Ralph DiMatteo
My name is Ralph DiMatteo, I am 48 years old, married and the father of two teenage children. My professional background is 25 years in the wholesale beer business.
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- 1/16/2007
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Maple Hts High School, Certified Alcohol Awareness TrainerMotto
Find a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life!Affiliations
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Is it Too Early for McCain to Think About Possible Running Mates?The answer is no, it is not too early for Senator John McCain to start thinking about possible vice-presidential candidates as I believe he now is firmly in control of his own destiny in the charge to the Republican Presidential Nomination for 2008.
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Ever Wonder What Causes Potholes?If you live in a part of the country, like I do in the Midwest, where the appearance of dreaded "potholes" in roadways can or has caused damage to your vehicle at, then you will know full well why I was drawn to writing an article about "how and why" they exist. -
How to Host a "Responsible" Holiday Get-TogetherAh, the holidays. The 5+ week period from Thanksgiving right through the beginning of a New Year that promises "merriment" as well as good food and well wishes also carries with it the responsibility that comes with the serving of alcohol for any party planner.
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Fred Claus Destined to Become a Holiday ClassicOn paper, it may have seemed like an odd combination of actors between Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti at first for anyone to believe that at end of filming that they would have created a holiday classic, but I am willing to go on record to say that they have pulled it off.
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First Thoughts on Baseball's 2007 "Off Season"I have to admit that I am somewhat surprised that the subject of where Alex Rodriguez is going to land now that he has opted out of his Yankee contract is not dominating baseball's 2007 off season talk, but considering how and when he did so might be the reason.
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"Exercise is Medicine" Get Used to Hearing This From Your DoctorImagine doctors actually prescribing exercise just like they would any other prescription. Imagine it being that simple to get people to understand that they could lower blood pressure, lose weight, lower blood sugar and improve their overall quality of life.
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Now You May Just See a Real "Race" for the Democratic Presidential NominationFirst, let me say that anything I write about the 2008 "Race for the White House" going forward will NOT be to convince you to vote, or think, one way or the other. Everything I write will be meant to get you "into" a campaign that promises to be very entertaining.
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Yogurt is the Perfect Diet FoodOk, most of you that already lead healthier overall lifestyle than me knew that yogurt could be part of a health diet/weight loss plan, but the yogurt as "the perfect diet food?" Who would have though that?
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Do You Have an Annual Physical Scheduled?Every once in awhile a news item really jumps out an catches my attention, and then I wait to see if further information to see if what caught my attention originally has "legs", and the news about annual physicals appears to be one such item.
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Is Hillary Clinton Firmly in the Driver's Seat?The focus of the latest Republican candidates debate for the White House in 2008 was more personal as stronger attempts were made to distinguish themselves from their rivals, but there was also much stronger focus on Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton.
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Annual "Report to the Nation" on Cancer Has Encouraging NewsEver since I started to approach the age at which it is strongly encouraged that I get regular screening for colorectal cancer, I have paid much closer attention to what exactly I would be getting screened, and what I could potentially expect from the results.
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Retired General Chuck Yeager Revisits Something He Did for the First Time 60 Years AgoThe word "boom" is a pretty good clue I think about what is celebrating its 60th anniversary this October. Still stumped? If so, don't feel bad as it seems that more time that passes from important historical events, the more they seem to get forgotten. -
Things You Need to Know About TailgatingOk, my headline makes it sound like I am going to make fun of tailgaters and/or tailgating, but that is not the case here. A recent article I came across about tailgating "dos and donts" peaked my interest to find out more.
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Can a Company's Closing Affect Your 401(k)?If you have left your 401(k) behind at a former employer for a reason such as having a loan against it to avoid a tax liability, you are not alone. You could be risking, however, a headache or two with your 401(k) if your former employer goes out of business.
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Knowing Where Stress Comes From Could Help Relieve Why It HappensDo you have stress in your life? People handle stress loads differently, but it can no longer be said that it is only because of the person themselves, it could be that they are better prepared to handle their load, because they know where it comes from.
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Facts About Flexible Spending Accounts & Health Savings AccountsEmployees that are asking for benefits options at their workplace may have one at their disposal that allows for a variety of ways to maximize its effectiveness, but statistics show only 20% of workers take advantage of one such benefit, the "Flexible Spending Account."
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Household Safety Tips for ChildrenI have said before that the inspiration for articles comes to me from a variety of sources, sometimes seemingly out of nowhere, and this one is one of those "out of nowhere" and you'll see why when I explain further below.
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Fun Facts About Fenway ParkDid you know Fenway was upstaged by the Titanic? Or that it's survived two fires? Learn some interesting tidbits about this baseball landmark. -
Strength Training for Bones?As I am in the "home stretch" toward the ripe old age of "50", my wife is always encouraging me to add weight training and some yoga stretches to my normal workout routine of either treadmill running or jumping rope.
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Is it Possible to Play "Catch Up" with Your Retirement Savings?More and more I come across articles and personal accounts about people like myself in their 40's that have not been as aggressive as they could be in preparing their retirement savings and wondering if there is anything that can be done about it.
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Ever Heard of a "Vole?"Looks like a mouse, scurries like a mouse, must be a mouse right? Not necessarily, you could have a "vole" problem. Not sure where the name "vole" came from, but I am assuming it is a cross between "varmint" and "mole", but that is just a guess on my part. -
Are There Foods that Can Fight Stress?Interesting question in the headline, don't you think? I mean, lets face it, we all have our "comfort foods" that we turn to when times are tough, but the question is, "do any of them do us any good?" Well, maybe one or more of yours are on the list.
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Make Traveling Easier with These TipsWhether you travel quite a bit for business or pleasure, the one thing we can all agree on is the fact that with travel of any kind there is a certain amount of anxiety that goes into the process that can for a variety of reasons, but it doesn't have to be that way.
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"Michael Clayton" Has Oscar Written All Over ItMany movies have tried to tackle the subject of redemption, and most fail for what I think is one very important reason, we the audience simply have not bought into the character, so we don't share their battle against the obstacles in their path to redemption.
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When to Be Aware that Possible Job Cuts May Be on the WayWell, Labor Day and summer 2007 has come and gone. Labor Day ushers in the coming of fall, the falling of leaves and all the preparation for the new school year, but did you know that statistically at least that it is the highest time of year for job cuts as well?
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Freshman Weight Gain: Inevitable or Avoidable?Your son or daughter is preparing for college, so your family has started a checklist. Student loan research, check. Scholarship research, check. Campus visits, check, but I am guessing that "freshman weight gain" discussion isn't on most lists.
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Suicide Danger Signals: Recognizing and Acting Upon Them May Save LivesI have struggled with attempting an article on this subject several times. Even though I have seen three friends go through a suicide within their own families, I just never have felt comfortable with the notion of tackling such a sensitive subject.
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With Flu Season Right Around the Corner... You Might Find This Information InterestingYes, it is that time of year again folks, flu season. It is the time of year that my older brother reminds me that I am not a kid anymore, and that I really should get a flu shot, which to date I have resisted doing, but it might be different this year.
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Are You Planning Some College Visits with Your Child?What would be the most important thing(s) to look for when your son or daughter is considering a college. Some of these questions are answered very easily during campus visits, but there are a few other interesting answers to be had by looking elsewhere.
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New Law in Ohio May Not Protect Wineries as Well as Originally ThoughtYou have to give Ohio's elected leaders credit for trying when they quickly added to the budget a proposal by the state's Wholesale Beer and Wine Association that was intended to help and or protect Ohio Wineries, but a second look says that may not be the case.
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Getting Your Home Ready for Winter on the OutsideEvery fall, just as with every Spring we all seem to find ourselves saying "where do we start" when it come to getting home ready for the coming season on the outside. Well, Spring has some different "to dos", so today we'll be sharing some thoughts on Winter prep.
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Great New Tool Speeds Up IrrigationI recently saw someone using an item in their garden that I had never seen before that looked to be a fancy sprinkler of some kind, but I was surprised to find out that it was actually a new garden tool designed specifically to make garden irrigation more efficient.
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How to "Win" Scholarships for CollegeA few years back, when it was our sons time during his junior year of high school to begin the process of planning for college, the task of identifying and attempting to obtain scholarships seemed almost overwhelming.
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Do You Need Rental Car Insurance?Have you ever noticed that when renting a car, it always seems to play out like the "lightning round" of a game show where you are mere seconds to consider all the papers that are put before you to sign before you are allowed the prize of driving away.
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New Passport Requirements Have "Kicked In"We all knew it was coming, and now it is officially here, and so a very long exhausting and confusing process of changing United States entry requirements has come to end that really is just the beginning as the start date probably still will not answer all the questions.
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How You Can Get a "Raise" - Getting the Money Isn't Your Only OpportunityFirst off, I am not going to tell you that asking for a raise is going to be easy, but I am going to tell you when you are considering asking for a "raise", you are by no means limited to just focusing on "cash" being king when it comes to a raise.
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Heartbreak Kid Just a Bit of a DisappointmentOk, for starters, I am not a prude. There I got that out of the way, because it will seem like I am going to "pick on" the Farrelly brothers style of comedy when in actuality I am going to implore them to start trusting their very original comedy instincts a bit more.
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Tips for Workers and Bosses to Get Through Layoffs"Layoffs" or "Downsizing" can be a very traumatic experience to go through. Focus is usually on the person that has been affected directly by losing their position, but there is other collateral damage, and that is workers left behind and even bosses.
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The Ford Edsel Celebrates Its 50th AnniversaryThe Edsel, ah the Edsel. Ford tried for three years, 1958-60 to convince the American public that they not only needed an Edsel in their driveways, but deserved one, but alas, it was not to be and despite many curious consumers looking, buying was few and far between.
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A September Anniversary Worth a LookSmithsonian Magazine has a section titled "This Month in History" that has become my favorite section of the magazine because it gives me a quick look at a variety of historical topics, from people to specific dates, and the September 2007 was no exception.
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Winter Driving Safety HazardsLast February I wrote a piece about the "joys" of winter driving in Northeast Ohio, with the purpose of sharing some survival tips that everyone would be able to avoid winter driving pitfalls, but now I've compiled some tips geared specifically to four-wheel driver owners.
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The Soviet Union's Launch of "Sputnik" Celebrates Its 50th AnniversaryFifty years doesn't really seem a very long time when comparing most things, but it seems that when it comes to scientific or technological examples a difference of fifty years speaks volumes about what that amount of time can accomplish.
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So You Want to Be a School/Classroom VolunteerIf you have ever thought about volunteering within your local school system, one such opportunity that you may want to consider is becoming a classroom volunteer, because it gives you an excellent opportunity to interact and actually see students "in action".
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Staying Fit While TravelingI have had this on my mind to share with others that travel, either extensively for business or just casually for fun, as I have found that "jumping rope" is a great way to stay in your workout routine while on the road, which can be the biggest challenge of the trip.
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The Essentials of Priming When PaintingRecently I added yet another source of income to my entrepreneurial empire, "house flipping" with my brother who has been successful for over three years now, and I have to say that if hard work is truly its own reward, wow, am I in for a big reward!
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The Cleveland Clinic Achieves High National RankingsIt goes without saying that the city of Cleveland has not had much good news to report lately, from being labeled as one of America's most overweight cities, to the further "kick in the stomach" distinction of being America's "poorest city."
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Conservative Voters Not Leaning Toward Any Particular GOP 2008 ContenderI wrote an article recently about how for the Democrats for the first time in a long time are on the "offensive" on the 2008 Presidential campaign trail, but they also are leading the way in the raising of campaign funds as well.
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Are the 2008 Presidential Fund Raising Numbers a Tell-tale Sign?The mud slinging , name called and other assorted questionable campaign tactics have changed quite a bit throughout many a presidential campaign, but one thing that has never wavered may also be in play for 2008, the raising of campaign funds.
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Reasons that People Consume Alcohol - Good and Bad, Right and WrongHave you ever asked your self why people drink alcohol? You probably think that it is a strange question, but think about it for a second. Since alcohol is generally associated with a social setting of some kind, what makes it such an attractive option?
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Contesting a Traffic Ticket - Can it Be Done?I know what you're thinking, but I am not writing this article because I received traffic ticket of any kind, the inspiration comes from a commercial I heard recently about a book written by an ex-traffic cop on how to beat traffic tickets that sounded intriguing.
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Discussing Alcohol with Your Children - You Don't Need to Dread ItHave you had the "talk" with your children? No, not that talk, the other talk, the one about alcohol. You haven't, well isn't too late and I hope that if this is a subject that you're not quite sure how to approach that this article might give you a few useful ideas.
