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What’s an Autoharp and a Zither? Let’s Find Out!

For many years I’ve written about musical instruments from “A” to “Z” for ALIVE Magazine. In this issue the “A” is the Autoharp and the “Z” is the Zither; two instruments that many people have probably never heard about. We’ll start with the Z.

The Zither is among rare and lesser-known instruments used in other times and periods of music history. It comes from a long and storied history dating back to Biblical times.

The ancient ancestors of the zither were a group of instruments called psalteries. Hence, the earliest form of the zither was a psaltery. Historians and musicologists believe the psaltery originated in Persia and Assyria; later it spread to Europe with the Moorish invasion of Spain. The psaltery was a trapezoid or rectangular sound-box with strings that stretched across the box. Sound is produced by plucking the strings.

Today, the zither usually refers to a Bavarian or Austrian instrument like the earlier psaltery. There were many forms and styles of zithers but the one called the board zither is the most highly developed and, at least from a Western viewpoint, is the most important of all the different zithers.

The Bavarian or Austrian zither was primarily used as a folk instrument. It consists of a flat wooden sound-box, usually rectangular, with four to five melody strings (tuned to C, G, D, A). The steel melody strings are played with the right thumb. There are as many as 37 gut accompaniment strings that are stretched over the frets of the finger board. The left hand “stops” the strings that are needed for the chord by pressing them against the frets.

Circa, 1830, two schools where zithers were made, were in Mittenwald, Germany and in the Salzburg area of Austria. The zither was more indigenous to the alpine regions of the two countries until the later part of the 18^th century. During the 19^th century, the zither was made in its standard form. Three sizes of instruments were made for ensemble playing.

The instrument is placed across the knees with the long side next to the player. The zither was known as a folk instrument of central Europe.  Generations of people used the zither primarily as an accompaniment instrument.

The Autoharp is a closely related instrument to the zither. It was invented by C. A. Gutter, of Markneukirchen, Germany, in the late 19^th century. The construction of the autoharp is some-what like the zither.

It has a series if strings stretched across a sound board with a series of chord bars marked with the chord name. When depressed the bars dampen (stops) all the strings that are not in the chord. In other words, if one depresses the C major bar, only the strings in the C major chord are sounded – C, E, G – all other strings are silent because they are stopped by the bar. The autoharp is infinitely easier to play than the zither. The zither has no chord bars so the strings must be depressed by the fingers. Like the zither, one of the purposes of the autoharp is to accompany singers.

The principle advantage of the autoharp is that it allows a person with no musical ability, or very little knowledge of music, to play the instrument and accompany melodies.

Playing Position: Place the autoharp on your lap or on a table in front of you. The longest side should be near your body. The player depresses the chord bar with the left hand and strums with the right hand away from the body. The right hand that strums the strings is in a cross-over position.

When purchasing an autoharp, one must decide whether to buy a 12-chord-bar model or a 15-chord-bar model. If cost is not a factor – go for the 15-bar-model. It gives you three extra chord bars and is more versatile in terms of chord selection and number of key signatures it can play. A 12-chord model can play the keys of C, F, and G major; the 15-chord model can play these keys with the addition of keys Bb and D major. Minor keys of A, D, and G can be played on both models.

In modern times the autoharp is played by many more people than the zither. The zither requires the knowledge of chordal structure to depress the correct strings to sound the desired chord. The autoharp can be played by anyone that can read the name of the chord on the chord bar.

The autoharp out-sells the zither many times over. Probably one of the biggest customers for autoharps are schools, particularly elementary schools. Since the instruments can be played by amateurs, they are used in elementary school general music classes. Most classroom teachers are not music majors, so the instrument does not need a trained musician in order to play it. Autoharps make an ideal instrument for classroom use to accompany the children singing.

Also, the students can quickly learn to play the instrument.

Many teachers, not musically trained, think the autoharp is a God-send, as they can use it to enhance their music lessons in the classroom. I have personally observed classroom music lessons being taught by non-musician teachers using the autoharp. It is a wonderful addition that makes music lessons more fun for the students.

Using the autoharp to accompany singing is less stressful for the teacher who does not play piano or guitar. You don’t have to be an expert to play the autoharp – anyone can do it – try it, you’ll like it!

