Opinion
The ‘Great American Challenge’ Smokeout
No smoking today - take the first step
Whether you smoke three cigarettes or three packs of cigarettes a day, kicking the habit is difficult. Various nicotine replacement products are on the market to make quitting easier. But which product is right for you? Experts from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center are here to help.
“Quitting smoking is a wonderful thing to do for yourself and your loved ones, but it can be really hard without help,” said Jennifer Irvin Vidrine, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Health Disparities Research at M. D. Anderson. “A great way to reduce withdrawal symptoms while you are trying to quit is to use some sort of nicotine replacement therapy.”
Quitting smoking is one of the absolute most important things you can do to improve your health. It significantly reduces your risks for cancer and other diseases, such as heart and lung disease. M. D. Anderson experts share the lowdown on nicotine replacement products.
“To help yourself quit, I strongly recommend a nicotine replacement product in combination with counseling,” Jennifer Vidrine said.
Although going to see a private counselor might be impossible because of time or money, there are several free smoking quit lines such as 1-800-QUIT NOW (American Cancer Society) and 1-877-44U-QUIT (National Cancer Institute).
“Your goal should be complete cessation,” Damon Vidrine said. “It shouldn’t be just to cut back. This can be difficult, but nicotine replacement products, non-nicotine medications, and counseling really do help people who want to quit.”
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Hot weather cooking
CNHI News Service — People assume that really hot weather is a bad time to barbecue or grill, but actually the worst place to cook this time of the year is in the kitchen.
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Beware of deceptive auto loan modification offers
Ads on TV may promise to modify car loans and stave off a visit from the repo man, but some companies fail to carry through on their promises. Better Business Bureau recommends that cash-strapped consumers save their money by trying to work out a deal with the lender directly before paying out hundreds in upfront fees to a loan modification company.
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BBB gives tips on identity theft
College students have enough to juggle when it comes to school, work and their social life, and fighting consumer fraud often doesn’t make the list of priorities. Because college students are so susceptible to identity theft, Better Business Bureau recommends that they take seven simple steps to protect themselves on campus.
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I never complain! Just ask anyone.
I’ve never been one to complain. It gets old to the ear and tiresome to hear.
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BBB warns that scams emerge in the wake of the BP oil spill
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill continues to threaten the environmental and economic health of the Gulf Coast. In the wake of the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history, a coordinated effort is underway to clean up the spill and provide aid to affected families. Your Better Business Bureau warns that the recovery effort creates a great opportunity for scammers to make an easy dollar by deceiving those who are trying to find work, file claims with BP or donate money or volunteer to help with the cleanup.
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Seven Points, Will there be cohesion?
An Analysis:
SEVEN POINTS — City Secretary Debbie Mosley says, “This will all come out in the wash. Seven Points will survive.”
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Better Business Bureau warns insurance scams are flourishing in current economy
In the midst of a tight economy and in the wake of the new national healthcare reform bill, State and Federal regulators are warning about a surge in healthcare-related scams. Better Business Bureau advises consumers to do their research before signing up for insurance coverage because their personal and financial health is on the line.
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Are we better off now than in years past?
GUN BARREL CITY — I used to buy pop for a nickel. Twelve ounces of it, too. Of course, if you got the really classy soda water, you only got six-and-a-half ounces for a nickel. If it was Coca Cola, the scotch of kid drinking, you got six ounces for your nickel.
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Guest columnist
Texans are all too familiar with the change of seasons: winter to summer with a short spring thrown in-between for good measure. Spring temperatures signal homeowners it is time to perform scheduled maintenance on home air conditioning systems and that it is also the perfect time of year for electrical work to be done.
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Consumer Alert
Most Americans will get assistance from a professional tax preparer or tax software when filing their taxes this year. Better Business Bureau encourages taxpayers to use caution when selecting tax preparation help or they may get hit with headaches and mounting fines and fees if the return isn’t correct or filed late.
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