Many parents share custody of their children, which presents a unique problem when it comes to potty training. It’s best to discuss potty training and agree on a strategy before you start. Both parents need to be informed about potty training and have the necessary potty training aids.
Potty Training Aids - To maintain consistency throughout the potty training process, it’s best if both parents either share the potty training aids or purchase the same aids. This way your child will have a potty seat she is comfortable with at each parent’s home.
Potty Training Methods - Both parents need to use similar potty training methods so your child doesn’t get confused. Make sure you are both informed and decide how you’re going to handle potty training instruction, rewards, and accidents.
In some cases, the divorced or separated parents don’t have a good relationship and this level of communication is not possible. If this is your situation, it may be easiest to pack your child’s potty seat along with a note describing your potty training strategy (and any other necessary information) and send it with your child.

Copyright andcopy; 2004 ZIP Baby. All Rights Reserved.
Danna Henderson
ZIP Baby
101 Convention Center Drive, Ste 700
Las Vegas, NV 89109
http://www.zipbaby.com

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Many renters don’t stop to think about what happens if there is a fire, someone breaks in and steals their new TV or stereo, or a visitor slips and falls on their property. The sad truth is; you will be responsible! While your landlord has insurance that covers the actual building, that coverage does not include your personal property or liability for injuries which occur in the space you rent ~ be it an apartment or a house and yard.
If a fire should destroy or damage your home, your landlord’s insurance will cover the structure. It won’t cover damage or loss of your belongings. Neither will it provide for the cost of temporary housing for you and your family.
You may think you don’t own enough personal property to make the cost of insurance worthwhile. You’re probably wrong! If you sit down and add up the cost of everything you own, you may be in for a big surprise. Consider what you have invested in such things as:
- Furniture and accessories
- Electronics like TV, stereo, computers
- Small appliances like microwaves, toaster ovens, etc.
- Clothing
- Art work like paintings or prints
- Dishes, silverware and cookware
- Sporting equipment
- Books
- Jewelry
Could you afford to replace all of these things?
Even worse, what would you do if a friend is injured on your property and decides to sue you for medical costs and more? It’s a scary thought, isn’t it?
Are you beginning to see why rental insurance may be a very wise investment?
The cost of rental insurance is based on several factors:
- The dollar amount of your coverage
- Deductibles
- Whether you choose to be reimbursed for Actual Cash Value or Replacement Costs (more about that in a minute)
- Where your rental property is located and the number of previous claims made, not only by you, but by others living in the same area.
Let me explain the difference between Actual Cash Value (ACV) and Replacement Costs. ACV is the value of your property at the time a loss takes place. For example, if your television set is five years old, it’s valued at much less than if it were brand new. The lesser amount is what you are reimbursed.
However, if you opt for Replacement Cost, you’re paid whatever it costs to go out and buy a new TV with similar features. Insuring for replacement cost raises the amount of your premium so it’s a good idea to get quotes for both ACV and Replacement Cost policies. Then you can decide which option fits your needs and budget.
Another thing to keep in mind is that jewelry, valuable collections, and guns are usually covered under a separate policy or “rider”. If you own these kinds of items, be sure to tell your insurance agent. You don’t want to find out after disaster strikes that they aren’t covered or that they aren’t covered for their true value.
One way you can reduce the cost of your rental insurance is to check with whichever company insures your car. If they provide rental insurance you may be eligible for a multi-line discount.
Rental insurance may be worth the investment just for the peace of mind it offers you.

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Wearing boots today is even more popular than ever. It used to be that boots were only for stomping through the mud with. Now however, boots can be as fashionable and stylish as you’d like. From motorcycle boots to cowboy boots and western boots, they’re all gaining in popularity. If you want to be on the edge of rugged fashion, get yourself some boots.
In prehistoric times skins or hides were probably tied around the foot for protection and warmth. The sandal, probably the earliest form of shoe, was worn in Egypt, Greece, and Rome; an early form of the boot was also known in Greece and Rome. The characteristic shoe of the Middle Ages was the soft, clinging moccasin, which extended to the ankle. It was highly decorated and was of velvet, cloth of gold, and, increasingly, of leather. Today the choices of boots are great…wonderful styles and comfort.
Both men and women are wearing boots to all occasions that would have been unthinkable a short while ago. If you’re considering adding boots to your shoes collection (or if you’re looking at good solid work boots) you can find anything you want on the internet.
Choose from only the best suppliers of boots. It doesn’t matter if its wolverine boots or fashionable thigh boots, you can find any style your looking for.

