Home > Jane Too > Archives > 2006 > July
July 2006
Ashes rehashed
Q: A friend of mine read an article that you had about taking ashes and making them into garden stones. If you have this info if you could please forward the info to us.
G.H.
A: Contact Ashes in Stone, (800) 897-3405 or www.ashesinstone.com. Prices for a cast stone made with a portion of your loved one’s ashes range from $179 to $289 including engraving or a graphic. In addition, stones made without ashes but with chambers in which to store ashes are available ($130 to $210).
Owner Carol Bojarsky says the business began manufacturing pet cremation urns and memorials and added services for humans last year. Human memorials now make up 10 percent to 20 percent of the orders.
Having the ashes made into a diamond also is a possibility, albeit a considerably more expensive one. Prices begin at $3,499. Contact Life Gem, (866) 543-3436 or lifegem.com for details.
Q: I have an old but really neat Okeeffe & Merritt free standing gas stove that looks like a 1956 Buick Roadmaster with all the chrome! I need someone to do some repairs to it and wondered if you can give me name(s) and phone numbers. While not used completely (don’t think the oven has been used in years), its top burners were used until recently when a gas odor was detected and the gas line shut off. Would like to have it serviceable, though.
Unrelated, do you know of a use for or an organization that could use about three or four dozen clear glass baby food bottles with lids? They are all in good shape and, before I tossed them into recycling, I thought I’d check with you. My dad used them in his workroom as containers for screw, bolts, washers, etc. but, I don’t have a workroom.
D. D.
A: The jars are usually needed by the Children’s Museum.
The stove? Contact Appliance Associates, 814 Romeria Drive or 454-5896.
Q: I work for a local nonprofit organization called GENaustin, the Girls Empowerment Network.
The mission of the organization is to foster healthy self-esteem in girls by engaging them to explore and define their personal values and to build skills that empower them with confidence and courage to make wise choices. In August we are having a training for our volunteers and I am trying to arrange for former UT softball pitcher Cat Osterman to be our guest speaker. However, I am having trouble finding any contact information for her! You always seem to have the answers once anyone seems to have reached a dead end and I was hoping that perhaps you could help me out.
Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
E. C.
P.S. In 1995 you came to my fifth-grade class at Laurel Mountain Elementary School and spoke to us about what it is you do. You taught us helpful tricks on how to research. You encouraged us to ask questions and get the answers we were looking for; I never forgot that.
A: Fan mail can be sent to southpaw Osterman in care of the Texas Softball Office, University of Texas, P.O. Box 7399, Austin, TX 78713.
Too unbelievable to answer
… . because a form of this urban legend makes it to my inbox way too often. Snopes.com calls this cell-phone scare “Fuelish Pleasures.” Could it happen? Possibly. Has it? No. You should not be distracted when filling you car’s tank — by the children, the phone or the radio. Do not get in and out of your car in cold climates while fueling. It could cause static and a dangerous spark.
Q: (Heard of) three incidents in which mobile phones ignited fumes during fueling operations.
You should know that:
Mobile phones can ignite fuel or fumes.
Mobile phones that light up when switched on or when they ring release enough energy to provide a spark for ignition.
Mobile phones should not be used in filling stations, or when fueling lawn mowers, boats, etc.
I ask you to please send this information to ALL your family and friends, especially those who have kids in the car with them while pumping gas.
A. R.
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Beggar’s banquet
Q: Hello. I am sure you have covered this question at some point, but, if so, perhaps it’s time for some consideration of it again.
Are city permits required for organizations who collect money at Austin intersections like Brodie Lane and William Cannon Drive? The groups seem to range from religious to city firefighters, but with a few moments of contact, there is no way to verify their legitimacy. Does the city verify the nature of their business?
In some cases it feels like a scam, and in all cases I would think there are traffic safety issues.
Thanks.
K. W.
A: No permit. No verification. Unless they interfere with traffic, there is nothing to prevent these folks from asking for money.
Q: I am a mom of a left-handed fifth-grader. I need some help in finding reasonably priced school supplies for lefties. I find them online but they are so expensive, and then I would have to pay a shipping/handling fee. Is there any place here in Austin or the surrounding area that sells left-handed products?
My daughter comes home from school with pencil smears from writing on her paper. And she has a difficult time writing in spirals with the metal binding. I know other lefties have some of these problems. My daughter has many left-handed friends who have the same problems that she does. Any help you can give, I can share with my daughter’s left-handed friends’ Moms.
I just think that it is almost criminal what people can charge for left-handed products. It shouldn’t be a specialty item. Right-handed people can walk into any store and pay a few bucks for pens and pencils but lefties would have to pay twice or three times just to get a item to help them in school. I know that many right-handed people don’t even think about this. I know I didn’t until my daughter got in school. She makes it work using the items you can buy at any store but it would be easier for her in school if she had items for lefties.
Help me help my daughter and other lefties find reasonable prices items for school.
Thanks,
K. N. (mom of a leftie)
A: This was all in stock last year but the prices may have changed since I printed this.
Pick up a spiral notebook for lefties and ambidextrous scissors at the University CO-OP, 2246 Guadalupe St. Left-handed scissors in various sizes, including one pair with a grip for a child’s and parent’s hands, as well as spirals are in stock at Teacher’s Alley, 8213 Brodie Lane and on their Web site, teachersalley.com. Check out the array of supplies (notebooks, pruners, pocket knives, scissors) for left-handed folks at The Left Hand. Orders accepted by fax, (239) 985-9553, or online only.
Q: Sometime back you had mentioned a record player repair at Ray’s Electronics. I can’t seem to find the telephone number in the phone book.
Is he still available?
C. S
A: It is Ray’s Electronics, 450-0071 or 213 W. North Loop Blvd., and yes, they still work on record players.
File under ‘Egads! Get that plate number and call 311!’
Q: Hi, I hate having to even report something as heinous as this but I’ve seen five or six kittens dead on the various highways in Austin. (Left or placed there deliberatly?) This morning I saw a little grey kitten hit on Interstate 35 heading north between Ben White Boulevard and Oltorf Street. This is the third one I’ve seen in that area. Another was on MoPac Boulevard heading south around the William Cannon Drive exit.
This horrifies, sickens, saddens me beyond words. I’ve called 311, which put me in touch with the animal cruelty detective. He informs me that he cannot do anything until someone gives him a license plate or description or catches the person in the act. I know the chances of that happening are as good as me winning the lottery.
This fiend won’t stop doing this until he/she feels like there is a chance he’ll get caught. I want people to be aware this is happening. I’d like to catch this person myself.
How can public awareness be raised regarding this? I’d like you list how someone can report animal cruelty when they see it.
Maybe you could mention making sure pets have lots of fresh water and shade if they are kept outdoors and work the kitten story in somehow.
Thank you, I’m not sure this is something you would handle but I’m desperate to stop this and the more people who know the better the chances are of catching someone.
M. P.
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A shady question
Q: My husband and I received a 1950s Aladdin alacite lamp for our wedding two years ago. The base of the lamp has a beautiful bride and groom relief. The problem is that for the life of me, I can’t find a lamp shade to go with it. It has to be short enough to show the sculptural relief but still look appropriate for the lamp (which is an odd shade of periwinkle and cream).
Where can I go to get help? I have failed twice, so the lamp just sits here naked!
Thanks,
C. M.
A: A terrific lamp shade stock (and yes they can fashion a new one) is at Tiplers on West Fifth Street. Heads up — they are pricey but you cannot beat the selection.
Q: You probably have published an answer to this type of question before. I have an antique bentwood rocker that has suffered the ire of a heavy friend. The old caning in the seat is destroyed. Is there someone in Austin who recanes chairs or can replace the seat with another material?
Thanks!
R. S.
A: Contact Smithers Furniture at 472-9159, or Bob Morgan, Antique Wicker and Wood, at 263-2060.
Q: We are going to be out of town for about three weeks the end of July, and would like to know what is best for the AC unit, whether to completely turn it off or put on a low setting. I have heard different ways and would like your expert’s opinion.
Your help is appreciated.
Sincerely,
J-P. S.
A: Turn off the air conditioner, says Ed Clark, spokesman for Austin Energy. Even if you set the thermostat to 85 degrees, your air conditioner will run about eight hours a day in the August heat. Concerned about delicates? Place them in a cool environment (candles in the refrigerator, family photo albums at your son’s home). Turn down the pilot light on the hot water heater and unplug appliances. Place a cup of vinegar in each drain as well as in the toilets. (If you have a septic system, check to make sure the vinegar is advisable.).
Your computer? Turn it off and unplug it. That is the advice of Nick Sauer, owner of Laboratory Computers, 5400 N. Lamar Blvd. High temperatures will not harm the computer, but an unexpected power surge could.
Q: I enjoy your column very much. Would you please send me the Web site of the organization that has the free download of Citizen of the World or something? This was published in the last two weeks.
Thank you so much.
M.A.
A: Download a free copy of the executive version of the World Citizen Guide. Pick up tips such as trying to speak some of the language of a foreign county even if it is merely “hello.” The effort is endearing. In addition, interesting facts dot the pages: “There are at least 300 languages spoken in India.” “In Japan it is considered rude to look at a person directly in the eye for more than a few seconds.”
The more extensive student version will not be available until fall, says Cari Eggspuehler, executive director of Business for Diplomatic Action, who worked on the project. Reserve a copy at the Web site above. The price for the 60-page student version has not been set. For more information, visit businessfordiplomaticaction.org.
File under ‘Today’s grammar lesson’ … .
Q: I read and enjoy your column all the time and I’m grateful to you for all the information you’ve shared. But I wanted to let you know about your headline today, “Let bleach sit ” Unless your bleach can cross its legs and jiggle its foot, it “sets” on the bathtub. Only people sit. No offense intended.
K. C.
A: Here is the reply from the copy desk. Again thank you for your interest in the column!
Our dictionary is fine with inanimate objects/concepts sitting (a “house sitting on a hill,” “cares sit lightly on him”) in the sense of resting or lying. Thus, my dictionary is “sitting” on my desk right now. (Associated Press’ style book and Strunk & White don’t comment on a distinction.)
“To set” is ordinarily a verb that takes an object, as in “I set the dictionary on my desk,” kind of like lay vs. lie. There is an intransitive use of the verb meaning “to become hard” (as in glue setting) or “to become fast” (as in dye setting). I could make a case for the bleach “setting” in the enamel of the bathtub the way dye sets in fabric, but since we were instructing people to allow the bleach to remain on the enamel for a period of time, I think “sit” is the correct choice.
So “set” without an object would have been incorrect, unless one argued that it was “becoming fast,” which isn’t precisely the process we were describing. And there is no reason why things that aren’t people can’t “sit.”
Q: Well, I learn something new every day. Very interesting.
Thanks,
K. C.
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New chicharra on the block
Q: Who and where do I take two American flags that are tattered and torn?
A. T.
A: Dispose of the U.S. flag by burning. Need help? Contact the American Legion Knebel Post No. 83, 4401 E. St. Elmo Road, 442-2896; or the state headquarters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 8503 N. Interstate 35.
Q: You very kindly told me a few years ago where to buy mouth masks (when around a cigar smoker) and I have lost that contact.
May I have that information again? Thank you.
N. K.
A: Disposable or reusable carbon masks are available at Allergy Air and More, 3500 Jefferson St., 323-5522, and filter the smoke smell as well as allergens and particles. The reusable mask comes with replaceable filters and will last six to 12 months. The disposable mask? 20 days.
Q: Our daughter recently was married and now comes the task of having the dress cleaned. She is now living in San Antonio and she inquired at cleaners there and they said they send such jobs to Austin.
Can you give me the names of some cleaners who provide the task of cleaning and boxing the dress to save as a keepsake?
Thank you as always for your wonderful information!
J. K.
A: Washburn’s Town & Country Cleaners, 1423 S. Congress Ave., 442-1467, provides wedding gown preservation, as does Parkcrest Cleaners, 5507 Parkcrest, 452-2711.
Read before you call me to identify that sound… .
Q: In case you get any queries about a new outdoor sound in town, it’s not a bird, a frog or even a new band, it’s chicharra grande!
Yes, that’s right, the giant whining cicada is now singing (performing?) nightly in Austin, mostly south of William Cannon Drive.
This is possibly the most unique sounding cicada in the Western Hemisphere. Henry Walter Bates, in writing about hearing them in the Amazon basin, likened their call to a steam engine whistle!
Here’s some more info including photos and a map: giant whining cicada / chicharra grande.
M. Q.
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Twisted expiration dates
Q: It seems like you’ve printed this before but I’ve lost track of it. I know that the twist ties on bread loaves are color-coded by the day the bread was baked. Would you please send me that list so I can buy the freshest bread possible? Thanks.
I enjoy your column.
S. H.
A: I have printed it but you will not like the answer. Bakeries using color tabs change the color code every so often. And different bakeries use different systems. Some use colors in alphabetical order beginning with Monday deliveries — blue, green, red, white and yellow.
Best bet? Buy the breads with the date stamped on them. Also I always pick the loaf from the back of the shelf.
Q: The next question is: Where do you buy Bar Keepers Friend? What store, what section?
Thanks!
S. R.
A: It is in stock at Central Market North and Breed & Co. on West 29th Street with the cleaning products.
Q: I was visiting your Web site and trying to find two recently referred to items in one of your columns. I am looking for info about the local shop offering professional bra fitting, and the names of tree trimming companies.
Can you please tell how to access this info?
Thanks much!
D. S.
A: This info is in the archives, which is a fee-based service.
Drop by Petticoat Fair, 7739 Northcross Drive, where a fitting consultation for each customer is free. The store stocks a range of sizes and styles (28- to 56-inch bands and AA to L cups). The most common mistake women make when purchasing a bra? “A combination of a band that is too big and a cup size that is too small,” says Emily Van Court at the shop.
Tree trimming: I can recommend Tree Clinic and Davey Tree Experts. Both do good work and are bonded.
Better Business Bureau of the Coastal Bend to the rescue
Q: On the way to Port Aransas my husband and I stopped at sea shell business in Aransas Pass. I picked out some shells for souvenirs and was checking out. The clerk asked my husband where his accent was from. He told him Boston and then went to have a cigarette. The shell man asked me how long we have been married. I told him about seven years. He said, “So you have never had an argument or fooled around?
I said, “Yes and no.” (Meaning yes I have had an argument.) The shell man proceeded to tell me that his wife was out of town and he was looking for some company/action. Of course, I told him no. I did not dare tell my husband about this because it would have not been pretty.
My question is who would you file a complaint with about this sort of behavior?
S. L.
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Marriott bedheads
Q: Within the last two years, I remember seeing the information printed in your column regarding the details of how to purchase mattress and box spring sets that are used at all the Marriott hotels.
Could you possibly send me the information, please? I have had back surgery, and those mattresses have been highly recommended.
Thank you so much for your help!
P. R.
A: What is it about these beds?
The mattress and box spring are made by Jamison Bedding.
The Tennessee company has been making beds for the hotel chain since the mid 1960s and the beds have been available to the public for 10 to 12 years. Robert Nichols, company spokesman, estimates Jamison has sold about 15,000 to 20,000 beds to guests. The mattress contains no springs and the box spring is framed in kiln-dried hardwood.
The bed (twin, full, queen or king size) is available only through the company, (800) 821-0837. Ask for the Marriott bed. The bed is delivered to you and set up. No wake-up call, but the bed is guaranteed for 10 years.
Q: I have accumulated a number of eye glasses. Where can I donate these?
S.M.
A: You can bring your glasses to the following locations:
— Eye Physicians of Austin, 5011 Burnet Road, 583-2020
— Lions Clubs, (512) 441-1555
— LensCrafters stores at The Arboretum, Barton Creek Square and Highland Mall
The following is a Q and A string about helping a reader get a trash collection bill problem resolved:
Q: Earlier this year, we sold our home in rural Hays County, and moved into Austin. Out in the Hays County Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction, we had our trash picked up by a company named IESI. They billed us quarterly in advance. My last quarterly payment was for the period February, March and April (paid on Jan. 19).
We moved out of the house, and into our new one, the week of March 13. Prior to moving, I called IESI and canceled service with the operator who answered.
Problem is, they are billing me for the period May, June and July. I’ve since received two “Dear Valued Customer” letters telling me I was in arrears. I followed both by calls to their customer service number, and was told twice that the person I was talking with would “look into it and call me back.” Never got a call back. I mailed an unpaid invoice back to them, with a handwritten note explaining the situation.
I e-mailed a description of the events to their Web site response page.
All to no avail. I have heard nothing back from these folks, except the “Dear Valued Customer” dunning notices.
My concern is that IESI will send me to a collections agency, which will not only hassle me needlessly, but adversely affect my credit rating. I’ve never been refered to a collection agency, have good credit (800-plus score), and don’t wish to continue dealing with this company’s incompetence.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
D. O.
A: The public relations folks at IESI want me to send this e-mail on to them. May I?
J
A: Yes
D.O.
— from G. A. at IESI to reader D.O.:
Mr. O.,
I am writing you in response to your inquiry about your account. It is my understanding that you received a past due notice for the most recent billing for May, June and July. We did a system conversion in February, which may have lead to you getting the notice. There are notes on your account that you called in May to notify us that you should have been canceled in February.
The cancellation was processed and there is a credit of $49.38 on your account to be refunded to you. Please call me at or e-mail me back your new address so we can send you a refund check.
Sincerely,
G. A.
District Controller
IESI - Austin
A: Jane, Thank you! I even get a few bucks back!
D.O.
A: Glad to do it
J
File under ” Everyone is an editor” … .
Q: I believe free of charge means you don’t need to make a donation. Please stick to reporting and not trying to influence people.
J. H.
A: Part of the answer I printed about the braille service offered at the School for the Blind was the response to my query: “Are donations accepted?” Some departments of institutions do not accept donations.
I appreciate your detailed read of the column and thank you for your comments.
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Big, big wash
Q: I have some large items that need to be washed. Do you know of any Laundromats here in Austin with extra large washing machines?
C. A.
A: Ben White Laundry Room & Cleaners, 2919 Manchaca Road, and The Laundry Boy, 7309 Cameron Road, have extra-large washers.
Q: I recall reading in your column in the Austin American-Statesman about six months ago the mention of two reference books about Texas facts and information. One was the “Texas Almanac” published by the Dallas Morning News. The other I can’t recall but I thought it might have been published by a state agency. If you can provide me with the name of that second reference book, I would greatly appreciate it. I have enjoyed your column for many years. Keep up the good work — I hope you keep writing for a long time.
Sincerely,
R.C.
A: It wasn’t me writing about two books, and a search did not reveal another writer with that reference. My guess is the “Handbook of Texas” which is a standard at my desk.
Hope this helps!
Q: My summer exercise program has actually paid off, and generally I’m thrilled with the results. The only downside is that my favorite jeans are now hanging low and are too baggy to wear out of the house. Is there anyone in town who can take jeans in at the waist without leaving obvious irregularities on the fabric?
W.V.B.
A: Try the folks at Ace Tailors or Nelda’s. Both are very very good!
File under “one call I don’t want to make to United Feature Syndicate”… .
Q: My wife and I play the Word Game (in the newspaper) every day and have added many new words to our vocabularies. How else would I know the word etui? However, several things baffle me.
For instance, recently the root word was “tousled.” The words “loudest” and “duet” were not on the list of answers.
How do they determine what makes the list of answers? Secondly, obscure anatomical terms such as “pons” and “rete” are routinely among the answers but for instance the word “penis” will never show up.
I understand a lot of families do the puzzles with the kids, but what is gained by making an anatomically correct term for a body part a bad word? I would appreciate any light you might be able to shed on this conundrum.
W.R.
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A doggone shame
Q: I received a $60 gift certificate in February for a store called Yuppy Puppy, which was located on Capital of Texas Highway. In April I went to shop and found out the store was closed down. I have not been able to contact the owner with the phone number on the gift card. If the stored moved or even changed names, I would like to use my gift certificate in some way.
Can you locate someone for me to talk to?
D.P.
A: You are not alone. The leasing manager is also looking for these folks. I could not find a current contact for them. Apparently they were in the space for only two months.
Egads!
Wish the news were better.
Q: My grandmother recently treated me, her other grandchildren, and her children on a three-week tour and cruise in Alaska, then a stint in Seattle. This trip was amazing.
I was able to catch a king salmon, fly to see the summit of Mount McKinley, visit an Alaskan Indian village north of the Arctic Circle, not to mention see grizzly bears and humpback whales galore! This was her dream, and my grandpa passed away before they could fulfill it together, so she took all of us. She easily spent over $200,000 on it, but the memories we all made together are priceless.
For the woman who has everything, what can I give her to show my immense gratitude that will also serve as a reminder of our amazing time?
Thank you!
E.M.
A: She enjoyed being with you and watching you all have a good time. Make a book of the photos and ephemera (napkins, ticket stubs, etc.) as thank-you notes from the travelers. Each note should include a specific memory — a glacier sighting or a gin-rummy game.
This will allow her to share the trip with friends and relive the events that made it special. What a wonderful time for you all!
Q: I have a snow globe bought on my honeymoon 14 years ago that is leaking. It appears as if the inside of the globe has shifted or come “unplugged” and the fluid is leaking out. Is this repairable? I took it to the local jewelry store and they couldn’t fix it. It is not an expensive globe but has great sentimental value.
Also, what is the fluid inside a snow globe? It doesn’t feel like water.
Thank you, K. W.
A: You need to open the globe and replace the liquid with fresh distilled water and glycerin. Parts (drifting bits, globes, kits, seals) for a snow globe are available from National Artcraft, (888) 937-2723, and In Her Majesty’s Service, (610) 345-0058.
Another case of the eye of the beholder — Too unbelievable to answer … .
Q: Your answer (below) is not quite true. I have two of the cans, with lot or serial numbers on the bottom. “Wonder what they may be worth?”
J. R.
P. S. They are also more than 10 years old.
Q: About 10 years ago there was a recall of Renuzit spray air freshener from the Dial Corp. It seems a disgruntled employee photocopied his genitals onto the picture on the can.
Can you find out if this was true? I think my wife still has a can with this picture.
J.D.W.
A: Not true. Sometimes a flower is just a flower.
Give me those nice bright colors
Q: Can you give me the names of three plumbing contractors in Austin who are familiar with and can install demand/instantaneous/tankless/in-line water heaters for residential use?
L. M.
A: Tankless water heaters heat only the water you need when you need it. When a hot-water faucet is turned on, cold water is moved through hot coils and quickly heated to the desired temperature. No waiting except for your home’s internal delivery pipes. Unlike in a conventional water heater, a tank of water is not constantly heated and reheated while waiting for the next shower or load of whites. Over time this heater pays for itself, say the folks at Austin Plumbing Supply, 5520 Burnet Road, where the majority of water heaters sold are tankless and a list of installers is available. In addition to the energy savings, these water heaters, which are about the size of a bread box, can be mounted outside, freeing interior space previously reserved for the hot water tank. These water heaters cost two or more times as much as traditional ones.
Updated info from Noritz: The federal government is giving a $300 tax credit to consumers who purchase a qualifying Noritz tankless water heater. And unlike a tax deduction, a tax credit reduces tax dollar-for-dollar, lowering the total amount of tax owed to the government.
Q: You gave an address in Austin of a person who appraises old eight-sided fly rods. Sorry to say I didn’t inform my wife to keep the paper and it is gone. If possible, please send this address to me as I have a couple my uncle made me more than 50 years ago!
Thank you.
R. T.
A: Take the rod to Joe Robinson, who is happy to give you an appraisal at no charge, at Sportsman’s Finest, 12434 Bee Cave Road.
Q: My wife and I have only two black-and-white snapshots of our wedding 48 years ago (next month). Can you tell us who can clean up and colorize these pictures without damaging the originals?
J. S.
A: Contact Holland Photo, 1221 S. Lamar Blvd. or 442-4274, or Austin Creative, 402-0746 (appointment only). Both retouch photos.
Bean bag business
Q: I have a question for you. After washing my husband’s shirts there is still a hard white stain left. I have tried using Shout and soaking them in vinegar but with no results. The hard white stain is still there. I would appreciate any ideas to help me with my dilemma. I really enjoy reading your column.
K. K.
A: Use an enzyme-based soap such as Biz.
In addition, sudsy ammonia reduces perspiration ring around the collar.
Do not mix the two!
Q: I’m looking for a place to purchase peanuts to refill a bean bag chair. Can you help? I searched your Web site but was unable to find anything about that.
Thanks in advance for your help.
F. J.
A: Contact Ahh Products, (888) 244-6818.
Q: I have a pair of silver earrings and a matching necklace with black stones. They look like onyx, but they are not. One of the stones has fallen out of an earring.
Do you know where I could take it to have another stone put in, but that won’t cost an arm and a leg? This set is one of my favorites.
Thanks!
J. B.
A: Visit Trends and Traditions, 3707 Kerbey Lane. They have experience in repairing antique jewelry.
File under “Who said life is fair?” … .
Q. How come when I shop, I see numerous expired auto registrations and inspection stickers on autos? Are there no checks and balances when the notices are sent out by Nelda Wells Spears, Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector’s office?
I know the city is losing quite a bit of revenue. Taxes on telephones and Time Warner Cable would not have to increase every other month.
M. C.
P. S. I enjoy your column, and read it every day for a variety of knowledge. My only other problem is a new neighbor hanging a clothes line visible in a backyard with a chain link fence. This house is a corner lot intersecting two streets. No one can tell me if this is a violation of city ordinance.
Ooh, ooh, that smell
Q: I need your help!
While I was on a trip, there was a power failure and the items in the refrigerator spoiled (of course). There was some hamburger, chicken, salmon (tightly wrapped) and a bag of broccoli.
I have cleaned it with bleach water, baking soda and water, am now airing it out in the yard in the sunshine.
Can anything else be done to get the smell out of the freezer?
The refrigerator is still in good shape and running well, so hopefully it can be saved and I will not have to get another unit.
Thank you,
D. G.
A: Use rolled up newspapers, coffee grounds, etc. (replace as needed). All are good for removing odors. You may have to replace the rubber seals on the refrigerator to refresh it totally.
Hope this helps!
Q: A while back, you responded to a question about T-shirt quilts. If I remember correctly, you gave the name of at least one person who will make quilts if you supply the shirts. I’ve been planning to make my own quilt for a while (maybe four years now) but I’ve finally given up on finding the time required and I’d love to hand the project over to someone else. I’d really appreciate it if you could forward me a copy of your first response whenever it’s convenient.
Thanks so much!
E. E.
A: Contact either Handcrafts Unlimited in Georgetown, (512) 869-1812, or Silana Stitchworks 795-9627.
Q: Where can I get old feather pillows cleaned?
Thank you,
S. S.
A: You can do this yourself at home. I addressed this question in 2005.
Wash down items at home in the washing machine and dry on low heat to keep feathers from turning brittle. That should be done regularly (depending on your personal drool rate on the pillows). How often is regularly? Every one to six months, advises Gordon Damant, director of the Down and Feather Testing Laboratory in California. Some folks believe in adding a tennis ball to the dryer with the pillows; however, Damant says tennis balls are not necessary.
File under “just not a good idea”… .
Q: How can I change my will legally without going through a lawyer?
P. L.
Honeymoon in Vegas?
Q: How can I tell if my fiancé has ever been married in Texas or Las Vegas? How can I find out if he has ever been married or not? Is this a public record?
Your frequent flyer.
L.G.
A: Here is some info from a 2005 column.
Marriage and divorce records are available. Drop by the genealogy collection of the Texas State Library, 1201 Brazos St., to check the indexes.
Also, for Las Vegas marriage records visit the Clark County, Nevada Marriage Inquiry System (online from 1984 to present).
Q: Is there any organization that recycles old trophies? I called B&C Trophies and I was told that they get this question every spring when people, like me, have grown children and a lot of leftover sports participation trophies from a bygone era. I hate to see them end up in a landfill when they can be reused.
S.W.
A: The following groups accept trophies:
— the Lone Oak Bar in Bastrop, (512) 321-0016, for fundraising cook-offs benefiting nonprofit groups and — Georgetown Boys and Girls Club, (512) 868-3700
Also, the Marbridge Foundation, 282-1144, might need them.
Check with each organization. The need for trophies varies.
Q: Is there any way to determine the expiration dates on cans or boxes of food purchased at the grocery store? There is a series of letters or numbers and occasionally you can find an expiration date but not always.
How do we find what the numbers and letters mean?
N.T.
A: Each company has its own code, so it is difficult to determine what is meant. Here is a column on the subject from February, 2005:
The proliferation of label information has some consumers dizzy with dates — sell by, expiration, best by, use by, etc. I am no stranger to the can-I-eat-this-now question. The most memorable one in this genre was the woman with a hard-cooked egg aging in her refrigerator for three years.
Not all expiration date questions are food-related. One reader was concerned that a hotel key card might contained information about a credit card’s expiration date. (Key cards are embedded only with the room number and the arrival and departure dates.) Another wanted the exact time a coupon expires — the day before the printed date or on the printed date. (It expires at midnight on the printed date.)
One reader appears to have finally cracked under the deluge of date data and contacted me with a flood of queries:
What is the deal with expiration dates starting to show up on canned food? Bread from the grocery store is often edible, perhaps not the freshest, but fine, weeks after its use-by date. Isn’t it OK until moldy? Do Claussen pickles really expire in a few months when they have the same additives as other pickles that last for years? Are green olives bad when the water they’re in gets a little fuzzy? Can they be kept and rinsed and eaten or must they be thrown away?
Is bottled water bad for you past its expiration date or just not as fresh? Do things like flour, sugar, etc. go bad? Are spices on the shelf from a decade ago bad?
With the exception of infant formula and some baby foods, the Food Products Association reports that these dates are placed on canned food voluntarily by processors. Unopened, intact canned products usually last two years. A best-by date is a recommendation on the full flavor of the product, not its safety. Consumers should purchase products before the sell-by or use-by date. Do not use a product beyond the use-by date, which is a stronger warning.
Moldy bread? Resist the temptation to toast a slice that is not visibly moldy if the loaf has mold. According to the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, “the latter part of the mold plant is made up of threads that invade the food below the surface.” Hard cheeses, firm fruits etc. are exceptions to this rule and can be eaten if you lop off moldy portions.
Claussen pickles are never cooked, which explains the shorter-than-other-brands expiration date. Beyond that date the pickles lose that crisp crunch.
The olives? Musco Family Olive Company says consumers should toss olives in cloudy liquid. The fuzziness indicates that oxygen has been mixed with the brine and bacteria is beginning to form.
The bottled water? After its expiration date, the water might begin to smell because the plastic container is gas-permeable. Bottled water absorbs odors from its environment and therefore might taste more like the leeks in the fridge than spring water. Beyond the best-by date, the water is still potable but not as tasty.
The shelf life of flour? White flour can be stored for 12 months at room temperature in an airtight container or indefinitely in the freezer, says the baking flour giant King Arthur Flour. A couple of bay leaves inside the container discourages pests. Whole wheat flour, on the other hand, lasts only three months at room temperature, six months in the refrigerator and 12 months in the freezer before the oil in the wheat germ can become rancid.
The sugar? In a closed container stored in a dry climate, white granulated sugar lasts indefinitely. Its shelf life is largely determined by its hardness. Brown sugar, however, has a shelf life of about two years before it takes on a bricklike texture.
And those decade-old spices? You should have tossed them eight years ago. They are not necessarily spoiled, but Spice Island, purveyor of herbs and spices, recommends “for optimum flavor that ground spices be used within two years of packaging.”
Fridge clean-out, anyone?
File under “It’s your party” …
Q: My family (approximately 15 to 20 people) asked me to have Christmas dinner at my new home. I am tired of the traditional turkey or ham with all the side dishes. Are there other main dishes I can make like casseroles, etc. — using turkey or ham in a casserole would be OK. Any other suggestions would be welcomed.
Thank you.
M.W.
Continuing cable concerns
Q: Congratulations. You must be the only human on the planet who has been successful in contacting and receiving a response from someone in management at Time Warner concerning the deletion of Channel 51 (National Geographic Channel) from the standard service package. I question the veracity of R. Heaney’s statement about not wanting to move us up to the digital package level. If what he says is true, why doesn’t he tell us what the reason is? Do we get a replacement for National Geographic Channel? Yearly price increases with no valid reasons given. Now this. I just don’t get it.
Thank you.
R.K.
A: He did elaborate but the answer did not seem to give many details so I did not include it. Here is Time Warner Cable spokesman Heaney’s additional statement:
“If we could elaborate on the reason to include: TWC always evaluates their cable packages to balance quality of programming versus cost to customers. This periodic review sometimes leads to channel changes. Moving the National Geographic Channel has allowed TWC to maintain competitive pricing on the standard level of service.”
Q: My husband and I have long enjoyed your column and all the miscellaneous information we have learned from it. Is there any organization that can use old Christmas cards and/or beautiful calendars? I have lots of both, and they really need a new home.
Many thanks, and keep up the wonderful work.
L.S.
A: Contact the Austin Children’s Museum Creation Station, 472-2499. They also take wine corks, Styrofoam egg cartons, clean yogurt cups, cardboard toilet paper rolls, other arts and crafts items.
Q: Got a question for you. My church has several old 8-foot to 10-foot long fluorescent light bulbs that need to be disposed, but short of breaking them in pieces and putting them in the trash, we don’t know what to do with them. Is there a recommended way of disposing such a thing?
Take care, and thanks for your help.
S.D.M.
A: Residents of the City of Austin and Travis County should take household quantities of fluorescent light bulbs free of charge to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility. You also might want to inquire where you purchase the tubes regarding other disposal options. Fluorescent light tubes should never be placed in your regular garbage.
File under “thoughtful musing”… .
Q: It seems that every retail store in Austin has one or more restrooms. It’s such a good idea that I wonder why. Is it based on some kind of statute (city, county, state)?
W.F.
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