White Nose Syndrome is lethal to each bat that gets sick. It causes a white fungus to grow around the nose area, sometimes on the tips of wings, tail and ears of bats. No one is quite sure where it comes from and how it is transmitted from one bat to another. Bats have been dying by the thousands each year. Biologists predict that the little brown bat will not have a future unless something is done or a cure is found. There are over 1 million little brown bats in caves, old buildings, and mines. The most common bat in Pennsylvania, the little brown bats have been found dead in these areas where they tend to hibernate.

Fewer bats means more bugs to destroy crops and attack people. Bats are very beneficial to the environment and are a needed natural pest control creature. More investigation into White Nose Syndrome is needed. The bats can’t wait for a cure…they don’t have a whole lot of time left if the biologists are accurate in their calculation of distinction.

I spoke to a family friend who is over 50 just yesterday. She said she was told to dye her hair to hide the gray so when she went for a job she wouldn’t be turned down. Her companion had talked to someone about a job over the phone. When he went for the interview he had set up during that call, the interviewer said he had thought he was speaking to a younger man. No, he didn’t get the job. Age discrimination? Yes, but you would have to prove it and it’s your word against theirs.

People are taking jobs that they would have felt beneath them years ago when the economy was good. Minimal paying jobs are being snapped up by older citizens who need to have money coming into their households. Food stamps and food banks have been used more than ever. People are desperate to keep their homes and feed their families. If Congress balks again, I am sure many of them who are set to be re-elected in November will be watching their opponents win their seats in Congress.

The latest news on unemployment is that 13 out of 100 people are able to find at least a part time job. That’s not good. Where are the jobs? We have been told the economy is getting better, but judging from what I have heard on tv and read in the newspapers it’s not the truth. We need to have a future here in the U.S. We need to have Congress do the right thing and pass the bill before them. Word has it this will happen tomorrow. I am not holding my breath.

The Cordoba Initative and the American Society for Muslim Advancement informed everyone in the court room that the building would house not only a mosque, but also a community center, swimming pool and recreation area where the public would be invited to join. They want to improve relations among Muslims and the West. A decision is expected to be made sometime in August.

How would you feel about this? Would you want a mosque close to Ground Zero? Would you feel this is degrading to those who gave their lives Sept. 11? The United States will never forgot those lost during that terrible day. We need to honor their deaths, their sacrifice and remember them all. However, to hold the entire Muslim community for the crimes of a group of terrorists is also wrong. Perhaps it is time to “turn the other cheek” and forge a better understanding of other religious groups.

Illegal immigrants have long been entering the U.S. through its borders, mostly being trucked in or sneaking in during the dead of night. There are not enough border patrols to keep illegals out of the U.S. These immigrants will work for pennies cleaning, picking produce, and doing all sorts of manual jobs that some U.S. citizens feel are below them. This has been going on for centuries and now there is a big debate about the Mexicans coming into the country.

It has been claimed that there are between 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. right now. Where are they going? Where are they living? Working? Sending their children to school? Getting medical care when necessary? Who is paying for all this? They can’t just squeeze under the radar and disappear when necessary. Are farmers and others who hire these illegals also guilty of contributing to the problem?

Colin Hanna, president of Let Freedom Ring, a conservative grassroots organization, suggested recently that the U.S. first classify illegal presence in the U.S. as a felony. Secondly, “offer a specific period of time in which people here illegally who have not committed other serious crimes may plead guilty to the felony and receive a suspended sentence and permission to remain in the U.S. as a permanent legal resident.” These people would never be able to become citizens, could not run for any political offices or vote.

America was built by immigrants. Most have been welcomed through our borders without any problems. Why then the fact that illegal immigrants who have not registered as coming into the country are being targeted? Many have been lead to believe the U.S. is a country of fabulous wealth and prosperity. I am sure many find this was a lie once they have been here for a while.

Do you feel we should allow people to come across the borders, live and work here in the U.S. if they sign an agreement when they cross? Or do all the illegal immigrants need to be sent back to where they came from? I value your opinion on this subject. Too many are taking jobs that Americans could do now since unemployment is so high. Why have illegal immigrants do the work? Why should we feed, clothe, and help maintain a lifestyle for them when Americans who have been born here are in need? Think about it.

During a Phillies game broadcast on Thursday afternoon it was like watching a sheet of water hit the stadium. They play their baseball games about 50 miles from here. We didn’t get a drop of rain. They did have a lot of people without electricity with downed trees and poles, so maybe we can consider ourselves lucky here, but we really do need to be able to stay cooler.

I am not a summer person. The heat and humidity take their toll on me. My body reacts in different ways, ranging from sweating to feeling like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck. Yet I know once winter comes I will say that I long for summer. Can’t change me on that one!

