SPECULATING ON IPHONE 7

iPhone 7 preorders could start September 9 The date has been forecast by known leaker Evan Blass, who also has said the new phone will launch September 16. by Lance Whitney @ / July 28, 2016.  

The iPhone 7 could be up for preorder on September 9 and offer a redesigned home button. CNET Consumers eyeing the iPhone 7 may be able to preorder it starting Friday, September 9. No, Apple hasn't announced anything. Rather, the purported preorder date was leaked in a tweet Wednesday night from generally reliable leaker Evan Blass, aka @evleaks. Blass' tweet said simply: "Confirmed: Pre-orders start on the 9th. You can extrapolate the launch event date from there. Blass didn't reveal where he got the information, but September 9 is around the same date last year when preorders for the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus started, namely September 12 . Blass' suggestion to "extrapolate the launch event date from there" is easy enough since iPhone sales typically kick off a week after preorders start. On Saturday, Blass already offered a tip via Twitter that the iPhone 7 will launch Friday, September 16 . Analysts and other Apple watchers will be paying close attention to preorder and launch weekend numbers for the iPhone 7. Apple's smartphone sales have declined the past two quarters, leaving the company stuck trying to find a way to boost demand. Many reports say this year's model will offer only modest changes and that Apple is saving major enhancements for next year's edition, but that is all speculation based on limited knowledge. The rumored new features include stereo speakers, a larger camera lens and dual camera lenses for the iPhone 7 Plus. But another new report suggests Apple may have something up its sleeve for the iPhone 7's home button. . The home button for the new phone will be flat , flush with the surface of the screen, according to Japanese blog site Makotakara. Rather than being the traditional physical button of iPhones past that gives when you press it, the new button would simply respond with a vibration when touched. That could open the door for a 3D Touch-type feature to make its way to the home button. . A September 9 preorder date would mean that Apple's launch event for the iPhone 7 would likely take place the week of September 5. Last year's launch event occurred September 9, a few days before preorders began. September 5 is Labor Day, so that wouldn't work. And unless Apple holds the iPhone 7 event earlier in the month, it will probably take place September 6 or 7.

SOME THINGS TO WATCH FOR YOUR PETS HEALTH

FDA warns against feeding dogs raw meat, peanut butter Published July 27, 2016.  

If you've ever had to medicate your dog, chances are you've snuck it into some peanut butter to entice him to swallow it. Turns out, that trick could be harmful to man's best friend, according to a new statement issued Wednesday by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While you may toss your dog a piece of food occasionally, some eats aren't fit for dogs and others could be deadly, the FDA warned, as animals' bodies process food differently from humans'. "Our bodies may break down foods or other chemicals that a dog's [digestive system] can't tolerate," Carmela Stamper, D.V.M, a veterinarian at the FDA, said in the statement. The FDA warned against feeding dogs the following foods: ท Raw meat : Uncooked meat can contain E. coli, Salmonella and other harmful bacteria. Keep raw meat well out of reach on countertops and wash your hands before giving your dog a treat if you've handled raw meat. The warning goes the other way, too: "People can get sick after handling contaminated dog food, not washing their hands, and then using their hands to eat a sandwich or a slice of pizza," Stamper said in the statement. ท Grapes, raisins and currents : Not all dogs are affected by these foods, but in others, they can cause kidney failure. Apples and bananas are OK; just don't feed your dog the core or seeds. ท Fried and fatty foods : Not only could your dog have a stomachache- and you'd have to clean up the outcome- but these foods can also cause pancreatitis, a potentially life-threating disease. ท Moldy foods : Be careful when you toss moldy cheese rinds or hamburger buns in the trash so your dog doesn't get to them. You wouldn't feed spoiled food to your family, so your dog shouldn't eat it either. ท Onion, garlic and chives : In large amounts, these seasonings- as well as onion and garlic powder- can be harmful. ท Salty snacks : "Feeding the odd potato chip or pretzel probably won't do any harm," Stamper said in the statement. But if your dog gets into a whole bag of them, he could get really sick. Make sure your dog has access to plenty of water at all times, especially if he gets into salty snacks. Peanut butter itself isn't harmful, but it may contain xylitol, a sugar substitute used in many sugarless products that's deadly to dogs. "If you feed your dog pills coated in peanut butter, or put peanut butter in their hollow chew toys, make sure to check the list of ingredients first to make sure it doesn't contain xylitol," Stamper said in the statement. Macadamia nuts can be harmful for dogs too. The FDA also warned about allergens- while people can have severe reactions, these allergies tend to manifest as skin or ear issues for dogs. The effects of food may vary from dog to dog, depending on a number of factors, including the animal's genetic makeup, size and food intake. Cat owners have less to worry about, as felines are pickier than dogs and don't often get into trouble by eating foods that will harm them, Stamper said. But she added that cats are very sensitive to onions, garlic and onion and garlic powders, so to keep those ingredients away from them. 

KEEP THOSE PUPPIES COOL

7 tips to keep your pets cool during hot weather By Rachael Rettner, Senior Writer Published July 28, 2016.  

