The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Recall of the Week: Banzai in-ground pool water slides sold by Wal-Mart and Toys R Us due to death, serious neck injuries

By Rita R. Robison

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Toys R Us Inc. are recalling of about 21,000 inflatable Banzai in-ground pool water slides.

During use, the slide can deflate, allowing the user to hit the ground underneath the slide and be injured. The slide is also unstable and can topple over in both still and windy conditions and carries inadequate warnings and instructions, the companies and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement.

The commission is aware that a 29-year-old Colorado mother died in Andover, Mass. after fracturing her neck going down a Banzai in-ground pool water slide which had been placed over the concrete edge of a pool. The victim hit her head at the bottom of the slide because it had partially deflated.

The commission and retailers are aware of two other injuries which have occurred in a similar manner, including a 24-year-old man from Springfield, Mo. who became a quadriplegic and a woman from Allentown, Pa. who fractured her neck.

The recall involves Banzai in-ground pool water slides designed for use with in-ground pools. The vinyl slides have a blue base, yellow sliding mat, and an arch going over the top of the slide. By connecting a hose to the top of the slide, water can be sprayed on its downward slope. The words “Banzai Splash” are printed in a circular blue, orange, and white logo, shaped like a wave on either side of the slide.

The recalled slides, which were manufactured in China by Manley Toys, Ltd, were sold at Wal-Mart and Toys R Us nationwide from January 2005 through June 2009 for about $250. The recalled slides have the barcode number 2675315734 and model number 15734. Both the barcode and model number appear on the original packaging but aren’t on the slide.

The commission urges consumers to immediately stop using the product and return it to the nearest Wal-Mart or Toys R Us for a full refund. Consumers can also cut the two safety warning notices out of the slide and just return that portion.

For additional information from Wal-Mart, call 800-925-6278 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.walmartstores.com. For additional information from Toys R Us, call 800-869-7787 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday and between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, or visit the firm's website at www.toysrus.com.

For details on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Boomer consumer journalist wins awards from state organization

By Rita R. Robison

It was fun yesterday to go to the awards luncheon for the Washington Press Association.

I received the following awards:

• First Place for Consumer Affairs – “FDA Misses the Mark on New Sunscreen Requirements”
  

• Second Place for Consumer Affairs – “FDA Action on Sunscreen Too Little, Too Late” 

• Second Place for Sports – “Super Bowl 2011: Another Round of Violent, Sexist, and Ageist Ads”
  

•  Second Place for Food – “What’s a Gluten-Free Diet?”

• Second Place for Agriculture/Environment – “Ways to Help the Planet on Earth Day”
  

That’s me in the photo with John Lesow, a WPA member and Bellingham writer, who helped present the awards.

I enjoyed visiting with my journalist colleagues. It was interesting to learn about their work and tell people how much I enjoy blogging about baby boomer consumer issues.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Super Bowl 2012: More violent, sexist ads

By Rita R. Robison

Ads during Sunday’s Super Bowl cost $3.5 million for a 30-second spot, up from last year's $2.7 million.

Although the 2012 offerings seemed to have fewer ads where people were slapped or knocked down, the display again was marred by violent images.

Do advertisers and public relations firms think it’s acceptable to show ads depicting violence and sexism, where people head butted and bikini-clad women are shown because mostly men watch football?

Here are my awards for the worst ads airing during this year’s Super Bowl:

Unnecessary violence:

Dannon thinks it will sell yogurt by having a woman head butt a man, knocking him to the floor, after he won’t share the container of yogurt. In a Doritos ad, a man suspects his dog of killing and burying the family cat. The dog gives him a bag of Doritos to keep it quiet. The Voice stars think by fighting, breaking things, blasting out a wall, and having Betty White say a few words, you’ll watch their TV show. A sexy woman slaps a man, speaks in Spanish, whispers in his ear, dabs foam from a latte on a his lips, then it all melts away into the first time sensations of buying a Fiat 500.

Silliest:

Cars.com showed us a man so confident about researching cars on Cars.com that he’s grown an appendage with his head on it that comes out of his back. It’s his “confidence,” singing happily about the car in a high voice. Coke’s polar bear ads, one featuring a bear trying to keep the Coke away from the other bears, seemed silly. You have the best minds in the country working on these ads. Couldn’t they have come up with something meaningful? I also thought the Chevy Sonic ad was silly, with a car skydiving and bungee jumping. Bud Light focused on the silly again this year, with a dog fetching beer from the refrigerator and other places, attracting women along the way.

Instead of violent Snickers ads showing Betty White being tackled in a backyard football game during or Roseanne Barr being downed by a huge log, Mars made a big deal this year about introducing a new M&M with a chocolate colored shell, Ms. Brown. A partygoer accused her of being naked, and Mr. Red whipped off his shell.

Most sexist:  

Teleflora may have hit an all time low with a sexy woman getting dressed, then saying through red-pursed lips, “Give and you shall receive.” Go Daddy.com takes two guys to the “cloud” populated with scantily clad women. The McLendon Hardware offering shows a father giving advice to his son before his wedding. It sounds like it’s going to be sexual information about what he should learn to do to please his wife, but instead it’s about getting good tools. In “A Dream Car for Life,” Kia uses a scantily clad flag girl and fills the stands bikini clad women. H&M spent 30 seconds slowly moving over David Beckham’s tattooed body, and briefly, his briefs.

Most irritating:

GE’s offered several ads to pump up the company’s image. If GE was going to spend that kind of money, they should have thought of something interesting.

Unfortunately, the Super Bowl featured ad after ad for violent movies, which along with the violent ads and player clashes, added to the overemphasis on violence. Among the movies advertised were “John Carter,” “Star Wars – Episode 1 in 3-D,” “The Avengers,” “G.I. Joe,” and “Act of Valor.”

For more information on the best and worse Super Bowl ads, see The Wall Street Journal’s “Super Bowl Ads 2012.” To vote for your favorite ads, go to NBC Sports Network’s “Super Bowl Admeter.”

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: E-Z-GO golf cars, shuttle vehicles, and off-road utility vehicles due to crash hazard

By Rita R. Robison

E-Z-GO, a Textron Company, is recalling about 21,900 TXT golf cars, Cushman shuttle vehicles, and Bad Boy off-road utility vehicles

The threaded end of the rack rod ball joint can break and the ball joint may become displaced, causing the driver to lose steering control. Thus, a crash could occur.

E-Z-GO is aware of 71 reports of the ball joint breaking, 13 of which resulted in the ball joint displacing, the firm and the U.S. Consumer Product Commission said in a joint statement. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled vehicles are gas- and electric-powered, four-wheeled vehicles with bench seats for the driver and passengers.

The brand and model names are printed on the side and front panels of the vehicles. Serial numbers are printed on a plate or label located on the exterior of the vehicle below the driver’s seat. Click here to see the model numbers involved in the recall.

Manufactured in the United States, the vehicles were sold at E-Z-GO and Bad Boy dealers nationwide from February 2011 through July 2011 for between $6,650 and $10,650.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled vehicles and contact E-Z-GO or an authorized dealer for a free repair, the company and commission advise. E-Z-GO and E-Z-GO dealers are contacting known owners.

For additional information, contact E-Z-GO toll-free at 800-774-3946 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET or visit the firm’s website at www.ezgo.com.

For details on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Under Armour chin straps for football helmets due to laceration hazard

By Rita R. Robison

Under Armour Inc. is recalling about 541,000 UA Defender Chin Straps.

The metal snap that connects the chin strap to the helmet has sharp edges, posing a laceration hazard when the user’s metal snap comes into contact with another player, Under Armour and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement.

Under Armour has received six reports of injuries that required stitches.

The recall involves all UA Defender Chin Straps. They were sold in the following colors: white and black, red, midnight, navy, and royal.

The chin straps have a hard nylon shell, a padded chin area, and a plastic strap with “Under Armour” printed on it. The chin straps have metal clasps that tighten the straps and attach them to the helmet.

Manufactured in China, the chin straps were sold at Sporting goods stores and Under Armour outlet stores nationwide and at www.underarmour.com from January 2008 through September 2011. The cost was about $20.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled chin straps and contact Under Armour for a free replacement, the company and commission advise.

For additional information, contact Under Armour toll-free at 888-823-0343 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.underarmour.com.

For details on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Tailgating too expensive in tight money times? Use these thrifty tips to get back in the game

By Andrea Woroch, Consumer Writer

Guest Blogger, Kinoli Inc.

Fire up the grill and get ready for kickoff; football season is here. What goes hand-in-hand with football season? Tailgating, of course. Fans everywhere are honing secret recipes and stocking up on supplies to make their party dominate the parking lot.

It's important, however, to be mindful of spending, as the festivity's cost can quickly add up, from team memorabilia to beer and food.

Before you put the finishing touches on your tailgate plans, try out a few of these thrifty tips.

1. Team up

The atmosphere at a major tailgate party is all about community, but don't be fooled; there are plenty of freeloaders floating around. Avoid overspending by getting some friends in on the action. Assign a couple of people to drinks, several to snacks, and you take care of the grill and meat. Consider it a sports-centric potluck that cuts costs for everyone. Need some culinary inspiration? Tailgating.com has dozens of free, fan-submitted recipes perfect for game day.

2. Carpool

With fuel prices at an all-time high, it's wise to carpool so you can split the costs of gas and parking. Depending on how often your posse goes to games, devise a schedule and assign driving duties fairly. Otherwise, search for ride share opportunities at sites like CarpoolConnect or CarpoolWorld.com. You can also post a ride and charge a small fee to cover gas and mileage for each seat.

3. Fan gear for less

The signs of a high-quality tailgate include a team flag flying high and jerseys as far as the eye can see. Even if you don't have a jersey, there's no excuse for not wearing team colors. If it seems like these items are too expensive, you can always use coupons to get free shipping at such stores as Finish Line from sites like FreeShipping.org.

