Month: March 2024

World Backup Day

World Backup Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually by the backup industry and tech industry all over the world on March 31 It highlights the importance of protecting data and keeping systems and computers secure.

Here are some gift ideas for World Backup Day – with all budgets in mind!

1 – Give the gift of an external hard drive or subscription to a backup cloud service. Who needs roses when you have peace of mind?

2 – Remind friends to back up phones, computers, and other technology like cameras and tablets. Back up all the technology!

3 – You might also want to encourage everyone to change their settings so that backups happen automatically. And if you’re especially tech-savvy, offer to help them change the settings, perhaps over a nice dinner!

4 – Set reminders on your calendar or smartphone that notify you weekly or monthly to do a data backup. This is the gift that keeps on giving.

5 – Encourage your family and friends to take the World Backup Day Pledge! “

“I solemnly swear to backup my important documents and precious memories on March 31st.”

Remind your loved ones that backing up their data will help them recover precious memories and information quickly! Data loss can happen in a number of ways:

  • Device Theft (it happens, unfortunately)
  • Device Damage (don’t try to pretend you haven’t spilled something on your phone)
  • Viruses (yikes, you clicked that link?)
  • Human Error (yes, you did just hit the delete button)

Spread the love this World Backup Day! And be sure to check out the official World Backup Day website at worldbackupday.com/en/

Image credit: techherald.in

Another Hack: AT&T says data set impacting about 73M leaked on dark web

  • U.S. telecom giant AT&T (NYSE: T) on Saturday said that some company data-specific fields had been released on the dark web about two weeks ago, impacting about 7.6M current account holders and around 65.4M former account holders.
  • AT&T said it was not yet known whether the data in those fields originated from the company or one of its vendors.
  • “With respect to the balance of the data set, which includes personal information such as social security numbers, the source of the data is still being assessed,” the company said in a statement.
  • The Dallas, Texas-based telecom giant said that, based on a preliminary analysis, the data set appeared to be from 2019 or earlier. The company has launched an investigation supported by internal and external cybersecurity experts.
  • “Currently, AT&T (T) does not have evidence of unauthorized access to its systems resulting in exfiltration of the data set,” the company said.
  • “As of today, this incident has not had a material impact on AT&T’s operations,” it added.

Source: Seeking Alpha

Honoring valor and sacrifice on National Vietnam War Veterans Day

It has been over 50 years since the last U.S. serviceman left Vietnam, and now we have a designated day, the 29th of March, to reflect and remember. 

Vietnam War Veterans Day was first observed as a one-time occasion on March 29, 2012, when President Barack Obama issued a proclamation calling on “all Americans to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.” The day was then introduced as an annual event in 2017 when President Donald Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017.

The March 29 celebration of National Vietnam War Veterans Day is not as yet a big event. Banks will stay open, kids won’t get a free day from school and few municipalities will have parades. There may be small gatherings at local parks, Veterans of Foreign Wars or American Legion posts, but they will be insignificant compared to Memorial Day or Veterans Day, or even 9/11. But in the future, the significance of that day will grow. We realize that never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.

More than 3.4 million Americans served in support of U.S military operations in Vietnam and Southeast Asia; more than 58,000 gave their lives and nearly 1,580 service men remain unaccounted for.

How to Get Rid of Ants in Your House and Yard

How to Find Ant Nests

Sometimes the solution to an ant problem is getting rid of their nest. If you’re dealing with carpenter ants, which can do structural damage to your house, it’s vital that you wipe them out ASAP. Finding the nest may not be easy and takes some detective work. Ants generally prefer damp areas, such as framing or flooring that’s soft and spongy from a plumbing or roof leak. How to get rid of ants begins by looking for areas with water damage. Attics, bathrooms and exterior walls are obvious candidates. Cut small holes in water-damaged walls to track down the ant nest. (You’re going to have to repair the walls anyway.) When you find the nest, spray it with an insecticide that contains bifenthrin, permethrin or deltamethrin (look on the label). Ortho’s Home Defense Max is one brand. Be sure to fix the water leak and replace damaged wood. If you can’t track down the nest, hire a pest control service. Pros spend about 80 percent of their time hunting down nests. Their fees start at about $150, but tough cases with multiple treatments can cost $400 or more.

Ant Removal: Determine the Best Ant Bait

When you see an ant, your first impulse is probably to step on it. But don’t. You’ll kill it, but for every ant you see, there may be hundreds more hiding in the house. The ones you see are scout ants, foraging for food to take back to the colony. Use these scouts to wipe out the entire colony.

Prebait ants in areas you’ve previously seen them. Ants’ tastes change during the year. They usually prefer protein in the spring and sweets or fatty/oily foods in the summer. Set out sugar or honey, fried food and peanut butter, then see which food attracts ants. Use whichever food they prefer for bait and a DIY way to get rid of ants. Once you know what the ants like, buy and set out toxic ant bait that’s geared to their taste. Look on the bait package for words like “controls both sweet and grease eating ants.”

Ant Removal: Erase Ant Trails

Where you see one ant, you’re bound to see others. That’s because ants leave a scented trail that other ants follow. Sweeping or mopping isn’t enough to eliminate the scent. Instead, mix 1 part vinegar with 3 parts water in a spray bottle for a safe way to get rid of ants in the home, then spray wherever you’ve seen ants in the past. This will stop outdoor nesting ants that entered the house to forage for food (ants that come inside are not necessarily trying to establish a nest).

Vinegar and water won’t stop ants that are already nesting indoors. You’ll need to kill them with ant bait.

Ant Removal: Wipe Out Ant Colonies

Once you’ve set out toxic ant bait, expect to see lots of ants (initially). That’s a good thing. It means more ants are taking the bait (which is toxic) back to the colony where they’ll share it with the rest of the ants, including the queen, and kill them. There might be thousands of ants back at the nest. Liquid bait is the best way to kill ants for many sweet-loving ants. Other ants prefer solid bait. If you still have ants in house after two weeks, replace the bait containers. If that doesn’t work, how to get rid of ants next means finding the nest.

How to Kill Ants in Your Yard

Anthills are eyesores in yards, and the ants can ruin outside dining. If you only have ants in a certain area, like along your sidewalk, spot-treat the area with an outdoor insecticide. Liquid or granules work fine as a way to get rid of ants.

For large-scale ant problems on how to get rid of ants, use a lawn and garden insect killer that contains bifenthrin as the active ingredient. The spray will also kill other insects (read the label for a list).

  1. First, mow the grass.
  2. Then spray the insecticide on the entire lawn—you can also spray shrubs and trees.

Spray in the early morning or late afternoon when the ants are most active. And it’s best to spray on a calm day to prevent drift. If ants are still building mounds after six weeks, treat the lawn again (the insecticide works for up to six weeks). You won’t kill every ant in your yard (nor would you want to!), but spraying will eliminate most of them and stop the annoying mounds.

How to Kill Ants in Your Yard: Destroy Exterior Nests

If you frequently see ants in the same area on the siding, there’s probably an ant nest in there. How to get rid of ants begin with looking for holes in the siding where ants are crawling in and out. The holes are often located between bricks where mortar has fallen out, under lap siding or in cracks in stucco. Once you locate the nest, or the vicinity of the nest, spray the area with an insecticide containing bifenthrin.

How to Kill Ants in Your Yard: Fire Ants

Fire ants are found in the Southeastern United States and Southern California. Standard insecticides are much less effective at killing fire ants.

You need a special product that’s designed to wipe out and the best wall to kill ants and these biting critters. Apply the granules with a broadcast spreader. Fire ants carry the granules, which they think are food (it’s actually toxic bait) back to their mounds. The ants share the bait and die. Some of these insecticides keep killing fire ants for up to a year. As with other baits, it may take a few weeks for you to see full results.

Ant Prevention: Keep It Clean

A clean house is your first defense against ants. Sweep up food crumbs, wipe up spills, take out the garbage and don’t leave dirty dishes sitting around the house. This takes away the ants’ food source. For a safe way to get rid of ants, spray vinegar mixed with water around bowls of pet food to keep ants from feasting there.

Ant Prevention: Spray Ant Entry Points

After ridding the house of ants, take steps to ensure they don’t come back. Caulk and seal holes, and then spray insecticide around doors and windows. An insecticide that contains bifenthrin, permethrin or deltamethrin is one way how to get rid of ants. Spray a 4-in.-wide band along entry points, just enough to wet the surface. Once dry, the spray leaves an invisible film that repels ants so they won’t enter the house. Each spring, spray the insecticide to guard against ants. But keep in mind that this only works to keep ants out—it won’t kill ants that are already inside, and it can actually interfere with the use of ant baits. Kill more than just ants with this multipurpose insect bait (Amazon), which is one of the best ant sprays.

Ant Prevention: Spray on an Ant Barrier

If you’re still getting ants in your house after spraying interior entry points, spray a 12-in.-wide band of ant insecticide on the foundation and on and under the first course of lap siding to keep ants from entering the house. An outdoor insecticide that says “barrier treatment” on the label is one tool for how to get rid of ants.

Ant Prevention: Eliminate Safe Havens for Ants

Once you kill the ants in your house and yard, take steps to ensure they don’t come back.

  • Trim back bushes, shrubs and trees that brush against your siding or roof that provide a bridge for ants to reach your house.
  • Keep a 3-in. to 6-in. clearance space between the soil around the foundation and the bottom row of siding to prevent ants from nesting in the siding (and make sure the soil slopes away from the house).
  • Avoid stacking firewood next to the house. Firewood makes a perfect retreat for ants.
  • Ants like bare spots in the yard and ants like to build nests under layers of thatch. Maintaining a healthy lawn is one way to get rid of ants.
  • If anthills pop up in bare areas, spray the mound with insecticide and plant grass in the bare spots in order to get rid of ants.
  • Rake the lawn or bag the grass when you mow to eliminate thatch.

Article and photos by Family Handyman© and appeared on msn.com©

Why are Retirees Returning to the workforce in droves?

I

t used to be when you turn 65, most people put down the work and retire. However, the newest trend is “unretiring,” with as many as 20% of older workers rejoining the labor market in their 60s and 70s.

As of late 2023, there were nearly twice the percentage of Americans over age 65 working compared to the 1980s, according to Pew Research.

Carly Roszkowski of AARP says that given the tight labor market, it makes good business sense for employers to hire older workers.

“We have seen an increased interest in hiring older workers nationally,” she said.

A major reason is inflation, which is battering the value of their 401k and monthly Social Security checks.

What to know before you apply

Roszkowski says a majority of older workers feel age discrimination can hurt their chances of getting a new job. So, in your resume, highlight your skills, not your age, she says.

“Make sure you are highlighting your most recent experience. And while you want to include your credentials, you don’t have to include graduation dates,” she said.

And if you’re hanging on to an old Hotmail or AOL email account, upgrade to something more modern like Gmail. She also says it’s never too late to create a LinkedIn profile.

Millions of retirees like Rooch are now working again, whether for the money or to stay active.

“It’s something to do, or I wouldn’t know what to do,” he said.

Source: Scripps News©

Photo credit: Denise LaBuda 

Explore the 2024 All-America Selection flower and vegetable variety winners

While the rain, thunderstorms, and snow replenish the soil moisture, winter can still bring the blues. To welcome the spring season, check mailboxes for the new garden catalogs and start spring garden planning. When planning, remember to leave room for the spontaneous buys when shopping for plants this year.

Overwhelmed and wondering where to start? Begin by reviewing your garden records from previous years to aid in planning. When planning the new design, look for plants suited for your hardiness zone. Try plant mapping, drawing where things are placed, and thinking about incorporating new plants. One starting place is the new additions of All-America Selections.

