Thanks Bill for this one too!
Note from Bill - Pretty cool...sometimes it is a matter of being in the right place (with a
camera ready to shoot).
http://www.box.net/shared/hpriy7lguq
Happy 4th of July 2010 !!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Doing the Right Thing
Thanks to Bill for this one!
Two Choices
What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line,
there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the
same choice?
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning
disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that
would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school
and its
dedicated staff, he offered a question:
'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does,
is done with perfection.
Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot
understand things as other children do.
Where is the natural order of things in my son?'
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was
mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to
realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other
people treat that child.'
Then he told the following story:
Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing
baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that
most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as
a father/ I/ also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it
would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to
be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much)
if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're
losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can
be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'
Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on
a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my
heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but
was still behind by three.
In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the
right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic
just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I
waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.
Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was
on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win
the game?
Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all
but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat
properly, much less connect with the ball.
However, as Shay stepped up to the
plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning
aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the
ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.
The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly
towards Shay.
As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball
right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over.
The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the
ball to the first baseman.
Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head,
out of reach of all team mates.
Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to
first!
Run to first!'
Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.
He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'
Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and
struggling to make it to the base.
B y the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the
ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be
the hero for his team.
He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he
understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the
ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.
Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him
circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'
Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him
by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!
Shay, run to third!'
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators,
were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who
hit the grand slam and won the game for his team
'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face,
'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity
into this world'.
Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never
forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and
seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:
We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second
thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices,
people hesitate.
The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but
public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools
and workplaces.
If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that
you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't
the 'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message Well, the person
who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference.
We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize
the 'natural order of things.'
So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us
with a choice:
Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up
those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?
A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least
fortunate amongst them.
You now have two choices:
1. Delete
2. Forward
May your day, be a Shay Day.*
_________________________________________________
Two Choices
What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line,
there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the
same choice?
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning
disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that
would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school
and its
dedicated staff, he offered a question:
'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does,
is done with perfection.
Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot
understand things as other children do.
Where is the natural order of things in my son?'
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was
mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to
realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other
people treat that child.'
Then he told the following story:
Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing
baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that
most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as
a father/ I/ also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it
would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to
be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much)
if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're
losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can
be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'
Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on
a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my
heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but
was still behind by three.
In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the
right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic
just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I
waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.
Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was
on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win
the game?
Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all
but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat
properly, much less connect with the ball.
However, as Shay stepped up to the
plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning
aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the
ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.
The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly
towards Shay.
As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball
right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over.
The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the
ball to the first baseman.
Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head,
out of reach of all team mates.
Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to
first!
Run to first!'
Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.
He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'
Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and
struggling to make it to the base.
B y the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the
ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be
the hero for his team.
He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he
understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the
ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.
Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him
circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'
Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him
by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!
Shay, run to third!'
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators,
were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who
hit the grand slam and won the game for his team
'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face,
'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity
into this world'.
Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never
forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and
seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:
We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second
thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices,
people hesitate.
The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but
public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools
and workplaces.
If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that
you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't
the 'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message Well, the person
who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference.
We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize
the 'natural order of things.'
So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us
with a choice:
Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up
those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?
A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least
fortunate amongst them.
You now have two choices:
1. Delete
2. Forward
May your day, be a Shay Day.*
_________________________________________________
May Calendar Holidays!
Birthstone: Emerald
Flower: Lily-of-the-Valley and Hawthorne
Astrological Signs: Taurus: April 20 - May 20, Gemini: May 21 - June 20

Other Observances, Celebrations, or Events that may occur this month:
Patriots' Day
Law Day 1st Day of May
Loyalty Day 1st Day of May
National Day of Prayer 1st Thu in May
Peace Officers Memorial Day 15th day of May
National Defense Transportation Day 3rd Fri in May
Shavou'ot
Ascension Day
Police Week Week in which May 15 occurs
National Safe Boating Week 7 day period ending on last Fri before Memorial Day
National Transportation Week Week that includes 3rd Fri in May
Flower: Lily-of-the-Valley and Hawthorne
Astrological Signs: Taurus: April 20 - May 20, Gemini: May 21 - June 20

Other Observances, Celebrations, or Events that may occur this month:
Patriots' Day
Law Day 1st Day of May
Loyalty Day 1st Day of May
National Day of Prayer 1st Thu in May
Peace Officers Memorial Day 15th day of May
National Defense Transportation Day 3rd Fri in May
Shavou'ot
Ascension Day
Police Week Week in which May 15 occurs
National Safe Boating Week 7 day period ending on last Fri before Memorial Day
National Transportation Week Week that includes 3rd Fri in May
Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's!
