News Letter 2007 09

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

September 2007 No. 27

●Computers: If your computer is linked to the internet, make sure you have updated firewall software to protect you from invasion. Since many people store financial information and pay bills on-line, it is vitally important to install and keep your security program updated on a regular basis.

●Mail Theft: Be sure to get your mail every day; uncollected mail is an invitation to an identity thief. If you cannot pick up your mail daily, invest in a locking mailbox. Whenever possible, send out your mail using a mailbox inside the post office building. If you use an outside box, drop your mail just before a scheduled pick up. Keeping You Posted, February 2007, Thanks Post Alarm Systems

Google has implemented a feature enabling you to enter a telephone number in the search bar and get the name and address of the person residing at that location. If you then hit Map Quest, you get a map to the house. This is a nationwide reverse telephone book.

If a child gives out his or her phone number, predators can find out where they live. The safety issues are obvious and alarming.

You may have your phone number removed or blocked. Enter your phone number in the search bar and hit enter. Then, click on your telephone number and then click on the removal form. Removal takes 48-hours. Thanks Michele B.

Hewlett-Packard has a new device on the market called the HP Printing Mailbox. It is, allegedly, as easy to use as plugging in a toaster. All you need is your existing telephone line and an electrical outlet. E-mail and photos print out in color, automatically. Additional information may be obtained by calling (866) 424-2504 or visiting www.presto82.com.

We all know the importance of a fiber rich diet for keeping the digestive system regular and healthy. Did you know it also helps reduce cholesterol levels and lowers the risk of heart disease? Also, it may:

1. reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes by having a beneficial regulatory effect on blood glucose and insulin responses; and

2. help reduce calorie intake by making you feel fuller, better helping you to maintain or lose weight.

Soluble fiber dissolves in water, helps prevent cholesterol and saturated fats from entering the bloodstream and helps minimize the rise in blood sugar levels after a meal. It is found in oatmeal, oat bran, apples, strawberries, peaches, raspberries, pears and other citrus fruits, dried peas, beans and lentils.

Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water. It is found in whole wheat grain, wheat bran, brown rice, carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, celery and tomatoes.

In 1906 the population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was 30. No, it’s not a typo. Thanks Don C.

In the frantic moments after being bitten by a poisonous snake, many people try first aid that does more harm than good. Extractor devices, tourniquets and immersion in ice water are not effective treatments. The only therapy proven to save lives is rapid administration of anti-venom.

When planning a camping trip or outdoor expedition, think ahead about the possibility of snake bites and plan on how to quickly get to the nearest medical facility if bitten. Thanks Fred C.

A female hammerhead shark has given birth without the help of a male. Genetic testing revealed the baby shark had no paternal DNA.

An international team reports the shark’s “virgin birth” was down to an unusual method of reproduction known as “parthenogenesis,” where an egg starts to divide without being fertilized. This is the first report of asexual reproduction in sharks. The study was reported by a team from the Queen’s University Belfast, the Guy Harvey Research Institute and Nova Southeastern University, Florida and the Henry Doorly Zoo, Nebraska. Thanks Fred C.

Most of us do not give much thought to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Last year more than 200 people were affected by the outbreak of E. coli in spinach. Many are still having to deal with the effects. The incident galvanized Elizabeth Armstrong, turning her into a food-safety activist. Testifying before Congress, she said the FDA needs to be reformed.

The FDA has known about contamination issues with fresh produce for more than 10-years. They have sent threatening letters to growers and packagers, but have never stepped in and told them they need to change their operations.

Ms. Armstrong is one of many people demanding an overhaul of the FDA. The cause gained momentum in 2006 when at least 3 people died and more than 1,000 were sickened by contaminated tomatoes, lettuce, peanut butter and spinach. The recent contamination of pet food, however, which has killed many animals, seems to have been the last straw for many. Leaders in the food industry and three former secretaries of the Department of Health and Human Services have joined longtime critics to form the Coalition for a Stronger FDA, which seeks agency reform, in part by giving it more money and regulatory authority.

For at least six years, polls have shown growing public concern about the FDA. One poll found 70 percent of the 1,000 randomly selected participants had no confidence in the agency’s ability to ensure the safety of their food.

Efforts to create a single food agency date from 1997 and may finally be gaining traction. A bill was recently introduced to this end. Thanks Fred C.

iPods can cause cardiac pacemakers to malfunction by interfering with the electromagnetic equipment monitoring the heart. A 17 year old student presented his study to a meeting of heart specialists. He had tested the effect of iPods on 100 patients (mean age of 77) with pacemakers. Electrical interference was detected 50 percent of the time when the iPod was held 2 inches from the patient’s chest for 5 to 10 seconds. The study did not examine other portable music devices.

Two sets of solid double yellow lines spaced two or more feet apart are considered a barrier (brick wall). Do not drive on or over this barrier or make left turn or U-turns.

Broken yellow lines mean you may pass if the broken line is next to your driving lane.

Solid white line marks traffic lanes going in the same direction, such as on a one-way street.

Broken white lines separate traffic lanes on roads with two or more lanes in the same direction. CA Driver Handbook 2007

A report released earlier this year by the Dietary Supplement Education Alliance (DSEA) concluded the use of dietary supplements by specific American populations could result in a savings of at least $24 billion in health care costs over a 5 year period. The report updates a similar report by DSEA in 2005 which estimated $5.6 billion dollars in savings over the same period.

You put in long hours on the job, sometimes sacrificing your personal life to meet career commitments. You stay connected with the office when not physically there. You check your BlackBerry or tap out e-mails on your laptop. You think about work in bed or the shower. Does this make you a workaholic or just a hard worker?

1. Take a test: Check the Workaholics Anonymous Web site at (www.workaholics-anonymous.org) and answer the 20 questions to help pin down your status.

2. Determine whether your over attention to work is temporary or “who you are.” Ask yourself, is this situation temporary or is there a pattern here?

Family...do you routinely get home after the kids are in bed? Miss important family events? Do you get impatient with family members because you have so much work to do?

You...are you a perfectionist? Do you think you’re the only one who can get the job done right?

If you are a workaholic, there are measure you can take to restore balance to your life:

Bronchiolitis obliterans, a rare and life-threatening form of fixed obstructive lung disease, also known as popcorn workers lung, has turned up in workers at microwave-popcorn factories. The disease destroys the lungs. The only known cure is a transplant.

Since 2001, studies have shown links between the disease and a chemical used in artificial butter flavor called diacetyl. Manufacturers have paid out more than $100 million to people with this disease over the past 5 years. One death from the disease has been confirmed.

There are no federal laws regulating use of the chemical. OSHA is still “deciding” what standards to set for workers who handle the chemical. [See article on FDA, above.] California is considering banning the chemical. Thanks Fred C.

According to the FDA, review of yet another study finds no link between the sweetener, aspartame, and cancer. Thanks Fred C.

Medicare can do more for seniors and the disabled than simply cover doctor bills. The health insurance program covers an array of shots and screenings to help prevent illness.

A campaign designed to increase the number of people who seek free flu and pneumonia shots, a physical exam and screenings for osteoporosis, diabetes and certain cancers is in effect. Most screenings require beneficiaries to pay only 20 percent of the cost.

Americans spend about $3.8 billion for diabetes related hospitalizations. Roughly 2/3 of that expense could be avoided with appropriate preventive care. Unfortunately, only 1/2 of all Medicare beneficiaries report having had their blood sugar tested in the past year. This particular test is free, so are the supplies and training beneficiaries get to help them manage diabetes.

In another example, the 5-year survival rate for people with early detection of colorectal cancer exceeds 90 percent. Yet, only about 59 percent of beneficiaries say they have had a colonoscopy.

The flower for September is the aster. The stone is the sapphire which stands for repentance. Google