The Weekly Reporter - September 06, 2012

“Let us dare to, read, think, and write.” John Adams 1765

Weekly Reporter Editor@theweeklyreporter.com

We Dare To Speak The Truth

Protecting Liberty Through Freedom of Speech

First Lady Michelle Obama A Hit! First Lady Michelle Obama walked to the podium at the

First Lady Michelle Obama charmed nation at the DNC

and was an instant hit as she sent home some striking facts to remind voters of exactly who the President is.

Drifting back through time The First Lady recalled the childhoods of President Obama and that of her own family. She emphasized the family struggles that were a part of her youth as her family endured to hardships of having little in the way of money or assets.

She recounted how the President passed up offers of employment with firms at which he might have earned large salaries and chose instead to become a community activist helping those who most needed his assistance.

The First Lady was misty eyed as she spoke of her husband of 23 years, Barack Obama. She made him real, alive, and caring.

She recalled how she and he dated. He picked her up in an old car that was so rusted out she was able to see through a hole in the passenger’s side door and see the pavement outside.

Democratic National convention in Charlotte, NC on Tuesday night The First Lady came across as sincere, the most likely place on earth where their devoted, and patriotic with genuine concerns dreams can become reality presented his for every American who seeks happiness for own families history to the crowd in their family and him or herself. affirmation of the First Lady’s talk.

Many could relate to her message as she The messages presented to the nation by stood before the nation as a reminder to the The First Lady and by the Mayor brought entire world that the American Dream is still the crowd to life and seemed to arouse attainable despite the many obstacles that Democrats and to stir them to action as the continue to hinder those who are not part of election creeps ever closer. the wealthy elitist class.

The country was reminded that President The First Lady was followed by the very Obama inherited a nation steeped in debt, articulate Mayor of San Antonio, Texas, The with a collapsed economy, and dangerously Honorable Julian Castro who was introduced high unemployment, from former President by his twin brother Joaquin who is himself Bush. The people were reminded that during seeking election to the U.S. House of the President’s term in office over 4 million Representatives.

American jobs have been created, more than Mayor Castro, clearly a man who loves were created in the previous 8 years during his country, a man who is very conscious of the Bush years. how precious our American liberty is to Those jobs were created in the face of those who continue to seek this nation out as an effort by the Tea Party and Melissa

Brookstone to prevent small businesses from hiring anyone while Barack Obama is the President.

Brookstone and the Tea Party actually circulated pledges to the business community asking them not to do any hiring so unemployment would remain high.

San Antonio Mayor Joaquin Castro

Weekly REPORTER

Some Voters Will Vote To Hurt Themselves The Masochistic Voters

United States even richer. They are MASOCHISTIC VOTERS. They will vote for a party that wishes to If one lives long enough one will crush unions, thus silencing the voices of encounter many categories of people; some millions of American workers who will be exuberant, melancholy, silent, boisterous, then left without representation. Once they generous, stingy, and even some who enjoy have no collective bargaining power those hurting themselves. The latter folks are workers could become prey for referred to as masochists. unscrupulous employers.

Some of those folks will vote in the We have heard that the United States November Presidential Election. Many of the needs the super rich people of our nation to masochists will vote for a party whose plans pay their fare share of taxes. The rich include making the very rich people of the consistently respond that forcing them to pay

By John Gabriel - Award Winning Writer

Many retired folks, many retired veterans, many everyday working people will vote to help the super rich people and the multinational companies that have outsourced jobs to other countries while American workers were laid off. Those people will vote against their own best interests, they are MASOCHISTIC VOTERS. Many people who curse high gasoline prices each time they must fill their gas tanks will vote for a party that continues to give tax breaks to the oil industry (a bill that gave them $87 billion in tax breaks) while those energy companies are making record profits in virtually every quarter since receiving those government handouts.

One Presidential candidate is so rich he could not possibly spend all of his money rationally. The fact that he already has $230 millions of dollars does not satisfy him; no, he like many of his fellow rich folks is plagued with a mental illness that stems from a an insatiable need for more and more and more money. It would take a very strong argument to prove they really need all that money their greed has produced.

That same candidate has caused thousands of American jobs to be lost to foreign workers, he has avoided (legally) paying taxes to the United States by manipulating the system and by keeping money outside the continental limits of the US. He is anti-union, anti-worker, and is against paying a rate of income tax that is similar to that which average Americans must pay

those taxes will cost American jobs and that continuing what is commonly referred to as the “Bush Tax Breaks� creates jobs. That argument is without merit. Since former President George Bush signed those tax breaks into law the reduced taxes have not created jobs in the United States. Those tax breaks have done nothing to alleviate the sick economy that President Bush passed on to President Obama when he took office. There is evidence that many of those people spent their extra dollars on toys and pleasures in other countries.

on their wages. He favors spending money on bombs rather than on healthcare. He does not want average Americans to have the same healthcare protections that the members of Congress enjoy. He prefers a healthcare system that would diminish the benefits, if not entirely end them, of Medicare coverage and Medicaid.

He would end the Social Security benefits on which so many retired people relay. He prefers to compel people to contribute to a system that would purchase Wall Street stocks for their retirement income. He would put those dollars into the hands of the same people that brought the stock market crashing down, that caused the collapse of the housing market that forced so making working Americans into foreclosure. He would entrust your future to the unscrupulous bankers who should have gone to prison for breaking the laws but who got away with their crimes because of their super rich status in the nation. If you enjoy hurting yourself vote for him.

The folks who vote for such a person, who want such a president, must be masochists who enjoy hurting themselves and making life harder for themselves and their families. They must enjoy enduring pain and suffering so people who are already obscenely wealthy can become richer.

If that is the kind of America you want then vote for the super rich fat cat in November and throw America to the Wall Street wolves.

Weekly REPORTER

FOSTER CRITICIZES BIGGERT: “She is just Not on the side of the middle class.”

Naperville, IL – Bill Foster released the following statement today in response to Lilly Ledbetter’s speech at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.

“I was proud to watch tonight as Democrats honored Lilly Ledbetter and I am proud to have her endorsement

for my campaign,” said Bill Foster. “In Illinois, women still only make 76 cents on the dollar compared with men who do the same work. Congresswoman Biggert’s opposition equal pay is a clear indication that after 30 years in politics, she just is not on the side of middle class

Congresswoman Biggert voted against Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to Prevent Wage Discrimination In 2009, Biggert voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The

Senate measure was nearly identical to some provisions in the House passed version HR 11. The final bill allowed employees to sue employers

for wage discrimination within 180 days of their last paycheck affected by the alleged discrimination.

The measure was designed to overturn a 2007 Supreme Court decision (Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.) that ruled a worker could not bring a wage discrimination suit more than 180 days after the initial discriminatory act. [CQ House Action Reports Legislative Week, 1/26/09] The bill passed 250-177. [S 181, Vote #37, 1/27/09] Congresswoman Biggert voted Against Paycheck Fairness Act

In 2008, Congresswoman Biggert voted against a bill that would lift the cap on compensatory and punitive damages that women may be awarded in wage discrimination cases.

The bill would also require employers who contended that pay discrepancies did not result from discrimination to give an actual business reason for why female employees were paid less than their male counterparts. [CQ Today¸7/31/08] The bill passed 247-178. [HR 1338, Vote #556, 7/31/08]

Minimum wages by State - click here

THIS ELECTION - LET’S CLEAN HOUSE - GET RID OF THE HATERS AND BUMS In weeks the nation will know whether or not the Republican strategy to stop the President from doing his job has worked. The Republican majority in Congress has consistently prevented the President from passing legislation that he intended to be part of his promises to makes changes.

Speaker of the House John Boehner has made it clear that the Republican purpose is to prevent President Obama from being re-elected. The nation’s business and the welfare of the people meant nothing to those who just want a Republican in the White House.

The Republicans in Congress have been being paid to do nothing other than to obstruct the President’s efforts to pass any legislation that might cast him in a favorable light.

The Republican Tea Party even circulated pledges asking small businesses not to hire anyone so the unemployment rate would remain high. Watch the video: http://youtu.be/gqvrMbRnOwE Melissa Brookstone walks a very thin line between treason and normalcy. Crazy as she may be her message reaches some who are as unpatriotic as she is and that is dangerous for the entire country, Republicans and Democrats alike. She is simply stupid and hateful.

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Science

Weekly REPORTER

Editor@theweeklyreporter.com

Courtesy of NASA National Aeronautics

This past June more than 170 all-time US heat records were tied or broken--many of them originally set in the historically hotter months of July and August. And with a drought plaguing much of the country, the ground is as dry and crispy as a saltine cracker.

By early July, 56% of the contiguous U.S. was experiencing drought. That's the

largest percentage in the 12-year record of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Fires scorched over 1.3 million acres across the US in June, reducing hundreds of homes to ashes in the West.

Just imagining prospects for the rest of the summer is enough to bring sweat to your brow. And last winter is partly to blame.

"799 daytime heat records were broken in the first five days of January in the US," says

With little moisture in the soil to evaporate and dissipate some of the sun's energy, more solar radiation is converted to sensible heat, he says.

Previous heat waves in the 1930s contributed to the "dust bowl" phenomenon. In this picture, a dust storm approaches Stratford, Texas, in 1935. Credit: NOAA George E. Marsh Album

Of course global warming is on the tips of many tongues.

"CO2 is up from 280 parts per million in the 19th century atmosphere to almost 400 parts per million now -- a 43% increase," says NASA climatologist Bill Patzert. "We're emitting six times more carbon from fossil fuel use now than we did 50 years ago.

Atmospheric CO2 hasn't been this high in 400,000 years."

Jake Crouch, a climate scientist from the NOAA National Climatic Data Center. "Last year's was the fourth warmest winter since 1895. And it was dry, with a dearth of snowfall in many places. During most of this past winter and spring, a positive North Atlantic Oscillation pressure pattern kept the

jet stream further north and the US warmer and drier than normal."

Greenhouse gasses like CO2 and methane have higher heat capacities than many other gasses, causing the atmosphere to retain more heat.

"The atmosphere becomes a heat source itself, radiating heat back onto the Earth. 85 to 90% of that heat is absorbed by the oceans, because water has a high heat capacity. So the oceans expand and rise. Global sea levels have risen 8 inches over the past 130 years, and the average surface temperature of the entire earth (land surface temperatures plus ocean temperatures) has increased 1.6 째F. These facts," he asserts, "are unequivocal proof of global warming."

But is the record-setting summer 2012 evidence of climate change?

"Not necessarily," says Patzert. "We've always had extreme weather. US history is written in great natural calamities -- tornadoes, hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, floods. Global warming is happening, but it would be irresponsible to say that this heat wave and all these broken records are due to global warming from human causes. It's just not that simple."

John Christy, a scientist from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, agrees: "Heat waves are a natural part of the climate system, and while the recent heat wave was remarkable, it was not as intense as others in the past."

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More Science

Weekly REPORTER

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Protecting and Promoting Your Health www.fda.gov

Tempted to get a tattoo? Today, people from all walks of life have tattoos, which might lead you to believe that tattoos are completely safe.

But there are health risks that can result in the need for medical care. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is particularly concerned about a family of bacteria called nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) that has been found in a recent outbreak of illnesses linked to contaminated tattoo inks.

M. chelonae, one of several disease-causing NTM species, can cause lung disease, joint infection, eye problems and other organ infections. These infections can be difficult to diagnose and can require treatment lasting six months or more.

