Current Events in December 2014

On Election Day last month, voters in Washington, D.C. chose by a margin of more than 2-1 to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes.

A month later, Congress decided to overturn those election results. District residents pay taxes to the United States but have no Congressional representation and their elected city council's actions can be overturned by Congress for any or no reason. That's why D.C. license plates have the slogan “Taxation without Representation.”

The House Appropriations Committee put out a three-page press summary (available in .pdf form here) including three paragraphs dedicated to the District of Columbia. The first paragraphs mention the size of next year's federal payment to D.C. ($680 million) and offers a partial breakdown of how that money's been earmarked ($479 million for “public safety and security costs” including “DC Courts” and “supervision of offenders and defendants.” The second paragraph discusses money spent for schools and other educational costs in D.C. And the third paragraph says this:

In addition, the legislation maintains a longstanding provision prohibiting federal and local funds from being used for abortion in the District of Columbia, and prohibits both federal and local funds from being used to implement a referendum legalizing recreational marijuana use in the District.

In the actual spending bill, which is 1,603 pages long, this paragraph is on page 660:

None of the funds contained in this act may be used to enact or carry out any law, rule or regulation to legalize or otherwise reduce penalties associated with the possession, use, or distribution of any schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act or any tetrhydrocannabinols derivative for recreational purposes.

The Will of Congress

In other contexts, various members of Congress and especially the House Appropriations Committee have surely said nice things in favor of democracy, voting, the Will of the People and other things mentioned in civics textbooks.

Yesterday, various protesters (incuding members of D.C.'s city council) gathered in the city's downtown. Some of them were specifically protesting the marijuana issue, others the larger issue of D.C. self-rule (basically, demanding that residents of the district have the same voting rights as any other American citizens, including the right to vote on local issues rather than have Congress manage their local affairs for them).

NBC's Washington blog reported late last night that the “marijuana protesters” (some of whom were protesting not in favor of legal marijuana, so much as the larger issue of self-rule for D.C. residents) joined up with another group demonstrating against police brutality against ordinary citizens.

Rep. Andy Harris (R-Maryland), who firmly opposes marijuana legalization, led the behind-the-scenes strategy to overturn election results in D.C. He told Politico magazine that if D.C. residents don't like Congressional oversight, they should live somewhere else: “That’s the way the Constitution was written …. If they don’t like that oversight, move outside of the federal district to one of the 50 states that is not covered by the jurisdiction of Congress as a whole.”

Of course, in America as a whole, a slight majority of polled voters now support marijuana legalization, which is why some political analysts predict the Republicans' short-term victory in successfully overriding the will of D.C. voters will hurt them on the national stage in the long run. For now, Congressional oversight of Washington, D.C. will continue to ignore the wishes of the majority of voters in D.C. and the rest of the country, at least where marijuana laws are concerned.

If you can't tell by the smell then you might want to get one of these, a Pet Urine Detector or its official name "UV Stain Detective." It could save you hundreds of dollars in cleaning bills if it works as well as its manufacturer claims.

The UV Stain Detective looks pretty much like a standard flashlight. It is equipped with 12 LED lights and a sturdy but compact body with a on-off switch. Just to round off the difference between the UV Stain Detective and other products they threw in the 3 AAA batteries which come already inserted in the device.

Working families are not always able to get home as quickly as they like and it leaves a dog or cat to find a favorite spot or two. This can be a great way to detect where they have actually gone as opposed to where you think they may have gone. That smell can be tricky to pinpoint.

The ammonia in the urine shows clearly under the glare of the black light when conditions are otherwise dark. so you can actually see where the animal has relieved themselves. That makes cleaning easier and you can spot clean as opposed to having your entire carpet cleaned.

We haven't tried it yet. Have you? Let us know how it works out.

They come in with juice-stained beaks and some less fortunate ones fly into buildings.

Birds that feed on winter berries in the Northern Hemisphere are getting loaded. Drunk as a skunk so to speak. What happens is alcohol forms in the berries as they start to ferment with the first frosts and the birds go crazy for them. It's like an open bar at a frat party. It happens much more often than we think, according to scientists.

This fall there was an episode in which a bunch of Bohemian waxwings flew into Whitehorse, Yukon, and ended up in "drunk tanks" after bingeing on fermented berries of the rowan tree.

Hamster cages

Anticipating the problem a wildlife facility in the territory was equipped with modified hamster cages on standby waiting for the surge of berry seeking migrants. There is no bird breathalyzer test but it was pretty clear the waxwings were flying under the influence, according to Meghan Larivee, a laboratory coordinator at the government agency Environment Yukon in Canada.

