Federal Resources for Food and Nutrition Planning

News concerning the debate over changes to the School Lunch Program has brought the topic of child nutrition and health to the forefront, in recent weeks. As government and school officials debate this important topic, Government Book Talk takes a look at the Food and Nutrition Information Center Resources CD-ROM currently available from the GPO Online Bookstore.
The Food and Nutrition Information Center Resources CD-ROM from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC) contains a plethora of useful information related to various food and nutrition programs, such as the National School Lunch Program. It particularly offers guidance to help nutrition professionals and consumers locate information and materials on specific food and nutrition topics, such as Child Nutrition and Health, Food and Nutrition Education, School Food Service, and much more. Compiled by Nutrition Information Specialists, these Resource Lists provide resources in a variety of formats including articles, pamphlets, books, audio-visuals, and Web links.

This resource list excerpt from 2008 for educators provides resource information on cultural and ethnic food nutrition.

The vast information contained on this CD-ROM from the National Agriculture Library collection will prove to be a great resource for parents, educators, school food service professionals and child care providers. Child Nutrition Programs including before/after school and children’s summer municipal camp programs will also benefit from these resource lists for nutritional guidance and food planning for their summer and new school year child nutrition initiatives.

The FNIC website contains over 2500 links to current and reliable nutrition information.

About the FNIC
According to its website, the FNIC is a leader in food and human nutrition information. Located at the National Agricultural Library (NAL) of USDA, the FNIC provides credible, accurate, and practical resources for nutrition and health professionals, educators, government personnel and consumers. To learn more about the FNIC and its various resource lists topics visit the FNIC website.
In addition to the Food and Nutrition Information Center Resources CD-ROM, the USDA has published the following print publication focusing on nutrition and diet, which is also available from the U.S. Government Bookstore.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 offers advice regarding nutrition to promote health and to reduce risk for major chronic diseases through diet and physical activity. The publication is oriented toward policymakers, nutrition educators, nutritionists, and healthcare providers. It summarizes and synthesizes knowledge regarding individual nutrients and food components into recommendations for a pattern of eating that can be adopted by the public. Key Recommendations listed by chapter include: Balancing Calories to Manage Weight; Foods and Food Components to Reduce; Foods and Nutrients to Increase; Building Healthy Eating Patterns; and Helping Americans Make Healthy Choices. It also explains the new food plate which replaced the food pyramid.

How can I get these federal resources on Food and Nutrition Planning?
Shop Online Anytime: You can buy these and other publications (with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide) from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore website at http://bookstore.gpo.gov:

• Click here to purchase Food and Nutrition Information Center Resources CD-ROM
• Click here to purchase Dietary Guidelines For Americans, 2010
• Click here to shop our Diet and Nutrition collection

Shop our retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday-Friday, 9am to 4pm, except Federal holidays, (202) 512-0132.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal Depository Library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library, such as Hackley Public Library!  You can find the records for most titles in the Catalog of U.S. Government Publications or CGP.

About the author: Trudy Hawkins is a writer and marketing specialist in GPO’s Publication & Information Sales Division supporting the U.S. Government Online Bookstore (http://bookstore.gpo.gov).

How and Why You Should Write a Social Media Will

From the USA.gov Blog:

What happens to content on your social media accounts after you die? Learn how and why to write a social media will.

National Consumer Protection Week Q&A

From the USA.gov Blog:
We hosted a live Twitter chat yesterday as part of National Consumer Protection Week. We partnered with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to answer your questions about consumer topics, like identity theft, scams and fraud.
You can find some of the most useful questions and answers below:
Question: Where/how do I file complaint online?
Answer: You can find links to file consumer complaints on USA.gov. If the complaint is about a financial product (like a mortgage) or service, learn how to submit a complaint.
Question: What’s the agency’s position on regulations enforcing simpler, shorter contracts for bank issued consumer credit cards?
Answer: Check out the CFPB’s Know Before You Owe campaign to learn more about credit card agreements.
Question: What steps can consumers take if they suspect tax fraud?
Answer: You should contact the IRS if you expect tax fraud.
Question: How can we best protect our children from identity theft?
Answer: The FTC has resources about protecting kids’ identities.
Question: What happens after a consumer complaint? Is there consumer feedback?
Answer: Yes! It’s the fourth step in the CFPB’s complaint process. You can find the consumer complaint database online.