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Beer Kegs Disappearing?Part of my time in the wholesale beer business was spent managing a draft beer department, so I have been following a trail of information within the beer business about a growing epidemic, the disappearance of empty beer kegs, with great interest.
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Have You Heard About the "Smart Car" Yet?The Smart car is coming, The Smart car is coming! After reading an article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer Business section from July 19th and visiting www.smartusa.com I felt I had to go "Paul Revere" to tell everyone about the new "Smart" car. -
Are You Banking on Social Security? It Shouldn't Be Your Whole PlanMany people have always of Social Security as their "safety net" for their retirement years, and if you are one of those individuals, you may be ind anger of falling into a very deep well from which climbing out may be very difficult.
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The Summertime Perils of Poison IvyAh, summertime! Is there anything better? Yet as much as we enjoy being outdoors during the warm weather months, lurking around the corner is the "miserableness" (I made that word up) that is a dreaded bout of poison ivy, ok or sumac.
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Does the Fear of Failure or Rejection Keep You on the Sidelines?My Sunday newspaper, The Lake County News Herald always has such great supplements, and "Taking an Axe to Anxiety" written by Bob Lankard, a business columnist for the Indiana Gazette on July 15th was no exception as it gave me an idea for my own piece.
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Even Mowing the Lawn is Going "Retro"Every time I am proved right about something, I just have to write about, as it serves to purposes to people that might enjoy what I have to say. One it will be entertaining, and two, it will most likely be informative as well. -
Favorite Targets of "Summertime Thieves" ...and How to Stop or at Least Deter ThemAs the weather gets warmer, and everyone begins to enjoy their favorite outdoor activities that include everything from bicycling to to even working around the yard, many don't realize that this is also a favorite time of year for criminals as well.
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Taking Extra Care During Summer WorkoutsIf you are like me, and exercise regularly, then you probably also pay particularly close attention to the rising temperature conditions during the summer months, and at the same time take steps to ensure you exercises safely.
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Is it Too Early to Think About Presidential Running Mates?Are we ready to discuss possible vice-presidential candidates? I think so, because I believe that the 2008 presidential election is likely to go down in history as one that could revive true interest in the process, and running mates will be a large part of it.
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Should the Legal Drinking Age Be Reduced to 18?Let me start by saying that since I am 14-year independent Alcohol Awareness Consultant, I feel that this is definitely a topic I am more than qualified to weigh in on, and if that isn't enough I also have a 25+ year background in the wholesale beer business to boot.
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Teacher Turnover Around the Country Critical and CostlySo tell me, what do you think is more costly to a school district? Would it be the hiring of qualified teachers, or the losing of those qualified teachers to other educational opportunities? You might be surprised at the answer.
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Brand Names Versus "No Names" at the StoreIf you are anything like me, you are always looking for ways while out shopping to stretch a dollar to get the most out of your money. I freely admit though, that up until now, I had not done any real research as with me it was just my "frugal" nature driving me.
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Sleep Disorders Can Threaten Workplace ProductivityIf you have ever had trouble sleeping for a prolonged period of time as an adult, chances are you have blamed it on stress, which wouldn't be a bad self diagnosis as going to bed weighted down with stress can make for a very restless night to say the least.
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The American League East: A Look at Baseball's July 31st Trading DeadlineWell, another All-Star break for Major League Baseball is upon us, and Commissioner Bud Selig continues to insist that there is drama to the game since the winning league secures home field advantage for their league in the World Series.
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Can You "Stretch" a Dollar in Today's Economy?There certainly is no question about it, with today's economy is getting tighter and tighter, it gets harder and harder to get the most out of each and every dollar, but if you are willing to invest a little bit of time and patience into it, the results can add up.
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Have Drought Conditions Killed Off Your Lawn?My having a reputation for being notoriously "frugal" has prompted me over the years to do fairly thorough research on matters I feel I can handle without having to consult and or pay a professional. My wife thinks I'm stubborn, I prefer to look at it as a quest to learn.
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A Look at the American League WestThis race has the most "intrigue" for me, as it would appear that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are poised to move comfortably toward a division title while "tweaking" their roster along the way, but somehow the Oakland A's and Seattle Mariners still scare me.
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A Look at the American League CentralIf you like down-to-the-wire baseball division races, then the 2007 season in the American League Central should be right up your alley as the defending American League Champion Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians figure to duke it out for 162 games.
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Outdoor Grilling, Gadgets, Gear and Features You Need to ConsiderI like to think I've gotten pretty good at outdoor grilling, I've even built my own grilling area just off to the side of my deck, so I'm drawn to everything written as it relates to the summer grilling season in a never ending quest for continued grilling excellence.
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Will Boosting MPG Ease America's Oil Addiction?I recently came across a little blurb recently that was amazing, so much so, it got me to doing some "surfing" to learn more, as the number associated with just how many barrels of oil Americans use on a daily basis according to a survey from 2003 was astounding.
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White Wine May Have Also Have Heart Health BenefitsIn virtually any report you have read up until now about the health benefits of wine has stated that only red wine had any possible heart health benefits when consumed in moderation, but new studies may be ready to dispel this long accepted myth.
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How to Sell Yourself to Prospective EmployersThink you don't need "people or selling skills" to get a job in today's job market? Guess again. Prospective employers are looking for candidates that can distinguish themselves from the "competition", and how you present yourself may make the difference.
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New Help, and Hope for Back Pain SufferersI have experienced back pain, my wife has experienced back pain, and you may also be one the eight in ten Americans that will suffer from some form of back pain in your life, so new information that help, or relief if you will, is very welcome news to say the least.
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Confused About Passports? Three Key Answers to Some Questions About Obtaining a PassportIt used to be very simple to make a 3 hour drive from our home for a day trip to Canada. Getting up early, and deciding to make a "what the heck" day of it at Niagara Falls made you feel like you were on vacation without all the aggravation of vacation.
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The Driftwood Inn is My "Dream" Home Away from HomeWhen I travel to do training classes as an alcohol awareness instructor, accommodations are usually just that, accommodations. A clean room, a television set, bathroom and of course the complimentary coffee maker with a bag of regular and decaf. -
How to Buy Sunglasses CorrectlyI have never given the purchase of sunglasses too much thought as to UVA, UVB rays or the actual level of protection a particular pair of lenses offered against either of them, or did I ever bother to know that there were "peak" times during the day to wear sunglasses.