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Originally this was going to be a list for my two teenagers but some of these ideas are better suited to adults with a valid driver’s license and a bit of know-how. Some of these take a bit of planning and organizing, but most of them could be done on a fairly spur of the moment case by case basis. The great thing about a lot of these ideas is that you’re spreading holiday cheer by helping to make someone else’s otherwise stressful and overwhelming to-do list a little bit easier. Who wouldn’t pay to have someone come do a few of these things for you? Mostly, what’s important is that you remember to provide a quality item or service to the buyer with a smile on your face and in your heart. Have fun with these!
1. Baby-sit for people who need to do some Christmas shopping without their little ones tagging along. Anyone trustworthy who is over the age of about thirteen or fourteen can do this one. It’s hectic enough to get in and out of the malls and shopping centers without having to drag toddlers along. Contact friends, family, coworkers, and members of your spiritual community to let them know that you’re available for holiday babysitting. This can include time that the parents need to get away for office parties, charity events, and volunteering to help the elderly and less fortunate members of their community.
2. Grab a ladder and offer to clean leaves out of your neighbors’ gutters. Many people are so busy during the summer months that they completely forget to clean all of the debris from their gutters when the sun is out and it’s dry outside. It’s cold and yucky outside now and many people are too busy to get to it themselves. They’ll probably be glad that you offered and they can check it off of their to-do lists. This isn’t one for the younger kids. However, they can offer to rake up the leaves in their neighbors’ yards. Adults could offer to do both the gutters and the yard as one big project for a nice reasonable price. It could also be a father and son side business that you do together - while dad cleans the neighbors gutters, junior rakes up the leaves in the lawn.
3. Bake something amazing and offer to sell it to your friends and coworkers so they won’t have to do their own holiday baking. You probably have to be careful about selling your baked goods to professional organizations and such, but you could do some sideline baking to help out your friends, neighbors, and coworkers who are going to be entertaining guests over the holidays and simply won’t have the time to do their own baking. Have you got an awesome recipe that stands out as everyone’s absolute favorite? It’s the hit of every potluck? Make up some tiny sample sizes or bring it in to the office break room and serve up samples to your potential clients. Then while their mouths are watering, tell them that for a fee you’ll bring them one to their home the day before their guests are to arrive. You’ll have to work out the scheduling and cost of ingredients and such, but this could be a fun way to make some money and spread some serious joy. The hostess will be so pleased when she pulls your work of art out of the fridge and her guests ooh and ah over the scrumptious homemade dessert she didn’t even have to bake herself.
4. Offer to collect people’s empty soda cans and cash them in. My son raised almost $300 last spring doing this so that he could go to a training course to become a camp counselor for the little kids at our church. He went door to door offering to do yard work and most people just handed him bags and bags of pop cans they didn’t want to take the time to cash in. He collected most of them over one weekend and then cashed them all in the following weekend. We live really close to a grocery store where he could walk to cash them in, so I didn’t even have to get my car dirty with sticky soda drippings! This is a really good one for the younger kids to do.
5. Sell something on eBay. I know a number of people who make a decent second income all year round by digging around for antiques and such from the Goodwill and then fixing them, cleaning them up, and selling them for a much higher price on eBay. You have to know what to look for, but these folks will pick up an old pair of stereo speakers for $10 or $15 and then sell them on eBay for $200. The customer pays for shipping. You can also do this through garage sales, flea markets, and estate sells too. Most of the time and work goes into hunting for the cool treasures that someone will want to purchase.
6. Hang up people’s outdoor Holiday lights for them. As a single mom, I would have loved it if someone had come to my house and hung the Christmas lights on my house for me. My children always wanted us to decorate the outside of the house and I hated not being able to do that for them. I didn’t know the first thing about how to go about hanging them up. I didn’t even own a ladder! So, I would think that you could go around offering to hang up people’s outdoor holiday lights for a fee. It they are like me and don’t even have lights but want to get some, you could offer your expertise as to which kind to buy and where to get the best prices and such.
7. Grab a broom or a shovel and offer to clean the neighborhood sidewalks. This is another good one for the younger teens. There’s always sidewalks that need swept or shoveled. And there’s always someone too busy or too tired to do it themselves.
