Current Events in March 2013

Sears Canada is recalling Nevada infant girl's shirts

The small ribbon row can easily detach posing a potential choking hazard. There are no reports of incidents or injuries to date.

The Nevada tee shirt was sold in sizes: 6 months to 24 months at Sears Canada retail stores between September 2012, and December 2012, for $12.99.

The Sears item numbers are as follows and can be found on the customer's receipt.

Customers who have the affected shirt should stop children from wearing it and return it to their nearest Sears department store for a full refund if accompanied by a receipt of sale or Sears Card statement, or for the lowest selling price without a receipt.

Sears Canada will post signs in all retail stores to advise customers of the recall.   

Prices one step short of the retail level rose in February for the second straight month.

Figures released by the Labor Department show the Producer Price Index (PPI) for finished goods was up 0.7% last month following an advance of 0.2% in January. Economists at Briefing.com had projected a rise of 0.8%. For the 12 months ended in February, the PPI is up 1.7 percent -- the largest 12-month increase since a 2.3-percent rise in October 2012.

Energy leads the way

The February advance in the PPI was led by energy prices, which rose 3.0 percent%. The cost of gasoline accounted for most of this advance, jumping 7.2%. Rising prices for home heating oil and diesel fuel also were factors.

Prices for consumer foods helped take the sting out of the overall increase, falling 0.5% after rising 0.7% in January. Fresh and dry vegetable costs accounted for most of the decrease, falling 18.0%.

Core inflation

When the volatile food and energy sectors are stripped out, the “cor rate” of inflation was up 0.2% -- on target with economists' forecasts and the fourth consecutive advance. About 20% percent of the February increase can be traced to prices for pharmaceutical preparations, which were up 0.2%. An advance in the cost of plastic products also contributed to higher a higher core rate.

Weekly jobless claims

Separately the government reports the number of people standing in the unemployment line during the week ending March 9 fell by 10,000 from the previous week as 332,000 people filed initial claims for jobless benefits. Economists at Briefing.com were calling for increase to 350,000. The previous week's figure was revised upward by 2000.

The 4-week moving average, which is less volatile and considered a more accurate gauge of the labor market, was 346,750 -- down 2,750 from the previous week's revised average of 349,500.

So, would you like to see what your Facebook friends are watching on Netflix? How about letting your FB buddies see what you're watching?

That sounds spooky to a lot of people but it's apparently something Netflix customers have been saying they want, and now it's here. 

Netflix announced today that its U.S. members will be able to connect to Facebook and agree to share favorite TV shows and movies on Netflix. The company will be turning on the feature "over the coming days" and expects that all U.S. members will have access to the social feature by the end of the week.

"There are few better ways to find a movie or TV series you'll love than hearing about it from your friends," said Tom Willerer, vice president of product innovation at Netflix.  "Facebook already makes it easy for our international members to connect with friends over TV shows and movies and we're thrilled to now bring this experience to our U.S. members."

The feature has been available internationally for quite some time but, until recently, it was prohibited in the U.S. by something called the Video Privacy Protection Act, enacted in 1988 to keep prying eyes from finding out what movies consumers rented from Blockbuster and other video rental stores. It was amended by Congess last year after some intensive lobbying by Netflix.

The new Netflix/Facebook integration lets Netflix members see what their friends have watched by adding new "Friends' Favorites" and "Watched by your friends" rows to Netflix. Members also automatically share what they watch only within Netflix and can optionally share what they've watched to Facebook, Netflix said.

"People naturally talk about TV shows and movies and love to share their experiences," said Willerer. "Through the Netflix/Facebook integration we want to let Netflix members express themselves on Facebook and provide a digital version of the proverbial water cooler."

"By default, sharing will only happen on Netflix," Cameron Johnson, director of product innovation at Netflix, wrote in a blog post. "You'll see what titles your friends have watched in a new 'Watched by your friends' row and what they have rated four or five stars in a new 'Friends' Favorites' row. Your friends will also be able to see what you watch."

Johnson provides a step-by-step guide in this video:

A lot of schools in the U.S. are in dire need of funding, qualified teachers and modernized buildings and if you’ve been to certain schools in some of the country’s inner cities and rural areas, you’ve seen schools that look as if they’re in a Third World setting, which leaves many people confused about why only certain districts in this country seem to get the help they need.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recently announced that that the Department of Education will provide some much-needed funding to 11 states that are dramatically underperforming compared to other places in the country.

The funding will come from the Department of Education’s School Improvement Grants (SIG) program and Duncan says it will take an extreme amount of effort to turn some of these low-performing schools around. But he says that doing so won’t just help students achieve academic success, but will also improve the surrounding communities that feel the effects of a school not hitting its numbers on statewide tests or graduation rates.

“When schools fail, our children and our neighborhoods suffer,” Duncan said.

“Turning around our lowest-performing schools is hard work but it’s our responsibility. We owe it to our children, their families and the broader community.”

The states that will receive the funding are West Virginia ($3.3 million), Utah ($3.4 million), South Dakota ($1.5 million), South Carolina ($7.4 million), Ohio ($20.2 million), New Mexico ($4.1 million), Mississippi ($6.1 million), Minnesota ($5.5 million), Kentucky ($7.7 million), Connecticut ($3.6 million) and Maryland ($6.8 million).

Perhaps ironically, although Maryland is among one of the states receiving funding from the SIG program, it scored No. 1 for overall education quality in the 17^th edition of the Quality Counts report that ranks states based on their schools’ overall performance.

The reason Maryland received funding from the SIG program, but scored highly on the Quality Counts report shows just how much of a gap there is in the state, between schools that are getting the proper funding and the schools that aren’t.

Slight uptick

Amy Hightower, along with seven other researchers created the report and Hightower says everyone is extremely tough on each state in their grading, and in order to benefit parents, students and the community, the researchers don’t pull any punches when it comes to scoring tough.

“We’re probably tough graders,” said Hightower in a published interview. “The national grade overall had a very slight uptick. That was a nice surprise."

That uptick Hightower is talking about is the overall grade U.S. schools receive for their level of quality in the education they provide. Last year, schools in the United States received a solid "C" grade and in this year’s report U.S. schools were bumped up to a "C+."

The C+ isn’t a huge improvement but one could say our nation’s schools are on the proper trajectory.

Besides Maryland ranking the highest in the Quality Counts report for having the best overall education programs, Massachusetts came in second, New York third, Virginia fourth, then Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, West Virginia, Kentucky and Vermont closing out the top ten.

But again, the reason some of these same states are getting funding from the SIG program is that many of schools are hitting their academic goals, but the ones that aren’t seem to be doing so poorly that they bring the overall achievement scores down tremendously.

Ten worst

According to Education Week’s school report card, the ten states that have the most underperforming schools are Oregon, Arizona, Montana, Washington D.C., Nebraska, Alaska, Mississippi, Idaho, Nevada and South Dakota.

In a separate report issued by The Center for Green Schools, the cost of fixing some of the country’s elementary and high school buildings was estimated at $270 billion and that’s just to get the structures back to their original working order; it doesn’t include what it would cost to modernize the buildings, so teachers and students will have access to more technology and better facilities.

Rachel Gutter, who works with the U.S. Green Building Council says the national dialogue about improving U.S. schools usually goes as far as curriculums and educational approaches, but hardly ever include what needs to be done to improve the actual buildings of the schools, which has everything to do with how well kids are able to learn and how effectively instructors are able to teach.

“We have a moral obligation,” said Gutter in a published interview. “When we talk about a quality education, we talk about the who and the what—teachers and curriculum—but we don’t talk about the where. That needs to change.”

In addition, she says that the government needs to do a far better job of monitoring schools to make sure they’re keeping up with maintenance and safety requirements, as many buildings tend to fall to the waste side without anything being done or without any action being taken.

Gutter says the reason for this seeming lack of concern with certain buildings is because admitting these failings would humiliate the school district.

“It’s a secret that we’re keeping because it’s shameful and embarrassing to us as a country,” she said.

Healthy work environment

Former President Bill Clinton, who wrote the foreward on the Green School’s proposal, said creating a healthy work environment is just as important, if not more so, than creating a proper curriculum and providing students with the right education materials and teachers.

“Every day we let pass without addressing inefficient energy practices, poor indoor air quality and other problems associated with unhealthy learning environments, we are passing up tremendous opportunities,” Clinton wrote.

“I’m optimistic that by working together, we can give our children the best possible education and make America the world’s greatest innovator for generations to come.”

If you plan a major renovation to your home – anything from updating a bathroom to adding a master suite – you'll need a remodeling contractor to do the job. Who you choose may be the biggest decision you've made since you bought your home.

Choose the right person and your project will go smoothly and you'll be delighted with the results. Choose the wrong one and it will be a nightmare, and a costly one at that. There is no margin for error.

It's not that there are a lot of crooks in the industry. There may be a few but probably no more than in any other line of work. The problem arises when the project exceeds the contractor's level of competency.

You can't rely on a contractor looking for work to tell you that a particular job is too difficult for them. In most cases they'll think they can give you what you want but once into the project, realize they're over their heads. By then, it's too late.

So you have to be the one to decide if a particular contractor is up to the job and four steps can help you make a good decision.

Referrals

First, ask for referrals. If someone you know has recently done a similar renovation, find out if they were happy with the results. If possible, visit their house and look at the results for yourself. Compare their job to the one you have in mind, making sure the same knowledge and skills are required.

In addition to inspecting the finished work, ask what it was like to work with the contractor or company. Remember, you are going to be living with this person for an extended period of time, often in the middle of a construction zone.

If they tend to be messy, noisy or disruptive, that's something to take into consideration. Someone who sings off-key all day long is likely to get on your nerves after the first hour or two. A remodeling industry consultant once said that the happiest the homeowner is with the contractor is the day they sign the contract – it's all downhill after that.

Credentials

Once you have a few candidates, do some legwork to check them out. A good place to start is with the contractor's website. That's where the contractor will list all their selling points. You should be able to find out if they hold all the required licenses from the state and local municipality. Membership in industry associations can also be a good sign.

The industry provides opportunities for remodeling contractors to take advanced courses and earn specific certifications. If they have a certification in bathroom remodeling, and your project happens to be a bathroom upgrade, that might be a point in their favor.

When a contractor lists certifications and credentials, do a little research to see what they actually mean and what's required to earn them.

Interview

Once you have a list of candidates, schedule in-person interviews. Prepare a list of questions in advance, including start and stop times for the work day, timeline for starting and completing a project, as well as more general questions.

The object of the interview is more than gaining information; you're taking the measure of the contractor as a person. Pay attention to their general demeanor and attitude. Do they strike you as someone you can get along with? Remember, you're going to be in close quarters with them for quite a while.