4. Smart food choices

Pre-made salads, sandwich platters and cubed meats may be easy choices, but they're also much more expensive, with mark-ups reaching nearly 100 percent. You can save a lot on food by preparing your own before leaving home. Buy larger slabs of meat from the butcher and cut them up yourself. Depending on the number of people participating in the tailgate, consider buying some food items like cheese, chips, condiments, and hot dogs in bulk from stores like Costoco for savings up to 30 percent.

5. Get your game on

There are only so many things to do in a parking lot, so it's key to include a few simple games in your plans, like a football to toss around. Lawn games like Corn Hole and Washers are also entertaining choices and can be found at reasonable prices among major retail chains like Sports Authority or Sears. For those with a crafty hand, consider building a board game from scratch for a fraction of the cost. You can get building tips at CornHoleHowTo.com. Otherwise, download the free NFL Football Trivia App on your smartphone to test the football knowledge of your tailgate buddies.

6. Borrow before buying

Tailgating requires a lot of supplies, from oversized coolers and pop-up canopies to folding tables and chairs. Before heading to the store to buy whatever gear you're lacking, find out if you can borrow from friends, neighbors, or coworkers. Otherwise, scope out used goods on Craigslist or try trading items at Swap.com.

7. Bring the tailgate home

There's nothing like attending the game among other screaming fans, but when budgets are tight it's time to bring the tailgate home. You'll save on gas, parking, and game tickets. Don't forget, sometimes it's just more fun to watch a big game at home, anyway: You get the benefit of multiple hi-def replay angles and a comfy couch seat while you avoid fighting traffic of a crowded parking lot after a long day of tailgating.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Mizuno Supreme Series and Ballpark Pro baseball and softball gloves due to mold contamination

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Mizuno USA Inc. is recalling about 131,000 Mizuno Supreme Series and Ballpark Pro baseball and softball gloves.

Some gloves were found to contain a variety of molds that could cause respiratory or other infections in individuals with chronic health problems, or in individuals who have impaired immune systems.

No cases of illnesses have been reported, the company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a joint statement.

The recalled items are leather Mizuno baseball and softball gloves. The gloves have a sewn-in white label on the heel of the glove with the words "Made in Vietnam" and the model number. The Supreme Series recalled gloves are further identified by the date code imprinted on the heel of the glove near the thumb opening. Click here to see the models affected by the recall.

The gloves were sold at Wal-Mart and Target stores nationwide from April 2010 through May 2011 for $24 to $60.

Consumers should immediately stop using the gloves and contact Mizuno USA to receive a full refund, the company and commission advise.

For additional information, contact Mizuno USA Inc. at 800-451-7913 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

For information on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What’s your favorite event in the Olympics?

Photo: City of Vancouver

I admit it.

Instead of blogging, I’ve been sneaking into the rec room to watch the Olympics.

I’ve enjoyed the figure skating, alpine skiing, snow boarding, and the short track, ice-skating races. I enjoyed curling, too, a sport I haven’t watched very often.

Are these your favorites? Others?

Here’s one listing of the most popular Winter Olympics events:

• Figure Skating. The categories are: Singles (Men and Women); Ice Dancing; Pairs.

• Alpine Skiing (Slalom). Giant Slalom; Slalom; Super G, also known as Super Giant Slalom; Downhill; Super Combined.

• Skiing (Freestyle).

• Men's Ice Hockey.

• Curling.

• Bobsled: The categories are: Two-man; Two-woman; Four-man races.

Let me know your favorite Olympic events in the Comment section below.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

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

Top 10 list of the top 10 beaches in the world

Baby boomers love the beach and the exercise opportunities beach activities provide.

Going to the beach is relaxing. The beautiful water, sandy beaches, blue sky, and the soothing action of the waves draw millions of people a year.

What are the best beaches in the world?

I read dozens of Web sites and blogs and selected what I thought were the best lists of the top 10 beaches.

For my top 10 list, I picked the beaches mentioned most often on these lists. They are:

1. Ipanema Beach, Rio de Jariero, Brazil
2. Clifton Beach, Cape Town, South Africa
3. Pink Sands Beach, Harbor Island, Bahamas
4. Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii, U.S.A.
5. Paradise Beach, Mykonos, Greece
6. South Beach, Miami, Florida, U.S.A.
7. Bondi Beach, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
8. Maroma Beach, Yucatan, Mexico
9. Nungwi, Zanzibar, Tanzania
10. Whitehaven, Whitsunday Islands, Queensland, Australia

Here are the 10 lists that I selected these 10 beaches from:

“Top 10 Beaches of the World” – Guardian.co.uk

“Top 10 Beaches” – Maps of the World

“Top 10 Beaches in the World” – Uptake Beaches Blog

 “Top 10 Beaches We Love” – msnbc

“Top 10 Best Beaches in the World” – Trifter

“Top 10 Beaches” – lovetoknow.com

“10 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World” – Listphobia

“Top Best Beaches in the World” – TravelUnderCost

“Top Best City Beaches in the World” – Travel + Leisure

“Top 10 Exotic Beach List” – Hotels by City.net

Let me know your thoughts on the beaches you enjoy most.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist