Current Events in May 2013

Any time you suggest an ailment or condition is over-diagnosed or over-treated, you are likely to start an argument. But researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health apparently have no fear of that.

They have issued a study that followed the cases of adults who had been identified in a clinical setting as suffering from depression, most of whom were prescribed medications. But according to the researchers, only 38.4%  of them met the 12-month criteria for depression.

"Depression over-diagnosis and over-treatment is common in the U.S. and frankly the numbers are staggering," said Ramin J. Mojtabai, PhD, author of the study and an associate professor with the Bloomberg School's Department of Mental Health. "Among study participants who were 65 years old or older with clinician-identified depression, six out of every seven did not meet the 12-month major-depressive-episodes criteria. While participants who did not meet the criteria used significantly fewer services and treatment contacts, the majority of both groups used prescription psychiatric medication."

In fact, the health care system spends billions each year on these drugs, most of which are powerful and can have significant side effects. Earlier this week, a study found that Prozac and similar drugs may cause problems for surgery patients, and another study implicated them in autism.

There are at least 40 psychiatric prescription drugs in wide use in the U.S., including familiar names like Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil. These three drugs fall into the category of antidepressants.

Chemical balance

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), antidepressants work to balance some of the natural chemicals in the brain. The chemicals are called neurotransmitters and they generally affect mood and emotional response.

Antidepressants interact with chemicals like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. The objective is to correct any chemical imbalance, but anytime you begin altering anything in the brain, there's a possibility for things to go wrong.

Side effects from these drugs are usually related to physical conditions. You might get headaches, feel sick or be both unable to sleep and drowsy. But in some cases, there can be more serious side effects.

“Antidepressants are safe and popular, but some studies have suggested that they may have unintentional effects, especially in young people,” NIH cautions on its website.

Suicidal thoughts

In 2004, the Food and Drug Administration FDA studied available data on trials of antidepressants that involved nearly 4,400 children and adolescents. It found that four percent of those taking antidepressants thought about or tried suicide, compared to two percent of those receiving placebos.

The following year FDA adopted a "black box" warning label—the most serious type of warning—on all antidepressant medications. The warning says there is an increased risk of suicidal thinking or attempts in children and adolescents taking antidepressants. Later, the warning was extended to include young adults up through age 24.

The Johns Hopkins researchers, meanwhile, are jumping into a discussion that is full of controversy. Treatment of depression is a cornerstone of modern healthcare, but dissenting voices are beginning to be heard. Most have to do with the drugs that are used.

Writing in the Huffington Post this week, Dr. Mark Hyman, a practicing physician and founder of the UltraWellness Center, claims the FDA and pharmaceutical industry are pushing anti-depressants on the public. But Hyman's complaint is with the medications. He does not believe depression is over-diagnosed.

“Depression is among the most common problems seen in primary care medicine,” he writes. “Soon, it will be the second-leading cause of disability in this country.”

The Johns Hopkins researchers aren't arguing that depression isn't a problem. Instead, they suggest many people who are diagnosed with depression don't have it, while many who are depressed are not being diagnosed. In other words, the wrong people are taking the drugs.

"A number of factors likely contribute to the high false-positive rate of depression diagnosis in community settings," said Mojtabai. "The new data suggest that the under-diagnosis and under-treatment of many who are in need of treatment occurs in conjunction with the over-diagnosis and over-treatment of others who do not need such treatment. There is a need for improved targeting of diagnosis and treatment of depression and other mental disorders in these settings."

What to do

If you think you or a family member might be suffering from depression, seek help immediately. But engage your clinician in a discussion of your symptoms and whether medication – and what kind of medication – should be part of your treatment. 

If you are prescribed drugs for depression, be patient. It takes weeks for most medications to become effective. And it's very important not to stop taking the drug suddenly. Serious consequences can result. Always talk to your doctor before making any change in your regimen.

There are few things in the world that kids enjoy more than the rides at amusement parks, fairs, carnivals and at shopping malls and fast-food joints.

But while the rides are fun, they can be dangerous: 93,000 children were injured on amusement rides between the years of 1990 and 2010. And a third of those kids were five or younger.

Another fact that may be surprising is that kids are being injured on the smaller rides more often, not on the bigger rides like roller coasters.

Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy of Nationwide Children's Hospital said a lot of the smaller rides aren't getting the same amount of scrutiny as the bigger rides. Smith and his research team recently conducted a study on amusement ride safety.

"Injuries from smaller amusement rides located in malls, stores, restaurants and arcades are typically given less attention by legal and public health professionals than injuries from larger amusement park rides," said Smith.

"Yet our study showed that in the U.S. a child is treated in an emergency department, on average, every day for an injury from an amusement ride located in a mall, store, restaurant or arcade. We need to raise awareness of this issue and determine the best way to prevent injuries from these types of rides."

So does that mean kids aren't getting hurt on the bigger rides? Is it just the smaller rides that parents should be looking out for?

"It is not that children are not being injured on the bigger rides," said Tracy Mehan, also at Nationwide Children's Hospital, in an interview with ConsumerAffairs. "The surprise was the fact that so many were being injured on the 'smaller' rides found at malls, restaurants and arcades," she added.

Tighter regulations

Smith says the regulations surrounding mobile rides, which are usually located at fairs and carnivals, are much tighter than the regulations for fixed rides that tend to be in amusement parks and malls.

And that has a lot to do with why kids are getting hurt on the rides that are smaller in size.

