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Entry bubble Do Not Call List

By: Colleen | September 09, 2009 | Category: General

The condo I'm currently renting is for sale. Usually, whenever my phone rings with a number I don't recognize, I don't answer. But now, I get calls from randoms all the time telling me that they're coming to look at the apartment, thus inconveniencing my roomate and me and threatening to leave us homeless. But I'm not bitter or anything. do not call

It seems I'm not the only one getting unwanted calls lately. Statistics show that complaints about unwanted phone calls are up 11% over the past year. And these are from people already registered on the "do-not-call list."

The current economy is to blame for the increase. Beware of callers claiming to have solutions for housing foreclosure and credit card debt.

If you've not yet registered for the do-not-call list, you can do it online at DoNotCall.gov.

Solicitors- back off. Same to anyone who wants to buy my apartment.

| Post a Comment | View Comments [3] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: colleen   credit   do_not_call_list   foreclosure   unwanted_phone_calls  

 

Entry bubble Allergy Proof your Home

By: Colleen | August 26, 2009 | Category: Health

My sister always jokes that the clearest memories she has of her childhood are not being able to breathe. allergy

Unfortunately inheriting a heap of allergies from my Dad, the poor girl spent years with a chronic case of stuffy-nose. My parents sent her to the allergist, but anything short of having her live in a bubble didn't really help. Luckily, as time wore on, she outgrew the worst of them, but still deals with her allergies today.

For allergy sufferers like my sister, fall is often the worst time of year. Here are some suggestions to keep your home as allergy free as possible.

  • Clear your home of clutter. Stacks of "stuff" are ideal homes for dust mites, bugs, mold, and mice.
  • Vacuum weekly. Dust mites and pet dander are most often in rugs and carpets.
  • Wash your bedding in 130 degree water weekly.
  • Banish bathroom mold by spraying walls with chlorine-bleach solution (1 once of bleach to 1 quart H2O).
  • Keep mold out of the house by keeping shoes clean of wet leaves.
  • Store damp firewood in a separate dry place.
  • Empty your garbage often.
  • Shut windows between 10am and 3pm when pollen counts are at their peak.
  • Change AC and heater filters monthly.
  • Wash your dirty dishes right after eating.
  • Don't leave pet food or water out overnight.
  • Keep dogs and cats out of the bedroom and off furniture.
  • Wash and brush your pets outside to cut down on pet dander.
  • Dust weekly.
  • Fix plumbing leaks and drips.
  • Keep home temperature below 70 degrees - creepy crawlies dislike colder temperatures.

What secrets or suggestions do you have for keeping an allergy-free home? Do certain techniques tend to work better than others?

 

 

| View Comments [6] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: allergies   allergy   clean   colleen   fall   home  

 

Entry bubble VTE Travel Risks

By: Colleen | July 08, 2009 | Category: Health

It's summer and everyone is on the move. Except when we are trapped on a long flight or playing "eye spy" in the mini-van en route to Grandma's or the shore.

A new study in the Annals of Internal Medicine warns about the risk of a condition called venous thromboembolism or VTE. VTE is the formation of a blood clot in the deep veins of the leg or pelvis, and if the clot breaks loose and travels to the heart or lungs, can be fatal. Symptoms include swelling, pain, and redness in the leg.

VTE is very rare, but risk increases considerably during flights or car rides longer than a few hours. Those most at risk are people who are obese, have chronic illness, or take medicines containing estrogen.

To prevent VTE, it's important to remain hydrated by drinking water, flexing your calf muscles, and walking around if possible. Avoid alcohol and coffee because they can dehydrate you.

 

| View Comments [3] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: blood_clot   colleen   travel   vte  

 

Entry bubble We Want your Independence Day Pictures!

By: Colleen | June 24, 2009 | Category: Fun

Every kid who grew up in the Philadelphia area from 1967-1994 has the Sunday morning jingle, "send your pictures to dear ol' 4th julyCaptain Noah" permanently etched in their brains. Dear ol' Captain Noah gathered quite a collection of paintings and drawings over the years, which he shared with the whole Delaware Valley during his much anticipated weekly segment.

It is in that same spirit that GovGab is anxious to announce our own form of picture-share, but with a more modern twist.

With the Independence Day holiday approaching, USA.gov and GobiernoUSA.gov want to know, "How do you celebrate the Fourth of July?" Submit photos from your backyard BBQ, fireworks displays, baseball games, picnics, parades...whatever it is you do to celebrate Independence Day, we encourage you to share it.

 Anyone 18 years or older, of any nationality, living in any country is welcome to submit pictures of their holiday experiences to our specially created Flickr group.

At the conclusion of the holiday weekend, selected photos will be posted on GovGab, along with special editor posts covering various 4th of July events.

Photos will be reviewed to be sure their content is appropriate, and you're submitting with the understanding that they might be shared on GovGab, USA.gov, or GobiernoUSA.gov.

Just think- it is only in the past few years that we've been able to have such an instantaneous sharing of information...let's use it to have some fun and celebrate together.

Shoot, even Captain Noah required postage...

Again, to submit your photos: here is the link to our Fourth of July Flickr Group.

| View Comments [4] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: colleen   flickr   fourth_of_july   gobiernousa.gov   independence_day   pictures   usa.gov  

 

Entry bubble Buying Organic

By: Colleen | June 17, 2009 | Category: Money

Personally, I don't give a hoot if my food is organic or not.

I know not caring makes me completely un-trendy and quite possibly just plain stupid, but I can list all 50 states alphabetically and recite all the books of the Bible IN ORDER (this makes me an instant hit at cocktail parties). What more do you want from me?

For those of you who are overall healthier and smarter than me, here are some tips to use when purchasing your organic foods. Keep in mind, in 2002 the USDA implemented uniform organic standards for American farmers- organic foods much be produced without chemical pesticides or fertilizers and in livestock, without the use of antibiotics or growth hormones.

  • The demand for organic products has grown tremendously in the past few years (making it a $28 billion industry in 2008). Because of this, you no longer need to shop at speciality (and expensive!) organic stores. Many grocery chains offer their own cheaper organic lines- but the best place to go is still a local farmer's stand or market.
  • Integrate your most heavily used foods as organic first. For most people these are items like milk and eggs. When buying organic fruits and vegetables, focus on items that traditionally carry more pesticides: peaches, apples, bell peppers, and celery.
  • Buy your produce in season and locally since out of area produce uses more fossil fuel to ship. Also check country-of-origin stickers.
  • Don't fret over fish. Right now there are no government standards for what makes seafood and shellfish organic.

| View Comments [1] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: colleen   farmers'_market   food   organic   usda  

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