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Ohio's Security Breach Raises Questions and ConcernsOn the surface it would be very easy to concentrate on the fact how unconscionable the fact is that thousands of state workers personal information was stolen from a backup computer stolen under the care of a paid intern responsible for its care.
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Some Helpful Tips for Adding Organic Items to Your LifestyleIn most stores these days, I see expanded sections and article upon article extolling the virtues of buying organic, but up until the article I read in my most recent Sam's Club "Source" magazine an article by Jody Norman, did I understand organic much. -
How to Read a Nutrition LabelGuys, I don't know about you, but I for one am tired of returning from a grocery store trip, which I cheerfully volunteered to make by the way, and being greeted by "didn't you even bother to read the nutrition label?" The answer of course, "is no, I didn't, why?"
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Grilling Guidelines for Gas or CharcoalI confess that when I had a gas grill, I was probably the worst, the worst Jerry (Seinfeld reference, couldn't resist) griller ever to pick up a pair of tongs, but my family and friends dutifully ate my blackened creations and never complained.
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Fourth of July Means Music and Fireworks Around Greater ClevelandOne thing is for certain, if you live around the Greater Cleveland area, there is no shortage of opportunities to celebrate America's birthday every year with a variety of music, colorful fireworks and delicious foods of your choosing, and 2007 is no exception.
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The 4th of July is Right Around the CornerDrive through any neighborhood, and I am fairly certain on certain days such as " Memorial Day", "Flag Day", and the "4th of July" you will see many more American Flags proudly displayed somewhere on houses in a that neighborhood.
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Continental Expansion in Ohio - State Makes Aggressive $16 Million Offer to Lure AirlineWhen you consider all the bad news that Ohio has received or had to report on as it relates to job losses and poor economic forecasts, state officials must be sensing that Continental Airlines plans for expansion is their opportunity to turn the tide in Ohio's favor.
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Flying This Summer Could Slow to a CrawlThe fact that airline travel is up this year, and could even exceed pre- 9/11 levels is considered good news, but that news is tempered by the fact that the increased amount of travelers could very well be met with lengthy, frustrating delays boarding their flights.
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Loggerhead Turtle Set Record for "Breath Holding" by a Marine VertebrateEver since I subscribed to the Smithsonian Magazine a few months ago to broaden my horizons, I have been fascinated by not only the feature length stories, but the "quick hits" sections such as their "Wild Things, Life As We Know It". -
Who Will Lose the Most If Brady Quinn Holds Out?Ok, for the record, I don't know if Brady Quinn will hold out of his first Cleveland Browns training camp or not, but there has already been rumblings about the perceived amount of money he may have lost be slipping so low in the first round in April's draft.
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Cleveland Plans to Renovate Historic "League Park"On the surface you would think taking the step to renovate a historical landmark such as League Park in a depressed area of the city would be met with optimism and most importantly enthusiastically, but that hasn't been the case in Cleveland thus far.
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Thinking of Buying Dad a Tie for Father's Day?Ok, show of hands . How many of you dads reading this have a closet full of ties that you only bring out for family occasions where it doesn't really matter what people think of you because, well they are family, and family is accepting no matter what.
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Arthritic Joints Can't Be CuredI have been an avid jogger and jump-roper for about 15 years or so when I was in my early thirties, but as I approach my 48th birthday this coming September I have come to th realization that adjustments have to be made in my routine to combat "aches and pains."
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Differences Between a Tornado "Watch" and a "Warning"The feature article in the USA Weekend from Sunday, June 10th 2007, titled "Take our exclusive Weather Quiz" written by Stu Ostro of the Weather Channel was a very interesting piece to go through as it dealt with some facts and myths associated with weather.
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Is Ohio Governor Ted Strickland "Penny Wise, Dollar Foolish?"Here I am again, writing an article in support of a Governor I didn't support in the election who continues to do good things for Ohio, only this time it is in response to an editorial that I feel missed the point on what I feel Governor Strickland is trying to accomplish.
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Gang-logo Caps to Be Pulled from Store ShelvesSome questions just beg to be asked, and when I saw an article in the Metro section of my local paper, one such question presented itself. It seems that New Era had been selling "gang-logo" ball caps, and my question is, why were they there in the first place?
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Have Gas Prices Increased or Decreased Carpool Activity?The Senate has begun debating an energy bill that would raise the fuel economy standards for the first time in nearly twenty years. One finding that was reported upon as part of this process caught my attention, I wonder if it will catch yours.
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Flying Your American Flag at Half-StaffThe flying of the United States flag at half-staff is an honored tradition which signifies that the nation is mourning the loss of a prominent citizen. The criteria under which this honor could be bestowed were amended in 1976, when the flag code was amended.
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Ohio Attorney General Makes Recommendation on Frankie ColemanAn investigation has found that Frankie Coleman, the wife of Columbus Ohio's mayor who was given a position in Ohio's Department of Development has found that Coleman didn't work a full day, or missed work entirely for 13 days in her first few months on the job.
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Latest EPA "Clean Air" Concept Could Mean New RegulationsOn Thursday, the EPA, The United States Environmental Protection Agency proposed a concept aimed at lowering the "allowable" concentrations of air in ozone, commonly referred to as everyday smog, known to cause breathing or other respiratory problems
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Cleveland May Have to Settle for the Promise of What the Future HoldsMy respect for Lebron James and what I consider to be his greatest gift, leadership grows every day. Athletes today seem to find it easy to blame officials, weather conditions, coaches or even fans for poor individual or team performances.
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Rising Crime Rates Against the Elderly: Seniors Learning How to Handle Firearms in ClevelandA very good, and very sad article at the same time was in my Cleveland Plain Dealer on Wednesday, June 20th, written by Joe Guillen that reported on the fact that more an more seniors are learning how to handle firearms, and then carrying them for protection.
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Gift Giving at Sam's Club Going GreenI really never thought that I would find as interesting as I do all the ways that each of us can make a difference for the environment with the simple every things that we do. Now, as a member of Sam's Club, a new opportunity has come my way.
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Solar Power Trends: Jacobs Field Leads the Way Toward "Greener Pastures"Even though Jacob's Field in Cleveland Ohio, the home of the American League's Cleveland Indians has plenty of excitement going on this season on the field, it is also generating "buzz" around the league for a different, and it is a quite an undertaking.
