When Mark got sick and his protein intake was strictly limited, I went shopping for scales again. Every serving of meat had to be meticulously weighed, and protein grams counted. It was, literally, a matter of life and death.

Eventually, I got to the point where I could guestimate pretty close to 4 oz. and didn't use the scale as much. But over time, having that scale has allowed us to buy in bulk, and weigh out individual portions for repackaging and freezing. I can't imagine being without a scale now.

Well ... there is one in the bathroom that I could do without.

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In more than 20 years, the company has grown from baby and kids clothing to include the entire family; high chairs and BPA-free products; and toys and learning gifts for kids of all ages.

SkinCubed.com ~ Offers 3 simple-to-use products designed to improve skin firmness, smooth texture, even coloring, and reduce wrinkles.

Best of all, Skin Cubed provides a 90-day money-back guarantee. If their products don't meet your standards or perform as promised - return them for a prompt refund, even if the bottles are empty.

Please take a minute to visit our newest Partners-In-Shopping. We think you'll love what they have to offer, as much as we do.

The other big issue is knowing which repair shop can be trusted. When our truck started overheating, we took it to a (supposedly) reputable chain. They replaced the thermostat and charged us plenty.

When the situation didn't improve, we called back. It was only then that we were told that 'old girl' had a blown head gasket. A new thermostat did nothing and they knew it. In fact, this probably made the situation worse, since we continued to drive the truck instead of getting the proper repairs done.

Today, I ran across a repair site that seems different. First, whether you're looking for Houston auto repair services or a tune-up specialist in Evans, Colorado - this is the place to start. RepairPal offers nationwide information and is not owned by or affiliated with any manufacturer, dealership, facility, or parts provider.

Second, they have a huge list of vehicles. So whether you own an Acura Integra or a Dodge Dakota that really needs some mechanic love and attention, you're going to be able to find yours. Fine-tune it down to the engine size, so you know that the estimates are accurate. (Who needs a quote for repairs on a 6-cylinder Dakota, when they own a 4-cylinder?)

Then, we get to the fun part - what work / repairs does your 'baby' need? I was amazed at the available detail. It took me no time at all to zoom in on Head Gasket(s) Replacement. And it doesn't matter where you start - repair, location, or vehicle. The site is that flexible.

My only concern is the rating system. It's a 5-star process, based on consumer reviews. Unfortunately, the few reviews I read sounded suspiciously similar. After 2 or 3 that ended with some version of "my mechanics for life," I started to wonder.

There may be some 'canned' reviews, which does bother me. However, one of the shops listed for our area had a dozen comments, spanning about 11 months, that appear to be from consumers who have used them for many years. I guess it's always a bit of a gamble, but RepairPal still seems like a good place to start.

I don't go to the doctor very often - or, as I keep being told, nearly as often as I should. (Of course, should and I are just not on speaking terms.) When I was younger, that was probably not such a problem. But I am now getting to the point where some of my parts just aren't working the way they did a few years ago.

Guess I'd best find out just what Obamacare is going to mean for me. And probably sooner than later.

FDA Recalls & Safety Alerts:

• Novacare LLC ~ Recall ~ Multiple Male ED Supplements (21 Named in Recall) ~ Undeclared Sulfoaildenafil (Viagra analog)
• Fresh Express ~ Recall ~ Veggie Lovers Salad, Code I208, Use-by August 10 ~ Possible Listeria monocytogenes
• *Ikaria ~ Recall ~ INOMAX® DS Drug-Delivery System ~  
• * EZVille, Ltd. ~ Recall ~ Revivexxx® Extra Strength ~ Undeclared Tadalafil (Cialis)
• EZVille, Ltd. ~ Recall ~ Solo Slim® Regular and Extra Strength, All Expiration Dates through August 2013 ~ Undeclared Desmethyl Sibutramine (Appetite Suppressant)
• The South Bend Chocolate Company ~ Recall ~ Bountiful Blend, 1 lb. bags ~ Undeclared Tree Nuts (Cashews, Almonds, Pecans, Brazil Nuts)
• Optimus, Inc. dba Marky’s ~ Recall ~ Eugenio Brezzi Truffle Puree, Imported from Italy ~ Under-processed; Possible Contamination
• * Merrick Pet Care ~ Extended Recall ~ "Texas Hold'ems" Dog Treats, Item #60016, Lot #10127, best by May 6, 2012) ~ Possible Salmonella

