You can receive Featurettes by e-mail daily, weekly or monthly by request. We can e-mail by your choice of topic or all stories as you may prefer. To make it even more convenient for editors to use our stories, NAPS has added an RSS syndication feed to our Web site. Simply hit the RSS button on our site for automated updates on available content. Please contact us to arrange to receive Featurettes in the format that works best for you at (800) 222-5551 or e-mail your request to us at printmedia@napsnet.com. We can provide Featurettes on CD-ROM or you can download it online at www.napsnet.com. Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2583 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Redesigning Your Dwelling With Budget-Friendly, Do-It-Yourself Decor Turning A Hobby Into A Career (NAPSA)—Often, the lessons we learn the best are those we learn while doing something we love. That’s why getting a child involved in a hobby such as model railroading, radio control planes and cars or model kit building can be the first steps to acquiring the skills necessary to fill the high-paying jobs in tomorrow’s industries. You can create great storage places to keep your one-of-a-kind finds and still keep most of your money. (NAPSA)—In today’s tight economy, many people are trading off instead of trading up, according to a recent study by Yankelovich, and recommitting to their existing home in the process. Luckily, whether your design taste is traditional, vintage, rustic or romantic, you don’t have to go penniless for home improvement. You can revamp your space with savvy shopping for simple and affordable new accessories or doit-yourself (DIY) projects. To help get started, there are some things you should consider: Set a goal and budget for your remodeling face-lift. Scour magazines and catalogs and watch various design shows for inspirational ideas, looking for items that fit your aesthetic. One-of-a-kind finds such as rugs, lamps, pillows, art and other accessories may be inexpensive and can provide an instant update to lackluster rooms. When it comes to furniture and room ac- cents, pieces from different styles can be mixed and matched for an eclectic blend. In addition to new accessories, quick DIY fixes, such as giving the walls a fresh coat of paint, reupholstering flea-market finds or replacing existing hardware and lighting fixtures, can make a dramatic improvement yet can still be inexpensive. For smaller rooms or those prone to clutter, consider adding efficient storage, such as shelving or a DIY room organizer. These are excellent keep-it-all-together solutions to frame the TV, store DVDs or display that collection of vases and books. A laminate storage product, like ClosetMaid Selectives, can be easy to install and customized to fit a variety of needs and design visions. For more storage solutions or to access an online design tool, visit www.ClosetMaid.com. For additional information, call (800) 874-0008. Not all learning takes place in a classroom. Hobbies can also introduce a child to skills needed in a future career. This is good news, since the U.S. Department of Labor reports that the United States will enjoy a near 14 percent growth rate in jobs in the areas of installing and repairing various kinds of equipment. It’s estimated that 40 percent of this growth will be in auto mechanics and general repair services. The refrigeration, air-conditioning and heating installation industries are expected to grow the fastest. The downside is there will not be enough people in the U.S. to fill those positions. You can learn about the world of hobbies and more at www. myhobbyfun.com. How To Get Health Care If You’re Uninsured (NAPSA)—The estimate by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that uninsured Americans increased by 2.9 million in one year has once again put a spotlight on patients struggling to obtain the health care and medications they need. The CDC report found 46.3 million Americans without health care insurance last year. Another report, by the Gallup polling organization, shows that in 15 states, at least one out of five residents was uninsured through the middle of the year. “These are people from all over the country who may not have a health care provider and they may well be having difficulties obtaining medicines for everything from cancer to heart disease to diabetes,” said Chris Badgley, executive director of the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA). According to Badgley, help is available from the PPA, sponsored by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies. The PPA is a single point of access to more than 475 assistance programs that provide free or nearly free medicines to uninsured and financially struggling patients. Nearly 200 of the programs are sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. Badgley noted that so far, “well over” 6.5 million Americans have been directed to patient assistance programs that provide free or heavily discounted medicines. “It’s easy to find out if you qual- People who have difficulty getting the medication they need for anything from cancer to heart disease to diabetes can get help from an organization designed to provide free or heavily discounted medicines. ify,” he said. “It only takes about 15 minutes. You can call a toll-free number or use the PPA website. Operators at the toll-free number call centers speak 150 languages, including Spanish.” The PPA also has information on more than 10,000 free health care clinics around the country and has helped hundreds of thousands find health care providers in their communities. The special needs of children are covered by more than 40 of the assistance programs, which focus on medications and care for pediatric patients. To contact the PPA, visit www.pparx.org or call toll-free (888) 4PPA-NOW (1-888-4772669). For more information on PhRMA, visit www.phrma.org.
