Tidbits Spokane County, WA by John Ortiz

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Most of us have our hands full this time of year. Kids are in school, traffic is heavy, the weather is getting chilly, and the holiday season is in full swing. We hope that these Tidbits tips will help to make things a bit merrier for you! • Not everyone finds the holiday spirit contagious. If you’re completely fed up with carols and mistletoe, don’t feel alone. And there are several different places you can visit to get away from it all. Most American movie theaters are open on Christmas Day, as are several amusement parks, including Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Most hotels (along with their eateries) are also open, along with some major restaurant chains like Waffle House. • Real tree or artificial? If you’re concerned about the environment, you should know that either choice will leave a “carbon footprint.” Artificial trees are made of non-renewable materials, most often imported from China. Real trees require petroleum for transport (and also to grind them into mulch once they’re discarded). So it’s easier to base your decision on family tradition … and how much you enjoy sweeping up needles. • Candles are an easy and inexpensive way to add a holiday touch to your home. Better yet, red candles can also be used for decorating on Valentine’s Day and the Fourth of July, so you might want to stock up on them during the post-holiday sales. Scented candles can make your house smell like you’ve been baking treats all day, even if your Christmas cookies come from a grocery-store bag. • Unwrapping gifts may be difficult for those on both ends of the age spectrum – very young children and the elderly. Use a minimal amount of adhesive tape on their packages, and use a stick-on bow instead of tying a ribbon. A gift for a sight-impaired person will mean more when it’s wrapped using interesting textures like velvet ribbons and crinkly paper. You could also tie a few tiny jingle bells to the package as a nice touch. turn the page for more!

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Page 2 Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA www.spokanetidbits.com Open Season on play a pivotal role in Smith’s career. As these words were shut summer up written, Smith didn’t have a ride for 2009. In retrospect, the Rookies “greatest class” wound up being rather ill-fated. Before the 2008 season once and for all. began, the media declared Monte Dutton has covered motorsports for The Gaston END OF YEAR SALE! UP TO 40% OFF

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the Raybestos Rookie class in the Sprint Cup Series the greatest in history, when, in truth, it was merely the most prestigious. At the beginning of the year, a World Driving Champion, Jacques Villeneuve, had committed to NASCAR. Also in the field were Indianapolis 500 winners Sam Hornish Jr. and Dario Franchitti. A popular Indy-car veteran, Patrick Carpentier, found a NASCAR ride. A highly regarded young driver, Michael McDowell, joined the field in the spring. Then there was the lone driver with a stock-car-racing background, Regan Smith. The most unheralded driver in the field wound up winning the award. It was largely by default. Almost everyone underestimated the difficulty of adapting to stock cars. Villeneuve was gone almost immediately. Franchitti ran out of sponsor support. Carpentier lost his ride. So did McDowell. By the final race, the only rookies were Smith and Hornish. Hornish didn’t make the starting field for the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Regan won the award because he was racing and Hornish wasn’t. The Greatest Rookie Class in NASCAR History wound up the season with its top performer finishing 34th in the Sprint Cup points. Hornish was 35th. Neither had a single top-10 finish. Smith deserves an asterisk, however. In what would have been the season’s biggest shocker, Smith took the checkered flag at Talladega Superspeedway in the fall. NASCAR officials penalized him, however, for passing Tony Stewart “below the yellow line” (only banned at restrictor-plate tracks) and awarded the victory to Stewart. Officially, Smith’s finish was 18th. The top-rookie award aside, that NASCAR decision may

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PHOTO CUTLINE: Regan Smith -- the lone rookie with a stock-car-racing background -- won, almost by default, the Raybestos Rookie of Year. PHOTO CREDIT: John Clark for NASCAR This Week

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In a lot of houses with one central heating system, the doors to all rooms should be left open all the time so that return air circulates evenly throughout the house and all rooms stay the same temperature. If one person closes their door at night for privacy reasons, that door seals off air circulation so no warm air can enter from the register. A crack under the door would let that warm air in, but if THIS IS A HAMMER there is no such opening, air cannot circulate into By Samantha Mazzotta that room, and it gets cold. The next day when the door is open again, no problem can be found Finding AAAA Batteries because air is circulating through the open door. Q: As you know, you are not supposed to drive -- Jack H., Salem, Mo. and use a cell phone at the same time. I did the A: That’s definitely a possibility. Having grown up responsible thing and purchased a Bluetooth in the South, where central heat was often juryheadset. Now the battery has died, and I can’t rigged into older homes -- so not every room had find a replacement at any local retail stores (Home a register -- it was not uncommon for closed-off Depot, CVS, Wal-Mart). Where in my region can I rooms to get chilly. Thanks for your suggestion. purchase AAAA batteries? --- Erik in Coventry Perhaps the mother-in-law could leave her bedA: A store specializing in electronics would be room door open just a bit to let air circulate. your best bet (Circuit City, Best Buy, MicroCen- HOME TIP: Not sure whether a furnace’s air filter ter). You also can order them over the Internet needs changing? Hold the filter up to a light -- if -- try the Web sites of any one of these major the filter blocks most of the light, replace it. electronics retailers or Amazon.com, which sells Send questions or home-repair tips to homemany items besides books. guru2000@hotmail.com, or write This Is a Ham*** Q: In response to your column about a visiting mer, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box mother-in-law who complained she was cold all 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc. the time, your answer didn’t cover one possibility.