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Old Spice Body Spray: Traditional Fragrance Attracting New CustomersOk, I know that the line of body spray fragrances introduced by Old Spice were not done so for guys about to turn 48 (September), but still it was nice to see this old familiar friend on store shelves to make it comfortable for guys like me to give the product a try.
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"Hypermilers" - Who Are They and What Do They Do?Have you heard the term "hypermiler" lately? I seem to be hearing or seeing it at least a couple of times per week, but I have a sneaking suspicion that it still might not be a term familiar to most people, so I thought a little explanation might be in order.
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Men at Risk for Osteoporosis as WellPeople don't generally associate Osteoporosis with men, as a matter of fact I don't think that I have ever even heard it mentioned as it relates to men, but new screening procedure that works for women has been approved to be used by men as well.
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Tensions Between the United States and Iran EscalatingTwo very recent developments between Iran and the United States have taken tensions up a notch or two, and you may or may not be surprised about who within the United States Senate has called for a military strike against Iran at the same time.
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Baseball is a Funny GameAre you a baseball fan? If so, I am fairly certain you have seen your share of strange things around the game, on and off the diamond. It is the one sport that can literally re-invent itself almost pitch by pitch, inning by inning, or game by game.
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This Congressional "Perk" Has to Be Too Ridiculous to Be TrueRecently in a local paper there was a small "blurb" about former Ohio Congressman James Traficant having difficulty generating interest for artwork he has created behind bars while serving his sentence for taking bribes and kickbacks while in office.
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Ohio Senate Weighs in on Higher Education FundingAs a parent of a student at an Ohio college, I have been closely watching how the promise of Governor Ted Strickland to put more money into higher education was going to actually develop, hoping that it wouldn't take until my son was through college altogether.
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NBA Finals: Will the "Sports Gods" Finally Shine Upon Cleveland?Red Right 88, The Drive, The Fumble, The Shot and The Collapse are easily the most well known to most Cleveland sports fans as examples of the heartbreak they have had to endure in the course of supporting their teams.
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Is it Time for the Hook Shot to Make a Return to the NBA?Quick, if I say "hook shot", what is the first thing that comes to mind? If you are a true basketball, or even a student of the history of the game, I would be very surprised if the first thing that popped into your mind wasn't Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
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2007 Marks the 63rd Anniversary of the Normandy "D-Day" LandingsI could be wrong, but I didn't see any coverage leading up to the 63rd anniversary of the Normandy D-Day landings anywhere, in print, on the air or even the Internet until there was such an outcry that items began to appear the next day.
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Two-Three-Two Format for NBA Finals Tough Task for the UnderdogThey say in the NBA playoffs that no series is really a series until the home team loses a game, and I have to agree with that since under a two-two-one-one-one format, the advantage is squarely where it belongs, with the team and its better record for the season.
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Oceans 13 is a Stylish Good TimeThe formula to Oceans 11 was "can't miss", great cast, strong characters and Las Vegas. Oceans 12 took a bit of a detour from this winning combination and turned out somewhat flat, but Oceans 13 returns to its Vegas roots and boy are the results worth it!
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Tank Johnson of the Chicago Bears Hit with 8 Game Suspension to Start 2007On the surface at least, it would be easy to pile onto Tank Johnson of the Chicago Bears as the announced 8 game suspension is the latest punishment handed out by NFL Commissioner Goodell in an attempt to crackdown on off field behavior.
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How to Plan a Responsible Business Event Where Alcohol Will Be ServedHaving been an "business event planner" I can testify to the fact that while you are planning an event your regularly assigned job responsibilities do not get done on their own, so I hope these tips will help you get through the "double duty"a bit easier.
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Earning a Diploma in OhioI have to admit that when my soon to be sixteen year old daughter announced to her mother and I that she had indeed passed all parts of the Ohio Graduation Tests, I did indeed breather a huge sigh of relief.
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Some Basic Security Steps for Special EventsDetermining the security needs for any special event typically seems to be a very imposing task, but if you take the time to base your needs on not only the size of your event, but the type of activity at your event, this task will become much easier.
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Fort Dix Terror Plot Thwarted by Diligent Work of the FBISet aside for minute about whether or not you actually believe that an alleged terrorist plot, like the one that was busted in New Jersey targeting Fort Dix this past week could indeed actually work, lets look instead at how these wannabes seemed to foil themselves.
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Cocaine Energy Drink Pulled from the MarketI honestly thought the first time that I heard the name "Cocaine Energy Drink" that it had to be someones idea of a bad joke, but sadly Redux Beverages LLC was serious not only about the name, but the promo tags that went along with it.
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The Rights of Drunken Drivers Being DebatedOn the surface, it would seem that any bill that would toughen penalties on repeat drunk driving offenders would be greeted almost unanimously, but that is not the case in Ohio as one such bill is being challenged for "infringing on the driver's civil liberties."
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Daisuke Matsuzuka Gyroball is Baffling Fans and HittersIt has been called the "miracle" pitch by some, and it has also been called a few other things by hitters around the American League that are not printable here, but one thing for sure is it might become a pitch that other pitchers will be scrambling to learn quickly.
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Lebron James NOT 1st Team All NBA?I was not all that surprised by the fact that Lebron James was not named to the "All NBA 1st team" especially when I saw that Dirk Nowitski and Tim Duncan were selected ahead of him. On paper anyhow, I think voters probably got this right, here's why.
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Yes, You Can Iron a Shirt!The inspiration for articles for me sometimes comes out of thin air, and recently the fact that I just couldn't seem to iron any article of clothing without throwing "expletives" around set me off on a quest to master this seemingly simply everyday task.
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Duct Tape Made Even Better?No self respecting "home handyman" does not have duct tape in his tool box. Today, it not only comes in "battleship" gray, but a variety of colors that your wife is a lot less likely to complain about if the duct tape patching the garden house matches the hose color.
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How Do Tropical Storms/Hurricanes Get Their Names?You all probably have heard or experienced for yourselves how stressful it can be to pick names for children or even pets, right? Well, have you ever found your self wondering how tropical storms/hurricanes receive their names? How about who gets to name them?
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Is There Any Way to Fight Back Against Out of Control Gas Prices?Let me start by saying I nearly dismissed the plan I'm about to share with you for what it seemed to be at first, one of those annoying chain letters that never seem to stop coming that promise some sort of tremendous return for very little investment.
