Current Events in May 2012

Facebook had egg on its face last week when General Motors announced it was pulling its ads just as Facebook launched its IPO.  Now it's Google's turn.

Big G has lavished lots of love and attention on Google+, its attempt to steal some mindshare from Facebook and Twitter but many millions of dollars and long months later, Google+ has been relegated to fourth place in social media spending, behind Pinterest, which seemingly came out of nowhere to stymie Google's plans.

Pinterest's "Pin It" buttons now appear next to Facebook, Twitter and email buttons on prime Web properties, with G+ treated as something of an after-thought, according to Advertising Age, the trade magazine of the ad biz.

In today's editions, Ad Age surveys ad executives and announces that the consensus is that Google+ is "an empty city where the masses go to set up a profile but then seldom return."

That might be going a little far but there's no doubting the appeal of Pinterest, according to a ConsumerAffairs sentiment analysis of about two million postings on Facebook, Twitter and other social media, which shows Pinterest going from nowhere a year ago to a pretty secure perch today.

What do users like about Pinterest? Just about everything, according to our survey. What don't they like? It's a pretty short list, bordering on non-existent.

Grumpy advertisers

All this makes advertisers kind of grumpy when they think of Google+. Big advertisers spend millions of dollars buying ads, after all, and they have no interest putting up what many feel amount to billboards in a ghost town. 

Drilling down a bit further, the general feeling seems to be that Google+ users skew younger, male and somewhat geeky.  That's fine if you're selling electronic gear but not so great if it's shampoo or pet products.

The latest official report from Google said more than 100 million people have been active on Google+ in the past 30 days, but that number includes people who've set up Google+ accounts and then visited another "socially enhanced" part of Google, such as search pages or YouTube, Ad Age sniffed.

ComScore data paint a less rosy picture, showing that the average Google+ user spends three minutes on the platform every month, compared to 405 minutes for Facebook users. The average time spent by each Pinterest user per month is 50 minutes, according to ComScore.

Google says Google+ adoption is in line with its projections.

The U.S. Agriculture Department says it has found no additional cases of "mad cow" disease since April 24, when a dairy cow in California was found to have the brain-wasting disease, and the department says the two dairies that had been under quarantine during the investigation have now been released from quarantine.

The April incident was only the fourth confirmed case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States since record-keeping began years ago, the USDA noted. Investigators say that the infected cow produced two offspring in the last two years. One was stillborn, the other was located and tested negative for BSE.

Of several hundred potential birth cohort cattle, the focus of the investigation is now on a small number of cattle, roughly 10 to 12, that may still be alive and have records that might allow them to be located. The remaining potential cohorts are no longer alive or have otherwise been ruled out, the USDA said.

In addition, investigation of the feed records at the index dairy premises has found no anomalies, and audits of all the feed suppliers to the index premises have shown them to be in compliance with the regulations, the agency reported. Thus, although the source of the BSE infection may never be determined, investigators say there is no evidence that other cattle are infected or that the animal feed supply is to blame.

General agreement

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack last month assured consumers the food supply was safe, as did consumer activists who are not always so supportive.

Most people buy timeshares while on vacation and after a high-pressure sales pitch. It's not uncommon for a strong case of buyers' remorse to set in afterward.

Kenneth, of Cross Junction, Va., says he and his wife became disillusioned with their purchase soon after signing on the dotted line.

“When we purchased many years ago, we were assured we would be able to sell our timeshare when we wished to do so,” Kenneth wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post. “Of course we have now learned that this is impossible and we continue to pay the ever increasing annual fees. This has become a greater burden since I have retired and we are on a fixed income. Now we are told that it is with us for as long as we live and will pass to our children. There must be some way to get away from these vultures."

A solution for heirs

There is. While it would be much better for everyone if the timeshare can be disposed of before you die, your heir can avoid being saddled with it by simply refusing to accept it. However, in some states you might not be able to refuse an inherited timeshare without refusing the rest of the inheritance, so it is prudent to consult with an attorney first.

If you are left a timeshare you do not want, have your attorney file a Disclaimer of Interest. That's a written refusal to accept the timeshare and it must be filed within a set time period. The executor of the estate should send copies of the death certificate to both the resort company if there is still a mortgage on the timeshare and to the property management company.

It is also important that you make no personal use of the timeshare after your loved one dies.

