Current Events in November 2012

Hostess Brands may not be out of business yet and 18,000 workers may not be out of work. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain is sending the company and the striking Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union to a mediator.

The two sides will meet today to see if they can come to some agreement that would keep the company in business. Hostess announced Friday it is liquidating and selling its assets because it cannot continue to operate with the bakers' union on strike.

Drain said he intervened in an effort to save the jobs that would be lost if Hostess goes out of business. He'll be in charge of today's mediation session to see if the company and union can reach some kind of agreement.

Wage cuts

Hostess had asked the Bakers to accept an eight percent wage cut and other benefit reductions. The company said the other employee unions, including the teamsters, had agreed.

If the two sides cannot agree, Hostess said it will return to court and ask the judge to allow it to begin liquidating. Company officials say they aren't even sure that they could reopen, considering the losses they have already suffered during the closure.

Hostess owns 30 food brands, including Twinkies, Hostess Cupcakes, Ding-Dongs, Ho Ho's and Wonder Bread. The company said it is confident that it can sell its brands to competitors who will continue to produce the products.

That, however, didn't stop a run on supermarkets and convenience stores over the weekend, with many consumers buying up every box of Twinkies they could find.

Though it's generally believed the housing market is in recovery mode, few analysts expected home sales to rise in October. But according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) monthly report, they did.

Total existing home sales rose 2.1 percent over September and were up nearly 11 percent from October 2011. One reason for the unexpected gain, however, is September's sales figures were revised downward.

Still, it's pretty impressive considering large areas of the northeast were dealing with Hurricane Sandy.

Trending up

"Home sales continue to trend up and most October transactions were completed by the time the storm hit, but the growing demand with limited inventory is pressuring home prices in much of the country," said Lawrence Yun , NAR chief economist. "We expect an impact on Northeastern home sales in the coming months from a pause and delays in storm-impacted regions."

Price action was also encouraging. The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $178,600 in October -- which is 11.1 percent above a year ago. It marks eight consecutive monthly year-over-year increases, which last occurred from October 2005 to May 2006.

"Rising home prices have already resulted in a $760 billion growth in home equity during the past year," Yun said. "Given that each percentage point of price appreciation translates into an additional $190 billion in home equity, we could see close to a $1 trillion gain next year."

Foreclosures still a factor

Distressed properties continued to make up a sizable portion of the market. In October, foreclosures and short sales accounted for 24 percent of the action.

But there continued to be fewer homes for consumers to choose from, which is helping support prices. Total housing inventory at the end of October fell 1.4 percent -- to 2.14 million existing homes available for sale, representing a 5.4-month supply at the current sales pace, compared with 5.6 months in September.

It's the fewest number of houses for sale since February of 2006 when it was 5.2 months. Listed inventory is 21.9 percent below a year ago when there was a 7.6-month supply.

Investors, meanwhile, remain very active in the real estate market. All-cash sales were at 29 percent of transactions in October, versus 28 percent in September. They were also 29 percent in October 2011.

Investors, who account for most cash sales, purchased 20 percent of homes in October, up from 18 percent in September. They were 18 percent in October 2011.

If you’ve ever used 5-hour Energy drinks, then you know just how well they work in terms of providing a quick caffeine jolt.

But according to the Food and Drug administration (FDA), those tiny orange and yellow bottles may have caused 13 deaths and made 33 people seek hospital care.

The makers of the energy drink, Living Essentials, said it hasn’t seen any proof that would suggest its product has caused the death or hospitalization of any of its customers.

“5-hour is unaware of any deaths proven to have been caused by the consumption of 5-hour Energy,” said Living Essentials. “It is important to note that submitting a serious adverse event report to the FDA, according to the agency itself, is not construed by FDA as an admission that the dietary supplement was involved caused or contributed to the adverse event being reported.”

5-hour Energy drinks have been one of the many energy drinks on today’s market that have received their fair share of backlash from those who have linked the powerful caffeine product to illness and death.

Monster suit

The parents of a 14-year old Maryland high school student believe the popular energy drink Monster led to their daughter’s death and they’re suing the drink makers for an undisclosed amount. The case is still pending.

And in the United Kingdom, supermarkets are starting to ban the sale of energy drinks to customers below the age of 18.

In the case of 5-hour Energy drinks, the company says it has the same portion of caffeine as a premium cup of coffee which has about 100 milligrams per cup. 5-hour’s tiny 2-ounce bottle contains about 207 milligrams of caffeine, according to a study conducted by ConsumerLab.com in 2010—which shows a substantially higher portion of caffeine than just one cup of premium coffee.

Living Essentials says customers should be following the instructions of how to use the product very closely and although the company advertises 5-hour Energy as a product for daily use, people shouldn’t be consuming more than two bottles in one day. And if you do drink two per day, the portions should be spaced out between several hours.

A ConsumerAffairs reader wrote recently to say he is aware of how careful people should be when using these products, and said he chooses to use 5-hours moderately, and said the drink seems to help him whenever he needs an energy boost.

“I use the 5 Hour Energy types but I don’t use them every day,” wrote Samuel, commenting on a previous story we wrote on energy drinks. “If I have a lot of work to do like cleaning, laundry and it is going to take several hours then I use them, but less than one per week. They work for me so far in that way, but I would never depend on them daily.  [It’s] just not a good idea as I see it,” he wrote.

Every day

But using 5-hour Energy drinks periodically isn’t what the company wants, as the current TV slogan for the product is “Every day’s a 5-hour Energy Day.”   

The trouble comes into play when people use energy drinks like its actual coffee, by drinking a couple of bottles each day--every day.

And since it’s pretty normal to drink two or three cups of coffee each day, some people may get confused and think they’re getting the same portion of caffeine they would get by drinking two cups of joe.

The makers of 5-hour Energy said portion control is key and if it’s taken correctly there won’t be any health issues associated with the drink.

The harmful effects are “overblown when it’s in small qualities,” said a company rep in an interview with ABC News. “It’s like this, water is good, but if you have too much you drown.”

Whether the number of deaths and hospitalization cases are really due to 5-hour Energy drinks will be revealed after the investigation, but it’s clear that this is not the kind of attention that Living Essentials was looking for.

And even if the investigation determines that 5 Hours had nothing to do with the deaths and hospitalization of its customers, it could still do harm to the company and lower the chances of people using the product every day.

When it comes to parenting, there are a lot of different styles one can use to raise children and prepare them for the real world.

Many years ago famed psychologist Diana Baumrind broke down three type of parenting that was heavily examined by educators, other psychologists and parents alike.

She came up with the authoritarian parent, who uses a my-way-or-the-highway type of parenting style. And the authoritative parent who's more willing to listen to their children’s wants instead of ignoring them.

There's also the permissive parent who just wants to make their kids happy at any financial or emotional cost.

Of course other studies and parenting categories developed -- like the “helicopter parent” who hovers over their child’s every move and decision, and the “snow plow” parent that takes away every possible challenge for the child so they have it easier in life, and the “bulldoze” parent who makes their presence and opinions known to every teacher, coach and school that the child encounters.

Emerging trends

To learn more about his topic and the other possible parenting categories, the University of Virginia’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, conducted a study to determine how parenting methods differ today compared to  parenting styles of the past.

Researchers also wanted to get a better idea of what type of adults the next generation of kids will be, as a result of today’s different parenting styles.

The study gathered 3,000 parents of school-aged children across the U.S. from September 2011 to March 2012, and follow-up research was conducted in a series of interviews to further develop and name the different parenting categories. Researchers received a grant of $850,000 from the John Templeton Foundation to finance the study.

Faithful parents

The first category that researchers came up with was the "Faithful” parent, which makes up 20 percent of parents in the United States. The Faithful parent, according to the study, believes society is on a downward spiral in terms of morality and spiritual belief.

“The world can be an evil place,” a parent in this category might think, “So I have to set a strong religious foundation so my child doesn’t go astray.”

This parent usually has beliefs based in Christianity, Judaism, or Islam the study shows, and rebels against many of the social norms that they believe are actually sinful in nature.

For example, we all knew that one kid growing up who wasn’t able to come outside and play a lot, couldn’t receive phone calls or couldn’t come out to school dances or parties. Most likely these kids were raised by the Faithful type and were shielded from a lot of outside influences that their parents believed were actually harmful temptations.

Although school and overall success is important to the Faithful parent, they are more likely to place emphasis on their child’s spiritual development and the level of discipline their child has to the family’s beliefs.

Impressing God is far more important than impressing friends or teachers in the eyes of the Faithful parent, and using the help of a church, synagogue or temple for raising their child is extremely commonplace, reveals the study.

Engaged Progressives

“Engaged Progressives” represent 21 percent of parents, say researchers and are the ones that will most likely be called cool by their children’s friends.

This parenting group doesn’t use spirituality or religion to set guidelines for their child. Instead they use their own past experiences to dictate what’s right and wrong and also tend to be more optimistic about the present world and their child’s future.

The study also shows that Engaged Progressives are most likely to let their children find their own way at a very young age, as it pertains to being social, developing spiritual beliefs or engaging in sex. Meaning, if a father is talking to his 15-year-old son about condom use, instead of trying to talk him out of premarital sex is, he would fall within the Engaged Progressive category.

This type of parent also typically stays away from religion, the study found, and uses the Golden Rule as the main compass to teach morality.

And instead of trying hard to shape their child’s opinions, they consider their children to be “responsible choosers” and will probably engage in a lot more conversations with their child while listening to their needs much more than other parents.

Detached

The study also shows that 21 percent of parents would fall into the “Detached” category of parenting, where they allow their kids to shape their own destiny and have a hands-off approach to child rearing.

Researchers say this type of parent is usually pessimistic about the future and believe outside influences will have a greater impact on their child’s development.

The findings of the study determined that many of the Detached parents are Caucasian, work in blue-collar jobs, rarely eat dinner together as a family, and don’t ask their kids about homework, tests or grades that much.

Researchers also say the Detached parent doesn’t feel a close connection with their child and spends less than two hours a day with them in one-on-one interaction.

American Dreamer

There’s also the “American Dreamer,” which represents 27 percent of parents, and this parenting style is usually low-income households that do everything in their power to balance the scales of opportunity for their children.

They also try to remove every social challenge the child may face because of their financial circumstance.

Researchers say a lot of parents in this category happen to be blacks and Hispanics, and many said in the survey that they have a “very close” relationship with their children and do all they can to keep them away from the harms of their sometimes harsh environment.

This particular parent is most likely pulled away from their child more than the other groups due to working more hours and trying to better their financial situation. But they somehow still stay heavily involved in their child’s upbringing while remaining extremely hopeful about their child’s future and the opportunities in this country.

The study also revealed that between all the categories, most of the parents said their children share the same values as they do, despite outside influences-- and dissension in the household is usually about everyday things like setting curfews or doing the dishes.

Researchers also found that there are less authoritarian types of parents than in previous generations and many try to properly balance the art of being a disciplinarian and friend to their child, which certainly wasn’t the case in the past with many parents.