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How to Get Some Great Camera Shots with Your Cell PhoneI am the first one to admit that if I could find a cell phone without a camera, I'd be fine, but since I can't get away from the camera feature no matter how hard I try, I have been on a quest to find out just how I can get better quality pictures.
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Ohio Governor Ted Strickland is Winning Me OverI know, I know, I have already written two other pieces about how I wasn't a supporter of Ohio Governor Ted Strickland's campaign in 2006, but if you recall from the previous articles it was largely due to the fact that he was just too "vague" while campaigning.
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Other Practical Uses for Common Household ItemsOne of my favorite things about my Reader's Digest subscription is all the little "extras" that come at renewal time, such as their "Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things" paperback that includes over 2000 tips for saving time and money with common household items.
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Unanimous Bipartisan Budget Effort in Ohio was Sorely NeededFor a candidate that was widely criticized during the 2006 campaign as lacking vision, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland seems to have enough "vision" for Ohio lawmakers at least at this point as the recent vote of 97-0 on the states operating budget seems to indicate.
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What is Next for President Bush and Democrats on Iraq?The answer is yes, both Republicans and Democrats have an opportunity to turn the embarrassment over the recently vetoed Iraq funding bill into something positive if they attempt to craft something that puts emphasis where it belongs, on the Iraqi government.
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Can the NHL Make a Comeback with the Public?It certainly is no secret to fans of professional hockey that the NHL has operated as the "little brother" of major sports to baseball, football and basketball when it comes to media and television exposure.
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GM Phil Savage Gives Cleveland Browns Fans an Early Christmas PresentI know its easy to say you have called your "shot" after it happens, but when the Miami Dolphins surprised many NFL Draft observers a bit by selecting WR Ted Ginn Jr out of Ohio State with the number 9 selection, I knew the Browns still had a chance at Brady Quinn.
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Spiderman 3 : Very AmbitiousSpiderman 3 is a movie that most people will be determined to like, and for the most part from a visual standpoint, they'll be fine, but if you are a person looking for movie with "even" story flow to go along with amazing visuals, you might be a bit disappointed.
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U.S. Supreme Court Votes to Uphold Partial Birth Abortion BanIf you understand that a "partial-birth abortion" is the a "mostly" delivered premature infant, accomplished by the puncturing of the skull and the removal of the brain, then the answer to my question in the sub-headline has to be a resounding YES, doesn't it?
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Does Eric Wedge Manage with Enough Urgency?As a very long time Cleveland Indians fan, I seem to struggle on almost a daily basis about just how I feel about Eric Wedge as a manager. Everything about him says that he is the right guy to lead the Tribe back to the playoffs and possibly the World Series.
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Who is Your NBA MVP for 2007?My personal criteria for picking an MVP candidate in any sport comes down to one simple thing, who makes the players around them better?. Now, this usually eliminates potential candidates from teams that didn't have successful seasons as well.
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What Can a Simplified Tax System Accomplish?If you're anything like me, once the first of each new year arrives, you immediately begin to spend at least a portion of most days stressing over what is right around the corner, income tax filing that marks the Month of April as the most dreaded month on the calendar.
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Latest Baldwin/Basinger Exchange Raises a QuestionAsk yourself a quick question while trying to take out of the equation that the "combatants" are Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger. Would there ever be a good circumstance under which airing your custody battle through the media would be a good idea?
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NBA Postseason Outshines March Madness?I think I have finally figured out the secret that most veteran, or good column writers must live by, that by taking what most likely will be the "minority" opinion on a subject will create the most readership or "buzz", and the one I just read shows that it worked on me.
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Are We Wasting the Lessons that Jackie Robinson Taught Us?As major league baseball prepares to honor Jackie Robinson on the 60th anniversary of his breaking down baseball's color barrier this April 15th, the question has come to my mind as whether or not we wasting the lessons Robinson taught us with all his sacrifices.
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Jake Westbrook's Signing, a Breath of Fresh Air for BaseballIn an era where most professional athletes seize the opportunity to go after every single dollar available during free agency, or are in love with the prospect of playing in their sports biggest markets, it was refreshing for Jake Westbrook to say, "I'm staying put."
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The "Winking Lizard" Has Arrived East of ClevelandThose of us that leave east of Cleveland have never minded the travel necessary to get to a Winking Lizard location either closer to downtown, or even on the west side, because the trip has always been worth, but it good to say we finally have one of own in Mentor.
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Tips on Keeping Playgrounds SafeI was recently asked to be part of an elementary school playground building team this Spring, that is if the weather ever warms up here in Northeast Ohio. Since my children are now 19 and nearly 16 respectively, I thought my "playground" days were far behind me.
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Are Giuliani, McCain and Romney Enough for GOP Supporters to Choose From?Many GOP supporters have not committed to any of the generally considered to be "top three" contenders, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain or Mitt Romney because none has ties to a strong conservative base. Is this an opportunity for another hopeful to emerge?
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Don Imus at it AgainI cannot tell you how hard it is to agree with the Reverend Al Sharpton. It would be much easier for me not to have him as the one out in front of a threatened picketing of Don Imus's radio show home, WFAN-AM studios in New York, but we'll play the cards we're dealt.
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Who is to Blame for Cleveland Indians Opening Day Debacle?Picture the table the major league baseball schedule makers table that they sit around, dimly lit, big pads of paper, glowing computer screens, half empty coffee cups and of course, bottles of water. Got the image?
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The Sudden End to the Iranian/British Crisis Raises a Few QuestionsFirst and foremost, it is terrific news that the 15 British sailors, taken as hostages by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard are safely home on British soil, but the very quick, sudden turn of events that prompted their release has raised a few questions worth discussing.
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Opening Day for Baseball in Cleveland Always SpecialBeing a life-long Clevelander, and at the same a life-long Cleveland Indians, I have now come to the conclusion due to this years weather forecast for the home opener that nothing can dampen the enthusiasm that Clevelanders have for their baseball home opener.
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A Look at House Speaker Pelosi's Visit to SyriaInstead of re-hashing the details of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's 2 day visit to Syria, and the meeting she had with Syrian President Bashar Assad while there, I thought I would take a look at how this could develop a little further down the road.
