Frugal Living: Dec 26, 2008

Friday, December 26, 2008

misc.consumers.frugal-living - 25 new messages in 8 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: Usenet being phased out
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/88e9e410905fb851?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 3 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 12:03 pm
From: "rick++"

groups.google.com

It has some shortcomings, but is usable and free.

== 2 of 3 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 1:58 pm
From: "Evelyn"

"Macuser" <spamisaluncheon@meat.com> wrote in message
news:Noz4l.998$Es4.663@nwrddc01.gnilink.net...
>A friend would like to read here and contribute, but Comcast, his ISP, has
>discontinued newsgroups. I also noticed that several newsgroups I used to
>read, or want to read, have been discontinued byVerizon, my ISP. This seems
>to me like a conscious effort to rid the world of Usenet, in favor of the
>Internet.
>
> Man, I'm peeved. What can be done?
>
> --
> http://cashcuddler.com
>
> "Thrift is sexy." ;)

Sign up with Motzarella.com. Free usenet groups.
Or of course, you could use Google groups.
My ISP dropped usenet as well.

--
--
Best Regards,
Evelyn

Rest in a sky-like mind.
Sit like a mountain floating on the earth.
Breathe like the wind circling the world

== 3 of 3 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 2:17 pm
From: John Doe

Odd Bob <odd_bob@odd.bob> wrote:

> Personally I went with Astraweb. Not as much retention as
> Giganews but wow is it faster! And at 110gb for $25 (Now they're
> offering 120 for that price) I won't have to worry about paying
> another monthly bill

Is Astraweb the only metered (pay by download) binary USENET
service? Apparently they are making money, they have been doing it for
years.

--
Land Skis (rough terrain skates). The first rollerblades with a big
front wheel and small trailing wheels, to help roll over obstacles
while maintaining a low stance.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27532210@N04/3056505603

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Collision insurance
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/2850cf9d787416a8?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 12:05 pm
From: "rick++"

Also many be impossible if you have "multiple insurance" discounts,
e.g. hopme and car from same company. Mine firced collision, but not
much
on old car.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: poverty line
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/4eaa805a9a816468?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 12:06 pm
From: "rick++"

Its relative. Much of my adult life I lived below that number
and didnt realize it.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 3:33 pm
From: Auntielle

On Dec 22, 11:15 pm, Goomba <Goomb...@comcast.net> wrote:
> James wrote:
> > If you are at the line, what are you supposed to be able to do? Are
> > you supposed to be able to afford a certain size apartment with heat,
> > eat healthy, and dress warmly? Or is it just a number that qualifies
> > you for welfare?
>
> It probably depends on your own initiative and abilities as to what
> you'll be able to do? A clever person can find resources to help them
> fulfill their needs. A not very clever person will wait for someone else
> to meet their needs.
> Take food stamps for example-Some people are given assistance and
> squander it on expensive processed foods whereas others (those clever
> ones) take it to buy ingredients and cook more from scratch. Which one
> do you think will have food longer into the month.....?

I've belonged to this group for years, but have only posted once
before, so I apologize if I've put this message in the wrong place.

I wholeheartedly agree that one's own initiative and abilities can
have a big impact on how well one is able to live "at the poverty
line". For several years, I worked as a grocery clerk for Ralph's - a
grocery chain owned by Krogers. This was during the years where the
Double Coupon policies here in SoCal were very generous, as were the
number of excellent sale prices on various grocery items each week.

The store I worked at was in an economically depressed area; we had a
good percentage of our customers who were welfare check and food stamp
recipients. In spite of the savings available to them thru taking
advantage of sale prices and double coupons, it was extremely rare to
see a food stamp customer using coupons.

I never could understand why these customers who were supposedly
"needy" were unwilling to make the effort to buy a couple of Sunday
newspapers - which contained inserts full of coupons - and match them
up with sale items and other things on their grocery lists. I was a
first apprentice clerk - at the bottom of the union pay scale - and I
used coupons heavily which, when doubled by the store, gave me many
things free or for pennies: all sorts of food items as well as non-
food products such as shampoo and conditioner, toothbrushes and
toothpaste, deodorant, dishwashing liquid, bar soap, body wash, window
cleaner - you name it.

If the welfare/food stamp recipients had been willing to invest a
couple of dollars a week in Sunday newspapers (to get the coupons) and
a bit of time looking at the weekly ads and making a list, they could
have made both their welfare check (to buy non-food items) and food
stamps go so much farther. But maybe 5 out of every 100 food stamp
recipients used coupons. To me, it seemed like since it was the
government's money (in the form of food stamps and welfare checks)
they were spending, it was not worth it to them to take the effort to
learn to "play the coupon game" and get 5 to 10 times the value for
the money. It really made me kind of angry to see this kind of
complacency. I couldn't help but think that if they had had to work to
pay for those groceries, they would have been giving me a big stack of
coupons.

I worked in the grocery industry for almost 10 years, and I admit that
there were a small percentage of welfare check/food stamp customers
who truly tried to use the resources given to them to wisely buy
healthful, inexpensive items and used coupons to make the funds they
did have to go farther. But the majority used their food stamps for
convenience foods, sodas, chips, candy, AND expensive cuts of meat -
including prime rib, filet mignon, King Crab legs, large shrimp and
scallops, etc. No, I'm not kidding; it was common for me to look down
in the shopping cart as I started to ring up the order and see a bunch
of packages of expensive meat items in the front of the cart, while
the rest of the cart was filled with convenience foods and "junk".

Our store also cashed payroll, government(Social Security, disability,
etc.) and welfare checks, but we required a $25 minimum purchase in
order to cash one of these checks. So people would come in on the
first of the month, spend their food stamps as described above, and
then buy a carton of cigarettes and a couple of bottles of liquor to
cover their required purchase to cash the welfare check. It was
obvious to me that these people had another source of income, in
addition to what they were spending at my store, because they could
not afford to live on what was left of their welfare check and food
stamps after they finished shopping.

It is very sad, because I know that there truly are needy people who
need the help of welfare checks and food stamps and do not abuse them.
But the vast majority of the customers I had who used these programs
abused them by buying junk foods, non-essentials, and prime meats. And
they were not willing to help themselves by using coupons either. It
was just a handout to them, and it was clearly abused much of the
time, in my experience.

For anyone who is truly needy, please do what you can by using coupons
on items you need, and learn to live frugally. There are many, many
websites to help you to live and cook inexpensively; just do a Google
search. Take notes on anything you feel would help you to cut costs. I
apologize for the length of this post, but I felt my years as a
grocery clerk gave me a lot of experience as far as seeing how many,
many aid recipients spend their grocery (food stamp) dollar.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: how to get replacement cables for Weider home Gym?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/070e8637d47fd3b2?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 12:30 pm
From: "NotMe"

"OhioGuy" <none@none.net> wrote in message
news:giiql8$2k77$1@news.ett.com.ua...
: I have a Weider System 3 (15922) Cross Trainer home Gym that is
: having a problem. The system uses cheap plastic pulleys, so they coated
: the metal cables with plastic so that they wouldn't wear the pulleys.
:
: The trouble is, the plastic coating is coming off all the cables,
: which makes it very difficult to do the exercises. The plastic coming
: off and bulging out makes the resistance variable, and sometimes
: downright impossible.
:
: I tried searches online for replacement parts, and found that I could
: easily spend $60 just replacing one cable with an official part. That
: is about what I paid for the whole thing.
:
: My Dad suggested getting "aircraft cable", whatever that is. I'm
: guessing it is a high quality metal cable you can get in a bulk roll.
: If I could get something like that and cut it to length, I believe I
: could easily replace what is on here.
:
: The trouble is, where do you get the stuff? Anyone have an idea
: where to get a good deal online for rolls of metal cable? They didn't
: have any at my local hardware store. Thanks!