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HELPFUL HOLIDAY HINTS (continued): • Christmas trees are irresistible to most house cats. If one or more kitties reside with you, it’s a good idea to put your most valuable or fragile ornaments near the top of the tree, where they’re less likely to be batted around and broken. Consider securing them to the branches with garbage bag twist ties for extra insurance. And here’s a great tip: Most felines don’t like the smell of citrus or peppermint, so spraying one of those aromas at the base of the tree might be enough to encourage Fluffy to keep her distance. • Craft projects are a great way to keep children busy while you’re making other preparations. Visit a dollar store to purchase some inexpensive art supplies – construction paper, pipe cleaners, ribbon, colored pens, glitter and such. Set the kids up with safety scissors, tape and glue. Encourage the youngsters to make their own holiday decorations, and then watch them beam after you’ve prominently displayed their completed “masterpieces.” • Buying a Christmas gift for your boss can be tricky. Gag gifts are deﬁnitely taboo. A “funny” gift that’s taken in the wrong context could create unnecessary friction on-the-job. Don’t feel obligated to spend a lot, either; your boss knows that he or she makes more than you do. A heartfelt note inside a card may go a long way. You can always enclose something small in the envelope … like movie theater tickets or a bookstore gift card. • A gift-wrapping party might liven up the tedious task of wrapping all those presents you’ve purchased. Invite friends to bring their own gifts, provide some snacks and maybe a rented movie, and spread out the scissors and tape. Suggest that partygoers wrap the largest boxes ﬁrst and then work their way through the stack. Keep sticky notes handy to help identify each package. turn the page for more!

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Dear Dave, My husband and I haven’t been out on a date, just the two of us, since our daughter was born earlier this year. It’s really starting to strain our relationship. Most of the babysitters around here charge $40 or $50 a night, and we can’t afford that because we’re trying really hard to get out of debt. Our closest relatives are ﬁve hours away. I’m afraid we’re growing apart because of this. Do you have any ideas to help? Anonymous

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HELPFUL HOLIDAY HINTS (continued): • Are you looking for the “perfect” gift for your child’s teacher? Steer clear of coffee mugs and desk sets! Surveys have revealed that the gift teachers treasure most is a personal letter from a student’s parents. A note describing an instance when your child shared something that he or she learned in school? That’s perfect. Such a letter may be cherished for years to come. Teachers confess that such letters provide a real “lift” during those inevitable days of pure frustration. • The leftover cardboard tube from a roll of paper towels can make a fun container for a “grab bag” gift. For a young girl, you could fill the tube with hair do-dads, lip glosses, and glitter pens. For a young boy, it could be toy cars, candy bars, and ballgame tickets. Pack the very ends with tissue paper, and then gift-wrap the tube. Twist each end and tie them off with a piece of ribbon. The end result is a colorful bundle of fun that looks like a large party popper. • What rules govern gratuity gifts you might give to service workers (hairdressers, babysitters, garbage collectors, paper deliverers, and so on)? Well, the first rule is that such “tips” are not mandatory. If you do feel that a serviceperson has been particularly helpful and you’d like to spread some holiday cheer, it’s best to enclose the tip in an envelope or card. Postal carriers are not allowed to accept cash, but they may receive gifts valued at $20 or less. A gift card to a local grocery store or gas station is a great idea, as it can be stored in the mail sack while the worker continues on his or her route. • If you’re flying commercially to visit relatives for the holiday, you’ll save time by not wrapping the presents you’re taking. You’ll likely be forced to rip them open at a security checkpoint, and will end up rewrapping them anyway. Use clear plastic bags to pack as many of your carry-on supplies as possible; this will speed up security searches. And allow yourself plenty of extra time to get to the airport, since traffic will be heavier and parking lots may be overflowing. • You can recycle “used” holiday cards by cutting off the colorful fronts and using them as postcards. Or cut the images into decorative shapes and use them as custom gift tags. Check with local earlygrade schools; many of them love to re-use old Christmas cards to devise craft projects for their classes. The End

