Home and Garden 11/12/16

HOME & GARDEN • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016 Look inside for these specials and many others.

office OPTIMIZE YOUR

SOLUTIONS FOR WATER AND WEATHER-RELATED ISSUES HOME OFFICES IN TIGHT SPACES

Optimizing

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BY GINA CRONIN, GINA.CRONIN@GAZETTE.COM

ome offices should be comfortable, functional and organized. Though it is tempting to stay in your pajamas and use your laptop in bed, getting dressed — in whatever outfit you wish — and sitting at a desk can prove more stimulating. Those who work from a home office can experience a vast boost in productivity, minimal external distractions and an enhanced quality of life. In fact, a study by the Harvard Business Review found that home worker productivity increased by 13 percent over the course

your home office of nine months, because those who work from home took fewer breaks, had fewer distractions and were more productive per minute. It was also found that employee turnover reduced by 50 percent, as participants were happier and less exhausted week after week.

Bear these tips in mind if you wish to be the best employee you can be right from your own home.

KEEP IT STRESS-FREE

A relaxed mind is a creative and productive mind. The absence of a morning commute and corporate restrictions reduce

anxiety from the get-go, but there are a couple additional measures you can take.

Keeping organized, maintaining calendars and taking breaks are as essential at home as they are in the office. Starting the morning with a brisk walk outside and a balanced breakfast creates a positive start to a solid day’s work.

OPTIMAL LIGHTING

It is advisable to have “daylight” in your home office. This can either be natural light from large windows with the blinds open, or if you lack windows in your space, install bulbs that are marked as “daylight”

or “full spectrum;” terms that are often used interchangeably. Daylight bulbs have a blue-white glow and are typically labeled as 4,600 Kelvin (K) or more. If you are prone to eye strain, you should minimize the brightness of overhead lighting so that it is not blaring. Whether natural light or bulbs, check to make sure the space is evenly lit to prevent glares and shadows.

In addition to the general indirect light source, it is a good idea to have a task light, which can be aimed at a specific assignment you are working on.

Further, flat-panel liquid crystal display (LCD) computer screens are found to be CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

HG 2 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, NOV 12, 2016

ORGANIPONIC AT-HOME GROW UNIT LAUNCHES EQUITY CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN, FEEDS CONSUMER DEMAND FOR ORGANIC

NEWSWIRE

Organiponic, Inc., a company that designs and markets hydroponic systems that allow for easy at-home growing of fresh lettuce, greens and herbs, announces the launch of their equity crowdfunding campaign on StartEngine.

The launch introduces three new compact designs for consumers that are both convenient and cost effective, allowing for approximately 75 percent saving on fresh quality produce.

Each soilless system takes up approximately two to three square feet of space and can grow 12-24 plants, free of pesticides. The Organiponic systems are supported by the Organiponic app for iOS and Android, which offers customized subscriptionbased grow kits that allow for easy and cost-effective year-round gardening of herbs and produce.

Hydroponic growing is a soilless method that use nutrient-rich solutions for direct penetration into the plant roots, eliminating the use of herbicides and pesticides, while producing up to 10 times the amount of produce as traditional farming.

tight spaces HOME OFFICES IN

METRO SERVICES

"Organic is one of the fastest growing sectors of the U.S. food industry," says Organiponic Founder and CEO Andrew Dewey. "We offer a sustainable and affordable solution to meet this growing demand, allowing consumers to grow ready-to-eat produce from the comforts of their kitchen."

In 2015, the booming U.S. organic industry saw its largest dollar gain ever with $43.3 billion in total product sales, up a robust 11 percent from 2014 and far outperforming the overall food market's growth rate of three percent.

Organiponic, Inc. is based in Austin, Texas and focused on creating the best organic hydroponic systems available.

These include home gardening, inhome installations, and commercial agriculture, which all provide significant advantages over the options available today. So far, Organiponic has developed nine hydroponic systems, each designed for a specific market with a primary focus on high produce yields of quality lettuces, greens and herbs. For more information, visit Organiponic.com

A home office is a necessity for many adults these days. While some people have entire rooms available to house a home office, others have to make do with less space, and that can mean fitting an office into a tight area.

The first step in establishing a small home office is figuring out the space you have and any limitations that may accompany it. For example, maybe you have an unused corner in the living room but don’t want to have wires and equipment out in the open. An armoire-

type desk that can be closed when not in use is a viable option in such a situation. Perhaps there is an unused closet in a bedroom. A wall-mounted desk surface, such as a piece of customcut countertop material, complete with foldaway mouse and keyboard tray can easily turn the space into a compact nook. Maybe there is an entryway with a small table that would be large enough for a laptop. A stool or ottoman that can be tucked under it can serve as a desk chair and extra seating for company.

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PARENTS NEED NOT REINVENT THE WHEEL TO FIND MORE TIME FOR THEIR FAMILY, WHICH CAN GREATLY BENEFIT KIDS AND PARENTS ALIKE.

family HOW TO FIND MORE TIME FOR

METRO SERVICES

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alancing professional responsibilities with commitments at home is challenging for many working parents; the majority of whom admit to feeling stressed about juggling work and family life. A 2013 survey from the Pew Research Center found that 56 percent of working mothers and 50 percent of working fathers find it difficult to balance their personal and professional responsibilities. While the same survey found that only 23 percent of mothers feel they spend too little time with their children, those figures doubled for fathers.

Finding more time for family can seem impossible, especially as children get older and get more involved in school and extracurricular activities. Kids growing up and getting more active in school and in their social lives tends to coincide with parents advancing in their careers and taking on more responsibilities at work.

But no matter how hectic family schedules become, parents and kids can work together to find more time for one another.

COMMIT TO NIGHTLY FAMILY DINNERS

Family dinners do more than just ensure kids are eating healthy meals each night. In its “The Importance of Family Dinners VIII” report, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that, compared to teens who have fewer than three family dinners per week, teens who ate dinner with their families five or more times per week were one a half times more likely to say their parents knew a great deal or a fair amount about what’s really going on in their lives. The report also found teens who say their parents know very little or nothing at all about their lives were one and a half times more likely to have HG 4 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, NOV 12, 2016

used marijuana and one and a half times more likely to have used alcohol than teens who said their parents know a great deal or a fair amount about their lives. Nightly family dinners need not include elaborate meals, but parents who find time to have dinner with their children at least five nights per week may end up knowing their kids better and helping their sons and daughters avoid risky behaviors.

INQUIRE WITH YOUR EMPLOYER ABOUT TELECOMMUTING

Telecommuting can be very familyfriendly, allowing parents to cut out potentially lengthy commutes and spend more time with their children as a result. George Washington University in Washington, D.C. cites encouraging a better work-life balance for its employees in support of its telecommuting policy. The university notes that employees who have a better balance between their personal and professional lives may benefit from reduced stress and stronger overall health, which benefits the university by reducing healthcare costs. Parents who want to find more time for their families should inquire about telecommuting. Even if it’s just one or two days a week, the benefits can be considerable for both employee and employer.

MOVE CLOSER TO WORK

Commuting consumes a considerable amount of time. In its 2015 ThankYou Premier Commuter Index, Citi found that the average commute in the United States is 45 minutes, and that those commutes cost workers nearly $2,600 per year. By moving closer to their offices, workers can instantly create more time for their families and potentially save themselves considerable amounts of money.

AROUND THE HOUSE Solutions for water and weather-related issues

FOR THE

BY KEN MOON, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

Dear Ken: I have a terrible ice dam over my garage on the northwest side. I’ve seen a heated metal system you install KEN MOON under the shingles along the edge of the roof. Would that be a good idea?

– Beverly

to the washer. Hook the drain hose on the side of this sink to accept the lintcontaining output of the washer.

Another idea: I found a gadget on the web called a Filtrol. It's a little pricey, but peanuts compared to the cost of rebuilding a leach field. Go to SepticProtector.com and check it out. For those of us on public sewer systems, filtering is usually not necessary.

It might be overkill in your case. If you simply have one isolated area that backs up with ice, then all you may need is a regular heat cable. It is installed in a zigzag pattern just above the gutter, and you leave it plugged in year-round. When the ambient temperature gets below about 37 degrees, the cable warms up, which melts the falling snow before it can build up enough to freeze. You can even lay the cable in the gutter and then down into the nearest downspout to keep it open.

Dear Ken: The weather stripping under our French doors to the patio has peeled off. How do we replace it? Do we have to take the doors off?

– Jerri

Dear Ken: In one of my baths water always appears under the caulking around the tub after a shower, but not after a bath. The ceiling below this bathroom is dry. What do you think?

– Andy I think you'd better get on top of this.

Water always takes the least resistive path; in this case out from under the tub edge.

