WORD OF THE DAY-GRUNT

Grunt, as in "he grunts and moans", is an onomatopoeic word that imitates the sound of grunting. The use of grunt for an American infantryman, who does a lot of grunting and groaning, probably dates back no further than the late 1950's and did not become common for "dogfaces" until the Vietnam War. One story has Marine Corps pilots coining the term/

CALMING HELP FOR YOUR HAIRY PETS

If Fido is stressed out, maybe he just needs a whiff of pheromones. A growing array of animal pheromone products —which contain substances the animal perceives as calming—can improve pet behavior, say the companies that sell them. Veterinarians say one company's products is backed by extensive scientific evidence, but other brands need more research.
Pheromones are chemical compounds sensed in cats and dogs by the vomeronasal organ in the back of the nose. Animals use pheromones for communication. Now a growing number of companies are seeking to harness pheromones' power to help humans curb behavior problems in pets.
You can buy calming animal pheromones in spray form, intended to be used on problem areas such as sofas where a cat is marking its territory, or as diffusers, which are plugged into an electrical socket to cover a wide area. In recent years, collars that release pheromones over a monthlong period have become available.
Veterinarians say that pheromones do work—but not all the time. "They work on some animals, and not others," says veterinarian Bonnie Beaver, executive director of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists in College Station, Texas. "They work in some situations but not in others."
In cats, pheromones work well to calm the animals on trips and when introducing them to a new environment, as well as reducing scratching of furniture, says animal behaviorist Gary Landsberg, of Thornhill, Ontario. In many cats, pheromone therapy can reduce, or even eliminate, territorial urine marking on vertical surfaces. But it is generally ineffective in combatting urination on beds and other horizontal surfaces, which is most often caused not by overall stress, but by a cat's unhappiness with the location or size of its litter box or the litter used, hesays.
Overall, pheromone therapy appears to be less effective than drug therapies, such as antidepressants, typically used on pets with behavior problems, Dr. Landsberg says. But he recommends trying pheromones first, since they are easier to administer and have no side effects.
The most-studied cat product is Feliway, a synthetic F3 facial pheromone, which cats deposit on surfaces when they rub them with their cheeks. To the cat, it signifies a location is safe and known, according to Libourne, France, manufacturer Ceva Santé Animale.
Feliway—backed by 13 studies published in scientific journals or presented at meetings—is available through veterinarians, or through pet stores under the Comfort Zone brand. A 75-milliliter spray bottle (good for about 500 sprays) has a suggested retail price of $38. Diffusers with enough pheromone product to last a month sell for a suggested price of about $50, with refills for $28.
For dogs, the most-researched product is DAP, or Dog Appeasing Pheromone, a synthetic version of a substance made by mother dogs to calm puppies. Also from Ceva and sold in stores as Comfort Zone, the product is backed by 16 published or presented studies. It's available as a spray, diffuser or, from your vet as a collar for $33 to $37, depending on the size.
In dogs, pheromones seem to work best when used in conjunction with training, scientists say. In a study of 45 puppies in two-month training classes, the animals wearing the collars were "better socialized and adapted faster" to new situations, according to a Ceva-funded study published in December, in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. DAP is recommended to help dogs adjust to strangers and new environments, and to reduce fear from noises, such as thunderstorms.
This spring and summer, Sergeant's Pet Care Products Inc., of Omaha, Neb., came out with Good Behavior collars for cats and dogs, which sell for $14.99 and last a month. The product packaging says the collars are "calming" and include "pheromones." But while Ceva describes in detail the pheromones in its products, Sergeant won't say exactly what its products contain. That information is "proprietary," a spokeswoman says. The company has three studies, so far unpublished, which it says confirm the products' efficacy.
Beware of products labeled "calming spray" and containing aromas, such as lavender, which may be soothing but are backed by scant research.

WE SALUTE OUR VETS

It's Veterans Day! So, let's be sure to honor our vets today. They have made so many sacrifices for our country.

Maybe you'll attend a parade. Or, maybe you'll visit a ceremony.

But, before you do, head over to Military.com. It offers great ways for you to celebrate with your children.

You can also learn more about the history of Veterans Day. Or, read up on celebrities that have served in the military. There's so much to explore here!

The site will be of particular interest to veterans. Learn about your military benefits and other resources for veterans.

After you check out Military.com, be sure to visit Legacy.com. Its Moving Tributes page features videos dedicated to those killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

You can create a tribute for a loved one. Getting started is easy—and free. Tributes remain online permanently.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

43rd ANNUAL CMA AWARDS

ABC, 8 p.m. ET

Will the race go to the Swift? Or will Taylor Swift, in her bid to out-award her elder peers, be bested by experience? It makes this year’s Country Music Association Awards show especially interesting – even if Kanye West isn’t waiting backstage.

AND I QUOTE

"Reality is nothing but a collective hunch."-Jane Wagner

TODAY IN HISTORY

Image by rbglasson via Flickr

NOVEMBER 11

1918:At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the Allies sign an armistice with Germany, ending the “war to end all wars.”

1921: President Warren G. Harding and other officials speak at the funeral of an unknown soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Later, soldiers are posted to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after visitors use it as a bench.

JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Turns Your Hat Into Another Pocket!
Use your head and stay organized! The Visorganizer is a revolutionary carrying case for everything you need to make it through your busy day whether you're a pro golfer, a retired ship builder, a club DJ, or a busy mom on the go. And it clips on the front of your favorite hat. Pack it with up to 7 lbs.
If it has a visor, it needs a Visorganizer!

DID WE REALLY HAVE 4 PANS OF CHILI LEFT?

PEOPLE BEING PEOPLE

Robin Magee, a law professor at Minnesota's Hamline University, was charged with state income tax evasion in September for failing to file in 2007 and for filing returns for 2004, 2005 and 2006 only very recently. Magee told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that she was "unable" to file on time because she has "extreme" attention-deficit disorder. Among the lapses of attention, according to prosecutors, was Magee's claim of eight tax exemptions, even though she is single and has no dependents.

PEOPLE BEING PEOPLE

CHALFORD HILL, England, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- A British lobbying group has criticized a fire department for spending six hours on the rescue of a pet duck trapped in a pond's overflow pipe.
Chris and Karen Hutchens said a five-man team of Gloucestershire firefighters arrived at their Chalford Hill, England, home just before 9:30 a.m. and dug a trench to free their duck, Brownie, from the pipe, The Sun reported Monday.
"It was such a relief when a fire engine turned up and they started digging the hole. The pipe was about 4 feet underground but they kept going, they were wonderful and really went beyond the call of duty," Karen Hutchens said.
However, a spokeswoman for lobbying group TaxPayers' Alliance criticized the firefighters' actions.
"Whilst no one likes to see a duck suffering, animal rescue is not the central job of the fire service," she said. "In this case there were no emergency calls pending, but calls can crop up at the last minute which could be much more pressing than the rescue of a duck."
A spokesman for the fire department said firefighters have humanitarian roles in their communities and were able to help in this case due to the lack of emergency calls.

RULE OF THUMB

IDENTIFYING BIRDS
When the bird and the bird book disagree, believe the bird

TECH HELP FOR THE NON-TECH TYPES

Although challenges remain for many older people, any number of products can help them become more involved in the digital age. Here’s a look at some of the most popular ones.

IT ALL STARTS WITH THE PC While many digital devices like cameras or cellphones don’t require a PC, their use can be enhanced with a computer by helping users transmit photos or easily update a mobile phone address book.

For those concerned that Microsoft’s Windows interface is too daunting for elders, Big Screen Live (bigscreenlive.com) simplifies the standard interface, making it easier to send e-mail messages, surf the Web, share photos, shop online or play games. Changes like fewer buttons, color-coded commands and larger type ease the Windows experience.

While the company does not make a similar product for the Mac, older users who have sight and hearing problems can adjust a Mac’s on-screen appearance using the Universal Access pane found in the System Preferences folder. Screen background color, audio alerts and keyboard behavior are some of the features that can be adjusted. More information, including a video demonstration of accessibility settings, can be found at apple.com/accessibility.

SMILE FOR GRANDMA! Video chatting has become a popular way to ease the isolation experienced by many older people with limited mobility. Free programs like Skype and iChat, and the built-in webcams on many computers, make it easy to do.

For Mac users familiar with Terminal commands, the iChat program can be set up to accept all incoming video requests, making video chatting effortless for tech-challenged elders.

In addition to online chats, Internet-connected digital picture frames from companies like Ceiva, D-Link and Kodak allow friends and family to continually send new images, helping older or less mobile people keep up with events.

YOU NEVER CALL Several cellphone providers offer special models for older people, with louder audio and simplified keypads. Jitterbug (jitterbug.com) specifically markets itself to those with declining physical capabilities.

The company offers a cellphone with large, easy-to-read buttons and displays and also allows customers to have an operator dial the calls for them. The operator can add addresses to a person’s contact list and, for additional fees, customers can have 24-hour voice access to a nurse or roadside assistance.

Plans start at $15 a month for 50 minutes’ use for those who want a phone for emergencies. The Jitterbug phone costs $147 and is available without a contract.

YOU NEVER WRITE For those who mainly use a computer for e-mail, PawPawMail (pawpawmail.com) takes the complexity out of the process. For $5 a month, users transmit and receive mail through PawPawMail’s Web site, which features simple graphics, large type and real names rather than potentially confusing e-mail addresses. The account manager, typically a younger family member, sets up the account, creating a list of approved e-mail senders; spammers and phishers cannot get through.

If operating a computer, even one with a simplified interface, is a nonstarter, it’s still possible to be part of the e-mail world. Presto (presto.com) offers a specially designed $50 Hewlett-Packard printer configured to automatically dial in to its servers and download e-mail messages several times a day.

For $12.50 a month (if prepaid yearly), the owner automatically receives, but cannot send, e-mail messages according to a schedule set by the user or account manager. To contact a user, the sender must be placed on an approved list, as with PawPawMail.

Messages can include photos and PDFs. E-mail messages can be formatted as plain text in a variety of type faces and sizes, or as greeting cards. Presto also offers a range of downloaded messages, including Andy Rooney essays, puzzles, travel information, celebrity news and other topics.

A hand-held device called Peek (www.getpeek.com) makes sending and receiving e-mail messages easy. Peek, which looks a bit like a BlackBerry, charges $19.95 a month for unlimited e-mail and text messaging, considerably less than plans from cellphone providers to do the same tasks.

The $50 Peek Pronto allows users to view attached Word, JPEG and PDF files, and receive news and weather headlines. It works with most standard e-mail providers like AOL, AT&T, Google, Yahoo and Verizon. There is no monthly contract, so potential users can try the service and make sure they are comfortable with the small keyboard.

While imagining your elderly uncle using high-tech devices to keep in touch might at first seem far-fetched, it’s only a matter of time before it is second nature. Just remember: today’s Web jockeys are tomorrow’s grandparents.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

A big shout out to the Marine Corps and Sesame Street celebrating birthdays today. Keep up the great work!