Look for a company that sells 'wire rope'. comes in 'clad' (with plastic)
or unclad (no plastic). If you take the old cable with you they can make up
what you need.

Might also check HomeDepot and Lows.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Wanna be depressed?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/d7707daeed27d957?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 3 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 12:48 pm
From: The Real Bev

Who among us has not thrown out better stuff than this?

http://stores.ebay.com/KPsurplusDotCom

--
Cheers, Bev
=====================================================================
If violence isn't solving the problem, you're not using enough of it.

== 2 of 3 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 12:57 pm
From: The Real Bev

The Real Bev wrote:

> Who among us has not thrown out better stuff than this?
>
> http://stores.ebay.com/KPsurplusDotCom

They have lots of exotic stuff that we wouldn't be likely to have used,
but what caught my attention was the Racal-Vadic acoustic modem for $519.00.

--
Cheers, Bev
=====================================================================
If violence isn't solving the problem, you're not using enough of it.

== 3 of 3 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 1:42 pm
From: MSfortune@mcpmail.com

On Dec 26, 3:57 pm, The Real Bev <bashley...@gmail.com> wrote:
> The Real Bev wrote:
> > Who among us has not thrown out better stuff than this?
>
> >http://stores.ebay.com/KPsurplusDotCom
>
> They have lots of exotic stuff that we wouldn't be likely to have used,
> but what caught my attention was the Racal-Vadic acoustic modem for $519.00.
>
> --
> Cheers, Bev
> =====================================================================
> If violence isn't solving the problem, you're not using enough of it.

Most people would not have a clue how to use some of those items that
could be worth 10X the price. I did notice the two button mouse for
$19.95 though that is not worth $10.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: .99 store complaint
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/344e32ee920ae3a2?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 12 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 12:54 pm
From: The Real Bev

axiom wrote:

> On Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:45:51 -0800, The Real Bev wrote:
>
>> Little LED flashlights whose button batteries alone are worth the
>> price of admission. Some stuff is good, some stuff is iffy. It's like
>> yard sale stuff -- you gut stung every once in a while, but on balance
>> you're way ahead of the game.
>
> Sounds like you'd better stay away from http://www.usbgeek.com then...
>
> And whatever you do, don't click on "USB gadgets". ;-)

The heating gloves and warming mousepad are tempting. I got a thing
like the 'revolving hub' for free through one of the on-line survey
companies. I wonder if the CD Destroyer is DOD approved -- since I
laugh in the face of danger I'd just break them up. The roll-up
keyboard, especially the illuminated one, looks useful if it feels good
-- I hate laptop keyboards. The little wireless mouse is cute, but I
already have one.

The internal card reader is slick -- the one on my windows machine
doesn't see high-capacity cards. OTOH, this one doesn't say it does
either. I ordered a standalone multi-reader for $5.38 from an ebay company.

--
Cheers, Bev
==============================================================
"I am working for the time when unqualified blacks, browns and
women join the unqualified men in running our government"
-- Cissy Farenthold

== 2 of 12 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 1:19 pm
From: val189

With inflation, I wouldn't expect to find much for 99 cents. Since
their goods are mostly junk, I don't even bother shopping there.

== 3 of 12 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 1:44 pm
From: The Real Bev

val189 wrote:

> With inflation, I wouldn't expect to find much for 99 cents. Since
> their goods are mostly junk, I don't even bother shopping there.

That's pure snobbery and indicates that you never even tried. Give it a
shot, it's not likely to kill you.

99-Cents-Only Stores are really good. Dollar Tree not so much.
Big!Lots sucks. There are three or four 99-Cents-Only Stores within
bicycle distance of my house. WOO-HOO!

Shampoo is shampoo and hand lotion is hand lotion; pick the scent you
like. Standard brands of toothpaste -- Colgate, Crest, etc. Morell hot
dogs and sausage. Milk (yeah, I saw the Simpsons with the rat dairy).
American sunblock, just with a short use-by date. Nexcare duct-tape
band-aids (yeah, they really DO stick well). Tons of fun stuff.

--
Cheers, Bev
=====================================================================
If violence isn't solving the problem, you're not using enough of it.

== 4 of 12 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 1:55 pm
From: terry

On Dec 21, 8:08 pm, Dave Garland <dave.garl...@wizinfo.com> wrote:
> Macuser wrote:
> > Does anybody have a .99 or $1.00 store that actually still sells ALL
> > items for this amount?
>
> No. Around here, the "Dollar Tree" chain sometimes sells items at
> 2/$1 or even 4/$1. I haven't seen anything there for more than a buck.
>
> "Family Dollar", a lot of items at multiples of a dollar. The
> independent stores mostly have both dollar items and items that cost more.
>
> I suppose it's the same problem "dime stores" had back in my
> childhood. Inflation creeps up on you.
>
> Dave

Yes. Found one in a mall here that I visit about once every 18 months.
It's called 'Dollarama'.
Not seeing any price signs on most goods, except for the occasional
"Two for a dollar etc." I asked one of the ladies stocking shelves.
"Oh" she said, "Everything is one dollar unless otherwise marked two
for one dollar etc".
Yes some of it IS junk but six pens for buck (and they all worked)
four small plastic spring clamps, etc. etc. and some small unfinished
boxes that had paid a $1.25 elsewhere, were one dollar! Eight cheap
'brass looking' hooks for hanging keys or cups by their handles were
one dollar also.
But there is another store called "Buck or two". Same stuff as above,
just costs more. Less gas for me, although i would never make a rip
just to but at a dollar-type store.
Yeah; also remember that 'five and dime' description.
Cheers.

== 5 of 12 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 2:00 pm
From: terry

On Dec 26, 6:44 pm, The Real Bev <bashley...@gmail.com> wrote:
> val189 wrote:
> > With inflation, I wouldn't expect to find much for 99 cents. Since
> > their goods are mostly junk, I don't even bother shopping there.
>
> That's pure snobbery and indicates that you never even tried. Give it a
> shot, it's not likely to kill you.
>
> 99-Cents-Only Stores are really good. Dollar Tree not so much.
> Big!Lots sucks. There are three or four 99-Cents-Only Stores within
> bicycle distance of my house. WOO-HOO!
>
> Shampoo is shampoo and hand lotion is hand lotion; pick the scent you
> like. Standard brands of toothpaste -- Colgate, Crest, etc. Morell hot
> dogs and sausage. Milk (yeah, I saw the Simpsons with the rat dairy).
> American sunblock, just with a short use-by date. Nexcare duct-tape
> band-aids (yeah, they really DO stick well). Tons of fun stuff.
>
> --
> Cheers, Bev
> =====================================================================
> If violence isn't solving the problem, you're not using enough of it.

Dish detergent washes hair extremely well. It's hard these days though
to find any that DOES NOT have that artficial 'lemony' smell. YUK!
Same with clothes washing detergent; hard to find cheap detergent
without that lemon scented odour!
PS. Don't use higly coloured dish detergent; it amy laeve acoloured
scum that's ahrder to clean off, although that may depend on your
water hardness or otherwise.

== 6 of 12 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 2:13 pm
From: Dave Garland

Seerialmom wrote:

> I think the OP meant the stores says "Dollar Store" but sells many
> items "above" that price.

Oh, I know. I was just tweaking them a little while answering. AFAIK
nothing sold by Dollar Tree is more than a buck. A lot of the
merchandise is housebrand. And some good deals... cheap hot sauce is
usually terrible, but their habanero sauce is big bottles and pretty
good; velcro cable ties in packages of 7, they're still a good deal
even if the velcro comes unglued on one or two; multibit screwdrivers
for car & toolbox, if you lose it you're not out much; cheapest place
I know of for pretzel nuggets (14oz bags); aluminum foil pans at half
the price of the big supermarket; sunglasses and readers.

Dave

== 7 of 12 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 2:19 pm
From: Goomba

terry wrote:

> Dish detergent washes hair extremely well. It's hard these days though
> to find any that DOES NOT have that artficial 'lemony' smell. YUK!

I've never seen anyone who claimed such a thing have nice looking hair,
actually.

== 8 of 12 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 2:31 pm
From: Evelyn Leeper

terry wrote:
> On Dec 21, 8:08 pm, Dave Garland <dave.garl...@wizinfo.com> wrote:
>> Macuser wrote:
>>> Does anybody have a .99 or $1.00 store that actually still sells ALL
>>> items for this amount?
>> No. Around here, the "Dollar Tree" chain sometimes sells items at
>> 2/$1 or even 4/$1. I haven't seen anything there for more than a buck.
>>
>> "Family Dollar", a lot of items at multiples of a dollar. The
>> independent stores mostly have both dollar items and items that cost more.
>>
>> I suppose it's the same problem "dime stores" had back in my
>> childhood. Inflation creeps up on you.
>>
>> Dave
>
> Yes. Found one in a mall here that I visit about once every 18 months.
> It's called 'Dollarama'.
> Not seeing any price signs on most goods, except for the occasional
> "Two for a dollar etc." I asked one of the ladies stocking shelves.
> "Oh" she said, "Everything is one dollar unless otherwise marked two
> for one dollar etc".
> Yes some of it IS junk but six pens for buck (and they all worked)
> four small plastic spring clamps, etc. etc. and some small unfinished
> boxes that had paid a $1.25 elsewhere, were one dollar!

Teachers and parents love these stores for cheap craft items (huge
number of popsicle sticks for $1, three pairs of kids scissors for $1,
etc.). They don't have to be extremely high-quality, but they have to
be cheap enough to buy for a whole classroom or party.

Oh, yes, and party favors.

--
Evelyn C. Leeper
Be braver. You cannot cross a chasm in two small jumps.

== 9 of 12 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 3:03 pm
From: Seerialmom

On Dec 26, 10:45 am, The Real Bev <bashley...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Seerialmom wrote:
> > On Dec 21, 8:20 pm, ultim...@live.com wrote:
> >> On Dec 21, 2:23 pm, "Macuser" <spamisalunch...@meat.com> wrote:
>
> >> > Does anybody have a .99 or $1.00 store that actually still sells ALL items
> >> > for this amount? There are several near me, and all of them are trying to
> >> > pry more out of the customers by raising prices about that threshold.
> >> > Certain items, like cheap little power strips have doubled in price. I buy
> >> > less now than ever. How about you?
>
> >> 99 cent power strips?! ick! I for one would not want to use those fire
> >> hazards let alone leave them plugged in unattended. Same with the
> >> lights they sell.
>
> > I have a funny story about that; I bought a "USB notebook light" at 99
> > cent only when they first opened. Looked like a cool toy so I took it
> > with me to work. Plugged it into my work laptop and it shut down the
> > PC (hard shut down). I thought...wth? As long as it was plugged in
> > the PC wouldn't turn back on. So I tried it on a couple of other PC's
> > nearby....didn't matter whether it was a laptop or desktop; same
> > behavior. Shutdown. So I took the item back to the store and
> > demanded to talk to the manager, advised them they should pull these
> > devices. Did they? probably not. But I could see someone thinking
> > their PC was broken because of it and incurring big expenses. Anyway,
> > I don't have a problem with the "branded" electronic items they have
> > and so far have heard nothing about fires as a result of those.
>
> I bought one of those. My linux machine seems perfectly happy to light
> it up, but I haven't tried in on my winmachine. If I had a USB plug in
> a better place it might actually be useful; now it's just a "Hey,
> that's cool" thing which is only useful for testing a USB socket.
>
> I've got a 99-cent car charger for my cellphone that works. I bought a
> lot of cute Belkin USB cables with lights that I also saw at Fry's for
> $29 -- insane, right? Laser pointer things for teasing cats. Little
> LED flashlights whose button batteries alone are worth the price of
> admission. Some stuff is good, some stuff is iffy. It's like yard sale
> stuff -- you gut stung every once in a while, but on balance you're way
> ahead of the game.
>
> --
> Cheers, Bev
> ===========================================================
> Giving out free MS security updates is like giving out free
> band-aids with flesh-eating microbes in the pads.

It's possible they just got a bad batch of those USB lights; but to
get a BSOD on every PC was pretty scary. The cell phone chargers are
likely surplus being discontinued? And more often than not you can
see what store they got it from, like AT&T or Sprint. I just try to
stay away from the generic electronics they have in the dollar stores
but I'm not too worried if it's something that was originally made for
one device but I know will work for another (like a charger meant for
one model but has the same connection/voltage as something else I own,
even if it's not mentioned on the packaging).

== 10 of 12 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 3:11 pm
From: Seerialmom

On Dec 26, 1:44 pm, The Real Bev <bashley...@gmail.com> wrote:
> val189 wrote:
> > With inflation, I wouldn't expect to find much for 99 cents. Since
> > their goods are mostly junk, I don't even bother shopping there.
>
> That's pure snobbery and indicates that you never even tried. Give it a
> shot, it's not likely to kill you.
>
> 99-Cents-Only Stores are really good. Dollar Tree not so much.
> Big!Lots sucks. There are three or four 99-Cents-Only Stores within
> bicycle distance of my house. WOO-HOO!
>
> Shampoo is shampoo and hand lotion is hand lotion; pick the scent you
> like. Standard brands of toothpaste -- Colgate, Crest, etc. Morell hot
> dogs and sausage. Milk (yeah, I saw the Simpsons with the rat dairy).
> American sunblock, just with a short use-by date. Nexcare duct-tape
> band-aids (yeah, they really DO stick well). Tons of fun stuff.
>
> --
> Cheers, Bev
> =====================================================================
> If violence isn't solving the problem, you're not using enough of it.

Big Lots! doesn't "always" suck; but if I can get the same item @ 99
cent Only instead of Big Lots! I will....since I know it'll be
cheaper. But if we want to talk about cheap stores that generally
suck, "Stupid Prices" is my vote getter. Most of the stuff there is
overstock from Costco or freight damage. I rarely get anything while
there and I get rather annoyed when I see something like Lysol wipes
and a sticker saying "regular price $9, your price $4.50" when the
actual "regular price" is more like $5 (so I'm expecting half of that).

== 11 of 12 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 3:18 pm
From: krw

In article <Xec5l.10875$fs1.7376@newsfe05.iad>, bashley101@gmail.com
says...
> val189 wrote:
>
> > With inflation, I wouldn't expect to find much for 99 cents. Since
> > their goods are mostly junk, I don't even bother shopping there.
>
> That's pure snobbery and indicates that you never even tried. Give it a
> shot, it's not likely to kill you.

True, I've found some nice clothes hangers in dollar stores.

> 99-Cents-Only Stores are really good. Dollar Tree not so much.
> Big!Lots sucks. There are three or four 99-Cents-Only Stores within
> bicycle distance of my house. WOO-HOO!

I don't go in them often though and haven't visited any here (we
moved a few months ago).

> Shampoo is shampoo and hand lotion is hand lotion; pick the scent you
> like. Standard brands of toothpaste --

Not true. Even brands are different. I don't know if they're
counterfeits or cut with water but the difference is noticeable.

> Colgate, Crest, etc. Morell hot
> dogs and sausage. Milk (yeah, I saw the Simpsons with the rat dairy).
> American sunblock, just with a short use-by date. Nexcare duct-tape
> band-aids (yeah, they really DO stick well). Tons of fun stuff.

--
Keith

== 12 of 12 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 3:34 pm
From: John Doe

Try the dollar store, I've heard it's better.
haha

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Save up to 80% on Electricity Bill Every Month.
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/513e1beff3fcf3cb?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 1:44 pm
From: terry

On Dec 26, 2:16 am, "eforce.ws" <HelloKi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> ECONOMY MELTDOWN! Who Else Needs to Save Thousands a Year On Electric
> Bill Alone?
> How You Can Generate Wind & Solar Energy to Fully Power Your Home
> Inexpensively
>
> How to Cut Your Electricity Bill by Up to 80% And
> Generate Free Energy for Life
>
> http://eforcews.ecoworld.hop.clickbank.net

Obviously an advert!
Very little in way of factual info.
Wonder what a typical minimum investment would be?
Maybe $15,000 to $25,000?
With 12v truck batteries costing around $200 each, inverters, control
circuits, wiring etc.!
Solar panel costs per watt seems to be $15-20 per watt installed?
Here suitable banks of solar cells might provided some power but lack
of or very, short periods of sunlight and snow cover of the collectors
could be problems. High wing velocities would require very strong
structure and or bracing our roofs?
If a typical 6 foot by 3 foot panel could provide an an average of say
40 watts per hour for even half a day to a house requiring a winter
average of say 5 kilowatts that would require about 100 panels at
around $100 each, not installed. And that would supply maybe one
quarter of the daily energy required.
Hmm! One can buy a lot of our hydro generated electrcity for say
$20,000. In fact about 100 months, or slightly longer (say nine years
worth)!
Obviously one way to go in the longer run especially in sunny climes!
Oh btw the shortest day of the year was December 21st so we are a few
days now climbing away from that low point and the colder weather is
now starting!
Cheers.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Really cheap tube TV's.
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/2ba22ba2916253d8?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 1:49 pm
From: MSfortune@mcpmail.com

James wrote:
> I see many good TV's on curbs because of the new flat TV's as well as
> HDTV standard. Why not pick up a good free TV and just buy a
> convertion box?
>
> My next door neighbor tossed a very good TV but I wasn't thinking at
> the time. Of course it was taken by the time I decided to take it.

Sure it will work, but does that make it cheap? I have not done a
comparison on power with the new TV's versus a CRT, but I did before
purchasing this monitor. The new monitor uses 35W and the old one used
275W. By the time the warranty is up on the new monitor, it will have
saved the price compared to what the old tube used. I pitched it like
an old TV.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 3:16 pm
From: Seerialmom

On Dec 26, 10:11 am, James <j0069b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I see many good TV's on curbs because of the new flat TV's as well as
> HDTV standard. Why not pick up a good free TV and just buy a
> convertion box?
>
> My next door neighbor tossed a very good TV but I wasn't thinking at
> the time. Of course it was taken by the time I decided to take it.

I don't know if I'd trust a TV something put on the curb (due to
possible damage on the way to aforementioned curb), but Craigslist and
most thrift stores have ton's o' CRT TV's right now, very cheap. If
you don't mind lugging in a 150lb TV you could definitely get a
decent 37in TV that'll work just fine with a converter, cable or
satellite dish (some might not even need that, depending on when they
were made).

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Google Groups: http://groups.google.com/?hl=en

misc.consumers.frugal-living - 25 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:

== 1 of 4 ==
Date: Thurs, Dec 25 2008 10:17 pm
From: "Rod Speed"

JR Weiss wrote
> Rod Speed <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote

>>> Isn't e-mail something like 90% spam?

>> Mine isnt.

> It is on the outbound side...

You have absolutely no idea what the outbound side consists of, fuckwit.

== 2 of 4 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 7:29 am
From: tarkanian.1.rahim@spamgourmet.com

some of us use google groups, which you can check for free on any web
browser

== 3 of 4 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 11:14 am
From: nada <@wild.il>

Macuser wrote:
> A friend would like to read here and contribute, but Comcast, his ISP,
> has discontinued newsgroups. I also noticed that several newsgroups I
> used to read, or want to read, have been discontinued byVerizon, my ISP.
> This seems to me like a conscious effort to rid the world of Usenet, in
> favor of the Internet.
>
> Man, I'm peeved. What can be done?
>
Doesn't appear to be much. Big Business is Government and doesn't like
free speech or anything free. They can minimize or eliminate opposition
speech and open up opportunity for more profits for them. The perverted
game continues.
Make Lobbying, especially, for foreign interests illegal. Get Lobbyists
and their Masters out of the Halls of Government and Congress.
Public financing, of political campaigns. Independent prosecution of
violations of Constitutional oath, of office.
Until we stop Government of, by and for Big Business we are trapped in
what we have now.
We are not being represented. The Ownership Society/Supplier Side
Government/Economics does not defend or recognize the Constitution our
Republic or sovereignty. To the Globalist is is just a g d piece of
paper. It is a return to Feudalism but on a global scale.
Capitalism? Marxist China has Capitalism.

== 4 of 4 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 12:03 pm
From: "rick++"

groups.google.com

It has some shortcomings, but is usable and free.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Building Material Market, Goutou Denizen Committee, XiaChen Office
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/7eb3718e97c10352?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 2:35 am
From: cicitrade100@yahoo.cn

CiCi
www.www.cicisale.cn
Building Material Market, Goutou Denizen Committee, XiaChen Office
Putian City Chengxiang District CiCi Trade Co., Ltd

== 1 of 7 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 6:07 am
From: Marsha

Dave Garland wrote:
> Marsha wrote:
>>>> We all have the opportunity to work hard and earn a
>>>> decent living, unless you are mentally disabled, but it's not a right.
>>> A frail 80-year-old has the opportunity to work hard and earn a decent
>>> living?
>
>> The original link didn't mention the average age of those at poverty
>> level. But I'd be willing to bet they're not all frail 80-year-olds.
>
> Agreed. I merely threw out that example because you said "all", and
> "all" is not accurate.

I should have said mentally or physically unable to work.

>> who suck off the welfare tit for all it's worth. It's those who use it
>> as a lifestyle, generation after generation, that I'm talking about.
>
> Fair enough. But I don't think there are very many who fit into that
> category (does any reliable source give figures for "generation after
> generation"?). Certainly not (in monetary terms) as many as there who
> own businesses and find ways to such off the government tit.

We have quite a few subsidized apartments in Toledo with tenants who fit
that category. I work at a hospital and see the same families abusing
the health care system, because they don't have to pay a dime.

>
> In my city, the guy who's probably the richest citizen, owner of a
> sports team, has managed to get public financing (a special sales tax)
> for a new stadium for his team. Mind you, the stadium isn't useful
> for anything else, the public doesn't get any equity in the team, and
> if, after a brief period, he decides to move or sell the team
> elsewhere, we'll still be stuck with the bill for the stadium. You
> can support a whole lot of people at welfare rates for that expense.
> If I'm going to piss away tax money, I'd rather it go to the poor than
> the rich.
>
> Dave
>

Instead of just throwing more money at welfare like a bandaid, I'd
rather see it used for education and job skills. It would be nice if
those who are able would actually do something to earn it. I think the
biggest problem of welfare recipients (not the 80-year-olds) is that
they have no ambition or incentive to better their lives. If you take
away the free money, there would be a whole lot of incentive.

Marsha/Ohio

== 2 of 7 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 6:57 am
From: Siskuwihane

On Dec 24, 10:11 pm, Dennis <dg...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:33:53 -0800 (PST), Seerialmom
>
> <seerial...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >One thing those who fail to realize when they grouse about welfare is
> >the recipient never "keeps" the money, it goes to landowners, grocers,
> >utilities etc. They aren't getting rich. Sure, "some" abuse the
> >benefit. For every 1 "welfare queen wearing gold and driving a
> >Cadillac" there's 30 more working part time, wearing second hand
> >clothes and if she's lucky, has a $300 beater car.
>
> Really? Is that just a guess or is it based on some personal
> experience? Because we used to own/manage some apartments that
> catered to Section 8 tenants. Our experience with these people was
> that about 1 in 4 was a basically honest hard-working type who was
> down on their luck and just needed a hand to get on their feet. The
> rest were just working the system for whatever they could get.
>
> I would actually be happy to learn that our experience was atypical.

Not atypical from what I have experienced in the last 2 years
volunteering at 2 local food banks and the Christmas toy givaway
program. I would estimate that at least 70% are nothing more than
mooches.

It's amazing the number of people who cannot afford to buy food but
always have the money for cell phones, cigarettes, and body piercings.

When I carry a box of food to a womans car and the food she was given
last month is still sitting in the trunk, I know she isn't needy,
she's just getting it because it's free (for her).

A few weeks ago a couple arrived at the food bank an hour before we
opened. The male asked what time we were going to open (even though he
walked past three signs stating the opening time and has been coming
for over a year) and I told him we would be opening at 11:00. They
started to leave and another person I was working with said "you could
help us move these boxes" to which he replied "I ain't doing no
f***ing work".
That pretty much sums up the attitude of the majority of those coming
in for food.

== 3 of 7 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 8:57 am
From: Dave Garland

Marsha wrote:

> Instead of just throwing more money at welfare like a bandaid, I'd
> rather see it used for education and job skills.

I can't argue with that. Of course, in recent years the trend has
been to cut back on the expenditures for expenditures, job skills, and
child care for those who can either work or take care of their
children during the day, but not both at the same time.

> If you take
> away the free money, there would be a whole lot of incentive.

Yup. That's true of the wealthy sports team owners, too.

Dave

== 4 of 7 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 10:34 am
From: Seerialmom

On Dec 24, 7:26 pm, Dennis <dg...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:24:31 -0800 (PST), Seerialmom
>
> <seerial...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >I know, how about we turn all the old military bases into "paupers
> >farms" and anyone who applies for welfare would have to go there to
> >live instead of being allowed the albeit slight, dignity of at least
> >trying to take care of their families in their own homes?
>
> Some local entrepreneurs bought and turned the old county "poor farm"
> into restaurant/brewpub/winery/hotel/concert venue. My wife and I
> went there and, once we got past the irony of the old poor farm now
> being a trendy spot where yuppies go to drink $6/glass wine and eat
> $25/plate dinners, we took a look around. They had quite a few
> pictures of the old place and displays of its history.
>
> The able-bodied residents actually worked the farm. They produced
> all their own food, plus surplus that fed the county jails and
> hospitals. They also produced their own power. Those who didn't work
> the fields did the laundry, cooking, cleaning, child care, etc. I'm
> sure it wasn't a luxurious life, but no one starved.
>
> Interesting contrast to today's approach: here's a check and some
> foodstamps -- you're on your own.
>
> Here's a link to some info if interested:
>
> http://www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=3&id=56
>
> Dennis (evil)
> --
> The honest man is the one who realizes that he cannot
> consume more, in his lifetime, than he produces.

The suggestion was done tongue in cheek; but I agree that giving the
check with no specific requirements isn't the way to break that
dependence. What I find sad is when the emphasis is placed on "job
training, placement and child care assistance" many will take that
route only to have it yanked out a year or so later when the local
govt's decide they can't afford it anymore. And then they're back to
square one again.

== 5 of 7 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 10:58 am
From: The Real Bev

Seerialmom wrote:

> On Dec 24, 7:26 pm, Dennis <dg...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> On Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:24:31 -0800 (PST), Seerialmom
>>
>> <seerial...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> >I know, how about we turn all the old military bases into "paupers
>> >farms" and anyone who applies for welfare would have to go there to
>> >live instead of being allowed the albeit slight, dignity of at least
>> >trying to take care of their families in their own homes?
>>
>> Some local entrepreneurs bought and turned the old county "poor farm"
>> into restaurant/brewpub/winery/hotel/concert venue. My wife and I
>> went there and, once we got past the irony of the old poor farm now
>> being a trendy spot where yuppies go to drink $6/glass wine and eat
>> $25/plate dinners, we took a look around. They had quite a few
>> pictures of the old place and displays of its history.
>>
>> The able-bodied residents actually worked the farm. They produced
>> all their own food, plus surplus that fed the county jails and
>> hospitals. They also produced their own power. Those who didn't work
>> the fields did the laundry, cooking, cleaning, child care, etc. I'm
>> sure it wasn't a luxurious life, but no one starved.
>>
>> Interesting contrast to today's approach: here's a check and some
>> foodstamps -- you're on your own.
>>
>> Here's a link to some info if interested:
>>
>> http://www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=3&id=56
>
> The suggestion was done tongue in cheek; but I agree that giving the
> check with no specific requirements isn't the way to break that
> dependence. What I find sad is when the emphasis is placed on "job
> training, placement and child care assistance" many will take that
> route only to have it yanked out a year or so later when the local
> govt's decide they can't afford it anymore. And then they're back to
> square one again.

Another big problem is that if you have no job skills already (be on
time, show up every day, don't dress weird, etc.) you're not likely to
be able to learn something that will qualify you for more than a minimum
wage job, which is nowhere near enough to raise the kids you already
have.

How do you make sure that THIS generation of hopeless losers is the last?

--
Cheers,
Bev
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Sign on restroom hand-dryer:
"Push button for a message from your congressman."

== 6 of 7 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 11:18 am
From: Marsha

The Real Bev wrote:
> Another big problem is that if you have no job skills already (be on
> time, show up every day, don't dress weird, etc.) you're not likely to
> be able to learn something that will qualify you for more than a minimum
> wage job, which is nowhere near enough to raise the kids you already have.
>
> How do you make sure that THIS generation of hopeless losers is the last?
>

Sterilization?

Marsha/Ohio

== 7 of 7 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 11:32 am
From: "Rod Speed"

The Real Bev wrote:
> Seerialmom wrote:
>
>> On Dec 24, 7:26 pm, Dennis <dg...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> On Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:24:31 -0800 (PST), Seerialmom
>>>
>>> <seerial...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>> I know, how about we turn all the old military bases into "paupers
>>>> farms" and anyone who applies for welfare would have to go there to
>>>> live instead of being allowed the albeit slight, dignity of at
>>>> least trying to take care of their families in their own homes?
>>>
>>> Some local entrepreneurs bought and turned the old county "poor
>>> farm" into restaurant/brewpub/winery/hotel/concert venue. My wife
>>> and I went there and, once we got past the irony of the old poor
>>> farm now being a trendy spot where yuppies go to drink $6/glass
>>> wine and eat $25/plate dinners, we took a look around. They had
>>> quite a few pictures of the old place and displays of its history.
>>>
>>> The able-bodied residents actually worked the farm. They produced
>>> all their own food, plus surplus that fed the county jails and
>>> hospitals. They also produced their own power. Those who didn't
>>> work the fields did the laundry, cooking, cleaning, child care,
>>> etc. I'm sure it wasn't a luxurious life, but no one starved.
>>>
>>> Interesting contrast to today's approach: here's a check and some
>>> foodstamps -- you're on your own.
>>>
>>> Here's a link to some info if interested:
>>>
>>> http://www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=3&id=56
>>
>> The suggestion was done tongue in cheek; but I agree that giving the
>> check with no specific requirements isn't the way to break that
>> dependence. What I find sad is when the emphasis is placed on "job
>> training, placement and child care assistance" many will take that
>> route only to have it yanked out a year or so later when the local
>> govt's decide they can't afford it anymore. And then they're back to
>> square one again.
>
> Another big problem is that if you have no job skills already (be on
> time, show up every day, don't dress weird, etc.) you're not likely to
> be able to learn something that will qualify you for more than a
> minimum wage job, which is nowhere near enough to raise the kids you
> already have.
>
> How do you make sure that THIS generation of hopeless losers is the last?

Sterilise them.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: ot: Democrat: Obama's grandma confirms Kenyan birth
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/8e80385d4cd9e3d1?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 7:31 am
From: tarkanian.1.rahim@spamgourmet.com

Obama will replace the American flag with the Islamic crescent. The US
will cease to exist as a free, democratic, Judeo-Christian state as of
January 20th!

For those of us who aren't Judeo Christian, it is a source of delight.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Are you getting lower credit card rates?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/a3a47717d0f9893a?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 9:39 am
From: James

In August my Chase card changed from 21% to 16%+prime. I don't know
what prime is but I assume it must be a lot lower now than August.

What is your interest rate now?

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 11:21 am
From: "Strider"

"James" <j0069bond@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:cfbcf30c-17f2-493c-a07a-8bc1da1d95de@n33g2000pri.googlegroups.com...
> In August my Chase card changed from 21% to 16%+prime. I don't know
> what prime is but I assume it must be a lot lower now than August.
>
> What is your interest rate now?

Since we pay our card bills in full each month, we've paid no interest for
several years.

In fact, given the rebates we get, our rate is a *negative* number. For the
Discover card that rebates 5% of the first $100 of gasoline purchases, -5%
(assuming we don't use the card for anything else and don't exceed the $100
limit). For the MC that rebates 1% of everything we charge toward our home
mortgage, either -1% or -5.875% (the flip side of our mortgage rate).

Strider

** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 10:11 am
From: James

I see many good TV's on curbs because of the new flat TV's as well as
HDTV standard. Why not pick up a good free TV and just buy a
convertion box?

My next door neighbor tossed a very good TV but I wasn't thinking at
the time. Of course it was taken by the time I decided to take it.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 10:26 am
From: Vic Smith

On Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:11:38 -0800 (PST), James
<j0069bond@hotmail.com> wrote:

>I see many good TV's on curbs because of the new flat TV's as well as
>HDTV standard. Why not pick up a good free TV and just buy a
>convertion box?
>
>My next door neighbor tossed a very good TV but I wasn't thinking at
>the time. Of course it was taken by the time I decided to take it.

There's a store around here called "Cash Converters" or something like
that. Basically a big pawn shop. One of my sons who dabbles in
electronics drops in there sometimes.
One of my TV's came from there, for about $75 I think, another from
a "thrift store" for $35. These are 27" cable-ready and work
perfectly, with very good pictures. Add @$10 for universal remotes
and you're good to go.
With our cable we don't need converter boxes.
So if you miss picking these TV's off the curb, you might check the
"pawn shops."

--Vic

== 1 of 5 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 10:21 am
From: Seerialmom

On Dec 21, 2:23 pm, "Macuser" <spamisalunch...@meat.com> wrote:
> Does anybody have a .99 or $1.00 store that actually still sells ALL items
> for this amount? There are several near me, and all of them are trying to
> pry more out of the customers by raising prices about that threshold.
> Certain items, like cheap little power strips have doubled in price. I buy
> less now than ever. How about you?
>
> --http://cashcuddler.com
>
> "Thrift is sexy."

Yes, in California they have "Dollar Tree" and the 99 (cent symbol)
Only Store (although now they charge .9999 which rounds to $1). The
mom/pop stores typically owned by immigrants have lots of cheap
plastic items they sell for $1 but other things they sell in
increments of .99 (1.99, 2.99 etc).

== 2 of 5 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 10:22 am
From: Seerialmom

On Dec 21, 3:08 pm, Dave Garland <dave.garl...@wizinfo.com> wrote:
> Macuser wrote:
> > Does anybody have a .99 or $1.00 store that actually still sells ALL
> > items for this amount?
>
> No. Around here, the "Dollar Tree" chain sometimes sells items at
> 2/$1 or even 4/$1. I haven't seen anything there for more than a buck.
>
> "Family Dollar", a lot of items at multiples of a dollar. The
> independent stores mostly have both dollar items and items that cost more.
>
> I suppose it's the same problem "dime stores" had back in my
> childhood. Inflation creeps up on you.
>
> Dave

I think the OP meant the stores says "Dollar Store" but sells many
items "above" that price. 4/$1 is fine. Even the 99 cent only store
sells some items below that price now.

== 3 of 5 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 10:29 am
From: Seerialmom

On Dec 21, 8:20 pm, ultim...@live.com wrote:
> On Dec 21, 2:23 pm, "Macuser" <spamisalunch...@meat.com> wrote:
>
> > Does anybody have a .99 or $1.00 store that actually still sells ALL items
> > for this amount? There are several near me, and all of them are trying to
> > pry more out of the customers by raising prices about that threshold.
> > Certain items, like cheap little power strips have doubled in price. I buy
> > less now than ever. How about you?
>
> 99 cent power strips?! ick! I for one would not want to use those fire
> hazards let alone leave them plugged in unattended. Same with the
> lights they sell.

I have a funny story about that; I bought a "USB notebook light" at 99
cent only when they first opened. Looked like a cool toy so I took it
with me to work. Plugged it into my work laptop and it shut down the
PC (hard shut down). I thought...wth? As long as it was plugged in
the PC wouldn't turn back on. So I tried it on a couple of other PC's
nearby....didn't matter whether it was a laptop or desktop; same
behavior. Shutdown. So I took the item back to the store and
demanded to talk to the manager, advised them they should pull these
devices. Did they? probably not. But I could see someone thinking
their PC was broken because of it and incurring big expenses. Anyway,
I don't have a problem with the "branded" electronic items they have
and so far have heard nothing about fires as a result of those.

== 4 of 5 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 10:45 am
From: The Real Bev

Seerialmom wrote:

> On Dec 21, 8:20 pm, ultim...@live.com wrote:
>> On Dec 21, 2:23 pm, "Macuser" <spamisalunch...@meat.com> wrote:
>>
>> > Does anybody have a .99 or $1.00 store that actually still sells ALL items
>> > for this amount? There are several near me, and all of them are trying to
>> > pry more out of the customers by raising prices about that threshold.
>> > Certain items, like cheap little power strips have doubled in price. I buy
>> > less now than ever. How about you?
>>
>> 99 cent power strips?! ick! I for one would not want to use those fire
>> hazards let alone leave them plugged in unattended. Same with the
>> lights they sell.
>
> I have a funny story about that; I bought a "USB notebook light" at 99
> cent only when they first opened. Looked like a cool toy so I took it
> with me to work. Plugged it into my work laptop and it shut down the
> PC (hard shut down). I thought...wth? As long as it was plugged in
> the PC wouldn't turn back on. So I tried it on a couple of other PC's
> nearby....didn't matter whether it was a laptop or desktop; same
> behavior. Shutdown. So I took the item back to the store and
> demanded to talk to the manager, advised them they should pull these
> devices. Did they? probably not. But I could see someone thinking
> their PC was broken because of it and incurring big expenses. Anyway,
> I don't have a problem with the "branded" electronic items they have
> and so far have heard nothing about fires as a result of those.

I bought one of those. My linux machine seems perfectly happy to light
it up, but I haven't tried in on my winmachine. If I had a USB plug in
a better place it might actually be useful; now it's just a "Hey,
that's cool" thing which is only useful for testing a USB socket.

I've got a 99-cent car charger for my cellphone that works. I bought a
lot of cute Belkin USB cables with lights that I also saw at Fry's for
$29 -- insane, right? Laser pointer things for teasing cats. Little
LED flashlights whose button batteries alone are worth the price of
admission. Some stuff is good, some stuff is iffy. It's like yard sale
stuff -- you gut stung every once in a while, but on balance you're way
ahead of the game.

--
Cheers, Bev
===========================================================
Giving out free MS security updates is like giving out free
band-aids with flesh-eating microbes in the pads.

== 5 of 5 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 11:55 am
From: axiom

On Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:45:51 -0800, The Real Bev wrote:

> Seerialmom wrote:
>
>> On Dec 21, 8:20 pm, ultim...@live.com wrote:
>>> On Dec 21, 2:23 pm, "Macuser" <spamisalunch...@meat.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> > Does anybody have a .99 or $1.00 store that actually still sells ALL
>>> > items for this amount? There are several near me, and all of them
>>> > are trying to pry more out of the customers by raising prices about
>>> > that threshold. Certain items, like cheap little power strips have
>>> > doubled in price. I buy less now than ever. How about you?
>>>
>>> 99 cent power strips?! ick! I for one would not want to use those fire
>>> hazards let alone leave them plugged in unattended. Same with the
>>> lights they sell.
>>
>> I have a funny story about that; I bought a "USB notebook light" at 99
>> cent only when they first opened. Looked like a cool toy so I took it
>> with me to work. Plugged it into my work laptop and it shut down the
>> PC (hard shut down). I thought...wth? As long as it was plugged in
>> the PC wouldn't turn back on. So I tried it on a couple of other PC's
>> nearby....didn't matter whether it was a laptop or desktop; same
>> behavior. Shutdown. So I took the item back to the store and demanded
>> to talk to the manager, advised them they should pull these devices.
>> Did they? probably not. But I could see someone thinking their PC was
>> broken because of it and incurring big expenses. Anyway, I don't have
>> a problem with the "branded" electronic items they have and so far have
>> heard nothing about fires as a result of those.

USB is designed to tolerate short-circuits. The spec says that you can
short any pin to any other pin without damage to the USB bus or the
machine or causing other hardware problems for a running system. It's
possible for USB devices to catch fire, but unlikely because the specs
also limit the bus current to 1 amp. That means a maximum power of 5
watts, about the same as a night light.

> I bought one of those. My linux machine seems perfectly happy to light
> it up, but I haven't tried in on my winmachine. If I had a USB plug in
> a better place it might actually be useful; now it's just a "Hey,
> that's cool" thing which is only useful for testing a USB socket.
>
> I've got a 99-cent car charger for my cellphone that works. I bought
> a lot of cute Belkin USB cables with lights that I also saw at Fry's
> for $29 -- insane, right? Laser pointer things for teasing cats.

I carry a couple of laser pointers around on my keychain for just that
purpose. :-)

> Little LED flashlights whose button batteries alone are worth the
> price of admission. Some stuff is good, some stuff is iffy. It's like
> yard sale stuff -- you gut stung every once in a while, but on balance
> you're way ahead of the game.

Sounds like you'd better stay away from http://www.usbgeek.com then...

And whatever you do, don't click on "USB gadgets". ;-)

==============================================================================
TOPIC: What minor frugal change did you make this year?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/2d2a9d8612f0c718?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 11:02 am
From: val189

On Dec 25, 12:09 pm, "Daniel T." <danie...@earthlink.net> wrote:

.. I always make sure I have room in front of me

Do you use the "tires on the pavement" rule of thumb?

My cousin once blasted his horn to wake up some guy barreling down on
him, drinking from a can and looking at his headliner. The blast
scared the others stopped at the red light, but woke the guy up in
time.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 11:06 am
From: val189

On Dec 24, 6:39 pm, info_at_1-script_dot_...@foo.com (spendwize.com)
wrote:

> Letting the power company turn off your water heater and a/c at their will
> could be risky. It is possible that if you request that they turn either
> back on you could be hit with a reconnect or restart charge.

No - I don't do any requesting. They remotely disrupt the water
heater and a/c for no more than 15 minutes at a time, no more than x
number of times a day ( I forget how often), and there's an annual
limit too. It's all done remotely by the power company. I never
notice these interruptions. There was absolutely no fee to set this
up either. Win - win.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Update on collision insurance
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/5e65bc4e5e36b877?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 26 2008 11:37 am
From: Marsha

My independent agent is doing his job. When my car insurance went up by
$60/yr, for no good reason, I called him. He said I was already on a
list for them to check other companies. He called back today with rates
for a different company for home and auto that works out to almost
$200/yr less, and that includes more coverage on the cars. BTW, I also
asked him about the uninsured/underinsured coverage. I don't have
collision on the older car, so the $21 was for UM for that one only.
The UM medical on both cars covers more than my medical insurance
through work. It also covers lost wages and pain/suffering. So I'll
keep it for now. Jeez, you'd think that at my age, I would know all
this stuff already :-) Thanks for all your advice.

Marsha/Ohio

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misc.consumers.frugal-living - 12 new messages in 8 topics - digest

misc.consumers.frugal-living
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Today's topics:

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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Dec 25 2008 11:49 am
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==============================================================================
TOPIC: How to: Live on $12,000 a Year
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/5093baecae696c12?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Dec 25 2008 12:22 pm
From: "Rod Speed"

Jonathan Grobe wrote:
> Rod Speed <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote

>> Anyone who doesnt have significant housing costs can do that too.

> Have you priced health insurance lately?

You dont have to have to have that, most obviously if you're 25 etc.

> I live in a lower medical cost state and pay close to $7,000/year as a
> single person for health insurance--and expect a big increase next year..

See above.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Negro, hispanic crime ripping through America.
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/dc68feb795ea956f?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Dec 25 2008 12:42 pm
From: "S'mee"

On Dec 25, 12:16 pm, "." <Rhiann...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Dec 25, 11:00 am, "S'mee" <stevenkei...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > It's not that high, but obviously to someone of an IQ higher than luke
> > warm bath water Krusty and others of his ilk can't even live up to
> > that.
>
> My IQ is higher than tepid bath water, as indicated by the fact that
> my wit has scalded your tender ass on many occaions.

LOL tepid is colder than lukewarm loser. Scaleded my ass? ROTFLMAO you
are aren't even remoatly close to cold.
--
Keith

== 1 of 5 ==
Date: Thurs, Dec 25 2008 1:20 pm
From: Dave Garland

donsgal wrote:
> You can thank the spammers for it. The usenet has gotten to be a vast
> wasteland of spam messages and little else.

And that's different from e-mail how? Isn't e-mail something like 90%
spam?

Dave

== 2 of 5 ==
Date: Thurs, Dec 25 2008 4:41 pm
From: "Rod Speed"

Dave Garland wrote
> donsgal wrote

>> You can thank the spammers for it. The usenet has gotten
>> to be a vast wasteland of spam messages and little else.

> And that's different from e-mail how? Isn't e-mail something like 90% spam?

Mine isnt.

== 3 of 5 ==
Date: Thurs, Dec 25 2008 5:18 pm
From: The Real Bev

Michael Black wrote:

> On Thu, 25 Dec 2008, Shawn Hirn wrote:
>
>> I work in the IT department of a university; one of the top ten in the
>> United States by student population. We stopped offering our user
>> community free Usenet service about six years ago. Actually, we did that
>> as a result of a problem on our Linux-based news server. The server
>> stopped receiving incoming news traffic. I spent a good deal of time
>> trying to troubleshoot the problem without success. I discussed the
>> situation with my boss and we decided to simply leave it alone. We
>> decided that because the reports we received on read requests to the
>> server had been hovering near zero for the better part of a year, we
>> were curious if anyone would notice.
>>
> ANd you've just explained why the big ISPs have dropped Usenet. No
> worry of legal problems, they've decided that not enough people are
> using it, so it's not worth the bother.

There were problems with Earthlink back when they were my ISP, and a guy
who was one of the news admins said they were getting constant flack
from upstairs because of the expense and the small number of users.

1 out of 60,000 is disgusting. Just how much time can you spend
grooming your MySpace site?

> When my previous ISP dropped the newsgroups about 2003, they were moving
> the servers and announced suddenly that the newsgroups would be gone
> temporarily. Four months later, they finally admitted that they'd
> not be back, since they were paying for them elsewhere they could no
> longer justify the cost. The way I read it, they found few complained
> so they realized they could cut the cost without any fuss, so they did.

When I call Charter because some service is down, the first-level person
doesn't even know what usenet or nntp is. I had to argue with the last
one before she kicked me upstairs. It's pitiful. If the 'forums'
weren't so ugly and difficult to read it might not be as awful as it is,
but I wonder just how long the free servers will be able to keep it up.

--
Cheers,
Bev
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
"If you put the government in charge of the desert, there would
be a sand shortage within ten years." -- M. Friedman (?)

== 4 of 5 ==
Date: Thurs, Dec 25 2008 6:42 pm
From: "JR Weiss"

"Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote...
>
>> Isn't e-mail something like 90% spam?
>
> Mine isnt.

It is on the outbound side...

== 5 of 5 ==
Date: Thurs, Dec 25 2008 10:17 pm
From: "Rod Speed"

JR Weiss wrote
> Rod Speed <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote

>>> Isn't e-mail something like 90% spam?

>> Mine isnt.

> It is on the outbound side...

You have absolutely no idea what the outbound side consists of, fuckwit.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: USB flash memory stick....reliable brand?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/bd0aa371a1d77ee2?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Dec 25 2008 5:26 pm
From: The Real Bev

Dan Birchall wrote:

> carkenord@juno.com (carkenord@juno.com) wrote:
>> I am going to buy an 8gb USB flash memory stick.
>> Price has fallen down to about $2 per gig.
>> I want a "stick" with _NO_ U3 or software.
>> In terms of reliability and longevity, are there brands to avoid?
>> Are there brands that "stand out" as being better than average?
>> What's the opinion on SANDISK brand?
>
> Sandisk is a very reputable brand, significant share of the market.
> A friend just bought an 8GB stick, pretty sure it was Sandisk. He's
> happy with it.

Last time I looked Lexar cards were faster than others, but also more
expensive.

I've been happy with all the flash memory (CF, SD, SDHC) I've used, and
some I bought just because it was cheap. The annoying thing is that
after 8 years my card readers have worn out (no idea what breaks, but it
does) and the one that came with the windows machine doesn't see
anything bigger than 2G. I just ordered a multi-reader from an ebay
PC-goodies store in Oregon for $5.38 and no shipping or tax. We'll see.

--
Cheers,
Bev
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
"If you put the government in charge of the desert, there would
be a sand shortage within ten years." -- M. Friedman (?)

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Dec 25 2008 9:16 pm
From: "eforce.ws"

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http://eforcews.ecoworld.hop.clickbank.net

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Dec 25 2008 9:46 pm
From: JonL

Macuser wrote:
> Even if they had a videotape of his live birth in a Hawaiian hospital
> with an American flag in the delivery room this thing will NEVER go away.
>
>
Problem is, he hasn't produced anything to make it go away.

Strange, everything is sealed in the US, but one can easily find his
school registration from Indonesia. Obama became a naturalized citizen
of Indonesia, as Barry Soetoro. So what is he now, a naturalized cit of
the US?? I'd bet he registered at Columbia and Harvard as a foreign
student.

Photo Documents Barry Soetoro: Indonesian Citizen, Muslim Religion

http://tinyurl.com/437ef6

The Great Obama Swindle of 2008

http://tinyurl.com/6f48l7

<snip>
In the litigation business, one quickly learns that if somebody has a
document that will be good for them, they can't wait to give it to you.
And if somebody has a document that will hurt them, they'll be tap
dancing faster than Richard Gere in Chicago to keep you from getting it.
Obama is tap dancing.

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Dec 25 2008 10:18 pm
From: Dave Garland

Marsha wrote:
>>> We all have the opportunity to work hard and earn a
>>> decent living, unless you are mentally disabled, but it's not a right.
>>
>> A frail 80-year-old has the opportunity to work hard and earn a decent
>> living?

> The original link didn't mention the average age of those at poverty
> level. But I'd be willing to bet they're not all frail 80-year-olds.

Agreed. I merely threw out that example because you said "all", and
"all" is not accurate.

> who suck off the welfare tit for all it's worth. It's those who use it
> as a lifestyle, generation after generation, that I'm talking about.

Fair enough. But I don't think there are very many who fit into that
category (does any reliable source give figures for "generation after
generation"?). Certainly not (in monetary terms) as many as there who
own businesses and find ways to such off the government tit.

In my city, the guy who's probably the richest citizen, owner of a
sports team, has managed to get public financing (a special sales tax)
for a new stadium for his team. Mind you, the stadium isn't useful
for anything else, the public doesn't get any equity in the team, and
if, after a brief period, he decides to move or sell the team
elsewhere, we'll still be stuck with the bill for the stadium. You
can support a whole lot of people at welfare rates for that expense.
If I'm going to piss away tax money, I'd rather it go to the poor than
the rich.

Dave

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Frugal Living

Blog Archive

Friday, December 26, 2008

misc.consumers.frugal-living - 25 new messages in 8 topics - digest

misc.consumers.frugal-living - 25 new messages in 9 topics - digest

misc.consumers.frugal-living - 12 new messages in 8 topics - digest