Daily Dose of Common Sense

Technology can be overwhelming, no doubt about it. But if anything, that should make you more eager to do your homework before buying, not less. Otherwise, you will get ripped off.

So, why is it that so many otherwise wary consumers, who would smack down a car dealer trying to sell them “serial number glass etching”, get duped into buying expensive computer and A/V cables they don’t need? Because we fear what we don’t understand.

Cables are one of the highest margin items any electronics or office retailer sells. That 10 foot Ethernet patch cord at the office superstore that costs $18? Well, it works no better than one you can buy on-line for $3 (or less), and both are quite likely to have been made in the same factory in China. Likewise for USB.

Cables for your new flat screen TV can be even more overpriced, because now you are contending with marketing-driven brands. There’s no doubt these high-priced cables are engineered superbly, but there’s also no doubt they are overkill when compared to a no-name cable that meets the same specifications but doesn’t have to cover the cost for throwing expensive parties in Hollywood.

Even the moderately overpriced cables are a rip-off. When I recently received a flat-screen TV as a gift, I only had the cables to hook it up like my old TV, low-def analog. The local electronics shops had 6-foot HDMI (combined digital video & audio) cables for no less than $50, with the cool brands costing over $100.

By resisting the (admittedly HUGE) temptation to buy them on the spot, I was able to get very nice, good spec, gold-plated cables from a well-known web retailer (whose 2-day free-shipping plan I’m on) for $6. That is not a typo. For three cables my decision to wait saved me at least $150.

The key, of course, is being able to wait. Like the convenience store that charges double or triple for a bottle of soda, retailers count on you needing the cable right now.

So, when you are researching your next computer or electronics purchase, don’t forget to look into the cables you’ll need as well. With the money you save, you can order a spare (I didn’t need that 3rd HDMI cable) AND pay for dinner. Nothing goes with a new flat-screen TV like free take-out.

Photo courtesy of Flickr: Mathieu Ramage

Spam is the bane of every email account. Emails you don’t want from people you don’t know, usually trying to sell you something you don’t need. Many aren’t even in your native language. According to one company in California, spam volumes have increased four-fold in the last six months. Guess it’s one of the few areas that’s booming in this recession.

Here’s an email that slipped past my spam filter and recently landed in my in-box. Both annoying and nebulous, I had to laugh over this one. Does this really work on anyone? (I sure hope not.)

Hello,

I am Mr. XX, supervisor on investment in Standard Chartered Bank, Hong Kong.; I have a sensitive, confidential brief from Hong Kong and I am asking for your partnership in re-profiling funds ($18,500,000.00 USD).

Hmmm….sounds like a lot of money. What, exactly, does “re-profiling” funds entail? Is that similar to what they do to criminals on CSI? If I can get a lab coat and microscope out of the deal, I’m in!

What I require from you is your honest co-operation and I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and I from any breach of the law. Please accept my apologies, keep my confidence and disregard this email if you do not appreciate this proposition I have offered you.

Very polite. Yet, not informative. I still don’t have any idea what is going on. Why do we need protection from the law? This all seems very clandestine.

All confirmable documents to back up this fund shall be made available to you, as soon as I receive your reply, I shall let you know what is required of you.

Will this message self-destruct in thirty seconds?

I can tell the spammers what they DO need, and that is an editor. (I’m available if they want someone to fix punctuation, grammar, and spelling mistakes.)

Don’t ever reply to spam. This ploy is obviously a scam, and these are awful people looking to do you harm. If you’re overly curious and want to see what kind of nuts run these scams, check out Dean Cameron’s Spam Scam Scam. Cameron responded to one of the Nigerian spam emails and began a correspondence with the spammers. The results became a live show, and it’s hilarious.

Photo courtesy of Flickr: borman818

A woman driving in Connecticut one night last week thought she almost ran over Bigfoot.

She told police the hairy beast was 8 feet tall and had “legs like tree trunks.” It ran off after she switched her headlights to high beams.

Shockingly, the “beast” turned out to be only a 16-year old in a gorilla costume. Police turned him over to his parents, who hopefully gave him a stern lecture about the stupidity of being in a gorilla costume at night.

This idea of a giant man ape running in the wilderness just won’t die. Last year, three men held a press conference stating they had found the remains of a Bigfoot creature in the woods of Georgia. The claim was quickly debunked.

Despite the lack of evidence in this creature, many people believe it is real. Even the famous ape expert Jane Goodall is a believer. Here is a great article on why people want to believe in crazy myths and monsters.

Today’s ubiquitous and often one-sided promotional coverage of the paranormal, both on the Internet and TV, perpetuate myths and folklore as well or better than any ancient storyteller.

Fiction and belief masquerade as fact and news, feeding the 24/7 appetite of the easily swayed.

Scientists are left with an impossible task: proving something does not exist.

You can prove a rock is there. You can’t prove that Bigfoot or a ghost or the god of thunder is not there. Bigfoot paraphernalia purveyors and cash-cow psychics know this well.

I’ll believe in Sasquatch when real scientific evidence is produced. Until then, they’ll all be gorilla suits to me.

Every tourists’ nightmare happened this week at JFK Airport in New York. A family of five was held captive by a pair of unlicensed solicitors in a van, who offered the family a lift from the airport. An officer observed the renegade drivers loading the family into their vehicle and banged on the window. But, when he ordered the two men out, they hit the gas and took off.

A high speed chase ensued, which left the French family begging to be released from the car. The ordeal ended when the van crashed into a stop sign in Brooklyn and the police chased down the two suspects on foot.

What did the family do to deserve this? Nothing, except get into a sketchy, non-licensed vehicle. If the cops hadn’t intervened, the family likely would have been brought to their hotel safe and sound. But, who knows how much they would have paid for the ride.

A good rule of thumb is to never get in anything but a yellow cab or a private car you have personally arranged. There are a lot of hustlers, especially at the airport, who will try and convince you a random ride is okay…but it’s not.

Here is some good information from Consumerist.com:

Rick Seaney has a few tips to help you avoid getting trapped in a runaway cab like the Dulugats:

• Avoid “gypsy cabs” and other non-licensed vehicles: the legitimate cabs are all lined up at the curb. If your cabbie claims to be licensed, and it’s a hike to his vehicle, he isn’t. By the way, these taxis can cost just as much as the legit ones.
• Check out the transportation choices before you arrive: JFK, for example, offers many alternatives to taxis including trains and a bus system that takes you directly to Grand Central for $27 roundtrip.
• Consider a private car service: it need not be a limo – and it can cost just a few bucks more than a taxi fare.

Ladies, do you want to increase bust size without surgery? Well, step right up and take a gander at the Magic Massage Bra!

According to the company, this “micro-computerized, low-voltage, intensity adjustable” Magic Massage Bra will do all these things:

• Make breast up.
• Dredge breast glands.
• Eliminate blood stasis.
• Effectively prevent women from breasts diseases and flaccid.
• Also can move fat and make a well-shaped figure.
• If use it often, you can have a sound sleep, immunity from disease and better internal secretion.

This really needs no explanation, as there is no way this product can really work. What is the science here, exactly? Breasts don’t get enlarged this way, folks.

But, it’s good for a laugh. [Thanks, Gizmodo!]

Last week, a mommy blogger who claimed to have a child diagnosed as terminally ill in the womb was exposed as a fraud. For the past few months, abortion opponents rallied to support “April’s Mom” and her Web site. People not only shared their own personal stories online, but also sent photos, gifts and letters to the mom via a PO box.

Because a baby eventually has to be born, the “pregnant” woman claimed to have given birth at home. She subsequently posted pictures of her with the baby, which then exposed the scam. Readers recognized the “baby” as a lifelike doll and started asking questions.

It’s unclear how much “April’s Mom” profited from this venture, and she will have a lot of explaining to do to her readers. Sadly, there is no shortage of liars, cheats, and con artists on the Web. Unless you are reading a credible news source, a skeptical eye must be used on personal anecdotes. Most people embellish their narratives to make a good read, and clearly this woman got caught up in the attention her site received. Her blog readers aren’t to blame. But, be careful with your personal information and financial support. Not everyone is who they seem.

No one likes to talk about it, but it’s out there. And, with swimsuit season ahead, it’s about to see the light of day. Yep, it’s… cellulite.

The dimpled appearance of cellulite is caused by fat deposits that distort the outer layer of skin. And, it’s your genetics that determine whether you will develop cellulite. The desire to get rid of the unsightly bumps has led to a multi-billion dollar industry, including creams, supplements, massages, and serums.

Do any of these treatments work? Nope. Quick fixes for cellulite can’t get under the skin and inside your fat cells. The best defense against developing cellulite is to eat a healthy diet and keep your muscles toned. So, save your money and hit the gym.