Some of these contaminated inks have caused serious infections in at least four states in late 2011 and early 2012. FDA is reaching out to tattoo artists, ink and pigment manufacturers, public health officials, health care professionals, and consumers to warn them of the potential for infection.

FDA also warns that tattoo inks, and the pigments used to color them, can become contaminated by other bacteria, mold and fungi.

To raise awareness and make diagnoses more accurate, FDA strongly encourages reporting of tattoo-associated complications to its MedWatch4 program, says Linda Katz, M.D., M.P.H., director of FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors.

Getting the word out to tattoo artists is particularly critical. Even when they diligently follow hygienic practices, they may not know that an ink itself may be contaminated. Contamination is not always visible in the inks, Katz says.

FDA’s goal is to encourage these artists to take certain precautions in their practice and to urge potentially infected clients to seek medical care. “Reporting an infection to FDA and the artist is important. Once the problem is reported, FDA can investigate, and the artist can take steps to prevent others from being infected,” says epidemiologist Katherine Hollinger, D.V.M., M.P.H., from the Office of Cosmetics and Colors.

Strategies for Controlling Risks of Infection Tattoo artists can minimize the risk of infection by using inks that have been formulated or processed to ensure they are free from disease-causing bacteria, and avoiding the use of non-sterile water to dilute the inks or wash the skin. Non-sterile water includes tap, bottled, filtered or distilled water.

Consumers should know that the ointments often provided by tattoo parlors are not effective against these infections.

NTM infections may look similar to allergic reactions, which means they might be easily misdiagnosed and treated ineffectively.

Once an infection is diagnosed, health care providers will prescribe appropriate antibiotic treatment according to Katz. Such treatment might have uncomfortable side effects, such as nausea or gastrointestinal problems. However, without prompt and proper treatment an infection could spread beyond the tattoo or become complicated by a secondary infection.

Continued from Science Page

He offers a few examples of past heat waves and droughts.

"The central US suffered several heat waves in the 1930s -- the dust bowl years -- when more statewide, all-time record high temperatures were set than in any other decade. And the western US experienced decades-long droughts in the 12th century. So dry were mountain areas that we can still see near-hundred-year-old trees standing upright in the bottom of alpine lakes where they grew on dry ground 900 years ago.1 This shows that in the 12th century it was so dry and hot that the lakes dried up and allowed trees to grow over a significant period before moisture finally returned."

Patzert and Christy are on opposite sides of the global warming debate. Patzert firmly believes that Earth is warming up and humans are the main reason why. Christy, on the other hand, argues that natural climate variations are almost solely to blame. Yet they both agree that the summer 2012 weather might be just that – weather.

They also both believe that improvement is needed in models indicating effects of human and other factors on weather and climate.

"Today's climate models are extremely sophisticated, constantly improving, and will be crucial to charting our future -- but they aren't perfect," says Patzert.

One component that needs improvement: clouds.

"Clouds play a key role in climate because they affect the amount of sunlight reflected and absorbed," says Christy. "We need higher resolution models to portray them more accurately. The distance between grid measurement points in current models is too great to capture meter to meter variations in clouds, land cover, and other variables that affect climate."

One more point of agreement: the summer of 2012 is too hot to handle.

Weekly REPORTER

Put your home on autopilot to save time, money and energy Courtesy of ARA Content

(ARA) - Every homeowner can remember a time when they

wondered, "Did I lock the front door this morning?" or "Did I leave a light on?" Others can attest to that feeling of dread knowing their air conditioner is running full blast while they're away on a weekend trip.

There's nothing worse than worrying about the security of your home - or your rising electric bill - while you're away.

Fortunately, recent advancements in home technology offer peace of mind when it comes to energy efficiency, security and time savings. Almost any home can be put on "autopilot" without breaking the bank. Many areas of the home can benefit from some simple technology upgrades.

