• nymox.com - test kit to see how exposed you are to smoke
• uspto.gov - how to file for a provisional patent
• score.org - (800) 634-8800 - getting small business loan
• eloan.com - mortgage rate info
• lendingtree.com - mortgage rate info

You’ve probably heard quite a bit about “second hand smoke.” But can you be exposed to second hand smoke if no one is smoking at the time? Well, it turns out you can. The Washington Post featured a couple - Martha and Bob – who live in suburban Virginia. Martha has asthma, so Bob – the smoker of the couple - goes outside to smoke. Martha thought she was fine because she was never around active smoking. But she tested her second hand smoke exposure using a new test from a company called Nymox. To her surprise, she tested at a “Level 2,” which meant she was at the same level of “an occasional smoker.” That’s just one level below active smokers, who rate a “Level 3” with the kit. Believe it or not, her body has ingested carcinogens from just being around her husband even when he’s not smoking. Just being around people who have it in their clothes and cars can expose you. But the kits are being used for all kind of reasons. Parents are using them to determine if their kids are smoking, and corporations are using them on employees they suspect of smoking. The FDA told the Washington Post that they don’t know anything about this product, so their effectiveness is not proven. But you can buy them easily online or in drug stores now. It’s shocking to know that you don’t need to be around someone smoking to suffer the effects of second hand smoke. Clark smoked about two packs a day in college and he quit when his body couldn’t perform like it used to.

Two staff members brought in a story from “Parents” magazine about how to save money around your house in terms of the energy you use. Clark wanted to tell you about it and add some of his own advice to boot. The first concerns light bulbs in your house. “Parents” recommends cutting back on how often you use just three light bulbs in your home and you will save $60 a year. In addition, Clark likes to put compact fluorescent bulbs in his home in overhead lights. These are money saving gems that last much longer than regular incandescent bulbs. Granted, the light cast by these bulbs is a bit bright, but it’s gotten better. The second recommendation is to limit the amount of time you spend in the shower everyday. If you reduce your shower time from 15 minutes to 8 minutes, you will save another $60 a year. An added suggestion from Clark is to dial down the temperature on the water heater in your home. Most people have the temperatures set way too high, and it’s costing us tons. Another one is to turn the coffee maker off right after you make coffee. You’ll save $15 a year doing this. It’s not much. But if someone offered you $15, you’d take it right? You can also save $50 a year if you shut off your computer when you’re not using it. Re-caulking windows is another important recommendation. It’s a hassle but it will save you money and keep you nice and warm in winter.

Clark’s mother recently had surgery, and Clark has had a maddening time helping her sort through and pay the bills. It’s nearly impossible to figure out all the codes and determine if what you’re paying is fair. Something that may help is having a “patient advocate.” Clark talked about this idea years ago, hoping it would catch on. Finally, it seems like it may be happening, according to the Houston Chronicle. Basically, patient advocates are bureaucrats for consumers. They help individuals and small businesses figure out their bills and acts as representatives of that person. If you are having trouble getting coverage from your insurer, the advocate will step in, as well. The only problem is that there is no referral source Clark knows of to give you. You will have to dig for the information, possibly through a social worker at your doctor’s office or at the hospital. Patient advocates usually charge $50 to $75 an hour, but it can be a huge help at a time when you need it most.

Energy costs are skyrocketing in America today. And the fact that we must import most of our energy from foreign countries makes it even worse. But there are all kinds of alternatives out there, especially in Europe. The one Clark is most excited about is getting electricity from the wind. Wind power from windmills used to be very expensive. But wind can now generate electricity at a competitive cost to other forms of energy. It causes no pollution and can provide a great deal of the energy needs of one country. FPL – Florida Power & Light – has started getting into the trend, and farms in Sacramento are already experimenting with farms. The big potential source is in the Great Plains, where there are wind swept prairies. The wind is present there almost all the time, so it would be a great source. It’s even possible now to have your own wind turbine at home. Only a few people have set up home-based wind turbines, but these systems are much more efficient than traditional energy power sources. Did you know that 90 turbines will provide power for 75,000 homes? There are wind farms in 11 states around the country, and wind power creates 2 percent of our nation’s energy. Clark received a notice from the power company, offering cleaner burning fuel if he is willing to pay 10 percent extra. We’ll see if he is one of the pioneers.

Three years ago, Clark talked about a new effort by companies to target teens. It was a secret method of marketing through a company called Tremor – a division of Proctor & Gamble - whereby teenagers were given freebies and special deals. These teenagers were considered to be “opinion leaders” in their schools and church groups, and many had no idea they were being targeted. When Clark talked about it, he thought it was really creepy. And, apparently, it’s gotten even more out of control. Forbes reports today that there are almost 300,000 unpaid members of this teenage sales force. The company is sending products to children as young as 13 years old in the hopes that he or she will talk about it in the cafeteria or in class. Tremor has been so successful that other companies are paying to use their technique and their sales force. Clark thinks this is manipulative and underhanded. He’s fine with product placement in TV shows because it is more overt and upfront. What do you think?

People who travel for business often complain about the lack of Internet connections they can get in hotels. Or if they can connect, often the connection is very slow. Hotels are slowly learning that they need to make high speed Internet access available for free to attract more business travelers. Various divisions of Marriott were the first to provide this access. And now, Intercontinental Hotels are following suit. Best Western will soon provide high speed Internet at all 2,300 of its locations in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. So, Internet access will soon be everywhere. And, better yet, it will be free.