In a recent interview, I posed some questions to Barry West, Sprint Nextel's chief technology officer (and head of their mobile wireless broadband network called XOHM about how their new network will handle heavy-duty Internet applications. As an example, we talked about how Skype , a popular free/cheap Internet-based telephone application would work on their new WiMAX network, which launched in Baltimore on Monday. (ed note: again, a la Gus -- DD)

Imagine having a little smart phone that you don't have to buy a cell phone plan for -- and you can just use Skype? What would that mean for Sprint's new XOHM network? Could it handle all that voice and video traffic? (You can do video chats via Skype, too.)

So West talked a little about how Sprint will manage high-bandwith users, and how the network they've built will emphasize dedicating their resources to making sure that video and audio is transmitted clearly. But, there's a little catch. If high-bandwith users (i.e. Skype, the company) want their applications to run super-smooth, they might need to pay Sprint a little bit more money to guarantee limited interruptions. Of course, many companies will end up passing such costs on down to the consumer.

How these big companies (ahem -- Comcast) are now managing their "high-bandwidth" consumers has come under more scrutiny lately. Listen in on our chat with Barry, and then tell us what you think. (ed note: Sound quality's not perfect because the interview was conducted at a bar at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel -- DD)

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cellular/Landline/Voice over Internet, Computers, Technology, WiMAX Watch
        

I spotted this van yesterday on N. Calvert Street, in downtown Baltimore, just south of the city Circuit Courthouse. Sprint and Intel have tricked out vans that can be seen spotted around the city in their marketing push to promote Sprint's new XOHM network, which is a next-generation wireless broadband network. (ed note: a la Gus -- DD) 

The network will support high-speed broadband access for desktop computers, laptops and other wireless devices that will start to hit the market in coming months. Intel is making the WiMAX chip that will soon be embedded in computers. Intel is just one of several companies that will be making WiMAX chips, which we expect to start turning up embedded in a lot of different electronic gadgets, not just computers.

Reader Bob asked this question yesterday:

Gus, I'd like to know about the security issues involved in WiMax. I think it's a great idea for fun stuff like web surfing, downloading videos, audio, etc, but what about those of us who conduct financial transactions (banking and buying things online with credit cards) over the internet. I've been doing this for over 10 years now and I NEVER use a wireless connection, even with encryption, for these transactions. A hard wired connection is a must for for me for security purposes. Any information you can provide regarding this issue while the trial is in town would be much appreciated.

Bob, I sent Sprint your question and their spokesman, John Polivka, told me that their WiMAX offering "goes it one better" with the security they're providing with the XOHM network when compared to their other networks. He said local governments are looking at WiMAX as an option for their operational communications.

I plan on talking to one or two more experts today to follow up on your question some more. But for now, what follows is some tech-speak, from Sprint, on how the company will secure its WiMAX network:

Sprint Nextel's Ali Tabassi, vice president for technology development said (through Polivka) that his company "plans to use mutual authentication, including EAP, to reduce the threat of rogue base stations and man-in-the middle attacks....Sprint Nextel plans to change encryption keys frequently to prevent session hijacking and spoofing of management frames...[and] plans to deploy detection/mitigation solutions to address attacks against its networks."

Basically, in plain English, Sprint is going to use a variety of different methods and security standards -- many set by the WiMAX industry forum --  to maintain security on its XOHM network.

Also, Sprint has an excellent Q&A on its Web site about security, too.

Keep the questions coming.

(photo by Gus Sentementes)

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 1:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Computers, Technology, WiMAX Watch
        

I'm sure anyone out there with a basic understanding of arithmetic can see the problem with the following e-mail forward that's making its way around the Interwebs:

I’m against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG. Instead, I’m in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a ‘We Deserve It Dividend’.

To make the math simple, let’s assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+. Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up.. So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billion that equals $425,000.00.

My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a ‘We Deserve It Dividend’. Of course, it would NOT be tax free. So let’s assume a tax rate of 30%. Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes. That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.

But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket. A husband and wife has $595,000.00.

What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?

• Pay off your mortgage – housing crisis solved.

• Repay college loans – what a great boost to new grads

• Put away money for college – it’ll be there

• Save in a bank – create money to loan to entrepreneurs.

• Buy a new car – create jobs

• Invest in the market – capital drives growth

• Pay for your parent’s medical insurance – health care improves

• Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean – or else

Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.

If we’re going to re-distribute wealth let’s really do it….instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( ‘vote buy’ ) economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President.

If we’re going to do an $85 billion bailout, let’s bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!

As for AIG –

• liquidate it.

• Sell off its parts.

• Let American General go back to being American General.

• Sell off the real estate.

• Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.

Here’s my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn’t.

Sure it’s a crazy idea that can ‘never work.’ But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party! How do you spell Economic Boom?

I trust my fellow adult Americans know how to use the $85 billion We deserve the ‘We Deserve It Dividend’ more than the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC.

And remember, The Family plan only really costs $59.5 billion because $25.5 billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.

Ahhh…I feel so much better getting that off my chest.

Well, before you start imagining what you might do with $425,000, or even $297,500 ...  

... you might want to check your decimal places.

$85 (updated) billion million divided among 20 million Americans would only result in a payout of $425 (before taxes), according to this analysis by the urban legend site Snopes.com.

They also point out that even giving every American a share of the (updated) $700 million billion proposed (and rejected) bailout would only come out to about $3,500 per person. Not enough to pay off many mortgages, I'm afraid.

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Those pesky debt collection agencies topped the 2007 list of consumer complaints, according to the National Association of Attorneys General.

The Washington AG's Office said that auto sales moved up a spot to No. 2 on the NAAG list. Home repair and construction dropped two spots from 2006’s top complaint to the number three slot.

Also, telecommunications, slamming, and cramming remained the fourth most common complaint, and general automotive complaints moved up one spot to number five. Telemarketing and Do-Not-Call complaints dropped to number six, while financial and investment-related complaints (seven) appeared in the top 10 for the first time since 2005.

Here's the Top Ten List:

1. Debt Collection
2. Auto Sales
3. Home Repair/Construction
4. Telecommunications/Slamming/Cramming
5. Automotive (General)
6. Telemarketing/Do-Not-Call
7. Financial/Investments
8. Retail Sales
9. Internet Goods and Services
10. Contests/Sweepstakes/Prize Promotion

The results are based on an informal nationwide survey conducted by NAAG.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Just in case you think we're making a big to-do over nothing, get a load of just a miniscule fraction of the WiMax-is-here stories that hit the (cyber)pavement today, besides Gus' WiMax story, of course:

Here's the Associated Press' version on XOHM and WiMax.

InformationWeek picked up Gus' WiMax story and said: "The Baltimore launch is expected to be an important test bed for Sprint's planned partnership with Clearwire, which has been deploying fixed WiMax in various locations in the United States and globally. The new company will be called Clearwire, Sprint noted, adding that the combined company plans a nationwide WiMax network."

USA Today's WiMax story says: If Sprint can prove its WiMax case, consumers could win big, says Shahid Khan, a senior partner at IBB Consulting: "They'll have better services and better devices at better prices."

Here is InfoWorld's take on how well WiMax worked in a month-long test run.

The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) also says: Baltimore usually isn't considered a technology mecca. But many people in Silicon Valley, and other high-tech centers, will be watching closely to see what happens after Sprint Nextel Corp. flips the switch on a new wireless network Monday.

Engadget is asking readers how the WiMax launch is going in Baltimore.

See that, Baltimore? Doesn't that make you feel special? We're so geeky, we're cool.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 4:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Computers, Technology, WiMAX Watch
        

Reader eth posed a different dilemma under our conversation about splitting the check for birthday meals, this time about sharing bachelorette party expenses among a large group:

I'm planning a bachelorette party for possibly up to 20+ people (still waiting for people to RSVP, you know how that goes)...any tips for handling the bill without much commotion with that many people? Should I ask for money upfront and then put it all on my credit card? Should I tell people ahead of time what the payment expectations are? It's dinner and then the bar, so the bill could be outrageous. Just trying to plan ahead of any issues...help?

Anyone have any good suggestions? Here's what I told her earlier ...

As the organizer, I think you can tell and should tell the other guests what to expect when it comes to the meal. I like what dining blogger Elizabeth Large suggested for group dinners: have the menu and cost set in advance, with a private room. It will make it easier on the restaurant to have a set menu and you should (hopefully) get better service.

EL also suggests getting an open bar. That's a good idea because if you want the group to cover the cost of the bride's meal and drinks, you can split it equally without anyone feeling shortchanged.

I definitely think eth should tell people ahead of time what to expect in terms of their personal contribution, covering their own expenses as well as a share of the bride's (if that's part of the deal).

Collecting the money upfront seems like it would decrease the burden on the restaurant, as well -- no need to split the check on 20+ credit cards.

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal
        

Sprint Nextel Corp.today opened up its long-anticipated new wireless broadband network for public use here in Baltimore. They're calling it XOHM. The company says it'll be a fast, wireless way for people to surf the Web in the Baltimore area. Sprint's goal is to make the city one big "hotspot" -- much like what you'd find at your local coffee shop, but bigger. And faster. (ed note: This is all Gus, folks. Check out his Sprint launches WiMax in Baltimore story that ran today. -- DD)

You're probably wondering: how do I get a taste of it? And, just as important, is the pricing right for me?

If you were hoping for some instant gratification today, it ain't likely to happen -- unless you're one of several lucky "testers" in the Baltimore market. In the past several weeks, Sprint's given an unknown number of free computers to these testers and is relying on them for early feedback. (Sorry -- no more free computers left, a Sprint spokesman told me last week. The tester program was "oversubscribed," he said. I bet!)

Today's debut means you can order a device that you plug into the USB port of your desktop computer or your laptop. (The devices will enable you to catch the wireless signal, which is based on a technology called WiMAX.) In the near future, several computer makers will be releasing models that have the WiMAX chip built inside, so the new gadgets you buy going forward will likely be WiMAX-ready.

The device for your laptop is called an "ExpressCard." For your home/desktop computer, the device is simply called a modem. To order them, go to XOHM.com. Here's the pricing you can expect to see, in Sprint's own words:

"Starting 9/29, customers can purchase via XOHM web or telesales WiMAX service on new XOHM-branded Express aircards and modems. As a launch promotion the ExpressCard is offered at $59.99 and the modem at $79.99. Introductory service plans include a $10.00 Day pass, $25 monthly Home plan and $30 monthly On-the-go plan. There will be a special Pick 2 promotion, where the Home modem service ($25 monthly) and aircard mobile service ($30 monthly) can be combined for $50 monthly WiMAX service for life."

Wow. $50 service for life? Reason enough to live long and prosper. Check out the XOHM Website for more info.

If you're wondering whether where you live, work and/or play will be covered by Sprint's WiMAX network, wonder no more. That map above is of the XOHM network's coverage in the Baltimore area, as of last week.

You can also visit their Website and type in your address. The site will tell you if you're covered.

One caveat: Sprint's a little more than halfway done building their network in Baltimore. So, you may see a lot of white space on this map right now, but Sprint says they'll be able to cover the area pretty well by the time they're done building out the network some time in the next few months.

So here's what I want to know now: Is there anyone out there in Baltimore who is intrigued enough by this new network to put in an order today for one of their connection devices? Is paying $59 or $79 for a device, plus whatever plan you decide to pick for the Internet access, a deal for you? Are you more interested in the mobile wireless for your laptop or for its promise of wireless Internet connectivity for your home?

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Computers, Technology, WiMAX Watch
        

What's a lifelong Yankees fan to do when he doesn't live in the New York viewing area? Thomas Morton signed up for MLB.TV to watch his hometown team a year ago and loved catching the games online. Then MLB.TV upgraded software to stream standard definition TV quality games and Morton's old computer couldn't keep up.

Months of phone calls and letters didn't solve his problem so he contacted the paper. We called MLB.TV on his behalf and within a couple days, MLB techs got Morton back up and running.

My question to you is would this problem have been resolved without the paper getting involved? Morton did everything he was supposed to, but still got no resolution. When the paper got involved, MLB went above and beyond the call of duty to help Morton out. I applaud them for the great effort (it took more than three hours on the phone, talking him through each and every step). But I can't help but wonder if Morton would have gotten satisfaction without us.

What do you think?

Residents of the Tuscany-Canterbury neighborhood are probably wondering when the neverending sewer project will likely end. It started in April, was supposed to be completed in July, but is continuing on even as October approaches. La Liz made some calls on the Watchdog query and Public Works is saying that the project should be completely in early 2009.

Just in case you're annoyed by the inconvenience. It's for a good reason. The project, according to Liz's findings, is for the "Lower Stony Run Interceptor, a two-year, $40 million project, said Department of Public Works spokesman Kurt Kocher. The work includes 2,900 feet of 8- to 24-inch sewer piping installed by opening the street, as well as more than a mile of 60-inch pipe installed by a tunneling method, he said."

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Cable/Satellite/TV/Comcast/FiOS, Complaints, Computers, Watchdog
        

I've been secretly hoping Gus, my work spouse and new media tech whiz, would share his vast knowledge with the blog gang (because, really, I can't get him to stop telling me stuff at work). But, I've never outright asked him to do it formally for Consuming Interests because he's a busy, busy man.

And yet, all that psychic nudging must have worked because all on his own, Gus volunteered to head up WiMax Watch, a new category we're launching today to tell you about the very cool new thing that Sprint is doing right here in our cool little city.

I'm stoked about WiMax Watch so here's hoping you will be, too. I'm turning this post over to Gus now:

Tech geeks from all over the world will be focused next week on Baltimore, where Sprint is expected to announce the debut of their new wireless broadband network by Tuesday.

That's right, folks: It seems Baltimore's first in line for the roll-out of Sprint's XOHM network. Not New York City. Not Chicago. Not San Francisco. Good ol' Charm City will be the one to kick the tires of Sprint's new "fourth generation" (4G) wireless broadband network, which the company says is built specifically for heavy-duty wireless Web surfing.

Technophiles in other cities are clearly disappointed that Sprint chose B-more for the rollout. Just check out this thread over at the popular Engadget blog. Sorry, San Franciscans!  (ed note: heheheh pbth!-- DD)

Their new network, which they're spending billions on, is based on the WiMAX standard and promises to turn much of the city into one big "hotspot." You know that Wi-Fi "hotspot" you like to use at your local coffee shop? It's about to get bigger. A whole lot bigger. Officially, all Sprint is saying right now is that they expect to "go live" in Baltimore by the end of September. We expect to see little devices that plug into your laptops and allow them to catch the WiMAX signal being made available for sale next week. We also expect Sprint to officially release a pricing schedule for the service, which reportedly won't involve long-term fixed contracts -- the kind you abhor with your cellphone plan -- and will be more flexible. 

Sprint has said it plans to roll XOHM out in Washington DC and Chicago and elsewhere. Other major wireless competitors, such as Verizon and AT&T, are nipping at Sprint's heels with their own 4G wireless broadband network offerings, but those are at least two years away from market roll-out.

An official WiMax kickoff ceremony is slated for Oct. 8, at the Bond Street Wharf in Fells Point, beginning at 10 a.m. Officials from Sprint and Intel and other companies involved in the launch are expected to show off some new gadgets and demonstrate how well the network works.

Of course, we'll be seeking your impressions and opinions of XOHM. Keep in touch!

Comment about WiMax here on the blog. Get in touch with Gus at gus.sentementes(at)baltsun.com.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Cellular/Landline/Voice over Internet, Technology, WiMAX Watch
        

We know the regular baseball season is over, but find out in my Consuming Interests column on Sunday whether Major League Baseball's MLB-TV hit a dinger or struck out when I tossed them a customer complaint about his inability to watch his beloved Yankees online.

La Liz is tackling what seems to be a never-ending construction project in the Tuscany-Canterbury neighborhood in her Watchdog column this Sunday. Residents wondering if there is a finish date in sight will be well-served by checking out what Liz found out.

Good news, too, Excellent Eileen will return next week. We hope she's had an enjoyable rest because we've missed her 'round here.

(AFP/Getty Images)

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 2:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cable/Satellite/TV/Comcast/FiOS, Complaints, Computers, Technology, Watchdog
        

News from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:

Toy Police Cars Recalled by TCB Imports Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard.

Four-Wheeled Ride-On Vehicles Recalled by Razor USA Due to Throttle Controller Defect

Razor USA Recalls PowerWing Three-Wheeled Scooters Due to Laceration Hazard

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Recalls
        

When wallpaper just seems too expensive, consider Charlie Kratzer's method of livening up his walls.

The 53-year-old attorney used $10 of Magic Markers and Sharpies to draw murals all over his Lexington, Ky. basement, working on it on and off for several months.

Hit the link to see a 360-degree image that stars Claude Monet, Hercules Poirot and even an R2-D2 trash can. Reporter Cheryl Truman says, however, that it doesn't show Joan Crawford lounging on a bench on a far wall in a kitchenette, or the bathroom with Rocky & Bullwinkle. 

Personally, I've got too many commitment issues to decorate with permanent ink. But more power to those out there with steadier hands ...

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal
        

A decision earlier this week in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice means that consumers will be able to find out if an automobile they want to purchase has been stolen or rebuilt after a wreck. U.S. Judge Marilyn Hall Patel ruled Monday that the DOJ has until Jan. 30 to make this information available to consumers in a national database.

Congress originally passed a law in 1992 to create such a database. It took a lawsuit filed in February by Public Citizen, Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, and Consumer Action to make it happen.

The advocacy groups argued that the "agency's unlawful delay in implementing the database was putting consumers at risk. The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System will help consumers avoid purchasing a potentially dangerous used car by allowing them to instantly check the validity of the car’s title and mileage and learn whether it had been stolen or was a junk or salvage vehicle," said Deepak Gupta, attorney for Public Citizen.

Gupta added that "When Congress passed a law in 1992 calling for the database, no one expected it to take this long to deliver such critical information to consumers. During that time, countless people have unwittingly purchased rebuilt or stolen vehicles. We are thrilled that today’s ruling forces DOJ, finally, to implement what Congress demanded so many years ago."

Amazing it took 16 years, huh?

(AP Photo)

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cars, Complaints, Consumer protection, Consumer safety
        

Shiver me timbers. This is not Talk Like a Pirate Day. That was last week. But, I thought this post warranted piratespeak since the Distilled Spirits Council just said a single rare bottle of Martha Washington Colonial Rum fetched $20,000 at a gala auction on the mansion grounds last night.

The rum was handcrafted in 2005 by Master Distillers from some of the world's best-known liquor brands. I'm a rum novice, but they say the colonial-style rum was fermented from black strap molasses imported from St. Croix and distilled in an 18th- century pot still over an open fire at the site of the George Washington Distillery. It's been aging in barrels on the grounds of Mount Vernon for the past three years.

Kee-razy. Here we are talking about about a financial crisis and up pops news about a $20,000 bottle of rum.

The company that made the winning bid was Diageo, which owns distinctive brands like Captain Morgan, Guinness, J&B and Tanqueray. Yum.

I guess they won't be cracking that bottle open anytime soon, huh? Yaargh.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 5:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Cafe Hon invites you to "Fill your stomach without emptying your wallet" with their economic stimulus meals, available at 4 p.m.

(Photo: Emmett Luty)

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food
        

It's fantastic that we can all view our nation's treasures for free at Smithsonian Institution museums around the country. Updated: And the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Walters Art Museum here in Baltimore are also free year round.

But Saturday, that privilege is extended to lots of other places.

Enjoy free admission to museums in Maryland Saturday by signing up for a Museum Day admission card, valid for free admission for two people.

Participating centers include the American Visionary Art Museum, the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons and the Historical Electronics Museum in Linthicum.

Sign up early and make a day trip of it ... the weather's likely to be lousy on Saturday, Maryland Weather blogger Frank sez. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal
        

Consuming Interests readers agree --- bargains abound at ethnic markets, and not just on specialty ingredients.

MD Canon also picks up beans, cheeses, tortillas and even hot sauce --- half the price that the chain grocery store charges! --- at La Familia International Market (112 N. Tollgate Road, Bel Air).

Has anyone checked out Fresh World International Market/El Grande Supermercado in Glen Burnie yet? It opened last month and sells Asian and Latin ingredients under one roof. Chowhound reviews of Fresh World seem pretty positive thus far.

Trinacria (406 N Paca St., Baltimore) is the destination for many Italian staples including olive oil, olives, vinegar and cheeses, as well as wine. Just beware they are closed Sundays and Mondays, pack everything in boxes and can get pretty crowded on Saturdays and at lunchtime. Another less-crowded Italian option is Tratorria Annamaria, which aeb recommends for its cheese and olives and sandwiches.

For Greek ingredients, try Prima Foods (51 Kane Street, east Baltimore), a wholesale/retail shop that also carries restaurant supplies. Carey says the shop has lots of good prices and great prepared foods --- but not much parking. 

Lots of people suggested different South Asian grocery stores. In 2006 City Paper voted Punjab Groceries and Halal Meat (345 E. 33rd St.) that year's best ethnic grocery. Definitely, these shops can be a great source for cheap spices, such as cumin, coriander and garlic or ginger powder. Unlike the grocery store, these items are usually sold in bags, so do the green thing and save some old jars to store them in. You can also stock up on raisins and nuts at bargain-basement prices.

Some of the shops carry produce. That's where I found the cheapest available coriander leaves, otherwise known as cilantro --- at Patel Bros. (6402 Baltimore National Pike, Catonsville --- behind the Popeye's), which Bob recommended. Another option in that area is Little India (5754 Baltimore National Pike), which carries a lot of South Indian prepared food.

Bob also suggested Patterson Produce (4713 Patterson Ave., off Reisterstown Road, Baltimore) for its low prices on "all things produce/nuts/cheese/jams". The shop was voted "Best Russian Grocery" in 2004's BoB, and deemed then a good alternative to the farmers market.

Of course, with every cheap trick there's always some caveats to consider: 

--- As stated earlier, high gas prices may mean these shops are not worth a separate trip, but if you find yourself in the area, have at it.

--- Keep in mind many of these shops have limited hours. Prima Foods is only open until 5 p.m. during the week and until 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

--- And when they are open on the weekends, they may be incredibly crowded. Store clerks will have less time and patience to answer questions or to work with people who are not familiar with the system.

--- One-stop shopping might not be an option. Some ethnic markets may carry a limited selection of basic "American" staples but, as you might expect, they may be more expensive. HMart has milk, eggs and orange juice at similar prices to your local market but far fewer types of cereal, bread and other items.

--- Don't forget your regular bargain shopping practices. Don't blow your hard-earned savings on impulse buys, such as Italian pastries or flash-frozen naan. Then again, if these items are on your list and are cheaper there than at your regular grocery store, have at it.

You'll never know what savings you might discover on the shelves of an unfamiliar store, so don't be shy or intimidated --- check them out.

You can also apply these tips in a neighborhood grocery store. A Metafilter post on cutting grocery bills points to bargains to be had even in the ethnic sections of your local supermarket. You might find different varieties of rice, beans, spices and other items identical to those elsewhere in the store --- just for a lower price.

Feel free to share any favorites I've missed. The University of Baltimore has compiled an extensive list of ethnic food stores, as well, but let us know what bargains you've spotted.

(photo: Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food, Shopping
        

OK. So I forgot to tell you yesterday that the Google's T-Mobile G1 phone launched.

It costs $179.

For that price, service contract not included, the NYTime's says you get a "large color touch screen that slides out to expose a full keyboard, as well as a 3-megapixel camera. The phone’s software provides an Internet browser and easy access to many of Google’s services, including search, Gmail and YouTube. Although several applications come preloaded on the phone, the G1 is also designed to encourage third-party developers to create programs to run on it."

It will be available here in the U.S. on Oct. 22.

I know most people who seem to be in love with their iPhones or Blackberrys. (Seriously, I worry about all those people constantly whipping out their smart phones, touching it, playing with it, obsessing over it all day long.)

Me? I just want to be able to make calls on my phone, send a text message once in awhile and take pictures of my dog occasionally. I don't really need anything fancy. But I thought for the non-cave dwellers out there, there would be more excitement over the Google phone.

But I haven't heard heard a peep in these here parts from real consumers.

Is it because people like PC Mag's Ed-in-Chief Lance Ulanoff says you should "prepare to be underwhelmed" by the Google phone? Or that InformationWeek already issued a list of five things to dislike about the G1?

Perhaps, but from the reports out there, the G1 seems to offer some pretty nifty features. As the NYTimes says, "The G1, which will run on both high-speed 3G networks and older cellular networks, also has Wi-Fi access, GPS navigation and Bluetooth connections. T-Mobile said the batteries will support five hours of talk time and 130 hours of standby time."

Sounds good, but will it be enough to sell the G1 as well as the iPhone or Blackberry has sold? You tell me. It's more competition so that's always good, I say, but does anyone care? Anyone planning on buying it?

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 2:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Cellular/Landline/Voice over Internet, Technology
        

I was recently on the receiving end of a fabulous birthday dinner, but I had a little trouble choosing a restaurant because of an article I had read earlier that day.

CNN had a story (discovered via Serious Eats) about a woman celebrating her birthday with communal sushi ingestion who asked her friends to split the $3,450 restaurant bill evenly amongst themselves.

It worked out to be about $500 each, whether you ate like a killer whale or just had a little miso soup and rice. Our hero in the story put down $50 and walked out, only to get an e-mail from her "friend" saying she owed the birthday girl $450 so she could have the birthday spa day she wanted.

I've been in similar situations albeit with less spectacular total amounts. I have one friend-of-a-friend who I swear ALWAYS takes advantage of the promise of a split check at birthday dinners for other people by ordering way more drinks than everyone else --- and not necessarily putting in more cash to cover the expenses he racked up.

In my opinion, he's gaming the system. Folks wanted to make sure the birthday honoree had a good time, not him.   

The Frugal Duchess has several tips to cut down on the split-check costs at a group dinner, including:

Ask for a separate check for drinks. It's a lot easier to calculate your contribution --- or argue you don't need to contribute much --- if you're the designated driver or just didn't feel like imbibing that night.

The CNN story went on to discuss sharing at potluck parties --- who knew some people only bring enough for themselves, as opposed to some for them and some to pass? --- as well as whether it's appropriate to ask people to foot the bill of your birthday dinner when they've already bought you gifts.

The bottom-line rule (that I admit, I probably violated): if people are likely to pay for your dinner, you should choose a reasonably priced destination that so your friends won't break the bank trying to cover your bill and their own. If it's a new or unfamiliar location, give them a sense of the price range (via reviews, etc.) ahead of time so they know what they're commiting to.  

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food, Shopping
        

1st Mariner Bank debuted its new Web site recently.

We're not choosing this as our Consumer Web Site of the Week just because it's a local bank and we're not picking it just because it's got all those cheezy commercials showing local people saying nice things about the bank. (We sorta like those ads, by the way, for the cheese factor.)

We're picking 1st Mariner's site because it features a live online chat with a customer service rep seven days a week. How cool is that? Instead of waiting for Monday to roll around, you can talk to a live rep over the weekends, too. While 1st Mariner is at the head of this banking trend to make reps available for instant messaging and chats, they've also started reaching out by marketing and connecting to customers through Facebook, too.

As Gus, my ever plugged in work spouse said when he clued me in on what 1st Mariner is doing, "It's intriguing how a traditional bank is reaching out to its customers in a social networking/interactive sort of way."

Indeed. Good job 1st Mariner for making it easier for your customers to contact you.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Banks, Consumer Web Site of the Week
        

The House of Reps passed the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights today by a vote of 312-112.

We've told you about efforts to rein in bad credit card practices before, here, and here .

The White House agrees that there are abusive credit card practices, but opposes the cardholders' rights bill for fear that it could further discourage lending.

The American Bankers Association agrees. Edward L. Yingling, ABA president and CEO, said:

“The American Bankers Association is very disappointed by the action today of the House of Representatives. The so-called “Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights” (H.R. 5244), while well-intentioned, will increase the cost of credit for consumers and small businesses across the country, result in less access to credit for consumers and businesses alike, and may further roil the securities markets – all at a time when our economy can least afford it.

“Legislation resulting in higher prices to consumers makes little sense at any time, let alone when global markets face the degree of turmoil that confronts them today. By limiting their ability to manage risk in making loans, this bill will force lenders to increase prices for everyone to compensate for that added risk. That’s unfair.

“Sometimes things that appear attractive on the surface often come with too high a price tag. Increasing prices for consumers, reducing low-cost credit alternatives for small businesses, and causing more ripples in the securitization market make little sense."

And Ed Mierzwinski over at his U.S. PIRG consumer blog says:

The victory sends a strong message to the banks that the Congress, as well as consumers, is tired of their tricks and traps. It also sends a clear message to the Federal Reserve to buck up and resist demands from the banks to weaken its similar rule proposal scheduled to take effect at the end of the year.

Ed reminded consumers that the bill is not a bailout, "it simply bans the banks' worst unfair and deceptive practices."

I understand all the hullabaloo over discouraging lending and how restrictions could make it more difficult to get loans, especially now during the current market crisis. But, I gotta say, I believe we need to ban abusive card practices. Why? Look at the 31,000 letters of complaints the Federal Reserve received about this issue.

I think we need to go back to the days when consumers, especially college students who aren't making any money at all, didn't get an instant line of credit just for breathing. If I'm not making any money at all, I have no business being approved for a credit card on my own.

If I'm religiously paying my credit card bill, but miss a utility payment, the credit card company shouldn't automatically punish me by jacking up my interest rates -- making it more difficult for me to pay them back. If I'm always paying the credit card company on time, they shouldn't arbitrarily change the due date for my bill to trip me up. If I'm only approved for $500 or $5,000 on my credit limit, a card company shouldn't approve a charge that takes me over that limit and then whack me with more fees for going over. (yea, yea, as a consumer, I also shouldn't be spending so close to my limit either. I'm not a one-way street, only blaming companies. Both sides need to take responsibility here.)

Am I making any sense here? Why take on the risk that adding more to my bill will make it harder or impossible for me to pay back my debt to you?!

Why make it that much harder for consumers to pay you back, unless you're trying to grow rich off of fees and penalties you charge consumers for whipping the rug out from under their feet?

(Photo by Nhat V. Meyer/San Jose Mercury News)

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 4:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Complaints, Consumer protection, Credit cards, Debt, Economy
        

If you're wondering which cleaning companies get good grades for telling you what kind of chemicals they put in the products you use to clean your house, well, wonder no more. The Women's Voices for the Earth just issued a report that five leading cleaning product manufacturers on toxic chemical and consumer right-to-know issues.

According to WVE, the companies were graded on things like toxic chemicals in products, responsiveness to consumer concerns, their toxic chemicals screening process and how well they inform consumers of ingredients contained in their products. All companies were given an opportunity to review their grades and provide feedback prior to the release of the report card.

WVE says it has been working to pressure companies into developing a formal policy on ingredient disclosure because “Every day, we are exposed to so many chemicals that are questionable in terms of safety,” says Alexandra Gorman Scranton, staff scientist at WVE.

“Since we don’t yet know the long-term, cumulative effects of being in close contact to these chemicals, many people are taking the precautionary approach by choosing their products more consciously, or making cleaners at home with non-toxic ingredients like vinegar and baking soda," Gorman Scranton says. "This precaution makes a lot of sense, especially for pregnant women or people with young children in the home.”

Three companies failed in certain categories:

* Procter & Gamble received an F for having the most toxic chemicals in products.

* Simple Green received an F for lack of responsiveness to consumer concerns.

* The Clorox Company received an F for poor ingredient disclosure.

For those of you who would rather avoid such toxins altogether, especially since store-bought cleaning supplies can be rather expensive, WVE also provides some tips on how to make your own home-made cleaning products.

Check out WVE's Web site to read the full report and find out about how the other companies rated.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 2:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Consumer protection, Consumer safety, Greenies
        

Editor Erin shared a link to a recent Ask MetaFilter query about cutting grocery bills, and one unique tip kept cropping up: ethnic food markets.

Many members of that community have saved by buying cheaper staples such as spices, produce, meats, rice and other items at stores that cater to the Asian and Latino community. Fruits and vegetables might be cheaper there because of greater turnover, one commenter surmised.

When I used to commute to The Sun's Howard County bureau, I'd often stop at the Catonsville branch of Hmart (otherwise known as Han Ah Reum), the Korean supermarket chain that has fantastic deals on produce --- including herbs, prepackaged salad greens and fruit --- as well as cheap meat and seafood.

You might need to use the photographs to decipher the Hmart circular, but this week they have avocados for two for a dollar! UPDATED: You could also read the English-language version of the Web site by clicking "English" in the upper right corner.

And it almost pains me to share this grocery secret ...

but Trinacria, the nondescript Italian deli and grocer on Paca Street between Mulberry and Franklin streets, has wonderful prices for cheeses, olive oil, red wine vinegar and other basics.

They also offer fantastically cheap wine, with some bottles going at the closeout price of $3.99. It's not Two-Buck Chuck, but with costs that low you can afford to cook with wine you'd be willing to drink.

As it is, this small shop can get very busy, so take a number and make it snappy if you need to order something from the deli counter.

Where are your favorite ethnic markets, and what kinds of bargains can you find there? Please point out any limitations, as well, such as unexpected peak times or parking issues.

(photo: Hmart. Doug Kapustin/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food, Shopping
        

iKaput.com calls itself the "Easiest iPod Repair Service Available."

The BBB of Utah says no, not so much. Not if your idea of easy is actually getting in touch with someone from the company, actually getting your iPod fixed, or even getting it returned to you unfixed, the BBB says.

Here are the excuses the company used when consumers contatced the company to complain, the BBB said:

The company is restructuring. There was a death in the family. A staff member stole a number of iPods.

Some customers did manage to receive refunds or replacements; however, a large percentage have not heard from the company and are therefore left without their iPod, the BBB said.

In July, iKaput's Web site started displaying, “The website is currently down for maintenance. Please come again soon...” The company’s phone number is disconnected and the location is a private mail collection company, not a physical location.

The BBB says iKaput has not responded to requests for information about consumers' iPods. The BBB urges caution to consumers considering doing business with this company. If you have done business and have not received your iPod back from the company, the BBB says you can file a complaint at www.bbb.org.

You could also contact your state attorney general, the Maryland AG's Office if you live here and ran into problems with iKaput, or call the AG's Office in Utah where iKaput was located.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW, Technology
        

Remember the good old days when you'd eat just any old thing without worrying about what you were popping into your mouth? Ah. Ignorance was bliss, or so we thought until we realized what all that fat, salt, trans fat and calories we were ingesting was doing to our bodies.

How many of you out there read food labels more carefully now?

How many of you buy food based on whether it's organic, or trans fat-free, or natural? I'm betting a lot more people read food labels and worry more about where their food comes from than we used to.

Anyhoo, the Food and Drug Administration issued draft guidelines last week for approving genetically engineered (GE), sometimes referred to as genetically modified (GM), produced food.

As the FDA press release on GE food explains:

Genetic engineering generally refers to the use of recombinant DNA (rDNA) techniques to introduce new characteristics or traits into an organism. When scientists splice together pieces of DNA and introduce a spliced DNA segment into an organism to give the organism new properties, it's called rDNA technology. The spliced piece of DNA is called the rDNA construct. A GE animal is one that contains an rDNA construct intended to give the animal new characteristics or traits.

GE animals can be divided into several classes, based on their intended use. They include animals that produce human or animal pharmaceuticals (biopharm animals); animals that serve as models for human diseases; animals that produce high-value industrial or consumer products, such as fibers; and food-use animals with new traits such as improved nutrition, faster growth or lower emission levels of environmentally harmful substances (such as phosphate in their manure).

Genetic engineering already is widely used in agriculture to make crops resistant to pests or herbicides. In medicine, genetic engineering is used to develop microbes that produce drugs and other therapeutic products for use in humans. In food, genetic engineering is used to produce microorganisms that aid in baking, brewing, and cheese-making.

Under the draft guidance, producers will have to demonstrate that food from the GE animal is safe to eat in cases in which the GE animal is intended for food use.

First of all, I wonder what the standards are for proving that GE animals used for food is safe? I know that the science is used to protect crops from disease and to make some animals grow faster, but I do worry about what that means for our bodies, health-wise? I'm also wondering why the FDA isn't requiring GE or GM foods to be labeled so?

Michael Hansen, PhD, senior scientist at Consumers Union, was wondering that, too, according to that medguru story:

“It’s outrageous that they would not require these things to be labeled. Come on, they require orange juice to be labeled if it’s from a concentrate vs. fresh-squeezed. Milk is labeled homogenized vs. not. That’s enough to label, but an engineered animal isn’t?”

Paul Wallis, in an opinion piece for the digitaljournal.com, says that intensive study of GM and GE foods needs to be done and more time needs to be devoted to finding a useful way for labeling such products. Consumers will want to know.

What say you? Do you care if your food was genetically altered? Would you want to see that on a label? Do you want to give the FDA your two cents? You have until Nov. 18 to comment on the draft guidelines. For more information, go to the FDA's site to read up on GE food.

And just in case you're wondering, that photo shows the Carneros wine growing region near Napa, Calif. Advancements have been made in the fight against the vine-killing disease threatening California's wine industry, including the development of grapevines genetically engineered to be resistant to it. (AP Photo)

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 2:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Consumer protection, Consumer safety, Food, Healthcare, Marketing/Advertising, Technology
        

If you are headed to Walt Disney theme parks in Florida or California next year, you might want to time it to the anniversary of your birth.

The Sun's travel blogger Michelle Deal-Zimmerman points us to this cheap travel tip: you can get a free ticket to Walt Disney World on your birthday. Or Disneyland, if you prefer the Left Coast.

It's all part of a campaign to get more people to celebrate birthdays and weddings at Disney parks, according to this Orlando Sentinel story. 

The offer is worth $75 (the cost of a single day pass) and is valid for anyone over the age of 3 with valid proof of age.

It won't get you a discount on multi-day Disney passes, but you can still get a birthday gift if you choose that option ... 

according to the free birthday admission offer FAQ page instead of free admission, you could get:

• A birthday fun card in an amount equal to the price of a 1-day Magic Your Way base ticket for you to use on your birthday for merchandise, recreation or fun activities at select participating locations at Walt Disney World® Resort, valid only on the birthday; or
• A special birthday FASTPASS® badge for certain attractions at the Theme Park you visit on your birthday, for you and up to five members of your party; or
• A 1-day Magic Your Way base ticket for you to use any time until your next birthday.

Obviously, as Consumerist points out, the Walt Disney Co. will still bring in some cash selling tickets to whoever you bring with you and for any meals and toys you buy while there.  But if you were headed in that direction anyway, might be worth it to consider the possibilities.

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Travel
        

So what did you think of Randy Cover's problem with his AT&T cell phone getting misrouted calls from Verizon? A software glitch sent his cell phone obscure calls from Verizon land-lines trying to reach other Verizon land-lines. Was that bizarre or what?

I know Verizon says this is a rare occurrence, but I've found in this business that you're never alone. There are always other similar problems out there. Always. Maybe not necessarily with Verizon and AT&T, but the phone system is gigantic and complicated. Lots of peculiar things probably happen.

If you've experienced similar weirdness or something more weird, let us know. We're interested.

And how about Liz's Watchdog column on the vandalized school parking sign that told you where you could post your posterior. OK, it was supposed to say "PARKING PASS," but the sign was altered a tad. Imagine the word, minus the word PARKING and minus a letter P. (heheheh)

I'm no school marm. I use that word frequently since I'm a fan of salty language, but hey, we're not b here, folks. We've got some standards, and I don't know about you, but I don't want Mr. McIntyre to read me the riot act, or worse, give me that withering look.

I gotta confess, though, when Liz told me about the sign, it did make me chuckle (because I've got the same sense of a humor as a 12-year-old boy). Anyboy else spot some funny signs telling you to do odd things out there?

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

I own a Mac laptop and a little iPod. I use the Mac all the time and love it. I like my iPod, but I don't really use it much because I'm still a fan of regular old-fashioned radio (don't judge, I'm old-school like that). So yes, I am a fan of Apple products.

But can I just tell you how I'm so over those smarmy, cooler-than-thou Apple commercials? At first, I thought they were kind of cute. But the more I watch them, the more they grate on my nerves. Seriously. Can Apple come off any more elitist than they do in their ads with Mac Boy?

Am I the only one annoyed?

I gotta say, though, as annoyed as I am about the Mac ads, I have to say that the Seinfeld-Gates ads that Microsoft has been running weren't really doing much for me either. Slightly amusing, but... meh. Not very memorable, just odd.

Better, I think, are the savvy ads that Microsoft launched next to battle back against the stodgy stereotype created by Apple ads. Have you seen them yet? They're not pretentious. They're not hipster cool. They're not trying to be edgy. They're just showing that PC users are you, me and lots of other (every day and some famous) people in the world.

There are two more similar to it.

Which of these two ads speak to you? Are they a hit or a miss? Does it make you prefer either product more or less? Do you strictly identify with one or the other? Do you identify with Macs or PCs when you watch these ads?

I bought a Mac for my home use, but I also use a PC for work. I'm a technophobe, but I am able to find my way around both. But watching the ads, I feel like I identify more with PC Guy than Mac Boy.

Sorry, but I'm no hipster. I embraced my inner-dork years ago. So when Mac Boy picks on PC Guy, I just want to find a bigger PC Dude with anger issues to get him to punch Mac Boy out. You know, take down his smarm a notch or two. (heh. not that I'm advocating violence. yaaargh. we're opposed to violence here, but not opposed to Talk like a Pirate Day, of course. heh.)

Have a good weekend, me hearties!

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 5:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Computers, Marketing/Advertising
        

Read my Consuming Interests column on Sunday to find out how a complaint about a cell phone led us to discover a Bermuda Triangle of Lost Calls right here in Maryland.

A perfect teaser to end a wacky week, yes?

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 3:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (27)
Categories: Cellular/Landline/Voice over Internet, Complaints, Watchdog
        

There's a couple of great scenes in The Wire where the ever-entreprenurial Bubbles is scavenging metal, sometimes in more legal ways than others.

It's certainly not an new crime, but recently Baltimore-area residents and businesses have faced unusual losses, particularly as the cost of copper soars.

A thief tried to steal at least 16 water meters from homes near Leakin Park last week --- actually s/he removed more, but some were recovered.

After the story ran, I got an e-mail from a Randallstown company president who said thieves had stolen ...

coils from 18 air conditioning units on two buildings in an industrial park.

A search of The Sun's archives reveals a number of odd thefts, including railings, manhole covers and even street light poles and beer kegs. 

(photo: Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

The purchase of Constellation Energy Group by Warren Buffett's MidAmerican Energy Holdings is big news in these parts.

But what changes are in store for Marylanders who are customers of Constellation's Baltimore Gas & Electric?

Not much, thankfully. Dan Thanh flagged this in her earlier post, but we just want to reassure you again.

The deal won't be finalized for nine months, and BG&E rates should remain the same at least until then. Plus, all the numbers and billing addresses and other information should not change, either. 

(photo: Gregory E. Abel, CEO of MidAmerican Energy Holdings. Glenn Fawcett/Baltimore Sun) 

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Economy, Energy/Utilities
        

What a week, what a week.

If you've been following all the wackiness, it feels like Wall Street is exploding what with the credit crisis we've seen pounding Lehman Bros., Merrill Lynch, AIG and now Constellation Energy, doesn't it?

It's enough to make your head spin as we try to keep up with the news, try to explain to you what it all means, how it affects you and keep pace with developments like investment guru Warren Buffett's Iowa-based MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. swooping in yesterday to rescue Constellation from the brink of failure.

If you think none of this really has anything to do with consumers, think again.

There were lots of little stories in there that you may have missed that may pertain to you. Like Jay's story on why an AIG bailout was necessary, but Lehman was left hanging. Or the Q&A that Wonk-esse Jamie and I did on what all this financial turmoil means for you and your investments. And the subsequent story Jamie wrote on how your insurance policies are mostly safe.

Don't let me forget to mention a Q&A by Sumathi (goodbye Sumathi, her last day with the paper was yesterday. we'll miss you.) about how Constellation's sale will initially affect consumers. The answer? Not much.

Reader Bob was kind enough to send us an e-mail reminding all of us to take a deep breath and try not to worry. He linked to a WSJ story about ten reasons why you shouldn't sell your stocks. Thanks Bob.

So as you can see, we've been busy here. We weren't able to blog much yesterday, but hopfully, we'll be back to normal today. I'm still trying to wrap up my Sunday Consuming Interests column, but we'll serve up the news as it comes.

And really, I want to hear your thoughts on what's been going on this week. Do you agree with the government bailout of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and AIG? Are you angry that risky investments by brokerages has sent Wall Street and the stock market reeling? Are you worried about what this means for you as a BGE customer? Speak up. We want to hear from you. 

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Economy
        

Here's a parents-only forum that answers a need already answered informally in many communities.

Freepeats.org bills itself as the freecycle for those who exercise their reproductive faculties. Look for offers of free maternity clothes, free toys, free furniture and free books as you and your offspring need them, then post the stuff yourself as your family outgrows it.

The site just started its Baltimore-area forum, so people can join before Sept. 30 for free. After that, the site charges a $4.95 membership fee --- something freecycle does not levy.

Most of the parents of young children in my office seem to find new homes for gently used items without trouble, and some things like double strollers can bring in cash at a resale shop. But if you're new to an area or the first of your clan to have a child, then freepeats might be a good option.

It's an offshoot of babycheapskate.com, a compendium of bargains and coupon offers for parents.

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Shopping
        

We've told you before that it's cheaper and greener to rent or borrow something when you'll only need it a few times. Why not rent tools from a tool library (Home Depot has them) or borrow stuff from a friend?

Part of the problem is inventory --- you might not think to ask a friend to borrow their tent or stand mixer or Vancouver travel guides if you don't know they have them.

But Neighborrow.com (discovered through Discovery.com's Planet Green) wants to help facilitate those friendly exchanges. You can either sign up to join a public neighborrowing circle or set up a private neighborrowing ring among your friends, co-workers, relatives or community.

Then folks make requests through the service, you either send or drop off the stuff, and everybody wins. Some colleges and programs such as Semester at Sea have set up circles to share items like books or DVDs you might consider sharing given everyone's limited resources.

You might ask how you know you'll ever get your stuff back. The community polices itself through ...

"... A comprehensive rating and reward system. Deposits. Due dates. Late return penalties. neighBORROW insurance. Active collateral "out" on the system. Borrower screening. Selective lending. Private neighBORROWhoods."

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Greenies
        

Can't remember who played whom in your favorite movies or classic TV shows?

Now IMDB.com --- often the quickest source to settle a dispute that arises in Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon --- has provided more than 6,000 free full-length movies and television shows in their entirety on its Web site, according to an announcement by owner Amazon.com.

The films include independent shorts and classic films, courtesy of CBS, Hulu, Sony Pictures Television and over 500 independent filmmakers. You do have to watch advertising beforehand, and you don't get links to embed content in your own site like YouTube offers.

Posted by Liz Kay at 4:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Technology
        

You'll have to get there early, though.

Smoothie King is giving away 20 oz. samples of their six new coffee and "Mo'cuccino" smoothies before 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 18.

According to a release about the free drinks, the coffee smoothies include "Gladiator protein to provide an energy boost and long-lasting fullness," and the Mo'cuccino "mixes java with ice cream and protein, intended to be an indulgent treat."

Personally I prefer something a little lower-octane to start my morning, but if you're in the market for something free and cold tomorrow, here's a link to Smoothie King's Maryland locations. 

(photo: Monica Lopossay/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Food
        

Here's an early start to Cheap Trick Thursday: donate food to the Maryland Food Bank tomorrow at the Camden Yards MARC and Light Rail stations and taste a free sample of Dunkin' Donuts new breakfast sandwich.

From 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday, Sept. 18) Dunkin' D will give away samples of the sandwiches to donors getting on the MARC train and disembarking from the light rail (you you're not allowed to eat on light rail).

The Maryland Transit Administration partnered with the food bank, which according to a news release supplies free food for more than 50,000 Marylanders each week.

This includes families with children, the elderly, the homeless, the homebound, low-income workers, the recently unemployed and people with AIDS and other health problems.

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal
        

Have you been following the battle heating up over consumer plastics and whether a hormone-like chemical contained in those plastics are a health hazard?

USA Today is reporting that scientists and the Food and Drug Administration are fighting over whether bisphenol A, or BPA, should be taken out of food packaging. The FDA says it's not a danger at the level that people are commonly exposed to BPA. Scientists disagree.

BPA has been detected in the bodies of virtually all Americans tested, USA Today says.

The story also says:

The newest research — the first large study in humans — links BPA to both heart disease and diabetes in adults. Adults with the highest BPA levels in their urine were more than twice as likely to have heart disease or diabetes than those with the lowest levels, according to the study of 1,455 people, published online Tuesday in The Journal of the American Medical Association. The total number of people with these conditions was small: 79 had heart disease and 136 had diabetes.

If you're wondering whether something you use contains BPA, USA Today had an interesting graphic that said:

DOES IT CONTAIN BPA?

BPA is used in lightweight, durable plastics. Products include some baby bottles, sippy cups and reusable food and drink containers, such as reusable sports water bottles and Tupperware, compact discs, DVDs, eyeglass lenses and sports safety goggles and helmets.

Recyclable, soft plastic bottles made for soft drinks and bottled water don't contain BPA. Some manufacturers are phasing out BPA in some products and Tupperware's website says it does not use BPA in children's products sold in the United States and Canada.

BPA is also in epoxy resins used to make paints, adhesives and canned food liners. Government toxicology scientists say that to reduce exposure, people can avoid non-recyclable plastic containers that have the number 7 on the bottom; avoid using these plastics in the microwave, and don't wash them in the dishwasher with harsh detergents.

Sources: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, American Chemistry Council

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer protection, Consumer safety, Healthcare
        

You know how we're always trying to give you one Consumer Web Site of the Week that you might find useful or just interesting? Well, ShopSmart (the sister mag of Consumer Reports) showed us a thing or two and released SEVEN Web site in its November issue.

Those smarty-pants show-offs.

Take a gander at the list of seven:

For User Reviews: Buzzillions.com

This up-and-comer has user reviews on everything from cars and electronics to lower-ticket items like cosmetics, clothing and shoes to help you find the best products and avoid the worst. Unlike rival Epinions.com, this site offers a broad and ever-changing list of keywords to click on, based on user reviews, for searching.

Tip: Sort by lowest ratings first to get the scoop on products to avoid, or Google the name of the product and “complaints” to weed out poor products.

For Money Back: Ebates.com

With this site, the savings keep piling up even after you’ve checked out. You can sign in and shop at 900 participating merchants. After you check out, Ebates.com credits your account with a rebate, which can be as high as 26 percent, though most are in the 1 to 4 percent range. The site also lets you donate your rebate to charity.

Tip: Click on the “daily double” tab. For that day, rebates from a selected retailer are doubled.

Shipping Deals: Freeshipping.org

This site helps you avoid nasty surprises at checkout. Click on a product category such as “coffee and tea” or “women’s apparel” and scroll down the list to see minimum purchases for free shipping at more than 800 major retailer sites. You can also search by store or about-to-expire offers.

Tip: Check out the site’s blog, which alerts you to changes in stores’ policies and new free-shipping offers.

Freebies: Heyitsfree.net

Heyitsfree is a blog that was started by 25-year-old Ryan Eubanks who scours the Web daily to find offers that are truly worth the bother and posts them on his nicely designed sites.

Tip: In addition to scanning the daily blog, click on the product categories that interest you. Also check out links to other free sites.

Bargain Prices: Pricegrabber.com

This site makes it easy to compare the prices of whatever products you’re shopping for. Unlike many other price-comparison sites, Pricegrabber.com lets you calculate the total cost of an item, including shipping and tax. Seller ratings, which can be sorted by highest to lowest or by most recent, are also helpful.

Tip: Click on the name of the product you want, then click on “reviews and ratings” and then “merchant ratings.” Use the “sort by” toolbar to get retailers with the highest ratings first.

Coupon Codes: Retailmenot.com

Lots of sites aggregate hundreds of coupon codes that you can plug in at retailer Web sites to get discounts. To find them, simply Google a retailer’s name and “coupon” or “promotion,” and you’ll turn up dozens. But many of the codes are expired or invalid. Retailmenot.com helps you find codes that actually work, based on input from shoppers who have used them.

Tip: Click on the comments section for a code and you’ll see users’ tips for getting additional money off. Also, combine a free-shipping code with a “percentage off total order” code.

Sale Alerts: Shopittome.com

Who has time to click around the Web looking for sales? This site does the grunt work for you. Sign up, click on your favorite brands, and then click on the kind of stuff you’re looking for. The site will send you an e-email alert daily, twice a week, or weekly with sale alerts, including coupon codes.

Tip: Sign up for e-mail delivery on Fridays, when most online retailers mark down clothing.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Consumer Web Site of the Week
        

A strain of Salmonella called Salmonella serotype Schwarzengrund has infected several brands and varieties of dry dog and cat food produced by Mars Petcare at its Everson, Pennsylvania plant between Feb. 18 and July 29, according to Consumer Reports safety blog.

The recall affects food distributed to 31 states and includes brands like Pedigree, Country Acres, Retriever, Doggy Bag, Members Mark, Natural, Ol' Roy, Special Kitty, Paws & Claws, Wegman's, Pet Pride, PMI Nutrition and Red Flannel.

Check out the full list of the tainted pet food brands at the Mars Petcare site here.

Salmonella can cause serious infections in dogs and cats. There is the possibility of cross contamination, too, caused by handling of the pet food. Children, the elderly, people with compromised immune systems can become infected with Salmonella. Even healthy people can potentially be infected with Salmonella.

Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. On rare occasions, Mars Petcare warned that Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms.

When it comes to your pets, Salmonella infections may cause them to be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Animals can be carriers with no visible symptoms and can potentially infect other animals or humans. Do contact your vet if you think your pooch or cat has these symptoms.

The Food and Drug Administration says that dry pet food has a long shelf life so you should check your supply. If you believe you've purchased products affected by the recall, you should return the pet food to the store where you purchased it for a full refund.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 2:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer safety, Food, Pets, Recalls
        

See that photo? That could have been the street on my city block a few weeks ago when BGE discovered there was a gas leak underground somewhere near my house and proceeded to jackhammer the road around 1 a.m. to about 3 a.m. on a week night.

The sound was so loud it felt like they were drilling right into my skull. Yea. Fun times. But what can you do? Ask the nice men to keep it down and maybe get to finding and fixing that gas leak later?

So the whole street lost a lot of sleep that night, but we appreciated BGE crews working insane hours to make sure we little people didn't blow up into itty bitty pieces in our sleep. The very polite crew came back the next day and finished the job promptly despite a steady rain that morning.

What made me raise a slight eyebrow, though, was coming home that night to see another BGE truck parked on the street again the next night with the words, "GAS EMERGENCY," emblazoned on the side.

I wasn't worried so much that there seemed to be another gas leak across the street. I also wasn't too fazed by the fact that another crew was going to jackhammer the street at an ungodly hour again. Nor did I care that I was going to have another sleepless night.

What freaked me out ever so slightly and made me giggle (because I often giggle at absurdity) was that the guy sitting in a BGE truck that said "GAS EMERGENCY" was SMOKING a cigarette while parked right over the area where we just had a gas leak and might have another gas leak.

Now, if you're a frequent reader of this blog, you know I've got no problems with smokers. I actually miss the smell of smoke in bars sometimes. But hey, there's something unsettling about a guy smoking in an area where there might be a gas leak. Call me crazy.

But wait. It gets even better. Even as I was in mid-giggle, the BGE guy flicked the remainder of his still burning cigarette to the road below.

That's when I just started laughing.

Should I have said something to him? Or would you have just shaken your head like I did at the absurdity of the scene? I should have whipped out my camera and taken a picture, but really, my head was still fuzzy from the two hours I sleep I got the night before. I just wasn't thinking fast enough.

(Sun Photographer Karl Merton Ferron)

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints
        

Best Buy's purchase of Napster, for about $127 million, gives the store inroads into the mobile music marketplace (say that three times fast). They already work with Rhapsody, but Napster's got better name recognition.

According to the story, Napster hadn't been doing so well recently, because consumers seem enamored with Apple's iTunes.

(photo: Associated Press)

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Shopping, Technology
        

It's mid-September and we've already had news of three major data breaches.

Over at Forever 21, the discount clothing company for people who want to dress young (hey... I'm not judging, I buy pencil skirts from there once in awhile), the company just notified customers that their system "may have been illegally accessed to obtain customer payment card information."

According to Forever 21's press release, based on a Secret Service investigation, "we believe that the unauthorized persons accessed older credit and debit card transaction data for approximately 98,930 credit and debit card numbers. Approximately 20,500 of these numbers were obtained from the Fresno store transaction data."

La Liz told you over the weekend about BNY Mellon Shareholder Services, which "informed an additional 144,000 Maryland residents that their personal information - including names, addresses and Social Security numbers - may have been compromised in a data security breach."

The incident is the largest breach since a state law went into effect in January requiring businesses to notify consumers when their personal information has been disclosed. Nationally, more than 10 million people might have been affected, according to news reports. The company had alerted about 4,700 Maryland residents in March that a vendor had lost backup data tapes that contained their personal information. Further investigation revealed that the tapes included network backups of employee workstations, with data relating to shareholder accounts and equity compensation plans maintained for corporate clients. A company spokesman said there is no evidence that anyone has accessed the tapes or the data, but BNY Mellon has offered help to affected consumers.

Then there's the doozy over at what was formerly Countrywide Financial Corp., where a data breach may have affected 2 million people.

The company said a former employee "sold unauthorized personal information — including names, addresses, Social Security numbers, mortgage loan numbers and other application information — to a third party." Nice.

All these companies have offered some sort of help to consumers, such as credit monitoring services, etc. But really, this sort of data breach news is starting to feel like old news. Why is it still happening so often? Why aren't companies protecting your data more? I didn't see anything in the reports about whether the information that was stolen was even encrypted.

If the data wasn't encrypted, it really is inexcusable. In this day and age, if you're handling this type of data, you should be going above and beyond to protect customer data, and encryption should be just a starting point.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer protection, Consumer safety, Identity theft, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Unbelievable, I know, but even we columnists get set free once in awhile to take a vacation. I spent some Q-time with my family and went to the beach for a few days. It was lovely and while I missed you guys, I sorta miss loafing on the beach, too.

I just happened to be in O.C. while it was bike week and wow.... it was cool to see all those bikes in town. Very bada--. I know, that's a naughty word, but I really can't think of any other way to describe it. Very cool and very LOUD, but hey, nothing unbearable.

Anyhow, I'm back. I hope you missed me, and while I didn't blog last week, I was thinking about you guys and poor Liz and Eileen who had to cover for me.

I've been working today on a daily with my deskmate, the wonderfully wonderful Real Estate Wonk-esse herself, Jamie. We're going to try to help consumers navigate through this financial mess we've been reading about all day what with Lehman Bros. and Merrill Lynch falling apart. Catch it tomorrow in the paper.

But now that we've wrapped that up, I'll be getting back to my normal blogging duties and the consumer column, which will be back on Sunday. Thanks for your patience.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 6:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Hurricane Ike wreaked havoc in Texas but managed to spare most of the refinery infrastructure.  As a result, oil prices are down to their lowest since February.

Remember, you can search for the lowest gas prices nearest to you using the Baltimore Sun's gas price tracker. Share and submit the prices you're seeing with other readers.

(photo: Associated Press)

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cars, Cheap/Frugal, Gas prices
        

Don't miss Dan Thanh Dang's column this week about the debt-settlement industry, because not all the players are telling consumers looking for a little relief from high payments all the details about the negative impact of some of their 'solutions.'

Eileen Ambrose shared some advice about how to plan financially for a special needs child --- a topic some people have thought more about since Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin became the Republican nominee for vice president. 

Watchdog this week was looking out for drivers of large trucks, who would might not know about an upcoming railroad bridge because a bridge height sign was obscured by tree branches.

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Refineries are closing with the threat of Hurricane Ike, and so the somewhat-lower gas prices that drivers have enjoyed for the last few weeks may come to an end. 

Fuel hit about $3.63 a gallon in the northeast in the last few weeks, compared to the rest of the summer, when prices hovered around $4. 

Still, it's not clear how high prices will get --- and heating oil prices are expected to skyrocket, as well. So, you might consider alternate transportation if possible.

Posted by Liz Kay at 4:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cars, Gas prices
        

The debt settlement industry is about to get a much-needed spotlight on it.

The Federal Trade Commission later this month is holding a conference on debt settlement to learn more about this fast-growing industry.

Debt settlers advertise heavily online, promising to settle your debt for as little as 50 cents on the dollar. But there’s a lot they don’t tell you, like you can end up worse than before.

A few years ago, there were about 300 companies offering debt settlement; now there are at least 1,000, says Peggy Twohig, with the FTC’s division of financial practices.

Calling them all companies may be generous. Twohig says a “telephone and Internet site is all you need in this industry.”

Twohig was in Baltimore this week to speak at National Foundation for Credit Counseling conference.

Twohig says she’s not suggesting all debt settlers are bad players, but the enforcement actions the FTC has taken against debt settlers reveals some disturbing practices.

For instance, she says, some debt settlers tell consumers to stop repaying debts and ignore their creditors. That doesn’t stop interest and late fees from piling up, nor does it keep creditors at bay. There’s “no mention of fees or the negative consequences of stopping to pay creditors," she says.

 Many times consumers get frustrated and drop out of the program, yet they still owe the ballooning debt, Twohig says.

NFCC members are credit counselors who offer debt management programs, where counselors work with creditors and consumers on a repayment plan. Consumers end up repaying their debt, but usually get a break on interest and late fees.

Credit counselors are no fans of debt settlers. One complained to Twohig that debt settlers from across the country call consumers in her state in violation of state law. “There’s no regulation of these groups,” she complained.

Another asked if the FTC would be interested in receiving case studies of consumers’ experiences with debt settlers. "Everyone in this room could just swamp you," he said.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Personal finance
        

Consumers will be able to answer that question themselves, starting next month.

As of Sept. 30, mandatory "country of origin labeling" requirements go into effect for meats, fish, produce and peanuts, according to the Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports.

According to a news release from CU, this is a great thing for consumers, because

"If a food safety problem is identified in a particular imported product, as happened with jalapeño and serrano peppers from Mexico earlier this year, then consumers will be able to avoid that product," said Jean Halloran, Director of Food Policy Initiatives for Consumers Union, nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports.

"On the other hand, some people like to buy certain imported products, like New Zealand lamb or Holland tomatoes. Still others just want to buy local produce. Either way, the new labels will give consumers important new information."

The legislation was passed in 2002 but Congress put off implementation due to pressure from industry, according to Consumers Union.

And there are always exceptions.

Meat and poultry sold in butcher shops and fish sold in fish markets --- some 11 percent of all meat and fish --- are exempt because under the law, only businesses that sell a certain minimum amount of fresh produce have to comply.

And processed foods, such as ham or bacon or roasted peanuts or mixed frozen vegetables or trail mix do not have to be labeled, either.

To make things (a little bit) simpler, Consumers Union put together a COOl vs Not COOL guide to country-of-origin-labeling to help consumers figure out what must be labeled and what doesn't:

Meat sold in supermarkets.                                 
Fish sold in supermarkets        
Raw peanuts
Pork chops   
Sliced cantaloupe    
Raw almonds  
Bagged lettuce
Frozen peas
Raw shrimp
Fresh salmon

NOT COOL (Exempt from country of origin labeling.)    
Meat sold in butcher shops. Labeling is only required in stores that purchase a certain minimum amount ($230,000) of fresh or frozen produce a  year.  Butchers do not purchase any produce, so meat sold by them is exempt.
Fish sold in fish markets. Labeling is only required in stores that purchase a certain minimum amount ($230,000) of fresh or frozen produce a year.  Fish markets do not purchase any produce, so fish sold there is exempt.
Roasted peanuts, peanut butter (processed food is exempt).
Ham and Bacon (processed food is exempt).
Fruit Salad (mixtures are exempt).
Trail Mix (mixtures are exempt).
Bagged Mixed Salad Greens (mixtures are exempt).
Frozen peas and carrots (mixtures are exempt).
Cooked shrimp (cooking is considered processing, which is exempt).
Smoked salmon (smoking is considered processing, which is exempt).
 

(photo: Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 8:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Consumer safety, Food
        

We here at Consuming Interests have shared a number of energy-saving tips in the past, but this month's issue of Consumer Reports has a number of unique ways to cut energy costs that I haven't seen before, for cooking, dealing with your hot water heater and more.

This fall I'll definitely be using my new-old slow cooker, which I bought off Craigslist. What logical advice --- that plugging in one appliance uses less energy than cooking on several burners, or the oven.

And slow cooking allows you to take advantage of cheaper cuts of meat that benefit from hours and hours of heat.

Also ... 

... keep your water heater running efficiently by getting rid of sediment. CR recommends draining a bucketful of water from your water heater several times a year to dump the sludge.  

How about moving your thermostat to a draft-free part of your house, to keep it from unnecessarily cycling on whenever someone opens a door? 

(photo: Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Energy/Utilities, Greenies
        

A Senate Democrat is calling on the nation's top four cellular service providers explain rising text messaging rates, up from 10 cents a message to more than 20 cents, according to the Associated Press.

The story states that Wisconsin Democrat Herb Kohl, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told Verizon Wireless, AT&T Inc., Sprint Nextel Corp. and T-Mobile in a letter Tuesday

"... that he is concerned that rising text messaging rates reflect decreasing competition in the wireless business."

This increase, he said, "does not appear to be justified by rising costs in delivering text messages," which are small data files that are inexpensive for carriers to transmit.

Kohl said he is particularly concerned that all four of the companies appear to have adopted identical price increases at nearly the same time. "This conduct is hardly consistent with the vigorous price competition we hope to see in a competitive marketplace," he wrote.

That's the rub when it comes to the price increases:

text messages are much less labor-intensive to process than cellular phone calls. Yet, Americans are expected to pay for them as additional features!

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cellular/Landline/Voice over Internet
        

If you're traveling abroad, you may already rely on Web sites such as Expedia to find the lowest prices on flights, hotels and rental cars.

But according to Budget Travel magazine, some U.S.-based travel sites have set up overseas counterparts, such as Expedia.fr to directly compete with companies there ... and might offer you a better price.

Airlines' local Web sites are another option. And other travel Web sites only make arrangements with companies to list their offerings in the local market --- for example, if you planned to fly somewhere and take a discount domestic airline.

Also:

Insurance and taxes are sometimes included in the price on foreign rental car websites—a key difference from the U.S. sites. Renting a car in England for a week on alamo.co.uk, for instance, is more than $300 cheaper than renting on alamo.com because the collision damage waiver, theft protection, and taxes are all bundled into the price. On alamo.com, the coverages—considered optional—and taxes are added at the end. Check the insurance policies on the foreign sites carefully, though, as there's no universal rule for what's covered from country to country. 

There's a couple of caveats, though: 

Some of these sites require credit card payment with a local mailing address, so you'll need to enlist someone in your destination country to help you. And although a travel agent might be an option, the fees they will charge will eat into your savings.

And an Alamo spokesperson warns that there's no guarantee that a rate quoted on a local Web site would be honored if it appeared that you were trying to take advantage. Still, it's worth a shot!

(photo: Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Travel
        

Good news for Bear Stearns' mortgage customers; bad news Bears.

The company and its subsidiary, EMC Mortgage Corp., agreed to pay $28 million to settle government charges of unlawful practices in handling people’s mortgages.

The Federal Trade Commission claims the companies “misrepresented the amounts borrowers owed, charged unauthorized fees, such as late fees, property inspection fees and loan modification fees, and engaged in unlawful and abusive collection practices.”

The FTC also says that the companies sent inaccurate information to credit bureaus. And when consumers disputed the information, the companies didn’t report those complaints to the credit bureaus as required by law.

These tactics occurred before JP Morgan Chase & Co.’s acquired Bear Stearns in May.

Besides paying $28 million that will go toward consumer restitution, the companies will create a data integrity program to make sure the information they have about consumers’ loans is accurate.

The court needs to approve the settlement. If you’re eligible for restitution, you will be contacted by mail. If you moved recently, call the FTC’s settlement hotline to update your information at 1-877-787-3941.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 1:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer protection
        

Alas, the trials of the print journalism. In today’s story about AmeriDebt, the last line — and important one — was cut.

The article says consumers burned by the defunct credit counselor’s shady business practices will soon start getting checks sent to them in the mail. It’s part of settlement between AmeriDebt’s founder Andris Pukke and the Federal Trade Commission that sued AmeriDebt and Pukke for deceptive business practices about five years ago.

About 460,000 consumers will receive checks totaling around $20 million. That’s an average of $43, but you might get more or less depending on the amount of fees you paid to AmeriDebt or one of its affiliated credit counseling agencies.

Pukke, who didn't admit wrongdoing, agreed to return up to $35 million for restitution. The FTC decided not to wait for all the money to come in before distributing checks to consumers.

The FTC advises consumers to be on the lookout for the checks in the next week and make sure they cash them.

The deleted last line of the article noted that this is that another restitution check could be in the offing if more money is collected from Pukke. Or, if many consumers don’t cash this check — which happens often when restitution is made — that money will go back into the pot and be redistributed to consumers.

Eric Friedman, director of Montgomery County’s Office of Consumer Protection, was an early critic of AmeriDebt. He says the fact that consumers are getting any money back is better news than usual in such cases.

“A lot of times, consumer protection agencies file a big lawsuit for a lot of money and you rarely see payback,” he says. Often the offending company either goes out of business and has no cash to make restitution or the case is settled for little money and consumers get little in return, he says.

If you get one of these AmeriDebt checks, let us know how much and what you think.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 9:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Personal finance
        

Two Web sites I discovered via Consumerist can help you on that quest and enjoy the honor as our Consumer Web Sites of the Week.

Gethuman and Dial a Human both have similar databases of 800 numbers and the correct formula of keys to press to reach a live customer support respresentative. For example, for one of two Comcast hotlines, Dial A Human suggests pressing "*" at each prompt, ignoring the "invalid" response.

(photo: Penny Mathews/stock.xchng)

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer protection
        

The following businesses were spanked last month by the Maryland Department of the Environment for air quality violations.

Diageo NA – Baltimore County
Several violations Maryland radioactive materials regulations were cited, of which the most significant was Diageo’s loss of a general licensed radioactive materials source that has not been recovered. The Department seeks a penalty of $17,700.

Katherine Collier, DDS – Baltimore City
This dental facility was found to have violated Maryland radiation control regulations relating to the use of radiation machines, and documentation of correction of these violations has not been received. The violations include a dose timer that failed to meet an accuracy test and a higher-than-allowed number of pulses when the machine is in operation. The Department seeks a $4,000 penalty.

Stevenson Village Veterinary Hospital – Baltimore County
For violation of Maryland radiation control regulations relating to use of radiation machines, the veterinary hospital paid the Department a penalty of $1,000.

Yuey S. Moy, DDS – Prince George’s County
In response to the Department’s claims against this dental facility for violation of Maryland radiation control, the facility has paid the Department a penalty of $500.

Victoria M. Switzer, DDS – Howard County For violating Maryland’s radiation control regulations relating to the use of radiation machines, the dental facility has paid the Department a penalty of $250.

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

I wrote a few weeks ago about some married women whose families had trouble getting the tax rebate.

It turns out, the women never notified Social Security that they changed their maiden name. When the IRS checked the names on the tax return with Social Security records — something required by Congress to prevent fraudsters wrongfully claiming the tax rebate — the names didn’t match. As a result, the families didn’t get their tax rebate.

Reader Paul Cordts sent along this advice he got from an AARP tax adviser. It runs counter to what the IRS told me, which is that it’s too late to change your name with Social Security and amend your return this year. You need to wait and claim the rebate on next year’s return.

But I include it because the AARP says its experience on the issues is different — although the group adds it doesn’t guarantee the accuracy.

Here’s the AARP response to Paul:

"Dear Paul,

We received the follow question from you:

My wife and I have been married for 10 years. In that period we have had to pay tax at filing time and we have received refunds from the government. There has never been an issue with the IRS accepting my payment or sending me/us a refund. We did not receive a stimulus payment so I called the IRS. They told me that since my wife had not changed her name with the Social Security Administration, that we would not get the payment....The IRS agent also told us that if we went to

the Social Security Administration and had the correction made that we would get the payment. We went to SS the next day and did the paperwork.

I then contacted the IRS a couple of days later, and then they told me that it was too late to get the payment because the return had already been processed months ago...Is there anything I can do?

This is our volunteer's answer:

You need to file a copy of Form 1040X. Most of Column A and B will be the same. On page 2 of Form 1040X under explanation write what happened.

Mail a copy of the original tax form and Form 1040X to the regional IRS office for your area. If you do not get the Stimulus Payment this year, you will still be eligible to claim it when you file your 2008 tax return.

This is our answer to your tax question, based on our experience and expertise. Please remember that your taxes are your sole responsibility — we do not guarantee the accuracy of our response.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Tax rebates
        

Maybe they've been too busy bench-pressing or kick-boxing, but 11 health clubs are accused of failing to renew their registration with the state.

The Office of Maryland's Attorney General filed administrative charges against the clubs for selling health club services since 2007 without registering with the Consumer Protection Division. The state wants the clubs to stop offering services until  they register and pay penalties.

The clubs: AAA Karate of Silver Spring, Frederick Academy of Self Defense in Frederick, Curves of Glen Burnie, Contours Express of Bryans Road in Accokeek, JYI Marital Arts in Arnold, Contours Express of Hagerstown, Curves - La Plata, King Tiger Martial Arts inSilver Spring, Panther Academy of Martial Arts in Ocean Pines, Self Defense America in Centreville, The Wing Chun Gung Fu School of Columbia.

Make sure your fitness center or self-defense school is registed before signing up. Call the Consumer Protection Divsion at 410-576-6350 or go to the  Web site.

Here's a list of tips from the AG's site:

-- Before signing up for a long-term contract, ask whether you can do a month-to-month or short-

term membership to see if you like the club and will continue using the facilities.

-- Ask if you can make monthly payments. That way you limit your losses if the club folds.

-- Don't sign a contract on your first visit, even if a muscled-bound sales person twists your arm. Take the contract home and read the terms. Keep a copy.

-- Maryland law allows you to cancel the contract three days after you sign it if you give written notice in person or buy certified mail with a return receipt requested. Make sure you keep these papers.

-- Also, the club's contract might spell out other cancellation rights you have. Another reason to read the contract before signing.

-- And if the club closes? You don't have to pay for services you can't get. Stop any automatic payments you have going to the business. A club might try to continue dinging your account even after it shuts its doors.

-- If a new owner takes over, will it honor your old contract? If not, you can't be forced to join the new club.

-- Any problems, contact the Consumer Protection Division. 

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 7:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer protection, Naughty businesses/NBotW
        

Haven’t gotten your economic stimulus payment?

If you haven’t filed your 2007 tax return — a requirement to get the tax rebate — you have just a little over one month to get it in.

Thousands of Marylanders who normally don’t have to file a return because of their low income are likely those missing out on the rebate worth at least $300.

There are plenty of groups offering free tax help if you need assistance filing a return, including AARP Tax-Aide counselors. To make an appointment, call 888-687-2277 or check the group’s Web site to find the nearest location to you.

Susan Dolinka, working with the group, adds in an e-mail: “If a senior citizen only had 2007 Social Security income to declare, they never need to leave their homes. We will e-file and their check will be sent directly to them.”

The deadline is Oct. 15. Don’t miss it! Otherwise, you will have to wait until next year to claim the payment on your return.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 3:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Tax rebates
        

ABC News has a story about how candy companies like Hershey's are reformulating their chocolate bars and relabeling them with terms such as "made with chocolate" or "chocolatey" or "chocolate candy" to overcome Food and Drug Administration standards for that taste sensation.

See, the FDA defines chocolate as made with cocoa butter --- a commodity that has more than doubled in price in just two years, according to the ABC News story. Some of Hershey's bars, such as the Whatchamacallit and the Take 5, are now made with cheaper palm or sunflower oil, according to the labels. It will still look like chocolate, but you may notice a different texture, or mouthfeel, with every bite.

American chocolate manufacturers lobbied the FDA in 2006 to change the standard, but that didn't fly. Mort Rosenbaum, author of Chocolate: A Bittersweet Saga of Dark and Light, examined the chocolate standards issue for the New York Times Op-Ed page then.

The worst part for chocoholics is that the substitutions have come on the market as other costs have also increased, so Hershey's has increased candy prices overall, as Cybele May broke down the financials on her Candy Blog last week.

So which candy bars have made the switch?

Oh, Mr. Goodbar's not the same bar anymore, nor is Krackel, according to May's research. Take 5 and Hershey's Kissables, a candy-coated mini-kiss, are on that list. Milk Duds are now a dud, and Nestle's Baby Ruth has coconut oil, not cocoa butter. 

Check out May's reviews of reformulated "mockolate" bars here.

(photo: Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Consumer protection, Food, Shopping
        

Do you feel safe investing in municipal bonds? Maybe you shouldn't, Eileen says.

The house next door to you is demolished. Your house is damaged. Is the city to blame? What did you think of Liz's column?

I'm on vacation this week, but I still want to know what you think. 

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

That would be arson, or faking a theft.

Yesterday's Marketplace report ended with a tidbit about a report issued this week by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, an industry-funded group that found a correlation between high gas prices and suspicious thefts of gas guzzlers.

Six of the top ten questionable claims for stolen cars in 2007 are pickup trucks or SUVs (check out the list below the jump).

Here's an anecdote from Baltimore crime blogger Peter Hermann, who  touched on this topic earlier this week with his note about suspected arson of a 2007 Dodge pickup in St. Mary's County:

Joseph G. Zurolo Jr., a spokesman for the state fire marshal's office, wouldn't say how the fire was allegedly set. But he did say someone close to the suspect tipped them off and provided some clues about the means and the motive.

This is not the first case of a destroying a car to avoid the high price of gas. "I think we're starting to see a little bit more of these SUV-type vehicles that are conveniently burning," Zurolo told me. "I have no hard numbers or figures to show, but it certainly seems the trend is starting to rise."

According to the NICB report:

Owners will often try the tactic of burning or flooding their vehicle for financial reasons. If the vehicle has become too expensive to fix, the owner is behind on payments, or the owner has taken on a monthly payment they cannot afford, disposing of the vehicle in order to collect on the insurance has become an increasingly expensive problem for the insurance industry. With the rise in gas prices, owners may also begin to give-up their vehicles with poor gas mileage as a way to alleviate the financial burden.    

Top Ten (10) Vehicle Make and Model
1. Dodge Ram (79)
2. Ford F-150 (70)
3. Honda Accord (60)
4. Honda Civic (50)
5. Ford Mustang (47)
6. GMC Yukon (44)
7. (Tie) Toyota Camry (42)
7. Chevrolet Silverado (42)
9. Dodge Durango (36)
10. Chevrolet Tahoe (33)

(photo: Doug Kapustin/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cars
        

Our counterparts over at the Chicago Tribune have put together a consumer guide to help all of us wade through the legions of customer service representatives, store managers and others who stand in the way of consumer justice.

The tips are pretty basic --- keep all receipts, take notes on your calls, get the names of people you speak with --- but can help you get a lot farther in resolving issues with warranties that are not honored or returns that are rejected or other conflicts.

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, How To
        

Ethan Ewing, president of free online consumer portal Bills.com, shares with us the top ten "mistakes others are making" for people who are concerned with their financial futures :

1. Casually using a credit card: People who pay for their food with a credit card spend 30 percent more on average than people who pay with cash, according to a Visa study of 100,000 restaurant transactions. Those who want to avoid overspending should pay with cash when shopping or dining. (oh geez. I rarely ever carry cash with me.)

2. Buying too much house: "The bigger the house, the bigger the headaches," Ewing said. A mini-mansion comes with mansion-sized tax payments, insurance, maintenance, upkeep, repairs and yard work, and owners of more luxurious homes are more likely to feel pressure to upgrade everything from appliances to furnishings to the cars that go in the garage. Realtors sometimes encourage buyers to purchase as much house as they can "stretch" to, but Ewing said, "Take a realistic look at your needs and your budget to choose the house that is the right size for both. Ideally, all home costs -- including insurance, taxes and maintenance – should amount to less than 35 percent of your budget." (whew. I have a tiny house, one that I could afford even if my day job as your consumer columnist took a sudden nose dive.)

3. Trading in a car too early. New-car ads can be tempting, but before making the leap to a new car, evaluate the costs. If the old car is not yet paid off, odds are the dealer will just add the remaining loan payments to the cost of the new car. Repeat, and loans could piggyback until the payment is monster-truck sized. Instead, Ewing suggested, strive to keep vehicles for five to 10 years -- or at a minimum, until the previous loan is paid off. (I had to buy a new car when my 14-year-old Honda needed more repairs than it was worth)

4. Paying too much for appliances and furnishings: Renting to own could be defined as "paying way too much for something you will wear out," Ewing noted. With interest charges that can sometimes be extremely high, what looks like a small monthly payment might actually be a very expensive way to acquire a sofa or TV. Far better is to purchase quality used goods that can last a few years while you save up for a pricier item. Along the way, smart consumers might find they would rather use that cash for retirement savings or to pay a mortgage. (I'm OK on furniture for now. I've got the same furniture I bought fairly cheaply five years ago.)

5. Borrowing from payday lenders: Payday lenders typically loan a few hundred dollars at a time, with an average interest fee of about $15 on a $100 advance. Most loans must be repaid within two weeks. In many cases, payday lenders can roll over loans again and again, resulting in effective interest rates that are exorbitant Far better: Save up an emergency fund -- even $100 to $500 can make a difference. If you must use the savings, then repay the fund as soon as possible. (I just say no... to payday lenders.)

6. Not saving for retirement or raiding retirement funds: Social Security can be expected to cover only a portion of most people's retirement expenses. Therefore, saving for retirement should be thought of as a requirement, like paying taxes. Do not cash in a retirement fund except in a crisis. (I save in a 401K. But I know I should do more.)

7. Not paying taxes: "There's no hiding from the IRS," Ewing said. "They will track you down eventually if you have not paid taxes, and the penalties can be harsh, from penalties and interest to garnished wages and even jail time. Seek help and immediately rectify the situation." (Uncle Sam always gets his cut of my dime.)

8. Co-signing a loan. Loans require a co-signer when the borrower has no credit or has bad credit: Parents who have thought it through -- and laid out ground rules -- might co-sign a child's first lease. But take a big pause before co-signing on a loan for a relative and friend with shaky credit history. You might be stuck with the bill -- and a relative's trouble can turn into your own problems. (Are you kidding? My relatives should be lending ME money. How much do you think I get paid here?)

9. Investing on a tip. Never invest life savings in a stock your neighbor, colleague or buddy recommends: "People who think these investments might be their ticket to riches need to understand that they also could be a one-way ticket to financial ruin," Ewing cautioned. Diversification is a key component of any investing strategy. Never put too much of your money in any one investment, regardless of how much hype it is generating. (See my response to 8. Anyone want to lend me some money first?)

10. Do not skip the small stuff: Pay everything on time, including bills whose creditors might not start calling right away -- like child support, parking tickets and library fines. All of these bills can and do come back to haunt those who do not take them seriously. (I could not be more OCD about paying my bills on time.)

Anyone score 10 out of 10 on this as you head toward financial ruin? Or are you better off than you thought?

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 2:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Budgeting, Economy, How To, Personal finance
        

Check out travel blogger Michelle Deal-Zimmerman's take on two hotel alternatives sites, airbed.com and couchsurfing.com. Would you be willing to sleep on a stranger's couch to cut travel costs?

I have a hard enough time making small talk with people I know, and I have to talk to strangers all the time for my job, so incorporating this into my time off doesn't seem that inviting to me. I'd also be worried about being inundated with requests if I lived in a popular, pricey destination such as New York City.

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Travel
        

Everyone’s looking to save a buck these days. Don’t overlook trimming your homeowner’s and auto insurance premiums.

The Insurance Information Institute, which represents property and casualty insurers, offers tips for cutting premiums. Some are obvious, like asking for a higher deductible or reducing coverage on old cars. But here are some you might not have thought about:

— Buy a house that’s close to a fire hydrant or in a community with a professional fire department instead of a voluntary crew.

— East coasters should buy brick houses because they are more likely to withstand heavy winds. Those in earthquake territory should consider wooden frame houses.

— Don’t count the value of your land when figuring the amount of homeowner’s coverage to buy. — Reduce coverage for personal items that have lost value. Cancel coverage for jewelry or art that you have sold.

— Adding a sophisticated alarm and sprinkler system can reduce premiums as much as 15 or 20 percent. These systems aren’t cheap, though. So before buying one, make sure it’s the kind your insurer suggests and the savings in premiums can make up for the price of the system.

— Don’t switch insurers. Some companies give a 5 percent discount if you stick with them for three to five years and a 10 percent discount for six or more years of loyalty.

— Ask for a discount if you are driving fewer miles to work because you’re now car pooling or taking public transportation.

— Don’t lie about your age. You might get a discount on auto premiums if you’re over 50.

— On average, people make auto claims about once every dozen years. So, if you’re average and have some money set aside, raise your deductible on collision and comprehensive coverage. Raising it from $200 to $500 could save 15 to 30 percent. Raise it to $1,000, and your premiums could be cut by at least 40 percent.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 7:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal
        

Politicians may be too chicken to fix Social Security’s financial problems, but what about you? Can you make the politically tough decisions to shore up the system?

Find out by playing the Social Security Game, created by the American Academy of Actuaries. The online game  gives potential fixes and the pros and cons of each option.

For instance, raise the age to get full retirement benefits to 70 by 2030, and all of Social Security’s solvency problems are cured. But workers in physically demanding jobs won’t be happy because they may have to work longer longer. And employers won’t be too pleased, either, because older workers mean higher health care costs.

Right now, the program runs at a $2.2 trillion surplus. But with millions of baby boomers retiring in the next several years, the picture changes. By 2017, Social Security will begin paying out more in benefits than it collects in taxes. By 2041, the surplus is spent. There are still enough taxes from workers and employees, though, to pay 78 percent of promised benefits.

So, how would you fix this shortfall? Play the game and let us know the choices you made.

Sam Davis of Towson played the game recently. He says he took a bite “from present, near future retirees, and younger workers.” He favors accelerating the increase in the retirement age to 67, reducing cost of living adjustments starting next year and raising the amount of wages subject to Social Security taxes. These steps are more than enough to fix the system’s problems.

“It boggles my mind to think that our legislators couldn’t solve this problem given the great info available,” he writes.

Play on!

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 4:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Social Security
        

Thanks to Reader Chuck for this bit of interesting news from unstrung.com:

Soon you'll be able to find yourself -- and local businesses -- on mobile WiMax, but only in Baltimore to begin with. (See Sprint Announces Geobrowsing for XOHM Mobile Internet.)

Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S - message board) today unveiled one of the first services that will be available on its XOHM mobile WiMax network: A location service that will pinpoint local businesses, restaurants, and "points of interest" for mobile users with WiMax-cards for their laptops. The third-largest cellular carrier in the U.S. is calling the application Geobrowsing and says at least some of the capabilities will be available when it goes commercial this September in Baltimore.

 

What exactly is WiMAX you ask? It's long-range, broadband wireless technology. WiMAX service is available for PC users in homes and offices and mobile WiMAX is also available for portable devices like cell phones and laptops. There's no confirmed date as of yet for WiMax release here in Baltimore.

For those who haven't heard of it, here's a good description of WiMAX from reporters Sam Diaz and Dean Takahashi from the Merc News:

We already know how convenient it can be to sit down at the corner Starbucks and surf the Web over a wireless, high-speed Internet connection. Imagine if you kept that connection as you left the coffee house and jumped on a bus or hopped into the back seat of your carpoll for the commute to the office.

The technology that promises to bring wireless high-speed connections to entire metropolitan areas is on the way. It's called WiMax and is backed by 140 companies -- from start-ups to chip giant Intel to telecommunications companies.

WiMax is a lot like WiFi, the short-range wireless technology that allows Web surfers to connect to the Internet at Starbucks and other so-called hot spots. But unlike WiFi's 150-foot range, WiMax has a reach of one to 10 miles, offering a way to bring the Internet to entire communities without having to invest billions of dollars to install phone or cable networks.

That presents new opportunities to deliver high-speed Internet access to small businesses, homes and even road warriors who remain out-of-reach of cable and DSL services. But it also raises the question of whether WiMax can deliver what it's promising at a level that makes economic sense for businesses who long to jump into the market.

What this means is more competition entering the market for your wireless calling and data needs. Definitely an interesting tech battle to watch.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Computers, Technology
        

Fans of Steve & Barry's may be happy to hear that the discount seller of clothing lines by celebrities has been bought out of bankruptcy.

If you're not aware of Steve & Barry's, might I refresh your memory by reminding you that Sarah Jessica Parker, she of Sex and the City fame, released her fashion line Bitten at S&B's stores last year? Ditto for tennis ace Venus Williams, who launched her own clothin line EleVen there in November and NBA star Stephon Marbury, who released a collection of high-performance, smartly styled basketball shoes in 2006 that all cost under $14.98.

In case you were worried that the stores would disappear altogether, S&B's said yesterday that BH S&B Holdings, a newly formed affiliate of investment firms Bay Harbour Management and York Capital Management, purchased S&B's.

The chain will continue to run with a smaller base of approximately 170 stores, S&B said. There were 276 stores prior to its bankruptcy filing.

In our local market, that means the S&B's at Cromwell Field in Glen Burnie, Eastpoint Mall in Baltimore, and Town Mall in Westminister will remain open.

(Sun Photographer Andre F. Chung)

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Shopping
        

Consuming Interests' Consumer Web site of the Week is here to assist you with future car costs.

Last week we gave you options to compare the selling prices of new cars online.

This week, we're helping you compare the prices of auto repairs for said cars, through RepairPal.com, discovered via Consumerist.

Enter your year. make and model (and sometimes other info) and the Web site spits out a range of prices you'd expect at either a dealership or independent shop.

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Cars, Consumer Web Site of the Week
        

I've been worried about my freakishly cool niece, who I worry about constantly since I still see her as perpetually 11-years-old, going off to college for the first time this year. I worry about her meeting bad friends who smoke and drink and party too much (hey, I'm old enough and been around long enough to have those kind of friends, thank you very much).

I worry she'll pick a major that will land her in an industry that slowly disappears right from under her feet (er, no, this isn't about me or my future). I worry she'll forget to eat fruits and vegetables (I know. I need to find more things to do with my time.)

Thanks to Reader Chris over at Fly the World blog for this cool tip so I have one less worry about her laptop being stolen (seriously, all sorts of stuff gets stolen. I had books stolen from my dorm room while I was studying for a final, and yes, they were the very books I needed to study for that final.)

Chris says:

Get a Belkin Laptop Alarm Lock for free after Rebates at Frys.com. Laptops are the most stolen item in the world right now. There are number of software that will help you locate the stolen laptops but if you want a conventional one that gives a loud alarm like the car alarm detector, then you should get this Belkin Laptop Alarm Clock. It has a loud noise with up to 1 decibel alarm sound.

Please note the product costs $10 with free shipping and the rebate is valid until today, September 2, 2008.

Even if you don't make it in time for the free rebate, you may want to buy one of these suckers just in case you're worried about a laptop. It's like a The Club for your car, only noisier and it attaches to your USB port. I'm going to get one for my niece so I can stop annoying her about this one little thing, which will free my time up to annoy her about all those other little things.  

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 5:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal
        

Lots of anticipation over the launch of Juggernaut Google's open source Web browser, Chrome, today.

Here's CNet.com's take on it yesterday:

The Web site for Google's new open-source Chrome browser is slowly waking up. As I first began writing this post, there was a logo, a single screenshot (below), a link to a broken video, and a non-functioning download link. The page now redirects to Google.com, though.

The company is hosting a press conference at its Mountain View, Calif., headquarters Tuesday at 11 a.m. PDT. I will be there and will live blog. Sign up for a reminder in the box at right, or just show up on Webware.com.

Despite the frequent clashes with Microsoft — including the role Google played in thwarting an attempted acquisition of Yahoo — Google has come out on top only in search and search advertising. But Google does not have to win the browser war. Strategically, opening yet another front against Microsoft forces it to divert resources to defend franchises.

Now, Chrome heightens the rivalry and marks a shift for Google, which has strongly backed Firefox, the open-source browser that has gained about a fifth of the market against the dominant Internet Explorer.

Google’s browser project has been under way for more than a year, a person close to the company said.

In a brief statement, Microsoft welcomed the new entry and expressed confidence that people would prefer Explorer, which is on every Windows PC sold.

Check out PCWorld's take on the soon-to-be-expected browser.

Here's Google's comic book version of the whys behind the Chrome launch. Anyone worried that Chrome will kill off Mozilla?

The Chrome download was available a little before 3 p.m. on the East Coast.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 4:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Computers, Technology
        

Social Security is a political hot potato. And this election year, politicians are promising to come up with solutions to financially shore up the system, although details are sparse.

Instead of waiting for leadership on high, tell us how you fix a system. Play the online Social Security Game. It was developed by number crunchers at the American Academy of Actuaries and updated annually.

The game gives you options and then calculates how much each option would go toward resolving Social Security’s problem. Understand, whatever fixes you come up with, will have a cost that will make some people upset.

For instance, Social Security’s solvency can be fully fixed by gradually raising the age to get full Social Security benefits to 70 by 2030. The problem, though, is that some workers have physically demanding jobs and need to stop at 62. Raise the age for full retirement benefits, and these workers will see their benefits shrink, too.

On the other hand, you could argue by 2030 there will be a lot fewer people doing physically demanding jobs because of technology and the drop in manufacturing.

Anyway, play the game and let us know how you would solve the problem.

Sam Davis of Towson read my article on the presidential candidates on Sunday’s paper about Social Security, and called for a revival of the game.

He wrote in an e-mail: “Your article did not mention one of the primary problems standing in the way of the fixing process, namely the Federal Legislature. Our Senators and Representatives do not want to tackle this issue, when in fact, absent any leadership from the Executive Branch, they have had years since this issue was first raised, and covered well in the Sunpaper of December 12, 2004. Imagine that, nearly 4 years of knowing the solutions to the problem with no action by our representatives! Please do your fellow citizens a favor and resurrect this great piece of reporting, update it, show how much time has cost us in the various remedy's outlined in that piece, and ring the clarion call and point the finger at who can act on this problem.”

Play on!

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 2:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Social Security
        

Goucher College said today it is partnering with Zipcars, the world's largest provider of cars on demand by the hour or day, to provide an environmentally friendly alternative to keeping a personal car on campus for university faculty, staff and students.

Beginning today, two self-service Zipcars – both Honda Civic Hybrids – will be available for use 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Goucher says the cars will be located in the Dorsey Center Parking Lot and will be available to all staff and students aged 18+, with gas, maintenance, insurance, and reserved parking included in low hourly and daily rates.

This is not Goucher's first foray into providing environmentally friendly transportation resources for its campus.

Goucher launched a free community bicycle program that allows students, faculty, and staff to use a fleet of 10 bikes for transportation and recreation on and off campus this semester. Those Goucher Greenies are also already into recycling, composting, sustainable food service, and energy conservation programs.

It's been a long, long time since I was in college, but I would have loved this program.I couldn't afford to bring my old jalopy to campus (no gas money, insurance, etc.), but I might have been able to scrape together enough money for the few times a year I needed transportation for class assignments off campus.

Zipcar says it offers the freedom to travel while eliminating hundreds of dollars in monthly transportation costs, saving members an average of $600 a month or $7,200 a year when compared with car ownership.

To join, faculty, staff, and students pay $35 to access Goucher’s Zipcars for $7 per hour or $60 per day. Local Baltimore resident ages 21 and over can also join for $75 ($25 one-time application fee and $50 annual fee). All members 21 and over will also have access to Zipcar’s network of more than 5,500 vehicles throughout North America and the United Kingdom.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Budgeting, Cars, Cheap/Frugal, Greenies
        

A Consumer Reports blogger noted an interesting  observation: rising prices for oil changes, near its Yonkers, N.Y. headquarters.

Yet another price-increase story to file under "rising petroleum prices" ... affecting petroleum-based products as well.

Anyone seeing anything similar in the Baltimore area?

Car maintenance is not a place to cut corners. Your vehicle will operate longer and more efficiently with regular oil changes, according to the Car Talk guys. 

How often should you change your oil?

Owners' manuals recommend anywhere from 3,000 to every 10,000 miles, but the Car Talk dudes say 5,000 miles is a safe gauge for most vehicles.  

Of course, one way to combat these rising costs would be to change your own oil (and the filter too). The Car Talk guys say it's safe to attempt. There's also little risk of possibly damaging your vehicle in the process.

How difficult is it to do?

Comically, the Car Talk guys say people who have changed their own oil before should be able to handle this task.

This is the kind of endeavor I'm sure would fill me with a sense of virtue and accomplishment, but I have not yet attempted. Definitely, if you've got a killer commute and need this kind of maintenance frequently, then it could help save some cash.

(photo: Jed Kirschbaum/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cars, Cheap/Frugal
        

Here's some disturbing news last month in case you missed it from NewsInferno.com:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to consumers who filled prescriptions at The Medicine Shoppe pharmacies located at 8035A Liberty Road and 5900 Reisterstown Road, both located in Baltimore, Maryland. The FDA is reporting that such consumers may have received defective drugs that were either expired or suspected counterfeit and is concerned because some of the drugs are for serious diseases and could have an adverse treatment effects. At this time, no other Medicine Shoppe pharmacies seem to be involved.

Because the safety and efficacy of the listed drugs has not been established, the FDA is strongly advising consumers “who filled prescriptions for these drugs at these two pharmacies to contact their prescribing physician immediately for new prescriptions. Additionally, consumers in possession of the above listed prescription drugs from these pharmacies should call FDA at 800-521-5783 for further information on how to dispose of the drugs.” The medications include:

NewsInferno says, "Consumers and health care professionals can report adverse events to the FDA’s MedWatch program at 800-FDA-1088, by mail at MedWatch, HF-2, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Md 20852-9787, or online at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm."

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Consumer protection, Consumer safety, Healthcare, Naughty businesses/NBotW