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Tuesday, December 11, 2012 – Daily News 5A FEATURES Afraid to speak up about boss' incompetence Vitamin C has no effect Sara's dismissal has Dear Annie: I work in made the rest of us afraid to the aftercare program of a say anything to upper manhighly regarded private agement for fear of getting school. It's a part-time job the same treatment. What at minimum wage, but the should we do? — Worried kids are great, and I am for the Kids grateful to be employed. Dear Worried: You need My problem is with the to register a complaint about supervisor of the program. ''Jane'' constantly changes Annie's Jane in a large enough group that no one's job is threatour group assignments, ened. First document putting us with a different age group almost every day. by Kathy Mitchell instances of mistreatment or This makes it difficult for and Marcy Sugar inappropriate behavior with the children. Then several of the kids to bond with us as their caregivers and settle into a you should speak to Jane's superior, routine. Since the kids have various together, and present your record of activities outside of our program, evidence. Don't make it personal. keeping up with the ever-changing Surely the school would not want to schedules to make sure they get leave itself open to a lawsuit from a where they need to be is a night- parent. Dear Annie: I am a 60-year-old mare. Even worse, Jane sometimes divorced female and have been seesubs if one of the regular caretakers ing ''Harrison'' for three years. is absent, and she is terrible with the Despite the fact that Harrison is a kids. She frequently loses her tem- wonderful man — honest, funny, per and yells at them, and I over- handsome, loyal and hardworking heard her tell one little boy that he — there is one thing I can't get past: was ''bad'' when he misbehaved. He is terribly under-endowed, if And several of us were present you get my drift. I'm embarrassed when she used racial slurs about to even think of complaining about this, but it affects the whole lovesome of the children. One of my co-workers, ''Sara,'' making thing. I've always had a finally decided she had to speak up, strong sex drive, and the lack of, but when she went to Jane's super- um, size is unsatisfying. How do I get past this? I truly visor, it turned out Jane had already lodged a complaint about Sara, and care about Harrison and hate to instead of listening to what Sara had think that I'm so shallow that his to say, they fired her. Sara was a size would matter so much. It's as dependable, dedicated worker who petty as a man saying his girlfriend was loved by the kids. We think is great, but she's flat-chested, so Jane sensed Sara's growing dissatis- she's out. But obviously it's bothering me enough to write. What do faction and struck first. Mailbox you think? — Another Little Thing in the Way Dear Little Thing: We won't get into the ''size doesn't matter'' discussion, because it obviously matters to you. First, try Kegel exercises (talk to your gynecologist for information). It is also possible to find greater satisfaction through different positions and techniques and the use of sex toys. But only you can determine how important this is to your relationship. If you truly love Harrison, this is something manageable. Otherwise, it's simply a source of frustration. Dear Annie: This is in response to ''N.Y., N.Y.,'' who didn't want to visit her aging grandmothers. Guess what? It's not all about you. Those old people are still ''in there'' in that failing mind and body. Life gives us all kinds of opportunities to set aside our comforts and be of service to someone in need. Stopping by to say hello, even if we just hold their hand while they sleep or listen to their babblings, allows them to know at some deep level that we care about them. — Loving Daughter-in-Law, Eureka, Calif. Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. Utility customers can earn bill credit Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) Friday, Dec. 7, announced the start of its Winter Gas Savings program, which gives eligible residential and business customers an opportunity to earn an automatic bill credit of up to 20 percent for reducing natural gas usage during peak months. Customers who lower usage during December 2012 and January 2013 by up to 10 percent will receive an equal percentage credit on their February or March gas bill. Those who conserve 10 percent or more will receive a 20 percent credit. As a convenience, customers do not need to apply for credits, which will be determined automatically by comparing natural gas usage reductions this season to the three previous winters, adjusted for weather. During last year's program, nearly two million customers earned credits totaling $41 million. "We appreciate the dedication and commitment our customers have shown to conserving their usage of natural gas," said Steven Malnight, PG&E's Vice President of Customer Energy Solutions. "We are excited to help them adopt easy ways to save energy and reward them for their efforts to reduce their natural gas usage." Customers can track their progress toward earning bill credits using a web-based, Facebook-enabled Progress Tracker tool. Through the tracker, customers with a gas SmartMeter™ can easily compare their current estimated average daily usage to their three-year daily average to determine if they are on track to earn a bill credit. The Progress Tracker is available at w w w. p g e . c o m / p r o gresstracker and www.facebook.com/pac ificgasandelectric. Customers can take simple steps to reduce natural gas usage and potentially qualify for the credit. Examples include: • Lower the thermostat to 68 degrees during the daytime if it is safe to do so. • Showers can account for up to 2/3 of your water heating costs. Cut your shower time in half to reduce your water heating costs by 33 percent. • Reduce shower time by half to save as much as 33 percent on water heating costs. • Set the water heater to 120 degrees or the "normal" setting. • Wash clothes in cold water instead of hot. • Open blinds and drapes on sunny days. • Microwave small amounts of food instead of heating them up in the oven. For additional tips, tools and resources for conserving gas, see www.pge.com/wintergassavings. The Winter Gas Savings program was established in 2005 to help conserve natural gas following the supply squeeze caused by Hurricane Katrina. This year, the program will come to a successful close. Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to 15 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit http://www.pge.com/ab out/newsroom/ and www.pgecurrents.com. Extension of public comment period SACRAMENTO – The Bureau of Reclamation announced today an extension of the comment period for the Draft Feasibility Report on the Shasta Lake Water Resources Investigation to Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. The public comment period was originally scheduled to end on Friday, Dec.r 28. Reclamation initially released the Draft Feasibility Report in February. Any additional comments from interested individuals, agencies and organizations will be accepted through Jan. 28. All comments received will be considered as we complete the remaining engineering, environmental, economic, and financial studies and related reports. The Draft Feasibility Report is available on Reclamation's website a t www.usbr.gov/mp/slwri/ index.html. Written comments can be submitted via email to B O R - M P R SLWRI@usbr.gov or by mail to Katrina Chow, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, MP720, Sacramento, CA 95825-1893. For questions, call Chow at 916-978-5067 or fax your request to 916-978-5094. To request an electronic copy of the draft documents, contact Louis Moore at 916978-5106 (TTY 916978-5608) or by email at w m o o r e @ u s b r. g o v. Copies of the documents may also be viewed at Reclamation's Regional Library, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, by calling 916-978-5593. For additional infor- mation about the Shasta Lake Water Resources Investigation, please v i s i t http://www.usbr.gov/mp /slwri/index.html. RED BLUFF TIRES & AUTO REPAIR NEW TIRES & QUALITY USED TIRES Mon-Sat: 8:30-5:00/Sun: 8:30-1:00 We clean headlights 530-529-5482 530-526-4054 cell redblufftires@hotmail.com 12843 Glasglow Dr. #E Red Bluff, CA 96080 Just off of Walnut Street THE LAW FIRM OF KENNY, SNOWDEN & NORINE An Exquisite Christmas Concert TAKES PLEASURE IN ANNOUNCING ROB J. TAYLOR HAS BECOME ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIRM By world acclaimed violinist Jaime Jorge Tuesday, December 11, 2012 • 7:00 p.m. Red Bluff Seventh-day Adventist Church 720 S. Jackson Street, Red Bluff, CA Admission is Free For more information call: Lori 200-2950 2701 Park Marina Drive Redding, CA 96001-2805 (530) 225-8990 on cold symptons cold. Phlegm is the DEAR DOCthick, mucousTOR K: My mom containing fluid always told me to responsible for take vitamin C and congestion and not to drink milk post-nasal drip. when I had a cold. But a remarkIs this true or just able set of studies an old wives' tale? published in 1990 DEAR READDr. K found no clear ER: The idea that connection vitamin C suppleby Anthony L. ments might pre- Komaroff, M.D. between milk consumption and cold vent the common cold, or shorten the dura- symptoms. In one study, tion and reduce its symptoms, was popularized by researchers exposed study the biochemist Linus Paul- subjects to a cold virus. ing. Pauling was indis- They kept track of the putably a genius, a Nobel dairy products the subjects Prize winner who was one ate and their symptoms of the most distinguished over 10 days. Secretions scientists of the 20th cen- from the nose were collecttury. When Pauling talked, ed, the collection jars promptly sealed to avoid people listened. In fact, people not only evaporation and then listened; they put the scien- weighed. The verdict? The tist's ideas to a scientific test. Randomized con- amount of nasal secretions trolled trials involving and symptoms of congesthousands of people were tion had no relationship conducted. My interpreta- with milk or dairy intake. tion of the results of those Later studies agreed. Researchers involved in studies is that they showed no evidence that vitamin C these studies concluded supplements reduced the that the combination of duration or severity of the saliva and a high-fat bevercommon cold. There was age (such as milk) may weak evidence that they mimic mucous. This could might reduce the risk of lead to the false assumption that drinking milk durcatching it. Still, studies like these ing a cold is bad. The bottom line: can tell us only about the results in the "average" There's good evidence that person. It may be that the intake of milk or dairy there really are some peo- products does not delay ple who do benefit from recovery from a cold or vitamin C supplements; make symptoms worse. If you have a cold or are the problem is that we currently have no way of recovering from one, it's identifying these people. OK to drink milk. But if it Some of my patients insist gives you the sensation that vitamin C helps them that you have more phlegm to deal with the common or that your congestion is cold, and they could be worse, you're probably responding to the fat in the right. What about drinking milk — not the milk itself. milk? There is a rather In that case, switch to skim widespread belief that milk, tea or other low-fat dairy products trigger fluids. mucous production during Dr. Komaroff is a a cold and can slow recovery or even cause another physician and professor at cold. You hear it a lot, but Harvard Medical School. To send questions, go to it's just not true. The argument was that AskDoctorK.com, or write: milk increased the amount Ask Doctor K, 10 Shattuck and thickness of phlegm St., Second Floor, Boston, that is produced during a MA 02115. Debt card workshop Legal Services of Northern California will hold a credit card debt workshop at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 12, at its office, 541 Normal Ave., in Chico. Preregistration is required. For more information or to register call 345-9491. Corning parade winnners Corning Hometown Christmas Lighted Parade Winners 2012 Best Float – Corning Olive Oil Judges Choice – Squaw Hill Family and Friends Best Miscellaneous – Corning Fired Dept. Best Marching Unit – Boy & Girl Scout Color Guard Best Vehicle – Jim Kerr Best Sr. Equestrian – John Bolles and Misty Sierra Sound NEW & USED CD's Special Orders Avail. Car Stereo Sales - Service Installation We make house calls! 226 So. Main St., Red Bluff 527-3735 COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR All makes and models. 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