Thursday, November 26, 2015

Treating Your Family Like Our Family

By Dave Trux

When I hire somebody, one of the things that I do is tell them about our basic business philosophy. The first time anybody walks through our front door, they’re a friend. It doesn’t matter if they’re a customer, an inspector from the state of California, somebody that runs parts or a process server serving papers. It doesn’t matter.

The second time they walk through that front door, they’re family. You treat them as such and if a delivery person comes in and we have pizza or other food we’re sharing, if they were a family member, wouldn’t you invite them to sit down and have a soda and something to eat?

I feel my personal philosophy on running any kind of business, especially when its service oriented, you want to exude that feeling of contentment and happiness. People don’t come to us because they want to. They come to us because it’s a necessity. When a customer first walks in, they’re likely going to be in a negative space. I think it’s our duty to do our best to put them at ease and make them feel comfortable.

Treating a person like family is probably the fastest way to get there. If there’s any question about how I should handle something, all I have to do is ask myself, “If they were a family member, what would I do?”

We had an incident where we had a problem with a car on Friday, and I came in the following Monday at 10:30 am and it hadn’t even been on the rack yet. I looked at my manager and said, “Not only is this a good customer, he’s a personal friend. He’s been here more than once. Is this how you would treat your family?” When you set the goal of treating everyone like family, if you do fall a little bit short, you’ll probably be okay.

The goal is to show my employees how I expect to be treated. My hope is that this attitude will eventually come as naturally to them as it does to me. I truly like my customers and enjoy speaking to each and every one when I'm in the office.


iParts Interview

By Alika Salazar

I have some very exciting news for all you holiday shoppers. Are you looking for something that’s fresh, hot and totally new for the loved one that seems to have everything? Remember when Michael J. Fox rode the hover board in the movie “Back-to-the-Future”? We're now selling self-powered people movers that are also referred to as hover boards. The brand is called the Sonic Smart Wheel and I saw my first one during a Las Vegas convention a few months ago. I was instantly hooked as I watched people gliding effortlessly across the expansive floors. I had to have one and I’m so happy I purchased mine because they are a blast!


Sonic Smart Wheels are fun, easy to ride and a great way to travel about. A Sonic Smart Wheel features two motors, one beneath each of your feet that detects micro amounts of pressure that takes you in that direction. Dip your toes forward to go forward, put your heels back to go backwards. Apply pressure on just one foot and you’ll turn in that direction. It almost reads your mind! Sonic Smart Wheels are durable, lightweight and come with a one year warranty. They are available in four colors: gold, blue, red and white and prices start at just $499!


We also have several other great gift giving ideas for people that love their high tech gadgets. We are now offering fully reconditioned smart phones, tablets and iPads. Reconditioned phones will be starting at $120 for an iPhone 4, while iPads and tablets will start at $180.  We also have a great variety of cases and screen protectors to make sure your investment is protected. Before the holiday season melts away, be sure to stop in and check out all these amazing new items. You’ll be glad you did!

Dr. Blakely Gave Me Wellness!

By Paula Fredette

When I first hurt my back, I didn't consider seeing a doctor or chiropractor because I don't like modern medicine. I'm not sure how I got hurt. I just turned funny and something snapped. I was in major pain all weekend, so the following Monday, I trusted my instincts and walked down the street to Dr. Beth Blakely’s office.

I was numb from my hips to my toes on the left side. At the time, I was at 25 years old with no health insurance and working at Burger King. During my first visit, I filled out a lengthy questionnaire and then shared my medical history with Dr. Blakely. She took her time with me and explained what was going on in my body. She really knows what she's talking about.

Dr. Blakely gave me an adjustment that day and strongly recommended B-12 to help relieve the nerve damage. She worked out a payment plan that I could afford and I was able to continue an ongoing treatment plan.

During my treatment, I researched the nerve damage I had and found that it normally takes 500 – 1,000 days to heal. With the combination of adjustments and B-12, I had absolutely no numbness in just two months! I was pretty much back to normal and soon began feeling better than ever. I started exercising again and dropped a lot of weight. Dr. Blakely also recommended joint support for my lower back and a supplement for my gut to improve my immune system and mental clarity.

I'm totally indebted to Dr. Blakely! When I was 25 years old, I would wake up feeling like I was 97 years old! But after going to Dr. Blakely's, I now wake up in the morning with no pain. I feel much better overall.  My knees, back and sciatica don't hurt anymore. She did a lot of awesome things for me to help me get to a point where I can now do awesome things for myself.


Today, I've got a real job working at Dr. Blakely's office. I'm surrounded by wellness and life is amazing! 

An Interview with Santa Claus

By Bob Cox

Q: Why did you get started in the business of gift giving?

A: My story began nearly two millenniums ago with Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas was born on March 15, 270. He was also called Nikolaos of Myra. Saint Nicholas was a Christian saint and Greek Bishop of Myra, in Asia Minor, which is now in modern-day Turkey.

Q: Was it Saint Nicholas who inspired you to become such a giver?

A: Yes. He has an enduring reputation for anonymous gift-giving and I really admire that quality. He was known to put coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, a practice celebrated with a feast in his honor: St Nicholas Day, December 6. Nicholas was also famous for his generous gifts to the poor. One story in particular stands out: When he presented the three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian with dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes. Saint Nicholas was also the patron saint of sailors, merchants, repentant thieves and children in cities and countries around Europe.

