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The story thus far:
- Consumer Reports disables the browser cache as part of their test procedures when testing laptop battery life.
- When testing the 2016 MBP, their results vary wildly, so they do not recommend the laptop.
- Apple reaches out to figure out why CR's numbers are so much different than their own.
- Apple finds out about CR's disabling of the Safari cache, and in the process finds an obscure bug that only comes about when the cache is disabled.
- Apple fixes the bug.
- CR reruns their tests, gets good results, and issues a recommendation for the 2016 MBP.
Note that nothing has actually changed for 99% of customers, since CR's non-recommendation was based on a bug with a developer setting that the vast majority of Safari users would never touch.
Curiously, CR makes no mention of this developer setting in their re-endorsement, instead implying (falsely) that the cache bug would affect average consumers.
Here are CR's final test results, for those who are curious:
- 13-inch MacBook Pro without Touch Bar: 18.75 hours
- 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar: 15.75 hours
- 15-inch MacBook Pro: 17.25 hours
First off: tell no one! Not your family (i.e. relatives) if they don't know. Not your friends. Not your co-workers. Nobody! Sit on that money for a couple months to get your head straight. Spend none of it until you do a couple of things...
Consumer Reports has a great list of what to do when you inherit a large amount of money. Link is here.
One of the more important things on that list is:
>Consult a financial adviser. >If you had bad financial habits before, a windfall might only accentuate them. Financial planners can help to create distance between you and the money, and even set you up with an allowance if you're concerned about the possibility that you'll squander it. Consider a fee-only financial planner, one who doesn't work on commission and shouldn't try to sell you investments you don't need. To find one, go to www.napfa.org, the website of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. Interview several before you choose one. An adviser can help you come up with a financial plan that will meet your financial goals, both short-term ones (big-ticket purchases, for example), and longer-term goals like retirement.
You need to seek out a financial adviser that has a fiduciary duty to do what is best for you and not the financial adviser.
$1MM, while a large sum, can easily be squandered. Sorry about your grandfather but good luck to you.
I'm an engineer. If those changes cost the company $1b, their engineering department is either grossly incompetent, or has charged the company hundreds (thousands?) of times more than would be justified by the changes.
It's pretty obvious by now that Mylan doesn't care about their customers, but only about their profits. It's time to affect them where it really hurts.
Here are a few articles about alternatives:
http://www.consumerreports.org/drugs/how-to-get-cheaper-epipen-alternative/
http://www.livescience.com/55911-epipen-alternatives.html
http://time.com/money/4468716/cheaper-epipen-alternatives-price/
That article is literally cherry-picking from the Consumer Reports article (http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/03/cost-of-organic-food/index.htm) to serve it's own "Organic Food is Stupid" message.
If you read the Consumer Reports article, it deliberately mentions many worthwhile reasons to eat organic.
They've stated in the first Model 3 reveal that the autopilot hardware will be included in the base price, as well as the autopilot safety features, but the autopilot autonomous-driving features will be a paid option.
EDIT: http://www.consumerreports.org/tesla/tesla-model-3-faq-everything-you-want-to-know/
Sadly, their webpage won't let me just read their fucking article without the video playing so here is the text from the page. Fuck you CNN.
It looks like seven is Samsung's lucky number. Consumer Reports just named the Samsung Galaxy S7 the best smartphone it has ever reviewed. The S7 Edge was named its second best.
Similar to our own experience with the phones, Consumer Reports found the devices to have great cameras, excellent battery life, super-fast processors, and very high resolution screens.
The expandable storage and water-resistance features also helped the phones gain their top ratings, partially because they make the other parts of the phone stand out even more.
For example, the phone can record video in 4K, or Ultra-HD. Those files are huge in size, which makes it important to have a microSD slot for memory cards.
Battery life lasted more than 24 hours of simulated talk time -- more than twice the iPhone 6S. The speakers on the S7 and S7 edge produce loud and crisp volume.
And because of the phones' high resolution displays, screens are easier to read in bright light.
Related: CNNMoney review -- Galaxy S7 Edge is as sexy as it is smart
"These new models aren't just Samsung's best smartphones, but, perhaps, the best smartphones," senior editor Mike Gikas wrote on Tuesday.
All this goes to show that even though smartphone makers continue to add niche features, getting the basics right -- battery life, camera -- is really the most important thing to do and what consumers care about the most.
Better yet, FUCK CNN. Read the source article from Consumer Reports.
Hey. I totally get where you're coming from. It's incredible that large corporations get away with preying on the gullible. As a single, Hispanic mother of two, I know how hard it is to stay on guard all the time. Just recently I was a victim of a corporate scam and need help paying my legal fees. Please support my gofundme campaign.
>It's generally a myth that retailers must honor a posted price if it's simply a mistake, although some stores might do so as a matter of policy or on a case-by-case basis. The issue gets murky if the retailer begins processing the order, something that is more likely to happen online, says Jane Winn, a professor at the University of Washington Law School. But even then, she says, a merchant might be able to cancel the purchase if the price was so low that a buyer should have known it was mistake. An online retailer's fine print may relieve it of the duty to fulfill orders based on pricing errors.
Of course, once the item is received, they cannot retroactively charge you the "remaining" amount (in the US).
IANAL.
What vehicle has a 40 gallon tank and gets 45 mpg? I don't think that vehicle exists. If a Ford F-150 had the MPG of a Toyota Prius it still wouldn't make it.
