• Development of Sign Language
• Go Green for Spring Cleaning
• How to Stretch a Tank of Gas
• April Fools!

Development of Sign Language

Deaf History Month, which runs from March 13 to April 15, celebrates key events in deaf heritage. The month was first recognized in 1997 when the D.C. Public Library hosted an event with deaf authors and guest speakers. Over time, its popularity has grown. Now, the American Library Association and the National Association of the Deaf are urging the government to declare it an official national event. Sign language is, in fact, the fourth most-used language in the United States. Read on to learn more about sign language and the events of Deaf History Month.

The following three events make the month significant.

• March 13: In 1988, the Deaf President Now movement succeeded, and I. King Jordan became the first deaf president of Gallaudet University.
• April 8: In 1864, President Lincoln signed the charter establishing Gallaudet University, a college for the deaf. Now, Gallaudet Charter Day is celebrated with a luncheon and an awards program at the university.
• April 15: In 1817, the American School for the Deaf opened. It was the first public school for the deaf.

Annually, the Library Friends Section of the National Association of the Deaf, founded by Alice Hagemeyer, promotes the month by encouraging libraries to plan deaf awareness activities. During this month, people are encouraged to recognize the deaf in their communities and to look back on the achievements of pioneers in deaf culture. The following is a list of those who contributed to the advancement of sign language.

Geronimo Cardano: A physician in Padua, Italy in the 16th century, Cardano proclaimed that deaf people could understand symbols by matching them with things they represented.

Abbe Charles Michel de L'Epee: In 1775, Abbe Charles Michel de L'Epee founded the first free school for deaf people in Paris, France. After observing the signs and gestures of deaf people in Paris, he created his own sign version of spoken French. He then taught students to communicate with gestures, hand signs and finger spelling.

Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet: A congregational minister from the United States, Gallaudet traveled to Europe in 1815 to study deaf communication. His goal was to help a neighbor's deaf daughter. When he returned, he founded the first school for deaf people in the U.S. It was called the American School for the Deaf and is located in Hartford, Connecticut.

Laurent Clerc: Laurent Clerc was a deaf sign language teacher at a school in Paris. When Gallaudet returned to the United States, Clerc accompanied him and became the first deaf sign language instructor in the U.S.

In addition to these influential figures, there are many famous people who have increased awareness of the condition. A few are listed below.

Ludwig van Beethoven: A German composer and pianist, Beethoven began to lose his hearing at the age of 28. By age 49, it was completely gone. During this time, Beethoven continued to compose music. He died in 1857 at the age of 57.

Helen Keller: Helen Keller was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama on June 27, 1880. Nineteen months after her birth, she fell ill and became blind and deaf. Her parents hired a teacher to show her how to use sign language and read Braille. She then traveled to 39 countries around the globe to speak about her experiences and raise money for organizations dedicated to helping the blind and deaf. Today, many institutes around the world honor her name in their titles.

Alexander Graham Bell: In addition to inventing the telephone, he worked to advance communication between deaf and hearing people. Perhaps, the fact that his mother and wife were both deaf fueled his dedication to the cause. Reportedly, he invented the microphone to assist those with hearing loss. He also taught deaf students at schools for the deaf, set up a library of information on deafness, and conducted the first national census of the deaf in 1890.

The accomplishments of these noteworthy people have indeed contributed to the widespread use of sign language today. In fact, there are now hundreds of sign language dialects around the world. Each culture has developed a unique form, compatible with its own spoken language. It you are interested in learning sign language, contact your local community center. Many schools offer sign language courses, as well. If the one in your district does not, consider petitioning the school board to introduce one. You can join the ranks of those listed above by helping to bridge the gap between the hearing and the hearing impaired.
 

Go Green for Spring Cleaning

It's the first warm day of the year. You throw back the curtains and wiggle the window frame, stiff like your joints from a long winter. The fresh air pours into your lungs, and the scent of spring lingers in your nostrils. The breeze tousles your hair in a friendly greeting, and the rays of sun dance on your wooden tabletops, revealing a thick layer of - filth. That's right, filth. It's time for spring cleaning to commence. This year, consider going green for the annual scrub down. The benefits are innumerable.

