The Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition will recognize three people who have advocated for consumers at its annual meeting and award ceremony on September 24. 

Sarah Bloom Raskin, Maryland's commissioner of financial regulation, will receive the Denis J. Murphy Consumer Advocate of the Year award,  and State Del. Sue Hecht of Frederick will be honored with the Consumer Legislator of the Year award.

In addition, attorney Karl-Henri Gauvin will be honored as the Volunteer of the Year.

The event will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Meeting House, 5885 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia. Tickets to the event are $50 for coalition members and $75 for non-members. Click here to buy tickets and for more information.

Posted by Liz Kay at 8:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

So, Radio Shack has decided to rebrand as "The Shack", in an attempt to suggest a fun, familiar nickname to the masses, like "Tar-jay" for Target.

"Radio Shack" originally referred to the room on a ship that housed radio equipment, and Radio Shack the store developed a reputation as a source for electronics, including cables and adapters, according to PC World, so it was definitely a fitting name.

"The Shack," on the other hand, doesn't really conjure up visions of high quality merchandise in my mind.

For me, I encounter the epitome of this confusion between store names and its products on Route 40 in Catonsville ... 

Continue reading "Worst store names ever: Radio Shack rebrands as "The Shack"" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Musicians in many music genres are releasing songs celebrating the frugal life and lamenting corporate greed and government bailouts, writes Washington Post music critic J. Freedom du Lac.

Rappers like Young Jeezy and Jadakiss aren't talking about spending cheese --- now they're talking about economic matters in "Circulate" and "Hard Times".

But it's not just hip hop --- rocker Neil Young, folk singer Tom Paxton have penned their own financial and economic laments. Despite his name, even country star John Rich got into the act with "Shuttin' Down Detroit".

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Economy, Odds & Ends
        

... if you live in the United Kingdom, that is.

Any expatriate readers of Consuming Interests out there? Pigtown, I'm talking to you!

Krispy Kreme was one of several American companies that had offered Election Day incentives for people who voted.

But some were getting into trouble because voting rules that prohibit people from being paid to cast a ballot.

So, Krispy Kreme is offering a free medium Americano to their U.K. customers if they come into a location and say "Yes we can!" from now until Friday, Jan. 16.

Traveling in the next few days and thinking about snagging some free java during a layover? Sorry, folks ... the offer's not valid at Krispy Kremes at Luton Airport, Gatwick Airport, Stansted Airport, Heathrow T3 or Heathrow T5, nor the one at the Waterloo Tube Station. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Odds & Ends
        

(photo: Jed Kirschbaum/Baltimore Sun)

At this point of the season, you have probably opened presents, eaten lots of food and perhaps grown tired of spending time with family and friends you don't see often enough.

That means it's time for three gifts from all of us here at Consuming Interests. Yeah, it's a little early for the Epiphany (and I'm not claiming we're wise men), but just read on.

First, we offer you the Gift of Safety, courtesy of NPR: don't burn your wrapping paper in a fireplace! Brightly colored paper gets that way thanks to pigments loaded with metals that are not too much fun when burned. But more importantly, it could start a house fire! Instead, just recycle it (if that's an option where you are) or avoid it in the future in favor of other cheap, green gift wrap options.

Next, here's the gift of laughter:

Continue reading "Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa ..." »

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

At $39 a bottle, Bailout wine seems pricey to me. But the price of the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon might not stay that way.

Crushpad, a winery that lets people create custom wines, will refund you $2 per bottle for every 100 points the Dow drops between your purchase date and Aug. 14.

(photo: Gene Sweeney Jr/Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Liz Kay at 8:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Economy, Odds & Ends
        

We've told you before that pennies add up to dollars, and with that mantra in mind you might go out of your way to pick up the coins passed over in less lean times. Have you broken the piggy bank, gone through the couch cushions or re-checked old coat pockets or purses for nickels and dimes?

Then you'd be surprised to hear about thousands of dollars of unclaimed money that Excellent Eileen has written about in her Sunday column. Be sure to check it out.

As for Watchdog, well ...

Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: unclaimed cash and clogged storm drains" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 4:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Budgeting, Odds & Ends, Watchdog
        

You'd better pay your electric bills before you deck the halls --- in Thurmont, at least.

A commissioner in this Frederick County town is threatening to publicly expose utility customers who put up Christmas lights even though their electricity bills are past due, according to this WHAG-TV news report discovered via Consumer Reports.

The story states that the city is responsible for the unpaid bills --- which amount to thousands of dollars in an already tight fiscal time --- so the holiday light displays are just a slap in the face.

Folks whose accounts are in the red are not allowed to participate in the town's annual decorating contest. But town officials say they won't publish names in the paper until January 1.

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Energy/Utilities, Odds & Ends
        

One man's jackpot is the state's misfortune.

More people have hit it big in Maryland's Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings, according to this story by statehouse reporter Laura Smitherman.

What could be bad about that, especially in these economic times?

Well, Maryland Lottery revenues are now $27 million below projections since July as a result.

And the lottery is the state's third largest source of operating revenue, according to Laura's story. 

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Well kids, here goes my last Consumer Sundays post. I just handed in my paperwork at HR, got my boxes packed and am wrapping things up now on this here blog.

Tune in Sunday to find out why Eileen says, in her personal finance column, it's OK to embrace your inner tightwad in these hard economic times.

Liz's Watchdog column tackles a bus that doesn't stop at an unmarked bus stop in Canton.

And me? Well, just for giggles, I looked up the oldest article written by me that I could find in the Sun's archives. Here it is, a story that ran on 3B of the old Maryland section, when I was an intern in 1991:

Catrice Green, a student at Rosemont Elementary School, thought it was just great being a part of a stripe in the American flag."I feel like I am a star," said Shanee Monroe, a senior at City College and president of the student council who was one of the flag's stars. "To be any part of this celebration for the flag is a lifelong experience."

 

    An estimated 3,400 elementary and high school students agreed yesterday that being a part of a human flag was exciting, fun and quite a privilege.

 

Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: Thanks and Goodbye" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 3:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Complaints, Consumer protection, Consumer safety, Odds & Ends, Personal finance, Watchdog
        

Many of you by now are in a turkey coma. Many of you are probably basking in the warm glow of family. Some are watching the football. Others are maybe getting ready to go stand outside a store for several hours to snag some holiday shopping deals. But hopefully, all of you have had a wonderful day of Thanksgiving.

Since my family gathers in the early afternoon, this is the time when things have settled down, the children have tired out and everyone is just sitting back relaxing. This is my favorite part of the day because it gives me the chance to reflect and really give thanks for all the wonderful things I've been blessed with in my life.

Continue reading "Giving thanks..." »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 8:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Holiday shopping, Odds & Ends
        

Be sure to download a free 20 oz. Dr. Pepper coupon on Sunday, if you'd like to be a Pepper too.

The company will offer coupons at www.drpepper.com, honoring its agreement to give away a free Dr. Pepper if Guns N Roses released its Chinese Democracy album in 2008. The album, according to the Associated Press story, had been promised since 1994.

The hair band made the deadline with six weeks left to spare.

You can snag your own Dr Pepper coupon starting at 12:01 a.m. Sunday. They will be available for 24 hours and won't expire until Feb. 28.

Posted by Liz Kay at 1:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Odds & Ends
        

Finding a sugar daddy might not be as lucrative as it used to be.

I'd like to thank my many social-networking friends who posted a link to this WSJ blog post about the rich cutting back on payments to their mistresses and kept men.

About 80 percent of the 191 people who elected to answer the question said they would cut back on the lavish gifts, dinners and trips they showered on the other halves of their extramarital affairs. 

Surprisingly,

Continue reading "Signs of tough financial times: Rich cutting back on gifts to mistresses" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Odds & Ends
        

Newspapers across the country are experiencing a run on single-copy sales today, with customers purchasing keepsakes to remember the election of Barack Obama.

So far, the Chicago Tribune, New York Times, Washington Post, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Detroit Free Press, San Francisco Chronicle and yes, (updated) the Baltimore Sun are planning to reprint today's edition.

As one Twitter user said: "you can't frame a Web page." 

Read more about reprints of newspapers' election editions in Editor & Publisher magazine.

The extra copies of The Sun will be available tomorrow morning, along with copies of Thursday's paper.

Check out the front page from today's paper:

Continue reading "Historic election good for newspaper sales" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Thanks to Reader Carol for alerting us in comments to Election Freebies Shenanigans in our earlier post on free stuff you can get for voting:

Was all excited to hear that Shane's Rib Shack was giving away a 3-piece meal. Worked up an appetite waiting in line to vote so you can imagine my disappointment when I drove to the Shack in Laurel at 2:30 pm only to be told the promotion was limited to the first 300 people...I was bummed. Did get my coffee at the Starbucks next door. Yay for Starbucks!

We don't remember reading anything about a 300 people limit at Shane's, but we might have missed the fine print, too. Sorry Carol. Don't go to Shane's if you're looking to collect on the freebie, people.

Also, thanks Kimberly Palmer at AlphaConsumer blog over at U.S. News & World Report (via her Twitter feed) for alerting us to coffee denials at some Starbucks. Thanh Duong in California said:

Continue reading "Election Day Freebies Shenanigans" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 4:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

At this point you may have already waited in line, cast your ballot, collected your sticker and started cashing in on some of the free stuff for voting that Dan Thanh told you about earlier.

But just in case you're still making those final decisions, here is some more info to consider when making your choice for president:

Here what the Red Tape Chronicles had to say about John McCain and Barack Obama's positions on consumer issues, such as college costs and toy safety. Consumerist had a similar post earlier this year, showing the voting records of the early candidates on important bills.

And let's not forget technology issues ... check out cnet's technology voters guide to see how your local representatives voted on issues such as investigating Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and for a FISA bill with retroactive immunity.

(photo: stock xchng)

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

The answer is ... maybe.

Consumerist posted a link to a state-by-state breakdown of laws about time off for voting, in case you need some leverage with a supervisor or two.

In Maryland, 

"An employee is allowed up to two hours to vote if the polls aren’t open two consecutive hours outside the employee’s regular shift. The time off is paid with proof that the employee voted. (Md. Code Ann. Section 10-315)"

Findlaw.com has another state-by-state breakdown with links to the actual language, as well. 

Since polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Maryland ... 

Continue reading "Do Marylanders get paid time off to vote?" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 5:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

AlisaBS! woohoo!

Her winning 1000th comment on an e-card that informs recipients they may have contracted an STD:

"Ah, the break-up by post-it. That episode of Sex and the City was just on TBS the other night. Classic. As creepy as the STD e-mail is, it's still better to know."

But wait, wait... there's more. We're awarding the lucky 1,001st commenter, too! Why? Because that's how we roll here at Consuming Interests. Well, ok, it's because we happened to have an extra prize on our desk, but mostly because we're just kerrrrazy like that. The lucky 1,001st commenter is:

Continue reading "And the winner is....." »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 3:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

After nearly a year of compiling the best of consumer news and views for you, Consuming Interests has finally reached a milestone: we're within sight of the 1,000th comment posted on the blog. (DD: We're so close, I can almost smell it!)

We've all enjoyed sharing info about financial foibles, the infamous tax rebate and naughty businesses as well as cheap tricks to help you hang on to your money. 

Now, we'd like to reward our loyal readers --- as well as those who drop in --- with a special prize. Whoever posts the 1,000th comment will receive an excellent freebie in which to stash their spare change. (DD: yes, stuff it full of money... er.. your OWN money. Not ours. whaddaya think we get paid a lot to do this?!)

And as always ...

Continue reading "Submit the 1,000th comment, win a prize!" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

A New York judge has ruled that bars in that state can offer Ladies Night specials if their owners so desire, according to the Associated Press.

Attorney Roy Den Hollander filed the discrimination suit in federal court on behalf of all men ages 21 and older who frequented New York nightclubs that offered Ladies Night specials. The New Yorker's The Talk of the Town offered more info on Hollander's lawsuit in a piece last year.

This is territory that was charted by Marylanders some time ago, according to a Baltimore Sun story:

Continue reading "Should Ladies Nights live on?" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Odds & Ends
        

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 ...  

