

TAX DAY SPECIALS!

The following restaurants are offering April 15th tax specials.
- Select McDonald’s: Buy one Quarter Pounder with Cheese or Big Mac and get a second sandwich for just one penny.
- P.F. Chang’s is offering a 15% Tax Day discount on Wednesday
- T.G.I. Friday’s is giving guests $5 Bonus Bites cards for purchases between $15 and $25, and $10 Bonus Bites cards for purchases of more than $25. The cards will only be available at participating restaurants in the United States.
- Cinnabon bakeries will offer free Classic Bites from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 15th. The offer is not valid at airport or travel plaza locations.
- McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants will offer a $10.40 entree menu on Wednesday.
- Taco Del Mar is giving away a free taco on Tax Day to each customer who comes in with a printable coupon. Coupons can be found at http://download.tacodelmar.com/email/2009Tax/Tax2009.htm and are good only on April 15th.

SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE

In this day and time its pretty easy to find someone experiencing online sociability fatigue.
As social networking grows, from stream-of- consciousness Twitter to buttoned-up LinkedIn, even some of the very young people who've helped drive these sites' growth are asking for a break.
A recent survey from the Pew Internet & American Life Project found that 45 percent of us are enthusiastic about socializing via computer and mobile devices. Meanwhile, 48 percent are indifferent to Internet social networks, overwhelmed by gadgets or often avoiding Internet use altogether.

MOST BEAUTIFUL

When asked what the most beautiful region of the Unites States was:
-37 percent said the West
-16 percent said the Northeast
-16 percent said the South
-13 percent said the Midwest

Where do you think the most beautiful spot of the country is?

MORE FREE FOOD

Denny's gave away some 2 million Grand Slam breakfasts on Feb. 3. Now they're at it again with the "Pass Along Grand Slam Kindness" promotion.
From 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, you can get a free Grand Slamwich for a friend when you order a Grand Slam for yourself.

**FYI: The Grand Slamwich consists of scrambled eggs, seasoned sausage, bacon, shaved ham, mayonnaise and American cheese grilled on potato bread with a maple spiced spread. It is served with hash browns, and normally costs $4.99.

MORE PRODUCTIVE?

A new University of Melbourne study reveasls that surfing the Internet for fun while at work increases productivity. Researcher Brent Coker says those who spent time on Facebook and Twitter, among other sites, were 9% more productive that those who didn't surf. "Short and unobtrusive breaks, such as a quick surf of the Internet, enables the mind to rest itself, leading to a higher total net concentration for a days' work, and as a result, increased productivity."
Other findings:
- 70% of people who use the net at work engage in "WILB" or "workplace Internet leisure browsing." - most popular WILB activities are searching for information about products, reading online news sites, playing online games and watching videos on YouTube.

For Sale

In a cash-strapped Idaho high school where signs taped near every light switch remind the staff to save electricity, an enterprising teacher has struck a sponsorship deal with a local pizza
shop: Every test, handout and worksheet he passes out to his students reads MOLTO'S PIZZA 14" 1 TOPPING JUST $5 in bright red, inch-high letters printed along the bottom of every page.
Jeb Harrison, who teaches history and economics, said that he was just trying to save money. Molto Caldo Pizzeria, about a mile from the high school, agreed to supply paper for Harrison's five classes - 10,000 sheets, valued at $315, and imprinted with a pizza ad.

Would you have a problem with these type of ads if they appeared in your children’s homework?

Money Wasters

A new report says that businesses are wasting
billions of dollars by leaving their PCs on at
night. U.S. organizations squander $2.8 billion a
year to power unused machines, emitting about 20
million tons of carbon dioxide roughly the equivalent of 4 million cars.
About half of 108 million office PCs in the USA
are not properly shut down at night.

**FYI: The report says. If the world's 1 billion
PCs were powered down just one night, it would
save enough energy to light the Empire State
Building inside and out for over 30 years.

Deal Of The Day

You can find a few fabulous finds from Coupon
Cravings.com, including free facial cleansers and
body creams at Bath & Body Works and free
anti-perspirant at Walgreens. Plus, score a free
copy of Rachael Ray's new book, Rachael Ray's Big Orange Book.
You can also get a free Roastburger at Arby's or a free sub at Quiznos.