If there is a conflict or misunderstanding along the way, which can happen, how do you think they will be to deal with? What kind of questions do they ask? A prospective contractor who asks a lot of questions is a good sign.

References

You've probably already checked out the candidates with family and friends but you should still ask the contractor to provide references. These will be jobs the contractor believes went well and is proud of.

Make sure you are comparing apples to apples, however. If the references all seem to be for exterior work, such as decks or outbuildings, this contractor may not be the right choice for a kitchen remodel. It's not that they can't do the work, but there may be someone else who can do it with better results.

The contractor should give you names and contact information so that you can talk to the references directly. Sometimes people are reluctant to give a negative review – especially if they like the person – so ask, “Is there anything about the job you wished was done differently?" The answer will often reveal a hidden problem or concern.

Federal regulators have given the go-ahead to the merger of MetroPCS and T-Mobile USA, potentially creating a bigger and more powerful player in the wireless arena that's now dominated by Verizon and AT&T Wireless.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said the deal would boost competition by creating the fourth-largest competitor, after Sprint. The Justice Department has also signed off on the transaction.

T-Mobile USA's parent company, Deutsche Telekom, will own 74% of the combined company.

MetroPCS offers no-contract, month-to-month service and T-Mobile has traditionally undercut Verizon and AT&T in its contract offerings. 

Neither carrier covers the entire country with its network and the combined company won't either. Also, neither offers the iPhone. That's estimated to have caused the loss of 1.7 million customers at T-Mobile. 

In a news release, the companies urged shareholders to approve the merger.

"If stockholders vote against the proposed combination, there is no assurance that MetroPCS will be able to deliver the same or better stockholder value," they said.

“Our combined company will have the products, spectrum, scale and resources to shake up this industry and deliver an entirely new wireless experience," said John Legere, President and CEO of T-Mobile.

“We are pleased with the FCC’s approval of the proposed transaction,” said Roger D. Linquist, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of MetroPCS. “We thank the FCC for its prompt review of our proposed combination with T-Mobile, which will create the value leader in the United States wireless marketplace.”

If you use the antibiotic azithromycin, which is sold as Zithromax or Z-Pak, you should know that it can cause abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart that may lead to a potentially fatal irregular heart rhythm.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says patients at particular risk for developing this condition include those with known risk factors such as existing prolongation of the QT interval -- a measure of the time between the start of the Q wave and the end of the T wave in the heart's electrical cycle, low blood levels of potassium or magnesium, a slower than normal heart rate, or use of certain drugs used to treat abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias.

The FDA advisory follows a review of a study by medical researchers as well as another study by a manufacturer of the drug that assessed the potential for it to cause abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart.

Updated labels

The azithromycin drug labels have been updated to strengthen the Warnings and Precautions section with information related to the risk of QT interval prolongation and torsades de pointes, a specific, rare heart rhythm abnormality. Information has also been added regarding the results of a clinical QT study which showed that azithromycin can prolong the QTc interval.

Health care professionals are advised to consider the risk of fatal heart rhythms with azithromycin when considering treatment options for patients who are already at risk for cardiovascular events .

Antibacterial drugs

FDA notes that the potential risk of QT prolongation with azithromycin should be placed in appropriate context when choosing an antibacterial drug: Alternative drugs in the macrolide class, or non-macrolides such as the fluoroquinolones, also have the potential for QT prolongation or other significant side effects that should be considered when choosing an antibacterial drug.

FDA released a statement on May 17, 2012, about a New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) study that compared the risks of cardiovascular death in patients treated with the antibacterial drugs azithromycin, amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin (Cipro), and levofloxacin (Levaquin), or no antibacterial drug.

The study reported an increase in cardiovascular deaths, and in the risk of death from any cause, in persons treated with a 5-day course of azithromycin (Zithromax) compared with persons treated with amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, or no drug. The risks of cardiovascular death associated with levofloxacin treatment were similar to those associated with azithromycin treatment.    

From the time people started using cellphones, keeping the battery charged has been a challenge. It got worse a few years ago when smartphones flooded the market.

It turns out data usage -- sending and receiving email, accessing the Internet and using apps -- drains a cellphone battery much faster that making a phone call. And not all data usage is created equal.

When Apple updated the iPhone's operating system last year, a number of users found their batteries drained even faster than usual in the iPhone 4 and 4S. In a recent study, Purdue University computer scientist Abhinav Pathak found that apps you can download for free tend to drain batteries faster than those you pay for. The ads gobble up energy by tracking user habits and running other tasks in the background.

Regardless of the reason for battery drain, manufacturers are not only working on ways to extend battery life but make it easier and faster to recharge them.

Wireless charging

In the meantime, a number of manufacturers have devices that can charge your phone without having to plug it in. All you do is place it on a pad that's plugged into an outlet.

Many of the devices use the Qi wireless charging standard, backed by Energizer. It works through magnetic induction, allowing power to be transferred from a charging mat or even a speaker dock to a smartphone’s battery.

Battery maker Duracell got into the act last year with its PMA system, teaming with AT&T, Google and Starbucks, working to create an “ecosystem” of wireless power. It also uses inductive charging and, besides consumer products, is working to install these wireless charging pads in public spaces. Delta Airlines recently installed PMA-compatible Wireless Charging Spots in lounges and gates in a number of airports.

So as wireless technology continues to evolve, both the PMA and Qi systems will compete for dominance.

