Current Events in June 2013

Vocci Italian Food Products of Kansas City, Mo., is recalling approximately 2,025 pounds of lasagna products because of misbranding and an undeclared allergen.

The products are formulated with bread crumbs that contain egg, a known allergen, which is not declared on the label. There have been no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

The following products are subject to recall:

• 5-lb. steamer tin pans of “VOCCI ITALIAN FOODS BEEF LASAGNA” bearing the establishment number “EST. 5789” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the label.
• 20-lb. cases containing four, 5-lb. steamer tin pans of “VOCCI ITALIAN FOODS BEEF LASAGNA” bearing the establishment number “EST. 5789” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the label.

The products were produced on various dates between Nov. 16, 2012, and May 8, 2013 and were sold to food service institutions in the Kansas City, Kan., and Kansas City, Mo., metropolitan area. The product is intended for use in restaurants or institutional food operations and is not sold in retail grocery stores.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact Chuk Lowry at 816-221-2026.

Finger Lakes Farmstead Cheese Company of Trumansburg, N.Y., is recalling 12 wheels of Gouda cheese manufactured on December 20, 2012.

Product sampling revealed the presence of Gouda Cheese contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes Type 1. No illnesses have been reported to date.

This production batch of Gouda (may be called "SCHUYLER" OR "BIER MECK" GOUDA) was distributed in New York State, predominantly in the Albany region, to retail stores and restaurants. The label on the product will clearly state the product and company name. These products were sold to the distributor Adventure in Food Trading on March 26, 2013.

Consumers who have purchased Schuyler Gouda or Bier Meck Gouda with a production date of 12-20-12 are urged to return the product for a full refund.

Questions may be directed to Nancy Richards, (607) 387-3108 Monday thru Friday 8 am to 4 pm EST.

If you're over a certain age, then you probably remember purchasing music way differently than you do now.

Remember going to your local music store? If you were like most music lovers, going to a cool mom and pop shop to buy vinyl, a cassette tape or a CD was just as enjoyable as listening to the music at home.

Then before you knew it, everything changed. Vinyl became more of a collector's item than anything else; cassette tapes died an abrupt death, and CDs hung on for dear life competing with digital downloads and streaming sites.

Down but not out

But according to Nielsen, CDs are hanging on quite well, because people are still buying them.

In 2012, 193 million CDs were sold compared with 118 MP3 albums, which may be surprising to some. And according to market researchers, The NPD Group, CD sales have increased for the second year in a row -- making a 2% sales jump.

Russ Crupnick, the senior vice president of industry analysis at NPD, said CDs are still a go-to for some music lovers and for some casual music listeners too.

He says many consumers feel they're getting more bang for their buck with a CD purchase, compared to buying an MP3. "CDs are the gift that keeps giving, which proves that even in an increasingly digital age, consumers will respond to quality content and strong perceived value, even if it comes in a physical package," Crupnick said.

"The CD still has a powerful attraction for both older, mainstream consumers who listen in their cars, as well as to super fans who enjoy owning the package and assortment of songs from their favorite artists," he added.

In addition, The NPD Group says CDs are being made a lot better today than years past and many consumers feel the overall quality of the sound is better on a CD than on an MP3.

Help from streaming media

Another thing that's keeping CD sales going is all the streaming sites that are now available.

Experts say sites like Spotify, Pandora and MOG give people the chance to check music out for free, and if they like what they hear, many consumers will buy the physical copy since they already know what to expect.

This wasn't possible in the 90s, when buying a CD was like taking a shot in the dark. Sure, you heard samples of an album through radio singles, or you might have listened to a CD at an in-store listening station. But outside that, you really weren't sure if the entire CD was good.

Another thing that's drawing people to purchase a CD is the current state of music, say experts. Crupnick believes today's pop music is better than it was just a few years ago.

"The quality of pop music has been better recently, from Adele to Lady Gaga to Katy Perry to Susan Boyle, and people are responding to that, he explained." And 10 years after the advent of Apple's iTunes, far more people buy CDs than downloads."

Customer service

Apparently, online stores like Amazon are catering to those folks who still like CDs, as the company has recently added a feature called AutoRip. 

Right after you purchase a CD, Amazon sends you the MP3 version of the album so you get both versions for the price of one. And it's not just the new albums that you can AutoRip, you can use the feature for any album made from 1998 on.

Those who prefer to keep things modern and just buy the MP3 version of an album, might be better off purchasing the CD.

For example, legendary Hip-Hop group Outkast's CD "Aquemini" CD goes for $8.79 and you get the MP3 version for free. But if you only buy a digital copy you pay about $10, so from a price standpoint, you get much more with a CD purchase.

Amazon added the AutoRip feature to vinyl purchases too.

Back to the future

When it comes to vinyl, some may believe only a small portion of consumers are still buying it, but that's not the case, says the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).

In April of 2013, IFPI announced there were $177 million in vinyl sales in 2012, an 18% jump from the year before. And that's the highest level of vinyl sales have been since 1997.

White Stripes front man Jack White scored the most vinyl sales in 2012, with his solo album "Blunderbuss." In all, he sold 34,000 copies.

And why are so many people buying vinyl these days?

Nick Catalano, the owner of Beatnick -- a throwback record store in Montreal -- says people come to his store to buy vinyl because they want the real thing, not a modernistic watered down version of an album.

"We're like the curators of a museum," said Catalano about his store. "Why would you want a print of Picasso when you can get the real deal? It's the same thing with records."

In addition, Catalano says that a good portion of his customers will ask about a certain album, and then go online to check it out. If they like it, they come back to his store and purchase it, which is a popular way people are buying music these days.

So if you thought CDs and vinyl had died a final death, think again. And if you feel you're an alien because you're still interested in physical albums, you clearly aren't alone.

And lastly, digital downloads don't provide the cool artwork or liner notes that most music lovers enjoy taking in, which is another reason people are still buying CDs and vinyl in relatively large numbers.

Many people have a creative side, but it's not always easy to stay inspired and bring that creativity out.

Whether someone releases his creations to the art world, music world, literary world or wherever, keeping those creative juices flowing can be quite the challenge.

Fortunately, there are some good websites you can visit to get a little inspiration. Like Storybird.com.

The story muse

The creators of Storybird gather artwork from artists, animators and illustrators from different parts of the globe. From there, writers can create stories for the illustrations, so the site is great for writers who need something to jolt their ideas.

But Storybird isn't just for professional or aspiring writers. It's for adults and kids who just like to be creative or write little stories from time to time.

For example, the creators of the site point to one of its users named Ava. Ava is 13 years old and writes cute little stories about her friends and classmates at school and has a good number of followers.

So Storybird allows kids to practice sentence structure, and get more comfortable expressing ideas through written word.

Of course these things will be helpful if the child wants to be a professional writer in the future. And it will help her work on her writing for future school assignments and papers.

Works both ways

But the site can be used so people can discover and read cool stories too.

Storybird's creators say the site has about 5 million stories of all kinds, so it can be used just for reading or to get inspiration when you want to write a story of your own.

If you're a school teacher, you can use the site to teach your kids about creative writing and art. And it allows other students to provide real-time feedback, so classmates can leave comments and have discussions about a particular story or illustration.

Aiding artists

And since pictures and artwork are a huge part of the site, Storybird is a great destination for artists too.

It allows artists to not only get their name and artwork out to a large number of followers, but they can make money if someone buys a story that uses their artwork as well. Artists get paid 30 to 50% of royalties if their art is ever purchased, say the site's creators.

The creators of Storybird say art agents visit the site to sign new artists, so it's possible you could be discovered if the stars align properly, although that might be a long shot.

Starting the creative juices

Another site to spark a little creativity is BrainPickings.org. It provides a lot of different links to help birth new ideas or cultivate the ideas you already have.

Brain Pickings uses the concept, that books, music, quotes, articles and other people's ideas all need to be regularly accessed to stay creatively inspired.

• First there's the "bookshelf" link that brings you to a page of books that fall under the categories creativity, design, science, history, psychology and art.
• The newsletter section of the site picks out interesting stories and articles from around the globe to keep you in-the-know about a variety of subjects.
• Then there's the "Literary Jukebox" link that pulls a daily quote from a book, then matches that quote with a song of the same subject. Both the quote and the song are supposed to give you a little inspiration to create your own helpful quote or song one day. Or create anything else for that matter.
• Using the "sound" link on the site will connect you directly to a Sound Cloud page that has a bunch of lectures, conferences and other things you can listen to for inspiration.
• The Sound Cloud page has everything from marriage experts talking about relationships, to marketing experts who tell you the best ways to get your own creation out to the masses.

Brain Pickings has mobile apps for Apple devices and Androids, so you can get a little inspiration while you're on the go.

Luckily, there are many ways to look for inspiration if you can't muster it up yourself and these two sites are pretty good since the creators seem to understand that staying creative is a daily process that takes some proactivity.