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Yet Another Solution Offered for the Presidential Primary SystemOk, I have seen and read about the "Delaware Plan", "Regional Primary System" and the "American Plan/California Plan", and I have to say that although each seeks to fix the current primary system, I believe my much simpler approach will actually get it done.
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Blades of Glory: Will Ferrell Returns to FormWill Ferrell earned quite a bit of "movie capital" with me after his performance in "Elf". I though that film played to what I feel is Ferrell's strength on scree, which is allowing the movie develop from the outside in, inside out as most of his films have for me.
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Disturbia Movie Doesn't Quite Deliver"Disturbia" had all the ingredients of a suspense/thriller movie. Strong characters, the "Hitchcock" style story line and the right actors in the lead roles should have added up to home run, but Disturbia only made it second base for me and was stranded there.
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Lebron James is Building His New 33,000 Square Foot HomeIf you're thinking, that the title of this piece suggests that I am going to "rip" Lebron James about the recently disclosed details of his 33,000 square foot home being built in Bath Township, Ohio, south of Cleveland, you are going to be pleasantly surprised.
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The Search for "Deadbeat" Parents Gets Unique New AssistanceI decided to do an opinion piece on this subject for a couple of reasons, with the biggest reason being that an initiative as bold and creative as this needs all the support and exposure it can get, and I am more than happy to help that process along.
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4 Keys to the Cleveland Indians 2007 SeasonThe start of the 2007 Major League baseball season is right around the corner, and as a Cleveland Indians fan, I couldn't be more excited as the despite being in arguably baseball's toughest division, the Tribe figures to be in the hunt for a return to the post-season.
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Sure Signs that Spring is Right Around the CornerWhat says "Spring is here" to you? Is it blue skies overhead? How about flowers peaking out from the ground? I know, the "crack of the bat" and the "thud of catcher's mitts" that comes with baseball's "Spring Training" season in both Arizona and Florida.
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Controversial Hiring of Bruce Drennan by Sports Time OhioSomething tells me that Major League Baseball is going to be watching very closely how the recent hiring by of Bruce Drennan by SportsTime Ohio to do a daily talk show works out, considering it will give him access to Cleveland Indians players, coaches and other staff.
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Adam Miller May Be in Cleveland Pitching for the Indians Sooner Than LaterOf all the the lousy luck for Indians pitching prospect, Adam Miller. Despite an impressive spring training camp that includes 14 innings of not allowing a run to major league hitters, he appears to be headed, for now at least, to start the season at Class AAA Buffalo.
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Greg Oden, Should He Stay or Should He Go?Greg Oden's stay at Ohio State could be quite possibly be a short one, and has been debated almost from the first day he set foot on the court for practice. So with his first season at Ohio State drawing to a close, now is as good a time as any to revisit the issue.
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Gene Hickerson Finally Receives Induction Into Pro Football's Hall of FameI'll never forget meeting Gene Hickerson and Dick Schafrath when I was thirteen years old at an appearance they both made at an area church. With my autograph notebook firmly in hand, I nervously approached them both, as they both seemed larger than life to me.
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"Deadly Drivers", Are You One of Them?Driving drowsy is a high risk behavior for two reasons, one because it typically is something someone doesn't like to admit, much like the ability to drive after drinking, and two, because of the immediate, and often deadly consequences that can and do occur.
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Steps to "Take" When Your Knees Begin "Ache": When Jogging Takes Its TollI am always grateful that I am still able to run 4-5 times a week, for a weekly total of 10 to13 miles. At the age of 47 though I had begun to experience problems with my knees when running outside, but not so often on the treadmill, so I set out to find out why.
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Ohio Governor Ted Strickland Gives His First "State of the State" AddressLast week, Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio gave his first "State of the State" address that delivered much on detail that was not expected by the Republican controlled Ohio House and Senate. This at the very least should encourage very thorough debate.
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School Uniforms Vs. School Dress CodesFrom time to time, a story will surface from somewhere around the country related to a school implementing, or considering the implementation of either a school uniform policy, or a strict by-the-book school dress code, and which will produce better results.
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Steve & Barry's, If You Haven't Heard of Them, You're Going to Want ToHave you heard of Steve & Barry's? If not, visit their site @ www.steveandbarrys.com and get to know them, because I guarantee you still won't believe what they are trying to do to revolutionize how consumers shop and how their efforts are gaining momentum.
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Tips for "Bosses" During "March Madness"Ok, so all of a sudden, you're getting a mysteriously large number of "calling in sick" calls with a variety of ailments that will probably keep people out of the office on Thursday as well as Friday for the next few weeks which has got you suspicious.
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Pete Rose is at it AgainEven though I just finished a joint piece about Barry Bonds and Pete Rose, Rose's comments I have come across the very next day simply cannot be ignored because I'm beginning to believe that Rose might want to seek professional help for his delusions.
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Khalid Shaikh Mohammed is TalkingAfter reading several different accounts of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed's confessions on all terrorist plots that he was responsible for, I found the most interesting thing to be his expression of regret for the 3000 Americans that had been killed on 9-11.
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Barry Bonds and Pete Rose, What is Due Them from the Game of Baseball?I came across two short blurbs from the wire reports about arguably baseball's two biggest on going headaches, Barry Bonds and Pete Rose that I just couldn't resist commenting on, although I'm not quite sure what they said this time that set me off.
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Are the Cavaliers Peaking at Just the Right Time?Sometimes the best trades you make are the ones that you don't. This is the case with the Cleveland Cavaliers as an injury to rookie point guard Daniel "Boobie" Gibson, forced the Cavaliers to move Larry Hughes out front, and the results speak for themselves.
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Who Needs Expensive Cat Toys?If you have a cat, or know someone who does, you have probably seen or heard how cats can occupy themselves with yarn for hours on end, and that is true, but we as a family have found several other things that are fun for the cats and us to watch at the same time.
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NCAA ,March Madness, Darkhorse PicksAs if you could ever need anything to make "March Madness" more exciting and interesting, how about focusing your attention on that one team per region that could possibly make that improbable run, as George Mason did in 2006 all the way to the Final Four.
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NCAA March Madness Selection Committee Misses the Mark, AgainWhen is the NCAA Tournament selection committee ever going to learn? Don't they realize that it is media darling schools, and the upstart mid major and small conference schools that give "March Madness" its charm?
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Handicapping the American Idol Final TwelveTwelve is a magic number if you are an American Idol contestant because that means you have made the final cut and are either one of top six male or female vocalists left in the competition, according to the voting public at least.
