Vol. 39 No. 187
December 2018
Dedicated to the Performance & Advancement for the Real Estate Manager
Next meeting is Our Annual Holiday Party and Vendor Appreciation Night at The India House Club at One Hanover Square. Doors open at 7:00pm.
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THE BEST HOLIDAY PARTY OF THE SEASON IS SET FOR
DECEMBER 6TH.
AND THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S FESTIVITIES WILL ONCE AGAIN BE
"UGLY HOLIDAY SWEATER NIGHT". Dress code for this event is business casual or wear your best/worst Ugly Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa sweater or suit. This night is also our 2018 Associate Members Appreciation Night; so entrance is FREE for ONE member of your organization in good standing. Cost to attend is $50.00 for ALL Members & Guests. This includes Open Bar, a great buffet, music, dancing and some serious Holiday Cheer!! Prizes to be awarded for "Ugliest" Holiday outfit (both men & women) as well as a prize for the most festive outfit of the evening. COME ONE, COME ALL... All are invited and you are more than welcome to bring some friends.
REMEMBER!!! NEW LOCATION.... "India House Club" is located at One Hanover Square, former HQ of the NY Cotton Exchange & Hanover Bank. The Festivities start at 7:00pm and concludes at 11:00pm
YOUR 2019 CLUB DUES ARE DUE!
This is just a friendly reminder to ALL Members that your 2019 Annual Dues Notice has been sent via the US mail. For Regular & Life Members, your payment is due no later than December 31st in order to remain on the CLUB's Group Term Life Insurance Policy. The CLUB will be accepting checks, cash & credit card payments at the Annual Holiday Party on December 6th at the India House Club.
If you can not attend the Holiday Party and would like to pay your dues via the the US mail, please make check payable to:
Manhattan Resident Managers Club, Inc.
P.O. Box 1144 New York, NY 10021 ATTN: Financial Secretary
Regular Member Renewal is: $350.00 Associate Member Renewal is: $275.00 Affiliate Member Renewal is: $350.00 Life Member Renewal is: $200.00
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A
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PRESIDENT: joe cervini 917-588-4922 jcervini@mac.com
MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. ORgANizED 1980 P.O. Box 1144 New York, NY 10021
VICE-PRESIDENT: ben floreS 917-860-5811 benjieflores3@gmail.com TREASURER: PatricK Mcenaney 917-699-5231
OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE:
McEnaney.patrick@gmail.com
FIN.SECRETARY:
Our next Club meeting will be our Annual Holiday Party on Thursday, December 6, 2018 at India House Club. The Club is located at One Hanover Square and the party begins at 7:00pm.
Steve Mala 212-861-2073 Steve.Mala@yahoo.com SECRETARY:
Dress-code is business casual or you are strongly encouraged to wear your Ugly Christmas, Hanukah, or Kwanza sweater/suit.
Steve KuKaj (917) 339-7166 kukaj01@gmail.com
General admission fee is $50.00 per person.
TRUSTEES:
Laszlo Karsai
John Szabo
Dean Berishaj
CLUB NEWSLETTER
Frank Pomponi
Louis Parrilla Publisher 917-750-4117 resmgr524@gmail.com
Peter Guzman Business Manager 917-837-1390 pgu3911250@aol.com
Ben Flores Editor 917-860-5811 benjieflores3@gmail.com
Any Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Manhattan Resident Managers Club,Inc., or its members. The Manhattan Resident Managers Club Inc. reserves the absolute right, at its sole discretion, to accept or decline requests or submissions for advertising or other copy in its Newsletter or in any Club publication.
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the resident’s essage
pm Joseph Cervini President
2018 Resident Manager of the Year
Welcome to the December Newsletter!