Of course you'll have to do the normal things to stay inspired: Leave the house, meet new people, go new places and so on, but it's good to know you can just turn on your computer or mobile device and get some help.

If you're at the beach, nothing says summer more than a Hawaiian shirt and a pair of flip-flops. The simple sandals have been a part of casual summer attire since the 1960s, though the concept dates back several thousand years.

Footwear historians trace the origin to ancient Egypt in about 4,000 B.C. The modern version dates to the end of World War II, when American G.I's brought pairs of the simple sandals back from Japan.

What we know today as the flip-flop consists of a flat sole held on the foot with a Y-shaped strap. The strap is attached to a short post that goes between the big toe and the not-so-great toes and attaches to either side of the rear of the sole.

Cheap shoes

The sandal that was popularized in the 1960s is made of soft foam and is popular in part because it is very cheap. But other styles are made of more durable material and are more expensive.

Wearing flip-flops can protect you from the hot sand or sharp rocks and are probably safer than going barefoot. But podiatrists caution that these are not really shoes and most provide no support. As a result, injury can result if you misuse them.

There have been cases where flip-flops have been blamed for broken bones and ankle sprains. Walking long distances in them may result in lower leg pain, as well as pain in the feet and ankles.

Advice

If you are going to wear flip-flops during the summer, the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) says you should avoid the cheap foam versions and invest in a pair made of high-quality, soft leather. The leather sole will minimize the likelihood of blisters and other irritation.

Before wearing them, gently bend the flip-flop from end to end, making sure it bends at the ball of the foot. No shoe should ever fold in half.

They should also fit. Even though it is designed to be a loose-fitting shoe, your foot should not hang over the end of it.

Flip-flops tend to wear out faster than other shoes. In fact, the APMA says you should only get one season out of a pair.

Use them they way they were intended. Wear them when walking to the beach or around the pool. Don't wear them on a long walk.

They're not work or sports shoes

Don't wear them when doing work outdoors -- cutting the grass, for instance. They aren't designed for sports, or even a night on the town. Believe it or not designer flip-flops -- not the kind you buy at the drug store -- are increasingly favored by celebrities. Kim Kardashian was recent photographed in a pair of flip-flops while running errands in Los Angeles.

In 2007 Reef and ArchPort Footwear introduced "Stash" flip-flops, which contain a pocket in the sole in which to carry small items. A pull-out tray is just large enough to carry cash, keys or a credit card.

Though wildly popular the last few summers, the stash flip-flops have reportedly been hard to find this year, though the reason isn't immediately clear.

If you're adding a pair of flip-flops to your summer wardrobe, you can pay as little as $3 for a pair of classic foam flip-flops at Old Navy or as much as $50 for a pair of slim ceramic flip-flops at Nordstrom.

May wasn't a very good month for Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries. Business Insider ran a story mentioning Jeffries' 2006 interview with Salon magazine, in which he said that only certain people should wear the company's clothes.

"We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends," Jeffires said. "A lot of people don't belong [in our clothes], and they can't belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely.

"Those companies that are in trouble are trying to target everybody: young, old, fat, skinny. But then you become totally vanilla. You don't alienate anybody, but you don't excite anybody either," he added.

In other words, just in case he hadn't made it clear enough already, Jeffries said he only wants cool kids to wear his clothes and no one else: "In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids. We go after the cool kids."

Backlash blossoms

It's unclear why there wasn't more backlash back in 2006, but seven years later the backlash is coming from all angles.

One of the first to raise a public outcry was filmmaker Greg Karber, who made a video that showed himself giving A&F's clothes to homeless people.

Garber went to a Los Angeles area Goodwill and grabbed all of the A&F clothes he could find. From there he headed to Central City East -- also known as Skid Row -- which has one of the largest population of homeless people in the United States. 

Garber then asked everyone to join in by grabbing all of the A&F clothes they could find and giving them to a homeless shelter. And he wants people to post their actions on Facebook or Twitter. Garber is using the hashtag #fitchthehomeless.

Plus-size women

But it's not just the whole cool-kids-thing that has people up in arms. A&F doesn't make clothes for plus-size women either. On its size chart, A&F shows it sells nothing larger than a size 10 in women's pants, which is far smaller than other retailers sell.

Jeffries also says he only wants attractive people working in A&F stores, as "good-looking people will bring in other good-looking people to shop." 