Efficiency Heating and cooling a home accounts for 50 percent or more of a home's energy bill, so it's important to incorporate the latest technology to make it as easy as possible to be as efficient as possible.

"We have seen some great advancements in home technology

editor@theweeklyreporter.com

that maximize the energy efficiency of heating and cooling products," says Bobby DiFulgentiz, an energy efficiency expert with Lennox International. "For example, as thermostats become more advanced, homeowners now have the ability to optimize home comfort and energy savings."

One example of these smart thermostats is the Lennox icomfort Wi-Fi thermostat. Homeowners can maximize energy savings through its one-touch away mode and remote control capabilities.

Additionally, the thermostat communicates with a home's HVAC system and provides real-time alerts to service providers regarding any maintenance issues that need attention. The icomfort Wi-Fi also is the only thermostat that can blend into its surroundings by using customizable "skins" that match wallpaper or paint, or even allow it to be disguised as a piece of art or a family photo.

Water usage also is a concern when it comes to efficiency.

Homeowners can cut down on water bills by using home sprinkler systems that incorporate Wi-Fi technology. These systems allow homeowners to start or stop sprinklers from anywhere, avoiding water waste when heavy rains have already saturated the lawn.

Many systems now even include wireless capabilities that prevent sprinklers from activating during rain or freezing temperatures.

Security Homeowners can rest easy, thanks to automated systems that ensure their home is safe and secure. Companies now offer products that check, open and close garage doors directly from a smartphone, tablet or computer. There are also lock systems that respond only to the fingerprints of residents of the home. If that's not enough, new technologies send text or email updates when doors are locked or unlocked, and can remotely lock doors through Wi-Fi. Time Savings Finally, kitchen appliances are beginning to integrate technologies to streamline the day-to-day routines of homeowners, allowing for maximum time savings. Consumers can take the hassle out of finding the perfect cooking setting by using a microwave that can scan a bar code on a dish and automatically adjusts to the correct time and power for the particular product. Ovens equipped with Wi-Fi allow cooks to monitor their meals on a mobile device and put the crock pot to shame.

Families can also save time while enjoying the convenience of home automation. Wi-Fi-enabled mailboxes send text or email alerts when mail has arrived. Parents can even save the time it takes to beg their child to stop playing video games by using a tool that automatically limits the time spent on an electronic device.

Peace of mind isn't all about expensive, over-the-top upgrades.

Home automation can save time and money, and offer customized comfort and security, often through simple technology tweaks.

Weekly REPORTER

Debt Relief Services If you’ve maxed out your credit cards and don’t know how you’re going to pay off your debts, you may think that a company that promises to erase the debt for pennies on the dollar is the answer to your prayers. Not true! Debt negotiation can be risky, and it can have serious, long-term consequences for your credit report and your ability to get credit in the future.

If you get a sales pitch from a debt relief firm, pay attention to the details. Stay away from any company that: promises that unsecured debts can be paid off for pennies on the dollar. The truth is that there is no guarantee that any creditor will accept partial payment of a legitimate debt. Your best bet always is to contact your creditor directly and as soon as you are having problems making payments. requires substantial monthly service fees and demands payment of a percentage of what they’ve supposedly saved you. The truth is that most debt relief companies charge hefty fees for their services, including a fee to establish the account with the debt negotiator, a monthly service fee, and a final fee – a percentage of the money you’ve supposedly saved.

Mortgage Payments tells you to stop making payments to or communicating with your creditors. The truth is that if you stop making payments on a credit If you’re having trouble making your payments, contact your loan servicer to discuss your options as early as you can. The longer card, expect late fees and interest to be added to the amount you owe each month. If you exceed your credit limit, expect additional you wait to call, the fewer options you will have. fees and charges to be added. Your credit score also will be hurt by not making payments.

