Some people love radio-frequency identification technology, also known as RFIDs --- or more accurately, they love what the little antennae-and-chip combos can do: speed through toll lanes, enter their cars without turning a key or pay for a purchase by waving a card rather than swiping it.

Others shun RFID because they don't want to leave electronic tracks in their wake or fear that the methods of encoding data leaves them vulnerable. As more manufacturers and retailers use the tags to automatically follow their inventory from the loading dock onto store shelves, we're bound to encounter more RFID in our day-to-day lives in less-than-visible places.

While this has created a cottage industry for metal-lined wallets, you could take the DIY approach with aluminum foil --- or even an Altoids tin. Some people even go a step farther than experts advise and try to destroy the RFID tags in their credit cards or their passports (check out the directions here and here and here).

But remember: tampering your passport is literally a federal offense, punishable by a jail and fines. And if you're really worried about RFID, it might be easier just to request a tag-free card than to manhandle the one you have.

Don't know whether your card is RFID-enabled in the first place?

Continue reading "RFIDs: love 'em or hate 'em?" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Don't forget to pick up Forever stamps today and tomorrow!

As we reminded you before, the price of first-class stamps goes up to 42 cents on Monday --- but Forever stamps are good forever, no matter how much you paid for them originally.

It might not seem like a lot, but as wise people say, pennies make up dollars.

So, stock up! 

Posted by Liz Kay at 3:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Drumroll please.....

This week the Treasury Department sent out 22.180 million economic stimulus payments to American households totaling $20.138 billion.

In week 1, the total number of payments was 7.708 million and total amount was $7.091 billion.

So far, the grand total comes out to 29.888 million total economic stimulus payments totaling $27.230 billion.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

If you need an early-afternoon pick-me-up, check out Selling it, which features hilarious advertisements and bloopers on the back page of Consumer Reports magazines.

Lots of naughty businesses, odd business plans and confusing ad copy to start your weekend right. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

At a rally I attended earlier this year about the upcoming tax rebate, U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings made an off-hand reference to good church people and tithing.

Tithing is the practice of giving to one's religious community, whether one follows a strict interpretation of some teaching or guideline, i.e. 10 percent of one's earnings, or gives a more loosely defined contribution.

It may have gained some bad connotations over the years, but tithing makes sense: if you gain some benefit from your religious group, you should support it financially, even if there's technically no admission fee to enter the doors. After all, someone's got to cover the cost of heat and health insurance.

Here's Beliefnet's breakdown of tithing practices among major religious groups, and the basis for such beliefs (including references to scripture, if applicable).

Beliefnet.com also has a transcript of this ancient 2001 NPR commentary by Steven Waldman asking what Jesus would do with his tax cut ... calling for Americans to donate a portion of that year's tax rebate to good causes --- real compassionate conservativism, in his eyes.

This year's unexpected "economic stimulus" payment is a different animal than your standard refund, however. And what about earned interest? Birthday or other gifts? Should you draw a line?

Continue reading "Tithing and tax rebates" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

As promised earlier, here's the list of free car care clinics, organized near you by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, the Maryland Department of the Environment and Precision Tune Auto Care.

The dates below list Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll and Harford county locations. They're working to schedule two more clinics --- one in Baltimore City, as well as Howard County, said Russ Urlich of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council. 

The really good news: "after June 1, motorists may go into any Precision Tune location and request the free Clean Cars for Clean Air check-up," Urlich wrote in an e-mail.

He explains that the clinics are "comprehensive yet non-invasive" --- no more probing than checking with a dipstick.

The first one, held in Halethorpe last month, was rained out, so they hope to see plenty of you out there, he said.

For more info, including other "clean commuting tips", check out www.cleancommute.org.

Continue reading "More free car care clinics" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Q. Will the IRS allow me to provide it with direct deposit information, if I didn’t include that information on my original tax return?

A. You cannot correct direct deposit information or request a direct deposit after a return has been filed.

Q. Is there something I can do to prevent my stimulus payment from being automatically deposited into the account that I identified for the direct deposit of my regular refund?

A. Generally, if you designated direct deposit on a tax return, the stimulus payment will go to the account number you designated. If the account number is no longer active, the IRS will send you a paper check. This process may take several weeks.

Q. I received my stimulus payment, but it was less than what my friends and neighbors received. Why?

Continue reading "Part 2: Everything you want to know about the tax rebate (almost)" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
                    

Uncle Sam has mailed out tax rebates before. But never has there been so much confusion as this last round of checks.

The IRS started sending checks out last week. By year-end, nearly 130 million rebates will be distributed.

The tax agency says it’s been bombarded by questions. The most common: When will I get my rebate?

The rebate is being sent out based on the last two digits of your Social Security number.

For those who are having their rebate directly deposited in the bank: Your payment went out by May 2 if your Social Security number ends in 00-20; May 9 for 21-75; and May 16 for 76-99.

For those getting a paper check: Your check will be mailed out by May 16 if your Social Security number ends in 00-09; May 23 for 10-18, May 30 for 19-25, June 6 for 26-38, June 13 for 39-51, June 20 for 52-63, June 27 for 64-75, July 4 for 76-87 and July 11 for 88-99.

The rebate might be delayed if your paper return was filed but not processed by April 15, the IRS says. And the agency says it will need more time to calculate the rebate for a small percentage of tax returns.

If that doesn't answer your question, here are some of the IRS answers to frequent questions:

Q. I filed after April 15 and the payment date for my Social Security number has passed. How long will it take for me to get my stimulus payment?

A. It will generally take a minimum of six weeks after you file your return to get your stimulus payment.

Q. I filed my return on time, but I haven’t received my stimulus payment, even

Continue reading "Part 1: Everything you want to know about the tax rebate (almost)" »

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 7:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
                    

As promised, here's the undercover video from the Humane Society of the United States on downer cows at auctions in Maryland, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Texas.

According to HSUS, the video of the downers was shot in April and May and shared with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer last week at a face-to-face meeting. HSUS said that Schafer pledged to look into the issue.

This video isn't quite as gruesome as the one involving Westland/Hallmark where downer cows were being poked, prodded, pushed and pulled by forklift into pens for slaughter, but it does make you worry about what might be making it into our food supply.

Continue reading "Video of more downer cows in MD & three other states" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 1:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

In just a few minutes, the Humane Society of the United States will announce new finding of its next investigation into downer cows that are being mistreated at auctions in Maryland, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Texas.

As you'll recall us telling you, HSUS undercover investigators documented earlier this year cows that were too sick or injured to stand or walk -- called "downers" by the industry (see the orginial downers video) -- being kicked, beaten, dragged with chains, shocked with electric prods, sprayed in the face with hoses, and rammed by forklifts in efforts to get them to their feet to pass USDA inspection.

The video led the recall of 143 million pounds of raw and frozen beef from California-based Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. That's the largest meat recall in U.S. history -- far surpassing 1999's 35 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat.

Continue reading "More downer cows making it into our food system?" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)