Not so cool

Michael Mulvey, a marketing professor at the University of Ottawa's Telfer School of Management said A&F's first mistake was saying it was cool, because to actually say something like that is a big no-no in the advertising world.

"If you have a cool brand, you don't talk about being cool," he said in a published interview. "If you're cool, you know it, and your customers know it."

"It's one thing to be an elite brand that's highly sought after, but it's another to be an elitist brand, and they've crossed the line there." 

Some might say that Jeffries' stance on cool kids wearing his clothes isn't based on his personal belief, and it's all just a marketing ploy. Because studies have shown if kids feel a little inferior, they're more likely to buy clothes to feel better.

Lan Nguyen Chaplin and Deborah Roedder John, a team of Midwest scientists, say clothing brands are aware that a lot of kids don't feel good about themselves and use that low self-esteem to get them to purchase expensive items.

"By the time children reach early adolescence, and experience a decline in self-esteem, the stage is set for the use of material possessions as a coping strategy for feelings of low self-worth," they said.

In an attempt to calm things down a bit Jeffries issued an apology, but many people said his words came off as arrogant and insincere. He even blamed others for taking his words out of context.

"While I believe this seven-year-old, resurrected quote has been taken out of context, I sincerely regret that my choice of words was interpreted in a manner that has caused offense," Jeffries said.

It's unlikely that Jeffries' strange-sounding apology will put out the flames anytime soon. In fact, it may have made things worse.

It's not the first time the company has been in hot water over some of its decisions.

In 2003, A&F paid a $2.2 million settlement after it was accused of forcing its employees to purchase and wear the company's clothes during work hours.

Then in 2005 the company paid $50 million in a class settlement after it was accused of hiring discrimination.

Those who sued A&F said the company typically didn't hire minorities or women, and when these groups were hired, they were given jobs away from customer view -- usually in the stockroom or doing cleanup somewhere.

Gas prices spiked in May but may be heading down or at least tapering off in June as refinery maintenance winds down, analysts say. 

The national average price of gas increased 10.4 cents per gallon (2.96%) in May, which was the first monthly increase since February, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. Rising gas prices in many parts of the country led to significant motorist frustration heading into the busy summer driving season.

The national average increased 17 days in a row to $3.66 per gallon from May 6 until May 22, which was the largest consecutive streak of price increases since February, AAA said. The national average has since dropped nine days in a row to $3.61 per gallon.

Gas prices nationally increased 19 out of 31 days during the month. By contrast, prices increased only one day during May in 2012 and increased only seven days during the month in 2011.

“Consumers in the Midwest and other parts of the country faced tremendous frustrations due to rapidly rising gas prices in May,” said Avery Ash, AAA spokesman. “Continued refinery maintenance and other production issues led to tight supplies and a spooked market for much of the month. After seeing prices decline this spring, many motorists were unhappy to pay higher prices heading into the busy travel season.”

Production issues

Gas prices increased in many parts of the country due to tight supplies caused by refinery maintenance and unexpected production issues, particularly in the Midwest, Rockies and Pacific Northwest. Relatively tight supplies and concerns about production typically lead to rising gas prices.

Despite the rising prices, motorists on average paid less at the pump in May than recent years. The national average for the month was $3.59 per gallon, compared to $3.72 per gallon in 2012 and $3.91 in 2011.

“Gasoline supply problems should ease over the next month as some refinery maintenance comes to an end,” Ash added. “Prices should drop below a national average of $3.50 per gallon by the end of June if refineries can transition smoothly from ongoing maintenance to full production. Some concerns remain though because refineries often have complications when restarting, which could lead to unpredictable problems in the weeks ahead.”

A couple of recent articles in the financial press illustrate the plight of America's younger generation in the new economy.

Rick Newman, writing for The Exchange, explores the reasons the millennial generation -- those 16 t0 34 years old -- aren't buying homes and cars, and concludes the reason is fairly simple. They don't have any money.

Then there was last week's Harris Poll showing recent graduates are among the unhappiest people in America. The survey conducted between April 10 and 15, 2013 by Harris Interactive, found only a third of Americans are very happy. Those who are happiest tend to be older. 

Downward trend in happiness

"While the attitudes on the economy may be improving, we're seeing that this is not translating into an improvement in overall happiness," said Regina Corso, Senior Vice President of the Harris Poll. "For certain groups, such as minorities, recent graduates and the disabled, they are actually sub segments of the American population where 'happiness' has trended downward in the last couple years."

Perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise that recent college graduates aren't as happy as others since unemployment remains high and it continues to be very hard to find a job you've spent the last four years -- and thousands of dollars -- preparing for.

While there is significant demand for new graduates in engineering, computer science and accounting, it's a much tougher market for those with a degree in the humanities and social sciences. So, how do recent graduates and other young people find a job in this environment?

"The key to success in today's job market is knowing what works and what doesn't," said Dr. David DeLong, author of the book Graduate to a Great Job: Make Your College Degree Pay Off in Today's Market. "The fact is about half of new graduates do launch their careers successfully. The question is what are they doing differently." 

Lack of career focus

DeLong says the graduates who find good jobs seem to know what it is they want to do and go after it. He sees lack of career focus among the rest as the chief reason for their unemployment -- or underemployment in jobs for which they are overqualified.

Another obstacle is an unrealistic expectation about how the job market works. You have to get your foot in the door and work your way up. For example, working in the mailroom at a major player in your chosen field is probably a better job than working in retail -- unless your career path happens to be retail.

While internships might seem like a waste of time, DeLong says they aren't if you know how to maximize their value. He spends a considerable part of his book advising parents on things they can do to help their recent grads get on a solid career track.

Another new book -- CAREERS – A Brainwise Guide to Finding Fulfillment at Work -- identifies core behaviors that not only lead to career satisfaction but eventual success. The book, a collaborative effort by several psychiatrists, concludes that New graduates entering the job market will benefit the most if they see their job as just the beginning of a broader plan for self-growth. In other words, don't expect to reach your goals with your first job. 

The point both books make is graduates should approach the job market with a plan. Avoid dead-end jobs but don't reject what you consider a "lowly" job if it fits your plan and puts you on the right path.

When two conditions are associated with each other, it's tempting to think there's a cause-effect relationship, although researchers caution that's not always the case. 

A prime example is a new study that finds vegetarian diets are associated with reduced death rates. The report, published Online First by JAMA Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication, summarized  a study of more than 70,000 Seventh-day Adventists and found a lower death rate among those who followed a vegetarian diet.

“Some evidence suggests vegetarian dietary patterns may be associated with reduced mortality, but the relationship is not well established,” the study notes, observing that vegetarian diets have been associated with reductions in risk for several chronic diseases, including hypertension, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease.

73,000 subjects

Michael J. Orlich, M.D., of Loma Linda University in California, and colleagues examined all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a group of 73,308 men and women Seventh-day Adventists.

They assessed dietary patterns using a questionnaire that categorized study participants into five groups: nonvegetarian, semi-vegetarian, pesco-vegetarian (includes seafood), lacto-ovo-vegetarian (includes dairy and egg products) and vegan (excludes all animal products).

The study notes that vegetarian groups tended to be older, more highly educated and more likely to be married, to drink less alcohol, to smoke less, to exercise more and to be thinner.

There were 2,570 deaths among the study participants during a mean  follow-up time of almost six years. The overall mortality rate was six deaths per 1,000 person years. The adjusted hazard ratio for all-cause mortality in all vegetarians combined vs. nonvegetarians was 0.88, or 12 percent lower, according to the study results.

The association also appears to be better for men with significant reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality and ischemic heath disease death in vegetarians vs. nonvegetarians. In women, there were no significant reductions in these categories of mortality, the results indicate.

“These results demonstrate an overall association of vegetarian dietary patterns with lower mortality compared with the nonvegetarian dietary pattern. They also demonstrate some associations with lower mortality of the pesco-vegetarian, vegan and lacto-ovo-vegetarian diets specifically compared with the nonvegetarian diet,” the authors conclude.

What to do

The conclusion? While more study may be needed, a reasonable person might want to consider eating a diet that includes more vegetables and less meat. While there may not yet be a definitive explanation of why the association exists, it's pretty clear that eating less meat is not likely to be harmful assuming one gets adequate nutrition from a vegetable-based diet.

In other words, the risk of dying from eating too many bacon cheeseburgers is a lot higher than the risk of dying from eating too few bacon cheeseburgers.

There's no argument that cholesterol-lowering statins reduce cardiovascular illnesses and death but a new study finds the statins may be associated with musculoskeletal conditions, joint diseases and injuries.

The full spectrum of adverse events caused by statins is unknown, according to the report published Online First by JAMA Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication. But the report said adverse events include muscle weakness, muscle cramps and tendon diseases, the authors write in the study background.

 The study was conducted by Ishak Mansi, M.D., of the VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, and colleagues. They used data from a military health care system.

