Frugal Living: 25 new messages in 13 topics

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

25 new messages in 13 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: How do I know if I have good blank DVD media
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/6b4db90d576019f0?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 6 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 1:23 am
From: "k"

"hansonfox" <hansen.J.fox@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:hfkMi.56720$YL5.52691@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net...
|
| Is there an easy lookup table that shows us which DVD media is good
| quality?

www.DVDrecordable.org - a good site for reviews on optical media and drives

and http://www.dvdinfopro.com/ - DVDINFOProT by Nic Wilson is a DVD
information program written in Visual C++ for Windows 95, 98, 98SE, ME, NT,
2000, XP. Will tell you how good your burner is and how good the media is

*************************************

kprobe:
from http://www.cdrlabs.com/kprobe/index.php
(2.1Mb download)
allows you to test dvd media by looking at the errors on the disks.

*************************************

http://www.videohelp.com/dvdmedia

== 2 of 6 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 1:44 am
From: Flasherly

On Oct 2, 12:59 am, hansonfox <hansen.J....@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> Is there an easy lookup table that shows us which DVD media is good
> quality?

No. You need to read the disk manufacturer's TOC with special ID
programs, and that'll give you the country of origin and which
specific plant the batch of disks came from. Plants are generic,
which means they'll sell their discs to somebody to brand them as they
see fit. Somebody can mean more or less according to their standards.
You have to find out of the batch process is a good one, to go deeper,
types of dyes employed and overall quality. There are trackers -
sites with people doing that sort of thing from surveys and
tabulations for consistent media quality. Among somebody, Taiyo Yuden
used to be a better name for expected quality, last I checked. A
player/writer is no less important. One that doesn't work with good
discs or whose manufacturer doesn't consider its customers for future
media compatibility is effectively cutting its own throat. Don't know
if NEC got back on the boat, but last player (after several NEC 34/35-
series) I bought was a LG model.

== 3 of 6 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 6:39 am
From: "** Frank **"

"hansonfox" <hansen.J.fox@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:hfkMi.56720$YL5.52691@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net...
>
> Is there an easy lookup table that shows us which DVD media is good
> quality?

Don't know, but don't buy the store junk brand especially from Fry's junk
GQ(Great Quality) media. Great for hanging on fruit trees to scare off the
birds though. Stick with known quality brands. Check out Google -some prefer
one brand over the other, maybe someone put out a table too. My experience
is a good burner is just as important as the media as it solves much of the
bad burns.

Unlike the retail movies and music which can last for decades, DVD and CD
blanks don't last long due to "rot" and delamination/oxidation - maybe 5
years.

== 4 of 6 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 7:52 am
From: Duddits

On Tue, 02 Oct 2007 04:59:57 GMT, hansonfox
<hansen.J.fox@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

>
>Is there an easy lookup table that shows us which DVD media is good
>quality?

Most tests prefer Taiyo Yuden with Verbatim coming in a close second.
Taiyo Yuden and Verbatim (Mitsubishi Chemical Company) make there own
DVDs while most others (Sony, Maxell, HP, etc) merely contract them
out.

regards

Dud
--
Anyone that enables a troll is as bad as a troll and will be kill filed.
Only trolls take the troll bait.

== 5 of 6 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 7:59 am
From: John Corliss

hansonfox wrote:
> Is there an easy lookup table that shows us which DVD media is good
> quality?

Please don't crosspost off topic discussions into alt.comp.freeware.

Our group is supposed to be for the discussion of freeware, not DVD
media or other hardware.

--
John Corliss BS206. I try not to reply to trolls like Andy Mabbett,
Hummingbird or proteanthread.
Because of Googlespam, I use NFilter to block all Google Groups
posts from being displayed in my news reader.
No ad, cd, commercial, cripple, demo, dotnet, nag, share, spy,
time-limited, trial or web wares OR warez for me, please.

== 6 of 6 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 8:37 am
From: Craig

John Corliss wrote:
> hansonfox wrote:
>> Is there an easy lookup table that shows us which DVD media is good
>> quality?
>
> Please don't crosspost off topic discussions into alt.comp.freeware.
>
> Our group is supposed to be for the discussion of freeware, not DVD
> media or other hardware.
>

Not so fast, John. This thread is bearing fruit ... an admittedly [OT]
question brought up an adware, an expired site and ... and ... <GOLD>!

> kprobe:
> from http://www.cdrlabs.com/kprobe/index.php

> (2.1Mb download)
> allows you to test dvd media by looking at the errors on the disks.

-Craig

complete message:

k wrote:
> "hansonfox" <hansen.J.fox@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:hfkMi.56720$YL5.52691@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net...
> |
> | Is there an easy lookup table that shows us which DVD media is good
> | quality?
>
>
>
> www.DVDrecordable.org - a good site for reviews on optical media and
drives
>
> and http://www.dvdinfopro.com/ - DVDINFOProT by Nic Wilson is a DVD
> information program written in Visual C++ for Windows 95, 98, 98SE,
ME, NT,
> 2000, XP. Will tell you how good your burner is and how good the
media is
>
> *************************************
>
> kprobe:
> from http://www.cdrlabs.com/kprobe/index.php

> (2.1Mb download)
> allows you to test dvd media by looking at the errors on the disks.
>
> *************************************
>
> http://www.videohelp.com/dvdmedia

>
>

==============================================================================
TOPIC: want to earn money from web?? 100% gurantee
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/484496844707a099?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 3:59 am
From: justpratik

hello you can also earn so much money by adsense i have earn just
look my site about tips and tricks
http://publisherone.blogspot.com/

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 5:30 am
From: George Grapman

justpratik wrote:
> hello you can also earn so much money by adsense i have earn just
> look my site about tips and tricks
> http://publisherone.blogspot.com/
>
Hope you use that money for a remedial English class.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: looking for career change advice
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/c907241b6575fbc4?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 4 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 4:32 am
From: Shawn Hirn

In article <1191244545.649604.241670@o80g2000hse.googlegroups.com>,
Joseph O'Brien <obrien1984@hotmail.com> wrote:

>
> As I see it, I have a few options.
> 1) Tell them I'm taking some classes that will meet in the morning,
> twice a week for 6 weeks, and ask off for those times. Don't mention
> nursing school or quitting or anything. If they ask, just say I'm
> taking some "natural science" classes to further my education. In the
> spring, come clean and tell them I will be returning to school full
> time.

Why not do that? Being honest with an employer is almost always the best
policy.

> 2) Tell them I am considering going back to school for an advanced
> degree, but before making any rash decisions, I need to take two
> prereqs that meet during work hours. After finishing those, tell them
> I will definitely be going back to school and help them find a
> replacement.

> 3) Come clean and tell them everything.

I would go for option 2, but your employer might force option 3 upon
you. There's another option that might or might not be worth persuing.
See if you can take those courses at another school in the evening or
weekends.

> My concerns are, of course, that they won't let me take the time off,
> or, if this doesn't work out, I won't have a place to work next year.
> If I didn't need 5 months between completing my prereqs and going full
> time, then I wouldn't mind quitting. Also, I want to be sure to
> respect the investment they have made in me over the last 6 years.
>
> I'm probably making a mountain out of a molehill, but I just wanted to
> seek some completely anonymous advice. What does the all-knowing
> usenet think I should do?

I think you should just talk with your manager about your plans, but
don't reveal any more information than is absolutely necessary. You
might also benefit by reading a book that you can buy at any major
bookstore. The book is called "What Color is Your Parachute" and its
updated annually. This book, written by Richard Bolles, is geared toward
career changers and first time job seekers. When I was studying for
final exams in college for my senior year, my advisor strongly urged me
to read that book, and he was absolutely right. You should read it too.
Fortunately, its not expensive.

== 2 of 4 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 7:49 am
From: George

Don K wrote:
> "Joseph O'Brien" <obrien1984@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1191244545.649604.241670@o80g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
>> As I see it, I have a few options.
>
>> 1) Tell them I'm taking some classes that will meet in the morning,
>> twice a week for 6 weeks, and ask off for those times. Don't mention
>> nursing school or quitting or anything. If they ask, just say I'm
>> taking some "natural science" classes to further my education. In the
>> spring, come clean and tell them I will be returning to school full
>> time.
>
> Don't give too much notice.
>
> There was a guy at work who thought he was being a nice guy
> by giving extra notice that he would be leaving in a couple of months.
>
> Management said no you're not, next Friday will be your last day.
>
> Don
>
>
I have seen that in action with typical megacorp thinking (its only our
way or our way). I worked with a guy who announced that he was going to
work for another company that was not a competitor and that he would
stay on for a couple weeks to insure an orderly transition of his
projects. They called security and had him escorted out of the building.

== 3 of 4 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 7:59 am
From: me@privacy.net

>Don't give too much notice.

Agree

One week is enough

== 4 of 4 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 7:59 am
From: me@privacy.net

>I have seen that in action with typical megacorp thinking (its only our
>way or our way). I worked with a guy who announced that he was going to
>work for another company that was not a competitor and that he would
>stay on for a couple weeks to insure an orderly transition of his
>projects. They called security and had him escorted out of the building.

Hahaha!!

Aint that just typical..... try and do the right thing
and it bites you in the ass

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Sample AVEENO POSITIVELY AGELESS
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/a2ed1975f94ba168?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 4:59 am
From: eHDMI

Sample AVEENO POSITIVELY AGELESS

Yay! More Wrinkle Cream :) Good Luck!

Information and Registration Link
http://www.FreebiesPl.us/?p=107

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 5:17 am
From: clams casino

eHDMI wrote:

>Sample SPAM
>
>
>

This group appears to have finally been relieved of the chinese shoe
wear spam, only to be replaced by eHDMI spam.

abuse@abuse.earthlink.net wants to hear from you if you want this
spammer shut down.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Gone to the Dogs
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/6032107109473599?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 6:56 am
From: "Melissa"

"Anthony Matonak" <anthonym40@nothing.like.socal.rr.com> wrote in message
news:46ffed1c$0$16456$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Melissa wrote:
> > "Anthony Matonak" <anthonym40@nothing.like.socal.rr.com> wrote in
message
> >> ... Lobby your local politicians
> >> to make it illegal to spam or to enforce the laws that
> >> may already exist.
> >
> > Yes, my local Ohio politicians hold a lot of sway over Nigeria and
China.
>
> You probably aren't reading the newsgroup off a server in Nigeria
> or China. Your local ISP could be much more aggressive in filtering
> out messages from known spam countries. If China won't keep their
> spammers in check then they shouldn't be surprised that they don't
> get to post on usenet.
>
> Anthony

I can't even get our ISP (Time Warner) to filter obvious nasty spam coming
through the email. Even when sent headers etc. they do nothing. I've blocked
most of the emails, but just haven't taken the time to write all the filters
for news.

Melissa

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Apples
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/408e635a462df7fd?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 5:56 am
From: "charleymccormick@gmail.com"

On Oct 1, 5:00 pm, PaPaPeng <PaPaP...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> My replies (in another NG) to the original question may be of interest
> to this group.
> =============
>
> On Mon, 01 Oct 2007 05:34:17 -0700, "charleymccorm...@gmail.com"
>
> <charleymccorm...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Having spent decades working to improve the safety of our domestic
> produce by creating standards for farmers in America, we have now
> thrown out all those advancements by importing our food supply.
> Pesticides are proven to impact the neurological system, and this is a
> great threat to children who's systems are still undeveloped. With the
> increase in disorders such as autism, and new studies linking
> pesticides to increased susceptibility to autism, we need to examine
> the possibility that we are poisoning our children. One example is the
> Chinese apple industry, which did not exist 15 years ago, and now
> dominates the world producers. Children consume the majority of apple
> juice world wide, and we should wonder how the Chinese managed to
> build this industry so quickly. Check outwww.chineseapplejuice.com
>
> On Mon, 01 Oct 2007 05:34:17 -0700, "charleymccorm...@gmail.com"
>
> <charleymccorm...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >One example is the
> >Chinese apple industry, which did not exist 15 years ago, and now
> >dominates the world producers. Children consume the majority of apple
> >juice world wide, and we should wonder how the Chinese managed to
> >build this industry so quickly. Check outwww.chineseapplejuice.com
>
> Saw a TV report somewhere. I think it was PBS on "China Rising".
>
> The part that really bamboozled me was that prime apples from China
> had their fruit buds protected individually in a paper bag (complete
> with printed logo) by workers attaching these bags by hand. The
> apples then grow to maturity protected from insect attacks and from
> insecticide sprays. And probably the vagaries of weather. Ingenuous.
> Two major problems perhaps four solved in one stroke. The fourth
> problem solved is when harvested the apples are aleady wrapped for the
> market. Maybe fifth, sixth, seventh and eight advantages too as the
> apples will be protected from human skin contact at harvest and do not
> require washing or post plucking quality control as the plucker can do
> the QA at the time he plucks the apple. This virtuous circle includes
> minimal loss from placing unsuitable apples on the shelves. Sub
> quality apples go to make apple juice without having to be sorted
> again at the factory.
>
> China can do this because of the availability of plentiful cheap
> labor. The same laborers who so carefully placed the paper bags over
> the buds can also inspect them for ripeness when they harvest the
> apples. The best ones are plucked and the rawer ones left on the tree
> to ripen to full juice and texture. So you have consistent best
> quality in every batch and minimal loss from overripe fruits or bad
> customer satisfaction from unripe ones. Even without the paper
> wrapper for the buds part here is no machine harvestor that can beat
> this kind of fruit orchard husbandry.
>
> I probably embellished the advantages of the Chinese innovations from
> point thee onwards (ie not in the TV report) but I defy you to fault
> my arguments.
>
> I am guessing here but I imagine, or maybe it was in that TV report,
> the another advantage China has is that you can grow apple trees on
> slopes quite useless for grain farming or anything else. The vast
> scarred loess hills of north central China would be ideal for fruit
> orchards. I think there are indications that these same lands are
> also ideal for grape growing and the wine and liquor inductries of the
> other countries are at risk. Like apples grapes will benefit greatly
> from human husbandry and no machine can compete with that kind of
> care.
>
> There you are. There is no way the apple orchards of America can get
> enough Mexican migrant workers or pay them enough to do this kind of
> work. So their apples were left to rot on the trees. A few years of
> that and it was necessary to uproot those trees. I can't remember if
> rotting apples would harbor and promote any agricultural diseases.
>
> On Mon, 01 Oct 2007 17:16:52 GMT, PaPaPeng <PaPaP...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >China can do this because of the availability of plentiful cheap
> >labor. The same laborers who so carefully placed the paper bags over
> >the buds can also inspect them for ripeness when they harvest the
> >apples.
>
> I can't remember if they also hand pollinate the buds, an altogether
> not impossible labor intensive procedure that guarantees quality.
> This can be easily done and the laborer can immediately cover that
> pollinated bud with the paper bag. This way there will not be any
> competitive pollination by wild pollen, a surefire way of assuring
> genetic purity. It also ensures that practically every flower will
> produce a fruit. The paper bag keeps out insect infestations while it
> is growing. This intensive care will also let workers spot at an early
> stage any infestations or botanical distress that can be treated
> promptly. Early treatment requires less aggressive intervention .
> That in turn will minimize control efforts, minimize costs and is
> ecologically friendlier.
>
> As I said it before boggles my mind that anyone could come up with
> such a scheme to operate an orchard industry. I think the original
> scheme was to make work in an otherwise poor countryside. When one
> does virtuous things the benefits just multiply. I think the poor
> third world countries should practice something similar, make use of
> idle labor and literally work like busy bees to enhance their fruit
> and squash production for example.

Bagging has been used in America and Japan for sometime. I really
think the bagging of fruit witnessed in the documentary might have
been one of the organic farms that cater to China's elite and
political leaders. With literally millions of individual farmers in
China growing apples, most of them small farmers, I find it hard to
believe that they have access to an "idle" work force to grow apples
in such a manner.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Need cheap SATA power & data cables
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/3b9c3d140a915457?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 6:12 am
From: "OhioGuy"

I need about 10 SATA data cables and 10 SATA power adapter cables. (the
ones that let you use existing molex power connectors from the PS)

Several of my friends and myself would like to take advantage of some of
the OEM SATA drive deals we've seen being offered, but we currently don't
have the data cables or power cables we would need. Obviously, we don't
want to pay the extra $15 or so that is asked for the retail box version
that has this, plus software on a disk we also don't want.

I recently upgraded the mboard on one of my Dad's PC's, and the
motherboard came with a twin pack of these cables - one data, and one power
adapter cable.

I can't imagine that these should really cost much more than a dollar
each, but I'm hoping to buy 10 of each for a grand total of $35. That's 20
pieces, which comes to $1.75 each, including shipping.

Anyone know where I can find such a deal? I've had a few people suggest
different sources, but best I've found is about $5 a pair. Considering that
I can find IDE cables for 70c, I would think I'd be able to find SATA stuff
for twice that or less.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Win! Win! Win!
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/f5887e3bf28bb2a4?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 6:12 am
From: "helensmit@gmail.com"

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==============================================================================
TOPIC: Disney Mobile calls it Quits
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/db605ad0907838b0?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 3 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 6:32 am
From: SMS

ultimauw@hotmail.com wrote:

> I think Cell Phones are starting to kill off the land lines en masse.
> Just 10 years ago, it was *rare* to see anybody except business folks
> with cell phones, now there are so ubiquitous that even pre-teens
> usualy have one. The only appeal of services like Vonage is the price,

The average Vonage customer pays $28.38. Maybe this is a good price in
some parts of the country, if you make a lot of long-distance calls at
the ridiculous rates that AT&T charges for them. Of course you also have
to have broadband to your house, either cable, ($50/month in my area for
Comcast broadband), or DSL, at about $30 for naked DSL or $15+local
phone service.

My local phone bill is about $17/month from AT&T. $11 (Vonage price-$17)
would buy 440 minutes of long distance on a provider like OneSuite
(2.5¢.minute). How many non-business users make 440 minutes of long
distance during peak times? Complicating things further for Vonage, is
free in-network calling on most cell phone plans. within circles of
friends and relatives that call each other a lot, the tendency is to all
migrate to the same cellular provider.

Vonage is like many products and services that base their entire
business model on comparing their prices to what the most naive consumer
would pay for competing products and services. It's like the
advertisements that quote the MSRP for a product, then add the
disclaimer that the product "may never have been sold at the MSRP."

Even more ridiculous than Vonage, is Skype, but for different reasons.
The average revenue per Skype user is estimated at 12-13¢/month, because
almost no one uses it for anything other than free computer to computer
calls. Skype gets away with not providing E911 capability because they
claim that it's not a substitute for a landline. Unfortunately for eBay,
they have the data to prove that this is the case.

== 2 of 3 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 7:29 am
From: Todd Allcock

At 02 Oct 2007 06:32:16 -0700 SMS wrote:

> The average Vonage customer pays $28.38. Maybe this is a good price
> in some parts of the country, if you make a lot of long-distance
> calls at the ridiculous rates that AT&T charges for them.

That'satually a goo price in MANY pats the country.

> Of course you also have to have broadband to your house, either
> cable, ($50/month in my area for Comcast broadband), or DSL, at
> about $30 for naked DSL or $15+local phone service.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that broadband+Vonage is cheaper
than POTS alone, only that if you're going to pay for broadband anyway,
you canvleverage it with VoIP for a little savings.

> My local phone bill is about $17/month from AT&T. $11 (Vonage price-
$17)

re you including all of the fees in that $17? My local seevice from
Qwest (Denver) is "only" $24.99, but that's before taxes (about $4)
and fees (about a buck for E911 and $6 for "interconnect fees")
bringing me to $36-37. Vonage is $25/month (the "average revenue per
customer" has no meaning in this discussion since we're not using the
"avearge" landline customer to compare them to.) and only has a
couple of bucks in taxes.

> would buy 440 minutes of long distance on a provider like OneSuite
> (2.5¢.minute). How many non-business users make 440 minutes of
> long distance during peak times?

Not the issue- you have far cheaper POTS services available to you
than most of us do- clearly a $25 VoIP isn't competitive THERE. Even
Qwest @ $36 is a vacation compared to the rural phone company I had
in Missouri- I paid over $50/month for LOCAL service with what is now
Embarq (Sprint/Union Telephone when I was there.)

Add to that a couple of bucks for LD service (the monthly fee for my
LD service before I make my first call) has risen from $0.99 to over
$3/month, bringing my "local" service to about $40.

> Complicating things further for Vonage, is free in-network calling
> on most cell phone plans. within circles of friends and relatives
> that call each other a lot, the tendency is to all migrate to the
> same cellular provider.

I'm surethat's a powerful marketing tool for many, but I've never
once in 20 years with cellphones, ever based my carrier choice based
on friend's or family's network.

> Vonage is like many products and services that base their entire
> business model on comparing their prices to what the most naive
> consumer would pay for competing products and services. It's like
> the advertisements that quote the MSRP for a product, then add
> the disclaimer that the product "may never have been sold at the
MSRP."

True, but Vonage is the li
e the AOL of VoIP- it's "VoIP for Dummies;" glossy brochures,
preconfigured hardware, you can buy it in stores- it Commands it's
price based on ease and convenience. Other VoIPs are cheaper, but
lack the capital and infrastrucre Vonage has (ok, had!) ;-)

> Even more ridiculous than Vonage, is Skype, but for different
> reasons. The average revenue per Skype user is estimated at
> 12-13¢/month, because almost no one uses it for anything other than
> free computer to computer calls. Skype gets away with not
> providing E911 capability because they claim that it's not a
> substitute for a landline. Unfortunately for eBay, they have the
> data to prove that this is the case.

Other than Larry, no one considers Skype as a VoIP player- they're
really a glorified IM program on steroids.

"I don't need my cell phone to play video games or take pictures
or double as a Walkie-Talkie; I just need it to work. Thanks for
all the bells and whistles, but I could communicate better with
ACTUAL bells and whistles." -Bill Maher 9/25/2003

== 3 of 3 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 8:26 am
From: SMS

Todd Allcock wrote:

> I don't think anyone is suggesting that broadband+Vonage is cheaper
> than POTS alone, only that if you're going to pay for broadband anyway,
> you canvleverage it with VoIP for a little savings.

Perhaps, though if you're paying for broadband anyway, Voicestick is a
better deal than Vonage, and is likely to be around longer since they
seem to have a business plan that doesn't rely on massive advertising
with annoying background sounds. Voicestick also has some features than
Vonage lacks.

Actually, I probably could run Vonage or Voicestick over our free
community wireless network, if it'd work at only 1Mb/s, but the
reliability is a big factor.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: cheap sell wholesale handbags wallets purse bags
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/a0006505fe8b2d52?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 6:38 am
From: cheapestsell

Dear my friend
It is our pleasure to meet you here.
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our website: http://www.cheapest-sell.cn
our email:cheapests...@hotmail.com
We are professional and honest wholesaler of all kinds of brand
sneaks and apparel.the products
our company supply are as follows:
1.jordan1-21shoes
2.airmax(95/97/360/2003/TN...)shoes
3.airforce1(airforce1/bape/dunk...)shoes
4.Shoes(R3/R4/NZ/turbo/t13/monster...)shoes
5.Shoes/Shoes/Shoes/rift/Sports shoes
6.fashion branded hoodies/jeans/caps/handbag/t-shirts and
others
7.because the space of the website is limited,we can also supply many
other products which be not showed out in our site. if you have the
photos of the products you need , we are pleasure to supply for your
orders.
And our company can supply for our customers ,as follow:
1. top quality.all our products have top quality.
2. most rational price.we will give you best price according to your
ordering quatity and the place you are at.
3. safe and fast shipment. As different country you are in, we will
deliver the products to you by different ways and pledge to arrive to
your address 100%.and we will send the products to you within 24h
after we get your payment.
4.many products in stock. We have many products in stock and kinds of
size you need , also include kid's.
5.our credit. If the products can be not delivered to your address as
our reason, we will refund the money you paid.
Hope sincerely to have glad and long term business relationship with
you.
If you are interested in our products and have any problem, welcome
to
contact us.
Please trust us , we will be your best choice !!!
Website : http://www.cheapest-sell.cn

our email : cheapestsell@yahoo.com.cn
our msn : cheapestsell@hotmail.com

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Home safe odors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/1b82176d55c73873?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 6:48 am
From: "** Frank **"

<Usenet2007@THE-DOMAIN-IN.SIG> wrote in message
news:MPG.2169b38da426065989d6c@nntp.aioe.org...
> In article <fdouhr$jv2$3@news.datemas.de>, mas@xeb.net says...
>> Don K wrote:
>>
>> > "Marsha" <mas@xeb.net> wrote in message
>> > news:fdorrk$jv2$2@news.datemas.de...
>> >
>> >>The contents of my small home safe feel slightly damp and they smell
>> >>odd. Does anyone
>> >>have any suggestions on solving this problem?
>
>
>> > Get a dehumidifier.
>
>
>> I don't think it would fit inside the safe ;-)
>
>
> Look for silica gel packets. They are larger versions of the
> ones inside bottles of aspirin, etc. Maybe check a camera store.
>
>
> --
> Get Credit Where Credit Is Due
> http://www.cardreport.com/
> Credit Tools, Reference, and Forum

Someone mention rice works too. If really frugal, you could eat it or make a
glue paste after.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: What's the going rate for magazine freelance writing?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/b4a776b41e326142?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 6:53 am
From: "OhioGuy"

Just curious - does anyone know the going rate these days for doing
freelance writing for magazines?

For 6 years, I had a monthly software and peripherals review column in a
computer focused magazine. I also did freelance work for a newspaper.
However, then I became a stay at home Dad when we had two kids within 12
months.

I can't really compare to what I made before, because both of those were
"get your foot in the door to get some experience" sort of jobs. One was
also for a nonprofit group. Like I said, I got a lot of experience, a free
Internet connection for a few years, and some $. Hopefully this time
around, I can get more of the latter.

Now that they are finally both out of diapers, and I have made some
progress on fixing up our double, I'd like to devote some time to writing
again.

However, I have no idea what a fair rate is these days. I don't want to
hold out for too much, and lose work, but I also don't want to be getting
less than the other folks. I'd like to put most of what I make into my ROTH
IRA, which is sorely underfunded at this point.

Anyone have a general idea?

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Loaning money to the third world
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/edaf1a064d2291dc?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Oct 2 2007 8:24 am
From: Dawn

On Sat, 15 Sep 2007 15:10:00 -0700, TwoAllBeefPatties
<kwokx2@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Interesting site:
>
>http://www.kiva.org

I do this. I read about it on another forum on usenet. Thought it
looked interesting. Techincally it is a loan, but I look at it like
a donation. When my loan is repaid I reloan it to another person on
the site.
Dawn, who thinks it is a frugal use of her charitable donation money
as all of the money is used for its intended purpose.

==============================================================================

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Frugal Living

Blog Archive

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

25 new messages in 13 topics - digest

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