Frugal Living: 25 new messages in 11 topics

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

25 new messages in 11 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: Canned Mackerel
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/f049abff31c44b3a?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 1:15 pm
From: "Rod Speed"

PaPaPeng <PaPaPeng@yahoo.com> wrote
> Rod Speed <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote
>> PaPaPeng <PaPaPeng@yahoo.com> wrote
>>> Vic Smith <thismailautodeleted@comcast.net> wrote
>>>> PaPaPeng <PaPaPeng@yahoo.com> wrote
>>>>> Rod Speed <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote
>>>>>> PaPaPeng <PaPaPeng@yahoo.com> wrote

>>>>>>> They will be the ones who will wield real power

>>>>>> Nope, they dont have real power here.

>>>>> Take a drive through your new single family housing
>>>>> developments and observe the ethnic make up. Visit
>>>>> your universities. Also look up the faculty academic
>>>>> staff list. Form your own conclusions. I won't say any
>>>>> more on this subject as it will come across as gloating.

>>>> Since you've already come across as racist,
>>>> what's the big deal about gloating?

>>> Uhuh. We don't claim to be superior or have a god given right
>>> to anything. We earn it the old fashioned way. Work hard
>>> and excell where it counts. And pay the fair price for everything.
>>> Pro sports and Hollywood fluff we concede we won't equal
>>> you any time soon. Everything else is up for grabs.

>> He's spot on about coming across as a racist.

> Its only a matter of time when you'd come up with your line.

It isnt my line, its clearly Vic's line.

> Well no ethnic group have all the angels or all the devils. The point is that we
> are as good as anyone else whether in angels or in devils, and often better.

And that last is where you come across as a rascist, even if its true.

> Between yourself, Vic and others of your kind the basic assumption is that
> your kind have the god given right to lord it over people of a different color.

Thats just you projecting.

> Go reread your earlier posts about how obedient and
> submissive people of color should be to meet your approval.

I have never ever said anything even remotely resembling anything like
that and have never ever said anything about 'people of color' either.

I in fact said that chinese immigrants to this country have been
a lot better value for us than the dregs of england ever were.

>> The most you can really say is that the chinese do do better
>> than some other groups at that stuff early in your last para, but
>> its silly to claim that its anything like universal with all chinese.

> Yeah I noticed. You tried so hard to distinguish between mainland
> Chinese and overseas Chinese as people of quite different qualities.

No I didnt.

> Got news for you. All Chinese are alike.

No they arent. By definition the recent chinese emigrants have self selected
a quite different group than those who chose to stay behind in china.

Thats true of all emigrants, not just the chinese.

> They already look the same.

We arent discussing looks.

>> We've also seen one hell of a capacity to flout the law,
>> particularly with hard drug trafficing and protection rackets.

> Beats regime changing and stealing the resources of other countries.

My country has never ever done anything like that.

> Criminal types get their comeuppance eventually.

Irrelevant to whether its an important consideration when
deciding who to accept as immigrants to your country.

> There has never been a case of criminal gangs
> exercising influence or power outside their circles.

Have a look at the Victor Chang case some time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Chang

> They make good newscopy but I bet you never met one in person or someone who did.

You have always been, and always will be, completely and utterly irrelevant.

Who you may or may not have met in spades.

>> And the rather bizarre outcome where the obnoxious brats of rich
>> chinese who have been kicked out of the schools back in china show
>> up here without their parents to attend school here, in schools that are
>> stupid enough to accept them here and are completely uncontrollable.
>> Those brats wont be achieving a damned thing in university, tho they will
>> now be accepted since we are happy to accept full fee paying foreign
>> students and to gouge their parents for those fees.

> Yep. We got lots of those too. Like you said your
> school administrators prefer money over good sense.

That is just ONE school thats actually stupid enough to do that.

> Don't know where this particular argument is going

Its rubbing your nose in the fact that your silly claims about chinese are just that.

> but the solution had always been in your hands.

Irrelevant to your silly claims about the chinese.

>> And everything else isnt up for grabs either, you see very
>> few chinese interested in politics in western countrys, and
>> even less get anywhere in politics in western countrys.

>> You dont see many at all get involved in the law either.

> Politicians come and go. The power behind the throne remains.

There is no throne anymore. And the chinese are never the power
behind the scenes in any western country for various reasons.

They arent even in places like Malaysia or Indonesia or Thailand either.

> When most of the jobs requiring education and high tech are not held by you

Corse they are.

> because your kids never made it into those university spots

Corse they do.

> you are not even in the game any more.

How odd that there are almost no chinese involved in our mining industry,
which just happens to produce a positive balance of trade in OUR favour
with both china and japan, something neither canada or america can manage.

> Raise a kid to college age and you'll know the feeling.

Nope.

> Chinese consider the law courts system and lawyers as a
> waste of time and money. Those who go into law prefer
> to practice corporate law, contract law and property law.
> Few go into criminal law and dramatic court appearances.

I didnt say anything about the criminal law.

> =======================

> Do read this story about racial discriminization and high politics.

Irrelevant to you coming across as a racist as Vic says.

> She's the most powerful black woman in the world.

No she isnt.

> Why can't I stand the sight of her?

Presumably you not only come across as a racist, you are one as well.

> Candace Allen has spent her whole life cheering on fellow
> African-Americans who have battled their way to the top. Yet the
> extraordinary career of Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of
> state, fills her only with revulsion and anger. Here she explains why

> Wednesday December 5, 2007
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2222067,00.html
> The Guardian

> I am African-American. We are a sentimental people in the main and we
> tend to track our own. We are aware of others of colour who cross our
> spaces. We look around asking: "How did she/he come to be here/there?
> Is his/her story extraordinary, coincidental or totally banal?"
> (....more)

What has this to do with your silly claims about chinese ?

==============================================================================
TOPIC: OT: donation scams over the phone
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/cdf391d3cf5faa6c?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 3 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 1:48 pm
From: "Don K"

"Chloe" <justsayno@spam.com> wrote in message
news:4756bfd0$0$8612$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>
> What annoys me the most is having to stop whatever I'm doing to look at the caller ID on
> the phone, since I'm not willing to let voicemail pick up every single call. I could cut
> down on this by carrying a phone with me everywhere I go in the house, but I can't
> remember to do that. So my goal is to have the phone ring less.

The phones I have announce the name of the person calling based
on caller-ID or its phonebook memory. I let the machine take any
calls coming in as "out-of-area" or with an unrecognized exchange.

Also I've assigned distinct rings to family members so we don't
even have to wait for the voice announcement which takes a second
or two to begin.

Don

== 2 of 3 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 2:14 pm
From: sarge137

On Dec 4, 7:47 pm, "** Frank **" <noem...@xyz.net> wrote:
> I've been getting constant phone solicitation for donations, about once a
> week, for the police department during dinner times. I'm on the no call
> phone list but does this not appear to exclude certain groups. I've made the
> mistake of donating in the past and it turn out it wasn't for the local
> police but some other city outside my area. It also turn out the police only
> gets about 1% or 2% of the money with the remaining amount going to the
> telemarketers or fundraisers. Come to think of it, police in our area makes
> over $100K per year with overtime so do they really that hard up for a
> donation? Maybe I'll get some donuts and swing by the station in the
> morning. Its time to get caller ID as the fundraisers or scammers won't stop
> calling. I understand if its over the phone, its usually a scam. They are in
> full force during the holidays, so how do you guys handle this kind of scams
> and unwanted intrusions?

Charities that solicit by telephone are all scams. Repeating with
emphasis: CHARITIES THAT SOLICIT BY TELEPHONE ARE ALL SCAMS.

At my house calls from unknown or out of area numbers are picked up by
the answering machine, as are other calls from numbers or people we
don't recognize. Private or blocked numbers don't even ring the
phone. They get a recording telling them how to turn off their block
and call us back.

If you can't or won't screen your calls, simply hang up when you
become aware the caller is soliciting. You don't need to be polite or
even civil to the people who invade your privacy during dinner or
other family time.

Regards,
Sarge

== 3 of 3 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 6:56 pm
From: Logan Shaw

George Grapman wrote:
> ** Frank ** wrote:
>> I've been getting constant phone solicitation for donations, about
>> once a week, for the police department during dinner times.

> Several ways depending upon your mood and amount of time you want to
> spend.
>
> A-Simply hang up the phone.

[ methods B through G deleted ]

When I get charities calling me on the phone, I usually tell them I never
make a decision to buy anything or donate to any charity while on the
initial phone call, but if they'd give me their URL, I will take a look
at their web site and check their rating at charitynavigator.org at my
leisure. (Charity Navigator rates charities as to how efficient they
are with your money, and I would basically never donate to any charity
I hadn't heard of without checking them out there first.)

On a bit of a tangent, I donated some money to the ACLU last year[1] and
they called and e-mailed a lot after that. The second time someone called,
I told them, "Look, I agree with what you guys do, but I'd rather decide
whether to donate again on my own." The guy on the phone was very polite
and said they didn't want to pressure or bother anyone too much, that they
appreciated my past support, and that he'd leave me to it. So basically
they voluntarily eased off without my having to work at getting off the
phone. I was pleasantly surprised.

- Logan

[1] because I liked the Bill of Rights, and I think it would be nice if
we could have it back someday...

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Reverse Hiring Bonus: Legal?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/01bee59f170fec8b?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 10 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 1:50 pm
From: "pepita@prodigy.net"

On Dec 5, 10:00 am, "AllEmailDeletedImmediately" <der...@hotmail.com>
wrote:
> i'm not sure it's legal to work for free (off the clock), even voluntarily,
> at a regular type company.

Sure there is, it is called an Internship.

== 2 of 10 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 2:07 pm
From: "Don K"

"AllEmailDeletedImmediately" <derjda@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:t2z5j.6197$3W.3606@trndny04...

> i'm not sure it's legal to work for free (off the clock), even voluntarily, at a regular
> type company.

I would think that if you are dealing with the owner of a small business,
there is a lot of latitude in that regard. After all, it's a free country and
people are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Of course that assumes there aren't issues with existing contracts, OSHA,
union agreements, insurance clauses, etc.

Don

== 3 of 10 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 4:37 pm
From: "Lou"

"Shawn Hirn" <srhi@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:srhi-4B6395.22011404122007@comcast.dca.giganews.com...
> In article
> <32c6a717-3e3d-4078-96c6-6fdce6f37093@w56g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
> jdrews88@yahoo.com wrote:
>
> > Hello. I have a question that I hope I can receive some feedback on.
> >
> > I live in a struggling manufacturing region of the country (few jobs,
> > high unemployment).
> >
> > Since last summer I have been unemployed and pounding the pavement
> > looking for work. Even minimum wage (no benefit) jobs are scarce where
> > I live. I'm really at the end of my rope. If I don't get hired for
> > something soon I don't know what I'm going to do. My savings are
> > almost gone.
> >
> > I've been considering doing something that I would have never
> > considered in a million years just a short time ago. I know all of you
> > have heard about hiring bonuses that companies offer new employees.
> >
> > I'm thinking of perhaps offering a potential employer an amount of
> > money so that I can get a job.
> >
> > I'm talking about maybe $300.00 or so. This would be a kind of
> > "reverse hiring bonus" I guess.
> >
> > This is not a plan to offer some human resource person a "bribe" to
> > pick me over the other candidates. I would be offering this money to
> > the company itself (or small business).
> >
> > What do you guys think? This is a serious post and I'm open to all
> > comments.
> >
> > I've always been a good employee at all my other jobs. But I've never
> > gone thru such a problem in finding work. I don't know what I'll do if
> > I don't find something soon.
> >
> > Is my plan even legal? Could it work for me?
> >
> > Even a minimum wage job without benefits would be good.
> >
> > It is near Christmas time. I'm sure there is someone out there who
> > would accept such an offer.
> >
> > Thank you all for any replies or insight you can give.
>
> I understand that you are desparate for a job, but I doubt this idea
> would pan out. Hiring someone is a major commitment. I seriously doubt
> $300 would make all that big a difference to a company who could afford
> to hire you. What might be better is to offer to work for free for a
> week at a place where they might be tempted to hire you, but aren't
> ready to make the commitment. Another option to consider is to move to
> an area where jobs are available.

It's not legal to work for free - federal and state minimum wage laws apply.

== 4 of 10 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 4:39 pm
From: "Lou"

"George Grapman" <sfgeorge@paccbell.net> wrote in message
news:1Mz5j.79375$Um6.7977@newssvr12.news.prodigy.net...
> AllEmailDeletedImmediately wrote:
> > "Shawn Hirn" <srhi@comcast.net> wrote in message
> > news:srhi-4B6395.22011404122007@comcast.dca.giganews.com...
> >> In article
> > snip
> >
> >> I understand that you are desparate for a job, but I doubt this idea
> >> would pan out. Hiring someone is a major commitment. I seriously doubt
> >> $300 would make all that big a difference to a company who could afford
> >> to hire you. What might be better is to offer to work for free for a
> >> week at a place where they might be tempted to hire you, but aren't
> >> ready to make the commitment. Another option to consider is to move to
> >> an area where jobs are available.
> >
> > i'm not sure it's legal to work for free (off the clock), even
voluntarily,
> > at a regular type company.
> >
> >
> There are exceptions such as a commission only job. For many years
> those jobs took out out no payroll deductions. The companies liked it
> because they avoided Social Security, unemployment,etc while some worker
> likes the idea of no withholding and they simply ignored the yearly 1099.
> In the 90's the IRS ruled that if the company provides you with a
> place to work along with needed tools you are a commissioned employee
> and are subject to withholding.

Even in commission only jobs, the employer must pay you a minimum wage if
you don't earn that much in commissions. It's usually done as a draw
against commission, and you pay the employer back when your earn commissions
in excess of minimum wage.

== 5 of 10 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 4:59 pm
From: "Lou"

"pepita@prodigy.net" <scrapquilter@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:dcbd6556-09d0-4a34-906a-98da85b195c3@e1g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
> On Dec 5, 10:00 am, "AllEmailDeletedImmediately" <der...@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
> > i'm not sure it's legal to work for free (off the clock), even
voluntarily,
> > at a regular type company.
>
> Sure there is, it is called an Internship.

The US Department of Labor has a set of 6 criteria used in determining if an
employee is entitled to at least minimum wage or is a learner/trainee who
may be unpaid.

1. The training is similar to what would be given in a vocational school
2. The training if for the benefit of the student
3. The student does not displace a regular employee
4. The employer provides the training, derives no immediate advantage from
the student's activities - on occasion, normal operations may be impeded by
training
5. The student is not entitled to a regular job at the end of the
internship
6. Both the employer and the student understand that the student is not
entitled to wages for the time spent training.

The idea is that the interns experience should look like a training/learning
experience rather than like a job.

Unpaid internships exist all over the place, but generally in a for-profit
corporation, time worked should be paid for. At my company, interns get
$20/hour.

== 6 of 10 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 2:44 pm
From: George Grapman

pepita@prodigy.net wrote:
> On Dec 5, 10:00 am, "AllEmailDeletedImmediately" <der...@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>> i'm not sure it's legal to work for free (off the clock), even voluntarily,
>> at a regular type company.
>
> Sure there is, it is called an Internship.

And,by law, an intern can not be performing work that would normally
be done by a paid employee.In addition the work must be of educational
value to the intern.

== 7 of 10 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 5:11 pm
From: George Grapman

Lou wrote:
> "pepita@prodigy.net" <scrapquilter@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:dcbd6556-09d0-4a34-906a-98da85b195c3@e1g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>> On Dec 5, 10:00 am, "AllEmailDeletedImmediately" <der...@hotmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>> i'm not sure it's legal to work for free (off the clock), even
> voluntarily,
>>> at a regular type company.
>> Sure there is, it is called an Internship.
>
> The US Department of Labor has a set of 6 criteria used in determining if an
> employee is entitled to at least minimum wage or is a learner/trainee who
> may be unpaid.
>
> 1. The training is similar to what would be given in a vocational school
> 2. The training if for the benefit of the student
> 3. The student does not displace a regular employee
> 4. The employer provides the training, derives no immediate advantage from
> the student's activities - on occasion, normal operations may be impeded by
> training
> 5. The student is not entitled to a regular job at the end of the
> internship
> 6. Both the employer and the student understand that the student is not
> entitled to wages for the time spent training.
>
> The idea is that the interns experience should look like a training/learning
> experience rather than like a job.
>
> Unpaid internships exist all over the place, but generally in a for-profit
> corporation, time worked should be paid for. At my company, interns get
> $20/hour.
>
>
I worked at a small company that used interns from a language school.
They were all from other countries and were here on student visas. Most
of the work we gave them involved calling up companies in their home
countries and getting contact information using their native language.
We also allowed them to practice English by taking incoming calls. WE
never had a paid receptionist. We knew they could not be paid so the
most we could for them was treating them to lunch.

== 8 of 10 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 5:01 pm
From: George Grapman

Lou wrote:
> "George Grapman" <sfgeorge@paccbell.net> wrote in message
> news:1Mz5j.79375$Um6.7977@newssvr12.news.prodigy.net...
>> AllEmailDeletedImmediately wrote:
>>> "Shawn Hirn" <srhi@comcast.net> wrote in message
>>> news:srhi-4B6395.22011404122007@comcast.dca.giganews.com...
>>>> In article
>>> snip
>>>
>>>> I understand that you are desparate for a job, but I doubt this idea
>>>> would pan out. Hiring someone is a major commitment. I seriously doubt
>>>> $300 would make all that big a difference to a company who could afford
>>>> to hire you. What might be better is to offer to work for free for a
>>>> week at a place where they might be tempted to hire you, but aren't
>>>> ready to make the commitment. Another option to consider is to move to
>>>> an area where jobs are available.
>>> i'm not sure it's legal to work for free (off the clock), even
> voluntarily,
>>> at a regular type company.
>>>
>>>
>> There are exceptions such as a commission only job. For many years
>> those jobs took out out no payroll deductions. The companies liked it
>> because they avoided Social Security, unemployment,etc while some worker
>> likes the idea of no withholding and they simply ignored the yearly 1099.
>> In the 90's the IRS ruled that if the company provides you with a
>> place to work along with needed tools you are a commissioned employee
>> and are subject to withholding.
>
> Even in commission only jobs, the employer must pay you a minimum wage if
> you don't earn that much in commissions. It's usually done as a draw
> against commission, and you pay the employer back when your earn commissions
> in excess of minimum wage.
>
>
Correct,but independent contractors are exempted. Sometime in,I
think, the early 90's the definition of independent contractor was
changed to meet the criteria that I mentioned in my earlier post.

== 9 of 10 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 6:53 pm
From: Shawn Hirn

In article <t2z5j.6197$3W.3606@trndny04>,
"AllEmailDeletedImmediately" <derjda@hotmail.com> wrote:

> "Shawn Hirn" <srhi@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:srhi-4B6395.22011404122007@comcast.dca.giganews.com...
> > In article
> snip
>
> > I understand that you are desparate for a job, but I doubt this idea
> > would pan out. Hiring someone is a major commitment. I seriously doubt
> > $300 would make all that big a difference to a company who could afford
> > to hire you. What might be better is to offer to work for free for a
> > week at a place where they might be tempted to hire you, but aren't
> > ready to make the commitment. Another option to consider is to move to
> > an area where jobs are available.
>
> i'm not sure it's legal to work for free (off the clock), even voluntarily,
> at a regular type company.

Why? If we are referring to the United States, its a free country. If
you are willing to work for free, I don't know of any area where that
would be illegal. If you do have an example where volunteering to work
is illegal, please provide the details.

== 10 of 10 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 6:53 pm
From: Shawn Hirn

In article <RQF5j.30598$Pv2.25553@newssvr23.news.prodigy.net>,
George Grapman <sfgeorge@paccbell.net> wrote:

> pepita@prodigy.net wrote:
> > On Dec 5, 10:00 am, "AllEmailDeletedImmediately" <der...@hotmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >> i'm not sure it's legal to work for free (off the clock), even voluntarily,
> >> at a regular type company.
> >
> > Sure there is, it is called an Internship.
>
>
> And,by law, an intern can not be performing work that would normally
> be done by a paid employee.In addition the work must be of educational
> value to the intern.

Please cite that law.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Free Guide To Understanding Sleep Deprivation
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/7d5e2370c0ccd417?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 1:51 pm
From: "TheBestFreebies.com"

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==============================================================================
TOPIC: switching batteries to extend life
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/442ce6fdfe066f9e?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 3 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 1:57 pm
From: "Bob F"

"johngood_____" <time.dream95@REMOOVEvirgin.net> wrote in message
news:bNB5j.898$h35.816@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...
> Recently i bought a 3 Watt LED torch (flashlight) and it takes two AA sized
> batteries in series. (i.e. both in line with each other with the + end of one
> touching the - ve end of the other).
>
> Now 'one' battery always runs down much faster than the other ( the one
> nearest the bulb end). Why is that?

There is no reason. Both batteries have exactly the same current drawn from
them. Unless, of course, something in your light is shorting out one of the
batteries.

Bob

== 2 of 3 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 4:17 pm
From: Al Bundy

On Dec 5, 1:07 pm, "johngood_____" <time.drea...@REMOOVEvirgin.net>
wrote:
> Recently i bought a 3 Watt LED torch (flashlight) and it takes two AA sized
> batteries in series. (i.e. both in line with each other with the + end of
> one touching the - ve end of the other).
>
> Now 'one' battery always runs down much faster than the other ( the one
> nearest the bulb end). Why is that?
>
> Also is there a way to replace the batteries to get the *maximum frugal*
> life from them. For instance always putting the best or worst up at the bulb
> end, when i ditch one and replace with a new one? Thanks

I have been working with batteries for decades and there is no
scientific reason for what you say to be true. Series batteries of
equal strength going in must discharge in a similar manner. The
exception that I have seen on cordless drills and possibly with your
led flashlight is that the manufacturer offers two settings on the
speed or light. With cordless drills for example, low speed may use 4
cells and high speed uses all six. In such a case, the four cells will
discharge faster than the extra booster two sells. People don't notice
the difference because all the cells are recharged at the same time
anyway.

I seriously doubt that this uneven discharge is occurring in your
case. A bit of minor research on series circuits would confirm what I
say.

== 3 of 3 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 5:40 pm
From: gheston@hiwaay.net (Gary Heston)

In article <bNB5j.898$h35.816@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net>,
johngood_____ <time.dream95@REMOOVEvirgin.net> wrote:
>Recently i bought a 3 Watt LED torch (flashlight) and it takes two AA sized
>batteries in series. (i.e. both in line with each other with the + end of
>one touching the - ve end of the other).

>Now 'one' battery always runs down much faster than the other ( the one
>nearest the bulb end). Why is that?

>Also is there a way to replace the batteries to get the *maximum frugal*
>life from them. For instance always putting the best or worst up at the bulb
>end, when i ditch one and replace with a new one? Thanks

Batteries should be replaced in pairs (or however many the device uses) of
the same type and rating. When you replace one, you're leaving the partly
used on in the front, correct? That would be why it runs down first--it's
alreay partly down.

I'm in agreement with the other poster--if you're a heavy user of batteries,
get rechargables. Lithium-Ion work well, and will pay for themselves many
times over.

Gary

--
Gary Heston gheston@hiwaay.net

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/

Yoko Onos' former driver tried to extort $2M from her, threating to
"release embarassing recordings...". What, he has a copy of her album?

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Free $10 Starbucks's Gift Card
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/29ba7c3f7d41ba5c?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 3:14 pm
From: "TheBestFreebies.com"

Sign up now for more details and receive a $10 Starbucks's Gift Card.
You will receive your Starbucks's Gift Card in the next 6-8 weeks.

--
The Best Freebies

All free products are available at http://TheBestFreebies.com/ and
are intended for families, businesses, and individuals residing in
the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Free Vera Wang Princess Perfume by Coty
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/db3902123476de55?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 3:19 pm
From: "TheBestFreebies.com"

Get a complimentary sample of Vera Wang Princess Perfume by Coty.
A new spirit in fragrance. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.

Available to U.S. Residents only. Limit one sample per household.
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--
The Best Freebies

All free products are available at http://TheBestFreebies.com/ and
are intended for families, businesses, and individuals residing in
the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: more laptop selection help
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/614f763badc82c6b?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 3:21 pm
From: Dennis

On Wed, 05 Dec 2007 05:41:57 -0500, Jon v Leipzig <JVL@myday.com>
wrote:

>Dennis wrote:
>> On Tue, 04 Dec 2007 07:31:39 -0500, Jon v Leipzig <JVL@myday.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Last I heard, this Vista's been such a flop, they even have a service
>>> pack 3 in the works, for XP.
>>
>> XP SP3 is mostly just a roll up of all the security patches and bug
>> fixes that have been realeased (through Windows Updates) since SP2.
>> All in one convenient package.
>>
>> Microsoft will continue to support XP for quite some time yet, even
>> after they quit selling new XP licenses. They have commited to
>> "Mainstream" support until April 2009 and "Extended" support until
>> April 2014.
>>
>> Dennis (evil)
>
>
>So yer saying it's already out...the SP3???

I'm in the biz, so I have a Beta that I've been testing. Just
downloaded RC1 today.

You commoners will just have to wait. :-)

> I've been too busy,
>haven't kept up with Windoz. Guess I don't need it then, if I'm doing
>the Update thing... I got SP2, works flawlessly.

There is a bit of performance boost with SP3 on some PCs, so you may
want to give it a shot.

Dennis (evil)
--
I'm behind the eight ball, ahead of the curve, riding the wave,
dodging the bullet and pushing the envelope. -George Carlin

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Renting VS Buying Homes
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/37be5c6af5aee907?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 3:44 pm
From: Dennis

On Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:46:28 -0500, clams casino
<PeterGriffin@drunkin-clam.com> wrote:

>A significant portion of a landlord's profit is from their tax
>deductions (essentially subsidies). Many renters would never qualify
>for any of these deductions if they owned a comparable 1200 ft2 home /
>condo. In some respect, much of the landlord's profit likely actually
>comes from tax payers rather than the renter.

A landlord gets to subtract his expenses from gross receipts to arrive
at taxable income, just like any other business. Hardly a subsidy.

Dennis (evil)
--
What the government gives, it must first take.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 5:08 pm
From: "Lou"

"Vic Smith" <thismailautodeleted@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:m93cl31s41hfis5l3vojunr6ct06ju2gr6@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 4 Dec 2007 19:41:46 -0500, "Lou" <lpogodajr292185@comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >"clams casino" <PeterGriffin@drunkin-clam.com> wrote in message
> >news:gsk5j.5502$pq.2214@newsfe24.lga...
> >> Since I do not file every magazine article I've ever read, I am
> >> currently unable to provide a reference. I've wasted about 15
minutes
> >> trying to search google, but could never come up with a proper set of
> >> search conditions to get anything close other than the above reference.
> >>
> >> Do you have any references to support the contrary? That the number
> >> of filers using the long form for deductions are constant or
increasing?
> >
> >Since it's you who made the assertion, it should be you who has to back
it
> >up. However, according to http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/05in01fg.xls we
> >can see the following:
> >
> >For 2005, 134,462,537 individual tax returns were filed, an increase of
1.6%
> >over 2004
> >Of these returns, 81,144,182 used form 1040 - an increase of 1.1%
> >31,607,574 used form 1040A - an increase of 2.4%
> >21,710,782 used form 1040EZ - an increase of 2.3%
> >74,813,073 filed electronically, an increase of 7.7%
> >
> >According to http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/03indtr.pdf the number of
> >returns taking the standard deduction in 2003 rose by 2.4% to 64.9% of
all
> >returns filed - HOWEVER, the increase is attributed to a change in the
law
> >making the standard deduction for married taxpayers filing jointly to
twice
> >that of single taxpayers (previously, it had been less).
> >
> No HOWEVER about it; an increase is an increase.

A change in the law makes the data not directly comparable. If the law
pre-2003 had been the same as it was post-2003, there may have been no
change in percentages at all. We'll never know.

> You've shown clams to be correct for the latest figures you have
> found, which is a 2.4% increase in those taking the standard deduction
> from 2002 to 2003. Assuming that percentage increase represents
> "fewer and fewer" filers itemizing, of course.
> But to reinforce that, here are the figures for 2002-2004, taken from
> the tables (Individual Income Tax Returns with Itemized Deductions and
> Individual Income Tax, All Returns) at
> http://www.irs.gov/taxstats/indtaxstats/article/0,,id=133414,00.html
>
> Year Itemized Total PCT
> 2004 43335237 132226042 0.327736022
> 2003 43949531 130423626 0.336975227
> 2002 45647551 130076443 0.350928654
>
> This also backs up clams. Your 2005 figures serve no point in this,
> as they don't shed light on itemization, which requires Schedule A.
> I file form 1040 and haven't itemized for a few years.
> The increased standard deduction has made it unnecessary.
> There are no doubt other economic reasons for "fewer and fewer"
> (as a pct of total) people itemizing, but I won't speculate on what
> they are.
> Unless you have more recent (2005-2006) itemization statistics, clams
> appears to be correct.

I don't really care if clams is correct or not - I only asked that he back
up an unsubstantiated claim.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Learn Chinese in Beijing
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/b3f380a1b2d0bc1a?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 5:42 pm
From: Chinese training in Beijing

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==============================================================================
TOPIC: Men and women needed for research study
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/b0bffda7e724b091?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Dec 5 2007 5:49 pm
From: lkerryy@gmail.com

This is a research study about menstruation. People of all ages may
participate in this study. This questionnaire will only take a few
minutes to complete and it's anonymous. All results will be
appreciated.

Thank you.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=52ZcnZF4XBMGhKTWRuJTvA_3d_3d

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Wednesday, December 5, 2007

25 new messages in 11 topics - digest

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