I know that it has been well over a year since I last posted on the blog--a whole lot of family issues and work that needed taking care of. However, despite a crazy erev Pesach schedule, I wanted to get this news out there.
All the years I was blogging I made mention that hubby and I were going to be retiring to Las Vegas. Well, we should all recognize that change (other than the Ribboneh Shel Olam) is the only constant in our lives--and change has come into my life. We're going to be leaving New York come the end of June, but not to Las Vegas--we've purchased a home in Boca Raton, Florida. Yup, heading south instead of west. I guess we finally realized that moving to where a lot of our friends are now going to be living, as well as some family, has merit. And a 2-hour flight from Boca to NY when we pop up to visit the kids and my mom is a lot more doable than a 5-1/2 hour flight from Vegas. At least Florida like Vegas has no state tax, so there are financial benefits as well.
Let me wish you all a chag kasher v'sameach. And let me also remind you that eventually dreams come true, even if not quite what you may have envisioned when you started the dreaming.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Sunday, December 2, 2012
No, not closing down
An apology for not posting this earlier, but life has been rather hectic in the K household since Hurricane Sandy unfurled. Nothing that is severely life threatening happening, but so much going on that there simply are not enough hours in the day to get to everything I'd like to get to. And no, it isn't all "bad" news that we are dealing with, as B"H we have an engagement in the family today--a simcha to sweeten what has been rather sour of late.
I hope that all of you are well and coping with life, and that you, too, have some simcha to make things "taste" better. Hope to be back on a regular basis soon, but making no promises. Life has a way of dealing you the hand it wants, not necessarily the hand you are going to be a big winner with.
I hope that all of you are well and coping with life, and that you, too, have some simcha to make things "taste" better. Hope to be back on a regular basis soon, but making no promises. Life has a way of dealing you the hand it wants, not necessarily the hand you are going to be a big winner with.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
A Day to Remember
In the years to come there will be all sorts of reasons to remember the events of yesterday and today. Personally, I would rather not have the memory of snow covering my yard on November 7. It's only the first week of November and we've already had a hurricane and a nor'easter. And please keep in mind that this is officially not winter yet--it's fall. Our area still has a mega gas shortage and thousands still without power. Now with the nor'easter in play, the areas that were flooded last week are heading for flooding again. Normal seems to only be a word in the dictionary, because it sure does not apply to daily living right now.
I'm sure that somewhere in this mess there is a lesson we are supposed to be learning, but frankly, other than hope for the best and expect the worse, I can't fathom what that lesson is supposed to be. I'll leave further contemplation for later--just staring out the windows at the weather has given me the chills and I need a warm drink.
I hope that all of you have warm and liveable shelter and that you are weathering our current conditions in safety. Oh well, a lot of J bloggers were hoping for something to blog about other than yeshiva tuition and the state of shidduch making, and here it is.
I'm sure that somewhere in this mess there is a lesson we are supposed to be learning, but frankly, other than hope for the best and expect the worse, I can't fathom what that lesson is supposed to be. I'll leave further contemplation for later--just staring out the windows at the weather has given me the chills and I need a warm drink.
I hope that all of you have warm and liveable shelter and that you are weathering our current conditions in safety. Oh well, a lot of J bloggers were hoping for something to blog about other than yeshiva tuition and the state of shidduch making, and here it is.
Monday, November 5, 2012
But the Memory Lingers On
Hurricane Sandy left a load of devastation as she passed over our area. No, things are not back to normal, and not likely to be for some time, especially given that a nor'easter is also expected this week. We've been on and off hosting people from some of the hardest hit areas since the storm hit, as we kept our power on. One family has a flooded house and repairs to the house are going to mean months of not being able to live in it.
Public transportation is still spotty, gas for cars is still only available in limited places and in limited quantities, fresh milk and produce is not available all over nor in large quantities. Some schools are opened and some are still closed. People with simchas this week are truly wondering just who is going to be able to show up, and what kind of food the caterers are going to be able to prepare.
One thing, however, showed up in discussions time after time--our dependency on electronic communication devices. Regular phones and cell phone towers made getting in touch with family and friends an impossibility, and some areas still don't have all phones working. Computers were obviously out in many areas as power went down. And then there was this--many people no longer keep a hardcopy phone book with everyone's regular and cellphone numbers in it. The reasoning is that it is far simpler to have all that info right there on your cellphone. The storm showed us otherwise.
So yes, a black and white printed list of everyone's contact information is something you might consider making now, if you have your power back.
And given the storm that is supposed to hit us this week, it might also be a good idea to have a plan in place if family members find they can't get home--where will they go, how will they get there, what is the contact information for the people where they might go.
Emergency planning needs to take place before an emergency arises, not during it. Taking a few moments now can save huge amounts of trouble later.
Public transportation is still spotty, gas for cars is still only available in limited places and in limited quantities, fresh milk and produce is not available all over nor in large quantities. Some schools are opened and some are still closed. People with simchas this week are truly wondering just who is going to be able to show up, and what kind of food the caterers are going to be able to prepare.
One thing, however, showed up in discussions time after time--our dependency on electronic communication devices. Regular phones and cell phone towers made getting in touch with family and friends an impossibility, and some areas still don't have all phones working. Computers were obviously out in many areas as power went down. And then there was this--many people no longer keep a hardcopy phone book with everyone's regular and cellphone numbers in it. The reasoning is that it is far simpler to have all that info right there on your cellphone. The storm showed us otherwise.