All-America Selections is a non-profit organization that releases several trialed plants yearly as AAS Winners. AAS tests new varieties every year at private and public trial sites located around the U.S. and Canada. Currently, there are four trial locations in Illinois, with three northern and one central. Independent judges, who are professional horticulturists in geographically diverse areas, evaluate trial entries against comparison plants. The winners are chosen based on the compiled trial observations and results.

In 2024, there are 10 AAS winners. Nine winners are suited for zone 5, including two vegetables and seven flowers.

Vegetables

  • Broccoli Purple Magic F1 (Brassica oleracea var. Purple Magic F1): The National Vegetable winner is an easy-to-grow purple uniform broccoli. Characteristics include stress and heat tolerance with a tender, sweet flavor. A growth rate of 90 days to harvest from transplant.
  • Pepper Red Impact F1 (Capsicum annuum var. Red Impact F1): The National Vegetable winner is a high-yielding, thick, and sweet Lamuyo-type pepper. Characteristics include dark red, strong disease resistance, and uniform in size and shape. A growth rate of 75 days to harvest from transplant.

Flowers

  • Celosia Burning Embers (Celosia plumosa var. Burning Embers): A National winner that is compact, with bronze foliage, dark pink veined, plumed Celosia. It has the largest and longest-lasting flowers and does well in humidity and heat. Multiple flower blooms. Transplant 25 days after germination.
  • Geranium Big EEZE Pink Batik (Pelargonium x interspecific var. Big EEZE Pink Batik): A National Winning container geranium, that is heat tolerant, and contains pink mosaic against dark green foliage. Blooms are 4 to 5 inches with over 100 uniform flowers per plant.
  • Impatiens Interspecific Solarscape® XL Pink Jewel F1 (Impatiens hybrida var. Solarscape® XL Pink Jewel F1): A National Winner with pink blooms against green leaves and mounded habit with flowers in late spring to frost. Great for beds, borders, and containers. Full or part shade.  
  • Marigold Siam Gold F1 (Tagetes erecta var. Siam Gold F1): This National Winner contains globe-like gold flowers on mounded foliage. It has a beautiful appearance due to its uniformity, and flowers are 3 to 4 inches in size. Great for cut or dried flowers.
  • Petchoa EnViva™ Pink (Petunia x Calibrachoa hybrida var. EnViva™ Pink): A National Winner that has bright pink flowers with a yellow center and mounding habit. Large flowers from spring to fall, not fading in the summer heat. A petunia that is heat tolerant and bounces back after weather. Plant in hanging baskets, containers, or garden beds.
  • Petunia Sure Shot™ White (Petunia x hybrida var. Sure Shot™ White): A Regional Great Lakes National Winner that is great for containers, garden beds, or a hanging basket where it can withstand the elements. The white blooming, 2 to 3-inch flowers cover the green foliage, are fragrant, and attractive to pollinators.
  • Verbena Sweetheart Kisses (Verbena tenuisecta var. Sweetheart Kisses): This National Winner contains a valentine palette of reds, whites, and pinks. This low-growing mounding plant is a centerpiece for a garden bed. Plant for the colors, and it will bring on pollinators. A versatile plant for full sun used as a ground cover or container plant which withstands dry days. Seed to flower in 55 days.

Looking for something else to fill your landscape and gardens? Plan a trip to a local garden shop or visit All-America Selections.org, which contains a list of all past vegetables and flower winners since its founding in 1933.

Source: extension.illinois.edu

Photo: Petchoa Enviva Pink Wall

A New ‘Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ Series Coming Soon

  • The upcoming Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series promises to explore themes of female rage, abuse, and racism from the novels.
  • Lisbeth Salander will be portrayed by the fourth actress in the new TV adaptation for Prime Video.
  • The series, based on the Millennium books, blends mystery, thriller, and crime genres, focusing on the characters Lisbeth and Mikael.


The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is hacking its way into an exciting stage of development, according to its showrunner, Veena Sud. Last year it was announced that Amazon intended to develop a series based on the bestselling Stieg Larsson novels, and now, Sud has revealed what viewers and fans of the stories can expect from the upcoming adaptation. Speaking with Screen Rant, Sud explained her excitement at bringing the series to television after such a long time, adding that the themes of the books were just as relevant now — if not more so — than they were when the novels were first published.

“I have a classic television show coming out for Amazon, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, another angry woman out to get the bad guys and the monsters. So, I’m really excited about that, bringing it to television after 15–20 years. It’s been kind of in the stratosphere, and there’s so much to talk about today that was relevant back then — when Stieg Larsson first published the books, the trilogy — about female rage, about abuse, about the emergence of racism, white nationalism. All of the things, 20 years later, here we are, it’s super relevant today. So far, just pursuing kind of outlier women has always been the thing I love, so I’m really excited about that.”

She went on to say, “Well, it’s a little bit under wraps right now, so I can’t reveal too much other than to say, “Welcome to female rage.” 

Source: Collider© Photo by theologyofmusic.wordpress.com

Taking Ibuprofen Safely

Like any drug, ibuprofen comes with side effects such as dizziness, high blood pressure, and gastrointestinal issues. Taking ibuprofen comes with several risks, including the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Ibuprofen can also cause bleeding in your stomach, esophagus, or intestines, particularly if you take it for a long time or take high doses. People with certain conditions should speak to their doctor before taking ibuprofen because it might make their condition worse or increase side effects. Ibuprofen can aggravate symptoms or trigger a flare-up of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

People who are pregnant should avoid taking ibuprofen because ibuprofen can harm your fetus, especially if you take it during your 20th week. You should let your doctor know if you’re taking ibuprofen if you plan to become pregnant. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to aspirin or other NSAIDs like naproxen, you should avoid ibuprofen.

Adults over 75 who are taking ibuprofen for arthritis or other conditions should talk to their doctor about the risks of taking it long-term. Regardless of age, you shouldn’t be taking ibuprofen daily for more than 30 days in a row, according to Mercy Hospital. With each dose ranging from 400 to 800 milligrams, you shouldn’t take more than 3,200 milligrams of ibuprofen a day unless you’re under a doctor’s supervision.

You should let your doctor know if you’re taking ibuprofen, especially if you’re taking blood thinners, oral steroids, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Look for aspirin or other NSAIDs in other over-the-counter medications, such as cold medicine, so you’re not taking two types of pain relievers at a time.

Article by healthdigest.com

Photo by health.harvard.edu

Try this for an Easter Breakfast

Mini Ham and Cheese Breakfast Pies

Enjoy these ham cheese and spinach breakfast pies on your way out the door in the morning or even as an easy breakfast for dinner option!

Ingredients 1X2X3X

  • ▢1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed and rolled out
  • ▢6 thick cut ham slices, leftover or deli slices, chopped
  • ▢3/4 cup ricotta
  • ▢1/2 cup grated mozzarella, plus more for topping
  • ▢2 tablespoons milk
  • ▢1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • ▢salt and pepper to taste
  • ▢1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • ▢1 large shallot, minced
  • ▢1 clove garlic, minced
  • ▢4 cups baby spinach
  • ▢1 egg, beaten

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking sheet.
  • Combine the ham, ricotta, mozzarella, milk, nutmeg, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Set aside.
  • Place the olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat.
  • Once hot, add the shallots and garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the spinach and cook until wilted. Remove from heat and transfer to the bowl with the ricotta mixture.
  • Stir together until well combined.
  • Cut the puff pastry sheet into 4 squares, place on the baking sheet and spoon the filling into the center of each.
  • Gently fold up the sides of each square in a circular pattern pinching the creases together as you go.
  • Brush each puff pastry with the beaten egg and top with a sprinkling of extra mozzarella.
  • Bake in the oven for about 15-20 minutes until golden brown around the edges.
  • Remove from oven, let cool a few minutes before serving.

Article and photo by: runningtothekitchen.com