Mark your June calendar for “People, Places & Things” a joint concert with the Danville Community Band and the San Ramon Symphonic Band. Sunday, June 2 at 3:00 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.

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Name a strategy that household decision makers use to improve their lifestyles.  Survey says: “Financial Planning!”

Financial planning is a dynamic process comprised of six steps. Though your financial goals may evolve over the years due to shifts in your lifestyle or circumstances such as an inheritance, career change, marriage, house purchase, or a growing family, the financial planning process remains the same. As you consider how best to manage your financial future, it will help to understand the process. The make-up of a comprehensive financial plan includes six elements. By definition, the process is never-ending. Your financial plan, if established completely, will outlive you, not ending with your demise.

This month’s Investor’s Edge column kicks off a six-part series. Each part will hopefully help you gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the financial planning process.  From what I learned in my studies with the College for Financial Planning in 1989 and 1990 to become a CFP®, here are the six subject areas of the process: 

• Financial statement preparation and analysis
• Insurance planning and risk management
• Investment planning
• Income tax planning
• Retirement planning
• Estate planning

Step one is: “Financial statement preparation and analysis.” For the next five months, I will share the other steps to comprehensive financial planning. One of my favorite quotes on financial planning is: “Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.”  Alan Lakein said that in his classic book, How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life.

Planning helps people build savings for life goals, makes them comfortable with their lifestyle and more confident in managing their money, and better prepared to face the future. It doesn’t necessarily take a lot of money to garner these benefits, and both high- and low-income individuals, or net worth, find that the homework involved in financial planning is worth the effort and leaves them better off financially.  The process of financial planning begins with step one, “Financial statement preparation and analysis.”  Author and educator Stephen Covey said two things, among many others, that we can apply to this process: “Start with the end in mind,”and, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”  My favorite book of Mr. Covey’s is, First Things First.  Here’s the first thing to the financial planning process:

Step 1: Financial statement preparation and analysis.

This step includes cash flow analysis/planning and budgeting. Many may recall from basic accounting how to determine “Net Worth.” Simply subtracting total liabilities from total assets. Hopefully, the result is “in the black,” or a positive number. This would be an amount that your assets exceed your liabilities. In summary, your net worth is the difference between what you own and what you owe. This provides a snapshot of your financial situation at any point in time. With this, you have your personal balance sheet. As the CEO, Compliance Chief and head of Internal Audit of YOU, Inc., that is one financial statement you should insist on regularly reviewing.

There are many reasons why knowing your net worth is important and beneficial. A few essential benefits are this awareness will help you to spend wisely, help develop a plan to pay down debt, and encourage you to save and invest more. Regardless of your financial situation, knowing your net worth can help you evaluate your current financial health and plan for your financial future. You will be closer to living by the wisdom of Messrs. Lakein and Covey. By knowing where you stand financially, you will be more mindful of your financial activities, better prepared to make sound financial decisions and more likely to achieve your short-term and long-term financial goals. We all have financial parameters and constraints unique to us. An honest assessment of your asset and debt picture is necessary to identifying your constraints and avoid unwanted financial pitfalls. 

An effective financial plan should be regularly updated to reflect any changes that will affect your financial life to keep you on track to achieving your goals.

I hope you enjoyed part one. Look for part two in the June issue of ALIVE Magazine.

Q. Dandelions have invaded my lawn and are taking it over. I’ve tried pulling them up by the roots, but they only come back. The spray-on Dandelion Killer just wilted them a little bit. What do I do next?                                                                                                                                    

A. You can successfully rid a grass lawn of Dandelions with a little patience. There are both organic and non-organic control methods. So, let us start with the organic methods. Mowing the turf weekly to prevent the puffy seed heads from forming or dousing the plants with boiling water are two suggested. However, manually digging them out is by far the most widely-used method. You do not solve the problem by yanking them up or cutting off the top growth. To be successful, you must remove the long taproot entirely; otherwise, they do return. Many garden centers have a “Weeder” that is ideal for removing Dandelions. The tool looks like a long screwdriver with a ‘V’ shape end that resembles a whale’s tale. Depending on how extensive the problem is, hand weeding can be a tedious task. Applying a selective herbicide for broadleaf weeds is an effective non-organic answer. With grass, Weed and Feed turf products and liquid herbicides are the primary solutions, but please read the instructions. All too often, applicator error is primarily the reason for poor results. The granular products are best applied with a drop-type spreader and not a hand-held one. Also, it’s critical when and when not to water. Usually, you moistened the grass first, and then you withhold water for a day or two but read the label for the specific product instructions. There are many brands of liquid herbicides available that kill Dandelions and other broadleaf weeds. You’ll find premixed solutions or concentrates that must be mixed up before applying. Bayer Season Long Weed Control for Lawns is one of the newest herbicides for turf. It’s unique in that it kills the existing Dandelions and then it prevents the dormant seed from germinating for six months. This is assuming you’re not going to be reseeding the lawn anytime soon.  The nursery professional at your favorite garden center is an excellent resource to review your options and make a recommendation.  With herbicides, you always want to make sure you got the right product to avoid a costly mistake.