So yes, a black and white printed list of everyone's contact information is something you might consider making now, if you have your power back.
And given the storm that is supposed to hit us this week, it might also be a good idea to have a plan in place if family members find they can't get home--where will they go, how will they get there, what is the contact information for the people where they might go.
Emergency planning needs to take place before an emergency arises, not during it. Taking a few moments now can save huge amounts of trouble later.
Monday, October 29, 2012
On Fridges and Freezers
Just another bit of info on storm damage and what to do. If power goes out, refrigerators and freezers, full of food, will have no way to remain at proper temperatures for extended periods of times. Go to the following site to get some info on keeping food safe during a power outage and on what can be kept and what should be thrown out.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FACTSheets/keeping_food_Safe_during_an_emergency/index.asp
The article also mentioned something I hadn't thought of. Many of us have picnic coolers that we use for outdoor adventures. They're a good tool to use when the power is out in the house.
Here's hoping we'll have to use none of this info, but just in case, better prepared than sorry.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FACTSheets/keeping_food_Safe_during_an_emergency/index.asp
The article also mentioned something I hadn't thought of. Many of us have picnic coolers that we use for outdoor adventures. They're a good tool to use when the power is out in the house.
Here's hoping we'll have to use none of this info, but just in case, better prepared than sorry.
When Old Technology is Needed
Prepping for the storm, what came up with many people was the fear that they would be without phones if the storm knocked out their electric power or disabled the city's cell phone towers. Many people have replaced those "old" phones with new electric plug-in models or use their cell phones instead of having a house number. No, we too have those electric models. However, we also kept one of the old Princess phones, which remains plugged into a phone jack.
The benefit of that old phone is that it is not affected by an electrical outage. Only if your phone lines go down will you not have phone service, and there are many areas of the city, such as ours, where phone lines are now underground precisely so heavy winds and rain can't rip them down.
A bit late to go shopping now for such an "old" phone, but it's something you might think of acquiring after the storm is over. Electrical outages in the NYC area don't require a major hurricane to occur--I can't remember a summer yet where we have not had areas of the city or the whole city without power for a while. Besides, think of the joy and fun of introducing your kids to some old technology that can nonetheless save the day when new technology is laid low. No, they (and you) won't be able to text on those phones or play games on those phones, but you'll be able to be in contact with others or summon help in an emergency--and isn't that really the point of a phone?
The benefit of that old phone is that it is not affected by an electrical outage. Only if your phone lines go down will you not have phone service, and there are many areas of the city, such as ours, where phone lines are now underground precisely so heavy winds and rain can't rip them down.
A bit late to go shopping now for such an "old" phone, but it's something you might think of acquiring after the storm is over. Electrical outages in the NYC area don't require a major hurricane to occur--I can't remember a summer yet where we have not had areas of the city or the whole city without power for a while. Besides, think of the joy and fun of introducing your kids to some old technology that can nonetheless save the day when new technology is laid low. No, they (and you) won't be able to text on those phones or play games on those phones, but you'll be able to be in contact with others or summon help in an emergency--and isn't that really the point of a phone?
Friday, October 26, 2012
Preparing for Sandy
Just when I was wondering if there would be anything to post about, given that the choices were becoming quite limited to old news--yeshiva tuition, the nutty shidduch system etc.--along comes a possible devasting storm that will hit us in the NE from Sunday to Tuesday. While there are some who are shrugging their shoulders and taking a wait and see attitude, that way could lie disaster.
Now is the time to do some thinking about how you will handle the storm and any complications it could bring. If you have to evacuate, how will you do so and where might you be able to go? If you are stuck at home, do you have the necessary storm equipment, such as flashlights for when the power goes out, food to eat that does not require cooking, in case stoves are unavailable, extras of any medications you must take and you may not be able to get to a drugstore, extra blankets in case the heating goes out etc..
Now is also the time to be a good neighbor and think of those on your block or in your area who may be alone during the storm, such as the elderly. There's safety in numbers is not just words on a page--bringing such a person to stay in your home during the storm could well be a matter of sakonos nefoshos.
Do you have any loose items in your backyard or on your porch or balconey? Time to get those things to an enclosed shelter so that they don't become airborne missles when the strong wind gusts arrive.
Are your street-side sewer drains covered with leaves and debris? Do yourself a favor and get out there and remove the leaves. Heavy rains need somewhere to go, and clogged drains don't help.
There's lots of helpful information about how to prepare for a weather a storm of this type available online, but it's only helpful if you actually access it and use it.
Let's hope that we all get through this storm in safety, but some of that safety is going to depend on what you do now.
A gutten Shabbos to all.
Now is the time to do some thinking about how you will handle the storm and any complications it could bring. If you have to evacuate, how will you do so and where might you be able to go? If you are stuck at home, do you have the necessary storm equipment, such as flashlights for when the power goes out, food to eat that does not require cooking, in case stoves are unavailable, extras of any medications you must take and you may not be able to get to a drugstore, extra blankets in case the heating goes out etc..
Now is also the time to be a good neighbor and think of those on your block or in your area who may be alone during the storm, such as the elderly. There's safety in numbers is not just words on a page--bringing such a person to stay in your home during the storm could well be a matter of sakonos nefoshos.