Each year, the average American uses about 40 pounds of toxic household cleaning products. These products contain dangerous ingredients such as neurotoxins, carcinogens, allergens, central nervous system depressants and heavy metals. They enter the environment through various routes: they are flushed down toilets, poured down sinks, sprayed into the air, thrown into the trash, and dumped onto the ground. This contamination depletes the ozone layer, pollutes groundwater and soil, and harms plants and animals. Furthermore, the agents present in these cleaning products can endanger those in your household. According to the Global Health Center, they can cause or contribute to cancer, respiratory problems, reproductive abnormalities, allergic reactions, behavioral problems and other issues.

Here are some examples of hazardous ingredients commonly found in cleaning products:

• Phosphates are found in dishwasher and laundry detergents. They cause algae bloom, which kills fish and aquatic plants. They also produce chemicals that are toxic to animals or humans who drink water containing them.
• Trisodium nitrilotriacetate is a possible carcinogen found in laundry detergents. It can also disrupt the elimination of metals in wastewater treatment facilities.
 
• Chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite) is available alone and in detergents and other products. It is toxic to fish and can bind with organic compounds in water to form organochlorines, which break down slowly in the environment and accumulate in the fatty tissues of wildlife.
• Napthas and mineral spirits are neurotoxins found in furniture polishes. They are considered to be hazardous waste.
• Formaldehyde can be found in furniture polish and various cleaning products. It is a potential human carcinogen and a known cancer-causing agent in animals.
 
• Phthalates is found in furniture polish. It disrupts hormone function and can cause genetic defects in both animals and humans.
• Ether-type solvents, methylene chloride, butyl cellosive and petroleum distillates are hazardous waste products found in oven cleaners. They can contaminate the air, water and soil.
• Sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide are found in drain cleaners. They can change the pH of water and kill fish.

So what does it mean to "go green" in terms of cleaning? It means cleaning with organic products that are free of harmful chemicals. Green cleaning companies are held to standards higher than federal or state regulations. However, even if a product claims to be "natural" or "organic," examine the label. Many products do not live up to their assertions, so it is important to be familiar with the hazardous substances listed above. You can also make your own cleaning products. All you need are a few inexpensive ingredients and information on how to combine them.

Basic Ingredients and Uses

• Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) neutralizes acid, softens fabric, deodorizes, and cleans, and polishes metal and plastic.
• Borax deodorizes, prevents mold and mildew, and removes stains.
• Cornstarch cleans windows and carpets and polishes furniture.
• Isopropyl alcohol disinfects.
• Lemon juice deodorizes, cleans glass, and removes stains.
• Mineral oil polishes furniture.
• Vinegar deodorizes. It also removes mildew, grease and wax and cleans windows, brick and stone.
• Washing soda (sodium carbonate decahydrate) removes grease and cleans laundry.

Natural Cleaning Products You Can Make

• Air freshener
    Place shallow plates of vinegar in rooms to absorb odors. Sprinkle ½ cup borax in the bottom of trash cans or diaper pails to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold.
• All-purpose cleaner
     Place 4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart warm water and shake well.
• Disinfectant
    Mix ½ cup borax into 1 gallon of hot water.
• Drain cleaner
     Pour ½ cup baking soda down drain, add ½ cup white vinegar, and cover the drain. Wait 15 minutes and then pour 1 gallon of hot water down the drain.
• Metal cleaner and polish
     For stainless steel, use undiluted white vinegar. For tarnished copper, boil the item in a pot of water with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup white vinegar.
• Oven cleaner
    Moisten oven surfaces with water, and sprinkle baking soda on them. Scrub with steel wool.
• Toilet bowl cleaner
    Mix ¼ cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, pour into toilet, let set for 5 minutes, then scrub with brush.

In addition to using organic cleaning products, there are other ways that you can "go green" during spring cleaning. Check out some of these simple suggestions.

