Dirty money carries bacteria, pathogens
Here’s yet another reason that we might want to hasten the move toward a completely cashless society: dirty money, literally.
New York University researchers say the $1 bill you’re carrying around may have more than 3,000 types of bacteria, some of them linked to skin infections and stomach ulcers, and others with genes that are resistant to antibiotics.
In addition to bacteria, NYU’s Dirty Money Project found viruses, fungi and plant pathogens, plus minute traces of anthrax and diphtheria.
The research, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, hasn’t been published but it is considered the first DNA study of its kind on money. Using high-speed gene sequencing and computerized database analysis, researchers analyzed DNA on 80 $1 bills from an unnamed Manhattan bank.
Researchers said 1.2 billion segments of DNA were found, with up to nearly half traced to humans. Other DNA was traced to animals. But they could only identify about 20 percent of non-human DNA.
The bacteria (and the illness they can cause) found on the cash included Staphylococcus aureus (skin infections); Bacillus cereus (food-borne illness); Escherichia coli (food poisoning); Helicobacter pylori (gastric ulcers); and Corynebacterium diphtheria (diphtheria).
— Christopher Seward
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hints from Heloise:
Group email serves as safety check for seniors
A Friend in Houston writes: I am an 84-year-old senior in good health who lives alone. I and several of my contemporaries have started a ”Good Morning” email, which is sent first thing each morning by the earliest riser, and the recipients each “reply to all.” Each of us has given an emergency contact to the others. If we fail to receive a response by midmorning, we begin to do a little checking. This assures us that the senior is OK, and that any pets are cared for in an emergency.
— King Features
Couponing can take
just an hour a week
Recently I introduced couponing to a friend. She was hesitant to start because she assumed couponing meant time and hassle. Not so! Here are five small steps to get into couponing using just an hour a week:
1. Clip: Typically it takes about 10 minutes to clip coupons or print them from such websites as Coupon.com or SmartSource.com. Don’t clip every coupon. Just clip or print coupons for items you normally buy.
2. Scan: Scan the grocery inserts looking for sales and identify items where you have a corresponding coupon. Search for proteins for your weekly menu.
3. Plan: Spend the next 20 minutes planning your weekly menu around what’s on sale.
4. List: Make a list (I use an envelope) and categorize what you need to buy according to the area of the store. Organize your coupons accordingly.
5. Save: I promise that within a few weeks, the amount of time it takes to clip, scan, plan and list will decrease, along with your grocery bill.
— Tara McAlister
The Charlotte Observer