• * Lundbeck Inc. ~ Recall ~ NeoProfen® (ibuprofen lysine) Injection ~ Failed Visible Particulate Quality Requirement

FDA MedWatch Notices:

• Novacare LLC Products (Multiple Brand Names) ~ Recall ~ Undeclared Drug Sulfoaildenafil Ingredient
• Combat Application Tourniquets (C-A-T), NSN6515-01-521-7976 ~ Physician/Consumer Alert ~ Suspected Counterfeit Product
• Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filters ~ Physician/Clinician Alert ~ Risk of Adverse Events with Long Term Use
• Solo Slim, Solo Slim Extra Strength ~ Recall ~ Undeclared Drug Didesmethyl Sibutramine Ingredient
• Revivexxx Extra Strength ~ Recall ~ Undeclared Drug Tadalafil Ingredient
• Qualaquin (Quinine Sulfate) ~ New Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy ~ Risk of Serious Hematological Reactions

FSIS Open Recalls & Alerts:

• Valley Meat Company ~ Class I Recall ~ Frozen Ground Beef Products ~ Possible E. Coli O157:H7 ~ Health Risk: High   (Retail Distribution List [PDF])
• Ugo. DiLullo & Sons ~ Class I Recall ~ U. DiLullo's Deluxe Meatballs In Sauce, Est. 1153 ~ Undeclared Eggs ~ Health Risk: High   (No Retail Sales)
• Perdue Farms, Inc. ~ Class II Recall ~ 'Great Value' Frozen Chicken Nugget Products ~ Possible Foreign Material ~ Health Risk: Low
• M&K II Co. ~ Class II Recall ~ Beef Jerky Products ~ Mislabeling and Undeclared Allergen ~ Health Risk: Low
• Rocky Mountain Natural Meats ~ Class I Recall ~ Bison Products ~ Possible E. Coli O157:H7 ~ Health Risk: High   (Retail Distribution List [PDF])
• San Antonio Packing Company ~ Class I Recall ~ Cervelat Summer Sausage ~ Undeclared Allergen ~ Health Risk: High   (Retail Distribution List [PDF])
• Oregon Freeze Dry, Inc. ~ Class III Recall ~ Mountain House Pro-Pak Beef Stroganoff with Noodles ~ Mislabeling ~ Health Risk: None
• Great Kitchens, Inc. ~ Class II Recall ~ BBQ Chicken Pizza Products ~ May Contain Foreign Materials ~ Health Risk: Low
• Sampco, Inc. ~ Class II Recall ~ Canned and Frozen Cooked Beef Products from Brazil ~ Possible Animal Drug Contaminant ~ Health Risk: Low
• South Gate Meat Co. ~ Class I Recall ~ Ground Beef Products ~ Possible E. Coli O157:H7 ~ Health Risk: High   (No Retail Sales)
• ConAgra Foods Packaged Foods, LLC ~ Class I Recall ~ Marie Callender's Cheesy Chicken and Rice Frozen Meals ~ Possible Salmonella ~ Health Risk: High   (Retail Distribution List [PDF])
• Campbell Soup Supply Company, LLC ~ Class I Recall ~ SpaghettiOs with Meatballs ~ Possible Underprocessing ~ Health Risk: High   (Retail Distribution List [PDF])
• Montclair Meat Co., Inc. ~ Class I Recall ~ Ground Beef Products ~ Possible E. Coli O157:H7 ~ Health Risk: High   (No Retail Sales)
• Sampco, Inc. ~ Class II Recall ~ Canned and Frozen Cooked Beef Products from Brazil ~ Possible Animal Drug Contaminant ~ Health Risk: Low
• Vienna Beef Ltd. ~ Class II Recall ~ Vienna Beef Mini Pretzel Dogs ~ Produced Without Inspection ~ Health Risk: Low
• International Gourmet ~ Class I Recall ~ Imported Prosciutto Products ~ Possible Listeria monocytogenes ~ Health Risk: High   (Retail Distribution List [PDF])
• Orlando Greco & Son Imports ~ Class I Recall ~ Imported Prosciutto Products ~ Possible Listeria monocytogenes ~ Health Risk: High   (Retail Distribution List [PDF])
• Custom Corned Beef, Inc. ~ Class I Recall ~ Fully Cooked Crumbled Pork Sausage Products ~ Possible Listeria monocytogenes ~ Health Risk: High   (No Retail Sales)
• The Murphy House ~ Class I Recall ~ Brunswick Stew Products ~ Undeclared Allergens ~ Health Risk: High   (Retail Distribution List [PDF])
• Beltex Corporation ~ Class I Recall ~ Beef Trim Products ~ Possible E. Coli O157:H7 ~ Health Risk: High   (Retail Distribution List [PDF])
• Westlake Food Corporation ~ Class II Recall ~ Assorted Meat Products ~ Mislabeling and Undeclared Allergen ~ Health Risk: Low
• Windsor Foods ~ Class I Recall ~ Ready-To-Eat Beef Taquito and Chicken Quesadilla Products ~ Possible Salmonella at HVP Supplier ~ Health Risk: High   (Retail Distribution List [PDF])
• Ruiz Foods, Inc. ~ Class I Recall ~ Ready-To-Eat Tornados Ranchero Beef & Cheese ~ Possible Salmonella at HVP Supplier ~ Health Risk: High   (Retail Distribution List [PDF])
• Nestlé Professional North America ~ Class I Recall ~ Ready-To-Eat Bacon Base ~ Possible Salmonella at HVP Supplier ~ Health Risk: High

Please visit the above links for complete product information, recommendations, contacts, and return details.

* Some FDA links may not have been functioning at the time of posting. Specific health risk information may be incomplete.

It wasn't until I read that PETA had asked Miss Australia to not wear her boots (or sheep shrug) in the native costume portion of the pageant that I actually knew anything about Ugg boots. Or about mulesing. What a hideous practice!

According to the article, Ugg uses sheepskin harvested by Australian sheep ranchers through a process called mulesing. In brief, mulesing involves surgically removing strips of skin from the animals' buttocks. It is designed to prevent a condition called Fly Strike or Myasis.

Myasis is a condition where flies lay eggs in a living animal's body. The flies are attracted to open sores, excretions, and infected skin. In as little as 8 to 12 hours, maggots develop and feed on the animal. It is critical to keep skin clean, dry, and healthy, in order to avoid this problem. Fly strike is major problem in, but not limited to, sheep. The article above is directed at pet owners.

Apparently, due to their wrinkly skin, Merino sheep are most at risk for Myasis and the primary victims of this practice. PETA is urging everyone to not buy Merino wool, in order to discourage mulesing and encourage Australian sheep ranchers to raise a different breed. I think that's a tad overkill, personally.

I can see boycotting Ugg boots - and any apparel manufacturer who uses mulesed sheepskin. However, sheered wool, from Australia or anywhere, is not the issue for me. And blithely punishing Merino wool producers is a bit like throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Want to take action? How about visiting the mulesing link (above) and sending a message to the Australian government? I did.

Granted, I'm not a cigar smoker. But it is a little embarrassing to realize that these Honduran, hand-rolled cigars have been around since 1871. Milder than some brands, they have what's called a sweetened wrapper cap.

Unless I miss my guess, that means flavor. And probably a much better smoke than the little grape things that Frankie used to buy.

According to the article, 85% of clinical studies paid for by pharmaceutical companies have positive outcomes. By comparison, about 50% of drugs involved in government-funded studies and 61% of those in independently-funded studies have the same level of success. And that 85% is generating the information that shows up in journals and patient handbooks and physician guidelines.

That means manufacturers can easily market - to consumers and physicians - medications that don't work, don't work as well as claimed, or are downright dangerous -- all based on the results of these clinical studies. What are you going to trust, when the only information comes from someone who desperately needs everyone to buy the hype? Researching outside the pharmaceutical industry does little good, if the data originates with the drug manufacturers.

I was just reading, for example, about a warning letter issued on July 6th, to Jazz Pharmaceuticals, regarding fluvoxamine maleate, marketed as Luvox. According to the letter, the manufacturer of this treatment for OCD "omits and minimizes important risk information associated with Luvox CR and overstates the efficacy of Luvox CR" - in their patient brochure. So, not only doesn't it work as well as claimed {Shocking!}, Luvox's safety is also in question.

Think Jazz is alone? I seriously doubt it.

Today I found one answer and it's actually rather interesting. The companies that want your business, join a service that collects all of these requests from their affiliate sites. After the service verifies that the information is valid - no fake emails or names - their customers can purchase the leads and send out their auto insurance quotes. Or mortgage refi information or financial services deals; whatever their products might be.

