By Attorney Mitch Adel

Have you ever heard of the game “Words with Friends”? If not, it is the Scrabble-like app occupying everyone's smartphone these days, both young and old. In fact, this past week our host was spotted playing the game underneath the table, during Thanksgiving dinner! The next night while we were waiting for the new James Bond movie “007 Skyfall” to begin, the entire row in front of us was playing. Then oddly today on the plane, I was reading a magazine explaining the origin of the game of Scrabble. It seems today's word game has Alfred Mosher Butts to thank! In 1938 Mr. Butts invented the board game in Poughkeepsie, NY, but it wasn't until the early 1950s that it became popular when the president of Macy's, James Straus, discovered the game on vacation and ordered some for his store. Within a year, it was the newest fad to the point that Scrabble had to start rationing the game to stores around the country.

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By Melissa Reynard

More and more, people are choosing to go a different route with their plans for after death. Let's face it, the Vikings buried their dead at sea after setting fire to the boat, other cultures hung their bodies from trees; people want an exciting way to make an exit, even after death. A way to be remembered. And there are a multitude of different alternatives to burial now, whether you're looking for that exciting way to go, want to be environmentally conscious or just plain don't want to spend the exorbitant costs of a funeral arrangement.

Natural Burial:

This is an option for the eco-friendly deceased. Natural burials are those burials that take place without the traditional embalming or heavy wooden or other material caskets used. Instead the body is wrapped in a shroud or placed in a biodegradable casket; and placed directly into the earth where the body can decompose naturally. Currently, there are 50 known cemeteries that will do these types of burials.

Following that idea are Eternal Reefs:

For the ocean lover eco-friendly deceased, Eternal Reefs are made out of a mixture of concrete and ashes. Once the reef is formed, it is placed in areas where a natural reef needs restoration. A regular cremation is done beforehand to produce the ashes.

Mummification:

That's right, you can still be mummified. There aren't a lot of people who want to, and the costs are out of this world, but you can become a Mummy. The organization of Summum is currently the only known business performing mummification.

Be turned into Art:

There are currently programs for taking ashes and developing a diamond or work of art using the ashes to create the media. Want to stay with your family forever? This is the way to do so tastefully!

Body Donation:

Consider donating your body to the science or medical community. Many universities and hospitals are glad for your donation to further along medicine. Some programs will even pay for the shipments, cremate your body when complete, and return the ashes to your loved ones; all for no price to you.

For those a little more daring, placed called “Body Farms” exist to further research. Here your body will be used to determine decomposition and other scientific endeavors used to make strides in solving crimes, furthering science, and other uses. Forensic Anthropology centers usually offer this option. One should note, that donating your body to a body farm, you do NOT get to have your remains returned to your family when they are finished.

Yet another body donation is to be a Crash Test Cadaver. If you are fond of cars, this may be the right alley for you. It helps simulate what happens in a crash to the human body.

It should be noted that if you choose to donate your body in any of these ways, you will need to remove the designation from your driver's license that you are an organ donor, as this could interfere with the donation process.

So as you can see there are many alternatives to the standard burial. And it should be remembered that even if you do choose these options and still want to have a funeral for a gathering of friends and family, there is always the option to hold such a remembrance, even if you may not be physically present. Make your after death arrangements a part of your Estate planning so you can choose what will happen to you.

By Tonya Smith

Most consumers may not be aware of some of the new techniques used by criminals to get money directly from you bank account. Recently, I read an article online that gave 4 risky places to swipe your debit card and the reasons.

1.ATM’s – Thieves use skimmers to capture card information from the magnetic strip. Outdoor terminals are at higher risk for thieves to add skimming devices. If you must use an ATM, look for one inside a retail location or in a well-lit area.

2.Gas Stations – since these terminals on the pumps are in busy locations with minimal supervision, it’s pretty easy for a bad guy to add a skimming device on with a pinpoint camera to capture the user entering their PIN number.  Solution, use cash or credit card at the pump.

3.Online – The number 1 most common place is online and we are not surprised!  There are many ways to have your bank account compromised including malware, man-in-the-middle attack (aka eavesdroppers via the wireless network), and merchant databases if they are not properly cared for.  One amusing quote from the article goes like this;  “When you buy things online, what always kills me about that is people say, ‘This is a safe site,’” Keeping that statement in mind, can you tell me who works there?

4.Restaurant Servers – more common than not, the server disappears with your card so they have the perfect opportunity to copy your information.  Again, protect yourself by using a credit card in this situation. 

Word for the wise – use Credit Cards when you can. Fraudulent charges can be disputed and resolved within 1-2 days. Debit cards draw money from your checking account and could take an average of two or three months to get reimbursed. 

Source: Bankrate.com 4 Risky places to swipe your debit card

By Claes Bell

By Mary Roberts

I love springtime.  Springtime, to me, means getting outside.  It means getting in the garden.

I have many flower gardens that I enjoy.  They take a lot of work but it is very rewarding to work in them and see the beauty of what comes forth.

My favorite is the vegetable garden.  If you haven't tried vegetable gardening, maybe this is the year to give it a try.  My peas are up about 2 inches high and the lettuce, radishes and onions are coming along real well.  It will be awhile before we are harvesting but in the meantime we will get the beans, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, and zucchini in and, this year, my husband says, we are going to plant okra.  We try to grow something new each year just for the experience and to see how we like it.

It sounds like work, I know, but this is what I grew up with. In the years when I was growing up it was a necessity to plant a garden.  We were a family of seven children and it took our homegrown vegetables to survive.  It also taught us to appreciate the ground and what it can produce with a little elbow grease.  With the economy as it is today, I hope more people will be returning to it.  It's pretty easy.  The instructions are on the back of a package of seeds.

 It brings great pleasure to harvest the vegetables, can or freeze them and enjoy them in the winter.  It also gives me a reason to enjoy winter because we can then spend time inside and rest up for the coming Spring Season.

Enjoy your Spring Season this year, doing whatever you like to you.  Just make sure you take time to do it and to enjoy.