"They cannot coordinate their flight movements properly or at all, and they are unable to walk in a coordinated way," she said in an email to National Geographic.

There are many reports that have come from North America and Europe describing the exact same thing but no testing has been done to confirm that alcohol was a factor in the incidents with birds in those regions. The problem is there is no test for alcohol in animals and alcohol leaves their systems rather quickly, according to Paul Duff a veterinary scientist with the U.K.'s Animal and Plant Health Agency.

In 2011 Duff confirmed a case of blackbirds in Northern England who succomed to alcohol deaths by consuming fermenting rowan berries. A liver sample was what brought him to his conclusion. The blackbirds that had died were all young; it is possible that mature blackbirds have learned to avoid the berries.

In the United States it seems that spring is when the waxwings get sloshed. Last March a berry binge led to the deaths of about 50 cedar waxwings found along a road in Harris County, Texas. National Wildlife Health Center tests showed that berries collected from a nearby Ilex shrub contained 800 ppm ethanol by wet weight -- enough to produce intoxication in these birds that could have resulted in compromised behavior and subsequent fatal trauma.

The suggestion is if you find a bird that appears to have had one too many berries, put them in a box with a little water and put holes in it. Let them sober up for a couple of hours, then set them free.

Building on an upwardly revised advance of 0.5% in October -- the first in 8 months -- retail sales rose 0.7% during November, according to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The increase of $449.3 billion put sales up 4.7% from the same period a year ago.

The November gain was paced by a 1.7% surge in sales by auto and other motor vehicle dealers, an increase in 1.4% by building material & garden equipment & supplies dealers an a rise of 1.2% by Clothing and clothing accessories stores.

Those were partially offset by a decline of 1.7% in sales by miscellaneous store retailers and an 0.8% dip in gasoline sales.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) credits increasing wages combined with lower gas prices. “Every economic indicator is pointing toward a strong holiday season,” said NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz, adding, “Healthy November sales should provide momentum for an even stronger December as customers continue to seek out deals all the way to Christmas.”

The complete report is available on the Commerce Department website.

Initial jobless claims

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, meanwhile reports first-time applications for state unemployment benefits continues to fall.

Initial jobless claims totaled 294,000 in the week ending December 6 -- down 3,000 from the previous week. The government says there were no special factors affecting the claims level, which analysts say continues to show an economy at, or near, full employment.

The 4-week moving average, which is less volatile than the weekly figure and is considered a better gauge of the labor market, rose by 250 last week to 299,250.

The full report can be found on the Labor Department website.

The top airlines in the U.S. arrived at their destinations on time 80% of the time during October, down a touch from the previous months rate of 81.1%

The Transportation Department’s (DOT) Air Travel Consumer Report also shows carriers canceled just 1.1% of their scheduled domestic flights compared with 1.4% in September.

Tarmac Delays

Domestic flights also got off the ground in a timely fashion. There were no tarmac delays of more than three hours, and just and one tarmac delay of more than four hours on an international flight. DOT is looking into the international delay.

The consumer report also includes data on chronically delayed flights, and the causes of flight delays, on mishandled baggage, as well as consumer service, disability, and discrimination complaints.

In addition, the consumer report incidents involving the loss, death, or injury of pets traveling by air.

The complete report is available on the DOT website.

Global Garlic of Miami, Fla., is recalling De Mi Pais products: Cuajada Fresca (Fresh Curd) 12-oz. and Cuajada Olanchana (Fresh Curd) 12-oz.

The products may be contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes.

The Food and Drug Administration is investigating illnesses associated with the product.

The recalled products were distributed to distributors and retail stores in Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee and North Carolina from April 1 - October 14, 2014.

Both products can be identified by the same UPC code on the label of the plastic bag (896211002380) and by the Best Used by Date sticker on the label of the plastic bag of 07/01/14 through 12/31/14.

FDA is investigating illnesses associated with the product.

Consumers who purchased the recalled products should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact the Global Garlic at (305)545-6305 Monday thru Friday 9:00 am – 4:30 pm EST.

Real Foods of Kent, Wash., is recalling approximately 308 pounds of chef salad with ham and turkey.

The product contains anchovies, an allergen not listed on the label. The product is labeled for Ranch dressing, but contains a Caesar salad dressing pouch. The Caesar salad dressing contains anchovies.

There are no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

The following product is subject to recall:

• 12.5-ounce clear plastic containers of “CHEF SALAD WITH HAM (WATER ADDED) AND TURKEY.”

The product, produced on Dec. 6, 2014, bears the establishment number “34834” inside the USDA mark of inspection and has “Sell by: 12/11/2014” printed on the product label.