At first I thought - Oh, no! Dozens of people will call and email! - and maybe with some services it happens that way. However, EquiLeads seems different. They only offer each request-for-information lead to three companies. So, I don't have 50 companies bugging me and the companies aren't competing against everyone in their industry.

All in all, it sounds like they've got the right idea. From start to finish, everyone gets what they need.

eBillme attempts to help by connecting merchants, banks, and shoppers. It's an interesting idea, down to the online coupons and cash-back options. Just order, select eBillme to pay, and you're done. More or less.

To take advantage of online coupons, you have start shopping from eBillme. The list of participating merchants seems extensive, so it shouldn't keep you from finding what you want. And the search function works pretty well.

Now, the fun part. Click on a coupon / offer and eBillme connects to the merchant site. The one I tested popped up a code that had to be used. Be ready to write it down - it doesn't stay there long!

Once you make a selection and start checkout, choose eBillme as the payment method. This is where I ran into some confusion (my fault) - the coupon code didn't work on the merchant site. It had to be entered on the eBillme site.

The merchant I tested then bounced me to an eBillme screen that didn't really do anything. And, no matter what I did, I never made it to a place to finalize my order. A different merchant worked fine, but I wasn't trying to use a coupon on that one. (I thought the first problem was because I was just testing the process, but I'm not sure.)

If you can get the process to work, you should get bounced to eBillme, where you can enter your codes and email information. An invoice will be generated, presented on-screen, then emailed to you for payment. Use your bank's bill-pay system to make payment, which will be forwarded to the merchant, who will ship your order.

My guess? This is not going to happen as quickly as it sounds. Especially the first time. Don't have a bank account? Grab your cash (plus minimum $4.95 processing fee) and head for one of the walk-in payment centers. (We actually have one right across the street!)

These centers appear to take even longer - with a few more steps - between giving up your money and getting your order. Not exactly my first choice. But if you have no other options, it is one way to shop online.

Don't get me wrong. For people with analog sets, it had to be a bit scary. It's not like they were asked if they wanted their free over-the-air viewing options to vanish. And, as I recall, the required converter boxes weren't exactly inexpensive - hence, the bucks-for-boxes program that ran out of money. Another nightmare for people who had no choice but to convert.

For those of us who were already cable or DIRECTV by DirectSatTV subscribers, we rather self-importantly pooh-poohed all the concern over disappearing signals and changing formats. Frankly, I can't imagine what it was like for remote or hilly areas. Even in a perfect test market, the problems were large enough to cause concern for officials.

Wilmington, Delaware, with no hills and unchanging channel positions, was the first community to go all-digital in 2008, as a test of how well the DTV transition would work. Well, it didn't - exactly. The digital signal was less powerful than the previous analog and viewers at the fringe of a station's range, lost reception. Poof!

As a result, the government authorized construction of distributed transmission systems - for stations that couldn't cover their analog range with the digital channels. In extremely simple terms, these systems send a signal to multiple transmitter sites for simultaneous broadcast in overlapping sections, widening the broadcast area for that channel. This authorization, however, came too late to allow construction in time for the original February, 2009 cut-off date.

Frankly, Direct Satellite TV offers and cable service must have started looking pretty good to a lot of people at that point. I wonder if anyone has looked at new subscription rates during the DTV conversion process. They certainly would have been the simplest, if not the cheapest, options at the time.

Some blame, I would imagine, falls at the feet of the owner of our complex. I doubt that he is actually shelling out for the best available service. But, to be fair, when our cable and Internet was rolled into our rent, the rent didn't go up. That does count for something.

On an average day I get up, grab coffee, and fire up the laptop. Within the next 60 - 90 minutes, I can count on getting dropped at least 3 times - at least! There are days when it's actually worse - especially if I'm working on something that I consider critical. (I swear sometimes they actually know!)

Then we have the regular daily (for lack of a better term) crap-outs. Between 5:30 and 6:30 - every day - we can count on losing our connections, at least once for at least 5-10 minutes. I'm beginning to think the local techs go to dinner and 'turn out the lights,' as it were.

So, no we don't write a check or pay a bill to our Internet provider. But, trust me! We Pay!

Although it may seem backward, agents worth their commission will tell you to qualify for a mortgage first. A pre-approved mortgage is proof that your offer is serious, backed by a financial institution, and will go through on acceptance. Knowing what you can afford helps focus the search, once you get down to picking a property. Not to mention, with the current economy, pre-approval may be the only way to get an agent to even talk to you.