Foreclosure Rescue Scams claims that creditors never sue people for not paying their The possibility of losing your home to foreclosure can be unsecured debts. The truth is that creditors may have the right to sue terrifying. The reality that scam artists are preying on the vulnerability you to recover the money you owe. And sometimes, when creditors of desperate homeowners is equally frightening. Many so-called win a lawsuit, they have the right to garnish your wages or put a lien foreclosure rescue companies or foreclosure assistance firms claim on your home. they can help you save your home. Some are brazen enough to offer claims that they can remove accurate negative information from a money-back guarantee. Unfortunately, once most of these your credit report. The truth is that no company or person can foreclosure fraudsters take your money, they leave you flat – without remove negative information from your credit report that is accurate doing what they said they would do. and timely. It’s illegal.

YOUR HOME

Reverse Mortgages If you’re 62 or older and looking for money to finance a home improvement, pay off your current mortgage, supplement your retirement income, or pay for healthcare expenses, you may be considering a reverse mortgage. It’s a product that allows you to convert part of the equity in your home into cash without having to sell your home or take on additional monthly bills.

In a “regular” mortgage, you make monthly payments to the lender. In a “reverse” mortgage, you receive money from the lender and generally don’t have to pay it back for as long as you live in your home. Instead, the loan is repaid when you die, sell your home, or when your home is no longer your principal residence. The proceeds of a reverse mortgage generally are tax-free, and many reverse mortgages have no income restrictions.

Mortgage Servicing When you apply for a home mortgage, you may think that the lender will hold and service your loan until you pay it off or you sell your house. That’s often not the case. Loans and the rights to service them are bought and sold every day.

Weekly REPORTER

Chicken and Dumplings

Prep Time: 20 min Cook Time: 25 min

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Makes 4 Servings

• 2 tablespoons butter • 2 1/4 cups White Lily® Enriched Bleached Self-Rising Flour, divided • 3 (14.5 oz.) cans reduced sodium chicken broth • 1/4 cup Crisco® All-Vegetable Shortening, chilled OR 1/4 stick Crisco® Baking Sticks All-Vegetable Shortening, chilled • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper • 1/2 cup milk • 2 cups cooked, diced chicken

Nutritional Information Per Serving:

1. MELT butter in Dutch oven. Whisk in 1/4 cup flour.

Reserve 1/2 cup chicken broth for dumplings. Gradually add 2 cans and remaining chicken broth from third can into Dutch oven. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat.

2. PLACE 2 cups flour in large bowl. Cut in shortening using pastry blender or 2 knives just until mixture is the size of peas. Blend in just enough chicken broth until dough leaves sides of bowl. Pour any remaining broth into Dutch oven.

3. TURN dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead 2 to 3 times. Roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut dough into strips, about 2 inches x 1 inch. Return broth to boiling.

Add dumpling strips to boiling broth.

4. COVER; reduce heat to low. Simmer 15 minutes or until dumplings are cooked through. Stir occasionally to prevent dumplings from sticking. Stir in pepper, milk and cooked chicken. Cook about 5 minutes or until heated through.

Serving Size (1/4), Calories 560 (Calories from Fat 200), Total Fat 22g (Saturated Fat 4g, Trans Fat 0g), Cholesterol 75mg, Sodium 1690mg, Total Carbohydrate 56g (Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 4g), Protein 30g; Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 4%, Vitamin C 2%, Calcium 30%, Iron 25%. *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Weekly REPORTER

Courtesy of ARAcontent

editor@theweeklyreporter.co

(ARA) – Have you ever casually surfed the Web, answered a friendly chat or responded to a curious email only to have it lead to major computer trouble? With virus, spam and phishing technology more sophisticated than ever, computer threats can be hidden in devious places. Are you making common computing mistakes without even knowing it?

According to a 2012 Pew Internet & American Life Project survey, 58 percent of American adults have a desktop computer and 61 percent have a laptop. With all that computer power out there, it’s important to understand how to protect your at-home PC. Here are common mistakes that can affect computer speed and safety, from the experts at USTechSupport whose family of products include MYCLEANPC and MAXMYSPEED: Mistake: Enjoying “free” software and movies from your buddy.