Monster Watts, a producer of power accessories for both Apple and Samsung phones, has just introduced three wireless chargers for the Samsung Galaxy S3. The Stealth wireless receiver is ultra-thin and fits under the S3 existing back cover.

The Simple wireless receiver back cover and charger set has a similar install process. The company says it adds only about 1 mm to the thickness, and will fit into most standard flexible cases.

Charging on the go

The Super Pack model is an external case with a built-in wireless receiver and rechargeable back up battery. The S3 slides into it and charges wirelessly. Gavin Carter, media coordinator for Monster Watts, says the Super Pack is about as close as you can get to wireless charging on the go.

“We actually have sold thousands of cases with built-in rechargeable battery packs that charge Apple iPhones and Samsung S3 on the go,” Carter said. “They are recharged via a micro USB port. However, for something to charge using the Qi technology standard, the transmitter would have to connected to an outlet. We did sample a Qi standard transmitter charging pad with a built-in battery pack but it felt too heavy and cost too much.”

Carter says the current systems require the transmitter and receiver to be touching, or almost touching, so the day you can charge your phone by walking through an airport or shopping in a mall is not here yet.

But the current crop of wireless charges make it faster and easier to keep your smartphone running. Monster Watts' three new offerings start at $68 and go to $118.

Hedging its bets

Google, meanwhile, is hedging its bets. The latest Nexus 4 phone from LG comes standard with Qi wireless charging. A number of technology sites are reporting that new phones from Samsung and Apple this year will include wireless charging.

Of course, what consumers would really like is a cell phone battery that lasts longer. Work is underway in that area too. Two years ago researchers at the University of Michigan invented what they call a "subconscious mode" for smartphones and other Wi-Fi-enabled mobile devices that could extend battery life by as much as 54 percent for users on the busiest networks. The product, however, is not yet commercially available.

It's turning into quite the week for sugar lovers. First Judge Tingling dumps Mayor Bloomberg's Big Gulp ban, now Hostess Brands picks a new owner for its Twinkies and other snackies brands.

Bankrupt Hostess Brands Inc. says it will seek bankruptcy court approval to sell the snack cake brands to Apollo Global Management, which had offered $410 million. 

It's not as though the line stretched around the block. There weren't any other offers, although several prospective buyers had expressed interest but swallowed hard at the $410 million figure.

The offer will be presented at a court hearing March 19.

It's not just Twinkies, et. al., whose fate hangs in the balance. Other Hostess brands like Wonder Bread, Nature's Own and Beefsteak, a rye-bread brand, are also up for grabs. 

Hostess shut off the ovens and threw in the towel back in November, when it announced it was closing its 36 plants and 30 or so brands. It blamed the bakers' union for making its cakes fall, at a cost of 18,000 jobs.

OK, it's oh so clever to send out a short tweet about a life-changing new shampoo or a really cool new snack bar, but look out. If it's a paid endorsement or advertisement, it has to be labeled as such.

The Federal Trade Commission yesterday released a new document -- guidance for mobile and other online advertisers -- that spells out just how clear those disclosures need to be. Answer: very clear.

How can you do it in a tweet? Simple: put "ad:" in front of the hucksterism you're putting out there. Same goes for endorsements or "likes" on Facebook. It can't look like a personal endorsement or gee-whiz exclamation if someone's paying for it. 

Laws apply equally

The new set of guidelines make it clear that consumer protection laws apply equally to marketers across all mediums, whether delivered on a desktop computer, a mobile device, or more traditional media such as television, radio, or print. 

If a disclosure is needed to prevent an online ad claim from being deceptive or unfair, it must be clear and conspicuous.  Under the new guidance, this means advertisers should ensure that the disclosure is clear and conspicuous on all devices and platforms that consumers may use to view the ad. 

Disclosures must be clear enough that they aren't "misleading a significant minority of reasonable consumers," the FTC said.

The new guidance also explains that if an advertisement without a disclosure would be deceptive or unfair, or would otherwise violate a Commission rule, and the disclosure cannot be made clearly and conspicuously on a device or platform, then that device or platform should not be used.

The 2000 guidance stated that to help ensure clear and conspicuous disclosures,   advertisers should consider the disclosure’s placement and proximity to the relevant ad claim, its prominence, whether audio disclosures are loud enough to be heard, and whether visual disclosures appear for long enough to be noticed. 

Although the 2000 guidelines defined proximity as “near, and when possible, on the same screen,” and stated that advertisers should “draw attention to” disclosures, the new guidance says disclosures should be “as close as possible” to the relevant claim.

Like the original guidance, the updated Dot Com Disclosures calls on advertisers to avoid using hyperlinks for disclosures that involve product cost or certain health and safety issues.  The new guidelines also call for labeling hyperlinks as specifically as possible, and they caution advertisers to consider how their hyperlinks will function on various programs and devices. 

Hot Springs Packing of Hot Springs, AR, is recalling approximately 6,120 pounds of chicken Polish sausage and chicken breakfast link products due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

The products subject to recall include:

• 30-lb. packages of "DOUBLE D INTERNATIONAL FOOD CO., INC., 4/1 CHICKEN POLISH SAUSAGE, REDUCED SODIUM" with lot code numbers of "05013A" or "05013B" stamped on the box.
• 30-lb. packages of "DOUBLE D INTERNATIONAL FOOD CO., INC., 16/1 CHICKEN BREAKFAST LINK, REDUCED SODIUM" with a lot code number of "05013B" stamped on the box.