On behalf of the Officers and Trustees, I would like to thank all of our members & guests for attending our November meeting. Thanks to Nina and Regine from the Retirement Fund office of Local 32BJ for their informative presentation regarding our 401k and pensions. Richard did a great follow up with his explanation of the training fund and Angelo, as field coordinator, was around to answer any and all individual questions. We were also fortunate enough to have Drin Kukaj, one of the managing directors of Premier Consulting present to answer any term-life insurance questions. The Executive committee and I hope that all of our Members and friends, our “extended family”, had a very Happy Thanksgiving! A special thanks to the MRM Club, MBMNY, and SABMG for organizing another spectacular Three Hands Grand Ball at Gotham Hall. On this night it was my honor to be officially recognized as the 2018 Resident Manager of the Year and to present the 2018 William Key Vendor of the Year award to Wilfredo Montano of Montano Wood Care. Our next Club meeting will be our Annual Holiday Party on Thursday, December 6, 2018 at India House Club. The Club is located at One Hanover Square and the party begins at 7:00pm. Dress-code is business casual or you are strongly encouraged to wear your Ugly Christmas, Hanukah, or Kwanza sweater/suit. Prizes to be won; so go all out and shock the room. This night is also our Associate Members’ Appreciation Night, so the entrance fee is FREE for ONE member of your organization in good standing. General admission fee is $50.00 per person. Open bar, food, dancing and of course our “Runway Show” to determine the Winners of the Ugly Sweater Contest. Please remember to support our Associate Members as they are the driving force that keeps our CLUB in existence. Most of our Associate Members take an ad in our monthly Newsletter, so when you’re in need of a contractor, vendor or supplies, please refer to the Newsletter for their services and/or products. As 2019 fast approaches, the invoices for annual membership dues will be mailed and emailed to all our members. I encourage the entire membership to make sure that their dues are paid-in-full by January 1, 2019 in order to continue receiving your $150,000.00 term-life insurance benefit. We will be taking membership renewal payments at the Holiday party. Wishing you all a very Special, Blessed Holiday Season. Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa! And we sincerely wish upon all of you a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year! Good-bye 2018.. Bring on 2019.. Excelsior! I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the Holiday party on December 6th, 2018.
Best Regards,
Joe
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Dear Members of the Manhattan Resident Managers Club:
As is the custom each holiday season, the Manhattan Resident Managers Club participates in the toy drive for the Ronald McDonald House Toys 4 Tots. We started collecting toys on November 26th and will continue thru December 21st. We suggest that you donate two toys; one for a boy, one for a girl. You can bring the toys to our annual Holiday Party Thursday December 6th at the India Club House (One Hanover Square) or drop them off at my building, The Belaire Condominium, located at 524 East 72 street between York Avenue and the FDR Drive. This year the CLUB is joining forces with New York Cares in their annual coat drive this November through December. Any coats that you would like to donate can also be dropped off at my building. Last year, your generosity put smiles on the faces of young children challenged with significant health problems. Let’s make even more kids happy this year and keep those in need of coats, warm on these cold winter days. Enjoy the Holiday Season, Louis Parrilla MRMC Past President
Happy December Birthdays to the following Members of the CLUB:
Jose Vela, Tom Smajlaj, Emily Key, Lucille Consorti, Ed Mackel and the one and only, our CLUB President, Mr. Joe Cervini.
My fellow members & friends, It is with great sadness that we report to you the passing of Mr. Orlando Mario Pomponi, father of Regular Member & Club Trustee, Mr. Frank Pomponi. On behalf of the MRM Club's Dais & Trustees, we extend our deepest condolences to the Pomponi family in this time of grief & sorrow. We ask that you keep the Pomponi Family in your thoughts and prayers. May he rest in peace.!
December 1 World's AIDS Awareness Day
December 21 Winter Solstice
December 2 Advent begins
December 3 Hanukkah Begins
December 23 Happy Festivus Day
December 25 Christmas Day
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December 7 Pearl Harbor Day
December 31 New Years Eve
Stay honest, positive in job interviews – MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –
A previous employer can and will discuss your performance on the job, so be honest in interviews and stay positive when you are applying for a new job. No one wants to hire someone who trashes their former employer or gossips about the employer to the hiring manager. The first thing the hiring manager thinks is that their company will get the same treatment when you leave them, according to The Balance Careers. On the other hand, it is important to be honest, both about your own performance in a previous job and why you left the company. Potential employees should stick to the facts, admit their part in a bad situation, and attempt to be positive. A hiring manager will probably contact a previous employer. Previous employers can generally share information about documented conduct, job responsibilities and performance, and sometimes salary information. Just because a company is allowed to share details about previous employees doesn't mean they will. Most larger companies might share documented negative performance information, but will not share gossip. Most large firms with dedicated human resources and legal departments will stick to basic facts only. Smaller operations might have fewer internal restrictions. Regardless of what a former supervisor might say, job seekers should be frank when discussing previous jobs. A sudden red flag from a reference can make it appear as if an applicant is hid-
ing information. Owning up to termination, for example, doesn't necessarily have to be a deal breaker if the incident makes sense within context. Avoid bad-mouthing a former boss or becoming defensive about the issue. Even with jobs that ended badly, be sure to add positive references whenever possible, as well as some from earlier positions, to make sure the problem isn't the only thing re-
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Christmas gift giving etiquette in the workplace – MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –
For a festive and confident holiday, follow the etiquette of gift-giving in the office, according to U.S. News. Traditionally, employees don't buy a gift for their boss or manager as it is considered poor form. Some companies ignore this rule and may choose to take donations for a group gift. Nobody should feel pressured into putting in money for these gifts or any other group-based event. Still, gift swaps are common and can be a lot of fun. Two games are Yankee Swap and Secret Santa. In the Yankee Swap, everyone buys and wraps an unmarked present and names are drawn to see who chooses and unwraps a present first. The next person up can either take a new gift or steal the one just opened. With Secret Santa, everyone gets the name of another person, and he or she is tasked with buying an anonymous gift just for them. Pay attention to the spending limit, usually around $20, as well as what message a gift could be sending. Gag gifts can be dangerous if the recipient doesn't enjoy the joke. Never assume your good intentions will be seen as
good. Don't go political, even if you know the recipient will like it. If you share political humor with someone, give them that gift as a joke outside the office. Candy and baked goods are usually a safe bet, but mind the recipient's religious or dietary restrictions. Obviously, don't buy a religious gift for a non-religious person or a Christmas-themed gift for a non-Christian.
Money saving tips during holiday shopping Avoid impulsive shopping during the holidays by making your plan and sticking to it. One method to avoid the madness, according to Real Simple, is to work out a complete gift plan, then set aside one day for shopping. Before the big day, shop sales for specific items and download any necessary retailer coupons and price scanning comparison tools onto a smartphone for real-time help. On the big day, get up early, eat a healthy breakfast, dress for business, leave the credit cards at home and plan on using cash only. By some estimates, spending cash only will save you up to 23 percent on your shopping trip. While at the store, shop solo, avoiding salespeople, unless you really need help. Buy cheaper items first. If you buy the big ticket items first, tossing around $20 or $50 here and there seems easy. So start small. Break up the day with a coffee or soft drink to stay in a good mood and make better choices. Get in and out of stores more quickly by checking out in less crowded areas of major department stores and steering clear of sales pitches.
During lunch and dinner breaks, cash in credit card rewards on discounted gift cards and exclusive special offers to round out the list. An extra sneaky tip is to load up an online cart but cancel it right before finalizing. Often, they will send an email offer with a discount code but if not, there is no harm in asking the live chat representative.
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Opportunities for disabled workers at small businesses
Two tax credits make it more affordable to accommodate disabled workers in small business. According to Small Business Trends, The Disabled Access Credit guarantees a credit of up to $5,000 on expenditures of up to $10,250 for modifying equipment, hiring sign language interpreters, providing Braille documents and more. The Architectural Barrier Removal Tax Deduction allows for a tax deduction of up to $15,000 for building new ramps, curb cuts, parking spaces, and other accessibility options at their place of business to accommodate those with special needs.
What are small business accelerators and incubators?
Small business accelerators and incubators can provide crucial help to new and growing small businesses in the form of support, direction, and funding, according to Inc. Magazine. According to the National Business Incubation Association, survival rates for participants in new business incubation programs is 87 percent after five years compared to 44 percent of groups that don't use the services. Incubator programs come in at the beginning stages of a startup, and their focus is on providing office space, skills training, networking opportunities, mentorship, and some access to financing. Accelerator programs are aimed at new, but more mature, businesses that need to step up growth. According to Small Business Trends, incubator programs took off during the 1980s when universities began providing these services to their entrepreneurial students to help get them off the ground. Even today, many startup incubators are educational or government nonprofits that aren't able to provide much capital
investment themselves but instead focus on slow growth and ongoing support. For-profit incubators can, however, offer more early-stage funding in exchange for equity and partial control of the company. As their name implies, accelerators are meant to take a young company and help it rapidly expand. During the course of months-long, boot campstyle programs, incubators focus on specific development projects and tight deadlines meant to scale a business to profitability while sorting out any issues with strategy, operations, and organization. According to Harvard Business Review, there were almost 200 accelerators in the U.S. between 20052015 that collectively invested in more than 5,000 new businesses with a total of $19.5 billion in capital. While joining such programs will by no means ensure success, many successful names such as AirBnB, Dropbox, and Stripe were able to leverage the access to high-profile investors and mentors to grow their valuations over the $1 billion mark.
