Current Events in February 2013

A report compiled by an advisory committee to the National Science Foundation (NSF) details three major risk factors associated with mass shootings -- exposure to violent media, mental health, and access to guns. 

The report was requested by Rep. Frank Wolf, a Virginia Republican, following the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School. 

Wolf, chairman of the House Appropriations Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) subcommittee, said the report supports his belief that rampage shootings are the result of multiple factors, including access to firearms, mental health issues, and exposure to violent media, including violent video games. 

Wolf said he was expecting to hear President Obama’s plan to address the role of media violence and mental health in episodes of mass violence during Tuesday’s State of the Union address, but was disappointed those topics were left out.

“To only focus on one piece of a large and complicated puzzle is irresponsible,” he said. 

Outspoken lawmaker

Wolf, an outspoken lawmaker who has long represented a Northern Virginia district, has previously advocated measures that would prevent health insurers from placing discriminatory restrictions on mental health and addiction treatments, and has repeatedly cosponsored legislation aimed at protecting children from violent and sexually explicit video games and Hollywood films.

“While I recognize the potential constitutional issues involved in tackling media violence, mental health parity and gun control, I am disappointed that mental health issues and media violence were left out of the president’s address,” Wolf said.  “The president said that the victims of mass shootings, including Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, the college students at Virginia Tech, the children at Sandy Hook, the high school students at Columbine, and the movie-goers in Aurora all deserve a vote for gun control proposals. 

"How can he in good conscience call for that, but not acknowledge the fact that each one of the shooters in those events was mentally disturbed?  How could he not acknowledge the role that violent media played in some of their lives?  The president has failed the American people and the families of the victims by remaining frustratingly silent on these crucial issues and ignoring the other central factors related to mass violence of this kind,” Wolf said.

Violent games

The NSF report examines exposure to violent media, including video games, movies, television, apps, music and comic books. Violent video games increase aggressive thoughts and behavior, angry feelings and physiological arousal, and decrease helping behavior and feelings of empathy for others, according to the report. 

The researchers also said that rating systems have not kept up with the increasingly violent content of popular media, and there is no standard rating system in the U.S.

Exposure to violent media is “one of the easiest risk factors to change,” according to one study in the report.  It included possible solutions such as more warning labels, establishing a universal rating system that would make ratings among all types of media uniform and easier to understand, and educating parents.

Wolf also is considering legislation that would require reduced-violence versions of video games with less-realistic images (i.e. blue-colored blood), similar to measures that are already in place in Europe.

Media coverage

The report also questioned whether the extensive media coverage that takes place following a shooting negatively affects adolescents.

“The news media cover rampage shootings heavily, but very little is known about the effects of such coverage on adolescents and young adults,” one study said.  “Does such coverage increase thoughts of imitation, as it seems to in suicide?  Is it more likely to influence thoughts of imitation among youth who already have thoughts of suicide and homicide?”

Another study the report cited dealt with mental health, examining “signaling behavior” among rampage shooters.  Perpetrators are generally at the early onset of severe mental illness, with symptoms they find frightening, but often go entirely undiagnosed or untreated, according to the report.  Those who survive into their 20s often develop full-blown mental disorders that are immediately recognized, but at the age of 12-14, these conditions are often just beginning, but lead the shooter to magnify slights and feel severely depressed by rejection, the study showed.

Still another study found that there might even be a link between these three main factors, with a particular tie between mental instability and consumption of violent media. 

It's a done deal -- almost.

The boards of American Airlines parent AMR and US Airways have given their blessing to a merger that they say will create “a premier global carrier.” The value of the deal, which must jump through a variety of federal regulatory hoops, is put at approximately $11 billion based on the price of US Airways' stock as of February 13.

Initially, the newly-created carrier will operate under the American Airlines and will -- according to a joint press release -- give customers “access to more choices and increased service across the combined company's larger worldwide network.”

"Today, we are proud to launch the new American Airlines -- a premier global carrier well equipped to compete and win against the best in the world," said Tom Horton, chairman, president, and CEO of American Airlines. "Together, we will be even better positioned to deliver for all of our stakeholders, including our customers, people, investors, partners, and the many communities we serve.”

US Airways Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker, calls it “an exciting new chapter” for both carriers. “The combined airline,” he said, “will have the scale, breadth and capabilities to compete more effectively and profitably in the global marketplace. Our combined network will provide a significantly more attractive offering to customers, ensuring that we are always able to take them where they want to travel, when they want to go."

What about consumers?

The Association for Airline Passenger Rights worries that fewer airlines means less competition and higher fares…and fees. The group says if the merger is allowed to proceed, passengers stand to lose because they will have fewer choices, less competitive fares, and service to smaller airports will likely dwindle.

“You don’t have to be an economics professor to understand that less competition in the market is going to result in consumers paying more, and airfares are certainly not immune from this simple fact,” said Brandon M. Macsata, the group's executive director. “In fact, since a couple of the legacy airlines were lost to mergers we’ve not only seen an increase in airfares over the last seven years, they have been accompanied by ballooning fees for everything ranging from baggage, change-of-flight to seat selection.”

Here to there

The combined airline will offer more than 6,700 daily flights to 336 destinations in 56 countries and is expected to maintain all hubs currently served by American and US Airways, which the companies say will result in more travel options for customers.

Both airlines expect that the regional carriers they own -- AMR Corporation's American Eagle and US Airways' Piedmont and PSA -- will continue to operate as distinct entities, providing seamless service to the combined airline.

Completing the deal

The merger is conditioned on the approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, regulatory approvals, approval by US Airways shareholders, other customary closing conditions, and confirmation and consummation of the Plan. The combination is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year.   

Deere & Company of Moline, IL, is recalling about 4,700 John Deere Gator RSX850i Base utility vehicles.

The oil filter can leak, posing a fire hazard. Pinholes or cracks have been identified in oil filters installed by the engine supplier which were not manufactured to specification. The company has received four reports of incidents resulting in fires. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves John Deere Gator RSX850i Base, Sport and Trail model recreational utility vehicles manufactured between May 2012 and October 2012. They have side-by-side seating for two people and were available in Realtree Hardwoods, HD Camo, olive and black or traditional green and yellow. RSX850i is located on the hood. The serial number is on the rear frame above the receiver hitch. Utility vehicles with the following serial numbers are included in this recall:

The vehicles, manufactured in the U.S., were sold at John Deere dealers nationwide from August 2012 through January 2013 for between $12,900 and $15,500.

Consumers should stop using the recalled utility vehicles and contact a John Deere dealer to schedule a free inspection and free repair. John Deere is contacting all registered owners of the recalled utility vehicles directly.

Consumers may contact: Deere and Company at (800) 537-8233, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET.

Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured from February 27, 2008, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through October 20, 2011; model year 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota trucks manufactured from February 27, 2007, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through September 30, 2011; model year 2009 Chrysler Aspen trucks manufactured from January 3, 2008, through December 18, 2008; and model year 2009 Dodge Durango trucks manufactured from January 3, 2008, through December 18, 2008.

The rear axle pinion nut may loosen due to a omission of an adhesive patch. If the rear axle pinion nut loosens, the axle can lock up and cause a loss of vehicle control and/or a vehicle crash with little warning.

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a pinion nut retainer, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during March 2013.

Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.

ZIP International Group is recalling Dry Salted Fish (bream) because it product was found to be uneviscerated, and has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death.

Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.

The recalled Dry Salted Fish (bream) was distributed by East Coast Foods Inc. Brooklyn, NY via delivery to retail stores and wholesalers in September 2012.

The product is packaged in vacuum sealed packaging labeled "Astrakhansky Lesh" (Dry Salted Fish Eviscerated) weight 14.2oz. Bar Code 835856001228 is located on the top right corner of the package. Dry Salted Fish (bream) is a product of Russia.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

Consumers who have purchased Dry Salted Fish (bream) are advised not to eat it and should return it to the place of purchase or discard for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact East Coast Foods Inc. at (718) 371-1113, Monday-Friday 10am-4pm EST.

Another indication that the housing market is on the comeback trail.

RealtyTrac says foreclosure filings -- default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions -- were reported on 150,864 U.S. properties in January -- a decrease of 7 percent from December and down a whopping 28 percent from January 2012. It also reports one in every 869 U.S. housing units filed for foreclosure during the month.

“The U.S. foreclosure landscape in January was profoundly altered by the effects of new legislation that took effect in California on the first of the year,” said Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac. “Dubbed the Homeowners Bill of Rights, this legislation extends many of the principles in the national mortgage settlement -- including a prohibition on so-called dual tracking and requiring a single point of contact for borrowers facing foreclosure -- to all mortgage servicers operating in California. In addition the new law imposes fines of up to $7,500 per loan for filing of multiple unverified foreclosure documents. As a result, the downward foreclosure trend in California accelerated into hyper speed in January, decisively shifting the balance of power when it comes to the nation’s foreclosure activity.”

Blomquist notes that for the first time since January 2007, California did not have the most properties with foreclosure filings of any state. That dubious distinction went to Florida, where January foreclosure activity increased on an annual basis for the 11th time in the last 13 months.”

Report findings

• U.S. foreclosure starts were down 11 percent from the previous month and down 28 percent from a year ago to the lowest level since June 2006 -- a 79-month low.
• U.S. bank repossessions (REO) decreased 5 percent from the previous month and were down 24 percent from January 2012 to the lowest level since February 2008.
• Scheduled foreclosure auctions increased from the previous month in 26 states and the District of Columbia, hitting 12-month or more highs in several key judicial foreclosure states, including Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, although foreclosure starts were down on a year-over-year basis in Florida, Illinois and Pennsylvania.
• Some of the biggest year-over-year increases in foreclosure starts came in non-judicial foreclosure states where legislation or court rulings stalled foreclosure actions last year: Arkansas (539 percent increase), Washington (179 percent increase), and Nevada (87 percent increase).
• Florida posted the nation’s highest state foreclosure rate for the fifth month in a row in January, and also had the highest number of properties with foreclosure filings for the month, marking the first month since January 2007 that California has not had the highest number of properties with foreclosure filings.

Highest state foreclosure rates

The Florida foreclosure rate ranked highest among the states for the fifth month in a row. One in every 300 Florida housing units had a foreclosure filing in January -- more than twice the national average. A total of 29,800 Florida properties had a foreclosure filing during the month, up 12 percent from the previous month and up 20 percent from January 2012.

With one in every 344 housing units with a foreclosure filing in January, Nevada posted the nation’s second highest foreclosure rate for the fourth consecutive month. Overall Nevada foreclosure activity decreased 43 percent from a year ago, but foreclosure starts (NODs) increased 19 percent from the previous month and were up 87 percent from January 2012 to a 16-month high.

A 32 percent month-over-month jump in scheduled foreclosure auctions helped the Illinois foreclosure rate rise to third highest among the states in January. One in every 375 Illinois housing units had a foreclosure filing during the month.

Other states with foreclosure rates among the nation’s 10 highest were Arizona (one in 501 housing units with a foreclosure filing), Georgia (one in 513 housing units), Ohio (one in 612 housing units), Washington (one in 674 housing units), California (one in 753 housing units), Indiana (one in 784 housing units), and Michigan (one in every 837 housing units).

If bank relationships were like romantic relationships, divorce lawyers would stay pretty busy – at least, busier than they already are.

A survey by McGraw-Hill Credit Union shows over 70% of consumers would like to break up with their bank. Fees rank as the top reason, but it turns out there are a lot of irreconcilable differences.

Claire, of Sacramento, Calif., says she recently broke up with Bank of America.

While fees are a big source of friction, many consumers, like Meghan, of Germantown, N.Y., are unhappy with the level of customer service they receive.

I don't even know you anymore

“Chase customer service by phone is horrid,” Meghan wrote in her post. “I've spent hours trying to fix an error made between Chase credit card and Chase checking account. Chase phone service appears to be outsourced, and it is difficult to understand customer service agents. They also have a difficult time understanding the customer.

Megham did say she likes Chase's website and phone app, but she says it's not enough to keep her in what she considers a bad relationship. She thinks they'll be sorry one day.

“While I have little financial resources now, I am finishing my Ph.D. and my income will be increasing dramatically,” she wrote. “But Chase is likely about to lose me as a customer.”

Bad breakup

Felix, of West Covina, Calif., said he closed his checking and savings accounts with Citibank because they discontinued free checking. But the breakup didn't go well.

McGraw-Hill Credit Union is a competitor to banks, of course, but says there's no mistaking consumer angst when it comes to their bank relationships. Thirty-six percent of those surveyed likened dealing with their bank to interacting with their in-laws – in-laws they don't particularly like.

The cable guy, IRS and the dentist

Over 25% of women surveyed selected “I Can’t Make You Love Me” as the song that best described how they feel about their bank. When asked to compare dealing with their bank to unpleasant or onerous interactions, 30% of respondents liken it to “dealing with the cable guy,” 25% compared banks to the IRS and 23% said dealing with banks was like going to the dentist. Ouch.

Seventy-three percent of respondents ages 18 to 29 are interested in learning about a new banking option. Quite naturally, credit unions are eager to become new suitors.

