Monday, December 28, 2020

12/28/2020 04:13:00 PM

By SteveMiami

In: ,

Thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links in 2020

Thank you all who used my Amazon Affiliate links when shopping on Amazon in 2020!   


Why clutter pages with ads?  I have some ads on the sites to earn enough to cover operating expenses.  I don't expect to earn enough to pay off  the mortgage, but one never knows. 2021 could be my year to bring in the big bucks (lol).  I have to believe.

This year my Amazon Associate account earned me 75¢. I will apply the bounty to domain registration fees.  Sales via affiliate links dropped about 90% from the 2019 when 8 sales brought in $7.07.  

This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.



Best wishes for 2021.



Thursday, November 19, 2020

11/19/2020 09:41:00 AM

By SteveMiami

In: ,

Thanksgiving and COVID-19


Thanksgiving gatherings with family and friends are meaningful and fun but can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19. The safest way to celebrate is to celebrate with people in your household. If you do plan to spend Thanksgiving with people outside your household, take steps to make your celebration safer.

As cases continue to increase rapidly across the United States, the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with the people you live with.

Gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu.

Read more on the CDC website.

Monday, September 21, 2020

9/21/2020 08:49:00 AM

By SteveMiami

In: , ,

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Tribute/Hallelujah, Central Synagogue- Rosh Hashanah...



Ruth Bader Ginsburg (/ˈbeɪdər ˈɡɪnzbɜːrɡ/; born Joan Ruth Bader; March 15, 1933 – September 18, 2020) was an American jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1993 until her death in 2020. She was nominated by President Bill Clinton and was generally viewed as a moderate judge at the time of her nomination and eventually becoming part of the liberal wing of the Court as the Court shifted to the right over time. Ginsburg was the second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, after Sandra Day O'Connor. During her tenure, Ginsburg wrote notable majority opinions, including United States v. Virginia (1996), Olmstead v. L.C. (1999), and Friends of the Earth, Inc. v. Laidlaw Environmental Services, Inc. (2000). - wikipedia

Central Synagogue is one of the largest Jewish congregations in North America and the oldest synagogue in New York City in continuous use.

Every Friday evening, more than 500 people join us for Shabbat worship in our breathtaking Main Sanctuary (a National Landmark) and more than 1,000 virtual visitors join via live streaming.

Sunday, August 23, 2020

8/23/2020 05:13:00 AM

By SteveMiami

In:

Hurricane prep 101: Updated with COVID-19 supplies

Hurricane Preparedness 101

NOAA, The National Weather Service / National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Season in the Atlantic runs from June 1st until November 30th

A hurricane is a type of storm called a tropical cyclone, which forms over tropical or subtropical waters. Tropical cyclones with maximum sustained surface winds of less than 39 miles per hour (mph) are called tropical depressions. Those with maximum sustained winds of 39 mph or higher are called tropical storms. When a storm's maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph, it is called a hurricane. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS) is a 1 to 5 rating, or category, based on a hurricane's maximum sustained winds. The higher the category, the greater the hurricane's potential for property damage.
  • Category One 74–95 mph
  • Category Two 96–110 mph
  • Category Three 111–129 mph 
  • Category Four 130–156 mph
  • Category Five ≥ 157 mph
hurricane photo from space


Disaster Supply Kit
  • Water - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days
  • Freezer - set to coldest setting
    • Freeze gallon size ziplock bags and gallon water jugs with water, leaving at least 2 inches room in container for expansion when frozen
    • Move frozen blocks to refrigerator when power goes out
  • Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days
     -  non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices
     -  foods for infants or the elderly
     -  shelf stable juice and milk boxes
     -  snack foods, crackers & chips
     -  non-electric can opener / bottle opener / corkscrew
     -  cooking tools / fuel
     -  paper plates / plastic utensils / plastic cups
  • Blankets / Pillows, etc.
  • Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes
  • First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs
  • Special Items - for babies and the elderly
  • Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes
  • Rechargeable Portable Fan - make a breeze while power is out (Amazon has some)
  • Flashlight / Batteries
  • Radio - Battery operated and NOAA (weather radio)
  • Telephones - Fully charged cell phone with extra batteries 
  • A traditional (not cordless) telephone set. If your home phone works over the internet or cable, it won't work when power goes out.
  • Cash (with some small bills) and Credit Cards - Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods
  • Keys - house, safety deposit box, car, shed, storage unit
  • Toys, Books and Games
  • Important documents - in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag - insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, proof of COVID-19 vaccination, utility bill for proof of residence, etc.
  • Computer - charge up laptop and notebook, and take chargers
  • Camera - charge camera, take cables, use to photograph damage for insurance claims, charger
  • Tools - keep a set with you during the storm
    • Hammer, Saw, Axe - if you think you will need to climb onto roof in a flood 
    • Screwdrivers, screws, nails
    • Duct tape and plastic sheeting to cover openings
  • Extra zipper lock bags and trash bags
  • Vehicle - fuel tanks filled, tires checked
  • Pet care items
    • Proper identification / immunization records / medications
    • Ample supply of food and water
    • Carrier or cage
    • Muzzle and leash 

Coronavirus 😷  items for your checklist:
  • Disposable face masks - plan for at least 2 masks per person a day
  • Disposable gloves 
  • Liquid or bar soap 
  • Hand sanitizer  - at least 60% alcohol
  • Bleach 
  • Medication 
  • Proof of COVID-19 vaccination ?
  • Paper towels 
  • Toilet paper 

History shows a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common threads among all major hurricane disasters. By knowing your vulnerability and what actions you should take, you can reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster. The NWS has a preparation page on their site. 

 Live near the coast? Find Your Evacuation Zone on flash.org (PDF)

Hurricane Hazards
Hurricane Information
You should be able to answer the following questions before a hurricane threatens:
  • What are the Hurricane Hazards?
  • What does it mean to you?
  • What actions should you take to be prepared?
Resources

Read more and get updates via nhc.noaa.gov

This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Friday, July 10, 2020

7/10/2020 07:38:00 AM

By SteveMiami

In:

If you want to #BoycottGoya, here are options for Spanish Spice and Seasonings



Goya Foods is facing a swift backlash after its CEO praised President Donald Trump at White House event. Vote for who you want, shop where you want.  I'm just putting options out there for shopping. Links to Amazon are via my Amazon Associate links. 

Many were angered at the praise considering Trump’s history of derogatory comments and harsh policies toward Hispanics, most notably, the administration’s policy of separating immigrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border.  

Goya has a longstanding history of donating millions of pounds of food in times of disaster and desperate need through the company’s global program Goya Gives.  Goya recently donated thousands of pounds of food to families in the Bronx and Harlem who have been affected by COVID-19. 

#BoycottGoya, #GoyaFoods, #GoyaGives, #Goyaway 

Sunday, July 5, 2020

7/05/2020 11:17:00 AM

By SteveMiami

In: ,

No Plastic kcups, get Compostable Coffee Pods!

Since the start of those kcups I have been bitching how much packaging is used for individual coffee pods. I just saw an ad for Compostable Coffee Pods - No Plastics used, Earthly freshness. Even works in Keurigs. Yay! So this isn't an endorsement, although links do use my Amazon Associate link, but I wanted to share my eco coffee pod excitement with everyone.  https://amzn.to/2BF2WPu


Stop contributing to plastic pile-up of k-cups by switching to Tayst Coffee's 100% compostable single serve coffee pods.

“If we can get just 1% of coffee drinkers to replace their plastic cup solutions with the high-quality coffee in our Tayst pods, we could reduce waste and divert up to 100 million pods away from landfills,” says Tayst Coffee CEO Greg Byrnes.


Monday, May 4, 2020

5/04/2020 08:21:00 AM

By SteveMiami

In: ,

CDC Recommendation Regarding Cloth Mask Coverings

CDC Recommendation Regarding the Use of Cloth Face Coverings

CDC continues to study the spread and effects of the novel coronavirus across the United States.  We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms (“asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms.  This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms.  In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.


It is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus.  CDC is additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.  Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.


If you are shopping for face masks, have a look at what is being sold on Amazon, here is my Affiliate Link (every sale pays me a small percentage, which helps pay the bills!)  https://amzn.to/3b2F1Fk
Be sure to check where the product is shipped from. A lot of sales on Amazon originate in China and can take a month to arrive.




The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators.  Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.

This recommendation complements and does not replace the President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America, 30 Days to Slow the Spread, which remains the cornerstone of our national effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.  CDC will make additional recommendations as the evidence regarding appropriate public health measures continues to develop.



Thanks for checking out my Amazon Affiliate links.

Monday, March 30, 2020

3/30/2020 07:47:00 AM

By SteveMiami

In:

Navy Hospital Ship Comfort Arrives in New York Harbor

The 1,000-bed ship, the Comfort, with 12 operating rooms, a medical laboratory and more than 1,000 Navy officers, will treat patients who do not have the virus. The city’s hospitals are now so full that paramedics in the field are forced to make on-the-spot judgments about who lives and who is left to die.








USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) is the third United States Navy ship to bear the name Comfort, and the second Mercy-class hospital ship to join the U.S. Navy's fleet. The USNS prefix identifies Comfort as a non-commissioned ship owned by the U.S. Navy and operationally crewed by civilians from the Military Sealift Command (MSC). 

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Sunday, March 22, 2020

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Sunday, January 19, 2020

1/19/2020 09:07:00 AM

By SteveMiami

In: , ,

Adios USA? Stories of Americans who moved south of the border to Mexico

Millions of Americans dream about living in Mexico - and millions more do!

From Oaxaca to Baja, Guanajuato to Puerto Vallarta, Lake Chapala to the Yucatan, more than two dozen women from all over Mexico share their stories in this new book.



“Why We Left: An Anthology of American Women Expats” is a fun, inspiring and humorous read you'll enjoy from cover to cover, full of useful and encouraging words of wisdom from 27 women who made the move and couldn’t be happier. In inspiring words straight from the heart, the contributors share their plans and preparations, hardships and challenges, joys and satisfactions as their new lives in Mexico unfold.