Frugal Living: misc.consumers.frugal-living - 25 new messages in 9 topics

Friday, December 26, 2008

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:

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

== 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

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

== 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 **

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

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

== 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
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== 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.

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TOPIC: Update on collision insurance
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/5e65bc4e5e36b877?hl=en
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== 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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Friday, December 26, 2008

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

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