Donate it

In Kenneth's case, if he believes there is no way for him to sell the timeshare he can donate it to charity – if there is no mortgage. There are also companies that will take the timeshare off Kenneth's hands, but he will have to pay closing costs, just as though he sold it.

And it goes without saying, these are all considerations to think about before buying a timeshare.

Although sales numbers of 3D TV's continue to rise in the U.S., with a 74 percent  growth in units and a 64 percent growth in revenue over the last 12 months, only a small portion of the buying public is interested in purchasing the relatively new product.

All of this is according to The NPD Group's Retail Tracking Service, which conducted a survey that found just 14 percent of consumers expect to buy a 3D television, compared to 68 percent that says it's a "nice feature to have" and would only consider buying it in the future.

"3D has been a success for the television market from a sales perspective," said Ben Arnold, director of industry analysis for The NPD Group. "However, few consumers cite watching content in 3D as a reason for purchasing a TV, indicating that other factors such as screen size, resolution, and Internet connectivity hold more importance."

Sales of 3D TVs made up for 11 percent of all flat-panel TV sales in the first quarter, according to researchers.

No glasses

The survey also mentions that many consumers believe wearing 3D glasses, and having to purchase additional accessories takes away from their interest in buying a 3D TV. As of now, the glasses-free 3D television hasn't been introduced to the consumer market yet, which possibly further delays the customer's interest.

Also, since there's currently no nationwide 3D network, consumers said it would be a challenge to plan when they would use the 3D feature, which in their minds eliminates the entire reason for buying such an expensive piece of technology.

However, when sampling the television in person, 70 percent of consumers said they were "impressed" or "amazed" with the product, according to the survey. But those high percentages did little to increase overall interest.

Arnold also says that sports fans are and will be heavy consumers of 3D televisions, as more than half said they consider it an enhancement to watching their favorite matches.

"In addition to movies and gaming, sports are essential to growing 3D TV ownership. Nearly six-in-ten sports fans are interested in watching games and matches in 3D," said Arnold.

"This summer, manufacturers and content providers can leverage large scale events like the Olympics in London and the Euro 2012 soccer tournament by televising and marketing 3D technology. Our research suggests ownership of 3D TV doesn't necessarily mean consumers have adopted the technology. Getting owners to put on glasses and watch content is the real measure of 3D's success."

Coupons haven't just gone electronic, they've also gone mobile. A survey by CouponCabin.com shows 40 percent of smartphone users have redeemed a coupon on their mobile device.

In addition, nearly one-third of smartphone users search for coupons on their device at least once a month. Younger consumers tend to be the most active mobile coupon users.

The findings should not be surprising. Shoppers are already using their mobile devices for comparison shopping, checking prices online when they are standing in a store aisle. Checking for discounts just seems a normal response.

According to the poll, conducted by Harris Interactive, the favorite types of mobile coupons are:

• Daily deals - 41 percent
• Grocery coupons - 39 percent
• Online coupon codes - 34 percent
• Printable coupons - 29 percent
• Freebies such as free samples or coupons toward free trial of items - 24 percent
• Other non-grocery coupons - 23 percent

It's easiest to find and access mobile coupons by using one of the many coupon apps for smartphones. A good app will allow consumers to access coupons in every coupon category, including grocery, printable for in-store use, and online codes for hundreds of online retailers.

CouponCabin says its app will allow users to find gas price comparisons, money-saving deals on must-have products, free samples and coupons for local stores and restaurants.

"As we continue to grow, we've learned that our users are hungry for an app that puts the power of quality couponing in the palm of their hands, said Scott Kluth, CEO and Founder of CouponCabin.com.

For those foreign film buffs, here's one for you: The company Go Social LLC has announced the launch of what it calls the first application to provide short international films directly to your iPad. The new app is called the Go Social Film Magazine iPad application, and it's free to download.

Announced at this year's Cannes Film Festival, the app will provide a monthly stream of short films from filmmakers all over the globe, and it also gives film buffs background movie information, via exclusive interviews, extra scenes and up to date global film news.

"Too often short filmmakers are under-recognized and their films don't get the exposure that they deserve. We've created this great cutting edge distribution platform to benefit these filmmakers as well as film lovers." said NadzeyaHuselnikava, CEO of Go Social in a press release.

Users can also link their Twitter and Facebook pages to the app, allowing them to directly communicate with the filmmakers and those involved in the film's production. This is an ideal application for those movie buffs, who desire to keep abreast of what the international film community is up to. It's nearly like having a pass to the Cannes Film Festival on a monthly basis.