In a lender's perfect world, each potential mortgagee has flawless credit, high six-figure income, and 20% of the national debt set aside as a down payment. Naturally, the better your financial situation, the better your mortgage rate will be. But there are workable options for the rest of us average folks who may have some credit issues, a higher debt-to-income ratio, and aren't related to Bloomberg, Armani, or Trump.

Most lending institutions offer the same types of home loans: fixed-rate and adjustable-rate being the most common. Each has risks and benefits which should be clearly defined in advance of any agreement. In addition, these traditional mortgages generally only apply to existing single-family homes in move-in condition. Condos, rehabs, new construction, and manufactured homes have their own mortgage rules, uses, and qualifications.

Unless you're in need of / interested in a no-verification mortgage¹, be prepared to pull together a lot of financial information. Different banks, lenders, or programs may look for different documentation. W2s, pay stubs, bank statements, prior year tax returns, list of assets, list of debts, and proof of residence are pretty standard requirements.

Buying a home doesn't have to give you grey hair and ulcers. If you do your homework.

Quick Afghan 001

Similar to one of our Banded Afghan Styles, this Quick Afghan is crocheted in wide stripes, using three yarn colors.

The Primary color is used throughout the Afghan, combining with the Secondary color in the larger sections and with the Accent / Third color for narrower bands at the top, middle, and bottom.

One of the design hurdles we had to address was the Primary Color option. After much deliberation, and several less workable ideas, we decided to offer black and white as the - for lack of a better phrase - canvas on which the design will build.

Whether light or dark, we believe that all of our other yarn options will work extremely well with these base colors. Personally, I think this is going to become one of our most popular styles.

There are so many possibilities ~ whether combining tints and shades from the same color family (as in the pictures) or pulling contrasting colors, such as purple and yellow, or orange and blue. What about bright green and red with white for Christmas? or gold and orange with black for fall / Halloween?

See?! Almost endless possibilities!

Because the patterns were more time-consuming in our Block Afghans, the larger sizes took nearly 4 weeks to complete. This Quick Afghan should take about three. We're anticipating, and hoping, that delivery will actually be closer to only 2 weeks for most of the sizes.

I know that, in the middle of sweltering summer heat, the last thing anyone thinks about are warm, snuggly Afghans. But that is one of the reasons we're not as busy from April to September. Once the weather cools, the orders increase and, though rare, processing delays and order backlogs are always possible.

Order today and beat the crowd.

Quick Afghan 002

This simple pattern - two contrasting or complementing colors, crocheted together with a great big hook - is named for its start-to-finish speed.

While our block afghans, with more time-consuming patterns, took up to 4 weeks for the larger sizes, this Quick Afghan takes less than three. In fact, we anticipate delivery will be closer to two weeks from date of order for most sizes.

Unlike variegated yarns, where the manufacturer decides which color combinations you get, this afghan pattern lets you create your own. As it is crocheted, the yarn twists and turns - giving a unique pattern to each Afghan. No two will ever be exactly alike.

If that weren't exciting enough - we are happy to announce that, despite additional yarn requirements, Quick Afghans are actually less expensive to create. A savings that we are thrilled to share with our customers.

It may seem odd - in the midst of summer's heat - to think about Afghans. However, our busy season starts when the weather cools. And, since we don't crochet until you order - first in, first out - there is always a chance (however rare) that an order could be unavoidably delayed behind those received earlier.

Order today and beat the crowd.

Given the prevalence of the commercials, there should be quite a bit of interest in this product (translation: lots of web pages, pushing lots of pills). But, the more I think about it, good ol' Bob hasn't been around much lately. Maybe that's the more important information.

The first site I stumbled onto was a one-page blog, set up in 2009, containing one sad little post from April. Oddly enough, it didn't even link to some make-money-now product page. Or bother to remove all of the default 'filler' information from the WordPress template.

Guess they're waiting to see if someone really wants that domain name - enough to pay for it. Given the other sites and pages I've found, I don't think that one-pager is going to get too far. It seems that Enzyte has an outdated formula, uses an auto-ship program, doesn't honor their money-back guarantee, and has been sued by dissatisfied customers.

Of course, that came from one page and could simply be one customer's 'sour grapes'. But it's beginning to look like the world has moved on. Curiosity notwithstanding, perhaps we should join them.