Downloading pirated software is not only illegal; it can cause significant damage to your computer. The “free” software and media your buddy gave you can do more harm than good to your computer because it may be riddled with malicious viruses and malware, making your PC susceptible to attack. Remember, it’s better to buy than borrow when it comes to software and media.

Mistake: Clicking on enticing pop-ups.

Pop-ups caught your attention? Think before you click. Pop-ups that offer free goods, deals on products and even conversation with beautiful people can be alluring. But, do you know where that click will take you? Clicking on suspicious pop-ups can lead you down a rabbit-hole of even more unwanted pop-ups and spam. Take the time to research the subject yourself, rather than clicking on the first questionable advertisement.

Mistake: Leaving multiple files open.

You’re an expert at multitasking, meaning you need to constantly access many files. But leaving multiple files open in different applications can put a significant strain in your system. Try to keep

Common user mistakes affecting your computer's speed and security only necessary resources active and see how much faster your machine responds.

Mistake: Not being proactive with computer maintenance.

Computer issues arise frequently, even for the most savvy computer user. That’s why taking a proactive approach is best so your computer remains secure and fast. You can get a free diagnosis of issues that may be affecting your PC’s performance by visiting www.mycleanpc.com. You can easily fix common issues before they

become costly (and timely) problems.

Mistake: Responding to an email with an “incredible opportunity.”

Everyone has received them – that email investment opportunity that seems too good to ignore. The reality is, many scammers prey on trusting individuals or those who are enticed by get-rich-quick schemes. These scammers may even complete an initial transaction, only to later wipe out all your accounts. Never provide personal information, including banking information or your Social Security number, to anyone over email.

Mistake: Visiting adult websites.

“Triple X” can also mean triple the issues. Some sites harbor more than just adult material, they can create a domino-effect of popups, forcing your PC to a grinding halt as it deals with the incoming viruses that drain the system’s resources. Avoiding suspicious sites is part of keeping your computer running at its best.

If you’ve made some of these mistakes in the past, don’t worry.

Many people are tricked each day. By learning from these useful tips and suggestions, you’ll keep your PC running fast and issue-free.

Weekly REPORTER

Is your home making you sick?

(ARA) - Your home - it's your castle, your sanctuary. But could the place you go to escape the rest of the world be bad for you? Formaldehyde, chloroform and even “if you're in an older asbestos could be in house or did some your home and you remodeling or may not even know it. refurbishing on your First, the good own, there could be news. "Today we're substances in your designing houses that home that are bad are green-friendly," for your health.� says Dan Lee, Interior Design instructor at The Art Institute of Dallas, a campus of South University, and the president of Lee Design Group.

"Materials today have fewer chemicals and less carcinogenic substances."

But if you're in an older house or did some remodeling or refurbishing on your own, there could be substances in your home that are bad for your health. "There's something called volatile organic compounds or VOCs," says Kathleen Wakefield, Interior Design and Design & Technical Graphics program coordinator at The Art Institute of San Antonio, a branch of The Art Institute of Houston.

She adds, "They are emitted from certain solids and liquids like paint."

Wakefield says that short-term exposure to VOCs can cause nausea and irritation to the eyes, while long-term exposure could damage your kidneys and liver. VOCs are also emitted from carpet foam made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). So Wakefield suggests that if you're putting down carpet you stay elsewhere for a few weeks while the chemicals are being released. And keep windows open if possible to air out the space more quickly and not trap the compounds in your home.

Lee suggests you avoid carpet altogether. "Go with wood or natural stone floors over carpets and make sure you're shopping for PVC-free floors," he says.

When adding a little color to your home, look for paints with low or no VOC emissions. It should be right on the label. According to Wakefield, federal limits for flat paint are 250 milligrams per liter, and 380 milligrams per liter for all other kinds.