Ok, so you need to look deeper to find the real problem and it was not Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports runs through server loaded webpages, 10 of them that are locally stored on a server. This prevents things like site server load, ad changes etc to affect the test from day to day.
They turn off Web Caching so that the test subject sees each load as a totally new web page, much like browsing various web sites. They do this because after the 10 is cycled everything is loaded locally and it really throws the test off since the device isnt really processing anything server side, everything is local.
Edit - While this is not ideal, it is closer to reality than leaving it enabled. While a webpage uses similar resources across the domain, there are a ton of other things that are loaded. Causing a total refresh on every loop it is a worst case scenario, but more realistic than loading the same page over and over because literally no one ever does that. The alternative is CR caching thousands of webpages and cycling through those, which is likely something they have or will be looking into.
Apple had a bug in MacOS that, when this developer setting is tripped, causes another reload bug not related to the test that caused the wildly inconsistent results.
CR disables webcaching on ALL tests, for ALL PC's including older Macs. I am interested to see, since Apple released a patch for the bug, what it does with the setting enabled as per all their other tests.
TL;DR - It was an Apple bug that caused the issue, not CR's testing techniques.
A condom can hold many liters of gas or liquid reliably. 25 liters is about the max for a quality name brand condom. If you just want to hold a liter of water, a condom is very reliable yet you can fit about a dozen in your pocket.
Condoms are also useful for waterproofing equipment. It's standard practice in the BBC to use a condom over microphones (source, see 1/4 down page) that are to be used in the rain.
Also, it's not commonly known, but according to industry statistics, most condoms are used for sex. Weird.
Our condolences, first of all.
This is mostly a /r/legaladvice question in regards to the specifics of how her will would be executed and her estate probated to settle her debts.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/10/what-to-do-when-a-loved-one-dies/index.htm
I have custom made headphones as well but they are a bit different from yours.
> the mom is in ICU at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center
Dude she has like a 1 in 100 chance of surviving. Not because of gangrene or the infection, but because she is in Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, literally the 8th most dangerous hospital in the entire United States of America. She's as good as dead.
She should have drove to Cape Girardeau.
4K BluRay
Edit:
Just some additional information. Ultra 4K HD Bluray is a mouthfull, but I am sure the marketing chaps at Sony can figure it out. lol.
This was in the most recent issue of Consumer Reports magazine. Their samples are taken randomly from their readership. So this is essentially a survey of Consumer Reports subscribers opinions of what fast food tastes best. You can read a little bit about their survey methodology here.
It's possible that you could be concerned about selection bias because they only sample their own readers. If their readers do not reflect the attributes of the general population, then neither will their results. I don't have any data, but I suspect that Consumer Reports subscribers are more white, more wealthy, and more value-conscious than the general population.
Edit: Here is another link where you can read the following:
> We asked subscribers this direct question: On a scale of 1 to 10, from least delicious to most delicious you’ve ever eaten, how would you rate the taste? We heard about 53,745 burger chains’ burgers, chicken chains’ fried or roasted chicken, Mexican chains’ burritos, and sandwich chains’ sub—or heroes, hoagies, grinders, or wedges, depending on where you call home.
After 7 new to newer pieces of American crap, I can honestly say, this really doesn't work for American cars (And I still buy GM, I apparently haven't learned my lesson. Their suv's and trucks drive nice...when they aren't fucking up). By 50k, I had grocery lists of problems on my GM's. My Aunt's her Fords. My good friend's Chryslers.
Hilariously, I know engineers from all three companies that won't buy their cars even with their discounts. GM guy buys Honda, Ford guy buys Toyota, and Chrysler guy buys Hyundai.
Edit Edit: I work with multiple suppliers and you DO NOT want to know what kind of parts make it on the American cars that are outright rejected by everyone else. Chrysler needs some sensors for the Charger or else they are gonna shut down the line? "GIVE US EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT, WE DON'T NEED IT INSPECTED!" GM needs some more hoses because the 200 you delivered have a failure mode that wasn't accounted for? "We'll replace them later." Yeah... Do you really think they were replaced later? Only if they were brought into the dealer, by the owner, with a problem.
Nissan "There is a dent in this cooler, we won't take it."
Let's see how long they last. In my experience owning HP's they look nice, have great specs, and start breaking after 1 month.
edit: I don't need every HP owner telling me their computer still works. The fact is HPs have a higher failure rate than any other brand, and anecdotes don't change that.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/10/are-you-using-the-most-reliable-laptop/index.htm
https://www.squaretrade.com/htm/pdf/SquareTrade_laptop_reliability_1109.pdf
I know several people who have bought bmw's in the $5k range and had horrible problems repairing them constantly. A buddy of mine owns a shop and also steers people away from them. They break down and have tons of problems, and are really expensive to fix.
There are several websites that show average yearly maintenance costs by car model and brand and BMW's are consistently more expensive on those as well.
The only one I found after a quick google search was this one from consumer reports buts it's mainly targeted at newer models. I know there's some others out there I remember from when I was shopping for our last car that break out maintenance costs a bit better by model.
These numbers seem a bit suspect to me. They are based only on the numbers from this particular mechanic referral service, which has only been in business for less than four years, and would be skewed by things like dealer service programs. For example, new BMWs are covered for maintenance for the first 4 years / 50,000 miles, so these guys are not seeing any BMWs in those years under normal circumstances. My personal experience with multiple BMWs is nothing like the numbers quoted here, for example; I've probably averaged about $500/year for the last twenty years with cars 1 to 8 years old.