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Generally, the disabled population has a harder time securing full-time employment and statistics show that the unemployment rate among this group was around 8 percent in 2017 compared to 4.1 percent of the nondisabled population. Employers may avoid hiring disabled workers because they feel as though it would be difficult to fire them for poor performance or they don't understand or don't want to deal with accommodating someone with special needs.
NEW SAFETY STATS:
Women injured more on the job; men die more
A new injury facts database revealed in October showed the workplace fatalities rose 7.3 percent, with men overwhelmingly represented in fatalities. According to the National Safety Congress & Expo in Houston, increases in on-the-job fatalities were driven by issues in transportation, drugs and violence. The new numbers from 2016 show that women are impacted by nonfatal workplace violence with 70 percent of assault-related injuries occurring to women. Injuries cost society about $151 billion annually in both lost wages and productivity. Meanwhile 81 percent of all onthe-job fatalities are men. Construction is the leading industry for fatalities, with 959 fatalities in 2016. According to NSC, the cost of a single workplace death is $1.12 million. Overdoses of non-medical drugs or alcohol while on the job increased from 165 in 2015 to 217 in 2016. This represents a 32 percent increase. Statistics showed fewer injuries from falls in 2016 over 2015.
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Holiday-themed promotions and marketing ideas for small business
Special holiday offers and charity events top the list for best promotions during November to January. December Holiday sales in 2018 are expected to pass the $700 billion mark in the U.S. with at least a 3.8 percent increase over the prior year, according to Retail Touch Points. This spike is hot on the heels of a 5.5 percent increase from 2016 during the 2017 holiday season, the month of November and December.Small businesses should be doing everything they can to maximize their exposure to potential customers and driving sales throughout this period. Fit Small Business tapped small
business owners to find out their most powerful marketing and promotions during the holidays that nearly any owner can incorporate into their strategy. Many events focus on creating scarcity and a sense of urgency through limited-time-only specials such as a 12 days giveaway that offers something new for one day only. This allowed social media marketer Proko to increase the daily traffic to their website by 20-30 percent each day as customers checked to see what was on display and boosted sales throughout the promotion and into January as well. Creating a product or two with a
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limited-edition holiday run can create instant demand among existing customers that don't want to miss out as well as new customers intrigued by the offer. Suit maker Shinesty, for instance, creates 100 suit batches of a unique design that, once sold, will never make it back into their shop again. A great way to tap into the giving spirit during the holidays is to avoid the overplayed Buy-1-Get-1 specials and create a Buy-1-Give-1 promotion that pledges to donate a product or a portion of the profits to a good cause whenever someone buys something in the shop. For traditional businesses with a local presence, doing good in the community can bring benefits long into the future by cultivating a positive brand image. Once all of the fun ideas are planned, don't forget to ensure that there is enough product on hand to last through a busy sales period and that the logis
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tAx MOVEs tO MAkE bEfORE yEAR-END
As April's tax deadline looms, there are some things you can do before Dec. 31 to cut your tax bill. First, use any extra money to make a final contribution to an IRA or 401k. This makes a tidy deduction in taxable income. In 2018, those limits are $5,500 and $18,500, respectively. Don't forget that unused money in a flexible medical spending account will be lost at the end of the year so use the balance to stock up on eligible household items like bandages, vitamins, and sunscreens. Homeowners that plan to itemize their deductions should think about squeezing in an extra mortgage payment at the end of the year, something that adds to a deduction and pays your house off sooner. One significant change in the 2018 tax code caps the deduction for state and local taxes (SALT) at $10,000 for any combination of property, income, or sales-related taxes. For those with expensive homes in high property-tax states, this can be a hit. For example, New York's average deduction last year was $21,000. The deduction cap won't affect the average homeowner outside coastal and metro areas. According to Quicken, the end of the year is also an excellent time to make energy-efficient improvements such as insulations, roofs, or doors that can qualify for up to $500 through the Residential Energy Tax Credit. According to Quicken, the end of the year is also an excellent time to make energy-efficient improvements such as insulations, roofs, or doors that can qualify for up to a $500 credit. Many people can gain a small advantage in their taxes by selling investments that lost money during the year and using the losses to offset capital gains on a dollar-per-dollar basis, up to $3,000, on the ones that did well. Extra losses can also be carried over to future tax years, meaning one particularly lousy year can spread out over time. Additionally, donating cash to charity is deductible, but it is important to remember that unwanted items can be given and written off at current fair market value as well.
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RESIDENT MANAGER
OF THE YEAR 2018
MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. IS PROUD TO HAVE SELECTED
JOSEPH CERvINI Resident Manager of the Year 2018 With gratitude & appreciation for the years of dedication and service to the CLUB — 20 —
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RECIPIENT OF THE WILLIAM KEY AWARD 2018
MANHATTAN RESIDENT MANAGER’S CLUB, INC. IS PROUD TO HAVE SELECTED
WILFREDO MONTANO of Montano Wood Care Corp.
Associate Member of the Year 2018 In recognition of many years of support & friendship you have show to the CLUB — 21 —
Electronic cigarettes are still a concern for young people
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Adults are using e-cigarettes to transition from tobacco, but the trend might be the opposite for younger users, according to USA Today. A study by the UK-based Centre for Substance Use Research showed that 50 percent of adults who started with traditional cigarettes were able to transition entirely to electronic cigarettes. The study focused on the Juul brand of e-cig that currently commands about 70 percent of the market share, followed by Vuse, MarkTen XL, Blue, and Logic 60. Those brands make up 97 percent of the market. The good results of e-cig use with adults don't necessarily apply to young people. Traditional cigarette smoking is down dramatically during the last 20 years among teenagers. But, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 16.2 percent of 12th graders reported using e-cigarettes in a 30-day period. About 30.7 percent of regular e-cig users started smoking real cigarettes within six months.
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How we came to know the drummer boy
One of the most beloved Christmas carols is a sentimental ballad, not grounded in Biblical verse, but well rooted in hearts at Christmas. Pa rum pa pum pum. The little drummer boy played for the baby Jesus. We don't worry the drumming woke The Babe because, after all, Mary nodded. And, the little drummer boy, who was a poor boy, too, played his best as a gift for the newborn king. And He smiled. What more can you ask of a carol than a tear for innocence and a musical ox and lamb that can keep time? Well, perhaps one thing you could ask, if you were the author, as was Katherine Davis, a Wellesley music teacher, was for a little credit. Seems in 1941, Davis gave an interview in which she spoke about a tune running through her head for a little Christmas carol that she said practically wrote itself. About 20 years later, a friend called to say her carol was on the radio. "What carol?" asked Davis. "The Little Drummer Boy. It's everywhere." And it certainly was. Davis managed to claim credit (and royalties) for the song, which is now part of the beloved library of uniquely American Christmas carols.
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Never another accident. Could it be true? – MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –
Safety and technology experts say a new traffic revolution is near -- an era when there will be few if any traffic accidents. Maybe even few traffic jams. Such are the promises of the Connected Car. The connected car will be part of the Internet of Things (IoT), the same technologies that connect appliances, like a refrigerator, to the internet. But this technology stands to do more than just tell you how much milk you have left. The connected car will probably become a hub, with different devices in the car sending data to satellites, traffic hubs and mapping systems, according to mouser.com. There are already more than 100 sensors in new cars that provide humans with comfort and safety information. What if that car information could be combined with data on destination, driver expertise, to create an intelli-
gent transportation system? It's possible that motorists would no longer spend hours in traffic if cars were connected to transportation hubs
to sort traffic, head off accidents and find clearer roads. This would be no small accomplishment. According to Texas A&M Transportation Institute, U.S. commuters waste 38 hours per year stuck in traffic. That's double in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. According to a report for the American Automobile Association (AAA), fuel and man-hours in traffic jams wasted $98 billion in 2011. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, connected vehicles could reduce crashes by 80 percent. About 40 connected vehicle systems are being constructed (or actually working now) in various urban and rural areas, according to NHTS. These connected vehicles are being studied for their response at intersections, red lights, curves, work zones, transit bus stops, and pedestrian crosswalks and signals.