8. Work a second job as seasonal help at one of the department stores in the mall. Most of the major department stores hire extra help in October or November so they can have them fully trained by the time the really busy holiday shopping season kicks in. They are kept on until after the inventory counts are done in January. Then most are let go if they haven’t quit already. Those who have proven themselves to be quality employees will often be asked to stay on longer.
9. Sell something at holiday bazaars. I suspect that you have to get these kinds of events lined up ahead of time with a bit of preplanning and such, but plenty of folks make a decent seasonal income by selling cool arts and crafts type items at those holiday bazaars. Often a percentage of the sales goes towards a fundraiser, but you still make enough to make it worth your time and energy to create the art and to hang out at the art shows.
10. Sell your plasma. We all know how important it is to donate blood during the holidays, but many people don’t know that you can get paid for sitting through a procedure quite similar to the donation process. The difference is that they run your blood through a machine that separates the plasma from the red blood cells and puts the red blood cells back into your body. It take longer and I guess that’s why they are willing to pay you for your time. Years ago, I used to do this when my kids were really little and we needed some extra money for upcoming birthdays and such. They wouldn’t let you do it more than once a week or so and they only paid about $25 each time, so you had to plan ahead if you were going to raise $100 or $200 for something you wanted to purchase. Contact your local Red Cross or other blood donation centers for help finding the plasma centers.
11. Clean houses for others who have holiday guests coming. Typically, if someone has out of town guests coming for the holidays, they have a lot more on their to-do list then just cleaning their toilets and shampooing the carpets. You could become a real lifesaver for those in a crunch who are too busy, too old, or too tired to do a thorough deep cleaning before the guests arrive. Some might even hire you again to clean up after the guests leave too! Teens can do this just as easily as the adults can.
12. Run errands and do odd holiday jobs like wrapping gifts or delivering packages to the post office. You could start a little side business where all you do is run other people’s errands for them. Drop off and pick up the dry cleaning. Take their pet to the vet. Deliver cupcakes to the charity fundraiser. Pick up a handful of gift certificates from national department stores that will later be mailed out. Address and stamp their Christmas cards for them. Do their grocery shopping. Pick up new printer cartridge and some desk calendars for them. It’s all of those tiny little errands that make for frazzled schedules and crazy timelines. For a fee, you could do it for them.
13. Decorate the inside of people’s homes or offices for the holidays. You don’t have to be a professional interior decorator to be helpful. If you’ve got a reputation as having a good eye for attractive and festive decorating, you can help others to set up their trees, hang garland, and place some nice poinsettia here and there. You can help make people’s homes and their office space a warm inviting environment and also include coming back after the holidays to break it all down into to storage containers as part of the deal. I hate tearing down the decorations and would love to pay someone to put it all back away!
14. Cater some dinners for the extremely busy shoppers or for Holiday parties. Those who are not awesome cooks need not apply for this one! Let’s say that your boss is having the annual company Christmas party at his house and his wife is swamped with running kids back and forth to choir concerts and peewee football camp while shopping and planning for her in-laws who will be flying in to visit only three days after her husband’s company party at her house!!! You could offer to cook and cater the event for her. You’d once again be making someone else’s holiday season so much easier while earning extra money for yourself. Decide in advance on a menu and who’s purchasing the ingredients needed. Then all you have to come up with is a dollar figure for your time and grandma’s secret recipe for those little mini-cakes that everyone loves so much.
15. Chauffer someone’s children to and from school and other activities so the parents have some free time. This isn’t quite the same as babysitting. You’d be amazed at how much time a person can spend picking up and driving two or three kids to different events and hauling musical instruments and sporting gear from one event to the next. You could simply run a taxi service for children and teenagers who need rides from point A to B. You don’t have to hang out and watch them once they get there. Just make sure they arrive on time. Even just having an afternoon at home to cook and clean house while someone else gathers up all of the kids and brings them all home could make a world of difference for someone.
As you can see, some of these services could easily be turned into a year-round side job or they could be dropped as soon as the holidays are over. Perhaps you’ll find that you love catering people’s meals, you love refurbishing antiques, or you love running errands and taxiing others around from place to place. You could go into business for yourself and by next year, you could quit your ‘real job’ and be happily self-employed. Then again, your teenager could discover how much time and work it takes just to raise enough money for some generous Christmas shopping. After learning the value of a dollar earned, they might decide that college is a good idea after all!
Copyright 2004, Skye Thomas, Tomorrow’s Edge