Summer has just begun. Longer days, shorter nights, heat, humidity, and feeling miserable. I am ready for winter!

What would you do? Have you ever had such a problem? Do you know of someone who did? How was that resolved? I never had this problem. I could always talk to my daughter to resolve problems. The worst part of this problem is the child is only 6 years old. What is going to happen when she turns into a teenager? I don’t see any good things coming from this attitude she has at her age now.

I bought a pair of jeans which I felt were the most comfortable and nice looking. Since I have to wear dress pants 4 out of 5 days, I only wore the jeans on weekends and Friday dress down days. I didn’t have this pair even a year when the material started to wear near the zipper. Odd place for a woman’s pair of jeans to fray, but it did happen. Being able to sew, I repaired the area as best as I could. Then a few weeks later I noticed the material fraying in the back of the jeans, one area near a pocket and one area near the seam. I don’t wear my jeans so they are a second skin so I couldn’t understand this fraying. I called the company for Lee jeans. They offered to check the jeans if I would send them in a prepaid envelope they would provide. I said I would do so. Once the envelope came in the mail I put the jeans into the package and sent them back. Within 4 weeks I had a refund from the company. They could not determine why the jeans frayed, but they were understanding and wanted to make sure I was a happy consumer who would buy another pair of their jeans.

The other product I had a problem with was a measuring cup we purchased at Wal-Mart. We never noticed the red markings on the outside of the cup rubbing off until after we were home and had washed the cup. The red continued to rub off even after 3 washings. I emailed Anchor Hocking with the concern, asking that someone get back to me. I got a nice email from Amy H. who informed me in the email response that “Once we have received the product, we will promptly reimburse your postage expense.” It cost me $15 to send the darn thing to them. I had to make sure it would not break so I went to UPS to have it shipped. Anchor Hocking received the defective measuring cup within 3 days. I, however, am still waiting for the refund of the money I spent having the darn thing shipped! It’s almost 50 days since I sent the first email. Why does this have to take so long when I was assured that I would receive my postage expense promptly? A phone call to the company today did little to help. Amy will have to call me back. I gave my cell phone number so I won’t miss the call. That was 2 hours ago. They have more than likely gone home for the day now and I will have to wait again. This is infuriating to me. Nothing should take this long. Needless to say I am no longer planning on buying any Anchor Hocking products now or in the future and I will not back down from that.

So you see, you can get some good results, but then there is always the one company who doesn’t seem to care all that much about their customers. If anyone has had good or bad results from inquiring about defective products from any company I would like to hear about your experience. I will update this post when I finally get a refund for the postage from Amy at Anchor Hocking.

Ants have 1 pair of wings, bent antennae, a pinched waist and you can see their eyes. Termites have 1 pair of wings, straight antennae, a broad waist, and you cannot see their eyes. Both can swarm, follow the one in front. can cause wood damage, and colonies can be active around the clock all year. Proper identification is necessary for successful treatment. Ants have a distinct waistline while termites do not. It’s like ants having a belt in the middle of their bodies. While there are different varieties of each pest, ants are less costly to treat. When in doubt, call a professional pest control company.

Bedbug infestations can occur in no time without the victim knowing he has them in his residence. Sensitivity to bites can be influenced by previous exposure as with other allergens. Reactions can be delayed a week of longer making it hard to narrow down the spot where the victim actually got the bedbugs. Elderly residents seem to be not as affected as others when it comes to recognizing bedbug infestations. It’s important that any nursing homes or even caretakers of the elderly be on the alert for any bedbugs present in the home. Bedbugs cannot bite through clothing, but will bite wherever there is exposed skin.

Welts and itching from bedbug bites are the body’s immune system reacting to the allergens in the pest’s saliva. Many residents will report sleeplessness, emotional distress, anxiety and stress from knowing they have bedbugs in their homes. Lately it has been reported bedbugs have been found in various places such as subways, waiting rooms, trains, buses, and movie theaters. You never know when you might bring these pests into your home.Unfortunately bedbugs can “hitchhike” and spread rapidly from room to room so they can find a human to feed on.

There is a lot of misinformation everywhere. If you are not sure you have a case of bedbugs your best bet is to call in the pest control professionals. Most companies will do a free inspection and alert you to the fact that there is an infestation. Just taking your mattress and box spring and putting them in the sun won’t get rid of all the bedbugs. Nor will wrapping the mattress and box spring in black plastic and having the sun beat down on them get rid of bedbugs. These pests need to have professionals get rid of them.

There are mattress and box spring covers that can be ordered to help with any bedbug fears. These covers are made of high quality, durable materials that have been tested to be bed bug proof. Bedbugs still in the mattress or box spring would then die of starvation over time.There are manufacturers and insecticide companies trying to find other solutions for the bed bug problem that seems to be infesting the world.

Bed Bug