• Paperless cleaning.
    No matter how green your sprays and scrubs might be, if you use an entire roll of paper towels to clean one room, you are not exactly cleaning in an eco-friendly manner. Instead, use micro fiber clothes or sponges that can be washed and reused.
• Reuse, donate and recycle.
    In order to reduce the clutter in your home, you might feel tempted to go on a rampage, to spin through your house like a tornado, sending anything in your path flying toward the trash can. But don't be so quick to throw things away. Instead, think of new ways to use things. If you simply can't come up with a reason to keep an item in your home, donate it to a local charity instead of adding to the landfills. Also, recycle anything you can.
• Eco-friendly storage.
     After you have sorted through your possessions and determined the items you wish to keep, you will need a way to organize them. Instead of using plastic bins, which are not biodegradable, try cardboard boxes wrapped in decorative paper, bamboo baskets or cloth bags.
• A yearlong commitment.
    As the year progresses, don't let things accumulate in your house. Don't buy things that you don't need, and return gifts that you will never use. Come next spring, you will already be ahead of the game.

If you choose to follow these guidelines, you can make spring cleaning an eco-friendly routine. Protecting the environment and the health of your family, however, is not something limited to an annual weekend of cleaning when the warm weather arrives. The choices you make every day can help keep our earth a clean and safe place to live for our generation and those to come. Don't think twice. Go green.  

How to Stretch a Tank of Gas

As you turn your key in the ignition, you notice the hand on your fuel gauge nearing that dreaded red line beside the "E." It's that time again - time to fill up. If you drive a car, odds are you would like to learn how to save money on gas. Check out some of these suggestions.
 
Turn off the air conditioner.
 Using the air conditioner increases fuel consumption by as much as 10 percent. Roll down your windows, instead. If you are traveling more than 60 mph, however, open windows increase drag. In this case, the air conditioner is a better choice.

 Streamline
 Make your car more aerodynamic by removing roof racks and bicycle carriers that create wind resistance.

 Lighten your load
 Remove excessive weight from your car. According to "547 Ways to be Fuel Smart" by Roger Albright, a reduction of 200 pounds typically improves fuel economy by nearly 5 percent.

 Drive the speed limit
 The faster you go, the more gas you use. According to transport authorities, driving 70 mph uses up to 9 percent more fuel than driving 60 mph and up to 15 percent more than driving 50 mph.

 Drive smoothly
 Acceleration and deceleration use the most fuel, so anticipate what is coming and gradually adjust your speed. On the open road, use cruise control to maintain a constant speed. Also, avoid rough surfaces, which increase fuel consumption by up to 30 percent. To comply with this tip, pretend grandma is in the back seat drinking coffee. You wouldn't want her to spill - or throw out her neck.
 
 Plan ahead
 If you are planning a road trip, leave early in the day when the traffic is light. Adjust your eating schedule if necessary, and stop for meals when the traffic gets heavy.

 Don't let it idle
 In the winter months, your car often needs time to warm up. Once it has warmed up, however, make sure it does not idle for more than a minute. Also, if you are waiting to pick someone up, turn off the car. Letting it idle uses more gas than turning off the vehicle and restarting it.

 Don't rev the engine
Although it might make you feel cooler than John Travolta in Grease, refrain from revving the engine. It wastes fuel by pumping raw gasoline into the cylinder walls and washing away a film of oil that protects them.

Change the oil
 Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for regular oil changes and tune-ups. Clean oil improves fuel consumption by reducing the wear caused by friction of moving engine parts.

 Replace the air filter
Change your car's air filter regularly. A dirty filter results in less air flow, which puts more pressure on the engine and burns up more gas. A clogged filter can cost you 1 mpg.

Adjust the fan belt
 Adjust the tension on the fan belt with a wrench. If the belt is too tight, it makes the engine work harder and uses up more gas. When the engine is not running, the belt should give a little to finger pressure.

 Change the spark plugs
Spark plugs make a significant difference in the amount of gas mileage your car gets. In fact, worn out spark plugs can cost you 2 mpg. Changing spark plugs, however, is a job for trained technicians only.

