The CPSC has teamed up with the Justice Department to enforce the legal sale and distribution of fireworks. Last month, a federal judge sentenced Jon Cea and Vincent Cea to 24 months and 36 months in federal prison, after they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing in explosive materials, involving the illegal sale of more than 1,000 pounds of explosives. The defendants and their customers were not licensed, yet they purchased and sold professional display fireworks.

While the federal and state government remain committed to stopping the manufacture and sale of illegal fireworks, the CPSC has issued a press release encouraging consumers who decide to purchase legal fireworks to:

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.

• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.

• Avoid buying fireworks that come in brown paper packaging, as this can often be a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and could pose a danger to consumers.

• Adults should always supervise fireworks activities. Parents often don’t realize that there are many injuries from sparklers to children under five. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals.

• Never have any portion of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Move back a safe distance immediately after lighting.

• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not fully functioned.

• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.

• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.

• Light one item at a time, then move back quickly.

• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.

• After fireworks fully complete their functioning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding to prevent a trash fire.

Of course, the safest way to celebrate the festivities is by going to your local fireworks display. If you live in Los Angeles county follow the link below to find out where and when they are showing.

Sited Articles:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission | Press Release
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission | Press Release [video]

Helpful Links:
Fireworks Shows in LA County [schedule]
Safe July 4th

So if you want your kid to get a jump on next year’s testing or needs to play catch-up, check out his tests, he covers all the bases. At the end of each section he offers summer reading for that grade level, as well as other helpful sites with quizzes and tips.

He  frequently adds new activities, so check back often. Please check the keyboarding section- it’s new!

Henry Anker’s Tests

1.) Shave and a haircut- get him a gift certificate to his favorite barbershop or coiffeur. To make it extra special, get him the Works complete with a barber shave- find a place that gives the old-school hot towel & straight blade service, there’s nothing better.

Here in LA, there is Denver-based Floyd’s Barbershop is a solid option. The shop is wrapped in Rock n’ roll posters, the haircuts are straight-forward and the shaves & 30 second shoulder massages are memorable.

2.) Rejuvenate- maybe dad will appreciate a good massage or yoga class. The key is to find a place that comes close to fitting his sensibility, the key is to give him an experience he will be open too. Not every dad will appreciate being thrown into a two-hour yoga class, if so- it is a wonderful way for him to re-boot.

Locally, my preference is Burke Williams Spa for massage in Santa Monica, or Exhale in Venice for yoga.

3.) Give him the Gift of Food- Maybe the guy appreciates a good BBQ, most do. Introduce him to different type of BBQ. Get him a gift certificate to a Korean BBQ restaurant, Southern BBQ or Brazilian BBQ.

4.) A Night Out- Maybe he likes bowling, or likes to shoot pool or maybe catch the game on the big screen. Package a night out with a (handmade) coupons to the local bowling lanes, that auto show coming to town or find the place with the best pool tables in town and pre-pay a night out for him. The idea is to treat him to a night he may not normally indulge in.

5.) Booty Bucks- Wives can take advantage of my article from last year and download printable ‘Booty Bucks’. They only come in denominations of ’10′ so you will have to be creative when giving change.

Related Articles;
Unique Father’s Day gift ideas from a Dad
Free money for Father’s Day

For those fortunate enough not to be privy to advancements in the food stamps program, the paper coupons were replaced with plastic EBT shopping cards in 2004. They look like bank cards and can be used on the same swippers at the checkout.

My wife called them to ask them whether they accepted EBT (food stamp) cards and the Customer Service Rep explained to her that the company was not in the position to re-program all the machines to accept the (EBT) cards. I realize we are living in tough times and companies need to watch their bottom dollar and some could argue that your food stamp dollars could go much further at other stores, but there is no logical reason for a major Grocer not to accept food stamps. It is not only compassionate, but it’s good for their bottom line.

Previous reports show that Eric N. Gioia, a city councilman from Queens has given Costco a run for their money back in November with a full-on campaign to push the Fortune-500 company to accept food stamps. In a recent report out of Pittsburgh, co-founder Jim Sinegal stated they generally don’t have customers with food stamps. With more and more upper and middle class families finding themselves cutting back or out-of-work, it is a question of time before that theory is debunked and their membership starts waning.

In February of this year, Sam’s Club changed its policy and started accepting EBT cards. The question remains, whether this company that touts a socially aware reputation will bend its own rules and help out their members before they loose them.

Regardless of whether you are an individual or an entire family in need, you need to find out the facts, the facts about what resources and services are available to you. If an individual or family is currently earning less than 130% of the Federal poverty level [FPL] and their current household assets are below $2,000 you may be eligible for California Food Stamps Benefits and possibly additional benefits under the CALworks program.

Food stamp households, except those containing an aged or disabled member or where all members receive cash assistance, are subject to gross and net income determination tests. Gross Income – all non-excludable income from any source including all earned income and all unearned income. The maximum gross allowed is 130% of the Federal poverty level (FPL) or 165% of the FPL if the household has an elderly or disabled person who qualifies to be a separate household. If the household passes the gross income test, then the net income test is computed. Net income is computed by deducting the following, if applicable, from gross income. The resultant amount cannot exceed 100% of the FPL.” ~ California Department of Social Services, Eligibility and Issuance for Food Stamp Benefits

I don’t care what your place is in society, many people eligible for benefits may not step forward, whether it be embarrassment, pride, fear, whatever. Remember, this is a service sponsored by our government with taxpayer money, your money. It is there to help people when they need it.

For those of us with little or no resources currently, it is essential to know your options. If your wife, friend or loved one is pregnant or has just given birth, or has a child under the age of 5 in the State of California, they and their children are eligible for WIC Program [Women, Infants & Children] benefits. In California, the WIC Program supplies predetermined vouchers monthly for each eligible member of the family. Vouchers provide healthy supplemental foods from WIC-authorized vendors, nutrition education, and help finding health care and other community services.

Additionally, there is a WIC Farmers Market Nutritional Program that offers vouchers for fresh fruits and vegetables from participating vendors at local Farmers markets. My understanding is this portion of the WIC program is supplemental and available on a first come, first serve basis.

Sited & Related Links:
California State Department of Social Services | Food Stamps Program
CALworks Program
California Women, Children & Infants [WIC] Program
WIC Farmers Market Nutrition,al Program
meta-DAD | WIC Benefits for unemployed families

When will the state income tax refunds be mailed out? Who will benefit and who will be laid off? And of course, how will the school systems fair in all of this? So many questions. How will the national Stimulus Plan offset some of these state cuts? I hope to share with you as these details come online.

The financial package includes tax hikes, spending cuts and borrowing billions of dollars more. How will the tax increases affect the average Californian family? Here is the at-a-glance breakdown;

• The are four types of tax increases in the current package; personal income tax, vehicle license fee increase, dependent tax credit and a sales tax increase. Recent legislative analysis of these four tax increases, an average family of four with an annual income of $75,000 would pay $963 more a year in taxes. That’s quite a punch in the gut, to say the least.
• May 19th, 2009 is an important date, mark your calendars. There will be a vote to move $226 million from mental health programs and $608 million from programs aimed at children younger than 5 years old.
• The state ultimately will resume paying all its bills, including tax refunds. But doing so could take weeks, so the exact date when California income tax refunds will start being mailed has not been announced. Mr. Chiang (State Controller), we are waiting with baited breath for your word.

Sited & Related Links:
Los Angeles Times | California Budget Plan; Key Elements
Los Angeles Times | The California Budget: A timeline for the events to come
meta-DAD | California state delays income tax refunds