**On the web: <http://www.couponcravings.com>www.couponcravings.com.

Running Late

Does your morning routine typically include hitting the snooze button and scrambling to get out the door? A recent CareerBuilder.com survey found that 20 percent of workers said they arrive late to work at least once a week, up from 15 percent in last year’s survey. One-in-ten said they are late at least twice a week. Actual reasons for coming in late vary from worker to worker, but traffic was the main culprit with one-third (33 percent) of workers claiming it caused their tardiness. Nearly a quarter (24 percent) said lack of sleep, while 10 percent said getting their kids ready for school or day care was the main reason. Other common reasons included public transportation, wardrobe issues or dealing with pets.

**Hiring managers provided the following examples of the most outrageous excuses employees offered for arriving late to work:·

My heat was shut off so I had to stay home to keep my snake warm.

My husband thinks it’s funny to hide my car keys before he goes to work.

I walked into a spider web on the way out the door and couldn’t find the spider, so I had to go inside and shower again.

I got locked in my trunk by my son.

My left turn signal was out so I had to make all right turns to get to work.

A gurney fell out of an ambulance and delayed traffic.

I was attacked by a raccoon and had to stop by the hospital to make sure it wasn’t rabid.

I feel like I’m in everyone’s way if I show up on time.

My father didn’t wake me up.

A groundhog bit my bike tire and made it flat.

My driveway washed away in the rain last night.

I had to go to bingo.

Website Of The Day

It’s a great website for moms and dads!
Handmedowns.com is a one stop destination for
buying, selling, or donating gently used items –
everything from strollers to books and toys.
The site features its own listing, along with
handpicked items from other Web classifieds.

**FYI: The service is free!
**On the web: <http://www.handmedowns.com>www.handmedowns.com.

Rise and Shine!

Losing an hour of sleep to daylight savings time can make anyone grumpy. Maybe a new alarm clock would help!
Thinkgeek.com has one that is sure to get you out of bed in the morning! The Flying Alarm clock retails for $25. Basically, you can’t hit a snooze button. It emits an eye-opening siren noise and shoots a mini-helicopter up to 8 feet in the air. You catch it, grab the key and use it to quiet the alarm.

**And then go back to bed!

FYI: This Sunday March 8th at 2:00 am we "Spring" forward one hour!

SQUARE ROOT DAY

Dust off the slide rules and recharge the calculators. Square Root Day is upon us.
The math-buffs' holiday, which only occurs nine times each century, is today - 3/3/09 (for the mathematically challenged, three is the square root of nine).
The last such day was five years ago, Feb. 2, 2004, which coincided with Groundhog Day. The next is seven years away, on April 4, 2016.

Famplosion.com!

www.famplosion.com

The theme of this great new Web site is “Do Stuff Together.” The site is set up so that it is easy to navigate and search for fun, local stuff to do and places to go with your kids. All major venues are listed and there are filters for age suitability, price and distance. Major categories include zoos, libraries, science and discovery museums, local performances and great places for birthday parties. The site is based out of San Francisco, but covers several markets and is rapidly adding new locales.

Website Of The Day

www.prodepot.com

This new Web site helps the unemployed become entrepreneurs by giving them a free marketing Web page. With many parts of the country experiencing double digit unemployment, a large number of professionals are now in need of work. Prodepot.com helps these professionals by offering a user friendly site that allows them to download their resume, photos, rates and availability by simply attaching their photos and pasting their information into text boxes. The site then creates a standard Web page from the information – very easy even for the computer novice. The site operates by adding an administrative fee to each professional’s hourly rate. Businesses can simply go to the site and click on “Looking for a Pro?” This will take them to a directory of professionals that they can view without registration or payment. Professionals wishing to join can go to the site and click on “Are You a Pro?” link. Then click “Join for Free” and enter your information.