Do you have any loose items in your backyard or on your porch or balconey? Time to get those things to an enclosed shelter so that they don't become airborne missles when the strong wind gusts arrive.
Are your street-side sewer drains covered with leaves and debris? Do yourself a favor and get out there and remove the leaves. Heavy rains need somewhere to go, and clogged drains don't help.
There's lots of helpful information about how to prepare for a weather a storm of this type available online, but it's only helpful if you actually access it and use it.
Let's hope that we all get through this storm in safety, but some of that safety is going to depend on what you do now.
A gutten Shabbos to all.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Loopy but Living
Just in case any readers are wondering why there have been no postings, the cocktail of medications I'm on, including a goodly dose of codeine, are just not conducive to thinking and writing right now. Can't wait until this is finally over and I can go back to "regular" life.
Stay healthy all--it's really no fun the other way.
Stay healthy all--it's really no fun the other way.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Sukkah Soaking--hope not
My men folk got busy today and put up the sukkah. My daughter is already planning out how she'll decorate it this year. I'm busy inviting guests for the yom tov meals in the sukkah. Everyone seems to have a truly positive attitude about sukkos--except for the weather forecasters. Haven't found a forecaster anywhere who is saying anything but thunderstorms, heavy rains and cooler weather for the first days of sukkos.
Of course, those forecasters do not have a stellar record of accurate predictions, but darned if they don't somehow manage to be pretty accurate if the time period is a yom tov one. I'm hoping that they are truly, truly wrong about next week. After all the work and preparation, it would be nice to actually be able to use the sukkah, not just stare at it through the patio doors. Regardless, I'm going to have to think of just how all that company will play out if it's pouring outside. So not something I want on my to do list.
Of course, those forecasters do not have a stellar record of accurate predictions, but darned if they don't somehow manage to be pretty accurate if the time period is a yom tov one. I'm hoping that they are truly, truly wrong about next week. After all the work and preparation, it would be nice to actually be able to use the sukkah, not just stare at it through the patio doors. Regardless, I'm going to have to think of just how all that company will play out if it's pouring outside. So not something I want on my to do list.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
In the Strange World of Politics
I generally do not do postings of a political nature, but I'm making an exception with this posting. Yes, the presidential campaign in the US is heating up and is on a lot of people's minds, but this is a report of a different campaign--one for the mayor of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Apparently one of the popular candidates for the mayor's office is a cat named Tuxedo Stan--yes, you read that correctly: a cat. The candidate is quite popular, already having over 2300 friends on Facebook. And yes, his handlers are raising funds for his candidacy. They do state that all funds raised will be used for spaying and neutering cats in Halifax. Now here is the interesting part--there is a municipal law in Halifax that actually and specifically bans animals from holding office.
Okay, someone please explain to me why any municipality anywhere on earth might need to put into effect a specific law that bans animals from holding political office. Are there really that many animals that in the past made a decision to run for such offices, and so the law was established? Go ahead, someone give me one concrete example of an animal that willfully and consciously decided on its own that municipal office holding was what it wanted.
I know there has been a lot of discussion both in the past and now about whether or not our elected officials are really doing a good job. Do they truly understand what is important to us or do they spend far too much time bogged down in passing laws that are counter intuitive and don't provide much or any benefit to us. Obviously some of those elected officials in Halifax had time on their hands and so this strange municipal animal office holder ban law was passed.
Of course, this is not really the strangest part of the story. It appears that Alaska does not have such a law on its books, and the mayor for the past 15 years of Takeetna, Alaska is a cat known as Mayor Stubbs. People were not pleased with the candidates for mayor 15 years ago and so voters were encouraged to elect Stubbs as a write-in candidate, and yes, he won.
"Because Talkeetna is a "historical district," the mayoral post is more symbolic than functional, said Andi Manning, president of the Talkeetna Chamber of Commerce." Right, and I don't care quite how symbolic that job might be--there is a town of 900 residents whose mayor is a cat.
When I passed on this information to a friend, first she laughed and then she said that maybe what we need is just this kind of candidate running in our local elections. She said she wouldn't choose a cat because politicians are quite "catty" already, and more of that isn't needed. She did, however, mention that she wouldn't object to a dog's running for office, since so much of politics is already a "dog-eat-dog" undertaking. Her feeling was that at least a canine would have a legitimate reason for behaving in this manner.
All this just might give you an inkling of why I normally don't write about politics.
Apparently one of the popular candidates for the mayor's office is a cat named Tuxedo Stan--yes, you read that correctly: a cat. The candidate is quite popular, already having over 2300 friends on Facebook. And yes, his handlers are raising funds for his candidacy. They do state that all funds raised will be used for spaying and neutering cats in Halifax. Now here is the interesting part--there is a municipal law in Halifax that actually and specifically bans animals from holding office.
Okay, someone please explain to me why any municipality anywhere on earth might need to put into effect a specific law that bans animals from holding political office. Are there really that many animals that in the past made a decision to run for such offices, and so the law was established? Go ahead, someone give me one concrete example of an animal that willfully and consciously decided on its own that municipal office holding was what it wanted.