The product was shipped to retail outlets in Oregon and Washington.

Consumers with questions about the recall may contact Erin Sherry at (206) 432-3426.

BMW of North America is recalling 11 model year 2015 X5 vehicles manufactured September 12, 2014, to September 21, 2014 and equipped with the optional rear comfort seat.

The left rear seat belt attachment point in the affected vehicles may not have been sufficiently welded. In the event of a crash, the seat belt attachment could break and fail to restrain a seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury.

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left rear seat frame, free of charge. The recall began November 2014.

Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

GCI Outdoor is recalling about 6,000 stadium seats.

The backrest can fail, posing a risk of injury.

The company has received 1 report of an incident where backrest support failed and the consumer fell to the ground from the top of a 4-foot tall bleacher and suffered neck and back injuries.

This recall involves GCI Outdoor BleacherBack stadium seats made of a powder-coated steel frame, a stitched fabric backrest and a fabric-covered padded bottom. The backrest has a mesh pocket on the back side.

The seat bottom has a strap that runs from one side through two D rings on the upper part of the backrest and back down to the other side. The strap has a yellow buckle. The backrest and seat bottoms were sold in the colors black, green, maroon, navy blue, red and royal blue.

When open, the seats measure 16 inches wide x 12 inches deep x 17.5 inches high. The backrest folds forward to a height of 4 inches.

Recalled stadium seats have the following purchase order (PO) numbers:

The seats, manufactured in China, were sold at Academy Sports and Outdoors, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sports Authority and other sporting goods retailers nationwide and online at GCIoutdoor.com and other online retailers from January 2013, to August 2014, for about $25.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled stadium chairs and contact GCI Outdoor for a free strap repair kit that includes installation instructions, an additional safety strap and a new warning sticker.

Consumers may contact GCI Outdoor at (800) 956-7328 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET on Fridays.

You might be told you need surgery for any number of medical issues. Some may seem simpler than others, which might appear downright scary.

But a patient's reaction is usually based on incomplete information. To fill in these blanks, you need to ask the right questions.

After all, it's your body and it’s your disease; you should feel comfortable asking those questions before you enter into something as major as surgery.

How do you know what questions to ask? Robert Cima, M.D., a surgeon and chair of Mayo Clinic’s surgical quality subcommittee, says your family and friends can help in that area. They probably have questions that haven't even occurred to you.

Beyond that, he suggests adding these 5 questions for your doctor to the list:

Are you board-certified to perform this procedure?

Don't assume the answer is yes. Board certification is a credential that physicians earn in addition to state medical licenses. It's a sign that a surgeon has studied and become qualified to perform a particular type of operation, such as cardiovascular surgery.

“They are recognized by the institution as well as the national organizing body for that specialty as having met all the important standards for practice, competency and background,” said Cima, who is board-certified in general surgery and colon and rectal surgery.

Board certified surgeons may also have submitted their case logs and had their outcomes reviewed. Once certified, they may be required to be re-certified on a regular basis.

Will it help if I lose weight before the operation?

Being overweight or obese can increase your risk of complications following an operation. Cima says the healthier the weight, the better.

If you are going in for joint replacement surgery, it may be difficult to exercise prior to the operation. If so, discuss a safe and effective diet, high in protein and low in fat, with your surgeon. And building strength can be as important as burning calories.

“Just like an athlete, you’re going to perform better if you’re in better shape and your strength is better,” Cima said. “Surgery is a major event, a physiologic injury, and you have to be able to respond to that.”

Does it matter if I’m a smoker?

You probably already know the answer to that. Smoking is a risk factor for many surgical complications, such as infections, slow healing, pneumonia and cardiovascular problems. Cima says even ending tobacco use just two weeks to a month before surgery can pay off.

“Unfortunately, smoking has significant negative impacts on almost all surgical procedures we’ve looked at,” Cima said. “The nicotine and many of the compounds in tobacco smoke constrict the small blood vessels. You need those blood vessels to be open to bring blood down to the level of the healing wound.”

What if I have sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea can be a problem. As many as 20% of older surgical patients have obstructive sleep apnea, and the breathing disorder has been associated with higher rates of post-surgery complications.

If you have sleep apnea, make sure your surgeon knows. If you’re being treated with a continuous positive airway pressure machine, bring your CPAP machine with you for your hospital stay. If you're not sure you have it but think you run a high risk, ask to be tested.

Cima says Mayo Clinic actually screens for apnea in the postoperative period in the recovery room.

Is there anything we can do to shorten my hospital stay?

