|
|
April 25
Hello everyone!
This was a very interesting story that will answer a lot of questions if you aren't like me when you go shopping. I have a list and money in an envelope so unless it's on the list, I don't buy it. The only exception is my Mad Money envelope ~ beloved and I each have Mad Money that we can spend on anything we want so neither of us feels deprived. It has worked for us for nearly four years when I had my car accident and money has been tight ever since. It's now just second nature and I have no intention of going back to old ways.
Don't succumb to retailers' simple ploys. Here's how they get you to buy -- and 10 ways to fight back.By The Simple Dollar
Ever notice how you can go to a store to pick up just one thing and then, by the time you get to the check stand, you have five or six things in your cart and a bigger bill than you had anticipated?
This happens over and over because department stores use an array of techniques (grocery stores use many of the same tactics) to get you to pick up these items. By itself, each technique isn't very strong -- it's the use of them in combination that is powerful.
Here's a list of 15 of the best tricks. After the list, watch for 10 ways to combat these techniques so you can get in and out of stores with your finances intact.
1. Shopping carts. Most department-store customers enter the store intending to buy only an item or two, but the shopping carts are right there by the entrance and, oh, wouldn't it be convenient to have it so I can lean on it a bit while walking around and to put my stuff in it?
The cart has a huge bin compared with the size of most items for sale in the store, making it psychologically easy to toss in an item you don't need -- after all, there's room for plenty more, right?
2. Desirable departments are far away from the entrance. Most of the items I go to a department store to buy, such as light bulbs and laundry detergent, are located many, many aisles from the entrance. This means I spend my time walking by a lot of consumer goods on my way to find the item I want.
Because these consumer goods are effectively marketed to me, there's a good likelihood that I'll spy something that I don't necessarily need and toss it in the cart.
3. The toy section is far, far, far away from the entrance. Naturally, if I take my son to the store, he wants to visit the toy section. He gets excited and starts shouting "Ball! Ball!" to me when we go in because he remembers the enormous plastic balls in the toy section.
I tell him that if he's good, we'll go look at the balls, and at the end of the trip, we usually make our way over there. What do we see? Lots of children in that area, which means that there are parents that follow their children.
4. Impulse-oriented items are near the checkouts. Stores stock the latest DVD releases and "froth" magazines there, along with overpriced beverages and candy.
Why? Because people leaving the store are thirsty, and they're going to be standing in line for a bit, which is the perfect place to hook them with some entertainment options.
5. The most expensive versions of a product are the ones at eye level. Take a look sometime at the arrangement of different choices for a particular product, such as laundry detergent. Almost every time, the most expensive options per unit are placed at eye level, so you see them first when you enter an aisle. The bulk options and better deals are usually on the bottom shelves.
6. Items that aren't on sale are sometimes placed as though they are on sale, without using the word "sale." I noticed this over and over with diapers; the department store would display a rack of them with a huge sign above them displaying the price, but it would be the same price I paid for them a week ago. Unsurprisingly, the diapers displayed like that were always the most expensive kind.
7. Commodity items, such as socks, are surrounded by noncommodity items, such as shirts and jeans. If I'm looking to buy some socks, I have to traverse through a number of racks full of different types of clothing in the clothing section just to reach them.
Why? If my mind is already open to the idea of buying clothes, I would be more likely to look at other clothing items.
8. Slickly packaged items alternate with less slickly packaged items. Look carefully at an aisle of, say, potato chips. The ones with the bright and slick packaging are generally more expensive, which isn't surprising.
But notice that there usually isn't a section of just inexpensive chips -- in most stores, they're sandwiched between more-expensive items. If there is a section of just inexpensive items, they're down by your feet (think about the inexpensive bagged cereals at your local supermarket).
9. Stop, stop, stop. You add items to your cart only if you stop, right? So stores are designed to maximize the number of stops you have to make: aisles in which only two carts can fit, colorful and attractive layouts, escalators and, my favorite of all, sample vendors. Even if it's not conscious to you, every time you stop moving in a store, you increase your chances of putting something into your cart.
10. Staple items are placed in the middle of aisles, nonessential and overpriced items near the end. Why? If you enter an aisle to get a "staple" item (i.e., a high-traffic item), you have to go by the other items twice -- once on the way in and once on the way out. That gives these items two chances to make their pitch at you.
11. Prices are chosen to make comparison math difficult. Instead of selling the 100-ounce detergent for $6 and the 200-ounce detergent for $11 (making it easier to figure out the better deal), they sell the 100-ounce for $5.99 and the 200-ounce for $10.89.
Hey, look, they're basically the same, right, because five is half of 10? Uh, no.
12. Stuff in bins isn't always a bargain. Higher-end stores will sometimes put items in "bins" to emulate the bargains found at cheaper stores, but the prices are still quite high. They just use the visual cue of a "bargain store" to make you think it is a bargain.
13. High-markup items are made to look prestigious. If you see something in a glass case that has lots of space around it, your gut reaction is to believe that it is valuable and prestigious to own, and for many people it can be as attractive as a light to a moth. The truth is that these items typically have tremendous markup -- you're literally just buying an idea, not a product.
14. The most profitable department is usually the first one you run into. Ever noticed that at Younkers, JC Penney, Kohl's and such stores, the cosmetic department is front and center? That's because it's very profitable, and by putting it in a place where people walk by time and time again, customers are more prone to making a purchase on an item with a very big markup.
15. Restrooms and customer services are usually right by the exit or as far from the exit as possible. Why? If you need to use either one in the middle of a shopping journey, you have to walk by a lot of merchandise to reach the needed service, thus increasing your chances for an impulse buy.
Want to see more? Look at this presentation on the art of department-store layouts to get an idea of how much thought goes into making sure you buy more, particularly those items that are marked up a lot. I didn't even get into some of the more complex techniques, such as sensory marketing, that are more subtle and harder to avoid.
How can I fight back?
Is there any wonder why people end up buying more than they need or buying sizes that are poor deals? With an array of techniques at their disposal, retailers can make a mint.
Had enough? Here are 10 things you can do to fight back against these techniques:
1. Don't use a shopping cart unless you need it. A cart, most of the time, is just a place to put stuff you don't need. If you're carrying a product, you're a lot more likely to consider whether it's a worthwhile purchase.
2. Make a shopping list and stick to it. A list makes you focus on the items you intended to buy. Without it, you are much more prone to wandering and stumbling into "great buys" that you don't really need.
3. Look at nothing but the prices and sizes. That's all the information you really need -- everything else is marketing. Find the one that has the best price for its size, get that one, and move on.
4. Start at the back and work toward the front. If this is an option at all for you based on the store layout, do it. When you go in, head directly for the most distant item, then progress back toward the checkout aisles. If you do it the other way, you're prone to walk more slowly and tiredly toward the front after your shopping is done, leaving you open to lots of impulse buys on the way.
5. Always look at the bottom shelf first. If you've found the section you want, start looking at the bottom shelf first. This is usually where the better per-unit deals are.
6. Don't stop unless you're actively selecting an item. Displays are designed to beg you to stop for a moment and just look, which is often enough to get you to pick out the item. Even if something looks interesting, keep walking. You can study it as you go past and make up your mind later about the item.
7. Never go by an item twice unless absolutely necessary. If you go down an aisle, start at one end and continue all the way out the other. Walking by an item once lets it sink into your short-term memory, giving just a hint of familiarity when you walk by it again, sometimes just enough to persuade you to buy it.
8. Carry a pocket calculator -- or know how to use the one on your cell phone. Do the math yourself to find out what the best buy is because stores try to choose numbers that make drawing false conclusions quite easy.
9. If you don't know for sure that it is a good deal, don't buy because you think it is a good deal. Stores use all kinds of visual cues to make you think something is a bargain when it's not (like the bin trick mentioned above). Don't buy anything because it's a "deal" unless you're sure that it really is an excellent bargain -- just walk away.
10. At the checkout, rethink everything you put in your cart -- and don't hesitate to hand an item to the cashier and say you've changed your mind. Many people seem to have a guilt, or obligation, to buy an item that they've put into their cart. Don't. You're the customer -- you have the right to choose whether to buy. If you find something you don't want to buy, tell the cashier and don't buy it.
Discussion board to share ideas and learn from others.
Hello everyone!
I cannot stand this pig but some people seem to like her so I decided to post this story.
|
| © AP
|
| Rosie O'Donnell | Rosie O'Donnell Leaving `The View'
April 25, 11:10 AM EST
The Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Rosie O'Donnell's stormy tenure on "The View" will be a short one. The opinionated host was unable to agree on a contract with ABC, and she'll leave the show in June.
"My needs for the future just didn't dovetail with what ABC was able to offer me," O'Donnell said in a statement Wednesday.
"This has been an amazing experience," she said, "and one I wouldn't have traded for the world."
Video: Rosie's stormy stint on "The View" to end
O'Donnell has helped raise the ratings for the daytime chat show invented by Barbara Walters. But her outspokenness has caused almost constant controversy, including a nasty name-calling feud with Donald Trump that placed Walters squarely in the middle.
"I induced Rosie to come back to television on `The View' even for just one year," Walters said. "She has given the program new vigor, new excitement and wonderful hours of television. I can only be grateful to her for this year."
Walters was frequently left to clean up the damage after O'Donnell. She did it most recently Monday, when O'Donnell was criticized for using bad language and attacking Rupert Murdoch from the dais of the annual New York Women in Communication awards luncheon.
"I would like to point out that Rosie's view is not always mine," Walters said. "I would like to say for the record that I am very fond of Rupert Murdoch."
In the Trump imbroglio, O'Donnell was reportedly mad that Walters did not come more swiftly to her defense, while Trump said Walters told him she didn't want O'Donnell on the show — a claim Walters denied.
Statements by public figures are being watched more closely in the post-Don Imus era. The lobbying group Focus on the Family said it was preparing to contact advertisers on "The View" as part of a campaign against O'Donnell. The group is angry at O'Donnell for comments they feel were insulting to Catholics.
Despite controversy — or maybe because of it — O'Donnell was good business for ABC, owned by the Walt Disney Co.
Ratings for "The View" during February sweeps were up 15 percent in key women demographics over the same time in 2006.
Bill Carroll, an expert in the syndication market for Katz Television, said he'd be surprised if ABC didn't try hard to keep O'Donnell, given the attention she brought to the long-running show.
The timing of the announcement doesn't particularly suit O'Donnell if she wants to remain in daytime television. She wouldn't be able to introduce a new program to the syndication market until September 2008, he said.
Any comments out there? | | April 23
Hello everyone!
I found this story that I wanted to pass along ~
How Wal-Mart's TV prices crushed rivals
Retailer's holiday promotions proved disastrous for electronics stores
Updated: 3:23 p.m. PT April 23, 2007
Last "Black Friday," for its annual post-Thanksgiving sales blitz, Wal-Mart Stores decided to slash the price of one of the hottest electronics items for the holidays—the 42-inch flat-panel TV—to $988. The world's largest retailer had staked similarly audacious positions before, in numerous product categories, as part of its quest to remain U.S. retailing's "low-price leader." In turn, Wal-Mart's move caused a freefall in prices of flat-panel televisions at hundreds of retailers — to the glee of many people who were then able to afford their first big-screen plasma or liquid-crystal-display model.
Now, it is becoming apparent that Wal-Mart's calculated decision to break the $1,000 barrier for flat-panel TVs triggered a disastrous financial meltdown among some consumer-electronics retailers over the past four months.
The fallout is evident: After closing 70 stores in February, Circuit City Stores on Mar. 28 laid off 3,400 employees and put its 800 Canadian stores on the block. Tweeter Home Entertainment Group, the high-end home entertainment store, is shuttering 49 of its 153 stores and dismissed 650 workers. Dallas-based CompUSA is closing 126 of its 229 stores, and regional retailer Rex Stores is boarding up dozens of outlets, as well as selling 94 of its 211 stores. "The tube business and big-screen business just dropped off a cliff," says Stuart Rose, chief executive officer of Dayton-based Rex Stores. "We expected a dropoff, but nowhere near the decline that we had." Clearly, these retailers are taking such drastic measures because they don't see any respite in sight. Since early February, when the companies first started closing stores and announcing layoffs, most of their stock prices also have been battered. Circuit City shares have fallen 24% since the end of November, when the price war started. In the same period, Tweeter's shares declined 32%, near a 52-week low, and Best Buy's stock is down 9%.
The carnage has one phrase written all over it — the "Wal-Mart effect." For many electronics competitors, the experience with flat panels has been a replay of what happened in other businesses over the past two decades as Wal-Mart's business stature grew dramatically. The Bentonville, Ark. juggernaut's entry into the grocery business in the late 1980s and its ability to offer deep discounts led to the bankrupting of dozens of regional supermarkets over the next 15 years, including Florida-based Winn-Dixie Stores, Eagle Foods from Illinois, and Penn Traffic in Pennsylvania.
And Wal-Mart's discounting of popular toys sent FAO Schwartz and KB Toys into bankruptcy. Now, Wal-Mart has clearly turned its gaze to electronics. "We recommitted to our customers that we would be their low-price leader, especially on those products that were rising in popularity, such as flat-screen and high-definition TVs," says Kevin O'Connor, Wal-Mart vice-president and general merchandise.
None in the industry doubted that flat-panel television prices would fall or that Wal-Mart would offer heavy promotions. But most expected the promotions to be limited to lesser-known brands like the Viore TV that Wal-Mart was selling at $988. What caught competitors off guard was that Wal-Mart also cut the price of a top brand name—the 42-in. Panasonic high-definition TV—by $500, to $1,294. That sent dozens of retailers across the country scrambling, and many rushed to match prices: Circuit City offered the same Panasonic TV at $1,299, while Best Buy sold a Westinghouse 42-in. LCD for $999. Others tried to lure customers to larger TVs—CompUSA gave a $500 rebate on its 50-in. Panasonic plasma for $2,499.
Panasonic executives are still smarting from Wal-Mart's decision to drop the price on its 42-in. model. Panasonic officials won't discuss the issue. "I'm not going to comment on what Wal-Mart did," says Andrew Nelkin, president of Panasonic Professional Display Co. in Secaucus, N.J.
Along with Wal-Mart's determination to lower prices, two other factors played key roles in last winter's 40%-to-50% flat-panel price drop and the ensuing turmoil. For one, many more retailers such as Sears and CompUSA were starting to stock a wider selection of flat-panel TVs after seeing demand soar over the previous two years. Also, manufacturers like Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, and Westinghouse had ramped up production last year with new factories in Asia and the U.S. They began flooding the market with new TVs in the latter half of 2006. All these forces combined to make a commodity of what just six months earlier had been a solidly high-end, high-margin entertainment product. "It's Econ 101: Best Buy and Circuit City had seen fat margins from flat-panel TVs for a while, and as it happens with any product, eventually the margins come down and the music stops," says David Abella, a portfolio manager at New York-based Rochdale Investment Management, with assets of $2 billion.
Little to lose
Wal-Mart is the second-largest electronics retailer today, behind Best Buy, which has fared relatively well compared to many of its rivals. But it has done so by imitating some of Wal-Mart's best practices, most notably an efficient supply chain, by the admission of CEO Brad Anderson himself. It also has more diversified merchandise than other specialty-electronics retailers.
Despite its bold move last year, Wal-Mart currently is not the largest seller of flat-panel TVs. In fact, even though Wal-Mart set in motion the price drops, it has actually been a bit player in the high-definition TV segment. By most accounts, Wal-Mart had little to lose by dropping the price on the Panasonic TVs because it sold out its inventory nearly instantly.
However, for Circuit City, which was in the midst of a turnaround and sells thousands more flat-panel televisions than Wal-Mart, the new price landscape represented a massive hit to its margins. The Richmond (Va.) company lost $12.2 million in its fiscal fourth quarter ended Feb. 28, compared to a net income of $141.4 million in the same period last year. At Tweeter, where flat-panel TVs make up more than 51% of sales, the price declines hurt badly. Sales in its fiscal second quarter ended Mar. 31 declined 12%, to $139 million. The Canton (Mass.) company plans to release earnings on May 10. "We desperately hope that sanity reigns and that the lessons of the past holiday season are not lost on anybody in the industry," says Joe McGuire, CEO of Tweeter Home Entertainment Group.
Despite shoppers paying lower prices, Circuit City CEO Phil Schoonover is hoping customers will continue to want their TVs installed and will use the company's Firedog service, a competitor to Best Buy's Geek Squad that launched last October. Sales at Firedog grew 80%, to $200 million last year, and Schoonover says he expects them to double this year. He admits, however, that the environment couldn't be more uncertain. "I'm not here to say that we're sure what the second half looks like because we have 96 suppliers of flat-panel TVs who market their products in the U.S.," he says. "With production facilities all over the world and brands from China, we don't know what their real marketing strategies are. We think it's going to be a competitive marketplace for the flat-panel TV business."
As new technology emerges and as LCD TVs with crisper images hit the market this May, some retailers are hoping to lure the technophiles. However, if consumer-electronics purveyors are hoping to maintain sky-high prices on new products, they'd better not count on it. After all, they have no idea what Wal-Mart has in store. April 21
Hello everyone!
I don't know if you heard but..
Billionaire widow of Wal-Mart founder dies at 87
POSTED: 9:27 a.m. EDT, April 20, 2007
Helen Robson Walton, shown in 1999, was the former president of the Walton Family Foundation
Story Highlights• Walton died of natural causes surrounded by family members
• Forbes listed her as world's 29th richest person, with an estimated $16.4 billion
• Her philanthropy focused on education, the arts, and families and children.
BENTOVILLE, Arkansas (AP) -- Helen Robson Walton, widow of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, died Thursday evening at her home, the company said in a news release. She was 87.
Walton was surrounded by family members when she died of natural causes, the company said.
"We are so proud of our mother and the life she led," said Rob Walton, eldest son of Sam and Helen Walton and chairman of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. "She devoted much of her life to helping others, and to improving the quality of life in Northwest Arkansas.
"Today, my brother and sister, and the entire Walton and Robson families mourn my mother's death. But we also celebrate her extraordinary life."
Walton was born December 3, 1919, in Claremore, Oklahoma, a daughter of L.S. and Hazel Carr Robson. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in finance.
She met the man who would become her husband, Sam Walton, a native of Kingfisher, Oklahoma, in 1942, and the two were married on Valentine's Day 1943. Sam Walton died in 1992 at the age of 74.
After her husband fulfilled his military duties during World War II, the couple moved in 1945 to Newport, Arkansas, where they opened a Ben Franklin "five-and-dime" store. Five years later, they moved to Bentonville, where Sam Walton continued his career in retailing.
In 1962, the Waltons opened the first Wal-Mart in nearby Rogers. Other stores followed, and the chain grew into the largest retailer in the world but maintained its headquarters in Bentonville.
The company now has more than 6,500 stores in 15 countries.
Members of the Walton family are listed each year among the world's wealthiest people. In March, Forbes magazine listed Helen Walton as the 29th richest individual in the world, with a fortune estimated at $16.4 billion. All three of her surviving children were ahead of her on that list.
Known for philanthropy
Helen Walton was widely known in Arkansas for her philanthropy, focusing on education, the arts, and families and children. She also was active in the Presbyterian Church both locally and nationally.
She was president of the Walton Family Foundation when it made a $300 million gift in 2002 to the University of Arkansas, a donation that followed an earlier $50 million grant by the foundation to the university's Sam M. Walton School of Business.
John White, chancellor of the university's Fayetteville campus, called Walton "a remarkable woman."
"To know her was an honor and a privilege," White said. "She had an impact not only on Arkansas, but throughout the world. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, and when the grief fades away, they're going to realize how blessed they were to have such a wonderful mother."
Helen Walton also set up the Walton Scholars program for the children of Wal-Mart employees, providing scholarships to 150 children annually.
She and her husband led the development of a program to bring students from Central America to three private Arkansas colleges to study. About 1,000 students have participated in the program since 1985, returning to their native countries to apply their learning and experience there.
Helen Walton is a primary supporter of the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville. She also has been a longtime financial supporter of the University of the Ozarks, in Clarksville, and chaired the university's board.
Helen Walton is survived by sons Rob Walton and Jim Walton, and a daughter, Alice Walton, plus eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Another son, John Walton, was killed in 2005 at age 58 when a homemade experimental plane he was flying crashed in Wyoming.
A memorial service is planned for Monday at First Presbyterian Church in Bentonville.
April 20
Hello everyone!
I wanted to pass this commerical that I have seen over the past three days that really upset me big time.
Everyone knows who Gary Coleman is and he is now doing commericals for Cash Call. The latest one that he is pitching for them shows him sitting in a sports cars of some sort. He talks about how he needed $2600 and used Cash Call for the money to fix his car. The one thing that I noticed right away with him in this car is that he can barely see through the steering wheel, never mind that he cannot see through the windshield. Then he drives off camera to the right and you hear a crash but never see it.
I was able to read the small print and it showed the $2600 loan would be taken out over 42 months at a rate of 99.25% and you would end up paying $9095.10! What kind of an idiot would take out this kind of a loan? After having the mortgage industry have so much trouble with the "sub-prime" loans and now these legal loan sharks are going after people too stupid to read or don't care that they will be paying so much money. There was also a commerical for this same company for a very short time that showed a young black guy maybe in his 20's saying that his parents needed $500 and he went to these same people to get a loan.
I wonder if the Attorney General's office has given any attention to the fact and/or if anyone else cares about this. I guess they are just inside the boundaries of the law. Just a thought... April 19
Hello everyone!
If you have ever wondered how the Magic 8 ball was made, wonder no more!
The outer shell, words of wisdom, etc. are the sections of what makes up the Magic 8 ball. Interested, keep looking!
You will learn everything you ever wanted to know and there were a few surprises. Enjoy!
I would appreciate any feedback that you might have, thanks!
Hello everyone!
This is very important for everyone that owns a home to read.
7 home repairs you can't ignore
Homeowner procrastination can ruin a house. Don't let water, pests, faulty wiring, dirty chimneys or old appliances get the upper hand.
By Liz Pulliam Weston
Owning a house is expensive, which is why so many homeowners procrastinate on repairs. Real-estate agents have a euphemism for this condition: It's called "deferred maintenance."
Some fixes, however, should never be delayed. Ignoring these problems can result in much more expensive repairs later on -- or even injury and death.
Here's what home inspectors around the country say you should be on the lookout for:
A water leak -- anywhere
A stain on your ceiling. A toilet that rocks. White powdery stuff that grows on your bricks or foundation. A musty smell in your house.
Whatever the source, the culprit is water, and the damage can be severe.
"Water is probably the single most destructive force to a house," said inspector Jeff Del Guercio, owner of An Objective Inspection in Throop, Pa., and president of the local National Association of Home Inspectors chapter. "And a leak can go on for a long time without being noticed."
Left unchecked, leaks can lead to rot, dry rot, mold and termite infestations. Water can cause roofs to collapse, foundations to buckle and all manner of expensive repairs. What's more, water-related problems can get your home blackballed by insurance companies worried about the soaring number of mold-related claims nationwide. (See "Insurers keep a secret history of your home.")
The fix: Isn't it obvious? Stop the leak by any means necessary, repair the damage and take the required steps to make sure the problem doesn't reappear. Minor roof leaks, for example, can be patched with roof cement, but if your roof is aged and failing, you may need to have it replaced. That's expensive, but not as bad as replacing the trusses and underlying roof structure that can rot away if not protected.
Flickering lights
Do your lights dim when the fridge switches on or you crank up the microwave? You may have bad wiring or too many appliances hooked to one circuit. Either one can cause a fire.
"A lot of older homes have only one or two circuits in the kitchen," said inspector Jason Farrier of Elite Home Inspections in Phoenix. "People will update the kitchen but still have all the appliances running off those two circuits."
It's far safer, Farrier said, to have at least four circuits: two for countertop appliances, one to run the dishwasher and garbage disposal and another, dedicated line for the microwave.
Flickering lights also can be a sign of failing connections in aluminum wiring, a feature in homes built between 1965 and 1973.
The fix: You can try to distribute power-hungry appliances more evenly, by not running more than one at a time or by plugging some into another circuit. But the best fix is a cure: Get an electrician to upgrade your wiring, add more circuits, or both.
If you have aluminum wiring but can't afford to upgrade, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends making your wiring safer by using special crimp connectors rather than the usual twist-on style. For more information, see visit the commission's Web site (link at left under Related Sites) or consult a professional electrician.
Rodent incursions
If you hear the pitter patter of little rodent feet, don't turn up the stereo to drown them out. It's not just that rodents can carry disease and make a mess nesting in the tax records you've stored in the attic. Rats, mice and other vermin love to chew through insulation and wiring, Del Guercio said, and are suspects in many house fires.
The fix: Use traps and bait products or call in an exterminator. Mice droppings can carry the deadly Hantavirus, and rodents themselves can carry everything from salmonella to the plague, so professional help might be the wisest course.
Soaring fuel bills
If you're paying a lot more for gas or oil and there hasn't been a rate hike recently, Del Guercio said, the culprit could be problems with your furnace. This is more than a pocketbook issue, since poorly functioning systems can cause deadly carbon monoxide buildup in your home. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates about 200 people die annually from carbon monoxide exposure in the home, typically from malfunctioning heating systems.
The fix: Have your furnace professionally cleaned and inspected annually, including the flue. The cost is usually less than $100. Install UL-approved carbon monoxide detectors, which cost $25 to $50 each.
Peeling paint
Paint is like a home's skin. It's the first line of defense against incursions by water and pests. Water that seeps into wood can lead to rot. At the other extreme, unpainted wood can quickly get too dry and crack.
The fix: Scrape off the old paint, sand the surface smooth and apply a coat or two of fresh color. (Be cautious in homes built before 1978, since many still have lead paint. Dust and chips from such paint can cause irreversible brain damage in children and nerve damage in adults. Consider hiring professionals to test your home and remove any lead paint. Your local or state health department should be able to provide referrals to testing labs and contractors.)
Smoky chimney
Here's another way neglect can kill your family, since chimneys that aren't properly cleaned and maintained can catch fire. Creosote, a by-product of wood burning, can build up in the flue and ignite unless removed, said inspector Hy Naiditch of Accuspect Home Inspection Services in Chicago.
The fix: Get your chimney swept and inspected annually; the cost is about $100. (You can find certified chimney sweeps via the Chimney Safety Institute of America, link at left under Related Sites.) Use only seasoned wood, and build small, hot fires, rather than big smoky ones. Never burn trash, cardboard or wrapping paper in your fireplace.