What 'MOTHER' means
M... is for the million things she gave me,
O... means only that she's growing old,
T... is for the tears she shed to save me,
H... is for her heart of purest gold;
E... is for her eyes, with love-light shining,
R... means right, and right she'll always be.
Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER,"
A word that means the world to me
Before I was a Mom,
Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom ...
Send this to someone who you think is an awesome Mom.
May you always be overwhelmed by
the Grace of God rather than by the cares of life.
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom ...
Send this to someone who you think is an awesome Mom.
May you always be overwhelmed by
the Grace of God rather than by the cares of life.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Message from Dennis from 137/102!
Hi,
This is you friend Dennis Zoulek,
I am now a licensed agent for Western & Southern Financial Group.
Value Citys 401K plan is being terminated effective May 18th.
I can help you preserve your 401K assets without penalty or charge into a fixed account where you would never lose any money.
Please contact me as soon as possible for further details.
Western & Southern Life
Dennis Zoulek
1199 Delaware Ave
Suite 105
Marion, Ohio 43302
800-678-2347 ex 134
This is you friend Dennis Zoulek,
I am now a licensed agent for Western & Southern Financial Group.
Value Citys 401K plan is being terminated effective May 18th.
I can help you preserve your 401K assets without penalty or charge into a fixed account where you would never lose any money.
Please contact me as soon as possible for further details.
Western & Southern Life
Dennis Zoulek
1199 Delaware Ave
Suite 105
Marion, Ohio 43302
800-678-2347 ex 134
Food--please read
Can't eat pork, Swine flu...
Can't eat chicken, Bird flu....
Can't eat Beef, Mad cow....
Can't eat eggs, Salmonella....
Can't eat fish, heavy metal poisons in their waters....
Can't eat fruits and veggies, insecticides and herbicides.....
Hmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe that leaves Chocolate and ice cream!!!!!!!!
Remember - - - 'STRESSED' spelled backwards! is 'DESSERTS'
Send this to four people and you will lose 2 pounds
Delete it and you will gain 10 pounds immediately!
That's why I had to pass this on - -
- - - didn't want to risk it - - -
And I wanted to put a smile on your face.
Can't eat chicken, Bird flu....
Can't eat Beef, Mad cow....
Can't eat eggs, Salmonella....
Can't eat fish, heavy metal poisons in their waters....
Can't eat fruits and veggies, insecticides and herbicides.....
Hmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe that leaves Chocolate and ice cream!!!!!!!!
Remember - - - 'STRESSED' spelled backwards! is 'DESSERTS'
Send this to four people and you will lose 2 pounds
Delete it and you will gain 10 pounds immediately!
That's why I had to pass this on - -
- - - didn't want to risk it - - -
And I wanted to put a smile on your face.
Delayed jobless benefits to start soon
http://columbusdispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2009/05/07/Unemployment_Bump.ART_ART_05-07-09_A10_EQDPGFJ.html?sid=101
Delayed jobless benefits to start soon
Thursday, May 7, 2009 3:10 AM
WBNS-10TV
The state has yet to pass along an extra $25 a week in unemployment benefits provided by the federal stimulus package enacted more than 2 1/2 months ago.
State officials blame computer-programming delays and say they expect the additional money to start going out next week -- along with any retroactive payments that jobless Ohioans should have been receiving since Feb. 22, when the provision took effect.