Q. My peach tree had Peach Leaf Curl. I’ve picked off all the curled leaves, and the new leaves seem to be okay. I’ve read about treating them with a copper-based fungicide. Is this effective, will I have to do it every year or is there a better solution? Also, is it true that the peaches infected from Peach Leaf Curl, can’t be eaten?                                                          

A. Peach Leaf Curl is a fungal disease that attacks only peach and nectarines trees. Curly leaves on apples, plums and or cherry trees, is a different problem. The Peach Leaf Curl fungus causes the meristematic cells of a leaf to pucker, curl and to be light green and yellow to shades of red and purple in color. The powdery white appearance is the result of the spores breaking through the leaf surface. Eventually, the leaves turn brown and fall off with the remaining spores over-wintering on the tree. A liquid copper fungicide is the recommended solution. It is applied annually in November after fifty percent of the leaves have fallen off with a follow-up application in February when the buds begin to swell and show color. This is called the pink bud or popcorn stage. During the blooming cycle, Peach Leaf Curl is problematical with rainy conditions, as the spores wash into the opening buds infecting the emerging leaves. Ideally, you like it to be dry. With an extended rainy season into May, it isn’t uncommon for multiple sets of leaves to be infected. Peach Leaf Curl affects only the leaves and not the maturing fruit. So, the peaches are perfectly okay to be eaten. The fruit may develop brown blotches from the lack of leaves during an early season heat spell. Typically, the leaves protect the maturing fruit from sunburn. Peach Leaf Curl is one of those frustrating problem a backyard orchard faces. With all the proper applications, Mother Nature can still cause problems, so don’t throw in the towel. The flavor of homegrown peaches and nectarines are far better than what’s available at your favorite supermarket.    

Q. Can I apply a systemic insecticide plus fertilizer to my roses along with Epsom Salt?

A. There are no issues in simultaneously applying a systemic insecticide plus fertilizer and Epson Salt. The fertilizer provides the basic elements necessary for plant growth, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium while Epson Salts supplies magnesium. With roses, Epson Salt is applied twice a year, spring and fall to encourage the basal growth along with enriching the foliage color. It is spread evenly over the dip line.  It’s a supplement to your normal fertilizer, not a substitute. Before applying any nutrients is sure, the plants are watered the day before and immediately afterward once the rainy season concludes. 

The current opioid epidemic ensued because opioids have been widely prescribed by physicians who were told that “pain” was the 5^th vital sign, in addition to temperature, pulse, blood pressure and respiratory rate, and was being undertreated. Chronic pain had been undertreated; however, physicians were lead to believe that opioids were the most effective choice to treat pain and had less addiction issues than previously thought. Obviously, this misinformation, largely promoted by the pharmaceutical industry for profit, has had a disastrous effect on our country.

The idea to use a medication with a low therapeutic index (ratio of therapeutic effect to harmful effect) for the general population; however, is not a new phenomenon. In the 18^th century morphine was considered a cure for multiple ailments and in the early 19^th century even methamphetamines, cocaine and tobacco were advocated by physicians for health benefits. Given this recurring theme, perhaps we should be more mindful of another indulgence that we posit as being low risk and a lifestyle enhancement more than the drug it really is.

Alcohol in moderation is touted as something beneficial and especially red wine has been deemed a “heart healthy” beverage.  The problem with alcohol; however, is determining how much is “moderate intake” and how much is “healthy”. Many of us tend to drink more than 3-5 per week if we’re women or 5-7 per week if we’re men, which are rather arbitrarily designated amount of “acceptable” alcohol use. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) says that heavy alcohol consumption is more than 15 per week for men and more than 7 per week for women and binge drinking is considered more than 5 drinks per session for men or 4 for women. It would not be reckless to say that in the Bay Area this consumption is more typical rather than the outlier number that indicates a potential alcoholism problem.

The real questions to consider regarding alcohol use are, “How does it affect your life? and “Why do you drink?” If the answer to either has negative connotations, a change of habit is a good course to take. Many experts believe that there is a grey zone and hazy continuum between acceptable use and an alcoholism disorder that may rapidly shift in the wrong direction depending on life circumstances. Alcohol affects the brain in some of the same ways as opioids: endorphin and dopamine release cause feelings of euphoria and activate the reward center of the brain which can predispose us to addiction. More consistent use over longer periods of time causes increased tolerance and the need for greater intake to get that same “buzz”, just like opioids. Excessive alcohol use isolates people and reduces motivation, productivity and ambition to do other things and adversely affects all of the organ systems.  The definition of addiction is the irrational use despite harm. It’s a good idea to intermittently take inventory of how alcohol use may be affecting our lives.

 Alcohol is the most acceptable recreational drug and I’m certainly not advocating for the return of prohibition. I once described the effect of it on me as analogous to a mini vacation. Although Shakespeare wasn’t talking about alcohol, when he wrote “Can one desire too much of a good thing?” the answer is still yes. A good friend of mine once said, “I enjoy wine so much that I don’t want to lose the privilege of being able to drink it.” She made the decision to conscientiously cut back on her drinking in order to avoid falling off of the proverbial cliff into alcoholism and forced abstinence. We should all follow her example and use other non-addictive activities to achieve the same feel good results. Endorphins are released with music, exercise, eating chocolate or hot peppers, having sex, pleasant social interactions, aroma therapy and acupuncture. The bottom line is that we’re all looking for ways to feel good and optimistic about our lives. The best way to achieve that is by changing our mindset away from using artificial aids such as pills or alcohol and towards engaging in more natural healthy social activities and interactions that allow us to participate with the world rather than avoid it.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is pressure on the median nerve—the nerve in the wrist that supplies feeling and movement to parts of the hand. It can lead to numbness, tingling, weakness, or muscle damage in the hand and fingers. The median nerve provides feeling and movement to the “thumb side” of the hand (the palm, thumb, index finger, middle finger, and thumb side of the ring finger). The area in your wrist where the nerve enters the hand is called the carpal tunnel. This tunnel is normally narrow, so any swelling can pinch the nerve and cause pain, numbness, tingling or weakness. This is called carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is common in people who perform repetitive motions of the hand and wrist. Typing on a computer keyboard and using a mouse are the most common causes of carpal tunnel. Other causes include driving, assembly line work, painting, writing, use of hand tools or tools that vibrate, sports such as racquetball or handball, or playing some musical instruments.

Medical conditions associated with carpal tunnel syndrome include chronic inflammatory conditions, bone fractures and arthritis of the wrist, diabetes, alcoholism, hypothyroidism, infections, obesity, menopause, PMS, and pregnancy.  

Symptoms include:

• Numbness or tingling in the thumb and next two or three fingers of one or both hands

• Numbness or tingling in the palm of the hand
• Pain extending from the elbow
• Pain in wrist or hand in one or both hands
• Problems with fine finger movements (coordination) in one or both hands
• Wasting away of the muscle under the thumb (in advanced or long-term cases)
• Weak grip or difficulty carrying bags or opening a jar (a common complaint)
• Weakness in one or both hands

Class IV Laser Therapy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Until recently the most common treatment for Carpal Tunnel has been the use of anti-inflammatories, physical therapy, wrist splinting and surgery. These treatments do not treat the cause but the symptoms only and are not always effective long-term.

Ending the symptoms caused by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome requires stopping the cycle of inflammation at its source. Class IV laser therapy is an excellent method for this, because it is presently the only modality that can reduce inflammation and heal tissue simultaneously. Laser treatments at Align Healing Center are done with the K-laser CUBE—a Class IV Laser. This laser does not cut or burn but is gently absorbed by the tissue. During laser therapy the infrared laser light interacts with tissues at the cellular level, increasing metabolic activity and improving the transport of nutrients across the cell membrane. This initiates the production of cellular energy (ATP) that leads to a cascade of beneficial effects, increasing cellular function and health. This therapy creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain.  As the injured area returns to normal, function and strength are restored and pain is relieved.

Relief is Possible!

At Align Healing Center we are having great success treating carpal tunnel, plantar fasciitis, sciatica, shoulder and neck pain, migraines, arthritis, tendonitis, post surgical pain, sports injuries and more; even if it’s long-term residual pain. Ar­thritis and degenerative disc disease sufferers can see long term benefits from this treatment without any of the negative side effects experienced with the long term use of medications.

Dr. Niele Maimone, DC is the owner and founder of Align Healing Center in Danville, CA. She has been active in our natural health & wellness community since 1999. For more information or to set up a consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com.

May is Pediatric Stroke Awareness month and it is symbolized by the purple ribbon.

Pediatric Strokes are no joke and my daughter, Naomi, survived one while she was still en utero. There are many scenarios on how, when, or why a child has a stroke, but for my daughter, they don’t know why it happened. I had a normal pregnancy and two weeks before her due date I went in for a check up and ended up having an emergency c-section. As they lifted her out of my body into this world, she immediately had multiple seizures that caused her to stop breathing (asphyxiation). She almost died. It was the most awful experience I have ever had in my life, and trust me, I have been through some tough stuff.

My child, like so many other children that endure a stroke, is a walking miracle and is the reason why I began writing to promote special needs awareness and inclusion. These children that have to endure something so awful do not deserve to grow up ostracized or stared at by others. My deeply-embedded experiences of being bullied as a child were the basis of fears I had for my son, who is mainstream, and for my daughter who has delays that aren’t apparent until you interact with her. I am sure the fear is even deeper for those who have loved ones whose delays are physically visible.

I did not know her future then and I do not know it now. Only God knows and plans the healing to provide for her life chapters which will be her story to tell. I cannot control others nor the blueprint God has for my children’s lives—but I can set an example and provide boundaries in my home. Boundaries that exemplify that all children, when they step out that door and into the treacherous waters of this world, must not accept anything less than love, kindness and understanding. Isn’t this why all ribbons exist?  Isn’t this why when you put two ribbons together it makes the shape of a heart or a butterfly?  Yes, I said it—butterfly. I promise I won’t bring up bunnies.

Seriously people, the ribbons of awareness are showing others the heart of the matter. I want the world to not look through eyes that lack compassion or lack of tolerance for those who may not meet whatever shallow standards a society may set. I want each of us to get over ourselves and see that the universe has a bigger plan. These plans cannot be put into a box and neither can you.  

So many ribbons are pinned on shirts, printed on shirts and other memorabilia. It is because these memories of what individuals with medical setbacks have endured will forever be etched in their brains and their loved ones. It must never be forgotten that just because one may not have the same experiences, it does not mean that one day you will never need a flock to keep you going. None of us are exempt. This is for any special need and is not limited to something that causes developmental delays. This pertains to a need that is special because it requires an acute focus to overcome the trials so that this life is lived productively. Life is productive when it is lived with acceptance, tolerance, patience, kindness, joy, and love.

Whether the special need is physical, mental, emotional or spiritual, it must be faced in order to be healed. Don’t let the fear of a stigma become the reason for a lack of action. It is not about trying to control the outcome. It is about putting the best foot we can forward so that our part in the process—our actions—are the testimony. A ribbon is what sparks the conversation to teach about a medical condition but our steps are what paves a path for education, compassion and most importantly, change. Every single one of us has a purpose for existing and the multitude of the reasons for an existence should never be compared or ignorantly categorized into what is or isn’t worthy. We all have a story to share with others that can induce a new and positive outlook.

“May” this article, and the topic of the purple ribbon and pediatric stroke, lead you in the right direction. “May” knowledge of what truly matters be what steers us. “May” we all never except anything less than the best for ourselves and our loved ones.

For more information about Pediatric Stroke, please visit CHASA.ORG or

PEDIATRICSTROKEWARRIORS.ORG

Stefanie Boggs-Johnson is the mother of a pediatric stroke survivor and is the Northern California Facilitator for inClusion ClubHouse. She is also the published author of “I See You, Little Naomi” and “I See You, Little Andrew”, educational children’s books which promote special needs awareness and compassion. For more information, please visit inClusionClubHouse.org or her Facebook page @ItTakesASpecialVillage.