    Pump up the tires
Under-inflated tires cause rolling resistance that can cost you as much as 1 mpg. The recommended tire pressure for your car can usually be found on a plate located on the car door.

In addition to following these tips, start keeping a mileage record. It will help you know when it's time for a tune-up. Although filling your tank is inevitable, there are many ways you can reduce the amount of gas you use. By following the suggestions listed above, you can protect the environment, ease your financial burden, and slow the gauge's inevitable arc toward "E."

April Fools!

It's the one day of the year that you can get away with almost anything - April Fools' Day. Here are some ideas for harmless pranks and practical jokes to pull on your family, friends or co-workers.
 

Classic Pranks

• Leave 'Em Hanging: Wait until your target is in the shower, then sneak in and grab his clothes and all the towels. You might want to take the bathmat, too.
• Salty Surprise: Put salt on your target's toothbrush, and watch to see the disgusted look on his face.
• Rude Awakening: While your target is sleeping, put some shaving cream in his hand. Then, tickle his nose with a feather, and watch while he smears the foam all over his face.
• Running Late: Reset all the clocks ahead two hours while your target is sleeping. He will panic when he wakes up and thinks he is late for work or school.
• Sudden Shower: Turn the showerhead so that it will spray on your target when he turns the water on from outside the shower.

Unique Pranks

• Tug of War: This prank works best with two doors directly across the hall from one another. Tie rope to the doorknobs of each, leaving enough slack to allow one door to open a crack. Knock on both doors at the same time, and watch the tug of war that ensues.
• Cereal Surprise: Remove the plastic bags of cereal from the boxes, and switch them around. Watch as your target does a double take when an unexpected cereal pours into his bowl.
• Stinky Cheese: Remove about an inch of deodorant from the top of your target's deodorant stick. Then, take a slice of cream cheese and sculpt it into the deodorant container so it looks like deodorant. Put the top back on, and wait to be amused.
• Photo Switch: Find a small picture of a monkey or other funny object, and use temporary glue to stick it over your target's driver's license picture. Make some excuse to send him somewhere where he will need to show his ID.
• Delicious: Form a brownie to look like dog poo, and place it in your target's yard. When the two of you walk by, point it out, bend over and examine it. Then, grab it and put it in your mouth. Your target will be shocked.

Office Pranks

• Hold My Calls: You will need several people to conduct this prank. Have them take turns throughout the day calling your target and asking to speak with "Larry." At the end of the day, have "Larry" call and ask for his messages.
• Stop the Calls: Tape the button that presses down when the telephone handset is in the cradle. When your target answers the phone, it will keep ringing.
• While You Were Out: Leave a message for your target saying that "Mr. Lyon" or "Mr. Behr" called and wants a call back. List the phone number of the local zoo.
• Drawer Confusion: Remove your target's desk drawers, and switch them around. If you can't switch the drawers, just switch the items. You could also try swapping the drawers of different co-workers.
• Just One, Please: Hook all of your target's paperclips together in one long string.

Computer Pranks

• Mouse Trap: Write "April Fools" on a Post-It note, and place it over the eye of your target's optical mouse. When your target moves his mouse, the cursor will remain still.
• White Out: Sneak onto your target's computer, and change the default font color to white. When your target's writing is invisible, it will cause momentary confusion.
• Hurry Up: In the control panel, change your target's cursor to the hourglass image by clicking on "Mouse" and then "Pointers." Your target will think his computer is stuck on an endless task.
• Away From Home: Change your target's homepage to something unexpected. Do this by opening the browser, choosing "Tools" at the top, selecting "Options," and then entering the URL for a new page.
• Crawling Mouse: In the control panel, under "Mouse," click "Pointer Options." Change the speed of the pointer to the slowest option possible. If your target is not computer savvy, he will probably not understand why the cursor is moving so slowly.

These ideas, courtesy of aprilfoolzone.com, should get you started. However, half the fun of a prank is plotting and planning. See if you can think of ways to modify these ideas and add your own special twist. But beware. Although you think you're a clever schemer, you might just be the target of someone else's April Fools' Day ruse.