"Although the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has jurisdiction over mobile rides, regulation of fixed-site rides is currently left to state or local governments leading to a fragmented system," said Smith. "A coordinated national system would help us prevent amusement ride-related injuries through better injury surveillance and more consistent enforcement of standards."

And what kind of injuries have kids been receiving? Mehan said the age of the child on the ride had a lot to do with the kind of injury sustained.

"Soft tissue injuries were the most common injury type (29%)," she said.  "Followed by strains and sprains (21%), fractures (10%) and concussions or closed head injuries (CHI) (7.3%). The youngest patients were more likely to be cut or to get a concussion/CHI while the older age group (6-17) was more likely to sustain a sprain or strain."

"The head and neck region was the most frequently injured. Approximately half of the children were injured either when they fell in, off, on or against the ride or when they either hit their body on the ride or were hit by something else while on the ride," Mehan explained.

Behavior matters

Smith says that parents should speak with their children about following the safety rules of a ride, which is just as important as making sure they fit the size requirements.

"Often there are height requirements or weight requirements and these should be followed," he said. "But in addition, because we know each child is different, a child needs to be ready to be able to behaviorally handle the ride. If they're going to get scared and try to climb out of the ride while in use, that child simply shouldn't be on that ride."

Mehan agrees, and says just because a child may be big enough to handle a ride, it doesn't mean he or she is mature enough. "Some kids might meet the height and/or weight restrictions but not be emotionally or behaviorally ready for the ride," she said.

"For example, a five year old child who is tall for his or her age might technically meet the requirements for a roller coaster, but that doesn't mean it is a good idea for them to ride it."

Additionally, Mehan says the study findings shouldn't keep parents from letting their kids go on amusement rides, but common sense and parental instincts should be used to determine which rides are best for them.

"We encourage families to get out and spend time together," she says. "If an amusement ride is part of your plans, use your instincts about what rides would be best for each individual family member. Make sure you feel comfortable that everyone will be able to follow the instructions and will use the safety equipment. Also, visually inspect the ride before you get on. If it seems unsafe in anyway, choose another activity."

Have you ever thought about opening your own restaurant? If you have, you may want to take a look at these statistics:

According to figures released by Cornell University and the National Restaurant Association, 60% of restaurants fail within the first three years of operation, and that number jumps to 75% after the five-year mark.

Fortunately for many people who are thinking about opening a restaurant, the failure rate isn't 90% as some may have been told. But the chances of a new restaurant succeeding are still pretty low.

According to David Kincheloe, president of National Restaurant Consultants, loving to cook isn't enough reason to believe you'll open a successful restaurant. It's all about having the proper game plan.

"You better validate your concept and business plan," he said in an interview with ConsumerAffairs. "You don't want to go into something to lose money. It's the quickest way to blow your life savings. If you have a great concept and you can put in the right location, and you can get the financing and have the wherewithal to do it, it's a good time."

Good time?

And what about the current state of the economy? Although there have been recent signs of improvement, is right now the best time to open a restaurant?

"If you can negotiate great real estate and you can negotiate corporate purchases, and all these things you got coming out of a lower dollar volume [it might be okay]. And restaurant sales were up last month," Kincheloe said.

Frank Diaz, a restaurant consultant for the company Diaz-Schloss Communications in New Jersey, told Forbes that a person's love for food often leads that person to make the wrong decision about opening a restaurant.

"What many people have is an urge, a fantasy, to be around food but not a great understanding of what it takes to run a restaurant," said Diaz. "What they really want is a familiar place to go every night where they can impress their friends."

Friends & partners

But what if you don't want to impress your friends; you'd rather be partners with one of them and open up a place and split the profits? How should you go about handling that?

"What to do with a friend or family member, anybody like that, be sure to lay down all the appropriate documents to begin with. Partnership agreements, buy-sell agreements, the whole nine yards," said Kincheloe.

Furthermore, Kincheloe explains that it's easy to get swept up in the family excitement of opening a business, especially with a friend or family member, so it's important to handle the important things on the front end of opening your eatery.

"You can get caught up in the euphoria in the situation of starting up a business and it's all well and good until things go south. And you need to have all that stuff done upfront," Kincheloe warned.

Ernie Paquette, who was the co-owner of Restaurant Zola, in Nashville Tenn., says loving to cook or loving food is just one of the things you'll need to open a restaurant. You definitely need to possess several other skillls too.

"Probably the most important skills you can have before you own a restaurant is good people skills," he said in one of his many informational videos on opening restaurants. "You've got to be able to deal with your employees, the customers, your purveyors, your local government, your neighbors, so it's really good to have excellent people skills."

A head for numbers

Paquette says you'll need a real head for numbers too.

"Because everything from costing out your menus, your wine list, your beer list, you have to be very involved in the day to day accounting," he says. "You've got to create sets of checks and balances, so that you're looking at your bartender's numbers daily."

"Or if you've got a manager who's running things for you, the manager checks them, you check them, then you get a bookkeeper to check your numbers and you then an accountant to check the bookkeeper's numbers." 

But before you even do those things, you'll have to decide where you want to open a restaurant, as the proper location can make all the difference between your place succeeding and failing.

"What do they say, location, location, location?" said Kincheloe. "You want a great spot. You don't want to put an Italian restaurant in China Town, stuff like that. You need to make sure that you analyze the location--that it's got good visibility and easy to find. You need to actually hire professional help to make sure you're in the right spot. A lot of restaurants have a great concept in a bad location and they fail."

