Frugal Living: Sep 6, 2008

Saturday, September 6, 2008

25 new messages in 12 topics - digest

misc.consumers.frugal-living
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living?hl=en

misc.consumers.frugal-living@googlegroups.com

Today's topics:

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Electricity Rates - wasRe: Home heating oil price?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/25ab6d7a439ac7f1?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Sep 5 2008 10:53 pm
From: Maren aka HiloBeads or PalmsEtc

On Sep 1, 11:07 am, "JonquilJan" <war...@imcnet.net> wrote:
> Thanks Ron - see my state (New York) is near the bottom.
>
> Jan
>
> Learn something new every day
> As long as you are learning, you are living
> When you stop learning, you start dyingRon Peterson <r...@shell.core.com> wrote in message
>
> news:72ffc891-1ee7-4de1-92d9-20ffae15d04a@k7g2000hsd.googlegroups.com...
> On Aug 31, 5:02 pm, "JonquilJan" <war...@imcnet.net> wrote:
>
>
>
> > What is the situation on electric in other parts of the country? Company
> is
> > National Grid - and I opt in for wind energy (which adds just a bit -
> trying
> > to do 'my part').
>
> http://www.neo.ne.gov/statshtml/115.htmshows the average electric
> rate by state.
>
> --
> Ron

right. It shows $0.269/kWh for us. Our last bill had $0.448.
Honest.

Maren, Hilo, HI

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Frugal ideas (on topic)
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/b0fb633415061f1d?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 12:06 am
From: Gordon

Derald <derald@invalid.net> wrote in
news:KpGdnY8QvZ6Wv13VnZ2dnUVZ_jWdnZ2d@earthlink.com:

> Gordon <gonzo@alltomyself.com> wrote:
>
>>Not so in My case. Last check was that it would cost about $20.00.
>>That's a lot of minutes if you compare it to a Pay as you go phone.
>>THe biggest problem I am up against is the expiration of minuts
>>on the pay as you go plans.
> So, how inconvenient can it be to renew Pageplus every 120 days
> compared to sending ±$20.00 + taxes _monthly_? $10.00 gets 70 min for
> 120 days; that's nominally $2.50/mo. Those minutes "roll over" into
the
> next period when one buys additional time by the expiration date.
> Pageplus uses the Verizon network, which is second to none in most of
> U.S.A. You can buy minutes on eBay and pay with paypal, buy minutes
from
> any number of third-party W3 sites, buy minutes from most independent
> cell phone stores, buy minutes from many convenience stores. In many
> jurisdictions, as well as online, those transactions incur no sales
tax.
> I find it interesting that when folks talk about their "low priced"
cell
> phone deals, they never mention the taxes, fees, and "because we can"
> charges that very nearly double their actual bills. You may safely
> disregard any misleading claims about "free" stuff from the postpay
> guys. Those "offers" are intended to dupe dullards into subscribing to
> otherwise overpriced services. Phoneco stuff is "free" only if you pay
> for other services which you may neither need nor want. Just for
grins,
> call any of them and tell them you just want the "free" stuff.... That
> "second line" gimmick is just that: Simply a means to induce
subscribers
> to increase their usage, empty the "bucket" and pay a premium price
for
> over-run minutes, not to mention the "extra-line" charge which really
> buys absolutely nothing. Telephone companies, just like cable teevee
> companies, are masters at bleeding money-for-nothing from the unwary
and
> from the arithmetically challenged; it's what they do.
>

So you can see what I'm up against. IT's not an easy task to
figure out these cell plans, find and acount for all the hidden
charges, and look for hidden terms and conditions.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 8:06 am
From: Derald

Gordon <gonzo@alltomyself.com> wrote:

>So you can see what I'm up against. IT's not an easy task to
>figure out these cell plans,
Yep. Too often, in order to have the (subjectively) "necessary"
service a person has to pay for services that are irrelevant.
Fortunately, for me, neither DW nor I use telephone for casual
conversation, we're years past having teenagers in the home, and we're
no longer reliant on telephone communications for any part of our income
so we get by with the lowest priced "measured rate" local service,
Onesuite LD, and the PagePlus prepay cell service. We really do limit
cell phone usage to "honey, help" and "last chance at the supermarket"
type calls and the Onesuite account has thousands of minutes "banked".
Back in the day when Skype was hot stuff, I paid for its VoIP service,
with disappointing results; although, Onesuite includes VoIP and I have
its ("free") softphone installed I've never used it.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: are there any high lumen LED night lights out there?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/29f39b8e5f78705c?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 8 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 7:28 am
From: "OhioGuy"

I'm looking for an LED night light. All I've been able to find so far are
el cheapo ones that either use a single LED, aren't diffused properly, or
don't produce enough lumens that my wife will let me get away with using it.

