Uno's Corner
The Game of life is the game of boomerangs.
Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later in this century, with astounding accuracy.
As an American we have a strong place in this world it's a good reason to be proud. What are you made of? Abraham Lincoln said, "Character is like a tree and reputation like it's shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."
*Martha's Way*
Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.
*Maxine's Way *
Just suck the ice cream out of the bottom of the cone, for Pete's sake! You are probably lying on the couch with your feet up eating it, anyway!To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
Buy Hungry Jack mashed potato mix, keep it in the pantry for up to a year.
When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake.
Go to the bakery! They'll even decorate it for you.
If you accidentally over salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant "fix-me-up."
If you over salt a dish while you are cooking, that's too bad. Please recite with me the real woman's motto: "I made it and you will eat it and I don't care how bad it tastes!"
Do you have a stout heart? Are you strong like a mightily oak tree? Do your roots go deep? Are you a person of substance? When the sky gets dark and the weather gets rough, does your character stand strong like a growing tree, or does it fade away the same way a shadow does when the clouds roll in?
The choice is yours. You spend the day hoping for the sun to shine, so that you look good. Or you cultivate your character, growing it daily inch by inch, until one day it not only provides your strength, but also stands as a symbol of stability to those around you.
Yes, Be proud you are an American.
Make it great Day
GOT GAS ….This news may be of interest in today’s High Gas prices!
In a world where bigger, faster, and more expensive is typically seen as a gauge for getting what’s best, the same may not be true in what you need to make your car run better. Many people believe you need premium fuel to get that extra juice when pulling away from the stop light or to just plain make your car run better. But this is not always the case.It used to be that if a car called for premium gas and you pumped in regular, your car would knock and ping and even vibrate. Pinging or knocking is what you get when you have gasoline burning uncontrollably in your engine. If you have ever turned off your car but it continued to sputter and run, this is an example of knocking. But that was before they essentially put a laptop under the hood, as has been done for about the last fifteen years of manufacturing. Now, sensors take readings and can tune the engine as you drive, adjusting the timing for whatever grade fuel you put in the tank.When choosing what grade of gasoline to use, read the owner's manual carefully. The key is to figure out whether premium gasoline is "required" or "recommended." If it is only recommended, then you could easily opt for a lower grade of gas and save some cash. And most cars manufactured today are actually made to run on regular gasoline. The exception tends to run in some performance and luxury cars where they are designed to run on premium gas alone. However, many cars that are designed to run on premium have sensors that will still let you run them on regular with no harm done, albeit with slightly less power.In most cases you can run your vehicle on regular gas. But if you just feel better running premium in your tank or you truly can see a difference in the performance, don’t get too worked up. The bottom line is you’ll dish out about $20 a month more for premium if you average 15K miles a year and get 13 MPG. On the other hand, if you have a car that sips its juice sparingly and averages 25 MPG, the difference at the pump falls to about $10 a month more for premium.With rising fuel costs, it may be helpful to know fuel efficiency rankings and estimates. For more information, check out www.fueleconomy.gov. 85% chance of Rain in the area, what does it mean? That meteorologist have reckoned that in 100 similar weather conditions in the area, rain has fallen 85 times somewhere - anywhere- in the forecast area. So, as you don't occupy the whole area, your own chances of getting wet are usually less than what the wheaterman predicts. OK next question...
“What a Difference a Day Makes...” Dinah Washington sang back in 1959. So as we approach tax season, it’s time to think. Is December 31, 2005 or January 1, 2006 YOUR best day for maximizing tax deductions?
The Worlds Simplest Fat-Loss Plan
Forget Atkins, South Beach, or whatever that fat actress was on. We can tell you how to lose that winter spare tire in 5 easy steps. All you have to do is, well, do it, along with your regular workout plan. We promise you wont go hungry.
1. Eat three balanced meals a day. That means some low-fat protein, some vegetable, and a small amount of carbs, such as a slice of whole-grain bread. Eat three of these a day, plus a snack (a piece of fruit,a dozen nuts, or a protein bar) between lunch and dinner.
2. Eat sitting down, off a plate, with silverware. Don't eat anything directly from a box, bag, or other package.
3.Don't eat fried foods, high-fat dressings, or anything that gets more than 30 percent of its calories from fat.