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If you have ever fallen behind on your debts you already know that dealing with your creditors can be a hassle. Sometimes it can be downright humiliating. It doesn’t have to be that way.
With millions of people experiencing financial problems it is absolutely necessary for everyone to know and understand their rights as a consumer.
Federal law requires that you receive fair and equal treatment from businesses issuing credit. This law applies when they evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, and even leases.
The one area where I receive the most complaints are from individuals that are being harassed by debt collectors. These complaints range from debt collectors contacting their work and family members to being called names. All of these are a direct violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). This article spells out exactly what your rights are as a consumer.
I have copied some areas of this article directly from the Federal Trade Commission’s web site to ensure that the information is explained exactly as the law applies. These areas are identified.
The FDCPA lists the following guidelines that must be followed by all debt collectors:
(Copied from the Federal Trade Commission web site)

Debt collectors may contact you only between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Debt collectors may not contact you at work if they know your employer disapproves.
Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you.
Debt collectors may not lie when collecting debts, such as falsely implying that you have committed a crime.
Debt collectors must identify themselves to you on the phone.
Debt collectors must stop contacting you if you ask them to in writing.

It also prohibits debt collectors from engaging in unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices while collecting these debts.

It is very important to keep a record of any contact you make with your creditors especially when there is a dispute or misunderstanding regarding your account. You should list the name and address of the company, date and time of the call, the name of the person you spoke with and the content of the call. I have developed a form that can be used for this purpose. You can find it at http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/ccrs.html
Another important aspect of your consumer rights is Credit Reporting. Derogatory information in your Credit Report can have serious consequences. It is ultimately your responsibility to ensure that the information in your credit report is accurate and up to date.
There are numerous companies that offer “Free Credit Reports”, however, you are obligated to sign up for their “Debt Monitoring Service” which usually costs about $80. You will receive a free credit report and if you cancel your monitoring service within 30 days it will cost you nothing. Your best bet is to order your credit report directly from a Credit Reporting Agency. It will only cost you about $9. Below is a list of the three main companies:
Equifax
PO Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 03074-0241
(800) 685-1111
Experian
PO Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
(888) EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)
Trans Union
PO Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
(800) 916-8800
I would advise you to visit the below link to find out exactly how to obtain your credit report:
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/money/fair-credit/fair-crd.htm
Having knowledge of your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)can save you a lot of time and trouble when you apply for credit. The following explains these rights.
(Copied from the Federal Trade Commission web site)

Your Credit Report
Your credit payment history is recorded in a file or report. These files or reports are maintained and sold by “consumer reporting agencies” (CRAs). One type of CRA is commonly known as a credit bureau. You have a credit record on file at a credit bureau if you have ever applied for a credit or charge account, a personal loan, insurance, or a job. Your credit record contains information about your income, debts, and credit payment history. It also indicates whether you have been sued, arrested, or have filed for bankruptcy.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is designed to help ensure that CRAs furnish correct and complete information to businesses to use when evaluating your application.
Your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act:

You have the right to receive a copy of your credit report. The copy of your report must contain all of the information in your file at the time of your request.
You have the right to know the name of anyone who received your credit report in the last ~~year for most purposes or in the last two years for employment purposes.
Any company that denies your application must supply the name and address of the CRA they contacted, provided the denial was based on information given by the CRA.
You have the right to a free copy of your credit report when your application is denied because of information supplied by the CRA. Your request must be made within 60 days of receiving your denial notice.
If you contest the completeness or accuracy of information in your report, you should file a dispute with the CRA and with the company that furnished the information to the CRA. Both the CRA and the furnisher of information are legally obligated to reinvestigate your dispute.
You have a right to add a summary explanation to your credit report if your dispute is not resolved to your satisfaction.

