Central Furnace or Air Conditioning

If your central furnace or air conditioning will not turn on for some reason, please try the following before calling a repair person.  Go to the unit that will not start and turn off the electrical switch that controls the electricity controlling the unit and then wait a minute or two and turn the unit back on with the switch.  By doing this, it acts as a restart just as if your computer is not working correctly and you turn it off and back on again.  I tried this procedure with our air conditioning unit just yesterday, and the unit kicked on and has been fine ever since.

Caulk Preservation

Caulk in a tube has a tendency to dry up if not properly protected. Try wrapping the open nozzle of the caulk tube tightly with duct tape.  The tape creates a good air tight seal preventing air from getting into the tube and drying out its contents.  After putting the duct tape on and around the nozzle of the caulk tube, put the caulk tube itself in a plastic bag and tie off the opening with a tie band or something to close up the plastic bag.  I have tried other methods, but find that this method gives the best results so far.

Vitamins & Minerals Limits

Nutrient                            Recommended Daily Intake                    SAFE
                                                                                                                UPPER   
                                                                                                                 LIMIT                                                 
                    
                                           MEN                        WOMEN                                                                                                                                                                           

Vitamin A                          3,000 IU                   2,300 IU                              10,000 IU

Niacin (B3)                             16 mg                       14 mg                                    35 mg

Folate (folic acid)                  400 mcg                   400 mcg                             1,000 mcg

Vitamin C                                90 mg                       75 mg                               2,000 mg

Vitamin D                              600 IU ages 19-       600 IU ages 19-70;             4,000 IU
                                                70; 800 IU ages      800 IU ages 71   
                                                71 and up                and up

Vitamin E                                22 IU (natural)       22 IU (natural)                    1,500 IU (natural)
                                                 33 IU (synthetic)   33 IU (synthetic)                 1,100 IU (synthetic)

Vitamin K                               120 mcg                  90 mcg                                Not Established

MINERALS

Calcium                                 1,000 mg ages     1,000 mg ages                          2,500 mg through age
                                               16-70; 1200 mg  19-50; 1,200 mg                       50; 2,000 mg ages
                                               ages 71 and up    ages 51 and up                         51 and up

Magnesium                             400 mg ages 19-  310 mg ages                         350 mg
                                                30; 420 mg ages  19-30; 320 mg                     (from supplements only)
                                                31 and up             ages 31 and up

Potassium                               4,700 mg             4,700 mg                                Not Established

Selenium                                      55 mcg                55 mcg                              400 mcg

Zinc                                              11 mg                   8 mg                                  40 mg

SOURCE: CONSUMER REPORTS SEPTEMBER 2012         
                          

Medicare Card

A better alternative to always carrying your Medicare card in your wallet or when traveling is to make a photocopy of your Medicare card, and then cut or black out the last four digits of your Social Security number.  The photocopy shows that you are a Medicare patient but protects you from identity theft should your wallet be lost or stolen.  Even without the card you should be able to get emergency medical treatment.  You can carry the original on days when you visit a doctor if that gives you any extra added comfort.   You can orally give the medical care provider the last four digits of your Social Security number when you are being provided services.   I and my wife have personally used this method for many years without any problems.  This is a very good deterrent to identity theft of your Social Security number.

Free Walking Tours

To find free walking tours in various cities, please type "free walking tours" and your destination city name in the search field.

Coupons

Look for coupons at www.promotionalcodes.com.

Cruise Quotes/Competing Bids

If you are looking to go on a cruise, you might want to check out www.cruisecompete.com .  You find a cruise, request a quote, and you then receive competing offers for your cruise business.