By Brian Lafferty

March 14, 2010 (San Diego's East County)--Green Zone is relentlessly exciting from beginning to end. We know there never were weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in Iraq, which was the primary reason we went to war. We know what the outcome will be in the end, that there’s no turning back and we’re in it for the long haul, WMDs or not. Despite this common knowledge, screenwriter Brian Helgeland manages to incorporate a mystery that keeps us guessing until the very end in addition to exciting action sequences.

By Mary Genser

March 13, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Want some spring decorations that really rock? These ornamental rock pots are ideal garden accessories to brighten up your home’s interiors. Use them to display artificial ivy, plants, flowers, or handy household items. They also make great gifts. Your only limit is your imagination!

March 11, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) - One of East County’s treasures is The Water Conservation Garden. Sunset Magazine calls it one of the “Top 10 Gardens of the West.” This is a beautiful and relaxing place to spend a leisurely afternoon. However, it’s also a learning experience!

By Nancy and Dawn Clement

Share creative ideas to assist people of all ages with tips to save money and improve their lifestyle!

March 10, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) - Springtime is almost here; maybe this year you want to plant a garden or refresh your current garden. Are you thinking of planting a garden but don't know what to grow or where to start? Fortunately, there is plenty of help for you and the best news is that it is free!  all you need is a little bit of time to followup on information available at the websites listed below. 

By Sylvia Hampton

March 7, 2010 (San Diego)--When the health reform discussion turned into a three ring circus last summer on the wave of words and statements like “death panels will kill granny,” an important fact got lost in the shuffle. The idea for family counseling programs with doctors on end-of-life care was brought forth by the insurance companies and added to the mix by a Republican congressman. It made so much sense to the Democrats that they included it in the bill.

 


TIPS AND TRICKS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS AND GROWTH
 

By Rama Beerfas

March 1, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – We’ve talked about the concept of selling benefits instead of features in order to give your audience the inducement to make the purchase. Now, we need to solidly define the term "benefit."

By Buck Shott

A Roundup of the latest national, state and local political news
 

March 1, 2010 -- As filing deadlines fast approach, who's in, who's out, and who's still on the fence?  Find out here!

 
 


Share creative ideas to assist people of all ages with tips to save money and improve their lifestyle!

By Nancy and Dawn Clement
 
March 1, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) - Timing is everything. Each month offers unique buying opportunities and may be the best time of year to buy. Your savings per unit item may justify the purchase. As luck would have it, there are just a few items that are exceptional bargains in March and they are boats, frozen food, and coats and outwear, and air conditioning.

By Brian Lafferty

February 23, 2010 (San Diego's East County)-- Shutter Island, the newest feature by director Martin Scorsese, is mesmerizing. It is unlike any Scorsese movie and I’ve seen them all. Originally set to be released back in October, the studio pushed it to February 19. I can tell you without hesitation the wait was worth it.

 
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS AND GROWTH

By Rama Beerfas
 
February 15, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Anyone who has participated in a business networking event of any kind has heard about the all-important 30-Second Commercial, sometimes known as the “Elevator Pitch.” The purpose of this commercial is to make people aware of what you do and what type of business you are looking for, usually in a thirty to sixty-second timeframe.

“Kiss Your Landlord Goodbye” – free seminars Feb. 27 in La Mesa, March 1 in El Cajon

Share creative ideas to assist people of all ages with tips to save money and improve their lifestyle!

By Nancy and Dawn Clement

February 10, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- Uncle Sam wants to give you money to a buy a house, but you must hurry because there is a deadline; you must be in escrow by April 30 and must close escrow by July 1, 2010.

This program is the Homebuyer Tax Credit, and in November of 2009 was revised to include both first-time buyers and buyers who already own a home.

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS AND GROWTH

By Rama Beerfas

February 10, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – If you’ve ever taken a sales training class, you have probably heard the features vs. benefits marketing approach. I call this technique the WIIFM Factor – What’s in It for Me. When it comes right down to it, when you are stressing the benefits, rather than the features of a particular product or service, you are telling your prospects what is in it for them when they purchase from you.

By Brian Lafferty

February 8, 2010 (San Diego)--The first scene of Edge of Darkness is a home movie featuring a little girl at the beach. This little girl is the daughter of a Boston Detective (Mel Gibson) who grows up to be a trainee at a corporation specializing in handling nuclear waste. Within the first five minutes, Gibson’s daughter comes home, gets sick, then is shot to death and dies in Gibson’s arms. After learning who was behind his daughter’s murder, he swears revenge against the evil corporation.

Share creative ideas to assist people of all ages with tips to save money and improve their lifestyle!
 
By Nancy and Dawn Clement

February 1, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) - Appliances cost a lot of money. They are notorious energy hogs and older models can really affect your monthly utility bill. Most people just suck it up, however, because of the high replacement costs. It does not have to be that way anymore. There are so many appliance rebate programs out there that one could easily miss a few when making a large purchase - for example, a new clothes washer. With a little research and organization, you can save a lot of money on your purchase. The trick is to "stack" rebates.

 By Brian Lafferty

January 31, 2010 (San Diego’s East Count) -- The Lovely Bones is a movie that had me sitting on the fence the entire time I was watching it, right down to the end credits. This was a film where it isn’t as easy as yes or no in terms of recommending it and strong arguments can be made from either side.

Nothing but the Truth!
 

January 22, 2010 (San Diego) -- The US Supreme Court this week decided it is a violation of the First Amendment to prohibit corporations from directly contributing to political campaigns. This decision comes at a time when banks and brokers are guilty of running confidence games on the taxpayers. Public confidence in the integrity of banks is at an all-time low.

By Sharon Courmousis
 
 
"Perhaps dreams are like seeds. Some take hold and produce fruit, some are barren, and some spurt and then die. What lessons are there for me? Do I know myself better now than a year ago? What could be possible for 2010?"  -- Purple Mountain Sage

Increase your enjoyment of living!

January 24, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- Savor these tantalizing offerings to nurture both your appetite and your spirits.  In this issue:  

RECIPE: YAMS IN ORANGE SHELLS

ESSAY: A THINKING TIME OF YEAR

 
Over 81% of corn in America is genetically modified--and can cause organ damage in mammals, a shocking new scientific study shows. So why hasn't our media sounded the alarm? 
 
By: Mera Szendro Bok
 
January 23, 2010 (San Diego) --Genetically modified corn can damage the liver and other internal organs in mammals.  Those are the findings in a new study published in the International Journal of Biological Science. Rats fed GMO (genetically modified organism) corn for just three months suffered serious liver, kidney and other damage.
 
Over 81% of all corn planted in America is GMO, along with well over 80% of all soybeans. GMOs are used in products widely sold in grocery stores and consumed by people across America.
 
So why hasn’t our media reported these health hazards to the public?

By Dawn Celapino

January 19, 2009 (San Diego’s East County -- It is New Years Resolution time and although, taking rover for a walk is GREAT exercise—most people need a little more. The following are five tips that you can do with your dog to prevent boredom, burn more calories, and gain more strength.

“It is imperative the [health care] bill pass soon. If it doesn't, we will be stuck with the status quo. For me personally, it will mean a death warrant.”

By Will Power

Nothing but the truth!

January 18, 2009 -- The Democrats have been thwarted for six months from passing health care reform. Now the death of Ted Kennedy may mean there is no reform at all. What's maddening is that the Democrats only need 51 votes, according to the Constitution.

“Nothing But the Truth”

By Will Power

January 17, 2010 -- Conservative shock-jocks are not noted for political sensitivity. But Rush Limbaugh and Pat Robertson have jammed their feet so far up their mouths they can't tell a shoelace from a colon.

'Haiti made a pact with the devil," says Robertson, "and now is being punished."

"Don't send money to Haiti," says Limbaugh. "It's just Obama's plot to influence third-world nations."

Whew! I suppose that Hurricane Katrina was just punishment for slavery, and the San Francisco Earthquake a penalty for the whorehouses on the Barbary Coast.

By Brian Lafferty

January 12, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)--While watching The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus I could not help but remember a film with elements similar to it. That film would be The City of Lost Children, a 1995 French film co-directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amelie) and Marc Caro. Like The City of Lost Children, Doctor Parnassus contains eccentric characters (in both physical appearance and personality), lush cinematography and set design, and an interesting narrative that is barely coherent yet rewarding at the same time. I loved it.

Are you facing a health issue and want reliable, up-to-date medical information?

There is a free resource available for you, The Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library is available to residents in the Grossmont Healthcare District. This is a state-of-the-art, hybrid library that offers information both through online computer databases and through books, medical journals, newsletters, DVDs, and more. The library's welll-trained, friendly staff will help you find the information you are seeking. In addition, they host a monthly Senior Discussion Group about a health topic and a monthly movie, and will begin computer classes in March.

By Penelope Andrade

January 1, 2010 (San Diego)--Are you ready for a new year?

As you prepare to enter a new year, you may find yourself consciously or subconsciously reviewing this past year in particular and your life in general. This potent time of transition beckons you tune in to who, what and where you are.

By Walter Davis
 
It is unlikely that many in this country would intentionally choose to deposit waste material in their water and then drink it. That is the prevailing choice with fossil fuel burning vehicles that spew toxic gases in the air at baby stroller level, as they travel down our neighborhood avenues.

 
By Dawn and Nancy Clement
 
Share creative ideas to assist people of all ages with tips to save money and improve their lifestyle!

December 28, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)-Is getting more organized on your To Do List for 2010? If it is, then get a jump-start by creating a Household Binder. This will help everyone in your household find information quickly and make running a home easier and more stress-free. You can assemble one in just a few minutes if you have all the items gathered together before you start a three-ring binder that will hold standard 8 1/2 X 11’ paper, one with pockets to store items like pencils or stamps, and a list of items you want to include. Some ideas about what to include are:

By Mary Genser

December 20, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – Looking for some quick ways to deck your halls and dress up your holiday dinner table? Here are some simple yet elegant holiday crafts that are inexpensive and easy –even if you lack artistic talent. The secret ingredients in all? Fabric, permanent glue sticks, and glitter paint!

By Walter Davis
 
December 23, 2009 (San Diego)--Richard struggles with the large blue recycling receptical in his effort to find plastic bottles or treasured aluminum cans to fetch money to help put his child through college. Employed, he is an honorable man; he is honest, caring, devoted – determined to provide the best for his family. He never imagined he would be going through his neighbors’ trash to support his child in school.

By Nancy Clement

December 22, 2009 (La Mesa and Spring Valley) -- Start the New Year off right by walking your way to health!

Live Well invites you to come and “Take a Walk with your Community” at a fun-filled event that features a 30 minute hosted walk, free entertainment, refreshments and a special guest. This special event will occur simultaneously at both Harry Griffen Park in La Mesa and Lamar Park in Spring Valley from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 30th.

Nothing but the truth!
 
By Will Power
December 21, 2009 -- If you are like me and get incomprehensible MD billing statements prepared in India by Urdu-speaking clerks who can't read English, get ready for the newest medical fee to come down the pike. It's called a "Facility Fee" and is not covered by insurance, but by the patient (http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-myturn21-2009dec21,0,462899...). The minute you walk through the MD's office door you get nicked, for anywhere from $75 to $250. The Facility Fee is to charge for "wear and tear" you inflict on the office furniture. Stand in the corner on a newspaper and pay anyway!