The products subject to recall bear the establishment number "P-10695" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced on February 19, 2013, and distributed to an institution in Jackson, Michigan.

The problem was discovered by the company through samples collected by the firm. The affected product was shipped prior to receiving the final results. There have been no reports of illnesses due to consumption of these products.

Consumers with questions should contact the company's owner, John Stubblefield, at (501) 767-2363.  

Airlines continue to do a good job of keeping long tarmac delays at a minimum.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), carriers reported just two tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic flights, but no tarmac delays of more than four hours on international flights during January.

The long domestic tarmac delays took place on January 27 -- one on a flight departing Chicago O’Hare Airport and the other on a flight diverted to Bullhead City, Ariz. DOT is investigating both.

The larger U.S. airlines have been required to file complete reports on their long tarmac delays for domestic flights since October 2008. Under a rule that took effect Aug. 23, 2011, all U.S. and foreign airlines operating at least one aircraft with 30 or more passenger seats must report lengthy tarmac delays at U.S. airports.

Also beginning Aug. 23, 2011, carriers operating international flights may not allow tarmac delays at U.S. airports to last longer than four hours without giving passengers an opportunity to deplane. Exceptions to the time limits for both domestic and international flights are allowed only for safety, security, or air traffic control-related reasons.

Other areas covered by the report include:

On-time performance

• The reporting carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 81.0% in January, compared with January 2012’s 83.7% mark and December 2012’s 76.6%.

Cancellations

• The reporting carriers canceled 1.5% of their scheduled domestic flights in January, the same as January 2012, and down 0.1% from the rate in December 2012.

Chronically delayed flights

• At the end of January, there were 12 flights that were chronically delayed -- more than 30 minutes late more than 50% of the time -- for two consecutive months. There were no chronically delayed flights for three consecutive months or more.

Causes of Flight Delays

• In January, the carriers reported that 5.73% of their flights were delayed by aviation system delays, compared with 6.19% in December; 6.02% by late-arriving aircraft, versus 8.55% in December; 4.98% by factors within the airline’s control, such as maintenance or crew problems, compared with 6.21% in December; 0.55% by extreme weather, versus 0.59% in December; and 0.04% for security reasons, compared with 0.05% in December. 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 DOT’s 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 the Bureau of Transportation Statistics also shows 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 January, 34.12% of late flights were delayed by weather, down 3.78% from January 2012, when 35.46% of late flights were delayed by weather, and up 3.99% from December when 32.81% of late flights were delayed by weather.

Mishandled baggage

• The carriers posted a mishandled baggage rate of 3.41 reports per 1,000 passengers in January, compared with January 2012’s rate of 3.30 and December 2012’s rate of 4.15.

Incidents involving pets

• In January, carriers reported three incidents involving the loss, death or injury of pets while traveling by air. In January 2012, there were eight reports, five reports were filed in December 2012. January’s incidents involved three pet deaths.

Complaints about airline service

• In January, DOT received 1,368 complaints about airline service from consumers, up 46.3% from the 935 complaints filed in January 2012, and up 51.8% from the 901 received in December 2012.

Complaints about treatment of disabled passengers

• The report also contains a tabulation of complaints filed with DOT in January against airlines regarding the treatment of passengers with disabilities. There was a total of 56 disability-related complaints in January, compared with 41 complaints in January 2012 and 35 in December 2012.

Complaints about discrimination

• In January, there were six complaints alleging discrimination by airlines due to factors other than disability -- such as race, religion, national origin or sex --- four fewer than in January 2012, but three more than December 2012.

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 .

A 5% surge in sales at gas stations helped propel overall retail sales up 1.1 percent in February following a revised advance of 0.2% the month before. That was well above the expectation of economists surveyed by Briefing.com.

Figures released by the Commerce Department show advances in eight of the 13 major categories. Following gas stations were auto sales and building materials sales -- both up. 1.1%; food and beverage stores, with a gain of 0.8%; and general merchandisers, showing an advance of 0.5%.

Furniture and home furnishings stores were the biggest losers, slumping 1.6%, followed by sporting goods, hobby, and book & music stores down 0.9%.

Impo International of Santa Maria, CA, is recalling about 13,500 pairs of women's high-heeled shoes.

The heels on the shoes can become unstable, posing a fall hazard. No incidents or injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Versailles model (570053826) and Lourdes model (570053756) women's shoes with four-inch heels. The Versailles is cream, black and brown-colored faux snakeskin. The Lourdes is black-colored faux snakeskin with a white t-strap and trim. The model name is stamped inside the shoes and on the shoe box. The model number is printed on the shoe box.

The shoes, manufactured in China, were sold exclusively at White House\ Black Market stores nationwide or online from August 2012, through October 2012, for about $120.

Consumers should immediately stop wearing the recalled shoes and return them to a White House | Black Market store to receive a merchandise card for the full purchase price of the shoes, or contact White House\Black Market to receive instructions for returning the shoes by mail.

Consumers may contact White House\Black Market toll-free at (877) 948-2525 anytime, or email customerservice@whitehouseblackmarket.com.

It's been said that hard work never killed anybody, but that may not necessarily be true.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University's Faculty of Management, led by Dr. Sharon Toker, have found a link between job burnout and coronary heart disease (CHD) -- the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries that leads to angina or heart attacks.

Previous research has found that job burnout -- physical, cognitive, and emotional exhaustion that results from stress at work -- is also associated with obesity, insomnia, and anxiety.

Those who were identified as being in the top 20 percent of the burnout scale were found to have a 79% increased risk of coronary disease, the researchers reported in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine. Calling the results "alarming," Dr. Toker says these findings were more extreme than expected -- and make burnout a stronger predictor of CHD than many other classical risk factors, including smoking, blood lipid levels, and physical activity.

Taking a toll on the heart

Some of the factors that contribute to burnout are common experiences in the workplace, including high stress, heavy workload, a lack of control over job situations, a lack of emotional support and long work hours. This leads to physical wear and tear, which will eventually weaken the body.

Knowing that burnout has been associated with other cardiovascular risk factors, such as heightened amounts of cholesterol or fat in the bloodstream, the researchers hypothesized that it could also be a risk factor for coronary heart disease.

Over the course of the study, a total of 8,838 apparently healthy employed men and women between the ages of 19 and 67 who presented for routine health examinations were followed for an average of 3.4 years. Each participant was measured for burnout levels and examined for signs of CHD. The researchers controlled for typical risk factors for the disease, such as sex, age, family history of heart disease, and smoking.

During the follow-up period, 93 new cases of CHD were identified. Burnout was associated with a 40% increased risk of developing CHD. But the 20% of participants with the highest burnout scores had a 79% increased risk. Dr. Toker predicts that with a more extended follow-up period, the results would be even more dramatic.

Avoiding long-term damage

These results are valuable for preventative medicine, says Dr. Toker. Healthcare providers who know that their patients are experiencing burnout can closely monitor for signs of coronary heart disease as well.

Once burnout begins to develop, it sparks a downwards spiral and ultimately becomes a chronic condition, she warns. Employers need to prioritize prevention by promoting healthy and supportive work environments and keeping watch for early warning signs of the condition. Simple diagnostic questionnaires that identify burnout are already available online.

Workers can contribute to prevention by making healthy lifestyle choices, such as exercising more regularly, getting seven to eight hours sleep per night and seeking psychological therapy if required.

Okay, I admit it. I’m kind of the artsy fartsy type and I get extremely excited anytime I get to be creative, which happens to be everyday thanks to my job and probably one of the biggest perks of being an artsy type is belonging to a massive community of creative people that has everyone from painters, actors, poets, photographers, musicians and more.

I have an equal amount of respect and admiration for all creative types and oftentimes I wish it was me that came up with one of their great ideas or concepts, but probably the people that I’m most blown away by are designers who are able to take a mere idea and bring it to three-dimensional life.

It’s safe to assume that many people are like myself in that they might be able to put together a song or they might be able to draw something if they had to, but when it comes to creating beautiful buildings, cool-looking furniture or intricate sculptures, many of us wouldn’t even dare try, not because we don’t possess any good ideas, it’s mainly because we don’t have access to the right kind of technology.

Shapeways.com bills itself as the “world’s leading 3D printing marketplace and community,” and whether that’s true is arguable, but one thing Shapeways has going for itself is that it’s one of the first Internet companies to jump into the 3D printing industry and offer a way for everyday consumers to take advantage of it.

Quite simply, Shapeways is to designers what websites like KitsyLane.com are to jewelry makers, in that people can sell their own designs over the Internet.

Not just design

But instead of being able to sell just a statement necklace or being able to offer a cool-looking bracelet to someone, you can actually put together just about anything your mind can come up with, as long as it’s under a certain size. From there, you can have it printed and shipped to either yourself or someone who’s willing to pay good money for it.

In case you’re unfamiliar with 3D printing, it’s the concept of taking the blueprints of any design from just about any object and duplicating it through the use of a specially made 3D printer. We offered a full story on it last year, when the concept was just starting to hit mainstream consumer realms.

The idea behind Shapeways’ approach is to capture people who may be interested in 3D printing, but don’t have the funds or interest in purchasing their own 3D printer, which can easily go for thousands of dollars.

To get started, one must first create an account and then you can pretty much start designing products after that, but obviously the more challenging part for some people will be to actually create the designs.

If you’re already familiar with 3D printing in terms of what materials to select and how to properly specify the dimensions of an object, you can jump from the signing-in phase to the design phase, and choose to either have your product shipped to you or placed into Shapeways’ store for sale.

The company will determine a price for your object based on design, size, and materials and shipping costs, all included in the price, which will be listed next to your design once it’s available for purchase.

User-friendly

In terms of the general Internet reviews about Shapeways and how easy it is to create stuff, most people have given the site pretty good ratings for being user-friendly for people who know about 3D printing and for those who don’t.

As far as the quality of the objects you’re designing, they seem to be pretty well-made and sturdy according to some who have received products through the mail already.

For those who are not in the know about 3D printing, Shapeways has a bunch of tutorial links that users can click on for help and you can post your questions in the community forum and other users will be able to give you instruction, but if you would rather have another Shapeway user actually create a design for you, you can do that too.

In addition, the site suggests a handful of 3D modeling packages like Rhino, Blender and Maya, which can help walk you through the process of  3D printing from A to Z if need be.

Some of the previous reviewers of the site complained about how long it takes to get finished products shipped, which can be anywhere from 10 to 21 days, depending on the type of material you use for your object.

And although people these days are making a lot of things through 3D printing, users aren’t allowed to print any weaponry or distasteful material  of a sexual nature. Doing so will get your design automatically removed by the company.

Next big thing

A lot of experts are saying that 3D printing is the next big thing that will dramatically shift manufacturing, commerce and trade in the very near future and if you’ve been paying attention during the last couple of years, you’ve probably noticed more and more people talking about this huge shift in technology.

So before 3D printing becomes mainstream and a normal part of our society, which it probably will very soon, using Shapeways is a good way to start tinkering around with the overall concept.

Additionally, the site does a decent job of creating a bridge between the idea of design and the average consumer who normally might not give 3D printing a try.

And the site can be useful for the experienced designer who wants to sell products, but doesn’t have the proper technology to do 3D prints, which is a definite plus for the site.

Whether Shapeways grows into a major destination for consumers remains to be seen, but if it could somehow cut down on some of its delivery times, it would not only help the site, it would probably attract more users too.

It'll be interesting to see where the concept of 3D printing goes from here.

I think it started about a decade ago when a lot of people starting using the whole “30 is the new 20, 40 is the new 30” rationale, and to this day it’s hard to determine if this reasoning was developed to encourage others to feel younger or to help them get over their fears of getting older.

But the question is, where does this fear really come from?

Is it because age reminds us of our mortality and reminds us that we actually won’t live forever, despite new medical findings and our increased efforts to stay healthy?

Or is it television shows, movies and the rest of the media that places that fear in some of us by mainly putting young and attractive people on the airwaves, and almost dictating to viewers what the standard of beauty and importance is?

It’s hard to pinpoint what the exact reason is, but getting older isn’t as celebrated here in the United States as it is in other cultures around the world, which is unfortunate, because as many know, getting older presents an opportunity to navigate through life without a lot of inexperience and guessing. I mean, you’re always able to enjoy your navigation more if you don’t have to fumble around with a big old map to learn your way.

Keep it moving

So what’s the best way to enjoy that level of experience and knowhow to the fullest as you get older?

One way is to stay active through exercising says Janie Clark, M.A., who authored several books on senior fitness and is the president of the American Senior Fitness Association, an organization that provides older adult fitness specialists with training, educational programs and certifications.

She says before seniors begin their exercise routine it’s important they consult their physicians first.

“To get started, an older adult should consult with his or her physician and obtain medical clearance to exercise,” said Clark in an interview with ConsumerAffairs. “The doctor can provide personalized advice, including dos and don’ts specific to the individual’s health status.”

In addition, older adults should be particularly mindful to pace themselves so they don’t risk getting injured, Clark says.

“Seniors beginning a new exercise program after a long period of being sedentary should avoid certain pitfalls,” she advises.

“First, don’t overdo it in an overabundance of enthusiasm. Injuries take longer to heal as we age, and injured senior exercise participants often wind up dropping out permanently. Also, don’t just reinstate an old calisthenics routine that you recall from many years ago when you were in school or in the military. Up-to-date fitness programs are more beneficial and less likely to lead to injury.”

And a common injury among seniors who exercise is damaging the back, Clark says, so it’s important to choose routines that don’t cause strain.

“Do be careful with your back,” she says. “Older exercisers can ask too much of their backs, sustaining soreness and strain. For example, avoid exercises that feature jerky movements involving the spine, including the neck.”

Fitness pro

Clark says that having access to a trained senior fitness professional can make all the difference when it comes to tailoring workouts and they can make sure each routine meets the needs and interest of each individual, so exercise remains fun, but challenging, varied but consistent--which is needed for most people to stay motivated.

Furthermore, Clark says that seniors can either choose to do many different workouts or stick with just one depending on the individual, but again, consulting both your physician and a trained senior workout professional is advised before making your decision.

And if you’re still undecided, you can simply put on your sneakers and go for a stroll, if you’re able to, which can do wonders for both your physical and mental state, Clark explains.

“Older adults should follow an exercise program that includes cardiovascular work, strength training, stretching and balance activity,” she says.

“A trained senior fitness professional can design such a plan, taking into account the participants interests, likes and dislikes. There are also many responsible community exercise programs and DVD workouts conducted by qualified senior fitness professionals that may be appropriate.”

“It is fine to stick with one safe and effective program if it continues to feel rewarding and fulfilling to the participant. A good program will allow for progression as the participant gets fitter. On the other hand, many exercisers enjoy cross-training to prevent boredom. Cross-training also has the advantage of working the muscles in different ways.”

“All that being true, if individuals will not do anything else, they definitely should walk if they can; walking regularly at an energetic pace can confer many physical and mental health benefits,” says Clark.

Lacking motivation

But if you’re a child of a senior and you have a parent that lacks the motivation to exercise, what do you do? Because we all know that not wanting to exercise happens to all of us, not just older adults.  

Clark says there are several ways to motivate your parents, but each method is based on a consistent level of support, as opposed to coming down on them.

And oftentimes by exercising along with your folks you’ll be able to give that additional push they might need, since leading by example trumps any speech or reminders that you could give them.

“The adult children of senior citizens can promote physical activity in several ways,” states Clark.

“Talk to your parents about the short-term and long-range benefits of exercise (e.g., respectively, feeling more self-confident and maintaining a high quality of life into old age.) Consider supporting the idea with suitable fits such as comfortable exercise clothing and shoes, easy to follow DVD workouts, and inexpensive exercise accessories such as resistance bands or light-weight dumbbells.”

