Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) is the official name of what has come to be known as the "Cash for Clunkers" program. The program was funded by the federal government. Its objective was to boost auto sales and benefit the environment. This successful program went from July 2009 through August 2009. Here is how it worked. The owner of a gas-guzzling "clunker" could, if said clunker met certain criteria, trade it in for a newer, more fuel-efficient car. The car owner received a cash credit to put toward the new car. Of course, participating car dealerships would take quite an economic loss if they simply traded new cars for old ones. Thus, the government reimbursed the dealerships with money from the economic stimulus. To qualify, an old car and the owner had to meet the following criteria: * Have gas mileage of 18 miles to the gallon or less (there are exceptions to this for large trucks and other large vehicles) * Be less than 25 years old * In a condition that is drivable * Proof of insurance that covers the entire year * Proof of registration that covers at least the last full year * The owner must have a clear title (no liens and/or ...

Health professionals emphasize the importance of calcium in our diets, especially for women. There are good reasons for this emphasis - calcium is essential for strong bones (especially in post-menopausal women), proper muscle and nerve function, and proper blood clotting. Food sources are best for obtaining this mineral. Supplements may not be "bioavailable," or easily absorbed by the body. Adult men and pre-menopausal women need about 1000 milligrams of calcium a day, and women need about 1200 milligrams after menopause. Here are ten of the top foods that are good sources of calcium. 1. Plain Yogurt One 8-ounce cup of plain yogurt contains anywhere from 415 to 452 milligrams of calcium. Because of the live cultures in yogurt, the calcium is absorbed better than the calcium in 8 ounces of milk. Low-fat, not fat-free yogurt is the best choice. Vitamin D, which is essential to calcium absorption, is fat-soluble. Thus, the fat content in yogurt may help with the absorption of calcium. 2. Sardines This tiny fish still contains its bones. Three ounces of this tasty snack contains 325 milligrams of calcium. Their fatty acid content may also aid absorption. 3. Cheese Cheese is a very popular food, and it is okay to indulge (in moderation of ...

Breast milk is absolutely amazing stuff. It can't be duplicated in formulas, and it has components whose relevance modern science has still not figured out. You may have heard that breast milk is healthy for your baby, but did you know it could also heal? Breast milk has antibacterial properties. Thus, it can be applied to various types of topical and even internal infections. Here are some things to think about regarding the healing power of breast milk. * Eye or eyelid infections in baby, child or adult can be cleared up with breast milk. A few drops in each eye several times a day will fight the infection. * Ear infections have been effectively treated with breast milk. Treat the breast milk like an antibiotic eardrop (which it is!) - a few drops in each ear several times a day. * Breast milk provides antibodies to boost baby's immunity every time he or she nurses. Sick babies often need to nurse more, so be sure to follow your baby's cues and give his or her immune system what it needs. * The suckling action of breastfeeding helps develop the muscles in the face and jaw, encouraging correct alignment and strength. Bottle-feeding does not produce ...

In 2006, there was an outbreak of E.coli in the United States. There were 5 deaths and more than 200 cases of illness. The cause was contaminated, bagged spinach which the victims had been eaten raw. Also in 2006, pre-packaged iceberg lettuce served in restaurants resulted in another outbreak of E.coli. Understandably, people became concerned about pre-packaged leafy greens. How safe is bagged salad now? Consumer Reports tested an extensive sample of bagged salads and released the results in March 2010. While the deadly E.coli was not present, many other bacteria were. This indicates poor sanitation in the growing and processing of the greens. What Does It Mean? Obviously, many people consume greens from bagged salads every day with no apparent ill effect. However, the presence of the non-deadly bacteria does indicate unsanitary conditions. Thus, it would seem that the conditions still exist that could result in another E.coli outbreak. The problem is, it's frustratingly difficult to pin down just what causes one of these outbreaks. And with unsanitary conditions still in place, the potential for an outbreak to happen again is undeniable. What Is Meant by "Unsanitary Conditions"? When salad greens are in the field and after they are harvested, they are exposed to various potential ...

Do you need a new laptop? Are you also wondering which choice would be the most eco-friendly choice would be? Look to Lenovo and their new models of ThinkPads then. Yes, Lenovo has released several models of ThinkPads that are environmentally friendly. These new laptops are said to be military-grade durability, eco-friendly and priced right. These are specially designed to use in the education, government and business areas. This series of laptops are called the ThinkPad L series and includes L412 and L512 as models. These are built for high performance and come with the latest Intel processors. They also come with great features such as web conferencing. These ThinkPads contain the Intel Core i3 and i5 processors. Both models have the 16:9 HD display equipped with antiglare. These are also environmentally friendly as we have stated. The model L512 includes 18 percent recycled materials and the L412 has 30 percent recycled materials or what Lenovo calls post-consumer content. This makes them a great green selection for those of you who are eco-conscious these days. These also have the EPEAT Gold and Energy Star 5.0 rating. They are packaged in recycled material too. Both models can come with various options for connecting to ...