Travel Restrictions Changed

If you are planning a trip, it's worthwhile going through the website of the Transport Security Administration (TSA) and getting familiar with the new security procedure in order to avoid your frustrations after arriving at the airport. In particular, it's important to go through the list of prohibited items (click here) and make sure what you can and can't carry in your carry-ons.

Today's Transport Security Administration (TSA) announced a new "bag and zip" policy that will allow travel-sized toiletries of three ounces or less (typical drug-store sample sizes) through security and aboard airplanes. Travelers will be required to put the toiletries in one quart-sized zip-top plastic bag and place the bag in a bin on the conveyor belt to be x-rayed separately, as is required for laptops.

Larger amounts of prescription liquid medications, such as diabetic glucose treatments, and non-prescription meds such as cough medicine and contact solution, will also be allowed in carry-ons. They won't have to be put into plastic bags, but they must be declared at the checkpoints for additional screening.

Bottled water and other beverages purchased within the secure areas will also be allowed.

Prescription Drug: Walmart's $4 Plan

Today Walmart announced an attractive '$4 per prescription for a 30-day supply' scheme for people with insurance and also those without coverage. The orders have to be made online and then picked up in-store. Walmart's idea for $4 prescriptions came from an earlier in-house program to provide $3 co-pays for Wal-Mart workers.

For the time being, the retailer is starting the program tomorrow in its Tampa, FL area stores, but will expand to more states in 2007. The announcement even rattled the Wall street and roiled the stock prices of generic drug wholesalers and pharmacy chains.

If Walmart can lure people to their stores with such a good deal on generics, the customers may as well buy other things from the retailer while coming to collect the drug. It would thus be good for the retailer giant as well as average consumers.

Tree and Home Value

Did you know trees and shrubs can dramatically increase the value of your home? Many specialists now say not to remove any mature tree or shrub before considering its worth today and tomorrow.

What to Consider: Trees are the most valuable plants in landscape because they are the most useful. For example, they may function as energy savers, air conditioners or wildlife havens. Shade trees can reduce the cost of heating and cooling your home by 10 to 50%.

Values: Landscape appraisers are in the best position to determine the most accurate value for the trees and shrubs in your yard. When seeking the value of your landscaping, take these into account:

Size: A mature oak is more valuable than a fast-growing poplar because it is more difficult to replace. Generally, large trees provide more benefits (and have more value) than small ones
Type: Some kinds of trees have a higher value due to their hardiness, durability, adaptability and overall desirability (sturdy, low-maintenance or attractive). Japanese maples and dwarf conifers are among the most highly valued trees.
Condition: Healthy, well-formed trees and shrubs have more value than malformed, poorly maintained or storm-damaged plants.
Location: The Plant's value to the property arises from both functional and aesthetic considerations. Trees and shrubs that form a focal point, frame the house or stand in a hedgerow represent high-value specimens.

Don't Eat Bagged Spinach

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called on consumers not to eat any fresh, prepackaged spinach after officials said they identified an outbreak of E. coli that has killed a person in Wisconsin and sickened at least 48 people in eight states: Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Oregon, New Mexico, Utah and Wisconsin which was hit hardest with at least 20 cases. The investigation spearheaded by FDA appears to implicate prepackaged, prewashed spinach, but officials have not identified a specific brand yet.

E. coli can cause diarrhea, often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly. The condition can lead to serious kidney damage and even death. To date, 50 cases of illness have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including 8 cases of HUS and one death.

Medicare Premium Rises

Seniors' 'Part B' premiums for doctors' visits and lab tests paid by Medicare are set to go up by $5 per month in 2007. Most beneficiaries will now pay $93.50 per month, a 5.6% rise over 2006 premiums. But the costs could go even higher if doctors' groups succeed in their bid to prevent Medicare fee cuts.

Part B deductibles are also scheduled to go up by $5 to $131. Seniors pay an average of $27 per month in premiums for the Medicare prescription drug benefit, and usually pay the first $992 in hospital costs unless they are low-income.

At the same time, wealthy seniors will for the first time be asked to shoulder higher premium costs. Under Medicare's new premium schedule, seniors with incomes between $80,000 and $100,000 per year and married couples with annual incomes between $160,000 and $200,000 pay additional $12.50 per month over the $93.50 paid by most seniors. Individuals with annual incomes between $100,000 and $150,000 and married couples with annual incomes between $200,000 and $300,000 in 2007 will pay a monthly premium of $124.70. Individuals with annual incomes between $150,000 and $200,000 and married couples with annual incomes between $300,000 and $400,000 in 2007 will pay a monthly premium of $143.40. Individuals with annual incomes of $200,000 or more and married couples with annual incomes of $400,000 or more in 2007 will pay a monthly premium of $162.10.

Stop Catalogs on Mailbox

Holiday season is not really that far away. Soon there'll be Halloween (well, end of October will appear sooner than you realize) ... and then Thanksgiving and then suddenly that shopping spree! And with the holiday season come lots and lots of catalogs to your mailbox. Some people enjoy it but many of you may not! Want some relief from the more than 18 billion catalogs that overload U.S. mailboxes each year? Here are some tips for what to do:

The best way isn't to call the companies; you're better off sending a request by mail. Web sites like Junkbusters.com provide template letters for free that you can print out and sign.

The Abacus Alliance, a database used by mail-order catalogs, will remove you from it's listings upon request (abacusalliance.com). The Direct Marketing Association, too, will add your name to a "delete" list for direct marketers (free by mail; $5 online at dmaconsumers.org).

As last option you may pay the pros to do this job for you. For $20, StoptheJunkMail.com lets pick which catalogs you want to keep receiving; it then contacts the others repeatedly until you're removed from their lists. for good.

Beware of Charity Scam

Not long after the Tsunami devastated south Asia in 2004, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) began receiving numerous complaints of charity scams carried out in several ways. Similar complaints were also received in the wake of the relief efforts for the victims of Hurricane Katrina last year. That's why they're warning Americans against donating to just anyone.

Charities like the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross have done a great job of providing help to victims of past disasters and it is expected that will happen again. But if you would like to support another charity, check on them first. The best places to check on these charities and how effectively they spend their collection money are these two useful websites:

CharityNavigator.org which ranks some 35 hundred charities with zero to four stars depending on how well they spend donations.

Give.org is a useful website from the Better Business Bureau and offers guidance to donors on making informed giving decisions through their charity evaluations, various "tips" publications, and publishes the quarterly Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide .

Blackberry Pearl

In a bid to generate a larger consumer base, 'Research in Motion' has launched a 14.5mm thick consumer focus handset named 'Blackberry Pearl'. The company is surely hoping to tap into a market already enjoyed by Nokia and Sony Ericsson. The BlackBerry Pearl comes complete with digital camera, multimedia capabilities and an expandable memory slot for the first time, while still offering its trademark interface.

The phone sports a crisp large (240 x 260) display similar to the HTC's MTeoR 3G handset however building on the MTeoR, BlackBerry has included its SureType QWERTY keypad. Beneath it's sleek exterior, which measures just 4.2 x 1.97 x 0.57" and weighs 88 grams, the BlackBerry Pearl is a quad-band GSM/GPRS and EDGE-enabled, however not 3G and comes with 64MB flash memory expandable to an additional 2GB with a MicroSD card.

It also features a speakerphone and Bluetooth 2.0 for use with hands-free headsets, car kits and other Bluetooth peripherals such as a GPS receiver. Hoping to appeal to consumers rather than just business users the phone features a 1.3 megapixel camera with built-in flash and 5x digital zoom.

Furthermore in an attempt to appeal to more consumers than previously RIM has added a media player and stereo headset for music and videos on the go. MP3 and ACC music files and MPEG4 and H.263 video files are supported.

The BlackBerry Pearl will be available from T-Mobile in the United States beginning September 12.

National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness month. National Preparedness Month 2006 is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The goal of the month is to increase public awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies and to encourage individuals to take action. To know more about this visit the National Preparedness Month website.

This is a time we all should make a resolution to check regularly in future how prepared we are if a disaster strikes. However hard we try, we cannot avoid natural disasters but we can avoid a lot of misery and distress, if we are ready for it.

Here are a few tips for disaster preparedness:

Pick a day that's easy to remember, such as the first of the month, to test your home's smoke detectors and flashlights and radiobatteries.

Keep your emergency food and water supply fresh by consuming and replacing items before their expiration date.

Store your emergengy prepardness plan and disaster supplies kit in the same place.

Include books and games in your emergency supplies kit. You'll want something to do and keep your mind away from unnecessary anxieties.

Always have at least a half-tank of gas in your car, so you'll be prepared to evacuate.

Involve Children in emergency prepardness. they'll react better during a real-life emergency if they've practised beforehand

Hold a fire drill at night, to practise finding your way out of the dark.

Conduct a "household hazard hunt." look for furnature that needs securing, flammable products that require safe storage, and other items that could fall or cause a fire. Then fix problem areas.