Additionally, “Make exercise a family activity; for example, invite your parent to go for a walk or a swim and try to make it a regular date. If you can accompany your parent to his or her medical check-up, ask the doctor to weigh in on the advisability of staying physically active,” says Clark.

Successful survival

According to statistics released by the Harvard School of Public Health a few years ago the rate of “successful survival,” which is considered living over the age of 70 in relatively good physical and mental condition, almost doubled for seniors that started exercising ten to fifteen years prior, which shows the importance of getting an early start at developing that drive to exercise.

And even if you’re not one to head to the gym or develop an official workout routine, Clark says you can still get many of the benefits of exercising by just changing some of the things in your daily routine.

“One of the best ways to stay physically active is to make movement a regular part of everyday life,” she says.

“If you are able to take good care of a pet, get a dog. Dogs have a way of getting us out and about. Take walks together through your neighborhood, and if you let your dog out into the yard two or three times a day, don’t just stay in the house or stand motionless by the back door while your dog explores the yard. Instead walk around a little, pick up some twigs or wipe off the lawn chairs.”

“And if you’re meeting a friend for lunch, choose a restaurant close to a nice park and have a stroll together before or after dining," Clark said.

She says this same approach of fitting in exercise during your daily runs can be applied on your shopping trips and when you’re at home too.

“Instead of bee-lining for that parking space right at the store’s entrance, park in a more distant spot in the parking lot and walk briskly to and from the store,” she says.

Keep your balance

“While inside, walk all the aisles. You’ll gain a bit more exercise, and you’ll be less likely to forget an item you’d planned to pick up. While waiting in line to pay, fit in some balance work by alternately shifting your body weight from one leg to the other.”

“At home keep a pair of light-weight dumbbells beside the sofa where you sit to watch television so that you can do some arm exercises at the same time," she adds. "Stand up and walk in place during the advertisements [and] when talking on the phone, try standing and maybe even walking around instead of just sitting during the conversation.”

Spending time with your grandchildren is another excuse to get some fitness in, said Clark.

“When the grandchildren or great-grandchildren come to visit, it’s great to read to them and take them to a movie, but also try to include some physically active pastimes such as tossing a ball, playing crochet, picking and arranging flowers or playing carpet golf," she says.

If you've looked for places to tighten your budget but still find you need to cut, take a look at what you do at lunchtime. Many of us, it turns out, think nothing of buying lunch out each day.

A recent study by Accounting Principals, a finance and accounting staffing firm, found that 66 percent of employees buy their lunch instead of packing it, costing them an average of $37 per week – nearly $2,000 a year.

Most of us don't realize how much we're spending at work. When the surveytakers asked respondents which work-related expense they would most like to be reimbursed for, most people said commuting costs. Only 11 percent chose lunchtime expenses.

"Small – but consistent -- expenses add up quickly over time, and it can be difficult for consumers to realize it because they’re only spending a few dollars at a time. But, as our survey shows, those few dollars can quickly turn into a few thousand dollars," said Jodi Chavez, senior vice president, Accounting Principals. "Additionally, when you look at it over a worker’s lifetime, that number grows exponentially. Consider the average American who works for about 40 years, starting their first job around age 22. By the time they retire at age 62 they would have spent at minimum $120,000 on coffee and lunch, not including inflation."

Younger workers are more inclined to spend more on lunch and less inclined to brown-bag it. The survey found that younger professionals age 18-34 spend almost twice as much on coffee during the week than those ages 45 and over. They also shell out more for lunch, spending an average of $44.78 per week on lunch compared to their older colleagues who spend $31.80 per week.

Not as healthy

Not only is grabbing lunch at the corner deli more expensive, it can be less healthy.

“Restaurant meals are typically high in calories, fat and sodium,” said University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) Assistant Professor of Nutrition Sciences Beth Kitchin. “It is possible for you to make good choices – but it’s harder to make healthy choices when the temptation is staring at you.”

Kitchin said packing a lunch can make healthier decisions easier.

“Bento style -- where you pack several single portions in a box -- offers a lot of opportunity to get creative and really use the resources you have on hand,” Kitchin said. “Grab some of the leftover chicken from the night before. Add some carrot sticks, cheese and crackers – basically any finger food that travels well.”

When taking your lunch to school or work, nutritionists suggest packing simple, well-rounded meals.

It doesn’t have to be fancy, just healthy and balanced; it should have a protein, a carbohydrate, fruits and vegetables, even a fat.

Some people may resist brown-bagging because it requires a bit of planning. But getting organized makes it easier. Prepare foods on the weekend, so they are ready to grab in the mornings.

Store something like a jar of peanut butter and a box of crackers in a desk drawer at work. If you are in a rush some morning, at least you have a lunch starter. Perhaps add a piece of fruit or some cheese from a grocery store on your way to the office.

In fact, many supermarkets have salad bars, allowing your to pick up a salad on your way to work. It costs less and is healthier than a sandwich from the downstairs coffee shop.

Subsidized lunch

In a bid to encourage employees to stay in for lunch and even eat at their desks, some companies have begun providing free or subsidized lunches in the office. Chavez says its a good idea.

"As the recovery gains momentum and companies look to attract and retain talent, they should consider worrying less about big-ticket discounts and focus instead on what will impact their employees’ happiness every day," she said. "Small improvements around the office, such as better equipment, food and drinks, can make a big difference in workers’ morale. After all it is often the little things in life that tend to make people the happiest."