Question: Any new informational videos or mobile apps focused on consumer protection available or in the works?
Answer: We have compiled some consumer protection videos on our YouTube channel. Many government agencies offer mobile apps to protect consumers. You can see the full list in the mobile app gallery on apps.usa.gov
Question: What are we doing about crushing student debt? It’s killing the American Dream
Answer: Great question. Check out the CFPB’s Domino Effect campaign for more information about dealing with student debt.
Question: What should you do if you’ve been contacted by a scammer impersonating the government?
Answer: This is the worst. Here’s advice from the CFPB on recognizing a government impersonator. File complaints about scammers at ftc.gov/complaint. Learn more about government imposters.
Question: What new resources do you have about the intersection of social media and consumer protection?
Answer: You can use social media profiles to interact with companies when you have a complaint and protect your rights. The FTC has lots of information on social media and endorsements, background checks, debt collection, and more at www.business.ftc.gov.
Question: What’s the number one tip to avoid a health care scam or health insurance fraud?
Answer: One tip: Beware of “medical discount” scams. They say they’re insurance, but they aren’t.
Question: If consumers discover they’re the victim of identity theft, what are the easiest steps to take to repair the damage?
Answer: If you’re a victim of identity theft, take these steps immediately to help repair it. If you’re unable to remove incorrect information from your credit report, file a complaint with the CFPB.
Find all the questions and answers from our NCPW chat on Twitter.

Eight Things You Should Know Before You Buy A Daily Deal

From the USA.gov Blog:

Eight Things You Should Know Before You Buy A Daily Deal:

Frugalistas looking to snag a bargain on a massage or a fancy dinner at new restaurant can spend a lot of time browsing daily deal sites. While these sites provide the opportunity to try new businesses at a discounted price, shoppers need to be sure they read the fine print on their deals and understand the sites’ terms of service agreements to avoid complications when they redeem their deal vouchers.

These tips will help you better understand the daily deal sites so you can shop safely and enjoy the deals you purchase.

Check the expiration and black-out dates

Most daily deals have expiration dates. Plan accordingly so you use your voucher before the deal expires. Make sure you check for blackout dates too. Some of the popular vacation deals can only be redeemed during certain times of the year.

Do your research

Spend five or ten minutes reading reviews of the product or service you’re thinking about purchasing. If the company has a lot of bad reviews, you may want to skip the purchase, no matter how great the deal seems to be.

Understand how you can use the deal

Some deals you can use more than once until the entire amount of the deal is gone, but other coupons you have to use all at once. In general, you can’t combine a daily deal with another coupon or promotion. Read the conditions of your specific deal before you buy. If you’ve read the fine print, but still don’t understand everything, ask questions before you buy. Many of the daily deal sites have a frequently asked questions section or an area of the site where they handle questions about specific deals.

Verify which locations accept your voucher

Some deals for chains are only valid at certain stores. Check to make sure the location closest to you is one of the participating stores or else you might have to go out of your way to use the deal.

Know when your credit card will be charged

Some sites won’t charge you until after a certain number of deals have been purchased; other sites will charge you immediately or at the close of a business day. After you purchase a deal, keep an eye on your credit card statement to make sure you are charged correctly.

Check the site’s refund policy

Some sites will refund your money if you are disappointed in a deal. Others will refund your money if a merchant goes out of business before your deal’s expiration date. Some won’t refund your money at all. Make sure you understand and are comfortable with a site’s refund rules before you make a purchase.

Know whom to contact with problems

In most cases, the daily deal sites can’t help you solve problems with the company you bought the deal from. You will need to work with the company directly. If you have an issue, stay calm and state exactly what happened and how you would like the situation to be resolved. You can use the tips from the USA.gov sample complaint letter to help fix the problem.

Know when to Buy new tech gadgets

Bookmarks for November 4, 2011:

From the "What I Learned Today" Blog:

• Decide.com
  
  Know when to buy new tech gadgets or when to wait.
  
  

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Related posts:

1. Book Gadgets


2. Generations and their Gadgets


3. New Google Gadgets

Don’t Forget to Change Your Clocks This Weekend

Don’t Forget to Change Your Clocks This Weekend: From the USA.gov Blog:
On Sunday, Daylight Saving Time officially ends at 2:00 a.m. local time. You’ll need to set your clock back one hour to adjust for the change.

Daylight Saving Time ends on the first Sunday of November, and begins on the second Sunday in March. Not all places in the United States observe Daylight Saving Time. In particular, Hawaii and most of Arizona do not use it, so if you live in those areas, you don’t have to change your clocks.

Standard time was instituted in the United States and Canada by the railroads in 1883, however, Daylight Saving Time was not established in U.S. law until the Act of March 19, 1918, sometimes called the Standard Time Act.

Learn more about Daylight Saving Time.

The Price of Stamps Will Increase in 2012

The Price of Stamps Will Increase in 2012:  From the USA.gov Blog
The cost of Forever stamps will increase by 1 cent on January 22, 2012. This means sending a First-Class letter will soon cost 45 cents. This is the first price increase for Forever stamps since May 2009.

Other First-Class mail prices are also increasing:

• Letters (1 oz.) will cost 45 cents. This is a 1-cent increase.
• Additional ounces for letters will remain unchanged at 20 cents.
• Postcards will increase 3 cents to 32 cents.
• Letters to Canada or Mexico will cost 85 cents. This is a 5 cent increase.
• Letters to other international destinations will increase 7 cents to cost $1.05.

Prices also will change for other mailing services, including standard mail, periodicals, package services, and extra services.

Learn more about the Postal Service rate changes.

Get Great Customer Service with the Consumer Action Handbook

Get Great Customer Service with the Consumer Action Handbook:From the USA.gov blog:
This week is National Customer Service Week, and you can use the Consumer Action Handbook to make your customer service experiences the most productive they can be.

The Consumer Action Handbook is a free publication, available online, in print, and for download to your e-reader or tablet, that provides tips on preventing identity theft, understanding credit, filing a consumer complaint, and much more.

Sometimes when you’ve had a bad experience with a company and you need to file a complaint, you don’t know where to start. The Consumer Action Handbook offers a sample complaint letter for free that you can send to the company you are having issues with. The letter helps you outline exactly what the problem was and how you would like the situation to be resolved.

To make sure you always get the best customer service possible, you can use the Consumer Action Handbook to help you:

• File an official complaint with the Federal Trade Commission
• Ask the right questions before signing a contract or purchasing an extended warranty
• Know your rights when shopping online or through catalogs
• Find your state and local consumer protection agencies

View and download the sample complaint letter and get your copy of the Consumer Action Handbook.

How Changes in Michigan Tax Law Affect Michigan Retirees

How Changes in Michigan Tax Law Affect Michigan Retirees: From the Red Tape Blog: "
A new law governing how retirement income will be taxed starting in 2012 sets up a three-tier system, depending on a retiree's age. All three tiers avoid taxing Social Security income and military pensions. For couples, the age of the older spouse applies. Here's how the system works:


• Residents born before 1946 will continue to get the same tax breaks they have now. Public pensions will not be taxed. Income from private pensions, 401(k)s and IRAs will not be taxed on amounts up to $45,120 for single filers and $90,240 for joint filers. This will affect about 480,000 tax returns.


• Residents born between Jan. 1, 1946, and Dec. 31, 1952, will have all retirement income liable to tax, whether it's from a public or private pension, 401(k) or IRA. Exemptions can be claimed for up to $20,000 for a single filer and up to $45,000 for joint filers. Above those levels, retirement income will be taxed at the state income tax rate of 4.35 percent. When these residents turn 67, the $20,000/$40,000 exemption applies to all income, not just retirement income. If household resources exceed $75,000 for a single return or $150,000 for a joint return, the $20,000/$40,000 exemption is eliminated. The exemption also is eliminated if a taxpayer claims a deduction for a military or railroad pension. This will affect about 230,000 returns.


• Residents born after 1952 will see all retirement income taxed as regular income until they turn 67, at which point they'll qualify for a senior income exemption of $20,000 for single filers and $40,000 for joint filers on all income. If household resources exceed $75,000 for a single return or $150,000 for a joint return, the $20,000/$40,000 exemption is eliminated. A taxpayer can forgo the $20,000/$40,000 exemption and instead deduct 100 percent of Social Security income. A taxpayer claiming the $20,000/$40,000 exemption can't claim the deduction for Social Security or the standard personal exemption. This will affect about 150,000 returns.


Sources: Senate Fiscal Agency, Treasury Department



For the full article, see Kathy Barks Hoffmann, 'Michigan pension tax change takes toll on retirees; Critics say it's a shift to help big business', Lansing State Journal, June 6, 2011.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

"

Look Out for Phishing Scams

Look Out for Phishing Scams: From USA.gov:
"Over the weekend, thousands of people learned that their email addresses had been compromised as the result of an unauthorized entry into the systems of Epsilon Interactive, an email service provider.

If you received one of the alerts, you should be extra vigilent about the kind of emails you receive and which ones you chose to open or answer.

Because of this security breach, you may be at an increased risk of phishing scams, where you receive a message that tries to trick you into supplying personal or financial information.

The Federal Trade Commission provides the following tips to protect yourself from phishing scams:

• Don’t reply to email or pop-up messages that ask for personal or financial information, and don’t click on links in the message. Don’t cut and paste a link from the message into your Web browser — phishers can make links look like they go one place, but that actually send you to a different site.
• Some scammers send an email that appears to be from a legitimate business and ask you to call a phone number to update your account or access a “refund.” If you need to reach an organization you do business with, call the number on your financial statements or on the back of your credit card.
• Don’t email personal or financial information.
• Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails you receive, regardless of who sent them.
• Forward phishing emails to spam@uce.gov and to the company, bank, or organization impersonated in the phishing email.
• If you’ve been scammed, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft website at ftc.gov/idtheft.

Learn more about how to identify and protect yourself from phishing scams from the Federal Trade Commission.
"

8 Things To Do After Losing Your Wallet

8 Things To Do After Losing Your Wallet: From GovGab: "

Losing your wallet or purse is stressful. Your money, credit cards, driver's license, all gone. Don't fret too much about tracking down contact information to close accounts and get things replaced. USA.gov puts the answers you need in one easy-to-find place.

1. Make a list of what you had in your wallet and tackle the important things first.
2. Immediately cancel all your credit and debit cards, letting your bank know that your wallet was lost or stolen. Request new copies of the card with a new account number.
3. File a police report so there is an official record.
4. Report a missing driver's license to your state's department of motor vehicles and request a new copy.
5. Alert the fraud departments of the major credit reporting companies. They will place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number, and you can request that they alert you before opening a line of credit in your name. (Equifax: 1-800-525-6285, Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742, Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289)
6. Request a replacement Social Security card and consider not carrying it in your wallet.
7. Contact either your company's HR department or your health insurance provider directly to get a replacement insurance card. If you've lost a Medicare card, contact the Social Security Administration to get a replacement.
8. For other miscellaneous cards, like membership cards, video rental cards and bonus club cards, you'll have to contact the individual companies directly. Use the directory on consumeraction.gov to get a direct line to consumer affairs or member relations departments.

"

Health Care Repeal Will Have Costly Consequences for Michigan Consumers and Small Businesses

Health Care Repeal Will Have Costly Consequences for Michigan Consumers and Small Businesses: From the RedTape Blog: "Consumers and small businesses in Michigan will face significantly higher insurance premiums and could see costly coverage denials and price discrimination if efforts to repeal the federal health care law prevail in Congress or in the courts, according to The Cost of Repeal: Examining the Impact on Michigan of Repealing the New Federal Health Care Law, a new report released today by PIRGIM.

According to the report, in the short term, repeal would strip tax credits from 126,300 Michigan small businesses. And over the longer term, the cost of offering employer-based health insurance could jump by more than $3000 a year over current law.

Ann Arbor small business owner Mark Hodesh, who runs Downtown Home and Garden, says that a repeal of the tax credits would hurt his business—and the economy. “Knowing that we were going to get a tax credit for the portion of health care that we pay gave me the confidence to hire a new employee,” he said. “This person had been drawing unemployment, and now pays taxes. Our tax credit is contributing back to the economy.”

“In today’s economy, the higher costs that would result from repeal are the last thing that Michigan consumers and businesses need,” said Meghan Hess, PIRGIM Program Associate.

The new PIRGIM report draws on data from independent sources, including the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, other government agencies, business groups and health analysts, and finds the following:

• Repealing the new state health insurance exchange would drive premiums on the individual market up to 20% higher for the same coverage by 2016.

• Without the new law’s insurance reforms, the 24.7% of Michigan residents who have pre-existing conditions, ranging from asthma to cancer, will continue to face coverage denials and price discrimination when purchasing their own insurance.

• If the insurance reforms are repealed, Michigan women will continue to pay higher prices than men for health coverage.

• Rolling back last year’s law would drive up employer health costs, leading to 6135 fewer jobs created per year in Michigan by the end of the decade.

• Outright repeal would pull $14.3 billion in federal Medicaid dollars out of the state's economy and terminate establishment or expansion of 184 community health centers across Michigan.

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to consider a repeal bill later this month. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has signed onto a federal lawsuit urging the roll back of the law, and Washington's intensely partisan debate over health care will continue to spill over to Lansing as the governor and state legislators consider key implementation decisions.

The Cost of Repeal recommends a set of pro-active policy changes on which supporters and opponents of last year’s health care law should be able to find common ground. These include:

1. Using the substantial authority the state has under current law to design a health insurance exchange that is adapted to meet the needs of our state’s markets, consumers, and businesses.

2. Taking additional steps to contain health care costs, like using information technology to ensure that doctors receive the latest research about which treatments are most effective – at the patient’s bedside.

3. Crack down on balance-billing, a practice whereby hospitals or providers accept payment from a patient’s insurance plan, then charge additional amounts-above and beyond the usual co-pays and cost sharing.

“This PIRGIM report is a wonderfully concise validation for keeping the implementation of our new Affordable Care Act moving forward,” said Marjorie Mitchell, Executive Director of Michigan Universal Health Care Access Network. “The people of Michigan have suffered long enough with a health care system that routinely denies them insurance coverage or makes its purchase unaffordable. It would be cruel and immoral to repeal this law and to take away its opportunities and protections from Michigan consumers.”

'Before our elected officials join this headlong rush to repeal in Washington, they should consider the consequences for our state, and look for solutions that hold down costs, not increase them,' said Hess.

Cited report : Larry McNeely, The Cost of Repeal : Examining the Impact on Michigan of Repealing the New Federal Health Care Law, PIRGIM, January 2011.

For another article, see Noam M. Levey, '10-year cost to repeal health law put at $230 billion; House Republican leaders dismiss the Congressional Budget Office estimate', Charlotte Observer, January 7, 2011.

For another article, see Marisa Shultz, 'Report: Mich. businesses to lose tax credits if health care reform repealed', Detroit News, January 10, 2011.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

"

Resolving Consumer Problems

Resolving Consumer Problems: From GovGab: "Today I want to tell you the story of the Consumer Action Handbook, a free government publication that saved me $2500.00.

Once upon a time, my family and I were headed out of town, and our car broke down on the road about 40 miles from home. Our roadside assistance service would only pay for a 3-mile tow, so we had it towed to a local mechanic rather than our trusted mechanic who was 50 miles away. What a mistake that was.

The mechanic noodled around with the car for about a week before he managed to do some really serious damage to the engine. Engine repair? The only thing I know about engine repair is that it’s expensive! He needed to get that car out of his shop, and his plan was to have me pay $200 to tow the car to a dealer, and be done with me. I tried to have an adult conversation about who was really responsible for these expenses, but he danced and wriggled and wouldn’t give in. I had that horrible, sick, “you’re being taken advantage of” feeling, and I was mad and upset and I didn’t know what to do.

But that mechanic didn’t know that I work for the people who wrote the Consumer Action Handbook. I downloaded a copy of the Handbook and quickly learned exactly what to do. I followed the directions to contact my state Consumer Protection office, picked up the phone and called the mechanic again so we could have another conversation about what was going on and what I planned to do. Wow, what a difference.

Suddenly the mechanic was arranging and paying for the tow to the dealer and was also going to cover the expenses for repairing the engine. Literally, this publication saved me $2500.00, and to me that’s a lot of money. Behold the power of the informed consumer.

Order a copy of the Consumer Action Handbook today, or Download it

"

After Holiday Consumer Tips

After Holiday Consumer Tips: From GovGab: "It’s the most wonderful time of the year!! This week, my favorite stores are having major after-Christmas sales so that they can get rid of their extra inventory. As the frugal (read: cheap) fashionista I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve also been thinking about a few other consumer issues that are particularly relevant this time of year and thought I’d share them with you, too.
If you received gift cards, there is good news for you. Under the Credit CARD Act, gift cards purchased after August 22, 2010, cannot expire for five years after the card was issued. Furthermore, there are new limits on when you can be charged fees on the balance of your gift card for non-use. That’s great news for consumers who save their gift cards until they find the perfect something or misplace them. If you have any problems with your gift card, contact the seller first. If they can’t help, contact the Federal Trade Commission for gift cards issued by retailers or the Comptroller of the Currency for those issued by national banks.

You may also have to hit the stores to return that sweater from Aunt Betsy that didn’t quite fit. Return and exchange policies vary from retailer to retailer and requirements may differ from state to state. Here are a few tips that may be helpful no matter where you live or where you have to return:

• Read the return and exchange policies for the store.
• Keep all of the packaging and tags.
• Remember to bring the original or gift receipt with you.
• Return the item as soon as possible.
• Beware of restocking fees on returns, particularly for electronics.
• Check the website to determine if the shipping and handling fees will be refunded for online purchases. Some online retailers that also have physical locations may accept returns at their stores rather than requiring you to ship it to their warehouse.

Do you have any other tips for making returns easier?"

Report Lost Wallets to Police for Easier Card Replacement [Annoyances]

Report Lost Wallets to Police for Easier Card Replacement [Annoyances]: From LifeHacker: "

Losing your wallet is an extremely annoying, time-consuming (and scary) experience. Reporting it to the police will make replacing the items inside it much easier and less costly.

Photo by Ryan Loos.

A couple of weeks ago I had that sinking feeling when I patted my pocket and the reassuring lump of my wallet wasn't in there. I convinced myself that I must have just left it at home, but when I got back from work and turned my room upside down I realised that no; gone it was and so commenced the joyless task of calling all of the various authorities – banks, RTA, etc.

You can't imagine how much of your life you keep in your wallet until you try to replace it all, and it's not just the regular cards, it's the photos and odds and ends you keep there for a rainy day – my favourite guitar pick was in that thing….

So anyway, cue call after call with the same content 'Hi, my name's Peter. Wallet: gone. Cards: need.' Some of these are quick and easy – banks replace your cards free of charge. Places like the RTA, on the other hand, do not. Would you believe that Qantas charges for a replacement Frequent Flyer card?

Fortunately the first thing I'd done was to call the police to see if it was handed in and raise an incident report. It turns out that a lot (not all, but most) of the organisations who issue cards will ask 'Was your wallet lost or stolen?'. If it's stolen and you have a police report number you can generally get your cards replaced gratis. This saved me $36 with WA Vehicle Licensing – not a huge saving, but when it comes to avoiding the insult of having to pay to replace all the cards after the injury of losing the best part of your proof of identity I'll take that as a small win.

So the moral of the story here is that if you DO wind up in the unfortunate situation where your wallet's gone walkabout and taken your life with it, make sure the first call you make is to the police.

This story was sent in by a reader over at Lifehacker Australia, but a quick Google search reveals that this is good practice in the US, too—whether its your bank cards, driver's license, or even your gym membership card, a police report is more likely to get you a free replacement. It's also a good idea to keep a running record of what you have in your wallet before you lose it, since you'll need to provide as much detail as possible when you file the report.

Report Your Lost Wallet to Simplify Card Replacement [Lifeahcker Australia]

"

Consumer Help from the FCC

Consumer Help from the FCC: From GovGab: "Every week we receive many calls at the National Contact Center from people looking to file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission because they have a problem with a cell phone, internet and/or cable company.
I was happy to see that the FCC launched their Consumer Help Center earlier this month. The new website's FCC consumer complaint form will be very helpful for our callers and the public but the FCC created the website to help people get the best value out of their phone, TV and internet services.

You can watch the video I posted in this blog to learn more about the site, but I wanted to highlight some features. If you are confused with advertisements about broadband speed, the new page has a resource to figure out what you need and you can even test your current broadband speed. My favorite section is the one on "bill shock," which happens when you get a bill with unexpected charges. Here you can learn how to avoid it and see how the FCC is taking steps to prevent it.

What do you think of the FCC's Consumer Help Center?"

Can Telemarketers Call Cell Phones?

Can Telemarketers Call Cell Phones?: From GovGab: "Did you hear the rumor? Any day now telemarketers will be assaulting your cell phone! The good news is that it’s a rumor and nothing more.
E-mails have been circulating and urging you to register your cell phone number with the special Do Not Call Registry for wireless phones. I just saw one in my e-mail inbox and I was almost fooled. Luckily I work with a small army of dedicated consumer information experts who set me straight!
There is no special Do Not Call Registry for wireless phones. If you want to, you can register your cell phone number on the Do Not Call Registry, but telemarketers are prohibited from calling you on your cell phone whether it’s registered or not.
If you’re receiving unwanted telemarketing calls at home (on your land line), it’s easy to register on the Do Not Call Registry. If you want to file a complaint about unwanted telemarketing calls, you can file online, or call 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236)."

Time to Save for Holiday Shopping

aTime to Save for Holiday Shopping: From GovGab: "I read a interesting blog post from the Baltimore Sun recently about a holiday savings program Toys R Us is starting. The idea of the program is to encourage people to start saving for their holiday shopping now, so that buying presents won't be as much of a burden later in the year.

While it's great that a store is encouraging people save money for big purchases, the author of the blog post points out that you may get a better return on your investment from a bank or other type of savings plan.

Here are some things to consider when trying to figure out which savings option is best for you:

• Are there hidden fees? Is there a fee to join the store's program or are there fees associated with different bank option savings plans?
• What's the interest rate? Check to see whether you'll make more in interest with a savings account at a bank or through the store program.
• What's easier for you? Which program makes it easiest for you to contribute to your savings? You don't want to jump through hoops to set aside money.

If you're wondering where you can pinch pennies to start setting aside money for your big purchases, read 66 Ways to Save Money. You'll find ideas on how to cut back and trim costs in your everyday life, without making saving a burden.

How early do you start saving for the holidays? Are you more inclined to try a store savings program or look at options through your bank?"

Granola Scales Your CPU for Energy Savings [Downloads]

Granola Scales Your CPU for Energy Savings [Downloads]: From Lifehacker:
"Windows/Linux: Your computer's processor may be able to handle 3D shooters and complex rendering, but most of the time, you probably just need it to render Gmail. System utility Granola scales back your processor at such times to save energy and money.
Like any modern energy-saving utility, Granola offers both to-date cumulative stats on how much energy, money, and CO2 it's saved, and how much you can expect to save over a year's time, given current computer conditions. It needs a processor that's capable of scaling, along with that option to be enabled in the BIOS settings. What kind of savings should the average user expect? From Granola's FAQ page:

If you mostly surf the Internet and check email, the savings will be substantial and probably 30% or more. If you are playing the latest intensive graphic game without a high-end graphics card, the savings will probably be less; perhaps as low as 10%. But most likely, your system has many uses and the load varies with time. Our users typically experience savings of around 25%.

It's only the processor that Granola works on, and it would be a bit more convenient if it offered an easy on/off switch as a keyboard shortcut or from its system tray menu. Still, it's a neat addition to the many ways one can green their PC. It's a free download for Windows and Linux systems.

Granola [via #tips]

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Choosing a Credit Card

Choosing a Credit Card: From GovGab:
"Recently I’ve been getting offers for a credit card that I don’t want or need. The more I ignore the offers, the hotter their pursuit and soon the offers were arriving every week!
In a moment of weakness, I considered the offer. I did something a little unusual – I read the fine print. It was very interesting, particularly this little bit: no annual fee for the first year. It had a footnote that I thought might explain the annual fee in subsequent years. I had to turn the paper over to the back and the footnote in teeny tiny print says, “For details, please read the “Pricing Information” section and the Terms and Conditions included with this offer”. Well guess what? The offer was a single sheet of paper and nowhere is there a section titled “Pricing Information” or “Terms and Conditions”. I guess they expected me to lose interest before I got that far.
This is the moment I decided that I don’t want a credit card from a company that goes to such lengths to hide basic account information from a potential customer. I picked up the phone, told them that I am not interested in their credit card offer and to stop sending it to me.
New rules were put in place a few months ago to help protect consumers from deceptive credit card practices, but most of the new credit card rules apply to existing accounts.
If you’re smart, like the average GovGab reader, you’ll be sure to read credit card offers carefully before you get yourself into an account that doesn’t suit your needs. You can find help understanding the terms and fees of your credit card offer and show those credit card companies that you’re too clever to fall into their financial trap.
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