In most cases complications are the reason for an extended hospital stay. Avoid complications and you are likely to go home on time, or even early.

One of the biggest complications is infection, but Cima says it's very preventable. A Mayo Clinic study found that simply having patients shower with an antiseptic cleanser the day before and the day of surgery can help reduce infection risk.

The bottom line? Entering the hospital for surgery as an “optimized patient” – at a healthy weight, not smoking and aware of any complicating conditions – may make surgery a little less scary than it might seem.

Is Uber today's version of Bonnie and Clyde? Or perhaps Robin Hood? It seems everyone hates the cyber-taxi service except consumers, many of whom are wondering how they ever got by without it.

But to regulators, the upstart car-service company is an outlaw. Government agencies worldwide are tripping over each other in their haste to sue Uber, which skirts the usual process for starting a cab company by simply announcing it is starting service in city after city.

Among the latest developments:

Los Angeles and San Francisco have sued Uber for allegedly unlawful business practices. The district attorneys of each city are seeking a permanent injunction that would prohibit Uber from misleading consumers about the accuracy of its background checks on drivers and from using fare schedules that have not been approved by the state.

“These companies can be innovative in the way they deliver services without ignoring the laws that protect the public,” said San Francisco’s George Gascón and Los Angeles’ Jackie Lacey in a published statement.

Lyft, meanwhile, has agreed to pay civil penalties of $500,000, get approval to operate at the city's airports and submit its app for testing by the state. Lyft agreed to get authorization from airports and submit its app for state testing.

Portland, Oregon, sued Uber on Monday, three days after it began operating in the city, claiming Uber is running an "illegal, unregulated transportation service." The city says its laws subject Uber to the same regulations as licensed taxis. It also charges that Uber is violating a city ordinance that requires 20% of a cab company's fleet to be accessible to disabled consumers.

Madrid, Spain, has issued a cease-and-desit order and Bangkok, Thailand, has ordered Uber to shut down there. Delhi, India, banned the company after a passenger was allegedly raped by an Uber driver.

Consumers shrug

Consumers are largely OK with all of this. There are scattered complaints about dirty cars, novice drivers and unexpectedly high fares but for the most part, consumers seem to welcome the competition that has broken open the decades-long monopoly that the cab industry has enjoyed in much of the world.

If there is a sticking point, it is Uber's policy of charging more at times of high demand -- during a snowstorm, for example. Uber argues that this is simple supply and demand but critics say it is highway robbery.

"You allow a driver to charge $411 for a twenty minute ride, how is that okay?" asked Angela Pitzenberger in a post on Uber's Facebook page. 

In New York City, consumers have complained that some Uber and Lyft drivers display the same bad habits as licensed NYC cabbies -- chiefly aggressive driving and a slovenly appearance.  

A Los Angeles consumer visiting New York for a formal dinner complained that she ordered an Uber Black car and got a large and ungainly SUV driven by a fellow who looked like he'd slept in his clothes. She canceled the ride and ordered again. Another large and rather dirty SUV showed up. She gave up and climbed in.

"Riding in a truck is not my idea of luxury," she sniffed.

Mixed results

"I used Uber twice on a recent trip to Houston with mixed results," said Matt of Lake Tahoe, Nev., in a ConsumerAffairs review. "First I used an UberX ($12.88), to save money. The driver showed up and spoke poor English and his car was beat up. He was nice but didn't really know where we were going. Ultimately it worked out but the experience was like a mediocre to bad cab ride, though it cost a lot less."

"Next I took a Black ($20) car. The car was nice, the driver knew where to go. (I got the nicer car since I was taking my date to dinner)," Matt continued. "In the future I'd use a Black car where available, even though it was 55% more money. It's worth an extra $7 to have an actively good experience."

Not wanting to miss out on the transportation story of the year, I have been using Uber and Lyft whenever possible. I recently summoned Uber for a trip to Dulles Airport outside Washington, D.C., and was surprised to find the driver had no idea how to get there other than relying on his GPS, which is no way to navigate rush-hour traffic. I wound up giving him directions and coaching him on upcoming lange changes.

Yesterday I tried to get Uber to pick me up at the local Volkswagen dealer, where my car was being serviced but the driver kept going to an address across the street and eventually gave up. I finally summoned Lyft and the driver showed up in five minutes. 

All of the Uber and Lyft drivers I have encountered have spoken minimal English but, in fairness, this is true of many people in service occupations in large cities these days, certainly including licensed cabbies. It is also something of a blessing, considering what often passes for banter among homegrown taxi drivers.

Tremendous growth

All the problems, lawsuits and gripes run right off Uber CEO Travis Kalanick's back.

"We are 6 times bigger today than 12 months ago – and grew faster this year than last. This progress is remarkable, but it is in the coming years that Uber truly scales and the impact in cities becomes visible," Kalanick said in a recent blog posting. He said Uber now operates in 250 cities in 50 countries, and is just getting started.

"In 2015 alone, Uber will generate over 1 [million] jobs in cities around the world and with that millions of people may decide that they no longer need to own a car because using Uber will be cheaper than owning one," he said. "Parking could become less strained in our biggest cities, and city congestion may actually start to ease due to uberPOOL’s expansion and success."

uberPOOL is a newly announced service that helps riders form ad hoc car pools. 

Today's “Helpful, straightforward advice that would've made absolute zero sense when we were kids” is this: If your Apple device recently received the Astronaut or Space Sloth photo via AirDrop, learn from this and be thankful it wasn't a nasty virus instead.

Now to deconstruct that statement. “Apple” with a capital A refers not to fruit but the tech company that makes Macintosh (Mac) computers, and other gadgets with a lowercase “i” at the beginning of their names: iPhone, iPad, iPod, iWatch, etc. And, according to the Apple company, “AirDrop lets you send files from your Mac to nearby Macs and iOS devices.”

Sounds pretty straightforward so far. Of course, anything that lets you send files can potentially be hijacked so someone else can send files – say, a hacker trying to plant dangerous malware or other viruses on your devices.

Or, less harmfully, a prankster highlighting (or taking advantage of) a little-known AirDrop security flaw by using it to send unsuspecting Mac and iGadget owners an unsolicited picture of a sloth wearing an astronaut's outfit – the Space Sloth.

Last month, on Nov. 10, Josh Lowensohn wrote an oddly confessional article for The Verge tech blog, admitting “I used Apple's AirDrop to troll strangers with photos of space sloths, and it's been going on for months.”

How does he do this?

Each day I get on the train to make the half hour voyage into San Francisco for work, I am surrounded by people using their phones. Many have iPhones or iPads, and have a setting turned on that lets me send them unsolicited files through AirDrop. Where Apple envisioned it as a way to send useful files and websites to friends and acquaintances, I use it to send photos of sloths to strangers. And not just any sloths, but sloths wearing spacesuits.

Lowensohn then discusses the history of the astronaut sloth photo and its creator, digital artist Pedro Dionísio, before going back to the technical features of AirDrop:

By default, the feature is not set to share with everyone. In fact, AirDrop itself is not even turned on until you use it for the first time. But I've found that a surprising number of people have flipped it on, and set it to accept things from the entire world. I assume that's by mistake, but by the time they've realized that, I've already struck. They can, of course, decline the AirSloth, but I know they've seen a small preview of it.

No big deal, right? But suppose that instead of a silly picture of an astronaut with a sloth's head, Lowensohn had chosen to send a nasty, explicitly pornographic picture (as many trolls seem to enjoy doing) – if that happens, you can certainly decline to accept an explicit, not-safe-for-work photo, but you've already seen a small preview of it, and depending on the circumstances it's possible that your kid or your boss did, too.

Even worse, suppose that instead of a photo, obscene or otherwise, Lowensohn had decided to send a virus to infect your device. Once you see that small preview, it's too late to stop it.

Name change

Lowensohn went on to describe how, in order to increase the chance of random iGadgets receiving the Space Sloth via AirDrop, he'd change the name of his phone based on his surroundings:

People name their phones all sorts of obvious and generic things. I, on the other hand, go with a handle that presents the possibility and plausibility of authority depending on the situation. Take the train for instance. It's Bay Area Rapid Transit, or BART for short. When I'm on there, I'll quickly rename my phone "BART." If it's a coffee shop, I'll change it to "Starbucks."

Changing names is a standard operating procedure for malicious hackers, too. Remember last June, when security researchers learned how ridiculously, insanely easy it was for malicious hackers to set up public wi-fi hotspots that looked like legitimate ones? Turns out that if you're a hacker wanting to fool a typical smartphone or tablet into thinking your malware-riddled hacker-bait hotspot is actually, for example, the free wi-fi at your local Starbucks, all you have to do is program your hotspot's electronic signal to say “I'm Starbucks wi-fi.” Then you can easily access any smartphone, tablet or other device that connects to you.

It really is that easy: say you are anyone you want to be, and the device will believe you because somehow its security-software writers made it all the way to adulthood and even a professional software-writing gig without internalizing the important security concept “Sometimes, people lie.”