Dirty, or missing, air conditioner filter
This is something Claude McGavic of Inspection Associates in Bradenton, Fla., sees way too often. Overloaded or missing filters allow dirt and dust to settle on the air conditioner's coils. Warm air passing over the coils causes condensation. What you get is mud—and a perfect medium for mold to grow and be blown all over the house.
Enough gunk can block air from getting into the system, McGavic said, causing it to catch fire. McGavic, president of the Home Inspectors Association of Florida, says many air conditioner failures can be traced to this simple lack of maintenance.
"With a $2 filter," McGavic says, "you can preserve a $6,000 air conditioning system."
The fix: Replace the filter once a month while the air conditioner is in use. Get your system checked annually.
Here are some other safety fixes you should consider:
Ground-fault circuit interrupters: These electrical outlets, with their distinctive red and black buttons, are designed to prevent deadly shocks. Outlets in bathrooms and those in kitchens within six feet of the sink should be replaced with GFCI outlets, said Naiditch, president of National Association of Home Inspectors Illinois chapter. "They're the best $7 you'll ever spend," Naiditch said. "They're a lifesaver." The exception: Don't put a refrigerator on a GFCI, Naiditch said. A fridge's normal on-and-off surges can trip the interrupter and leave you with an icebox full of rotting groceries.
Flexible gas connectors: Gas appliances installed more than 10 years ago may still have dangerous brass connectors that can fail, according to the safety commission, leading to fires or explosions. These should be replaced with an approved connector, typically stainless steel, Naiditch said. But don't move the appliance to inspect, since even a slight motion can cause the weak soldered connection to break. Have a professional appliance repairperson check and make any changes.
Garage door openers: Yours should have an electric eye that looks for obstructions and an automatic reverse mechanism to prevent someone from getting squashed.
Dryer vents: The lowly clothes dryer causes more than 15,000 fires every year, often caused by lint buildup in the duct that vents to the outside. Clean the ducts regularly and replace plastic ducts with metal versions.
Hello everyone!
I found this follow up story and had to pass it along to everyone who has a pet.
Plastics chemical can make feed appear more protein-rich.
Updated: 3:28 p.m. PT April 19, 2007
WASHINGTON - Imported ingredients used in recalled pet food may have been intentionally spiked with an industrial chemical to boost their apparent protein content, federal officials said Thursday.
That’s one theory being pursued by the Food and Drug Administration as it investigates how the chemical, melamine, contaminated at least two ingredients used to make more than 100 brands of dog and cat foods.
So far, melamine’s been found in both wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate imported from China. Media reports from South Africa suggest a third pet food ingredient, corn gluten, used in that country also was contaminated with melamine. That tainted ingredient has not been found in the United States, the FDA said.
FDA investigators, meanwhile, are awaiting visas that would allow them to visit the Chinese plants where the vegetable protein ingredients were produced.
“Melamine was found in all three of those — it would certainly lend credibility to the theory that it may be intentional. That will be one of the theories we will pursue when we get into the plants in China,” Stephen Sundlof, the FDA’s chief veterinarian, told reporters.
Chinese authorities have told the FDA that the wheat gluten was an industrial product not meant for pet food, Sundlof said. Still, melamine can skew test results to make a product appear more protein-rich than it really is, he added. That raises the possibility the contamination was deliberate.
“What we expect to do with our inspections in China will answer some of those questions,” said Michael Rogers, director of the division of field investigations within the FDA’s office of regulatory affairs.
Blue Buffalo recalls products
Wilbur-Ellis Co., the U.S. importer of the tainted rice protein, said Thursday it was recalling all the ingredient it had distributed to five U.S. pet food manufacturers. The San Francisco company in turn urged its customers to recall any products that may be on store shelves.
So far, just two of those companies have done so: Natural Balance Pet Foods and Blue Buffalo Co.
Natural Balance, of Pacoima, Calif., announced a limited recall Monday of its Venison and Brown Rice canned and bagged dog foods, Venison and Brown Rice dog treats and Venison and Green Pea dry cat food.
Blue Buffalo, of Wilton, Conn., followed Thursday by recalling 5,044 bags of its Spa Select Kitten dry food. The company intercepted most of the kitten food before it reached distribution centers, company co-founder Billy Bishop said.
FDA officials would not release the names of the other two manufacturers that Wilbur-Ellis supplied, citing its ongoing investigation.
Hello everyone!
My sister sent me a fun quiz that I knew I had to pass along. Don't cheat and please tell me how you did okay? By the way, I passed it.
This is NOT a trick question.
It is a very simple, easily solvable question asked a class of 2nd. graders. See if you know the correct answer...
2nd GRADE TEST
2nd grade children were asked the following question:
'In which direction is the bus pictured below traveling?'
Look carefully at the picture.
Do you know the answer?
(No tricks... The only possible answers are 'left' or 'right.')
So, is it 'left' or 'right'?????
Think about it
Still don't know?
Okay, I'll tell you.
The 2nd. graders all answered 'left.'
When asked, 'Why do you think the bus is traveling in the left direction?'
'Because you can't see the door.'
Duh !
How do you feel now ???
I know, me too.
 April 17
Hello everyone!
Well, today I have been working for "the company" for six months today. I thought that it was going to be a normal day but of course there is no such thing when you work with the disabled like I do.
My first adult was someone that I love to work with but haven't had the chance to for nearly a month. He had a little trouble at first with a few of the other job coaches, one in particular. You see, they are both black and for some reason, she didn't like him and what he was doing was wrong in her eyes. She even turned his name into a swear word when she wanted to get his attention. To be honest, I hated the way she was treating him but nothing I could say would have made a difference. Our boss heard about it from more than one person and she was given a warning that she was being too harsh and needed to understand that you cannot treat a disabled person (or anyone else for that matter right?) in this manner and if she didn't stop, she would be shown the door. Well that was nearly four months ago and this wonderful adult has requested that he have myself and another job coach, C. who is really good too.
So today I was with him while he was retrieving the grocery carts from Wal-Mart when he told me that he wasn't going to be at work this coming Sunday when I was supposed to be with him again. He said that he was going to be playing in a Special Olympics basketball game. So I had to call my boss to let her know and to ask to have some different hours for me on Sunday so I don't miss those hours. Then an hour later, L. tells me that the Social Security office needs to have his paychecks stubs for the past three months. I called my boss again and told her that I was submitting an incident report. She told me that she would stop by to pick it up so that the correct person/agency would be able to help him.
Then I had a three hour delay in my split shift before I headed over to my second and final person today. She works in the dietary section of a hospital. This was the first time I had be with her for her entire shift and it was the second day I was with her as well. The first part of her shift went like clockwork and then IT happened. The commerical dishwasher has been out of order for two days now so the entire kitchen staff works together to wash everything by hand. My adult was washing the large pots, pans, ladles, spoons etc. that the chef was using. You first scrub off the baked on mess, wash it, put it in the rinse section, finally into the sanitizer section before taking it out to dry. Well, my adult had too many big pans in the sanitizer section and was putting another one in when a very small amount of sanitizer water splashed onto her left sleeve and a couple of drops in the outer corner of her left eye. We only had thirty minutes left to go and now I had to fill out another incident report and an accident report. I couldn't believe it.
She was really upset that I had to do that and was mortified that I had to tell her boss and fill out all of that paperwork. She kept saying it was only a couple of drops and it was no big deal. I told her it could be a big deal and I had no choice in the matter and neither did she. Her boss wasn't too happy about it but we made sure that she used the eye wash station and her work also filled out an accident report since we don't share paperwork. The good news is that she should be just fine.
What got me mad at myself is that I called my boss too early and wasted about five minutes before her boss found out the entire story. That made me and the company look like an idiot to her boss which is not good. I wish that my short term memory problems would go away but I am starting to get a real wake up call that I am not doing everything that I can and/or it's going to get worse and I don't want/need my boss to find out. She is not as patient with her job coaches as with our adults. I have known that for a long time but my workman's comp doctor and I have been working hard on getting myself as far out front as possible and doing what I can to work around it. I don't know if this makes sense to you guys but I am getting tired so I will close for now.
I would really appreciate your comments and encourgement guys. April 16
Hello everyone!
I was surfing the 'net and found this cool site with military signals.
Check it out!
April 13
Hello everyone!
Well, things at work are going pretty good except that the hours have been down for the past month. Our adults have done so well with our help that instead of being 100%, they are down to 75% so that we are only there 3/4 of the time instead of 100% of the time. So instead of working between 30-40 hours a week, I have been lucky to get 20 hours some weeks. That is good and bad. Bad that the paycheck isn't as good of course, but good when beloved is home so that we can enjoy each other more.
The best news though is that I finally had my six month review and that I am no longer on probation! My boss who has no idea that I nearly died in a car accident (all she knows is that I was in a car accident per my attorney I was not to tell any details) and have short term memory loss spent a little over an hour giving me my review. The things that I was worried about (as well as my workman's comp doctor that I see every month) was my "working memory." In other words, once it's in my head, I can remember and/or recall something but I have trouble getting things into my head and that's where the notes, more notes and bigger notes help to no end. It also helps that nearly all of the adults have maintenance jobs and it's the same every day. It may drive other job coaches crazy but that makes it so much easier for me.
Any how, I just found out that I excelled at my people skills (of course) and it was nice to see that someone else who matters noticed that too. I still haven't found out how much money I will be making but I made a high average so it better be at least fifty cents right? The rules are different when you work for a non-profit organization ~ the committee will see what my grade was on my four page review and what I deserve.
Here are some actual remarks from my boss ~
Patricia has continuously strived to understand what is required of her as a job coach and how to apply the information. I appreciate her dedication. She has come a long way since her start. It should be noted as outlined below that challenges with regard to her organizational skills have impacted overall productivity and work quality.
It has become apparent to me through my work site visits that Patricia is very personable. She seems to have established a good rapport with many of the employers with who we partner. I have to commend and thank Patricia for her insightfulness if getting and emailing the adults schedules. It certainly shows that she is part of my team and has simplified my work. Thank you and well done!
Patricia has been a good listener and so respectful when taking advice from her supervisor. I've approached her interest in my opinion. Certainly a good leader should have the ability to take in information as well as to dispense it. Patricia has shown she has a passion for the work she does and for this reason seems to have the ability to inspire those she coaches.
Patricia truly has a heart for the population we serve. We are fortunate to have such a hard working individual. Through my site visits, it has become apparent that Patricia has a priority for encourging safe work habits from the adults that she coaches. She understands the need to advocate on their behalf and to redirect them. I look forward to her continued partnership and growth with our company.
I will let you know what I ended up with. How much of a raise would you have given me?
April 03 Hello everyone!