Go Social

"We chose to launch Go Social Film Magazine at the Cannes Film Festival 2012 because of its worldwide reputation and love of film directors, said Jason Rogan, co-creator of the new app. "The Short Film Corner at Cannes does an amazing job of recognizing short filmmakers, and bringing their films to a wider audience."

"Cannes is the perfect place for us to reach out to the short film community and give filmmakers an opportunity to be featured in our magazine,"he added.

Those who are filmmakers themselves can also submit their own movies to be considered for play on the application. Users would go to the Go Social film website and fill out a quick electronic form. The company will then send you an informational packet concerning the details of submitting your movie.

Go Social feels this is a new way of connecting international film makers and the movie going public in an inventive way. The company also sees the app as a new way to market up and coming films, especially those movies that are more on the obscure side.

"This app takes promotion for filmmakers to a whole new level," explains Director Michael Wright, whose film Dark Side is featured in the first issue of Go Social Film Magazine.

"Filmmakers think in visuals and this enables a perfect fusion of moving pictures, stills and the written word. Until now, people have been just reading about movies in publications. This new platform opens up whole new possibilities for the promotion and enjoyment of film," he said.

In addition to the weight of the baby they are carrying, pregnant women usually put on some extra pounds, often referred to as “baby fat.”

Though gaining excess weight isn't good for the mother, doctors have usually refrained from commenting, for fear that a restricted diet might harm the unborn child. Now, researchers from Queen Mary, University of London, say the fear is unfounded.

Their study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) shows that following a healthy diet, overseen by health professionals, prevents excess weight gain in pregnancy and reduces the risk of pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia, diabetes, high blood pressure and early delivery.

Watch your weight

Pregnant women, including those who are obese or overweight, should be encouraged to minimize weight gain through diet, according to major new research from Queen Mary, University of London.

The new research, which brings together the results of 44 separate studies, is the largest of its kind and includes data on more than 7,000 women. It comes at a time when an increasing percentage of women enter pregnancy either overweight or already obese.

The researchers investigated the effect of diet, exercise, or a combination of the two. They looked at how much weight women gained throughout pregnancy and whether mother or child suffered from any complications.

Although all three methods reduced the mother's weight gain, diet had the greatest effect with an average reduction of nearly four kilograms. Exercise only resulted in an average reduction in weight gain of just 0.7kg. Oddly, a combination of diet and exercise only produced and average reduction of one kilogram.

Dieting reduced complications

Women who followed a calorie controlled diet were 33 per cent less likely to develop pre-eclampsia, one of the most dangerous pregnancy complications that presents with raised blood pressure and protein in the urine.

Their risk of gestational diabetes was 60 per cent lower, their risk of gestational high blood pressure was 70 per cent lower and their risk of early delivery was 32 per cent lower. However, the researchers acknowledge that these findings need to be confirmed by further large studies.

Of critical importance, the researchers say, babies' birth weights were not affected by dieting. An expectant mother who piles on the pounds, meanwhile,is a threat to both mother and child.

"Weight control is difficult but this study shows that by carefully advising women on weight management methods, especially diet, we can reduce weight gain during pregnancy. It also shows that following a controlled diet has the potential to reduce the risk of a number of pregnancy complications,” said Dr. Shakila Thangaratinam, a Clinical Senior Lecturer and Consultant Obstetrician at Queen Mary, University of London

The researchers say dietary advice was based on limiting overall calorie intake; balancing protein, carbohydrate and fat; and eating foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables and pulses.

The Centers for Disease Control says all U.S. baby boomers should get a one-time test for hepatitis C because one in 30 of this population group has been infected and don't know it.

Hepatitis C causes serious liver diseases including liver cancer, which is the fastest-rising cause of cancer-related deaths, and the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States, according to the agency.

CDC said it believes this approach will address the largely preventable consequences of this disease, especially in light of newly available therapies that can cure up to 75 percent of infections.

“With increasingly effective treatments now available, we can prevent tens of thousands of deaths from hepatitis C,” said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D.

Survey results

The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA)conducted a survey and said results show 74 percent of boomers, born between 1945 and 1965, have never been tested or are unsure if they have been tested for hepatitis C, and 80 percent do not consider themselves at any risk for having the disease.