Patients were divided into two groups: statin users for at least 90 days and nonusers. A total of 46,249 patients met the study criteria and of those, researchers propensity score-matched 6,967 statin users with 6,967 nonusers.

They found that statin users had a higher odds ratio for some musculoskeletal diseases, including strains, sprains, dislocations and pain but not for osteoarthritis. 

‘To our knowledge, this is the first study, using propensity score matching, to show that statin use is associated with an increased likelihood of diagnoses of musculoskeletal conditions," the researcheres said.  “These findings are concerning because starting statin therapy at a young age for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases has been widely advocated.”.

We could be getting into George Jetson territory here.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has put together a policy on vehicle automation -- including “autonomous” or “self-driving” vehicles.

Self-driving means operation of the vehicle occurs without the driver directly controlling the steering, acceleration and braking. They are designed so that the driver doesn't have to monitor the roadway while the vehicle is operating in self-driving mode.

“Whether we’re talking about automated features in cars today or fully automated vehicles of the future, our top priority is to ensure these vehicles -- and their occupants -- are safe,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Our research covers all levels of automation, including advances like automatic braking that may save lives in the near term, while the recommendations to states help them better oversee self-driving vehicle development, which holds promising long-term safety benefits.”

The policy developed by the agency addresses:

An explanation of the many areas of vehicle innovation and types of automation that offer significant potential for enormous reductions in highway crashes and deaths;

A summary of the research NHTSA has planned or has begun to help ensure that all safety issues related to vehicle automation are explored and addressed; and

Recommendations to states that have authorized operation of self-driving vehicles, for test purposes, on how best to ensure safe operation as these new concepts are being tested on highways.

The future is now

Several states, including Nevada, California and Florida, have already passed laws that expressly permit operation of self-driving (sometimes called “autonomous”) vehicles under certain conditions. These experimental vehicles are at the highest end of a wide range of automation that begins with some safety features already in vehicles, such as electronic stability control.

The new federal policy will help states interested in passing similar laws ensure that their legislation does not inadvertently affect current vehicle technology and that the testing of self-driving vehicles is conducted safely.

“We’re encouraged by the new automated vehicle technologies being developed and implemented today, but want to ensure that motor vehicle safety is considered in the development of these advances,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “As additional states consider similar legislation, our recommendations provide lawmakers with the tools they need to encourage the safe development and implementation of automated vehicle technology.”

NHTSA R&D

While the technology remains in early stages, NHTSA is conducting research on self-driving vehicles so that it has the tools to establish standards for these vehicles, should they become commercially available.

The first phase of this research is expected to be completed within the next four years.

It's hurricane season and for folks living along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts time to hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Those preparations usually mean taking care that your house and other property are secure enough to survive whatever Mother Nature may send. But, there's something else you need to take care of -- something that may have long-lasting implications: your tax records.

The Internal Revenue Service  (IRS) is passing along these few simple steps to take that may prevent headaches down the road:

Backup your records electronically

Taxpayers should keep a set of backup records in a safe place and store them away from the original set.

Keeping a backup set of records -- including, for example, bank statements, tax returns, insurance policies, etc., -- is easier now that many financial institutions provide statements and documents electronically, and much financial information is available on the Internet.

Even if the originals are provided only on paper, they can be scanned into an electronic format. With documents in electronic form, taxpayers can download them to a backup storage device, like an external hard drive, or burn them to a CD or DVD.

Document valuables

Another step to prepare for disaster is to photograph or videotape the contents of your home, especially items of higher value. The IRS has a disaster loss workbook, Publication 584, which can help you compile a room-by-room list of belongings.

A photographic record can help prove the market value of items for insurance and casualty loss claims. Photos should be stored with a friend or family member who lives outside the area.

Update emergency plans

Emergency plans should be reviewed annually. Personal and business situations change over time as do preparedness needs. When employers hire new employees or when a company or organization changes functions, plans should be updated accordingly and employees should be informed of the changes.

Check on fiduciary bonds

Employers who use payroll service providers should ask the provider if it has a fiduciary bond in place. The bond could protect the employer in the event of default by the payroll service provider.

Help from IRS

If disaster strikes, an affected taxpayer can call 1-866-562-5227 to speak with an IRS specialist trained to handle disaster-related issues.

Back copies of previously-filed tax returns and all attachments, including Forms W-2, can be requested by filing Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return. Alternatively, transcripts showing most line items on these returns can be ordered on-line, by calling 1-800-908-9946 or by using Form 4506T-EZ, Short Form Request for Individual Tax Return Transcript  or Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return.