Creating Holiday Traditions That Bring Orange Gemstones—A Tasteful Twist In Jewelry The Family Together (NAPSA)—Think icy sher- through). But the intriguing fire (NAPSA)—Traditions can be a bet...A sumptuous glass of orange opal is often found in a fabulous fun way to celebrate holidays juice ...Stunning autumn orange color, cut in a faceted man- with family and friends. They can leaves...A vivid sunset. Orange— ner, mined in Mexico, and is help add a feeling of love and Mother Nature did some of her mostly transparent in better qual- togetherness to any seasonal best work with her paint brush ity facet-grades. And it’s also gathering. dipped in orange, and this ever- found at favorable prices in jew- Fortunately, it is easy to start a appealing color is an increasingly elry this season. treasured tradition that is enjoyed popular choice in jewelry, too. Topaz is another gemstone that for years to come. These are some Orange gemstones stand out is found in various colors, such as ideas for creating your own yearly and shine, adding zest to any yellow, dark blue, pink, red, and holiday happenings: wardrobe. Orange gemstones are light green, but it truly shines in •Try taking the whole family classic—they have graced fashions orange. Fine orange and “imperial to the lot to help choose a great for centuries and are always in topaz” (orange with a hint of red) tree. Because it is a tree to be style. Robert Weldon photo © GIA. are among the rarer colors of enjoyed by all, everyone should Consider some orangy-hued topaz, and their higher prices take part in the tree selection. This ring features a 6.81 carat Portrait courtesy of The Picture People Remember to bring along a cam- gemstones: Sapphire. Garnet. Fire padparadscha sapphire from Sri reflect their scarcity. This unusual era or video recorder to capture opal. Topaz. Citrine. Where do Lanka. shade is mostly found in Brazil. Make holiday portraits and they come from? What makes Citrine, a variety of the mineral the fun moments on film. personalized cards a treasured them special? What do they cost? gemstone around. According to quartz, can appear in an orange •Start an ornament exchange tradition. Let’s take a look at a few outra- GIA’s colored stone experts, it is shade, called Madeira, although it’s by giving each family member a geous oranges, and find out more prized for its bright orangy-yellow most often seen in one of its yellow special ornament each year. • For tasty holiday fun, bring about these gemstones from the to yellowish-orange color, with coats. Mined mainly in Brazil, cit- Remember to label each ornament hungry kids (and adults) into the experts at the Gemological Insti- some of the best—and most rine is often found in larger sizes, with the year it was given. Try kitchen to construct gingerbread tute of America (GIA), the world’s sought after—examples mined in due to its affordable price, and it is exchanging them while decorating houses. Key ingredients include foremost authority in gemology. Southern California, at the Little easy to find. the tree. Brew some hot cider or empty milk boxes, graham crack- Fancy sapphire, a variety of Three mine, near Ramona. High- There’s no right or wrong when chocolate and take the time to ers, icing, an assortment of can- the mineral corundum, features quality spessartine has more choosing an orange shade or a enjoy each other’s company while dies and, of course, creativity. orange among many appealing recently been mined in Namibia type of jewelry. Whether your pas- swapping holiday keepsakes. • Put on a holiday music CD hues. An especially alluring and Nigeria. sion is a big pair of earrings in cit- •Take holiday portraits. Pro- and gather loved ones together orange-pink color is called pad- Mandarin garnet is a trade rine or topaz, a fire opal brooch, a fessional portrait studios, such as to create homemade tree orna- paradscha, after the lotus blos- name for bright orange spessar- Mandarin garnet pendant, or a The Picture People, can help cre- ments and decorations, like pop- som. GIA’s gem experts point out tine from Namibia. Although rela- sapphire centered in a ring, this ate lifetime memories with family corn, paper or dried cranberry that this latter variety is very rare tively inexpensive in small sizes, season’s best look for you could be portraits. The Picture People also chains. and ranges from pastels to more larger stones (which rarely exceed in shades of orange. has fun props (like oversized •Take a holiday light tour to fiery shades. The best examples of 10 ct) can fetch significant prices. When shopping for gemstones, snowmen and gingerbread men check out neighborhood decora- authentic padparadscha sapphire The rich color of Mandarin garnet look for a jeweler who is a Gradu- and a sleigh you can sit in), color- tions. Pile your family into the car usually command a premium makes it a favorite of orange gem- ate Gemologist or Graduate Jew- ful backdrops and photographers at night and drive around town price, often equal to their fine blue stone lovers worldwide. eler. GIA also offers identification who are experts at getting smiles looking for homes with the best counterparts. Sri Lanka and East Fire opal is an anomaly in the reports on gemstones, including on young faces. lights and displays, or walk Africa are major sources of orange opal family. Opals are usually those discussed here, to verify •Give in to the gift-opening around the block and check out and padparadscha sapphire. smoothly polished in a cabochon their authenticity. For more infor- urge by allowing each family mem- displays closer to home. Spessartine garnet is perhaps (domed) shape, mined in Aus- mation, visit www.gia.edu, or call ber to open one present on Christ- Remember, traditions do not the most eye-catching orangy tralia, and are opaque (not see- 800-421-7250. mas Eve. This can help bring have to be limited to families. everyone together for a few special They can be created with friends, relaxing moments before the roommates, couples, classmates or excitement of Christmas morning. even pets. • Bring holiday cheer to the The best traditions never lose neighborhood with a round of joy- their fun and excitement. ful caroling. The voices may not be For more information on making ready for Broadway, but the holiday portraits a tradition, visit neighbors will probably still www.picturepeople.com or call appreciate the effort. 1-800-341-HOUR.

North America’s Freight Railroads: On Board With Moving Our Goods Clean Up On These Bathroom Tips (NAPSA)—The next time you all of Western Europe’s freight (NAPSA)—To prevent microbes turn on the lights, eat a slice of railroads combined. from using your bathroom, bread, ride in a car or read this In addition, U.S. freight rail- experts suggest you keep these paper, you may care to turn your roads contribute billions of dollars helpful hints in mind: thoughts to trains. each year to the economy through • Always keep an all-purpose That’s because America’s freight investments, wages, purchases cleaner and a sponge in the guest trains deliver the wood used to and taxes. bath so you can sneak away and make the paper, 70 percent of the •Total employment: 246,000 clean up when unexpected com- automobiles produced in the U.S., • Retirees and family members pany shows up. 40 percent of the nation’s grain, supported: 700,000 • Steam helps to loosen build- and 65 percent of the nation’s • Annual capital investment: up, so why not clean while you’re coal—which provides more than $6 billion in there. half the nation’s electricity. Many • Annual taxes paid: $3.5 billion •To avoid bathtub rings, don’t other products we use every day, Freight rail also provides U.S. use oily bath preparation. Use a from corn to copper to computers, businesses with safe, effective water softener if you live in a take a train ride to get to con- and environmentally friendly hard-water area, and rinse the sumers. In fact, in the U.S., rail- shipping solutions. Since 1980, tub immediately after bathing. roads account for more then 40 railroads have improved their • Can’t get to that dirt in the THE BACTERIA BATTLE can percent of all freight transporta- services and rates. Railroads are corner? Make a pointed tool by be won by using antimicrobial tion—and that’s more than trucks, Since the first railroad was one of the safest modes of trans- cutting an old whisk broom at a protection. Left unchecked, bac- boats, barges or planes. chartered in North America in portation around—rail accidents 45-degree angle. teria can double in size every 20 Forming a seamless system of 1827, the rail industry has been have declined by 64 percent over •To avoid bacteria from breed- minutes. more than 170 thousand miles of a vital player in our economy. the past two decades. The ing in your bathroom use products track—enough to circle the globe With 173,000 miles of track Department of Labor says U.S. with built-in antimicrobial protec- products such as Aqua Glass tubs, more than half a dozen times— stretching coast to coast and railroads have been one of the tion. Products with antimicrobial showers and whirlpools, CorStone freight railroads are the backbone North to South, railroads are the most productive industries in the protection, such as those with sinks, DAP Kwik Seal Plus caulk, of North America’s freight trans- primary transporters of the country. The vast majority of the Microban® protection, provide con- flooring from Carpet One, flooring portation network. goods that are important to our massive railroad productivity has tinuous protection against bacte- adhesives from Parachem, paint One reason is because freight daily lives, like petroleum, coal, been passed on to rail customers ria, mold and mildew that can from Davis Paints, California trains are so efficient. A single fruit and vegetables. in the form of lower rates. On cause stains and odors. By keeping Paints, Hirshfield’s, Color Wheel freight train can carry the load average it costs 29 percent less to microbes in check, your bathroom and Miller Paint Co., and many of up to 500 trucks. With Amer- freight move across America’s rail move freight by rail now than it will be easier to clean and stay more products throughout the ica’s roads more congested than lines each year—that’s 7 tons for did in 1981, and 59 percent less cleaner between cleanings. home. ever, shipping goods by train can every person living in the U.S. in inflation-adjusted dollars. Remember, the right antimicro- To learn more about antimi- significantly reduce highway Our freight railroads are the You can learn more about bial protection won’t wash off or crobial protection and other prod- congestion. world’s busiest, moving more than North American freight trains at wear away, providing protection ucts available with this protection Almost two billion tons of four times as much freight as do www.tomorrowsrailroads.org. for the lifetime of the product. visit the Microban Web site at Microban protection is found in www.microban.com. 9