Better numbers would be found here, for example: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/12/what-that-car-really-costs-to-own/index.htm
On the low end I see:
> $13/ounce
and found the large tanker ships might weigh:
> ULCCs can carry over 300,000 tons of crude oil and in total can weigh up to 400,000 tons
That means the ship weighs 100,000 tons (US).
There are 32,000 ounces per ton. Or 3200000000 ounces in just the weight of a ULCC tanker.
Or roughly $41 billion USD worth of ink on the low end. The $75/ounce figure means the ship, in ink, would cost roughly $240 billion USD.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2013/08/the-high-cost-of-wasted-printer-ink/index.htm
These linked articles ignore the fact the original CR report explicitly states that they did a second run of the tests using Chrome as the browser, and the result were much more consistent. Since their policy is to use the system default browser on their standardized testing, it's Safari that's at fault (what's new!) and not the battery itself.
CR also stated they'll happily rerun the tests once Apple releases a software update that fixes the issue with Safari.
Source: http://www.consumerreports.org/laptops/macbook-pros-fail-to-earn-consumer-reports-recommendation/
All companies are constantly doing this short of shit.
Imagine you have a 750 ml bottle of sauce. Take the bottom of the bottle and curve it up instead of being flat. Change the label to read 700ml. Voila !
Inflate your bags of chips with air so they look like they contain more than they do. Do this so often legislation is introduced to legally limit the amount of empty air you can put in your bag.
Selling frozen fish bits, oysters, crab meat, whatever? Spray it with water and let it freeze inside the bag. Tests later show that some of your bags of "sea food" are actually filled 30% with water...
Edit: For those who are asking here is a link to information about "slack fill" limitations which is what stops your chip bags being inflated past a certain point: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2010/january/shopping/product-packaging/overview/product-packaging-ov.htm
Sorry for your loss.
How old is your sister? Are you in school or working? Same question for your sister.
Do you have any savings like an emergency fund?
Are any large expenses coming up?
Here are two good checklists:
- http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/10/what-to-do-when-a-loved-one-dies/index.htm
- http://www.aarp.org/home-family/friends-family/info-06-2012/when-loved-one-dies-checklist.html
Worry about stuff step-by-step, you don't need to do everything at once.
The difference is that there's an alternative to Daraprim that costs $1 (as opposed to Daraprim's $750), so patients needn't suffer from the price hike.
Although there is an alternative to the Epipen, it's more expensive than the Epipen was and it seems there are still hurdles to overcome in order to get one.
To put it another way, the Epipen price hike is far more likely to lead to unnecessary deaths than the Daraprim one.
And sometimes goods made in US aren't always made entirely here. <strong>Read this, as every State has different interpretations of the FTCs ruling.</strong>
Also, <strong>here's another article about New Balance shoes made not entirely in the US</strong>.
<strong>This one from Consumer Reports</strong> puts it nicely into perspective too.
So even if the cost of making my product in India cost $4, but I sell it for $400 dollars, then I've definitely fit the FTC's definition of my good/product being "Made in the U.S.A".
Of course for complicated products then the final assembly has to be here. But for clothing or handbags then that's super easy to get out of. Hire a designer, make the garments overseas at a very low cost, sell them over here for over 100% of the original cost of making it over in China or India, and I've qualified for the labeling policy.
first: you should wear deodorant. you nasty
second, was basing it off these:
http://www.businessinsider.com/womens-products-more-expensive-than-mens-2015-4
and
(that's 2010)
it's not a comprehensive study, but that's what i remember lol
Nope. As of the latest available data, the battery failure rate for Toyota's hybrids takes 12 years to reach 5%. With Prius taxis able to run beyond 300,000 miles on their original battery pack, it's not a stretch to say that the median life of the battery pack exceeds that of the car itself.
I agree with this.
Cost of no-name condoms vs name-brand:71 cents vs. $1.10 per condom
Cost of child vs no child: $243,660 vs. $0
200,000 miles is the reasonable reliable life expectancy of cars these days. 30 years ago I think it was closer to 100,000. We have come a long way.
I do think it is particularly important to pick a car with a reputation for reliability when buying one with over 100,000 miles on it. This list from Consumer Reports is a good place to start.
Breaking news: Those trying to destroy their electronics succeed. More at 11.
Apple, SquareTrade, Consumer Reports, and other third parties all used scientific metrics and machines to show that they're designed to withstand every day use no problem. If you intentionally try to break it by applying 100 pounds of pressure at a certain point, then yea, you'll go ahead and break it.
If an epson ink cartridge goes completely empty, then air bubbles will get into the printhead. Once this happens, chances are your printer will be as good as toast. They try to estimate how much ink has been used but that number really isn't that accurate, which is why you end up with some left. Most printers that have non disposable printheads are designed this way.
Epson is now realeasing their own continuous ink system on one of their printers. I believe the price is $400 but you can by the ink in bulk.
Source: Worked at cartridge world and had to deal with dried up print heads on nearly a daily basis.
Or that it is a MOPAR vehicle. Anything made by Jeep/Dodge/Chrysler/fiat are pretty much literally the least reliable vehicles on the planet.