Summer heat can be dangerous for pets, but there are a number of steps that owners can take to keep their pets safe when temperatures climb. Just this week, 14 dogs were found dead in a truck in Ohio after the vehicle's air conditioning unit failed, according to the South Bend Tribune. The dogs' handler was in town for a dog show, and left the animals unattended in the truck for about 2 hours. The incident underscores the need for owners to pay careful attention to their pets during hot weather, said Genny Carlson, executive director of the Humane Society of St. Joseph County, which is investigating the case.  "This serves as a reminder for people with pets, children and elderly relatives that being in a car without proper ventilation or a working air conditioner can be dangerous, and to take the proper precautions," Carlson told the news outlet cleveland.com. Here are tips for keeping pets safe this summer: Don't leave animals unattended in a parked car. On an 85-degree day, temperatures inside a parked car can reach 120 degrees in 30 minutes, according to the Humane Society. Try to bring pets inside, if possible. Don't leave them in sheds or garages, recommends the Government of Western Australia Department of Health, because these structures can become very hot inside. If you do need to leave your pets outside, make sure that they have plenty of cold water and shady spots in which to rest, such as under trees or tarps. Be careful about taking your dog for a walk on a hot day. If you do walk your pet on a hot day, it's best to go in the early morning or evening, according to the Humane Society. You should also walk your dog on grass, because hot asphalt can burn their paws. Dog owners should be particularly careful about taking certain breeds out in the heat. Flat-faced dogs, such as Pugs and English Bulldogs, can overheat more easily because they can have trouble panting, according to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (SPCALA). And white-eared dogs may be at increased risk for skin cancer, the Humane Society said. Put ice cubes in your pet's water, and keep the water out of the sun. Items such as a cooling body wrap, vest or mat can also help keep your pet cool outside, according to the Humane Society. 

FREE MONEY READER

Help us reach individuals with vision impairments to let them know the U.S. government is providing a currency reader device at no cost through the U.S. Currency Reader Program.   The following sample newsletter article has been prepared as an option for organizations to use for internal publications that reach blind or visually impaired members, employees, or the general public.  Feel free to use this communication as is, or customize it to more specifically fit your organization’s communication platform.  

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Treasury Bureau Provides Meaningful Access to U.S. Currency

Federal Reserve notes, better known in commerce as U.S. currency, paper money, or bills, are the same size and weight regardless of denomination.  Because there is no tactile difference between a $5 and $20 bill, for example, individuals who are blind or visually impaired may experience difficulties denominating them.

The Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is working to change that, and is taking a number of steps to provide meaningful access to U.S. currency for those with vision impairments. 

In January 2015, the BEP launched the U.S. Currency Reader Program to provide a free currency reader device to all U.S. citizens or legal residents who are blind or visually impaired.  The currency reader is a small, compact, hand-held device – about the size of a credit card and about one-half inch thick.  To use the currency reader, one simply inserts a U.S. bill into the reader and presses a button.  The device quickly identifies the bill’s denomination in one of three ways: a clear natural voice, a pattern of tones, or a pattern of vibrations for privacy.  The vibration mode assists people who are deaf and blind.  The currency reader identifies all U.S. currency in circulation, to include the $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 denominations.  It runs on one AAA battery, which is included. 

Through an interagency agreement, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) is supporting the BEP by administering the order fulfillment and processing functions of the U.S. Currency Reader Program.  NLS currently administers a similar program that provides free braille and audio library materials to U.S. residents and citizens living abroad whose low vision, blindness, or physical handicap makes it difficult to read a standard printed page.

To request a currency reader, individuals must mail an application form, which can be filled out and downloaded at http://www.bep.gov/uscurrencyreaderform.html .  The applicant must provide verification of their visual impairment by having the form signed by a certifying authority such as a doctor or by attaching verification documents issued by a federal, state, or local agency.  Applicants who are currently registered patron of NLS can simply check a box on the application and no further certification is needed.  Completed applications can be mailed to U.S. Currency Reader Program, 14^th & C Streets, S.W., Washington, DC 20228.

Once an application is verified, a currency reader and operating instructions in large print, braille, and on CD, will be shipped via U.S. Postal Service to the qualifying individual.  Delivery takes approximately eight weeks from receipt of the application.

The BEP has contributed to the development of other technological solutions that allow individuals to determine a note’s denomination by using their smart phone or other mobile devices.  EyeNote®, first introduced by the BEP in 2011, and the IDEAL® Currency Identifier, developed in partnership with the Department of Education are two mobile device applications available for individuals to download for free.  EyeNote® operates on the iOS platform and is available as a free download through the Apple App Store℠.  The IDEAL® Currency Identifier is designed for use with Android phones and can be downloaded for free from GooglePlay.  Both apps utilize a continuous scan function and use the device’s camera to recognize a Federal Reserve note.  The note’s denomination is quickly communicated back to the user. 

Other accommodations to provide meaningful access to U.S. currency are being developed as well.  The U.S. government is researching the addition of a raised tactile feature to the next redesigned Federal Reserve note and will continue to add large, high-contrast numerals and different colors to each redesigned note denomination that it is permitted by law to alter.  More information about the meaningful access program can be found at the BEP’s website at http://www.bep.gov/uscurrency/meaningfulaccess.html.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A FEW THINGS TO MAKE YOU LAUGH

Business Signs 

• At a towing company:  "We don't charge an arm and a leg. We want tows."
• On a maternity room door:  "Push. Push. Push."
• At an optometrist's office:  "If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place."
• On a taxidermist's window:  "We really know our stuff."
• In a podiatrist's office:  "Time wounds all heels."
• On a house's fence:  "Salespeople welcome! Dog food is expensive."
• At a car dealership:  "The best way to get back on your feet - miss a car payment."
• Outside a muffler shop:  "No appointment necessary. We hear you coming."
• At a propane filling station:  "Tank heaven for little grills."
• In a veterinarian's waiting room:  "Be back in five minutes. Sit! Stay!"
• In a restaurant window:  "Don't stand there and be hungry. Come on in and get fed up."
• In the front yard of a funeral home:  "Drive carefully. We'll wait."

Just Like Mom's 

When the power failed at the elementary school, the cook couldn't serve a hot meal in the cafeteria, so at the last minute she whipped up great stacks of peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches. As one little boy filled his plate, he said, "It's about time. At last -- a good home-cooked meal!" 

Vacationing 

Preparing for a family vacation, Kathy and Matt explained to their young children that they would be sitting in the car for a very long time. The kids were told they would not be arriving at their destination until after dark, and were warned not to keep saying, "Are we there yet?" After a few minutes of peaceful driving, four year old Rachel perked up, "Is it dark yet?" 

