Time to Start Dialing More Numbers! The 818/747 Area Code Overlay is Coming on April 18th!

Start re-programming those cell phones!  On April 18th, the 818 area code will be "overlayed" with the brand new 747 area code.  An overlay means both area codes will work in the same area and thus if you have an 818 number now, you can keep it.  But...there's a catch.  You now have to dial 10 digits (1-818-XXX-XXXX) instead of just 7 digits, even if you are calling from an 818 to another 818 number.

This new 1 + area code + phone number requirement begins on APRIL 19TH!  So if you don't dial the 10 digit number on that date, your call will not be completed as dialed.

Are you excited about the prospect of getting one of those new 747 numbers!?  Well, ya have to wait until May 18th for that to be a possibility.

The California PUC has a cool catchphrase: When in Doubt, Dial it Out!  Much better than my idea: Dial 10 Digits, Not 7, Mental Midgets!

For more information about the change, call your phone company or visit www.cpuc.ca.gov/818areacode.

Why are they doing this?  Because they are running out of 818 phone numbers, duh!  For you old timers and history buffs, the 818 area code was born in 1984 as a geographic split from the 213 area code.  (Woah, 818 is turning 25 this year!  Yippee!).  In 1997 the 626 area code was split out of the 818 code.

Will this affect us 805 area code people?  Nah, we can just laugh and go "ha ha" to our 818 neighbors in Westlake Village, Agoura, Calabasas and beyond. But don't laugh too loud.  This could happen to you too someday.  The 805 area code has actually been around since 1957, having also been split out from gramma 213 (or is it grandpa?).

818/747 Overlay Map, Courtesy Cal PUC

Apple First Generation iPod nano Class Action Settlement Refund

So I get this notice in the mail the other day about an Apple 1st Generation iPod nano (yes, they spell it with a lowercase "n" - I never realized that).  There was a class action lawsuit about an "excessive scratching" issue with this nano and that Apple failed to disclose the issue.  Apple decided it didn't want to waste time with this lawsuit and agreed to provide a cash settlement fund of $22.5 million to settle it.

If you bought a 1st Generation iPod nano and can declare that you experienced scratching of the nano that "impaired my use or enjoyment of my iPod nano" (quoted from the claim form) and you can provide the serial number of your nano, you are eligible for a refund of $15 or $25, depending on if you received a "slip case" with your purchase.  This refund can be more (up to $22.50 or $37.50) or less depending how many claims are filed. 

You must be the original purchaser of a brand new 1st Generation iPod nano to be eligible.  These uncoated nanos susceptible to scratches were sold beginning in September 2005, but some did have the protective coat on them.

The big winners...(drum roll)...the attorneys!!  Yes, the attorneys receive $4.5 million from the award plus up to $200,000 in litigation expenses.  A full 20%+ of the award.  I knew I shoulda been an attorney.  And the 11 named plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit will be awarded up to $2,500 each for their time.

For more information about the settlement and to obtain a claim form, visit www.iPodnanoSettlement.com or call 1.888.232.3395.  Claims filing deadline is June 10, 2009.

BREAKING NEWS! City of Thousand Oaks Changes Name to Nine Hundred Seventy Eight Oaks!

The City of Thousand Oaks announced today that effective immediately, the city's name has been changed to the City of Nine Hundred Seventy Eight Oaks!

Prompting the name change was an extensive review and inventory of trees in Thousand Oaks by the Ventura County Auditor-Controller's office.  Since the city's incorporation on October 7, 1964, there had been no formal assessment of the number of oak trees residing within city limits. 

The recent audit indicated that only 978 full grown oak trees are located in the city.  Lead auditor Mia Countdemup notes "I was shocked!  We looked in every nook and cranny and couldn't find those other 22 trees. Kind of bums me out!"

While numerous oak trees have been planted in city limits between 1964 and 2009, it can take up to 15 to 20 years for an oak tree to reach full size.  Growth of the city through the years to over 127,000 inhabitants has caused a number of oaks to be displaced, resulting in the shortfall of trees.

City spokesperson Ayn L. Retentive indicated that future tree counts will be performed annually in March and results will be announced on April 1st.

In related news, the City of Twentynine Palms in San Bernandino County announced that it has changed its name to A Dozen Palms after an exhaustive review for 17 missing palm trees.  City council member and palm counter Ivana Findemall stated "We kind of don't mind, as 29 is such an odd number anyhow. A dozen is much more memorable."

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS' DAY!!!

California Sales Taxes...Financial "Swindle Us" Package Coming April Fool's Day!

It is now April 1st!  Yes, the California sales tax rate has increased to 8.25% as previously announced.

One Penny Equals 14%

Funny (well maybe not) how when describing the sales tax hike they say it is increasing by a penny, or 1% of each dollar.  Well the reality of it is that for every $100 taxable purchase you pay $8.25 in taxes instead of $7.25...this $1 increase represents a 14% tax hike!  OUCH!

The "good" news is that most of Ventura County will be limited to 8.25%.  Our neighbors in the L.A. County portion of Westlake Village, Agoura and Calabasas will pay 9.25%. 

The cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme will charge 8.75% sales taxes on 4/1.  The extra .5% was approved by voters in November.  Hmmm, I wonder if this would have been approved had they known another statewide increase was coming.  A double whammy!  As a result, sales taxes in Oxnard and Port Hueneme effectively are increasing by 21%!!!

It could be worse.  The highest rate in California is 10.25% in Pico Rivera and South Gate.   Dear PR and SG residents: Thousand Oaks is only 60 miles away.  Drive here to save taxes on big ticket purchases!  (NOTE: A very smart friend of mine pointed out an inaccuracy in the original post...that vehicles are taxed based on the city/county the car is registered in...not the city of purchase.  Thank you for that key clarification!)

The Trend is Not Your Friend

The California State Board of Equalization website is not ashamed (nor am I) to publish the following history of sales tax rates:

• 8/1/33:  2.5%
• 7/1/35:  3%
• 7/1/43:  2.5% (nice!)
• 7/1/49:  3%
• 1/1/62:  4% (owww...a 33% increase)
• 8/1/67:  5% (another 25%)
• 7/1/73:  6% (20% increase)
• 10/1/73:  5% (back down only 3 months later)
• 4/1/74:  6% (and back up we go)
• 12/1/89:  6.25% (not bad...15 1/2 years and only .25% increase)
• 1/1/91:  6% (very nice)
• 7/15/91:  7.25% (prior drop was a major head fake)
• 1/1/01:  7%
• 1/1/02:  7.25%
• 4/1/09:  8.25%

California sales tax rates have more than tripled since they were born in 1933.  That trend line ain't looking too good.

This latest increase they say will expire on either 7/1/01 or 7/1/12, depending upon whether we approve a "Budget Stabilization constitutional amendment" in a statewide election on May 19th.  I attempted to decipher what this amendment is but was unsuccessful.  I will try again once the details are published.

Starbucks VIA "Ready Brew" is Actually Pretty Good!

AN UPDATE!!  It took 5 weeks, but I finally received my sample of Starbucks VIA "Ready Brew" (i.e. instant coffee) in the mail.  I'm happy to report that after initially being skeptical, I LIKE IT!

Starbucks VIA comes in these cool little packets about the size of a finger.  There are two flavors, Columbia and Italian Roast.   Each packet makes an 8 ounce cup of coffee.  I was shocked by the fact that I really enjoyed the taste of it, much more so than the terrible coffee I brewed at home this morning. 

In fact, today I bought 2 boxes of it so I have some in reserve.  They charge $10 for a box of 12, which I guess ain't that bad since it was actually pretty good!  I also like the portability of these.  Pop a few of these into your briefcase or purse and you have good tasting coffee anywhere you can find hot water!

Click the logo below to get to the Starbucks VIA website (no, I don't make money from this :< just sharing something new with all of you!)

I have ordered my sample and will not be shy about sharing my thoughts about it!  CVG would love to hear your opinions either by clicking here or by commenting at the bottom of this post.

From the Starbucks website:

"This is not instant coffee as you know it. This is rich, flavorful Starbucks® coffee in an instant.

Starbucks has found a way to offer a truly great cup of coffee that you can prepare by just adding water. Other instant coffees taste flat and lifeless. Starbucks VIA^TM Ready Brew is different – it’s full-bodied and flavorful, just like the Starbucks® coffee you know and love.

It’s made with the highest-quality, ethically sourced 100% arabica beans. The magic is in a proprietary, all-natural process that we spent years perfecting. We microgrind the coffee in a way that preserves all of their essential oils and flavor. No other coffee company takes this step, and it makes all the difference.

We know you might be skeptical ... but we hope you’ll give Starbucks VIA^TM Ready Brew a chance. Try a free sample at home. The proof is in the cup!"

The Starbucks website had this very brief press release on February 12th:

"Starbucks Statement: Instant Coffee Breakthrough
Starbucks will host exclusive events next week in New York and other cities to introduce a breakthrough new product. We have been working on this project for more than 20 years, and have a patent pending on the technology that delivers Starbucks coffee in an instant form. The instant coffee market is a $17 billion global market and it offers Starbucks a significant opportunity."

The Economics of Girl Scout Cookies

NOTE FROM CONEJO JOE:  This was originally posted in 2/08 but it's that time of year again.  What made me think of it is that I'm doing my taxes and eating Girl Scout Cookies.  Reminded me that Girl Scout Cookie purchases are NOT tax deductible.  But what they lack in deductibility they make up for in calories and deliciousness.

So it is February 7th, 2008 and we've already ordered 16 boxes of Girl Scout cookies.  It started on a Saturday afternoon when a uniformed Scout knocked on the door, order form in hand.  My son helped me choose 6 boxes, mostly Thin Mints and those addictive peanut butter patties I shove in my mouth two at a time.  Then a week a later a guy in the office took orders for his daughter.  Another 4 boxes for me.  But at least one of my selections was the allegedly low calorie "Cina-Spins" (won't be low calorie for me when I eat triple the recommend portion).  In the meantime my wife ordered 6 boxes from a friend's daughter.  No doubt we will voraciously eat them all.

Girl Scout Cookies are big business.  Nearly 200 million boxes are sold per year by 2.7 million girl scouts (and their parents).  The price of Girl Scout Cookies ranges from $2.50 to $4 depending on where you live.  Locally they are $4 but across the country the average price is $3.50 per box.  Of that $3.50, about 90 cents goes to 2 companies that make the cookies, $2 goes towards Scout programs, training and facilities costs, 20 cents goes towards Scout incentive programs and 50 cents goes to the local Scout troops for activities and programs.

Are Girl Scout Cookies tax deductible?  Technically no, not unless you buy them and donate them to a charity instead of devouring them.  So if you are not a cookie fan or are on a diet, consider donating money to the Scouts directly, bypassing the cookies.  You'll have a tax deduction and your waistline will benefit.

Why aren't Girl Scout Cookies sold online?  Well actually they are, but are not supposed to be.  Today I checked eBay and there were 79 listings for Girl Scout Cookies.  Selling cookies on the Internet is prohibited by the Girl Scouts yet the "black market" for them continues.  Some people just have to have their cookies delivered to their door via UPS I suppose. 

Thin Mints are still tops.  25% of Girl Scout Cookies sold are Thin Mints.  Let's do the math.  That means 50 million boxes and with 32 cookies per box that equates to 1.6 BILLION Thin Mint cookies per year.  At 40 calories per cookie we're talking 64 BILLION calories per year on Thin Mint cookies.  But who's counting.

Girl Scout Cookies have been around nationally since 1936.  Prior to then local troops sold cookies, often baking them themselves.  The only hiatus came during WWII, when calendars were sold instead of cookies.

Looking for Girl Scout Cookies but can't find them?  Visit   www.GirlScoutCookies.org.

For more information about about the Girl Scout Cookies program, click here.

President Obama, Let's Ditch Daylight Saving Time! Please!?

Please, oh please, President Obama, let's eliminate Daylight Saving Time!  Pretty please!?

Daylight Saving Time stresses me out.  Every year we lose an hour of sleep and, at least in my family, it takes weeks to get used to it.  Think about it.  At 1:59 a.m. on the 2nd Sunday of March, we lose 1 hour of sleep.  4% of our day is taken away from us.  That hurts!  It took a monumental effort to get the kids out of bed on Monday, and again on Tuesday.  Now everybody's tired and cranky.

Aside from the sudden sleep loss, the single largest annoyance is changing over the clocks...on 4 computers (well, 3 of the 4 changed on their own...thanks Microsoft), everybody's watches, the microwave, 3 wall clocks, the automatic sprinklers, the coffee maker, two alarm clocks and of course the car clocks.  Ah yes, those car clocks.  Why is it that changing the car clock is so difficult?  Toyota, you guys are smart, but why is the car radio so complex that I have to pull the manual out to figure out how to change time on the clock?  It takes me like a month to get to it.  And I know I'm not alone.

Daylight Saving Time does not "save" anything, it just shifts daylight.  We still have the same number of daylight hours.  Daylight Saving Time now lasts nearly 8 months out of the year, from the 2nd Sunday of March to the 1st Sunday of November.  How about if we just stay on Daylight Saving Time year-round??  That would certainly eliminate all of the bi-annual annoyances!  Apparently this has been pursued before in Colorado, but some lame Federal law prevents states from doing this.

Better yet, let's follow the lead of Arizona, which has not observed DST since 1967.  Why?  Because it's hotter then heck in Arizona and DST results in more power usage.  I would be willing to bet that California spends more on power too as a result of DST.  Strange that Federal law would allow a state to exempt itself from DST but not choose year-round DST.  Hawaii also does not observe DST, not like they need more daylight over there!

DST is popular in North America and Europe but most of the Middle East, Asia and Africa do not use DST.  The list of DST naysayers includes China, Hong Kong, Japan, Kuwait, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and most of Africa, among other places.  Iran and North Korea also do not use DST, for whatever that's worth.

So in the meantime, I'm still stressed out and tired.  I know that I forgot to change at least one clock or watch and at some point this is going to mess me up and make me late for something.

Feels good to get that off my chest.  I feel better now.