Calorie information in restaurants helps curb eating
A new study carried out by the National Bureau of Economic Research has shown that diners tend to order food with about 3 percent fewer calories when the nutritional information is listed on their menus. According to Healthline, a recent law passed by the Food and Drug Administration means that restaurants and grocery stores that have at least 20 locations will be required to list this calorie information for standard menu items. This is part of a strategy to help reduce the obesity epidemic in America which now affects almost 70 percent of adults. In the Bureau study, participants overwhelmingly commented that
they valued having the information listed on the menu. For example, a regular fried chicken sandwich from Chick-Fil-A has 440 calories while the grilled version has only 310. A consumer interested in reducing calories can save 30 percent just by switching one menu item. Restaurants in the study saw no difference in their revenue, profits, or labor expenditures when they included the calorie counts on the menus. The study also found that even the chefs themselves were surprised by the number of calories in their food. — 24 —
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Horoscopes
Aries 3/21 - 4/19: The first quarter moon on the 15th leaves you thinking about home. Dignity is critical for you this month in public places.
Taurus 4/20 - 5/20: News this month might rattle you at first, but stars say you can use some information to your advantage. You have the necessary skills.
Gemini 5/21 - 6/20: The topic on your mind is investment. In money, think protection. In love, think energy. In time, think the future.
Cancer 6/21 - 7/22: As the last quarter moon of the year peeks out on the 30th, you review your fortunes. Have you been lucky in the past year, or strategic?
Scorpio 10/22 - 11/21: The New Moon on the 7th finds you dwelling on a relationship or problem. Stay optimistic. Everything resolves by the end of the month.
Sagittarius 11/22 - 12/21: You might find yourself over-committed or burdened by mid-month. Sort out racing thoughts by turning to silence.
Capricorn 12/22 - 1/19: Holidays take a happy turn this year with unexpected guests or gifts. A surprise is in the works.
Leo 7/23 - 8/22: Put your mind to work on a problem that has dogged you this year. Visualize the problem and the so- Aquarius 1/20 - 2/18: If the holidays leave you brooding inlution and get to work. stead of celebrating, take time to reflect on your own power to make the life you want. Virgo 8/23 - 9/22: Thoughtful is one thing for holiday gifts, but obsession is another. Give something beautiful and relax. Pisces 2/19 - 3/2: Holiday spirit overtakes you this year, whether it be Hanukkah on the 2nd or Christmas on the 25th. Libra 9/23 - 10/21: You may be considering a personal sac- Simple cheerfulness goes a long way with loved ones. rifice for another. This could end up immensely kind or destructive. Clearly assess the situation first.
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Kidney problems must be monitored, treated – MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –
Diabetics, and those with other chronic diseases, are usually acutely aware of their kidney health. But kidney damage can also occur from heart attack, high blood pressure, urinary tract problems, and even accident. If your doctor suspects kidney damage, it is critical to work with a doctor to monitor and treat the condition, according to the American Kidney Fund. An injury or chronic disease can compromise kidney function. Diabetes is the most common culprit, followed by high blood pressure. Other issues include as lupus, genetic diseases, urinary tract problems, and nephrotic syndrome. Acute failure, an event that happens within two days, can be caused by drug use, heart attacks, and lack of blood flow, but might be reversed by treating the underlying cause. Living with chronic kidney disease or failure can mean dealing with itching,
muscle cramps, nausea, swelling, trouble sleeping, and irregular urine production as the kidney's become less and less able to filter excess toxins and potassium from the blood in the body. Once diagnosed, it is critical to work with a doctor to determine the overall health of the kidney. The most common treatments treat and purify the blood in the body. Hemodialysis runs blood through a machine-powered filter. Peritoneal dialysis uses a cleaning solution called dialysate through the lining of the abdomen to clear
the blood. Alongside active treatments, doctors will often recommend a special diet avoiding potassium, added salt, phosphorus, and extra protein that are processed in the kidneys that can help improve kidney function by making them work less. Added salt is often found in processed meats, cheeses, fast foods and even canned versions of otherwise healthy vegetables. While current treatment options and changes to diet can help extend life dramatically, they do not represent a permanent solution. New treatments on the horizon for chronic kidney disease revolve around curing or preventing the conditions that lead to kidney failure, and kidney transplants remain the best long-term option for dealing with kidney failure.
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Porch Pirates plot to steal Christmas – MANhAttAN REsiDENt MANAgER’s Club, iNC. –
Christmas is here and the Porch Pirates are waiting to steal it. Some new services are available to thwart the efforts of the thieves who steal packages from the doorstep. But awareness can help, too. Porch theft has grown up alongside online shopping. In 2017, UPS delivered about 750 million packages during the holidays while the U.S. Postal Service logged about 850 million, according to CNBC. Meanwhile, about one in 10 adults have reported package theft. Security cameras, either real or fake, can scare away would-be thieves. Many cameras are integrated into doorbells. But subtle cameras don't usually scare off criminals, so manufacturers recommend actually posting a sign to tell criminals they are on candid camera.
