Edition 4-25-06

No Wasting Wrapping Paper This Way..... To avoid waste and disasters when cutting wrapping paper from a roll, measure the amount required by wrapping a piece of string around the gift before cutting the paper (remember to allow extra for overlapping the paper). If you have a sleeping bag with a broken zipper, don't throw it away. Replace the zipper with a strip of Velcro. Either sewn or self adhesive. It will be cheaper than a zipper and you won't have to throw it away.	Bejing Bans 'Naked' Computers by The Associated Press (AP) April 14, 2006 Sales of personal computers without software -- known as "naked computers" -- will be banned in the Chinese capital to reduce software piracy, the city government said Friday. The announcement came days before Chinese President Hu Jintao leaves for the United States, which is pressing Beijing to crack down on rampant illegal copying of software, music and other goods. The ban will take effect by the end of the year, the Beijing Copyright Bureau announced. Its deputy director, Wang Yefei, said "all domestically made and imported computers are required to be sold with legitimate software pre-installed," the official Xinhua News Agency reported. China is regarded as one of the world's leading producers of illegally copied software, movies and other products. Some computer producers have been selling "naked computers" at a discount, Wang said. "Some customers would install pirate software and infringe legitimate rights and interests of software companies," Wang was quoted as saying.
	Hard To Remove Auto Grease: Remove auto grease from hands with baking soda and water. This works as well as any product on the market, and is a lot cheaper.
To keep your house cool while using the air conditioner try this: Keep your windows shut as tightly as possible. Locking them will make the seal tighter. Also when the sun is on the windows keep your shades and curtains closed. A darker house is always cooler. "A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." Lao-Tsu	Making Your Own Ice Packs: Pour 3/4 cup water and 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol into a zippered storage bag and close. Put the bag into another bag, seal, and freeze. Because the alcohol doesn't freeze, you will end up with a nice flexible, slushy ice pack. (Be sure to label the contents clearly so that no one will try to use it for anything edible.) Double or triple this recipe as needed to make the correct size to fit the area needing the ice. Works Great! To Keep weeds or grass from growing in your patio or sidewalk cracks, heat a gallon of water with a pound of salt. Stir well and pour between the cracks. This is cheaper and works just as well as the name brands.
(AXcess News) San Francisco, CA - The President and Sargent-At-Arms of the San Francisco chapter of the Hells Angels were indicted for possession and distribution of cocaine and methamphetamines by the US Attorneys office for Northern California. If convicted, they face 40 year prison sentences. The indictment, unsealed Friday, also charges individuals with distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, conspiracy to launder money, and using a telephone to facilitate a drug crime. U.S. Attorney Kevin V. Ryan stated, "This is a significant investigation which should disrupt the illegal trafficking of methamphetamine and cocaine by a number of alleged drug conspirators and distributors, including two members of the Hells Angels. We will continue to work tirelessly to prosecute those trafficking in these illicit substances. Methamphetamine and cocaine plague our communities and destroy lives. I thank all of the law enforcement agencies for their outstanding collaboration in this investigation." Agents of the FBI, DEA, officers with the San Francisco Police Department, and officers from numerous state and local law enforcement agencies in the Bay Area executed search warrants yesterday on 19 locations and seized approximately $70,000 in cash, over 4 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately one kilogram of cocaine, over 4 pounds of marijuana, numerous firearms, one grenade, several vehicles and a motorcycle. Upon the execution of those warrants four additional individuals were arrested on probable cause on the charges noted below. In all, twelve individuals were arrested in the operation yesterday. During the course of the investigation, agents made numerous seizures, including 50 kilograms of cocaine, over two kilograms of methamphetamine, and $75,000 in cash. FBI Special Agent in Charge Joe Ford stated, "This investigation targeted a drug distribution network which included the President and Sergeant-at-Arms of the San Francisco Chapter of Hell’s Angels. The FBI will continue to combat gangs and drug-related violence in our streets, and initiatives like the Safe Streets Task Force is one of many ways federal, state, and local law enforcement are working together to address these crime problems." DEA Special Agent in Charge Javier Pena stated, "By arresting and indicting these alleged major local drug traffickers, we hope to entirely disrupt their drug trafficking operations. The arrests and seizures associated with this investigation mean that these substances, which destroy our neighborhoods, will be much harder to come by in San Francisco."

When packing clothes in a suitcase, don't lay them flat, roll them instead. they take up less space and should be wrinkle free.	Cleaning ceramic tile: Regular rubbing alcohol works fantastic for a ceramic floor. Just pour straight on and rub around with mop until it dries. Make sure children and pets are not in the area during this process and make sure the room is WELL ventilated.
"Wisconsinisms" You're from Wisconsin if: The town you grew up in had a bar called Ma's Place. You know how to polka, but never tried it sober. FFA was the most popular club in high school. You know what knee-high by the Fourth of July means. You know it's traditional for the bride and groom to go bar hopping between the ceremony and the reception. You were delighted to get a miniature snow shovel for your 3rd birthday. You buy Christmas presents at Fleet Farm. You are a connoisseur of cheese curds and find anyone unfamiliar with them to be frighteningly foreign. You spent more on beer than you did on food at your wedding. You hear someone use the word "oof-dah" and you don't immediately break into uncontrollable laughter. You think fast food is hitting a deer at 65 mph. You or someone you know was a "Dairy Princess" at a county fair or A Miss Action in Jackson. You know that "combine" is a noun. You know what a FIB is. You know that a pastie is not an article of clothing. You know that creek rhymes with pick. Your class took a field trip to a brewery...in second grade, Borden's in third and the cheese factory in fourth. Football schedules are checked before wedding dates are set. You can visit Luxemburg, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Berlin, and Poland all in one afternoon. (FLFLHTC: Currently planning the route) A Friday night date is taking you girlfriend shining for deer. Saturday you all go to the local bowing alley. There was at least one kid in your class who had to help milk cows in the morning. You have driven your car on a lake. You can make sense out of the word "upnort" and "batree." The Packers will always be better than the Vikings, no matter what the standings are. You know that De Pere is not a wooden structure extending into "DaLake." You can leave your ice cream in the car while you go into Fleet Farm, and it won't melt. You always believed that vacation meant "going up North." You have more fishing poles than teeth. At every wedding you have been to you have had to dance the hokey pokey & the chicken dance. You know what a bubbler is. Your definition of a small town is one that only has one bar. The local gas station sells live bait. At least twice a year, the kitchen doubles as a meat processing plant. You laugh out loud every time you see a news report about a blizzard shutting down the entire east coast. Your mom asks, "Were you born in a barn?" and you know exactly what she means. You include beer as one of the major food groups. Isn't it?? You know which leaves make good toilet paper. Your sexy lingerie is tube socks and a flannel nightgown. You are a member of the Polar Bear Club and proud of it. You think that the start of deer season is a national holiday. You learned to drive a tractor before the training wheels were off your bike. Your bank has the name of your town included in its name. Pop is not only what you call your dad, but is the ONLY name for soda. You actually understand these jokes and forward them to all your Wisconsin friends. (Better yet, I put them here for all my friends to see. Thanks Gene)