Dove Nominations

Chris Tomlin leads this year’s group of Dove Award nominees with seven nods, including one for Artist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Song of the Year. Following Tomlin, with five nominations each, are Natalie Grant, Francesca Battistelli and Casting Crowns, who, like Tomlin, will be vying for the Artist of the Year award along with Steven Curtis Chapman, Fireflight, Marvin Sapp, Third Day, and TobyMac. This year, fans can vote in the Artist of the Year and New Artist of the Year Categories at www.gospelmusicchannel.com and www.doveawards.com starting February 26th. Voting continues through the live Dove Awards broadcast on April 23rd. The Dove Awards takes place at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. The major nominees:

Song Of The Year: “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” (Chris Tomlin), “Cinderella” (Steven Curtis Chapman), “Empty Me” (Chris Sligh), “Give Me Your Eyes” (Brandon Heath), “I Will Not Be Moved” (Natalie Grant), “I’m Letting Go” (Francesca Battistelli), “Mighty to Save” (Hillsong), “Never Going Back to OK” (The Afters), “Reason Enough” (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound) and “You Reign” (MercyMe).
Artist Of The Year: Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, Fireflight, Marvin Sapp, Third Day, TobyMac and Chris Tomlin.
New Artist Of The Year: Addison Road, Francesca Battistelli, Fee, Jonathan Nelson, Remedy Drive, Chris Sligh and Tenth Avenue North.
Male Vocalist Of The Year: Jeremy Camp, Jon Foreman, Ernie Haase, Brandon Heath, David Phelps, Marvin Sapp and Chris Tomlin.
Female Vocalist Of The Year: Francesca Battistelli, Brooke Fraser, Karen Peck Gooch, Natalie Grant, Mandisa, Sandi Patty and Laura Story.
Group Of The Year: Casting Crowns, David Crowder Band, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Mary Mary, MercyMe, Skillet and Third Day.

WEBSITE OF THE DAY

You may or may not know about www.RepairPal.com.
A website that hopes to provide drivers with the
most accurate, unbiased and useful car ownership
information available. RepairPal can find out the
estimated cost of repairs for any make or model
made after 1990. You choose your zip code, car
details and then select a specific repair.
In moments, you are given an estimated cost or
repairs, broken down by parts and labor and what
you should expect to pay at an independent shop versus a dealership.

COUPON CLIPPER

Consumer Reports says the average person can save $678 a year by using coupons on a regular basis. Other findings by ICOM Information & Communications:
- 20% of consumers say coupon-cutting feels awkward- 57% of the survey's 3,013 respondents said they could care less about appearing frugal just as long as there's money to be saved- half of the respondents said they have recently begun using more coupons- 26% of consumers 35 and younger say they have less inhibition about using coupons than they used to--with 20% saying they were embarrassed at one time, but are not now because of the need to save money, while 6% say they are simply less self-conscious.

BEST JOB IN THE WORLD

The Australian state of Queensland is looking to drum up tourism during an economic slowdown so they have launched a search for an individual to fill what they're touting as "the best job in the world."Once hired, the winner, who will earn $105,000, will walk on white sand, snorkel in some of the most beautiful beaches on Earth, live rent-free in an oceanfront home and then brag to the world on just how much fun they’re having using weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates.**FYI: To apply, visitwww.islandreefjob.com by February 22.

BEFORE FILING

Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you file:
· Did You Take the Right Charitable
Donations Deductions? It used to be that up to $250 in contributions could be claimed as a deduction without a receipt. However, starting in 2008, the IRS requires that filers provide receipts for all cash donations, even that $5 you gave to the Salvation Army bell ringer over the holidays.
· Did You Report All Your Income? If you
earned some extra cash from freelancing, just because you didn't get a 1099 form doesn't mean you're off the hook.
· Did You Take the Right Meals &
Entertainment Deductions? If you took a client out to dinner and discussed business immediately before, after or during your meal, then generally, 50 percent of the bill is tax-deductible. But you must have a receipt for expenses of $75 or more, containing the name of the restaurant, location, the amount paid the person you were with and the business discussion that occurred.
· Did You Take the Right Business Travel
Deductions? If you traveled within the U.S. for business, you may deduct 100 percent of the cost of getting and staying there (airfare, rental car or taxi, hotel). Personal expenses -- say, a ticket to a museum -- are not deductible.
· Did You Take the Right Home Office
Deductions? Just because you do a little work in your home doesn't mean you can take a home office deduction. In fact, most people don't qualify for this deduction because they need to use the space regularly and exclusively for business. If you use the home-office computer for personal matters, the home-office deduction is disallowed.