California standards are more stringent - 100

milligrams per liter for flat paint and 150 milligrams per liter for all others.

If you're building your home from the ground up, consider using copper plumbing. "Builders have gotten away from copper and switched to PVC," says Lee, "but copper is a natural sterilizer. If water sits in copper, it's being sterilized. In PVC, it's growing something."

If your home was built in the '70s, '80s or '90s, the press board used could contain formaldehyde, explains Lee. And the plastic laminate in those homes was almost always glued and manufactured with formaldehyde as well. And if your home was built before the '60s, the floor and wall coverings may contain asbestos gluing agents.

If you're careful about the materials you're using in your home building and remodeling projects, make sure that caution extends to the household products you bring into your house as well, says Lee. Many fabric softeners actually contain chloroform, benzyl acetate and pentane. These are cancer-causing agents, warns Lee. Also, make sure you're using natural pesticides in the yard as well.

Wakefield advises researching products on the internet before you go out and buy them. She also advises hiring an interior designer that specializes in environmental and sustainable design for any home improvement and renovation projects you undertake.

Weekly REPORTER

Weekly REPORTER CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Representative 4 Potato 8 Resist 12 Hoopla 13 Skirt 14 Architect Frank __ Wright 16 Tall, thin beer glass 18 Smoke 20 Mode 21 Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (abbr.)

23 Beverage 24 Skip 25 Card game 26 Planted seeds 27 Abstain from certain foods 29 Under a curse 32 Cooky 33 Island 34 Funeral car 38 Island of Taiwan 40 Collective Israeli farm 41 Tortilla wrapped chicken, deep fried 42 Male children 43 Neither's partner 44 _____ pepper 46 Pop 47 Winnie the __ 50 Fall back 51 Auto 52 Tax agency 53 Incline 55 Out loud 58 Tidier 60 Force 63 Shoot clay targets 64 Oil 65 Cooking measurement 66 Comedian Griffith 67 Tides 68 Rested

DOWN continued 11 15 17 19 22 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 33 35 36 37

Japanese city Depicted Coin machine __ Francisco Promissory note Ca. University Jab Take off your hat Movie star Analyze ore River Compass point Small particle Small motorboats End Jewish scribe

39 40 42 45 46 47 48 49 51 53 54 56 57 59 61 62

Opp. of little Gorilla "king" Tea brand Tree Two good friends Attach Mined metals Japanese city Display areas Marsh plant Chichi __ Major (Big Dipper) Department (abbr.)

Decade Grate Move away

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Knocks (2 wds.)

Modify Polygon surrounded solid Soak Play on words North American Indian Imprisonment Boulevard (abbr.)

Alack's partner Cut

Brain Teaser W K Y ' U H S F K R A E H V S Q KA GJS YK U U R GU B JS GU Golda Meir

Weekly REPORTER

GOLD Something for you?

(ARA) - Since the onset of the recession when many investment portfolios took a hit, there has been a lot of talk about the value of investing in gold as one way for investors to protect against market volatility and preserve wealth. Now, as policy makers both here and in Europe take steps to stimulate economic growth, there is a group of investors quietly adding gold to their own portfolios: the world’s central banks.

“The trend that we are seeing where global central banks are increasing their gold holdings reinforces the critical importance gold plays in an investment context. Gold serves a function no other investment asset can: it preserves capital, diversifies portfolios, and is highly liquid. These principals hold true for central banks as well as individual investors,” says Ashish Bhatia, manager of government affairs at the World Gold Council.

According to the World Gold Council (www.gold.org), central banks are on pace to purchase at least as much gold this year as they did in 2011. The increased investment in gold by these banks highlights gold’s role as an asset that provides diversification and wealth preservation during uncertain economic times.

The information provided is for educational purposes only. Consult your financial adviser before making any investment decisions

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