But it will eventually disappear from sight and then find its way into the flooring and underlying structure. Shower-only leaks like yours are almost always from around the head. Unscrew it, apply some Teflon tape and screw it back tightly with large pliers. If that doesn't do the trick, you may have to remove a few pieces of tile to look behind the faucet set for a leak in the shower riser pipe leading upwards towards the head.

Dear Ken: I have a septic tank, and the washing machine drains into it. Should I be concerned about lint going into the system? Is there any way to trap the lint?

– Anne Excess amounts of lint, threads and pet hair are hard on your system. In fact, most of this material is probably not digested in the septic tank. Theoretically, that could lead to a plug up of your leach field. One answer is to install a laundry tub next

VISIT HARDING NURSERY

If the weather stripping is attached to the underside edge of the doors, then yes, you'll have to remove the doors. Look for a replacement at the hardware store that you can reattach; use screws and a little adhesive - like Liquid Nails - for a firm hold. There is another style, called a sweep, that you can attach to the inside face of the doors. When they are closed, it presses against the threshold to keep weather out. It's much easier to install, but is a lot more obtrusive than the under-door style.

Dear Ken: I have a walkout basement doorway that is below ground level. There is a two-inch pipe that's supposed to drain the concrete stoop, but it has become clogged with dirt and leaves. How can I clean it out?

– Chris It depends where it goes. It used to be quite common to simply run this drain into a barrel filled with rocks set underneath the concrete. If that's the case, you'll need to extract the debris from the top. Use your shop vacuum and a long screwdriver to first dislodge the martial and then to suck it out of the hole. You'll probably find that the dirt plug is pretty shallow. On the other hand, if the drain pipe actually goes somewhere — like down the hill to daylight — use your garden hose fitted with an expandable, rubber drain-cleaning collar to blast it free.

Ken Moon is a home inspector in the Pikes Peak region. His radio show airs at 9 a.m. Saturday and is carried on KRDO, AM 1240 and FM 105.5.

Visit AroundTheHouse.com.

FINISHING TOUCH TO YOUR

HOLIDAY DÉCOR FRIDAY, NOV. 25 THROUGH SUNDAY, NOV. 27 OPEN HOUSE THANKSGIVING WEEKEND Fresh-cut Christmas trees, up to 18’, from our Colorado Mountains, will be available for purchase. Will stay fresh for a very long time! Also available will be fresh-cut, farm-grown Christmas trees, in addition to fresh wreaths, garland and centerpieces made by Harding Nursery. Candy, cider and cookies will be served!

We will also have our miniature horses in the yard for the kids to see on Friday, Nov. 25 & Saturday, Nov. 26 from 10am-2pm.

FREE Ornament with every Christmas tree purchase.

Your choice, up to $7.99 PHOTOS WITH SANTA

by Snowshoe Studios on Friday, Nov. 25 & Saturday, Nov. 26 from 10am-3pm, $15.00 & UP. Visit Santa's Winter Wonderland & have photos taken with your child or pet!

••• FRIDAY, NOV. 25 THROUGH SATURDAY, DEC. 24 Our trees, wreaths & garland will also be available for purchase at the Broadmoor Christmas House, 6 Lake Avenue.

$5.00 OFF

YOUR HARDING NURSERY CHRISTMAS TREE PURCHASE Offer Valid Nov. 25 - Nov. 27, 2016.

Limit 1 coupon per tree. Limit of 5 trees.

Harding Nursery Family Owned Since 1957

721 N. Powers Boulevard • 719.596.5712

www.hardingnursery.com • Mon thru Sat: 8am to 5pm • Sunday: 9am to 5pm

SATURDAY, NOV 12, 2016 I THE GAZETTE I HG 5

denniS The menaCe

The Family CirCuS

by hank ketcham

Sherman’S lagoon

PiCkleS

by Brian Crane

mr BoFFo

by Joe martin

by J. P. Toomey

by Bil keane

rhymeS wiTh orange by hilary Price

marmaduke

by Brad and Paul anderson

Baldo

HG 6 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, NOV 12, 2016

by hector Cantu and Carlos Castellanos

Blondie

by dean young and John marshall

muTTS

by Patrick mcdonnell

Funky winkerBean

luann

by greg evans

PeanuTS

by Charles Schulz

by Tom Batiuk

SATURDAY, NOV 12, 2016 I THE GAZETTE I HG 7

loS angeleS TimeS CroSSword

non SequiTur

by wiley

edited by rich norris and Joyce lewis

lola

by Todd Clark

BeeTle Bailey across 1 Where member golfers gather, familiarly 8 Tybalt’s house 15 French roll 16 Cognizant of 17 Like some wake-up hours 18 Wine product 19 Biases 20 Corp. fundraiser 22 Greeted at the door 23 Dollywood locale: Abbr.

