Next to water, tea is the most-consumed beverage throughout the world. People have been brewing tealeaves for about 5,000 years. What are the differences in types of teas? The Camellia sinensis plant is the source of all nonherbal teas. Manufacturers process C. sinensis leaves three different ways to produce the... Read more →

Is green tea good for your health? I hope so. Since I'm allergic to coffee and black tea gives me headaches, I started drinking green tea a few years ago. Now I drink one or two cups a day. Opinions vary on the health benefits of green tea. Amazing Green... Read more →

When I was in Starbucks Monday, I had a discussion with an employee about steeping green tea. He saw me remove the tea bag quickly, and said he thought that was the way to do it for the best nutritional result. I steep green tea for less than a minute... Read more →

On the Fifth Anniversary of the Iraq War, debate is heightening about whether the costs of the war are causing the country’s slide into recession. The book, “The Three Trillion Dollar War: The True Cost of the Iraq Conflict” by economists Joseph E. Stiglitz and Linda J. Bilmes, makes the... Read more →

When I first heard the news about the Eliot Spitzer sex scandal, I felt sadness for his family. Then I wondered whether he’d resign as New York governor. Would the “Sheriff of Wall Street” be able to carry on his work on behalf of consumers? The answer quickly became apparent.... Read more →

Last week, I did a post on allegations by the Federal Aviation Administration about missed safety inspections by Southwest Airlines. I wanted to do another post on what Southwest is doing to respond to the charges. On March 11, Southwest decided to temporarily remove 38 aircraft from service. The airline... Read more →

On NPR today, I heard an intriguing story about the banana industry in South America and the Caribbean. In the early 1900s, banana companies sought to sell bananas cheaply in the United States, so that they would compete with apples -- which were grown a few hundred miles from where... Read more →

Identity theft costs Americans more than $5 billion a year. It was shocking to watch an MSNBC Dateline program on identity theft. Once thieves get your information, they start making purchases in a matter of minutes. And the report showed how identity thieves operate all over the world, with their... Read more →

Con artists bilk Americans out of billions of dollars every year. One of their ripest targets? Older baby boomers. Scamsters prey on the financial fears of mature adults, gain their trust, and then steal their savings. Regulators report scams are on the increase as more baby boomers move into retirement.... Read more →

If you’re buying a new car this year, be sure to read Consumer Reports’ April 2008 issue with its top picks and best and worst reports. Articles on who makes the best cars, reliability trends, what cars really cost, and extended warranties -– plus the new car preview -- also... Read more →