News: Action Line -- MiamiHerald.com
News: Action Line -- MiamiHerald.com

• 2. Eliminate debt
  NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS According to the U.S. Public Interest Research Groups, more than half of Americans carry balances on their credit cards averaging around $10,000. If you're fighting an uphill battle with credit card debt, make a plan.
• 3. Exercise more
  NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS Signing up for a gym membership? Before you sign on the dotted line, do your homework to avoid getting trapped in a contract you didn't want.
• 4. Reduce stress
  NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS When was the last time you basked in the wilderness of a state or national park? The Internet has made arranging a camping trip or day hike easier than ever. Here are a couple of sites to check out:
• How crocs, 'gators differ
  Q : We're taking houseguests from the Midwest to Everglades National Park where we hope to see both alligators and crocodiles. Embarrassingly, we're not sure how to tell them apart. Are there obvious differences?
• 5. Volunteer more
  NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS Despite everyone claiming to be exceedingly busy and having no time to spare, our suspicion is that one does precisely what one wants to do. We are, after all, an embarrassingly self-absorbed society.
• Keeping the bubbly in check
  Ringing in the new year with champagne is a solid tradition but, if you're driving, keep it to just a glass or two. Not only are hangovers directly related to your blood-alcohol level, but having at least .08 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood in your system is illegal in Florida, and repeat offenses can lead to felony charges.
• Refund reaches wrong family member
  Q.My father sold his home in January and moved out of the country. Since then, he has been trying to get a refund from Citizens Property Insurance.
• Need a passport? Apply right now
  This fall, with low demand, passport applications took four to six weeks for routine processing service, and three weeks for expedited service.
• Monitoring prepaid phone cards
  Q.Why won't my prepaid phone card work? -- Eva Valeri, via e-mail A.Prepaid telephone cards may not deliver services as advertised to consumers, according to Florida's Public Service Commission.
• Viewing the heavens . . .
  Q.My son was given a telescope for Christmas. It came with a basic guide to the sky, but we'd like to learn more. Can we do that without spending much?
• How to recycle packaging peanuts?
  Q.Action Line, we have lots of packing peanuts left over from Christmas gifts, but they can't go in the recycling. Any suggestions?
• Going door to door, for AT&T?
  Q.On a recent Sunday afternoon, a man claiming to be an AT&T salesman was going door-to-door telling residents that AT&T was introducing lower rates for its customers.
• Pressure cookers create $875,000 fine
  After failing to report that its pressure cookers were defective, the HSN LP (previously known as the Home Shopping Network) of St. Petersburg has been fined $875,000.
• Sorrel makes refreshing punch
  Q.At a friend's house over the holidays, I had a taste of an unusual punch that uses no alcohol. I think it's based on hibiscus blooms.
• Does whitefly treatment hurt well water?
  Q.I've been reading about the whitefly problem on ficus. The University of Florida and the Extension Office say to use Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect Control and Spectracide Tree and Shrub Insect Control, but you should mention that they're dangerous if you're on well water.
• Pet owners cautioned about Internet pharmacies
  Pet owners are urged to be careful about buying prescription drugs online. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, unscrupulous Internet veterinary pharmacies may not be supplying you with the correct medicines, thus putting your pets at risk.
• When a toddler tries to become Picasso . . .
  Q.My 2-year-old found a ballpoint pen and used it to decorate my favorite faded jeans. I've washed them several times, soaked them in OxiClean and carefully used a bleach pen, but nothing has worked. Can they be saved?
• 1. Save money
  NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS At least once or twice a year, make a point of checking your credit reports for inaccuracies. Up to 25 percent of credit reports are said to contain some false information, due to glitches or identity theft.
• Curbside recycling shouldn't be a hassle
  Q : Curbside recycling in our neighborhood is supposed to be picked up every Friday, but, for two months, our street has been skipped. Many of my neighbors have simply given up putting it out at all.
• On Fentanyl patches, pay close attention
  Because of deaths and life-threatening side effects, the Food and Drug Administration is warning about the fentanyl adhesive patch that delivers a potent pain medicine through the skin. It's most often prescribed for those fighting cancer.