The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Super Bowl ads violent, sexist, and ageist – again

This year, I was only able to watch the first half of the 44th Super Bowl.

Once again, the ads were a disappointment. It makes you wonder what companies and their advertising firms think the intellectual level of American consumers is.

An average 30-second spot on the Super Bowl costs $2.5 million. An esimated 106 million watched the game, making it the most watched program in TV history.

Here are my picks for the worst ads:

Unnecessary violence. A four-way tie: Snickers, in which Betty White and an older man are tackled in a game of football and slammed into the mud; Focus on the Family, in which Tim Tebow tackles his mother Pam; Doritos, in which a dog puts a choke collar on a human, who lies writhing on the ground; and Bud Light, in which people form a human bridge and a Bud truck is driven over them.

Add to these gems the violent movie and TV ads flashing up scenes of fire, bloody faces, wolf man curses, cars blowing up, and a haunted prison.

Silliest. Bud Light, in which a house is made out of Bud Light cans, Bud drinkers have computer-like voices, and plane wreck survivors are more interest in drinking Bud Light than getting rescued. A runner up is the Dockers ad with men wearing no pants.

Most sexist. It was hard to pick a winner here, there were so many. Godaddy.com, in which a young, shapely woman giving the Godaddy girl a massage wants to be a Godaddy girl; Dodge Charger, in which a guy agrees to do everything his female partner wants, but his last stand is his car; and FloTV, in which a spineless man has to shop with his wife instead of watching the game.

I did like one ad, the CBS ad for the "Late Show with David Letterman." It featured Letterman, Oprah, and… Jay Leno.

Here are other opinions on this year’s Super Bowl ads:

“Super Bowl Sexism, by the Numbers” – The Huffington Post

“Top Super Bowl Commercials 2010? Nope. Here Are the Five Worst” – The Christian Science Monitor

“Why Super Bowl Ads Are So Sexist, Racist, and Homophobic” – Washington City Paper

“Super Bowl Ads: Men Without Pants” – CNN Money

Click here to see the Super Bowl ads and vote on the ones you like and don’t like.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Glass water bottles due to laceration hazard

About 11,000 glass water bottles in the United States and 1,200 in Canada are being recalled by Starbucks Coffee Co., of Seattle, Wash.

Made in Taiwan, the glass water bottle and/or its stopper can shatter when the consumer is removing or inserting the stopper, posing a laceration hazard to consumers, reports the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Starbucks has received 10 reports of either glass stoppers or water bottles shattering, including eight reports of hand lacerations.

The recall involves clear glass water bottles with SKU number 11003503. The 20-ounce water bottles have the words “Glass Water Bottle” printed on a blue label on the bottle.

The water bottles were sold Starbucks company-operated stores and at Starbucks locations in Safeway and Target stores nationwide during January 2010 for about $9.

Consumers should immediately stop using the glass water bottles and return them to the Starbucks location where it was purchased to receive a full refund, the commission advises. Starbucks is also offering a complimentary beverage, of any size, to consumers when glass water bottles are returned.

For additional information, contact Starbucks at 877-492-6333 between 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.starbucks.com.

To learn about other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

Which consumer happenings cheered you recently and which ones made you want to scream or weep?

Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:

My best: Lunch with friends

I enjoyed a luncheon at the Olive Garden with 10 of my friends. We had great conversations and good food.

My worse: A miscommunication about medication

When I saw my doctor, she said she’d send an order for a prescription for an infection to my pharmacy over her office’s new computer system.

I decided I’d walk over to Safeway to pick it up. It’s good exercise. It’s about a 15-minute walk to get there.

When I arrived, the pharmacy clerk said not only that the prescription wasn’t ready, but that the order hadn’t been received. Sigh. I walked home empty handed.

I learned the next day that the doctor hadn’t sent the order until 9 p.m. that evening.

A lesson learned. Call before walking over to Safeway.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

How to buy a mattress

A mattress can be a major investment, and shopping for one is challenging for consumers.

Price comparisons are difficult because brand names and styles within the same brand differ from one store to another. In addition, you may also be looking at used bedding that appears to be new.

A new mattress will usually have a white tag or label stating that it contains “all new materials, consisting of…”  If you don’t see a tag, shop at another store where it’s clear what you’re buying. 

Up to 10 percent of mattress sales involve used or renovated bedding, some of which may appear to be in excellent condition.

Bedding that has been used is a potential health hazard. It could harbor bacteria, mold, fungi, blood, other bodily fluids, hair, skin, pollen, dust mites, or allergenic residues from pets and insects.

Here are tips from the Federal Trade Commission on mattress selection:

• Shop around. Mattress prices and quality vary greatly.

• Ask if the retailer sells used bedding. If used mattresses are sold and you want a new one, make sure your mattress has a "new" mattress tag.

• Make sure you look at the tag on the actual mattress you're buying, either before you leave the store or before the delivery person leaves your house. Don't let the heavy plastic wrapping stop you from looking for – and at – the tag.

• Ask the retailer to write "new" on your sales receipt if you've been told you're buying a new mattress. If it turns out that the mattress is used, you'll have stronger recourse.

• Avoid retailers with mattresses that don't carry tags. You don't know what you're getting, regardless of what the salesperson claims. It's what's in writing that counts.

• Ask about the retailer's return and refund policies, and get copies in writing.

Consumer Reports offers these suggestions on how to buy a mattress:

• Getting started. Think about buying a new mattress if you wake up tired or achy, you tend to sleep better at hotels than at home, your mattress looks saggy or lumpy, you're over age 40, or your mattress is five to seven years old.

• Choose a size. Most sleepers shift positions during the night, and cramped quarters can keep them from moving freely. Standard mattress dimensions are: king, 76 x 80 inches; California king, 72 x 84 inches; queen, 60 x 80 inches; full or double, 53 x 75 inches; and twin, 38 x 75 inches.

• Consider an innerspring first. A conventional innerspring mattress is the most common choice and often the least expensive. Memory foam, which was developed to protect astronauts against g-forces, is heat-sensitive and conforms to your body. Tempur-Pedic is the big name, but there are other brands. Not all memory foam feels the same, and it can take time to get used to. Another option is an inflatable mattress; with this kind you can choose a different firmness for each half of the bed. Select Comfort is the major brand.

• Try it out. Take 15 minutes before you buy and lie on the mattress in your usual sleeping positions.

Two other things to consider:

• Be sure you understand the terms of the financing, if you accept the store's financing. If you accept a payment plan in which you pay no interest over a specified number of months, you may have to pay interest if you make a payment late.

• Check out the prices of organic mattresses if you want to reduce your exposure or the exposure of a child to chemicals.

See the October 2009 issue of Consumer Reports for a ranking of 10 mattresses and 14 stores that was based on a survey of readers. Consumer Reports is available at most libraries. Or sign up for Consumer Reports’ online service for $5.95 a month or $26 a year.

Good luck with your mattress shopping. Take your time and take notes as you go from store to store. That helps to reduce the complexity of buying a mattress.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Former middle class families now fighting homelessness

There’s no doubt about it.

This recession is driving consumers from the middle class further away from their goals and aspirations and, in some cases, into poverty.

Last August, construction-worker Troy Renault, his wife Tammy, and their five children were living in a comfortable, three-bedroom home in Lebanon, Tennessee. The family now resides in a donated trailer on a local campground, having downgraded from about 1,900 square feet to about 215, reports the article “Middle Class No More, Families Struggle to Fight Off Homelessness” on The Huffington Post.

See the HuffPost series for details about the Renault family and other Americans who are struggling with the loss of their home and homelessness in these recessionary times.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Why are movies and TV programs so violent?

Due to some snafus by Comcast, I’ve been without television for several months.

When I turned the TV on for the first evening, I was assaulted by violent images.

On a CSI program, a magician was burned to death in a booth and images of his charred body were shown over and over again. Since they wanted to figure out if the dead man was the magician or his son, the investigator cut off the dead man’s finger to take a fingerprint. Yuck.

Next I watched “House” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” More blood and guts. Then a “lifeless” Meredith was pulled from Puget Sound.

The despicable display of violence in movies and television has always concerned me. I’ll never forget taking my daughters, ages 14 and 11, to the second Star Wars movie, “The Empire Strikes Back,” in 1980. We also saw “Dune” that year, which was terribly violent. I wondered, Who thought up this junk and why are they allowed to put it on the big screen for children to see?

Over the years, I’ve written numerous columns on the topic of how violent images affect kids. Instead of things getting better, violence in the media gets worse and worse.

Kids 8 to 18 years old watch an average of four or more hours of television a day, according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation. They spend another three and a half hours on other entertainment media, including computers and cell phones.

As early as the 1960s, studies reported that watching violence can make children more aggressive.

The American Medical Association, American Psychological Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and National Institute of Mental Health have all linked violent TV and movies with aggressive behavior in some young people.

Watching violence can also leave children fearful or make them less sensitive to real violence and its consequences. It’s estimated that young people see about 10,000 violent acts on television each year, reports the University of Pittsburgh’s “TV and Movie Violence – Why Watching It Is Harmful to Children.”

Now the Academy Awards nominations have been made for the best movies of 2009. Last year I wrote I hoped we’d have better, less violent movies in 2009.

I’ve only seen a few of the nominations. I plan to view more of them and write reviews. It would be great if the Academy Award nominees are better, less violent movies, but I’m expecting more of the same. I’ll let you know my opinions.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Blogger bowling get together a fun experience

In addition to this blog, I also write a blog for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer called the Boomer Consumer.

When I received an invitation to attend a Blogger Bowling Bash for PI bloggers, I signed up right away.

It was fun to meet fellow bloggers, some whose blogs I’ve read and some I haven’t. I met staff bloggers, who get paid, and reader bloggers like me, who don’t.

Most of the reader bloggers I met blog once a week; I blog five times.

While I met a few boomer bloggers, many were Gen Y with some Gen X. It was interesting to talk to bloggers about boomer-Gen X-Gen Y conflicts.

It was exciting to meet David Horsey, the famous PI cartoonist, who is a boomer. He was a pretty good bowler, too.

I learned that the PI gets 42 million page views a month. That’s about what its competitor The Seattle Times gets.

On March 17, 2009, the 146-year old PI, owned by The Hearst Corp., ceased publication of the print newspaper, which had 117,600 weekday readers. Marketing staff attending the blogger event said that after the print version of the newspaper was discontinued, the page views for the on-line PI plummeted. One year later, page views have climbed to new heights.

A Japanese film crew was at the Blogger Bowling Bash filming. The PI is one of several media outlets in America that they’ve selected to feature.

It was great to get away from the computer screen and visit with other bloggers. I hope the PI throws another blogger bash soon.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Boomer Guide Recall of the Week: Daniele Italian salami/salame due to Salmonella contamination

Usually, for the Recall of the Week on this blog, I select a recall that involves a large number of products or one that would be of interest to baby boomers.

However, this week I choose a food recall because a food product I purchased, and may have eaten, was recalled.

I received a letter in the mail indicating that some salami I’d purchased on Jan. 16 from Costco for a party was part of a recall.

Daniele International Inc., with operations in Pascoag and Mapleville, R.I., is recalling approximately 1.2 million pounds of ready-to-eat varieties of Italian sausage products, including salami/salame, because they may be contaminated with Salmonella. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, which regulates meat products, announced the recall.

A total of 203 individuals infected with a matching strain of Salmonella Montevideo have been reported from 42 states and District of Columbia since July 1, 2009, reports the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Recent test results by the Rhode Island Department of Health showed that an opened container of black pepper used in making some of the recalled products was positive for Salmonella Montevideo.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates food products other than meat, is investigating the supply chain of the black pepper used in making the recalled meat products.

The recalled products may still be in grocery stores and in consumers' homes including in the freezer. Recalled products shouldn’t be consumed. To find which Daniele products are being recalled, click here.

If you have a recalled product, don’t eat it; return it to the store where you bought it. Or dispose of it in a closed plastic bag and put in a sealed trashcan to prevent people or animals, including wild animals, from eating it.

Consumer questions regarding the recall should be directed to the company's hotline at 888-345-4160 and its PR contact, Levick at 202-973-1335.

The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.

The most common symptoms of Salmonella infections are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within eight to 72 hours. Additional symptoms may be chills, headache, nausea, and vomiting that can last up to seven days.

Consumers who think they might have become ill from eating a recalled product should consult their health care providers. Infants, elderly persons, and persons with impaired immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Boomer Guide celebrates its second anniversary

It’s incredible.

It’s been two years since I launched The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide.

The two years have sped by as I’ve figured out how to blog, learned more about baby boomers, and honed my skills researching consumer issues using the ever-changing Internet.

On the first anniversary of this blog, I wrote:

After 288 posts and 271 comments about boomers, we’ve been able to create the conversation place that I’d hoped for. Thank you so much for your interest and support.

I also listed comments from readers about the value they’ve received from the blog.

Now I’ve written 621 posts and have received 617 comments.

I signed up for Google Analytics recently and learned that consumers from 66 countries or territories have read my blog. The top locations include: United States, United Kingdom, Australia, India, Philippines, New Zealand, Singapore, Germany, and China.

This year, my readers have liked “how-to” articles. How to buy eyeglasses and dishwashers are among my most read articles, as is how often you should change your bed sheets.

For more information on other top articles on my blog, see my post on the “Top 10 Stories on The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide in 2009.”

As I envisioned when I decided to become a blogger, blogging is a great way to share consumer information with readers.

On The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide and my other blog, the Boomer Consumer on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer Web site, I had more than 100,000 page views in 2009. That’s outstanding.

What stories did I enjoy writing the most this year?

It’s rewarding to follow what consumer organizations are doing and write about news from the consumer point of view, stories that the mainstream media often miss.

An example is the post “Although Bank CEOs Apologize for Mistakes, They’re Still Engaging in Reckless Practices” in which Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy organization, details continued irresponsible activities by financial institutions.

Writing about airline and airport safety also was interesting. It surprised me how much research I had to do get this information.

I wrote: “Was Airline Performance Better or Worse in 2008,” “Comparing Airline Performance,” “Which Airlines Are the Safest?” and “Safe and Dangerous Airports.”

Other topics I enjoyed writing about included: credit card gouging, health issues, top 10 lists, roofing problems, the economy, consumer books, money matters, consumer protection, holidays, retirement, and organic gardening.

And it’s been fun to post my photos. Taking photos of fall colors, Fourth of July fireworks, and spring blossoms were among my favorites. That's a self-portrait of me above taken in a mirror.

Thank you for reading my blog. I look forward to continuing to meet the needs of baby boomer consumers.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist