The New Tax Bill's Winners and Losers. Merry Christmas if you take standard deduction

 Consumer Reports:

Among the winners: Taxpayers who take the standard deduction. About 70 percent of Americans fall into this category. A near doubling of that deduction to $12,000 for individuals, $18,000 for heads of household, and $24,000 for joint filers—combined with some more generous tax brackets and rates—would mean less tax taken from most individuals’ and families’ paychecks, according to multiple analyses.

Mother rabbit battles hungry crows on banks of the Rock River

Here's a timeless video I made a number of years ago about a life and nearly death battle in my own backyard in Janesville. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did making it.

U.S. Gets 2.5 Billion Robocalls A Month, FCC Starts Crackdown

CBS Boston

Gift Card Scam: Crooks Can Drain the Money

Consumer Reports:

Social networking sites, chat rooms, virtual worlds, and blogs are how teens and tweens socialize online; it's important to help your child learn how to navigate these spaces safely.

FTC

4 Easy Fixes for Interior Painting Mistakes

Consumer Reports:

2017 RETURN POLICIES: SOME STORES NAUGHTY, MOST NICE

Consumer World: Return Policies, Return Policy

If you lost money to a scammer who had you pay using Western Union between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017, you can now file a claim to get your money back

Western Union Refunds | Federal Trade Commission:

Veterans Charity Raises Millions to Help Those Who’ve Served. But Telemarketers Are Pocketing Most of It.

POLITICO Magazine:

Amazon wants a key to your house. I did it, and I regret it

LA Times:

Chicago Christmas Greeting

Panhandlers and a preacher who said I wasn't going to heaven...characters from my Thanksgiving weekend visit to Chicago. And a Chicago Film archives movie showing the world famous automated puppets in Marshal Fields Christmas windows

Beware of third-party sellers on Walmart’s website

FOX31 Denver:

How Social Security Could Affect You in 2018

Consumer Reports:

Protect Yourself From Slips and Falls This Winter

Consumer Reports:

Secret Shopper Scam

TARGET 2 CONSUMER ALERT

Stovetop or Electric Pressure Cooker?

Consumer Reports:

DNA test kits: Consider the privacy implications

 Consumer Information:

25 things to do in Wisconsin during the holidays

Journal-Sentinel

Best Places to Raise a Family in the U.S.

Money:

The Dangers of Teens Abusing Cough Meds With Dextromethorphan. High doses of this common over-the-counter cough suppressant can have devastating effects

Consumer Reports:

80-year-old woman in Brookfield scammed out of $4K

jsonline

Earth tones

These Are the 10 Most Dangerous Toys of 2017

 Money:

Millennials spend a big part of their work day stressed out by their finances

Money on Twitter:

Best Cell Phone Plans 2017

Money:

6 Products on Deep Discount in December

Consumer Reports:

Best Frozen Appetizers and Party Foods

 Consumer Reports:

2019 Subaru Ascent Fills an SUV-Sized Hole. New three-row model targets Honda and Toyota

Consumer Reports:

The Truth About Portion Control. Train your brain so that you'll feel satisfied on fewer calories

Consumer Reports: