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Entry bubble Holiday Air Travel

By: Joanne | November 17, 2009 | Category: Travel

man in an airport talking to customs agents I can’t believe it, but holiday travel time is here already! My family is off to Grandy’s house this year, and luckily her house is just a car ride away. Many, many of you will be flying to your Thanksgiving destinations next week, and if you haven’t been in an airport lately, I recommend you prepare yourself before you leave the house.

There are so many rules and regulations for flyers now.  The rules are in place to keep us safe, but they certainly do make a trip to the airport more complicated.

Before you leave the house, be sure to check airport delays, and also check with your airline about the status of your flight.

Bringing a special dish for the thanksgiving table? Be sure to pack it right, or it won’t be allowed on the flight. Want to get through the security line faster? TSA tells you how to pack to have an easy trip through the airport security checkpoint.

And then there are the rules for traveling with liquids, and the list of things that you’re not allowed to pack in your carry-on bag.

As Jacob says, leave your hand grenades at home.

I hope you have an easy, safe trip this Thanksgiving, but if you have problems along the way, you can always file a complaint.

| Post a Comment | View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: air   airport   fly   joanne   thanksgiving   travel  

 

Entry bubble H1N1 (Swine) Flu and Your Pet

By: Joanne | November 10, 2009 | Category: Health

Close-up of grey cat with blue eyesI was shocked last week when I heard the report that a cat in the U.S. was sick with the H1N1 (swine) flu. Poor kitty. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website confirms that there was a cat with H1N1, and the kitty required medical care, but recovered. They also say that some ferrets were infected with the virus.

The good news is that the CDC thinks you won’t get the H1N1 flu from your pet. The bad news is that they think that your pet can get the flu from you.

If you get the flu, how do you protect your pet? You protect your pet the same way you protect your family and friends: cover your coughs and sneezes, wash, wash, wash your hands, and try to minimize contact until 24 hours after your fever is gone.

If your pet gets the flu, what should you do? If a person in your home has flu-like symptoms, and your pet becomes sick with coughing, sneezing or other respiratory symptoms, contact your veterinarian. Oh, and tell your kitty to sneeze into her paw.

| Post a Comment | View Comments [5] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: animal   cat   flu   h1n1   joanne   pandemic   pet   swine  

 

Entry bubble Visa Lottery

By: Joanne | October 27, 2009 | Category: General

statue of liberty

Would you, or someone you know, like to become a U.S. citizen? Then you should know that the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is accepting applications until November 30, 2009. Some call it the Green Card Lottery, but the official program name is the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. Each year, this program makes 50,000 diversity visas available to people who want to be U.S. citizens. Winners are drawn by a random selection among all entries.

The eligibility requirements are strict, and to qualify, there are work experience requirements, education requirements, and a prospective immigrant has to come from a country that has low immigration rates to the United States. Still, it’s a great opportunity.

Over the years we’ve seen many websites posing as official U.S. government websites that charge a fee to help people enter the Diversity Visa Program. Don’t be fooled, you can apply for free.

Good luck!

| Post a Comment | View Comments [0] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: card   citizen   diversity   green   immigration   joanne   lottery   visa  

 

Entry bubble Census 2010: Don't Be a Scam Victim

By: Joanne | October 20, 2009 | Category: Home and Family

hand holding a pen filling out a formYou’re probably aware that the Census Bureau is gearing up for the 2010 census, and you can bet there are people with bad intentions that will try to use the census as an opportunity to steal your personal information. I’ve already read reports that the scammers are getting started.

People contact us all the time about e-mail scams and fraud schemes. Sometimes fraudulent e-mails are even sent by someone posing as a government agency, so be careful and if you’re ever in doubt, check it out.

In March 2010 the Census Bureau will mail or deliver census forms to every household in the United States. It’s important that you know the difference between the official forms, and forms or e-mails that might be a scam.

Here are some highlights of the Census 2010 schedule:

  • February – March 2010: Census questionnaires are mailed or delivered to households.
  • April – July 2010: Census takers visit households that did not return a questionnaire by mail.

So keep yourself informed, and stay one step ahead of the scammers!

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Entry bubble The Top 50 Jobs of the Future

By: Joanne | October 13, 2009 | Category: Money

help wanted adsThese days I bet we all know someone who recently lost their job and needs to find work. Last month the unemployment rate in the U.S. reached 9.8%, which is higher than it’s been in over 10 years.

It seems like a lot is changing in our economy and if you’re out of work, or just thinking of changing your job the Department of Labor forecasts the top 50 in demand occupations so you can figure out how you can upgrade your skills to fit into the job market of tomorrow.

Of course, finding a new job is never easy. It’s always good to look in the local paper or check an online source for local job listings, but the government’s got some resources to help too. If you’re looking for a job or an internship with the federal government, you’ll find all openings announced to the public at USAJOBS. Check out your state job bank for even more job opportunities in your area. If you need a helping hand, look up your local Department of Labor office and see what services they offer to job seekers in your area. And if the job sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be aware of job scams.

| Post a Comment | View Comments [3] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: employment   joanne   job   occupation   unemployment  

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