Q: Is that why you always say ho,ho, ho?

A: You really didn’t just go there? Next question.

Q: How did the legend of Saint Nicholas evolve into the modern day Santa Claus?

A: During the Middle Ages, often on the evening before Saint Nicholas Day, children were bestowed gifts in his remembrance. The custom of gifting of children at Christmas has been promoted by Martin Luther, a prominent German friar and priest during the 15th and 16th centuries. His goal was to offer an alternative to the previously popular gift custom on St. Nicholas Day and refocus the interest of the children to Christ instead of the veneration of saints. Despite his efforts, Saint Nicholas remained popular as a bearer of gifts for the people.

Q: That’s fascinating, but we still seem to be far away from the modern version of who you are. What happened next?

A: Prior to Christianization and beginning in the 4th century, the Germanic people celebrated a midwinter event that stretched from Mid November to early January called Yule. With the Christianization of Germanic Europe, numerous traditions were absorbed from Yuletide celebrations into modern Christmas.

Q: I know you don’t drink Red Bull to stay alert on those long and cold Christmas eve nights, so how did you get your wings that allow you to soar through the skies with a sleigh and flying reindeer?

A: Now that is a very interesting story! During the Yule celebration, supernatural and ghostly occurrences were said to increase in frequency, such as the Wild Hunt, a ghostly procession through the sky. The leader of the wild hunt is frequently affirmed as the Norse god Odin, aka Jólnir, which means "yule figure" and Langbarðr, meaning "long-beard". Odin was also known as the “Gift-bringer of the North”. He had a long white beard and wore a blue-hooded cloak as he rode the midwinter sky on his eight-footed steed Sleipnir, bringing gifts to his people.

Q: That all sounds like someone we know! Could it be Jolly Saint Nick?

A: Busted! You got me there Bob!

Q: What would you say have been the biggest influences in how we Americans see you today?

A: My physical appearance was reshaped back in 1823 when a poem was written by Clement Clarke Moore titled A Visit From St. Nicholas and a generation later, an illustration drawn by John Leech of the Ghost of Christmas Present in Charles Dickens's festive classic A Christmas Carol had major influences on my appearance. Finally, in 1863, political cartoonist Thomas Nast created a characature of me in Harper’s Weekly that has been reinforced through the decades on radio, television and motion pictures.

Q: Speaking of reshaping, how are you with your robust body image? The ladies these days really seem to be going for the hard body, wash board abs look, which by the way is still on my Christmas list.

A: No worries. Mrs. Claus appreciates my well rounded physique. Hopefully, your wife appreciates yours!

Q: Ouch, I mean touché. Do you have any great gift giving ideas for shoppers this year?

A: Yes, shop local and support the businesses that are the infrastructure of our local economy. When you keep your money local, great things happen. Businesses expand, they hire more people and the extra money collected in taxes can go back into community improvement projects and programs.

Q: Gee Santa. I didn’t realize that you were an economist too!

A: Running a successful toy manufacturing and distribution business for centuries isn’t as easy as it looks.

Q: Do you have any funny Santa stories that you’re willing to share?

A: Yes, back in 1955, a Sears store in Colorado Springs, Colorado ran an ad with a misprinted “Santa Hotline” telephone number. Children hoping to speak with me called the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) on Christmas Eve instead. When Colonel Harry Shoup received the first call, he responded by telling children that there were signs on the radar that Santa was indeed heading south from the North Pole. A tradition began, which continued under the name NORAD Tracks Santa, when in 1958 Canada and the United States jointly created the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD). This tracking can now be done via the Internet and NORAD's website!

Q: Any advice for parents?

A: Yes, for goodness sakes, indulge your children in these two good four letter words: work and play. Back in my day, very few kids sported the portly physique I’ve been bestowed by that Nast character. Physical work and play is wonderful for the body, mind and spirit. Too much sitting around playing with those high tech contraptions isn’t healthy for anyone.

Q: Will I finally make the nice list this year?



A: With questions like these, keep ho ho, hoping. Just kidding. No more coal for you Bob!

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Your Factory Warranty could Save you Money!

By Dave Trux

Many auto repair shops will perform work on cars that are still under factory warranty, but you should proceed with caution. Why? Not long ago, we had a customer who had some timing chain work done for around $2,700. She became a customer of ours after she became suspicious of her previous shop. One day, I had mentioned that there were some things that were recalls that we may want to do, now that we started taking care of her car. When I mentioned the timing chain, she said just had that done by another shop and she paid $2,700 for it. Come to find out it, this was covered under her warranty and the shop owner knew it!

Here’s a good rule of thumb: If you have a car that’s less than 7 years of age, it doesn’t hurt to call the manufacturer to see if any proposed repair is covered under your warranty. Most people don’t know that some components of an engine or a car actually carry, by federal mandate, a warranty much longer than what the manufacturer’s normal factory warranty is. So, they may see that they have a problem with a certain component of a car and end up covering it under warranty. If you have any questions or doubts, don’t be afraid to ask!

Don’t just limit this question to your repair shop. Get a second opinion. We make it a priority to know about these things as much as possible. For example, if we have a car that comes in that was built in 2009 that has 70,000 something miles on it and it needs major engine work, I’m going to go back to the manufacturer and say, “Hey, this is a little out of the ordinary, is this something you will cover?” If that doesn’t work, a quick web search will turn up the truth.


We’ve also had people come to us and say, “I need to replace this timing chain and I heard it was covered under warranty.” From there, we can council them on what to do. I don’t think most people know that there could be things that are covered under a service bulletin that go beyond the standard warranty, especially if it’s a defect in the car’s design. If a component in your car breaks, like the door handle, if it is still under warranty, the manufacturer will have to fix it. 

Make Everyday Thanksgiving

By Bob Cox

Thanksgiving is a time of the year where many of us celebrate the things we are grateful for with the people we love. The tradition of gathering with the entire family around a feast that includes a golden brown turkey with all the trimmings is something I participated in during the first four decades of my life. Then one day, my wife Diana suggested that we break tradition by paying a visit to “The Happiest Place on Earth”…Disneyland!

At first, I thought she was joking, but when I realized she was serious, I felt inspired to throw caution to the wind and experience a new adventure. As it turned out, we had a blast from morning to night, running from ride to ride until we closed down the park while sipping on hot chocolate with blurry eyes and cold hands.

Disneyland on Thanksgiving Day became our new family tradition for the next several years and we thoroughly enjoyed all the good times. After a few years of staying local, we planned to go back to The Magic Kingdom this Thanksgiving until we got the results of Diana’s biopsy on October 5th. When the results came back positive, we were both shocked. Neither one of us thought she would be diagnosed with breast cancer. The irony that October has become breast cancer awareness month was not lost on us.

When I had everything regarding the magazine taken care of except my article; on the evening before our deadline, I asked Diana if she had any ideas about what I should write about, she said, “No, just let go and sleep on it. The answer will come to you in the night like it always does”.

When I awoke the next morning, I told her that the one and only thought that came to me was to write about our diagnosis. I knew she wouldn’t want me to share this with the world as she is an extremely private person. At first, she was opposed to the idea for that reason and also believed it was too heavy and negative, especially when the holidays are meant to be a joyous celebration with family and friends. When I told her that I thought there was a way to bring the two experiences together, she gave me her blessings.

From the first time I met this amazing, inspiring, compassionate and loving woman 20 years ago during a LeTip business meeting, every day feels like Thanksgiving. I’m not saying that we haven’t argued passionately on more than a few occasions over matters large and small, because we have. What am I saying is in spite of, or more likely because of these disagreements, we have learned more about each other and have grown closer with the passing of each second. She is my best friend, my soul mate and the love of my life and I will be forever grateful for every moment we’re together.

Are we scared or worried that she may not survive? No. We understand the danger were in but neither one of us is afraid of death. We’re not trying to be positive or courageous; we just happen to have an absence of fear.

How on earth could we possibly not be afraid? Because Diana and I are wholeheartedly convinced that death is not the final chapter in our soul’s existence. Growing up, my dad, who suffered from a variety of health related issues, including heart disease, was everything to me and the one person I loved more than life itself. For 23 agonizing years, I was a slave to the morbid fear of what life would be like without him. When he finally passed away from cancer, I felt the presence of his warm and loving spirit just as strongly as I felt so much love for him and from him. Can I prove that his spirit lived on long after his last breath? No, not any more than I can prove how much we loved each other. What we feel is what’s really real.

Does this mean that Diana and I are lying down and giving up to the ravenous monster that’s invaded our home? Absolutely not! We’re confident that the key to beating any “disease” is to starve it out by depriving it of the things it feeds off of (toxins and stress) and then overwhelm it with “ease”. That means we plan to do even more of the things that bring us joy, peace and happiness by embracing life’s simplest pleasures and do them “Conehead Style”: In Mass Quantities! We will also endeavor to eat healthier and build our immune systems to starve the beast out while avoiding any negative emotions like deprivation.


I believe the secret to living every day like its Thanksgiving is to spend as much time as possible with the people we truly love and respect, appreciate all the blessings and good times we’ve had and avoid mourning the things we’ve lost. Fear has no part in any feast or joyous occasion and your life; my friend, deserves to be celebrated! 

Do not break the Chain

By Brad Isaac

Years ago when Seinfeld was a new television show, Jerry Seinfeld was still a touring comic. At the time, I was hanging around clubs doing open mic nights and trying to learn the ropes. One night I was in the club where Seinfeld was working, and before he went on stage, I saw my chance. I had to ask Seinfeld if he had any tips for a young comic. What he told me was something that would benefit me a lifetime...

He said the way to be a better comic was to create better jokes and the way to create better jokes was to write every day. But his advice was better than that. He had a gem of a leverage technique he used on himself and you can use it to motivate yourself—even when you don't feel like it.

He revealed a unique calendar system he uses to pressure himself to write. Here's how it works.
He told me to get a big wall calendar that has a whole year on one page and hang it on a prominent wall. The next step was to get a big red magic marker.

He said for each day that I do my task of writing; I get to put a big red X over that day. "After a few days you'll have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You'll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job next is to not break the chain."
"Don't break the chain," he said again for emphasis.

Over the years I've used his technique in many different areas. I've used it for exercise, to learn programming, to learn network administration, to build successful websites and build successful businesses.
It works because it isn't the one-shot pushes that get us where we want to go, it is the consistent daily action that builds extraordinary outcomes. You may have heard "inch by inch anything's a cinch." Inch by inch does work if you can move an inch every day.

Daily action builds habits. It gives you practice and will make you an expert in a short time. If you don't break the chain, you'll start to spot opportunities you otherwise wouldn't. Small improvements accumulate into large improvements rapidly because daily action provides "compounding interest."
Skipping one day makes it easier to skip the next.

I've often said I'd rather have someone who will take action—even if small—every day as opposed to someone who swings hard once or twice a week. Seinfeld understands that daily action yields greater benefits than sitting down and trying to knock out 1,000 jokes in one day.

Think for a moment about what action would make the most profound impact on your life if you worked it every day. That is the action I recommend you put on your Seinfeld calendar. Start today and earn your big red X. And from here on out...
Don't break the chain!


Brad Isaac is a lead software programmer and blogger. You can read his motivational strategies every day on his goal setting blog, Achieve-IT!

The new iPhone

By Alika Salazar

Apple just released two new products: The iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus. These new models have a number of upgrades over the previous models (The iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus). Here are some of the most significant upgrades:

3 D Touch: With a single press, you can do things that were never possible before. It senses how deeply you press the display, letting you do all kinds of essential things more quickly and simply. It also gives you real-time feedback in the form of subtle taps from the all-new Taptic Engine.
Faster Processer: The iPhone 6s is powered by the custom-designed 64-bit A9 chip. It delivers performance once found only in desktop computers with up to 70 percent faster CPU performance and up to 90 percent faster GPU performance, great for all your favorite games and apps. You can now navigate faster and go to a new message in one click instead of three.

Improved Camera: The new model went from 8 megapixels to 12 megapixels for even sharper photos. It also has 4K video, which is up to four times the resolution of 1080p HD video. You can also enjoy Live Photos, a new way to relive your favorite memories. It captures the moments just before and after your picture and sets it in motion with just the press of a finger.
Increased Durability: The enclosure is made from a new alloy of 7000 Series aluminum, which is the same grade used in the aerospace industry. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus bent real easily, so they made the housing stronger and thicker.

Advanced Security: A highly advanced fingerprint sensor is now faster and better than ever. Touch ID makes unlocking your phone easy and secure.

Faster LTE & Wi-Fi: The iPhone 6s features LTE Advanced with speeds up to twice as fast as the previous generation. It also lets you do things like browse the web and download apps at speeds up to twice as fast, too.

If you decide to buy this amazing new phone, be sure to protect your investment with a protective case and/or glass screen protector. We have plenty to choose from in all three stores and they are very affordable. Cases start at just $9.99 and glass screen protectors start at just $24.99. And we also have glass screen protectors for iPad and Samsung products. The iPad glass screen protectors start at just $34.99 and we install them for free! 

A Pain in the Atlas

By Bob Cox

The first time I hurt my back was when I was a 21 year-old college student. A buddy from a statistics class had this annoying habit of admiring his own physique a little too much for comfort, so I figured the best way to shut him up was to look even more ripped than him. I proceeded to ramp up my workout routine by adding more and more weight to my barbell until I accomplished my goal.

The cost of that gain was pain, excruciating pain! Eleven years later, an x-ray from the doctor’s office revealed a herniated disk in my lower back. It felt like King Kong had been squeezing me like a banana. Over time, I learned a valuable lesson: It’s better to feel great and look okay than it is to look great and feel like an abused piece of fruit! So I made several major positive changes in my life, which included adjustments to my workout routine and handling stress proactively and have enjoyed a mostly pain free existence ever since.

This past month; however, I made not one but two bone headed decisions, which allowed the 50,000 pound gorilla back into my life. I went up slightly in the weight that I normally use because my dumbbell wasn’t available (My stupid ego wouldn’t allow me to wimp out and go down in weight), which was just enough to stress out the muscles in my lower back. A week later, at the end of a long day delivering magazines, several copies fell to the floor and in an exhausted state, I stretched awkwardly to grab them and wham, my back was twisted tighter than that rope King Kong used to pull Fay Wray back into his arms.

After a week of unrelenting pain and stiffness with no relief in sight, my wife Diana suggested that I call Dr. Blakely, who had recently helped her by significantly reducing the chronic pain in her back, neck and shoulders. I followed her sage advice and got an appointment for the following day.

After a thorough questionnaire, consultation and several x-rays, Dr. Blakely found not one, but three disks in my lower back that were too close together, causing those disks to pinch even more nerves. On top of that, she discovered that my spine was extremely curved and my atlas, which is the bone that rests between the skull and spine, was out of alignment. She believed that by fixing my atlas, she could straighten out my spine and relieve the pain in my back.



After just two weeks, I’m feeling much better! I would say about 75% better as I’m able to do all the things that many of us take for granted, like putting water on the cooler, tying my shoes and picking up the morning newspaper without unbearable pain and stiffness. I’m confident that Dr. Blakely will continue to help me get my back back (Sounds like a movie line from Mars Attacks) and my life back. Thanks Dr. Blakely and please tell King Kong to find another banana to squeeze!