VALENTINES ON A BUDGET

If you think that you have to spend a lot of
money to have a romantic Valentine’s Day, think
again. Here are some fun and fancy and free ideas.
· Get a Move On - No need for expensive
lessons here -- there are endless resources on
the Internet that can teach you any type of
dance. Just search for what you want to learn and put your dancing shoes on.
· Gourmet Romance - Instead of serving up
the usual -- your sweetie's favorite dish --
spend some quality time together in the kitchen
and make a brand-new recipe out of the ingredients you have at hand.
· Movie Night - Grab your favorite DVD
(bonus points for a classic love story or
romantic comedy), stick some popcorn in the microwave, and cuddle on the couch.

Any other ideas??

FIRST TO DO IT

Jennifer Figge pressed her toes into the Caribbean sand, exhilarated and exhausted as she touched land this week for the first time in almost a month. Reaching a beach in Trinidad, she became the first woman on record to swim across the Atlantic Ocean a dream she'd had since the early 1960s.
The 56-year-old left the Cape Verde Islands off Africa's western coast on Jan. 12.

GO RED FOR WOMEN

Today is National Wear Red For Women Day, kicking off the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" cardiovascular disease campaign. Get more information at http://www.goredforwomen.org/

Kids' Advice on Love and Marriage

Kids' Advice on Love and Marriage
Author: Provided by Every Marriage Matters

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHOM TO MARRY?

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. * Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. * Kirsten, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?

Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. * Camille, age 10


No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married. * Freddie, age 6

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?

You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. * Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?

Both don't want any more kids. * Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?

Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. * Lynnette, age 8

On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. * Martin, age 10

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?

I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns. * Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?

When they're rich. * Pam, age 7

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that. * Curt, age 7

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. * Howard, age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?

It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. * Anita, age 9

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?

There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there? * Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favorite is........HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?

Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck. * Ricky, age 10

SEVEN MINUTE WORKOUT

We've heard time and time again that people should be active almost daily to stave off weight gain and disease. But busy people want to know:
What's the least amount of exercise I can get away with and still stay healthy? The answer will shock you... try seven minutes.
According to British researchers, just seven minutes of exercise weekly may prevent diabetes by controlling your blood sugar. Here's the
catch: The exercise has to be vigorous.

FREE BREAKFAST

During its Super Bowl ad Sunday night, Denny's announced that it would be giving away a free Grand Slam breakfast to anyone who visits its locations today (Tuesday, February 3) between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Denny's estimates that it will give away two million breakfasts as part of the promotion. The company will be offering coupon books with the Grand Slams.

Burning The Calories

Simple ways to burn a few:
* Take a comedy break - Research shows that
laughing for 10 to 15 minutes (like when watching
a funny half-hour sitcom) can burn about 40
calories. It's a small number by itself but a
daily chuckle could add up to a loss of about four pounds over a year.
* Do crunches in bed - Simply draw your knees
toward your chest 25 to 50 times to rev your
energy, tone your belly and burn 15 to 20
calories. Add a set at night to double your burn.
* Dance while you dress - Burn extra calories
as you get dressed and pack lunches.
* Circle the block - Research shows that the
more comfortable your clothes, the more active
you'll be throughout the day. Make it a rule to
wear shoes comfy enough for a five-mile walk, and
look for ways to add in bits of strolling all day long.
* Stand up more – You can boost your
metabolism simply by spending more time on your feet.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

From Kim...

This is so easy and really good.
1 bottle Kraft Catalina Fat Free dressing
1 jar Apricot/Pineapple preserves (sm/med size jar)
1/4 C Soy or Worcteshire sauce
2 T sesame seeds
1 Package frozen meatballs - your favorite; beef, turkey, or vegetarian
Mix the dressing, preserves, sauce and sesame seeds in a mixing bowl. Put meatballs in a 13X 9 in baking dish, pour sauce mix over the meatballs. Bake at 350 till hot and bubbly. Can be put in a crockpot if desired. Can't mess this up. Serve alone or over rice.
Enjoy :o)

Thanks Kim

More Simple Super Snacks

This from Robb in Salem..

