News Letter 2006 11

M. A. SMITH

A PROFESSIONAL LAW CORPORATION

MASAPLC.COM

Michael A. Smith, Attorney at Law

319 E. Foothill Blvd., #C Voice - (626) 357-1177

Arcadia, CA 91006 Facsimile - (626) 357-4588

November 2006 No. 17

A story circulating on the internet tells about a young woman who avoided being raped when she called * or #77 on her cell phone and was connected with the highway patrol. According to SNOPES.COM, this story is unconfirmed. However, calling #77 does connect callers to the highway patrol in some states; unfortunately, not California. When I called #77 I got a, “[C]annot complete your call” recording; and when I called *77--nothing. Thanks Olga S.

New evidence shows the darling of the dessert world--chocolate--is actually good for us. Dark chocolate and cocoa are teeming with potent antioxidant plant chemicals called flavonols that protect the cardiovascular system by improving artery function. It also helps prevent prostate disease, fight inflamation and even boosts your mood. However, you must eat the right kind of chocolate to get these benefits.

1. The higher the percentage of cocoa, the higher the flavonol concentration. Look for a minimum of 60 percent cocoa (although, 70 percent is better).

2. Read the label. Benefits of dark chocolate with 70 percent cocoa can be reduced by added ingredients such as corn syrup and hydrogenated fats.

4. If you are going to cook with chocolate remember the health benefits can be destroyed by heat, so melt it at a lower temperature.

Chocolate with high cocoa solids: Green & Black’s Organic (70%); Dagoba Organic new moon (74%); Tanzania (75%). These and other dark chocolates are available at your health food store. Better Nutrition October 2006

Prop 87 is said to be an alternative energy, research, production and incentive tax. It is an additional tax on California oil. It would establish a $4 billion program to reduce oil and gasoline usage by 25%, with research and production incentives for alternative energy, vehicles, energy efficient technologies, and education and training. It would be funded by a tax of 1.5% to 6%, depending on oil price per barrel, on producers of oil extracted in California. Bottom line--higher gas prices, again.

Prop 88 is a statewide parcel tax. Every parcel of land in California, regardless of size, would pay $50 per year to fund statewide education programs. This amounts to between $450 and $500 million each year. (Wasn’t the lottery supposed to take care of educational funding?) This proposition, if passed, would be a serious challenge to Prop 13 and could open the door for representatives to raise our property taxes again and again.

Be sure to read your voters’ pamphlet (pros and cons) and make your own decision. Do not vote based on what the media says, they get paid to advertise a particular viewpoint. Think, and vote what you believe is best. Thanks Fred C.

There are at least 30,000 known species of spiders throughout the world. Garden spiders are the ones most likely seen in and around your yard. The garden spider typically makes a circular or orb type web using its silk to make strong radiating threads and sticky cross threads for trapping insects.

Spiders are the most important predator of insects in our world. Every year, billions of spiders destroy a large number of disease-carrying and crop-destroying insects.

It is not necessary for humans to control spiders, unless spiders find their way into greenhouses, sheds or houses. Then, the most effective control is cleaning up debris that shelter cocoons. Even as ugly as spiders may be, they are mans’ friend.

2. Spiders are not insects. Insects have three body parts and six legs. Spiders have two body parts and eight legs.

3. Spider webs get dirty and torn, so many spiders make a new web every day. They roll the old one into a ball and eat it.

4. Most spiders are near-sighted. They use the hair on their body to feel their way around and to sense when other animals are near.

6. Most spiders have either six or eight eyes. Green Times, Western Pacific Landscaping, July 2006 Thanks Gloria V.

The Public Utilities Commission unanimously voted to deregulate the four largest wire line phone companies. This means they can set their own prices for most of their services. However, the PUC froze base rates for residential service until January 01, 2009, and ordered the companies to make basic rates available as a stand-alone item. Also, carriers are required to provide 30-days notice to customers and the PUC of any price increases. Thanks Fred C.

The IRS has begun a private debt collection program. Several key elements of this program tells taxpayers if they are part of this program and helps others from being scammed. If you are part of this program you will:

•be notified by the IRS in writing before you are called. The letter will include the name of the collection agency you will be dealing with.

If you are part of this program, and choose to pay your back taxes through the collection agency, make your check or money order payable to “U.S. Treasury.” The collection agency will provide an IRS coupon and the mailing address.

The IRS NEVER asks for PIN numbers, passwords or similar secret access information to credit cards or bank accounts. NEVER GIVE THIS INFORMATION TO ANYONE.

If you have questions or want more information, call the IRS at (800) 829-1040. Thanks Fred C.

SNOPES.COM says e-mails with pictures of Osama Bin-Laden hanged does contain a virus. The moment you open the e-mail your computer will crash and you will not be able to fix the damage.

On the other hand, SNOPES.COM says the Invitation or Olympic Torch virus is a scam. Thanks Don C.

With shoplifting running to $30 billion annually ($850 per incident), retailers are fighting back with new high-tech tools, including smarter video cameras and RF-based systems. But how far should they go in using technology to examine customers’ behavior?

BusinessWeek recently ran an article on retail surveillance systems and the enhancements being made to counter organized shoplifting. The article raises questions about privacy and concerns privacy advocates have about radio frequency identification.

With the increased power of computers, retailers may soon be able to identify customers the moment they walk in the store. Privacy advocates fear companies will use RFID to build personal profiles on customers that could be used to identify individuals and pitch them products. This, according to the BusinessWeek article, makes RFID a unique threat to privacy. Thanks Fred C.

This colorful root vegetable is a healthful addition to any diet. Betacyanin pigments give beets their regal colors and provide anti-aging and cancer-preventing benefits. Beets abound with potassium and vitamin C. They also contain a high level of folate, a B vitamin that aids in promotion of a vigorous cardiovascular system.

The best beets should be no larger than 2-1/2 inches in diameter and have a solid feel. Store them in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to one week. Better Nutrition October 2006 Thanks Gloria v.

Sore throat? Mix 1/4 cup vinegar with 1/4 cup honey and take 1 tablespoon, 6 times daily. The vinegar kills the bacteria.

Saturate an abrasive sponge with Coca Cola and scrub to remove rust. The phosphoric acid gets the job done. Thanks Michele B.