(NAPSA)—Recently, the price of gasoline reached a six-year high. Fortunately, there’s a way to handle that cost. You can use less gas—without reducing your driving. Making that possible is one of the more promising alternative energy sources, ethanol, which is blended with regular gas—a little in most cars and a lot in flex-fuel vehicles. Ethanol comes from corn, wood chips and grasses. Increasing America’s ethanol production could drive down demand for oil and help wean the country off the volatility and sudden price swings it can bring. The Oil Issue Oil is what’s known as a “global commodity,” meaning it costs the same no matter where it’s produced. So while the U.S. produces more oil than at any time in nearly three decades, oil prices still rise. That’s because so much oil comes from the Middle East. Producers there can artificially restrict supply and drive up prices. An Answer Ethanol producers, on the other hand, are based in the United States and increased ethanol use is reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil. In 2013, ethanol production displaced the amount of oil America imports from Iraq and Venezuela—462 million barrels of crude oil. Expert Advice “Ethanol saves Americans money at the pump and stretches the fuel supply. Now is not the time for the Environmental Protection Agency to be scaling back our nation’s renewable energy policy. Now is the time to be expanding the use of biofuels and striking a blow for American energy independence,” noted Bob Dinneen, A Quick Selective Service Quiz “Ethanol is the lowest-cost liquid transportation fuel in the world,” says energy expert Bob Dinneen. president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). The Benefits Ethanol is currently blended in more than 96 percent of America’s fuel supply, saving consumers an average of $1.00 a gallon at the pump. Ethanol production is also a major job creator. A typical U.S. ethanol plant supports nearly 3,000 jobs. “The need for American energy independence has never been so important and the solution has never been so clear—renewable fuels,” Dinneen added. Government Action Nevertheless, some people are trying to get Congress to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which requires refiners to blend increasing amounts of renewable fuels. However, many Americans are writing their legislators at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov, asking them to support the Renewable Fuel Standard. Learn More For further facts on ethanol, visit www.ethanolrfa.org. (NAPSA)—Many are surprised when they learn they don’t know as much about the Selective Service and the law as they thought they did. To help, here is a quick quiz with some fast facts. Q) Who must register with the Selective Service? A) Young men are required to register when they turn 18. Q) Does this also apply to immigrants? A) Yes. It also applies to male immigrants residing in the U.S., regardless of their immigration status. Young men are required to register with the Selective Service when they turn 18. Q) Are there any benefits to registering? A) Those who register remain eligible for student financial aid and federal job training programs, and those who want to become a citizen will have to show proof of registration. Also, some states now require it when applying for a driver’s license. Q) Are there significant penalties for not registering? A) Yes. Those who don’t comply face fines of up to $250,000, a prison sentence of up to five years or both. To learn more, visit www.sss. gov. Turkey-Carving Tips: Three Easy Steps A Majority of Americans Haven’t Practiced Emergency Preparedness America’s PrepareAthon! Campaign Offers Specific Actions To Prepare For A Disaster (NAPSA)—A recent survey conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) found that nearly 70 percent of Americans have not participated in a preparedness drill or exercise, aside from a fire drill, at their workplace, school or home in the past two years. Knowing what to do in the event of a disaster or emergency is the message of the America’s PrepareAthon!, a nationwide grassroots campaign for action to increase community preparedness and resilience through hazard-specific drills, group discussions, and exercises. The campaign offers easy-to-implement preparedness guides, checklists, and resources to help individuals, organizations, and whole communities practice the simple, specific actions they can take for emergencies and the types of disasters that are relevant to their area. September is National Preparedness Month and a reminder that we must take action to prepare for the types of emergencies that could affect us where we live, work, learn, and worship. What You Can Do 1. Sign up for local text alerts and warnings and download weather apps to your smartphone. Stay aware of worsening weather conditions. Visit www.ready.gov/prepare and download Be Smart: Know Your Alerts and Warnings to learn how to search for local alerts and weather apps that are relevant for hazards that affect your area. 2. Gather important documents and keep them in a safe You and your family can take action now to be prepared in case of an emergency. place. Have all your personal, medical, and legal papers in one place, so you can evacuate without worrying about gathering your family’s critical documents at the last minute. Visit www. ready.gov/prepare and download Be Smart: Protect Your Critical Documents and Valuables for a helpful checklist. 3. Create an emergency supply kit. Be prepared for bad weather by creating an emergency supply kit for each member of your family. Visit www.ready.gov/ build-a-kit for ideas of what to include in your kit. 4. Develop an emergency communication plan for your family. Come up with a plan so everyone knows how to reach each other and get back together if separated. Visit www.ready.gov/ make-a-plan for communication plan resources. Visit www.ready.gov/prepare for more information and ways to get involved. Note to Editors: While September is National Preparedness Month, the information in this article can be useful to your readers at any time. (NAPSA)—If you want the turkey you serve to be “gobbled up” this holiday, consider improving the presentation with these simple carving tips: Step 1: Be sure to use a good, sharp knife. Sharp knives are not only safer, they will help you smoothly cut thin, even slices without shredding the meat. Fortunately, you don’t have to be an The flesh-like appendage that hangs off of a turkey’s neck is called the wattle. expert to put a razor-sharp edge on your knife. A sharpener such as Chef ’sChoice EdgeSelect 120 can make sharpening easy. The sharpener uses 100 percent diamondcoated disks (2.5 karats’ worth of diamonds!) and a polishing stage to create a more durable, archshaped edge in seconds. The precision guides eliminate all guesswork and that means predictable, professionally sharp edges every time it’s used. For help finding a sharpener that’s right for you, call 800-342-3255 or visit www.chefs choice.com. Step 2: After the turkey is cooked, a meat thermometer should read 165 F when inserted in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. Cool the bird for 15 minutes. Cooling makes the meat firmer and easier to slice. Remove and set aside the turkey legs and the last joint of each wing. Make a long, deep (to the bone) horizontal “base cut” into the breast just above the wing. Step 3: Slice down vertically through the breast until you meet the original base cut. This will release perfect, even slices. Keep your carving knife sharp and follow these easy steps for an elegant, beautifully carved bird that will look as good as it tastes! Turkeys will sometimes spend the night in trees. 4 (NAPSA)—Gap travel can take many forms, including work trips where participants hold jobs and are self-sustaining; volunteering trips; teaching programs; and sightseeing. So say the experts at First Abroad, a company that coordinates gap travel. Learn more at www.first abroad. com. *** Since 1974, the federal law known as ERISA has helped to protect private-sector retirement and health-benefit plans. The Labor Department enforces the protections provided by the law. Learn more at www.dol.gov/ erisa40. *** CollegeAmerica, the nation’s largest provider of 529 college savings plans, says families can educate themselves about college costs and options, and start early and save strategically with a 529 plan. Anyone interested in a 529 plan should contact a financial advisor. *** The Aspen Club is currently accepting reservations for the Younger Next Year Total Immersion Week, beginning Sunday, September 21st. It’s an intensive program focused on combating aging through exercise and diet. To learn more or register, visit www.aspenclub.com/younger-next-year.