Take two packages of "Little Smokies", one bottle of your favorite bar-b-que sauce and 3 Tablespoons brown sugar. Pour it all into the crock pot and let it cook on low for about four hours. It doesn't get much easier and it always seems to be the first thing gone!

Thanks Robb!

More Super Food!

From Marcia...

1 Can Refried Beans1 LB Hamburger, browned and seasoned with a package of Taco Seasoning 1 Pkg. Shredded Cheese, either Sharp Cheddar, or Pepper Jack1 Jar of Pace Picante Sauce1 Container of Sour CreamGuacamole, either homemade or from a container (found in the dip section of most grocery stores)1 can sliced olives Layer all ingredients in a 9X11 pan and serve with a big spoon and a bag of tortilla chips for dipping. You may also add chopped tomatoes and green onions to the top, then it is 9 layer dip, not 7 layer as the recipe says! I love this dip, it is so hardy that it is a meal in itself!

Thanks Marcia!

Scott's Sweet Meatball Recipe

Scott sent this in...

1 can of Chili w/No Beans
1 jar of grape jelly
1 package of frozen meatballs

Combine ingredients in crock pot.

Cook until meatballs are hot in the center. It usually takes me about 3 - 4 hours on a low setting.

Thanks Scott!

Chili Chesse Dip

Heres what you need..
Velvetta Cheese or Cream Cheese (block works best)
Chili with bean (any prepared chili of your choice)
Red Pepper
Chuncky Salsa
Microwave Safe Bowl
Chips or crackers of your choice.

Step 1 - Prepare Chili. Cooking on the stove works best, however, you can prepare the chili in a microwave. Add seasoning as desired. The chili should be heated to warm temperature, not to a boil.
Step 2 - Cut the cheese in to small blocks or scoop from jar and place in microwave safe bowl, save a few blocks for later
Step 3 - Pour chili over the cheese and add the remaining cheese to the top. You can also add just a scoop of salsa for added flavor.
Step 4 - Microwave for 3 minutes. Stir and heat for an additional 2 minutes or until cheese is completely melted.
Step 5 - Transfer mixture to another bowl and serve hot with chips or crackers.

This Sunday

Rookie Super Bowl advertiser Kellogg's Frosted Flakes hopes to make a gr-r-reat first impression by using its high-priced ad time to promote doing good. The breakfast biggie's 30-second spot asks viewers to go to FrostedFlakes.com and nominate a kids playing field to be rebuilt on Kellogg's dime.
It won't have the field to itself for charity messages, however. Another first-timer, Pedigree pet foods, will promote dog adoption to the more than 90 million viewers expected on Feb. 1.

**FYI: Kellogg and Pedigree won't say what they paid for the time, but NBC has said 30-second slots are averaging $3 million.

..oh and GO CARDINALS! Kurt Warner, the Arizona Quarterback, is a really good guy.

Doing It Right

Cold and flu season is here, filling the streets with a great chorus of coughing, dripping, hacking, sniffling humanity. And there's one cheap, easy, clinically proven way to avoid joining them. Wash your hands.
Here's the drill: Scrub vigorously with water and soap for about 20 seconds until lather appears, making sure to get between your fingers and fingernails. Use a nail brush if you have one.
Briskly dry with a towel. Do it often and you'll stay a lot healthier 24 percent less like to get a respiratory illness and 45 percent to 50 percent less likely to get a stomach bug

**FYI: When people wash their hands, only 33 percent use soap and only 16 percent adequately wash. The average hand-washing time is 11 seconds.

10 Careers that Top $30 per Hour

From Yahoo.com

In just 60 minutes, you could earn enough to pay for a tank of gas, the cable bill, gym membership, or dinner out. Thirty dollars still covers some of life's essential costs. Earn that much in just one hour on the job, and you have enough to build a comfortable life.
The latest U.S. Census Bureau figures put the median household income in the U.S. at $50,233. A $30-per-hour job brings in $62,400 before taxes, or 20% more than the national median. For many people, this extra margin is just one promotion or one credential away. To boost your economic security, consider these 10 careers with salary data as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Database Administrator Mean Hourly Wage: $33.78 Salary: $70,260
Database administrators perform a vital role in our information economy, managing the database systems that help companies store, process, and access data effectively. Job growth is stunning in this high-demand field as well -- the profession is expected to grow 37 percent through 2016. Continuing education is a must to keep up with evolving technology, but entry requirements are modest. You can launch this $30-plus-an-hour career with an associate's degree in database administration or information technology.

Registered NurseMean Hourly Wage: $30.04 Salary: $62,480
Historic demand for registered nurses is inspiring many people to reinvent themselves as health care practitioners. Nursing is projected to generate more new jobs than any other profession -- an estimated 587,000 positions through 2016, which represents a 23% increase in a decade. To take advantage of this boom, head to nursing school for your bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN). Accelerated programs are available for career changers who already have a bachelor degree in another field.

Technical Writer Median Hourly Wage: $30.18 Salary: $62,780
Technical writers interpret engineering and scientific information for a lay audience, producing product documentation, user manuals, project proposals, and scientific reports. Most writers come to the field with a college bachelor's degree in a communications or liberal arts field. Some colleges offer specialized certificate programs in technical communication, which incorporate IT literacy training.

Fashion Designer Median Hourly Wage: $34.22 Salary: $71,170
Fashion design has the reputation as an all-or-nothing labor of love -- you begin as a starving artist and ultimately attain celebrity stature designing haute couture. In fact, the majority of fashion designers -- 3 in 4 designers -- work secure, salaried jobs for apparel manufacturers. What these artists give up in suffering and glamour they make up for in a solid and stable paycheck. A job as a salaried fashion designer starts with an associate's or bachelor's degree in fashion design.

Accountant Median Hourly Wage: $30.11 Salary: $62,640
Accountants should have no trouble finding work as businesses throughout the economy sort through the financial rubble of the credit crisis. Mounting federal regulation will also contribute to demand for trained accountants. Accountants working for accounting and bookkeeping services earn upwards of $30 per hour. These employers hire trained professionals with a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance.

Environmental ScientistMedian Hourly Wage: $30.71 Salary: $63,870
Environmental scientists will be the heroes of the coming era, developing much-needed strategies to redress environmental damage to soil, water, and air. The field is expected to grow 25% in response to new federal regulations and funding, as well as private investment. A bachelor's degree in earth sciences will get you started in this fascinating and important field. Many scientists go on to a master's degree to secure the best opportunities.
K-12 Curriculum DesignerMedian Hourly Wage: $30.87 Salary: $64,220
Curriculum designers are at the forefront of educational research, developing new instructional materials and strategies to improve the quality of education in our nation's schools. The job typically calls for a graduate-level degree in the field, such as a master's degree in education (M.Ed.).

Dental Hygienist Mean Hourly Wage: $31.21 Salary: $64,910
To make about the same amount of money with a two-year associate's degree, enroll in a dental hygiene program. Dental hygienists work alongside dentists to promote oral health and hygiene. Hygienists enjoy distinction as one of the nation's fastest growing occupations, with 30% growth expected through 2016.

Detectives and Criminal Investigators Median Hourly Wage: $30.05 Salary: $62,500
Solving crimes is all in a day's work for these criminal justice professionals. Criminal investigators can build their skill set by completing an associate's degree in criminal justice, where they take courses in crime scene investigation, criminal investigation procedures, and more. The Bureau of Labor Statistics rates job opportunities as "excellent."

Television Producer Median Hourly Wage: $31.66 Salary: $65,850
Producers coordinate the television features we enjoy, from sitcoms to dramas to the nightly news. To build the necessary skill set, producers enter the field with an associate's or bachelor's degree in mass communications or broadcast media.
A tight economy hasn't stopped employers in these ten fields from hiring qualified grads. With the right degree, you can upgrade your career and find job security in the form of a $30-an-hour paycheck.

Beef and Bean Casserole

I love this! Thanks Becky!

Cook Time: 7 hours
Ingredients:
6 to 8 ounces bacon, diced
1 pound lean ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup molasses
1 tablespoon prepared mustard, regular or Dijon style
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 cans (16 ounces each) pork and beans in tomato sauce, undrained
1 can (15 ounces) can kidney beans, undrained
1 can (15 oz) lima beans or butter beans, drained
Preparation:Cook bacon in large skillet until lightly browned. Remove from skillet; drain on paper towels. Discard bacon drippings in skillet; brown the ground beef and onion until beef is no longer pink. Drain off excess fat. In a 3 1/2 to 5-quart slow cooker, combine bacon, ground beef, onion, and all remaining ingredients; mix to blend. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.

Turning A Profit

Web developer George Huger says he turned $5 into $35,000 when he bought the expired Internet domain name for former President George W. Bush's presidential library and then sold it back.
Huger was searching through a list of expiring domain names two years ago when he noticed the Web address www.GeorgeWBushLibrary.com was about to expire.
He bought the rights for $5, then sat on them for two years. Huger says he recently sold them for $35,000.

**FYI: Rights to the new president's address, BarackObamaLibrary.com, are already taken.

00PS

It didn't take long for Barack Obama to make the first mistake of his presidency.
In the third sentence of his inaugural speech yesterday, the newly sworn-in president said, "Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath." While there have been 44 presidential administrations, there have been only 43 presidents; Grover Cleveland served two nonconsecutive terms in the late 1800s.

I have a feeling that he’s heard about it, too!

Sign Of The Times

Hawaiian patients with a sore throat, high fever or mystery rash will now be able to bypass the waiting room and find a physician's care just a click away. Doctors plan to start making online house calls in the nation's first large-scale program of its kind that some believe could be a groundbreaking step in health care.
Computers equipped with a Web camera are used to set up live, face-to-face consultations where patients describe their symptoms and even show anything from a rash to a wound. They could get questions answered; get advice or prescriptions for anything but controlled substances.

Can I do the same with the dentist, please?

Have a nice weekend!

Blessings,
Tim

Best Job In The World

The Australian state of Queensland is looking to drum up tourism during an economic slowdown so they have launched a search for an individual to fill what they're touting as "the best job in the world."
Once hired, the winner, who will earn $105,000, will walk on white sand, snorkel in some of the most beautiful beaches on Earth, live rent-free in an oceanfront home and then brag to the world on just how much fun they’re having using weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates.

**FYI: To apply, visit
www.islandreefjob.com by February 22.

Online filing

If you want a quick tax refund then file your federal tax returns electronically. With tax season approaching, the Internal Revenue Service says it is expanding a program that enables you to file returns online at no charge, promising refunds much faster than for those who mail in paper forms.
Taxpayers who file electronically can receive refunds in as few as 10 days, compared to six to eight weeks for those filing paper returns.

**FYI: Nearly 90 million taxpayers filed online last year, about 58 percent of all returns. The IRS Oversight Board has set a goal of having 80 percent of taxpayers file online by 2012.

Sleepwalking

We found this in the news today...

Will Fee is recovering from frostbite after a night of sleepwalking in his bare feet. The Minneapolis native walked for six blocks, until a neighbor saw him and called the police. He says they took him home and woke him up. "When I looked at my toes, I thought, they're going to have to come off." . Fee has blisters, which could be equivalent to second-degree burns.

The calls started coming in. Stories of people moving furniture, cooking and even cutting hair while they were asleep. Amazing and a bit scary. Here is some information on Sleepwalking...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleepwalking

The Furminator

My Dog Jake sheds quite a bit and this deShedding tool did work very well. A listener recommended it. Here is the website. http://www.furminator.com/
The tool is not cheap. Try eBay and Amazon to save a few dollars.

Good Dog!

We where talking about Pets this morning and Cynthia is allergic so we discussed Dogs that would not get her allergies going. Seems anything with a "oodle" in it is good. Here are some more...

The American Kennel Club (AKC ®), largest registry of purebred dogs in the world, developed a list of breeds they believe are associated with less dander. They include:
Bedlington Terrier. With the look of a lamb, this terrier is a wonderful companion. Most often seen with a blue haircoat, this breed sheds little, resulting in less dander and easier breathing for the allergy sufferer.
Bichon Frise. The bichon is not only a great lapdog, but the curly-coated white breed produces little dander, making the dog a wonderful companion for people with allergies. To keep him looking great, the bichon needs periodic trips to the groomer.
Chinese Crested. This breed is slowly gaining popularity. Not completely bald, the Chinese crested has some puffs of hair on the head and may have a very spotted skin. Despite his weird appearance, the Chinese crested is a great family pet.
Irish Water Spaniel. Even though he may look like the clown of the spaniel family, the Irish water spaniel is the tallest spaniel and a great water dog. The coat of the Irish water spaniel is his most distinguishing characteristic.
Kerry Blue Terrier. The hair coat of the Kerry blue is silky soft and dense. The coat can be curly or wavy but should not be wiry or harsh. The Kerry blue does require frequent grooming
Maltese. As the name suggests, the small Maltese originated on the island of Malta, in the Mediterranean. This diminutive breed looks fragile but is quite resilient. The long flowing white coat needs daily care but sheds little and produces small amounts of dander.
Poodle. The standard, miniature and toy poodle make excellent pets. These dogs crave human companionship and, for the allergy sufferer, produce little dander. The breed does require attentive grooming to keep his coat in tip-top shape.
Portuguese Water Dog. Bred to help the fishermen of Portugal, this breed is as happy on land as he is in the water. Another dog that produces little dander and doesn't shed much, the Portuguese water dog is a faithful and active companion
.Schnauzer. (Miniature, Standard or Giant) The most common coat color is salt and pepper but black is also available. In order to keep their coat clean and tangle free, frequent grooming and clipping is necessary
.Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. A medium sized terrier, the wheaten seems to love life and human companionship. The color is any shade of wheaten. The soft coated wheaten has a soft wavy hair coat in any shade of wheaten.
Xoloitzcuintli or Mexican Hairless. Comes in 3 sizes and in two varieties: hairless and coated. The colors are: black, bronze and grey.

Just A Jammin'

A car key that prevents teens from talking on cell phones or text messaging while driving has been developed by University of Utah researchers.
The Key2SafeDriving system includes a device that encloses a car key. The device connects wirelessly with the user's cell phone.
To turn on the engine, the user must slide the key out of the device or push a button to release it. The device then sends a signal to the driver's cell phone, placing it in "driving mode." When in driving mode, the cell phone can't be used to talk or send text messages. It can call 911 or dial numbers pre-approved by parents, such as their cell phone numbers.

Now we just need a button to get all of the friends out of the car when our kids are driving!

Enjoy the Sun! Have a great weekend and God Bless.

Top Dogs and Help Wanted

The top ten pet names for dogs have been
revealed. Veterinary Pet Insurance, a pet health
insurance provider, went through its database of
more than 450,000 insured pets to find the most popular monikers of 2008.
The company found that traditional pet names,
such as Fido, took a back seat to "people" names last year.

**The TOP 10:
1. Max
2. Bailey
3. Bella
4. Molly
5. Lucy
6. Buddy
7. Maggie
8. Daisy
9. Sophie
10. Chloe

My Lab's name is Jake. We found out Cynthia is allergic to dogs so Art called and told us about the Labradoodle. His son is very allergic to dogs but not a Labradoodle because there hair is fleece like and they don't shed much if at all. Here's a link to more on the Labradoddle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labradoodle


HELP WANTED

Nursing jobs are the exception in an economy
riddled with job cuts in nearly every industry.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts
about 233,000 additional jobs will open for
registered nurses each year through 2016, on top
of about 2.5 million existing positions. But only
about 200,000 candidates passed the Registered
Nurse licensing exam last year, and thousands of
nurses leave the profession each year.

**FYI: Registered nurses made an average of
$62,480 in 2007, ranging from a mean of $78,550
in California to $49,140 in Iowa, according to
government statistics. Including overtime,
usually abundantly available, the most
experienced nurses can earn more than $100,000.

The Winter Blues

If you get down when sunshine and warmth are in short supply this winter, you will not be alone.
Dawn LaFrance, assistant director of counseling and psychological services at Colgate University, offers these tips for beating the winter blues:
* Take fun seriously. Find a sport or outdoor activity that makes you look forward to cold, like hiking or cross-country skiing. Getting your heart pumping can increase your endorphins and positively affect your mood.
* See the light. Don't stay indoors when it's cold out -- bundle up and get some rays. Natural sun can do wonders for depression; so get out of the office or the house as much as possible during the daylight hours.
* Seek friendly help. Let others help you.
When you're feeling sad, call up a loved one and schedule a time to get some coffee and talk.
* Talk to a pro. The winter blues can be a symptom of a bigger problem, such as depression.