If you believe that your rights have been violated under one of these laws you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission online at: https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01
While these laws won’t eliminate your obligation to pay your just debts they can prevent debt collectors and others from taking advantage of you.

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A taxi driver in Singapore recently drove his taxi headfirst into a rather deluxe condominium swimming pool! At the subsequent court case the driver was fully exonerated from any blame on the grounds that it was raining heavily at the time of the incident and (would you believe it?) that no barriers were in place around the pool. If anybody was to ponder over this scenario it would not be hard to conjure up a few chinks and cracks in the stories armor. Well, swimming pools do not normally reside directly in front of condominium entrances as those living there tend not to favor passerby’s peering in! Oh, and who would design it such that drunken residents, returning home from a night on the town, are faced with an assault course before being allowed to their apartment and to bed? I would also question the lack of lighting around the driveway, the speed that the taxi was taking and his knowledge of the area. But going no further; the driver was so obviously doing what millions of other people are doing right now - he was concentrating away on his cell phone, weaving and ducking around plant pots and over grass verges and was not able to fully apply himself to staying on the driveway! A point to back-up this reasoning is that Singaporean taxi-drivers always ring the customers upon arrival at the pick-up point. So this driver was without doubt struggling to call his future passengers to come down, whilst paying little attention to the large sign that said “swimming pool ahead”!
Mobile Phone usage by drivers on the move has increased world-wide. Many officials, governments, safety bodies, other drivers and pedestrians are becoming seriously worried about this modern phenomenon. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the USA conducted a survey and came up with some startling and very shocking data! The results showed that 1.2 million people or 8% of drivers in the States were using handheld or hands free cell phones during daylight hours in 2004; a 50% increase since 2002 and a 100% rise in four years. Mr. Ray Tyson, a spokesperson for NHTSA shared his views with us: while we don’t have hard evidence that there’s been an increase in the number of crashes, we know that talking on the phone can degrade driver performance”. Thanks Ray for the enlightenment but why did you restrict the survey to daylight hours only, do you expect mobile phone wielding drivers to always tell the truth and why don’t you have any hard evidence? Ray clearly reduced his statement to casual observation status rather than committing himself or the NHTSA by shouting out loudly to the world that the situation was reaching disastrous proportions ………..etc!
Over in Japan recent statistics shine another bad light on the situation. The Japanese Police produced some hard evidence (maybe they should contact RAY) of 1140 car accidents that occurred in Japan during a three month period in 1996! All of these accidents occurred due to drivers being distracted by their mobile phones in one way or another. In fact the police went a little bit further: 9 people died of these accidents! 45% of these accidents happened while drivers attempted to answer their ringing phones. 28% while drivers tried to combine driving with dialing, 18% while the drivers were talking and the remaining 11% due to other causes like scrambling under the seat to retrieve a dropped phone having just swerved out of the path of an oncoming camper van on cruise control!
Oh! And heading back to the Americas some objective Scientific Research from some body in Toronto shows that the risk of being involved in a traffic accident increases fourfold if a mobile phone is used whilst driving! Thanks for that, maybe these scientists were spent some time with Ray!
Zooming across the Atlantic, over the Middle East, China and to Taiwan! A country that manufactures and has its hand in the production of many electronic devices currently being used in the world today! As a pedestrian crossing any road in Taiwan is similar to putting ones head in the mouth of a lion, it is a dangerous event that most achieve by closing ones eyes and with a rapidly beating heart just taking the plunge - crossing the road that is! Recently this style of heart racing adventure has just gotten a little bit better: drivers manically wielding cell phones have dramatically increased the heart in mouth adventure of trying to get to the other side! It is still similar to putting ones head into a lion’s mouth, but a lion that has only just finished chomping to death its keeper, that is being prodded by a child with a stick between the bars and has been forced to listen to a mobile phone users checking out is new ring tones!
There has never been a co-coordinated system of traffic flow in Taiwan; a total lack of respect for traffic lights and pedestrians exist and weaving drivers on betel nut (a chewy nut that causes hyper activity when chewed and drowsiness in-between chomps) just adds to the general fun! Most pedestrians hug walls and sneak along with eyes working overtime as potentially hazardous drivers are logged and tracked by a well-developed brain radar system brought on by a desire for survival. Only last week a bus zoomed by with a cargo of terrified children peering helplessly and desperately out of the windows; the driver was happily conversing on his mobile whilst weaving an unstoppable course through various red lights at well over the moral speed limit! Another recent incident which in retrospect is quite hilarious was when two moped drivers approached each other across an intersection. Their speeds were not great and the whole scenario played out as if in slow motion; each was concentrating on their respective conversations, each was weaving drunkenly forwards in fits and starts and as if pre-ordained they collided head on. A tangled heap resulted but without serious injury or damage. But what is even more hilarious is that both individuals picked themselves up, brushed themselves off and without acknowledging each other or scrambling to shift blame they both reached around for the cell phones. And without pause they continued their conversations - why let a mere traffic accident get in the way of a call? Who knows, maybe they were talking to each before they crashed and afterwards were busy obtaining each others insurance details - all over the phone!
Even worse than being a pedestrian these days is to find oneself sitting in the back of a taxi with driver who feels the urge to converse not with you but with his mobile! Suddenly from being a normal driver who bores his passengers to tears with stories of his economic plight or Liverpool’s recent football score, emerges a maniac of WW11 convoy evasion tactical ability! The driver suddenly decides that any action of the foot on the gas peddle must be immediately followed by one on the brake and passengers find themselves alternately with their heads embedded into the seat in front or their bodies lying twisted and mangled against the rear window! From a driver, who although was naturally aggressive in his driving managed with skill to avoid others, emerges a monster. A massive monster who will play head on “who will brake first” games with a speeding tank, who will assume that spaces the size of a shopping trolley will mysteriously expand if he gets enough speed up and who considers that all other drivers are mere figments of his imagination!
Indeed the mobile phone driving syndrome situation is far worse than authorities, governments, Ray, the Japanese Police and the bored or underpaid scientist’s state. This maybe due to the fact that most of the above mentioned bodies and groups tend to use their very own mobile phones whilst driving to work every day so ……….can’t make too much noise now can they!
One country is stepping up its efforts to clamp down on this new menace! The UK! As of 2005 drivers caught using mobile phones will be immediately fined 60 pounds and have three penalty points on their driving licenses! In fact Ms Janet Anderson, MP for Rose and Darwin ( a couple of houses in England connected by a single lane dirt track) clapped her hands in delight upon receiving a report that hands-free kits (once heralded as a safe alternative) were nearly as dangerous as actual hand-held phones! She went on a bit further to say that, “it must be made crystal clear to drivers who insist on behaving in this way that they endanger the safety of the public generally and their own safety too”! Yippee!
Still in the UK - recent tests at the Transport Research Laboratory have shown that drivers on mobiles have a slower reaction time and stopping time than those under the influence of alcohol! It does not really take a team of highly paid scientists and many pounds later to figure that one out: it is blatantly obvious that a driver under the influence will be applying every ounce of his available concentration on his driving, albeit slightly misguided, whilst a driver on his mobile will not be concentrating at all! But the findings of this year long study did place in writing some much needed data and statistics that can now be used and wielded by those trying to clamp down on the menace! At last some hard evidence!
Hopefully the future will change people’s attitudes regarding mobile phone usage! Hopefully normal people will not feel the urge to be in contact 24/7, will not suffer withdrawal symptoms should they be disconnected for a nanosecond and be able to not answer a ringing phone - in fact it would be superb if people could actually switch mobile phones off sometimes!
But this is way, way, way into the future! As far away as us conversing with aliens from the planet “zong” in the “xzihngty” galaxy about them trying to eat us for breakfast! In the meantime it will be up to governments and the introduction of new laws to clamp down on the menace and thus make drivers think twice before answering or making calls whilst on the move!
Maybe the answer is not to punish drivers through penalty points on their license or the threat of paltry monetary fines:
“You have been found guilty by this court of talking on a cell phone whilst driving. You will from this day forth not be allowed to own, borrow, use or even look at a mobile phone, PDF or portable communication device for a period of ten years. Additionally you will complete three months of community service upon completion of which you will attend counseling in “how to survive on this planet without being in constant touch”. Upon completion of this course you will then attend a four week course titled, “how to use a phone that is connected to a land line”. Take him away boys!
The only crisis left to solve would then be to clamp down on those drivers who insist on doing a full make-over in the rear-view mirror whilst doing 60MPH through a built up area! To put a halt to business men who assume that drivers’ seats are wonderful places to shave, rinse and swallow! To convince short sighted people that, “cleaning ones specs” by removing them and whilst navigating a hair bend in icy conditions is not really sensible. Oh, and that various forms of sexual attention might be pleasurable at the time but not when subsequently wrapped around a lamppost or underneath an HGV still doing 60MPH down the freeway!
When these drivers have had their shaving kits and make up bags confiscated and are safely tucked away behind bars then it might be safe for the average pedestrian to step foot outside once again and with confidence, without fear of being mowed down by cars driven by self-engrossed and selfish drivers who assume that the conversation they are currently having is more important than life!

