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Valentine’s Day Love Birds On February 14, Valentine’s Day is celebrated—and love birds everywhere go out to engage in rituals associated with love. Saint Valentine was a martyr, scholars think, and was not celebrated as a lover. His feast day is no longer a part of the church’s calendar. His name is still attached to the day, but that is all. So where did the love connection come from? Some say it came from birds. Medieval Christians observed some birds were mating at the time of the Saint Valentine’s feast. From that arose a belief that all birds chose their mates on February 14. From that belief, the leap was taken that there was a connection to human beings, and that we should also choose our mates on that day—or at least celebrate the rituals associated with mating. The belief about birds mating on February 14 has some grounding in reality because many species of birds do begin to mate by this date. February 1-28 Black History Month |
Do You Have A Question About Car Maintenance That You Want Answered? We love to hear from all of our good friends and clients who enjoy reading our monthly newsletter. If you have a question about anything related to your vehicle, feel free to give us a call at 510-235-6000 www.martysmotors.com Keeping Kids Safe Online If you have kids who are using the Internet, here are some rules that will help keep them safe. Go over the rules with your children and make sure they understand them, then, post them next to the computer where they will be working.
The History Of Mardi Gras In North America Mardi Gras came first to New Orleans through its French heritage in 1699. Early explorers celebrated the French Holiday on the banks of the Mississippi River. Throughout the years, Orleanians have added to the celebration by establishing krewes (organizations) which host parades and balls. Carnival quickly became an exciting holiday for both children and adults. Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" and is celebrated on that day of the week. The date falls between Feb. 3 and March 9. This year, Fat Tuesday falls on Feb. 8. The official colors for Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. These colors represent the following:
The Mardi Gras season begins on Jan. 6 and continues through Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. |
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Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Special thanks go out to all of our clients and friends who graciously referred our shop to their friends and neighbors last month! Our business is built based on the positive comments and referrals from people just like you. We just couldn’t do it without you. Stacy Dortor & Julien Steinberg Gel Pen Can Stop Check Fraud 
A crook could steal outgoing checks from your mailbox. All it takes is a swipe of acetone (found in nail polish remover) to wipe away what you have written. It could be that easy to clean out your bank account. Only one type of ink is counterfeit-proof to acetone and other chemicals used in "check washing." The ink used in gel pens is the answer. Recommended is the $2 uni-ball Gel Impact pen sold at chain stores. Don't Let One Binge Derail Your Diet Despite the best intentions, most dieters fall off the wagon before reaching their goal. But, says Olympic track coach Richard Brown, don't let a big meal or a heavy eating day derail your efforts. "It's the number of calories you have for the week, not at one meal or day, that affects your weight," he says. "If you're planning on splurging at a new restaurant, eat lighter during the day or sometime during the week." Get ahead in your career by making (and keeping) a few resolutions for the New Year:
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How To Cover A Car's Value Insurance Gap The cost of buying a sports utility vehicle and many other types of cars can be $35,000 or more. If the vehicle is wrecked or stolen within the first year, your insurance company may say it's a used car and is now worth just $26,500. You have lost $8,500, and you'll probably have to pay the difference almost immediately. The consumer advice editor at edmunds.com, a car-buying Website, says that when you buy a new car, it's worth 20 percent less as soon as you drive it off the lot. By the end of the first year, depending on how well the vehicle holds its value, it can depreciate by as much as 35 percent. Because loans for many expensive cars, SUVs, and trucks extend for five or six years, many buyers may be "upside down" in value versus loan balance for two years or more. For many owners of newer cars, GAP insurance can offer needed protection. GAP stands for guaranteed auto protection and covers the difference between the settlement from the insurance company and what is owed on the vehicle loan or lease. Not everyone needs such insurance. To determine whether you do, check the market value of your car on Websites such as edmunds.com and kbb.com and compare it to your loan balance. Then ask your insurance company how it will determine the value of your car or truck in the event of a loss. Ask your car dealer whether it offers GAP insurance and how much it costs. After 20 Years, Questions About Aspartame Still Abound 
Twenty years after its debut in Diet Coke, there still aren’t concrete answers on the long-term health effects of the artificial sweetener aspartame. More commonly known as NutraSweet, it’s said that too much of the stuff can cause headaches, and that the phosphorus found within can even lead to osteoporosis. So many myths and rumors have appeared on the Internet and chain e-mails that Coca-Cola dedicates a section of its Web site to debunking those claims. For example, the acceptable daily intake of aspartame for a 132-pound person is 82 packets of sweetener, or 18 cans of diet soda a day. Probably even hard-core diet soda fans don’t exceed this daily limit. According to the American Dietetic Association, studies have failed to nail down whether the sweetener causes headaches and seizures. Perhaps the real danger is when soda pop replaces other food sources in your diet. Thanks For The Kind Words "Marty and his staff are friendly and pleasant... I never feel pressured or bamboozled. Marty is honest, direct, & clear." Hertha Wong |
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Congratulations To Every month, we choose a very special client of the month. It's our way of acknowledging our great clients and saying thanks to those that support our business with referrals and repeat business. This month's Client of the Month is Dan Phillips A young entrepreneur had just started his own company. He opened a beautiful office and furnished it with antiques. On the first day, he saw a man enter the outer office. Wanting to give the impression of a hotshot businessman, the young man picked up the phone and pretended to be working out a big deal. He threw around huge figures and made grand pronouncements. He finally hung up and asked the waiting man, "May I help you?" To which the man replies "Yeah, I’ve come here to activate your phone lines." They Said THIS In The Church Bulletin..? "Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community." "Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Methodist. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.". "A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow." "The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been cancelled due to a conflict." "The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon." "Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don’t forget your husbands!" "Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered." |
Gasoline -- Cheap Even At Today's Prices If you think the price of gas is high, the Virginia Petroleum Convenience and Grocery Association asks you to compare even a $2-per-gallon price tag for gas with the prices of a gallon of these other common liquids:
Do You Want To Win A Free 3-day / 2-night Mini-Vacation? Take the trivia challenge and you just might win! Each month we’ll give you a new trivia question. The first 10 people to call with the correct answer will be eligible to win. At the end of the month we’ll draw one lucky name. That winner will receive a certificate good for 3 fun-filled days and 2 exciting nights of deluxe hotel accommodations at one of 18 fantastic locations. Here is this month’s trivia question: "What does the color Gold represent for Mardi Gras?"
Call right now with your answer!  |
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HOME | SERVICES | MONEY SAVERS | MOTOR TIMES | LOCATION | WHO IS MARTY?| CONTACT US last update 12/02/04 |
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