4. Alcohol adds empty calories, lowers food inhibitions and fights testosterone, so if you're trying to lose weight, don't drink more than one beer or 5-oz glass of wine three times per week. Drink plenty of water and any low-calorie, sugar-free beverages you like.
5. If you really need a treat every couple of days- such as a crunchy snack or dessert- measure out three bites' worth. Enjoy them fully, then go back to the plan as written. From Maximum Fitness Magazine
Many people start seriously thinking about tax season after the start of the New Year…which is actually a bit too late. Ideally, taxes should be planned two years at a time to save the most tax money. So before the year is over, it’s wise to look at the acceleration or postponement of deductions and income between years. For example, many taxpayers want to minimize the current year’s tax bill, so making sure your state income tax is paid in December rather than January can help. Additionally, you can pay Real Estate taxes and even January’s home loan payment in December to beef up your deductions. In fact, you are eligible to take the deduction if the checks are mailed in December…even if they are not cleared until January.
But watch out for AMT, Alternative Minimum Tax, which can erase your deductions. Testing to see if you fall into this trap may cause you to do the opposite – pushing some deductions off until next year, paying them in January rather than December. The same holds true for income. It is sometimes possible to accelerate or delay commissions, bonuses, billings, etc…and that can help you maximize tax savings.
You should always consult your tax pro on the strategy that is best for your own situation, but you can start by visiting www.irs.gov/newsroom. This link contains a list of the new inflation adjusted dollar amounts for many important tax figures for 2006. Comparing the allowable deductions for 2006 versus 2005 will help you choose in which year to take advantage of certain deductions. And remember, the time to consult with a CPA is now, not after the New Year begins…
PENNY DETAILS
- The U.S. one-cent coin is 19 millimeters in diameter and weighs 2.5 grams.
- The composition of the penny is 97.5% zinc and 2.5 % copper.
- There have been 11 different designs featured on the penny.
- The U.S. Mint produces over 13 billion pennies annually.
- There are over 130 billion one-cent coins currently in circulation.
- Since its beginning, the U.S. Mint has produced over 288.7 billion pennies. Lined up edge to edge, these pennies would circle the earth 137 times.
- The average penny lasts 25 years.
- The most "expensive" penny is a rare one minted in 1793. Only four are known to exist today and their worth is estimated at more than $275,000.
- An average of 1,040 pennies are produced every second, adding up to 30 million a day.
- During its early penny-making years, the U.S. Mint was so short on copper that it accepted copper utensils, nails and scrap from the public to melt down for the coins.
- The Lincoln penny was the first U.S. coin to feature a historic figure. President Abraham Lincoln has been on the penny since 1909, the 100th anniversary of his birth.
- The Lincoln penny was the first cent on which appeared the words "In God We Trust."
- Over two-thirds of all coins produced by the U.S. Mint are pennies.
“THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR. IF YOU CAN’T PAY YOUR BILLS...BE THANKFUL YOU AREN’T ONE OF YOUR CREDITORS.” ANON.
Headed out to Home Depot to replace some windows
Hold on! If you can wait until January 1st, Uncle Sam might just be able to help you with tax credits, via the Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2005. The Act was created to provide homeowners with tax credits for certain improvements to a residence that make a property more energy efficient. And with the winter month’s right around the corner and the expected jump in energy prices, many individuals may be considering a few alternatives to help take the chill out of the air while lowering their energy bill.So here’s the scoop on several of the eligible improvements, and the tax credits associated with each. All new windows that are purchased and installed will provide a homeowner with a maximum tax credit of $200. Doors, skylights, insulation, and metal roofs coated with heat-reducing pigments provide a credit of 10% of the cost up to a maximum of $500. The largest credit allows up to 30% of the cost or a maximum of a $2,000 credit for the equipment and installation of solar water heating, so long as it is not used for swimming pools or hot tubs.
And while the tax credits are welcomed, the return on investment for making these improvements could save hundreds if not thousands of dollars in energy bills, as well as boost the value of a property. To best determine the improvements that will give you the most bang for your buck start by visiting the Home Energy Saver website, simply by clicking here: Home Energy Website Link. Want to know what other homeowners in your area are paying for their energy bills? Simply enter the zip code of your city and a chart will be displayed with the average energy bill for a regular home and a home that is energy efficient (specific to your area). Additionally, take a few minutes, enter all the data that is relevant to your specific home and within a few moments a calculation will be performed that will provide you with a list of specific recommendations for energy efficiency improvements that can be made to lower your energy bill.
Lyon County, Nevada, finished second among the nation's 3,141 counties, with a growth rate of 6.9 percent.
On the downside, Chattahoochee County in Georgia had the dubious distinction of losing 6.2 percent of its residents, a greater percentage loss than any other county.
TAKING STOCK
Today in the markets, helium was up; feathers were down. Paper was stationary. Elevators rose, while escalators continued their slow decline. Mining equipment hit rock bottom. The market for raisins dried up. Coca-Cola fizzled. Balloon prices were inflated. And Scott Tissue reached a new bottom.
Bird Watchers!
The simple answer is: Tweety Bird is whatever gender Warner Brothers says it is. And Warner Brothers says Tweety's a boy!
So why all of the confusion? Is it the sky-high eyelashes? The all-around cuteness? As it turns out, Tweety's origanl name was Orson. Had Tweety kept his macho moniker, the great gender debate would have never started. Alas, Orson was dropped, leaving future fans to wonder what the heck they were looking at.
Tweety Friends explains that the bird was initially pink, not yellow. Censors took issue with the color. They felt people might think the little guywas nude (and lord knows we can't have naked animals). So---- voila, yellow feathers. The early Tweety also didn't shy away from violence toward his preadtors. Of course, he's now known for his questionable charms and innocence.
PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL RECORD BREAKERS
SEASON
CAREER Most Home Runs: Most Home Runs: Barry Bonds………………. 73 (2001)
Hank Aaron…………………….755
Mark McGwire…………….70 (1998)
Babe Ruth………………………714
Runs Batted In: Runs Batted In: Hack Wilson………….191 (1930)
Hank Aaron………………2297
Lou Gehrig……..184 (1931)
Babe Ruth…………...2213
Runs Scored: Runs Scored: Billy Hamilton……………..192 (1984)
Ricky Henderson…………2295
Babe Ruth……………177 (1921)
Ty Cobb……………..2245
Base Hits: Base Hits: Ichiro Suzuki…………262 (2004)
Pete Rose……………4256
George Sisler…………257 (1920)
Ty Cobb………………..4191
On Base %: On Base %: Barry Bonds………… .609 (2004)
Ted Williams………. .482
Barry Bonds……… .582 (2002)
Babe Ruth…………. .469
Stolen Bases: Stolen Bases: Hugh Nicol……… 138 (1887)
Rickey Henderson…… 1406
Rickey Henderson……….. 130 (1982
Lou Brock…………… 938
Wins: Wins: Al Spalding……………… 54 (1875)
Cy Young…………………… 511
John Clarkson……… 53 (1885)
Walter Johnson…………417
Strikeouts: Strikeouts: Charlie Buffinton…… 417 (1990)
Nolan Ryan……………5714
Nolan Ryan………. 383 (1973)
Roger Clemens……… 4502
Appearances: Appearances: Mike Marshall……. 106 (1974)
Jesse Orosco………… 1251
Kent Tekulve……… 94 (1979)
John Franco………… 1119
Saves: Saves: Bobby Thigpen……… 57 (1914)
Lee Smith………… 478
Eric Gagne………55 (2003)
Trevor Hoffman…………436
Earned Run Average (ERA): Earned Run Average (ERA): Dutch Leonard………0.96 (1914)
Ed Walsh…………1.82
Mordecai Brown……… 1.04 (1906)
Addie Joss……………… 1.89
The Denial Of Aging
I think like a young person and, although I try to keep myself fit and active, I won't be taking desperate measures like face-lifts and plastic surgery. I'm a great believer in letting nature take its course and living with what I've been given.
- Sharon Stone
With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.
- Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice
YOU CAN HELP KATRINA'S VICTIMS by DONATING TO:
Red Cross: 856-1000 Locally, 800-435-7669 Nationally, www.redcross.org
Salvation Army: 887-9120 Locally, 800-725-2769 Nationally, www.salvationarmyusa.org
Nevada Division of Emergency Management: (775)-687-4240
Mold Overtakes Hot, Humid New Orleans,
(September 22, 2005) New Orleans business owners are facing a big problem with no easy remedy:MOLD. It's growing everywhere, from restaurant tablecloths and hotel furniture to art prints, antique mirrors, and countless other items.
The humidity and heat in the city is fostering the fast growth of the mold spores, even in homes and buildings left untouched by the flood waters. And experts say that the longer owners are keept from returning to their properties, the more costly the repairs will be.
Mold remediation is an expensive process, particularly when specialists are forced to strip buildings to their framing, and in many cases is not covered by insurance.
Buildings covered in Mold will most likely be stripped, treated with a bleached-like solution to kill remaining mold spores, and then dried with fans and dehumidifiers.Wall board, linoleum and insulation must be thrown away, along with furnishings such as rugs, drapes, and bedding that got damp.
Nevertheless, MOLD remediation is no guarantee that the mold is gone. Anu Dixit, of Saint Louis University School of Public Health, says MOLD will return in about 33 percent of affected houses even after treatments have been applied. Beyond the physical damage from mold, it also can causes allergies and other health problems.
Something to Think About
Fear Less, Hope More; Whine Less, Breathe More; Talk Less, Say More; Hate Less, Love More; And all good things are yours. Swedish Proverb.
Mortgage information
www.platinumfirstmortgage.com/dwight.htm
Quick selling means tax consequences, Owners who sell an investment property (one that's not owner-occupied) before they've held it for one year are required to treat the sale as a short-term capital gain and pay tax at ordinary income tax rates.The rate can go as high as 35 percent depending on the person's tax bracket. If you hold the property for a year or more before selling, sale proceeds are considered long-term capital gains and are taxed at a 15 percent rate. One way you can defer any tax obligation on the sale of investment property that's not owner-occupied is to plow your proceeds onto property equivalent in the value under Section 1031 of the Tax Code. Owners have up to 45 days to identify a comparable property and 180 days to conclude the transfer. An Exchange Intermediary (Starker Services, Inc. Kandas Myer, (775)-322-8484) http://www.starker.com/ must handle the exchange end of the deal.Mortgage glossary: Rates, are lock-in rate at application for owner-occupied homes. They do not reflect the annual percentage rate, which includes discount points and fees
Points include origination fees. One point eguals 1 percent of the loan amount
Caps, are the maximum number of percentage points an ARM can be raised at each change and over the life of the loan.
Margin, is the amount the lender adds to the index value to determine the new interest rate at the time an ARM is adjusted. The new rate, including margin, will not exceed the cap.
Mortgage Insurance, is an additional charge for loans with down pyments of less than 20 percent.
Conforming loans, are mortgage loans that meet all requirements to be eligible for purchase by federal agencies such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The maximum conforming loan amount is $333,700. for a one-unit property.
Jumbo Loans, are mortgages larger than $333,700. limit set by the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.
Is What You Know About Nutrition Wrong?
By:Ben Kallen (Maximum Fitness)
There's as much false information about eating right as there is truth. Test your knowledge here.
DOES BEER make you fat or does it fight fat? Are egg yolks bad for you or not? Open your newspaper and you'll find contradicting studies, misinterpreted research, and mistaken theories everywhere. Take our quiz and see if you can seperate fact from fiction.
1.You think:Coffee is bad for you.
The truth is: Drink a cup of coffee a day and you'll get:
a) More antioxidants that in two servings of fruit.
b) as much Vitamin E as in an egg.
c) A chance to meet that hottie at Starbucks.
2. You think: Protein shakes are all the same.
The truth is: Whey protein is better because:
a) It has more amino acids per ounce.
b) It mixes more smoothly.
c) It keeps you from overeating later.
d) It tastes like blended ice cream.
3.You think: If you take in the same number of calories from any food source, you'll lose weight at the same rate.
The truth is: You may lose more body fat by combining excercise with:
a)A high-protein, low-carb food plan.
b) A high-carb, low-protein food plan.
c) Microwave popcorn and Slim Jims.
4. You think: Soy milk is as nutritous as cow's milk.
The truth is:
a) It has less "good" fat
b) It has has calcium.
c) It has no protein.
d) It doesn't matter, because that's all your girlfriend has in her fridge.
5. You think: Salmon is better fresh than canned.
The truth is: Compared to fresh salmon, canned salmon has:
a) More healthful fats and fewer harmful chemicals.
b) Less sodium.
c) Fewer bones.
d) More tin.
6. You think: Fish is "brain food."
The truth is:
a) Fish causes cognitive decline.
b) Fish may help prevent Alzheimer's disease.
c) Fish allows partying students to pass exams.
d) Flipper eats fish... Flipper's smart... See the connection?