"It's been very frustrating," said one unemployed Ohioan who asked to be identified by only her middle name, Marie, because she's embarrassed to be out of work.
"I received a phone call back in March telling me I was eligible for the $25 a week."
As of this week, however, no additional payments had arrived because the federal money still hadn't been processed by Ohio's Department of Job and Family Services, which administers the state's unemployment-compensation program.
Many states began distributing the extra money the last week of February or the first week in March.
Brian Harter, a spokesman for the agency, said a number of Ohioans have called to complain about the missing money.
Harter said the temporary benefit bump coincided with a federally funded seven-week extension in unemployment benefits. That, he said, meant the agency had to reprogram its computers twice, and it opted to deal with the extension first.
"If we hadn't done that, there would have been 22,000 Ohioans that weren't getting any unemployment benefits," Harter said. "We wanted to make sure that didn't happen."
Checks reflecting the $25-a-week increase should begin going out by the end of next week, said Angela Terez, a spokeswoman for the Department of Job and Family Services.
Ohioans who fall within the seven-week extension period will get the adjustments first, followed by anyone else who has filed for unemployment.
Dispatch reporter Catherine Candisky contributed to this story.
Visual Stress Test
Are any of these items moving? Or are they perfectly still??
One teacher said, "I felt like they were all moving..But slowly.
Kind of like, they were breathing."
The pictures attached are used to test the level of stress a person can handle.
The slower the pictures move,the better your ability of handling stress.
Criminals that were tested see them spinning around madly;
however senior citizens and kids see them standing still.
None of these images are animated - they are perfectly still.
-
P.S. (If you do happen to see the images spinning around madly,
please take me off your mailing list.)
Thank You.
Challenge!
Okay, I am requesting a Challenge! Yes, I said "challenge" and if you don't comply you will be added to the BAD (late) list.. lol
We have 46 people in our group! I challenge EVERY person to locate or talk to at least (1) ONE ex - VC employee/friend and get then to sign up for Facebook or if they already have face book add them as a friend and invite them to the group!
If everyone does this our group will grow to almost 100! I give you a week to comply!
Enjoy and have fun with this!!!
If you have any other ideas, let me know!!!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=66420967034
We have 46 people in our group! I challenge EVERY person to locate or talk to at least (1) ONE ex - VC employee/friend and get then to sign up for Facebook or if they already have face book add them as a friend and invite them to the group!
If everyone does this our group will grow to almost 100! I give you a week to comply!
Enjoy and have fun with this!!!
If you have any other ideas, let me know!!!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=66420967034
June Newsletter publication!
My counter partners and I were thinking about have people submit older (childhood) pictures for the June issue of the newsletter and making it into a game to see who can figure out who the picture(s) are of??
We may even consider a winning prize if we have a big turnout!
Don't worry it wont be like the Oprah, free chicken coupon..lol
Sound like a good idea??? Let me know and if you are will to submit a photo and want to play email me at the address below.
CLBAUER2000@AOL.COM
We may even consider a winning prize if we have a big turnout!
Don't worry it wont be like the Oprah, free chicken coupon..lol
Sound like a good idea??? Let me know and if you are will to submit a photo and want to play email me at the address below.
CLBAUER2000@AOL.COM
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
And silly me! I've only been drinking the stuff ! HUMMMMMM
| 1. To remove a bandage painlessly, |
2. To clean the caulking around bathtubs and showers,
fill a trigger-spray bottle with vodka, spray the caulking,
let set five minutes and wash clean.
The alcohol in the vodka kills mold and mildew.
3. To clean your eyeglasses,(if you drink you won't care if you've dirty glasses)
simply wipe the lenses with a soft,
clean cloth dampened with vodka.
The alcohol in the vodka cleans the glass and kills germs.
4. Prolong the life of razors by filling a cup with vodka
and letting your safety razor blade
soak in the alcohol after shaving.
The vodka disinfects the blade and prevents rusting.
5. Spray vodka on wine stains,
scrub with a brush, and then blot dry.
6. Using a cotton ball, apply vodka to your face
as an astringent to cleanse the skin and tighten pores.
7. Add a jigger of vodka to a 12-ounce bottle of shampoo.
The alcohol cleanses the scalp,removes toxins from hair,
and stimulates the growth of healthy hair.
8. Fill a sixteen-ounce trigger-spray bottle with vodka
and spray bees or wasps to kill them..
9. Pour one-half cup vodka
and one-half cup water into a Ziploc freezer bag
and freeze for a slushy, refreshing ice pack for aches,
pain or black eyes.
10. Fill a clean, used mayonnaise jar
with freshly packed lavender flowers,
fill the jar with vodka, seal the lid tightly
and set in the sun for three days.
Strain liquid through a coffee filter,
then apply the tincture to aches and pains.
11. To relieve a fever, use a washcloth
to rub vodka on your chest and back as a liniment.
12. To cure foot odor,
wash your feet with vodka.
13 Vodka will disinfect
and alleviate a jellyfish sting.
14. Pour vodka over an area affected with poison ivy
to remove the urushiol oil from your skin.
15. Swish a shot of vodka over an aching tooth.
Allow your gums to absorb some of the alcohol to numb the pain.
And silly me!
I've only been drinking the stuff ! HUMMMMMM
Filene’s Basement Files For Ch. 11 Protection
http://www.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/article/filenes_basement_files_for_ch._11_protection/15401/
Associated Press
Published: May 4, 2009
WILMINGTON, Del.—Discount retailer Filene’s Basement says it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, less than two weeks after its new owner said it was reviewing “all available options.“
The privately held company also reached a deal that will allow a Crown Acquisitions affiliate to buy 17 of its 25 stores, including its flagship locations in Boston and New York. The agreement is subject to a bankruptcy court auction, which is expected in about five weeks.
Buxbaum Group, a California-based liquidator, acquired Filene’s last month through an affiliate company, FB II Acquisition Corp. The sale came after the previous owner, Columbus, Ohio-based Retail Ventures Inc., said the chain was experiencing “significant liquidity problems.“
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
Associated Press
Published: May 4, 2009
WILMINGTON, Del.—Discount retailer Filene’s Basement says it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, less than two weeks after its new owner said it was reviewing “all available options.“
The privately held company also reached a deal that will allow a Crown Acquisitions affiliate to buy 17 of its 25 stores, including its flagship locations in Boston and New York. The agreement is subject to a bankruptcy court auction, which is expected in about five weeks.
Buxbaum Group, a California-based liquidator, acquired Filene’s last month through an affiliate company, FB II Acquisition Corp. The sale came after the previous owner, Columbus, Ohio-based Retail Ventures Inc., said the chain was experiencing “significant liquidity problems.“
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
FDA Warns Consumers to Stop Using Hydroxycut Products
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2009/NEW02006.html
FDA Warns Consumers to Stop Using Hydroxycut Products
FDA Warns Consumers to Stop Using Hydroxycut Products
FDA News
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
| Media Inquiries:
|
FDA Warns Consumers to Stop Using Hydroxycut Products
Dietary Supplements Linked to One Death; Pose Risk of Liver Injury
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers to immediately stop using Hydroxycut products by Iovate Health Sciences Inc., of Oakville, Ontario and distributed by Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc. of Blasdell, N.Y. Some Hydroxycut products are associated with a number of serious liver injuries. Iovate has agreed to recall Hydroxycut products from the market.
The FDA has received 23 reports of serious health problems ranging from jaundice and elevated liver enzymes, an indicator of potential liver injury, to liver damage requiring liver transplant. One death due to liver failure has been reported to the FDA. Other health problems reported include seizures; cardiovascular disorders; and rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle damage that can lead to other serious health problems such as kidney failure.
Liver injury, although rare, was reported by patients at the doses of Hydroxycut recommended on the bottle. Symptoms of liver injury include jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes) and brown urine. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, light-colored stools, excessive fatigue, weakness, stomach or abdominal pain, itching, and loss of appetite.
