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Dear Lynne: You've said on radio there's a way of cooking dried beans where they always taste good. I cannot remember if you said how to do it. Could you give me a recipe? -- Cheapo Cook

Dear Cheapo Cook: Cheap is right. A dollar and a half can buy you a pound of dried organic beans, which when cooked right can make four to six people happy and full.

A video of a cheerleader supposedly crippled after getting the H1N1 flu vaccine has received almost a million hits on the Internet.

It's driving doctors crazy, as they insist the vaccine is safe and anti-vaccine preachers are plain wrong.

With her diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol under control, Gail Johnson expects to be around to see her grandchildren grow up. But she figures she'll die long before she's able to pay off her hospital bills.

"I don't even know how much I owe (the hospital). That's how bad it is," she says, guessing it's well over $20,000.

In states with mild climates, a garden doesn't go to bed for the winter, it simply changes character. By Thanksgiving, the beds and borders are filled with plants that crave cooler temperatures. Try to grow these same plants in summer and they'll promptly wilt or become infested with wooly aphids.

The creative possibility that lies within a single branch is inspiring. It can be manipulated and transformed into some of the most beautiful, organic jewelry pieces. Working with branches doesn't cost anything, which makes people even more fearless with their efforts, because they're not as concerned with making costly mistakes.

Q: Our 42-year-old house has drainpipes running through the basement. The little oozes at the joint were caulked. However, the black, tar-like coating on the extensions is wearing off, and rust is showing through. How should we approach this problem?

A: Forty-two-year-old drainpipes, those that are 2 inches or larger in diameter, are most likely made of either cast iron or copper.

Dear Helaine and Joe:

Enclosed are pictures of a 14-piece punch bowl set. It is in perfect condition. I know it has been in my family since at least 1923 and perhaps before that. I plan to pass it on to my daughter and would like for her to know the insurance replacement value. Can you help me?

Sincerely,

G. H., Durham, NC

Dear G. H.:

One of my favorite traditions during the holidays is to learn about other people's holiday traditions. I enjoy hearing about their childhood memories, like baking cookies for Santa or caroling for neighbors, and how they have woven their holiday heritage into their own observances as adults.

As we invent things to make our lives more efficient, the net result is often more things on our to-do list and a greater sense of pressure to get them all done! Let's face it; some of the hottest-selling products and concepts today are all about saving time.

Q: Dear Ed, I never thought I'd get hooked on a plumbing column but here I am every week waiting for my next lesson! The good news is that I don't have a plumbing problem, just a plumbing question. I have heard that now there are electric toilets you can buy for your home, is this true? Also, how do they work? Jane, Pennsylvania