7. You think: Egg yolks are good for dipping toast into, but unhealthy.
The truth is: Yolks are good for:
a) Your eyes.
b) Your ears.
c) Your heart.
d) Your aim at the house across the street.
8. You think: Drinking beer makes you fat.
The truth is: This ingredient in beer fights fat:
a) Yeast.
b) Hops.
c) Malt.
d) Bubbles.
9. You think: Wasabi, the green paste served with sushi, has no value beyond making raw fish palatable.
The truth is: Wasabi actually:
a) Helps prevent certain cancers.
b) Helps keep fish cold.
c) Clears your sinuses.
10.You think: Low-fat salad dressings are best.
The truth is: Extra-virgin olive oil is best. It contains vitamin E and healthful oleic acid. New research has discovered fresh oil also has an ingredient that:
a) Prevents flu, like a vaccine.
b) Stops bad breath, like Listerine.
c) Blocks pain, ike ibprofen.
d) Prevents forest fires, like Smokey.
Why Exercise,
Just starting to work out again at age 65 after several years layoff. 214 llbs. Very out of condtion.
In the late 50's and early 60's I was an Olympic lifter.
Tied a squat record in the 165 class back then, that stood for nine years. 350 lb squat for 11 reps. 500 lbs in the deadlift. 12 reps in the bench press with 275. Not too impressive by todays standards. Hell, girls do that now-a-days. Steriods. Although they have a fit if you accuse them of it.
But 'muscles have memory', so the old saw goes. Hopefully the muscles know that too. :o)
Warning. If you are not into working out, or are curious about how it goes after laying off for years and then trying to make comeback as a serious lifter, then this blog will probably put you to sleep. Although I don't know how serious you can get at 65 without steroids. Wouldn't mind trying them once. Just to see what all the hoopla is about.
I was going to rejoin the YMCA, but their rates are $42 a month, so on the recommendation of a friend, I went to TAC. Tacoma Athletic Club. $20 over there. About the same type of equipment for half the money. YMCA does have better shower facilities, but for the extra $22 a month, I can shower at home. The Y is full of yuppies and people plugging up the machines who are just going to the GYM out of a guilt complex or something. Crowded. TAC is full of serious workout people. And lots of orientals. That half price stuff really makes a hit with them. They ain't as dumb as I look. :o)
The squats and deadlifts are the hardest things to get back into. First night out, After walking the mile track to warm up was on a Monday, did 6 reps in the squat with 120 lbs. Two 45's on the Olympic bar. Very hard. 3 sets. 6 reps in the deadlift with 80 lbs. Managed 220 for three sets of 6 reps in the machine leg press, which surprised me. That tells me I could have done more in the squats but was just a little intimidated by the feel of that 120 on the bar across my shoulders. Most people can lift more than they realize. Like the woman who lifts a car off her child in an emergency. Funny how that works. People say, "Oh, its the adrenaline." Crapola. The weight of a car would rip your arms out of their sockets normally. Something else is going on there. Will do more reps next time.
Second night out was wednesday. Did 8 reps with 120 in the squat. 3 sets. Did 3 sets of 8 with 80 in the deadlift. 220 again in the leg press. Hell, I'm in no hurry and I'm not gonna risk an injury and have to sit around for six months waiting for it to heal.
Third night out was Friday with three sets of 6 with 140 in the squat. Moved up to 120 in the dead lift for 3 sets of 6. three sets of 6 with 220 in the leg press again. Feeling stronger every day. My strength is rushing back. Feel healthier. More alert. Caught myself checking out the girls. Thought I was past that. Evidently that muscle has a memory also. :o)
Strange how you become invisible to young women after a certain age. One summer you're noticed. And then the next, you're invisible.
Second Monday. Did 3 sets of 8 with 140 in the squat. 3 sets of 8 with 100 in the deadlift. 3 sets of 6 with 220 in the leg press.
Second Wednesday. Did 3 sets of 6 with 160 in the squat. 3 sets of 8 with 120 in the deadlift. 3 sets of 10 with 250 in the leg press. Did some lunges. Geez, those things are killers. Strength is building steadily.
Still remember the advice of my old coach in the fifties... 'pick the exercise you are weakest in and work harder on that.' course I don't know how good his advice was, he had us working out 5 hours a day six days a week. Who knows what I could have done had I had a better advised coach in those days.
Was up in the back of my pickup today unloading some stuff and without think