NOW YOU KNOW

A mouse trap placed on top of your alarm clock will prevent you from rolling over and going back to slep after you hit the snooze button.

TODAY IN HISTORY

NOVEMBER 10

1938:Kate Smith introduces America to Irving Berlin’s God Bless America on the eve of the 20th anniversary of World War I’s end.

1871: Henry Stanley finds missing missionary David Livingstone in Africa and famously asks, according to his journal: “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”

1969: America learns how to get to Sesame Street as the children’s show debuts on National Education Television (later PBS).

MARK AND ROGER WISH BRAD GOOD LUCK, OR MAYBE NOT

AND I QUOTE

"Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted."-Aldous Huxley

PUZZLER

Here's a list of words. What do they have in common? And for extra credit, suggest another word or two or more that might be added to the list.

Carbon

Mars

Four

Seventh

September

Saturn

Fifth

Here's a hint: The order of the words does not matter.

Answer:What each of these words has in common is that each has the number of letters that actually denotes its place on a list. For example, carbon has six letters and it is the sixth element in the periodic chart. Mars is the fourth planet in the solar system and has four letters. etc.

FROM THE ARCHIVES-VIRGIL, BRAD AND JOE

WHY I AM A ROTARIAN

By: Amitabha Bajpayee

Why am I a Rotarian? In fact, it is to remember who lit the lamp. My good friend of youth Subra (M. Subramaniam) while playing a match of cricket asked me to attend a meeting of Rotaract at Kolkata and I did that very evening.

After a few meetings and then attending (volunteering) at medical camps at a slum in South Kolkata I found the entire process fulfilling, very interesting and satisfying.

When attending a District Conference at Dacca in 1981, I met so many and then added so many to my list of friends who shared common values to the duty of assisting others.

With a gap of a couple of years, going through my post graduation and services, I was again asked to attend a Rotary meeting at Durgapur by one senior person, Rabi Roy and since then (1997) I started finding myself well-fitted into Rotary.

Rotary has not only provided me selfless friends, but at the same time developed me better to interact with others in my vocation and social life.

Seniors in different profession have become my acquaintances and has provided me with a lot of confidence.

Organizing camps and visits to clubs abroad with my fellow members and attending the Convention and District Conference adds a lot to my self-satisfaction. Together we enjoy the important and worthwhile Rotary community work.

I feel confident when I discuss the importance of Rotary and also when I encourage others to join this great organization.

AMITABHA BAJPAYEE
DURGAPUR, WEST BENGAL, 713212, INDIA
ROTARY CLUB OF DURGAPUR STEEL CITY, DISTRICT: 3240

REMOTE CONTROLLED BOWLING BALL

TODAY IN HISTORY

NOVEMBER 9

1989:East and West Berliners work together to rip down the Berlin Wall, as the city is unofficially united for the first time in 28 years.

1938: On Kristallnacht, Nazis attack Jews, their synagogues and their stores across Germany, leaving streets covered in glass.

1965: Some 800,000 NYC subway riders are trapped as the great Northeast blackout leaves several states and parts of Canada in the dark for hours.

LOOKING FOR LASTING PEACE

The civil war that tore apart Kouame Remi Oussou's homeland of Côte d'Ivoire instilled in him a passion to work for solutions to conflict.

Although most of the violence, which broke out in 2002, ended in 2004, the war left his country divided in two.

Oussou is now a monitoring and evaluation officer for disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Central African Republic. His work helps address the needs of a country that weathered periodic civil conflict before a comprehensive peace accord took effect in 2007.

"DDR remains a process," says Oussou, the first polio survivor to become a Rotary World Peace Fellow. "It takes tremendous time to get the D and D done before even thinking of the R part."

Conducting socioeconomic studies is the focal point of the DDR team's efforts.

"One of my roles is to think in advance how the ex-combatants will be making a living after disarmament and demobilization," says Oussou, who is fluent in Baule, English, French, German, and Spanish. "We are a quite sturdy team, in the firing line of conflicting interests, including the Central African Republic government, the politico-military leaders, and UNDP itself."

Oussou says his parents told him that he contracted polio when he was one or two years old. But he has "long had a strong feeling that with hard work, handicap or not, anyone can succeed."

Oussou's studies as a 2007-09 Rotary World Peace Fellow at International Christian University (ICU) in Tokyo helped prepare him for his work in the Central African Republic. His applied field experience with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research office in Hiroshima was especially helpful: It gave him the opportunity to conduct research and help organize a joint conference of the institute and UNESCO on nuclear energy, where he also delivered a presentation.

"I could not be more thankful to Rotary International and ICU for providing me with such a great opportunity to contribute to the debate over peace and security in Africa and the world," he says.

A GASTRO DELIGHT!

A PAGE OFOR EVERY SPECIES

It is mind-boggling to think about the diversity of life here on Earth. There are 1.8 million species known to scientists!These species fall into several different categories, of course. For example, there are plants, animals, bacteria and viruses.The Encyclopedia of Life has set an ambitious goal. It aims to provide information on all 1.8 million species.As you would expect, the encyclopedia contains some strange and amazing species. You'll have fun browsing the pages. Or, get down to business by searching by name.You'll find a fair amount of information on each species. There are also links to sites where you can learn more.This site is fascinating. It's also a valuable asset for students and teachers. And, if you'd like to help with the site, you can. Just visit its Help Build EOL page for more information! (link above)

TOOLS FOR LIFE

You only need two tools in life-WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does use Duct Tape.