EDIT: Getting downvoted of course so here is a list of the most and least reliable vehicles by class:
http://www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability/the-most-and-least-reliable-cars-by-class/
Nearly half(6/14) of the least reliable are MOPAR vehicles. None of the most reliable are. They are not well built folks, don't buy them.
In case people aren't aware, mercury levels in fish at the top of the food chain are rising quickly. Mercury in tuna has been rising by 4% a year; in a few years it won't be safe to eat any more.
In all fairness, automatics aren't inherently better. They're easier, sure, but that comes at the expense of fuel efficiency and acceleration. Calling it "old technology" is technically true, but its certainly arguable as to whether automatics are progress.
> If you want to buy the "name brand," that's up to you
No, this is not entirely correct. At the very least it's misleading.
If you have been prescribed an epi-pen the pharmacist cannot generally^1 substitute an Adrenaclick, because the devices are mechanically different.
You might respond that you should ask your doctor for an Adrenaclick. Sure, you should - if you know they exist. Normally this is one of the primary responsibilities of a pharmacist: to make sure that customers aren't getting screwed over by what one might politely call "sponsored" doctors.
Now, let's imagine that someone does know the difference, and does ask their doctor for the Adrenaclick, but the doctor say that the Epi-pen is the better choice (I'll let the reader imagine the many reasons why they might say this). What does the patient do? You can argue with your trusted doctor, or you can go to some other doctor, ie, not the doctor you've probably been going to for years, and trust this stranger instead.
Again, this is one of the reasons why pharmacists are important. They act as impartial arbiters. And, again, this is why what you said is misleading: in this case, the discretion of the pharmacist to suggest the cheaper alternative does not exist.
Sources:
http://www.pharmacytimes.com/p2p/p2pepinephrine-0910|
http://www.consumerreports.org/drugs/how-to-get-cheaper-epipen-alternative/
Both parents (retired) pharmacists.
^(1 According to the consumerreports link ~12 US states allow the substitution without a new prescription)
>Do I call someone to take care of the body?
There's a checklist here. Essentially someone has to pronounce the death. If it happens in a hospital or hospice then there will be someone to do it there. If it's in his home or yours then you can call 911. Paramedics will arrive and probably try to resuscitate him unless he has a Do Not Revive order that he's signed and you have on hand. Assuming they can't revive him they'll take his body to the hospital where a doctor can pronounce him officially dead and sign the death certificate.
>What official things should I take care of?
The checklist linked above also has advice for that. You would arrange for transportation of the body through a funeral home. Contact his doctor (or county coroner if he doesn't have a doctor) to notify him of your grandfather's death. The funeral home may offer to do this for you. Generally they do as much as they can to make the process easy for the family. You'll also want to call family and friends to notify them.
Once those immediate things are taken care of you can get back in touch with the funeral home and arrange the actual funeral. They should be able to help you with getting any burial benefits he might be entitled to through military service or other organizations he may have been a member of. They'll also generally get you official copies of the death certificate. You may need a few of these for insurance claims, closing various accounts, clearing debts, and so on so you'll want a few as most places that need one will want the actual document and not a photo copy.
The checklist provides lots of other incidental stuff that you probably won't need to worry about right away but that you should be aware of. Look it over so that you have some idea of what to do since waiting until you need the information probably won't be the best time to go looking for it.
If you have a decent driving record, it should not be much more for additional coverage anyway. I wouldn't recommend having the minimum.
If you've ever gotten a ticket or an accident in the last 5 years, obtain a copy of your Driver History Abstract from the DMV or your insurance company. Wait until the month your points get reduced before shopping around (1 or 2 year mark from incident). Taking a $20 online defensive driving course can reduce premiums too.
Take steps to improve your credit score. You should be doing this regardless but many insurance companies are unfairly basing premiums off your credit profile.
Most of all, SHOP AROUND. It's so easy to put your info online, check at least 6 companies. I recently switched and my annual premium for 3 cars went down by $2000.
I'm not a Chevy fan (I generally prefer Ford if I'm choosing between American automakers), but Consumer Reports called it the best car in its class. If you said were instead of are, though, you would have been correct for the near past.
But you can also stop at a supercharging station and charge it for free.
Also, the new Teslas will cost about $35k. The old Teslas are luxury vehicles that got such high ratings that it broke Consumer Reports' rating scale
At least it works. I have no idea what the Toyota designers were thinking with the new Prius rear-end.
This study by consumer reports shows that Camry in 7th place.
However, as someone who works for an OEM in the automotive industry, I don't think either study is right. Modern cars are so complex and so global it's exceedingly difficult to truly measure anything being "more American" than anything else.
If someone really wants to purchase a car from an "American" OEM, the only real argument left is that they're supporting all of the indirect jobs associated with the car: Engineering and development, business, marketing, etc. Simply put, the Big three employ more people in the US than other OEMs if that's your measure of "American".
That being said, as a consumer you should do your research and buy the car you like. Don't buy a big three vehicle because you feel you have to buy American, just like you shouldn't buy a car just because it's Japanese or German. If the big three, or anyone else, don't make a car you like that's their fault.
When something is so obviously bad, why doesn't the government have it removed, like they did for household use of asbestos?
Edit: I added another link about why it's bad.
I spent a week over christmas this year up in the mountains. Our car met the minimum colorado tire requirements for winter weather - all weather tires with the M/S symbol.
However, we could not get up the drive way into the place we stayed at all. Slipped and slid and got ourselves stuck and finally parked on the road and hiked it in.
Meanwhile our three friends cars including a very unassuming honda civic zipped right up the damn driveway.
Of course she had $1500 snow tires, making a huge difference.
I had always thought it was mainly the four wheel drive that helped, and it does, but the tires are hugely helpful too to reduce sliding, improve acceleration and lower breaking distances
Add that to limited snow plow and sanding trucks down here...
So to everyone saying none of us can drive - yeah that's true too, but for this one its not (entirely) our fault
Oh man, if someone is trying to scam you they unintentionally opened themselves up for a world of discomfort. Here's what you do. You're in San Diego, right? The Secret Service are the ones who do investigations into counterfeiting. Call the Secret Service field office for San Diego (you can get the number here) and let them know that you passed a bill to a merchant who claimed the bill was counterfeit and confiscated it, explaining the situation. Let the agent know that you plan on filing an insurance claim when you return from your trip (losses from counterfeit money are standard coverage on most homeowners' or renter's policies) for the loss and that you'd like some kind of reference number or agent you can speak with in order to validate the insurance claim on your end. Alert the bank as well and give them the contact information you were provided by the Secret Service.
If it's bogus and the merchant turned the alleged counterfeit note over to the police, then they're doing what they should and an insurance claim should cover you for such a small amount- and you'll have gotten a free drink and a good story out of it, as well.
If, however, the merchant did not pass the counterfeit note onto the police, there could be uncomfortable questions posed by federal agents when they investigate, and they claim to investigate all counterfeit cases, no matter how big or small. They're going to want that alleged counterfeit bill and if the merchant can't produce it, then they will have fallen under suspicion of having knowingly passed it, a very serious crime.
Teens get into more accidents than seniors, but seniors get into more accidents than the middle aged (30-65), but very elderly seniors match the youngest teens in accident frequency.
I fully support stricter driving education requirements for teen drivers and periodic testing of elderly drivers who are 70+ (such as every other year.)
> I'd assume their loss of coordination and motor skills, coupled with a diminishing vision, along with slower reflexes could be among the many factors involved in explaining this..., rather than "fragility" alone (but along with it).
Consumer Reports says 16- and 17-year-olds are about twice as likely as drivers over 80 to get into accidents.
Obviously drivers over 80 have more accidents than other adult drivers, but apparently inattention, distraction or other factors affecting teens balance out their allegedly better coordination/motor skills.
Consumer Reports tested this and found that it could go both ways, in some cases using incognito mode led to lower fares, but other times it led to higher fares. Check out the article online here.
They tested with Safari with the screen at 100 nits of brightness IIRC.
Edit: I am reporting on how Consumer Reports does their test. This comment is not an expression of my approval of their testing methods and whether they actually make sense.
You asked about effect, positive or negative. Consumer Reports also says it has resulted in signicant monetary savings:
"...the law directly saved consumers $3.4 billion on their insurance premiums, and will require insurance companies to rebate another $500 million in premium overcharges this summer."
People are often confused because their insurance premium went up, but they don't realize how fast healthcare premiums were rising before Obamacare.
What do you mean you "don't buy it"? They found and fixed an obscure bug that affects battery life under CR's testing conditions, and CR is retesting the laptops. They have already noticed higher battery life than before.
Here is Consumer Reports' statement: http://www.consumerreports.org/apple/apple-releases-fix-to-macbook-pros-in-response-to-consumer-reports-battery-test-results/
We just switched my wife's prescriptions from Walgreens to Costco. The cost went from $346 to $202.
Consumer Reports: Save Money on Meds: 6 Tips for Finding the Best Prescription Drug Prices
Chart showing pharmacy price comparisons from CR
Be careful about what you buy there.
It's called TC7000 Super Saw, and while I can't find a link to anyone who still sells it, here's a link to a website that says it actually will cut through your fingers.
TL;DR: If you renew less than 2 months after your expiration date, you will renew at your original subscription date. If you renew after 2 months, you'll renew at a new subscription date.
LMGTFY: Costco Membership Renewal Settlement
There was a class action lawsuit about this in 2009:
http://addictedtocostco.com/2009/05/15/costco-membership-renewal-lawsuit-settlement/
As part of the settlement, Costco will provide between one to three months of free membership to people who were members between March 1, 2001, and March 31, 2009, and who renewed more than three weeks late. The settlement applies nationwide to all present and former members, and to all types of memberships. Those who qualify have been notified by Costco. For more information about the settlement, you can read about it on the Costco website. As a result of this suit, Costco has updated their renewal policy: if you renew more than 60 days after the original expiration date, you will now have a new expiration date set 12 months after the most recent renewal.
Another article on Consumer Reports: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2009/07/costco-s-renewal-rip-off/index.htm
Consumers Union actually tested the G force exerted on the driver when a P85D launches in Insane Mode (i.e., not the just announced Ludicrous Mode), the result was +1.02G.
Elon is promising 1.1G for a launch in Ludicrous Mode.
Having worked in a facility that made garbage bags, this is one of those where there isn't much real difference between generic and brand name basic garbage bags. NOTE - The bags that have the different weaves (Glad ForceFlex?) or whatever through them are manufactured differently and the following doesn't apply.
What you want to watch out for is the thickness. My machine would have the plastic pellets dumped into it, and I would increase or decrease certain settings to make them thicker or stronger and then change the packaging it was going into. Sometimes we added the draw string. Sometimes we changed the cut (for flaps or whatever).
So - when you go to the store, you'll want to see how many garbage bags you are getting for a particular price, and compare it to the mil. thickness on the boxes. Albertson's/Smith's/Safeway's .47mil kitchen bag is going to be pretty comparable to Hefty's .5 mil bag.
TL/DR: Buy by thickness and cost per bag instead of brand. Additional info
From consumer reports brand reliability ratings (lower is better):
lcd
2% panasonic
3% sanyo, sony, sharp
4% insignia, vizio, lg, jvc, sylvania
5% toshiba, samsung
6% magnavox, philips
7% westinghouse
10% polaroid
13% mitsubishi
plasma
3% panasonic
5% samsung
8% lg
Consumer reports is great. I have subscribed for years and so did my parents. They work very hard and are unbiased. Get an online subscription. Take their surveys and tell them about what you own.
Here you go. If accurate, their chart does support the theory of summer being the time for low costs (presumably also with production costs going down with better technology, etc).
Watch the reliability ratings. The big problem with the Model S has been very spotty reliability. Consumer Reports no longer recommends it as a result of worse than expected reliability issues, notably the drive train, power equipment and charging equipment.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cars/tesla-reliability-doesnt-match-its-high-performance/
Some protein powders have also been found to contain excessive levels of arsenic, lead and cadmium: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2010/july/food/protein-drinks/what-our-tests-found/index.htm
I do think it's pretty awesome, that because of all the negative media attention, Tesla has made one of the most awesome cars (Consumer reports gave them a 99!)
2 cars catch fire? All future Teslas are made that much better.
> The Mopar hate is strong ~~in this thread.~~ on /r/cars
It's really getting annoying. Not because I think Mopars are spectacular, but because of the cognitive dissonance when it comes to other brands.
According to Consumer Reports, Dodge has a worse than average reliability rating. As does Infiniti, Chevrolet, Acura, and Mercedes. Cadillac was even put in the "Worst" category. None of those brands get anywhere *nea*r the same level of shit.
As someone that's had many-an-argument over Audi reliability (which coincidentally scored "Better Than Average" and #1 overall) I really feel bad for Mopar fans. It's annoying to just get continually shit on for liking something that isn't a Ford, BMW, Honda, or Lexus (the /r/cars darlings.)
I think you mean that all Brita filters do is use carbon to remove other stuff.
FWIW, Consumer reports did a review on water filters, and found them effective at removing heavy metals like lead as well as chloroform, which is one of the byproducts of chlorinating water.
Consumer Reports did test it against a chest strap, they found no significant difference in what the two devices reported.
Skip to 1:57 in the video http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/04/first-test-results-of-apple-watch-and-apple-watch-sport/index.htm
I'm going to need you to stop lying about supplements and pushing products in this sub, okay?
www.consumerreports.org/vitamins-supplements/troubling-new-garcinia-cambogia-side-effect/
Except the huge recall recently where airbags manufactured by Takata. Here is the consumer reports article on it. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/10/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-takata-air-bag-recall/index.htm
The issue is whether the bend could take place under normal conditions in a pocket, and whether the iPhone is especially susceptible to those conditions. Simply trying to bend two phones by hand as hard as you can isn't much of a test.
All it would take to convince me is a test like this, where we can attach a number to the amount of force it takes to bend it.
When I saw the headline and the CNN link I knew it was them ripping off this month's Consumer Reports Magazine. At least they gave credit in their article.
But the OP should have linked to the actual Consumer Reports link instead:
One page. No ads. Way better than CNN.
So much false information...
The battery costs $2,600 to replace, not $10,000, and are warrantied for 100k miles (150k in places like California), so they don't just go out in 60-70k miles. The batteries are also ridiculously reliable, with Consumer Reports observing a failure rate of 5% after 12 years.
>Caramel color level IV
Response
>The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment used 29 micrograms as the cut off point because that’s the level they determined poses a one in 100,000 risk of cancer—that is, no more than one excess cancer case per 100,000 people who are exposed to that amount daily for a lifetime. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/01/caramel-color-the-health-risk-that-may-be-in-your-soda/index.htm
>No Pumpkin ingredients
Your point being what?
>Made with monsanto milk
Yep, because blaming GMOs is an easy way to get people on your side.
>Toxic dose of sugar
50grams is a lot of sugar. But you would have to consume that every day for the risk to increase http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/08/28/sugar-consumption.aspx
>Artificial flavors made from substances like petroleum
This is sort of true.
>Natural flavors that can be made from anything found on earth.
What...
>Pesticide Residue
This might be a problem. If the beans were never processed properly.
Actually you shouldnt flush flushable wipes. They might actually be a lot worse than regular toilet paper. trust me, im a random person on the internet who wouldnt lie to you
Piggybacking on this comment to note that Tuna has very high levels of mercury. Eating just 24 oz. of white albacore per week can put you into a mercury poisoning risk zone.
There are anecdotal reports of guys eating 1-3 cans daily for extended periods of time, and some have actually gotten mercury poisoning.
I'd personally limit my consumption to <1 can/day if possible, and seek out salmon, white fish, and other seafood for high protein when available.
Also note there are 0 dealers in some states, so if you bought your car a state over, you have to go back to the state the car was purchased for service, in which case, as u/accord1999 suggested, they are much much more difficult to service.
This is kind of what's terrible about private enterprise. Don't like Amazon? Then you have to create this entire alternative and mostly redundant infrastructure to replace it.
Conservatives like to moan and complain about "government monopolies" but public institutions like USPS would probably perform just as well as Fedex if they were given the same amount of money, with the added benefit that if you don't like what they're doing communities have some say in modifying how they behave and treat workers.
EDIT: I'm seeing this same sentiment in some more upvoted threads here
edit: from consumerreports.org:
>A few readers wondered how the TC7000 Super Saw could cut metal pipe, wood, and more, yet leave fingers unscathed. Turns out it can’t. When we asked two customer-service representatives about the ad, one apologized and said the ad was wrong: “It is a knife, and it will cut your fingers.” The second said it was all about pressure: "If you touch it, it’s not going to cut your fingers."
I remember a study saying that light bulbs used to last forever, but manufacturers agreed that it wasn't a good thing and reduced the diameter of the wire inside so they'd last a lot less long. The well-known everlasting light bulb in a firefighters' place is just a lightbulb made before that agreement.
sources :
http://economicstudents.com/2012/09/planned-obsolescence-the-light-bulb-conspiracy/
Edit : sources
Speeding is less fuel efficient though so you might end up stopping more frequently for gas. Not sure how much of a difference it makes, but it is noticeable.
Edit: It's great that everyone is giving anecdotes, but I'll take consumer reports tests: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2009/09/tested-speed-vs-fuel-economy/index.htm
So, going above 55 mph IS less fuel efficient but not enough to really make much of a difference time wise.
Edit2: Another study from the US department of energy: https://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/2013_fotw772.html
FYI those of you who have headlights like the one shown. You can easily restore your lights. I have to do mine again soon.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/headlight-restoration-kits/buying-guide.htm
Consumer Reports thinks differently.
Even if it is a bit more costly, I'm sure the average price point will come down rather quickly as more and more shops learn aluminum repair and more manufacturers embrace aluminum.
The hot, new shit is almost always expensive while it's still hot and new.
Steak, no, since all the bacteria is on the outside. Searing it and leaving the inside rare/raw makes it safe. (This is why rare ground beef is a bad idea--the inside and the outside get all mixed together.)
Chickens contain much more bacteria. I'm not sure why, but this is why it's recommended to cook them more.
> The federal Fair Packaging and Labeling Act is supposed to prevent the public from being misled by packages containing excessive "slack fill," nonfunctional or empty space that creates an illusion of more product, often through underfilling, indented bottoms, or extra walls. But slack fill is allowed if it keeps a product from breaking, if the package does double-duty (as a dispenser or tray, for example), to accommodate machinery on the assembly line, or to discourage theft in the store.
Here is the J.D. Power long term reliability chart
Lexus is on top. Not surprises, there.
Ford and Chevy are about average. BMW is comparable, but worse.
Volkswagen is near the bottom, between Chrysler and Jeep.
I hear a lot about this legendary German reliability, particularly from Europeans, and especially on shows like Top Gear/Grand Tour. This data doesn't back this up.
Yeah, if you buy a Mercedes or Porsche you're going to get a good car, but those are luxury brands, and not everyone can afford it.
If German cars really are reliable, it must be European-market German cars. Perhaps the North American market ones are made differently.
edit: And here is Consumer Reports' long term reliability chart. Honda and Toyota stand out. German makes stand out, too--for being as unreliable as Chrysler.
> The wipes are more durable and are less likely to shred or break while using them
That's what makes them absolutely terrible for your pipes. They simply don't break down.
Yes absolutely you can try negotiating prices on furniture. Here is an article from Consumer Reports on the topic.
>Successful furniture hagglers saved $300 on average
As a matter of fact, that was last year.
This year they do recommend the Tesla Model S.
A lot of it is drivers doped up on prescription meds like Ambien, which cause effects like sleep driving, and the drug lasts a full day longer in the system in women. It's fucking incredible what dope people can legally drive on. People taking Ambien/Lunesta/etc can actually get off in court, and often don't remember driving a car at all. But, with 30,000 people a year killed on highways, let's focus on Muslims and Mexican fences, and the victims of 7/11.
Relevant column from Consumer Reports:
There were electric toasters on the market a half century ago," our editors wrote—in the May 1956 issue of Consumer Reports. "In view of the long years of experience in manufacture, there seems little excuse for toasters that are badly designed or poorly constructed, and no excuse at all for toasters which are hazardous to use." Tests from that year turned up each of those problems. We did recommend some models, including the Toastmaster 1B14, which an expert quoted in the Times article calls "absolutely the end-all-and-be-all toaster there ever was." In fact, while we liked the Toastmaster's overall performance, its narrow slots were unsuitable for thick slices of bread and muffins, so better reviews went to models by Montgomery Ward, Sunbeam, and Knapp-Monarch.
Not really the case any more. With 6,7, and 8 speed autos becoming popular and lock up torque converters autos are starting to become superior when it comes to fuel economy.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/01/save-gas-and-money-with-a-manual-transmission/index.htm http://www.ford.ca/cars/fiesta/specifications/view-all/
That said, I still love to drive a manual. My last three cars have been stick shifts and the driving experience is much better IMO.
And clothing from the mall has formaldehyde on it. You're always supposed to sanitize clothing no matter where you got it.