“The FDA urges consumers to discontinue use of Hydroxycut products in order to avoid any undue risk. Adverse events are rare, but exist. Consumers should consult a physician or other health care professional if they are experiencing symptoms possibly associated with these products,” said Linda Katz, M.D., interim chief medical officer of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
Hydroxycut products are dietary supplements that are marketed for weight-loss, as fat burners, as energy-enhancers, as low carb diet aids, and for water loss under the Iovate and MuscleTech brand names. The list of products being recalled by Iovate currently includes:
Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
Hydroxycut 24
Hydroxycut Carb Control
Hydroxycut Natural
Although the FDA has not received reports of serious liver-related adverse reactions for all Hydroxycut products, Iovate has agreed to recall all the products listed above. Hydroxycut Cleanse and Hoodia products are not affected by the recall. Consumers who have any of the products involved in the recall are advised to stop using them and to return them to the place of purchase. The agency has not yet determined which ingredients, dosages, or other health-related factors may be associated with risks related to these Hydroxycut products. The products contain a variety of ingredients and herbal extracts.
Health care professionals and consumers are encouraged to report serious adverse events (side effects) or product quality problems with the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online, by regular mail, fax or phone.
–Online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm
–Regular Mail: Use FDA postage paid form 3500 found at: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm and mail to MedWatch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787
–Fax: 800-FDA-0178
–Phone: 800-FDA-1088
The FDA continues to investigate the potential relationship between Hydroxycut dietary supplements and liver injury or other potentially serious side effects.
For more information:
Dietary Supplements -- Overview
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
#
How to Avoid Job Scams
http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2009/04/22/how-to-avoid-job-scams/?ncid=AOLCOMMjobsDYNLsec0002&icid=main
How to Avoid Job Scams
Filed under: Employment Trends, Job Advice, Work From Home
Posted Apr 22nd 2009 2:29PM
Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer
"If it seems too good to be true, it probably is."
If nothing else, this age-old adage might be the most important piece of advice to remember in your job search, especially in today's market.
Though job scams are prevalent at any point in time, today's tough economic times have increased the amount of scammers looking to take advantage of people desperate to make money and find a job.
"With the economy sliding, people who might otherwise be skeptical want to find a silver lining and too often mistake the glitz and glamour promises of a scammer's ad for their path to financial security," says Christine Durst, co-founder and CEO of Staffcentrix, a training and development company that focuses on home-based work.
Durst says Staffcentrix researchers screen about 5,000 home jobs leads every week, and there is a "56-to-one scam ratio" among work-at-home job ads. Any opportunity where you can "make money fast," "no experience is necessary," or "work in your pajamas" is appealing to people, so they get thrown into the scam mix.
Mindy A. Bockstein, chairperson and executive director of the New York State Consumer Protection Board, agrees that people are trying to capitalize on the strong desire for work and income in different populations and communities.
"Don't fall for get-rich-quick schemes, work-at-home scams, pyramid schemes and numerous other approaches promising employment and wealth but being used to separate job seekers from their money," she says.
Who's the Target of Job Scams?
Anyone seeking a better job opportunity or looking to earn some money -- even smart people -- can get sucked into scams, says Robin Giroir, regional vice president of Spherion Staffing Services. With the wide scope of the Internet, every bogus "job" can reach hundreds of thousands of people, she says.
Durst says victims of work-at-home scams are typically -- and unfortunately -- those who can least afford to part with their money. For one particular scam reviewed by Staffcentrix, the demographics were primarily female, between the ages of 18-49, with children, less affluent and who did not have a college education.
"We are also seeing a rise in the number of seniors and retirees falling prey to these cons, as many of them are now looking for ways to supplement their income due to the declining stock market," Durst says.
Spotting a Scam
While identifying a scam seems like it would be easy, you must remember that the people who create them are practiced con artists. Many scams are linked to what seem like legitimate Web sites that have professional photos, testimonials, audio and video -- all the things that can convince someone that it must be real, Durst says.