Mrs. Methuselah 

Having lost weight over the past few years, a lady was discarding things from her wardrobe that no longer fit. Her seven-year-old niece was watching as she held up a huge pair of capris. "Wow," the lady said, "I must have worn these when I was 183!" Her niece looked puzzled, then asked, "How old are you now?"

ARE YOU THINKING OF BUYING A NEW IPHONE THIS FALL

iPhone 7 tipped to launch September 16 A typically reliable leaker, known as @evleaks, offers up a release date, which follows Apple's normal pattern of a mid-September launch for iPhones. by Lance Whitney @ / July 25, 2016.  

This year's follow-up to the iPhone 6S could reach consumers in mid-September.  Apple will launch the iPhone 7 on September 16, according to known and generally reliable leaker Evan Blass, aka @evleaks. Blass offered his prognostication via a tweet on Saturday, saying the new iPhone will launch the week of September 12 and then specifying September 16 as the actual rollout date to consumers. The forecast is a safe bet given that Apple typically kicks off a new iPhone around mid-September with a Friday as opening day so the company can rake in a full weekend of initial sales. September 16 is slightly earlier compared with 2015 when the iPhone 6S rolled out on September 25. But Apple generally likes to count on a couple of weeks of sales for new iPhones each September. This way the sales can help boost results for the company's fiscal fourth quarter, which runs from July through September. Analysts and Apple watchers will be closely eyeing the iPhone 7. Apple phone sales dropped for the first time during the first three months of 2016 and likely did the same in the second calendar quarter. Apple needs to find a way to boost demand for its phone. However, many reports say this year's iPhone will sport only minor changes and that next year's edition will be the one outfitted with sexy, must-have features. Meeting with an Apple executive in May, one China-based engineer allegedly asked why this year's model would not offer a major design change. . .  The alleged response from Apple was that the new technology in the pipeline would take time to implement. . Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster expects Apple to sell 41 million to 42 million iPhones in this year's third calendar quarter. That number would show a hefty drop from the 48 million sold in the same quarter in 2015 . . 

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH DRUG PRICES

Value for dollars Pharmacists vital link in care . 

The July 1st article "Arkansas Works tab put at $300M more" cited the "rising cost of prescription drugs" as the primary reason for the increase in the estimated cost of the program. The average person reading the article might misconstrue that the "rising cost of prescription drugs" implied that the pharmacists and pharmacies are being paid too much for their services. Nothing could be further from the truth. Pharmacists' reimbursements for medications have been ratcheted down month after month, year after year, by the benefits middlemen that force take-it-or-leave-it contracts in the prescription drug marketplace. These reductions in reimbursement impact both locally owned pharmacies and large chain pharmacies in the same way. Last fall, one of the nation's largest chain pharmacy retailers even cited a decline in pharmacy reimbursements as a major reason for a decline in their overall earnings. So this begs the question: What is the cause of the prescription medication price increases if the pharmacists' reimbursements continue to be decreased? The primary reason for the increase is the pharmaceutical manufacturers of both brand and generic medications constantly raising prices of medications. For example, the cost for the average pharmacy to purchase a vial of Novolog, a popularly prescribed brand-name insulin, has gone up in price from $129 per vial in October 2012 to $247 per vial today (based upon data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services). Many generic medications have taken large jumps in price over the same period of time too. The cost for the average pharmacy to purchase 20 doxycycline hyclate 100 mg tablets, a popularly prescribed antibiotic, has gone from $1.20 in October 2012 to $17.20 today. Specialty medications, such as the newer medications to treat hepatitis C, can cost upwards of $90,000 for a 90-day course of therapy! These specialty medications represent 35 percent of the total dollars spent on prescription medications today, yet they are less than 5 percent of the total prescriptions dispensed. The second reason for the increase in medication expense is less obvious, but it is a very important consideration. It is medication adherence. Medication adherence is when patients fill and take their medications for chronic illnesses in correct dosages and as prescribed. We want this to happen. For example, as a health-care system we want patients who have diabetes to take their medications as prescribed. For this reason, when evaluating prescription medication expenditures, you cannot just simply scrutinize the price and ignore the bigger picture. Health-care payers have to look at their expenditures on prescription medications as investments in preventing costlier care down the road. For example, every additional $1 spent on diabetes medications helps save $7 on other services from diabetes-related complications. Pharmacists, the health-care system's medication experts, are uniquely placed within the system to help with both of these issues of high drug prices and keeping patients adherent to their medication. First, pharmacists are the only health-care professionals who understand both the therapeutics and economics of prescription medications. This means that health-care payers that are willing to financially incentivize pharmacists to work with doctors and patients to use medications that are clinically effective but more financially affordable can help save money for the entire health-care system. Additionally, pharmacists are the most accessible health-care professionals. The average Medicaid patient visits their local pharmacist 35 times each year. That is 35 opportunities for face-to-face encounters to encourage, educate and involve the patient in the active management of their health and well-being. In Arkansas, this face-to-face interaction and appointment-based medication synchronization has dramatically increased medication adherence rates, which we know will save health-care dollars. 

YOU AND VITAMIN C

9 foods with more vitamin C than oranges By Sharon Moalem, MD, Ph.D. Published July 22, 2016. () 

Mice do it, cats do it, dogs do it, and even elephants do it. For some unknown reason, humans and our primate cousins (and, yes, guinea pigs, too) are the only mammals that cannot make their own vitamin C. While the rest of the mammalian world happily and effortlessly takes glucose and turns it into vitamin C, we have been condemned to get ours from food alone. We actually still have the same gene used by other animals to make vitamin C from glucose (in humans it's called GULOP )- it's just that our version looks genetically like someone cut out parts of it to make a paper napkin snowflake. This means that no matter how hard our DNA and body try, we're not going to be making vitamin C anytime soon. It's also one of the major limitations on our species' ability to travel long distances without a fresh supply from food. We haven't figured out a way to fix the GULOP gene yet, and so until then you are completely dependent on consuming this key vitamin to shelter you from the damage caused by oxidative stress to your body. Thanks to advanced research studies, we now know that certain genes some people inherited also make them require more vitamin C because these genes don't work as well to prevent oxidative damage that can then harm their tissue and DNA. So to get your necessary daily dosage of vitamin C daily- 90 milligrams for men, 75 milligrams for women- reach for these surprising foods: Chili peppers Just one-half 'cup' of chili peppers will give you 107.8 milligrams of vitamin C, and the extra hot spice is also one of the best spices to help you lose weight , so you'll see the benefits on and off the scale. Kale One 'cup' of chopped kale will load you up with 80.4 milligrams of vitamin C, so toss it in your green detox smoothie or turn it into kale chips for a saltier snack. Papaya With 95.6 milligrams of vitamin C in a small-size papaya (one of the cleanest fruits in your supermarket ), this fruit would make a good addition to a melon salad and can help you reap the nutrient's immune-system benefits. Strawberries Strawberries are not only some of the best foods to tame inflammation , but one 'cup' of this sweet summer fruit will give you just about 84.7 milligrams of vitamin C. Green bell pepper The green bell pepper (hint: it's one of the foods you don't need to refrigerate ) will also give you a whopping 95.7 milligrams of vitamin C. Cauliflower Cauliflower, a shockingly low-calorie food , will deliver 127.7 milligrams of vitamin C but won't cost you many calories. Win, win! Pineapple Prepare yourself for 78.9 milligrams of vitamin C with just one 'cup' of pineapple! So go ahead- throw the fruit on the grill and enjoy the health benefits. Kiwi Put it in a skin- and nails-boosting smoothie, and garner 166.9 milligrams of vitamin C from just one 'cup' of kiwi. Guava Not only do guavas help to fight sunburn, but 125.6 milligrams of vitamin C surely do not hurt either. 

SERIOUSLY? DO WE REALLY WANT TO GO DOWN THIS SLIPPERY SLOPE

Physician-assisted suicide, euthanasia: increasingly legal but still rare Published July 19, 2016.  () 

Legalized euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are mainly used by patients with cancer, but remain rare, according to a new analysis of such programs. In the last year alone, California has legalized physician-assisted suicide, Canada legalized both physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia, and Colombia performed its first legal euthanasia, said John Urwin, a study author from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. "In order to inform current debates, it's imperative to understand current laws and practices. Definitions of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide vary between countries, Urwin and his colleagues write in JAMA. Generally, they explain, euthanasia is when a doctor takes action to end a patient's life. When patients take physician-prescribed pills to end their lives, it's known as physician-assisted suicide. The researchers assessed the legal status of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide by reviewing polling data and published surveys of the public and physicians, official state and country databases, interview studies with physicians and death certificate studies for the period 1947 to 2016. They found no evidence for widespread abuse of these practices, according to their report. In addition to Canada and Colombia, the practices are at least partially legal in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Physician-assisted suicide is also legal in the U.S. states of Oregon, Washington, Montana and Vermont. Overall, support for physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia varies around the world. Support for physician-assisted suicide in the U.S. increased from 37 percent in 1947 to 53 percent in the early 1970s and leveled off around 1990, with two-thirds of people in the U.S. supporting the practice. In Western Europe, they write, support for physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia is strong and increasing. Meanwhile, support is decreasing in Central and Eastern Europe. Researchers need better data on practices in countries with and without legalized physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia, Urwin said.  His team found that in countries where the practices are legal, 0.3 to 4.6 percent of deaths are attributed to physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. Over two-thirds of cases involved patients with cancer, they write. Urwin said people mainly request physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia due to "loss of autonomy and inability to enjoy life rather than pain. Most people requesting those types of deaths are older, white, and well-educated, he added. Data from California will be important, Urwin said. "As the largest and most diverse U.S. state to have legalized (physician-assisted suicide), it will be interesting to see if the characteristics of those seeking (physician-assisted suicide) are similar to those of the other states that have done so," he said. "Depending on how (physician-assisted suicide) is received in California, other states may be more or less likely to pass similar legislation. 

SOMETHING ELSE TO MAKE YOU LAUGH

Skill Set Enhancement 

A young man, hired by a supermarket, reported for his first day of work. The manager greeted him with a warm handshake and a smile, gave him a broom and said, "Your first job will be to sweep out the store." "But I'm a college graduate," the young man replied indignantly. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know that," said the manager. "Here, give me the broom, I'll show you how." 

Camping Advice 

When using a public campground, a tuba placed on your picnic table will keep the campsites on either side vacant. 

My Housework Philosophy 

• I don't do windows because I love birds and don't want one to run into a clean window and get hurt. 
• I don't wax floors because I am terrified a guest will slip, hurt themselves, I'll feel terrible, and they might sue me. 
• I don't mind the dust bunnies because they are very good company. I have named most of them, and they agree with everything I say. 
• I don't disturb cobwebs because I want every creature to have a home of their own. 
• I don't spring clean because I love all the seasons and don't want the others to get jealous. 
• I don't pull weeds in the garden because I don't want to get rid of the only green I've got. 
• I don't put things away because my husband will never be able to find them again. 
• I don't do gourmet meals when I entertain because I don't want my guests to stress out over what to make when they invite me over for dinner. 
• I don't iron because I choose to believe them when they say "Permanent Press." 
• I don't stress much on anything because "A Type" personalities die young and I want to stick around and become a wrinkled up crusty ol' person! 

Good Neighbor Policy 

A good neighbor is one that lets his grass grow as tall as yours. 

Church Visitors 

While on vacation, a friend visited a church on Sunday. They settled into a pew near the front of the church. An usher came up to them, tapped on pew and said, "This pew is saved." Her husband looked up, smiled and replied, "So are we!"

THE KNOT HEADS

Well, there were 12 knot heads that got together today and tied the knots on several blankets.   We enjoyed lemonade and some really good oatmeal cookies.  We laughed a lot and just enjoyed one another’s company.  We don’t have another one scheduled at this time but we will keep you informed. 

We do have another game day scheduled for August 9^th from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.  We really had a blast on that day earlier this month so we hope you will plan to attend on the 9^th. 

 

Until tomorrow:

Bob and Johnye

MOSQUITOES-WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T

Which mosquito repellent is best for you? By Lauren Oster Published July 16, 2016.  

Picking up a few bug bites used to be one of summer's rites of passage. It's not so innocent these days: Shielding yourself from ticks and mosquitoes is just as important as wearing sunscreen. "People used to hate to wear [insect] repellent, or say, 'Oh, I don't care about getting bitten,'" said Walter S. Leal, PhD, a chemical ecologist and professor of entomology at the University of California, Davis. Now, many experts warn that mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus may reach certain parts of the United States. Plus, West Nile has been reported in all 48 continental states. What's more, it's not just mosquitoes we need to be guarding against; ticks are a concern, too. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates Lyme disease rates have been rising steadily for at least three decades, and ticks can also carry other potentially fatal diseases.  Before you rush to the drugstore to stock up on bug spray, here are a few things you need to know. Keep your eyes peeled for EPA registration "Of the 20,000 products out there to supposedly repel insects, many don't work at all," said Immo A. Hansen, PhD, a molecular vector physiology expert at New Mexico State University whose team recently published a study of repellent efficacy in the Journal of Insect Science . So when can you actually believe what the label says? Most skin-applied insect repellents must be registered by the Environmental Protection Agency before they reach the market; if you see an EPA registration number on a product label, you know that it's been tested for safety and effectiveness. Better yet, as of this year, some products now have a black-and-yellow repellency awareness graphic which clearly states how long they have been proven to repel mosquitoes and ticks; that symbol means the company has provided the EPA with scientific data to support their claims.  Don't be afraid of DEET "People have the notion that DEET is synthetic and therefore it's not a good thing," Leal said. "But it's so effective and so good that it's lasted for more than six decades. No other product has been tested for safety and effectiveness in repelling insects more than DEET, Leal says, and reports of health risks have largely been overblown. Plus, it's the only type of repellent that the CDC recommends for tick protection. It's safe to use on children 2 months and older. "If you're going to stay outside and you don't want to bother with reapplying many times, I think DEET is the best thing we have on the market," Leal said. For most purposes, formulations containing 20 percent DEET are effective, Leal said. There is one downside to DEET: it has a pesky plasticizing effect that can damage fabrics, surfaces, and materials. It won't harm cotton, wool, or nylon, but materials like rubber, plastic, leather, vinyl, spandex, and even auto paint are fair game, so be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling it.  According to Research Picaridin is also a good choice Picaridin, another synthetic repellent, is also effective at keeping mosquitoes at bay for extended periods of time. (It may also protect against ticks, but the CDC recommends sticking to DEET if you're going to be in a tick-heavy area.) In a recent Consumer Reports spray-off, a product with 20 percent picaridin repelled mosquitoes for 8 hours and was considered the best repellent overall. While it lacks DEET's distinguished history (it's too new for us to know of potential long-term health risks-it was just approved for sale in the U.S. in 2005, whereas DEET has been around since 1946), it won't damage your belongings the way DEET can. Stacy Rodriguez, Hansen's colleague at the Molecular Vector Physiology Laboratory at New Mexico State University, is investigating the efficacy of repellents containing picaridin this summer. Candles and bracelets don't work Rodriguez has studied devices like oil of lemon eucalyptus bracelets and ultrasonic devices, and found none of them to be effective against mosquitos. "At this point in my research, I would strongly suggest spray-on repellents," she said. You can also forget about citronella candles-research shows don't work any better than regular candles at keeping bugs at bay. If keeping bugs out of your backyard is your goal, then your best bet is to eliminate standing water, where mosquitoes thrive.  There is one natural option, but it's not necessarily safer Synthesized oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) extract ( not the essential oil) is also an effective mosquito repellent. While it's plant-based, it isn't necessarily safer than lab-based repellents (and it doesn't repel ticks). The FDA cautions that OLE should be avoided for children under the age of 3, as it can cause temporary injury to the eyes. Which repellent is right for you? Plug your criteria (insect, protection time, active ingredient of choice, and so on) into the EPA's search tool. 

EVER NEED A GOOD REASON TO GROW A BEARD

Studies say beards are far more hygienic than you think By Arden Dier Published July 15, 2016.  

We have no need to fear the beard.  Go ahead, grow a beard: It's just as hygienic as having a clean face, and possibly more so, according to two recent studies. In stark contrast to earlier research that found beards could be as dirty as toilets, researchers who swabbed the faces of 409 male hospital workers found clean-shaven men were three times more likely to carry bacteria on their faces compared to men with beards. And that's not all. "The clean-shaven men actually had higher rates of certain bacterial species" and were 10 percent more likely to carry antibiotic resistant bacteria MRSA on their faces, study author Carrie Kovarik explains in a release. Though Penn Medicine researchers didn't examine why this was the case, Kovarik says shaving causes tiny cuts on the skin where bacteria can fester. "In general, we have no need to fear the beard," she says. In a second study, researchers took a closer look at the beards of surgeons, which are "controversial because of their potential to retain and transmit pathogenic organisms. After 10 surgeons with full beards and 10 without shook their faces over a petri dish, researchers concluded "the bearded group did not shed more than the clean-shaven group while unmasked, masked, or hooded. "It's not unthinkable that the cleanliness of my own beard may pale in comparison to the immaculate whorls of a surgeon's tress or nurse's sterile chops," Joshua A. Krisch writes at Vocativ. "But, at the very least, these studies suggest that all facial hair deserves to be judged on a case by case basis. More good news for men with beards: Facial hair keeps sweat close to the face for a nice cooling effect in summer. 

ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON BLANKETS

Last Thursday several of us got together at WSB to work on the blankets to be donated to Children’s Hospital.  We had a good time laughing and sharing time together in addition to doing something that we hope will benefit the children at the hospital.  By the way, the cookies were very good.  We have another one scheduled this Thursday the 21^st from 1 to 4 pm.  We would love to see as many of you as possible on that day.  If you would like to attend and need transportation, be sure to let Shelly know by Wednesday the 20^th.  Shelly’s contact info is:

501-664-7100  ext 233

Hope to see you there:

Until tomorrow

Bob and Johnye

A FEW THINGS TO MAKE YOU CHUCKLE

Obvious Choice 

Interviewer: "If you could have a conversation with someone, living or dead, who would it be?" 

Incredulous applicant: "The living one." 

The Password 

A "not-so-bright" chose the following as a computer password: MickeyMinnieDonaldDaisyGoofyHueyLouieWashington. When asked why she had chosen such a long password, she explained: "I was told that I should have seven characters and one capital." 

Signs 

The following are actual signs said to have been seen by travelers: 

• At a Santa Fe gas station: We will sell gasoline to anyone in a glass container.
• In a New York restaurant: Customers who consider our waitresses uncivil ought to see the manager.
• On the wall of a Baltimore convent: Trespassers will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. — Sisters of Mercy
• On a long-established New Mexico dry cleaners: 38 years on the same spot.
• In a Florida maternity ward: No children allowed.
• In a New York drugstore: We dispense with accuracy.
• In the offices of a loan company: Ask about our plans for owning your home.
• In a New York medical building: Mental Health Prevention Center.
• On a New York convalescent home: For the sick and tired of the Episcopal Church.
• On a Maine shop: Our motto is to give our customers the lowest possible prices and workmanship.
• At a number of military bases: Restricted to unauthorized personnel.
• On a display of "I love you only" Valentine cards: Now available in multi-packs.
• In a funeral parlor: Ask about our layaway plan.
• In a clothing store: Wonderful bargains for men with 16 and 17 necks.
• In a Tacoma, Washington men's clothing store: 15 men's wool suits, $10. They won't last an hour!
• On a shopping mall marquee: Archery Tournament — Ears pierced
• Outside a country shop: We buy junk and sell antiques.
• In the window of an Oregon store: Why go elsewhere and be cheated when you can come here?
• In a Maine restaurant: Open 7 days a week and weekends.
• In the vestry of a New England church: Will the last person to leave please see that the perpetual light is extinguished.
• In a Pennsylvania cemetery: Persons are prohibited from picking flowers from any but their own graves.

Flying Companions 

At the airport check-in counter, a man overheard a woman ask for window seats for both herself and her husband. The clerk pointed out that this would prevent them from sitting together. "Sweetie," the woman replied, "I've just spent 10 days of quality time in a compact rental car with this man. I know what I'm requesting!"

WOULD YOU GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO BE AN ENCOURAGER

Change Your Thinking

It will take just 37 seconds to read this and change your thinking..

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.

One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.

His bed was next to the room's only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.  The men talked for hours on end.

They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation..

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.

Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man could not hear the band - he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days, weeks and months passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.

She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.

He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.

It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.'

Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.

Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.

'Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present.

WISDOM COMES WITH AGE

German Shepherd starts chasing rabbits and before long, discovers that he's lost. Wandering about, he notices a panther heading rapidly in his direction with the intention of having lunch.

The old German Shepherd thinks, "Oh, oh! I'm in deep trouble now!"

Noticing some bones on the ground close by, he immediately settles down to chew on the bones with his back to the approaching cat. Just as the panther is about to leap, the old German Shepherd exclaims loudly,

"Boy, that was one delicious panther! I wonder if there are any more around here?

Hearing this, the young panther halts his attack in mid-strike, a look of terror comes over him and he slinks away into the trees.

"Whew!" says the panther, "That was close! That old German Shepherd nearly had me!"

Meanwhile, a squirrel who had been watching the whole scene from a nearby tree figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the panther. So, off he goes.

The squirrel soon catches up with the panther, spills the beans and strikes a deal for himself with the panther.

The young panther is furious at being made a fool of and says, "Here, squirrel, hop on my back and see what's going to happen to that conniving canine!"

Now, the old German Shepherd sees the panther coming with the squirrel on his back and thinks, "What am I going to do now?" But instead of running, the dog sits down with his back to his attackers, pretending he hasn't seen them yet, and just when they get close enough to hear, the old German Shepherd says...

"Where's that squirrel? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another panther!"

Moral of this story...

Don't mess with the old dogs. Age and skill will always overcome youth and treachery! Bull and brilliance only come with age and experience.

IS THIS WHAT WE REALLY HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO

What we have to look forward to.

 This is what 70+ year old's have to look forward to.  This is something that happened at an assisted living center.

 

The people who live there have small apartments but they all eat at a central cafeteria. One morning one of the residents didn't show up for breakfast so my wife went upstairs and knocked on his door to see if everything was OK. She could hear him through the door and he said that he was running late and would be down shortly so she went back to the dining area.

 

 An hour later he still hadn't arrived so she went back up towards his room and she found him on the stairs. He was coming down the stairs but was having a heck of a time. He had a death grip on the hand rail and seemed to have trouble getting his legs to work right. She told him she was going to call an ambulance but he told her no, he wasn't in any pain and just wanted to have his breakfast. So she helped him the rest of the way down the stairs and he had his breakfast.

 

 When he tried to return to his room he was completely unable to get up even the first step so they called an ambulance for him. A couple hours later she called the hospital to see how he was doing. The receptionist there said he was fine, he just had both of his legs in one leg of his boxer shorts.

