Once you get your phone, you need to use it to stay in the program. If you do not use your cellphone at least once every 60 days, you will receive a notice from the company. That notice will give you 30 days to start using your phone, or else your discount will end. Remember the point of the program is to help people who need phones to use. If you decide you would rather have a different plan, you can change the company giving you the Obama Phone discount. Contact the new company and ask for a transfer. You may transfer no more than once every 60 days (about 2 months). This isn't something you should do often, and if you do you are stuck with your company for at least that amount of time. When you contact the company, they will need certain information from you. This includes your name, address, phone number, date of birth, and the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. You will also need to give verbal or written consent that you know you will be losing your benefits with the previous company, and that the company has explained that you may not have more than one benefit per household. Each year, you will receive a notice to recertify your eligibility. This notice will include instructions and give a deadline for recertifying. This will usually involve proving that you still have a low income or are on a government assistance program. If you fail to recertify, you will lose the discount, which means your phone bill may increase, or you will not receive your free minutes. If you no longer receive support from a government assistance program, or your income has increased above the limit, you may lose your discount. When your eligibility changes, you need to let your phone company know within 30 days so they can make the proper adjustments, including ending the discount. This also applies to someone else in your household getting an Obama Phone. If that happens, your original plan needs to be stopped, as you are only allowed one discount per household.

Summary: Keep using your phone. Change your company. Recertify annually. Let the phone company know if you are no longer eligible.

There are many benefits to raising guinea fowl, but there are also a few downfalls to keep in mind when determining whether or not these birds are right for your property. They are noisy, so your neighbors might not appreciate your new flock. It is possible to keep guinea fowl penned, but they much prefer to roam freely. The more space you have to allow your guineas to roam, the happier they will be. They are not as tame as chickens, and they are hard to catch if you let them roam. Make sure you have a fully enclosed coop ready before you bring your new guinea fowl home. They can fly, so they will escape if they are not kept in an enclosed coop. Even if you plan to let your guineas roam freely, you will need the coop to get started. Your coop should provide at least three to four square feet of space per bird. You should provide more space if you do not plan on allowing them to roam freely after the training period. Be sure to provide food and water in the coop, as well as clean bedding on the floor and perches for your birds to roost on. Once your guineas are free-roaming, you do not need to provide them with a shelter, but doing so can help protect them against predators like foxes and owls. If you don't provide a shelter, your guineas will roost in the trees at night. A shelter is different from a coop in that it allows the guineas to come and go as they please. Your shelter can be as simple as a three-sided shed with a wire front. Be sure to put a perch near the back of the shelter that is long enough so that each bird has about a foot of space to roost. Make sure the space is dry and has clean bedding on the floor. Provide a light in the shelter, as guineas don't like entering dark buildings It's best for your shelter to have two entries to prevent more dominant guineas from blocking the entrance. If you want to provide even more protection, you can keep your guineas in a coop at night. To keep them inside, cover the top with wire. If they are not free-roaming guineas, you can clip their wings to prevent them from flying away. Once you have a space designated for your guineas, it's time to choose your birds. You can buy them from local breeders, feed stores, or online sellers. You can choose to buy adult guineas if you want, but they will be easier to tame if you raise them from keets. Guinea fowl are available in a variety of "pure-bred" colors, but many of the birds are cross-bred, resulting in multicolored feathers. The feather color is the only difference between the different varieties. Guineas are monogamous creatures, so it's best to buy them in male-female pairs. It's very tricky to tell male and female guineas apart, but it is possible if you look for these three things: Males have larger wattles than females. Males make a single-syllable sound, while females make a two-syllable sound. Males have a narrower opening between their pelvic bones than females. If you hold the guinea under one arm and use your free hand to feel the bones, you should notice a distance of about two fingers on males and three fingers on females.

Summary: Know the downfalls. Have a coop. Consider providing a night-time shelter. Choose your birds.

on your esophagus to widen it. In this procedure, your doctor will insert dilators into your esophagus to widen it using a scope that is inserted in your throat. You will be under general anesthesia during the surgery so you will not feel any pain. This surgery is invasive but it is considered less extreme than a myotomy. If medication and other treatments do not work, your doctor may suggest a myotomy, where the muscles at the lower end of your esophagus are surgically cut. This can then weaken esophageal contractions in your throat and make it easier for you to swallow. You will be under general anesthesia during this procedure so you will not feel any pain. It is considered a serious surgery and is often only done as a last resort if other treatments for your spasms do not work. You will need to stay in the hospital overnight after the surgery and allow 1-3 weeks for recovery. It will be difficult for you to swallow solid foods so a liquid diet, and some soft foods, are good during your recovery. You will also need to go in for a special X-ray of the area to ensure the surgery was successful. Your doctor will also schedule a follow up with you one to two weeks after the surgery to ensure the area is healing properly and there are no signs of infection. Foods will be limited to baby food, rice, and foods put through a blender.
Summary: Get dilation surgery Consider a myotomy if your symptoms are severe. Allow several weeks for recovery from the dilation or myotomy surgery.