TODAY IN HISTORY

NOVEMBER 8

1960:Close. John F. Kennedy beats Richard M. Nixon by about 113,000 votes in the 20th century’s closest presidential popular vote. Nixon doesn’t concede until the next morning.

2000: Really close. Al Gore calls George W. Bush to concede the presidential election, only to call back shortly after to say he changed his mind. Meanwhile, Florida begins a recount. The outcome is uncertain until Gore concedes on Dec. 13.

NOW YOU KNOW

John Harvard was not the founder of Harvard university. It was first known as Cambridge University, and was established in 1636 by the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It was only after the young Puritan minister passed away in 1638, leaving much of his estate to the institution, that the school was renamed for him.

AND I QUOTE

"You must learn from the mistakes of others. You can't possibly live long enough to make them all yourself."-Sam Levenson

ROTARIAN UP FOR CNN HERO OF THE YEAR AWARD

Rotarian Budi Soehardi's devotion to bettering the lives of disadvantaged children in Indonesia earned him a spot as one of 10 finalists for the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year award .

Soehardi grew up in Central Java, Indonesia, where food and education were often scarce. At 53, it's his goal to help children avoid the hardships he had to endure.

With his wife, Peggy, Soehardi opened an orphanage in West Timor, Indonesia, in 2002 after learning about the horrible conditions faced by refugee children fleeing the violence on the eastern portion of  the island. The Roslin Orphanage has provided food, shelter, and education to more than 45 children, from newborns to teenagers.

"These children were suffering much the way I did, but worse," says Soehardi, a pilot and member of the Rotary E-Club of 3310, Singapore. "I feel very blessed in my life and wanted to give something back to those who needed it the most. My goal is to make the kids smile and happy. That's all."

Soehardi and his wife have three children, but he also treats those in the orphanage as his own.

"We care for each child equally and consider them part of our family," he says. "I want to give them everything they need, no strings attached, just like my own children."

Soehardi's first brush with Rotary came as he coordinated relief efforts for victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Through donations from friends and leaders in the airline industry, he secured more than 130 tons of medical supplies, food, and clothes, which were delivered to affected villages by several Rotary clubs.

Impressed by the Rotarians' dedication to helping others, Soehardi decided to join Rotary.

"It's such a privilege being a Rotarian," he says. "Their spirit of togetherness and helpfulness is what inspired me to join. So many doors, all over the world, have been opened to me. My life is more beautiful with Rotary in it."

Soehardi's club helped furnish the orphanage with books, computers, and a projector. In 2006, a Rotary Foundation Matching Grant helped provide a vehicle for a mobile library program.

To cast a vote for Soehardi or learn more about the award, visit the CNN Heroes page.

NO JOKER FOR WENDELL

PEOPLE BEING PEOPLE

SWANSEA, Wales, -- An alleged burglar wanted by Welsh authorities sent a newspaper a picture of himself because he didn't like the mug shot it published.
A spokesman for the South Wales Evening Post said Matthew Maynard, 23, whose mug shot appeared in the paper during the weekend as part of a police effort to track down wanted suspects, called the newspaper Monday, the Daily Mail reported Friday.
"He telephoned on Monday saying he was not happy with the picture and that he would send in another," the spokesman said. "We just didn't believe that he would do it."
However, staff received a photo of Maynard posing next to a police van.
Police said Maynard's stunt is likely to backfire as the newspaper printed the photo on its front page.
"He is a berk. He thinks he is being clever by showing off like this, but we'll have him in soon now," one officer said.

SCAMMERS ON FACEBOOK

Every day tens of millions of people log on to Facebook, the popular social-network site, and spend time playing goofy online games. But watch out. Some people playing these games are getting fleeced by scammers, tricked into signing up for products and services they didn’t want.
Worse yet, this isn’t happening by accident. The companies that develop games for Facebook make big money by selling ad space—some of it to scammers.
This week, Silicon Valley blogger Michael Arrington caused a ruckus by suggesting that Facebook itself has been turning a blind eye to the scams because it is sharing in the spoils. Arrington, who runs the influential TechCrunch blog, is on a crusade to pressure Facebook to clean up its act.
“Ultimately this is Facebook’s fault,” Arrington says. He says the social-networking site isn’t enforcing its own rules against scam ads. “It’s like with Major League Baseball and steroids. If the rules aren’t enforced, which is what’s happening on Facebook, then people are going to break the rules. Facebook needs to stop this.”

Facebook denies Arrington’s charge. In an exchange via e-mail, David Swain, a company spokesman, tells NEWSWEEK that Facebook works hard to stamp out scammer ads and has already disabled two ad networks that were breaking the rules.