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Dear Dave, I bring home $2,800 a month, and my husband stays home with our two daughters - one three, the other three months. He’s healthy and able, but he won’t work because he thinks he can’t make enough money to cover the cost of daycare. Our rent is $1,000 a month, and our other bills add up to about $2,000 a month. What do you think about this, and when is it okay to avoid daycare expenses by not working? Daisy

Dear Anonymous, I was married for several years before I realized husbands and wives were supposed to have date nights. We survived my ignorance, and things that were a whole lot tougher, but I still think date nights are a great idea. You’ve got to keep the lines of communication open, and one-on-one is how you do that. I think you’ve being a bit dramatic, however, when you say your marriage is unraveling because you haven’t had a date night in a few months. If that’s the case, the ﬁbers were already too loose. The roots of any relationship should be a lot deeper. If yours is falling apart over something like this - especially when you’ve got the great bonding experience of a new baby in the house, then there may be other issues you need to address with a good pastor or marriage counselor. How about asking friends to help out once in a while and look after the baby for a couple of hours? Maybe you could form a babysitting co-op. There are plenty of other broke couples with babies out there. Take some time to get to know people at work, or in church, who are in similar situations. Then trade off babysitting duties - they take your kid one night, and you take theirs another night. You could get really creative and work a tradeoff with a trustworthy high school student. Instead of paying them money, you might trade babysitting for something you have to offer. I don’t know a college student alive who wouldn’t jump at the chance for a nice, big home cooked meal once in a while! Dave

Dear Daisy, I’m an old-school guy, a crusty old dinosaur about some things. I grew up in a generation where a guy who did this kind of thing was called a wuss, or worse; not because he’s staying home with the kids, but because he’s staying at home while you guys can’t pay the bills! I’m all about family togetherness, and with spending as much time with your children as possible, and I don’t have a problem with guys being stay-at-home dads as long as the family is in agreement and can afford to do that kind of thing. But if you’re just scraping by, or can’t meet your financial obligations, which seems to be true with you guys, that’s a different story. This guy needs to get off his butt, fulfill his responsibilities as a man and a husband, and find a way to start taking care of his family! Dave * For more great financial advice from Dave, please visit www.davesays.org. Tanning Salon / New Owner 3207 N. Argonne

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Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA

Your Winter Friends: Hand Sanitizer and Soap Here we are in the midst of December, and no doubt many of us are out in the holiday crowds. Maybe we’re going downtown to watch “Santa” arrive or to enjoy the tree lighting. Even if we’re avoiding the malls, it seems that there are crowds everywhere. Besides the festive air, there’s one other thing the crowds can bring: germs. Many of us have immune systems that are compromised at least a little. When we get a “bug,” we can take much longer to shake it off. Cold weather itself can be enough of a stressor that we can be more susceptible to germs. Think about all the places germs can be found: grocery-cart handles, the change a retail clerk hands you, doorknobs in public places, library books, a borrowed pen. Here are three tips to keep from getting sick:

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• Invest in a little bottle of alcoholbased hand sanitizer and use it liberally. Scrub until your hands are dry. (I buy one small bottle to carry in my pocket and a larger one to keep at home to reﬁll the smaller one.) If you’re going to spend time with grandchildren, buy them their own “special” foamy hand sanitizer. • To avoid germs, doctors say it’s especially important not to touch your hands to your mouth, nose or eyes. • When you get home from being out, wash your hands with warm water and an antibacterial soap. To get through the rest of the winter without illness, stay warm, get enough rest and make sure your diet is adequate. Ask your doctor whether you should take a daily multiple vitamin. Ask about getting a ﬂu shot too, if you haven’t already had one. Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@gmail.com. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc..

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PAWS CORNER By Sam Mazzotta

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DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I need to comment on a letter by a mom who let her children be responsible for two Betta fish that they let die. Children should never be responsible for any animal! It’s the parents’ responsibility to care for them. Why should the animal suffer? It’s fine to learn by example, but the parent is the one who should care for the animal. This woman is guilty of animal cruelty in letting these fish suffer and die. An animal is not a toy. People like this woman don’t deserve the companionship of any animal! -- Tina V., PETA member DEAR TINA: I can appreciate your point of view, and I’m sure that none of my readers condone the suffering of any pet. I think that you missed the point of that letter: the mother refusing to let the kids have another pet after they let their Betta fish die due to neglect. Part of growing up is learning responsibility, and learning the consequences of failing to take responsibility. The consequences of failing to take care of their Betta fish was that they could not have another pet. Could the mother have stepped in and taken care of the fish? Possibly. I don’t know all the circumstances, and the sad fact is that small fish can go downhill very fast when signs of distress are missed. But she gave those kids responsibility and gave them her trust to care for those fish. This is a very important part of child-rearing. You cannot wrap your kids in cotton until they’re 18; they need to learn certain things if they’re to be at all useful. Learning to care for another living creature is one of the most important lessons in a child’s life, and I’m not going to stand in judgment of a mother trying to teach that lesson. Send your tips, questions and comments to Paws Corner, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or e-mail them to pawscorner@hotmail.com. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.

Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA

Page 5

THE KITCHEN DIVA By Angela Shelf Medearis

FISH DISH HAS ANCIENT ROOTS One of the things I love the most about studying food is the insight that culinary traditions give you into history and culture. Studying culinary traditions also is a wonderful way to discover history through food. Recently, I’ve been reading about Christmas customs and holiday meals in Europe. I discovered a tradition called The Feast of the Seven Fishes, along with several delicious recipes for preparing fish. The fish is often used as a symbol of Christianity. Because of the persecution faced by the early church, when a Christian met a stranger in the road, the Christian sometimes drew one arc of the simple fish outline in the dirt. If the stranger drew the other arc, both believers knew they were in good company. Preparing and eating seafood on Christmas Eve in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ is an old European tradition. Many families abstain from eating meat and serve only fish or other types of seafood on Christmas Eve. A typical feast features cod, eel, octopus, calamari, mussels, clams, shrimp and lobster. While doing research on the preparation of fish throughout history, I discovered a delicious recipe for fish poached in an inexpensive olive oil along with sliced cucumber and dill. The olive oil ensures that the fish will be moist, and the cucumber and dill compliment the dish perfectly. If you’re tired of preparing the same thing for your Christmas celebration, explore your families’ culinary heritage and create your own traditions.

FISH POACHED IN OLIVE OIL WITH CUCUMBERS - 2 1/2 cups inexpensive olive oil - 4 (6 ounce) pieces of thick salmon, halibut or other white ﬁsh ﬁlet, skinned - 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil - Sea salt

- 1 large hothouse cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill, plus a few sprigs for garnish - 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar

PHOTO CREDIT: Phil Curry

1. Pour a thin layer of olive oil in a pan just big enough to hold the pieces of fish side by side. Season the fish on both sides with a little salt, put them in the pan and pour the rest of the oil over them -- it should just cover the fish. Very slowly heat the oil to 140 F, agitating it with a spatula now and then so it heats evenly. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can test the oil with your little finger -- the oil should just feel unpleasantly hot. 2. Take the pan off of the heat and leave it somewhere warm on top of the stove for 15 minutes so the fish can poach gently in the oil. The temperature should remain at 130 F to 140 F; if necessary, keep placing the pan on and off the heat to maintain this temperature. 3. Shortly before the fish is ready, heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a large frying pan. Add the cucumber slices and toss over medium heat for 1 minute. Add the dill, vinegar and a little salt. 4. To serve, divide the cucumber among 4 serving plates. Carefully lift the fish out of the oil, letting the excess drain off, and set it on top of the cucumber. Pour the oil into a cup, leaving behind the juices from the fish, which will have settled on the bottom of the pan. Spoon these juices around the edge of the plate, sprinkle the fish with a few sea-salt flakes, and garnish with a spring of dill. Serves 4. *** Angela Shelf Medearis is an award-winning children’s author, culinary historian and author of five cookbooks. Her latest cookbook, “The New African-American Kitchen,” is in bookstores now. She’s known as The Kitchen Diva and is the executive producer and host of the “The Kitchen Diva!” -- a television cooking show. Visit her Web site at www.divapro. com. (c) 2008 King Features Synd., Inc.

You’re Not Alone

This is for those of you who came back with problems. Whether it was from Iraq or Afghanistan, Vietnam or Korea, or even WWII, maybe you don’t feel as though you’re the same person who went over. Maybe you tried a time or two to get some help, or maybe you’ve just gutted it out. Maybe you took a couple of psych exit exams and lied on the test to keep from being labeled and to get home faster. But if you have some mental-health issues, you know it, and life just isn’t the same. You’re not alone. The statistics show that of those coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan, one-third of you will have some mental-health issues. Step one is to locate the nearest Vet Center. Call 1-800-905-4675 (East Coast) or 1-866-496-8838 (West Coast), or go to www.vetcenter.va.gov and click on Find Your Nearest Vet Center. Once you’ve made contact, tell them what’s going on and ask about readjustment counseling. They offer individual and group counseling, as well as marital and family counseling, and more. The Centers are there to provide help any number of veterans issues, including help with getting beneﬁts. If you served during any of the war periods, you’re eligible to use the Vet Centers. A month ago, a story came out about a two-star Army general who came back from Iraq and knew he was in trouble. He stepped up and admitted he needed some help. He still has some problems -- nightmares, among others -- but has learned to deal with it, even through a second Iraq tour. Give yourself and those who love you a Christmas present this year: Get some help. If a two-star general can do it, so can you.