Here are some things to keep in mind when spotting a job scam:
1. Hold tight to your cash.
"No legitimate employer asks you for money. This is a foolproof tip off that something's not right," Giroir says. "There are a number of scams that work this way. You deposit your money in an offshore account and wait for your investment to make you wealthy, or you purchase a list of high-paying jobs you can do from home. Whatever the scam is, don't fall for it."
2. Make money while you sleep!
"Beware of ads that make outrageous claims, don't specify job duties and don't require that you send a résumé. Legitimate employers are seeking candidates with specific skills, knowledge and education. Watch for ads, even for entry-level jobs, that use the phrase 'no experience necessary,' especially when there is a promise of big money," Giroir says.
3. "Work at home" appears in the header
"'Work from home' is not a job title," Durst warns. "If it appears in the ad header, there's a good chance it's a come on. Scammers can rarely resist including it in the header -- it's the bait of their 'hook' as they fish for desperate people to reel in."
4. Miracles arrive in your inbox
"How could this man from Romania have known you were looking for home-based work? Miracles do happen, but not via SPAM," Durst says. "Move [the e-mail] to your trash file without using the 'remove me from this list' link you're likely to find at the bottom of the page. These links are often used to confirm that your e-mail address is active and using them can result in even more SPAM."
5. Palm trees, mansions, beaches and bikinis
"Successful scammers often bag their prey by dangling enticing things in front of them -- much like kidnappers do," Durst says. "'If you get into my car I'll give you this candy bar...'"
6. Put on your detective hat
There are essentially two ways to get listed with the Better Business Bureau: Buy a membership or get reported for bad business practices, Durst says. "While the absence of a company's name in their listings is not unusual -- not every business is a paying member of the BBB -- a C, D or F rating and multiple complaints are a flashing warning signal."
Durst adds that you must be careful about ads that look legitimate and that contain the name and Web site of well-known companies but carry a "free" e-mail address for a reply.
"Reputable companies have been victimized by scammers using their company names and reputations to scam unwitting job seekers. Always take the time to stop by the company Web site before responding to a job ad," she suggests. "You may find a notice warning you of the scam. What you won't find, is a job listing for someone to accept checks and wire funds to someone."
Too Little, Too Late
Unfortunately, many job seekers still fall victim to job scams, informed or not. So what happens when you realize that you're involved in something you probably shouldn't be?
Consequences include identity theft, loss of savings, unauthorized charges to your credit card or, at worst, a run-in with the law. At minimum, you lose some money and a little pride, but consider it a lesson learned, Durst says.
Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.
How to Avoid Job Scams
Filed under: Employment Trends, Job Advice, Work From Home
Posted Apr 22nd 2009 2:29PM
Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer
"If it seems too good to be true, it probably is."
If nothing else, this age-old adage might be the most important piece of advice to remember in your job search, especially in today's market.
Though job scams are prevalent at any point in time, today's tough economic times have increased the amount of scammers looking to take advantage of people desperate to make money and find a job.
"With the economy sliding, people who might otherwise be skeptical want to find a silver lining and too often mistake the glitz and glamour promises of a scammer's ad for their path to financial security," says Christine Durst, co-founder and CEO of Staffcentrix, a training and development company that focuses on home-based work.
Durst says Staffcentrix researchers screen about 5,000 home jobs leads every week, and there is a "56-to-one scam ratio" among work-at-home job ads. Any opportunity where you can "make money fast," "no experience is necessary," or "work in your pajamas" is appealing to people, so they get thrown into the scam mix.
Mindy A. Bockstein, chairperson and executive director of the New York State Consumer Protection Board, agrees that people are trying to capitalize on the strong desire for work and income in different populations and communities.
"Don't fall for get-rich-quick schemes, work-at-home scams, pyramid schemes and numerous other approaches promising employment and wealth but being used to separate job seekers from their money," she says.
Who's the Target of Job Scams?