“We have, and will continue to, move aggressively to stop any activities that threaten or damage our users’ experience,” Swain says. “Any assertion to the contrary is false.”
Arrington responds that Facebook isn't doing a good-enough job, because when he checked out FarmVille, a popular Facebook game, "it took me about 10 seconds to find really scammy ads."
Facebook is the hottest site on the Internet, and it's growing like mad. The site has more than 300 million users, adding 50 million in the third quarter alone. Earlier this year Facebook board member Marc Andreessen said Facebook would rake in more than $500 million in revenue this year.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in September that it had become “cash-flow positive” well ahead of schedule. It had expected to hit that milestone in 2010.
Facebook is booming because it’s a wonderful and useful Web site. But it also represents a ripe target for scammers. Here’s how they operate.
Let’s say you’ve signed up to play FarmVille, a game produced by Zynga, a company in San Francisco. Each month some 63 million people play the game, in which you plant seeds and harvest crops.
If you want to buy things in FarmVille, like seeds or land, you can either earn points or you can buy points. To buy points, you send Zynga some money from your credit card. Yes, people really do spend money buying seeds for an online game. I have no idea why.
There’s also another way to earn Zynga money: you can click on ads that promise to give you FarmVille currency if you perform some task, like filling out a survey.
You might take an “IQ quiz,” for which you answer a few questions, and then, to get your score, you must enter your cell-phone number. The scammers send a PIN number to your cell phone, and tell you to enter that PIN on a Web site.
In the fine print, there’s a message saying that by entering your PIN you are signing up to get a daily horoscope for $9.99 per month. Next time you get your phone bill, you’ve been stung.
When first contacted by NEWSWEEK, an exec from one company that distributes these ads claimed they’re totally legitimate. “There is no way a user can inadvertently sign up for anything,” said Matt McAllister, marketing director at Offerpal Media, an ad network in Fremont, Calif. “They have to opt in for it.” McAllister points out that this is nothing new. “These ads have been around for years.”
Two days after that conversation, however, Offerpal announced that its CEO and founder, Anu Shukla, would be stepping down. McAllister said her resignation had nothing to do with the charges about scammy ads. But then her replacement, George Garrick, posted a public statement admitting that "regrettably, Offerpal has been guilty of distributing offers of questionable integrity." Garrick vowed that the practice would stop.
It’s true that scam ads have been around for years. But one thing that is different about Facebook is that users share a lot of personal data with the site. This means scammers can create especially insidious ads, using software programs that dynamically insert your personal information—your name, the name of one of your friends—into the ads that you see. So a naive user might think the ads are just messages from Facebook, especially since scammers sometimes use the same typefaces and colors as Facebook does.

Better yet, scammers don’t need victims to hand over a credit-card number. All they need is a mobile-phone number. Guess who’s on Facebook? Millions of naive teenagers who may not have credit cards, but do have mobile phones. Cha-ching.

TODAY IN HISTORY

NOVEMBER 7

1962:Famous last words: After losing the California governor’s race, Richard Nixon tells reporters: “You won’t have Nixon to kick around anymore because, gentlemen, this is my last press conference.” Exactly a decade later, he is reelected president in a landslide over George McGovern.

1874: Cartoonist Thomas Nast uses an elephant as the Republican Party’s symbol in a cartoon for Harper’s Weekly.

1917: Bolsheviks storm the Winter Palace—the Russian government’s capitol building—and overthrow the provisional government .

ROBERT "ALTON GIANT" WADLOW'S SHOE SIZE 37 1/2-WOW

TWITS ON SATURDAY FROM THE UNITED NATIONS

Keep in touch and up-to-date during Rotary-UN Day on 7 November by following us on our Twitter page. Read tweets, hash tag #riunday, on the panels, which will address water, health, literacy, and youth.

About 1,300 people -- including Rotarians, Rotary youth program participants, United Nations leaders, and special guests -- are expected to attend Rotary-UN Day in New York City. Read more.

SAVE $$ ON PRINTING COSTS

If you print a lot of pages from your computer, you know the kink of printer ink: Cartridges are expensive—$20 each or more—and don’t seem to last very long before they need to be replaced.

Here are some ways to cut the cost of making printouts:

• Download Ecofont. With tiny holes in its letters that are barely noticeable at the typical 10-point size, this font, based on Verdana, uses up to 20 percent less ink than comparable ones, making it ideal for everyday prints. A free download for PCs and Macs is available.
• When printing from the Web, use the “print preview” function, especially when no printer-friendly option is offered. By previewing the pages you can print only those that you need. There’s also GreenPrint, a free program that automatically removes blank pages and banner ads—saving you paper as well as ink.
• Although retailers such as Staples and Office Depot offer a $3 rebate to recycle empty printer cartridges­—good for the environment as well as your wallet—a refill kit, which provides enough ink to refill cartridges about five times, saves you about $200 a year. Some stores, including Walgreens, also refill cartridges for about half the cost of a replacement.
  

THE NEW PLAYGROUND IS FINISHED, JUST ADD KIDS

NOW YOU KNOW

The capstone atop the Washington Monument is actually made of aluminum. The 100-ounce pyramid-shaped “stone” was placed on December 6, 1884, and was the largest aluminum object cast up to that time. It sounds like an odd choice today, but aluminum was very hard to produce at the time and was worth as much as silver.

AND I QUOTE

"When a man says he approves of something in principle, it means he hasn't the slightest intention of putting it into practice."-Otto von Bismarck

TODAY IN HISTORY

NOVEMBER 6

1860:Abraham Lincoln prevails over three others to be elected 16th president of the United States. Exactly a year later, Jefferson Davis—already the interim president—is elected president of the Confederacy.

1998: House Speaker Newt Gingrich resigns after the Republican Party suffers midterm election setbacks.

1991: Russia’s first president, Boris Yeltsin, bans the Communist Party from the country.

COATS FOR KIDS

Operation Warm, which receives support from the Rotary Club of Longwood, Pennsylvania, USA, and was founded by a club member, was initially tied into a millennial celebration that aimed to provide 2,000 new winter coats to children in need within the district. To achieve that goal, the club reached out to other area clubs to help with the distribution. The project's enormous success led to the creation of the nonprofit organization Operation Warm Inc. Today, Rotary, Rotaract, and Interact clubs in 26 U.S. states participate in Operation Warm in their own communities. The organization's web site provides clubs and districts with tool kits to implement the project and offers the convenience of buying quality, inexpensive Operation Warm coats in a variety of sizes and colors, including coats made from recycled materials. Over 600,000 children have received coats from Operation Warm, which provides an opportunity for Rotarians to engage in hands-on service and provide immediate assistance to children in their community. Read more about it on the RI Web site.