“WHAT IS TWITTER?” What Is Twitter? Is it a bird? Yes. Is it a plane? Absolutely. Is it Web 2.0 at it’s ﬁnest? You bet. It is a social network that builds quick and easy followings. Since starting my BodyByChocolate Twitter handle I have learned many things. Like people enjoy building communities but don’t want to be sold. No, not rocket science here. I’ve also learned… * DM’s or Direct Messages should be used. * You should add people to your fav’s list. * Check replies frequently. Twitter is a social networking tool for building success in Internet related business. Next issue = Twitter neighbors.

SEO & Beyond Advice Column

Guy Siverson (SEOGuy) provides interactive Super-Blogs & Internet Marketing advice for everyone. Email: Guy@SEO-And-Beyond.com or call 993.7215 with web related questions you would like me to answer. http://SEO-And-Beyond.com

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Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA

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Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA FITNESS

& HEALTH

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH by By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Hiatal Hernia Turns Traumatic DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Our experience with my husband’s hiatal hernia was traumatic. He was 69 and in excellent health. After a day of working in the yard, we sat down to supper and within three minutes he was incapacitated with chest pain. He was taken to the hospital and was given nitroglycerin for the pain. The pain subsided as quickly as it came. It took two months to discover the real problem: His stomach was in his chest cavity and had crowded his heart and lungs. Surgery was scheduled. Before the scheduled date, the pain returned and he had to have emergency surgery. Please let people with a hiatal hernia know about this. -- M.H. ANSWER: People have been led to believe that a hiatal hernia is the same as GERD, gastroesophageal reﬂux -- heartburn; it isn’t. They are two different conditions. A hiatal hernia is a bulging of the stomach through a gap in the diaphragm muscle, the muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. The gap is the hiatus, and through it, the esophagus can pass from the chest into the abdomen to join the stomach. GERD can happen to people with a hiatal hernia, and it can happen to people without a hiatal hernia. Your husband’s problem was a somewhat rare complication of a hiatal hernia. The upward bulge of his stomach, the portion in the chest, twisted and cut off its own blood supply. That’s what caused his pain. The ﬁrst time, the hernia untwisted spontaneously and the pain left. The second time, the twist didn’t untwist, and emergency surgery was required.

This process is called strangulation and is a very serious affair. Thankfully, it happens only to a very few. You’ve provided a chance for people to learn what a hiatal hernia is, what a strangulated hiatal hernia is and what GERD is. We’re all glad that things worked out well for your husband. The booklet on hiatal hernia, acid reflux and heartburn focuses primarily on the common heartburn problem and its treatment. Readers wanting more information can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue -- No. 501W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. *** DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have two granddaughters who bite their fingernails. Is there anything that stops this awful habit? -- B.S. ANSWER: What prompts people -- children and adults -- to bite their nails is often unexplainable. Stress, boredom, imitation of other nail-biters and relief of anxiety are offered as explanations for the habit, but proof is lacking for a cause in most cases. Close to 60 percent of 10-year-olds bite their nails. As children grow older, the number of nail-biters lessens. Doing nothing about it is often the best policy. If the child wants to stop, then there are ways to help him or her break the habit. When children are at home, Band-Aids over the fingers remind them not to bite. Chewing sugarless gum makes nail-biting less convenient. Readers are welcome to give us their solutions. Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. (c) 2008 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved

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Because of space constraints, this is going to be a multi-part segment. Each method of data backup has itís own proís and conís. Letís have a look: CD/DVD: While certainly the least expensive, CD and DVD archival solutions are lackluster at best. They retain a single non-updatable copy of ﬁles. The shelf life is quoted to be “hundreds of years.” But in reality it’s much less. Things such as heat, humidity, the glue that hold the platters together, sunlight, scratches, bumps, can all wreak havoc on your archives. Consider this: the test results for home burned CD’s estimate there’s a lifespan averaging two years. Do you want to duplicate the same thing every 1-2 years?

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Next Installment: Data Backup Solutions - Pt II

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Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA

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