“Credit Unions can provide consumers a caring, healthy financial relationship,” said Shawn Gilfedder, McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union President and CEO. “We are passionate about teaming customized solutions with expansive financial education resources to deliver a lifetime of wellness.”

Credit unions are member-owned and do not have stockholders, and often that is enough of a difference to make teaming up with them more affordable and less of a hassle. Credit unions also says they can credit unions offer a viable financial wellness alternative steeped in financial education and literacy, minimal fees, and better rates on loan and deposit products.

British health officials say a SARS-like coronavirus may be spreading through person-to-person contact. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) today said it has confirmed the illness in the U.K.'s third victim, who is a relative of an earlier patient infected with the virus.

Previously, all of those infected had traveled to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan or Pakistan, but that's not the case with Patient No. 11, who is in intensive care at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. 

"Confirmed novel coronavirus infection in a person without travel history to the Middle East suggests that person-to-person transmission has occurred, and that it occurred in the UK," said Professor John Watson, head of the respiratory diseases department at the HPA. "This case is a family member who was in close personal contact with the earlier case."

Watson said Patient No. 11 has an underlying health condition and who may have been at greater risk of acquiring an infection.

“To date, evidence of person-to-person transmission has been limited. Although this case provides strong evidence for person to person transmission, the risk of infection in most circumstances is still considered to be very low," Watson said. "If novel coronavirus were more infectious, we would have expected to have seen a larger number of cases than we have seen since the first case was reported three months ago. However, this new development does justify, the measures that were immediately put into place to prevent any further spread of infection and to identify and follow up contacts of known cases."

Watson said the risk associated with the virus in the general population was "very low" but said the HPA would continue to monitor the situation.

In the U.S., Michael Osterholm, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Minnesota, warned the virus could be adapting into a more transmissible form, according to an Associated Press report.

"At any moment the fire hydrant of human-to-human transmission cases could open," he said. "This is definitely a 'stay tuned' moment." 

For many, the nine months of pregnancy can be an anticipatory blur, and during that time Mom and Dad will do everything in their power to make sure the baby’s room is complete, they have an overstock of baby products and they have everything that’s needed to make their new roles as parents  successful.

And when it comes to deciding what the baby will need, most will go the traditional route and first buy the usual things like strollers, cradles and playpens. Others who may be a little more into gadgetry may purchase the newest and latest electronics to help them take care of their little ones.

Like the Squirt Baby Food Dispensing Spoon that allows parents to feed their babies without the use of a jar, as the baby food is placed in the spoons’ handle and is released as the adult squeezes it.

The Squirt is also said to be safe because no matter how much you squeeze it, it only dispenses one bite of food at a time, and with parents being able to feed their child with only one hand, it will allow them to use the other hand to do other things like wipe the baby’s mouth.

The spoon also holds three ounces of baby food at a time and is designed for children as young as four months. The company that made the Squirt spoon also says it's dishwasher safe and completely BPA-free.

You can purchase the Squirt at many popular retailers like Bed Bath & Beyond  for about $8 and it’s supposed to make meal time for your baby a lot less messy, and the bright colors and toy look of the spoon may provide a bit of entertainment for your baby.

It also comes with a storage cap so the food in the body of the spoon can be stored for later use.

iPotty

Another product that’s bound to make the life of new parents a little easier, but will also provide some fun for your baby is the digital iPotty, made by the company CTA digital.

Upon first glance the iPotty looks very unusual as its part training potty  and part computer work station, but the idea here is to entertain your child while they‘re learning to use the bathroom by themselves, which is supposed to make things a lot easier.

The potty itself is attached to a stand that’s supposed to hold your iPad safely in place, so kids can use apps or play games while they’re learning the fine art of toilet usage.

It also comes with a protective screen cover so your device doesn’t become messy or damaged and the stand will rotate 360 degrees, which allows your baby to use the iPad either horizontally or vertically.

You can also remove the potty part of the contraption so it can be used as a chair and gaming station that your child will probably use for hours on end if you allow them to

The digital iPotty is sold for 39.99 on Amazon, but won’t be available until March 1, 2013.

Sound Sleeper

Then there’s the Dex Baby Sound Sleeper, which was made to help keep your baby asleep by releasing a collection of peaceful sounds.

In all, the electronic device has about 34 different sounds and creates noises your baby will be accustomed to like the sounds made inside of a mother’s womb, and it also has a timer so you’re able to program how long you want the noises to run.

In addition, the Sound Sleeper is supposed to keep baby sleeping longer, so parents are able to get their rest and it also comes with a  volume control so the noises can be contained to a specific area.

The device can also be used to block out other sounds in the house that may keep your baby awake, so other occupants of the home don’t have to tiptoe or whisper while the baby is snoozing.

Babies 'R' Us sells the Sound Sleeper for a little under $30, which is a pretty good buy when you think of the potential benefits it offers.

Keep It Kleen

This next product is only $3.95 on the site Babyearth.com and it’s a pacifier that stays clean when it’s dropped. After all, most babies only keep pacifiers in their mouths for about 50 percent of the time.

The Keep-it-Kleen pacifier is made by the company Razbaby and comes with a specially designed shield that will close up around the pacifier whenever it’s dropped on the floor, so the rubbery nipple part stays protected which can lessen the chance of your child ingesting dirt, dust or excess germs.

The nipple of pacifier is made from a material called Silicone Orthodontic, and is recommended for children up to 36 months of age.

Plus, the general Internet feedback on the Keep-it-Kleen is really good, as most say the protective shield works without fail whenever the pacifier is dropped, no matter how many times it happens.

The pacifiers come in 15 different styles, all having cute little characters like Adam Airplane or Bobby Bear so your baby can also use it like a toy, which they probably will.  

Look, there will be a lot of items your baby will need that will run you a lot of cash, whether it's baby room furniture or the continuous amount of diapers that you’ll need until they master that digital potty, but at least not all of the products you’ll need to buy will damage your wallet, because you’ll have the rest of your child’s life to get that opportunity.

Amazon has edged out Apple in this year's Harris Poll Reputation Quotient Study. Whole Foods also got high marks.

According to the poll, Amazon ranked highly for having the best products and services, which is impressive for an Internet company that doesn’t have any physical locations, but those who worked on the poll say Amazon has done a stellar job of building trust among consumers and having a strong reputation overall.

“Our results show that Amazon has managed to build an intimate relationship with the public without being perceived as intrusive and we characterize this year’s overall findings as the great muddling of corporate America,” says Robert Fronk, Executive Vice President of Reputation Management at Harris Interactive.

Some of our readers have also expressed how much they like using Amazon like Sarah of Tulsa, Okla., who said she has been pleased with how easy the site is to use for finding new books, especially since she’s been using her iPad lately to do much of her reading.

“I have been purchasing books for my iPad on Amazon via the Kindle app for 2 years and have never had a bad experience,” she wrote in a ConsumerAffairs posting. “It’s easy to find any book I want in an Amazon search. Most books are available for Kindle and the one click purchasing process is so easy. I have it delivered directly to my iPad and within one minute of deciding that I need to read a book, I am reading it on my iPad.”

Amazon beat out Apple for the best overall reputation score, and closing out the top five in that category were the Walt Disney Company, Google and Johnson & Johnson.

Amazon didn’t only win in the reputation category and for its products and services, but it also scored the highest when it came to having that emotional appeal that consumers sometimes look for -- whether it’s satisfying a customer’s humorous side or selling items that cater to the love a person has for their family.

The other dimensions that the Harris Poll used to determine a company’s reputation included its level of social responsibility (Whole Foods) financial performance as well as vision and leadership (Apple) and best workplace environment (Google).

Amazon along with Google and Apple also scored high in categories like outperforming competition, being the most trustworthy and the most respected among consumers.

We now have a better idea of how the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will implement a plan to make sure the mortgage industry complies with new consumer protections that go into effect in January 2014.

“Our plan is to work with the mortgage industry to ensure that the CFPB’s new rules are implemented accurately and expeditiously,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “Both consumers and industry will win when the new rules are understood, applied, and carried out evenly and effectively. Mortgage borrowers, who have dealt with much heartache since the financial crisis, deserve this level of attentiveness.”

Variety of consumer protections

Among the new mortgage rules is the Ability-to-Repay rule. It's designed to protect consumers from irresponsible mortgage lending by requiring that lenders make a reasonable, good faith determination that prospective borrowers have the ability to repay their mortgage.

The rule also protects borrowers from risky lending practices, such as underwriting loans based only on low introductory “teaser” interest rates, which contributed to many homeowners ending up in delinquency and foreclosure after the 2008 housing collapse.

New mortgage servicing rules designed to protect borrowers from costly surprises and runarounds were also announced. These rules establish new, strong protections for all homeowners. Other new rules address appraisals, escrow accounts, protections for high-cost mortgages, and compensation and qualifications for loan originators.

Ensuring borrower protections

In an effort to support rule implementation and ensure industry is ready for the new borrower protections, the CFPB will:

• Coordinate with other agencies: The CFPB is coordinating with other federal government regulators that also conduct examinations of mortgage companies to ensure all regulators have a shared understanding of the CFPB’s new rules. This will help promote a consistent regulatory experience for industry.
• Publish plain-language guides: The CFPB will publish what it believes are “easy-to-understand” summaries of the regulations in both written and video form. The guides, available in the spring, will -- according to the agency -- be particularly helpful to smaller businesses with limited staff for compliance.
• Publish updates to the official interpretations: Over the next year, the CFPB plans to issue updates of the “official interpretations,” which provide guidance on how to comply with the rules. These updates will allow the CFPB to address important questions raised by industry, consumer groups, or other agencies. Priority for these updates will be given to issues that are important to a large number of providers or consumers, and that critically affect mortgage companies’ implementation decisions. The Bureau expects to issue the first one in the spring and issue additional updates, as needed.
• Publish readiness guides: These guides, available this summer, will help mortgage originators and servicers prepare to comply with the new rules by giving them helpful check-lists, such as suggesting that implementation plans include items like revising policies and procedures and finalizing training plans for staff. More in-depth examination procedures are expected to be published later this year by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council. Industry members will be able to use these examination procedures to conduct self-assessments and internal reviews of their readiness and compliance.
• Educate consumers: As the January 2014 date approaches, the CFPB will give consumers information about their new protections under these rules through a broad-reaching consumer education campaign.

Diabetes is becoming a more common disease in the U.S. but one that remains little understood by those most at risk.

An estimated 26 million U.S. children and adults have either diabetes 1 or 2 and another 79 million have what is known as “prediabetes,” meaning they are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the body does not produce insulin. It usually develops in children or young adults and is nowhere near as common as type 2, comprising only 10% of all U.S. diabetes cases. Type 1 is primarily genetic, meaning it's not related to lifestyle.

Type 2 diabetes usually develops from lifestyle factors, such as poor diet and excessive weight. It's similar to type 1 in that insulin levels are out of control. The result is excessive levels of blood sugar.

Managing type 2 diabetes

Some people may be able to control type 2 diabetes symptoms by losing weight, eating a healthy diet, exercising, and monitoring their blood glucose levels. But it's usually a progressive disease and the patient will probably have to take insulin to treat it.

Because of America's obesity epidemic, type 2 diabetes is growing at an alarming rate. A late 2012 study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found 18 U.S. states saw diabetes cases increase more than 100% from 1995 to 2010.

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

"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."

Extremely serious

Undiagnosed, diabetes is extremely serious. Those with the disease can lose limbs and their eyesight and they can die from its complications.

How do you know if you have it? Being obese or overweight is a major risk factor. Having a lot of visceral fat, also known as central obesity or belly fat, is a risk multiplier, causing the body to release chemicals that can play havoc with the body's cardiovascular and metabolic systems.

The risk also increases as a person ages, though experts aren't sure why.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), symptoms of diabetes include blurry vision, excessive thirst, fatigue, hunger, frequent urination and unexplained weight loss.

Because type 2 diabetes develops slowly, some people with high blood sugar have no symptoms.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes develop over a shorter period of time. People may be very sick by the time they are diagnosed.

Diagnostic tests

A urine test may reveal elevated blood sugar levels but by itself does not diagnose diabetes. Measuring blood sugar levels after fasting is a much more reliable method.

According to NIH, diabetes is diagnosed if the fasting blood glucose level is higher than 126 mg/dL twice. Levels between 100 and 126 mg/dL are called impaired fasting glucose or pre-diabetes. These levels are risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

Once diagnosed, a patient will need to measure their blood sugar daily using a glucose meter.

“Many patients will need to test 6-8 times per day, but some will need to test more, depending upon their activity level, how often they eat and what other types of activities their day may include,” said Carol Wysham, MD, section head for the Rockwood Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology. “It is not reasonable or practical to set a specific number for all people with diabetes who are on intensive insulin regimens, as no two people’s lives are the same. Even for the same individual, no two days are exactly alike. A person may need to test six times one day and 10 the next.”

Possible new treatment

While diabetes is normally treated with insulin, University of Michigan (U-M) researchers have found that amlexanox, an off-patent drug currently prescribed for the treatment of asthma and other uses, also reverses obesity, diabetes and fatty liver in mice.

“One of the reasons that diets are so ineffective in producing weight loss for some people is that their bodies adjust to the reduced calories by also reducing their metabolism, so that they are ‘defending’ their body weight,” said researcher Alan Saltiel. “Amlexanox seems to tweak the metabolic response to excessive calorie storage in mice.”

Saltiel is teaming up with clinical-trial specialists at U-M to test whether amlexanox will be useful for treating obesity and diabetes in humans.

There used to be about 10,000 actual, over-the-air radio stations. It seemed like a lot. But, although as far as we know no one is counting, the number of virtual stations has surely left the old figure in the dust.

The latest is something called Slacker, which says that it has just launched "the world’s most complete music service for the Web, mobile devices and a range of automotive and consumer electronics platforms."

“Slacker is the most complete music service on earth, with 10 times the music of Pandora, expert-programmed stations Spotify can’t touch, and personalization that satellite services only dream of,” said Jim Cady, CEO, Slacker. “We’ve quietly built a scaleable business with more than a half-million paying subscribers and more than four million monthly average users.  2013 will be a blockbuster year for Slacker as we ramp up our marketing efforts and take the service to a broader audience.” 

Yeah, so ...

OK, so how does it differ from Pandora, Spotify, MOG and all the other streaming and on-demand music services? Well, we're not sure. It sounds pretty similar but to hear Slacker tell it, the world's never heard anything like this. 

"The new Slacker gives listeners anytime, anywhere access to millions of songs and hundreds of expert-programmed stations for free on any device.  Slacker also raises the bar for music discovery, highlighting stations, personalized picks and exclusive content from Slacker’s team of expert curators," the company enthused. 

Slacker, available at www.slacker.com, works from the web or you can  download the app for iOS, Android, Windows Phones and Blackberry devices.

Slacker claims to offer more than 13 million songs and offers customization tools that even extend to news, sports and talk from ABC and ESPN. It has more than 200 genre and specialty stations.

There is a free version of Slacker. A commercial-free version of Slacker Radio Plus is $3.99 a month. The Slacker Premium service includes on-demand listening and the ability to create custom playlists for $9.99 a month. 

Although it was founded back in 2006 as a satellite radio company, Slacker has been slumping along under the radar for quite awhile. It became a digital music service in 2010 and says it has doubled its business every year.  

Lexus, Porsche, Toyota and Lincoln took top honors in this year's J.D Power and Associates vehicle dependability study, while Land Rover brought up the rear, its owners reporting problems at three times the rate of Lexus drivers.

Other top scorers included Buick, Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Acura. Dodge was second worst, followed by Mitsubishi. Jeep, Volkswagen and Jaguar also scored poorly.

The study found that overall, cars are becoming more reliable. In particular, it found that new or substantially redesigned models had fewer problems than "carryover" models, the first time that's happened.

"There is a perception that all-new models, or models that undergo a major redesign, are more problematic than carryover models," said David Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power and Associates. "Data from the 2013 [survey] suggests that this is not the case. The rapid improvement in fundamental vehicle dependability each year is more than offsetting any initial glitches that all-new or redesigned models may have."

More confidence

Sargent said that finding should also give consumers more confidence when they're shopping for a relatively new used car, or an off-lease model. 

"The continuous improvement in long-term dependability means consumers should have more confidence in three-year-old vehicles, whether they are keeping their current vehicle or shopping for a used car, truck, crossover or SUV," said Sargent. "This means there are a lot of dependable off-lease vehicles in the used-vehicle market. It also means that owners who keep their vehicle beyond the manufacturer's warranty period are able to have greater peace of mind that vehicles are becoming increasingly more dependable."

The study measures the number of problems owners have experienced over the last 12 months in cars purchased during the 2010 model year.

Overall, the cars experienced an average of 126 problems per hundred vehicles. That was a decline from 132 the previous model year and the lowest average since J.D. Power launched the study in 1989.

Highest-ranked

Lexus ranks highest in vehicle dependability among all nameplates for a second consecutive year. Among models, the Lexus RX has the fewest reported problems in the industry. This is the first time in the history of the VDS that a crossover or SUV has achieved this distinction. Rounding out the five highest-ranked nameplates are Porsche, Lincoln, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz. Chrysler Group LLC's Ram brand posts the greatest year-over-year improvement from 2012.

Toyota Motor Corporation continues to perform well in long-term dependability and earns seven segment awards--more than any other automaker in 2013--for the Lexus ES 350; Lexus RX; Scion xB; Scion xD; Toyota Prius; Toyota Sienna; and Toyota RAV4.

General Motors receives four segment awards for the Buick Lucerne; Chevrolet Camaro; Chevrolet Tahoe; and GMC Sierra HD. American Honda Motor Corp., Inc., receives two model-level awards for the Acura RDX and Honda Crosstour. The Audi A6, Ford Ranger, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda MX-5 Miata, and Nissan Z also receive segment awards.

Admit it. When you go Googling, you probably Google yourself. And, if you have health concerns, you may search for information on things like weight loss and skin problems. 

But -- and this may surprise you -- in Google's annual roundup of popular search terms, hemorrhoids was the top trending health issue in the United States for 2012. (The "top trending health issue" means that more people searched Google for information on hemorrhoids than on any other health topic.).

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), these swollen and inflamed veins in the lower part of the rectum or anus affect 75 percent of people at some point in their lives. Hemorrhoids are most common in adults ages 45 to 65, and particularly for women during pregnancy and after childbirth. Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are also contributors.

What causes hemorrhoids? How are they treated? Are there things you can do to keep from having hemorrhoids yourself?

Causes and symptoms

For the most part, hemorrhoids are caused by increased pressure in the veins of the anus. There are two kinds of hemorrhoids: internal (not covered by skin), which form inside the rectum, and external (covered by skin), located near the anal opening.

"You often can't see or feel the internal ones," says Food and Drug Administration (FDA) medical officer Herbert Lerner, M.D., a colon-rectal surgeon. "But straining during bowel movements and constipation can cause these hemorrhoids to bleed and occasionally push through the anal opening."

This is known as a protruding or prolapsed hemorrhoid, and it causes pain or irritation.

Sometimes blood pools in an external hemorrhoid and forms a clot, Lerner says, which can result in severe pain, swelling and inflammation. If the blood is dark red or black, you should call your health care professional, as it can be a sign of something more serious, he cautions.

Common symptoms of hemorrhoids include:

• itching and pain (especially when sitting);
• bright red blood on toilet tissue, stool, or in the toilet bowl;
• pain during bowel movements; and
• one or more hard, sore lumps near the anus.