Get the lowdown on food safety

Earlier this week, a large recall on ground beef was issued. About half a million pounds of ground beef were recalled due to E. coli.

An E. coli infection is a serious illness. In fact, the tainted beef has been linked to two deaths. Many more have been hospitalized.

So, now is the ideal time to think about food safety. You'll want to learn more about safe handling instructions for food. You should also brush up on food-borne illnesses.

The government's FoodSafety site provides a wealth of information. You can find out what you should know about food poisoning. Learn the symptoms and causes.

You'll also find advice for avoiding food poisoning. For example, the guidelines on minimum cooking temperatures are a must read.

Of course, it is also a great place to go for recall information. You can find out about food products that have been recalled.
(link above)

TUNE IN TONIGHT

FRINGE

Fox, 9 p.m. ET

Because the Yankees won in six, this series resumes its serialized storyline tonight, so make sure to hop on board. Tonight’s paranormal stumper: Why people are turning into ash piles. Ash holes, I could understand, but this is something new…

MEETING PROGRAM NOVEMBER 5, 2009

Listen below to long time volunteer Dick Propes tell us about the Alton Museum of History and Art located on the Southern Illinois University campus in Alton, Illinois.
       

   
   
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ROTARY UNITED NATIONS DAY

On 7 November, Rotarians will converge on United Nations headquarters in New York for the annual Rotary-UN Day. The program will feature panel discussions on issues such as water, health, literacy, and youth, as well as speakers from the UN, Rotary, and other nongovernmental organizations. Find out more at www.riunday.org and the RI Web site.

TURKEY FUND UPDATE

To date our TURKEY FUND has raised $189. All proceeds will go to Operation Blessing and be used to purchase turkeys for local families. We have two more meetings to make a donation. Please be generous.

AND I QUOTE

"A man with a watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure."-Segal's Law

KEEPINHG YOUR CHEESE FROM GETTING "CHEESY"

You may never have really put a great deal of thought into the proper method of storing cheese, but incorrect storage can mean wasted money and ill-tasting product. Learn how to wrap it up to keep it fresher, longer.
There are so many cheeses available to the average consumer at grocery stores these days, that there's more than just the typical slices of American and bags of shredded Mozzarella. Cheese, like wine, is a true investment, and many artisan varieties don't come cheap. Make your money last a little longer by using this cheese storing method from food weblog The Kitchn and ex-Cheesemonger Nora Singley:

• Place parchment or waxed paper flat on your counter with the wedge on top, and then bring the edges of the paper up and around the cheese, creasing as you go to make neat, clean folds. You can use tape to secure if you'd like.
• Label the paper with the cheese variety and date.
• A loose plastic wrap or a plastic bag over the paper generally keeps things tight (and keeps out fridge odors).

Cheese has a tendency to take on whatever wonderful smells are gracing your refrigerator at the time, so keeping them wrapped in paper and then plastic, allows them to breathe without allowing in additional fridge-funk or moisture.

TODAY IN HISTORY

NOVEMBER 5

1872:Almost 50 years before women are given voting rights, Susan B. Anthony votes in a presidential election after threatening to sue registrars who try to deny her registration.

1974: Ella Grasso becomes the first woman elected governor without being the wife or widow of a past governor when she wins in Connecticut.

1994: Former President Ronald Reagan announces he has Alzheimer’s disease.

MORE BEATLES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

 The Beatles remasters are coming out on a limited-edition apple-shaped USB drive in time for Christmas, marking the first time the Fab Four's catalog has officially been sold as digital files separate from the CDs. The USB version of all the albums will be released on December 7 in the U.K. and December 8 in North America. The USB is available for pre-order at the online Beatles store, priced at $279.99 Limited to 30,000 units, the 16MB USB features 14 Beatles stereo releases as well as all of the remastered CDs' visual elements, including 13 mini-documentary films about the studio albums, replicated original U.K. album art, rare photos and expanded liner notes.
A specially designed Flash interface has been installed. The content is fully compatible with Mac and PC.
Vinyl versions of the reissues are expected soon. The Beatles reissued their albums on CD worldwide on September 9.

THE YELLOW CABLE GOES WHERE?

GOOD ADVICE

Avoid cutting yourself slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold while you chop.

AND I QUOTE

"Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless."-Thomas A. Edison

PEOPLE BEING PEOPLE

SYDNEY - People scared of flying can now press a button on their iPhone to help them deal with their panic.

Long-haul airline Virgin Atlantic Airways has launched an application, or app, for its Flying Without Fear course which boasts a success rate of over 98 percent. Apps are a source of information, games and other novelty ideas for users of Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch devices.

The airline said in a statement that this app was designed to help people overcome fear, be it of the unfamiliar aircraft, the strange noises a plane makes, or of losing control.

"Our first iPhone app will bring the benefits of our successful Flying Without Fear course to millions of people around the world who are now using mobile technology to make their lives better," Richard Branson, president of Virgin Atlantic, said in a statement.

"The app will put many travelers at ease and enable them to prepare for their first Virgin Atlantic flight."

The airline developed the app with Mental Workout, a company developing software to help people resolve issues and increase mental performance. A spokesman from Mental Workout said an estimated one in every three adults were scared of flying.

