Sacramento Bee

State and federal officials are still working out details of a proposed "cash for appliances" program that would enable consumers to get rebates on purchases of more energy-efficient home appliances. The program might not take effect until late fall, but here's how it's shaping up:

DID YOU KNOW?

About one-third of all employed U.S. adults typically do not take all their vacation days each year.

Workers in western states are more likely than those elsewhere in the country not to take all of their allotted time off. Four in 10 employed adults in the western United States leave vacation days unused.

HOW TO COPE

A vacation from work is a chance to get rested, recharged, re-invigorated. In stressful economic times, escaping the office is more important than ever, says David Kaplan of the American Counseling Association. Here's his advice:

Here are some specific sources and Web sites that help military families:

SaveandInvest.org: Sponsored by the nonprofit FINRA Investor Education Foundation, it offers advice on how to buy a home, save for college, invest for retirement and avoid financial scams. It also links to the Department of Defense's list of banned insurance brokers and financial advisers.

Prevention is the key to avoiding a music injury, and a good practice plan offers a start. Janet Horvath, a cellist and an authority on the medical problems of performing artists, lists some rules that can help musicians avoid a performance injury:
-- Warm up, first away from the instrument and then at the instrument.

Seven common injuries linked to music performance:

Carpal tunnel syndrome

This bane of the office worker also strikes musicians, due to intensity and the repetition of fingerings. It manifests itself as a tingling or numbness of the thumb, index or middle finger.

Focal dystonia

Recurved, spiders or stars. Polychrome, banded or watermarked. When it comes to shape and color, daylilies have their own language.
With almost limitless variations, new cultivars are introduced every year. Each has some combination of qualities that makes it unique. But what are they?

Tired of chemical cleaners? Try these "green" methods to clean around the house. They come courtesy of "Haley's Hints Green Edition" (NAL Trade, $14, 224 pages) by Graham and Rosemary Haley and "Mrs. Meyer's Clean Home" (Wellness Central, $19.99, 240 pages) by Thelma Meyer.

In the kitchen:

Bearded irises can be among the most rewarding -- and frustrating -- flowers to grow. They're mostly easy to care for, but they can baffle even expert gardeners with their unusual habits.
Here are some common questions and advice:
Q. Do bearded iris need a lot of water?

Categories of temporomandibular disorders:

Myofascial pain: Discomfort or pain in the muscles that control the jaw, neck and shoulders.
Internal (disk) derangement: Dislocated jaw or injury to the condyle.
Degenerative joint disease: Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis within the jaw joint.

Self-help tips:

Avoid chewing gum