But how does one find good professional help? With so many restaurant consultants out there, how do you know the difference between the good and the bad ones?

"You need to find someone who has a lot of years of experience," says Kincheloe.

"There are a lot of consultants out there that just leave a job at Applebee's or one of the big chains and all of a sudden they're these great consultants, and they never really worked as an independent. They never really worked to make payroll per se, because they've always worked for these big chains."

"So learning to run a one-year-old business is a lot different. You want to find a consultant who kind of has a mix of people who can do those things."

Not working out

And if your eatery isn't working out, how long should you stick with it? Kincheloe says that most new restaurant owners will have to commit to a space for at least three years' time.

"Usually a person who just started a restaurant like that has signed a three-  to five-year lease with a personal guarantee, if they've never had a restaurant before," he says.

"So when you've got that lease hanging out there with a personal guarantee, even if you're buried, make sure you have the wherewithal to pay that off or sublet it to somebody else."

"So if you start off correctly with a good business plan, the first year will be rough, within 18 months you could start turning the corner."

After rising a paltry 88,000 in March, employment shot higher in April with the economy adding 165,000 jobs. The forecast from Briefing.com was for creation of 135,000 jobs, while the market expectation was for 155,000 new payroll positions. Earlier this week, payroll concern ADP reported only 119,000 jobs were added.

At the same time, the jobless rate slipped 0.1% -- to 7.5%, surprising forecasters who expected it to hold steady or even tick higher. Still, the number of people unemployed was little changed over the month at 11.7 million. However, unemployment has declined by 673,000 since January.

Figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show most of the payroll position increase came in in professional and business services, food services and drinking places, retail trade and health care.

Who's jobless

The unemployment rate for adult women (6.7%) declined in April, while the rates for adult men (7.1%), teenagers (24.1%), whites (6.7%), blacks (13.2%) and Hispanics (9.0%) showed little or no change. Asians registered a jobless rate of 5.1%.

April showed some improvement in long-term unemployment (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) with a decline of 258,000 to 4.4 million. The long-term unemployment rate declined by 2.2 percentage points to 37.4 percent. Over the past 12 months, the number of long-term unemployed has decreased by

687,000, and their share has declined by 3.1 percentage points.

Time and money

The average workweek in April was down 0.2 hour to 34.4 hours. The manufacturing workweek decreased by 0.1 hour to 40.7 hours, and overtime declined by 0.1 hour to 3.3 hours.

Average hourly earnings, meanwhile, rose by 4 cents -- to $23.87. Over the year, average hourly earnings are up 45 cents, or 1.9%. April's average hourly earnings for private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees edged up 2 cents -- to $20.06.

The complete report is available at the Labor Department website.

Air China failed to make announcements every 30 minutes to passengers on an aircraft delayed at New York’s JFK International Airport last July that they had an opportunity to leave the plane as it sat at the gate with the door open.

And for that, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) fined the carrier and ordered it to cease and desist from further violations of federal rules.

“Airline passengers have rights, including the right to be informed that they can leave a plane that is facing long delays at the gate,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Our tarmac rules are meant to protect passengers from being stuck on grounded aircraft for hours on end, and we will continue to work with airlines and airports to make sure that travelers are treated with the respect they deserve before, during, and after their flights.”

Stuck on the plane

Air China Flight 982 was scheduled to fly from JFK to Beijing Capital International Airport on July 15, 2012. The plane sat at the gate from 6:40 p.m. to 8:26 p.m. with the door open, but the carrier failed to make the required announcements.

The aircraft did not take off for Beijing until 10:51 p.m.

Google has made its first big investment in the financial services sector, buying a stake in Lending Club, an online peer-to-peer lender that arranges business and personal loan transactions between investors and borrowers.

"Lending Club is using the Internet to reshape the financial system and profoundly transform the way people think of credit and investment," said Google’s David Lawee. "We are excited to be a part of it."

Lending Club is profitable and has money in the bank but views the investment by Google as a strategic one -- meaning that Google's expertise in the Internet will be worth more than its cash investment. 

"Few companies have such an in-depth understanding of the Internet as Google," said Lending Club CEO Renaud Laplanche. "We believe our relationship with Google will be very helpful in better serving our customers. We couldn’t be more excited to have them on board."

No broken legs

Lending Club says it has facilited more than $1.65 billion in loans since its founding six years ago, including over $350 million in the last quarter.

"By focusing on high-credit-quality borrowers, the Lending Club platform has generated 22 consecutive quarters of positive returns," the company said in a press release.

Peer-to-peer lending began as a way for cash-strapped entrepreneurs to start a new businesses, expand an old one, or for people trying to consolidate their high-interest credit card debt but who don't have credit scores high enough to get a home equity loan, ConsumerAffairs' Fred Yager explained in a 2010 article.

"Loan sharks take note. There's a new lender in town and they don't break your legs when you get behind on your payments. Lending clubs, or what used to be known as peer-to-peer lending, appear to be growing in popularity as banks remain stingy with their credit and only loan money to those with pristine credit and high FICO scores," Yager said.

P.E. & F. Inc., of St. Louis, Mo., is recalling approximately 123 pounds of frozen, ready-to-eat meatballs due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

The company has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.

