According to DIYLife, here’s what you need to do to keep your phone clean!

1.)  Wipe it down and kill the bacteria- Dampen a cloth with a mixture of water and alcohol on keyboards, buttons and solid parts of the device. Do not use this solution or household cleaners on touchscreens. Instead, use a damp water cloth. Use a Q-tip to reach tiny crevices and hard-to-reach areas.

2.)  Blast the keypad- Spray a few bursts of compressed air or use a small paint brush to whisk away dust and dirt that cause keypad numbers and trackballs to stick.

And for my last trick…disgusting!

3.) Battle earwax buildup- Dirt and earwax settling in earphones can lead to a reduce in sound quality (um…and it’s gross!!). If the covers are removable, pop them off and soak them for about 30 minutes in a bowl of hot water and a few drops of dish washing liquid. Rinse and dry before putting them back in place. Use an alcohol-dipped swab to go over one-piece headphones.

DIG DEEPER:  Click here to learn additional tips on keeping your cell phone and other electronic devices clean.

L’Houssaine Kherchtou testified at a terrorism trial that he joined the terrorist group in 1991 and later became Osama bin Laden’s pilot after taking flying lessons and working his way up from training camp instructor.  Around 1995, when Al Qaeda moved operations to Sudan, money became scarce.

Apparently a number of businesses started by Bin Laden failed to bring in revenue and money became hard to come by.  Because Al Qaeda refused to pay for medical treatments, Kherchtou’s wife had to beg for money on the streets to pay for her c-section, which cost $500 at a Sudanese hospital.

READ MORE:  Dig deeper into this unusual story by clicking here.

For me, that awkward conversation went down a matter of months ago.  I knew my employment was in jeopardy when my supervisor came into the on-air studio and said, “Rick, please stop by my office before you go.”  Seconds later, I was handed documents outlining how to sign-up for COBRA.  My breathing got heavy as I saw my life flash before my eyes.  There is just about nothing worse in life than losing your job.

If you found yourself having that awkward and nightmare of a conversation with your job, here is a list of things that AOL Jobs says need to do!

1.)  Visit your local unemployment website.  There are resources available to you.  Take advantage of them.

2.)  Don’t sit at home-  Most career consultants recommend that you don’t sit around at home and mope.  Instead, they recommend that you face the reality of your situation and get out and network.  By removing yourself from the business world, you’re simply removing yourself from possible opportunities.

Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with taking a few days off immediately after losing your job.  Give yourself a couple of days to relax, recover, regroup, and get ready to conquer your world!

2. Approach job searching as if it were your job- Make the most of this time in your life!  It’s time to sell YOU!

3. Sit down with a counselor and make a day-to-day plan to improve your skills and find a job.  Paid career counseling might even be a part of your severance agreement.  If not, your medical insurance’s mental health coverage might cover your counseling sessions.

For the rest of the list, click here.

1.)  Improve your marital relationship by establishing a set time during the day where you and your spouse can connect face-to-face to talk about the events of the day.

2.)  The article also recommends that one give out praises publicly.  A practical example of how to carry this out would be to update your Facebook status message with nice things about your spouse.

However, the article also recommends that if your husband is into things that you aren’t into like football, bike riding, or cars, join him.  “Turn those annoyance into shared experiences,” wrote the author.

Sadly however, I know more than one man who would be beyond frustrated if his wife were to intrude in on that ‘man time.’

10.)

9.) Get caught up on laundry (Maybe we’ll wait a few days on this one)

8.) Watch episodes of Judge Mathis

7.) Send copies of my bills to Obama

6.) Apply for admission to hospitality or culinary school

5.) Become one of those annoying “Green Peace” volunteers that hit you up for money as you try to go about your lunch our downtown

4.) “Train at Home for a Better Career”

3.) Become a guest on the final season of Oprah

2.) Watch reruns of Golden Girls

1.) Become a Toll-Booth Operator

Runner up for #1: Job Hunting

Tax Day is just two days away — are you getting a refund?

• 55% of those filing this year anticipate getting money back from the government.
• 84% intend to use the extra funds to bolster their finances.
• Three out of ten say they’ll pay down their debts with their refund
• 28% to invest or save the money
• 26% plan on using the cash on day-to-day necessities like bills and groceries
• 11% anticipate doing something “fun” with the money, like taking a vacation or going on a shopping spree

(Source:  Princeton Survey Research Associates International poll)

What will you do with the money?

Prepare yourself before you park:  Find complete details on street closures here.

Weekend Happenings

• TODAY-  RICK HALL-oween is on!  Join me at 7-Eleven in Naperville (3075 Book Rd — Near the corner of Book Rd. and 95th St.)  between 5p and 7p for your chance to win prizes from FRESH 105.9 and the Illinois Lottery.  Plus, be sure to pick up a Halloween  Millionaire Raffle ticket while you’re there!
   
• SATURDAY-  Together, let’s take a stand against suicide!  It’s 100% preventable — and it starts with you!  Join me at Lincoln Park, Grove 2 between 8:30AM and 10:30AM.  It’s not too late to register for this benefit walk!  For more information, click here.

Sarah and I have long talked about going hiking with our dog Coconut.  So far, it has just been talk, as we’ve never actually followed through.  All of that may change, now that I’ve discovered Palos.

Palos, roughly 16,000 acres of woods, ravines, lakes, ponds, wetlands, and prairies, is located just minutes from downtown.  Discover it like I did by checking out Brotman’s article, located here.

Weekend Happenings

• Chicago Air and Water Show– The U.S. Air Force Thunderbird jet team will be once again headlining the 51st annual water show.  More than 2 million spectators are expected, so get to the beach early!  Oak Street Beachstro is offering viewing packages that include food and a cash bar.  Prices range $65-$165.  Details can be found here.
• Chicago Turkish World Festival– Sarah refers to me as “Hamburger and Spagetti,”as I rarely venture outside of the box.  However, the thought of Turkish Coffee makes me want to head on over to the Navy Pier right now!  This two-day event features an Ottoman-era marching band,m hand drawn calligraphy, and Whirling Dervishes.  Starts Saturday and Sunday, 10am.

Miley, wearing a tank top, boots and short shorts, performed her new single “Party in the U.S.A.” while dancing on what resembled a stripper pole.  Today, everyone is questioning whether the performance was suitable for a 16-year-old, and a debate over the suggestive choreography has developed over the Internet.

Keep in mind, Miley’s fame can largely be contributed to her role on The Disney Channel’s series, “Hannah Montana.”  The network says, quote, “Disney Channel won’t be commenting on that performance, although parents can rest assured that all content presented on the Disney Channel is age-appropriate for our audience – kids six to 14 – and consistent with what our brand values are.”

I think what made the whole performance all the more disgusting was that her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, sat in the crowd and smiled as he watched on.  This family sure knows how to raise eyebrows, especially after Billy Ray and Miley’s infamous Vanity Fair photoshoot.

The Tribune’s “Live” section devoted an entire page to the controversy.  Grab the print edition or head over here for more details.