Shared posts

31 Aug 23:31

The Best and Worst Places to Become a Landlord

by Melanie Pinola

The Best and Worst Places to Become a Landlord

Landlording can be a profitable endeavor, but moreso in some areas than in others. RealtyTrac compared the median home prices and the average rent across the country to find the most profitable places to become a landlord. Conversely, if you're a renter in one of those areas, you might be better off buying a home there.

Read more...








31 Aug 23:29

​Attach Wrap Boxes to the Fridge With Magnets to Save Drawer Space

by Mark Wilson

​Attach Wrap Boxes to the Fridge With Magnets to Save Drawer Space

Kitchen drawers are magnets for clutter, but this is a problem you can fix with magnets. The sides of a metal fridge make an great home for foil and plastic wrap boxes.

Read more...








31 Aug 23:24

Stack Only Square Containers to Maximize Kitchen Space

by Mihir Patkar

Stack Only Square Containers to Maximize Kitchen Space

Personal chef Jesa Henneberry shares a quick tip with The Kitchn on making the best use of the space in your kitchen: get only square or rectangular containers and stack them up, since drawers and cabinets are already in that shape.

Read more...








31 Aug 23:24

The Best, Most Underrated Vacation Destinations

by Alan Henry

The Best, Most Underrated Vacation Destinations

It's important to take time away from it all sometimes, but the usual tourist traps and popular destinations come with their own flavor of stress best avoided if you're trying to kick back and recharge. Let's build a list of alternative, underrated vacation spots and options worth considering instead.

Read more...








31 Aug 23:23

"Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable"

by Patrick Allan

"Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable"

The U.S. Navy SEALs have a saying: "Get comfortable being uncomfortable." If you can be comfortable being uncomfortable, you'll be prepared to handle whatever situation comes along in your own life.

Read more...








31 Aug 23:22

Clean Stainless Steel with Vinegar and Oil

by Patrick Allan

Clean Stainless Steel with Vinegar and Oil

Stainless steel appliances look amazing, but grease and fingerprints can make a fancy fridge look dingy. Weblog The Kitchn shows you how to get a streak-free shine with just vinegar and olive oil.

Read more...








31 Aug 23:22

Most Popular Budget Computer Mouse: Logitech M510

by Alan Henry

Most Popular Budget Computer Mouse: Logitech M510

A good, general-use computer mouse for traveling, office use, or day-to-day use doesn't have to cost a ton of money. Last week, we asked for your best budget picks , then looked at the five best budget computer mice and put them to a vote. Now it's time to crown the crowd favorite.

Read more...








31 Aug 23:21

The Five Best Questions a Job Candidate Can Ask

by Jeff Haden

The Five Best Questions a Job Candidate Can Ask

When you're in a job interview, the questions you ask the interviewer can matter as much as your responses. They demonstrate how forward thinking you are, and how eager you are to invest yourself in the company's future. Here are five great questions that can set you apart from other candidates.

Read more...








31 Aug 23:16

Rooted vs. Unrooted Android: Your Best Arguments

by Eric Ravenscraft

Rooted vs. Unrooted Android: Your Best Arguments

Android. Is it better with root access, or is it just fine without it? Can anyone be truly happy on Verizon, or does freedom demand sacrifice? We asked you. Here are your best arguments for—and against!—rooting your phone.

Read more...








31 Aug 23:14

Pick the Best Sweetener for a Perfect Batch of Chocolate Chip Cookies

by Melanie Pinola

Pick the Best Sweetener for a Perfect Batch of Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recently we highlighted how to bake chocolate chip cookies to your standard of perfection . Besides adjusting the amount of ingredients such as flour or baking soda, the type of sugar you use in your cookies can make a big difference in flavor and texture too.

Read more...








06 Jul 14:00

One University Saved Students $31M In Student Loans By Sending Them A Letter

by Ashlee Kieler

“Know before you owe” took on a different meaning for students at Indiana University this year. A new initiative by the school resulted in students borrowing nearly $31 million less than in previous years.

How could that be possible, you ask? With a simple letter informing students, before they took out additional loans for the next school term, what their monthly loan payment would be after graduation, Bloomberg reports.