That particular security flaw is relatively easy for smartphone owners to get around, by turning off the auto-connect features on their mobile devices. And it's similarly easy for iGadget owners to protect themselves from the AirDrop security flaw Lowensohn bragged about last month.

Did Apple ever envision people using it like this? I sure hope so. I can tell you that at a recent technology conference, I happened to be sitting a few feet away from a certain Apple executive and one of the company's PR people. I fired up AirDrop out of curiosity and both their phones immediately popped up, names included. During a break I ventured to ask why he'd left the setting on, and he told me it was to make it easier to share things with friends, and that he just left it on that way. When I told him what I used it for, I got a stern look of disapproval. Maybe they didn't think this through.

Apple action?

So that was the status quo a month ago, a long time in Internet terms, so surely by now Apple's done something-or-other to patch up that potential security leak, no?

No. On Dec. 1, FastCompany technology editor Harry McCracken took to his Twitter account to show the Space Sloth photo and say “Not sure if it's an accident or spam, but I was just AirDropped by a legendary Boston gangster.” Someone using the name Whitey Bulger had sent him the picture, and various people responded by linking to Lowensohn's Verge confessional.

By Dec. 10, the U.K.'s sensationalist Daily Mail tabloid asked its readers “Have you been a victim of SPACE SLOTH?” before pointing out, more reasonably, that the “Viral prank highlights [the] dangers of accepting unknown files using Apple's AirDrop.”

Think about ordinary email spam: you know that whoever sent it is up to no good, and you also know not to click on any links or download any attachments sent with it. Luckily, your email account doesn't have any setting equivalent to “automatically click on any link or download any file attachments in an email” — given the amount of spam email in existence, such a setting would be downright insane.

And you don't want AirDrop set up to automatically accept messages from just anybody, either – even if you don't receive anything worse than a silly photo of an spacefaring sloth.

The 1980s brought the personal computer revolution. The 1990s brought the Internet revolution, providing a way to use all those different kinds of PCs. But Gartner, Inc., a technology research term, says the future belongs to mobile devices.

In the developing world consumers are already using smartphones as their exclusive mobile devices while in developed economies, multi-device households are becoming the norm. Tablets are growing at the fastest rate of any computing device.

“The use pattern that has emerged for nearly all consumers, based on device accessibility, is the smartphone first as a device that is carried when mobile, followed by the tablet that is used for longer sessions, with the PC increasingly reserved for more-complex tasks,” said Van Baker, research vice president at Gartner.

And while wearables, like the upcoming Apple Watch, are not yet a factor, Baker says they soon will be.

Consumption v. creation

“As content consumption tasks outweigh content creation tasks, this will further move users away from the PC,” he said.

This will also bring about big changes at work. Already, many businesses have adopted a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy, allowing employees to use personal mobile devices to access the corporate network. Gartner says that's going to rapidly change how all these devices talk to one another.

“Ethernet cabling has been the mainstay of the business workspace connectivity since the beginning of networking. However, as smartphones, laptops, tablets and other consumer devices have multiplied, the consumer space has largely converted to a wireless-first world,“ said Gartner VP Ken Dulaney.

And just as personal computer prices plunged from the 1980s to the 1990s, consumers are beginning to find lower prices on phones – even phones not subsidized by the carrier.

Mobile shopping surge

We witnessed the impact of the meteoric rise of mobile on the just-past Black Friday and Cyber Monday. IBM Benchmark data show online retailers experienced an 8% growth in Black Friday sales with 47% of those sales made from a mobile device.

On Cyber Monday, IBM estimates about 41% of sales came from mobile devices.

Does that mean the PC is about to disappear? Probably not. More complex business-related functions will probably always require one. This reporter would be hard pressed to write a story on a tablet, much less a smartphone.

Hybrids

But some tablets may begin looking and acting more like PCs. Microsoft is marketing its Surface Pro 3 tablet as a replacement for a laptop because it runs Windows and you can add an optional keyboard.

Can it replace your laptop? The claim was met with a lot of skepticism, but TechRadar gave it a spin and concluded that the boast is not far off.

In its review, in the video below, TechRadar says the Surface Pro 3 makes vast improvements over its predecessors.

Is it the future? Only time will tell. And if the rapid rate of technology evolution is any indicator, we won't have to wait long for the future to arrive.

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and you want it to be so special for your child. While you are busy creating memories by frantically running to the mall, decorating cookies, figuring out how to please everyone, you might not realize the toll it is taking on the people you are trying to make everything so perfect for.

Findings from a 2008 poll on holiday stress conducted by the American Psychological Association revealed that eight out of ten Americans anticipated stress during the holiday season. In the APA's 2012 Stress in America survey it was found that 69% of Americans attribute their stress to money related concerns and 61% attributed stress to the economy.

