Silent Movie Roars

It's a lot to ask you to watch an hour-long video, but it's a wonderful century-old silent movie that I've freshened with new music. Lillian Gish and Donald Crisp star in the movie Broken Blossoms. Invest an hour and you will be moved, horrified and enchanted by these actors.

8 Toxic Foods for Dogs - Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports

To avoid a trip to the animal ER, keep your pooch away from these items

How to donate wisely and avoid charity scams

 Consumer Information



My advice: When in doubt, don't give. Do not let yourself be pressured to donate by a cashier asking you to give in front of other customers. 

How to Prevent Dryer Fires

How to Prevent Dryer Fires - Consumer Reports: “Dryer fires are responsible for nine deaths, 420 civilian injuries, and $222 million in property damage annually,”

Facebook Security Breach Affects 50 Million

 Consumer Reports

Facebook has revealed that hackers have gained access to nearly 50 million user accounts. Our experts tell you how to keep your account safe, protect your privacy and to look out for suspicious activity.

Just Hangup on Robocalls

Consumer Information

If you get a robocall -- Hang up the phone. Don't press 1 to speak to a live operator and don't press any other number to get your number off the list. If you respond by pressing any number, it will probably just lead to more robocalls. Read more

What to Do About Fungal Infections

Consumer Reports

These infections can be minor or serious. Here's how to treat them.

The Benefits of Running vs. Walking

Consumer Reports

If you can run, great. But most people who need to exercise can't run. Most of us can walk, though. And if you do walk for exercise on a regular basis, you are really doing good! Keep it up! Or start now.

Other benefits of walking? Walking for me is a tranquilizer and gives me a creative boost when I am working things out in my mind. You also get to enjoy nature!

How to Keep Your Black Clothes Looking Their Best

Consumer Reports

CR offers expert solutions for such everyday problems as faded blacks and pilled fabric

Aug 6, 2018

Get the Most Used Car for Your Money

Consumer Reports: Get the Most Used Car for Your Money
Hungry for an upgrade but not keen on springing for a new car? Check out these smart picks among 3-year-old models.

Should You Ever Prepay a Hospital Bill?

Consumer Reports

Thank you, Consumer Reports, for all the good information!


May 30, 2018

Decorah North eagle babies

The day after I published this video, the eaglets died after being attacked by black flies. Raptor Resource Project: "We are sorry to announce that both eaglets at the Decorah North nest died yesterday... Why did the eaglets die? As we learned last year at Great Spirit Bluff, blackflies carry a pathogen that overwhelms the immune systems of young birds. Today's blackfly strike, combined with the extreme heat and humidity, was more than the eaglets could take."

Black flies can kill young birds

In late spring and early summer, black flies emerge from rivers and make life miserable for man, beasts and birds. Females sucks out our blood and leave painful welts. Here in Wisconsin, I've seen them invade the nests of eagles, whooping cranes and peregrine falcons. To avoid the flies, nest babies sometimes jump out like the poor souls in the World Trade Center.

How to Get the Best Car Loan

Consumer Reports:

Remember that a car is a depreciating asset. You will save a lot of money if you pay cash for a car you can afford. And never buy a used or new car without checking it out in the April issue of Consumer Reports magazine available at your local library. You can lose a small fortune buying a skunk car.

Mar 19, 2018

Restless turkeys

"Wild turkeys segregate into flocks on the basis of sex and, to some extent, age...In March or early April, the groups of bachelor gobblers will rejoin up with all of the hens and form large groups as the mating season begins." Introduction to the Wild Turkey - Meleagris Gallopavo

David Pogue reviews Facetune, a selfie-retouching app

David Pogue 

Facetune is a selfie-retouching app — incredibly easy to use, with incredibly professional-looking results. With a few swipes of your finger, you can make your teeth whiter, your skin smoother, your eyes bigger, and your nose smaller. You can tap a zit into nonexistence, or make your waist a little thinner. It’s like Photoshop without the complexity (Facetune’s built-in, animated help screens show you exactly how to use each tool). It’s a must-have for anyone who lives and breathes Instagram.

Mitsubishi is recalling 141,053 cars and SUVs because a part can break, leading the engine to stall.

The recall is for certain Mitsubishi Lancer, Lancer Sportback, Outlander, and Outlander Sport vehicles from the 2008 through 2012 model years, and equipped with either a 4B11 or 4B12 four-cylinder engine.Consumer Reports

MousePrint goes after questionable ads

Paste in this website to get to MousePrint http://www.mouseprint.org/

What You Need to Know About 5G

Consumer Reports:

Report says White House may be floating the idea of a national 5G network. So what is 5G and how does it work?

New Report Reveals Racial Discrimination by Auto Dealerships

National Fair Housing Alliance:

Everyone should protect themselves when buying a new or used car by checking them out for reliability and price in the April issue of Consumer Reports at your local library and your library on line

The Secretary of State is not emailing you

The Secretary of State is not emailing you | Consumer Information: "There are many scammers who pretend to be government officials – from the IRS, Social Security, and even the FTC. The latest twist is an email from – supposedly – the Secretary of State. In the email, someone pretending to be Secretary Tillerson says you’re owed a payment – which he knows about because of an investigation by the FBI and CIA. "

Consumer World's Edgar Dworsky: Average drugstore charged a full 50-percent more for food than the least expensive supermarket

With more and more non-food retail stores enlarging their grocery sections, is it a good deal to buy groceries at your local drugstore? No deal, according to a new Bostonarea survey released today by the consumer education website ConsumerWorld.org. On a market basket of some two-dozen items, the study found that the average drugstore charged a full 50-percent more than the least expensive supermarket -- $102.94 versus $68.55. For example, a can of Maxwell House coffee was $6.99 at Walgreens, but only $3.49 at Market Basket. A pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream was $6.29 at CVS, but only $3.99 at Shop & Shop. And a box of Lipton tea bags was $5.19 at Rite Aid, but only $2.99 at Shaw’s and Market Basket. “Drugstores are not doing shoppers any favors by carrying groceries at convenience store prices,” commented Edgar Dworsky, founder of Consumer World. “We are not talking about just a penny or two difference per item, but as much as a dollar or two in some cases.” The spot check of prices of 25 common items was conducted on October 2 at six stores in Somerville: Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS, Stop & Shop, Shaw’s and Market Basket. Among the drug chains, Rite Aid was the most expensive with the market basket of items costing $107.96, while CVS was the “least expensive” at $98.12. Among the supermarket chains, Shaw’s was the most expensive at $83.56 despite coincidentally having 10 of the items on sale, while Market Basket was the cheapest at a low $68.55 with only four items on sale. To save the most, Dworsky advises consumers to comparison shop, to check the ads

Best New Car Deals

Consumer Reports:

My advice after listening to dissatisfied car buyers since 1971... never by a new or used car brfore checking out what Consumer Reports advises about reliability and how much you should pay.