In all, the university’s share of federal undergraduate Stafford loans dropped 11%, from $279.6 million to $249 million in just nine months – easily outpacing the national decline rate of 2%.

School officials say the new initiative, which began in the 2012-2013 school year, not only allows students to reevaluate their current loan tab and make needed changes, but it also expands their understanding of finacial aid and loans.

“If they know at all times their debt, and the repayment, it helps with a lot of planning,” associate vice president and director of financial aid at the university, Jim Kennedy tells Bloomberg.

The decline is likely a welcome change now that the outstanding student loan debt tab sits at more than $1.2 trillion. The high amount of debt has come under scrutiny lately with federal regulators, politicians and advocates calling for changes to the student loan infrastructure.

Recent studies have shown that few students understand their loan terms, something that can leave them unable to repay their loans down the road.

One student at Indiana’s Bloomington campus tells Bloomberg that after receiving her letter she decided to explore more scholarships.

“When you take out loans for the year, you just see a smaller number than the grand total,” she says. “Seeing the letter definitely put things into perspective.”

While federal law requires colleges to provide counseling to borrowers at the beginning and end of their studies, the Indiana University initiative goes a step farther. The schools have implemented personal finance course, peer-to-peer advising and added more information to its website for students to access.

Additionally, students are now required to confirm they want to take out loans on the school’s website. Kennedy says the move helps students to really understand what they are taking on.

After seeing his acquired debt, Rigo was hesitant to continue borrowing. Instead, he’s cutting expenses and saving funds from his summer job to help offset tuition costs next year.

“When I saw the grand total, it was eye-opening as to how much I borrowed and eventually I’ll have to pay that,” Hernandez said.

So, what instigated the change for Indiana University and its schools? The constantly increasing student loan default rates facing students.

The most recent rate for the Bloomington campus, for students required to start repayment in 2010 was 6.4%, up from 3.4% just a year earlier.

“I’m not surprised it drives down the borrowing once you know the consequences,” Kennedy says.

How Students at a U.S. University Borrowed $31 Million Less [Bloomberg]

06 Jul 13:59

We Tried It: Bakin’ Bacon In The Oven

by Mary Beth Quirk

wetriednewbaconThey say life is hard. Not so, my friends. Not so when you’re tasked with trying a new way to make and subsequently eat bacon. And of course, you’re right — making bacon in the oven isn’t exactly a “new” concept.

“My mom/dad, always made our bacon this way,” you probably said to me if you’re a friend I spoke with recently on the subject.

But most people probably make bacon on the stove, whether in a grill-top pan or otherwise, with a bacon guard to keep the spatters at a minimum or just freeing up your range to grease galore. It’s also fun to say “bakin’ bacon,” for obvious reasons, and that’s enough justification to do something around here.

OVEN TEST 1
First I found a recipe for “crispy, crunchy bacon,” with flour-coated bacon that bakes in the oven. Cool, let’s try that, because bacon.

THE BACON: D’Artagnan

THE METHOD: The instructions said to coat the bacon in flour and place it on a foil- or parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Bacon coated in flour, hanging out.

Bacon coated in flour, hanging out.

Did that. Failed to check the bacon while cooking, perhaps trusting too blindly. At the 20-minute mark, checked bacon to find it on the verge of inedibility.

Future bacon bits?

Future bacon bits?

THE TAKEAWAY
Crunchy, indeed. Exhibit No. 38783 on why you can’t believe everything you read on the Internet. If you need homemade bacon bits, however, this is your new jam.

But don’t worry, it wasn’t a total waste — I made the same bacon on the stove top and it was delicious like bacon wants to be.

bothbacons

OVEN TEST 2
After returning to the Consumerist’s deeply underground super secret lair and bemoaning that poor, burned bacon, my understanding and empathetic coworkers shoved me out of my funk by suggesting that I redo the oven test, only skipping the flour and keeping an eye on the bacon while it cooked, this time.

THE BACON: Boar’s Head

THE METHOD: You can look for a recipe with a fancy name on it, but even Ina Garten’s “Roasted Bacon” comes down to what I did — preheat oven to 350 degrees, lay uncoated bacon on foil-covered tray, bake for 20 minutes.

Uncoated bacon, hanging out.

Uncoated bacon, hanging out.

This go around, I set a timer for 10 minutes and checked the bacon then. It looked pretty delicious, but I let it go for a further three or so minutes. This will vary, of course, by how cooked you like your bacon.

All done, ready to drain and get chewed.

All done, ready to drain and get chewed.

THE TAKEAWAY: Delicious, perfect, bacony. And without all the spattering on the stove top. I just left out the grease-covered foil to let it congeal a bit and then tossed, so clean-up is definitely a lot easier.

Also, I got to eat a lot of bacon.

Special thanks to tasters/owners of reliable ovens, Lauren and Liz, along with guinea pigs Jim, Katie, Bobbi and Todd. You are my best bacon friends.

Found a kitchen or DIY experiment — old or new, it doesn’t matter — you want me to try? I’ve got my limits, but I’m open to suggestions. Send an email to tips@consumerist.com with the subject line WE TRIED IT.

06 Jul 13:58

Peeps Latch On To Ridiculous Holidays In Push To Become Year-Round Treat

by Ashlee Kieler

PeepsHave you ever heard of “compliment your mirror day?” Well, it’s today and there’s a Peep to celebrate it. Yes, that Peep – the concoction of marshmallow and sugar generally relegated to the Easter holiday.

Earlier this year we told you that the new Peeps Mini product was aiming to make itself a year-round treat, and now it appears the candy marketers are getting a bit creative (or desperate?) in their attempts to find popularity.

The company is celebrating the “Everyday is a holiday” campaign by tying the product to every obscure holiday imaginable – including “National Log Day” and “Sewing Machine Day,” Mashable reports.

The 365-day campaign, which is prominently featured on the Peeps’ social media pages and website, showcases illustrations of the bite-sized Peeps doing everything from being a piece of sushi for “National Sushi Day” to strapping on antennas to depict an alien for “World UFO Day,” which just happened to be yesterday.

The everyday mini Peeps come in Watermelon, Strawberry Creme, Chocolate Creme and Vanilla Creme flavors. The candies themselves are small versions of the bird-shaped Peeps, about 40% smaller, and come 24 to a bag.

Peeps Is Planning 365 Straight Days of Holiday Celebrations [Mashable]

06 Jul 13:58

Airbus: Pilots Don’t Need Windows In Cockpit, Or Even A Cockpit

by Chris Morran

The Airbus patent suggests two alternate, windowless locations for the pilot's "viewing platform."

The Airbus patent suggests two alternate, windowless locations for the pilot’s “viewing platform.”

All those windows in the cockpit of your jumbo jet? They’re expensive to maintain and just slow the plane down, but they’re necessary for the whole “seeing” thing. The folks at Airbus disagree.

In a recently published patent filing, the plane manufacturer describes a plane where the “cockpit lacks any glazed surfaces” and where the pilot uses only display monitors for piloting the plane.

Airbus explains that the current requirements for cockpits result in compromises to the ideal lancet-like form that a plane should have.

“[T]he housing in the nose for radar, a landing gear, and especially for the cockpit, requires a much more complex shape and structure to be provided, with numerous radii of curvature,” reads the patent. “In particular, the presence of the cockpit requires a large glazed surface to be provided in order to give operational physical visibility and to meet the rules and requirements for certification, such a glazed surface being very heavy which requires numerous structural reinforcements to be put in place which increase the mass of the aircraft still further.”

And all that room that the cockpit takes up means fewer paying passengers, resulting in cramped seating conditions and not as much money in airlines’ pockets.

But Airbus’s idea is set on “mitigating these drawbacks by providing an aircraft having a new cockpit of which the impact on the mass and on the aerodynamics of the aircraft is significantly reduced.”

The patent suggests other locations for a “viewing platform” from which the pilot would control the plane. For instance, it could be — according to Airbus — put below the cabin or up in the vertical stabilizer at the rear of the plane.

Of course, you’re still having to move around people and equipment, so relocating the pilot brings up other concerns. Putting the pilot below the passengers takes away space reserved for luggage. And if cutting out a cockpit means additional rows of passengers, that would likely mean more luggage.

Likewise, putting the flight crew and all their equipment in the cramped rear of the plane could throw off the balance of the aircraft and would certainly result in the crew being very close to each other. The last thing you want is your pilot and co-pilot getting into a fight over who gets the armrest.

Then there is also the issue of visibility. While a series of monitors (or heck, a pair of VR goggles) could indeed provide views that are equal to or better than what pilots see from the cockpit windows, they’re not of much use when a camera is knocked out or — heaven forbid — the plane loses power.

Obviously, the purpose of the patent filing isn’t necessarily an indication that Airbus intends to make windowless, cockpit-less planes (which would ultimately need the thumbs-up from regulators). So don’t expect to see your pilot climbing up into the stabilizer or using your checked luggage for a seat any time soon.

The patent does away with a cockpit and instead creates the "viewing platform," with the pilot seated before a large, curved video screen.

The patent does away with a cockpit and instead creates the “viewing platform,” with the pilot seated before a large, curved video screen.

Airbus: Pilots don’t really need windows [SeattlePI.com]

Airbus Wants To Take The Cockpit Out Of The Cockpit Of The Future [Jalopnik Flight Club]

06 Jul 13:58

Family Of Scarred 3-Year-Old “Rejected” KFC Donation, Still Stands By Story

by Chris Morran

It’s the Internet-age version of “Well we didn’t want it anyway.” The family who claimed their 3-year-old daughter was asked to leave a KFC because of the scars on her face now claim to have “unequivocally rejected” the $30,000 donation originally offered by the chicken chain “because we didn’t feel it was appropriate to accept it after everything KFC has done.”

Of course, “everything KFC has done” includes conducting an internal investigation that turned up no evidence that the little girl and her grandmother ever came into the restaurant in question, which would make it a bit difficult for store employees to ask them to leave.

Regardless of the lack of evidence to back up the grandmother’s story that she and the 3-year-old, who has facial scarring as a result of a recent dog attack, were indeed told to leave, the girl’s mother “maintains that what she said happened at the KFC is true,” the family’s attorney tells the Clarion Ledger.

The first cracks in the grandmother’s story came when, after the alleged incident became national news, the family couldn’t consistently name the location of the store where it had supposedly occurred. Then a local newspaper spoke to several anonymous sources who flat-out denied the grandmother’s story — not just her version of it, but that the incident had ever happened at all.

Shortly thereafter, the franchisee who owns the location in question stated publicly that a review of security footage and receipts from the store and found no evidence that the grandmother and the little girl had even visited the restaurant.

Meanwhile, the public that had rushed to support the little girl and her family was turning against them. Some of the people who pledged money to help with the girl’s medical bills began canceling their donations.

“With everything that’s happened, we just didn’t feel right about accepting their money,” said the lawyer, who claims he suggested that KFC donate the money to a foundation for the plastic surgeon who agreed to donate his services for the little girl.

Even with the backlash, there is still more than $100,000 in a GoFundMe account that will soon be released to the family. Their lawyer is attempting to quell concerns that the money will be wasted.

“The family is committed to having the money put in a discretionary trust account for Victoria with a third-party, non-family member designated as the trustee,” he explains.

06 Jul 13:56

Subaru Recalls 660,000 Vehicles Because Being Able To Stop Is Necessary

by Ashlee Kieler

Some Subaru owners may be having a little deja vu today. The car company is recalling more than 660,000 vehicles, half of which were recalled for the same problem last year – a brake line issue that could make it difficult to stop.

Subaru announced the recall Friday because the brake line in the vehicles can rust and leak fluid, which could cause the car to take longer to stop, the Associated Press reports.

Affected models include the 2005 to 2009 Legacy and Outback, 2008 to 2014 Impreza and the 2009 to 2013 Forester.

The recall covers vehicles sold or registered in states were salt is used to clear roads during the winter months. Those states include: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

According to a notice [PDF] filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the problem can occur when salt water splashes on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion. Overtime, that corrosion can cause brake fluid leakage that would require longer distances to slow or stop the vehicle.

Subaru will notify owners of the issue and dealers will perform tests on the brake system. If no brake fluid leak is found, dealers will rustproof the area with anti-corrosive wax. If there is a leak, the brake line will be replaced followed by rustproofing.

Nearly 274,000 model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy cars were recalled for the same issue back in March of 2013.

Subaru recalls 660K vehicles for brake line rust [The Associated Press]

06 Jul 13:55

Is Tide Oxi Really The Super Cleaning Agent That The Blonde Property Brother Says It Is?

by Ashlee Kieler

Tide

For me, “deep-cleaning the house” has a place on the same list where you’ll find “getting a root canal.” But sometimes you have to, even it it means pulling out five different cleaners to get the job done. Tide claims its new product can clean more than 225 household items. Sounds too good to be true, right? It might be or it might not be – it just depends on your belongings.

The new detergent is Tide’s attempt to cash in on Oxi Clean. The packaging not only calls out that cleaning product’s name in a “Compare to Oxi Clean” burst; the TV ad tries to capture some of the DIY magic viewers will remember from the gool ol’ Billy Mays (RIP) infomercials that made the pitchman famous.

The Tide Oxi video features somewhat-celebrity Jonathan Scott from HGTV’s Property Brothers standing in a garage full of stuff, lamenting about how consumers can clean just about everything in their homes with the new product.

Our colleagues at Consumer Reports gave us the lowdown on just how the new product works, what products it compares to and whether or not we could just use our tried-and-true laundry detergent to clean everything we own.

Although Pat Slaven, a textiles expert at CR, didn’t test Tide Oxi, she did break down what might make the product so potent to filth.

Tide Oxi’s complete ingredient list wasn’t yet available on the website, but Slaven deduced that the product appears to be in the same family as Tide Boost with Oxi.

“Sodium Percarbonate, which is the active ingredient in Oxi Clean and similar powered products, is a mild oxygen bleaching agent and it does work on many surfaces beyond normal laundry,” she says.

Since the same compound is found in Oxi Clean, it’s feasible that one could try to use that product in the same manner as Tide Oxi. But can we use Tide Oxi on products we might not be able to use Oxi Clean on? That’s pretty unclear from the Tide commercial.

The video isn’t actually specific on just what Tide Oxi can clean. It suggests viewers go to TideThat.com where they can supposedly learn about the alleged “225+ uses” for the product, but that just redirects you a boring page with basic product information and no mind-blowing list of household cleaning chores for which you could use Tide Oxi.

Throughout the video Scott declares that consumers can “Tide that” while pointing out a number of items, including dressers, plush toys, couches, lawn chairs and of course, clothes.

To actually clean the items, Scott uses a mixture of Tide Oxi and water on what looks to be a foot rest of some sort. After a few quick swipes with a bristled brush, the fabric is gleaming once again.

But if watering down detergent is all it takes to clean every item in our homes, then we could just buy bargain brand, right? Not so much, apparently.

As far as using your regular household detergent and water to clean? It’s probably not going to make your items as spotless as Scott’s seem to appear in the commercial.

“Dissolving normal detergent will not give the same results,” Slaven explains. “However a number of the items shown in the video could most likely be cleaned with other common cleaning agents and do not specifically require a mild bleach.”

We couldn’t just take Scott’s word for it, so we set out to clean a few items.

My filthy tub before TIde Oxi on the left, after on the right.

First up, the sadly neglected bathtub in my apartment. I generally clean it with bleach but thought we’d give this new product a shot.

I probably should clean the tub more often. The Tide Oxi mixture did little to actually take all the grime and dirt off of the sides of the shower, even with excessive scrubbing with the brush.

Next, I took Tide Oxi to a few discolored spots on the tile. That produced a more favorable result, with the spots easily disappearing.

Spot cleaning the floor produced better results. Before on the left, after on the right

Spot cleaning the floor produced better results. Before on the left, after on the right

Then we head into the kitchen and find a filthy toaster. I’m really not sure why it’s so dirty, we don’t used it often – maybe that’s why.

Either way, the mixture seemed to do the trick, with the scrubbing-brush taking off the spots and dirt quite easily.

How does a toaster get dirty? Before on the left, after on the right.

So what’s the verdict? Eh, we could have probably used other household cleaners and ended with the same or at least similar results.

Whether or not you want to take Scott’s endorsement, and our limited testing, of the product to mean you should use it, too, is up to you. But above all Slaven says there’s one thing consumers should always do when using a detergent to clean.

“The real recommendation here is test first in an inconspicuous area and make sure whatever product you are using doesn’t damage the surface,” she says.

Oh, and it appears the company is using the hashtag #tidethat to help amp up publicity for the product. Although, that doesn’t appear to be working out all that well.

06 Jul 13:54

Letter Mailed In 1931 Turns Up At Post Office, Gets Delivered 83 Years Late

by Mary Beth Quirk

Like a message in a bottle, tossed up on the shore by the tide after sailing the oceans of time (It’s summer, it’s hot and water sounds awesome), sometimes misdirected mail shows up to remind us of the past. And when it takes 83 years to show up from wherever lost letters go, it’s bound to make for a good story.

The nine-page letter was sent from a 23-year-old school teacher to her mother in the summer of 1931, reports CentralMaine.com. It recently showed up in the morning mail bag of a letter carrier, who noticed that not only was there a $0.02 stamp on the letter to signal its age, the address no longer existed due to changes in how addresses are done now.

The postmaster was able to track down the niece/granddaughter of the letter writer and receiver and deliver the missive by hand. She says it’s funny that her aunt was writing to apologize for taking so long to get in touch. Both have since passed away.

“One of the best parts for me of what she wrote was that she apologized for not writing sooner, as she knew her mother had been anxiously waiting all week for a letter — which, as we know, was never received,” she said. “She said ‘I’m just getting around to write. I imagine you have been anxiously waiting for a letter all week. I have no excuses, but that I just didn’t get to it and there are lots of things to tell you, too.’”

No excuses for those 81 years, and so far, no explanation for how the letter seemed to appear out of nowhere. Officials think perhaps it got stuck in sorting equipment at some point and just escaped recently.

“As I was sorting I came across it — it appeared to be old, but it was in really good condition,” the worker says. She then put the letter on the desk of the postmaster so they could try to track down the surviving family members.

The woman and her family now hope someone will come forward to contact them with the story of the letter’s journey, if they had a hand in it.

“We’re hoping someone will see this and say ‘I found it’ because we’ll never know otherwise,” she said.

Letter finally makes it to Pittsfield, 83 years late [CentralMaine.com]

06 Jul 13:54

Which Fireworks, If Any, Are Legal In My State?

by Chris Morran

Get your fireworks and your insurance at this one-stop shop in South Dakota (Photo: Great Beyond)

Get your fireworks and your insurance at this one-stop shop in South Dakota (Photo: Great Beyond)

Like many kids whose families made biannual treks down I-95 to Florida, I used to beg my mom to please let me stock up on all the brightly colored and colorfully named fireworks you could buy at places like South of the Border. And every year on July 4th, I’d still be stuck with my stupid sparklers while the kids down the block set off their Fiesta Bombs and Earth Shakers. But hey, at least I wasn’t breaking the law, no matter how awesome it would have been.

My story might have been different if, instead of Pennsylvania — where “ground and hand-held sparkling devices… novelties… and toy caps” are all that’s allowed without a permit — I’d been raised in Montana, where the only fireworks specifically forbidden are skyrockets, roman candles, and bottle rockets.

Each state has different — and often incredibly specific — rules governing which fireworks you can buy, along with where and when you can set them off.

Thankfully, there’s the American Pyrotechnics Association, which has the handy state-by-state guide to fireworks ordinances that we always check out this time of year.

For example, in Nebraska, you can buy sparklers — but only gold and silver — spray fountains, torches, color fire cones, star and comet type aerial shells without explosive charge, lady fingers (that don’t exceed ⅞” in length and ⅛” in diameter and with a total pyrotechnic composition that doesn’t exceed 50 mg. each), color wheels and any other item approved by Fire Marshal.

But Nebraskans have tight window within which to buy these items legally: June 25-July 4. In Lincoln, NE, that time period is only two days long and Omaha residents are out of luck because fireworks are prohibited there.

Similarly, while Montana puts few restrictions on the kinds of fireworks you can buy, the actual fireworks can only be sold in the state between June 24 and July 5 or between December 29 and December 31.

There are four states — Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — where no consumer-grade fireworks are allowed.

Another four states — Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, and Vermont — that are basically sparkler-only, though you’ll want to look at the particular rules for your state.

States like Montana, Maine, Texas, and others that only prohibit a small number of specific fireworks products do of course require residents to observe federal regulations as set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The Code of Federal Regulations, Title 16 spells out two very specific fireworks bans.

Part 1500.17(a)(3) prohibits:

“Fireworks devices intended to produce audible effects (including but not limited to cherry bombs, M-80 salutes, silver salutes, and other large firecrackers, aerial bombs, and other fireworks designed to produce audible effects, and including kits and components intended to produce such fireworks) if the audible effect is produced by a charge of more than 2 grains of pyrotechnic composition.”

While (a)(8) bans:

“Firecrackers designed to produce audible effects, if the audible effect is produced by a charge of more than 50 milligrams (.772 grains) of pyrotechnic composition (not including firecrackers included as components of a rocket), aerial bombs, and devices that may be confused with candy or other foods, such as ‘dragon eggs,’ and ‘cracker balls’ (also known as ‘ball-type caps’), and including kits and components intended to produce such fireworks.”

Whatever you light off this weekend, don’t do it stupidly. Fireworks are awesome. Fireworks in the eye are not.

06 Jul 13:52

Truck Driver Shortage Could Mean Higher Prices In Store Aisles

by Mary Beth Quirk

When strolling down the store aisles, shoppers might forget how all those products arrived on at their final destination on shelves, ready for the plucking. Many times it’s truckers that get the bottles of beer on the wall and the newest gadgets in stock, but what happens when there aren’t enough drivers to go around? Prices for consumers an go up, a new report says.

The truck driver shortage is partly due to a harsh winter, new federal regulations, and a higher number of items that need shopping. Top that all off with rising fuel costs and it’s getting harder for companies to ship products where they need to be when they need to be there, and at a reasonable price, reports the Detroit Free Press.

Anything considered a consumer product could potentially be affected, all because we’re willing to spend right now. That demand for stuff triggers a need for more raw goods and then there’s more merchandise to eventually ship. Someone’s gotta drive those big containers around, after all.

But there just aren’t enough truckers, the American Trucking Associations says: Right now there are 3.2 million drivers and about 30,000 more are needed. It’s all part of an ongoing problem that slowed down during the recent recession, but keeps growing as the economy gets better.

“Our business is picking up. Then we need more trucks on the road to deliver our product. The trucks get filled right to the top. … You have to make hay when the sun shines,” the president of one beer distributor said of the current buying boom. “People are now gainfully employed again, and beer’s a recreational commodity.”

Another part of the problem? Federal trucking regulations covering how many hours truckers can work changed — those hours have been limited and drivers can only restart the work clock after sitting out for 34 hours. That limits productivity, the industry says, prompting trucking companies to charge more, setting off a increased prices for raw materials and then, the items on shelves themselves.

In case you want to do us all a favor and help keep those prices down, the median income for a truck driver is $38,200, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s most recent data from 2012.

Truck driver shortage, other troubles could push up prices for consumers [Detroit Free Press]

06 Jul 13:51

Amazon Official Says Feud With Hachette Is In The “Long-Term Interest Of Our Customers”

by Ashlee Kieler

Apparently, removing preorders and delaying the shipping of books from a publishing company you’re feuding with isn’t a big deal if you happen to be the top online retailer. That’s pretty much how one official with Amazon describes the e-tailer’s recent tactics in negotiating with Hachette Publishing Group.

Russ Grandinetti, Amazon’s senior vice president of Kindle content, defended the company against criticism that its actions were an attempt to bully the publisher into new contractual terms for e-book pricing and how to split earning from books, The Wall Street Journal Reports.

About three months ago Amazon began delaying the shipping orders and pulled the pre-order option for certain Hachette authors in the United States and for Bonnier Media Group books in Germany.

Just last week, the German Publishing Association filed a complaint accusing Amazon of antitrust violations for their actions.

Still, Grandinetti implied on Tuesday that the company’s actions were made “in the long-term interest of our customers.”

“This discussion is all about e-book pricing,” he said. “The terms under which we trade will determine how good the prices are that we can offer consumers.”

Grandinetti indicated the retailer was willing to suffer some damage to its reputation over the recent feud. However, some industry insiders contend this situation, as well as the company’s similar feud with Warner Home Video, could come back to haunt the e-tailer more than just in the pocketbook.

Although, Amazon presumably doesn’t care that much about missing out on the money it could be making off the Hachette items, as it has millions of other books and movies — not to mention appliances, music, food, tools, and mini-tanks — that it can still sell.

In fact, the retailer gave customer’s its blessing to shop elsewhere. And other book dealers and sellers have been more than happy to fill the void by offering consumers’ favorite Hachette published authors, such as J.K. Rowling, at some pretty steep discounts.

Shortly after the feud entered its third week, Walmart began offering 40% off of nearly 400 Hachette books and promised speedy delivery of current titles. Over at Barnes & Noble, customers could also receive up to 40% off certain Hachette produced books.

Grandinetti wouldn’t comment on how negotiations were going between Amazon and Hachette.

This isn’t Amazon’s first attempt to strong-arm publishers. In 2010, the retailer briefly removed the “buy” button from Macmillian published books. That same year, the e-tailer lowered the prices on Penguin hardcovers to $9.99 when the publisher refused to budge on e-book pricing.

“We were fighting for what we thought was right for consumers, and the same is true here,” Grandinetti tells the WSJ.

Amazon Defends Its Stance Against Hachette [The Wall Street Journal]

06 Jul 03:45

Va man arrested for child porn possession - W*USA 9


Va man arrested for child porn possession
W*USA 9
Manassas City Police arrested a Va. man in connection with possession and distribution of child pornography on Tuesday. Loading… Post to Facebook. Va man arrested for child porn possession Manassas City Police arrested a Va. man in connection with ...

06 Jul 03:44

Prince William County community calendar, July 3-9, 2014 - Washington Post


Prince William County community calendar, July 3-9, 2014
Washington Post
“In Admiration of Nature” exhibit, artist Amy Vaughters's photographs exploring the themes of time and space. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, through July 31, Art A La Carte Gallery, 310 Mill St., Occoquan. Free. 703-496-9540 or www.artalacartegallery.com ...

05 Jul 21:32

Detective: Man said he killed 2, put in suitcases

A detective in Wisconsin says a former police officer told him that he killed two women during rough sex and then put their bodies in suitcases that he hid for months before dumping them in rural Wisconsin.
05 Jul 15:44

Drug convictions overturned thanks to Saint Death

Two Oklahoma residents have had their federal firearms and drug-trafficking convictions in New Mexico overturned thanks to a skeleton saint known as La Santa Muerte.
05 Jul 15:02

Fat camps offer pudgy pets 'pawlates' to slim down

It's not just a people problem: Growing rates of obesity in pets have led to the emergence of fat farms offering "pawlates," ''doga" and "Barko Polo," doggie versions of Pilates, yoga and Marco Polo to help slim down man's best friend.
05 Jul 15:01

5 things to know about the 1964 Civil Rights Act

On July 2, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964, one of the most significant civil rights achievements in U.S. history. This new law made it illegal to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; It ended school, work and public facility discrimination, and barred unequal application of voter registration requirements.
05 Jul 13:50

Activists seek to ban Texas cheerleader from Facebook

Kendall Jones, 19, hunts big animals and poses with them on social media.
05 Jul 13:49

Police: 2 critical in Philly food truck explosion

A propane tank on a food truck in Philadelphia exploded into a fireball, critically injuring a mother and daughter and sending at least nine others to the hospital, police said.
04 Jul 14:51

Woman charged after dog is left in car

Anne Arundel County Police have charged a New York City woman with animal abuse after her dog was left inside her car for two hours as temperatures reached 88 degrees. The animal was later euthanized.