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Many renters don’t stop to think about what happens if there is a fire, someone breaks in and steals their new TV or stereo, or a visitor slips and falls on their property. The sad truth is; you will be responsible! While your landlord has insurance that covers the actual building, that coverage does not include your personal property or liability for injuries which occur in the space you rent ~ be it an apartment or a house and yard.
If a fire should destroy or damage your home, your landlord’s insurance will cover the structure. It won’t cover damage or loss of your belongings. Neither will it provide for the cost of temporary housing for you and your family.
You may think you don’t own enough personal property to make the cost of insurance worthwhile. You’re probably wrong! If you sit down and add up the cost of everything you own, you may be in for a big surprise. Consider what you have invested in such things as:
- Furniture and accessories
- Electronics like TV, stereo, computers
- Small appliances like microwaves, toaster ovens, etc.
- Clothing
- Art work like paintings or prints
- Dishes, silverware and cookware
- Sporting equipment
- Books
- Jewelry
Could you afford to replace all of these things?
Even worse, what would you do if a friend is injured on your property and decides to sue you for medical costs and more? It’s a scary thought, isn’t it?
Are you beginning to see why rental insurance may be a very wise investment?
The cost of rental insurance is based on several factors:
- The dollar amount of your coverage
- Deductibles
- Whether you choose to be reimbursed for Actual Cash Value or Replacement Costs (more about that in a minute)
- Where your rental property is located and the number of previous claims made, not only by you, but by others living in the same area.
Let me explain the difference between Actual Cash Value (ACV) and Replacement Costs. ACV is the value of your property at the time a loss takes place. For example, if your television set is five years old, it’s valued at much less than if it were brand new. The lesser amount is what you are reimbursed.
However, if you opt for Replacement Cost, you’re paid whatever it costs to go out and buy a new TV with similar features. Insuring for replacement cost raises the amount of your premium so it’s a good idea to get quotes for both ACV and Replacement Cost policies. Then you can decide which option fits your needs and budget.
Another thing to keep in mind is that jewelry, valuable collections, and guns are usually covered under a separate policy or “rider”. If you own these kinds of items, be sure to tell your insurance agent. You don’t want to find out after disaster strikes that they aren’t covered or that they aren’t covered for their true value.
One way you can reduce the cost of your rental insurance is to check with whichever company insures your car. If they provide rental insurance you may be eligible for a multi-line discount.
Rental insurance may be worth the investment just for the peace of mind it offers you.