It's important to remember that parents and kids need time to relax and enjoy the season. It can be tough for kids that see their parents buying many things and appear over-loaded. The parent comes home stressed out because they just blew their whole paycheck on Christmas shopping. Your child isn't quite sure how to interpret that.

Be aware of some signs that your child may be becoming stressed out:

• Crying for no reason, whiny.
• They become nervous start biting their nails and twirling their hair.
• All of a sudden they start getting stomachaches or headaches.
• Friends don't seem very enticing to them; they start to withdraw.
• They become markedly different in their attitude and behavior.

Stay normal

The ways to help keep things "normal" is to actually keep things normal. Stick to your routine.

Jana N. Martin, Ph.D., a child and family psychologist based in Long Beach, Calif., suggests you aim to keep at least some aspect of the routines your child is accustomed to.

For instance, if you can't tuck them in at their regular time, keep up at least one typical pre-bed ritual, like a bedtime story or a glass of warm milk. "This lends focus to the chaos," says Martin. "Kids know that no matter what else is going on, this is something they can count on."

Exercise is a natural stress buster and even though it may be cold outside, bundle them up and send them outside for an afternoon of building snow forts or sledding, or set up a game of at-home bowling with empty plastic water bottles and a foam rubber ball. Keep their minds active and their hearts pumping -- it helps those endorphins kick in and creates less downtime to think about things that may be troubling.

You don't have to attend every holiday party. You are allowed to say no. It can be taxing on a child to have to have good manners and not run around and be dressed up. It's tough for many adults in social situations and not much easier on a child.

Family traditions can bring comfort to your child. It's a sense of familiarity and again the routine. Many don't realize how important traditions are to themselves and their children.

Let your kids be kids. "Overscheduling activities can lead to tense and anxious kids," notes Ruth Peters, Ph.D., a child and adolescent psychologist based in Clearwater, Fla. And since stress over a prolonged period taxes the immune system, it may even result in physical ailments, such as colds or flu. Consider getting a sitter for some of the parties and such so they have down time.

Feed the hunger. "Giving your kids meals and snacks at regular intervals keeps blood sugar regulated and nerves on an even keel," explains Shawn Talbott, Ph.D., author of The Cortisol Connection Diet. If you are waiting for a big meal and they can't wait, a little piece of cheese or a small snack can help keep hunger in check.

Above and beyond everything, the holidays are a fun time -- so embrace the fun try not to give into the pressure of the "shoulds" and what you think "should" be happening. You know what is best for your family more so than anyone and it is about family so remember to take care of them and you so you are able to enjoy the holidays!

They're perhaps not the cars you dream of during idle moments but the Ford Mustang, Hyundai Genesis and Volkswagen Golf have captured the attention of the automotive journalists who choose the North American Car of the Year. They're the finalists from which a winner will be chosen.

Over in the truck garage, the Lincoln MKC, Ford F-150 and the Chevy Colorado were named the truck/utility finalists.

The winner will be announced Jan. 11, 2015 and the title will pass from the current holders, the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and the Chevrolet Silverado.

Factors weighed by the judges include innovation, design, safety, handling, comfort, value and driver satisfaction.

Of course, like all beauty contests, this is just one of many and the consumer still has the vote that counts. 

Speaking of which, Consumer Reports recently named the Tesla S the winner for the second straight year of its owner satisfaction survey. The Tesla nosed out Porsche in the magazine's survey of 350,000 vehicles ranging from one to three years old.

A whopping 98% of Tesla owners said they would "definitely" buy another one. 

What about the 2% who wouldn't? Debra of Newport Beach, Calif., may be one of them. She recently bought a Tesla and said in a ConsumerAffairs review that she has "had service issues from the day I put down my $2,500 deposit."

Problems have been mostly minor but the service has been a major annoyance, she said. "The car is great but there are NO grown ups servicing the company. ... Their customer service consists of smiling and saying no."

It's one of the mainstays of Christmas but it hasn't been around quite as long as Santa Claus. The poinsettia was introduced to the United States in 1825 by Joel Robert Poinsett, first U. S. ambassador to Mexico who obtained plants from the wilds of southern Mexico.

They are pretty hardy plants and they are great for a quick gift and no matter where you are, you can always find them at the hardware store, the grocery, drug store and, of course, the florist.

December 12th is National Poinsettia Day and so that might be a prime day to purchase one, better even than Black Friday.

How do you pick a perfect poinsettia?

