Beech Tree News Network

While staying in during this cold January weather, I’ve had time to learn a few things. Some of them are mentioned below.

    First, having never studied meteorology, I was unfamiliar with a polar vortex. I’ve learned that it is the counter-clockwise circulation of air around the Polar Regions.  It's surrounded by the global-scale “jet stream” of air flowing over the northern latitudes. “The vortex is strongest in winter when the pole-to-equator temperature gradient is strongest. In the Northern Hemisphere, the vortex has two centers in the mean, one near Baffin Island and the other over northeast Siberia" (http://www.whas11.com/outbound-feeds/yahoo-news/What-is-the-Polar-Vortex...). Apparently, the vortex is not a new occurrence, only a new term for me.

    Second, Target and some other retailers in the U.S. recently experienced a security breach. That attack “affected 40 million credit and debit card accounts and led to the theft of personal information, including email addresses and names, of as many as 70 million customers” (http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/money/2014/01/17/growing-breach-target-...). Last week I received a message from Target informing me that my personal information (name, mailing address, phone number, email address) may have been compromised. The message warned me to “guard against possible scams.” Usually, I delete questionable email messages or hang up the telephone, but The Modern Woodmen Winter 2014 magazine (page 17) suggested ways to report scam attempts: (1) to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, go to ftc.gov or call 877-FTC-HELP; (2) forward email scams to [email protected]; and (3) to report internet crime, go to www.ic3.gov. Reporting possible scams would probably be a better choice.

Third, the Fiscal Times predicted some likely price increases for 2014 (http://www.local10.com/news/money/8-things-that-will-cost-more-in-2014/-...). Some of the predicted price increases were in the areas of food, housing and loans. Unfortunately, almost everyone would be affected by price increases in those areas.

    Finally, as a grandparent, I want my grandchildren to have happy memories of being in my home. Last week, my two youngest granddaughters (ages 5 and 7) had a sleepover at my house followed by a lazy morning. I’ve learned that, for them, fun times require very little: a few toys and games, multiple snacks, and a movie or two. For this, I am grateful.

    Winter is a good time to watch the news and read. Ray LeBlond said, “You learn something every day if you pay attention” (http://www.quotegarden.com/learning.html). And, this month, since I’m staying in, I might as well pay attention.