In addition to a lack of knowledge, the survey showed a lack of action: 83 percent of the baby boomers surveyed have never discussed hepatitis C with their health-care provider, even though it is diagnosed with a simple blood test and for many people, can be cured.

The CDC says baby boomers are five times more likely to be infected than other adults. Yet most infected baby boomers do not know they have the virus because hepatitis C can damage the liver for many years with few noticeable symptoms.

15,000 deaths each year

More than 15,000 Americans, most of them baby boomers, die each year from hepatitis C-related illness, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer, and deaths have been increasing steadily for over a decade and are projected to grow significantly in coming years.

“Identifying these hidden infections early will allow more baby boomers to receive care and treatment, before they develop life-threatening liver disease,” said Kevin Fenton, M.D., director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention.

Hepatitis C is spread through infected blood. Liver damage from hepatitis C gets worse over time, and because many boomers have been infected for decades, the number of people who die from hepatitis C-related liver problems is expected to increase by 207 percent from 2000 to 2030.

Why are boomers particularly at risk? One way that hepatitis C is transmitted is through unprotected sex. The first generation to embrace "free love" did so at a time before AIDS was an issue and may have been exposed decades ago.

When you think of shopping online, one usually thinks of purchasing lower-cost items like books, music or inexpensive clothing, but online couch retailers like Sofas Shopping and Sofas And Sectionals have made buying furniture online somewhat normal.

But what's the best way to sell a major piece of furniture online? While one store chooses to upgrade their website for better use, the other uses product videos to close the sale.

For over five years, San Francisco-based company Sofas Shopping  wwas a major player in the online furniture game, and it has just released a new website that it claims will make buying sofas online even easier than before.

Although the company is vague in the details of the new site, it says the website was intended to allow customers to feel better about buying such a personal and heavily-used product like a sofa online. The site improves the consumer's ability to choose certain details of the sofa like actual color and feel of the material by adding interactive and real-time components.

"It must be very difficult for customers to pull the trigger and spend their money on something that they can't try," said Sofas Shopping's Marketing Manager, Alex Sher.

"To compensate on that problem we analyzed the entire products we sell and took out those from online stores that had problems in the past. Also on top of that, one of the key points why sofa shoppers use us is cheapest price, unique design and fast free delivery all over the United States".

Sofas Shopping actually listened to its customer base by adjusting some of its prices. "Most of the customers prefer leather sofas but do not want to pay the price of the full leather sofa, stated Sher. "We listened and started using different materials to drop the price."

Relying on videos

The owners of Sofas And Sectionals, meanwhile, decided that videos would be the ideal accompaniment for the consumer when they're purchasing furniture over the net. In a recent survey conducted by ContentPing.com, over 14,000 consumers said that product videos raised their confidence and assisted them in deciding whether to purchase an item or not.

"People spending money on sofas or sectional seating need to be certain that what they are ordering online fits their style and taste as well as their budget," cautioned Peter Goldstein, VP of Sales for Sofas And Sectionals. "Providing videos of our products helps our customers make informed decisions, ensuring that they'll be happy with their purchase for years to come."

But the folks at Sofas Shopping believe that simply tweaking their website and using alternative materials for the sofas to keep prices down is the real key to successful online sales. They've found that other materials that mimic leather or suede are of such good quality, people can't tell or feel the difference.

"Today leather match reached such a quality and technologic production that it is hardly possible for most of the people to find difference between the real leather and leather match," said Sher."So that main difference is the price which is twice as cheaper."

Aside from improved websites and product videos, buying a major piece of furniture online is still risky, but it's good to know that online retailers are making decent efforts to make the consumer feels better in this specific area of furniture shopping.

Retailers, under increasing pressure to prevent tobacco and alcohol sales to underage consumers, are constantly looking for ways to increase their compliance with the law. Convenience store chain 7-Eleven is tapping into technology.

This month the company is launching a new technology in each of its 7-Eleven stores in the New York metropolitan area that will scan the 2-D code on the back of a customer's driver license or identification card when age-restricted products are being purchased. This scan will verify the birth date stored on the card. The company says it will not store any other information about the consumer.

"We believe that this new system takes compliance at 7-Eleven to the next level," said Keith Jones, 7-Eleven's senior director of government affairs.

The New York market has been a troublesome compliance area for retailers, especially convenience stores, which tend to draw a lot of young customers.

"Over the last 15 years, laws have been enacted and enforced to restrict the sale of alcohol, tobacco and potential inhalants to minors. Although making an illegal under-age purchase is harder than ever, there is still work to be done and preventative measures to be taken," Jones said.

"7-Eleven responded to the needs of its franchisees," says franchise owner Iris Yost. "We are passionate about not selling age-restricted items to minors. Because laws often place the burden on the store operator, franchisee or selling cashier, we need every protection available.  The ID Scan technology we now have will go a long way in stemming wrongful age-restricted sales."

7-Eleven touts its past efforts to reduce illegal underage sales over the last 30 years. In 1984, the company says it developed its "Come of Age" training and awareness program that specifically targeted illegal sale of alcohol to minors, after-hours sales, sales made on behalf of a minor and consuming alcohol on store premises. The program expanded in 1994 to include all age-restricted products: tobacco, lottery tickets and potential inhalants.

7-Eleven said it is underwriting the cost to upgrade all franchise registers, at no-cost to any of its franchisees.

Foster Farms, a Turlock, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 15,040 pounds of a turkey burger product because of misbranding and an undeclared allergen. The product contains a seasoning mix with hydrolyzed soy protein, a known allergen, not declared on the label. 

The following product is subject to recall: 

• 10-lb. cases containing 30 5.33-oz. "Foster Farms, Ready to Cook, Boneless Mediterranean Style White Turkey Burgers" with the case code "96384" and the following Julian dates: "1362," "2027," "2033," "2039," "2040," "2046," "2054," "2125," "2129," "2130" and "2131."

The product bears the establishment number "P-157" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced on various dates between December 28, 2011, and May 10, 2012, and were sold for institutional use in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington. 

The problem was discovered during a routine label review by FSIS and occurred as a result of the company receiving a spice mix from its supplier after an ingredient reformulation request by the company to have the hydrolyzed soy ingredient removed. The reformulation included soy, which was not declared on the turkey burger label. FSIS and the company have not received any reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of the products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider. 

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the company's consumer affairs manager, Teresa Lenz, at (209) 394-6914, ext. 4369. Media with questions about the recall should contact the company's director of advertising and public relations, Ira Brill, at (209) 394-6914, ext. 6891. 

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. "Ask Karen" live chat services are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

River Ranch Fresh Foods, LLC of Salinas, CA is expanding its voluntary recall of retail and foodservice bagged salads, because they have the potential of being contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. 

Retail salad products under this recall were distributed throughout the United States and Canada under various sizes and packaged under the brand names of River Ranch, Farm Stand, Hy-Vee, Shurfresh, and The Farmer’s Market. 

Foodservice salad products under this recall were distributed throughout the United States and Canada under various sizes and packaged under the brand names of River Ranch and Sysco. 

The recalled retail and foodservice salad bags have either “Best By” code dates between 12MAY2012 – 29MAY2012 or Julian dates of 118 and 125. The code date is typically located in the upper right hand corner of the bags. 

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. 

No other products, brands or code dates aside from those listed below are affected by this recall. 

There have been no reported illnesses associated with this recall. We are working closely with the Food & Drug Administration and California Department of Public Health. 

Consumers who have purchased this product should not consume it and are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions can contact River Ranch at their 24-hour customer service center at 1-888-624-2569.

J&B Group, a Pipestone, Minn. establishment, is recalling approximately 456 pounds of steakhouse burgers because of misbranding and undeclared allergens. The product contains a seasoning mix with hydrolyzed soy and wheat proteins, known allergens, not declared on the label.

The following product is subject to recall: 

• 27-oz packages containing 6 4.5-oz. "No Name, Roasted Peppers, Onions and Mozzarella Cheese Steakhouse Burgers" with a Julian date of "03312."
• Shipping cases of "Beef Steakburger with Steakhouse Seasoning" with serial numbers of "1049XXX" a case code of "19051" and the Julian date "03312."

The product bears the establishment number "Est. 8934" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were packaged on February 3, 2012 and were distributed to retail outlets in Minnesota and Wisconsin. 

The packages labeled "No Name, Roasted Peppers, Onions and Mozzarella Cheese" were incorrectly packed and instead contain a "Steakhouse Burger." The "Steakhouse Burger" product in the package includes a seasoning mix that contains soy and wheat proteins, known allergens. Soy and wheat are not included in the product's ingredient list on the label. FSIS and the company have not received any reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of the products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider. 