Today's messages brought one of those heart-thumping, panic-inducing, four-letter-word-inspiring shocks - confirmation of an order for a $1,327 notebook computer (with $50 second-day shipping) from buy.com. Given my current cash flow and no-$$$-no-order house rules, I was pretty sure that this was a hoax / spam / phishing expedition. Yet, June 2010 has just been filled with Egads! Gadzooks! and OMG, No! moments - the USPS / PayPal fiasco starting the whole isn't-this-month-over-yet nightmare.

Taking a deep breath and a large cup of coffee, I started investigating this 'confirmation' message. Sure enough, none of the links went to buy.com. Instead, they went to a site for The First Assembly of God Church, in Gainesville, Florida - which, by the way, has been taken down by their hosting service. Apparently, they got hijacked a while back, or God said, "Thou shalt steal!" and they got busted.

Although that did make me feel a little better, I still had to check with buy.com. Turns out - oddly enough - that I don't seem to have an account with them. Another sigh of relief.

Currently, I'm waiting for them to respond to my inquiry into this mysterious order. Just in case.

The seven extra shipping charges overdrew my PayPal account. So, on May 28th, I called the USPS again - to have the 4 pending charges cancelled; which they did (surprisingly) without a problem. Then, I called PayPal and asked them to do the same. Again, no problem. Hey! Life is looking up!

Except for the fact that, since USPS had hijacked my money, part of the one valid shipping charge, as well as other legitimate charges from May 24th hit when, technically, the PayPal account had a zero balance. With our savings account as emergency back-up, you can imagine what started happening -- and happening, and happening, and happening. (To the tune of $120.00 in NSF fees, as we don't keep a balance in that account, by the time it was all said and done.)

Back on the phone to USPS - and beginning to panic. To paraphrase, briefly (this was not a brief conversation): "Our terms and conditions explain that USPS will put a pending hold on your account [note: have never found that notice] every time you try to print a label. You agree to that upfront. And, because of that, the USPS is not responsible for NSF charges. It's all PayPal's fault. [note: they did actually say that] And, yes, it takes 14 business days to process a refund." Thank you, have a nice day.

Back on the phone to PayPal - and on the verge of hysteria. (Another very, very long conversation.) Not one, but two very, very nice people -- thank you Amy and Craig! -- tamed the lions, jumped through flaming hoops, and walked the wire to help me. (Hey, under the circumstances, a circus analogy seemed highly appropriate.) Within about 36-48 hours, though it wasn't their fault or responsibility, they made us whole. Much more than I had ever expected; and far more than USPS - who was responsible - even considered.

EPILOGUE: As of June 8th - 15 days after this mess started - of the $111.90 shipping fees originally charged, PayPal reversed $97.65 and (as a one-time courtesy) reimbursed us $90.00 of NSF charges. Our bank, which was less than cooperative through all of this, did manage to reverse one NSF fee of $30.00. The legitimate charges, from May 24th, eventually cleared.

The USPS, late on June 7th, notified me (emphasis mine) that:

"We have approved your postage refund request for your online shipping label on 06/07/2010 08:01 PM CDT.

[Personal information redacted]

Please allow up to two billing cycles for your credit card statement to reflect this refund, as the processing of the refund is dependant upon your financial institution's policy."

Note - they didn't say refunded, they said approved for refund - allow up to two months for the credit to appear on your account. Luckily, the refund actually hit by end-of-business on the 8th. So, JMark Afghans, etc. is officially done with the USPS. UPS - here we come!

Oh! The package did - eventually - get to my daughter and son-in-law.

To start, Pfizer has apparently decided that they (unlike all other drug manufacturers) are not required to notify the FDA of adverse events related to their pharmaceuticals. A recent FDA warning letter, twelve pages in length, listed many problems with well-known Pfizer drugs "including impotence drug Viagra, cholesterol pill Lipitor and seizure medicine Lyrica." It took an FDA investigation to uncover documentation and investigation lapses dating back to 2004.

Guidelines are established to ensure that, once a medication is released to the public, problems are quickly identified and properly addressed. Although clinical trials determine efficacy and safety, they do not - naturally - test all segments of the population for side effects and adverse events. There, unfortunately, will always be individuals who are unable to use certain drugs.

Hence, the Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS), "a computerized information database designed to support the FDA's post-marketing safety surveillance program for all approved drug and therapeutic biologic products." Reporting is voluntary, both to the FDA and to drug manufacturers. However, when a pharmaceutical maker is alerted - whether by a medical professional or a consumer - of a problem, they are then required to send the report to the FDA. Pfizer has not done that and the reports of adverse events have, apparently, been increasing since 2004.