Amazon is working on a way to prevent package theft with its new Amazon Key option, available to Prime members in a few dozen cities for about $250. The system is powered by an electronic front door key that allows a delivery driver to unlock the home and place the package inside. For people with pets or concerned about privacy, Amazon has also introduced a Key In-Car service, which allows carriers to open a car trunk to store packages. Amazon also has lockers available at places like Whole Foods that serve as a central drop off point from which the purchaser can pick up their package with a secure code. Still, most people will have to make secure arrangements by having packages delivered to a work address or a trusted neighbor.
Consumers give high ratings to mail-order mattresses
Mail-order mattresses were introduced to the market in 2007 with the original Bed in a Box but since then, they are everywhere. The idea started to go mainstream in 2014 with popular names like Casper and Tuft & Needle entering the market, according to Consumer Reports. Now, nearly 200 such companies vie for a piece of the boxed-mattress market, which commands 12 percent of sales. The market is still dominated by the traditional retail players such as 1-800-Mattress and Mattress Firm. The majority of beds shipping today come in relatively small boxes in which a memory-foam mattress has been tightly compressed and molded to fit. Most of the bed-in-a-box companies offer generous trial periods - up to 120 days. If you don't like a mattress purchased at a retail store, the store comes and picks
it up. But, if you don't like a boxed bed, returning it can be hard, depending on policy. Tuft & Needle, for example, does not ask you to send it back. Instead, you donate the bed to charity. But, if you buy their bed from another online merchant such as
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Amazon, then you have to ship it back. This involves wrapping it in shipping plastic, using a vacuum to suck the air out of the plastic, and creating a box. Price-wise, Tuft & Needle is one of the lowest-cost providers, offering a queen size for around $575. More upscale names like Sapira would cost $1,275 for the same size. Meanwhile, similar offerings can be found in the same price range in retail stores. Air-based beds are also popular and can be shipped back more easily. While there are a few specialty vendors, most providers advertise only one model that is meant to please the vast majority of sleepers regardless of their weight, build or preferences. Despite the limitation, however, many mattresses tested did indeed perform at a level of Good to Excellent during consumer testing, and the top-rated brands also scored highly among small, large, and tall sleepers.
Feeling chilly
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How the body weathers winter Suddenly in February, the day turns sunny. It's 50 degrees and it feels marvelous. Turn down the heat! Go for a walk! So why does 50 degrees feel so chilly in October? Physiologists say the body adjusts to increasing cold over time. In October, our bodies just haven't adjusted to the temperature drop, according to the Wall Street Journal. The human body has two main ways to cope with chills when the temperature drops. The first is to con-
strict blood vessels. This pushes warm blood to the body's core. That's when your arms and legs could start to feel colder. The second way is to shiver. That's when you turn up the heat 10 degrees. Humans, it turns out, have continuously invented ways to cope with cold by changing their environment -turning up heat sources, staying near those heat sources, and adding layers of clothing. Interestingly, humans who constantly experience cold temperatures, like native people in the Arctic, just 5@* +*( r 51 +*( =/
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don't feel as cold as others. Fish industry workers, whose hands are in cold water for hours, have been found to have warmer hands than other people. The physiological explanation is that blood vessels don't constrict so much after long-term exposure. So those people really are warmer. But if you aren't an Eskimo and you do need thick, fuzzy socks all the time, there could be a medical explanation. The first medical explanation is probably obvious: Aging makes people colder. Circulation decreases, the blood vessel walls lose elasticity and the fat layer thins. Well, sometimes. Also the body's metabolic responses to cold can be slower. According to the Journals of Gerontology reported in 2011 that older people on average had a body temperature .3 degrees lower than younger people. All of which leads us to what we already know: We have got to buy that sherpa blanket. When feeling cold is a symptom Feeling cold is normal during the winter or as we age, but sometimes it can be a symptom of other problems of even a side effect of medicine. Medical causes of coldness: - Hypertension. - Diabetes. - Thyroid conditions. - High cholesterol. Pharmaceutical causes: - Beta blockers that decrease heart rate (and circulation to hands and feet). - Calcium channel blockers, used to treat hypertension.