The following products are subject to recall:

• 15-oz. packages of "Fazio's Meatballs"

Each package has a lot code of "041114," and bears the establishment number "EST. 13051" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced on April 11, 2013, and sold at retail locations in the St. Louis area.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact Nick Lamia at (314) 308-1530.  

American Lifestyle is recalling all lots of Vicerex UPC 893490820087 and Black Ant UPC 4026666142546.

Laboratory analysis conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA has determined the Vicerex product contains undeclared tadalafil and the Black Ant product contains undeclared sildenafil. Both ingredients are FDA-Approved drugs used to treat male erectile dysfunction (ED), making the Vicerex and the Black Ant products unapproved new drugs.

The undeclared active ingredients pose a threat to consumers because tadalafil and sildenafil may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs such as nitroglycerin and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. Consumers with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates. No adverse events have been reported related to this recall.

Vicerex is sold in blister packs containing ten (10) capsules and Black Ant is sold in a box containing four (4) individually wrapped capsules. The product is distributed worldwide by American Lifestyle by on-line sales and retail. The products are being promoted for increasing desire and sexual performance. The products are sold without medical prescription.

The company is notifying its customers by telephone and email and is arranging for return of all recalled products.

Consumers who have purchased Vicerex or Black Ant capsules are urged to immediately discontinue their use and return the product to their place of purchase or directly to American Lifestyle, 640 Kreag Road, Pittsford, NY 14534. Consumers are asked to have order number or proof of purchase.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall may contact American Lifestyle at 585-586-1878 Monday through Friday 7 am to 3 pm EST.

In 2009 the U.S. government launched “Cash for Clunkers,” a wildly popular program in which consumers got cash incentives to trade in old gas-guzzlers for new, fuel-efficient vehicles. The object was to spur the car industry in a deep recession while reducing the demand for gasoline.

Getting much less attention is the ongoing campaign to recycle older home appliances, like refrigerators and water heaters. The object is not so much economic stimulation but rather getting newer, energy-efficient appliances in place, thereby reducing energy demands.

The recycling effort is largely being led by the nation's electric power utilities. Believe it or not, they would like to sell you less electricity, not more. By reducing consumer demand for energy, the utilities can better manage their resources and are not forced to expand capacity as fast. Chances are, your local utility company will pay you to upgrade and take the old appliance off your hands.

$35 for your old fridge

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) will pay customers a $35 rebate to turn in an old refrigerator or freezer. The unit must be clean, empty, defrosted and in working conditions. It also must meet size requirements, holding 10 to 32 cubic feet.

The utility company emphasizes the appliance must be plugged in and working the day they come to pick it up. They aren't going to pay you for the privilege of hauling away junk that's been sitting in your basement for years. After all, the object is to get you to replace an inefficient appliance with one that uses less energy.

"The potential to save money and energy – and even earn extra cash – can be found in recycling outdated, secondary refrigerators and freezers that are in working condition located throughout your home," said John Langston, program manager for Duke Energy's appliance recycling program.

Utilities especially would like you to update your refrigerator. In recent years engineers have made strides in building more energy-efficient units. The technology inside old refrigerators and freezers is often so outdated it  requires up to three times more electricity to operate than newer models.

Lower electric bills

That not only saves money for the utility, but also the consumer. According to Duke Energy, recycling an old refrigerator with freezer can knock up to $150 off the average annual energy bill. A 20-year-old refrigerator or freezer consumes up to 1,400 kilowatt-hours (kWh) each year. That compares to 400 to 500 kWh annually for a new appliance.

Utilities aren't the only companies promoting appliance recycling. Companies that sell new appliances have a vested interest in the issue. Best Buy, for example, will pick up your old appliances when you buy new ones, but they charge for the service. The charge for two appliances is $100, with another $20 for each additional appliance.

What happens to old appliances when they're recycled?

A company specializing in recycling appliances takes them apart, removing and properly disposing of environmentally harmful elements. For example, PCBs, mercury, used oil, refrigerants and insulating foam are some of the things you'll find in a refrigerator that require safe disposal.

Kitchen appliances aren't the only ones that should be recycled. Utilities say anything that is powered by electricity probably has a more energy-efficient replacement if it's more than six or seven years old. However, the rebates are usually limited to cooling appliances like refrigerators and freezers.

"Take a quick survey of your home to discover just some of the benefits of appliance recycling," Langston said. "Computers, mobile phones, nails and more are all made from the recycled parts of refrigerators and freezers.”

What to do

To find out if your utility company has an appliance recycling program, contact it's customer service line or check its website.

If you would like to start an appliance recycling program in your community, you can contact the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy for ideas. You might also contact an appliance recycler like ARCA for information.

This might not be the best time to plan a trip to China. The new bird flu virus is a growing threat there and health officials say it is killing a fifth of all those it infects.

The virus, known as H7N9, is so far only being transmitted to humans from chickens but the fear is that it will mutate into a form that could be passed from person to person, enabling it to spread worldwide.

Scientists say five separate mutations would be needed for that to happen, and that two of them have already occurred.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says there have been 126 cases of H7N9 bird flu so far, all but one in China. The other involved a man who had traveled to Taiwan from China. Of those infected, 24 have died.

Chickens don't get sick

Adding to the difficulty of containing the virus is the fact that it doesn't cause illness in chickens, making it impossible to know which specific chickens are infected.  The virus is, however, known to be present in all 31 provinces of China.

Unlike other viruses that have surfaced in the past, this virus has not been in the human population before. That means older generations don't have immunity to it, enabling the virus to strike everyone from the youngest to the oldest.

"The cases are going up daily – about 20% have died, 20% have recovered and the rest are still sick," said Prof. John McCauley, director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Influenza at the MRC National Institute for Medical Research in London. "The WHO considers this a serious threat."

Public health officials are worried not only about the virus itself but also about the politics of the situation. After the 2009 swine flu outbreak, there was widespread criticism suggesting that health officials had pressed the panic button unnecessarily.

In fact, health officials say humanity dodged a bullet in 2009 and the precautions that were taken were the bare minimum needed to protect the population as much as possible.

"The longer the virus is unchecked in circulation, the higher the probability that this virus will start transmitting from person to person," Colin Butte, an expert in avian viruses at Britain's Pirbright Institute, said at a media briefing in London yesterday.

Frontier Airlines says it wants to improve its service and "further reduce fares" so it's imposing a charge of up to $100 for carry-on baggage and slapping a $2 charge on coffee and soft drinks.

How does this improve service?

As Frontier tells it, its regular customers have been grousing about how crowded the overhead bins are, so it's imposing the charge for passengers who don't book through the carrier's website, FlyFrontier.com. Frontier says it will also "guarantee that customers will get the best value" by booking online at its site.

"Frontier’s most loyal customers have made it very clear that finding overhead bin space for carry-on bags has become unacceptably difficult," the airline said in a news release. "In response, Frontier will be introducing a charge for carry-on bags for customers buying basic fares through third party sites. All tickets sold at FlyFrontier.com include a carry-on bag with the fare."

The change will take effect this summer, although a firm date has not been set.

“With this change, we are ensuring that our most loyal customers will have more space onboard the aircraft for their carry-on bags,” said David Siegel, Frontier’s CEO. “As we unbundle our product further, we ensure those customers who want the absolute lowest fares can always find them at FlyFrontier.com.”     

Once the change has been implemented, Frontier bag fees will be:

"Ultra Low Cost"

As Frontier tells it, the changes are part of its "transformation into an Ultra Low Cost Carrier."  

Another change is new charges for drinks. Effective July 1, 2013, customers who purchase economy or basic fares will be charged $1.99 for coffee, tea, soda and juice. 

Ah, yes, but for that $1.99, customers will get a full can of soda or juice and customers choosing coffee will be offered free refills, Frontier said.

“Frontier continues to make it easier for customers flying with Frontier to pay only for the services they use, which allows us to continue lowering fares,” said Daniel Shurz, Frontier’s senior vice president, commercial.

Unbundled fares

Spirit Air has pioneered the practice known as "unbundling" fares, charging a low price for a basic ticket while selling everything else on an a la carte basis. There may be some passengers who like it but there are quite a few others who say they wind up paying a lot more than they expect.

"Current FAA regulations stipulate that an airline must divulge, upfront, the final cost of the ticket. Contrary to that stipulation, Frontier does everything humanly possible to hide their pricing while 'nickel and diming' the customer over every single aspect of the flight. I would hitchhike across America before I will ever consider flying Frontier again," said Elizabeth of Denver in a recent ConsumerAffairs posting.

If you have a dog and you plan a vacation, or even a trip to visit the in-laws, you either have to make arrangements for your pet or bring him along.

While you might not look forward to a journey with your dog, it's a lot easier today than it once was, and can even be rewarding. But there are a number of things you need to consider.

First, make sure your pet has a sturdy collar with complete identification, in case she wanders off during the trip. The telephone number on the collar should be your cellphone number. It won't do you or your dog much good if the person that finds her calls your home number.

Next, think about how you're going to get there. Most people who travel with their dog go by car but it's not impossible to travel by air. The problem here is that pet policies vary widely among airlines.

Flying with your dog

American Airlines allows crated dogs and cats to travel in the cabin of the aircraft, but allows no more than seven pets on one flight. That means it's important to make a reservation to make sure your dog is one of the seven.

American has breed restrictions on canine passengers as well.

When checking in with your dog you must check in at the counter, not with a curbside attendant or self-serve kiosk. It's also a good idea to check in early, giving yourself plenty of time.

Airlines generally have tried to be more pet-friendly in recent years, but it's wise not to take anything for granted, even after a previous positive experience. Ed, of Pompano Beach, Fla., said he flew on US Airways with his dog to upstate New York last year and said they airline staff was terrific. This year's trip, he said, didn't go so well.

“This year I got to the airport at 4:00 a.m. for my flight and was told my dog was too big for the carrier,” Ed writes in a ConsumerAffairs post. “Same dog (about two pounds heavier), same carrier, same flight. When I stated that there was no problem last year, the agent at the counter called in the supervisor who stated that the Humane Society would confiscate my dog and fine the airline if I was allowed on the flight with him in that carrier because he couldn't stand up or turn around.”

Hitting the road

Driving, on the other hand, will probably prove to be less stressful for both you and your dog, as long as you prepare your pet for a lengthy trip in the car and make sure he's securely buckled in like the rest of the passengers. Since you'll need to make frequent stops so your dog can stretch his legs, those stops need to be figured into your scheduling.

When it's time to stop for the night the good news is that more hotels these days are pet-friendly. But keep in mind some are more friendly than others. S.J., of Cathedral City, Calif., always travels with two dogs – but they aren't his pets, they're his service animals. Though he had a hard time convincing a Super 8 clerk of that.