Anyone seeking a better job opportunity or looking to earn some money -- even smart people -- can get sucked into scams, says Robin Giroir, regional vice president of Spherion Staffing Services. With the wide scope of the Internet, every bogus "job" can reach hundreds of thousands of people, she says.
Durst says victims of work-at-home scams are typically -- and unfortunately -- those who can least afford to part with their money. For one particular scam reviewed by Staffcentrix, the demographics were primarily female, between the ages of 18-49, with children, less affluent and who did not have a college education.
"We are also seeing a rise in the number of seniors and retirees falling prey to these cons, as many of them are now looking for ways to supplement their income due to the declining stock market," Durst says.
Spotting a Scam
While identifying a scam seems like it would be easy, you must remember that the people who create them are practiced con artists. Many scams are linked to what seem like legitimate Web sites that have professional photos, testimonials, audio and video -- all the things that can convince someone that it must be real, Durst says.
Here are some things to keep in mind when spotting a job scam:
1. Hold tight to your cash.
"No legitimate employer asks you for money. This is a foolproof tip off that something's not right," Giroir says. "There are a number of scams that work this way. You deposit your money in an offshore account and wait for your investment to make you wealthy, or you purchase a list of high-paying jobs you can do from home. Whatever the scam is, don't fall for it."
2. Make money while you sleep!
"Beware of ads that make outrageous claims, don't specify job duties and don't require that you send a résumé. Legitimate employers are seeking candidates with specific skills, knowledge and education. Watch for ads, even for entry-level jobs, that use the phrase 'no experience necessary,' especially when there is a promise of big money," Giroir says.
3. "Work at home" appears in the header
"'Work from home' is not a job title," Durst warns. "If it appears in the ad header, there's a good chance it's a come on. Scammers can rarely resist including it in the header -- it's the bait of their 'hook' as they fish for desperate people to reel in."
4. Miracles arrive in your inbox
"How could this man from Romania have known you were looking for home-based work? Miracles do happen, but not via SPAM," Durst says. "Move [the e-mail] to your trash file without using the 'remove me from this list' link you're likely to find at the bottom of the page. These links are often used to confirm that your e-mail address is active and using them can result in even more SPAM."
5. Palm trees, mansions, beaches and bikinis
"Successful scammers often bag their prey by dangling enticing things in front of them -- much like kidnappers do," Durst says. "'If you get into my car I'll give you this candy bar...'"
6. Put on your detective hat
There are essentially two ways to get listed with the Better Business Bureau: Buy a membership or get reported for bad business practices, Durst says. "While the absence of a company's name in their listings is not unusual -- not every business is a paying member of the BBB -- a C, D or F rating and multiple complaints are a flashing warning signal."
Durst adds that you must be careful about ads that look legitimate and that contain the name and Web site of well-known companies but carry a "free" e-mail address for a reply.
"Reputable companies have been victimized by scammers using their company names and reputations to scam unwitting job seekers. Always take the time to stop by the company Web site before responding to a job ad," she suggests. "You may find a notice warning you of the scam. What you won't find, is a job listing for someone to accept checks and wire funds to someone."
Too Little, Too Late
Unfortunately, many job seekers still fall victim to job scams, informed or not. So what happens when you realize that you're involved in something you probably shouldn't be?
Consequences include identity theft, loss of savings, unauthorized charges to your credit card or, at worst, a run-in with the law. At minimum, you lose some money and a little pride, but consider it a lesson learned, Durst says.
Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.
DOG AND CAT DIARY
DOG DIARY:
8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 PM - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 PM - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 PM - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 PM - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 PM - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 PM - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 PM - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!
CAT DIARY
Day 983 of my captivity:
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my
dream of escape.
In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.
Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Idiots!
There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.
Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.
I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.
The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.
8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 PM - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 PM - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 PM - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 PM - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 PM - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 PM - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 PM - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!
CAT DIARY
Day 983 of my captivity:
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my
dream of escape.
In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.
Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Idiots!
There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.
Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.
I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.
The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)