National Do Not Call Registry Refresher Course

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National Do Not Call RegistryIt seemed like we were getting way too many telemarketing calls...usually right around 8 p.m. while struggling to get the kids bathed and into bed.  And I thought we had signed up for the National Do Not Call Registry years ago.  So here's a brief "refresher" on how the Do Not Call Registry works and what it can and cannot do.

 

What It Does

If you register your phone number in the National Do Not Call Registry, telemarketers must stop calling that number within 31 days.  The Registry applies only to personal phone numbers, both home phone and cell phones.  The law does not apply to business lines.

 

What it Doesn't Do

If you buy goods or services, they can call you up to 18 months even though your number is on the Registry.  If you want them to stop calling you sooner, you must tell them in writing.  The Registry does not apply to political, charity and survey calls.  If you inquire or apply to a particular vendor, they can call you for up to 3 months, even if you are on the Registry.

 

How Do You Register?

Register at www.donotcall.gov.  It only takes a

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Blu-ray You Say?

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Blu-ray Disc (or BD) players were first launched in June 2006 as an alternative to HD (High Definition) DVD players.  Later that year Sony included Blu-ray technology in its new PlayStation 3 players and since then have sold over 10 million.  In February 2008, HD DVD maker Toshiba announced "game over" to HD DVD.  And thus Blu-ray has become the high-def format of choice.

This was Sony's revenge I suppose for the Betamax format losing out to JVC's VHS video recording format in the mid 1980s.  For the million or so HD DVD purchasers, you were brave!  But good luck finding DVDs in this now obsolete format.

What is Blu-ray?  Blu-ray is a high-definition technology that uses a blue laser to read the disc (DVD players use a red laser).  Blu-ray screen resolution is 1,080 horizontal lines versus 480 for DVDs.  That added resolution can make for a stunning picture.  But you need a high-def TV to enjoy it!  BDs have 6 times the storage capacity of DVDs.

Will BD make DVD go obsolete soon?  My personal opinion is no, given the fact that hundreds of millions of DVD players are in use and continue being sold.  But BD will gradually creep into the DVD market.  I would imagine that BDs will grow in popularity at similar rate to the growth in high-definition TVs vs analog TVs.

Should I buy one?  If you own a PlayStation 3, perhaps use that to play BDs until BD player prices start falling from their current $400 price tag.  Heck you can buy a PS3 for $400 today.  But if you enjoy being an early adopter and don't mind the fact the prices may drop towards Christmas, go for it!  One thing to make sure though is that your BD player is "backwards compatible" with DVDs.  Most are but make sure to check.

Blu-ray Discs also cost slightly more to rent today, but not that much more.  A local Newbury Park Blockbuster rents BDs for about $1 more than DVDs. 

Looking For The Lowest Local Gas Prices?

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A buddy of mine tipped me off to www.VenturaGasPrices.com, a website dedicated to providing detailed information about gas prices throughout Ventura County.  VenturaGasPrices.com is part of www.GasBuddy.com, a national network of over 170 websites tracking local gas prices.

So if you are looking to save a few bucks, take a look at this site before gassing up.  Tonight I saw that premium gasoline at the Oxnard Costco is $3.11 per gallon as compared to $3.47 per gallon at the Chevron located at Thousand Oaks Blvd. and Rancho Road.  That difference would amount to over $6 on an 18 gallon tank.  Might be worth a trip to some of you.

For those who enjoy charts and historical data, there is a nice tool on the site that allows you to see gas price trends in throughout the country for periods up to 6 years.  That is, if you can stomach the fact that gas prices have doubled in the last 5 years.  (Whereas the price of ExxonMobil stock has tripled in that same period.)

Ah, time to start checking out those hybrids.  Love the fact that city mileage is higher than highway mileage on a hybrid!

Power Napping Is In (Almost!)

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Try taking a nap for a powerful antidote to feeling sluggish and tired.  I personally feel extremely invigorated with a solid 20 minute, uninterrupted nap in the middle of the day (right after lunch is usually a good time, following the lead of my 2 year-old).

You don't want to nap too long, just 20 to 30 minutes...sleep too long and you'll feel groggy instead of refreshed.  Or take a long nap of 90 to 120 minutes to get past the grogginess cycle.

Napping is still not widely accepted in our society but is gaining momentum.  One company, MetroNaps of New York, sells a napping device called an EnergyPod™ that provides a comfortable semi-enclosed space for napping in comfort in a work setting.  Companies like Proctor & Gamble, Cisco and PriceWaterhouseCoopers are experimenting with this device. 

Since most companies don't have this $12,000 contraption, what is the best strategy for napping during the workweek? Well, if you work close to home you could go home for a nap.  But this isn't feasible for most of us.  If you work in an office you could shut the office door at lunchtime and snooze on the floor of your office.  I have resorted to this but it certainly is not the most comfortable approach (remember to lock your door and silence the phone).

Or you could nap in your car, which also is not that comfortable unless you have a car large enough to lie down in.  I have resorted to catching a front seat powernap in a shady spot at the park.  Of course the other issue is noise.  This is where I've been lucky to find a really neat product called Pzizz.

Pzizz is a $50 software program that produces an unlimited number of timed sleep "soundtracks" - music, sounds and voices that make power napping a snap.  I've used Pzizz hundreds of times and swear by it.  Nap soundtracks can be exported into iTunes and loaded onto your iPod for easy portability.  I crave my 20 minute Pzizz "energizer" naps.  My wife makes fun of me but I'm telling you, after just 20 minutes of Pzizz I'm a new man.

Bottom line:  Most of us don't get enough sleep and our bodies and minds are paying the price for it.  If you can't sleep more at night, then consider taking regular naps to help bring energy to your life!

Stop Unwanted Catalogs and Junk Mail

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Check out a relatively new service from Catalog Choice that helps you reduce the number of catalogs mailed to your home.  I dread visits to the mailbox this time of year as I know 80% of the materials will be catalogs that I neither want nor need.  This free service allows you to select catalogs from a list of 1,000 or so and ask that they not be mailed to you.  Can't beat this deal!  www.CatalogChoice.org

logo-greendimes-245x60.gifGreenDimes.com is another website that helps you reduce unwanted mailbox clutter.  In fact, my wife signed up a few months ago.  It costs $15 (one time).  I've noticed a remarkable reduction in catalogs and junk mail over the past few weeks!  It takes 3-4 months to kick in.  www.GreenDimes.com. 

41poundslogo.jpg41Pounds.org charges $41 for 5 years of ridding your mailbox of not only catalogs, but all sorts of junk mail, like coupon mailers, magazine offers, credit card offers, etc.  If you want a more complete approach to gaining control over your mailbox, this may be your best choice.  They say 80 to 95% of your bulk mail will be eliminated within 4 months.  That could make this service your #1 choice even though there is a cost to it.   41 is roughly the number of pounds each of us receives each year in bulk mail (I think this is more like 411 pounds in my family).  www.41Pounds.org