 

A FUN GAME DAY AT WSB

Well, it was a fun day at WSB.  We all played bingo and some various card games.  It was fun visiting with our friends and we had some fresh baked cookies that were positively delicious.  As of right now, we are planning another game day on August 9^th so we hope that many of you who were unable to attend will put this date on your calendar. 

Don’t forget that we will be working on the blankets for Children’s hospital this Thursday the 14^th and we would love to see you there if you can come.

Until tomorrow:

Bob and Johnye

SOME INTERESTING LOCAL HISTORY-PART 2

In 1935, Sam and Henrietta Peck bought the Hotel Frederica and immediately began to make changes. Bathrooms were added, as was a sixth floor of suites. The Pecks lived on the fifth floor, and the hotel’s name was changed to the Sam Peck Hotel.

In 1938, the Pecks hired architect Edward Durrell Stone to design an art deco annex. Stone, who had been born at Fayetteville in 1902, would go on to become one of the most famous architects of the 20th century.

“The youngest of three children, Stone attended Fayetteville’s public schools but was not a serious student,” Robert Skolmen wrote for the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. “His mother encouraged his talents for drawing and building things and allowed him to have a home carpentry shop. At age 14, he won first prize in the countywide birdhouse competition, the judges of which included an architect and the president of the University of Arkansas.”

Stone attended the University of Arkansas from 1920-23 and then moved to Boston, where his brother was an architect. Stone was hired as a draftsman by Henry Shepley, one of the city’s leading architects. Stone later attended the Harvard Architectural School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, though he never graduated. He headed to Europe for two years in 1927. When Stone returned to the United States, he settled in New York, working on projects such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Goodyear House. He was the chief of the planning and design section of the U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II.

Stone returned to Arkansas after the war, designing buildings such as the University Hospital in Little Rock and the Sigma Nu house on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville. Childhood friend J. William Fulbright even asked him to design a line of furniture, which was manufactured by Fulbright Industries of Fayetteville in the 1950s.

Stone would go on to design such well-known structures as the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, the General Motors building in New York City, the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, the El Panama Hotel in Panama City, Panama, and the Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, Calif.

When Winthrop Rockefeller fled New York in 1953 for Arkansas, the Sam Peck Hotel was the first place he called home. Rockefeller, who was among the world’s richest men, was in a sense a refugee from a highly publicized divorce and the constant scrutiny that anyone with the name Rockefeller was forced to live under in Manhattan. He was a far different man than his brothers. He had withdrawn from Yale University after three years and gone to the oil fields of Texas to serve as an apprentice roughneck. Rockefeller later would tell friends that it was one of the happiest periods of his life.

In 1937, at age 25, the man who later would become known in our state simply as WR returned to New York and went to work for the family’s Socony-Vacuum oil company. He didn’t like it. Another happy period would be Rockefeller’s Army career during World War II. He had enlisted as a private more than 10 months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. By the end of the war, Rockefeller was a lieutenant colonel who had seen action at Guam and Okinawa.

“Rockefeller’s years after World War II were not happy ones,” Arkansas historian Tom Dillard wrote for the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. “Still working at Socony-Vacuum, he chaffed at the restrictive lifestyle expected of him and his siblings. A heavy drinker known for his playboy lifestyle, Rockefeller often frequented chic cafes late at night with a movie star on his arm. He abruptly married an attractive blonde divorcee named Barbara ‘Bobo’ Sears on Valentine’s Day in 1948. Soon they were the parents of a son, Winthrop Paul Rockefeller, but the marriage dissolved within a year.”

So he fled to Arkansas and the Sam Peck at the invitation of an old Army friend who was from Arkansas, Frank Newell. His arrival date was June 9, 1953. Within a year, Rockefeller had purchased a large tract of land atop Petit Jean Mountain and set out to create a model ranch. Ultimately, he would change an entire state.

The third and final section of the Sam Peck Hotel was built in 1960. The 49-room addition was designed in the fashion of the motor inns of the era and was intended to capture some of the business that had been lost to the motels being built on the roads leading in and out of Little Rock. Downtown Little Rock was about to begin a long, slow decline, and the Sam Peck declined with it.

The original five-story hotel was renovated in 1984, and the hotel reopened as the Legacy. A number of owners would be involved during the years that followed, and the hotel closed for a time in 1996. Another group of owners performed renovations in 2003. They enclosed the exterior corridor of the motor inn portion and connected it to the original hotel.

Gov. Mike Huckabee on that June day in 2003 when Lt. Gov. Winthrop Paul Rockefeller re-enacted his father checking into the hotel on the 50th anniversary of that important date in Arkansas history. The lieutenant governor even used the suitcase that his father had carried on that day.

SOME INTERESTING LOCAL HISTORY-PART 1

 It was 1929, the year the Great Depression began, when the Albert Pike Hotel opened in downtown Little Rock.

As it turned out, that wasn’t the best time to be opening a hotel, but the Albert Pike would reign as one of the state’s best-known hotels for decades. In 1971, Little Rock’s Second Baptist Church bought the hotel for $740,000 and transformed it into a residence hotel. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Now in private hands, it remains a residential facility for those ages 55 and older.

The block on which the hotel was built once had been occupied by a house constructed in 1827 for Robert Crittenden, the secretary of the Arkansas Territory. The Crittenden House was among the first brick residences in Little Rock. Facing financial problems, Crittenden attempted to trade the house for 10 sections of undeveloped land, hoping the brick home would become the site of the territorial capitol. Foreclosure followed Crittenden’s death in 1834, and the house was sold to Judge Benjamin Johnson, whose heirs later sold it to Dr. E.V. Dewell.

Dewell, in turn, sold the house to Gov. James P. Eagle, and it was the official governor’s residence from 1889-93. The Crittenden House was razed in 1920.