“Checking in, I was asked if I had pets,” S.J. writes. “I said no, but I have two service dogs. Person behind desk got snotty and said they are pets. I asked him if he knew about the ADA (Americans with Disability Act). He did not. I told him that service animals are not considered pets by law and he still charged us the pet fee. For those of us taking service animals when traveling, it is not a choice, but a necessity and a right.”

Dog-friendly destinations

Finally, if you are planning a vacation that will include your dog, the choice of where you go can make the trip more enjoyable for all. DogFriendly.com has published a list of the top dog-friendly destinations in the U.S. and Canada.

The list includes resort hotels that have amenities like doggy room service, pet-sitting and welcome baskets for your dog.

On the list are places like Carmel City Beach, where dogs are allowed to roam off-leash on a beach with people, San Diego Dog Beach, Jekyll Island Beach in Georgia and Maryland's Assateague Island, where you may come in contact with some wild horses. Some national parks go out of their way to make dogs welcome, including Arcadia National Park, Shenandoah National Park, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon.

In many families dogs rank right up there with the kids – maybe even ahead of them on some days – so why leave them home when the family goes on vacation? Just be sure that both you and your dog are up for it. It will take some planning, and perhaps some extra patience on everyone's part.

The number of suicide deaths in the U.S. has climbed past the number of motor vehicles deaths in recent years, thanks mostly to an increase in suicide among middle-aged Americans. Hanging and suffocation deaths showed the greatest increase.

In 2010 there were 33,687 deaths from motor vehicle crashes and 38,364 suicides. Suicide rates among middle-aged Americans have risen substantially since 1999, according to a report in today’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)..

"Suicide is a tragedy that is far too common," said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. "The stories we hear of those who are impacted by suicide are very difficult.  This report highlights the need to expand our knowledge of risk factors so we can build on prevention programs that prevent suicide."

The report highlighted deaths among U.S. adults aged 35 to 64 and found that suicide rates in that age group increased 28% from 1999 to 2010, from 13.7 suicides per 100,000 to 17.6 per 100,000. The increase was particularly high among whites, American Indians and Alaska Natives. 

The greatest increases in suicide rates were among people aged 50 to 54 years (up 48%) and 55 to 59 years (up 49%). The rates for those aged 10 to 34 and those 65 or older did not change significantly.

"The findings in this report suggest it is important for suicide prevention strategies to address the types of stressors that middle-aged Americans might be facing and that can contribute to suicide risk," said Linda C. Degutis, director of CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

Suicide rates increased 81% for hanging and suffocation, compared to 14%  for firearms and 24% for poisoning. Firearms and hanging/suffocation were the most common suicide mechanisms for middle-aged men. Poisoning and firearms were the most common mechanisms for middle-aged women.

The CDC noted that most suicide research and prevention efforts have focused historically on youth and the elderly and said the latest "suggest that efforts should also address the needs of middle-aged persons."

Middle-aged people with an increased risk of suicide include those struggling with financial challenges, job loss, intimate partner problems or violence, stress of caregiving for children and aging parents, substance abuse, and serious or chronic health problems.

The full report is available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr.

What to do

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and visit online athttp://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

Coach USA Tour, a Niagara Falls, N.Y.-based passenger carrier, has been ordered to cease all operations immediately.

In issuing the order, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), declared that company's drivers and vehicles pose “an imminent hazard to public safety.”

"We are committed to taking unsafe bus companies off the road," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "We will take swift action against companies that ignore our federal safety regulations.”

Serious violations found

A team of FMCSA “Quick Strike” specially trained safety investigators uncovered serious regulatory violations that the government says demonstrates Coach USA Tour’s disregard for motor coach passenger safety.

The investigators found that the company failed to monitor and ensure that its drivers comply with controlled substances and alcohol use and testing regulations. Drivers were employed before receiving negative pre-employment drug and alcohol test results as required by federal law.

Additionally, drivers were not required by the company to turn in hours-of-service records or other required documentation such as driving itineraries and fuel receipts. In fact, investigators found that every driver employed by Coach USA Tour, had falsified at least one record-of-duty status report during a one-month review period.

The company was also accused of failing to ensure its vehicles were properly and regularly inspected, repaired and maintained. It required that its drivers maintain and repair vehicles without ensuring the individuals were qualified bus mechanics.

Individually and cumulatively, these violations substantially increase the likelihood of serious injury for its passengers, drivers and the motoring public, FMCSA said.

“I applaud our ‘Quick Strike’ safety investigation teams who are working to protect innocent lives across the country,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. “We are also grateful for the outstanding assistance of our state partners in New York who were instrumental in shutting down this carrier and removing their unsafe drivers and vehicles from our roadways.”

What you can do

Consumers who bought a ticket on any bus company that FMCSA has recently placed out-of-service may be entitled to a credit from their credit card company under the Fair Credit Billing Act if they paid for the ticket by credit card. More information is available here.

Coach USA Tour operates a small fleet of tour buses and primarily provides sightseeing tours in the northeastern U.S. Its name is similar to, but has no affiliation with, other carriers similarly named in federal online databases. It is NOT affiliated in any way with Paramus, N.J.-based Coach USA, Inc. 

Southwest Airlines is being fined $150,000 for, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), “not responding in a timely manner to complaints filed by consumers, including passengers with disabilities.”

The carrier was also cited for not adequately responding to the passengers’ specific reports in its responses and ordered to cease and desist from further violations.

“When airlines receive complaints from passengers, we expect them to provide prompt responses that appropriately answer the specific complaints,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “This is an important part of our work protecting the rights of passengers, and we will continue to take enforcement action when necessary.”

DOT's Aviation Enforcement Office says Southwest failed to respond in a timely manner to a large number of disability-related and other consumer reports it received from June 2011 through January 2012 because of a problem with its website. When it finally did, most responses were sent late.

The responses also failed to contain information specifically required by DOT rules.

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has made a series of changes to the 2014-2015 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that should allow more families to get financial assistance for college.

The changes are intended to ensure that students are not penalized because of their parents' living arrangements.

For example, the new FAFSA will ask applicants if their parents are “unmarried and both living together.”

In addition, the form will no longer use “mother” and “father” to describe a dependent’s parents. Instead, “Parent 1 (father/mother/stepparent)” and “Parent 2” (father/mother/stepparent)” will be listed on the application.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan says the changes to FAFSA will  allow the Department to better calculate how much it’s able to give  each family.

“All students should be able to apply for federal student aid within a system that incorporates their unique family dynamics,” said Duncan.

“These changes will allow us to more precisely calculate federal student aid eligibility based on what a student’s whole family is able to contribute and ensure taxpayer dollars are better targeted toward those students who have the most need, as well as provide an inclusive form that reflects the diversity of American families,” he said.

Parents had to be married

Previously, the Education Department had only collected the financial information from parents who were married. If parents weren’t married, the applicant could only include one parent's financial info. Even if the unmarried parents were living together, a dependent could still only list one parent’s finances.

Removing gender-specific terms is also intended to help more families receive their fair share of student aid.

Prior to the application change, the income of same-sex couples who were married under state law couldn’t be considered and had no influence on how much assistance dependents could get.

Although same-sex marriages are recognized by some states, they are not recognized federally under the Defense of Marriage Act, which may have kept a lot of potential students from receiving financial help.

DOE said it wanted to make these changes to focus on the parents' relationship to the child, instead of their relationship to each other. It reflects the philosophy that the type of union a couple has shouldn’t affect how much a dependent receives.

Also, DOE thinks the changes will help it determine how much each parent will be able to contribute towards tuition costs, which will heavily effect how much aid will be given. 

However, the changes will not alter the rule governing divorced parents.

A dependent of a divorced couple can still report only the income of the parent he or she has been living with for the 12 months before the application was submitted.

Support for the changes

The changes to FAFSA have been drawing support from organizations like the Family Equality Council.

“Students seeking financial aid want to know that the federal government will recognize their families and not treat them differently based on their parents’ sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status,” said Emily Hecht-McGowan, the group's public policy director. “Federal forms that are inclusive of all families are important tools to help LGBT parents ensure their children receive the legal and financial protections they need and the opportunities in life that they deserve.”

Shawn Gaylord, director of Public Policy for the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) also applauded the changes to the application.

“GLSEN has long worked to ensure that sexual orientation and gender identity are not used to discriminate against students in our nation’s K-12 schools, whether that student identifies as LGBT, has LGBT friends, or comes from and LGBT family,” said Gaylord in a published interview.

“We’re thrilled by the Department of Education’s decision to allow students filling out the FASF to accurately describe the makeup of their family, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity," he said.

First the bad news: U.S. employers announced plans to trim payrolls by 38,121 in April, according to outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

The good news is that April was the lowest job-cut month since last December, when there were 32,556 cuts, and 23 percent lower than March, when 49,255 pink slips went out. So far this year, the pace of downsizing is roughly equal to a year ago -- 0.27 percent lower than the 183,653 planned terminations announced in the first four months of 2012.

Consumer cutbacks

“The economic slowdown that began late in the third quarter and is expected to turn into another summer slump has yet to result in increased or widespread downsizing,” said John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas. “The biggest concern is that consumers, who had been holding up the economy for so many months, are starting to scale back their spending as wages continue to stagnate.”

Consumer spending was up 0.2 percent in March, due primarily to increased heating costs during the unseasonably cold month, according to the Commerce Department. However, spending in other categories, such as household goods, retail and restaurants declined.

Retail saw the highest number of job cuts with 5,897 -- down significantly from the 16,445 announced in March. But through the first four months of 2013, retail job cuts are up 64 percent from a year ago. These employers have cut 31,297 jobs, compared with 19,056 at the same point in 2012.

“American’s wages are not quite keeping pace with increased expenses. As a result, we are not going to see a big increase in consumer spending,” said Challenger. “It is just as unlikely that we will see a significant drop-off in spending. What is most likely is that consumers will simply shift their spending around.”

Other cutbacks

While retail was the top job-cutting sector of the month, heavy downsizing occurred in sectors that are not influenced by consumer spending. Health care, industrial goods, transportation, and aerospace and defense represented the remaining top-five job-cut sectors in April, accounting for 13,766 job cuts or 36 percent of the monthly total.

Challenger says most private-sector firms have not been directly affected by sequestration yet, due to the fact that government contracts are typically assigned well in advance and may be months or years away from completion. “However,” he notes, “as we can see by early job cutting activity, companies are already taking steps to address the impact of future spending cuts.”

Initial claims

A day ahead of the release of April's employment figures, the government reports there were 324,000 first-time applications for state jobless benefits in the week ending April 27. That's a drop of 18,000 from from the previous week's 342,000.

The 4-week moving, which is less volatile than the weekly report and considered a more accurate barometer of the labor market, was down 16,000 from the week before -- to 342,250.

The full report is available at the Labor Department website.

Security cameras played a prominent role in documenting the Boston Marathon bombing and helping to identify and capture the suspects, and that's giving a boost to the home security business, already undergoing a technological awakening as it slowly adopts Internet and wireless technology.

"More and more today, we are seeing the benefits of business and government security cameras monitoring the street and surrounding property of restaurants, stores, and other outdoor public places,"  said Shannon Dominello of LifeShield, a home security company. "Cameras help to identify and capture criminals and criminal activity, and leave no question as to what really happened there."

Among the latest to wade into the business is telecom giant AT&T, which  last Friday launched a service called Digital Life that lets customers use smartphones or tablets to activate and monitor their alarms as well as performing other duties like opening doors for guests or adjusting the temperature. For AT&T's most basic home security service, it will charge $29.99 a month and an additional $149.99 fee for equipment and its installation.

"People rely on their mobile devices more than ever, so Digital Life offers an easy and convenient way to secure their homes, protect their families and simplify their lives from virtually anywhere," AT&T senior vice president Kevin Petersen said in a statement.

Verizon has had a similar service, called Home Monitoring and Control, for the last year or so. It allows customers to turn on lights, activate door locks remotely, monitor energy usage and adjust thermostats from PCs, smartphones or FiOS TV. Verizon's basic package is $9.99 a month plus $89.99 installation.

What's next? A Google security camera that can also drive your car?

Entrenched companies

Don't laugh. For decades, standalone companies like ADT have had the home security market to themselves but home monitoring and security is actually a function that, technologically anyway, fits snugly into the suite of services offered by telecom, cable and Internet companies.

While many would say entrenched companies like ADT have abused  their market dominance by locking customers into long-term contracts and sticking them with outmoded and overpriced equipment, their tightly-focused approach gives them a certain sales advantage over larger competitors. Of course, it also leaves them with a residue of unhappy former customers.

"I was not allowed to cancel my account without a notarized letter. What a scam. This is unfair and unrealistic," said former ADT customer Nancy of Murrieta, Calif., in a posting to ConsumerAffairs. "I paid my bill for over 10 years now. I closed down my business and have to pay $25 to a notary to cancel my alarm service. Unfair and unjust."

Small, locally-owned security companies can't match the scale of their bigger competitors but often make up for it by offering superior customer service, including skilled installation and maintenance -- no minor matter when you're dealing with a system that requires drilling holes, stringing wire and hooking up to telephone lines.

Customer service

Some independents think the likes of AT&T and Verizon will actually be beneficial to smaller companies.

"I think they will create an additional awareness of the products and services now available to homeowners that enable them to stay connected to their home using smartphones, tablets and the like. This increased awareness from whatever the source is good for the security industry as a whole," said Jim Callahan, president of Ackerman Security, a UL-listed central station monitoring company that operates in Atlanta and the Washington, D.C., area, quoted recently in Security InfoWatch, a  trade publication.  

"In my opinion security companies are better equipped to provide the ongoing service necessary resulting in a lasting customer relationship which is a key to long term success," Callahan said, noting that AT&T has tried before to enter home security market without success. Its previous effort ended in 1998.

Ackerman charges $18.95 a month for its monitoring service. It does not require a long-term contract. Equipment and installation are based on the customer's needs and preferences. Ackerman says it can often use a customer's existing equipment.  

Independent companies like LifeShield are also offering a new generation of services that rely on wireless and Internet technology, replacing much of the wiring and installation that more traditional home security services require.

LifeShield, which says it is the first national, professionally monitored wireless security system that uses an easy-to-set-up "plug and protect" process, offers wireless indoor and outdoor cameras, with viewing available through web and smartphone access.  Besides the benefits of a home security system, LifeShield says its wireless cameras also let consumers check up on routine daily chores, including: 

• That the kids got home from school safely.
• When the contractor, dog walker, or cleaning lady arrived.
• Whether a package arrived and was delivered on the doorstep.
• If an animal or vandal was responsible for discovered property damage.

LifeShield's basic home security package is priced at $34.99 monthly.

What to do

For too many consumers, home security systems turn out to be like health club memberships -- expensive, feel-good purchases that either aren't used very often or turn out not to be what the doctor ordered.

Before you invest time and money in an alarm system, it's a good idea to ask yourself if you are liable to use the system or whether it will wind up like that exercycle in the spare bedroom -- you know, the one with laundry hanging all over it. Many people have a system installed, then quickly abandon it because of false alarms and general confusion.

Once you decide you need a system and will take the trouble to use it, ask yourself whether you are willing to sign a multi-year contract that you will have to honor even if you sell your home and move away. If not, the options are a do-it-yourself system like Lifeshield's "plug and protect," whatever package the telephone and cable companies decide they are offering at the moment or a local provider like Ackerman.

Remember that the telephone companies are notorious for changing the terms of their contracts without bothering to tell anyone. It's also a good idea to reflect on the customer service you've received from the phone company before throwing more money at them. 

Be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully so you know what you're getting. And whichever system you choose, resolve to take the time to learn how it operates and instruct everyone else in your family and circle of acquaintances.

While there are lots of variables, one thing is true of all alarm systems: they won't help you if they're not turned on.