24 __ door 26 Broadway seductress 27 “__ tu”: Verdi aria 28 Oater accessory 30 Like half a deck 31 French appetizer 33 Hall of Fame knuckleballer Phil 35 “Got a minute?”

37 Ponderosa order 40 Performer who must be from 5’6” to 5’101/2” tall 44 No power can change it 45 Calder sculpture 47 Burgundy on screen 48 Cookware portmanteau 50 Took 51 Paris green?

52 Wyandot people 54 Tournament pass 55 Axle in a wooden toy 56 One of two nuclides with the same neutron number but different proton numbers 58 Contest name coined by its eventual winner 60 London-based news agency 61 Goes underground 62 Elaine’s home, in Arthurian legend 63 Me time?

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 21 24 25 28 29 32 34 36 37 38 39 41 42 43 46 49 51 53 55 57 59

Some arena displays, briefly O’Hare initials eBay option Frolic “Aladdin” prince Strike victims? __ layer: eye part Old-fashioned investigation Noncash business Phenomenon measured by the Enhanced Fujita Scale Prime example Small seals Handcuff Printer inserts “The Book of Hours” poet Top performer Squeeze (out) Grooming process Estate planner’s advice Imbues Back up Net user Baroque composer Giuseppe __ Embrace Ideally Numbers game Essential thing Winter air 1962 title villain played

by Joseph Wiseman FDR program Embrace

by mort, greg, and Brian walker

hagar The horriBle

moTher gooSe

by mike Peters

Friday’s Puzzle Solved

down 1 Board member 2 Geese 3 Concerned with good breeding 4 One who’s not serious HG 8 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, NOV 12, 2016

Tundra

by Chris Browne

by Chad Carpenter

Bizarro

by dan Piraro

argyle SweaTer

by Scott hilburn

CeleBriTy CiPher by luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

B.C.

by hart

ziTS

by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

JumP STarT

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by robb armstrong

by Jef mallett

SATURDAY, NOV 12, 2016 I THE GAZETTE I HG 9

dilBerT

by Scott adams

Sally ForTh

by Francesco marciuliano and Jim keefe

BaBy BlueS

by Jerry Scott and rick kirkman

PearlS BeFore Swine by Stephan Pastis

PooCh CaFe

HG 10 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, NOV 12, 2016

by Paul gilligan

TAKE OUR ADVICE ADVICE

Dear Amy: My husband of 29 years has been working as a contractor for the last nine years. His last stable position was in 2007.

He finished two graduate degrees in the next couple of years, but that was when the economy had AMY a downturn, and he never could DICKINSON find a job that would pay him adequately for what his degrees gave him the expertise to do.

He’s very diligent about applying and interviewing. When he does work, he makes two to three times what I make, but only once in the last nine years has he worked all 12 months of the year.

When he’s not working he does all of the housework. He cooks. He’s a wonderful husband and father. I’m just so resentful that he has four to six months off a year.

When we were talking the other night I told him that I’m always waiting for the other shoe to drop. He said that I was being nasty and that I say mean, horrible things to him all the time. I don’t think I do. He always does his best and I’ve been supportive and very logical, but his income isn’t steady. What to do? — Tired and Anxious Dear Tired: You say that your husband “always does his best,” and yet you obviously don’t think this is his best, because you also say you resent him for having “four to six months off each year.”

But — if your husband pulls in two or three times what you make when he’s working, and does all the housework and cooking when he isn’t working, then it seems that he really is pulling down an equal income and does more housework, cooking and parenting than you do.

You seem to think that what you “signed up for” is a husband who should work harder outside the home than you do, and who should make more than you. You are the primary and steady breadwinner in your household. This might not be what you signed up for, but you should be proud of your own role, and perhaps more aware of how you cast your husband’s relative success. You both sound responsible and successful. I hope you can find a way to give yourselves — and each other — a break.

—

Send questions to askamy@tribune.com or to Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.

ADVICE

DR. OZ AND DR. ROIZEN

Question: Everyone I know is doing some kind of yoga. I want to try it. Everyone says it’s super healthy, but isn’t it more of a cult? — Katie F., Oak Park, Ill.

Answer: Regardless of whatever spiritual foundation yoga had when it was developed 5,000 years ago, it’s become a very accepted type of exercise. Around 36 million Americans do some form of the practice, while spending around $16 billion on classes and equipment annually.

There are all types of yoga, from Vinyasa (unifying movement and breathing), Iyengar (intense prolonged holding of poses), Bikram (26 poses in a room that’s 105 F and 40 percent humidity), Kundalini (uses kriyas — repetitive body motion and intense breathwork — while chanting and meditating), Yin yoga (stretching and unwinding very slowly) to chair yoga. But no matter how it is marketed, be it nonreligious exercise or spiritual endeavor, the benefits that come from yoga are significant.

Clearly, yoga promotes flexibility, and there’s no right or wrong way to do it. To start, look for classes that do slow poses. Then, as you get into it, you’ll become more flexible and more able to achieve the full physical benefits. You’ll also discover that it improves your outlook.

Studies show that yoga relieves your stress responses (the yogic breathing technique helps do that; instructions at sharecare.com, search for “belly breathe”); eases depression and anxiety; and aids weight loss. As you do it, you will come to feel that mind and body are two parts of a unified whole: YOU. When you treat your body right (ditching the Five Food Felons and being physically active) your mind responds positively, and when you help your mind become calm and clear, your body feels better too!

—

Mehmet Oz, M.D., is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer and chair of the Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. Email your health and wellness questions to youdocsdaily@sharecare.com.

ADVICE

Dear readers: Water conservation is important all year long, especially in many parts of the country, such as Texas and California.

Here are some hints to save water around the house and on HINTS your water bill: FROM • Take shorter showers. This is HELOISE a biggie!

• Brushing your teeth? Turn the water off during it.

• Toilets and pipes must be leak-free.

• Don’t run the water over dishes. Fill the sink instead.

• Limit small loads of laundry and dishes — wash only when the machine is full.

Small changes in your daily habits can add up to big savings. Take note of your water bill now, and look at it again in a few months. — Heloise Dear Heloise: To have a profitable garage sale: • Make clear and readable signs in large letters.

• Arrange your things artfully and in clusters of like items, so people will be inspired!

• This is the time to get rid of items you no longer want, so price them to sell. Mark as many items as possible for a dollar or less, because it all adds up.

• Schedule the sale around the first of the month. This is a time when many people get paid and have extra cash on hand.

The point of the sale is to get rid of clutter; making money is a bonus. — Tag Sale Queen, via email Yep, you are right! Mark the items so they will sell! — Heloise Dear readers: Do you pay attention to the “sell-by” date on boxes of dry goods on the grocery-store shelves? You should, but know what you are looking at.

The sell-by date is the date by which the grocer needs to pull the item off the shelf. If you find an item that has not been pulled, notify store personnel.

The item is not spoiled; it is just not at its peak for freshness and appearance. — Heloise —

Send hints via email to heloise@heloise.com or via post to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000.

TODAY’S HOROSCOPES BY JERALDINE SAUNDERS ARIES (March 21-April 19) Turn over a new leaf. You will receive plenty of attention and support for inner changes. Resolve to spend more time reading or listening to others.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) You radiate an inner confidence that attracts fascinating new companions. Confidentiality is a valuable commodity and people may trust you to keep your eyes open and mouth closed.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Focus on ways to make useful changes or improvements. One simple way to change is to get out of your rut and explore new people and places.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Be original without being outlandish. Someone will appreciate your tendency to be straightforward and trustworthy. This is a good time to make a minor change.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) You are ready to tackle just about anything. Your exuberance may be touched off by an accidental meeting or by making a new contact.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Don’t shy away from a promise. A straightforward approach will work wonders. Don’t be afraid to make commitments since you have the ability to make things happen as planned.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) The surprise in view is good for you. You may enjoy spending a few dollars on something that is both fun and slightly frivolous.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Your heart yearns for true love and commitment, but you may be attracted to living life in the fast lane as well. Whatever path you choose will gain attention and approval.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Start with a clean slate. You may wish to reconsider how you spend your free time or scrap a creative project in order to begin fresh.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Tap into the universal wisdom and find the right path. You can enjoy being different without going to extremes. You may be mesmerized by someone’s mysterious allure.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Your critical powers are accentuated. It is easy to see what must be done and find a solution to a problem.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) People may see you through rose-colored glasses.

The people you hook up with this weekend will overlook your flaws and will tend to bring out the best in you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Nov. 12 Use your abundant energy and enthusiasm wisely in the upcoming four to six weeks.

You can exercise or excel at competitive activities. Between the beginning of December and end of January, remain as ethical and responsible as possible.

Your tiniest mistakes might be pointed out. Start nothing of significance and wait patiently for this downward trend to end.

By February you will be able to demonstrate that you can be an astute business person.

SATURDAY, NOV 12, 2016 I THE GAZETTE I HG 11

5-year-old murder case pegged to 10 dead sex workers found on Gilgo Beach, Long Island. 7 p.m., A&E.

GOREN BRIDGE

weekly bridge quiz

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

q 1 - Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:

EVENTS

Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival — 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Colorado College Cornerstone Arts Center, 825 S. Cascade Ave. Go online for ticket prices. Advance tickets: tinyurl.com/zpnp4sw.

“PrePress” — Ormao Dance Co., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., former Gazette building, 30 S. Prospect St., $10, free for students; 255-5134.

CC Tigers Hockey vs. St. Cloud State — 7:07 p.m., Broadmoor World Arena, 3185 Venetucci Blvd., go online for ticket prices: cctigers.com.

“The Great” — Colorado Springs Philharmonic, 7:30 p.m., Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave., $21 and up; pikespeakcenter. com.

Colorado Floyd - A Pink Floyd Jam — 8 p.m., Stargazers Theatre and Event Center, 10 S. Parkside Drive, free; 476-2200, stargazerstheatre.com.

ON TV True crime stories continue to be all the rage. Now comes “The Killing Season,” a gritty documentary series that follows investigators as they attempt to solve a

WITH BOB JONES ©2016 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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BIRTHDAYS

q 3 - East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold:

Playwright-actor Wallace Shawn (“The Princess Bride”) is 73. Singer Brian Hyland is 73. Keyboardist Booker T. Jones of Booker T. and the MG’s is 72. Singer Neil Young is 71. Actress Megan Mullally is 58. Actress Rebecca Wisocky (“Devious Maids”) is 45.

Singer Tevin Campbell is 40. Actress Ashley Williams (“Huff,” ‘’Good Morning, Miami”) is 38. Actress Cote de Pablo (“NCIS”) is 37. Actor Ryan Gosling is 36. Actress Anne Hathaway is 34. Singer Omarion (B2K) is 32.

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Look for answers on Monday.

(Bob Jones welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001.

E-mail responses may be sent to tcaeditors@tribune.com.)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

OPTIMIZING YOUR HOME OFFICE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

easier on the eyes than outdated cathode ray tube (CRT), so it is important to update to LCD, which has less glare and little to no flickering. Make sure to adjust your screen brightness throughout the day to match your surroundings, and adjust text size, contrast and color temperature to levels that are comfortable for the eye.

THE CHAIR

Where you sit all day long has a huge impact on your daily posture and long term back health. An ideal chair is a worthy investment for anyone working from a home office. Some top chairs for 2016 in terms of comfort and ergonomic features are Herman Miller Embody Office Chair, Aeron Chair by Herman Miller and Raynor Ergohuman. Once in your chair, your hips should be as far back as they can go in the chair, the seat should be adjusted so that feet are flat on the floor, and knees should be equal to or slightly lower than your hips. Posture should be straight.

If you would prefer to not use a chair, there are still options. One option is a ball chair, which can improve stability and

balance by strengthening the abdominal muscles. A stronger core can result in a stronger lower back and better posture.

You can also set up a standing desk or even a treadmill desk for less sittingrelated discomfort and more circulation.

ORGANIZATION IS KEY

It’s easy to become disorganized at a home office if you don’t set yourself up with organizational tools. Anything that is helpful at the office will be just as helpful at home. A scanner allows you to store data electronically rather than having papers build up on the desk. Also, labels, colored folders and a filing cabinet can keep your projects safe and in order. Bulletin boards, chalk boards, calendars, desk organizers, shelves, paper clips and the like should continue to be utilized. Make sure your desk is large enough to handle your daily necessities; many prefer a long narrow desk to a short clunky desk, which tend to become more cluttered.

Once you have these details down, you can decorate in whatever way keeps you joyful and inspired throughout the day.

HG 12 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, NOV 12, 2016

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ONC E YOU H AV E T HE SE DE TA IL S DOW N, YOU C A N DEC OR AT E IN W H AT E V E R WAY K E E P S YOU JOY F U L A ND INSPIRE D T HROUG HOU T T HE DAY.