Lake Superior State University in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, has come up with its annual list of words and phrases that they believe should be banned from the English language. Because we hear these expressions over and over again, the university says the words and phrases are unimaginative, useless and downright dull. The university's marketing department began generating the list in 1976 as a way to create publicity for the school. Every year since, LSSU has produced this tongue-in-cheek list.
This year's list includes NBC's tag line, "Must see TV". When the network first began using this promotion, it seemed original and fun. Now it's just embarrassing. After NBC shows like "Fear Factor" and "Meet my Folks" the phrase should be changed to "Must turn off TV!" 'Extreme' is another one of the banished words on the list. These days, advertising gurus use this word to describe just about everything. We now have 'extreme' sports, 'extreme' science, 'extreme' bartending (really!), and even 'extreme' potato chips. The use of the word makes most of us experience 'extreme' boredom.
This year's list also includes 'undisclosed, secret location' (if it's undisclosed, isn't it already a secret?), 'challenge' (what happened to plain old problems?) and 'got game.' For more banished words, check out LSSU's website at http://www. lssu.edu/banished/current/default.html.
Keeping watch on the job. Highway Watch, a program created by the American Trucking Associations and funded by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, is hoping to recruit drivers like you to become the eyes and ears of safety and security on our highways. The goal of the program is to make certain a truck is never used as a weapon.
Because of recent developments, the program again asked truckers for their continued vigilance while on the road. Part of the newest message read, "Information obtained by U.S. intelligence sources following the recent arrest of Al-Qaeda operative, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind the 9-11 attacks, indicates that Al-Qaeda has actively considered large-scale terrorist operations involving the use of trucks as weapons of mass destruction to attack bridges and other points in the transportation infrastructure." In other words, the danger is still there and truck drivers can use their skills, expertise and road know-how to help.
Highway Watch still needs truck drivers to get involved. For more information, visit the Highway Watch website at http://www.highwaywatch.com .
You may already be a winner! Looking for some extra cash? Who isn't? If you have a little time on your hands, the pay off could be huge. The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) says there is approximately $15 billion in unclaimed property and cash out there just waiting to be found by its rightful owners. Could some of it be yours?
NAUPA says that people sometimes forget about insurance refunds, layaway balances, utility deposits, tax refunds or even wages they are owed. Instead of that cash just disappearing, states are responsible for holding on to the money until it is claimed. It's called a perpetual trust and it's just one of the many services states provide to their citizens. Of course, the states don't manage this money for free; they do use the interest on the unclaimed money to fund public programs.
If you have access to the Internet, it's easy to discover whether you have a 'jackpot' of unclaimed money or property waiting for you. Go to NAUPA's website at http://www.unclaimed.org . The website has links to your state's unclaimed property office. If you prefer doing things through the mail, you can contact the your state's treasury office and find out which office handles unclaimed property. By the way, there are businesses that will help you search for missing money or property, but they charge a fee. When it is so easy to do yourself, why pay someone else to do it? Here is hoping you win BIG!
Buzzing around. One of the major news stories last summer was the West Nile virus. Spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, West Nile Virus can infect humans, birds, horses and other animals. (It will not harm your dogs or cats.) Although we haven't heard too much about the virus the last few months, experts say it will return this summer and fall.
Last year there were 4000 reported cases of the West Nile virus resulting in 274 deaths. But don't panic. Experts say most people bitten by an infected mosquito will have little reaction to the virus. Still, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) say you should do what you can to protect yourself from mosquito bites. Most mosquitoes are active during the morning and early evening hours, although they can bite any time of the day. The CDC recommends you use insect repellent anytime you are outdoors, carefully following the manufacturer's directions for use of the product. Repellents with DEET are considered the most effective and long lasting. The CDC also suggests wearing light colored long sleeve shirts and long pants for additional protection.
One of the best ways to reduce everyone's risk is to drain any standing water around your home. By doing so, you are reducing the number of places mosquitoes can breed and lay eggs. And the fewer mosquitoes we have, the better off we will all be!
Just for Mom. Believe it or not, Mother's Day is not the invention of a greeting card company! The day we honor mothers each May was created by Anna Jarvis from Grafton, West Virginia. Her inspiration for this special day? Her own mother!
There are several different accounts as to why Jarvis came up with the idea. Some say Jarvis heard her mother talk about the hatred that developed between families during the Civil War. Her mother believed that by setting aside a day to honor mothers, families would come together for the sake of dear old Mom. Others say it was a Sunday school lesson that inspired Jarvis to call for a special day for Mothers. Still others say Jarvis was motivated by her mother's work in trying to improve the health and living conditions of the poor.
Jarvis began writing letters to newspapers, business leaders, and ministers across the country imploring them to set aside a day each year to honor mothers. Jarvis finally got the attention of Congress and the Whitehouse. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation setting aside the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. This year Mother's Day is on May 11. Happy Mom's Day!
Truckers make a difference. Trucker Buddy is in search of truckers interested in helping enrich the lives of grade school children. The program matches professional truck drivers with a classroom of kids via a pen pal program. It is easy to get involved with Trucker Buddy. All you need to do is spend a few minutes each week sharing news about your work and travels with your assigned class. A simple postcard or note will do, but the information you share can help your class with reading, writing, geography, mathematics, social studies and history.
Although summer break is just around the corner, call Trucker Buddy today so you are ready to go when school starts in August. For more information on how you can make a difference, call Trucker Buddy at 1-800-My Buddy.