The Flying Without Fear app has an introduction by Branson, a video-based in-flight explanation of a flight, frequently asked questions, relaxation exercises and a fear attack button for emergencies with breathing exercises.

RULE OF THUMB

PRODUCTION COST VERSUS PRODUCT COST
A product sells at at least 5 times production cost.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

BILL COSBY: THE MARK TWAIN PRIZE 2009

PBS, 8 p.m. ET

(Check local listings)

This year’s recipient of the Mark Twain Prize is Bill Cosby, and the co-hosts for this black-tie, lots-of-laughs event at the John F. Kennedy Center are Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock. If you need more than those three reasons to tape this for later viewing, I give up.

TODAY IN HISTORY

NOVEMBER 4

1980:At the age of 69, Ronald Reagan becomes the oldest person elected president of the United States as he soundly defeats Jimmy Carter.

1979: Militant students raid the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking more than 90 hostages. Some will be held for 444 days.

1995: A Jewish extremist assassinates Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin after a peace rally in Tel Aviv.

ROTARY FEATURED PIX

This month's feature photo is from Janey Ball, of the Rotary Club of Newlands, South Africa. Her lens captures students from the Sivuyiseni Primary School in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, one of a number of schools benefiting from a Rotary Foundation Matching Grant project.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

V

ABC, 8 p.m. ET

SERIES PREMIERE: NBC made some really horrendous remakes of sci-fi shows two years ago, striking out with both The Bionic Woman and Knight Rider. This ABC reworking of the 1984 miniseries and series, about aliens arriving on Earth and promising prosperity and friendship, is much, much better, and much more promising. It stars Elizabeth Mitchell, fresh from Lost, and features Morena Baccarin from Firefly as the alien leader. This series is here for a month, then vanishing for a bit, so make an effort to watch.

GIVING BACK

he Interact Club of Communities-in-Schools at the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, USA, is the grand-prize winner of the 2009 Interact video contest with its entry "Giving Back Through Interact."
The video opens with personal stories from several offenders who are members of the club, which meets inside the juvenile correctional facility in Columbia. The entry was directed and produced by the youth, with help from adviser Andy Broughton, an employee of the Juvenile Justice Department.
"They came up with the idea and all the material in the video," says Virginia Barr, president of the sponsor Rotary Club of Lake Murray-Irmo and another employee of the Juvenile Justice Department. "They said, 'What we need to do is show the transformation.' It took guts for them to take that approach. Some of them have hard stories to tell."
Barr said the Interact club was established in 2006, in keeping with her club's long history of projects with the juvenile justice system. The Interactors take part in the facility's Communities in Schools curriculum and recite that program's pledge before every meeting, as seen in their entry.
In arranging for the video, Barr and Broughton received access that would have been difficult for others to secure. The videographers obtained permission to use a squad car and film a juvenile offender being driven through the front gate, and secured releases from parents of everyone in the video.
"This video showed us just how much of an impact we have made," Barr said.

TOO MUCH HALLOWEEN CANDY LEFT? HERE'S A SUGGESTION

If you've got more Halloween loot than you know what to do with and you're pretty certain you don't want the little candy grubbers in your household eating all of it, you can turn it into cash and a donation.

Started by a dentist, the Halloween Candy Buy Back program lets kid take their excess Halloween candy into participating dentist offices. Kids are paid $1 per pound of candy they bring in and the candy is given to Operation Gratitude to be put into care packages sent overseas to deployed US troops around the globe.

Check out the link above to search for participating dentists in your area. Two things to keep in mind: First be sure to call the office and see when they are accepting candy, as the event doesn't have a completely standardized time across the country and second, most of the site is geared towards the dentists participating in the event, so don't get confused if while reading you suddenly feel like you're the one accepting the candy.

TODAY IN HISTORY

NOVEMBER 3

1957 : A dog named Laika becomes the first living being to be launched into space and orbit the Earth. Laika dies just hours after the launch.

1992: Elected: Democrat Carol Moseley-Braun of Illinois becomes the first black woman elected to the U.S. Senate.

1999: Convicted: Aaron McKinney is found guilty of murdering Matthew Shepard, who was gay, and is sentenced to two consecutive life terms.

ARE YOU STILL SAVING THOSE BONDS?

You wouldn’t stash a pile of cash under your mattress, right? But many people are essentially doing just that by not cashing in matured U.S. savings bonds.

According to the Bureau of Public Debt, there are $16 billion worth of savings bonds that have fully matured (meaning they’re no longer earning interest) but have not been cashed in.

Some bondholders don’t cash in because they don’t realize their bonds have matured and assume the bonds are still increasing in value. Others may have forgotten they even own a savings bond—40 million bonds purchased between 1941 and 1978 have never been redeemed. The Treasury does not send out notices to bondholders when their bonds have matured.

How can you find out if you have unclaimed savings bond money waiting for you?

To check the status of Series E savings bonds purchased in 1974 or later:

• If you know the bond’s serial number, you can easily find out if it has matured by visiting the U.S. Treasury’s online savings bond calculator.
• If you think you own a bond but don’t know the serial number, you can plug your Social Security number into the site’s Treasury Hunt tool to find information on any unredeemed bonds.

For bonds purchased before 1974:

• You’ll need to write to the Bureau of Public Debt’s record-keeping office: Bureau of the Public Debt, P.O. Box 7012, Parkersburg, WV 26106-7012
• Provide the name or names on the bond, the address at time of purchase, the approximate issue date and denomination of the bond, and any other information that might be helpful in tracking the bond down.
• If a record of the bond is found, the bureau will let you know how to cash in the bond.