I was surfing the 'net and found this editoral about the real estate market. I don't know why people allowed themselves to get sucked into buying a house that they clearly couldn't afford. This is a different angle that I wanted to share with my blog friends. Any comments out there?
March 28, 2007, 7:22PM
Homeownership crisis
Foreclosures in subprime market rude awakening for minorities hoping for American dream.
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Peel away the concerns about our international creditors, stability on Wall Street and the more than two dozen large loan companies that have closed in the wake of the subprime lending crisis. Ignore the reassurance that the market appears to have stabilized. Beneath those concerns lies the vulnerable homeowner holding a subprime loan.
By year's end an estimated 3 million of them will lose their homes. Disproportionately, they will be black and Latino, an unfortunate effect of the marketing practices of subprime brokers and lenders.
Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data from 2005 reveal that more than 50 percent of black and 46 percent of Latino home buyers received subprime loans, compared to 17 percent of white borrowers. Many of the minority borrowers could have qualified for more favorable terms.
Though the softening of the home market and the rise in interest rates have affected all homeowners to some degree, they have a profound impact on those who hold subprime loans. These high-risk loans go to borrowers with marginal credit, many of whom have already refinanced to the point they have no equity. About 80 percent of subprime loans are adjustable rate mortgages, so those who were barely hanging on in the initial low-interest years of their loan often find themselves unable to meet payments at the higher interest rate.
Those who argued that the subprime products offer homeownership for many who would not otherwise qualify are partially correct. But homeownership for black Americans has slipped from a high of 50 percent in 2004 to 47.9 percent in 2006, primarily due to the increase in foreclosures.
The Center for Responsible Lending estimates that one in five subprime loans made in the past two years will end in foreclosure, resulting in a $164 billion loss to homeowners. This exceeds the worst foreclosure experience heretofore, during the oil bust of the 1980s, which had a ripple effect on the economy and entire neighborhoods.
The loss of billions in home equity by millions of Americans deserves as much attention as the stabilization of a lending market based on questionable practices such as the ARM, the balloon note, the early prepayment penalty and limited documentation of borrower's income. The relevant questions are how to prevent additional foreclosures and how to curb the excesses and abuses of the subprime market.
In the months to come, national leaders will focus on whether to provide aid for those at risk of foreclosure through grants or loan renegotiation. If borrowers have inadequate income to pay a mortgage, subsidies or renegotiated loans might only postpone the inevitable foreclosure.
But, if talk should turn to a bailout for the system, the homeowner should be considered first. By staving off foreclosure, all the participants in the chain, from homeowner to equity investor, are protected. Any infusion of funds at the level of mortgage lenders, investment banks or institutional investors might prevent market instability but would do nothing for the homeowner in foreclosure.
The subprime crisis results from undue risks taken by a minimally regulated market promoting loan products that have set homeowners up to fail. Since the loan originators don't hold the loans, which mortgage lenders sell to investment banks, the buyer deals with a salesperson who isn't overly concerned with his ability to pay.
Educating potential borrowers about these practices and loan products is an essential first step. Caveat emptor is the first line of defense in a market that has no stake in its customers' success. The National Urban League wisely proposes the doubling of the Department of Housing and Urban Development's budget for housing counseling.
Subprime lending practices need closer regulation. If a borrower is offered an ARM loan, the lender should be responsible for ensuring the borrower is qualified to pay at the highest potential rate rather than the lowest. Texas law disallows many of the subprime loan tools. Texas statutes should further constrain rather than promote their use.
Home ownership is the prime underpinning of the American dream. The irresponsibility and opportunism of brokers and lenders that resulted in a problem of this magnitude require the same government attention given to other financial markets. April 01
Hello everyone!
I was surfing the 'net before Amazing Race comes on in a few minutes, and found this story. We can watch it on A&E, but I wish we still had HBO to watch the ending as it happens not waiting a couple of years. If you want to know how I think it will end, I will tell you at the end of this entry.
|
|
HBO |
Television
“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.” That’s not James Gandolfini in “The Sopranos,” but rather Al Pacino from “The Godfather III.” But it’s particularly apropos on April 8, when the final eight episodes of “The Sopranos” kick off. The outcome of this groundbreaking show, which has kept us in its pinky-ringed grip since 1999, has been a closely guarded secret. What will happen to Tony? He could find himself selling trinkets along the side of the road somewhere in Utah, as he oncementioned to Carmela when they were discussing the witness-protection program. Or he could wind up buried inside the actual asphalt of said road. Either way, the temptation to find out is far too great to resist. (HBO, Sunday, April 8, 9 p.m.)
As promised, this is what I think the ending will be ~
*
*
*
*
*
Since there have been many references to Mafia movies like the Godfather, Analyze This and such, I really believe that you are going to find out that the entire show from the beginning has been Tony daydreaming about what it must be like to really be a Mafia boss and everything that entails. There is no way that a Mafia Boss would be caught dead talking the way Tony does to to his pretty doctor. And remember that episode when you saw her naked? Tony is going to be just a regular joe who just happens to be Italian and is probably a plumber and of course lives in a house remarkedly like his Mother's house. Carmela is a PTA mother and the kids are nearly the same but of course since the family isn't rich, have regular friends with regular problems but then what kind of a show would that be? Also Uncle Junior will be living in an old folk's home and is a great storyteller!
So there it is, since we don't have the current HBO season, can you tell me how close I came and what your thoughts are please? Thanks!   
|
Tools 
Help