How many physicians, if they were given accurate details of problems with Pfizer's medications, would have stopped prescribing them? Or at least given them a lower priority over other treatment options? Hmmm?! Could that be why Pfizer is reluctant to share?

Then, we have Wyeth - now a unit of Pfizer - who has determined that it is perfectly acceptable to promote their medications as they see fit. Sirolimus, trade name Rapamune®, is FDA-approved as an anti-rejection medication for kidney transplant patients. However, it now appears that Wyeth/Pfizer has been marketing the drug for use in "heart, lung, liver, pancreas and islet cell transplants without FDA approval." Not good!

The reason this campaign is so serious relates to differences in transplant tissue compatibility criteria and organ rejection risk. With kidney transplants, tissue matching¹ is only one test used to match donors/patients, and only "10-20% of patients will experience at least one episode of rejection."² Whereas in liver transplants, for example, tissue matching¹ is vital to transplant success and, even with this fine-tuned testing, "up to 75% of all liver-transplant recipients will have at least one rejection episode."³

With this increased risk of rejection in non-kidney transplant procedures, blithely claiming any-old-immunosuppressant-will-do is more than bad marketing. It holds the potential of threatening lives. All for a few more dollars, greater profits?

I certainly hope not.

Though I admit, I was a tad confused. As I say, it's been awhile since I watched any sports; most of the venues I remembered - Palace of Auburn Hills, Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, Madison Square Garden, Camden Yards, Wrigley Field - were still there. I've even been to games and concerts at some of them.

But, others? I had to look up where they were, which was (actually) fun. For example: Quicken Loans Arena - Cleveland, Citi Field - NY Mets, Izod Center - East Rutherford, Bradley Center - Milwaukee, and Amway Arena - Orlando were all new to me. Ticket America, however, has them covered.

They have a great set-up for buying - and selling - tickets by venue. Pick your stadium or team. (If you have tickets to sell, there's a clickable link in the middle of the page.) Next, choose the game or event, and a nifty table comes up. See the section, row, price, and number of available tickets - with a seating chart of the arena that scrolls up and down with you.

Works great and makes finding tickets a whole lot of fun!

New Quick Afghan 001

Our newest style is called the Quick Afghan because, well ... it is. Crocheted with 2 strands of yarn (and a really big crochet hook), these Afghans come together far quicker than many of our other sytles. This, virtually, cuts the time from order to shipping by one-third!

Quick Afghan 001 is similar to one of our Banded Afghan Styles. Made up of three colors, the Main and Accent Colors are worked together in the larger sections. The Main and Third colors combine for the narrower bands at the top, middle, and bottom.

New Quick Afghan 002

Quick Afghan 002 is a much simpler design - two colors, worked together throughout. It's a bit like a custom, you-design-it variegated yarn. (The image doesn't do justice to these colors - an amazing deep magenta and black.)

In fact, I made a larger version for my daughter and son-in-law (in purple and cream) as a wedding gift. Not to mention, a shawl and a couple of hats and scarves that I designed using double strands. Who knows? They may show up as new products, one of these days, as well.

Currently, we're working on pricing and shipping schedules for these new styles. But look for them to be available for order before the end of the month.

Just for grins, I decided to check my account today - confirm the balance, ya know? Imagine my surprise to see that the USPS had charged me for my package label, not once - but eight (8) times! Yes, you read that right!

Four are pending on my account; four went through. (All 8 reduce my available balance.) If you're keeping score - that's $13.95 x 8 = $111.60! Given that one charge is valid, that makes for a minor overcharge of $97.65!

No biggie, right?! Just contact the USPS for a correction / refund and life is good, right!? {sound of maniacal laughter} Oh, heavens no! That would be {more maniacal laughter} too easy! Too efficient! Too acceptable! Too helpful! Too responsible!

I did contact the USPS about this. They agreed to correct the problem, and refund the extra charges - in 14 business days!

Guess when you're going broke, paying mail carriers who "don't have to come up to the second floor," it's important to increase revenue any way you can.

With auto insurance, one has to consider deductibles as part of the overall cost. Sure, the monthly premiums may be impressive - until you have a claim. Coming up with several hundred dollars, or more, may make getting back on the road almost impossible.

What about homeowner's / renter's coverage? If, heaven forbid, you experience a loss, are you covered for the replacement cost of your valuables? How does one determine what that should be?