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Ah… the 80s. Big hair and all, it’s a decade we won’t forget. Celebrate the punk 80s with a theme party sure to please all your guests. Here are a few ideas to help you get started.
You can create your own invitations by drawing 50th birthday theme such as “50″ or over-the-hill gag themes.
Invitations
You can also create your own invitations by drawing 80’s themes such as sunglasses, punk styles, leg warmers, mezpahs, etc.
Costumes/Dress Attire
Give each guest a pair of sunglasses to remember the old Corey Hartt song, “I wear my sunglasses at night.”
For a disco or punk 80’s style nightlife effect, add plenty of glow products.
Wear jelly bracelets and punk wigs for a great 80’s theme.
Games and Activities
An easy choice of games is to play a game of 80’s trivia. There are several available including Trivial Pursuit 80’s edition.
Jeopardy became a big hit in the 80’s, and can be a fun trivia game.
Play clips from 80’s TV shows or movies and competing teams guess first what movie/show the song was from.
80’s karaoke is lots of fun and gets everyone laughing.
Popular drinks for an 80’s theme are Corona beer and wine coolers. Be sure to have soda on hand for the non-alcoholic set as well as water for all.
Complete the evening with break dancing and Rubik’s cube contests!

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I read about Dogfellas in a wonderful article written by a well-known magazine and contacted them immediately. Dogfellas is run by the famous acting/writing Sorvino family including Paul, Mira, and Amanda Sorvino. Being the big-hearted Manhattan gal that she is, Amanda Sorvino agreed to do a phone interview with me recently and I was moved by several accounts of dogs that they have helped to find good homes. Dogfellas began in February 2002 and they operate mainly from Manhattan and Pennsylvania, but are expanding to the Los Angeles area in the future. Amanda describes her favorite day with Dogfellas when her father, Paul Sorvino, after seeing a picture on NYACC’s web site of an expressive faced German Shepherd, was determined to save this dog named Sugar. Sugar is one of the lucky ones and now sleeps soundly with her owner, an 18-year-old college gal who welcomed Sugar into her heart after about 3 months of recovering from trauma caused by previous trainers and owners. Amanda wanted to emphasize that all of the dogs that Dogfellas have worked with have been transformed into loving and trusting canines, no matter what abuse or neglect that they encountered in the past. Dogfellas… thank you from all of the animal lovers of the world for your work and inspiration.

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Have you realized just how much fundraising is going on these days? There is fundraising for little league, school fundraisers, and the college fundraiser, as well as church fundraisers. Day cares need more funds, hospitals need new equipment, and cheerleaders need to fundraise for their costumes. And to think up new fundraising ideas that will be successful is becoming more challenging every day.
On a good note, it shows that people do care how others live and cope with thier lives. However, it also means that, because we are always being asked to donate to one good cause after another, we are not always able to help. Despite our best intentions, our own funds simply will not stretch that far.
However, if we request the donation of items instead of cash, that is often a relief to a potential donor. People will often gladly donate a can of food for a food drive, or a kitchen item they have never used for a sale, whereas they would not donate cash. And there are many kinds of fundraising ideas you can use to hold sales based on items collected.
For example, you could hold a toy drive that would give your organization toys to sell to support your work. Or what about a gardening sale? If you have some volunteers with green thumbs, they could easily grow some plant cuttings or start some seeds or bulbs growing ready for a plant sale in the spring or early summer, when the general public is looking to restock their garden after the winter.
Book sales are always well attended, but of course you will need to collect a lot of donated books to make this a success, as books do not generally sell for a high price. You could approach local publishers to see if they have any books that they could donate to support your cause. If they do give you some books, don’t forget to write them after your event to thank them and also to let them know how successful you were and how much their donation helped you. Donors like to be thanked, and they are more likely to support you in the future if they know their gift has been appreciated in the past.
Some groups like to ask for donated items and then they use these to make up some themed gift baskets which they then raffle, usually at another fundraising event. For example you may make up a bath basket containing some soap, hand towels and bath salts from your donated items. The trick here is to keep raffle tickets affordable, especially if you are expecting those that donated the items to be buying the raffle tickets!
You may find that some people are willing to volunteer their time rather than funds. For example an electrician may prefer to spend a half day checking the wiring in the new offices your non-profit group just moved into, rather than donate cash. As long as this benefits your non-profit organization, any donation is welcome, whether it is time or money, but make sure your donors know what the goal of your organization is, and how their assistance will help you. They may then mention it to their circle of friends, and this kind of promotion is very valuable.

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