NFL Network Playing Hardball?

Cable customers from a variety of comapnies were surprised to find out that some NFL games they they were expecting to see on standard cable channels like ESPN were not available because they are on the fledgling NFL Network. Major companies like Time Warner and Charter are not carrying the network because of the high price that The NFL Network is asking. Time Warner has even set up a website called NFL Get Real which lays out the information in the dispute.

According to sources at smaller cable operators who carry The NFL Network, companies who have an agreement to carry The NFL Network are now being forced to pay more money to carry the Thursday Night games. If they don't pay, they risk losing customers. If they do pay, they are setting a precedent that could ultimately hurt the consumers because cable networks are not regulated like cable operators. When agreements are in place, consumers should not have to pay more for programing they are enjoying.

Protect Your Pipes In The Cold

Frigid temperatures can cause one of winter's worst woes — frozen water pipes. But property owners can take some simple precautions to prevent the inconvenience and expense.

These include:

•Disconnecting hoses.

•Insulating outside pipes and faucets.

•Insulating inside pipes and faucets in cold areas such as unheated attics, basements, garages and crawl spaces.

•Draining irrigation systems.

•Caulking around incoming pipes.

•Closing or blocking foundation vents. (Remember to open them again in the spring to prevent dry rot.)

Locate your master water shut-off valve and test it. If a pipe does break, damage can be minimized if you stop the flow of water quickly.
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Never shutting off your heat completely. If you are planning to leave your home or business for an extended period and you don't drain your pipes, you should lower the thermostat but never shut it off.


If your pipes do freeze, call a licensed plumber. If you locate the frozen section of pipe and try to thaw it yourself, be sure to take the following precautions:

•Do not use an open flame. You risk setting your property on fire, and overheating one area can cause the pipe to burst.

•Place a warm towel or rag around the pipe.

•Make sure you know the location of your master shut-off valve. The frozen pipe may already be broken and, when the water is thawed, it will leak. In this case you will need to shut off the water in your home or business until the leaky pipe is fixed.


Source Material From The Seattle Times

Cyber Monday

We have all heard of news reports about "Black Friday" where retailers make the bulk of their profits. Today is the online version of the biggest shopping day, called Cyber Monday. Cyber Monday takes advantage of millions of workers being back at work and not wanting to battle horrible crowds. The number of people shopping from work is expected to top 61 million this year, up from 51.7 million last year, according to a survey by Shop.org, the network for retailers online.

Almost 51 percent of consumers who have Internet access at work plan to shop from the office this year, up from about 45 percent last year, the survey found.

With online shopping continuing to increase, it's a good time to review safety tips to avoid fraud, ID theft and other evils. The National Cyber Security Alliance and the National Consumers League put together a list of do's and don'ts:

1. Don't shop online while using an unencrypted or open wireless network. Hackers and thieves can use your open/unencrypted or a store's wireless network to break into your computer and capture your financial information.
2. Secure your computer before shopping online. Before connecting to the Internet or shopping online, take the following three core protections: 1) Install anti-virus and anti-spyware programs and keep them up to date; 2) Install a firewall; 3) Regularly update operating software.
3. Know who you're dealing with. Before shopping online with an unknown e-store, check out the seller and be sure to get the name and physical address of the seller in case something goes wrong. If you're buying gifts on an online auction site, check the track record of the seller before you bid.
4. Don't give away your financial information to unsecured websites. Make sure when providing payment information, the beginning of the Web site URL address changes from http to shttp or https, indicating that the purchase is encrypted or secured.
5. Protect personal information with common sense and technology. Be suspicious if someone unexpectedly asks for personal information. Identity thieves send out bogus emails about problems with consumers' accounts to lure them into divulging personal information. Consider using multi-factor authentication services when offered by online retailers as a way to secure your information.

"Trouble In Toyland" Report

WashPIRG released its 21st annual report, "Trouble in Toyland," providing safety guidelines for buying toys for small children. The group found toys with small parts for children under age 3 on store shelves, despite a government ban on such products for this age group. It also found toys with small parts for children under 6 without a required choke-hazard warning.

WashPIRG researchers bought necklaces, charms and other jewelry at stores and later tested them for lead; four toys contained high levels of lead. They also tested toys that claimed to be free of phthalates and found two toys that weren't free of the chemicals, which pose health risks. The group also warned about the dangers of the yo-yo water ball, a liquid-filled toy on a stretchy cord that it wants banned (mentioned previously in this blog).

Professional trade associations, such as Toy Industry Association, commented that labels should be read by parents, and that children should be supervised. But, what else would you expect them to say, really? Here is the link for the full report: washpirg.org/reports/toyland2006.pdf.

Playstation Launched Amidst Violence In Some Areas

Thousands camped outside of stores on Friday to be among the first U.S. buyers of Sony Corp.'s new PlayStation 3 video game machine, but violence marred the debut when one man was shot outside a Connecticut store.

Connecticut state police said two armed men confronted the 15 to 20 people waiting a Wal-Mart to buy a PlayStation at about 3:15 a.m. EST and demanded their money. The wounded man refused to handover his wallet and was shot, police said.

In most places, U.S. gamers who flocked to electronics stores turned the wait into an event as they camped out for several days, demonstrating Sony's grip on the $30 billion gaming industry. Sony is sure to rake in millions of dollars in revenue on Friday alone, with some 400,000 units expected to be available, one week after the initial launch in Japan.

Depending on the hard drive, each PlayStation 3 sells for either $500 or $600 and Sony aims to make 1 million units available in the United States by the end of the year. Some gamers also sought to turn their wait into a quick profit, hawking new consoles for up to $5,000 on Internet auction site eBay.

Wal Mart Extends Prescription Program

Washington became the latest state for Wal-Mart's inexpensive prescription drug plan yesterday, with the chain making its $4 generic drug prices available throughout the state.

The price is in effect for up to a 30-day supply of 331 generic products. That number is made up of 143 drugs, some counted more than once because of different dosages and solid or liquid forms.

Critics, which include the National Community Pharmacists Association, have called the discounts a stunt that covers only a small portion of over 8000 generic prescription drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

A Wal-Mart representative said its list was created after research of the top-selling generic drugs. The company said the list covers generic forms of 14 of the 20 most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States, based on data compiled by the Web site rxlist.com.

Wal-Mart said it launched the program in an effort to save Americans money on health care. The company has been under fire from various union groups over its labor practices, including health insurance for employees.

Surcharge On Cellphone Calls To Mexico

The Mexican government began imposing a surcharge a week ago of at least 14 cents a minute to complete international calls to cellphones. This will have the effect of doubling or tripling the rates callers pay.

California boasts the nation's largest Hispanic population, about 80 percent of whom trace their roots to Mexico. Many still have family there, making Mexico one of the most popular destinations for international calls for phone companies.

Some 20,000 San Diego customers of Telscape have been paying a penny a minute to call friends and relatives in Tijuana. That cost will climb to 17 cents a minute. Sprint Nextel customers who pay $5 a month for free calls to Mexican border towns and 5 cents a minute to elsewhere now will pay an extra 18 cents a minute.

The surcharge was imposed by Mexico's version of the Federal Communications Commission as part of an overhaul of how mobile phone companies bill their customers. For six years, Mexico has been moving toward a system where the calling party pays all the costs of a call to a cellphone, including long-distance charges. That makes the incoming call free to mobile users.

Mexico's surcharge does not apply to calls made to landline phones in Mexico nor to walkie-talkie systems used by some cellphone carriers. At least four smaller Mexican cellphone carriers have obtained a court order to block the surcharge.

Government Investigating Yo-Yo Waterball

The Yo-Yo Waterballs are fluid-filled balls that come in different colors and are a big hit with kids. They're attached to a bungee cord made from a rubbery material that is very stretchy. As kids swing them around, the cord can get wrapped around their neck. Some parents have discovered that the cord is difficult to remove from the children. Across the country, 400 kids have reported injuries from the toy.

The CPSC investigated back in 2003, but concluded there was not a justification to recall the toys at that time. Based on recent reported injuries, they are going to conduct a formal investigation. Consumer groups including Consumer Reports and the Underwriters Labratories have called for a ban on the toy. Also, this toy has been banned in some countries, including Brazil and Austrailia.