A good agent asks these questions and offers guidance that ensures their customers can live with their decisions. If they don't ask, perhaps it's time to reconsider the relationship. Or at least explore your options.

He'd post a link to a page of rugs and ask me to pick three, or four, that I would buy. Now I'm not trying to pat myself on the back here (okay, maybe a little, because it seriously surprised me). With the exception of one or two, I consistently chose the same ones that he had either already ordered or was going to order for the store.

Approaching something in that way - Would I offer it to my customers? And if I did, would it sell? - tends to alter one's shopping perspective. Especially for someone who's criteria usually boils down to "Oooh! Pretty!

The laundry list of problems attributed to excessive sitting is long and scary: "hypertension, obesity, high blood triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and high blood sugar, regardless of weight." Early on, the article mentions lower back pain, numbness in the lower thigh, and depressed (my word) mood. None of these are good.

In a nutshell, the human body is not built to sit for extended periods of time. The natural S-curve of the spine morphs into a C-shape when sitting. This change also transfers weight-bearing from the hips, knees, and ankles to the spine and pelvis, adding stress to the disks in the back. Good or bad posture doesn't appear to make a difference.

Sadly, that's not the only issue. Walking - moving around, in general - uses the muscles that are built to support the body. These muscles are rich in enzymes that, when we're active, pull fat and cholesterol from the blood. They burn the fat and convert LDL to HDL.

After only a couple of hours, planted in a chair, "enzyme activity drops by 90% to 95%" and "healthy cholesterol plummets by 20%." Then, we get back to numbness and pain in the legs, back, and buttocks. All in all, sitting just isn't a healthy situation and there are those trying to redesign workers out of their seats.

Sure, I'd love to have a 'walking desk' - though typing might be a tad problematic, as would space and cost. As one commenter (a psychotherapist) pointed out - not everyone actually has alternatives.

• The average American generates approximately 4.4 lbs/day, 56 tons/year of trash;
• Almost 1/3 of that trash is packaging;
  
  
• Nearly 900 Million trees are harvested annually to feed paper and pulp mills;
• Americans:
  • Consume 1/3 (33%) of the Earth's timber and paper:
  • Total less than 1/20 (< 5%) of the world's population;
• Paper and paper products comprise 37.5% of American waste;

Of those 900,000,000 trees felled each year, it appears that most are acquired through clearcutting in the Southern United States for processing by International Paper (IP), the largest paper manufacturer in the US and the world. With blatant disregard, wetlands are drained, endangered forests are logged, and natural woodlands are replaced with tree farms. Nurseries do not support indigenous life or replace lost ecosystems.

Many fast-food companies and large chains (Starbucks, McDonald's, Random House, WalMart), understand their responsibility and have begun instituting sustainable paper usage policies and programs. Others, like KFC and Yum! Brands, continue to drag their feet, showing no desire to increase use of PCR (post-consumer recycled) packaging or reduce packaging or use products from sustainably managed forests.

International Paper has a large presence in the United States and the world and could, should they choose, adopt production strategies that would make them a leader in sustainable paper manufacturing. They could set the standard for all others to follow. So far, they have chosen to set the standard that should be avoided - at all costs.

The companies that continue to support IP by purchasing its paper products - and overpackaging their own goods - are as culpable as the manufacturer in the destruction of forest ecosystems. Trees and the air that they clean are not an infinite resource. Even replanting, as IP does (plantation-style), is insufficient to maintain fragile biomes and endemic species of flora and fauna.

It is time to address these issues at the sources - with petitions, letters, and consumer dollars. The links in this post offer a great starting point to make your voice heard. Please join me in saying: "Until I see you green, you're not seeing my 'green'."

A site owner has zillions (almost literally) of options for information and help with a free directory submission. No matter what they tell you, the easiest way to get your site listed is to follow the instructions on the directory website. They may all be a bit different, but they are meant to be adhered to.

Violate the rules? Don't get listed.

It's a lot of work. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of directories on the Internet. Finding them is the key, followed closely by spending the time suggesting they list your site.

Then, there's the waiting. Many of the best / highest ranking / most popular directories are edited and reviewed by real people. Real people with only so many hours in a day to look at hundreds of suggestions. The wait can be long.

By far, the biggest problem I've found are the organizations that guarantee a free listing in any directory worth the inclusion. It cannot be done. But many black hat SEOs will tell webmasters that it can.

And - happily - take their money.