Bravenet has a New Mailing List Service

Here are some of the highlights: the basic free service allows up to 500 subscribers, can send both HTML & Text-only, is supported by ads. Don’t know what kind of ads yet, I’m still investigating…

The Professional Plan services start at $10.95/month (but it’s cheaper in the long run to pay for a year, it will save you $31.45); allows up to 90,000 subscribers, send up to 5 newsletters a day, and a free version of Site Pal. You can read more by clicking here.

Both versions offer easy installation, and full website integration.

Ask Viki!

1) Rearrange often-used items so they are within arm's reach, unless of course, you're deliberately trying to exercise!

2) Take a break every hour; stand up, stretch, do a quick cleanup of your desk by filing papers and putting unused supplies away.

3) Paper or Plastic? Neither! Buy reusable bags that are sold just about everywhere and take them with you to the store, they cost about $1 each.

4) Get extra work space by placing a table at a right angle to your desk. (Works great for me!)

5) Buy a better file cabinet; measure the space & cabinet, put a heavy book in the bottom drawer, if it squeaks or sticks, don't buy it unless it moves quietly and smoothly.

6) Straighten out your desk drawers; making sure every item is in some sort of partition. Cutlery trays and similar storage items work great! The local 'dollar' store is a good place to pick these up at.

7) At year-end clean out your file drawers by transferring inactive files to an archive file cabinet, we do our right after our taxes are done.

8) 10 minutes a day will keep your office organized: put all items away, open & sort bills, shred junk mail, empty trash,...

Ask Viki!

My brother's girlfriend of 10 years just up and moved 250 miles away! She tried to take my niece and nephew but the court said they had to stay, yippee! So now comes the fun part; cleaning the trailer so when Child Protections Services comes to inspect the childrens living conditions, it's ready. I should mention that my 'ex-sister-in-law' is a hoarder; of food and anything offered 'free'...anyone need an old upright piano?

So here's how Mom and I did it:

I took a large trash can from outside and cleaned it with PineSol, dried it out, put a bag in it and set it in the middle of the kitchen. Then put a trash bag in a clothes basket to use for things to go to Goodwill. I started with the cabinet under the sink, combined the 4 half filled containers of vinegar, 3 bottles of dish soap, threw away the 12 pieces of moldy pieces of sponges and scrubbers and 6 empty cans of air freshener spray.

Next was the cabinet full of pots 'n pans (too many for someone who rarely cooked!), we only kept the ones that weren't broken and matched, put all bakeware on the top shelf (it's the skinniest), crock pots and other rarely used pots on the bottom and sauce/frying pans on the middle shelf.
...

Ask Viki!

A great cleaner that can be made with ingredients you probably have on hand…

2 t vinegar or lemon juice
1 t borax
1 t baking soda
1/4 t dish soap
2 C hot water

Combine all ingredients in a clean spray bottle and shake well. For a really sticky mess, spray with the cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping.

Can be used on counter tops, sinks, glass, and other hard surfaces.

Ask Viki!

* Use one calendar for all activities, personal and business, even noting when bills are due.

* Hang photos on the wall instead of displaying on your desk, it will give you more working area.

* Control business card clutter by putting the information on your computer.

* Adding a table at a right angle to your desk gives you valuable work space.

* 10 minutes a day will keep your desk organized: put supplies away, open and sort bills, shred junk mail,
empty trash, and wipe the desk .

* Toss these items: old grocery receipts, expired coupons, warranties for items you no longer have, etc.

Fight junk mail by writing to the Direct Marketing Association and asked to be removed from their lists. Their address is:

Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
PO Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512

Or go to www.the-dma.org/

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The new electronic filing requirement enacted by sub. H.B. 562 is effective with the filing of your June 2009 (01/01/2009 through 06/30/2009) tax return. This requirement states, on or before the 23rd day of the month following the return ending date, you shall make payment and file a return by electronic means. For semi-annual filers, your first electronic submission is the June return which is due by July 23, 2009. The return must be filed electronically using the Ohio Business Gateway, the Department of Taxation's eForm or the Ohio TeleFile system. Detailed information about these filing methods and the file layout requirements can be found on the Department of Taxation's Web site at tax.ohio.gov or by calling 888-405-4039.

We expect that a high volume of vendors will need assistance on or near the due date. We encourage you to determine the electronic filing method that suits your needs in advance of the July 23rd due date. If you require assistance, please contact us at 888-405-4039 or visit one of our service centers.

Ask Viki!

Here are some tips and ideas to keep critters out of your gardens using garlic:

* To remove moles, put a bulb of garlic in one of the holes.
* Surround your garden with garlic plants to deter woodchucks and raccoons.
* Scattering garlic and rotten eggs around your garden will deter deer.
* Plant a clove of garlic with each spring-flowering bulb to deter rodents.

Now a few ideas using other items:

* Sprinkle ground red pepper in the entrances to mole .tunnels
* Scatter broken egg shells around your plants will keep cats and raccoons away.
* Tie clothes that smell of human sweat and old sneakers to posts to deter deer and raccoons.
* If you won’t disturb your neighbors, play a radio on low all night.

Ask Viki!