I know there has been a lot of discussion both in the past and now about whether or not our elected officials are really doing a good job. Do they truly understand what is important to us or do they spend far too much time bogged down in passing laws that are counter intuitive and don't provide much or any benefit to us. Obviously some of those elected officials in Halifax had time on their hands and so this strange municipal animal office holder ban law was passed.
Of course, this is not really the strangest part of the story. It appears that Alaska does not have such a law on its books, and the mayor for the past 15 years of Takeetna, Alaska is a cat known as Mayor Stubbs. People were not pleased with the candidates for mayor 15 years ago and so voters were encouraged to elect Stubbs as a write-in candidate, and yes, he won.
"Because Talkeetna is a "historical district," the mayoral post is more symbolic than functional, said Andi Manning, president of the Talkeetna Chamber of Commerce." Right, and I don't care quite how symbolic that job might be--there is a town of 900 residents whose mayor is a cat.
When I passed on this information to a friend, first she laughed and then she said that maybe what we need is just this kind of candidate running in our local elections. She said she wouldn't choose a cat because politicians are quite "catty" already, and more of that isn't needed. She did, however, mention that she wouldn't object to a dog's running for office, since so much of politics is already a "dog-eat-dog" undertaking. Her feeling was that at least a canine would have a legitimate reason for behaving in this manner.
All this just might give you an inkling of why I normally don't write about politics.
Friday, September 14, 2012
All the Best
With Shabbos and Rosh Hashanah running so close together, let me now first wish you a gutten Shabbos. May you all also be blessed with a new year of peace and health, of joy and happiness, of contentment and success, a year filled with all the blessings Hashem has to bestow. And may we all be zocheh to be wishing each other a wonderful new year next year at this time.
Shanah Tovah!
Shanah Tovah!
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Rabbis' Speeches
When I first moved to New York my family lived in Far Rockaway. Our main shul was the White Shul. And certainly one of the draws for that shul was its rabbi, Rabbi Rafael Pelcovitz. One thing that stands out about Rabbi Pelcovitz was his speaking ability. Congregants actually looked forward to his speeches on Shabbos, and they weren't short ones. Yes, he had all the personal qualifications that make up an excellent speaker, but it was more then that. The subject matter he chose for his speeches was such that people really thought about and talked about that subject matter.
Obviously, his speeches were "learned" in their presentation of elements of Tanach and the commentaries. Obviously he spoke of the parsha of the week or about Shabbos or about elements of a particular yom tov, but he went much further than that. He related what he was speaking about to the everyday lives of his congregants. He made a clear connection between then and now. And yes, he was not afraid to tackle community issues that had come up. He was not afraid to take a stand on a problem facing our community in particular or the greater community of Klal. He didn't dance around these issues but clearly put forth an opinion. He called for change, and not just in a philosophical sense. He was activist in all the finest senses of that term.
And that is what I find missing in so many of the rabbanim who head up shuls or head up our multitude of Jewish organizations. They sing a philosophical tune, but they aren't there calling a spade a spade about the issues and problems we face in Klal. They give us all kinds of new p'sukim about the parsha to deepen our understanding of the parsha, but they wimp out when it comes to taking a stand on the real life issues. It seems that so many of them have a "don't rock the boat" attitude, and clearly don't see that the boat is sinking in so many cases.
Our rabbanim are called our leaders, and I wish they would act the part when it comes to the practical issues of Jewish life. Plenty of people in Klal who can give you a proper "taitch" for what a posuk means. Shul rabbis and organization heads need to go beyond that. I certainly hope and pray that in this new year that is coming up for us that our so called "leaders" actually and finally prove that they understand the problems and issues facing us, and that they are willing to publicly raise their voices in calling for change and for repairs to a system that needs them. I live in hope.
Obviously, his speeches were "learned" in their presentation of elements of Tanach and the commentaries. Obviously he spoke of the parsha of the week or about Shabbos or about elements of a particular yom tov, but he went much further than that. He related what he was speaking about to the everyday lives of his congregants. He made a clear connection between then and now. And yes, he was not afraid to tackle community issues that had come up. He was not afraid to take a stand on a problem facing our community in particular or the greater community of Klal. He didn't dance around these issues but clearly put forth an opinion. He called for change, and not just in a philosophical sense. He was activist in all the finest senses of that term.
And that is what I find missing in so many of the rabbanim who head up shuls or head up our multitude of Jewish organizations. They sing a philosophical tune, but they aren't there calling a spade a spade about the issues and problems we face in Klal. They give us all kinds of new p'sukim about the parsha to deepen our understanding of the parsha, but they wimp out when it comes to taking a stand on the real life issues. It seems that so many of them have a "don't rock the boat" attitude, and clearly don't see that the boat is sinking in so many cases.
Our rabbanim are called our leaders, and I wish they would act the part when it comes to the practical issues of Jewish life. Plenty of people in Klal who can give you a proper "taitch" for what a posuk means. Shul rabbis and organization heads need to go beyond that. I certainly hope and pray that in this new year that is coming up for us that our so called "leaders" actually and finally prove that they understand the problems and issues facing us, and that they are willing to publicly raise their voices in calling for change and for repairs to a system that needs them. I live in hope.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
No, It's Not a College Degree
Diploma mills have been around now for a while. They bill themselves as "alternate" ways to "earn" a college degree without having to go through all the "trouble" that regular colleges put you through to get that degree. Sure, you get a piece of paper that says you have a degree, but what you have is a piece of paper, not the education that such a degree normally signifies.