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“QUOTES 2 LIVE BY”
Family is not an important thing. It's everything. -Michael J. Fox The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works, is the family. - Lee Iacocca
To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there. - Barbara Bush
In every conceivable manner, family is our link to the past, bridge to our future. - Alex Haley The family is the nucleus of civilization.
- Will Durant
I know why families were created, with all their imperfections. They humanize you. - Anais Nin There is nothing that makes you more insane than family. Or more happy. Or more exasperated...Or more secure. - Jim Butcher
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New tech aims to keep food fresher longer
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Those lovely fresh fruits and vegetables stocked in your local store look picture perfect. For a time. But, sadly, as every consumer who overbuys lettuce knows all too well, beauty fades. Scientists are focusing on a delicate balancing act for food preservation. They want to ward off the harmful bacteria and protect the appearance, nutritional content, flavor, and textures of the food. One new technique uses a high-intensity blue light that produces a form of oxygen deadly to foodborne pathogens. Another uses a cold plasma cloud to produce a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, nitrous oxide, and other compounds that kill bacteria. Another innovation that has drawn the interest of General Mills and Pillsbury is bacteriophages on salads and berries that can eat bacteria like salmonella and listeria. Apeel Sciences, a company dedicated to fighting food waste, is using a recently developed technique to protect fruits and vegetables up to three times longer than usual, according to The Wall Street Journal. They used organic by-products like grape skins to create an ultrathin edible coating that slows down evaporation and oxidation on the surface of the food. Additionally, they can apply the product to the crops on the field before harvest which allows the fruit to be picked at peak ripeness, maximizing quality and taste.
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How morning routines can improve productivity
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I would like to take over payments on my brother's house. The interest rate is a little bit lower than I can get now. Plus, it would help him out. Can I just put my name on the loan?
The short answer is no: No mortgage allows you to just put a new name on the loan. What you are asking about is called assuming a mortgage and it can be a more complicated matter than you might expect. First, all conventional mortgages are not assumable. They require that the loan be paid on sale or transfer. So, in this case, you would need to get a loan and buy in the usual way. Some non-conventional loans can be assumed, however. They are FHA loans, USDA loans, and VA loans. If your brother has one of these three loans, it might be a good deal. It is at least possible that you could benefit from the lower interest rate and have lower costs. In addition, the loan would have a shorter term since your brother has already been paying on it. If the loan is assumable, remember you would have to qualify for the loan. Your credit score, income, debt, and employment history must meet the criteria of the lender. Sometimes even if the loan is assumable and you qualify, it might not be the best choice. For example, if the loan is a VA loan, the veteran's entitlement stays with the loan. If your brother wishes to buy another house, he won't get the whole entitlement on his new house. Lenders usually see mortgage assumptions in the case of divorce, family gifts, or estate planning. But assuming a mortgage is not always possible and may not be the best way to go.
There is no magic bullet for creating maximum productivity, but studies and interviews with high achievers have shown that a well-executed morning routine can produce powerful results, according to The Ladders. Most morning routines boil down to a few basic principles such as waking up before most people, outlining three specific big things to accomplish, and managing procrastination that can be oriented to fit within anyone's schedule. Waking up before other people isn't just to prove that you have better willpower but, rather, it allows you to have a chance to plan the day and be proactive rather than reactive. If there are already emails, phone calls, and important meetings occurring right when the alarm clock goes off then anxiety can set in and you will simply be reacting to the day until you are too tired to continue and the most important goals
will be pushed to the back burner. Instead, take the first two hours of each day to have breakfast, exercise, meditate, read, and otherwise prepare your mind and body for the day ahead. Next, identify the three specific things that, if accomplished during the day, will move the needle on your long, medium, and short-term goals. Once the day's agenda has been prepared, designate the body's natural period of peak performance, about 2.5 to 4 hours after waking up, as protected time used for the most important tasks. Avoid procrastination by creating a starting ritual, such as a cup of coffee or sitting down at a specific desk to send a signal to the brain that it is time to start working. During those times in which the most important task just can't be tackled for whatever reason, however, use 'positive procrastination' by intentionally avoiding it as long as you follow the rule that you have to work on the second-most important task rather than goofing off.
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ROSENWACH TANK
THE FIRST NAME IN QUALITY WOOD AND STEEL TANKS
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Mr. Louis Parrilla, Newsletter Publisher 524 East 72nd Street New York, NY 10021
To PLacE an aD in ThE nExT nESwSLETTEr PLEaSE caLL Louis Parrilla 917-750-4117 • resmgr524@gmail.com