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I'm not sure what's more heartbreaking about Cyclone Nargis, the military's junta's failure to forewarn residents of Myanmar about the deadly storm or the regime's reluctance to allow western governments and relief groups into the country to provide assistance during the crucial early days when victims need food, water and medicine. I suspect that this gives many would-be donors pause -- people don't want to give if they're not sure the food and supplies purchased with their donation will get to those in need.

I contacted Michael Forhan, a friend's father, who has lived in Myanmar and runs Burma Border Projects, a non-profit group founded to aid refugees along the Thai-Burmese border. "Some aid may be allowed in, but the bulk of the aid that's waiting to go still hasn't and may not ever make it in time," he said in an email. "My fear is that giving to larger international organizations may not be as efficient or timely as so many of them are having difficulty getting their aid into the country."

I am hopeful that pressure from the United Nations will persuade the junta that the crisis requires urgent international assistance or else famine and disease could increase the death toll, which is already in the tens of thousands. Meanwhile, Michael suggested donating to two grassroots organizations already on the ground and helping:

A recent study of inexpensive earrings conducted by a pair of scientists at UC-SF found that almost a third of the under-$50 pairs they tested contained nickel. Why does this matter? In my years as a jeweler I became acutely aware of just how many people are allergic to the metal. Nickel dermatitis results in very sore, red and swollen ears and eczema-like symptoms.

The study found that a higher percentage of earrings on American shelves targeted to younger wearers contained nickel. They didn't find an correlation between the country of origin and the propensity for nickel.

Fortunately, there is a simple fix for many cheap earrings. If they are dangles, replacing ear wires made with nickel with those made with surgical steel should fix the problem. Fixed posts can also usually be swapped for stainless steel ones, although the cost of having your jeweler do so may exceed the value of the earrings.

Gold and platinum jewelry doesn't contain nickel.

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• Subsidized student loans are always preferable. Before exploring any private loans, college students should complete the FAFSA form and take steps to see how much they can borrow at artificially low interest rates.