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Does Procrastination Keep You from Things that Could Make You Happy?How long have been meaning to call that "old friend" from high school? Have you gotten around to anything on your personal "to do" list recently? How about something even more simple, when was the last time you called your mother or father just to talk?
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Don't Teachers Choose to Be Teachers?Teachers choose to be teachers, don't they? I mean, the last I heard there is no "teacher draft board" that visits college campuses and forces the profession upon any one particular person or group of people against their wills, is there?
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Merger of Sirius and XM Satellite Radio to Lower Prices a "Pipe Dream"My brother is a big radio listener, and has been after me for a few years to get satellite radio, and I have to admit, I almost did when Howard Stern bolted terrestrial radio for the huge dollars and "freedoms" of expression that satellite radio offered.
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What Does the Recent Disclosure by Senator Barack Obama's Campaign About Unpaid Parking Tickets Mean?The Sommerville News out of Massachusetts recently reported that Senator Barack Obama finally got around to paying 15 parking ticket fines in January, coincidental a mere two weeks before kicking off his campaign for the presidency.
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Cleveland Indians Gain Lineup Options by Playing Travis Hafner More at First BaseThe fact that Tribe manager Eric Wedge has announced plans to play Travis Hafner once or twice a week at first base this season is the right thing to do for the team, but the timing of the decision could hurt the team's bargaining position when Hafner becomes a free agent.
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Browns Move Quickly to Sign Free Agent Jamal LewisJamal Lewis and the Cleveland Browns continued a pattern around the league this free agent signing off season by getting a contract done between a player, and the first team he had decided to visit in the process.
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Ohio Proposes Specially Colored License Plates for Sexual PredatorsOn the surface, you would think that there couldn't possibly be any opposition to a proposal in Ohio that would make sexual predators obtain fluorescent green license plates, but I am now convinced that there are people that will argue any point.
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Part Time Jobs with Benefits Are Out ThereHow great would it be if you could work part time and still be able to secure some of the full time benefits available through your employer? Too good to be true you say, well, there are opportunities available, you just have to know where to look.
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South Dakota Ready to Convert Pilot DUI Program Into LawAs a certified alcohol awareness trainer, I am always on the lookout for new approaches and ideas on how to prevent not only the irresponsible consumption of alcohol, but the irresponsible sale or service of alcohol, where I believe there to be a great opportunity.
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What Will it Take to Get Casino Gambling in Ohio?Politicians in Ohio and Cleveland might be feeling a bit more pressure today to develop alternatives to casino gambling to solve economic woes as the closest casino attraction yet to Northeast Ohio opened just about an hour and half away in Presque Isle, Pennsylvania.
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4 - Cent Beer Tax Being Debated in OhioDo you think that a 4 cents tacked on to every beer sold at neighborhood bars, restaurants or even package stores will solve, or at least help officials in college towns deal with drunken behavior by rowdy students?
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Ohio State Coach Thad Matta Utilizes the "5 Second Rule" to Salvage His GumI have stated in a previous commentary of mine, that sometimes you have to read something more than once to decide for yourself what the writer's intent or angle was in telling a story, and sometimes you end up never really knowing for sure.
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Tired of the Long Winter Yet?I honestly don't know what is worse, when 12-15 inches of perfectly white snow falls and causes school closings, traffic frustrations and general depression, or the fact that when this snow melts, it becomes a shade of black you never seem to every see anywhere else.
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Can the Cleveland Indians Sign Any of Their Big Three?Having been a Cleveland Indians fan for over 30 years, it is safe to say I have witnessed some very bad baseball over the years, sometimes so bad, I'm not sure it could even be called baseball, but lately those fortunes have changed.
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What Would You Do with $370 Million DollarsThis article may be moot point by the time you are reading it, but the fact that the Mega Millions lottery drawing that has reached a record $370 million dollars has compelled me to offer some of my thoughts on what I would do with all that money.
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Why America Needs a Viable Third Political PartyIf you are anything like me, you take your right to vote very seriously, but I would also venture a guess that you just might be beginning to become a just a little frustrated with the fact that both of the major parties act like spoiled children most of the time.
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Family That Lost Son in Iraq Meets with President BushIf you had the chance to meet with President Bush after having lost a loved one who served in the military during the war on terror, what do you think you would say? One such family got their chance, and I feel, made the most of it.
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Postage Rate High to 41 Cents on the TableRecent events such as President Ford's funeral, which halted mail delivery for 3 days, and a snowstorm that interrupted normal mail delivery service where I live in Greater Cleveland area has got me to thinking about the most recent rate hike proposal.
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Some Myths About Health Care in the United StatesIn July of 2006, when I began paying for health insurance on my own, I was not prepared for all the particulars associated with the different plans, coverages or most importantly costs associated with my options.
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F.A.S.T. System Helps to Recognize Stroke Warning SignsHaving reached the age where the yearly physical isn't such an afterthought anymore, I found a recent article about stroke warning/recognition signs to be very helpful in identifying some immediate warning signs.
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Cleveland Browns 1-0 in 2007It is pretty sad to me that as a life-long Cleveland sports fan that the only thing we have to celebrate from a football perspective is the fact that we were lucky enough that Tampa Bay incorrectly called "heads" in the battle for the third pick in the draft.
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British Announcement of Troop Withdrawals a Blow to the White HousePrime Minister Tony Blair's announcement to Parliament on February 21st that Britain will begin withdrawing a quarter of their 7,100 troops in the coming months from Iraq has dealt the White House a potentially serious blow.
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Discrimination to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King on His Birthday?The "Letters to the Editor" section of any newspaper is a great way to get a commentary piece off the ground, either in support of, or an opinion against what has been written. However sometimes you're never really sure of the motivation.
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How To Deal with "Ice Dams" From Heavy and Melting Snow on Your RoofLiving in the Midwest can be both a blessing and a curse. A blessing, for instance might be the colorful changing of the seasons, whereas one of the curses most certainly is dealing with heavy, sometimes unpredictable snowfalls that leave behind messes and damage.
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The Sadness That Continues to Plague Anna Nicole SmithI resisted weighing in on the sad and somewhat pathetic story that the death of Anna Nicole Smith has become, but I simply can't let it go another day without addressing what I feel is the most tragic result of all, an innocent 5 month old girl now without her mother.