Sunday, September 27, 2015

The 10/90 Rule

By Bob Cox

When my parents would argue, which was limited to just three times a day (morning, noon and night); they would come from opposite ends of the universe. Dad called mom a hopeless optimist, with her eyes adorned with rose colored glasses while hanging out with the likes of Pollyanna and Tiny Tim as they tip-toed through the tulips. Dad; on the other hand, would have been best described as a hopeful pessimist, always looking for more reasons to confirm his belief that the world was truly a rotten place to live. He might have been miserable, but boy was he right!

I spent years searching for a place where the average human being could live in the world of reality while enjoying a steady diet of peace, joy and tranquility. During this search, I discovered a simple and effective practice where I could do just that on a pretty consistent basis.
The concept is called the 10/90 rule and here’s how it works. The happiest and most successful people spend very little time (about 10%) identifying a problem and most of their time (90%) and energy solving it. They don’t bury their heads in the sand when a problem occurs or dwell on it until they bring overwhelming misery to themselves and everyone around them. They attack the problem like a pit bull while it’s small and then solve it.

If you don’t believe this, observe the most happy and successful people you know and then compare them with the most unhappy and unsuccessful people you wish you didn’t know. Oftentimes, the most intelligent people are also the most chronically miserable people on earth. They waste the bulk of their time (90%) analyzing and complaining about problems with anyone and everyone born with at least one ear. Hopefully, if you’re near someone like this, you have two ears so that their rants can travel in one ear and exit quickly out of the other!

If your primary goal is to be happier, why on earth wouldn’t you practice the 10/90 rule on a consistent basis? I can think of at least four compelling motives that could prevent you from following this simple and effective rule.
  1. The intoxicating allure of sympathy: When people we care deeply about give us their sympathy whenever we share our problems and vulnerabilities, we feel the power of their love for us. The desire for real personal freedom from our problems must be greater than this basic need to connect.
  2. Getting stuck in the deep grooves of a negative encounter: Am I the only person that can have a day with one hundred positive encounters and only one unpleasant one and wind up obsessing about the negative one? I don’t think so. Negative feedback can often be extremely unsettling. The key is to acknowledge that you’re stuck in a negative groove and then resolve the unsettled issue as fast as possible using the 10/90 rule.
  3. Unwillingness to change core beliefs and behaviors: When people say things like “I’m too old to change” or “That’s just the way I am”, what they’re really saying is “I do not have a strong enough incentive to change my behavior.” If you want to improve the quality of your life, you need to have enough insight to determine which patterns of behavior and choices lead to negative outcomes and then invest the time and energy to change them.
  4. Addiction to drama: Do you feel like you need the external stimulation of problems that appear bigger than life to feel stimulated, energized and alive? If so, then yes my friend, you are addicted to drama and drama is the next door neighbor of misery. If you live in that neighborhood, resist the urge to borrow a cup of sugar!

If you’re feeling trapped or overwhelmed by problems that feel like a prison of pain, I strongly encourage you to give the 10/90 rule a try. Once you’ve tried it, see how you feel. If you like how you feel afterwards, by all means try it again and again until it becomes a part of everything you do. You deserve to be as happy as possible, so go for it! 

He Didn’t Dial 911 on 9/11

By Bob Cox

When it comes to unforgettable moments in the last century of American history, three will be etched upon the souls of everyone that’s old enough to remember them: The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941), the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (November 22, 1963) and the terrorist attack on New York City and Washington D.C. (September 11, 2001). Whenever these topics are brought up, the conversation generally begins with the question: “Where were you when...?”

When the terrorist attack occurred fourteen years ago this month, I was pulling up to my office in Roseville when I heard the unbelievable news on the radio. My first thought was the attack happened here in downtown Sacramento against our own "Twin Towers". A few minutes later, when broadcasters were referring to The World Trade Center towers in New York City, I realized the tragedy was even more unfathomable.

As the news slowly emerged, with one horrific plane crash after another, most people seemed to either be shuffling around in a dazed fog or sitting in stunned shock in front of the nearest television screen. Yet, throughout all the chaos, mayhem and destruction, one man stood tall amongst the backdrop of the smoking skyscrapers. Hi name was Rudy Giuliani.

Rudolph William Louis Giuliani was born May 28, 1944, less than two weeks prior to another monumental date in American history (D-Day, June 6, 1944). During his childhood, his father fell far short of being a shining role model. Harold Giuliani not only had trouble holding down a steady job, he was convicted of felony assault and robbery and ended up serving time in Sing Sing Prison. Shortly after his release, he worked as an enforcer for his brother-in-law, who ran an organized crime operation, which involved loan sharking and gambling.

As an ironic twist of fate, Giuliani retraced his father’s footsteps and went on to become the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York during the 1980’s. During his tenure, he prosecuted several cases against the Italian Mafia, including the notorious mob boss John Gotti (a.k.a. Teflon Don), who was sentenced to life in prison. This accomplishment earned Giuliani a reputation for being tough on crime and he continued to apply those practices as mayor from 1993-2001. During his tenure, crime in New York City was reduced substantially.

Giuliani was much more than the mayor of America’s largest city (New York) on September 11, 2001. He was also a prominent source of information and inspiration in the aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center. He continuously made time for interviews on radio and television in the days and weeks after the attacks. In one of his most famous statements, Giuliani said: “Tomorrow New York is going to be here. And we're going to rebuild, and we're going to be stronger than we were before... I want the people of New York to be an example to the rest of the country, and the rest of the world, that terrorism can't stop us.
In the wake of the attacks, Giuliani was widely hailed for his leadership during the crisis. Giuliani received a 79 percent approval rating among New York City voters shortly after the attacks and Oprah Winfrey referred to him as "America's Mayor". Later that year, Time magazine named Giuliani its Person of the Year for 2001.

Amazingly enough and despite his father’s obvious character flaws, he loved his dad dearly and gave him a lot of credit for his ability to deal with the chaos of 9/11. “The most important lesson my dad taught me was how to manage fear. Early on, he taught me that in a time of emergency, you've got to become deliberately calm. The more people are yelling and screaming around you, the calmer you should become. Become unnaturally calm. Somebody's got to be able to figure a way out of the jam. And you'll be able to do that."

Rudy Giuliani’s grit, determination and calm resolve galvanized our planet’s greatest nation and we found a way through the smoke and debris to become even stronger and more resilient. The next time you’re faced with a crisis, don’t allow collective fear and hysteria to sweep you up. Try following Rudy Giuliani’s example by remaining calm, proactive and determined. The results will likely amaze you.

Ralph Opfer Floors Delivered For Me!

I chose Ralph Opfer Floors because they were referred to me by my real estate agent and I like supporting small businesses. The owner’s daughter (Brianna) was friendly and knowledgeable and her father Gregg was awesome! Not only did they install these beautiful new floors, they also refaced my fireplace and installed new lights in my kitchen. I definitely recommend Ralph Opfer Floors to anyone that’s doing any kind of renovation to their house!


Ryan O’Connor  

April Peracchi’s Road to Recovery

Q: What was your life like before you met Dr. Blakely?

A: I suffered for years from chronic pain and severe tendinitis. I've been a homemaker for about 20 years I think my injuries were due to repetitive tasks. Anyone who has had tendinitis knows how excruciating it can be. Eventually, one of my arms completely froze up and became useless. Until you lose the functionality of one of your limbs, you don’t really realize everything you need two hands and arms for, like eating, picking up a gallon of milk, doing your hair, showering and everything else.

Q: What steps did you take to get your health back?

A: I ended up going to physical therapy to get movement back in my arm and also started seeing my first chiropractor. I got a pretty good amount of success and wanted to progress but when I didn’t after a couple of years, I started seeing Dr. Blakely.

Q: How was Dr. Blakely different from your first chiropractor?

A: I went in and had an interview with her and she taught me a lot about supplements, vitamins and minerals. I was extremely skeptical and had previous issues with vitamins bothering my stomach. I had tried everything else and had been suffering for about ten years with pain in my back, shoulder, neck and tendinitis. So, I started taking the supplements that targeted the inflammation I had in my body, which was causing a lot of my pain. She also asked me to change my diet pretty drastically and sure enough, I started feeling relief almost immediately in all areas of my body!
Q: What were the biggest changes that you received and how long did they take to achieve?

A: Well, I started to notice a decrease in pain pretty much right away. Before Dr. Blakely, my pain was about an eight, on a scale from 1-10. I would say my pain now is probably at about a two, if I even experience it. She’s basically allowed me to be pain free.

Q: So what kinds of activities are you now able to do that you couldn’t do before?

A: Mainly just living life in general. I can do all kinds of stuff every day like housework, yard work and running errands with the kids. I take care of my 91 year old grandmother and that requires a lot of lifting and I’m able to do all that fairly comfortably and be happier doing it. My success with Dr. Blakely is still an ongoing process and it takes dedication to the program she set up for me to maintain a healthy spine and lifestyle.


Editor’s notes: Dr. Beth Blakely is a chiropractor that specializes in holistic health care practices. She can be reached at (916) 944-1444.

Does Someone You Know Suffer from PTSD?

By Bob Cox

Once upon a time in a far-away land also known as Rancho Cordova, a very simple man we will call Bob believed that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was a condition that affected a very small percentage of soldiers that were involved in combat. Boy, was I, I mean he surprised when he discovered that PTSD is a disorder that has affected nearly 45 million Americans, most who have never even served in the armed forces. He was even more shocked when he learned that women were about twice as likely as men to develop PTSD and 71% of female military personnel develop PTSD due to sexual assault within the ranks.
Although very few of us will ever have to experience the horror of combat, no one is completely safe from experiencing a trauma during their lifetime. According to one study, 70% of adults (over 223 million) in the U.S. have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives and one out of five of these people will go on to develop PTSD.
If you’ve ever experienced any kind of traumatic event, you may have PTSD. In occupations where trauma is commonplace (police officers, firefighters, medical professionals etc.), people are more likely to experience PTSD. According to a recent study, the most common traumatic events that caused women to develop PTSD was childhood physical abuse (48.5%) and being raped (45.9%). For men, the top two traumatic incidents leading to PTSD was being raped (65.0%) and combat (38.8%).
I recently spoke to Janina Guarino, the founder of Better Decisions Counseling Services and her Medical Director Nancy Schonfeld-Warden to learn more about the services they’re providing here in Sacramento to help victims that suffer from PTSD.

Q: What is Better Decisions Counseling Services doing specifically to help people here in our community that are suffering from PTSD?

A: We will be hosting The 3nd Annual PTSD Free Community Event on Saturday, November 14 and will be providing a wide variety of resources and programs designed to help people who suffer from this affliction immediately. We have a number of worthwhile workshops and counseling services that are geared specifically to help people with PTSD. If we don’t have what you need to heal, we have a large number of valuable contacts within the community to address specific needs.

Q: According to statistics, PTSD often goes undiagnosed. Why is that?

A: Because the symptoms are so overt and extreme. The most common symptoms of PTSD include drug and alcohol abuse, abuse of one’s self and/or others and extreme isolation. We will be offering free screenings for PTSD at this special event in November!

Q: How are you able to successfully diagnose victims of PTSD?

A: Yes, we use a very detailed questionnaire whenever we’re assessing someone for an addiction. Oftentimes, the causes of addiction can be traced back to one or more traumatic events. By asking our clients if they’ve had the symptoms of PTSD, like nightmares or sleeping problems, we’re able to get to the true source of the problem.

Q: Does it usually take several counseling sessions before you discover a tragic event that has caused PTSD?
A: Yes. We are building relationships with people so that they can feel safe to discuss issues that they haven’t been able to talk about in the past.

Q: What are the most common symptoms of PTSD?
A: Anxiety, depression, irrational fears, nightmares, emotional numbness, angry outbursts and avoiding situations that are reminders of the trauma. Loud noises and objects flying overhead can trigger strong and unwanted memories of the traumatic event.
Q: Is it true that victims of PTSD create even more victims with their abusive and destructive behavior?

A: Yes, and that is a very common result when the illness goes undiagnosed and untreated. The solutions we offer are designed specifically for both the client (PTSD victim) and their immediate family. We offer customized programs that treat the whole family because the whole family is often severely impacted by the victim of PTSD.

Q: What programs do you offer victims and families affected by PTSD?

A: We have a variety of counseling services and classes, including PTSD counseling, drug and alcohol counseling, family counseling, self esteem and motivational practices, anger management and even alcohol & drug prevention for teens in the home. We also have a crisis hotline for immediate help because trauma has no set schedule. There’s a lot of support here and we have a really good treatment team. We do our best to keep our phone lines open to anybody that needs help.

Q: Are there any new programs out there that are successfully treating victims of PTSD?

A: Yes, some organizations are offering treatment by incorporating service dogs for PTSD victims. We will be providing free pamphlets on this new service as well as many other effective programs at the event in November. Better Decisions is a great place to start for a wide variety of mental and emotional health resources.

Q: Are you looking for volunteers and more interns?

A: Yes. We have room for anybody that wants to volunteer or needs help. We’re available by phone, email, website and social media, including Face book.

Q: What fun activities do you have scheduled for the 3rd Annual PTSD FREE Community Event?

A: We plan to have a tasty chili cook-off, a car show, lots of vendors and festive music for all. For the kids, we’ll have face painting, clowns, a bounce house and petting zoo.

Editor’s notes: Janina Guarino is the founder of Better Decisions Counseling Services. She can be reached by phone at (916) 368-0700 and her email address is betterdecisions724@gmail.com.

The 3nd Annual PTSD FREE Community Event

When: Saturday, November 14, 2015

Time: 10a.m. to 3pm.

Where: Better Decisions Counseling Services


Address: 10366 Rockingham Drive in Sacramento

The Startling Truth about Tires and Breaks

By Dave Trux

I was taught a very long time ago that the most important safety feature of a car is the tires. Let’s face it, how good are your brakes when your tires are bald and sliding around in the rain? Your car’s stopping ability is determined by your tires, NOT your brakes.

There are three key elements to tire performance: Tread pattern, tread depth and air pressure.

Tread pattern is what the tire actually looks like on the surface. There are grooves running this way and that. A tire should be purchased that fits your driving profile. Most California drivers can get away with just about anything but other regions require winter and non-winter tires. What’s important in California is wet weather traction. Channeling and siping (miniature slits) help to remove the water from between the tire’s tread blocks and the road surface.

Tread depth is important for wet weather traction since deeper grooves will remove and channel more water at a given speed. Naturally, the tire will wear throughout its life until the tread exposes the “wear bars,” which are small bumps approximately 2/32” high located randomly within the grooves of the tire. Generally speaking, when they are exposed the tire should be replaced.

Air pressure is what gives the tire strength to resist wear and determine load capacity. There is a pressure on the side of the tire. It is only there to provide maximum load capacity pressure. An average tire will handle approx 3,000 lbs at max pressure. Your car probably does not exceed 3900 lbs, which is spread across 4 tires. We get into trouble by NOT checking air pressure often enough. In California it is against the law to service a car without checking air pressure.

Making sure that your tires are properly inflated and have adequate tread depth is a key to driving safety. Pressure should be checked at least once a month, more often is better. Drive safely and make sure your tires are in good condition. At Valley Motorwerks, we will check any brand of tires for free because it’s simply that important.

Editor’s notes: Dave Trux is the owner of Valley Motorwerks in Rancho Cordova, CA. Their address is 11403 White Rock Road in Rancho Cordova, CA, their phone number is (916) 636-9526 and their website is www.vmwerks.com.


Helping Local Businesses get Plugged In

By Alika Salazar


Many of you know by now that we here at iParts Repair take your broken device seriously. We repair all smart phones with all different operating systems, including Androids, Windows and iOS on iPhone (all generations). We even repair tablets, iPads, laptops, monitors and all sorts of electronic things used in the corporate setting.

Once smartphones, iPads and tablets were introduced onto the market, our local corporations and businesses started deploying sales people with smart phones and devices and we took notice. In 2010, we developed our corporate account repair program. Here are some of the highlights of our no cost program:


• Corporate discounted rates
• One stop shop for all devices
• Your employees qualify for a discount on personal devices
• Monthly eblasts
• Corporate pick up service (Minimum 5 devices)


We know that business doesn’t stop when your electronic device does. Most businesses today rely heavily upon technology and every second your business is unplugged, the likelihood of a catastrophe or missed opportunity increases. That’s why we are extremely committed to the unique and urgent needs of our corporate clients. Our experienced and qualified staff can handle emergencies large and small, so if your electronic device decides to take a coffee break at the worst possible time, give us a call right away or see more at: http://www. ipartsrepair.com/corporate-accounts/


Editor’s notes: Alika Salazar is the owner of iParts Phone Repairs. He can be reached at (916) 936-9316.

Cell Phones for Soldiers

By Alika Salazar

Two years ago, we decided to invite an organization into each of our three stores called Cell Phones for Soldiers. People can come to us and donate their old cell phones. Cell Phones for Soldiers, a non-profit organization, sells those phones for money and buys airtime cards for the soldiers to call home. We met the person (Robbie Bergquist) who started it all last week during a convention in Las Vegas. He was just 12 years old and his sister Brittany 13 when they began eleven years ago. They wanted to pay a soldier’s bill that was $800, so they started saving all their money and their organization grew bigger as more and more people heard about what they were doing. People all over started helping them, giving them cell phones. Today, it’s nationwide and they’ve helped a lot of people.

Since its inception in 2004, Cell Phones for Soldiers has worked to provide free communication services to active-duty military members and veterans, providing servicemen and women with an estimated 3 million prepaid calling cards, equating to more than 213 million minutes of FREE talk time!

Cell Phones for Soldiers fuel’s its mission through generous monetary contributions and the recycling of donated mobile phones. Newer or gently-used mobile phones from all service providers are accepted. Each $5 contribution or donated device valued at $5 will provide troops with 2.5 hours of FREE talk time. The organization has prevented more than 11.6 million cell phones from ending up in landfills.


We are an official drop off point for Cell Phones for Service, so if you have an old cell phone just lying around the house collecting dust or making crank calls (just kidding), we encourage you to bring it in to any one of our three stores. When you do, be sure to remove all your personal information from your old phone before you bring it in to protect your identity. Your contribution could save you money as it is tax deductible. Our soldiers and our landfills will greatly appreciate your generosity and compassion.

One Life after an Auto Accident

By Bob Cox

When Kristina Holm-Bittner was involved in a car accident two days before Thanksgiving last year, she knew she was in trouble. Her doctor ordered x-rays but they didn’t find anything wrong. Unfortunately, Kristina’s neck and back continued hurting for several months.
She was at church one day and was sharing her experience with a lady friend who recommended that she see Dr. Beth Blakely. Kristina told her she was extremely skeptical of chiropractors and that she couldn’t afford it, but her friend recommended that she go see her at least one time for a thorough consultation and evaluation.

Fortunately, Kristina took her friend’s advice and she’s getting her life back. I had the opportunity to speak to Kristina the other day about her experience working with Dr. Blakely.

Q: What symptoms did you have after your car accident?
A: I had pain in my neck and lower back and was getting by on pain medication. When I first met Dr. Blakely, I had a real positive feeling and was impressed by her. She helped me understand her whole treatment process. She began by recommending that I see a pain consult doctor and ask for an MRI, which my regular doctor did not do. The pain consult doctor gave me two epidural injections and the pain in my knee that I had for years completely disappeared! They told me that my knee pain originated in my back and probably got worse because of the accident.

Q: Why were you skeptical of chiropractors?
A: I was really, really skeptical because I’m a nurse.

Q: What else has Dr. Blakely done specifically to help you?
A: Her adjustments have really helped. When I first came in, she measured my legs and said that one leg was shorter than the other and that we needed to get my spine in alignment. I was really skeptical and thought that was bogus, but her adjustment worked! I can really feel the difference after each adjustment. I also mentioned that my vitamin D level was low, despite following my doctor’s recommendations for the previous three years. She suggested that I increase my dosage eight times and I thought “What?”, but I did and it worked! My daughter had the same problem, so I told her what Dr. Blakely recommended, so she’s helped my daughter too! The last time I went to the doctor, my vitamin D level was normal.

Q: How much better do you feel after seeing Dr. Blakely?

A: Since I started seeing her last February, my neck does not bother me at all and it’s 100% better! My back is still not right, but I’m at least 60%-70% better. We do a lot of lifting and a lot of hard physical work in health care, so I really need my health. That’s why I decided to continue to see her two times a month. Dr. Blakely has made a big difference in my life!