Yes, there are some employers for whom that piece of paper will be sufficient for hiring purposes, and a whole lot more for whom that piece of paper will remain just that--a piece of paper with ink on it, not a testimonial to an education received.
Last week someone told me about the latest diploma mill out there. Apparently a fairly well known and respected rabbi and his wife have started a program that will give you that sought after college degree. What does it take to get this "degree"? You need to take one course--all the other so called credits are transfers from seminary/yeshiva and possibly life experience. Yup, one course and you have a college degree---no, no, no you will not have a college degree!
More than time to come up with some other name for whatever that piece of paper is supposed to represent, because in no way, shape or form does it represent a college degree. And no, I truly don't like it when people who have purchased that piece of paper believe themselves to be equal to those who went the traditional route and worked and earned that degree. No, their "degree" is not equal to mine and to yours.
So, any suggestions for what we might rename that piece of paper? I was toying around with calling it a PBC--payment-based credential. What might you call it?
Yes, there are some employers for whom that piece of paper will be sufficient for hiring purposes, and a whole lot more for whom that piece of paper will remain just that--a piece of paper with ink on it, not a testimonial to an education received.
Last week someone told me about the latest diploma mill out there. Apparently a fairly well known and respected rabbi and his wife have started a program that will give you that sought after college degree. What does it take to get this "degree"? You need to take one course--all the other so called credits are transfers from seminary/yeshiva and possibly life experience. Yup, one course and you have a college degree---no, no, no you will not have a college degree!
More than time to come up with some other name for whatever that piece of paper is supposed to represent, because in no way, shape or form does it represent a college degree. And no, I truly don't like it when people who have purchased that piece of paper believe themselves to be equal to those who went the traditional route and worked and earned that degree. No, their "degree" is not equal to mine and to yours.
So, any suggestions for what we might rename that piece of paper? I was toying around with calling it a PBC--payment-based credential. What might you call it?
Sunday, September 9, 2012
First Days
The first day of the Fall Term is tomorrow for me. You would think that after this many years of teaching, the first day would be just another day at work. Wouldn't that be nice. One thing I've learned over the years is that every term is different, is unique, and because of this I prepare myself to expect the unexpected.
What doesn't change from term to term is my hope that the students in my classes will learn well, will become accomplished in the subject matter, will be active participants in their education. Sometimes, with some students, that hope is fully realized. Sometimes that hope is only partially realized. And yes, sigh, sometimes there are the students who are simply passing time in my class and whose only goal, it seems, is to see the semester finally end.
Nonetheless, I can't wait for classes to start tomorrow. I'm that cockeyed optimist who is sure that this time, everything will go splendidly. I'm still dreaming about having a "perfect" term, one where both all my students and I are truly sorry to see the end of the semester coming. Dreams are what fuel changes in reality, and wouldn't it be nice if this dream were to actually come true now. Here's hoping.
What doesn't change from term to term is my hope that the students in my classes will learn well, will become accomplished in the subject matter, will be active participants in their education. Sometimes, with some students, that hope is fully realized. Sometimes that hope is only partially realized. And yes, sigh, sometimes there are the students who are simply passing time in my class and whose only goal, it seems, is to see the semester finally end.
Nonetheless, I can't wait for classes to start tomorrow. I'm that cockeyed optimist who is sure that this time, everything will go splendidly. I'm still dreaming about having a "perfect" term, one where both all my students and I are truly sorry to see the end of the semester coming. Dreams are what fuel changes in reality, and wouldn't it be nice if this dream were to actually come true now. Here's hoping.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Slay a Vampire and Save Money
I was researching something else when I ran across the term "vampire electronics." It caught my interest and so I went looking for more information.
One of the things you will commonly hear people discussing is the high cost of utility bills each month, electricity being one of those utilities. What if someone told you that you could save from $120-200 a year on electricity?
Standby electronics, sometimes referred to as "vampire electronics," individually may only be costing you an extra dollar or two a year, although some will cost considerably more, but add that many homes have at least 40 of these standby electronics and you move the figure into the hundreds of dollars. For example, computers and monitors that are turned off at the machine still are drawing power in off mode. The same for all the television systems and gaming systems. Keep your cell phone charger plugged in even when no phone is being charged and it will draw power. Keep your air conditioners plugged in when you aren't using them and they will still be drawing power. Some of our electronics may be too complicated as to location to keep plugging in and then unplugging, such as a stove or microwave with a digital display. But there are plenty of others that are fairly simple to turn off completely when not in use. Yes, even your toaster could be an energy vampire.
What would you do if you "suddenly" found yourself with an extra couple of hundred dollars? I'll bet you could find a better use than letting electronic appliances eat that money.
For some further information, go to http://www.pcworld.com/article/153245/unplug_for_dollars_stop_vampire_power_waste.html
One of the things you will commonly hear people discussing is the high cost of utility bills each month, electricity being one of those utilities. What if someone told you that you could save from $120-200 a year on electricity?