Continue reading "Debunking the "We Deserve It Dividend"" »

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

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.

Continue reading "Yaaarghh! A $20,000 bottle of rum." »

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

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 ...

Continue reading "Stealing metal" »

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

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
        

Morning dear readers.

If you've gotten a chance to look at the paper and want to learn more about the research I wrote about in my Consuming Interests column today, click on Independent Security Evaluator's link here to watch their video demo and read about the vulnerabilities they found in massively multiplayer online games, Age of Conan and its predecessor, Anarchy Online.

In one of the attacks, ISE analyst Gabe takes over his colleague Dan's character and makes the tough guy dance in a fetching blue bikini. (heheheheh. pretty funny stuff)

And just a thought for players out there, ISE discovered these two serious security flaws because Dan was playing Age of Conan and wondered if he could find any holes in the game. Next thing you know, the analysts found two.

Now just imagine if ISE (and computer whizzes who aren't quite so honest) start checking out other online games for security flaws? I wonder what they would find?

Moving on to Eileen's column, how important is the future of Social Security to you in regards to the coming presidential election? With the details you've read from Eileen, which candidate do you believe will do a better job of shoring up benefits, or making sure there's enough funding there for you when you retire?

Continue reading "Consumer Sundays: Video of security flaws in Age of Conan and Anarchy Online" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 9:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Odds & Ends
        

Social Security needs to be fixed. Are you wondering which of these candidates will do the fixing? Read Financial Sage Eileen to find out what the men who would be president have to say about shoring up the system and why Social Security is an important election issue for those in your 20s and 30s.

Do you like to do battle in ancient worlds and lay siege against towns while engaging in drunken brawls? You're probably a fan of those ginormously popular MMOGs, or massively multiplayer online games. Find out in my Sunday column which two games left you vulnerable to a totally different kind of malicious attack that's far scarier than any virtual demon you might be fighting out there.

Dealing with the Motor Vehicle Administration can be confusing enough. Find out from Watchdog Liz how the MVA's "No Trespassing" Spanish language signs are even throwing Spanish speakers for a loop.

Tune in to Consumer Sundays to read all about it.

(Abaca Press)

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 4:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Now take this with a grain of salt, but in a recent survey by BIGresearch, shoppers at Wal-Mart, Kohl's and JCPenney said they were more likely to pick John McCain when asked to "vote" as if the election were held today.

Meanwhile, shoppers at Macy's and Target said they would cast their ballot for Barack Obama, according to BIGresearch's Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey this month.

The percentage of undecided voters for each of the retailers was fairly even, with the exception of Macy's shoppers.

Anyone care to read into this survey? Wonk-esse Jamie Smith Hopkins and I were thinking that, perhaps, you could associate Wal-Mart, Kohl's and JCPenney with more rural America while Target and Macy's are more urban America, where Obama's support is most likely stronger.

According to the survey, Wal-Mart shoppers said they are leaning towards McCain, but they are split down the political line with 37.1 percent aligned with Democrats and 36.5 percent Republicans. JCPenney is split, as well, with 37.4 percent Democrats and 36.4 percent Republicans. Kohl's shoppers considered themselves more to the right with 39.3 percent  and 33.7 percent to the left.

On the other hand, Macy's shoppers are much more likely to be Democrats at 46.7 percent versus 31.1 percent Republicans. Ditto for Target shoppers: 40.6 percent Dems and 31.7 percent Repubs.

Continue reading "Are you a McCain or Obama shopper?" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends, Shopping
        

In an AP story from Tokyo in yesterday's paper:

A new variety of premium grapes debuted in Japan yesterday, with a single bunch fetching as much as $910. A Japanese hotel manager paid that amount, about $26 per grape, for a 1 1/2 -pound bunch of the Ruby Roman grapes to serve guests at an upscale hotel, officials said. The tomato-colored grapes made their debut at an auction in Japan's northwestern Ishikawa prefecture, where they have been under development since 1994 in a state-led project. The grapes are slightly smaller than a pingpong ball.

Tha heck? A $26 grape?! For $26, that grape better come with a bottle of wine or take me on a magic carpet ride or something. Eeesh.

(AP Photo)

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

I got one word for you: GROSS.

and: ewwwwwwwww.

That's all.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 2:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Check out what the second-prize winner of the Florida Lottery's "Summer Cash" drawing will win: free gas for life!

Well ... not free gas, but 26 pre-paid gas cards, worth $100, every year for the rest of his or her life, according to the New York Times. Sure, that would buy less gas if prices keep going up, but still!

Funny --- I saw this article the day after Consumerist posted a link to this CNN story about scratch-off lottery tickets that are sold after the top prizes have been won.

Continue reading "The newest lottery prize: free gas" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Gas prices, Odds & Ends
        

Baltamour blogger Maryann James highlighted some choice bits from Joe Burris' story about the Denver couple, who, despondent after leaving happenin' Baltimore, decided to have sex for 101 days in a row. It hit bookshelves right on the heels of another book about a couple doing it 365 days in a row.

These books about sex could be a natural response to couples' desire to stay at home during the market's low points, according to psychotherapist Barton Goldsmith.

"Recession is good for relationships," he said. "People don't want to go out so they can cocoon, and sex can be fun for many couples. It beats the hell out of Monopoly. ... Reclaiming the spark of romance is always a timely subject."

Continue reading "The bright side of an economic downturn: recession sex" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 4:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cheap/Frugal, Odds & Ends
        

Electricity is expensive, but this item from Friday's police blotter about an incident in White Marsh still surprised me:

Burglary/arrest A man, 32, was arrested Tuesday and accused of using electricity from a neighbor's house in the first block of Glasshouse Garth to power his computer. When Stephen Rooker was arrested about 2:40 p.m. by police responding to the complaint, he was powering his computer through an electrical cord plugged into his neighbor's exterior outlet, police said. Rooker was charged with fourth-degree burglary, theft of electrical service and trespassing.

Before I make a joke about people who live in Glasshouses, Dan Thanh sez much more elaborate versions of this electrical theft happens all the time --- and she knows, because she wrote a story about it in 2001. Here's an excerpt from that story:

"To stop them, Baltimore Gas and Electric Co.'s power police - known more politely as revenue protection investigators - patrol the metro area in search of their elusive and often stubborn adversaries who are young, old, male, female, rich and poor.

... BGE estimates that it loses millions of dollars a year to theft, but the company said it can't determine the exact amount. Some theft is never discovered, BGE said, and it's difficult to separate how much is stolen from how much is never paid for.

    There are also no statistics on how many people die or get severely burned from electricity theft - after all, such activity is not the first thing injured parties volunteer at hospitals. But a good clue for investigators that someone was probably hurt in a theft attempt are scorch marks around a meter. Fatalities can occur from jolts as low as 24 volts. Home meters typically carry a load of about 240 volts."

All this reminds me of an interesting etiquette/ethical question about electrical grazing rights:

Continue reading "White Marsh man arrested for stealing electricity" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 4:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

A judge has ordered a Tennessee man undergo a mental evaluation after he was accused of holding a Comcast technician hostage until he fixed his television (via Consumerist).   

John Weatherly disputes the claim that he deadbolted the door of his home and threatened the repairman with a German Shepherd. He was charged with kidnapping and resisting arrest, according to the Tennessean. Weatherly says he was mad that the technician had disconnected his surround-sound system but told him to leave it alone because the set was still under warranty.

Continue reading "Angry customer holds Comcast tech hostage" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: How To, Odds & Ends
        

I won't be buying any gifts for this coming Father's Day, but I have been thinking about it a lot.

If my Dad were still around, I'd thank him for having the courage and strength to bring (with my Mama's amazing assistance, of course) his seven children to America when Saigon fell in 1975.

If Dad were still around, I'd thank him for teaching himself how to be a car mechanic so he could provide for his family of 10 (including my cousin who came to live with us a few years later).

If Dad were still around, I'd thank him for scraping together enough money every year to pile all his little rugrats into the used Studebaker and drive us to the beach for one weekend each summer.

If Dad were still around, I'd ask him if he was stretching the truth a tad when he said he taught Mama everything she knows about cooking and applying makeup (she insists he was fibbing).

If Dad were still around, I'd take him for a ride all around Baltimore City so he can see the little home I bought, walk along the waterfront neighborhoods, eat at some of the wonderful restaurants here and see how much this great city has changed. We could both share a good laugh about how he always managed to take the wrong turn when ever he drove through the New Tunnel (it willl always be the old and new tunnels to us) and end up lost in the city.

Continue reading "Happy Father's Day" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 4:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Usually here at Consuming Interests we try to focus on ways to pinch pennies, but if you're looking for a way to waste your money, the SomethingStore probably has Something for you.

Since October, more than 11,000 people have paid $10 to order something from the SomethingStore, which i first learned about via Unclutterer. 

What did they get? Oh, lots of radio-controlled cars, but sometimes an iPod Nano or perfume or a necktie. You just never know!

According to the site, they won't get something inappropriate for minors or illegal, like porn or drugs or body parts. But it kind of seems like the point of the game is to get something inappropriate, because you didn't request anything specific Or, maybe everybody like R/C cars.

Continue reading "Surprises in store from the SomethingStore" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Money can be funny, I guess, but you probably shouldn't use it. Using funny money could make the government come knocking. With the economy down in the dumps, the dollar doing so poorly against the euro and high consumer prices every where you look, there's not much about money to make us smile lately. Cry, maybe? Or laugh to keep from crying? (sigh)

But to keep from losing all hope, we here at the Consuming Interests blog live to share useful consumer trends, tips, and warnings with you every week to help you stretch or save that dollar.

While our day jobs keep us busy giving you financial tips on how to save and invest from Eileen Ambrose, how to resolve complaints and fight back against problem businesses from yours truly, or help navigating government red tape from Watchdog Liz Kay, we work hard behind the scenes on the blog, too, to be your source for consumer news.

Through the blog, everything we can't cover in the print paper, we try to give you here. Everything we think you may need to know but maybe missed, we try to give you here. Everything we find amusing, interesting or peculiar that we can't tell you about in the columns, we give it to you here. Questions and answers about the tax rebate? Here. Downer cows and our food supply? Here. How to haggle like a pro, how to find a credit counselor, how to find a digital converter box, how to save for the future? Here, here, here and here.

With that said, you may have noticed some recent features we've introduced to the blog to make your life and our lives easier. On Tuesdays, we're sharing one Naughty Business of the Week (NBotW) -- with intentions to pick the Consumer Bozo of the Month from that list. Please, do write in with your nominations and picks. Let's dish. Right now, there seems to be a tie between Sears and Castle Toyota/Scion.

Continue reading "Money Money Money, It's so Funny" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The paper was chock full of consumer news today. In case you missed any of it because you're running errands, working too hard or sipping mid-day mojitos, I'll sum up for you because I'm incredibly thoughtful that way.

The paper's front page carried a few interesting consumer stories today.

* If you've ever tried hailing a cab in the city, you know how difficult that can be. It's only going to get harder. Gus Sentementes tells us about the ongoing struggle by taxi cab drivers to earn a living in a slow economy and skyrocketing gas prices.

In an effort to save gas, the cabbies say they'll sit at taxi stands more instead of driving around looking for fares. Interesting fact, many cabbies pay $70 to $80 just for the use of the vehicle. Then they spend another $50 to $80 in fuel. If they're making $200 a day, that's not a whole lot of profit for working 12 to 16 hour days.

* Women are heading out in droves to see Sex and the City. Jill Rosen tells us women are dressing up, sipping Cosmos and then hitting the theaters with their girlfriends and sisters for 2-1/2 hours of female bonding. It's the girl power version of the Superbowl.  Me? I'm still trying to figure out a way in which I can watch Carrie Bradshaw and her SatC girls on the big screen with the sound off just so I can say, "What on earth is Sarah Jessica Parker wearing?!"

Continue reading "Castle Toyota/Scion, Sex, Cabbies, e-Recycling and Grease" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Energy/Utilities, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Odds & Ends
        

I wish I had more time to do this every week, but here are some interesting tidbits I thought you savvy consumers shouldn't miss (which you probably didn't since you're all such sharp shoppers, right?).

