For a list of unique places to celebrate the Fourth of July, see Trip Advisor’s “10 Ideal July 4th Destinations to Celebrate (With or Without Crowds).”
| |
| | |
For years, I’ve written about the dangers of fireworks approaching the Fourth of July. And, for years, kids keep getting their fingers blown off and sustaining other injuries and even dying.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Wednesday that at least five fireworks-related deaths were reported in 2018 – all associated with reloadable aerial devices.
“CPSC works year-round to help prevent deaths and injuries from fireworks, by verifying fireworks meet safety regulations in our ports, marketplace and on the road,” said Ann Marie Buerkle, CPSC acting chairman. “Beyond CPSC’s efforts, we want to make sure everyone takes simple safety steps to celebrate safely with their family and friends.”
Injuries
There were about 9,100 fireworks-related, emergency department-treated injuries in 2018, with 62 percent of them occurring during the month surrounding the Fourth of July. During that period, firecrackers were the number one cause of injuries, making up for 19 percent of the estimated injuries. For children under 5 years of age, sparklers accounted for more than half of the total estimated injuries.
| |
| | |
By Florentina Sarac, Guest Blogger
Researcher for RENTCafé
As a generation that values individual choice and can easily adapt to change, baby boomers are known to favor certain parts of the country when it comes to retiring.
No longer tied to a particular city, many prefer to pack up their bags and leave for sunnier places. But while some only take a nice climate and entertainment options into consideration when choosing their next destination, others might want to move closer to family. Affordability also plays a big part in their decision as choosing a city with lower taxes can help them save money.
A study by the apartment search website RENTCafé shows that along with popular retirement zip codes in warm states such as Florida and California, baby boomers also prefer living in lively zip codes in New York or Las Vegas.
| |
| | |
It’s that time of year again. When the flowers bloom and the trees leaf out, it’s time to recognize those important guys in our families – our dads.
Spending
Americans are expected to spend a record amount on gifts for Father’s Day this year, according a survey conducted for the National Retail Federation. Total spending for the holiday is estimated to reach $16 billion, up from last year’s $15.3 billion.
Father’s Day spending has grown 70 percent, about $6.6 billion, since 2009. The biggest drivers of Father’s Day spending are growth in spending by consumers ages 35 to 44, and spending on clothing, special outings, and gift cards. This year, 75.9 percent of people plan to celebrate and are expected to spend a record $138.97, up from last year’s $132.82, and up from $91 in 2009.
Continue reading "Facts and figures for Father’s Day 2019" »
| |
| | |
Princess Cruise Lines and its parent, Carnival Cruise Lines, were ordered to pay a $20 million criminal penalty Monday and will be under more supervision after admitting to violations of its probation related to dumping waste into the ocean.
Princess was convicted and sentenced in April 2017, after pleading guilty to felony charges after dumping oil-contaminated waste from one of its ships in the ocean and then covering it up. While serving five years of probation, all Carnival ships using U.S. ports were required to comply with an environmental compliance plan, including audits by an independent company and oversight by a court monitor. Many violations have been identified by the company, the outside auditor, and the court’s monitor during the first two years of probation, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Carnival admitted it was guilty of committing six violations of its probation. Two of the violations involved sending teams to ships to prepare them for inspections during probation. When the court found out about this in December 2017, a federal district court judge ordered that the practice to be stopped and additional inspections were ordered. However, a second program was started shortly after that. The purpose of the programs were to avoid adverse findings during the inspections.
Continue reading "Carnival fined after admitting dumping garbage in the ocean, again" »
| |
| | |
Every month as part of my Comcast TV package, I pay Comcast $10 for sports programs that I never watch. That’s $120 a year. It’s so irritating.
Most of the 3,480 Americans who wrote to Consumer Reports over the past 13 months, as part of the organization’s “What the Fee?!” campaign, are angry about the growing number of fees showing up on their bills.
More stories keep coming every day, said Anna Laitin, director of financial policy at Consumer Reports. “The stories show just how many fees people face, and how frustrating people find them.”
At least 85 percent of Americans have encountered an unexpected or hidden fee over the past two years for a service they’d used, according to a Consumer Reports survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults. And two-thirds of them say they’re paying more now in surprise charges than they did five years ago. Almost everyone – 96 percent – finds them annoying.
| |
| | |
Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial beginning of summer, although it officially begins June 21. When the weather is good, people enjoy barbecues, picnics with family and friends, outdoor fun at home, and travels elsewhere.
For Memorial Day, I was in Madrid visiting my daughter and her family. The following day we went to the Manzanares el Real Castle, 45 minutes from Madrid. Close to La Pedriza at the foothills of Sierra de Guadarrama, the castle was restored three times in the 20th century.
The boomers in our group have been busy and start the season with ideas readers will find interesting. Articles include:
Meryl Baer of Six Decades and Counting writes about these articles in the Best of Boomer Blogs #599. Click here to get the links to the articles. And, be sure to let the boomer writers know your thoughts. We love, love, love to get comments from readers.
| |
| | |
Recently, when I visited Madrid, my granddaughter called her mom and asked her if the dishes in the dishwasher were clean or dirty. I laughed, but then I thought that the question must be one of the most popular questions ever that is asked over and over and over again.
We began brainstorming and came up with 99 additional questions that must be asked hundreds of times a day in America and throughout the world.
The most frequently asked questions are:
That’s my list. Did I miss any?
| |
| | |
While the number of people celebrating Mother’s Day is about the same as the 86 percent celebrating last year, those celebrating are expected to spend more at an average $196 compared with $180 in 2018. Consumers ages 35-44 are likely to spend the most at an average $248, up from $224, and men are likely to spend more than women at $237 compared with $158.
Newer models of gift-giving including special outings and gift cards are growing, in addition to more traditional gifts including flowers, greeting cards, and jewelry. Increased spending on jewelry represents 31 percent of the expected increase over last year.
Many of those celebrating cited finding something unique, 44 percent, as the most important factor when picking out a Mother’s Day gift, followed by one that creates a special memory, 39 percent.
| |
| | |