Treating hemorrhoids

There are a number of over-the-counter creams and other products that are available to patients with hemorrhoids. "These products may help you feel more comfortable," Lerner says, "but they won't get rid of the underlying hemorrhoids, such as internal hemorrhoids, that commonly cause bleeding."

According to FDA gastroenterologist Rajat Malik, M.D., other ways to relieve mild symptoms may include soaking regularly for 10 to 15 minutes in a warm bath, and using wet toilet paper after a bowel movement.

"With these measures, mild symptoms should decrease in two to seven days," Malik says "If your symptoms don't improve with these home treatments, and certainly if they get worse, it's time to talk to your health care provider."

If the hemorrhoid is thrombosed (there is a blood clot), your physician may decide to remove the clot with a small incision, Lerner explains. "You can do this under local anesthesia and as an outpatient," he says. "I've had a lot of uncomfortable, unhappy patients walk into my office with a thrombosis, and then leave happy after it's been excised."

Other procedures include ligation (cutting off the hemorrhoid's blood supply with a rubber band), sclerotherapy (the injection of a chemical solution into the hemorrhoid tissue to shrink it), and coagulation, which uses a laser or infrared light to harden and shrink hemorrhoids. "FDA is responsible for reviewing the devices used in both ligation and coagulation," Lerner says.

Large hemorrhoids may not be able to be treated with less invasive procedures such as ligation and sclerothapy, and may require surgery, known as a hemorrhoidectomy.

Preventing hemorrhoids

Of course with hemorrhoids, as with so many other ailments, prevention is key, Malik says. For the most part, the best way to prevent hemorrhoids is to keep your stools soft, so they pass easily. Some ways to do this are:

• eating foods high in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains;
• drinking plenty of fluids;
• exercising and not sitting for long periods of time;
• using stool softeners; and
• using fiber supplements.

Asked if he believes most people would rather search anonymously online for information about hemorrhoids than ask their doctors, Lerner says not necessarily. "Most people came to see me not because of the hemorrhoid itself, but because of the bleeding associated with it.

"By the time they came to see me, they were usually pretty uncomfortable," he adds. "They were more than happy to talk about hemorrhoids if it meant getting some relief."

More suitcases are showing up at the same airports as their owners

According to the the U.S. Transportation Department's (DOT) Air Travel Consumer Report, the nation’s largest airlines had their lowest rate of mishandled baggage for a year during 2012. The carriers also set high marks for on-time performance, the fewest long tarmac delays and a low rate of canceled flights.

The reporting carriers posted a rate of 3.09 reports of mishandled baggage per 1,000 passengers -- an improvement on 2011’s rate of 3.35 and their lowest rate of mishandled baggage for a year since these data were first reported in September 1987.

Improved on-time performance

The 15 largest U.S. airlines also posted an 81.85 percent on-time arrival rate during 2012, the third highest annual performance in the 18 years DOT has collected comparable data. The high was 82.14 percent in 2002, followed by 81.96 in 2003. The 1.29 percent cancellation rate for the year also was the second lowest rate for the past 18 years, with the lowest being the 1.24 percent mark set in 2002.

In addition, there were 42 tarmac delays longer than three hours on U.S. domestic flights in 2012 – eight fewer than in 2011, which was the first full year the rule limiting tarmac delays was in effect. This follows the DOT rule, which took effect in April 2010, setting a three-hour limit for aircraft carrying passengers on domestic flights to sit on the tarmac. Exceptions to the time limits are allowed only for safety, security or air traffic control-related reasons.

Between May 2009 and April 2010, the final 12 months before the rule took effect, the carriers reported 693 tarmac delays of more than three hours. Since August 2011, U.S. and foreign airlines operating international flights at U.S. airports have been subject to a four-hour tarmac delay limit.

“This remarkable decrease in flight delays, tarmac incidents, cancellations and mishandled bags is a tribute both to the hard work of the airlines and the Department of Transportation’s oversight of the aviation industry,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We will continue to work with the carriers to make air travel more convenient and hassle-free for consumers.”

December data

The monthly Air Travel Consumer Report for December also includes the following data:

On-time performance

• The reporting carriers posted an on-time arrival rate in December of 76.6 percent, compared with December 2011’s 84.4 percent mark and November 2012’s 85.7 percent.

Tarmac delays

• Airlines reported 16 tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic flights and one tarmac delay of more than four hours on international flights in December. Fourteen of the domestic tarmac delays took place on Dec. 25 at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport where a snow and ice storm affected the area that day.

Cancellations

• The reporting carriers canceled 1.6 percent of their scheduled domestic flights in December. In December of 2011, the cancellation rate was 0,8 percent and November 2012’s cancellation rate was 1.0 percent.

Chronically delayed flights

• At the end of December, there was one flight that was chronically delayed -- more than 30 minutes late more than 50 percent of the time -- for two consecutive months. No flights were chronically delayed for three consecutive months or more.

Causes of flight delays

• In December, the carriers filing on-time performance data reported that 6.19 percent of their flights were delayed by aviation system delays, compared with 3.68 percent in November; 8.55 percent by late-arriving aircraft, versus 4.89 percent in November; 6.21 percent by factors within the airline’s control, such as maintenance or crew problems, compared with 4.27 percent in November; 0.59 percent by extreme weather, as opposed to 0.22 percent in November; and 0.05 percent for security reasons, versus 0.02 percent in November. Weather is a factor in both the extreme-weather category and the aviation-system category. This includes delays due to the re-routing of flights by the Federal Aviation Administration in consultation with the carriers involved. Weather is also a factor in delays attributed to late-arriving aircraft, although airlines do not report specific causes in that category.
• Data collected by BTS also show the percentage of late flights delayed by weather, including those reported in either the category of extreme weather or included in National Aviation System delays. In December, 32.81 percent of late flights were delayed by weather, down 5.17 percent from December 2011, when 34.60 percent of late flights were delayed by weather, and up 29.43 percent from November when 25.35 percent of late flights were delayed by weather.

Mishandled baggage

• The U.S. carriers posted a mishandled baggage rate of 4.15 reports per 1,000 passengers in December, compared with December 2011’s rate of 3.22 and November 2012’s rate of 2.64.

Bumping

• The report also includes airline reports of involuntary denied boarding, or bumping, for calendar year 2012 and the fourth quarter of last year. The carriers posted a bumping rate of 0.99 per 10,000 passengers last year, versus the 0.77 rate posted in 2011. For the fourth quarter of last year, the carriers posted a bumping rate of 1.00 per 10,000 passengers; the rate was 0.65 for the fourth quarter of 2011.

Incidents involving pets

• In December, carriers reported five incidents involving the loss, death or injury of pets while traveling by air the same as in December 2011. There was one report in November 2012. December’s incidents involved one pet death and four pet injuries. For all of last year, carriers reported 30 pet deaths, 27 pet injuries, and one lost pet. In 2011, carriers reported 35 pet deaths, nine pet injuries, and two lost pets.

Complaints about airline service

• In December, DOT received 901 complaints about airline service from consumers, up 26.7 percent from the 711 complaints received in December 2011, and down 8.7 percent from the total of 987 filed in November 2012. For all of last year, there were15,335 complaints, 32.8 percent more than the 11,546 complaints received in 2011.

Complaints about treatment of disabled passengers

• The report also contains a tabulation of complaints filed with DOT in December against airlines regarding the treatment of passengers with disabilities. There was a total of 35 disability-related complaints in December 2012, compared with 59 disability in December 2011 and 55 in November 2012. For all of last year, DOT received 743 disability complaints, up 18.3 percent from the total of 628 received in 2011.

Complaints about discrimination

• In December, there were three complaints alleging discrimination by airlines due to factors other than disability -- such as race, religion, national origin or sex – compared with down a total of seven filed in both December 2011 and in November 2012. For all of last year, the DOT received 99 discrimination complaints, down 22.7 percent from the total of 128 filed in 2011.

Consumers may file their complaints in writing with the Aviation Consumer Protection Division, U.S. Department of Transportation, C-75, W96-432, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590; by voice mail at (202) 366-2220 or by TTY at (202) 366-0511; or on the Web.

OK, so give Netflix credit -- it pioneered DVD movie rentals by mail, then morphed itself into the top video-streaming service, it's adding original content faster than anybody and laying out big bucks to license more content. 

But none of that does much good if the video streaming works poorly or not at all, as seems to be the case for a growing number of consumers.

"I hate that every five minutes or so it stops! I have to reload it at least five times while watching something," said one angry viewer in a ConsumerAffairs post. 

Ffion of Flintshire, UK, has the same gripe: "We are in the middle of watching a film and it freezes and doesn't load. It's not just one film, but lots. It's very annoying and loses the place you are at by skipping parts you haven't watched, or rewinding and replaying parts we have."

The dissatisfaction comes from far and wide, not just from isolated hamlets where one might expect Internet connectivity to be on the slow side. We were reminded of this just the other night when, like everyone else in the Washington, D.C., area, we tried to watch "House of Cards," the original Netflix production that shows the seamier side of D.C. (as opposed to the shiny side).

It began loading normally on our superfast FiOS connection (which normally tests out around 35 Mbps), showing an initial speed of 18.1 Mbps. But a few minutes into the first episode, as Kevin Spacey uttered one of his many asides, the image froze, and stayed frozen for a solid six minutes. This happened repeatedly and, after awhile, began to become tiresome.

Everything else worked

Admittedly, "House of Cards" was quite a hit around the country, not just in D.C., so we initially wrote it off to too many Congressmen sitting with a bourbon bottle in front of the TV that night. In frustration, we flipped over to Amazon Prime and watched "The Lincoln Lawyer" without a blip. Just the way Amazon used to work.

In the next room, CNN was yakking away normally on a second TV, upstairs  Los Angeles' KUSC-FM was playing normally via the Internet and across the room from the faltering screen displaying Netflix, my laptop was working perfectly as I skimmed through the ConsumerAffairs database, looking at hundreds of Netflix gripes -- all this on the same FiOS connection.

Technically, it's no small feat to serve individual video streams to millions of users but that doesn't mean that it's OK for it not to work. Customers are paying for streaming video and it's streaming video they ought to get. If there are problems, Netflix should admit they exist, fix them and, maybe just maybe, offer refunds to those who did not get the service they are paying for. 

There was a time not long ago when Netflix sent me an email each time I watched a streaming video selection, asking me to rate the quality of the transmission. It was always perfect. 

Now that it is seldom perfect, I no longer get the email surveys. Even more baffling, I emailed the Netflix public relations department to ask about the streaming issues and got zero in the way of replies -- not even an acknowledgement of my inquiry. It's kind of typical for big companies to boast about their accomplishments while stiffing anyone who asks about their problems, but that doesn't make it acceptable. 

It's not just pesky consumer reporters who get short shrift, customers say they don't get very far either when they try to report a problem.

"When you try to contact customer service, they simply try to blame the Roku box (which is what we stream on) or they say they are 'working on it,'" said a consumer in Hawaii. "I just had a chat session where I complained about the streaming being frozen, and the lady told me that the issue was cleared up yesterday, so that it must be my Roku."

A few minutes later, the customer service person said she had been "resolving this issue all day," the consumer said.  "Wait a minute, didn't she just tell me that the issues were all cleared up since yesterday? Yeah, so they clearly have geniuses working the chat lines for customer service."

What to do

So what's a consumer to do? Well, although Netflix could make it a bit more obvious, there is a way to report problems with video streaming. 

Log into Netflix and click the "Your Account" button in the upper right. Then under "Your Streaming Plan," click on "See Instant Watching Activity." This will produce a list of your recent viewings, with a "Report Problems" link for each item. 

Whether reporting the problem will accomplish anything is hard to say, but it can't hurt. 

It's also a good idea, once again under "Your Streaming Account," to click the "Manage Video Quality" link and choose the download speed that best matches your Internet connection. Choose "Good" if you have a DSL or other slow-as-mud connection, "Better" or "Best" for cable-quality or FiOS accounts.

Netflix does have a support page that discusses streaming problems, although we found it by accident through a search engine, not through the navigation on the Netflix site. It's at http://support.netflix.com/en/node/230#gsc.tab=0  Some of these tips might help but when other streaming services, like Amazon, work pefectly while Netflix falters, that would seem to rule out most problems on the consumer's end.

But not everyone's having problems. We heard from Lola of Lima, Peru, who said: "Mmm...we just finished watching House of Cards and had very few problems. Loved the series, btw."

Identity theft is serious business. But that hasn't stopped Hollywood from turning out a comedy with that as its central theme. In fact, it's the title of the movie.

Identity Thief opened in theaters Feb. 8 and was No. 1 at the box office its first weekend. It stars Jason Bateman as a businessman whose identity is stolen by a woman, played by Melissa McCarthy, who opens credit cards in his name and starts living it up. Unfortunately, that happens all the time in real life. And it's not as funny as it appears in the movie.

The movie attempts to play identity theft for laughs when Bateman's character turns vigilante and goes after the impostor, attempting to bring her to justice single-handedly. That kind of thing is rarely done and is definitely not advisable.

So, is a comedy about identity theft helpful or hurtful to the men and women who spend each day trying to help victims?