If this was the kind of answer you were looking for, you might check out: This Is How Much It Costs to Own a Vagina: An Itemized List, http://jezebel.com/5890058/this-is-how-much-it-costs-to-own-a-vagina-an-itemized-list
So according to this, Without the variables and if drinks cost an avg of $7, a woman would need to be bought about 380 drinks a year to be breaking even. And while we're at it, let's pretend that she will be bought these 380 drinks Every year for as long as she lives...else, she wouldn't be breaking even right? Yes- I see a lot of profit there!...right? And I am guessing the gents you were talking to probably also meant dinner in addition to drinks, but still, the women would have to be getting this Every year...and it's not like there is any Requirement to get all these...it's not like a woman would have to be pretty and social in their scenarios- the average woman is a 22 yr old bombshell who finds it very easy to meet and talk with people, in their(your friends') heads at least?
This is also an interesting infographic:http://awesome.good.is/transparency/web/1107/female-healthcare/flat.html
Also, items targeted towards women such as deodorant or shaving cream usually cost more: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2010/january/shopping/same-products-different-prices/overview/same-products-different-prices-ov.htm
You can also bring up gender pay gap? A simple google-search for "lifetime cost of being a woman" also gives interesting results.
*sorry for the phrasing+grammar in here, I am bit in a hurry and honestly I usually phrase things awkwardly anyway.
>To be honest, even the "affordable" used ones are a stretch for my budget. I'm looking on cars.com and filtering on Model S under $45k. What I'm seeing are a lot of 2012s and 2013s with the 60kWh battery and between 40,000 and 100,000 miles.
It's a used luxury car. Not something you should stretch your budget for. If you wouldn't stretch your budget for a comparable BMW and Mercedes, you shouldn't do it here.
>I'm reaching out to you fine folks to get your opinions on the dependability and reliability of Model Ss that fall into the category above. The 60kWh battery meets my needs for distance, but do cars from these years have known issues I should be aware of? I remember reading about drivetrain issues that required a total swap; how prevalent are major issues like those in your opinion?
There isn't really a consensus. Tesla says the issues have been fixed, TrueDelta data indicates reliability isn't much better, although the most serious issues (complete electrical/drivetrain failures, etc.) seem to have decreased. Consumer Reports has fluctuated between average and below average for the Model S, citing "drivetrain, power equipment, charging equipment, giant iPad-like center console, and body and sunroof squeaks, rattles, and leaks" as the main problem areas.
>Basically - I'm a buying someone else's headache or is a used Model S a solid investment? Thanks for any input you can provide!
It seems to be a crapshoot. Some people have had zero issues, others have had multiple drivetrain replacements in a year. But again, it's a used luxury car. The expenses are always going to be higher than a generic econobox.
Hope that helps.
Yeah, there is something to it.
There are a lot of articles with conflicting information, and although I personally trust Consumer Reports as a source -- you should read a few articles and decide how you should best react to the information.
I love tuna, too, but mercury is serious stuff. You should also be aware that the danger is very high for young children.
There are great replacements for tuna in the canned fish aisle. People often recommend canned salmon, which I love but can be pricey compared to tuna. Sardines are great but canned mackerel is probably my favorite. It's like tuna, but with a much meatier flavor. Kippers are great for breakfast and sandwiches, too.
Give what up? Making valid points against your argument? Here's an article regarding how clean chicken is in case you thought I was making things up.
Supplements, Christ.
Next to no regulation. FDA whistles past those graveyards.
>Of the more than 54,000 dietary supplement products in the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, only about a third have some level of safety and effectiveness that is supported by scientific evidence, according to a review by NMCD experts. And close to 12 percent have been linked to safety concerns or problems with product quality.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/05/dangerous-supplements/index.htm
http://www.mensjournal.com/expert-advice/the-worst-supplements-of-all-time-20131216
If I had an 18 year old I'd ban that shit from my household as well. Not on my health plan you don't.
The Focus's automated manual transmission has a clutch instead of a torque converter, which is why people call it an automated manual. It's a joint venture with Getrag
So I did some digging on how they actually perform the testing.
> To check for UVB protection, a standard amount of each sunscreen is applied to six places on our panelists' backs. Then they soak in a tub of water. Afterward, each of those areas is exposed to six intensities of UVB light from a sun simulator for a set time. About a day later, the six spots are examined for redness. Tested SPF—based on our average results for each sunscreen after water immersion, not how close a sunscreen comes to meeting its SPF claim—is used to calculate our UVB scores.The UVA test we use allows us to differentiate the degree of UVA protection among sunscreens. To test for UVA, we smear sunscreen onto plastic plates and pass UV light through and measure the amount of UVA and UVB rays that are absorbed. That information is then used to calculate our UVA score.
>Overall scores are based on results of the above UVB and UVA tests.
It sounds like sunscreens not intended to be waterproof are unfairly disadvantaged in the UVB test which is what many Western sunscreens are formulated for. It also doesn't include skin types, Fitzpatrick types, the actual amount of sunscreen applied (what is 'standard'?), or the actual length of exposure time.
While Consumer Reports is reputable, I'm disappointed in the lack of transparency of their process from what is readily available for the public to review.
2.5 times is way too exaggerated
Its more like 1.2 - 1.5 times the cost of american/Japanese cars in the long term. But, its significantly less expensive in the first 5 years.
Source: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/12/what-that-car-really-costs-to-own/index.htm