Seventh Generation strikes deal with the devil, er, Walmart

Filed Under (Consumer Reports) by Admin on 27-07-2010

Walmart3 The temperature must be dropping in Hadesat least according to the forecasting of Seventh Generation co-founder Jeffrey Hollender. For years, Hollender maintained that hell would freeze over before his companys eco-friendly products would be sold in Walmart. The time is nigh, according to the Wall Street Journal, which reports that Seventh Generation laundry detergent, dish soap, all-purpose sprays, and disinfectant wipes will be sold in about 1,500 Walmart stores starting next month. Other Seventh Generation cleaners, diapers, and baby wipes, will follow on Walmart.com in September.
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Maryland appliance rebates expand to include air conditioners, freezers, heat pumps

Filed Under (Consumer Interests) by Admin on 27-07-2010

Maryland appliance rebatesIf you’ve been suffering with a clunker of an air conditioner, here’s an incentive to replace it. The Maryland appliance rebate program will expand starting July 30 to include central air conditioners, air source heat pumps, freezers and room air conditioners.

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Baltimore area loves Chick-fil-A

Filed Under (Consumer Interests) by Admin on 26-07-2010

Chick-fil-A presidentChick-fil-A makes more per restaurant in the Baltimore-Washington area than it does in any other market, according to an interview with company president Dan Cathy by business reporter Hanah Cho in Sunday’s paper.

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You can be a water miser and still quench a thirsty lawn

Filed Under (Consumer Reports) by Admin on 24-07-2010

Dry_lawn Just when homeowners have become fed up it with high temperatures and scorched lawns, a report from the National Resources Defense Council (PDF) says that more than 1,100 counties — or more than one-third of those in the contiguous 48 states — will face higher risks of water shortages by mid-century. Of those, 400 counties in 14 states are of particular concern. The cause, says the NRDC, is global warming.
 
Whether or not you accept the concept of climate change, theres no getting around the August-like weather many of us have experienced since late spring. But theres much you can do to cut back on your overall water usage and still sprinkle your lawn sparingly from time to time. The Environmental Protection Agency says you can start saving by using only the water you need. That may seem obvious but how many of us leave the water running while we're brushing our teeth, shaving or washing dishes? Thought so. (Check the EPA's website for more tips.)

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Fill out baby product registration cards for recall notices

Filed Under (Consumer Interests) by Admin on 24-07-2010

cribsHere’s a task that new parents should tackle after the baby shower but before the thank you notes: Filling out product registration cards.

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Expect high electric bills after July’s high temperatures, BGE says

Filed Under (Consumer Interests) by Admin on 23-07-2010

When the temperatures soar, so may your electric bill, warns Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. officials.

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Fanboys: After work, Dyson engineers float an idea

Filed Under (Consumer Reports) by Admin on 22-07-2010

Take one blue balloon, a bevy of bladeless fans and some Dyson engineers with time on their hands and youve got the latest YouTube sensation. In a couple of evenings after work the engineers set up a series of the fancy fans and released a balloon near the first. The airborne orb is sucked through the fan and then through the next and on and on it goes winding its way through the warehouse.

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Target Black Friday sale: Cheap Trick Thursday

Filed Under (Consumer Interests) by Admin on 22-07-2010

Are you looking forward to Target’s "Back in Black" Friday sale tomorrow, July 23?

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What not to give Chelsea and Marc, or Bristol and Levi

Filed Under (Consumer Reports) by Admin on 21-07-2010

Wedding The daughters of two of the nations high-profile political families are about to get hitched. On July 31, Chelsea Clinton is to marry her long-time beau Marc Mezvinsky. And as youve no doubt heard by now, Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston are back on again … and engaged. So, what to get the daughters of the former leader of the free world and the former governor of Alaska?
 
Proper etiquette dictates that whatever your feelings for the parents or their politics that you give the happy couple something theyll use and enjoy. That rules out the Slap Chop, the as-seen-on-TV tool that promises to make light work of food preparation. In our tests, the $20 chopper required up to 20 or more blows to completely chop some foods, couldn't separate an onion from its peel, and was difficult to clean.  A better bet would be to slap down some cash for a capable food processor.

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Need a vacation rental in Ocean City?

Filed Under (Consumer Interests) by Admin on 21-07-2010

Ocean City Makai condo

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