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Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
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Customer Experience Research News
Customer Satisfaction Research vs. Mystery Shopping: A Dialogue Revisited
Oct 30, 2008 by Elaine Buxton
In our current economy, customer retention is at the forefront of good business strategy. Well-run companies know that keeping customers coming back, even in this difficult economic climate, will ensure success down the road. With so many businesses focusing on customer service strategy and so many approaches to customer experience measurement out there, I am often asked which measurement method works best.
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Five (5) Key Considerations for On-The-Spot Rewards Mystery Shopping
Nov 06, 2008 by Elaine Buxton
On-the-spot rewards are an effective way to encourage employee participation toward attaining specific behaviors. They are especially effective when put into place for a limited time (to maintain excitement) and are simple to understand. Sometimes, revenue-generating behaviors may not seem natural to your team, but a simple suggestion, backed up by an offer to the customer, can increase revenue dramatically.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Home Packing Services
Packaging Company in Lithonia, GA
Packing up your home can be stressful and time-consuming. Let 5Star Pack And Move help make the process go smoothly with our home packing services in Lithonia, GA.
Leave the Packing to Us
Whether you're packing up a small apartment or a large house, we're up to the challenge. We'll pack up your items safely and securely so that you won't have to worry about them getting damaged in transit. You also won't have to deal with buying the right supplies for packing, because we'll come equipped with everything we need to box up your belongings.
Don't struggle to pack on your own. We'll get your home packed up in no time. Call us today for more information or to request an estimate.
My moving day was last Wednesday. The 5 star family showed up and showed out!! Everyone was so professional and organized. They never complained about me moving to the 3rd floor and worked at a steady team pace. Don't look elsewhere...Go With The 5 Star Family!
5STAR Pack and Moving company are by far the best I have used. They have great pricing compared to other moving companies. The day they moved me it was the hottest day this summer!!! They are very professional and the level of care they took with my belongings was above and beyond. They packed the truck in such a way, nothing was damaged. The team consisted of Al, Carlos and Jo Jo, they were fast and careful, personable and patient with all the stops they needed to make for my move. They have an awesome team! In addition I wanted them to take a break due to the heat, no they wanted to make sure I was taken care of. I highly recommend this company!!!
I used this company twice within 6-7 months and both times, the crew were great to work with. Very professional taking care of my belongings and personable, friendly at the same time. It's a long day when moving but with a good group of movers, it removes the stress from a typical stressful day. Highly recommend 5 Star!!
I was very pleased with the customer service, professionalism, promptness, and handling of my belongings during my move. They definitely lived up the the name with 5 Star Service!
Amazing company with first rate service!!! Professional, courteous, and conscientious from initial booking through completion of job. Al and Nita and their teams really know their business. We highly recommend 5Star Pack and Move.
Great moving company 5Star indeed thanks to Al and his team and also Ms Nita very professional.
We used 5 Star to move our Physical Therapy Clinic. The guys were on time, extremely polite & knowledgeable! Some of our equipment was over 300lbs. The team came equipped & prepared. The rates were The Best I'd Found!! I highly recommend 5 Star & Move!!! Their customer service is seriously Top Notch!!
It was Great Perfect Customer Service
A very responsible company.
Nita, Jamaica, and 3rd mover from NY did an exceptional job moving me out of my apartment and into my new house. Professional, prompt, and careful. I would recommend them to anyone looking for competent, reliable super efficient folks to get the job done!
They did a wonderful job with my move! Very professional service with a timely move and communication!
We were beyond impressed with 5Star Pack and Move. We hired the company for two days, one day for packing boxes and the other for moving boxes into the truck. We called less than one week in advance, and they were able to accommodate our quick move. The company was excellent about maintaining contact. They showed up on time and worked nonstop until the job was done. They were very professional and as friendly as could be. I was most impressed with how they packed the truck. I didn't think everything was going to fit, but the team worked their magic and made it happen. Best of all, when we unloaded, not a single item was broke or damaged. I highly recommend 5Star Pack and Move.
I was extremely pleased with the professionalism and timely service I received. My items were handled with care and precision. The crew showed up on time and answered all of my questions. The price was very affordable. I strongly recommend this company to anyone looking for moving services.
5star Pack and move saved our butts! We were moving a lot of stuff from Ga to Tx so, we rented a 20' ft U-Haul for the move but we probably should have gotten a 26' ft truck. They made sure we got everything into that truck with a little room to spare! They are excellent loaders ; there was nothing broken after the long trip! They were also very friendly and courteous throughout the whole loading process! Thank you 5star!
Thank you for protecting my carpet. I found the missing bed board.
The guys were Amazing...the 2 guys I had were Shaza & Karel, they were both very professional, kind and were both very hard workers, they moved all of my items very careful, and asked for more moving blankets when needed..they made sure everything was properly stored ...they truly care about the moving service they provide...they loaded my 16 foot Pod, and as soon as we move, I will have them come an unload ..both are great hard workers... Thank you 5Star!
5star pack and move is great and efficient. Thank you Nita and your crew.
I moved from Miami to Georgia with my husband. He hired this company and they were absolutely amazing ! Unpacking everything from the uhaul carrying up to the third floor with ease. Even set up my bed. Most definitely a great moving company. Thanks again!
Such a good experience with these guys! They were fast and professional. I was moved and set up in my new place under two hours. I didn't have much to move, but they were so quick. And Nita made sure everything was in order and was so down to earth. I will refer and use them again.
Absolutely the best crew ever! Will definitely recommend them!!
This company is absolutely 5 Star. I had to move some things when I was recuperating from an illness. I was assured that they could and would handle everything. They are professional and provided amazing customer service. Excellent!
Having had 3 bad experiences in one week with 3 different moving companies, 5star pack and move were heaven sent , If i could give more than 5 stars i would. Nita was very professional and helpful, they came on time, they worked hard and they didn't break or scratch anything. THEY WERE ALSO VERY AFFORDABLE!!! I am very upset that I didn't find them before and am very glad that they were able to help us at the end because they gave us a great experience. No regrets !!
5 stars for 5star packing and moving. Showed up on time then apologized for taking so long. Lol. Fit every thing in the truck even though we should have rented a bigger one. Packing skills for sure. They took special care of everything, making sure not to damage any of our furniture or appliances. And other than that they're cool people, with good conversation. It was like having your friends help you move. Only I didn't have to do anything. Thank you 5star packing and moving. See ya soon when I stop by your Warehouse to check out your furniture.
I don't know where to start, however after being stood up by so many jinky promoters Nita and Altan gave me hope. I called them at the last minute and they were there within about 30mins not to mention they came through for me on their day off that's what I call loyal. They came prepared and ready to move everything in and out even their packing technique was the bomb. Everyone was so nice and friendly it felt so personable. They made sure my things were well protected and no damages. I can go on and on about this company. In conclusion if you're looking for fast, friendly, top notch customer service and most of all reliable THIS IS IT!!!! I will be a returning customer.😍😍😍🤗 I HIGHLY RECOMMEND 5STAR AND GIVE YOU 20 STARS
Very great company. I cannot say enough good things about them. From the time the appointment was made to the completion of the job I was kept up to date on everything. On the day of the move the workers were very respectful and efficient. They took care not to damage my property and were very helpful organizing the furniture in the new location. I would highly recommend the company to anyone that needs a moving company...👍👍👍.
Excellent excellent service. This was my second time using this company and once again I'm please with how quickly and timely they got every thing done. Great and pleasent workers. I will definitely be using their services again in the future!! 5 stars isn't enough !!
They were AMAZING! They were on time, fast, and very personable. Amazing customer service and they make sure your furniture doesn't get damaged. Please call them!
Definitely a great experience, the movers and nita were very professional and work at a fast pace, I definitely will be using 5 star pack and move again. Thank you.
From start to finish, this company showed true professionalism and excellent customer service! Nita took my call and gave accurate quotes about their service including how many movers who be helping. She provided a quick invoice that clearly gave the amount expected and allowed easy payment. On moving day, she called to confirm the location and the movers came timely. The gentlemen who moved me knew exactly what they were doing. They quickly but carefully moved my furniture from a storage unit. They worked well together as a team. They delivered the furniture and placed the items where I asked. I have a brand new home and there wasn't one scratch! I highly recommend this company. First class service!
The name speaks volume of their services rendered. They were very professional and timely! Nita and team exhibited cooperation and the most excellent teamwork. They packed and unloaded my items quickly. I would highly recommend their business for your small and/or large jobs.
Five stars is not enough to rate the excellent service provided by 5Star. Nita and everyone who helped us were fantastic!! The communication was wonderful, the guys arrived slightly ahead of schedule and, once they started moving, they did not stop until the job was done. They worked hard and fast and completed the move much sooner than I anticipated. (Plus, they worked with a smile.) They are the "MIRACLE MOVERS" and I recommend them without reservation. They are the very best!
5Star Pack and Move saved me!!! Not only did I get more than what I paid for, the professionalism is second to none!!! Thank you to Ms. Nita and her staff for everything!!!
These guys are beyond awesome. They did a fantastic job and finished their job in reasonable time. I will definitely work with them for all my future moves. I highly recommend them and you will not regret working with them. Thanks guys...
I am very impressed with their service and they live up to the expectation of their name 5 star move and pack. Alton, Tre, Quincy and Nita were friendly, professional and efficient and make a great team! They were on time and went straight to work. They made this the easiest move ever and I despise moving! It was my first time hiring professional movers and they have earned a customer for life. They saved me a lot of time and money and I am so appreciative of how serious they were about getting me moved the right way. All of my belongings were properly taken care of and they covered my furniture too. I am so happy with their service today and they definitely earned their 5 stars. God bless and may he continue to grow your business!