Embracing the exposure

“We're embracing the fact that the movie has brought exposure to this issue,” said Eva Casey Velasquez. President and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), in San Diego. “We would have preferred a more mainstream, realistic portrayal but we also realize the purpose of this movie is to make people laugh. Even though it's not a realistic picture, hopefully people who see it will think, maybe this is something I should be concerned about.”

The movie has received poor reviews, particularly among consumer advocates. Some point out a victim of identity theft should never bypass the police and go after the perpetrator themselves. On the other hand, the movie's very title highlights an issue that needs more awareness.

More than 11.6 million adults were victims of identity theft in 2011, according to Javelin Strategy & Research. Child identity theft is also a significant problem, which many people don't realize; 2.5 percent of U.S. households with children under age 18 have at least one child whose personal information has been compromised by identity criminals. Sadly, the perpetrators are often their parents.

In the federal fiscal year 2012, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Identity Protection Specialized Unit received 448,809 cases, up nearly 80 percent over the previous year.

Nine real life tips

Here are nine tips for avoiding identity theft that you won't see in the movie:

1. Keep birth certificates, Social Security cards and other personal documents in a lockbox in your home. Make sure they are put away when someone is working in your home or even if you have a roommate.
2. When disposing of documents, use a diagonal shredder, which makes documents harder to piece together than a traditional shredder does.
3. Don't leave outgoing bills, government forms or tax forms in a mailbox. Take them directly to the post office.
4. Have your mail held by the post office while on vacation.
5. Don't put your driver's license number on your personal checks. Consider writing just your first initial and last name instead of your full name.
6. Don't toss credit card receipts in public places.
7. Install anti-virus software, anti-malware software and a firewall on your computer and keep them up to date. A tech-savvy identity thief can use a virus to get personal information from your computer without your knowing.
8. Use unique passwords that are different for each website. 
9. Don't put your birthdate or other sensitive information on your social media accounts, even just the month and day. A thief can figure out the year you were born by looking at your posts.

If you become a victim of identity theft, Velasquez says ITRC is a resource you should turn to. She says the call center is staffed Monday through Friday from 7am to 5pm PT. If you call 1 (888) 400-5530, she says you'll speak to a person, not a phone tree.

Every youngster these days has a smartphone and is addicted to video games. At least that's the perception of the way kids grow up in the technology age.

But for millions of children and their parents, a plastic toy that's been around since 1949 is the object of their obsession. LEGOs, consisting of brightly-colored interlocking bricks that can be used to build whatever you can imagine, are taking the country by storm, more popular now than they've ever been.

LEGO KidsFest, a traveling LEGO festival, sold out this weekend's Richmond, Va., show more than a week in advance – 30,000 tickets. The LEGO Facebook page has 3.9 million likes. 

Starting early

10-year-old Mason Heil of Charlotte, N.C., has been playing with LEGOs since he was three years old. He says the creative aspects of the toy were always a big draw. Now, it has social aspects as well.

“My friends are really into Minecraft so it's fun to share with them, and talk about different projects,” he said.

LEGO Minecraft is based on the popular Minecraft video game. The result is a toy that's in such demand it's hard to find in stock. The toy was impossible to find during the last holiday season and the LEGO website is currently limiting consumers to five sets per order.

Young Mason, meanwhile, says he is interested in becoming an engineer, perhaps in no small part due to LEGOs Minecraft.

“I can see something and then try to recreate it using LEGOs,” he said.

Despite what seems like overnight success, LEGO has been popular for decades. The company, a privately-held firm based in Denmark, actually dates back to 1932 when toymaker Ole Kirk Christiansen began making wooden toys.

By the mid 1950s LEGO saw the potential for a toy that was actually a system for creative play. The plastic brick design was perfected and then patented in 1959.

Smart marketing

While children loved playing with the colored bricks, the company continued to enhance the product to make it both more fun and creative. In the 1990s LEGO teamed with Lucasfilm to produce a Star Wars LEGO series. The kits contain Star Wars figures and building materials to construct space ships and bases.

All the while LEGO stayed focused on creativity and the ways in which children played. As the technology revolution gained speed in the late 1990s, LEGO kept up. Some might say it set the pace, introducing LEGO Mindstorms in 1998.

With Mindstorms, LEGO made the leap to robotics. With a LEGO Mindstorms kit, you can build and program robots. The kit includes everything you need to build and program an intelligent LEGO robot, and make it perform different operations.

When Mindstorms first launched in 1998 it was regarded as the first real “smart toy.” Fifteen years later, LEGO has redesigned the toy to keep up with the kids who have grown up with technology. The audience for consumer robotics has grown considerably, leading the company to focus on simplifying the experience for a younger user while making it more flexible and powerful for hobbyists and other enthusiasts.

The Mindstorms system is powered by the new EV3 Intelligent Brick. It's stronger and faster with more memory and a larger processor. This latest generation of Mindstorm, introduced in January, no longer has to be controlled by a computer. It has expanded “on-brick programming” and tighter integration with smart devices.

Smarter robots

The company says a new infrared sensor will give builders more control over their robots than before, adding more personality to the robot as it follows the builder or other devices. New Linux-based firmware, a USB port and SD expansion slot will offer nearly unlimited programming and expansion capabilities. Additionally, LEGO Mindstorms EV3 will also include full iOS and Android compatibility out of the box.

Remember, this is a toy we're talking about.

The kit comes with instructions for building 17 different robots such as “Everstorm” a Mohawk-sporting humanoid that shoots mini-spheres as it walks, “Spiker” a scorpion-like robot that searches for an IR beacon “bug” or “Reptar,” a robotic snake that slithers, shakes and strikes, all designed to excite and inspire children with the endless possibilities of consumer robotics.

“Fifteen years ago, we were among the first companies to help children use the power of technology to add life-like behaviors to their LEGO creations with the Mindstorms platform,” said Camilla Bottke, LEGO Mindstorms project lead at The Lego Group. “Now, we are equipping today’s tech-literate generation of children with a more accessible, yet sophisticated robotics kit that meets their tech play expectations and abilities to truly unleash their potential so that they may surprise, impress and excite the world with their creativity.”

It's not just children who are big fans of LEGOs. Plenty of adults are as well. A number of artists use LEGOs as their medium, creating brick sculptures. They also have a business component.

LEGO Serious Play is a business productivity company that uses LEGOs to help members of an organization work together more productively. Corporate executives play with the bricks in games that have a serious purpose.

“The use of LEGO bricks simply enables you to take a speedy shortcut to the core,” the company says on its website. “The bricks work as a catalyst – and when used for building metaphors, they trigger processes that you were previously unaware of.”

The company says participants come away with skills to communicate more effectively, to engage their imaginations more readily, and to approach their work with increased confidence, commitment and insight.