Approximately a dozen mortgage lenders and mortgage brokers have been told to clean up potentially misleading advertisements -- particularly those targeted toward veterans and older Americans.

The warning letters were sent by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

At the same time, the CFPB also announced it has begun formal investigations of six companies that it thinks may have committed more serious violations of the law.

“Misrepresentations in mortgage products can deprive consumers of important information while making one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “Baiting consumers with false ads to buy into mortgage products would be illegal. We will conduct a fair and rigorous investigation into these issues and will take appropriate action for any violations we find.”

Joint sweep

Today’s actions stem from a joint “sweep,” a review conducted by the CFPB and the FTC of about 800 randomly selected mortgage-related ads across the country, including ads for mortgage loans, refinancing, and reverse mortgages.

The agencies looked at public-facing ads in newspapers, on the Internet and from mail solicitations; some came to the attention of the CFPB and the FTC from consumers who complained about them.

The agencies were looking for potential violations of the 2011 Mortgage Acts and Practices Advertising Rule, which prohibits misleading claims concerning government affiliation, interest rates, fees, costs, payments associated with the loan, and the amount of cash or credit available to the consumer. The CFPB and the FTC share enforcement authority for the rule. Companies that the CFPB finds have violated prohibitions on misleading advertising could be subject to enforcement actions.

Two-pronged attack

The CFPB’s review generally focused on mortgage advertisements, particularly ads that targeted older Americans or veterans. The FTC, meanwhile, examined ads by home builders, realtors, and lead generators. The FTC is issuing their own warning letters to about a dozen companies and continuing with their own investigations of even more companies based on their findings.

The sweep identified problems, such as:

• Potential misrepresentations about government affiliation: For example, some of the ads for mortgage products contained official-looking seals or logos, or have other characteristics that may be interpreted by consumers as indicating a government affiliation.
• Potentially inaccurate information about interest rates: For example, some ads promoted low rates that may have misled consumers about the terms of the product actually offered.
• Potentially misleading statements concerning the costs of reverse mortgages: For example, some ads for reverse mortgage products claimed that a consumer will have no payments in connection with the product, even though consumers with a reverse mortgage are commonly required to continue to make monthly or other periodic tax or insurance payments, and may risk default if the payments aren’t made.
• Potential misrepresentations about the amount of cash or credit available to a consumer: For example, some ads contained a mock check and/or suggested that a consumer has been pre-approved to receive a certain amount of money in connection with refinancing their mortgage or taking out a reverse mortgage, when a number of additional steps would customarily need to be completed before the consumer would qualify for the loan.

The warning letters advise the recipients that their ads may violate federal laws, and that they should review all their advertising.  

Boxes of Cracker Jack are famous for having a toy surprise inside. But what parent suspects that Cracker Jack might come with a surprising dose of a mildly addictive stimulant drug?

A soon-to-be-introduced version of that classic, kid-friendly snack does, in fact, have added caffeine -- in the form of coffee, according to the manufacturer. The nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest says that if government regulators don't take some kind of action, products like Frito-Lay's Cracker Jack'D could set off a new craze in which manufacturers add caffeine itself or coffee to more and more varieties of foods and beverages.

Raising concerns

In a letter to the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson alerted the agency to Cracker Jack'D, Kraft's caffeinated "water enhancer" MiO Energy, and caffeinated "Extreme Sports Beans" marketed by the Jelly Belly Candy Company.

"The way things are going, I fear that we'll see caffeine, or coffee. being added to ever-more improbable drinks and snacks, putting children, unsuspecting pregnant women, and others at risk," said Jacobson. "How soon before we have caffeinated burgers, burritos, or breakfast cereals?"

MiO Energy comes in 32- and 48-milliliter squirt bottles that dispense half-teaspoon-sized servings intended to flavor water, according to the label. Each serving has 60 milligrams of caffeine, about as much as a small cup of coffee. In a letter to Kraft, Jacobson said young children might enjoy squirting two or three times as much MiO Energy into water.

"It is relevant to note that several state and city attorneys general and United States senators recently expressed concern about the caffeine content and marketing of energy drinks," Jacobson wrote. "Those products are marketed mostly to teens and young adults and have reportedly been associated with several deaths."

MiO Energy appears to be formulated with many of the same ingredients as other "energy" drinks. Besides caffeine, MiO Energy (in the Black Cherry variety) contains water, citric acid, propylene glycol, taurine, guarana extract, ginseng extract, niacinamide, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, the artificial sweeteners sucralose and acesulfame potassium, sodium and potassium citrates, Red 40, Blue 1, and potassium sorbate. A Green Thunder variety is identical but has Yellow 5 instead of Red 40.

It's unclear exactly how much caffeine is in Cracker Jack'D, though the labeling suggests a serving has as much as a cup of coffee.

Marketing to kids?

"Whether or not they are advertised directly to children, it is certain that young children will consume Cracker Jack'D... and sometimes consume it to excess," Jacobson wrote executives at Frito-Lay and parent company PepsiCo. Both MiO Energy and Cracker Jack'D have fine print on labels saying the products are inappropriate for children but CSPI claims that's not sufficient to prevent children from consuming them.

Effects of caffeine include anxiety, restlessness, irritability, excitability, and insomnia, according to CSPI. The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages the consumption of caffeine and other stimulant substances in the diets of children and adolescents. The FDA considers caffeine safe for use in cola-type beverages up to 0.02 percent (72 mg per 12 ounces), but does not regulate coffee, according to CSPI.

"Additional concerns regarding the use of caffeine in children include its effects on the developing neurologic and cardiovascular systems and the risk of physical dependence and addiction," the AAP says. "Because of the potentially harmful adverse effects and developmental effects of caffeine, dietary intake should be discouraged for all children."

We're getting sicker at an alarming rate

According to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes increased in all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico between 1995 and 2010.

In fact, during that time the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes increased by 50 percent or more in 42 states, and by 100 percent or more in 18 states.

The report, appearing in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, finds that states with the largest increases are Oklahoma (226 percent), Kentucky (158 percent), Georgia (145 percent), Alabama (140 percent),and Washington (135 percent).

South leads the way

"Regionally, we saw the largest increase in diagnosed diabetes prevalence in the South, followed by the West, Midwest, and Northeast," said Linda Geiss, a statistician with CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation and lead author of the report. "These data also reinforce findings from previous studies, which indicate that the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes is highest in the southern and Appalachian states."

The study, which uses data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System -- an annual telephone survey of health behaviors and conditions of US adults aged 18 and older -- found that the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in 2010 was 10 percent or more in six states and Puerto Rico.

"In 1995 only three states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico had a diagnosed diabetes prevalence of 6 percent or more. By 2010, all 50 states had a prevalence of more than 6 percent," said Ann Albright, Ph.D., R.D., director of CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation. "These rates will continue to increase until effective interventions and policies are implemented to prevent both diabetes and obesity."

Working on prevention

Type 2 diabetes, which may be prevented through lifestyle changes, accounts for 90 percent to 95 percent of all diabetes cases in the United States. CDC and its partners are working on a variety of initiatives to prevent type 2 diabetes and to reduce complications in those already diagnosed.

CDC leads the National Diabetes Prevention Program, a public-private partnership that brings evidence-based programs for preventing type 2 diabetes to communities. The program is helping establish a network of lifestyle-change classes for overweight or obese people at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

As well, the National Diabetes Education Program -- a partnership of CDC and NIH -- provides resources to improve the treatment and outcomes of people with diabetes, promote early diagnosis, and prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

A New Jersey court case underscores the importance of always checking out a charity before you make a donation -- especially a cash donation.

The court has ordered two men who claimed to be raising money for the families of emergency responders who died at the World Trade Center on 9/11 to give up $121,116 in donations and pay civil penalties. They are also permanently barred from working for any charitable organization in New Jersey, under terms of a Final Consent Judgment that resolves a lawsuit filed by New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.

“This case illustrates how charlatans will use a tragic event, and the pretext of helping those in need, to profit themselves. We’re on alert for similar scams in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and consumers should perform due diligence before making donations if they are contacted and asked to aid storm victims,” Chiesa said.

Concern raised about fake Sandy charities

Chiesa points out that, to date, only one charity created specifically created to aid Hurricane Sandy victims has registered with the state.

In the just-settled case Chiesa said the two men brought a custom-painted pickup truck to public events, where they sold t-shirts featuring the logos of the New York City police and fire departments and also took cash donations, under the guise of helping the families of fallen first responders.

They were not authorized to use the logos and not legally allowed to solicit the donations. The pickup truck had painted images of the World Trade Center and listed the names of first responders who perished there. According to the factual findings in the Final Consent Judgment, no money went to the victims’ family members.

“We have zero tolerance for those who attempt to enrich themselves by using emotional appeals following a tragedy or disaster to defraud consumers who want to help those in need,” said Eric T. Kanefsky, Acting Director of the State Division of Consumer Affairs. “The Division will seek swift and severe action against those who use the name of a just cause to enrich themselves.”

Avoiding a rip-off

Consumer who want to support a worthy cause, of course, should. But New Jersey officials, along with most consumer advocates, suggest donors always show caution.

• Before donating to a charity, find out whether the organization is registered with the state or is exempt from the registration requirement. In some states certain religious and educational organizations, and charities that raise less than $10,000 annually in contributions, are exempt.
• Learn how, exactly, the charity plans to use your money. Learn how much the charity spent during recent fiscal years on program costs, management costs, and fundraising. Learn about the charity’s stated mission. If the charity representative is reluctant to answer these questions, it's not a good sign.
• The charity should readily provide all of this information to you. Verify the information by calling your state attorney general's office.

Believe it or not, tax-filing season is right around the corner. While Congress and the president wrestle over the “fiscal cliff” and the future of taxes, consumers need to be focused on the 2012 tax year.

To get a speedier refund it helps to file as early as possible. Filing early, in turn, is aided by taking a few steps between now and December 31 to get ready. Here are five things you can do now to get ready:

1. Think about any life changes you had in 2012 and how these may affect your tax return. Many common events, like having a baby or buying a home, can trigger tax credits or deductions. Start planning for your income tax return by putting together an action timeline and to-do list.
2. Choose a professional tax preparer, if you need help completing your return. You'll want someone who has been around for a while and who will be around later. If you don't already have a tax preparer, ask friends and family for a referral.
3. Start now gathering documents you'll need to complete your return. Keep in mind your W-2 and 1099 forms won't be available until the end of January but there are other documents that will prove helpful, like a copy of last year's tax return. If you have a part-time business you can begin now to organize and gather receipts.
4. Consider year-end tax moves that will reduce your taxable income, such as giving to charity, prepaying your January mortgage payment or increasing your retirement plan contributions.
5. Create a plan with your tax preparer that includes a list of things to do to get your taxes done this year. Start a shoebox for your tax documents, review your year for life changes and put a target date on the calendar to file.

Significant season

“The coming tax filing season is shaping up to be like no other in recent years,” said Mark Steber, chief tax officer, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. “The combination of expiring tax laws and tax policy changes, possible renewed retroactive provisions and last-minute legislative action calls for taxpayers to be extra careful when managing their taxes in order to ensure that there is no money left on the table."

Steber suggests keeping an eye out for late year legislative changes that can impact your future taxes. For example, Extender Provisions, which include the deductions for state and local sales tax, the mortgage insurance premium, deductions for out-of-pocket classroom expenses for teachers, deductions for college tuition and fees, as well as the $500 credit for making energy-efficient home improvements, could all be on the table.

That means paying attention to the news out of Washington over the next few weeks. What happens there could affect you tax-wise in the coming years.

KidCo Inc., of Libertyville, IL, is Recalling about 220,000 PeaPod and PeaPod Plus Travel Beds.

Infants and young children can roll off the edge of the inflatable air mattress, become entrapped between the mattress and the fabric sides of the tent, and suffocate.

Death, injuries reported

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is aware of a death of a 5-month-old boy in December 2011 in New York. The child who was found with his face pressed against the side wall of the tent. The cause of death was not determined.

In addition, CPSC is aware of six reports and Health Canada is aware of three reports of children who became entrapped or experienced physical distress in the product. Two of the six reports included infants who were found crying underneath of the mattress, which had not been inserted into the zippered pocket on the bottom of the tent.

The KidCo PeaPod Travel Beds and PeaPod Plus Travel Beds are small, portable sleep tents marketed for use by infants from birth to 3+ years, depending on the model. The tents have a zippered side for putting in and taking out the child and have an inflatable air mattress that fits into a zippered pocket underneath the floor of the tent. The tents fold into a compact round shape and come with a fabric bag for storage and transport.

The following models and corresponding tent fabric colors are included in this recall:

• ^{P100 Teal}
• ^{P101 Red}
• ^{P102 Lime}
• ^{P103 Periwinkle}
• ^{P104 Ocean}
• ^{P201 Princess/Red}
• ^{P202 Camouflage}
• ^{P203 Quick Silver}
• ^{P204 Sagebrush}
• ^{P205 Cardinal}
• ^{P900CS Green}

The model number can be found on a small tag on the underside of the product.

The travel tents, made in China, were sold at independent juvenile specialty stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com from January 2005 through the present for between $70 and $100.

Consumers should immediately stop using the tents and contact KidCo to get a free repair kit. The kits will vary depending on the model and will be shipped to consumers starting in December 2012.

Contact KidCo toll-free at (855) 847-8600 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. CT.

Black Friday this year may be even more confusing and chaotic than in years past. The decision by several major retailers to open Thanksgiving night means some of those door-buster specials will only be available to those who leave the dinner table to go shopping.

On the other hand, some stores are staggering their bargains, making them available only at certain times on Thanksgiving night and on Black Friday itself. A consumer who decides to shop will need to consult her favorite stores' advertisements closely to understand the rules.

While it's been established that overall, Black Friday isn't the best day for bargains, there are some tempting offers that have been offered so far. Here's a rundown of some of the better ones listed by ConsumerWorld.org found Edgar Dworsky:

Walmart Stores

Vizio 60” LED Smart TV for $688, LG Blu-Ray player for $38, 700-ct sheet sets $19.96, and men’s Dearfoam slippers for $6

Sears

Kenmore French door stainless refrigerator $1299.99, and Kenmore over-the-range stainless microwave $149.99; $10 off $40 clothing purchase coupon

Sam's Club

Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone for $0.96

Best Buy

Canon Powershot Elph 110 camera $129.99; Seagate 3-TB external hard drive $99.99

Kmart

Proctor-Silex small kitchen appliances from $4.99

Toys R Us

More than 150 toys for 50 percent off

Macy's

Coupon for $10 off a $25 purchase

Check ads for store hours in your area. For a look at more Black Friday sale items, check out the growing number of websites that have posted the ad slicks.

Since Hostess Brands announced it is going out of business and liquidating, an absolute consumer panic appears to have formed around one of the company's products, the Twinkie.

Consumers have hit supermarkets and convenience stores, stocking up on the high-calorie treat. Adults who haven't eaten a Twinkie in decades are bidding outrageous amounts on Ebay for cartons of Twinkies.

It's all a little much, especially when you consider that the Twinkie most likely isn't going anywhere. Within a few weeks it's likely someone else will be making the pastry.

“Hostess Brands will focus on selling its assets to the highest bidders,” said company CEO Gregory Rayburn on Friday.

Included in those assets are Hostess's 30 brands, which include the Twinkie. Even before the weekend hysteria over Twinkies it was likely another company would continue to make the snack. After all the publicity, it's almost guaranteed.

Going a little nuts

On Ebay Sunday, some people were frankly going a little nuts. Five boxes of 10 Twinkies had 12 bidders with a high bid of $117.50. That works out to $2.35 per Twinkie.

In an interview with CNBC Friday, Rayburn said he is hopeful Hostess will be able to sell all 30 of its brands and that its products, many of which have been around for decades, will continue to be produced.

That would include Twinkies, as well as Ding-Dongs, Ho Ho's and Wonder Bread. In short, they aren't expected to become collector's items. Besides, even with all the preservatives, there's a limit to how long even a Twinkie will last.

Hostess announced it was shutting down after its unionized Bakers rejected a pay cut and went on strike. Hostess, which was in the process of reorganizing under bankruptcy, said it was unable to continue operating in the face of the walkout by its bakers, who comprise about 30 percent of its employees.

The company's liquidation means the closing of 33 bakeries, 565 distribution centers and 570 bakery outlet stores, idling some 18,000 employees nationwide.

Federal Housing Administration, or FHA, loans have helped many consumers buy their first homes. Since the government guarantees the loans lenders will accept as little as 3.5 percent as a down payment.

Now, FHA says it is running short of funds and may have to turn to a taxpayer bailout for the first time in its 78 years. It projects losses of $16.3 billion in the current fiscal year.

To try to head-off a request for taxpayer funds, FHA says it will raise insurance premiums on FHA loans by one percent. The agency will also require those mortgage insurance policies to remain in effect, even after the borrower has accumulated more than 20 percent equity in the home.

The importance of FHA

Michael Calhoun, president of the Center for Responsible Lending, says it's critical that FHA be restored to financial help.

“FHA has played a critical role during the housing crisis and the economic downturn,” Calhoun said. “It provided credit to families who otherwise would not have been able to buy homes.”

In fact, as mortgage lenders have tightened lending standards in the wake of the housing collapse, FHA has continued to make loans to first-time home buyers. Calhoun says this has not only helped the individuals getting the loans but also has helped stabilize neighborhoods and communities and boost the economic recovery. He says it's essential that FHA continue to fulfill this role, especially as the recovery continues.

“It is also essential that FHA operate on a financially sound basis,” Calhoun said. “FHA has already instituted changes so that its current and more recent loans are projected to generate a profit. Those safeguards, along with the additional changes FHA announced today, should produce the additional revenue that will enable FHA to operate without a subsidy from taxpayers.”

Running short of cash

Current rules require FHA to maintain enough reserved to cover projected losses on the $1 trillion in loans that it guarantees. It's running short of that. Just as conventional lenders have suffered losses through foreclosures, so has FHA.

Is it easier for a first-time buyer to qualify for an FHA rather than a conventional loan? It might be. But before approving a loan, the lender analyzes the integrity of the borrower's past credit performance.

Based on FHA requirements, those who have a good credit history demonstrated by a solid track record of timely payments will likely be eligible for a loan. Potential borrower's whose credit history is marred by slow payments, poor financial judgment and delinquent accounts is not a good candidate for loan approval.

Is it really that surprising to hear that Facebook is entering yet another facet of everyday life?

Probably not, but the social networking giants are doing just that by including  job hunting capabilities through a number of existing job sites and apps that already link people to job opportunities.

Facebook calls its new service the Social Jobs App and it serves as a search hub that displays jobs from other sites like Us.jobs, Work4Labs, and Jobvite.

The social site has even teamed with Monster.com, which was one of the first job search sites that was widely used by employment seekers before it lost many users to newer sites like Indeed.com

Just like Indeed, the Facebook Social Jobs App will also be a one-and-done type of service, that will allow users to pull up many jobs from different sites.

The app also shows users the number of available jobs at the top of the page, so people can check in periodically to see if new jobs were added since their last search.

Social Jobs Partnership

The new app is part of the Social Jobs Partnership that was established in 2011 between Facebook, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

The app will work on both mobile devices and web browsers and pretty much works like other job sites were users can either select a keyword or job category to begin their hunt.

There’s also a box one could check that says “veteran-friendly” that will bring up only those companies that are committed to hiring people who have served in the armed forces.

Of course the job app is a great move for Facebook, as the company is able to tack on another feature that will most likely draw in even more users.

But the other job sites the social site has partnered with—especially Monster.com—will get even more out of the deal, as sites like LinkedIn have robbed some of these companies of being the popular web destinations they used to be.

Even Craigslist, that doesn’t specialize in job searches at all, was able to lure  people away from sites like Monster.com.

Now websites and apps like Us.jobs and Jobvite, along with the other sites included in the partnership, will have easy access to every Facebook user under the sun who is looking for employment.

And the fact that most users are able to share new jobs on the app through Facebook, it will be quite easy for Monster.com and the rest of the job sites to be in everyday Internet discussions among users.

Also, job seekers won’t have to get off Facebook to do their job search, which will only make the new app more popular since sometimes searching for jobs is a chore—especially when you have to get off your favorite social site to do it.

However by including the sometimes annoying task of looking through hundreds of jobs with the enjoyment of social networking, it could bring a fun component to job hunting.  

Some users may worry that prospective employers will automatically view their Facebook pages that may contain personal images and other updates that are unrelated to the job search, but once you click on a position that comes up in your hunt, you’ll only deal with the job site that originated the post.

Based on referrals

Stephane Le Viet, CEO of Work4Labs says that getting new employment is heavily based on referrals, and she feels Facebook is the perfect site to create discussions about jobs, new companies and exactly what opportunities are out there.

“Looking for a job is one of the most social activities you can think about,” said Le Viet in a published interview.

“When we started two years ago, everyone was telling us no way Facebook will be used for professional purposes."

"Now job seekers realize they can use Facebook to research companies, see whom they might know who could get them a job, and can use the direct-messaging system to make contacts. That’s important, since 30 percent of hires in the United States are made through referrals.” he said.

The downside of linking existing job apps and websites with Facebook, is that more people will have knowledge of a particular position, which will obviously make that job more competitive and harder to get.

Some job sites only attract a certain corner of the work population—but with Facebook—every Tom, Dick and Harriet will know about every job that comes up.

But yet, the Social app is a win-win for Facebook and its partners, and as long as users can keep their personal Facebook info separate from their potential employers, the app could be very useful.

Meaning, if people just use the social network to learn where jobs are, and then communicate to employers through a separate email—the app could be very useful.

However, if you’re using your Facebook page as your main point of contact or you’re using the direct messaging feature to communicate with employers, things could get really dicey. So you probably shouldn't do that.

Many critics have been savaging Windows 8, calling it just about every name imaginable. Troy Wolverton, writing at Phys.org, was perhaps the most inventive, comparing it to women's clothing.  

"It feels like Microsoft took a nice dress and attached it to an equally fine pantsuit and tried to pass it off as one garment," Wolverton huffed, complaining that the new operating system "has two separate and largely incompatible parts.  It just doesn't work."

Like Wolverton, many critics are questioning how well Windows 8 will work on existing computers, since they're most likely not equipped with the touchscreens that supposedly make Windows 8 a snap to use.

Adding to the froth surrounding the release is the sudden departure of Steven Sinofsky, the Microsoft executive who was in charge of Windows 8. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is insisting the new software is off to a "spectacular start" 

Maybe, but industry sources say sales of Windows 8-equipped PCs are way below Microsoft's projections and are considered disappointing. Microsoft is blaming PC makers, claiming they're not pairing the software with the right hardware but most industry analysts say Microsoft deserves a big piece of the blame. 

"It’s a floor wax. No, it’s a dessert topping. Microsoft’s new whatever-the-F-it-is operating system is a confusing, Frankenstein’s monster mix of old and new that hides a great desktop upgrade under a crazy Metro front-end," wrote Paul Thurrott on Supersite for Windows.

Well, could be but consumers may be willing to give Windows 8 a chance. A sentiment analysis of more than 3 million social media comments over the last year shows Windows 8 steadily rising in the estimation of consumers, as shown in this chart:

But while overall sentiment may be better than expected, those with negative opinions are perhaps being more vocal. As one Facebook user put it:

If anyone is thinking of "upgrading" to Windows 8, my strong recommendation is to forget it. If you do decide to ignore this advice, feel free to come find me afterwards and we'll hunt down Steven Sinofsky together -- losing his job as Windows manager at Microsoft isn't enough punishment for the sucky product he launched. ... Win7 and WinXP were usable, and the Win8 Preview was passable. But this full paid release of Win8 has been a NIGHTMARE from the first second I installed it.)

Other early adopters are also reporting problems. Mike of Ft. Smith, Ark., ran into trouble trying to log into his Credit Onebank account: 

I wasn’t able to log into my account using Windows 8. I have two other PCs running Windows 7, and I have always been able to log in without any issues. Your (Credit One) Rep starts rambling on and on that she can’t help me with that and to check with my ISP. I told her that it is not my ISP, and too, I am a Computer Programmer and that it is more likely something with Credit One Bank's Website possibly not being compatible with Windows 8. She starts to become rude trying to over-talk me, and then ... hangs up on me.

Some consumers, like "J" of Maple Valley, Wash., are confused by the many versions of Windows 8. In a posting to ConsumerAffairs, J said:

I ordered Windows 8 Pro to upgrade a convertible table/netbook computer. After receiving the software, I had questions about the difference between Windows 8 Upgrade vs Windows 8 Pro vs Windows 8 Pro Pac. I was at Costco after already ordering Windows 8 Pro from Best Buy. Costco had Windows Pro and Pro Pac both for $66.00, I paid $69.00 to you (Best Buy) for the same software, but $3.00, no big deal. Besides, I get the professional assistance from the Geek Squad with my purchase. You even sent me an e-mail proclaiming the great assistance I could get from the Geek Squad if I needed any help with my Windows 8 purchase. Well, I did have questions, and I called the Geek Squad to find out what the difference was between Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Pro Pac. The first person I spoke with could not tell me. I was transferred 3 more times and none of the other 3 people could tell me either. ... The answer your so called professional tech's could not answer was what I thought the answer was..... It is an add on Pac that completes Windows 8 Pro.

A lot of folks could be in for a merrier Christmas this year.

U.S. households are expected to spend an average of $521 on gifts this holiday season, according to The Conference Board. Nearly 10 percent of consumers said they plan to spend more on holiday gifts this year, up about three percent from last year. Approximately 31 percent plan to spend less than last year, compared with 40 percent a year ago.

"As the holiday season approaches, consumers appear to be in better spirits than last year," says Lynn Franco, Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board. "Our survey results show a slight boost in holiday spending intentions. Retailers are cautiously optimistic that this holiday shopping season will be better than last."

Bargain hunting

Consumers will be searching for bargains this holiday season, with more than one-third saying they expect more than half of their purchases to be on sale or discounted. Nearly 70 percent expect to purchase a portion of their holiday gifts online, with about 20 percent saying more than half of their gifts will be purchased online.

The survey of holiday gift spending intentions, based on a probability-design random sample, is conducted for The Conference Board in October by Nielsen, a leading global provider of information and analytics around what consumers buy and watch.  

The decision by major retailers to push up the start of Black Friday to Thanksgiving night has struck a nerve. Not with consumers but with the people on the other side of the counter, who often work long hours for low pay.

Now they have to come in on Thanksgiving. It's resulted in an online petition launched by Target employees and shareholders. And at Walmart Stores, the first chain to announce a Thanksgiving night opening, there are reports employees are planning a one-day strike on Black Friday.

An employees group calling itself OUR Walmart has reportedly called the informal job action for the company's most important shopping day. The reports have surfaced online this week, though there has been no official confirmation.

“This unique, one-day strike by non-union workers with public support can have significant impact because even a small dip in sales on Black Friday has significant implications for Walmart’s stock,” said Ken Margolies, a Cornell University labor expert. “The strike is part of an ongoing strategy and regardless of the outcome, the campaign is likely to continue.”

Whether it is a direct response to the change in Black Friday hours, Margolies says it's part of a campaign to pressure corporations to improve pay and working conditions.

Recognizing service workers

Freeman Hall, author of the book Retail Hell, says the backlash is an opportunity to give back to the service worker in a big way this holiday season. The best way to do that, he says, is to show courtesy and appreciation for those behind the counter.

“Corporations and many customers don’t see the faces of the people serving them, as with the Abercrombie CEO employee abuse scandal,” Hall said.

To try to change that he's declared Saturday, November 24 -- the day after Black Friday -- as Be Kind to Service Workers Day.

“It ultimately comes down to how we treat each other as human beings, Hall said. “I chose this day because many service workers are now forced to work Thanksgiving Day and there is a lot of negative energy surrounding Black Friday, and the stress of the upcoming holiday season.”

The retailers who are opening on Thanksgiving night say they are doing so as a benefit to consumers, who may be looking for something to do after a Thanksgiving dinner. However, it remains to be seen if consumers actually want that. More than 200,000 consumers have signed the Target petition, suggesting not everyone thinks it's a good idea.

The U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) tale of woe is getting sadder. USPS says it lost a record $15.9 billion for the fiscal year that ended September 30.

The loss was made worse by an $11.1 billion expense related to two payments to pre-fund retiree health benefits. The Postal Service, which is uniquely required by law to pre-fund these obligations, was forced to default on these payments.

Until about 40 years ago the Postal Service was part of the U.S. government, where huge deficits hardly cause a ripple. It was separated into a semi-private company in the 1970s and was supposed to become self-sufficient at some point. That hasn't happened and USPS is looking to the U.S. government for help.

Help from Congress?

"It's critical that Congress do its part and pass comprehensive legislation before they adjourn this year to move the Postal Service further down the path toward financial health," said Postmaster General and CEO Patrick Donahoe. "We continue to do our part to grow revenue and reduce expenses by making our operations more efficient and by providing our customers with new and expanded services to meet their mailing and shipping needs. Additionally, through the expanded use of technology, including better use of digital tools and mobile technology, we are providing business mailers with new opportunities to connect with customers in a more individualized way."

In addition to a bailout, USPS is seeking permission to make some changes that it says would allow it to operate more profitably. However, these changes would affect consumers.

USPS want to be able to determine delivery frequency. Cutting out Saturday delivery, for example.

More flexibility

It also wants to be allowed to offer non-postal products and services and to instruct arbitrators that, during labor negotiations, they must take into account the financial condition of the Postal Service when rendering decisions.

Besides pension costs, what other areas are affecting USPS earnings? First the good news. USPS is making money delivering packages, competing with the likes of Federal Express and UPS. Revenue from Postal Service package business increased by $926 million, or 8.7 percent, on a volume increase of 244 million pieces compared to the same period last year.

Higher consumer spending, higher e-commerce retail sales plus increased marketing efforts drove much of the growth in this segment of the Postal Service business during the last year.

But that wasn't enough to offset continued declines in First-Class Mail and Standard Mail. First-Class Mail revenue, which peaked in 2007, dropped 3.9 percent while Standard Mail decreased $747 million or 4.3 percent compared to last year.

USPS' appeal for more government funding comes at a bad time, as Congress remains locked in tense negotiations with the White House on a package of spending cuts and tax hikes to reduce the deficit and avoid the so-called “fiscal cliff” at the end of the year.

Hostess Brands, maker of the venerable Hostess Twinkie and other pastry products, says it will liquidate and lay off its 18,000 employees because of a strike by its bakers.

The company, attempting to reorganize in bankruptcy, said it had agreements with all of its union employees on a package of wage and benefit concessions. But the bakers union, which represents about a third of Hostess' employees, balked and called a strike instead.

"We deeply regret the necessity of today’s decision, but we do not have the financial resources to weather an extended nationwide strike,” Hostess CEO Gregory F. Rayburn said in a statement. “Hostess Brands will move promptly to lay off most of its 18,500-member workforce and focus on selling its assets to the highest bidders.”

Little bargaining room

Later, in an interview with cable channel CNBC, Rayburn said bankruptcy gave the company little bargaining room. He said he is hopeful the company can sell its 30 brands and that its products, many of which have been around for decades, will continue to be produced.

The company's liquidation means the closing of 33 bakeries, 565 distribution centers and 570 bakery outlet stores. It has filed a motion with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court seeking permission to close its business and sell its assets -- including its brands and facilities. Bakery operations have been suspended at all plants. Delivery of products will continue and Hostess Brands retail stores will remain open for several days in order to sell already-baked products.

The company said it moved quickly to wind down operations to preserve and maximize the value of the estate.

Shut down began this week

On Monday Hostess Brands permanently closed three plants as a result of the work stoppage. On Nov. 14, the Company announced it would be forced to liquidate if sufficient employees did not return to work to restore normal operations by 5 p.m., EST p.m., Nov. 15. The Company determined on the night of Nov. 15 that an insufficient number of employees had returned to work to enable the restoration of normal operations.

On Thursday, Hostess' largest union, the Teamsters, publicly called on the Confectionary, Tobacco and Grain Millers International Union to hold a secret ballot vote to determine if the workers want to continue their strike of the company and force it into liquidation. Rayburn told CNBC today that it is now too late for that.

In addition to dozens of baking and distribution facilities around the country, Hostess Brands will sell its brands, including Hostess, Drakes and Dolly Madison, which make cake products such as Twinkies, CupCakes, Ding Dongs, Ho Ho's, Sno Balls and Donettes. Bread brands to be sold include Wonder, Nature's Pride, Merita, Home Pride, Butternut and Beefsteak, among others.