Standby electronics, sometimes referred to as "vampire electronics," individually may only be costing you an extra dollar or two a year, although some will cost considerably more, but add that many homes have at least 40 of these standby electronics and you move the figure into the hundreds of dollars. For example, computers and monitors that are turned off at the machine still are drawing power in off mode. The same for all the television systems and gaming systems. Keep your cell phone charger plugged in even when no phone is being charged and it will draw power. Keep your air conditioners plugged in when you aren't using them and they will still be drawing power. Some of our electronics may be too complicated as to location to keep plugging in and then unplugging, such as a stove or microwave with a digital display. But there are plenty of others that are fairly simple to turn off completely when not in use. Yes, even your toaster could be an energy vampire.
What would you do if you "suddenly" found yourself with an extra couple of hundred dollars? I'll bet you could find a better use than letting electronic appliances eat that money.
For some further information, go to http://www.pcworld.com/article/153245/unplug_for_dollars_stop_vampire_power_waste.html
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Water, Water Everywhere
Yes, I can think of a few instances in which a person might need/want to buy a bottle of drinking water. For one, the regulations in place at airports means you can no longer bring a thermos of water with you when traveling. However, for everyday use there seems to be no logical reason to be buying those bottles of water.
Here in NYC we have highly ranked and rated tap water. In fact it's so highly rated that a smart young man began bottling and selling NYC tap water a few years ago, and yes, it sells well. http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/25/nation/na-tapwater25
NYC residents are already paying for that water through water and sewer taxes, so why not take advantage of what is being paid for? Even an expensive thermos or specialized "water bottle" pays for itself within a few weeks, and then it's yours for decades of use. Like your water icy cold? Err, anyone reading this who doesn't have a refridgerator available? Spend another couple of dollars for a 1/2 gallon or gallon container, fill with tap water and keep in the fridge--instant cold water to fill the thermos with.
I've heard many people say that it is a pain to have to shlep that thermos around, and that it is more convenient to just buy a bottle and throw out the bottle after it's empty. After all, we're only talking about pennies here. Sigh. As if pennies don't add up to dollars, lots of dollars, rather quickly.
Let's say you are a commuter who doesn't carry bottles with you, but you do buy a bottle at a convenience store on the way to the office. On average that is going to be $1 per bottle you buy. Five days a week of work, and you are spending $5 a week for those bottles. Drink more and you are obviously going to be spending more. The vending machine at school sells the small bottles of water for "only" 75 cents each. Again, you do the math. This could amount to $260 per year, per drinker.
Even if you buy those bottles in the 24-packs on sale you are not likely to be getting them for less than $3-4 per pack. You might be averaging about 15-20 cents per bottle. And check the amount in those bottles--a whole lot of bottlers are putting in less than 8 ounces to a bottle. So now you are only going to be spending 30 to 40 cents per day for those two bottles of water. But hold on, that's 30-40 cents per person who takes water with them in your household. Let there be only 3 people who take that water and you are now spending 90 to $1.20 per day for that water. Carry this out to a yearly expense and what you have is about $300 per year, if not more. If you have more water drinkers or drink more water the cost obviously goes up.
Given the cost, a thermos or water bottle would pay for itself in from 2-4 weeks. Why not decide that this is the year that you aren't going to "water down" your available spending money and are going to start putting that money back into your pocket. Just another example where the pennies add up to serious dollars.
Note: if you buy those water bottles in a supermarket, check your register tape. Those cases of water that are on sale at 4 for $12? Sorry, but that isn't the final cost. Check the tape and you will see that you are also being charged 5 cents per bottle for the State bottle deposit charge. At 24 bottles per case, that's an additional $1.20 you are being charged per case. And if you throw away those bottles instead of recycling them yourself, that's $1.20 you are willfully and knowingly throwing in the garbage.
Here in NYC we have highly ranked and rated tap water. In fact it's so highly rated that a smart young man began bottling and selling NYC tap water a few years ago, and yes, it sells well. http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/25/nation/na-tapwater25
NYC residents are already paying for that water through water and sewer taxes, so why not take advantage of what is being paid for? Even an expensive thermos or specialized "water bottle" pays for itself within a few weeks, and then it's yours for decades of use. Like your water icy cold? Err, anyone reading this who doesn't have a refridgerator available? Spend another couple of dollars for a 1/2 gallon or gallon container, fill with tap water and keep in the fridge--instant cold water to fill the thermos with.
I've heard many people say that it is a pain to have to shlep that thermos around, and that it is more convenient to just buy a bottle and throw out the bottle after it's empty. After all, we're only talking about pennies here. Sigh. As if pennies don't add up to dollars, lots of dollars, rather quickly.
Let's say you are a commuter who doesn't carry bottles with you, but you do buy a bottle at a convenience store on the way to the office. On average that is going to be $1 per bottle you buy. Five days a week of work, and you are spending $5 a week for those bottles. Drink more and you are obviously going to be spending more. The vending machine at school sells the small bottles of water for "only" 75 cents each. Again, you do the math. This could amount to $260 per year, per drinker.
Even if you buy those bottles in the 24-packs on sale you are not likely to be getting them for less than $3-4 per pack. You might be averaging about 15-20 cents per bottle. And check the amount in those bottles--a whole lot of bottlers are putting in less than 8 ounces to a bottle. So now you are only going to be spending 30 to 40 cents per day for those two bottles of water. But hold on, that's 30-40 cents per person who takes water with them in your household. Let there be only 3 people who take that water and you are now spending 90 to $1.20 per day for that water. Carry this out to a yearly expense and what you have is about $300 per year, if not more. If you have more water drinkers or drink more water the cost obviously goes up.
Given the cost, a thermos or water bottle would pay for itself in from 2-4 weeks. Why not decide that this is the year that you aren't going to "water down" your available spending money and are going to start putting that money back into your pocket. Just another example where the pennies add up to serious dollars.
Note: if you buy those water bottles in a supermarket, check your register tape. Those cases of water that are on sale at 4 for $12? Sorry, but that isn't the final cost. Check the tape and you will see that you are also being charged 5 cents per bottle for the State bottle deposit charge. At 24 bottles per case, that's an additional $1.20 you are being charged per case. And if you throw away those bottles instead of recycling them yourself, that's $1.20 you are willfully and knowingly throwing in the garbage.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Back to Labor Day
Today marks Labor Day, a day observed as a holiday here in the US (although you might ask all those who have to work today how they feel about that). However, for those in the various fields of education, today might better be referred to as Back to Labor Day--the last "free" day before schools begin. Some schools have already begun, but those that haven't will all be up and running this week.
And if schools are starting, can yom tov be far behind? Time to put away those lazy, hazy days of summer and start planning for the weeks ahead. Time not only to have school supplies handy but also all those items you might need for yom tov meals and observance. Time to be thinking about menus and cooking and who will be invited to various meals. The supermarket chains in our area already last week had Rosh Hashanah items advertised and on sale.
The weather in our area is making it easier to sit at a desk and plan--rainy, mega humid and so not bbq weather. However you are going to be spending today, I hope it will be an enjoyable end to summer. And to really get ahead of things, please note that next year Rosh Hashanah will be on Labor Day.
And if schools are starting, can yom tov be far behind? Time to put away those lazy, hazy days of summer and start planning for the weeks ahead. Time not only to have school supplies handy but also all those items you might need for yom tov meals and observance. Time to be thinking about menus and cooking and who will be invited to various meals. The supermarket chains in our area already last week had Rosh Hashanah items advertised and on sale.
The weather in our area is making it easier to sit at a desk and plan--rainy, mega humid and so not bbq weather. However you are going to be spending today, I hope it will be an enjoyable end to summer. And to really get ahead of things, please note that next year Rosh Hashanah will be on Labor Day.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
A Milestone Birthday
Among those things we ask God for is arechas yomim. And sometimes we see this gift being given. Today the family is gathering to celebrate my mother's 90th birthday. And yes, we do so in wonder and amazement and in a super thankful mode. Four generations will be together celebrating this milestone birthday. And yes, we will also be celebrating that we are in a time and place where the four generations exist and can come together.
We will celebrate my mom's birthday, but we will also celebrate and be thankful that we have all been allowed to share in this time and occasion. We know how lucky we are, how fortunate to have been blessed in this way.
Ima, we wish you all the blessings that God has to confer and that we all may be zocheh to celebrate together many, many times in the years to come.
We will celebrate my mom's birthday, but we will also celebrate and be thankful that we have all been allowed to share in this time and occasion. We know how lucky we are, how fortunate to have been blessed in this way.
Ima, we wish you all the blessings that God has to confer and that we all may be zocheh to celebrate together many, many times in the years to come.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Yes, the Pennies Count
The saying used to be "Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves." Today a lot of people pooh pooh this saying. After all, what today can you possibly buy for a penny. It's the dollars that are far more important.
Well no. It still takes 100 pennies to make up one of those dollars, and I have yet to hear of a merchant who will sell you an item costing $1.19 for only $1 because you don't have those 19 pennies. But the saying alludes to more than just pennies and dollars--it's telling us that you need to watch small expenses and savings just as much as you do larger ones.
And related to this is the idea that saving even a little bit can add up in the end to larger savings. Saving 60 cents on a can of tuna may not sound like much, but saving $6 on 10 cans of tuna is not small change. Okay, so maybe you don't need the ten cans of tuna. But what if, through reading the circulars and clipping coupons, you saved about 25 cents on each of 13 items--$4.25 is dollar savings. Multiply that by 4 weeks to the month and you've saved $17 that month.
What brought on this posting? I passed along some information I received about senior citizen discounts. Please keep in mind that for retailers, senior citizens may begin at 50+ and go up to 65+. A number of stores and service/product providers will offer these discounts, the key being that you have to ask for them. Some providers will limit the discount to certain days of the week--Pathmark supermarkets offer a 5% senior discount on Tuesdays, and you must bring in the coupon that is printed in those circulars that are delivered to your home.
Someone responded to my email by basically saying big deal, they're willing to give you a paltry 5%? What's the big difference if you pay $100 for something or $95 with the discount? It's this type of attitude that fuels a lot of the budgetting/financial problems you hear about today.
What's the big deal with "only" saving 5%? We were away this month. Thanks to the discounts available, our air tickets and rental car were $63 cheaper. The groceries we bought while away were $17 dollars cheaper due to the discount plus an additional $34.30 in sales/coupons savings. Our movie/show tickets while on vacation gave us a savings of $39 dollars. One of our restaurant meals was $10 cheaper thanks to a weekly coupon. Yes, "only" a 5% discount, but it all added up. We saved $163, and that's an awful lot of pennies added up.
If you don't know if a retailer offers any kind of discount, ask! What have you got to lose? And look at what you just might gain. Don't know about you, but I can think of a lot of things that $5 would pay for. Actually, I can think of a lot of things that even $1 could pay for. Besides, it's my $1, and why should I spend it if I don't have to?
Well no. It still takes 100 pennies to make up one of those dollars, and I have yet to hear of a merchant who will sell you an item costing $1.19 for only $1 because you don't have those 19 pennies. But the saying alludes to more than just pennies and dollars--it's telling us that you need to watch small expenses and savings just as much as you do larger ones.
And related to this is the idea that saving even a little bit can add up in the end to larger savings. Saving 60 cents on a can of tuna may not sound like much, but saving $6 on 10 cans of tuna is not small change. Okay, so maybe you don't need the ten cans of tuna. But what if, through reading the circulars and clipping coupons, you saved about 25 cents on each of 13 items--$4.25 is dollar savings. Multiply that by 4 weeks to the month and you've saved $17 that month.
What brought on this posting? I passed along some information I received about senior citizen discounts. Please keep in mind that for retailers, senior citizens may begin at 50+ and go up to 65+. A number of stores and service/product providers will offer these discounts, the key being that you have to ask for them. Some providers will limit the discount to certain days of the week--Pathmark supermarkets offer a 5% senior discount on Tuesdays, and you must bring in the coupon that is printed in those circulars that are delivered to your home.
Someone responded to my email by basically saying big deal, they're willing to give you a paltry 5%? What's the big difference if you pay $100 for something or $95 with the discount? It's this type of attitude that fuels a lot of the budgetting/financial problems you hear about today.
What's the big deal with "only" saving 5%? We were away this month. Thanks to the discounts available, our air tickets and rental car were $63 cheaper. The groceries we bought while away were $17 dollars cheaper due to the discount plus an additional $34.30 in sales/coupons savings. Our movie/show tickets while on vacation gave us a savings of $39 dollars. One of our restaurant meals was $10 cheaper thanks to a weekly coupon. Yes, "only" a 5% discount, but it all added up. We saved $163, and that's an awful lot of pennies added up.
If you don't know if a retailer offers any kind of discount, ask! What have you got to lose? And look at what you just might gain. Don't know about you, but I can think of a lot of things that $5 would pay for. Actually, I can think of a lot of things that even $1 could pay for. Besides, it's my $1, and why should I spend it if I don't have to?
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
In Hot Water Again
After the news of the last few days, I would very much love to hear about a zillion people taking purveyors of Shabbos hot water urns to a din Torah, or filing suit in secular court. It is not exactly a secret that the vast majority of the hot water urns sold for Shabbos/Yom Tov use are not under the UL--Underwriters Laboratory. And yes, I'm not going to be l'chav z'chus and say that the owners of these stores have no idea what the UL is or that there are UL certified urns. If you sell electronic items you need to be knowledgeable about those items--ignorance is no excuse.
News of three accidents that happened with non-UL urns. One urn overheated and shorted out the electrical system in the owner's kitchen, leaving them in the dark and with no hot water for Shabbos. Sparks from the shorting out urn also put burn marks into the kitchen counter. Also cost a small bundle to repair the shorted out system. Two urns with the bottom spigots that were overturned and had no reliable safety feature to keep the top closed when someone applied pressure to the spigot handle to get hot water into a cup. In one case an adult got scalding on his body; in the other case a young child got scalded from the head down.
A lot of the stores selling these urns don't carry any UL urns. Generally, those white urns with the flowers on them are not under the UL. One brand that is UL certified is made by Innovative Consumer. It's a brushed stainless steel outside and inside finish. There are a few stores in Brooklyn which sell this model. Call first and save yourself a trip to a store that won't have a UL urn.
You could also try querying UL--Underwriters Laboratory--for a more complete list of the urns they certify.
Note: one of those injured by a non-UL urn actually knew that UL urns existed but mentioned that she was waiting for her old urn to wear out and then she would replace it with a UL one. Please, there is being money conscious and then there is taking an unwarranted risk with your safety. With Yom Tov coming in a few weeks and all the added hot water use, now is the time to prepare for the new year with safety in mind.
News of three accidents that happened with non-UL urns. One urn overheated and shorted out the electrical system in the owner's kitchen, leaving them in the dark and with no hot water for Shabbos. Sparks from the shorting out urn also put burn marks into the kitchen counter. Also cost a small bundle to repair the shorted out system. Two urns with the bottom spigots that were overturned and had no reliable safety feature to keep the top closed when someone applied pressure to the spigot handle to get hot water into a cup. In one case an adult got scalding on his body; in the other case a young child got scalded from the head down.
A lot of the stores selling these urns don't carry any UL urns. Generally, those white urns with the flowers on them are not under the UL. One brand that is UL certified is made by Innovative Consumer. It's a brushed stainless steel outside and inside finish. There are a few stores in Brooklyn which sell this model. Call first and save yourself a trip to a store that won't have a UL urn.
You could also try querying UL--Underwriters Laboratory--for a more complete list of the urns they certify.
Note: one of those injured by a non-UL urn actually knew that UL urns existed but mentioned that she was waiting for her old urn to wear out and then she would replace it with a UL one. Please, there is being money conscious and then there is taking an unwarranted risk with your safety. With Yom Tov coming in a few weeks and all the added hot water use, now is the time to prepare for the new year with safety in mind.
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