The acronym TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, a.k.a. the jawbones. TMD represents the dysfunction of these temporomandibular joints, which describes the dysfunctional symptoms yet has very little to do with the underlying cause. If I wanted to make the abbreviation more precise, I might suggest MFMD—myofascial mandibular dysfunction. Myofascial means facial muscles and most dysfunctions would not exist if the muscles weren’t contributing to the problem. In the past, TMD was considered a “dental” issue, but some medical insurance companies are now considering the dysfunction a medical condition.

In my practice, Advanced Oral Diagnosis and Treatment Center (AODTC), we are astutely aware that your head is part of your body. Therefore, it is important to work holistically to solve the cause, not just treat the symptoms.

Let’s look at some of the symptoms for which we seek the cause: chronic headaches-sometimes diagnosed as migraines, facial muscle pain, joint pain (in front of the ear), joint sounds (gravely, sandy or popping), locking closed-unable to open the mouth normally, or locked open-unable to close the mouth or bite the teeth together normally.  Neck and shoulder pain can result as a response to the facial and head pain. Chewing pain can also happen, taking the joy out of eating.

These problems should never be made light of. I have seen lives radically altered due to the never-ending agony. Please DON’T wait until it is really bad before seeking help. The best dentists are aware of the complexity and will refer you to a specialist.

Those sounds of clicking, popping, or a gravel-like noise are all due to the disk inside the joint capsule not being able to move properly with the joint as it rotates, then slides forward as you open. What this means is you are likely having bone to bone contact and irreversible damage may be occurring. In so many of my patients, what should be nice round joints (condyles) have been flattened and possibly lost the cortical plates. These irreversible problems could have been avoided by seeking help when first noticed.

The most severe damage usually happens while sleeping due to our ability to clench and grind with much more force when asleep. I have designed a type of removable, custom-made splint to wear while sleeping that prevents this trauma.

Probably the most common cause of TMD is the habit of keeping the teeth together, along with clenching and grinding.  In normal lifestyles, teeth are only designed to come together when we swallow, which has been found to be an average of 16 minutes a day.  Research using electrodes that was done over 50 years ago found that the average TMD case has teeth together 16 hours a day. The underlying cause of these painful habits can be stress, hormone imbalance, obstructive sleep apnea, pain in other areas of the body, the need for medications, taking stimulants, nail biting, as well as other illnesses.

Arthritis, especially rheumatoid, can attack the joint, causing a very complex case for specialists. Any trauma to the head or neck can cause severe TMD and general pain problems that can only be handled properly by a team of specialists. Even something as simple as having your mouth open too long for a dental procedure or wisdom tooth extractions can start the dysfunction of the joints. 

Leaving the dysfunction untreated and hoping that it will resolve on its own may result in years of issues rather than weeks to months. Common treatments may be suggested by various clinicians, which include soft diet, cold compresses, over-the-counter night guards, drugs, and more. In so many cases I have had patients come to me after years of discomfort, many times having paid for complex, unpleasant, and expensive treatments that did not help.

 At AODTC our method is treating the patient not the symptom. Many drugs used to treat the symptom only relieve pain, allowing the underlying dysfunction to do more damage. Never forget that taking pain medication is oftentimes like telling our body to “shut up” when it is crying out for help. The goal of a holistic approach is to discover and treat the disease, resulting in the side effect of better overall health.   

Because our office specializes in TMJ treatment and oral appliances for sleep apnea, we will not surprise you with fees for extra dental procedures, crowns, equilibrations, orthodontics, etc.  If any additional dental work is needed we can refer you to an appropriate specialist. For more information about AODTC, located in Danville, California, please visit www.aodtc.com.

Believe it or not, the first television broadcast of a drama was in 1930. It was an experiment by the BBC, and watched by the Prime Minister in his residence. But the American TV networks didn’t get going until the 1940s. Here are some trivial questions about those early TV days.

1)  NBC pushed its TV network in part by having President Franklin Roosevelt appear in a broadcast during what famous 1939-1940 event?

2)  ABC began its TV broadcasts in 1948 from Philadelphia.  It spread nationwide, and in 1949 a Bay Area affiliate began. What are the call letters of the local ABC TV station that began in 1949?

3)  CBS television began in 1941. What television pioneer, who passed away in 1990, grew CBS into a powerhouse by combining quality, advertisements, and low cost?

4)  Earlier than ABC, CBS, and NBC, this TV network began in 1938. The network innovated long-life cathode ray tubes, as well as radar for the government during World War II.  Name this network that ended in 1956, unable to compete with the big boys.

5)  The most recent Super Bowl charged five million dollars for a thirty-second ad. The first TV commercial ever was in 1941. It cost nine dollars. It was for a watch by what company?

6)  TV’s first Emmy awards were in 1949.  An early television engineer, Louis McManus, designed the statue. It’s of a winged woman holding, appropriately, what?

How to Prepare Your Child Financially for College

It’s hard to believe that another school year is coming to an end. College acceptance letters have arrived in the mail and graduating students are buzzing with excitement about closing a grade school chapter and embarking on their college adventures. Graduating seniors will fill the summer months with hanging out with friends, summer jobs to earn money, shopping for dorm accessories, school supplies and packing it all up to head to a University or College. 

For parents, graduation is bittersweet and filled with emotions, great pride, and a glimpse to the future of what the next generation will become. But it is also a time when parents make huge sacrifices to invest in their child’s education. And for many students and parents, taking on debt is the only way to pay for a college education.

According to the website Student Loan Hero, “Among the class of 2018, 69% of college students took out student loans and 14% of their parents took out Parent PLUS loans.” These statistics do not include the home equity lines of credit that many parents have also obtained on their homes to finance tuition. College is an expensive investment! Americans currently owe over $1.5 trillion in student loan debt, and regardless of where a child goes to college, the vast majority will graduate with student loan debt.

Students are transitioning from living at home and having a large portion of their expenses paid by mom and dad, to living in a dorm on a set budget. As students move away to college life, everyday expenses like meals, clothing, lattes, and entertainment must be budgeted. Parents should determine a monthly amount to send and students need to create and manage a monthly budget to make the funds last and avoid getting sucked in by credit card companies to take on debt.

The lull between graduation and the start of the next school year provides the perfect opportunity to sit down with your high school graduate and teach the life skill that will be needed throughout college and beyond—financial literacy. 

Start by sitting down with your son or daughter and have a discussion about the importance of building a budget and learning to live within that budget. Set an amount that you are willing to give your child each month to cover monthly expenses, give them the amount while they are still home, and explain that the amount given needs to cover all expenses for an entire month. 

Next, have your son or daughter monitor their spending habits with the funds for 30 days. The easiest way to do this is to deposit the amount into your child’s account and have them use a debit card to pay for all purchases. Try to avoid giving your child a credit card to track spending as this may develop negative spending habits since they are not limited to a specific amount.

At the end of 30 days, take the time to review all expenses and break the expenses into categories such as these: Coffee/Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner; Entertainment; Gas; Clothing; Sports/Fitness; etc.

Review the spending activity with your child and determine if the budgeted amount covered all expenses. If the spending was under budget, carry the funds to the following month or transfer the amount to savings. If the spending was over budget, make the necessary cutbacks to stay within budget. For example, if entertainment is over budget, cut back that expense. Review each category on the list and adjust where necessary.  

Additionally, make adjustments to the categories prior to the start of the school year. If your child will receive a meal card each month, replace breakfast, lunch, and dinner with the expense of the meal card and add a category for dining out. Set a limit to the number of times the child can dine out. Or, gas may be replaced with a bus pass while in college. Modify where necessary.  

Reviewing spending habits now will allow each of you to make adjustments to stay within the budget. It will also help your child avoid getting into credit card debt should they run low on funds. Credit card companies are notorious for luring in college students by offering free t-shirts, credit cards with school logos, or miscellaneous sign-up gifts. Innocently filling out an application for a credit card can end up being one of the costliest mistakes a college student can make.

Teaching your child money management skills now will provide them with the financial literacy needed both during and after college and will establish smart spending habits to avoid getting into credit card debt.

Jodee Brydges is the author of Digging Out: A Practical Guide to Getting Out of Debt and Paving a Path to a Secure Financial Future. Digging Out is available on Amazon.com.

I wish I had this book when I was younger. This should be a gift to all graduates, start them off with a good understanding of the importance of getting a handle on their finances. ~ Amazon Review

For more information about Jodee, visit www.jodeebrydges.com.