We shopped around a lot for movers, and I'm so glad we picked 5Star. They did a great job! We had a complicated move, with two stops, art work, big furniture, and a large, brand new, fragile TV. They were not only efficient and professional, but they practically felt like family by the time the job was done! I can't thank Nita and the crew enough for their consistent communication and professionalism. And the price was fantastic!
I would definitely recommend this service. They were dependable, professional, courteous, and provided great service within a timely manner.
The crew were great! Came on time, finished under time, and did it all with smiles to share. Packed up everything neatly and with care. This was our second time working with them and they were even better than we remembered. Highly recommended!
Great service. Handle furniture with care
Al and kenny are the best ive ever seen. They are fast and efficient and were able to get the job done in well under 2 hours. I recommend 5star to every who needs to move.
This is the BEST moving experience I've ever had. I've moved a lot both my home and offices. I was dreading the day all day and they swooped in and turned it around for me. They were fast, funny and made the experience entertaining. They were very quick with disassembling and reassembling my furniture. I would definitely use them again and recommend them to anyone who needs to move.
This is the second time I've had the opportunity to use their services and I couldn't have been more pleased. They are hard working, efficient and pleasant to deal with. Highly recommend.
These guys were professional, courteous, and hard working. They moved several pieces of very heavy furniture and they completed the job in under 2 hours! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
These gentlemen were very professional and friendly and they did an excellent job at a great price! I would recommend them to anyone!
It was a short notice move and they were able to accommodate me.They are very professional and on time, also gentle with your property. I would highly recommend them.
We've used 5 star with every move we made in our family in the last 4 years, as far as we see it we have no attention to use anyone else. They've been very dependable when needed, definitely the service is worth the price!!!!
We have used several different moving companies in our move out of our old house, into storage, and then out of storage. These guys are by far the best. TRUE PROFESSIONALS. I asked for some of their cards, so I can pass them out to friends and neighbors.
Neta is ver fast to react. Her crew was very active and delivered the result. We are happy with this co. Strongly recommended. Price is great. Thank you Neta and the team.
Thankful for the 5 star team
Using them for the second time after 3 years. And I literally went through my emails to find them as they were fantastic last time. This time in my absence too, they went the extra mile for me and got things done within time despite delays caused by other sources. And Nita has constantly informed me about the unloading and loading. Thank you Nita. You are fantastic. Thanks to the guys. They are outstanding. Great team and excellent job and exceptional service. God bless you all continuously and may you continue to branch out serve with such wonderful love and care always.
5STAR Pack and Moving company are by far the best I have used. They have great pricing compared to other moving companies. The day they moved me it was the hottest day this summer!!! They are very professional and the level of care they took with my belongings was above and beyond. They packed the truck in such a way, nothing was damaged. The team consisted of Al, Carlos and Jo Jo, they were fast and careful, personable and patient with all the stops they needed to make for my move. They have an awesome team! In addition I wanted them to take a break due to the heat, no they wanted to make sure I was taken care of. I highly recommend this company!!!
Great experience!
I appreciate the friendliness and professionalism of this company! Alton is an awesome leader with great integrity. I strongly recommend this company for your move. You won't be disappointed!
Top Notch Moving Company
We were beyond impressed with 5Star Pack and Move. We hired the company for two days, one day for packing boxes and the other for moving boxes into the truck. We called less than one week in advance, and they were able to accommodate our quick move. The company was excellent about maintaining contact. They showed up on time and worked nonstop until the job was done. They were very professional and as friendly as could be. I was most impressed with how they packed the truck. I didn't think everything was going to fit, but the team worked their magic and made it happen. Best of all, when we unloaded, not a single item was broke or damaged. I highly recommend 5Star Pack and Move.
I was extremely pleased with the professionalism and timely service I received. My items were handled with care and precision. The crew showed up on time and answered all of my questions. The price was very affordable. I strongly recommend this company to anyone looking for moving services.
Wonderful service from start to finish!
In late June 2019, I was faced with the dilemma of moving my elderly mom from an assisted living facility back to my home. I'm embarrassed to say that I had never had to coordinate a professional move before. Every moving company I called quoted me an exorbitant fee, especially for such a short distance (less than two miles) and minimal items to be moved. Since my mom and I are both on fixed incomes, I was almost at my wit's end about what to do. Then I found 5 Star Pack & Move. What a blessing! Right from the start, Nita and Al helped me get prepared, answered all my questions, and above all, were kind, patient, and understanding. The crew arrived on time, and were meticulous and thorough. Mom had an antique headboard that needed some extra TLC. The crew treated this special piece as gently as if it were their own. All of my mom's items arrived in excellent condition and were carefully placed exactly where she wanted them. This is a great company to work with and I would do it again in a heartbeat! Their fees are reasonable, their work ethic is superb, and their knowledge of the moving process is excellent. I appreciate them so much!
Fantastic service!
Everyone was very nice, professional and helpful! I definitely recommend them!
The company should be called 10 stars, Ms. Nita and her crew were on time and did an awesome job, not to mention they did not break anything. If you want quality, affordable service 5-Star is the way to go.
Very professional and nice, arrived on time and immediately started working! I would definitely recommend this company to whoever is looking to move, extremely affordable and hard working! Thank you guys!!!
I am very pleased with the service I received from 5Star Pack and Move. The entire team was friendly, helpful and professional. I would recommend them to my friends and family. AWESOME Job!!!
Highly recommend
They truly deserve 5 stars! Great communication before, during and after the move. They were careful with some very delicate items and super efficient. Their prices are reasonable - and best of all - by the end of the move they practically felt like family! Highly recommend.
Best 4 men crew
My experience with 5STAR MOVING COMPANY was the best day ever.Anyone willing to look forward to moving b sure to call 5star first.Last i want to say they r truly someone u can trust.
Great service
These guys showed up on time ready to work. Very hard workers and accomplished my move in under 3 hours. And priced very reasonably. Would recommend to all.
Excellent service. Very prompt and efficient. Friendly movers.
I was so impressed with the dedication and caring service. They took time and love with my belongings. I would recommend this service to anyone!
Fantastic experience - not a normal description for a move but they are a wonderful crew. Polite, on time, thorough, and hard working! I would recommend them to anyone!
The service was awesome! So glad we had their help.
Excellent service. Fair price. Friendly and professional. Will use them next time for sure!
We needed a team to move our household items from storage to our new apartment. They showed up early and moved us in record time! Friendly, professional, and efficient!
Super quick and very friendly. Would definitely use then again!
The best moving experience I've had! Nita and everyone else were so accommodating (even the night before!), right on time, professional, quick, and wonderful company. Five stars, and would recommend to all of my friends.
The customer service was grreat, five stars
Thanks for the great help today Arrived on time and very efficient and top quality definitely would recommend and use again
Excellent. The best ever. Friendly. Quick. Organized and very very kind.
They did a great job for me! On time and everything arrive safe and in one piece. Save me a ton of time and well worth the money! Definitely will be recommending to friends.
They did a great job, very pleased!
Great job! Fast service.
Great Movers! Moved a 300 lb hot tub in record time
Very professional!
Our movers were so professional and very efficient. Both men were very nice. I'm very satisfied with the move and will be booking with them again. Highly recommend!
Excellent service!
I cannot say enough about these guys! They were incredibly quick and efficient! I would use them again and again!
Great crew
Awesome movers. Did the job fast.
Nita and her staff were very friendly and pleasant. They are very hard workers; got the job done. Placed boxes, furniture and set up entertainment center exactly were we requested. We will definitely use five star again.
Efficient and friendly!
Al and his team were so very efficient! They were in and out in no time! Will absolutely recommend to all my friends and family!
Great moving crew
Did a great job! Provided a bonus Mover. Truck filled on time and looked packed well and safe. I would hire again and recommed them highly
Very professional and I would highly recommend them to my friends.
Excellent service!
One of the best! They were careful packers and paid attention to details, especially when moving large items out of the house. I would use them again and again.
Did an excellent job, Worked extremely fast and handled everything with care!
Great job; fast and professional
Awesome service! On time and worked quickly. Took good career of my items. Highly recommend.
OMG! AWESOME! JOHN, JEREMIAH, & NITA WORKED IT OUT! Hire them it's worth it!
Quality and fast movermovers
These guys were great. They came out last minute and we're fast and extremely efficient! I Definitely recommend them for your next move.
Quality and fast movermovers
Al and Jeff were quick courteous and careful movers. Even had to wait to put truck in dick and accommodated us. Would recommend
Great movers! Treated everything with care.
Great moving crew
Akron and crew moved our large apartment full of heavy stuff cheerfully and professionally
Kenney and Amir were professional and efficient. They were incredibly strong and safe with our furniture and valuables. Had great spacial awareness and organizational skills. To top it all off they were very kind and friendly. I'd highly recommend this company and these two great guys.
Excellent and outztanding. Everyone we talked way out of their way to make this quick move happen.
Guys did a fantastic job! Carefully and safe!
Very efficient.. Prompt...and courtesy.. I would definitely use them again! A+
This was truly the best group ever... Stayed in contact, absolutely on time, Worked hard and nice as can be. 5 stars! !
Movers was efficient and professional
Excellent service. You could never ask for a better move. These people were caring and they made sure everything came off the truck and fit into my house...
Good movers
Great company
Awesome family feel with honest hard working friendly people. They did everything and even more. On time professional with the care they would for their own family.
Their service was impeccable. On time and fast. Very courteous. Great job!
Hands down most professional, fast paced moving I have had to date. I highly recommend omens this moving team !
Great and Quick!
Unloaded a 16 foot pod and a 17 foot truck in u service in one hour and 45 mins. Great service!
Highly recommend
The crew was very professional and contentious with protecting our belongings and utilizing space in truck. I highly recommend this company.
Highly recommend
The crew was very professional and contentious with protecting our belongings and utilizing space in truck. I highly recommend this company.
Limited Time Offer!
no travel fee: 15 miles or less Residential Moves
5Star Pack And Move
Lithonia, GA 30038404-585-7957
Destinations must be within 15 miles of warehouse in Lithonia
Offer Ends August 9, 2020
Your offer has been sent to your email.
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12 News Investigates: Online job seekers being targeted
Looking for a job? Chances are you spend more time pounding the keyboard than the pavement.
But WISN 12 News investigative reporter Colleen Henry has a word of warning about the online search .
People hawk their resumes online, network on LinkedIn and share accomplishments with the virtual world, and nobody's happier about it than the con men who have also gone high tech.
Emma Murry loves the hunt. The Marquette University junior counsels classmates as an intern at the Career Development Center, but she knows the risks of the online interface.
"That happened to me the other day, and I ended up signing up for a recruitment agency," Murry said.
Murry answered an ad that didn't list the employer's name. Since then, an online hustler has hounded her with promises that carry a price tag.
"I can't believe I'm going to do this, but I'm going to give you $3,000 plus bonuses just for trying this website," Murry said someone promised her.
"He wants your money," Henry said.
"Exactly, he definitely wants my money," Murry said.
Marquette closely monitors posters to its career website and only recently found scammers targeting college kids. Some were bold enough to use the career center as cover.
But scammers also target more sophisticated job seekers by posing as major, reputable employers. WISN 12 news has uncovered one particularly bold scheme exploiting Milwaukee's billion-dollar capital investment company, Robert W. Baird.
Baird operates one of the Midwest's largest financial trading floors.
WISN 12 News has obtained court records that show hackers posing as Baird employees posted fake jobs on LinkedIn, National Job Bank and Craigslist and targeted job seekers who had posted resumes on sites such as Resume Rabbit and CareerBuilder.com.
The scammers even used names of real Baird employees, information available on their LinkedIn pages.
Since August, at least 65 job hunters have been swindled. They were convinced Baird hired them to work from home if they bought a $400 time-tracking device.
Wisconsin's Department of Justice is now investigating.
Baird told Henry, "We have been working closely with authorities. Anyone who receives an unsolicited inquiry regarding employment with Baird should contact us immediately."
"Reputable companies are having their names spoofed," said Ran Hoth of the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau.
The Better Business Bureau said Baird is not alone. Hoth said employers, like employment-seekers, need to proactively protect their brands.
"It's always a good practice from the business side to put an alert out there, to check on your name every day, see how your name, how your business name might be being exploited," Hoth said.
"They're taking advantage of people who are looking at any kind of nibble that they get," said Lauren Kestner-Rickettts of Marquette University.
The director of Marquette's Career Development Center said job seekers shouldn't avoid the Internet, but they should think before they give personal information to a source they don't know.
"It's not like people are getting general information and breaking into your bank account, they're engaging in a dialogue with you about a position," Kestner-Ricketts said.
"You're virtually blind," Murry said.
Murry said it can be tough to tell if a job listing is legitimate,but she knows what to do when she sees the warning signs.
"Normally, what I do is ask where the position is at if you can send me information before I send you my information. If you just send your resume with all your information on it, that's a little risky," Murr said.
Marquette's career expert said 85 percent of job seekers find jobs through networking, so while the Internet can help you get your resume out there, you're still best served by making human contact.
Robert W. Baird has joined the fight against employment scams. The brokerage house created a webpage on how to protect yourself during a job search.


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2013 - The Year In Musician Obituaries
Inevitably, every year we lose some of our most talented and/or famous
music people. Let us pay tribute to those who have left the building.
There are many more than those listed here. But this is a good start for
pausing and reflecting.


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While Microsoft's CES 2012 keynote may have had audiences fighting back the yawns, one piece of juicy Kinect news was revealed: the motion-sensor bar is finally coming to Windows in February.
From next month, PC owners will be able to control their computers with gestures and interact with their machines like never before. Kinect does appear rather convenient for the Metro tile-based platform and as Microsoft heads that way with Windows 8 and touchscreen laptops become more prevalent, the age of reliance on the standard computer mouse may finally be coming to an end.
Kinect for Windows launches on 1 February. An full-release, version 1.0 software development kit will be made available free of charge, and developers will not be required to pay any licence fees for software or updates, Microsoft said.
Enthusiasts who have already been using the beta SDK with the Xbox Kinect hardware will still be able to develop for a limited period using the version 1.0 SDK.
Non-commercial deployments that were previously permitted with the beta software will no longer be allowed. Instead, if you want to create Windows Kinect apps, even freeware ones, you'll need to develop them with Windows-specific Kinnect hardware, coming on 1 February soon.
Or they can carry on developing with the beta 2 SDK, which they'll be allowed to do until 16 June 2016.
While prices have yet to be officially revealed, eye-popping amounts of $250 (£162) have been suggested - rather more than the Xbox hardware, which retails for around £100. ®


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How to Save Money on Health Insurance When You're Young
Being young, healthy and broke does not mean you should skip paying for health insurance. Stay covered without spending a fortune.
I recently asked my twentysomething friends what they'd like to know about getting health insurance. The most common response? "Everything." Evidently, and understandably, those of us navigating the maze of health insurance for the first time are less than clear on the ins and outs. Plus, paying for health insurance coverage can be a drag when you don't have much cash to spare.
But skipping it could be even more costly. Although the number of uninsured young adults is falling, thanks to new federal rules requiring most insurers to allow children on parents' health plans up to age 26, more than one-fourth of young people remain without coverage. In 2010, about 27% of 18-to-24 year olds and 28% of 25-to-34 year olds had no health insurance, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. "I have seen so many stories about young people who ended up saddled with enormous medical bills," says Kathleen Stoll, deputy executive director of Families USA, a health-coverage advocacy organization. "It's not a risk you want to take if you can find an affordable source of coverage." Here's how to get good coverage without going broke:
Individual Coverage
Even if you have the option of employer or parental coverage, you may be able to find less-expensive coverage on your own. In most states, healthy, young people can find individual policies in the private market with premiums of about $150 to $200 a month, says Ankeny Minoux, president of the Foundation for Health Coverage Education. A high-deductible policy may run closer to $100 a month. On average, single coverage through an employer costs an employee $921 a year in premiums, or about $77 per month, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. But the cost varies widely by employer. You can shop for and compare policies at sites such as eHealthInsurance.com. Or find a broker who will help you get coverage through www.nahu.org.
Check your plan options carefully, says Aaron Smith, executive director of Young Invincibles, an organization that advocates for health care for young people. You may find that, say, certain prescriptions or doctors you visit regularly aren't covered. And keep in mind that premiums you pay through an employer will be deducted from your paycheck before taxes, a perk you won't have with individual coverage.
Also, if you have a health condition, you may have a hard time finding coverage in the individual market. (You will be able to get a policy if you live in one of the six states that guarantee coverage in the individual market regardless of your health -- Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Vermont and Washington. But note that premiums tend to be significantly higher than average for everyone in those states -- not just for those with health conditions.) An employer plan can't deny you health insurance or charge you more because of a preexisting condition, although it may be able to impose a waiting period on coverage related to your illness. (For more on preexisting conditions and health coverage, see Families USA's "Your Guide to HIPAA Protections.") Those with preexisting conditions who have been without insurance for at least the past six months can look into the U.S. government's Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan; premiums are about the same as the market rate for a healthy person. Many states also have high-risk pools for people with preexisting conditions, and they have different eligibility requirements than the PCIP. The rates are often considerably higher than standard market rates -- and if you're already in one of the state pools, you're not eligible for the PCIP. See www.coverageforall.org for state-by-state information.
Parental Coverage
Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurers now have to cover those who are younger than 26 on their parents' policy, as long as the policy has dependent coverage -- a great option for the many young people who are searching for a first job or working a part-time job with no benefits. (Good news for those of you whose parents use the military's insurance plan, Tricare: You're now covered, too, though the rules differ from those governing other policies. See ASK KIM: Military Health Plan Now Covers Adult Children for more information.)
Once you do get a full-time job that offers health-insurance benefits, your parents' policy is no longer required to insure you unless they purchased it in the individual market or if the plan was established after March 23, 2010. Check whether your new employer will impose a waiting period before you can sign up for health coverage; if it does, ask your parents' insurer whether its policy will cover you during the waiting period. If it won't, you may want to get a short-term policy until your employer coverage kicks in. (For more on the rules, see the government's page on coverage for young adults. And for state-by-state information on getting health coverage tailored to young adults, see www.gettingcovered.org/toolkit.)
Employer Coverage
Congratulations -- you have a job with benefits! Or maybe you've had your job for a while (still an accomplishment worthy of a congratulations!), and you're simply coming up on annual open-enrollment period (the time during which you can choose or change your employee benefits). Either way, now is a good time for you to review your employer's health benefit options. You may have a few plans to choose from -- say, three types with varying premiums, deductibles and coverage -- or you may have just one option.
Tempting as it may be, don't just gloss over the thick booklet outlining the plans, which should include a summary of benefits detailing coverage. "Reading it is not always fun," Smith says. "But it's important in making a smart financial decision." And it's crucial now, as employers pass on more of the rising costs of health insurance to workers.
Some key elements of your plan that you'll need to understand:
The premium. Most employers don't cover the full premium, so you'll likely have money automatically drawn from your paychecks, before taxes, to cover the rest. If you choose a plan with a high deductible (the amount you pay out of pocket for medical services before your insurance coverage kicks in), your premiums will likely be a bit lower than if you pick a low-deductible plan. Keep in mind that differences in premiums and deductibles may not be the only price variations among plans; the co-payments for certain kinds of services, for example, may change, too.
The deductible. Many young people working on entry-level salaries are short on savings. So if you're thinking about lowering your premium by choosing a high-deductible plan, make sure that you can afford it, Stoll says. Calculate your potential out-of-pocket maximum for the year -- the highest amount you'd have to pay in health care costs, including your deductible and co-payments or coinsurance (but not premiums), until the insurer assumes full costs.
Many health-insurance plans cover preventive care with no deductible or co-payment required, so you may not have to pay for such annual services as checkups and blood screenings. And if you have a health savings account or flexible spending account, you can use that tax-free money to pay for many out-of-pocket costs (see Take Advantage of Tax-Deferred Accounts for more on these types of accounts). Your employer may contribute money to your HSA if you pick a high-deductible plan.
The network. An insurance plan will often provide the highest amount of coverage if you go to a doctor within its network. If you have a preexisting condition or certain specialists that you see regularly, choosing a preferred provider organization (PPO) is likely your best bet. Typically, a PPO will provide coverage for doctors outside of its network, but you'll have to pay more out of pocket for the services. If you're in good health and have the option of using a health maintenance organization (HMO), you could save money because the fees tend to be lower. But you'll likely be more restricted on the doctors you can visit in order to get any amount of insurance coverage.
Future Coverage
As your life changes, your insurance needs will, too. Getting married? You may be able to get better coverage or lower premiums through your spouse's plan, or vice versa. And if you have children, you should evaluate your plans to see how kids might best fit. You may even find that a combination of individual and family policies is the least costly and most effective way to cover your new family (see How to Beat Rising Health Insurance Premiums).
Plus, many health care reform provisions have yet to take effect. As the law stands now, in 2014, you will have to get coverage or pay a fee if you don't -- unless you fall below very low income limits or meet other specific requirements. Also, no insurer will be permitted to reject you or charge more because of a preexisting condition or set caps on the amount of coverage you can receive.


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<!—->EEV: Reposted per request:
By ARAM ROSTON |
President Barack Obama has nominated John Brennan (above) as CIA director. Financial disclosures related to Brennan's years in the private sector have raised new questions. (Saul Loeb / AFP)
When John Brennan heads to Capitol Hill on Thursday, senators are expected to grill the prospective head of the CIA about his central role in the Obama administration's expansive "targeted killing" program. They might also want to ask him a few things about his finances.
Brennan has spent most of his working life in government intelligence jobs, but he spent three years in the private sector just before joining Obama's White House as counterterrorism adviser on Jan. 20, 2009. For that brief but profitable period, Brennan was the CEO of a little-known intelligence contractor called The Analysis Corporation, which does counterterrorism analysis for the U.S. government. (Since Brennan's departure, TAC has been absorbed, through a merger, into a new firm called Sotera.)
A review of Brennan's financial disclosure reports indicates that in 2009, TAC paid him a total of $169,923 in salary and bonus, which has not been previously reported. The financial disclosure reports, submitted as required of all White House employees, don't say why he'd receive a bonus if he was leaving the company to join the government, or why he'd received such a large salary if he worked for the company for only 20 days that year.
In November 2008, two months before Brennan joined the Obama administration, TAC announced that the CEO was taking a "leave of absence" from the firm. That is, it is not clear that he was actually on the clock for the transition period before he received that $169,000.
"The payout is troubling," said Scott Amey, general counsel of the Project on Government Oversight. "If Brennan's disclosures are accurate, in early 2009 he joined the Obama administration, but yet he was paid nearly $170,000 by his former firm for about three weeks of work or as part of a deferred compensation package. Conflict-of-interest rules might allow this, but it's another example of questionable dealings for someone passing through the revolving door."
"Who knows if this will come up during his confirmation hearing," Amey said, "but it should."
In 2008, according to a separate financial disclosure report, Brennan received $763,000 from TAC for the year.
A White House spokesman said that the $169,923 received in 2009 was primarily a bonus owed to Brennan for work during the first ten months of 2008. That was the period before his leave of absence from the company. The spokesman said that Brennan had a yearly salary at TAC of $257,000 plus bonus, and that once he went on a leave of absence his employment agreement was modified. The spokesman also said that Brennan forfeited part of a retention bonus at TAC by joining the federal government when he did.
TAC, from the beginning, was integral to the government's counterterrorism watchlist program. The company said it "designed and maintained" the State Department's TIPOFF list, an early version of the list.
Brennan left the federal government after 25 years on Nov. 2, 2005. The following day, TAC issued a press release announcing that Brennan would step in as the company's CEO that Nov. 7.
As Wired's Danger Room has reported, Brennan stayed close to the CIA after joining TAC and maintained ties to Director George Tenet and other agency officials.
"When Tenet released his memoir the following year," Wired reported, "former aide Brennan feted him for a book signing at The Analysis Corporation's McLean, Virginia campus."
Since Brennan joined the Obama administration, his former firm has flourished as well. While he was CEO, TAC was purchased by a large security contracting firm called Global Strategies Group, which had various major U.S. contracts. In 2011, most of the assets of Global Strategies Group were acquired by a hedge fund and the firm was renamed Sotera Defense.
Sotera declined to provide a statement in time for this report.
Although the White House did not comment prior to this story's publication, White House spokesman Tommy Vietor offered these comments after the story was published:
• "1) There is nothing inappropriate about John getting a payout in 2009 of amounts owed from his prior employment. Indeed, severing financial ties with prior employers is what the onboarding ethics process seeks to accomplish and indeed was approved by appropriate ethics officials. The 2009 report on which this payment appears was certified by ethics officials at the White House and at the OGE.
• 2) It is misleading to suggest that this is some secret payment that no one knew about before. Quite the contrary, the payment is on John's PUBLIC financial disclosure form for 2009, which was filed on May 10, 2010. The White House announces on its website when the reports are available and any member of the press or public is entitled to request a copy of the report. John's reports have been requested by various news outlets in the past nearly 3 years. Our records indicate that this particular report has been requested at least 7 times."
This story was update to reflect comments received by C4ISR Journal from the White House after publication.
Categories: Asset and Resource Hoarding, Security


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Mr. Usb Data Stick
Gadgets Design Focus: Mr. Usb Data Stick
A Good Gadgets design example, the Mr. USB is a creative Data Stick design. Mr. USB was designed in 2010, and here is a how it is described by its designer: You know it, when you place a flash disk drive, the red leds start blinking, sometimes fast, sometimes slowly, according to data transfered, this is very similar to the heart beat, which itself is the signal of life, emotions and aliveness, beating differently at our different emotional moments. This was the main inspiration, furthermore when I was a kid, I used to play with lego bricks and there was always these little action figures, It was a moment of creation when these two ideas fused in my mind and a design was born. This is a little and cute USB Key, actually a part of the product family - literally product family * with Ms. USB, Jr. USB, Grandpa USB etc. Comes with several cap and heads that make the object collectible.
Mr. Usb Data Stick Images:
End of the article, click here to go back to previous page, or alternatively go back to New Designs Magazine homepage.
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"Humour Is Impossible"
Humour is impossible in the throes
of serious contemplation of the most potent question
ever asked on any secular page of literature:
"To be or not to be, that is the question,…"
When faced with such a query,
who will denigrate his own
imagined station and position within what is,
after all, a lethal situation for all of us?
The bourgeoisie cannot afford to ask the question;
the rich above the need of contemplation;
the poor too oppressed by the instincts,
the daily needs of hunting and gathering
simply to ensure a continued existence
in this world share a modicum of
some comfort on the odd occasion.
The rich experience nothing because
every effort costs them nothing;
their pride, therefore, is rendered moot.
The bourgeois may well seek to own his world
in terms of expressions of what he imagines
the bailiwick of their betters,
and indeed, but fails to recognise
that ownership without purpose
sustained over a generation or two
is inevitably the prescription
for yet another application
of the Peter Principle
or the Dunning-Kruger Effect
and, as with poisons can provide
as great a lethal punch to the soul
as it can be in beneficial form to the body.
The poor experience the wonders
of life, struggle, and death but have no voice,
no language that does not promote
anything short of need at best, sedition
at worst when given half a chance,
and in the odd instance passing freedom from sheer want.
Witness: from a tax revolt in 1776, America did without its king;
1789, the French its monarchy and aristocracy;
1917, the Russians their czar, their aristocracy,
Their bourgeoisie yet all revolutions failed.
…But, Nymph in thine orisons be all my sins remembered,
strip away convention, then, and turn to prose….
Given all of the above and the advent of the credit card on the one hand, and ubiquitous Federal Reserve Bank Notes, the logical use and result of the invention of the printing press, what might have been humorous in the past has lost its flavour much like one's wad of "chewing gum on the bedpost overnight," simply because whether one addresses true tragedy or its counterpart in comedy, both rely on some helpful word as to what constitutes the intrinsic good or, in short, the presence of virtue and its ultimate outcome, nobility, vraiment…. Without such a word, we have no choice but to think nothing is too sacred to denigrate, belittle, or even to crucify, as the history of all of the many Prophets and Messengers of God, not to mention spiritual philosophers have experienced and met Their ends; what, then can be said of the qualities of the arts and sciences, and the "pith and marrow" of any given society on this planet?
In the end, what constitutes a poet if in fact the characteristics of the artists and sciences have been laughed to scorn just as those of the basic institutions from the kings, popes, religious leaders of all kinds, lawyers, doctors, teachers, nurses, librarians, professions of all sorts. Once one has laughed at God, Himself, it is difficult or even impossible to maintain any semblance of nobility; what should the present two or three generations expect but that after what amounts to almost continual world wars from the 1840's and straight into the present hour? So much for religion, government, and so much for the arts and sciences, and ultimately so much for the sanctity of life, itself; if Hamlet had some difficulty in maintaining his sense of humour in a Denmark rotten to the core in its banquet days, what, then, can be said of the "remains of the day," as it were, by the by, so to speak, as the crow flies, in our sweet time, …que çela reste entre nous deux?….


text:
WebMatrix3 preview is available for download.
In addition to everything which WebMatrix 2 offers, WebMatrix 3 brings you easy access to your Windows Azure websites. Icon-sized previews of your sites make them easy to find and open. Access your remote sites as seamlessly as local sites. When you need to protect your work or collaborate on team projects, you'll love our integration of Git and TFS source control systems. These are just a few of the highly requested features we've added in WebMatrix 3!
Try it out today on http://www.microsoft.com/web/webmatrix/next/


text:
GZA Speaks On 50 Cent & Soulja Boy "What's The Big Deal"!
Interview with GZA from Wu-Tang Clan about rumors of 50 cent and Soulja Boy&IP=184.108.40.206
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text:
Kids' Books
September 2018
Recent Releases
Finding Langston
Lesa Cline-Ransome
What it's about:
After his mother's death in 1946, 11-year-old Langston and his dad move from rural Alabama to Chicago, Illinois, where the heartbroken boy finds refuge in the local library and the poetry of his namesake, Langston Hughes.
You might also like:
Janice N. Harrington's
Catching a Storyfish
, another sincere, powerful book about a homesick kid finding comfort in words.
The Girl in the Locked Room
Mary Downing Hahn
What it's about:
Jules has lived in lots of old mansions (her dad restores them), but Oak Hill gives her an uneasy feeling -- and that's
she sees an eerie shadow through the window of a locked upstairs room.
Read it for:
a nameless ghost, a centuries-old murder, and a page-turning mystery.
For fans of:
paranormal stories that are creepy but not leave-the-lights-on scary.
The Third Mushroom
Jennifer L. Holm
Ellie, who's learning that middle school friendships, first dates, sick pets, and science fair experiments can all be equally complicated; and
Ellie's scientist grandfather who's trapped in the body of a 14-year-old boy.
Series alert:
Fans of
The Fourteenth Goldfish
will get the most out of this smart, amusing sequel that offers touches of science fiction while staying grounded in reality.
Anna Humphrey; illustrated by Kass Reich
What it's about:
After moving into his new attic bedroom, Daniel Misumi discovers an unexpected roommate: Megabat, a talking fruit bat who just wants to go home to Borneo.
Why you might like it:
It's hard not to smile at Megabat's unusual way of speaking (
, anyone?) and love of
Star Wars
(he's even got a bendy-straw lightsaber).
Series alert:
This illustrated story of cross-species friendship is the 1st in a new series.
The Treasure of Mad Doc Magee
Elinor Teele
What it's about:
Everyone in Eden knows about the legendary gold nugget that Doc Magee hid in the hills surrounding their ramshackle town. When 12-year-old Jenny and her dad face losing their home, Jenny decides to search for the nugget -- and she's not the only one.
Who it's for:
Set in post-gold rush New Zealand, this thrilling tale of courage, code-breaking, and treasure-hunting is sure to grab readers with a thirst for adventure.
Sleuths in Schools
Pennybaker School is Headed for Disaster
Jennifer Brown
Welcome to:
the Pennybaker Hill Academy for the Uniquely Gifted, where new kid Thomas' magic tricks aren't very impressive compared to classmates who juggle chainsaws, talk to hedgehogs, or play the didgeridoo.
What happens:
Thomas is accused of stealing from the school, and nobody except his weird neighbor Chip will help him find the real thief.
Series alert:
This 1st book in the Pennybaker School series combines mystery and off-the-wall humor to create an uproarious read.
The Girl with the Glass Bird
Esme Kerr
What it's about:
At the request of a secretive Russian prince, orphan Edie Wilson is sent to an elite all-girls boarding school to discover why the prince's daughter, Anastasia, is so unhappy.
Why you might like it:
it's a modern mystery with an old-fashioned feel.
Try this next:
If you enjoy this clever, twisty 1st entry in the Knight's Haddon series, be sure to pick up the sequel,
Mischief at Midnight
, as well as Robin Stevens' Wells & Wong mysteries.
Friday Barnes: Girl Detective
R.A. Spratt; illustrated by Phil Gosier
What it's about:
Although she's a genius detective, 11-year-old Friday Barnes can't seem to fit in at Highcrest Academy -- but she won't let that stop her from investigating everything from missing homework to the yeti that lurks in the school swamp.
Who it's for:
Kicking off the eight-book Friday Barnes series,
Girl Detective
is a good bet for older readers who like mysteries with lots of eccentric humor and just a hint of romance.
The Real McCoys
Matthew Swanson; illustrated by Robbi Behr
fourth-grade detective Moxie McCoy, who makes it her business to live up to her name, whether she's searching for a new best friend or for Tiddlywhump Elementary's missing mascot. Her enthusiasm, however, outweighs her sleuthing skills, leading Moxie to some offbeat conclusions and plenty of trouble.
Series alert:
This zany, cartoon-illustrated mystery is the 1st in a series.
The Mystery of the Missing Everything
Ben H. Winters
What it's about:
After Mary Todd Lincoln Middle School's only trophy is stolen and the principal threatens to cancel the eighth grade class trip unless it's returned, semi-experienced sleuth Bethesda Fielding races to crack the case.
Why you might like it:
With a huge cast of quirky characters -- some of them familiar to readers of Bethesda's first case,
The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman --
this fast and funny mystery will keep you guessing.
Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 8-11!
303 Laura St. N.
Jacksonville, Florida 32202


text:
Robert Burns called one day at his printers in Kilmarnock. He had his poem 'the Holy Friar'. Asked if he was not afraid to attack on the clergy, he replied, "As to my purse, you know they can make nothing of it. As for my person (brandishing his oak stick), I carry an excellent cudgel!"
While dining at the Brownhill Inn where the landlord was, oddly enough, named Bacon and the principal dish served that day was bacon, he was interrupted by a visiting Englishman. He asked the poet to prove he really was Burns, the poet.
Instantly the poet came up with,
"At Brownhill we always get dainty cheer;
And plenty of bacon each day in the year;
We've all thing that 's nice and mostly in season;
But why always Bacon- come give the reason?"
In his poorer days Burns was so hard up, he went out in the streets of Dumfries, shabby and disorderly. Meeting some of his close friends he told them sadly," I am going to ruin as fast as I can; the best I can do, however is to go consistently."
Burns, though lowly in circumstances, disliked to be tutored in matters of taste. Once visiting a fine house with many beautiful objects on display, where a party of visitors expressed their admiration over items, a lady asked him, "But Burns, have you nothing to say of this?"
To which glancing at the one who was holding attention of the crowd he replied, "Nothing, madam, nothing, for an ass is already braying over it."
While visiting a popular beauty spot, Creehope-Linn in Dumfriesshire, he was called upon at every turn, admire the scene.
Finally tiring of the criticism he didn't show enthusiasm adequately enough he stopped and said, "But I couldn't admire it more, gentlemen, if He who made it were to ask me to do it."
While attending a church service in Dumfries, the poet found a girl in front of him furiously searching the Bible for the text. The sermon for the day was 'a fierce denunciation of obstinate sinners.' She thumbed through the pages in vain. Hurriedly the poet penned some lines and handed it to her.
"Fair maid, you need not take the hint,
Nor idle texts pursue;
'Twas guilty sinners that he meant,
Not angels- such as you".
Once two farmers passing Burns thought to have some fun at his expense. One said, "Boo" at which the poet penned this quatrain:
"There's Mr. Scott and Mr. Boyd
Of grace and manners they are void;
Just like the bull among the kye (=cows)
They say 'Boo' at folk when they gae by."
A doctor attending Burns in his last illness tried to give up the bottle and he said that the coat of his stomach was entirely gone.
The poet retorted, "Ah well, if that is the case, then I'll just go on drinking. If the coat is gone, it's no worth the while to keep carrying about the waistcoat."
Burns, the ploughman poet of Scotland was taking a walk in the town of Leith and on meeting an old friend he stopped to talk to him.
A snobbish lady asked why he had thought fit to talk one so shabbily dressed, Burns had this reply: "Madam it was the man I was talking to. Do you suppose it was the man's clothes I was addressing,-his hat, his clothes, his boots?"


text:
Optical profusion: Convex mirrors play a trick
DRAWING BY DEBORAH DERR McCLINTOCK
Q. You own a dress shop in Beverly Hills catering to wealthy customers, many of them overweight. What subtle optical flattery might you employ to thin down their wallets? –D. VonFurstenberg
A. Bring in cylindrical convex mirrors (shaped like a Roman soldier's shield) with a long focal length so as not to be obvious, says Keith Lockett in Physics in the Real World. The ladies will think they've lost 10 pounds– and oh, does your dress show this off splendidly!
Too bad you can't sell them a slimming mirror too, so they'll look just as stunning when they get their purchase home. (Would any shopkeeper really do this? Rumor says yes.)
Q. Hey, chatroom sweeties and e-males and females, are computer-based relationships apt to lead to love/marriage? –A. Alkon
A. You can hit the delete button on this one. Building a romance is tough under any circumstances. Obviously, people first have to meet and see each other again and again for best results.
This is called propinquity, or "mere exposure" effect. There's no problem here online– people can meet in cyberspace and communicate often, even if thousands of miles apart. But then there's the stumbling block of "homogamy": A hundred studies have confirmed that relationships flourish best between similars, not opposites: Homogamy is so powerful that successful couples tend to match up in age (within 3-4 years), religion, race, attractiveness (10s marry 10s etc), outgoingness, argumentativeness, smoking habits, health, even height and political views.
The problem with online, says Elliot Aronson in Social Psychology, is that people can easily exaggerate or lie, and a flurry of e-mails can create high emotional intimacy– often too fast. Without real feedback, idealization can set in. Moreover, words alone do not predict attraction. Lacking nonverbal cues, it's hard to know if we're compatible with another person.
Little wonder then that in a Match.com report covering a six-year period that saw 5 million hopefuls reach out to find cybermates, there were only 1,100 confirmed marriages, or about 1 in 5,000, or 0.02%! S(he) e-loves you, she loves you not, not, not...
Q. You're 640 feet up atop a concrete dam in Siberia, readying to jump... Okay, now, airborne you go, accelerating to about 100 mph– when a sudden upward tug on your leg starts to slow you– slower, slower until no more downward motion, you've bottomed out. But just as the big elastic band around your leg prepares to sling you skyward for another cycle, you fire a piton gun into the concrete near the dam's bottom, holding you steady until you triumphantly release yourself. Who and where are you? –S. Connery
A. You're Pierce Brosnan, aka James Bond, in the classic movie GoldenEye, bungee jumping off the dam's top– or rather, your stand-in, stuntman Wayne Michael, is doing so, says physicist Barry Parker in Death Rays, Jet Packs, Stunts & Supercars: The Fantastic Physics of Film's Most Celebrated Secret Agent.
Bungee jumping had its origins in the island of Vanuatu in the South Pacific, where young men demonstrated their courage by leaping off a high platform with a vine attached to their leg, aiming to come as close to the ground as possible without actually hitting. The sport was taken up by the Oxford University Dangerous Sports Club in the early 1980s, and in the U.S. in the early '90s, with people diving off cranes, towers and hot air balloons.
Q. Wealthy eccentric scientist shows up at one of your parties and offers you $1000 for every magnet you can locate in the house. You know there's an old horseshoe magnet in the basement, plus the refrigerator door fastener. But can you get rich? –S. Hahnemann
A. Got a hack saw on hand? Then saw your basement magnet in half to have two full-fledged north-and-south poled magnets, says Paul Hewitt in Conceptual Physics. Then saw these halves in half to have four magnets, then eight magnets, 16, 32, 64... how long can you keep going? (In theory, you could continue down to single atoms, which are themselves magnets.)
Next, go to work on the fastener and– oh yeah– don't forget the magnets in your phone, TV, microwave... $$$! Send Strange questions to brothers Bill and Rich at email@example.com.


text:
Subcontracting: More service can mean more sales
Branching out your services is a growing idea, but is it right for you? It's becoming a common situation: your client is happy with all the services you've been providing, but is growing tired of dealing with the variety of contractors that are needed for the numerous jobs. They want you to do it all.
What's that you say? Put in goal posts, spray chemicals, install fountains? There are no specialists who can do that at your company. You don't have time or money to buy equipment and learn the various trades. And you want to keep the client happy.
Hiring subcontractors to satisfy customers and maximize revenues is becoming more common, and can be the key to expand marketability for companies that are able to meet their clients' needs. Subs may also be your key to finishing a job on time and providing a special niche to your clients.
Chances are, if you don't take on these subs, one of your competitors will. And with many more companies being able to maximize the number of services they offer in order to keep up with competitive pressures of business, can you afford not to? Find out if subbing is right for you and, if it is, how to do it right.
Quality subs When a subcontractor is sent out to do a job for your client, your company's name is on the line. If you're going to hire a sub, professionals say that you should ensure he or she is qualified and able to reflect well on your company.
Dennis' Seven Dees Landscaping keeps a record of qualified contractors they have worked with and interviewed over the years. Account Manager Dan Nord finds that this reputable list of subcontractors he can count on ultimately gives the business more credibility and commitment for future contracts.
Contractors looking for good candidates usually evaluate them through a detailed interviewing process before they are considered. Safety ratings, insurance and references are commonly looked at by Dennis' Seven Dees Landscaping when checking out potential subs. Their subs also are given an advance sample of the legal contract they would sign if hired.
Some larger companies, such as OneSource Landscape and Golf Services in Tampa, Fla., utilize a computer program to ensure applicants are qualified. A candidate is interviewed by a member of human resources, then asked to complete a survey that is entered into a computer program. This program generates a 50-page report on what the potential employee is good at, how to manage that person and what their likes and dislikes include.
Safety and liability The landscape industry is under a great deal of scrutiny concerning safety standards. Before jumping into any subcontractor relationship there are many considerations to keep in mind. If your company doesn't emphasize the importance of safety, your workers compensation rates can go sky high, your contract could be cancelled and you may even lose your business. And no company wants to receive the dreaded call from the client (or even worse an OSHA official) reporting that their subcontractors weren't wearing the required personal protective apparel or using equipment properly on a job.
Hiring subs requires taking the risk of upsetting a client because of someone else's mistake. Insufficient training or poor communication can lead to mistakes. This is why OneSource invests time and money to train their employees. All employees who pass an industry-related class are reimbursed. In-house training and seminars are offered periodically, and many of the company's managerial staff members use help books and software designed specifically to improve their time-management skills. Ron Schmoyer, president of OneSource emphasizes the importance of participating in professional industry organizations that offer information, news and education about industry issues. "We're involved with many industry organizations," he says. "And for many of them, we serve on a committee or boards. It's important to stay involved."
To sub or not to sub? A company can increase its capability through the use of subs. Increased sales without the increase in payroll, equipment or other overhead is one reason why this service can work to increase profits. These services can include jobs involving swimming pools, fences, electrical work, concrete, excavation, carpentry, painting, paving, plumbing, irrigation and whatever else a clients needs. Subs fill in to help meet deadlines and workloads, which can allow a company to stay on schedule. Flexibility is another advantage of hiring subs, which is often cited by companies that are not always involved in year-round work. When work slows down, so can the use of subs.
Kurt Kluznik, CCLP and president of Yardmaster, Inc., finds it beneficial to utilize subs when handling projects that are a greater distance from home base. Considering the costs of travel time - and even overnight and food allowance expenses - the use of subs can be more effective than doing work in-house. The company commonly hires subs for such services as field mowing, lawn-care applications, irrigation, tree work and pond maintenance. Even though many of these services can be done in-house, Kluznik finds it more convenient and profitable to sub out. This allows the company to concentrate on its core competencies, especially during the peak seasons.
"The caliber of person it takes to operate a spray route can produce triple the volume of supervising a crew of operators," says Kluznik. "We can replace the lost margin on the lawn care easily - and then some, which makes good business sense in my book. When one of our sites has weeds in the turf, we get to make a phone call to correct it instead of dispatching our own crew."
Although there are many advantages to working with subcontractors, sometimes it is more beneficial to offer services in-house. Dean Snodgrass, vice president for Dennis' Seven Dees Landscaping, says that the decision should be a matter of frequency. How often are you asked to provide a particular service?
"If you're doing something often enough, it's worth looking into bringing it inside the company," he offers. "Sometimes, companies are even able to hook up with past employees who want more flexibility and have established a good working relationship at the business. You already know that person is reliable. In this scenario, both parties can win."
But Snodgrass notes that you may be compromising if you bring a service into the company that you only perform occasionally, because you're not able to invest in the latest and greatest equipment like the specialist can. "Subcontractors who practice their specialty all year long are better and more efficient then you can be," he says.
Staying in check One of the reasons to hire a sub is also one of the difficulties: You don't have the experience or qualifications to predict or evaluate the expected outcome. You're relying on them to finish a job with your company's name on the line. And just because you're hiring out another company to do a job, it doesn't mean you don't have to worry about them or supervise their work. As a general contractor, you're still responsible for the work they perform.
Some guidelines to follow to ensure their productivity include visiting the job site at least every other week and maintain frequent communication. This is a great way to see what is going on. Are the plants thriving? Are any trees dead? Coming in to monitor the job every other week to make sure these problems aren't going on will keep your company in check.
Kluznik maintains that supervision and frequent, timely communication with your subs goes a long way to create a productive environment for your company. And, when dealing with a fledgling company, it's only ethical to make sure they don't short themselves when it comes to pricing the work. For example, if the sub doesn't have a chance to make a reasonable profit, they're unlikely to be around for long - maybe not even long enough to finish the project, Kluznik says. "Since many smaller subs depend on quick payment to survive, chances are your work will take precedence if you pay well, meaning priority scheduling and less hassles," he says.
Marketing tools Providing clients with everything they need under one roof can make your company valuable and convenient. Kluznik says not only does contracting allow his company to keep control of a project, but it increases his profit through the mark-ups. "It's a marketing tool to be able to offer a wider range of services to our clients without incurring all of the costs of maintaining the same expertise under our roof," Kluznik notes. "By doing this, we build relationships with subs who frequently refer us to work or invite us to work with them on projects as well," says Kluznik. "It has become a nice little network where everyone wins and the roles may change from job to job."
The bottom line Subcontracting may be a profitable way for a business to expand its capabilities and keep clients happy, but some companies can get into trouble by taking on too much. Success depends on circumstances such as mark-up, quality of the sub, clarity of the contract and scope of work.
Snodgrass says that the subcontracting margin is typically small, but it's extremely important to service all of your customers' needs as much as possible. "Every time you turn a customer away, you could be turning them toward a competitor who is willing to provide these services," he notes.
Kluznik finds that profits are usually influenced by the way a sub handles the job. "If you end up cleaning up after the carpenters, disposing of their debris, repairing the damage to the landscape and cleaning the oil stains on the driveway due to their leaking truck, you might wish you had been more specific in your agreement or had a larger margin," he says. "If the irrigation sub possesses good customer service skills and walks your client through their new irrigation system, and is so neat that you have to look twice to make sure his crew was there, then the chances of making a profit are good."
A happy client Some contractors compare the relationships formed with subcontractors to that of the company's relationship with its clients. Both are important for success.
Getting to know your clients and learning their true goals as well as how to achieve those goals is what most contractors strive for. Clients want to feel important. They want to feel like they're your only customer, even though they know they're not.
Schmoyer believes the most significant aspects in any service industry that contribute to developing good customer relationships include responsiveness and proactivity. This is because subcontractors who are responsive and proactive will not wait for the customer to tell them what to do. Rather, these subcontractors go to the client or contractor immediately to communicate their suggestions when they see a potential problem
"Clients will appreciate your honesty and integrity," notes Schmoyer. "Your clients won't mind if you're making a profit as long as they're getting a fair price."
Sometimes, you may be asked to do something more than what was anticipated - tasks that are totally out of your world - but from the client's perspective, it's a task you should provide.
"If a client has a need and asks us if we can handle it, 90 percent of the time we'll figure out a way to get it done for them," says Nord. "We have a comprehensive list of qualified subcontractors, three to four for each specialized task."
Once clients feel confident in your ability to provide them with quality services, they will be more likely to continue the relationship. If their company grows, they may be more likely to come to you to negotiate a new contract, increase it or provide additional services at additional locations.
Snodgrass believes that the term "partnering" is a better explanation of what a company should aim to achieve when working with a subcontractor. Subs should be looked at as employees and treated with fairness and respect. He advises not looking at the project as if you're pushing off a portion of the job on someone else's lap, but rather as bringing a service and individual into the whole process with you.
Developing a good relationship with your subcontractor is vital to your business. Kurt Kluznik offers these tips for establishing and maintaining relationships with your subs:
- Treat them fairly and professionally.
- Don't take advantage of them.
- Pay them quickly and according to your agreement with them.
- Help them be successful.
- Always do business in writing.
- Maintain good communication with them.
- Compromise.
- Be loyal, but smart.
- Don't get sloppy and be taken advantage of.
- Keep more than one sub working so none of them take you for granted.
- Maintain a rapid response to their calls or requests.
- Exceed their expectations when it comes to schedules, quality, warrant, response times and resourcefulness.
- Under-promise and over-deliver.
- Have a niche. Don't try to be everything to everyone. Become famous in one area.
- Stay responsive and proactive.
- Develop a pricing strategy that recovers your overhead.
- Provide a clear, concise contract that includes payment structure and scope of work.
- Measure and monitor your key indicators. These could include sales, gross profit, average age of receivable, actual vs. estimated job hours, unapplied vs. applied time, etc. Share these measures with all of your employees.
- Set goals and measure progress against them. Make goal-setting part of the company culture.
- Treat a subcontractor with respect and fairness.
- Ensure that the subcontractor is in alignment with your safety standards.
- Use the help of outside experts such as members of professional organizations like the Associated Landscape Contractors of America, consultants, accountants and advisors. Shorten the learning curve. Attend industry conferences to earn certification.
The above tips are shared by the following professionals: Kurt Kluznik, Dan Nord, Dean Snodgrass and Ron Schmoyer.
Currently, most grounds maintenance supervisors are finding that labor consumes more than 50 percent of their operating budgets, says Bruce Jasurda, chief operating officer for Tyler Enterprises, Inc.
"Getting good people is getting tougher all the time, which has created a whole separate market for outsourcing," says Jasurda, whose company specializes in providing high-quality landscaping services to professionals who don't have the time, people or equipment resources to carry out a project. He cites the high costs of owning and maintaining equipment as a major reason for the market's outsourcing growth.
"Because of our state-of-the-art system that's run off the Falcon Computer System, we can measure all that we put down. Through soil testing and custom application, we can measure precisely the right mixture for the precise location. You want certainty that you're putting the right things down," Jasurda says. "The wrong fertilizer applied to grass could burn that grass or destroy it. That's a pretty visible high-risk scenario for someone who's got the whole community driving by his mistakes."
He says that in the new economy - with quality manpower being at a premium, resulting in employers fighting to get qualified people - it should be assuring for grounds maintenance professionals to know that outsourcing can provide precisely what they need, and precisely what they order.
Frank Stec, superintendent of parks and building maintenance for the village of Orland Park, agrees that the availability of finding and keeping a good staff is a strong reason to turn to outsourcing. The district controls roughly 500 acres of public grounds including parks, ball fields, soccer fields, picnic areas and a nature area.
"With the good economy, it's hard to get good people to come in and work," says Stec. "People come in and work for a month or two then leave for a full-time job. And with seasonal help, most kids have to leave in early August. Our season doesn't end until around October."
Outsourcing for mowing has proven to be a positive experience for Stec. The only challenge lies in keeping a good contractor. The grass cutting company Stec uses has been contracting with him for two years. If he has to switch to a new company now, he will be forced to spend time training and working to show them all the little areas they might have missed or the exact lines. Next time, a three- to four-year contract would be better, Stec says. "It is so much nicer to have someone who knows your area," he says.
Because Stec's mowing contract runs about $220,000 for more than 380 acres, he can't afford to have a small, average company come in and do the job. His organization needs to keep someone who the proper equipment and the budget to maintain that equipment. "At first I never believed in it [outsourcing]," says Stec. "But, depending what's going on, you can find good people through outsourcing who care just as much as you do. That's what's nice."
In addition to regular duties, most ground maintenance supervisors have other responsibilities that include mowing, fertilizing, pest control and irrigation. Not being able to get things like these done - things that are essential to the primary job - may prevent your crew from completing a job on time. Jasurda cites this opportunity cost as another factor that has been contributing to the growth of outsourcing.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations are another reason you should consider hiring subcontractors. Since the EPA made it mandatory for groundskeepers to be licensed to apply chemicals, Vincent Tuzar Jr., building and grounds coordinator for School District #205 in South Holland, Ill., finds that outsourcing has become very appealing. "It's much cheaper to contract services to someone who already has the available license than to purchase material, get licensed and do it ourselves," says Tuzar. "It saves us a lot of time and frees up our staff."
For example, Tuzar sometimes had to put off aerating or seeding until the following season because of limited staff and time. Now his staff is free to do more detailed work such as spin trimming, tree pruning, shrub trimming, mulching and renovating baseball fields. The limited grounds staff at Tuzar's district is responsible for three high schools that encompass about 160 acres. During baseball, soccer and football seasons, fields must be marked and maintained. By outsourcing jobs, Tuzar has seen dividends in the improved look of the grounds. In fact, his district has been the recipient of a Fields of Excellence award presented by Pioneer Randustrial for the past two years. "As an old groundskeeper myself, I appreciate the value of time that's been created by outsourcing," he adds.
For more information on outsourcing, you may contact Tyler Enterprises at (800) 784-0240.
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The life of a restaurateur might appear fun and easy when sitting in a booth. In reality, there might be fun to be had, but there is nothing easy about it.
Making a living running a restaurant is challenging. The hours are long, the margins are slim, staffing is difficult, and the customer, regardless of how seldom they frequent your business, is always right.
It takes a special calling, and even with the correct work ethic, ambience and menu, it doesn't always work out. Diners remain a fickle lot.
This past week, no less than three restaurants in Hays closed their doors. Montana Mike's, Napoli's and the Pita Shack are no longer. One need not go back very far in time to expand that list with Al's Chickenette, Cafe Semolino, Rooftops, Professors, Smoothie King and Coffee Rules. Each eatery was unique while open, and all had their own reasons for closing. We would offer none had problems so insurmountable that a regular crowd wouldn't have fixed, but that's the nature of the industry.
On the other hand, there have been a number of restaurants opened in the same timeframe, with more on the way.
K's Homestyle Diner is reopened after its setback with a fire. Al's Chickenette has reopened with new owners. Cancun Mexican Grill is serving customers, as is the Smoking Barrel, Paisley Pear Cafe, Rose Garden Banquet Hall, Fiesta Mexican Food, Rick's Rollin' Roadhouse and a second Wendy's. The Trio Tap Haus is extremely close to opening. Following that venture will be TK's Smokehaus in the Semolino location and a Qdoba Mexican Grill on Vine.
Aaron White, executive director of the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development, recently said there are even more to come. Just nothing official yet.
"We've actually got a number of retailers that are looking at Hays again," White said. "I guess it's partly a sign the economy (is better), partly a change in comfort in the Hays market, confidence in the Hays market, the ability to draw clients."
A retail survey the Coalition conducted earlier this year had Italian, seafood and steakhouse restaurants on the list of missing businesses. Barbecue was mentioned the most, but it appears that want might be satisfied with the addition of two such restaurants since that time.
And we haven't even mentioned the vast number of restaurants that have been operating for years, with steady clientele and presumably good profits.
Restaurants might be hard work, but there are enough success stories to be found even in this active sector of the local economy. Is there room for more? Absolutely.
We would recommend, however, that one needs to complement their culinary capabilities with a strong business plan. Not the kind that looks good on paper, but that will withstand the scrutiny of a lending institution. Even the most talented chef will need enough capital to purchase or lease a building, equip it, and survive the initial growing pains.
If you think you've got the talent but lack the financial acumen, we would recommend contacting White at the Economic Development Coalition. He likely has the advice you need; he certainly has the contacts you require. Have an idea for the next big dining experience? Give White a call at (785) 628-3102. He would rather help expand an existing restaurant or encourage local talent before looking outside.
We would, too.
Editorial by Patrick Lowry


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Theater Review: 'Shakespeare's Will' is a highlight of APT's season
SPRING GREEN, Wis. — What the world knows about Anne Hatheway, the wife of William Shakespeare, isn't very much, but what history doesn't tell us, poets can speculate.
And when poets speculate, actors like American Players Theatre's Tracy Michelle Arnold can bring speculation to life. Arnold is the star — and sole performer — of "Shakespeare's Will," a highlight of the Spring Green company's summer season.
The entire play takes place in Hatheway's bedroom. The set consists of a large bed, a table, a chair and a piece of polyester fabric, dyed blue, that Arnold uses to set scenes, impersonate babies — twins, no less — and even create waves.
She introduces us to an unseen Shakespeare, three children, a grumpy father and a witch sister-in-law. Author Vern Thiessen leads us to believe Hatheway took many lovers while her husband lived in London, carrying out homosexual affairs (history provides no evidence for any of this), that she led a hard, but independent life.
Arnold does a wonderful job of portraying this character, who may or may not bear any resemblance to the real Anne Hatheway. The audience can and does learn to appreciate the Anne Hatheway who appears on the stage and becomes almost 21st century in her attitudes.
For those who attended a recent performance, however, "Shakespeare's Will" offered a special treat, becoming a two-woman presentation.
Following the play, APT's associate artistic director and director of this play, Brenda DeVita, joined Arnold on stage and took about 20 minutes of questions from the audience. The two are buddies as well as colleagues and the affectionate interplay between them as they described building a theatrical production while maintaining a friendship was both heartwarming and inspiring.
"Shakespeare's Will" is the first play DeVita has directed and she, along with Arnold, did a wonderful job.


text: Proactiv ZoomShops Proactiv ZoomShops Today 11:00AM-7:00PM Today Jul 14 11:00AM-7:00PM Wednesday Jul 15 11:00AM-7:00PM Thursday Jul 16 11:00AM-7:00PM Friday Jul 17 11:00AM-7:00PM Saturday Jul 18 11:00AM-7:00PM Sunday Jul 19 12:00PM-6:00PM Monday Jul 20 11:00AM-7:00PM Map Pin kiosk in front of Macy's See Map See Map The acne cycle starts invisibly below the skin'ssurface weeks before a blemish breaks out. That's why Proactiv is designed to attack acne "proactively"—delivering the right combination of medicines and skin-care agents in the right order and concentrations to help control the acne cycle before breakouts occur. If you have acne Proactiv Solution is the key to a clear complexion. Spot treating blemishes after they break out is too late—a frustrating losing battle that does nothing for prevention. In contrast Proactiv Solution treats the whole face—and neck chest shoulders and back as needed—in a way that helps to prevent breakouts before they even get started.


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A two year profile of drinking water quality in the US
Just Add Water: Appendix: Pending House Legislation to Weaken Drinking Water Protection
House Commerce Committee Chairman Thomas Bliley (R-VA) proposed legislation on April 19, 1996 that would substantially weaken the current health protections in the Safe Drinking Water Act. The Bliley bill falls well short of the improvements contained in the unanimously-passed 1994 House bill that Chairman Bliley personally negotiated and publicly embraced. His new proposal would also undo much of the unanimously-passed 1995 Senate revision of the Safe Drinking Water Act that the water industry and state and local governments have urged him to adopt.
Among the major provisions weakening current law and the Senate legislation urged by the pesticide industry and/or the chlorine industry and incorporated into Bliley's draft legislation as it stands at press time are proposals that would:
- Weaken the basic public health standard in current law. Under current law, contaminant standards must protect the public health to the greatest extent feasible. The Bliley bill subverts this clear priority to protect the public health, by adding new cost-benefit provisions that would explicitly allow a certain number of preventable illnesses and even deaths to occur, depending on the cost of treating the contaminant in question. If enacted, polluters and water utilities could use these cost-benefit provisions to force the EPA, when setting standards, to balance the costs of making the water drinkable against the economic value of the human illness and even death that may result from a certain level of drinking water contamination. The bill also adds complex, new, evidentiary and procedural hurdles that the EPA must clear before setting a health standard, and creates new opportunities for industry to challenge these health standards in court.
- Reopening and Weakening Negotiated Rules to lower health risks from Cryptosporidium and Disinfection By-Products. At the urging of the chlorine industry, the Bliley bill would reopen and likely weaken a 1994 negotiated rule (agreed to by the water industry, states, and many others) that would reduce the amount of cancer-causing disinfection and disinfection by-products in tap water. Under the Bliley draft, once the rule is reopened, it is subject to a confusing and ambiguous risk/cost/benefit analysis. As it now stands, this crucial rule will control Cryptosporidium and perhaps the most significant chemical risk in drinking water, the by-products of disinfection, which have been linked to over 10,000 cancers per year and preliminarily to many serious birth defects.1
- Allows More Arsenic in Drinking Water. Arsenic contaminates the drinking water of 50 million Americans. The Bliley bill delays a court ordered update of the safety standard for arsenic and applies the weakened standard setting provisions when the arsenic standard is finally set.
- Allows high levels of radon in drinking water. Radon, a known human carcinogen, contaminates the drinking water of 80 million Americans. The bill would mandate a standard of 3000 picocuries per liter for radon, 10 times higher than the standard proposed by EPA in 1992.
- Allows 50 million people in small communities to drink water with higher levels of chemical and microbial contaminants than people in large cities. The Bliley bill requires waivers ("variances") of health standards for both microbial and chemical contaminants to be issued upon petition to 90 percent of the nation's smaller water systems (those serving fewer than 10,000 people each) if they meet certain newly broadened criteria. The bill deletes the 1995 Senate bill's prohibition on waiving standards for microbial contaminants, or contaminants regulated before 1986 (like arsenic or lead). It does not provide EPA or citizen objections to variances as allowed in the Senate bill, and deletes the Senate's requirement for EPA guidance on variances. Exemptions would not need to include schedules of compliance for additional control measures.
- Rolls back water safety monitoring requirements for over 90% of the nation's water systems. The new draft of the Bliley bill allows over 90 percent of the nation's public water systems (those serving 10,000 people or fewer) to receive waivers for any chemical contamination safety monitoring requirements


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Ninety-four percent of Virginians support the need for 30 minutes of daily physical education in elementary and middle schools, according to a survey of more than 15,000 adults and young people by Y Street, a teen volunteer group. The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, VFHY, reported the survey's results in conjunction with its third annual "Weight of the State" conference in Richmond, which drew more than 400 educators and community leaders committed to reducing childhood obesity on Thursday.
In Hampton Roads, almost one in four children between the ages of 12 and 17 are considered overweight or obese, as compared to the state's overall rate of 22 percent. This compares to more than one-third of adult Virginians who are overweight and an additional 25 percent who are obese. In the VFHY survey, more than one in five adults reported that they'd had no physical exercise in the past 30 days, while young people divided evenly between minimal or no activity and regular workouts.
In 2009, the state charged VFHY with tackling childhood obesity in addition to its work in reducing tobacco use among young people. Since then, the group has given out more than a million dollars in grant money to Healthy Community Action Teams distributed throughout the state. Recipients of the second round of biennial grants, 2012-14, include Eastern Virginia Medical School for outreach in Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore, Franklin County for a youth garden, and the Suffolk Partnership for a Healthy Community.
The grants are for the support and establishment of community coalitions to use best practices, as identified by the Centers for Disease Control and the Institute of Medicine. "We give them a list of 80 best practices and each locality chooses," said Richard Foster, public affairs coordinator for the foundation. He cited examples such as building a playground, promoting farmers' markets, and education and outreach programs.
Conference keynote speaker, David Zinczenko, author of the NYT book series "Eat This, not That!" had a three-pronged message, built around knowledge, attitude and choice. "Children are less aware of healthy choices," he said in a phone interview. "They're more susceptible to advertising." But, he also noted that manufacturers typically don't provide sufficient information for people to make informed choices, and that people are easily fooled by the presence of a "health" term. As an example, he said, people are likely to think they're making a healthy choice when they choose the chicken "salad" sandwich over the meat loaf at Boston Market, even though it has double the calories.
Zinczenko has worked on curriculums for nutrition education with New York schools and thinks schools can do more. "There's a lot of emphasis on spelling," he said. "I'd love to see a nutrition bee." He also emphasized the need to introduce an element of fun when working with children.
"We're accelerating progress in obesity prevention," said Heidi Hertz, prevention coordinator for VFHY, by concentrating on getting out a consistent message in the schools and the neighborhoods.
For more information on VFHY and available grants, go to http://www.vfhy.org.