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MLK Corps VISTA Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 9: August 1, 2002

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cheap
tricks

by D.H. Cass Magnuski
Last chance, on my watch, to garner ideas for voluntary simplicity. Here's your final serving of cheap tricks. Eat it slowly, as my mother used to say, because that's all you're getting.

  1. Dione sez that ants will not cross a chalk line or a picket line. If you have an ant problem, make a chalk line across their point of entry, and they'll shuffle off in a snit.
  2. Go to matinees.
  3. Comparison shop at Bottom Dollar. Get the best prices and sources for computers, books, music, electronics, etc.
  4. Try freezing grapes. They make really refreshing snacks on a hot, muggy day. They make groovy ice cubes, and won't dilute your drink. Try them in lemonade.
  5. Virtual greeting cards. Free! Spira Solaris
  6. Remove a decal or bumper-sticker by first softening the adhesive with a blow-dryer. Use a medium heat setting for a few seconds until the adhesive softens and the annoying sticker starts to peel. Continue with the heat until the entire sticker peels off easily.
  7. One easy way to save money is to put a brick or two in the toilet tank. With that much less water with each flush, the savings can add up. It`s an old trick, but still one that can generate a 100% one-year return on investment. Putting a small amount of bleach in the tank with the first flush can help sterilize the brick, and break up any biofilm in the toilet besides.
  8. Never buy a completely new car. You can save thousands of dollars buying a rental car that has only been used one year. Buy one with fewer than 5,000 miles on it. These cars usually have been well maintained and serviced. You can also buy them from dealerships. Also, plan your buying for the end of the year, when the new models are in. Your car will be considered a year older, and priced less.
  9. Shower curtains: Don't throw them out when mildew starts to grow. Stick them in the washing machine with 1/2 cup soap and 1/2 cup baking powder. Add 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.
  10. Here is an inexpensive way to clean the inside of your oven. Put a few cups of ammonia in an old dish on the bottom shelf of your oven. Let it sit overnight. In the morning, take it out and you should be able to wipe your oven clean. Remember to be careful of the toxic fumes that can come from ammonia. And, kiddies, never mix it with bleach.
  11. If you are buying a used vehicle, have a mechanic check it out. Don't forget to run the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) through an online database to discover the history of the car.
  12. Planning a hotel stay? Don't call the hotel's national 800 number for reservations. It is always cheaper to call the hotel directly. It's usually another 800 number, anyway. Ask for seasonal discounts, discounts for booking ahead. Ask about any discounts you've forgotten to request.
  13. Miscellaneous calculators. Determine the total interest paid on a credit card or the impact of increased payments. Amortize a mortgage or plan your 401K. Here you will find hundreds of free calculators to assist in financial planning, the evaluation of your expenses or just for fun!
  14. Really cool housing and renting info pages. Find stuff like HUD repos, legal information, negotiations, etc.
  15. Free recipes.
  16. Do not fear the Internet. Thereon, I landed my last four jobs, do my taxes, got a scholarship, earned a degree, and published Breadlines.


Newsletter
Committee

MARY CARPIO
writer
D.H. CASS MAGNUSKI
writer / webmaster / editor
ADAM MUELLER
copy editor
MARGERY MUENCH

hit the road, jack

What does the future hold? Here's a list of plans and contact information for the MLK Corps.

Annie Farmer will be moving to Iowa City. She can be reached at farmoose@hotmail.com.

Anna Thysell is also going to Iowa City to live with a bunch of sissy/serious poets and Annie Farmer, and a massage therapy student. Her email address is annathysell@yahoo.com.

Federico Borroel, aka Fred, has been accepted for grad school. Reach him here: federico_borroel@yahoo.com.

James Murphy will be hanging out, according to our sources. We don't know what this means, but here's his email address: dinomcmurphy@hotmail.com.

Adam Mueller is on his way to law school at Indiana University in Bloomington. We know this because he wrote, "law skizzy in the Izzy" in response to our inquiry. We're psychic. Gotta be. Find him here: adamm@nhwa.org.

Cass Magnuski has acquired a business license and will be consulting on community technology projects with the City of Seattle's Department of Information Technology. She'll be writing and webmastering. Her email address is magnus@drizzle.com.

Mary Carpio is going back to school in Tacoma to get her teaching certificate. Find her here: marylcarpio@yahoo.com.

Kendra Williams hopes to work in Seattle at an NPO. She's at kendrawilde@yahoo.com.

Deborah Lambert has landed the position of FPA's new VISTA leader. She can be reached at dr98226@yahoo.com.

Leticia Wessel will be going to law school in Minnesota. Her email: lawessel1979@hotmail.com.

Jonathan Stansell expects to travel, work crappy jobs, and travel. Reach him at jonathanstansell@hotmail.com.

Trissa Barney will be doing "mommy stuff" with that cool new baby of hers. Reach her at trissa@boxbar.net.

Kathryn Pursch's future plans are to "find a job, hopefully." If you know of one, contact her here: kathrynpursch@yahoo.com.

Brook Bretthauer will be going to grad school in Fort Collins. Her email address: brookbretthauer@aol.com.

Tisha Satow will be hanging out. Her email: tishasatow@yahoo.com.

Lily North will be doing another year in MLK Corps with Real Change. She may be reached thus: wagir1888@hotmail.com.

Glenn Puckett will remain in place at FPA. He's at glennp@fremontpublic.org.

Margery Muench has reupped for a second year with the City of Seattle. Her email address: memuench@hotmail.com.

Rachel McCluskey has "no plans she cares to share." Her email: rachelmccluskey@hotmail.com.

Karmin Mauritz "laughs uproariously. What, you mean we're actually supposed to have an idea about what we'll be doing next year? I don't know what I'll be doing next year. I will either be here or in Austin, TX. I don't have a job lined up yet, but I'm looking at staying in nonprofits and working with technology. If I'm still in the Seattle area, I will also be reachable at 206-550-7232 (cell)."

You may email Karm at karminmauritz@yahoo.com or mauritz@alumni.grinnell.edu. "The second address is merely a forwarding address, but it's one I'll have for the rest of my life, so people can always use that to contact me."

Kara Martin sez, "I'll be in Seattle at Boomtown Cafe." Catch up with her here: karaemartin@yahoo.com.

Jennifer Hill will be pursuing a masters degree in International Development Management at American University in Washington, Da City. Reach her here: jenelsa@metacrawler.com.

heads down!

There is no next copy deadline, folks. That's all she wrote. We've completely given up on trying to tell you what to do. You're on your own. We did enjoy being bossy, though, and we'll miss it.


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