The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Vinyl covers for motorized awnings are being recalled by SunSetter after one death reported

SunSetter is recalling about 270,000 vinyl covers for motorized awnings in the United States and about 11,000 units in Canada.

If a powered awning is activated while the cover is secured with bungee tie-downs then the cover is removed, the awning can open unexpectedly with enough force to strike a consumer, causing him or her to fall and suffer serious injury or death.

The company has received 14 reports of incidents, including one death and six injuries. The death occurred when a 73-year-old man fell from a ladder and went over a balcony after a motorized awning opened unexpectedly and struck him while he was removing the cover’s bungee tie-downs.

Algae contaminating the nations lakes, rivers, but little is being done to protect the public, environmental group says

Federal and state tests have found dangerous toxins, common in outbreaks of blue-green algae, in hundreds of lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water nationwide. However, little is being done to notify and protect Americans, according to an analysis from the Environmental Working Group.

Algae blooms often are triggered by agricultural chemicals that run off fields into bodies of water. The “algae,” photosynthetic microorganisms, are not all toxic. However, some of these bacteria produce poisonous chemicals called cyanotoxins, including those known as microcystins. 

“The bottom line is, if you test for microcystins, you’ll probably find them,” said Soren Rundquist, EWG’s director of spatial analysis. “Hundreds of lakes and other resources Americans rely on for tap water and recreation are contaminated – sometimes even when there is no visible toxic algae bloom.”

Woodstock, a three-day event, began 50 years ago today

Woodstock, Aug. 15-18, 1969, the famous music festival drawing more than 500,000 people, was billed as an Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace and Music. It was held on a 600-acre dairy farm in Bethel, New York, 43 miles southwest of Woodstock.

Thirty-two acts performed outdoors even though it rained and the fields became muddy. Among the performers were Joan Baez, Janice Joplin, The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Arlo Guthrie, Joe Cocker, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Sly and the Family Stone, and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.

I remember the era well, although I didn’t attend Woodstock. It’s often called the Counterculture Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. To me it was an exciting time of change with gains in civil rights, women’s rights, consumer rights, and environmental protection; innovations in food, clothing, and music; alternative lifestyles; and opposition to the Vietnam War.

Broker in pension scam, who settles with CFPB and Arkansas, unable to pay most of repayment to consumers

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or CFPB and the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office filed a proposed settlement Wednesday with a securities broker for allegedly misrepresenting high-interest loans to veterans and other consumers in exchange for future rights to their pensions.

Andrew Gamber and his three companies – Voyager Financial Group, BAIC Inc., and SoBell Corp. – would be banned from the industry if a judge approves the proposed settlement.

The CFPB and the state agency alleged in a lawsuit that Gamber and his companies misrepresented that the contracts were valid when they were actually illegal loans, that the product wasn’t a high-interest loan, and when consumers would receive their funds. They also failed to inform consumers of the interest rate on the loan, according to the lawsuit.

CFPB settles its predatory lending lawsuit against ITT Educational Services

Photo: Dwight Burdette

ITT Educational Services Inc. has agreed to a settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or CFPB to resolve the agency’s lawsuit, which alleges that ITT engaged in predatory lending practices in its private loan program.

The CFPB’s lawsuit, filed in federal court in 2014, alleges that ITT helped to create private loan programs for students at ITT Technical Institute, the school run by ITT until it filed for bankruptcy and closed in 2016. The CFPB alleges that ITT improperly induced students to take out those loans to pay the tuition amounts not covered by loans or other tuition assistance from the federal government. The agency’s complaint also alleges that ITT knew that the student borrowers didn’t understand the terms and conditions of the loans and couldn’t afford them, resulting in high default rates.

Eddie Bauer and Disney inclined sleepers recalled by Dorel Juvenile Group USA due to infant deaths in other inclined sleepers

Dorel Juvenile Group USA is recalling about 24,000 inclined sleepers sold under the Eddie Bauer and Disney brand names.

Infant fatalities have been reported while using other inclined sleepers, after the infants rolled from their back to their stomach or side while unrestrained, or under other circumstances.

