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Back-to-school: Have your school sign up for Safety Alerts
Back-to-school: Have your school sign up for Safety Alerts Far too often, recalls and safety alerts don’t reach the consumers that need them the most. There’s typically only a 10 to 30 percent consumer response rate to recalls. That puts a lot of consumers who may never have received the information in harm’s way. Children are particularly vulnerable to risk of injury, illness, or death from unsafe foods and products. Busy parents are bombarded with information and often don’t hear about vital safety issues and recalls. So Consumers Union set out to find a way to get safety into the homes of parents with school-age children. We’ve created a unique coalition of government agencies, parent organizations, and school administrators to disseminate recalls and safety alert information to parents and caregivers... | |
Another Online Gotcha - from Consumer Reports
Another Online Gotcha - from Consumer Reports If you find an unexpected charge on your credit-card statement after shopping online, you may have been the victim of Data Pass -- another sneaky way to get online shoppers to buy more. Data Pass -- Another Online Gotcha - CR Podcast Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences | |
Oil ad from the mad '60s brags about glacier-melting ability
Oil ad from the mad '60s brags about glacier-melting ability Here’s an ad from the 1960s that Mad Men ’s Don Draper might have dreamt up, before dashing off to a three-martini lunch. In it, the oil company Humble (which would later become Exxon) boasts that, “This giant glacier has remained unmelted for centuries. Yet, the petroleum energy Humble supplies—if converted into heat—could melt it at the rate of 80 tons each second!" Times have changed, as evidenced by Exxon’s latest ad campaign touting its research into greenhouse gas-reducing algae. But an investigation into U.S. energy policy in the October 2010 issue of Consumer Reports finds there’s still plenty of room for improvement. Check back next week—when the issue will be online and on newsstands—for the full details... | |
Consumers Union advocates for rear seat-belt reminder systems
Consumers Union advocates for rear seat-belt reminder systems When it comes to getting recalcitrant drivers and front-seat passengers to use seat belts, there's nothing quite as effective as that irritating dinging that just won't go away until they buckle up. But there's no federal requirement for seat-belt notification systems in the back seats of vehicles, where children usually ride. Consumers Union and some other safety groups want that to change. Read more and comment Public Citizen and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety recently filed a petition seeking revision of federal regulations to require automobile manufacturers to install seat-belt reminder systems for designated rear seating positions in light-passenger vehicles... | |
Thirsty potted plant exacts fiery revenge on Arkansas homeowner
Thirsty potted plant exacts fiery revenge on Arkansas homeowner You can't make this stuff up. State Farm recently concluded that a fire that caused $20,000 damage to an Arkansas home was caused by a dead plant. Or in insurance-speak: “The fire was caused by self-heating through decomposition of organic materials contained within a plastic flowerpot.” Translation: Spontaneous combustion. The homeowner told the Associated Press that the flowerpot had contained dead, decomposing flowers and potting soil that his wife had planted in the summer of 2009. “She had intended on repotting (the flowers),” he said. Sadly, they sat on the porch, unwanted and unwatered, and eventually died. What happened next was even sadder. On July 25, the plant burst into flames, burned a hole in the deck and spread to the vinyl siding... | |
Rep. Nita Lowey visits Consumers Union to push food-safety bill
Rep. Nita Lowey visits Consumers Union to push food-safety bill Rep. Nita Lowey with Consumers Union's Jim Guest (right) and Michael Hansen (left). Earlier today, U.S. Congresswoman Nita Lowey stopped by Consumers Union’s headquarters in Yonkers, N.Y., to talk about the need for reform of our food-safety laws. Lowey represents New York’s Westchester and Rockland counties in the U.S. House of Representatives. She met with CU’s food-safety experts and spoke with reporters to urge the U.S. Senate to pass a long-pending bill that would overhaul the ability of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to protect our food supply. Read more and comment CU President Jim Guest and Senior Scientist Michael Hansen joined Representative Lowey in a call for the U... | |
Samsung Galaxy Tab: More details revealed on iPad competitor
Samsung Galaxy Tab: More details revealed on iPad competitor The Galaxy Tab as seen in Samsung's video . Photo: Samsung Samsung today released new details about the Samsung Galaxy Tab, the first viable iPad competitor we know of. (For basics on the device, see our blog, Samsung Galaxy Tab: The first serious iPad competitor from last week). Here's the new information: The tablet weighs about 13 ounces. Its TFT-LCD display's resolution is 1024 x 600 and measures 7 inches. That makes it 7 ounces lighter than the iPad and its display quite a bit smaller than the iPad's 10 inches. Powered by a 1GHz Cortex A8 processor, the Galaxy Tab will connect via 3G, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. You'll be able choose from models with 16 or 32GB of built-in memory; an external slot can accept up to 32GB of removable memory... | |
Scientists close to understanding gravity … again
Scientists close to understanding gravity … again What, you thought Newton cracked this one already? Physicists at the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) say they may have a way to measure the effects of gravity at very short distances, say 1/1,000 the diameter of a human hair. “There are lots of competing theories about whether gravity behaves differently at such close range,” says NIST physicist Andrew Geraci. It’s not entirely clear how this information might be used. But, adds Geraci, “progress in the scientific community comes not just from individual experiments, but from new ideas.” And so we thought you’d want to know. —Daniel DiClerico Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports... | |
"Organic" label on fish would mislead under proposed standards
"Organic" label on fish would mislead under proposed standards A group of more than 40 organizations, including our publisher, Consumers Union, came out hard against a set of proposed standards for organic Canadian seafood this week. The proposals would allow an organic label to be slapped on fish that comes from farms that use antibiotics and feed their fish up to 30 percent nonorganic food—including fish from the wild that could easily contain mercury and PCBs, according to a letter from the groups. “Consumers deserve clear assurance that their choice of organic products supports a safer and more sustainable environment,” says Urvashi Rangan, Ph.D., technical policy director at Consumers Union. “Fish labeled as 'organic' that are not fed 100 percent organic feed, that come from polluting open-net pen systems, or that are contaminated with PCBs fall significantly short of expectations for organic products... | |
Courts rule on legality of planting GPS trackers on suspects' cars without a warrant
Courts rule on legality of planting GPS trackers on suspects' cars without a warrant GPS is everywhere. Now, according to a California court, it can also be used to track criminal suspects. In a case involving a marijuana grower, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco has decided that police didn't violate the suspect's Fourth Amendment protection from unreasonable search and seizure by sneaking his driveway and attaching a GPS tracking device to the bottom of his Jeep. (Court document pdf .) In a different case in Washington, D.C., an appeals court decision went the other way, ruling a lower court erred in admitting evidence acquired by the warrantless use of a GPS device to track that defendant's movements... | |
New-car fuel-economy stickers promise abundant information and connectivity
New-car fuel-economy stickers promise abundant information and connectivity Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) put two basic proposals out to consumers for a vote . These car window stickers provide much more detailed information than today's Monroney stickers, giving consumers details on energy consumption and environmental impact. Behind those proposed fuel-economy grade labels are a lot of numbers, including: City and highway fuel economy ratings Long-term fuel costs Comparative ratings against all other cars Greenhouse gas emissions in grams per mile, as well as a comparisonagainst all other cars A bar comparing air pollution that is not included in the overall letter grade One proposal includes all this information, along with a letter grade that attempts to sum it all up into one ranking... | |
Good night! Morningland recalls 68,957 pounds of raw milk cheese
Good night! Morningland recalls 68,957 pounds of raw milk cheese Morningland Dairy of Mountain View, Missouri, is recalling 68,957 pounds of cheese because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and has the potential to be contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus. The recall involves a range of sizes and products under the Morningland Dairy and Ozark Hill Farms labels. The raw cow’s milk cheeses are Colby, Hot Pepper Colby, Garlic Colby, Italian Colby, Dill Colby, No-Salt Added Mild Cheddar, Mild Cheddar, Medium Sharp Cheddar, Sharp Cheddar. The raw goat’s milk cheeses are Colby, Hot Pepper Colby, Italian Colby, Garlic ‘N’ Chive Colby, Mild Cheddar, Medium Sharp Cheddar, Sharp Cheddar. The codes affected by the recall are handwritten on the front of the label and range from A10 (representing January 1, 2010) through F250 (representing June 25, 2010)... | |
Daily Dispatch: Navteq works to humanize GPS directions; Skyfire: flash capable iPhone browser submitted to Apple for approval
Daily Dispatch: Navteq works to humanize GPS directions; Skyfire: flash capable iPhone browser submitted to Apple for approval In today's Digital Dispatch: Navteq tries to make GPS directions more 'human' ( cnet ) ...Rather than say, "turn right in 150 feet," as current GPS devices do now, Navteq's system gives directions based on landmarks. The instructions will include "turn right after the yellow shop," or "turn right at the traffic signal," the company said in a statement. Google Making Extraordinary Counteroffers To Stop Flow Of Employees To Facebook ( TechCrunch ) ...One recent Googler, we’ve confirmed, was recently offered a counter offer he couldn’t refuse (except he did)... | |
Toshiba recalls 41,000 T series laptops
Toshiba recalls 41,000 T series laptops If you just sent your kid off to college with a new laptop, be aware that computer maker Toshiba is recalling 41,000 Satellite T135, Satellite T135D and Satellite ProT130 Notebook Computers because they can overheat at the plug-in adapter and burn. The Irvine, Calif. company has received 129 reports of the computers overheating and deforming the plastic casing. The computers were sold through electronics stores and other retailers nationwide and online, including at Toshibadirect.com and other websites, from August 2009 through August 2010. The recall notice says, “Consumers should immediately download the latest version of Toshiba's BIOS computer program to their notebook computer at http://laptops... | |
NHTSA investigates 2011 Hyundai Sonata steering failures
NHTSA investigates 2011 Hyundai Sonata steering failures The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has received several reports through its early warning system of the steering column becoming separated in 2011 Hyundai Sonatas . Such a problem can result in a catastrophic loss of steering control. In other cases, the agency says a cross-threaded bolt can loosen over time, but not result in a complete separation of the steering column. In opening such an investigation, NHTSA is trying to determine how widespread the problem is before beginning the process that could lead to a recall. The new Sonata is the first model-year 2011 vehicle facing a safety investigation by NHTSA. See our Hyundai Sonata review video ... | |
Q&A: Are liquid calcium supplements better?
Q&A: Are liquid calcium supplements better? Are liquid calcium supplements absorbed better than calcium pills? — H.C., Ferndale, Wash. Possibly. Liquid or chewable supplements give the body a head start on absorption because they’re already broken down when they reach the stomach. If you prefer pills, calcium carbonate has the highest percentage of calcium and usually costs less. Pick products that bear the seal of the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) , which ensures they’ve been tested for purity and potency. You can also check your supplement’s solubility by putting it in a glass of vinegar for 30 minutes and stirring periodically. If it doesn’t dissolve, it probably won’t be absorbed well in your stomach. Read more on supplements to avoid and those worth considering ... | |
Daily electronics deals
Daily electronics deals Today's electronics deals, courtesy of The Consumerist : Tanga.com : Continental Cordless Sewing Machine For $17.99 Dell : 15.6" 2.2 GHz Dell Studio XPS 16 Laptop $909.99 Buy.com : GreenDrive 1TB USB & eSATA Drive $59.99 shipped Dell : 15.6" 2.2 GHz Dell Studio XPS 16 Laptop $909.99 Buy.com : GreenDrive 1TB USB & eSATA Drive $59.99 shipped Buy.com : Canon imageCLASS MF3240 Monochrome Laser All-in-One Printer $84.99 Free Shipping CES : CES (Consumer Electronics Show) FREE Registration Until September 30 Amazon : Pogoplug Multimedia Sharing Device for $47.99 w/ Free Shipping iFunCity : Apple iPad Leather Case for $13.99 w/ Free Shipping Entertainment iTunes : Smash Fiesta for $0 (usually $0... | |
Labor Day deals without the legwork
Labor Day deals without the legwork Of all the holiday-weekend sales, Labor Day is the biggest. Not only is it wedged between summer and fall, when retailers slash prices on seasonal wares to make room for new inventories, but it also catches the tail end of the back-to-school rush. Consumer Reports has combed through the circulars, websites, direct mailings, and Facebook pages (yep, Lowe’s, Sears and Walmart, among others, all have ‘em) in search of the product categories that will likely see the most red tags this weekend. If you’re a subscriber to ConsumerReports.org, remember that you can access our Ratings and other shopping advice through your mobile phone . The great outdoors Things like mowers, grills, and patio furniture may not be displayed front-and-center this late in the season... | |
Back-to-School: Internet Safety for Kids
Back-to-School: Internet Safety for Kids As the school year began for my kids, I received a form from our school district that would let me opt out of allowing my children to have Internet access from their school computers. Like many schools, ours block access to certain websites that may reveal a child’s identity, or have prurient or other inappropriate content for children. Plenty of parents worry about what their children are exposed to on the Web, and for good reason. Read more and comment The Federal Trade Commission recently put together an excellent program for keeping kids safe online. Their brochure, “Net Cetera – Chatting with Kids About Being Online,” is available free from the FTC by visiting their OnGuard Online website ... | |
GPS Navigators -- An Update - from Consumer Reports
GPS Navigators -- An Update - from Consumer Reports Though GPS navigators from Magellan and Motorola have improved, they still trail top-rated models from Garmin and Tom-Tom. From Consumer Reports' September issue. GPS Navigator Update - CR Podcast Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences |
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Men With Insomnia May Have Higher Risk of Death
Men with insomnia have a fourfold higher death rate than those who sleep at least 6 hours a night, a 14-year study finds. It's not yet clear whether women with insomnia also die sooner. | |
Is Your Kitchen as Clean as a Restaurant's?
An online quiz rates your hygiene practices with a letter grade -- and gives you the information you need to keep your food safe from bacteria. | |
Prescription Drug Use on the Rise in U.S.
Prescription drug use in the U.S. has been rising steadily in the past decade and the trend shows no signs of slowing, the CDC says in a new report. | |
Teen Pot Smoking Won't Lead to Other Drugs as Adults
New research finds little support for the hypothesis that marijuana is a "gateway" drug leading to the use of harder drugs in adulthood. | |
FAQ: How Health Care Reform Will Affect You
The journey toward health care reform reached a historic milestone March 22 when the House approved legislation that would extend coverage to 32 million more Americans and impose new restrictions on the insurance industry. | |
Massage Techniques and Types: Swedish, Deep Tissue, and More
If you’re new to massages, all the types and techniques can be a little overwhelming. WebMD answers common massage questions and explains the different styles. | |
Weight Loss Pill Meridia Ups Heart Attack, Stroke
People who take Abbott's weight-loss pill Meridia have a higher risk of non-fatal heart attack and stroke, a study sponsored by the drug's maker finds. | |
Physically Unprepared Skiers Face Heart Risk
Many people fail to rev up their exercise regimen before they leave for a ski vacation -- and the sudden burst of activity on the slopes puts them at risk for heart attack, researchers say. | |
New Anticlotting Drugs in the Works
The drugs apixaban and Xarelto are effective at preventing deadly blood clots, new studies show. | |
Sex Not on Most New Moms’ Minds
A research review finds that new moms have little sex drive in the first months after delivery. | |
Michael Douglas and Throat Cancer FAQ
In the wake of actor Michael Douglas's announcement that he has stage IV throat cancer, WebMD answers frequently asked questions about the disease. | |
Bad News About Youth Boosts Elders' Esteem
People over 50 get a self-esteem boost when they read negative news about young adults, a study shows. | |
Coffee May Combat High Blood Pressure
Older people with high blood pressure who drink one to two cups of coffee a day have more elastic blood vessels than those who drink less or more, Greek researchers report. | |
Young Skin Care: Natural Makeup and Cosmetic Ingredients That Matter
Tips for healthy skin care for your teen. | |
What Chemicals Are in Your Personal Care Products?
Many personal care products contain controversial chemicals. What do experts say about making healthy choices? | |
What's Irritating Your Child's Eyes?
Avoiding irritating fumes that can make eyes red and watery. | |
Taking Care of Baby's Sensitive Skin
Worried about chemicals like phthalates and parabens in your baby shampoos, soaps, and lotions? See what the experts say. | |
Cleaning Your Home Without Harsh Chemicals
Tips on keeping your house germ-free. | |
When Your Child Has Allergies
How to avoid common triggers around an allergic child. | |
Make Over Your Kitchen
Get simple makeover ideas, in part 2 of our Spring Makeover Series, "4 weeks, 4 Simple Steps." |
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