The 175-room Albert Pike was constructed at a cost of almost $1 million. The hotel was built in the Spanish Revival style, which was popular in California. It featured tiled roofs, exposed beams, decorative tile, iron work and stained-glass windows. The building is Little Rock’s only remaining major example of Spanish Revival architecture.

At the time the Farrell Hotel Co. opened it, the Albert Pike was considered to be among the finest hotels in the South. Architect Eugene John Stern designed two main wings of eight stories each that extended toward Scott Street and were connected across the back by a 10-story section. Above the entries were terra-cotta medallions with heraldic shields and the initials “AP.”

The two-story main lobby was overlooked by a mezzanine that featured a custom-made Hazelton Brothers grand piano designed to match the building’s interior features. Hazelton Brothers Piano Co., established in 1840 by brothers Henry and Fredrick Hazelton in New York City, was one of the premier piano manufacturers of the period.

The owners decided to name the hotel after Albert Pike, a prominent lawyer who had died in 1891. Pike, a central figure in the development of Freemasonry in the state, was a poet, a writer and a Confederate commander in the Indian Territory during the Civil War.

In 1976, the residence hotel received a $2.4 million loan from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development for infrastructure improvements. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in November 1978. In late 1985, it was purchased by a privately held corporation based in Jonesboro. The new owners continued upgrades to the interior, including restoration of what’s known as the North Lounge in 1994.

In May 2013, BSR Trust of Little Rock and Montgomery, Ala., completed the purchase of the 130-unit apartment building. Empire Corp. of Knoxville, Tenn., was hired to perform additional renovations.

The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program notes: “The main significance of the Albert Pike Hotel lies not in the site on which it stands nor in the man for whom it was named; rather the real significance lies in its vivid reflections of a bygone time and an architecture appropriate for that time. The Albert Pike was built in the year of the great crash, but as near as the crash and Great Depression were, the time was still the Roaring Twenties when the hotel was built. It was still a time of spending, speculation and naïve economic optimism. The lavishness of the hotel’s architecture is a kind of social art reflecting that time of high living so soon to end.”

By the time the Albert Pike was built in 1929, the Hotel Frederica had been going strong for more than a decade. Businessman Fred Allsopp chose the corner of Capitol Avenue and Gaines Street in downtown Little Rock to construct a five-story building in 1913 with one bathroom on each floor. The rates were $2 per night for a room, $20 per month and 50 cents for meals.

Allsopp had been born in 1867 in England (the country, not the town in Lonoke County). His family moved to Arkansas — Prescott to be exact — when he was 12. He began selling newspapers and by age 16 was setting type for the Nevada County Picayune. He applied for a job at the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock when he was just 17 and was hired. Allsopp started work in the mailroom but was ambitious and quickly moved up the ladder. After learning shorthand and typing, he was transferred to the business office as a stenographer and subscription clerk. Allsopp would write letters, keep files in order and take dictation. He later moved to the newsroom. After several bad experiences as a reporter, he returned to the business department.

James Newton Smithee became the majority owner of the Gazette in May 1896 and appointed Allsopp as the newspaper’s secretary and assistant business manager. Allsopp moved up to business manager and was asked to stay on when a new group of owners came along in 1899. Judge Carrick Heiskell of Memphis bought the newspaper in 1902 along with sons John and Fred. Allsopp became a minor stockholder, though the Heiskell family later would buy back his shares.

“Allsopp developed a reputation for his penny-pinching ways,” Dennis Schick wrote for the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. “He insisted on keeping advertisements on the front page long after that went out of style. He dragged his feet on virtually every new proposal, from daily and color comics to going to a seven-day publication. But in 1906, the newspaper added a Monday edition, becoming a seven-day-a-week publication, and the newspaper added color comics in 1908, a first in the state.

“A lifelong lover of books, Allsopp recognized that he had a book-publishing opportunity within easy grasp with his newspaper’s printing department and bindery. In addition to publishing books, he collected them and opened a bookstore, Allsopp & Chapple, the leading bookstore in Little Rock.”

Allsopp also wrote five books.

UPCOMING EVENTS AT WSB

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

We have two upcoming events of interest.  On Tuesday the 12^th we will be having a game day designed for fun and fellowship.  It is scheduled from 1 o’clock to 4 o’clock.  Be sure to contact Shelly by Monday the 11^th if you plan to attend, especially if you need transportation. 

 

On Thursday the 14^th we will be working on the blankets once again.  These will be donated to Children’s Hospital.  It will also run from 1 o’clock to 4 o’clock and you will need to let Shelly know by Wednesday the 13^th again especially if you will need transportation.  We hope many of you will plan to attend.

Hope to see you there.

Shelly’s contact info:

501-664-7100 ext 233

Until tomorrow

Bob and Johnye

A LITTLE BLIND HUMOR

Walking the Dog...

A woman was flying from Seattle to San Francisco . 

Unexpectedly, the plane was diverted to Sacramento along the way.  

The flight attendant explained that there would be a delay, and if the passengers wanted to get off the aircraft the plane would re-board in 50 minutes. 

Everybody got off the plane except one lady who was blind. 

  

A man had noticed her as he walked by and could tell the lady was blind because her guide dog lay quietly underneath the seats in front of her throughout the entire flight. 

  

He could also tell she had flown this very flight before because the pilot approached her, and calling her by name, said, "Kathy, we are in Sacramento for almost an hour.  Would you like to get off and  stretch your legs?" 

The blind lady said, "No thanks, but maybe Buddy would like to stretch his legs." 

  

Picture  this: 

All the  people in the gate area came to a complete standstill when they looked up and saw the pilot walk off the plane with a guide dog for the blind! Even worse, the pilot was wearing sunglasses! 

People scattered. They not only tried to change planes, but they were trying to change airlines! 

True story.... 

Have a great day and remember ..... 

Things aren’t always as they appear…

A day without laughter is a day wasted!