This recall involves the Eddie Bauer Slumber and Soothe Bassinet with model number BT055CSY and the Disney Baby Doze and Dream Bassinet with model number BT071DHS. The model numbers are located on a label on the underneath side of the fabric of the inclined sleeper pad.

States sue EPA over pesticide that harms children

Six state attorneys general filed a lawsuit Wednesday in federal court against the Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency for continuing to allow chlorpyrifos, a pesticide that harms children’s neurological development, to be used on food. The states are challenging the EPA’s decision, because it hasn’t made a determination, as is required by law, that the pesticide is safe.

“Chlorpyrifos is extremely dangerous, especially to the health of our children,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. “Yet, the Trump Administration continues to ignore both the science and law, by allowing this toxic pesticide to contaminate food at unsafe levels. If the Trump EPA won’t do its job and protect the health and safety of New Yorkers, my office will take them to court and force them to fulfill their responsibilities.”

Scientific evidence shows that even small doses of chlorpyrifos can damage parts of the brain that control language, memory, behavior, and emotion. Studies have found that exposure to chlorpyrifos impairs children’s IQs.

Another problem recall: Dangerous inclined sleepers that have killed 36 infants

On Tuesday, I wrote about problems with the recall of the MacBook Pro computer that I experienced. I only learned about the recall, the replacement of batteries due to a fire hazard, because I write weekly about recalls and saw it listed on the website of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. I complained to an Apple store manager that more needs to be done to inform consumers about the recall. On average, consumers follow up on recalls 6 percent of the time.

The recall of infant sleepers that is killing babies is an even more significant problem recall.

Three months after nearly 5.4 million infant sleepers were recalled for causing 36 infant deaths, a survey by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education and Kids in Danger or KID, a group working on product safety for children, showed that some day care centers continue to use the dangerous inclined sleepers. One in 10 of the 376 survey respondents that have children under age 1 indicated they were using at least one of these dangerous sleepers in the day care center. The survey began after PIRG Consumer Watchdog Adam Garber discovered that his own son’s daycare in Philadelphia was using the recalled products.

Recall of Apple computer shows the problem with the recall system in the U.S.

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the recall of the 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro. For some reason, I didn’t think about it being my laptop, probably because I thought mine had a larger screen. However, I finally looked online, and sure enough, it was my computer.

Apple has received 26 reports of the 15-inch MacBook Pro’s battery overheating, including five reports of minor burns and one report of smoke inhalation, as well as 17 reports of minor damage to nearby personal property.

The advice from Apple and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission was to immediately stop using the recalled laptop computers. Consumers were advised to contact Apple to schedule a free repair, according to the recall announcement.

Baby boomers keep writing despite the devastation of mass killings

Rebecca Olkowski of Baby Boomster says she’s been paralyzed by the horrifying things that have been happening with four mass shootings in the United States in one week – Brooklyn, Gilroy, El Paso, and Dayton.

Myself, I find the inaction on responsible gun laws appalling. I just can’t understand why Congress won’t do something. I applaud states and local government who have taken action in recent years.

But, it’s not enough. In Washington where I live, the Washington State Legislature passed open carry laws. It’s terrible. One day I went to the state capitol to take photos, and a gun group was having a rally. Guns were everywhere. I asked men at the edge of the group what they were doing. They said they were “protecting the perimeter.” Appalling, just appalling. And Washington is supposed to be a progressive state.

I took photos because I’m a photojournalist and I have a right to take photos in public places. Above is one of the photos I took at the rally. Fortunately, no one shot me.

Baby boomer bloggers are keeping at it, despite upsets, and are writing about:

• The gift of being there for our friends.
• Whether you should tell your age.
• The characteristics of your favorite restaurant.
• How the fear of flying abates for the wonders of Scotland.
• Information on what to do about the Equifax data breach payment for consumers.
• Medicare updates.
• Ethical fashion brands.

This is the Best of Boomer Blogs #608. Click here to get the links to the articles. And be sure to leave comments. It’s fun to hear from our readers.

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Consumer and Personal Finance Journalist