Consumer Reports

You know summertime is approaching when your local grocery store begins stocking an aisle with bags of charcoal briquettes, lighter fluid, barbecuing utensils and other grilling paraphernalia. Summer barbecuing is a favorite tradition with most Americans. I personally like barbecuing season, because I know that I will get a little break from cooking when my husband takes over as chief preparer of all things meat. Over the years, my husband has become quite skillful with the grill. He uses dry rubs, marinades, and will occasionally smoke meat and poultry . He makes wonderful steaks, pork chops, barbecued ribs and chicken, but my favorite has got to be his smoked salmon. I have taken his salmon to parties and it is always the first thing to disappear from the table. With any kind of food preparation, there are some basic guidelines for handling food safely , but this is particularly important during the summer. Did you know foodborne illness peaks in the summer ? Bacteria that can contaminate food grow faster in warmer temperatures. In addition, during summer people are doing more things like barbecuing, picnics, and camping where refrigeration and washing facilities may not be available. The Food Safety and Inspection Service has put together these fact sheets on Barbecue and Food Safety and Handling Food Safely on the Road . Foodborne illness isn’t the only danger that needs to be considered when it comes to preparing food on a grill. When cooking with open flame, fire safety needs to be considered. Here are some safety tips for barbecuing . While you are enjoying your own grilling efforts, you should consider checking out some of the cook off and barbecue competitions in your area. Go to your preferred search engine and search on “barbecue cook off” or “barbecue competition” and type your state name. Here in Texas, as you can imagine, we have quite a few barbecuing contests. Have a good time with your grills and if you have any great recipes, feel free to drop me a line.

I’ve often said that I wouldn’t be the person I am today without cable television. I felt bad for all the kids without Nickelodeon who didn’t get to watch The World of David the Gnome (the guy got to ride around on a fox named Swift! How cool is that?), or get so into episodes of Double Dare that they’d start running around the house with their sister, making up “physical challenges” for one another. (This may or may not have led to the destruction of a few decorative pieces in the house- I’ll never tell.) But for all the shows I loved, my parents had me into a heap of other activities. I was signed up for softball and field hockey before I was old enough to really know what they were, baton twirling class (disaster of epic proportions), swim lessons (made it all the way from tadpole to shark!) and rounded things out with frequent attendance at the local library’s “story time.” I don’t think it’ll shock anyone that kids today are spending more time in front of the TV than ever before. But a new study is saying that this kind of extended TV-watching is leading to behavioral problems at school, lower test scores, and less healthy overall choices. Reported in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, the study finds that children watching more than one to two hours daily have a decline in overall activity, an increase in soft drink and snack consumption, along with a five percent increase in body mass index. Other effects are: shorter attention spans, slower language acquisition, increased aggression, and weight gain. The First Lady is trying to address this problem with her ” Let’s Move !” program. What alternatives do you give your kids to watching TV? How do you get them interested in other activities? Do you limit what your kids watch?

When you think of Washington, DC, does your mind summon images of politicians debating in senate/house chambers, judges ruling on national legal matters, or the president going about the business of running our country? Washington DC is a place where serious, history-making decisions and events take place, but in early April, when parts of the city become canopied in delicate, pale-pink, cherry blossoms, the city takes on a softness that is absolutely stunning. We’ve all heard people say, “Pictures don’t do it justice.” DC in early April is one of those examples. Imagine walking under a delicate umbrella of thousands of barely-pink, cherry blossoms. A gentle, but crisp, breeze causes the petals to ripple, and across the shimmering water of the Tidal Basin, you see the white colonnades of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. At that moment, the world feels very alive, fresh, and full of promise. Although I no longer work in DC, whenever I think of my time there, I think of DC in April, and I immediately remember that feeling. If you want to see it for yourself, the National Cherry Blossom Festival runs from March 27 through April 11. To find out about festival events, peak bloom predictions, directions, reservations, and other details, check out these resources: Cherry Tree Locations and Types of Trees Frequently Asked Questions About the Festival National Cherry Blossom Festival Events National Cherry Blossom Festival History National Park Service Information Peak Bloom Predictions Preserving the Cherry Trees Washington.org While you are in DC, for those of you who have an interest in science, don’t forget to check out the National Academy of Sciences’ Einstein Memorial . It is one of my favorite places in DC. It’s a great place to eat a sack lunch, read a good book, or just ponder life’s big questions. The memorial is tucked away in a grove of trees across the street from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Constitution Avenue. If you get a chance to go to the festival or if you just make a trip to see the blossoms, drop me a line. I would love to hear your impressions. A word of caution, the festival and the blossoms are very popular. Getting around in a car may be a bit of a challenge. Your best bet may be taking the metro into the city. P.S. If you haven’t done your federal taxes yet, maybe on your way to the National Cherry Blossom Festival on March 27th, you can stop at one of the 180 Local IRS Offices to get help completing your taxes. Sorry… they made me put in that reminder.