I've tried a number of alternative technologies over the past few years -
electrolumenscent, compact fluorescent, but she has trouble seeing at night,
and says none of them make enough light. Right now we're using a 7 watt
incandescent night light that makes perhaps 40 lumens of light, and she says
it is barely enough.

Therefore, I'm looking for an LED nightlight that is well diffused (not
directional - I don't want a 'laser' type dot on the ceiling)& which makes
80+ lumens of light for our bathroom. I've looked at some at local
supermarkets and such, but they don't say how many lumens. My experience is
that if it has a single LED or doesn't mention the lumen output, it just
won't be bright enough for my wife, who seems to lack the ability to see
well in low light situations.

I don't care if it uses 2 or 3 watts - I just need a decent amount of
light output that isn't directional.

I've spent over an hour searching online, and haven't been able to find
what I need. I find loads and loads of night lights with 20-30 or so lumens
of output, and which use less than a watt of power. I've tried those
before, and they just end up in a box in the basement, because my wife says
they are not up to par.

Help!

== 2 of 8 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 7:37 am
From: Dennis

On Sat, 6 Sep 2008 10:28:36 -0400, "OhioGuy" <none@none.net> wrote:

> I don't care if it uses 2 or 3 watts - I just need a decent amount of
>light output that isn't directional.
>
> I've spent over an hour searching online, and haven't been able to find
>what I need. I find loads and loads of night lights with 20-30 or so lumens
>of output, and which use less than a watt of power. I've tried those
>before, and they just end up in a box in the basement, because my wife says
>they are not up to par.
>
>
> Help!

Why not take four of those lights out of the box in the basement and
run them all on a power strip or extension outlet?

Dennis (evil)
--
An inherent weakness of a pure democracy is that half
the voters are below average intelligence.

== 3 of 8 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 7:50 am
From: George

Dennis wrote:
> On Sat, 6 Sep 2008 10:28:36 -0400, "OhioGuy" <none@none.net> wrote:
>
>> I don't care if it uses 2 or 3 watts - I just need a decent amount of
>> light output that isn't directional.
>>
>> I've spent over an hour searching online, and haven't been able to find
>> what I need. I find loads and loads of night lights with 20-30 or so lumens
>> of output, and which use less than a watt of power. I've tried those
>> before, and they just end up in a box in the basement, because my wife says
>> they are not up to par.
>>
>>
>> Help!
>
> Why not take four of those lights out of the box in the basement and
> run them all on a power strip or extension outlet?
>
>
> Dennis (evil)
> --
> An inherent weakness of a pure democracy is that half
> the voters are below average intelligence.

Or haul them up from the basement and plug a bunch of them in throughout
the space instead of using just one.

== 4 of 8 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 10:26 am
From: Derald

"OhioGuy" <none@none.net> wrote:

> ...they just end up in a box in the basement, because my wife says
>they are not up to par.
Seriously: Think, "flashlight" ("torch"). DW&I have each owned and
used bulletproof 2-AA minimag flashlights since the early '80's. They've
served us well while camping, on cine/photo sets, back stage, _and_ as
bedside "night" lights. DW often uses hers as a in-bed reading light,
too. Last week, I installed one of the conversion kits to transform my
25-year-old minimag into a LED. Truth is, I paid as much for the kit as
I would have for a new flashlight and I'm not sure that I'm pleased with
the conversion because I don't perceive it as nearly as bright as the
(genuine) minimag halide "peanut" lamp (although the color of the light
may be a factor) and it lacks the wide-to-spot choke that makes the
minimag so versatile.

== 5 of 8 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 11:56 am
From: "Rod Speed"

OhioGuy <none@none.net> wrote:
> I'm looking for an LED night light. All I've been able to find so
> far are el cheapo ones that either use a single LED, aren't diffused
> properly, or don't produce enough lumens that my wife will let me get
> away with using it.
> I've tried a number of alternative technologies over the past few
> years - electrolumenscent, compact fluorescent, but she has trouble
> seeing at night, and says none of them make enough light. Right now
> we're using a 7 watt incandescent night light that makes perhaps 40
> lumens of light, and she says it is barely enough.

The difference in running cost isnt really enough to worry
about if she's got silly ideas about how bright it needs to be.

> Therefore, I'm looking for an LED nightlight that is well diffused
> (not directional - I don't want a 'laser' type dot on the ceiling)&
> which makes 80+ lumens of light for our bathroom. I've looked at
> some at local supermarkets and such, but they don't say how many
> lumens. My experience is that if it has a single LED or doesn't
> mention the lumen output, it just won't be bright enough for my wife,
> who seems to lack the ability to see well in low light situations.

> I don't care if it uses 2 or 3 watts - I just need a decent amount of
> light output that isn't directional.

Then stick with incandescent.

> I've spent over an hour searching online, and haven't been able to
> find what I need. I find loads and loads of night lights with 20-30
> or so lumens of output, and which use less than a watt of power. I've tried those before, and they just end up in a
> box in the
> basement, because my wife says they are not up to par.

== 6 of 8 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 12:00 pm
From: phil scott

On Sep 6, 7:28 am, "OhioGuy" <n...@none.net> wrote:
> I'm looking for an LED night light. All I've been able to find so far are
> el cheapo ones that either use a single LED, aren't diffused properly, or
> don't produce enough lumens that my wife will let me get away with using it.
>
> I've tried a number of alternative technologies over the past few years -
> electrolumenscent, compact fluorescent, but she has trouble seeing at night,
> and says none of them make enough light. Right now we're using a 7 watt
> incandescent night light that makes perhaps 40 lumens of light, and she says
> it is barely enough.
>
> Therefore, I'm looking for an LED nightlight that is well diffused (not
> directional - I don't want a 'laser' type dot on the ceiling)& which makes
> 80+ lumens of light for our bathroom. I've looked at some at local
> supermarkets and such, but they don't say how many lumens. My experience is
> that if it has a single LED or doesn't mention the lumen output, it just
> won't be bright enough for my wife, who seems to lack the ability to see
> well in low light situations.
>
> I don't care if it uses 2 or 3 watts - I just need a decent amount of
> light output that isn't directional.
>
> I've spent over an hour searching online, and haven't been able to find
> what I need. I find loads and loads of night lights with 20-30 or so lumens
> of output, and which use less than a watt of power. I've tried those
> before, and they just end up in a box in the basement, because my wife says
> they are not up to par.
>
> Help!

you can get some pretty bright ones on ebay.

Phil scott

== 7 of 8 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 12:09 pm
From: Gene S. Berkowitz

In article <g9u42m$u1p$1@aioe.org>, none@none.net says...
> I'm looking for an LED night light. All I've been able to find so far are
> el cheapo ones that either use a single LED, aren't diffused properly, or
> don't produce enough lumens that my wife will let me get away with using it.
>
> I've tried a number of alternative technologies over the past few years -
> electrolumenscent, compact fluorescent, but she has trouble seeing at night,
> and says none of them make enough light. Right now we're using a 7 watt
> incandescent night light that makes perhaps 40 lumens of light, and she says
> it is barely enough.
>
>
> Therefore, I'm looking for an LED nightlight that is well diffused (not
> directional - I don't want a 'laser' type dot on the ceiling)& which makes
> 80+ lumens of light for our bathroom. I've looked at some at local
> supermarkets and such, but they don't say how many lumens. My experience is
> that if it has a single LED or doesn't mention the lumen output, it just
> won't be bright enough for my wife, who seems to lack the ability to see
> well in low light situations.
>
> I don't care if it uses 2 or 3 watts - I just need a decent amount of
> light output that isn't directional.
>
> I've spent over an hour searching online, and haven't been able to find
> what I need. I find loads and loads of night lights with 20-30 or so lumens
> of output, and which use less than a watt of power. I've tried those
> before, and they just end up in a box in the basement, because my wife says
> they are not up to par.
>
>
> Help!
>

I have a couple of AmerTac(TM) LED nightlights, model # 71381.
They're switchable from blue to green, and I actually find them a little
_too_ bright when I'm dark-adapted. They use 0.3 watts. I got them at
Home Depot.

--Gene

== 8 of 8 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 1:43 pm
From: " Frank"

"OhioGuy" <none@none.net> wrote in message news:g9u42m$u1p$1@aioe.org...
> I'm looking for an LED night light. All I've been able to find so far
> are el cheapo ones that either use a single LED, aren't diffused properly,
> or don't produce enough lumens that my wife will let me get away with
> using it.
>
> I've tried a number of alternative technologies over the past few years -
> electrolumenscent, compact fluorescent, but she has trouble seeing at
> night, and says none of them make enough light. Right now we're using a 7
> watt incandescent night light that makes perhaps 40 lumens of light, and
> she says it is barely enough.
>
>
> Therefore, I'm looking for an LED nightlight that is well diffused (not
> directional - I don't want a 'laser' type dot on the ceiling)& which makes
> 80+ lumens of light for our bathroom. I've looked at some at local
> supermarkets and such, but they don't say how many lumens. My experience
> is that if it has a single LED or doesn't mention the lumen output, it
> just won't be bright enough for my wife, who seems to lack the ability to
> see well in low light situations.
>
> I don't care if it uses 2 or 3 watts - I just need a decent amount of
> light output that isn't directional.
>
> I've spent over an hour searching online, and haven't been able to find
> what I need. I find loads and loads of night lights with 20-30 or so
> lumens of output, and which use less than a watt of power. I've tried
> those before, and they just end up in a box in the basement, because my
> wife says they are not up to par.
>
>
> Help!
>
>

Standard is 1/2 foot-candle minimum at the floor level. Go to a public
parking lot at night, its 1/2 to 1 foot-candle average, perhaps with hot
spots of 10 foot-candles or so. If she needs much more than that, why not
use motion detectors to light up the whole area. This should give her the
foot-candles as well as the comfort level. Motion detectors are efficient
and may qualify for a government energy tax credit.

BTW those blue LED on DVD players is just too bright and blinding. I put a
tape over the blue LED on my computer speaker. We have a LED night light
that lit up half of the room, rally don't need that much light. We also have
a few stereo components with blue LEDs so that night lights are not
required.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Free website
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/513bd805c1710ca8?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 8:58 am
From: FreeGifts

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==============================================================================
TOPIC: Cramar Cat Sanctuary 0121 445 1840 stock Petporte Microchip Catflaps �
89.99
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/a279739af2526fb0?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 10:56 am
From: bestcatflaps@aol.com

**** Hya sorry this is no-longer available - Ive heard you can now
purchase them from emailing bestcatflaps@aol.com and they are selling
them for the same price �89.99 plus �8.00 p&p if required. They have
white, brown and the special edition black ****

==============================================================================
TOPIC: PETPORTE CATFLAP OFFERS EMAIL bestcatflaps@aol.com
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/75339fe4973b0afc?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 10:59 am
From: bestcatflaps@aol.com

Hi if you email bestcatflaps@aol.com they can give you special offers
on petporte Catflaps.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Any Angie's list member here? Comments?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/744c1df6037b54f4?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 3 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 11:25 am
From: val189

Worth it to join?
Thanks.

== 2 of 3 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 11:55 am
From: phil scott

On Sep 6, 11:25 am, val189 <gwehr...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> Worth it to join?
> Thanks.

I am a contractor and looked at the site.. contractors can't
'join'... a home owner though can become a member, and search the
list for highly rated contractors.... I suppose there is a fee..didnt
check. That would have to beat hell out of a crap shoot like the
yellow pages.

then you can search out contractors in your area that others have
rated for quality and price etc... and supply a rating yourself.

My alternative view is that the best conn man may win... I see that a
lot. Very unscrupulous contractors, but with very good promo. One
In LA, well thought of for decades, billboards all over... charges
$4,500 for a new water heater.

Its a 400 to 500 dollar job max. They get 10x that by giving it a
lifetime warrantly.. most last 20 years regardless, so the home is
generally sold or the buyer dead or gone when it fails ...but the
dupes love em... these guys would get AA rated for sure, since the
buyer no doubt bought and understood the terms before hand etc.

I think the angies list approach is light years better though than
some services where contractors pay to join .....or are rated on
artificial criteria, such as a handyman licensed and bonded or not
(that can double his costs and rates) some one man shops wont
qualify... you miss out on a winner that way.

Phil scott

== 3 of 3 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 3:56 pm
From: Al Bundy

phil scott wrote:
> On Sep 6, 11:25�am, val189 <gwehr...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> > Worth it to join?
> > Thanks.
>
>
> I am a contractor and looked at the site.. contractors can't
> 'join'... a home owner though can become a member, and search the
> list for highly rated contractors.... I suppose there is a fee..didnt
> check. That would have to beat hell out of a crap shoot like the
> yellow pages.
>
> then you can search out contractors in your area that others have
> rated for quality and price etc... and supply a rating yourself.
>
>
> My alternative view is that the best conn man may win... I see that a
> lot. Very unscrupulous contractors, but with very good promo. One
> In LA, well thought of for decades, billboards all over... charges
> $4,500 for a new water heater.
>
> Its a 400 to 500 dollar job max. They get 10x that by giving it a
> lifetime warrantly.. most last 20 years regardless, so the home is
> generally sold or the buyer dead or gone when it fails ...but the
> dupes love em... these guys would get AA rated for sure, since the
> buyer no doubt bought and understood the terms before hand etc.
>
>
> I think the angies list approach is light years better though than
> some services where contractors pay to join .....or are rated on
> artificial criteria, such as a handyman licensed and bonded or not
> (that can double his costs and rates) some one man shops wont
> qualify... you miss out on a winner that way.
>
>
>
> Phil scott

The average life of a water heater is 13 years. This is a well
researched number. Very few last 20 years. None last forever. In my
view, anybody that signs a contract for 10X the going rate is bound to
be fleeced. Word of mouth from previous customers is the best way of
rating work. If a contractor can't provide references, that's a bad
sign too. A little searching and calling will quickly provide a
general value for work.

I have no experience with Angie's List. A GIS shows fees from nothing
to $600. If it were nothing, I'd check it for openers. It looks very
much like the lists of lawyers, real estate people, and dentists that
are available and supposedly checked out as good referrals. I know
from experience that the best people are not paying to join those
groups.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: O.T? Red light Cameras
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/7c6958cbb4a931fe?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 11:58 am
From: larry

rock-a-day johnny wrote:
> Do those cameras that take your picture when you "Run" a red light also
> "click" if you drive through a red that's been so for a minute?
> just curious george.

Most of the ones in Dallas area are "live" cameras that they
send you the best frame of your flying thru the red light.
I don't know how long they save the recordings, would need
to be months to cover the trials.

They also tried using the images for improper turn on right
too. By law, you need to STOP before doing the right on red
here.

Of course, now half the Dallas Cameras are empty shells,
they are loosing money on the cost they pay ACS to run the
program. Of course city assured us the cameras were for the
safety, not the money ;-) The state now gets 1/2 the ticket
money. West Texas removed all their cameras, too many
increased rear enders at all their lights.

Arlington, new home of the cowboys, also camera their
railroad crossings at $150 per ticket. Well worth it, great
videos of truck wipe-outs as the train hauls an 18 wheeler
hundreds of feet down the track, cleaning out crossing
equipment on the way.

Some of the small cities here that make their budgets with
speed traps are adding small, single pole mounted cameras.
Those might be self contained digital still cameras and not
be "live" cameras with microwave links back to a datacenter
like in Dallas. In any case, the cam is pix happy anytime
something metallic passes it's road sensor while the light
is NOT green.

-- larry / dallas

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 1:29 pm
From: Shawn Hirn

In article
<georgewkspam-0EC2B3.13084905092008@sn-ip.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net>,
rock-a-day johnny <georgewkspam@humboldt1.com> wrote:

> Do those cameras that take your picture when you "Run" a red light also
> "click" if you drive through a red that's been so for a minute?
> just curious george.

I suppose it depends on which community you are referring to. In
Philadelphia, if the photo shows you in the intersection when the light
is red, you get a ticket. How long the light was red before you entered
the intersection is irrelevant with Philadelphia's system.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Did MacDonald's burgers shrink?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/7ab4ff744892ce43?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 1:31 pm
From: Shawn Hirn

In article <rx7wk.28459$_s1.930@newsfe07.iad>,
clams_casino <PeterGriffin@DrunkinClam.com> wrote:

> Steve Daniels wrote:
>
> >On Thu, 4 Sep 2008 21:35:17 -0700 (PDT), against all advice,
> >something compelled James <j0069bond@hotmail.com>, to say:
> >
> >
> >
> >> Got some discount coupons in the mail so I went and had a Big Mac & a
> >> Quarter Pounder. Haven't had any since they had the 2 for $2 years
> >> ago. Are they smaller now?
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >Even if they paid you to eat that shit, it wouldn't be worth it.
> >
> >
>
> Along that line, I stopped by Wendy's to have a 99-cent bacon, cheese
> burger. It's still a good deal, but their value fries & value drink
> went up from 99 cents to $1.19 - an overall 13% jump since last month..

The chicken nuggets and value fries have been that price at the Wendy's
up the street from me for at least a year, if not longer.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 1:56 pm
From: " Frank"

"Steve Daniels" <sdaniels@gorge.net> wrote in message
news:3kf1c4liupiabog5l5hv6cqocf0nrfuit9@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 4 Sep 2008 21:35:17 -0700 (PDT), against all advice,
> something compelled James <j0069bond@hotmail.com>, to say:
>
>> Got some discount coupons in the mail so I went and had a Big Mac & a
>> Quarter Pounder. Haven't had any since they had the 2 for $2 years
>> ago. Are they smaller now?
>
>
> Even if they paid you to eat that shit, it wouldn't be worth it.
> --
>

Once in a while should be ok, OP said he hasn't had one years ago. I like
their premium coffee, think its just as good as Starbucks.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: buying old meat from supermarket
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/3fa9fe4b1c206b1a?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 1:33 pm
From: WM

On Tue 02 Sep08 18:53, john d hamilton <bluestar@mail.invalid>
wrote in <news:g9jujd$p1b$1@registered.motzarella.org>:

> As we know some people have a greater density of taste buds
> built into their tongues. I have less, but my wife and son have
> more than i do and they can detect subtle food flavours that I
> cannot.
>
> Tescos in North London U.K. sometime do meat in their 'reduced
> price' section. The other day I got some really good beef and
> lamb which was slightly 'darker' coloured from this section at
> about 1/4 of the normal price. I fried it up and enjoyed it and
> put the rest in the freezer.
>
> Other members of the family thought this was truly awful. My
> view is that although if you smell it closely, it is different;
> but that it is basically just a bit of *oxizidation* and it does
> not effect the taste. Years ago they used to hang up 'game'
> outside for weeks.
>
> Views on this really seem to divide people. But I cannot believe
> that a big store like Tesco would continue to sell this very
> slightly off coloured meat, if it represented any health risk.
> Any comments on this please, whether one can safetly consume
> such meat?
>
>

You didn't see the TV documentary about 9 to 12 months ago which
featured Tesco and it's hygiene practises on the cold meat counter in
its Woodford branch.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 1:37 pm
From: WM

On Wed 03 Sep08 00:08, Dave <noway@nohow.not> wrote in
<news:g9kgs1$2u0$1@registered.motzarella.org>:

>
> "john d hamilton" <bluestar@mail.invalid> wrote in message
> news:g9jujd$p1b$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>> [...]
> their
>> [...]
> can
>> [...]
> basically
>> [...]
> big
>> [...]
>
> Well, the supermarket my wife used to go to a lot, they would
> often have old meat tossed into a large bin, kind of like the
> cheapie dvd bins at wal-mart. Just random cuts of meat, mostly
> beef and mostly steaks of various quality. This bin was marked
> 4/$20, which was pretty good as some of the packages were steaks
> that sold for $10 or more per package. So if you picked meat
> out of the bin, you'd save 50% or better. All of the meat in
> this bin was within a day or two of the sell by date. (almost
> expired)
>
> My wife would often take advantage of this sale once or twice a
> month. We got some really good meat this way. There is no risk
> to your health, if the meat is cooked properly. But that's
> true, no matter how "old" the meat s. -Dave
>
>

Cooking should kill all bacteria but some bacteria are of the sort
which produce toxins.

If toxins have been produced before you get to cook the meat then
those toxins can survive cooking. EG staph aureus.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/poison.html

==============================================================================
TOPIC: <> Rexsy - Beautiful Relaxing Music <>
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/1330e458e7036f62?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 1:50 pm
From: Rexsy

Greetings!

Rexsy is curently offering free download on several Albums of
Romantic Symphonic Piano Music, which is about Love, Romance, and
Beauty!

The music is Great for Relaxation and Meditation!

http://www.rexsy.com/rexsy_music

Enjoy!

Rexsy
Rexsy.com
http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=Lexsie2008

"The sunlight reflected indescribable joys over the ocean of beauty,
where the sea birds glided freely under the calm blue skies. Peaceful
state of being exists when the mind and feelings merge into the
Universe's reality as One. In this state, there is no energy
differential between the mind and the constant changing reality,
thus, the manifestation of life has transgressed into quiet state of
existence. The sunset traveled towards of the deep blue sea's
horizon, as the Earth rested quietly in the profound Universe." -
Rexsy

==============================================================================
TOPIC: earn online from home
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/48eb08bd6f651b59?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Sat, Sep 6 2008 4:17 pm
From: Al Bundy

elizebathtaylor wrote:
> Hi friends,
> Earn money fast ,online homebusiness,start earning through parttime
> online jobs. visit
>
> <a href="http://onlinemoneynot4uu.blogspot.com"><img src="http://
> mobiles.pz10.com/walldata/screensavers/240x320/Miscellaneous/
> Aqarium.gif" border="0">Hi..Click me</a>
> xxxx

The Indians are threatening to replace the Chinese. They don't have
anything to sell so they seek to baffle folks with BS like this one.
The English is much better, but still with plenty of errors.

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13 new messages in 9 topics - digest

misc.consumers.frugal-living
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living?hl=en

misc.consumers.frugal-living@googlegroups.com

Today's topics:

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Best way to activate service through PagePlus
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/65540bdf1b5324ab?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Sep 5 2008 1:43 pm
From: Doc

On Sep 5, 4:41 pm, Doc <docsavag...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> As I understand it, the only phone that's guaranteed to work is a
> Verizon phone.

I guess AMPD or Alltel will also work.

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Sep 5 2008 2:16 pm
From: Al Bundy

rock-a-day johnny wrote:
> Do those cameras that take your picture when you "Run" a red light also
> "click" if you drive through a red that's been so for a minute?
> just curious george.
> --
We don't have red light cameras here and I can't say for sure. Reason
tells me that the camera must be tied to the signal rather than taking
continuous pictures and pulling out the digital shots on red. I assume
you are talking about the odd condition where light sticks in a
position because it is broken. If it is broken, you can't trust that
the camera will stop taking pictures either so you would end up
fighting the municipality and trying to prove the signal was stuck and
you had to cross. This happens so rarely. (Put a rag over your plate
and drive through?)

In my area, when lights change from a night cycle to a rush hour
cycle, they sometimes stick on the one color before continuing. They
only do that for one extra change. I guess it could go for a minute or
more in some cases. In that case, you'd be going through a true red
light and deserve a ticket. I have seen lights timed for as much as
three (3) minutes in one direction. This is usually done to move heavy
traffic. When there is no traffic, the temptation to proceed on a red
is great indeed. Police have increased the use of tickets to generate
revenue because of fuel costs. I see all kinds of cheap tickets being
written around here. Driver beware.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Meet Arab, Russian, American Singles From All Over The World .. FOR
FREE .. !!
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/2fb15eed18ad8c5f?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Sep 5 2008 2:27 pm
From: Al Bundy

On Sep 5, 1:46 pm, Zo0oMa <hazemmohamedda...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Meet Singles In Your Area
> Arabs, American, Russian Singles
> From All Over The World
> Waiting For You At Frinzo
> Join Frinzo And Start Your Love Life Now
> Join Frinzo Now For Free !!
>
> Enjoy exciting features offered by our site:
> * Profiles with galleries and audio/video
> * Personal weblogs and friends-lists
> * Audio/video chat, IM and recorder
> * SPAM-blocking and anti-SPAM system
> * ZIP-codes search, matchmaking and so much
> more!!
>
It's the Seinfeld show again folks, a show about nothing. One guy
posts to himself 15 times and calls it a blog. You're really going to
meet someone cool there, someone with NO other friends so they can
concentrate on you.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: is $1.69 good price for half pound cream cheese?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/5d9cc922690a1434?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Sep 5 2008 2:42 pm
From: Al Bundy

On Sep 5, 8:01 am, ediefa...@yahoo.com (elise d faber) wrote:
> On Thu, 4 Sep 2008 14:08:17 -0400, "OhioGuy" <n...@none.net> wrote:
> >$1.69 for 8 ounce store brand cream cheese is the price I found today at
> >Save A Lot. This seems pricey to me, but maybe that's because I rarely buy
> >it. I remember that it was only 99c there 2 or 3 years ago. Has it really
> >gone up 70% since then?
>
> > Anyone know of a chain that regularly has it for less than that price?
> >Thanks!
>
> are you sure that this was a half pound [8 oz]? around here the
> regular price varies from $1.29 to $1.49 and the sale price is 99¢.
> even whole foods has it for $1.49 regularly.
>
> elise

Kroger just had it on sale 10 for $10. I Googled and found others for
99¢ in Dayton.
As usual, Ohio Guy (aka T.Rivet, HarryB, etc.) wants you to be his
personal shopper.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: lowered my elec. bl. by 20 bucks
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/4c242161ed5e669f?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Fri, Sep 5 2008 2:46 pm
From: Al Bundy

val189 wrote:
> My power co. offered a deal - 'let us turn off your a/c and water
> heater for (a short time so many times a month) and get a lower
> rate." I don't recall the specifics on money or time, but my Aug bl
> came in 20 bucks lower than my July bl. and we certainly did not have
> a cool day here in FL in that time frame. No other changes that I can
> recall in that billing period. Never noticed a change either in the a/
> c or hot water temp. They DO have to install a device in your house,
> but heck - it's worth it. No charge for installation of said device
> either.
>
> If your elec. co. offers any kind of deal like this, go for it.

Certainly nothing wrong with a good reminder, but interruptible
service has been around for many years. Hope you have not been paying
the full rate all this time. Many people probably don't bother because
of the need for the extra metering, but it's very cost effective as
you state.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Fri, Sep 5 2008 4:21 pm
From: val189

On Sep 5, 5:46 pm, Al Bundy <MSfort...@mcpmail.com> wrote:
> val189 wrote:
> > My power co. offered a deal - 'let us turn off your a/c and water
> > heater for (a short time so many times a month) and get a lower
> > rate." I don't recall the specifics on money or time, but my Aug bl
> > came in 20 bucks lower than my July bl. and we certainly did not have
> > a cool day here in FL in that time frame. No other changes that I can
> > recall in that billing period. Never noticed a change either in the a/
> > c or hot water temp. They DO have to install a device in your house,
> > but heck - it's worth it. No charge for installation of said device
> > either.
>
> > If your elec. co. offers any kind of deal like this, go for it.
>
> Certainly nothing wrong with a good reminder, but interruptible
> service has been around for many years. Hope you have not been paying
> the full rate all this time. Many people probably don't bother because
> of the need for the extra metering, but it's very cost effective as
> you state.

This is a recent offering. THey only thing they installed was a
device near the water heater high on the adjacent wall. He installed
it in ten minutes.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Make Now Your Own Web Site for FREE in 5 minutes!
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/1a81fe60e685df5f?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 4 ==
Date: Fri, Sep 5 2008 4:55 pm
From: darh

http://atlanta2.webs.com/

== 2 of 4 ==
Date: Fri, Sep 5 2008 4:55 pm
From: darh

http://atlanta2.webs.com/

== 3 of 4 ==
Date: Fri, Sep 5 2008 4:57 pm
From: darh

http://atlanta2.webs.com/

== 4 of 4 ==
Date: Fri, Sep 5 2008 4:57 pm
From: darh

http://atlanta2.webs.com/

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Sep 5 2008 7:47 pm
From: flip+@andrew.SeeEmmYou.EeeDeeYou

TFM® <hillbillyboy@tampabay.rr.com> writes:
> "Reduced for quick sale" is my favorite cut of meat.
use or freeze today meat... yay! ;)

> If it stinks when you open it, let it breathe a while. If it still
> stinks after a few minutes, you be the judge.
a rinse in the sink and/or a salt/sugaring with a later rinse often
works as well. Of course, my tolerance is notoriously higher than many.

When I buy a family pack of pork steaks, I will often cook a couple
and salt and/or sugar the rest before placing in the fridge.
The osmotic pressure draws the water out and "cures" the meat, while
creating a less hospitable enviroment for bacteria.
The chops keep longer and take on a different flavor... but are still tasty.

--
flip
When you see beyond yourself then you may find,
peace of mind is waiting there.
--George Harrison
In my email replace SeeEmmYou.EeeDeeYou with CMU.EDU

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Stove/oven recalled for shooting flames at your face
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/7bf8d15906f20881?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Sep 5 2008 8:43 pm
From: ultimauw@live.com

http://consumerist.com/5046010/pricey-stove-recalled-for-shooting-flames-at-your-face

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Sep 5 2008 10:53 pm
From: Maren aka HiloBeads or PalmsEtc

right. It shows $0.269/kWh for us. Our last bill had $0.448.
Honest.

Maren, Hilo, HI

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Frugal Living

Blog Archive

Saturday, September 6, 2008

25 new messages in 12 topics - digest

13 new messages in 9 topics - digest