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the company's Consumer Relations Department at 1-888-387-1152. 

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. "Ask Karen" live chat services are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death but there's still some uncertainty about whether the benefits of widespread CT scan screening outweigh the risks. 

Hoping to shed light on the question, Peter B. Bach, M.D., of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, and colleagues conducted a systematic review to examine the evidence regarding the benefits and harms of low-dose computerized tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer. 

“Most patients are diagnosed with advanced disease, resulting in a very low 5-year survival rate,” Bach and his colleagues wrote. “Renewed enthusiasm for lung screening arose with the advent of LDCT imaging, which is able to identify smaller nodules than can chest radiographs.”  The researchers looked at a total of 31 studies of LDCT screening.

The most informative was the National Lung Screening Trial, which demonstrated that among 53,454 participants enrolled, screening resulted in significantly fewer (20%) lung cancer deaths but two smaller studies showed no such benefit.

“In terms of potential harms of LDCT screening, across all trials and cohorts, approximately 20 percent of individuals in each round of screening had positive results requiring some degree of follow-up, while approximately 1 percent had lung cancer," the authors wrote. “Low-dose computed tomography screening may benefit individuals at an increased risk for lung cancer, but uncertainty exists about the potential harms of screening and the generalizability of results.”

This report now forms the basis of the American College of Chest Physicians and the American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guideline: 

Recommendation 1: For smokers and former smokers ages 55 to 74 years who have smoked for 30 pack-years (number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day by the number of years the person has smoked) or more and either continue to smoke or have quit within the past 15 years, it is suggested that annual screening with LDCT should be offered over both annual screening with chest radiograph or no screening, but only in settings that can deliver the comprehensive care provided to National Lung Screening Trial participants. (Grade of evidence 2B, indicating a “weak recommendation based on moderate quality research data”) 

Recommendation 2: For individuals who have accumulated fewer than 30 pack-years of smoking or are either younger than 55 years or older than 74 years, or individuals who quit smoking more than 15 years ago, and for individuals with severe comorbidities that would preclude potentially curative treatment, limit life expectancy, or both, it is suggested that CT screening should not be performed.

Verizon Wireless has rewarded its early and longtime customers by "grandfathering" them into their $30 a month unlimited data plans with the carrier switched to tiered pricing. But that perk is going away.

At some point in the future, Verizon's 3G customers on a grandfathered unlimited data plan will lose that treasured status when they buy a new phone that runs on the company's 4G LTE network. Verizon will then steer them toward a "shared" data plan, for either families or small businesses.

For example, Verizon currently offers a family plan for voice services. All the phones on the plan share the allotted minutes and as long as the total used stays within the allotment each month, there are no overage charges. Exceeding the allotment can be very expensive.

Verizon Wireless plans a similar system for data. All users on the plan use the same pool of data. As long as total usage doesn't go over the allotment, there are no extra charges at the end of the month.

The change was announced Thursday at an investors' conference by Verizon Communications CFO Fran Shammo, who disclosed the new strategy.

"Everyone will be on data share," Shammo said.

A clarification

Verizon later issued a clarification of Shammo's remarks, saying if you now have an unlimited data plan with Verizon Wireless, you can keep it as long as you keep your current phone. Only when you buy a new, subsidized phone will you have to move to a shared data plan. The company has not disclosed how that service will be priced.

As expected the announcement has not gone over well with Verizon Wireless customers currently on an unlimited data plan. On message boards and social networking sites, many consumers have said they only remained with Verizon because of the unlimited data plans.

"Once that runs out, there is nothing holding me back to get with another provider that actually has good handsets," a poster named JJ wrote.

Shammo made the disclosures at a JP Morgan conference for investors, and there the news was very well received. Verizon Wireless stock is up 1.2 percent since the announcement.

Lots of goodwill

You might think that consumers would rise up and take their mobile business elsewhere, but don't count on it. A ConsumerAffairs sentiment analysis of about 390,000 postings on social media finds Verizon Wireless with a pretty substantial reservoir of good will.

While there are scattered grumblings about rates, pricing and billing, Verizon customers seem convinced that the company's network really is superior to the competition.

 It must also be admitted that Verizon's strategy of yanking the unlimited rate plan only when individual consumers upgrade makes it less likely that there will be masses of angry smartphone users taking to the streets.

Consumers who buy new or used cars from a dealer might be getting more than they bargained for. Automotive author Pam Oakes says many dealers are now including service contracts into the sale price of the vehicle.

The pitch may be "you don't pay for regular maintenance for four years or 48,000 miles," but Oakes says consumers are paying. These service contracts can cost $2,500 or so - much more than the cost of four years of regular maintenance.

"So not only are they paying more than the service should cost, but since it's rolled into the financed price of the car, they're paying interest on their oil changes," Oakes told ConsumerAffairs.

Oakes, who operates Pam's Motor City Automotive, in Ft. Myers, Fla., is author of the book "Car Care for the Clueless." She said she became aware of the trend when many of her longtime customers told her they had to take their newly purchased vehicles to the dealership for service, otherwise they would be paying for service twice.

Examples

As an example, a Cadillac CTS V can be financed with a dealer service plan warranty that amounts to an additional $2,300 over the first four years of a lease/finance. Average service would cost just $1,200 on the same car during the first four years, acording to Oakes.

She says a dealer service plan on a Kia Optima would cost on average $1,400 in additional payments in the first four years. Average service at a repair shop would cost just $500 during the first four years.

Dealer service warranty plans cover oil changes, tires, brakes, belts, etc. But Oakes says consumers are being charged for unnecessary items and procedures such as inspections on clutch fluid, brake line hose connections, brake fluids, and fuel additives.

"On average, during the first four years, the way cars are built today, a vehicle typically only needs filters and oil changes," she said.

Consumers may or may not be told that they are receiving a service plan during the sales process. If they are, they might not understand that it's an option they paid for. It's buried in the paperwork that consumers must digest and sign before they can drive their vehicle off the lot.

Got to read the documents

Not matter how long consumers have been at the dealer and no matter how tired they are, Oakes says they have to read each document before signing it.

"Your signature is the most important asset you have," she said.

Oakes says consumers who do not want a service contract on their newly purchased new or used car should ask the sales person about it and specifically ask to see the document that spells out the cost. Then, when they've identified which document commits them to the service contract, make sure they don't sign it.

For the nation as a whole, the average of price of gasoline showed little movement during the week, dipping by two cents a gallon. But in some individual states, motorists saw wide swings in prices at the pump.

The national average price of self-serve regular today is $3.713 per gallon, down from $3.734 last Friday, according to AAA's Fuel Gauge Survey. Fuel prices are 18 cents a gallon lower than they were a month ago.

The average price of diesel fuel today is $4.017 per gallon, down from $4.054 a week ago.

In states where gasoline prices tend to be highest, prices jumped by several cents a gallon in the last seven days. In Alaska, for example, the average price rose more than 13 cents a gallon in one week. The average price rose nearly 11 cents in California, more than 14 cents in Oregon and more than 12 cents in Washington State.

More stability

There was more price stability in the states where prices at the pump tend to be lower. However, drivers in Tennessee enjoyed a significant one week drop of nearly seven cents a gallon.

What's behind the widening gulf between low and high gasoline prices? Mostly geography. Western states are not enjoying the benefit of steadily falling oil prices.

"A decline in the price at the pump has not been seen west of the Rocky Mountains, where tight gasoline inventories have sent prices higher even as crude oil prices and retail gas prices across the rest country have moved lower," said AAA's manager of federal relations, Avery Ash. "While it is not unusual for gasoline stocks to decline at this time of year, as refineries undergo maintenance and the switchover from winter-blend to summer-blend gasoline takes place, current West Coast stocks, as reported last week by the Department of Energy, are at their lowest level since 1992."

The states with the most expensive gas this week are:

• Hawaii ($4.539)
• Alaska ($4.497)
• California ($4.360)
• Washington State ($4.241)
• Oregon ($4.219)
• Connecticut ($3.982)
• New York ($3.968)
• Nevada ($3.967)
• Illinois ($3.882)
• Vermont ($3.847)

The states with the least expensive gas this week are:

• South Carolina ($3.388)
• Oklahoma ($3.437)
• Missouri ($3.440)
• Arkansas ($3.441)
• Tennessee ($3.444)
• Alabama ($3.445)
• Mississippi ($3.479)
• Kansas ($3.483)
• Georgia($3.491)
• Iowa ($3.510)

Many consumers are cutting back on spending in various areas. For some it's entertainment, for others it's cutting back on utility usage or clothes. But wherever cutbacks are needed, it doesn't seem like they apply to pharmaceutical products, groceries or gasoline.

A new study released by consultant company Empathica Inc., finds that nine out of ten consumers are spending the same amount or more at the gas station.

Seems like a no brainer, right? But consumers could choose other means of transportation to cut down on fuel costs, like carpooling or taking public transportation. But the report shows that for consumers, using their own means of transportation is important enough to keep them spending at the pump.

As for groceries, merely one in five consumers reported spending less, compared to 25 percent who expected to spend the same amount.  This particular survey result evenly matches other studies that confirm consumers are spending less on dining out.

The survey also found that one in four consumers are spending less on pharmaceuticals, showing 60 percent spending the same and 15 percent spending more than they did before at the pharmacy.

"The economy is affecting American consumers just as we expected with specific segments continuing to be challenged," said Dr. Gary Edwards, chief customer officer, at Empathica. "The economy as a whole is still on the mend, and although we are starting to see an uptick in the job market, it doesn't necessarily mean consumers are eager to spend."

Biggest concerns

The survey also reveals exactly what consumers are most concerned about today. The top three areas were the economy (31 percent), debt (25 percent) and job security (19 percent). In addition, the survey also showed that consumers are spending less in other areas of life mainly due to their worries about falling into greater debt, or having to shell out more dollars for housing and utility costs.

Other survey results show that 60 percent of consumers feel they have it harder now than they did six months prior, and a third said their finances weren't any better or worse off in the last six months.

But all storms eventually come to an end, and economic storms aren't excluded from this truth. With signs of the economy improving in recent months, the report also reflects the growing optimism among various aged consumers.

Nearly 50 percent of consumers aged 18 to 24 look at their current financial situation in a positive light, as those over age 65 don't share the same optimism. Only 19 percent of that age group feel good about their personal finances.

"Uncertainty still remains among consumers with continued caution around spending on non-essentials," said Edwards.

It's a wonder why the airlines are always complaining of losing money and making less profit, when they now charge you for everything from that semi-cold can of soda, to that used-to-be-free bag of chips.

According to a report from the Department of Transportation, airlines made an amount of $3.4 billion in baggage fees in 2011.

Although down from 2010's fourth quarter, airlines showed a 1.5 percent profit margin from October through December of 2011, and the 17 biggest airlines accumulated $3.36 billion from baggage fees in that same year.

How do consumers feel about this? We conducted a computerized sentiment analysis of about 39,000 postings on social media over the last year and found the prevailing sentiment soundly in negative territory.

The emotions we encountered were the usual ones -- love, hate and not too much in between

Not just baggage 

However, it wasn't just baggage fees that allowed airline carriers to be in the black in 2011, as $2.38  billion also came from reservation change fees. The added charges and fees came in a desperate attempt from airlines to compensate for higher fuel costs and lower consumer spending. But simply adding extra costs to plane tickets wouldn't of provided airlines with enough financial leverage to fully recover, so in came the fees.

Industry experts do state however, that though airlines are raking in the customer's dough, many are still struggling to stay afloat. "Even with these impressive revenues from ancillary fees, some airlines are still reporting razor-thin profit margins thanks to increased fuel costs," said Airfarewatchdog.com's George Hobica in an interview. "Imagine what would have happened without them."

But with consumers bearing the financial brunt of the slumping airline industry, it's a challenge for the customer to have feelings of sympathy for the carriers. "The public hates the airlines now, said Hobica in a separate statement. "They are in a race to bottom with a vicious cycle of higher fees."

Delta, American Airlines, and U.S. Airways made the most from bag fees last year, at $864 million, $593 million and $506 million respectively.

Some of the things that experts advise to consumers for avoiding the dreaded baggage fee is:

• Bringing only what you know you will use on your trip. Bringing that just-in-case outfit may not be the best travel decision. 
• Try wearing a couple of items instead of stuffing them into your bag. The airlines haven't yet started charging passengers for layering their clothes, so your body is still the perfect carry-on.
• Be mindful of exactly how much weight your bag is before getting to the airport. You can even set your packed bag on your bathroom scale, as readings will be pretty close to what the airport scale says.

But it seems like the consumers have already begun to change their flying methods, as overall fee-profits are slightly down from 2010 for airlines. But make no mistake about it, airline executives are already on their way to boardrooms to create new fees to bulk up their purse and make you dig into your pocket even more. 

Oh, how creative some can get around a conference table when extra funds are desperately needed.