For bonds owned by deceased relatives:

• They can still be cashed in by their heirs.
• Follow the same steps above for bonds issued before or after 1974, using the information of the deceased bondholder.

Paper savings bonds can be redeemed at almost all local financial institutions. Electronic bonds can be purchased, managed and redeemed on the Treasury Direct website

ONE OF A KIND MAP

Visitors to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., have a rare opportunity to see the first map that used the name "America" for the New World.

The Library has the only surviving copy of the famous Waldseemüller map, created in 1507 by Martin Waldseemüller, a German cartographer living in France. The map was a major departure from earlier maps in that it relied less on the received wisdom of Classical geographers like Ptolemy and more on reports by the many explorers of the time.

Waldseemüller studied reports by Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci and decided Columbus was wrong in thinking he had reached India. Waldseemüller favored Vespucci's theory that the lands they were exploring on the other side of the Atlantic were actually part of a previously unknown continent. Waldseemüller rewarded Vespucci by naming the continent after him. America is the feminized Latin form of Vespucci's first name. All other continents had Latin feminine names, so it fit.

The map is not only correct about the New World, but also portrays other parts of the globe far more accurately than other maps of the time. It's a fine work of art too, with detailed depictions of terrain and portraits of Ptolemy and Vespucci.The map is on display as part of the exhibition "Exploring the Early Americas."

ONE GROOVIN' MASCOT

PUZZLER

Most motor vehicles sold in this country have both a manufacturer's name and model name, like Chevrolet Malibu, Toyota Corolla, where Chevrolet is the manufacturer and Malibu is the model, or Toyota is the manufacturer, and Carolla is the model.

Some manufacturers like BMW, Mercedes, Audi, to name a few, don't think enough of their cars to actually give them model names and use a bunch of numbers and letters instead. But I digress.

Let's take one of those motor vehicles that has an actual model name and is currently being sold in the United States and it could be a car, a truck, an SUV, it doesn't matter, it's a model that is currently sold in the United States.

Take that model name. Remove the last letter, and the remaining letters, in order, spell a new word. Now remove the new last letter, and you have yet another new word. Do it again and you have now another new word. Do it once more and you have another new word. So you'll have done it four times, and have four different words, all of which you can find in the dictionary.

Here's the last piece of it. Now put all the pieces back, go back to the original word, and remove the first letter. And you have yet another new word.

What's the model name? 

The answer is Ranger, like Ford Ranger. You take off the last letter, and you get range. Take off another letter and you get rang. Do it again and you have ran. Then Ra.

Ra is an English word; it's the Egyptian sun god. And, of course, if you'd put back all those letters and make the word ranger again, and take off the R, the first letter, you get anger.

DOLLY IN COMING TO MONTREAL

Country music legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton will be a keynote speaker during the 2010 RI Convention in Montréal, Québec, Canada, 20-23 June.
Parton will speak at the morning plenary session on 23 June to promote reading among preschool children. She and the Dollywood Foundation's Imagination Library teamed up with Rotary International in March to help provide age-appropriate books each month to children from birth until age five. Read more.
Parton will speak to Rotarians about the importance of early childhood reading and how the collaboration with Rotary International has augmented the success of the Imagination Library.
The singer developed a personal love of books while growing up in rural Tennessee, USA, where she saw firsthand the toll that illiteracy can take on families.
"I am thrilled about our partnership with Rotary International," she said in March. "Rotarians love kids as much as I do, so I truly believe we can do something extraordinary together to help even more children love to read and succeed."
Since its launch in 1996, the Imagination Library has provided more than 23 million books to preschoolers.
For more information:

• Read about Montréal, site of the 2010 RI Convention, in The Rotarian
• Learn more about featured speakers at the Montréal convention
• Register today for the 2010 RI Convention, which will be held from 20 to 23 June.

ONE MORE THANKSGIVING PROBLEM SOLVED

The countdown to Turkey Day is on. Which means it’s time to start prepping for the ultimate Thanksgiving feat – moving a gigantic, unbelievably hot turkey from pan to platter without dropping it on the counter. Or the floor. Or your snazzy new holiday outfit. This year, try the Sili Sling, a silicone “sling” that basically cradles the turkey while it roasts and then works like a basket to help you move it. The key feature here is a set of handles that rest on the sides of the pan during roasting; when the turkey is done and you’re ready to move it, all you have to do is bring them together and lift. Another nice feature: Since the sling’s base is perforated like a colander, the bird’s juices will still flow to the bottom of the pan for gravy-making. So you won’t miss out on flavor. Or an entire turkey.

Sauce pick: Sili Sling turkey mover from William Bounds
Cost: $20
Where to buy: wmboundsltd.com

JUST FOR PUN

Yesterday I accidentally swallowed some food coloring. The doctor says I'm OK, but I feel like I've dyed a little inside.

AND I QUOTE

"Love is not blind - it sees more, not less. But because it sees more, it is willing to see less."-Rabbi Julius Gordon

TODAY IN HISTORY

NOVEMBER 2

1947:Howard Hughes pilots his huge flying boat—the Spruce Goose—for the first and only time.

1959: Charles Van Doren, winner of more than $130,000 on the TV game show Twenty-One, admits to a House committee  that his winning streak was part of a quiz show scandal.

1976: Jimmy Carter becomes the first president elected from the Deep South since the Civil War after defeating President Gerald Ford.