I got mine, did you get yours? It’s March and the Census Bureau is in full gear making sure census forms are delivered to every home in the United States and Puerto Rico. The good news is that it’s easy - when you get your form, just answer the 10 questions and mail the form back in the postage-paid envelope they provide (the form cannot be completed online). It only took me a couple of minutes to complete mine. If you don’t mail the form back, you may receive a visit from a census taker , who will ask you the questions from the form .

Because I’m a government employee, I’ve gotten emails from time to time from friends of mine who are trying to figure out something government-related and assume I have all the answers. And because I work in the office that runs USA.gov , I can usually point my friends in the right direction. Last week a friend of my emailed me to ask how to get a new Social Security card because he had lost his. I searched for the answer on USA.gov and passed the information along to him. And I thought I’d share it with you too. If your Social Security card was lost or stolen , you’ll need to find a few things: 1. Proof of U.S. citizenship 2. Proof of identity 3. A filled out application for a new card. You can then take (or mail) all of these things to your local Social Security office. Remember all of your identifying documents must be the originals . And even if you’re issued a new card, you’ll have to be on the watch for identity theft. So make sure to read up on ways to prevent it . What do you do to prevent your Social Security card from being lost or stolen?

I don’t need 8 hours of battery power from my laptop, but when my computer couldn’t last an hour away from the socket I decided to pony up for a new battery. After a few minutes of careful research online, I found a deal on a replacement. Since I had never replaced a laptop battery, I didn’t know if I could throw away my old computer battery. It turns out that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has many resources available for electronic disposal and recycling and a specific page devoted to batteries . I found that not all batteries contain toxic materials, but some do contain cadmium and mercury which can pose a threat to the environment. While it’s not illegal to throw away most batteries, it’s best to recycle them. The EPA directs those who want to recycle to the Earth911 website where you can plug in your zip code and find a spot to recycle rechargeable and single use batteries in your area. When I punched in my zip code, I found that in addition to a local county recycling center, my local grocery store recycles batteries. I’ll probably drop off my laptop batteries when I go shopping. How do you dispose of your batteries?

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These days I bet we all know someone who recently lost their job and needs to find work. Last month the unemployment rate in the U.S. reached 9.8% , which is higher than it’s been in over 10 years . It seems like a lot is changing in our economy and if you’re out of work, or just thinking of changing your job the Department of Labor forecasts the top 50 in demand occupations so you can figure out how you can upgrade your skills to fit into the job market of tomorrow. Of course, finding a new job is never easy. It’s always good to look in the local paper or check an online source for local job listings, but the government’s got some resources to help too. If you’re looking for a job or an internship with the federal government, you’ll find all openings announced to the public at USAJOBS . Check out your state job bank for even more job opportunities in your area. If you need a helping hand, look up your local Department of Labor office and see what services they offer to job seekers in your area. And if the job sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be aware of job scams .

“There’s smoke coming from the Pentagon!” one of my coworkers shouted. I ran to his office window where we worked at the top of the Old Post Office Building in downtown Washington, DC, to witness black ribbons flowing from the Department of Defense building. This, after just watching the Internet’s news about the attack on the World Trade Centers that morning, September 11, 2001. We were allowed to leave work—but I was at a loss as to how to get home since I had heard that the subway was closed. I had just moved from DC to a suburb in Maryland, and didn’t know an alternate way to get home. I ended up stuck on a gridlocked bus for four hours because I didn’t have another plan. Are you prepared for a natural disaster, potential terrorist attack, or other major crisis? September is the sixth annual National Preparedness Month , sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security . The companion website, Ready.gov , gives you tips on what to include in a basic emergency supply kit , and suggests ways to contact and regroup with family members in an emergency. It also offers information on a variety of emergency situations , such as influenza pandemics, wildfires, chemical threats, and winter storms, and recommends preparations for businesses as well. Interactive features help you personalize a family emergency plan , and links take you to sign up for free emergency alerts from your local government. You also can follow Ready.gov on Twitter , or take the Readiness Quotient quiz . USA.gov offers information on preparing for emergencies for specific groups , including people with disabilities, kids, and pets, and links to federal information on disasters and emergencies . Since 9/11, I’ve maintained an emergency supply kit and made it a point to learn a variety of ways to get home. Do you have an emergency kit and plan?

Whether you’re on vacation or an unexpected business trip, you can have your mail held for you at your local post office from three to 30 days. Visit USA.gov for the link to request the service online.