by
12.29.2008
Beat the Winter Blahs
Make a kite, learn to play the guitar, beat a drum or learn what it takes to write your memoir.
by
12.23.2008
Let's All NOT Kill Each Other on the Roads
So you're going to be driving over the next few days. As I write the roads are getting icy, but it will be 53 degrees on Christmas Day. If I don't start a riot due to the stupid weather, I will also be driving. I would appreciate it if you wouldn't kill me while I drive by doing something stupid.
by
12.19.2008
Winter and You
The Department of Public Safety Emergency Management Agency doesn’t
want you to get caught out in the cold or in a flood or any of the other icky
weather situations that arise during the winter months in
“To stay safe, learn the difference between winter storm watches and warnings mean,” the press release says. “Prepare your home against the cold; and use caution and common sense when driving.
And this is what they have to say about that…
Winter Awareness Information:
- A winter storm WATCH means a winter storm is possible in
your area.
- A winter storm WARNING means a winter storm is occurring
or will soon occur in your area. Local National Weather Service forecast
offices issue warnings on a county-by-county basis.
- A blizzard WARNING means sustained winds or frequent gusts
to 35 miles per hour or greater and considerable falling or blowing snow
(reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile) are expected to prevail for a
period of three hours or longer.
- Be aware of changing weather conditions.
Winter Preparedness Information:
- Use a NOAA Weather Radio to keep you informed of watches and warnings issued in your area
- Keep your vehicle’s gas tank full for emergency use and to keep the fuel line from
- Discuss with your family what to do if a winter storm WATCH or WARNING is issued Make sure your home is properly insulated. If necessary, insulate walls and attic
Winter Driving:
- Have your vehicles winterized before the winter storm
- Put together a separate disaster supplies kit for your vehicle
- Speed and Distance —The faster you’re going, the longer it will take to stop. When accelerating on snow or ice, take it slow to avoid slipping and sliding. Remember, Ice and Snow…Take it Slow
- Brake — Brake early, brake slowly, brake correctly, and never slam on the brakes. If you have anti-lock brakes, press the pedal down firmly and hold it. If you don’t have anti-lock brakes, gently pump the pedal. Either way, give yourself plenty of room to stop
- Control — When driving on ice and snow, do not use cruise control and avoid abrupt steering maneuvers. When merging into traffic, take it slow. Sudden movements can cause your vehicle to slide.
- Vision — Be aware of what’s going on well ahead of you. Actions by other vehicles will alert you to problems more quickly, and give you that split-second of extra time to react safely
To check out road closures, detours and other traffic information, visit www.buckeyetraffic.org
by
12.17.2008
YP Habitaters
Young Professionals ditch their suits and briefcases and trade them in for dirty clothes and power tools and they want more people to join them in 2009. Why? So they can build more stuff – houses, to be specific.
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Crack the 1,000 member mark
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Increase their fundraising from $10,000 per year to … $25,000
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Continue to pave the way for new Habitat YP groups interested in starting up their own efforts across the country using similar successful efforts in
Right now Habitat YP is looking for more YP volunteers to “DO MORE” in committee and leadership roles in 2009. For more information about what that means, and to sign up, visit www.cincinnati-habitat.org/yp, or email yp@cincinnati-habitat.org.
by
12.16.2008
Conversing About Schools
The Cincinnati Public Schools levy passed. The Superintendent search is still going on. Want to know more about what cuts are in the works to address the budget short-fall and what Mary Ronan, the interim superintendent, is up to?
CPS is hosting a “Community Conversation” in two parts on Jan. 13.
The first
part is a brown-bag lunch will be hosted at the
Make some
time a Tuesday to find out what’s going on in the school district so you’re
more informed.
by
12.10.2008
Sheriff's Spending Finally Scrutinized
Dictionary.com defines “synchronicity” as “the coincidental occurrence of events and especially psychic events (as similar thoughts in widely separated persons or a mental image of an unexpected event before it happens) that seem related but are not explained by conventional mechanisms of causality.”
by
12.09.2008
April 15 Is Coming ... Start Planning Now!
Your friendly Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has a suggestion: Do some prep now to save a headache later. In a press release, the IRS offered some helpful hints that will make it easier to do just that.
by
12.04.2008
Shopping Mania
Shop-til-you-drop is the new mantra for a lot of people, but buyer beware!
“Ken Grossman, crime prevention specialist with the Xavier University Police Department, has created a list of holiday safety tips as a means of reminding and helping members of the community remain safe during the holidays,” says a press release from Xavier.
• Don’t be overburdened with packages. Carrying several shopping bags makes you vulnerable.
(Going back to the car to drop purchases in the trunk and be a pain, but look at it as additional exercise and an insurance policy for seeing people open those gifts you picked out – don’t forget to set your car alarm.)
• Shop with others.
If there are three or more people together, the chance of being targeted for
crime is 90 percent less than when alone.
(The stress of finding parking and waiting in line is a lot easier to deal with when you’re able to enjoy the company of friends, not strangers, in the midst of all the hassle.)
• ATM robberies often
occur after the patron has completed their transaction. Always have your head
up and be aware of your surroundings when you leave an ATM.
(Only go to well-lit ATM locations, go with an ATM buddy or, better yet, use an ATM during banking hours when there security guards are standing by.)
• Avoid leaving boxes from purchases (especially TVs, VCRs, computer, etc.) out on the curb for trash pickup.
(Take advantage of community recycling drop centers – you can recycle cardboard and other materials removing tell-tale signs of expensive gifts in the house and get rid of old computers and related paraphernalia via the computer recycling program offered by Hamilton County.)
More tips can be found at the school’s Web site, too.
by
12.03.2008
Updating the Media Bloodbath
Here's a little more on the layoffs being announced today at The Cincinnati Enquirer.