Even though the flowers are red you want to look for green, a dark green to be exact. Look at the leaves because fallen or damaged leaves indicate poor handling or fertilization, lack of water or a root disease problem. Choose bracts (modified leaves) that are completely colored.

You want your flowers to be in proportion to the plant and pot size. The plant should be 2 1/2 times taller than the diameter of the container.

Sometimes when you go to the store the plants have paper or plastic around them. Ditch those. Those plants will not thrive or do well. Plants that are placed close together aren't a good option for you. Crowding isn't healthful.

Root rot

The soil is a good indicator of root rot. Check the soil. If it’s wet and the plant is wilted, this could be an indication it's got a problem with its roots.

Check the poinsettia’s maturity. The true flowers are located at the base of the colored bracts, or leaves. Look for them, if the flowers are green or red-tipped and fresh looking the bloom will "hold" longer than if yellow pollen is covering the flowers.

Once you bring it home, don't over-water it -- that can also lead to root damage.
Examine the soil daily, and when the surface is dry to the touch, water the soil until it runs freely out the drainage hole in the container. No more than that, though.

Let the sun in. If you obtain a poinsettia for your home, place it near a sunny window where it will have the most available sunlight. If it's cold outside, don't let the plant touch a window pane.

Keep the temp comfortable. It should be 65 to 70 degrees during the daylight hours. If possible, move it to a cooler place at night. Don't put it anywhere colder than 60 F.

Contrary to what you may have heard, poinsettias are not toxic to humans. Research that was done at Ohio State University and some other institutions, has shown the old wives' tale that poinsettias are poisonous is false. They are mildly toxic to cats and dogs but symptoms are nearly always mild and don't require medical treatment.

People collect weird things and they are willing to pay a pretty penny for what they collect.

How about wedding cake? If you have been married and divorced a few times you may have a couple of pieces of wedding cake lying around in your freezer. Or you might just be a wedding cake collector. If so, you missed a piece up for grabs.

You know that cute couple from across the pond, Prince William and Duchess Catherine? A slice of their life went up for auction recently in Beverly Hills. A piece of their wedding cake from 2011 was auctioned off for $7,500. All I can say is that cake better get better with each passing day. You can only keep turkey for three days. Wedding cake, though, goes for years I guess.

Julien's of Beverly Hills had thought they would bring about $2,000 for the piece of history and they were pretty shocked when they saw how high the bidding went. The cake, which was eight tiers, took the baker five weeks to make and is said to peak in flavor 13 months after it was baked. It came in a tin along with a blank invitation to the wedding presented on the Queen's stationery.

I guess if you can pass around a fruitcake at the holidays year after year, a piece of wedding cake would be, well, a piece of cake.

After falling for two straight weeks, mortgage applications shot higher last week.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey, applications rose 7.3% during the week ending December 5.

The Refinance Index, meanwhile, jumped 13% from the previous week, pushing the refinance share of mortgage activity to 64% of total applications from 60% the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity increased to 7.0%.

The FHA share of total applications dipped to 9.0% this week from 9.3% last week. The VA share rose to 9.6% from 9.4 percent last week, and the USDA share of total applications was unchanged at 0.8%.

Contract interest rates

• The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages (FRMs) with conforming loan balances ($417,000 or less) rose 3 basis points -- from 4.08% to 4.11%, with points unchanged at 0.28 (including the origination fee) for 80% loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans. The effective rate increased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 30-year FRMs with jumbo loan balances (greater than $417,000) slipped to 4.07% from 4.11%, with points decreasing to 0.16 from 0.22 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 30-year FRMs backed by the FHA inched up 2 basis points to 3.87%, with points dropping to 0.03 from 0.09 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans. The effective rate remained unchanged from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 15-year FRMs increased to 3.35% from 3.30%, with points rising to 0.30 from 0.25 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans. The effective rate increased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs was 3.11% -- up 4 basis points, with points decreasing to 0.19 from 0.32 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans. The effective rate was the same as last week.

The survey covers over 75 percent of all U.S. retail residential mortgage applications.

Ford Motor Company is recalling 50 model year 2015 Ford Mustang vehicles manufactured August 18, 2014, to October 2, 2014.

The passenger safety belt tension sensor in the recalled vehicles may misclassify the size of the front passenger seat occupant, causing a child-sized occupant to be classified as an adult and an adult passenger to be classified as a child.

If the tension sensor misclassifies the front passenger, improper passenger air bag deployment may occur, increasing the risk of occupant injury in the event of a vehicle crash.

Ford has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger safety belt buckle, free of charge. The recall was expected to began in October 2014.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14C08.