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                       August 2008            


Welcome to the August Rewards Newsletter.   

This Month In History

1 The first U.S. Census is completed. There are four million people in the U.S. in 1790.

2 Wild Bill Hickock is killed during a poker game. He was holding a "Dead Man's Hand", two pair aces and 8's. (1876)

3 The Nautilus, a nuclear powered submarine is the first submarine to cross the North Pole under water. (1958)

4 Champagne is invented by Dom Perignon. (1693) I'll drink to that!

5 Little Orphan Annie comic strip debuts. (1924)

6 Murderer John Hart is the first person to be executed in an electric chair (1890)

6 Baseball pitching legend Cy Young pitches his first his first game, a win. (1890)

6 The Atom bomb is dropped on  Hiroshima, Japan by the U.S. (1945)

7 The "Order of the Purple Heart" is created by President George Washington (1782)

7 Through an Act of Congress, the Federal Government takes over the creation and maintenance of the nations' lighthouses. (1789)

8 The Daughters of the American Revolution organization is created. (1890)

8 The USSR finally declares war against Japan. (1945)

9 Animated cartoon Dizzy Dishes premieres, with new star Betty Boop! (1930)

9 President Richard M. Nixon becomes the first and only president to resign while in office (1974)

10 The village of Chicago is incorporated. (1833)

10 "Smile, You're on Candid Camera". Allen Funt's wildly popular show debuts. (1948)

11 The Beatles begin their last US concert tour. (1966)

12 US annexes Hawaii. (1898)

13 Spanish defeat the Aztecs Indians and conquerors Mexico City. (1521)

14 Japan surrenders, ending World War II. (1945)

14 Get a whiff of this...the Whiffle Ball was patented on this day. (1953)

15 The Panama Canal is opened. (1914)

16 Gold is discovered in the Klondike. (1896)

17 Construction is started on the Berlin Wall. (1961)

18 The 1,000 Islands bridge, connecting the US and Canada is dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. (1938)

19 Indianapolis Speedway holds it's first auto race (1909)

20 The Civil War is formally declared to be over by President Andrew Johnson. (1866)

21 Venetian blinds are patented. (1841)

21 Hawaii becomes the 50th state. (1959)

22 The Mona Lisa is stolen from the Louvre (1911)

23 The first picture of Earth from the moon is taken by Lunar Orbiter 1. (1966)

24 The infamous Mount Vesuvius eruption buries the city of Pompeii. (79)

24 The Waffle Iron is patented by Cornelius Swarthout of Troy, New York. (1869)

25 Ivan the Terrible, the first Tsar of  Russia was born. (1530) 

25 Amelia Earhart completes her trans-continental flight. (1932) 

26 Julius Caesar's Roman army invades Brittain (55 BC)

26 U.S. Congress passes the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. (1920)

27 The island volcano of Krakatoa in Indonesia erupts. It was heard over 3,000 miles away and was one of the biggest natural disasters ever recorded. (1886)

28 Senator Thurmond begins a 24 hour filibuster against the Civil Rights Bill. (1957)

29  Walt Disney's Mary Poppins is released. (1964)

30 The Late Show with David Letterman premieres on CBS. (1993)

31 Heavy weight champion Rocky Marciano dies in a plane crash near Newton, Iowa. (1964)

Product of the Month

Purchase/Renovation Loans

With a Purchase/Renovation loan from RKM MORTGAGE you can finance both the purchase of a new home or investment property and its renovation simultaneously. These loans are more advantageous than other options such as renovations financed by bank loans, home equity loans, lines of credit or credit cards.

Improvements on your property can begin immediately after closing. And since you’re only applying for one loan, there’s only one application, one set of fees and closing costs, one closing to attend and one payment each month. It’s the financing you need, when you need it.

Your interest rate is lower than that of other financing options because your purchase and improvements are financed simultaneously. Also, the cost of your renovations is spread throughout the entire term of your mortgage, so you’ll enjoy lower monthly payments. There’s even a tax advantage! The interest on the cost of your improvements (included in your first mortgage) is tax deductible.

Bring Your Dream To Life

   It’s a simple ranch that can be easily converted to a traditional colonial.

   It’s a multi-family brownstone that, once the plumbing is replaced, could net you a handsome profit in today’s market.

   It’s in the best neighborhood in town but it’s one bedroom short of perfect.

   It’s an old apartment house that you want to convert to modern luxury condos.

   It’s a mixed-use property that needs serious updating.

Call Or E-Mail Me For More Information On Purchase/Renovation Loans.

Thank you for referring your friends and family to me for all their residential, commercial and business
financing needs. The finest compliment I can receive is a referral from my friends and clients.

If you or anyone that you know is in need of a real estate agent, an attorney, a CPA or a financial advisor, I work with the best professions in the area and I would be happy to recommend an excellent one.


Household Hints Of The Month

Blankets...
Set the cycle, add detergent, and let the machine fill. When all the soap is dissolved, add the blanket. Let it soak, and then wash on gentle. Add 1 1/2 cups white vinegar to the final rinse. It will give the blanket a clean smell and give it a little fluff.

Blood Stains...
Remove with hydrogen peroxide.

Blue Jeans...
To soften new blue jeans, soak them overnight (or for 12 hours) in cold water with plenty of fabric softener. Then wash as usual.

Body Oil Stains...
To remove body oil stains from collars and cuffs of colored shirts and blouses, rub hair shampoo directly on the stains. Rinse out the shampoo, then wash the clothes as usual.

Color Transfer on Clothing...
To prevent color transfer add anywhere from 1 to 2 cups white vinegar to wash cycle

Delicates...
Slip them in a covered jar with a little cold-water soap and shake until they are clean.

Designer Jeans...
The first time you wash them, soak them for two hours in cold, heavily salted water (3 tablespoons per gallon). This will set the dye. Then wash, using the cold water setting.

Do you have a great household hint that you would like to share with our readers? E-mail me your hint along with your name and maybe your household hint will be featured in a future newsletter.


Health

Cooking with Woks

People who cook with woks at high temperatures with cooking oil may have a risk of carcinogen exposure, says Michael Thun, M.D. and Vice President, Epidemiology & Surveillance Research at the American Cancer Society (ACS). "Among Chinese women who cook with woks the lung cancer rates are considerably higher than elsewhere among non-smoking/never-smoking women," says Thun. "Cooking oils do have a high concentration of chemicals that are carcinogens, so open the window while you cook," to increase ventilation and reduce your inhalation. 

Air Fresheners

A 2007 study conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council found that 12 of 14 different brands of household air fresheners contained phthalates, chemicals known to disrupt hormones and cause birth defects in male genitalia in animals. "The mere presence of a chemical does not tell us if unsafe exposures are likely to occur," says Rodney R. Dietert, professor of Immunotoxicology at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Institute of Comparative and Environmental Toxicology Cornell University. "However, at unsafe levels, phthalates have many different adverse effects." Some studies have linked phthalates to developmental and reproductive problems, according to the CDC. 

Baby Powders 

If inhaled by an infant in high quantities, baby powder can block the child's bronchial and lung passages and cause suffocation, according to the FDA. There is little data on what is level of toxic exposure is safe for the development of a fetus or newborn, says Dr. Dietert. But what is known is that children are more sensitive to lower concentrations of most household toxins than adults.

Hidden in the Rug, Floor and More

Formaldehyde, now infamous for potentially endangering the health of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trailer residents, is found in particle board, carpets and other building materials. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that the FEMA trailers contained formaldehyde levels where long-term exposure could lead to an increased risk of cancer and respiratory illness. Buying higher quality materials that contain lower levels of formaldehyde may help limit allergic reactions and carcinogenic exposure, says Dr. Thun.

Allergies and Asthma Causes Found in the Home

Almost 40 percent of doctor-diagnosed cases of asthma in the U.S. in children under 6 could be prevented by eliminating exposures to indoor pollutants and allergens in housing, according to a 2001 study from the journal 'Pediatrics.' One of the top sources is mold, which may be hiding on behind dry wall, wallpaper, or paneling, above ceiling tiles, underneath carpets, behind pipes and furniture. Exposure to dust mites, which can hide in children's toys; cockroaches; tobacco smoke; indoor pets; wood smoke and chemicals also have an impact on risk of allergies and asthma in children.

Incense

This seemingly peaceful burning fragrance may pose a real threat to your health in the form of cancer risk, asthma and DNA damage if you breathe in its fumes for extensive periods over time, according to several studies. In 2003, an Irish government minister warned that burning incense in churches as a part of mass services could be harmful to altar boys and girls because of potential cancer risk. A 2008 study published in the journal of 'Chemico-biological Reactions' found that temple workers who inhaled incense on the job had a higher may have an increased risk of cancer. These workers had higher levels of carcinogens, as well as a significant increase in DNA damage than the control group. The 2001 EPA study found links between exposure to incense smoke and health effects such as cancer, asthma, and possible mutagenic effects. 

Hygiene Products

"Some anti-bacterial products are a potential source of toxic concern," says Dr. Diedert. Triclosan, a chemical found in liquid hand soap and tooth paste, may end up in mothers' breast milk and can pose potential toxicity to the baby's development, according to an Environmental Working Group study. "Overuse of antibacterial products can help to select more aggressive anti-bacterial-resistant bacteria. And there is evidence suggesting that if a child is not exposed to some bacteria along with potential allergens as a newborn, his or her risk of later-life allergies and asthma is increased," says Dr. Dietert.

Beauty Products

"Personal care products may be an important household source to examine for potential toxins," says Dr. Dietert. Some hair coloring products continue to contain lead, he says. About two percent of Americans are allergic to fragrance, and according to British Columbia's Lung Association, a common perfume ingredient called toluene can cause asthma attacks and is known to increase a person's risk for asthma. 

Radon-Filled Rooms

Radon, a radioactive and carcinogenic gas, can enter your house through cracks and gaps in the house, in places like windows and the basement -- it can also be found in well water. Radon is estimated to cause thousands of lung-cancer related deaths annually, and radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer, according to the according to the EPA's "Citizen's Guide to Radon." Most of your risk of radon inhalation through water comes by showering in a room without ventilation. A similar threat is posed by an improperly ventilated basement that has radon leaks. Opening a window and/or using a fan can reduce your exposure. Radon testing can be done as well.

Produce

Pesticides have long been known to affect humans -- ranging from impacting the nervous system, to irritating the skin or eyes and even having links to cancer, according to the EPA, but there is evidence of causing cancer in humans outside of occupational exposure, says Dr. Thun of the ACS. Foods with the most pesticides include peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines and strawberries, according to the Environmental Working Group. If you're concerned, reduce your encounters with pesticides, says Dr. Thun. Washing, peeling, and trimming produce can reduce or remove pesticide residue.

Unfiltered Water

Unfiltered water contains chlorine -- the byproducts of which can be toxic. In high doses over time, it is suspected of contributing to bladder cancer risk, says Dr. Thun. One can filter out the toxins. Well water also may have higher than safe levels of pesticides, arsenic and radon.

Wood Burning Stoves, Fireplaces

Make sure there is plenty of ventilation and circulation around all indoor wood-burning and combustion appliances such as stoves, space heaters and chimneys, because not doing so may subject you to nitrogen dioxide, a gas that is an irritant that may cause respiratory infection and has been linked to lung disease in animals, and carbon monoxide, which at high doses can cause unconsciousness and death but at lower doses can cause dizziness and headaches, according to the EPA's "Guide to Indoor Air Quality."

Children's Toys

"Scrutiny of children's toys is definitely warranted," says Dr. Dietert. "Recent contamination of imported toys with heavy metals, such as lead, is of particular concern given the heightened sensitivity of the childhood neurological and immune systems to the effects of lead. Some toys represent a source of exposure to endocrine-disrupting plasticizers such as the phthalates," which could lead to developmental problems, says Dr. Dietert. 

Housing and Furniture Materials

If your house was built pre-1970, building materials like cement roofing, shingles and siding may contain asbestos, which have been linked to lung cancer. Also, flame-retardant materials found in furniture and office equipment can be a source of some chemicals of potential concern, says Dr. Dietert.

Assess Your Exposure to Toxins

Search for the toxicity of your household products, whether beauty-, automotive- or pet-related, here at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Household Products Database and the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep cosmetic safety database. Plus, keep up to date on known and possible carcinogens through this list provided by the American Cancer Society.

Cancer Concerns

Before you tear your house apart, remember that exposure to toxins from household objects is only one element of cancer risk. For most of these products, with the doses that one typically is exposed to, there is no evidence of a relationship with cancer, says Dr. Thun. "The argument is collectively when you put them all of the chemical-containing products you use in a day, that it adds up to a risk -- which is an interesting hypothesis. But, only at high exposures has there really been evidence," Thun explains. Why wait for conclusive evidence? Avoiding or limiting exposure to these products and materials is one approach many people are taking, but what isn't clear currently is what effect this approach has to reduce the risk, says Dr. Thun.


Recipe Of The Month

Do you have a special recipe that you would like to share with our readers? E-mail the recipe along with your name and maybe your recipe will be featured in one of our future newsletters.


Quotes Of The Month

The only normal people are the ones you don't know very well.
— Joe Ancis

A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.
— Ludwig Erhard

Pain nourishes courage. You can't be brave if you've only had wonderful things happen to you.
— Mary Tyler Moore

There is nothing in the world more powerful than an idea. No weapon can destroy it; no power can conquer it except the power of another idea.
— James Roy Smith

Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.
— Napoleon Hill

There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings.
— Hodding Carter Jr.

I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.
— Nelson Mandela

Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.
— General George Patton


Did You Know?

Reportedly, Virginia Woolf wrote all her books while standing.

In golf, a "snowman" is a score of 8 for a hole or 88 for a round.

One 75-watt bulb gives more light than three 25-watt bulbs.

Frank James, after a career of robbery and murder in the company of his brother Jesse, settled down to a peaceful life of 32 years. He sold souvenirs at the James farm, worked as a doorman of a theater, and fired the starter's gun at Missouri races.

The popular phrase "The blind leading the blind" comes from the New Testament, Matthew 15:14.

Christopher Columbus is said to have brought back cacao beans to King Ferdinand from his fourth visit to the New World. Overwhelmed by the countless other treasures Columbus brought, they were virtually ignored.

Erich Segal, author of Love Story, also collaborated on the screenplay of the Beatles' animated movie, Yellow Submarine.

When the full-length, poetic name of Bangkok, capital of Thailand, is used, it is usually abbreviated to "Krung Thep"(City of Angels). The full-length version is the longest place name of any town or city in the world (167 letters): Krung thep mahanakhon bovorn ratanakosin mahintharayutthaya mahadilok pop noparatratchathani burirom udomratchanivetma hasathan amornpiman avatarnsa thit sakkathattiyavisnukarmprasit.



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