United Airlines ditched attempts to merge with US Airways and create the world's largest carrier. While a merger might have helped both companies financially (or maybe not), the deal likely would have meant fewer routes and higher ticket prices for consumers.

D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Ward 1 Councilman Jim Graham announced proposed legislation today to ban the use and sale of all consumer fireworks inthe District of Columbia, except those staged by professional pyrotechnics experts. I know fireworks are banned here in the city, but that hasn't stopped plenty of people in the neighborhoods I frequent from putting on a pretty good show of their own.

The Better Business Bureau of Greater Baltimore is warning online car shoppers that scammers have stolen the identity of a legitimate company, Global Payments Inc., in order to offer phony escrow services and defraud consumers out of thousands of dollars.  More than 50 victims have lost a total of $200,000 as the result of this single operation.

Continue reading "Flying, Fireworks and Fraud (oh my!)" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 5:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Have you ever accidentally given someone a $5 when you meant to hand them a $1?

That's what I was thinking about while working on this story about blind people and those with limited vision saying the paper money we now use puts them at a disadvantage. 

I talked to Eric Bridges of the American Council of the Blind about how this affects his life:

"... he has to trust store clerks and others to identify his bills for him. He then folds them in different ways to distinguish different denominations in his wallet.

'We rely upon the kindness of strangers and the truthfulness of strangers to indicate to us what denominations they are handing back to us,' he said."

More than 180 countries incorporate accessibility features into their paper currency, whether it's intentionally or by accident. Some of the accommodations can be as simple as colors to help distinguish different bills (check out a gallery of world money here).

Continue reading "Paper money: unfair to the blind" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Consumer protection, Odds & Ends, Technology
        

Gas prices getting in the way of your salvation? Perhaps some divine intervention would help.

Some churches are subsidizing gas purchases to get people into the pews, according to this tip on poynter.org. But are people really driving so far on Sundays that filling up is a burden? I guess it's all about cutting back, even when it hurts ... and eliminating excuses, for the churches. 

And then there's new Pray at the Pump movement, where people are bowing their heads in gas stations, hoping for lower gas prices.

From this AFP story:

Continue reading "Praying at the pump" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

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

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

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Naughty businesses/NBotW, Odds & Ends
        

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

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

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

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

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

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

Continue reading "Tithing and tax rebates" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Budgeting, Odds & Ends, Tax rebates
        

If you think we're the only ones worried about our economy, think again.

Thomson Financial News (via Forbes) reported that consumer confidence in France slipped in April. A Reuters story (via The Guardian), said the Irish Consumer Sentiment Index hit an all-time low this month, too. Also, European retail sales dropped the most in more than four years in April as rising fuel and food prices squeezed shoppers' budgets, the Bloomberg purchasing managers index showed.

All this worry overseas has helped lower the Euro's value against the Dollar.

Last week, the euro hit a new all-time high of US$1.6018. But news reports show that in midmorning trading in Europe the euro stood at US$1.5574, down from the US$1.5645 late Monday in New York. The British pound was down to US$1.9875 from US$1.9900 in New York, while the dollar slipped to purchase 104.15 Japanese yen from 105.26 on Monday.

It's not a huge slide, but if economic concerns continue to spread across the globe, it probably won't be the last slide we'll see on either side of the pond -- especially if the Fed decides to cut interest rates again. It's going to be awhile before you feel good about spending the dollar overseas. 

(CNNMoney.com photo) 

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 3:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

But don't take our word for it.

Continue reading "Congratulations are in order" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

This photo shows penitents of the "Cofradia del Santo Cristo del Silencio'" brotherhood taking part earlier today in a Holy Week procession in the small village of Luque near Cordoba, southern Spain. Hundreds of processions take place throughout Spain during the Easter Holy Week.

A nice way to start the holiday weekend, I think.

Happy Easter everyone!

(AP Photo)

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 6:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Just when you think the general public couldn't get anymore crazed about shedding pounds, dieting has spread to the animal kingdom. No No, bears aren't doing laps in the woods and hippos aren't on the all-grapefruit plan.

According to this AP story, zoo staffers in Chicago, Toledo and St. Louis are trying various diets, including Weight Watchers-like feeding programs, to keep their animals trim and fit. Yup. That means sugar free Jell-O for the polar bears. Granola bars for gorillas. Alfalfa biscuits for the giraffes. mmmMmmmm.

The point of this story is that like humans, animals in zoos enjoy tasty, fat-filled foods. Like humans, animals in zoos are fairly sedentary. Like humans, they need a little help watching their weight. (But... er... unlike humans, zoo animals can't decide for themselves what they should and shouldn't eat. Yea. I'm talking to you ban trans-fats lawmakers out there.)

Cute story.

But seriously, who is gonna try to pinch an inch on a lion?!

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 9:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

How many of you out there have a tiny compartment in your jewelry box that's holding old-out-of-style gold jewelry you no longer wear or broken gold bracelets or stray earrings that have been missing its partner since forever? Any of you men out there who used to sport a gold chain that you no longer wear?

Now might be the time to sell your precious metals since gold prices are soaring above $1,000 an ounce these days.

Check out this AP story about people selling their gold. Before gold prices started soaring, consumers were lucky if they could get half of what they paid for their jewelry since most buyers only gave you what they expected to get for scrap metal. These days, you might encounter a different story. But with the gold boon, you need to watch out for nefarious individuals, of course. So do your part and research gold prices on-line and familiarize yourself with selling tips before you part with your gold.

Continue reading "A gold ru$h" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

This is what I did yesterday. Great parade. Great weather. Great people. Great FUN. Hope everyone has a good one!

(Photo by me)

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 8:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

You can spot them everywhere --- people strolling down streets and boarding public transportation with white headphones trailing from their ears, enjoying tunes or a podcast. Is it any wonder that criminals see iPods too?

That's the hypothesis of Washington-based think tank the Urban Institute, which has issued a report attributing a spike in robberies in 2005 and 2006 to the music players, which became ubiquitous right around the same time.  

The researchers surmise that iPods are "criminogenic," or have a number of "crime-causing" characteristics that make them attractive to thieves.

They're valuable status symbols, so they could be stolen for use as well as resale. They don't require passwords, subscriptions or contracts and don't come with any anti-theft protections. And the earbuds themselves reduce the user's awareness of their surroundings, assisting a would-be Fagin achieve his goal.

It's happened before, they say: 

Continue reading "iCrime wave?" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

What fees or fines do you hate to pay?

I was all set to wax poetic about Maryland's wonderful library system, when I got a notice in the mail about 8 overdue books.

I didn't know that you could only renew once, so now I'm spending about as much money as I would have, had I actually purchased some of the books in question. 

This is the way I felt a few weeks ago, when I got a parking ticket --- really kicking myself for not dumping another dollar in the meter, just in case. $1 is a lot less to pay to park than $28 ... and that's money that's just thrown away.

Then again, you could take a chance, never feed a meter, and just average the cost of paying your ticket over the number of times you get away with it.

A good friend hates ATM fees --- the fees your bank charges you for using a different bank's ATM. Really, he says, you're paying them for not having ATMs in a location that's convenient for you. 

So what fees really burn you up, when you have to pay them? And just to clarify ---

Continue reading "Fee, Fine, Fo, Fum." »

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

I'm out of the office next week, but leaving you in the wonderful hands of Excellent Eileen and Lovely Liz.

Please alert us to any business or consumer mischief you come across since we're always hungry for news here. Or, if you feel like ripping off a good rant, have at it.

But please, do behave... or not.

See you guys in a week!  

(Photo courtesy of stock.xchng) 

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 11:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

You know how your mom always said there is a lid for every pot? Well, Satoshi Fujita is out there trying to prove your mama was right.

Who is the amazing Satoshi, you ask? Not to encroach upon the territory of  my wonderful colleague Maryann and her BaltAmour dating blog, but you gotta read the great Wired story about the dating guru for geeks.

He runs the PickUp School for Men Who Can't Get Any.

And you know, you can't get anymore direct than that when you're talking about geeklove. According to the story, the great Satoshi (who wears a wonderfully wacky wig) teaches more than a hundred students a month. Some of his classes -- like How to Use Magic to Gain Popularity and How to Seduce Women -- attract dozens of students. Each class costs $280 or 30,000 Yen.

His students are, according to the story,  

Continue reading "The UberGeek Guru of Love" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 8:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: How To, Odds & Ends
        

I cannot remember if I received this for the romantic holiday or not, but one year I swear I got pooper scoopers from a boo.

It was a sign to me that my dude recognized and appreciated my odd sense of humor and my love for my dog.

What's the strangest V-Day gift you ever gave or got?

I'm not a big hugger, but I thought this would be a good time to remind everyone to hug their boo. Is that a sweet picture or what? I know you think I forgot or that I'm devoid of mushy, gooey sentimentality, but hey, I do have a wee little heart.

So, Happy Valentine's Day. Go hug someone you love (be it your boo, your friend, your family, your dog or your favorite plant ... what? You don't have a favorite plant? Mine happens to be a lemon tree I named Edgar.)!!!

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 6:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Or maybe it is ...

Reuters has a story today (thanks, Consumerist) about stores in New York City that now accept Euros in addition to American greenbacks:

"In the latest example that the U.S. dollar just ain't what it used to be, some shops in New York City have begun accepting euros and other foreign currency as payment for merchandise.

"We had decided that money is money and we'll take it and just do the exchange whenever we can with our bank," Robert Chu, owner of East Village Wines, told Reuters television.

The increasingly weak U.S. dollar, once considered the king among currencies, has brought waves of European tourists to New York with money to burn and looking to take advantage of hugely favorable exchange rates.

"We didn't realize we would take so much in and there were that many people traveling or having euros to bring in. But some days, you'd be surprised at how many euros you get," Chu said."

I want to know whether it's an even exchange in these stores --- if you're buying $1 Starbucks coffee, do you pay one Euro? Or do you work out some sort of price based on the exchange rate that day? 

Continue reading "Your money's no good here" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 2:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Chuc Mung Nam Moi!

Happy New Year, lovely readers! 

It's the Year of the Rat. Or, if you're Vietnamese like I am and born under this animal sign, we're celebrating the Year of the Mouse.

I'm out of the office today to celebrate Tet, but I'm leaving you in the very capable hands of my terrific co-bloggers Eileen and Liz. Me? Well, this little Mouse and her Tiger sister are taking my Tiger Mama to our Buddhist temple in D.C.

I've been looking forward to the new year for quite some time now, but really started preparing for it this week. I cleaned my house Tuesday night, finished my Sunday column yesterday, paid my bills and tried to settled all unfinished business earlier in the week. 

Why? Because we're superstitious. To clean or sweet on Tet means you could be sweeping all your luck away for an entire year. Paying bills on Tet means money will be flowing out of your home all year long. Lingering disagreements, unfinished work or arguing on Tet means you'll have tension and worries all year long.  

So today we focus on all good and positive things. We give thanks for our lives and our loved ones and all the wonder that comes with it. For us, Tet is all about sweeping out the troubles of the past (my Mama's heart attack and the loss of my uncle) and welcoming in a wonderful new year.  

So Chuc Mung Nam Moi, well-wishes to everyone and I will see you all Friday. 

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 8:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Remember Elizabeth Brooks? She's the owner of the Towson titling company who was owed $300 for overpayment to the Baltimore City Circuit Court's Land Records Office. Last time I wrote about her in the column, I told you Court of Clerks Frank Conaway promised to take care of her problem within a week.

Then Brooks appeared in a blog post on Jan. 28 in which I said it was nine business days after that promise and still no sign of the refund check.

Well, it's time to rejoice. It took exactly 14 business days, but we can finally close this case because Brooks did receive a $300 check in the mail from the State of Maryland Treasurer's Office on Feb. 4!!! Sure, all told, it took her more than six frustrating months to resolve this seemingly simple complaint, but hey, we hope she's not too tired of that runaround to do a little victory dance. 

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 5:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Complaints, Odds & Ends
        

I'm all tied up trying to meet a hard deadline for my Sunday column so I'll be right with you as soon as I file. Stay tuned! I might have some Naughty Businesses news to share with you later.

Anyone ever watch Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson? The guy is HI-larious!

(Photo courtesy of CBS.com)

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

I'm sure you didn't miss my good friend and fabulous colleague John's superbly written eulogy for smoke-filled bars. The ban goes into effect Friday.

I've already told you how I am not a smoker, but that I am also 100 percent opposed to the smoking ban.

It's not because I think smoking is good or that I even encourage it. In fact, smokers should probably stop smoking (yea, you John! Ace might even thank you for it!). But here's the thing, I believe in having a choice.

As a non-smoker, I like going to those gritty, old man bars, as the Towson University professor of creative writing called them in John's story. In the past, when I didn't feel like smelling like cigarettes after a night out, I'd drag my smoking friends to a non-smoking bar. Yea. They didn't smoke there. They're capable of not smoking. But it was entirely up to them to come join me there, occasionally. Just as it was up to me if I wanted to join them in their smokey hangouts.

On Friday, my friends, those evil horrible naughty smokers,

Continue reading "Smoke 'em if you got 'em" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 2:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Complaints, Odds & Ends
        

Starbucks won't say when it started or even how many stores in Seattle are participating, but it did tell the Wall Street Journal and the AP that it is running a test by selling small cups of Joe for $1 with free refills.

While Starbucks wouldn't say that the reason behind the test is the fierce competition breathing down its neck from the likes of MickeyDees, Dunkin Donuts and the like, it's no secret that the Seattle coffee chain saw a decline in store traffic last quarter.

Continue reading "$1 Joe @ Starbucks?" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 1:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Anyone remember how I was ranting about the state's new taxes and how it hurts consumers?

This rant isn't really consumer-related, but as a long-time resident of Maryland, I feel like I have a right to say that this battle between UberGoob O'Malley and SoS Grasmick is really alarming.

A well-regarded national education weekly ranked Maryland third in the country in terms of its education system. Last time I checked, that's a good thing. Connect the dots and you have to believe that Grasmick's 16 year tenure as superintendent might have something to do with it.

But MOM wants to give Grasmick the boot because she's a "pawn" of the GOP and ally of ex-Goob Ehrlich?! Again, last time I checked, Grasmick was appointed by the other ex-Goob William Donald Schaefer, a... wait for it... Democrat.

Continue reading "Separation of Power" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 2:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Complaints, Naughty businesses/NBotW, Odds & Ends
        

In case you aren't nursing a New Year's hangover and wanted to surf the web, check out these consumery stories:

Young people still use libraries for research and reading material! Awesome. 

Mobile games: a whole new way for networks and cable TV to suck money out of our pockets.

Very cool free college classes on the Web. Berkeley, American U, Yale, MIT and others educating the masses.

Wal-Mart ends video download service... er... who knew they even had one?!  

Sitting out the HD DVD war.

Late night hosts return. Will they crack you up or make you wish you left the TV off?  

The world's cheapest car set to launch. It's not quite the same thing as a computer for every child.

My first car stories. I love this. Who doesn't have a memory of their first car?  

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 9:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

I've been slacking on my blogging duties in order to fulfill my commitment to the actual paper part of the newspaper before I try to take next week off (hey, you want to read consumer columns next week, don't you?!), but have no fear. I will blog next week, too, but probably on a limited basis while I try to catch up with all the work I need to do around the house.

I'll post as early and as often as I can. I've already got a few doom and gloom warnings in mind just to start the year off in fear! Please be sure to visit. It would be utterly lonely without you.  

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 6:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

This doesn't really have anything to do with consumers -- unless you really want to stretch it and say this is for all those consumers of sports -- but my good friend and excellent colleague Gus wrote a great update on that loser, er, RavensFan, the Goof on the Roof.

How sad is it that the Ravens can't even get a break when it comes to this guy? Their biggest fan is a dope who can spend hundreds on Ravens memorabilia, but can't fork over a dime for child support (hence, his arrest!)?!?! It's a sad year for sports in Baltimore, indeed.

Oh, and not to kick the guy while he's down, but what kind of fan commitment was that?! He said he was going to stay up there until Billick got fired or the Ravens won. But where was he when the police went to arrest him? NOT on the ROOF! D'oh!

(Sun Photographer Kim Hairston)

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Get a load of this Smart car. How cool is that? Even cooler, though, is that Hybrid Technologies takes cars like the MINI Cooper and Chrysler Crossfire, rip out the motor and then replacing it with a powerful electric motor under the hood and a stack of lithium batteries where the gas tank used to be.

I still love my American-made gas guzzler, but I wouldn't mind owning one of these bad boys, too. I'm betting those little Smart cars will fit in spaces anywhere!

Save on gas and park anywhere? You can't beat that. Maybe then I can cross off that other thing I've been wanting for Christmas: a garage.

What? Yea Yea, I have garage-envy. It's murder parking in the city, I tell you.

(Photo courtesy of treehugger.com)

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 3:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cars, Holiday shopping, Odds & Ends
        

Yes, I've been neglecting you all day. But not because I wanted to, I promise. I've been swamped trying to crank out my Sunday column for the Money & Life section. I'm writing about something so nefarious and diabolical, you're going to be outraged when you find out what it's about this weekend. So be sure to tune in Sunday, ok?

I will also get back to posting regularly tomorrow! Thanks to everyone who commented on the smoking issue and for refraining from any name-calling!

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 5:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Let me start off by saying, I am not a smoker. I am not a fan of smoking. It's bad for you. If you smoke, you should stop. If you don't smoke, you shouldn't start.

With that said, did you check out the great story today by my former features desk-mate and all-around cool guy, Sam Sessa? You know Sam. He writes that groovy Midnight Sun blog which tells us about where young, hip and happening people hang out in the evening hours while we old farts are at home sleeping.

Anyhoo, I'm not advocating smoking, but plenty of my peeps, the people I know and love and hang out with, enjoy the cancer sticks. Sure, I nag them about not smoking. But they don't listen to me... plus, it just makes them smoke more. Despite that, I still like going out with them even though they have bad judgment. er. Just kidding, guys! 

Why am I telling you all this? Because when the smoking ban goes into effect come Feb. 1, many of those people I like hanging out with in our neighborhood watering holes aren't going to want to frequent those watering holes anymore because they can't light up indoors. They'll just hang out at home.

Do I think that's unfair? Yes. Do I think it's going to hurt some of the corner bars that Baltimore is known for? Yes. Am I siding with smokers? Yes. Shouldn't it be up to a bar or restaurant owner whether or not they want to ban smoking in their establishment? Yes. Am I advocating smoking? Again, let me make it clear that the answer is no.

The difference is that I make a choice to hang out in smoky establishments to be with my friends. It's my choice and I'd like to keep it that way.

Continue reading "Fighting back against the smoking ban" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 4:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: Complaints, Odds & Ends
        

Scrooge McDuck tops this year’s list of Forbes Fictional 15 — the richest characters in fiction. All told, the Fab 15 have a net worth of $137 billion.

McDuck, 80, moved into the top spot following the death of last year’s richest character— Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks. The father of adopted daughter Lil’Orphan Annie was killed by an improvised explosive devise during a visit this year to Iraq, according to Forbes. Who knew? Why doesn't the MSM report this?

Only two women — Mom and Princess Peach — made the list.

Good news for singles. Ten of the richest 15 are single, including Bruce Wayne and C. Montgomery Burns. Ten-year-old Richie Rich, of course, is too young to marry.

At a net worth of $28.8 billion, the single McDuck is the biggest catch — that is, of course, if you can get past the fact that he doesn’t wear pants.

Posted by Eileen Ambrose at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends, Personal finance
        

Thanks to everyone for their well wishes. This flu has kicked my butt a lot harder than I expected it to... but even as I'm lying here in my sick bed, I've been thinking about how much my job has changed and how much the industry has changed with the increasing demands of the 24-hour news cycle.

Don't get me wrong. This blogging stuff is fun. It's far more interactive than just the paper product and it's easy to get addicted to the instant feedback. Even if you agree or disagree with what we write, most writers will probably tell you it's still good to know you're reading.

Which brings me to my point, our soon-to-be new boss Samuel Zell, had some interesting things to say about search engines and newspaper content in this NYTimes story.

In a nutshell, ol' Zell seems to think news producers like The Sun, The NYTimes, the WPost and others need to stop giving it up for free.

Continue reading "Paying the producers" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 8:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Hi all. I hope everyone's having a good weekend. I just put up my little Christmas tree. It's small. It's goofy-looking and it reminds me of Charlie Brown's tree. But yes, I love it.

Thought I'd throw a few interesting consumer stories up here for you to peruse if you're stopping by here for a looksee.

Google wants a piece of the wireless action. The innovative company will bid in the government's wireless spectrum auction.

What can I say? I love shoes. Here, read about how you can design your own pair.  

Good news about the falling dollar, sorta.  

Wii losing in Japan. 

Will government rein in the credit card beast and those outrageous fees? 

Millions of tax refunds could be delayed. Oh no! 

Subprime mortgage relief on the way? 

Hershey's sells you mints that look like street drugs, so says judges and cops.  

$40.9 million settlement in TJX-Visa data breach.  

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Here's how budgeting works in my house. If I only make X-amount of dollars per year, then I try mighty hard not to spend X + 1. Sometimes, that means putting off a home repair I need (for instance, insulating my old home) until I have the money to cover it. If it looks like my spending could go over X, I take a hard look at all my needs and trim (I cut the cable for several years and cut back on eating out when times were lean).

Here's how the state of Maryland budgets: 

Hear that? That's the sound of crickets.

Continue reading "State of Md - 1, Consumers - 0" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (28)
Categories: Odds & Ends, Taxes
        

Now imagine a Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City without balloons. Or football without the Goodyear blimp. Car dealerships without those wacky latex gorillas holding signs that say, "SALE"?Sounds sad, doesn't it?

The world's helium supply is running low! The U.S. government is the world's No. 1 helium supplier and there's just enough in the Texas-based reservoir to last another decade. Overseas sources have been slow to develop and demand continues to grow. Who knew, right?

It's not quite the same crisis as record-high oil prices, but it's more serious than you think. Helium is used "to make flat-panel TVs, semiconductors, optical fibers and medical MRIs, and it toughens industrial welds. NASA uses a full train car load to pressurize a liquid fuel rocket."

Read more in this Chicago Tribune story. As basic economics has taught us, if global demand grows and the helium supply dwindles, then expect prices to go up.

Imagine a world where you can't suck on helium to sound like Daffy Duck? That's a sad world, indeed.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

I can't tell you how excited I was to read yesterday on the uber-news for nerds site, slashdot, that Marvel Comics is putting some of its older comics on the Web. 

It's a push to get young whipper snappers interested enough to subscribe and read about the origins of such current movie heroes like Spiderman and Wolverine, who got their start in glorious print. Read about Marvel on the Web  from the Associated Press. Readers can pay $9.99 a month, or $4.99 monthly with a year-long commitment for access.

It's a good story, but...  

Continue reading "Spidey coming to the Web near you" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Odds & Ends
        

Hi. My name is Dan Thanh (rhymes with won ton) and I am a spender. Even when I was a kid without a dime to my name, I dreamed of being a spender. When I was old enough to earn money, I spazzed out like a dork and blew what little I made on comic books and junk food. As I got older and no wiser, I discovered bigger and better things to fritter away my dough - food, shoes, clothing, travel and you name it, I probably bought it. 

Sadly, money was no object. I rarely ever read a contract. I didn't bargain shop. I never researched big or small buys before I whipped out my handy-dandy credit card. Whether I had the money or not, it didn't matter. I couldn't help it. I was a spender.

I finally saw the light, though, when I started writing about consumer issues about three years ago. The more and more I talked to people about how to avoid scams, haggle for the best prices and complain about bad service, the more and more guilt-ridden I was about the free-wheeling, thoughtless spending I had indulged in all my life.

I never read a contract. I never shopped around. I never complained when I was wronged. Even worse, I sicced my big sis on the culprits instead of taking care of it myself. 

I know, I know. Color me shamed.

So consider me a recovering spender.

Try not to hold my past against me, OK? I'm a recovering spender. That just means I can relate to everyone because I have flaws. But I pinky finger swear, I'm better now.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Budgeting, Odds & Ends, Shopping