What to Do With Old Cell Phones and Other Electronics

We have 3 cell phone users in our house and a bunch of old cell phones lying around.  The kids get tired of playing with them and they are basically non-functional (though they do work successfully as paperweights).  Are they worth anything?  For the most part, no.  So the best bet is to take them to a recycler that has been approved for taking e-waste.

If you prefer to rid yourself of these items via mail, the USPS is piloting a recycling program, where they provide postage-paid plastic envelopes for recycling old cell phones, PDAs, MP3 players, digital cameras and up to 4 inkjet cartridges.  Call your local post office at 800.ASK.USPS to see if they have these bags.  I know they carry them at 2150 Pickwick Drive, Camarillo as I plan to use a few myself.

So does your old cell phone and other old electronic equipment have any value?  You could spend time on eBay and try to sell your old equipment.  But you could also check out Gazelle.com, which allows you to type in information about your equipment and they tell you how much they will pay you for it. I found out that I could fetch a whopping $17 for my 6 month old LG phone while my old Nokia has no value.  But they also buy old laptops, gaming consoles, digital cameras, MP3 players, etc.  I found out our ancient Nintendo 64 also has no value :<

Click this link:  Get Cash For Your Gadgets at gazelle.com! so that Conejo Joe gets credit if you do happen to sell something to Gazelle.  Whatever I make I will donate to local charities!  Go on, start uncluttering your house of old electronic stuff!

An Amazing Infant Swimming Survival Video

Anyone with young kids and a pool worries about pool safety. Too often we read about pool tragedies. A friend of mine sent me a link to this amazing video of an infant that was taught pool survival skills. As a parent it is hard to watch at first but is incredible (and you will see a very big smile on this cute little guy at the end of the video).

This infant was taught survival swim techniques through an Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) program. I visited the ISR website at www.infantswim.com and searched for local ISR-certified instructors in Ventura County. I came across a local instructor in Newbury Park at www.CaliforniaWaterBabies.com.

Of course the best approach to pool safety is prevention. Some common sense tips:

• Put a fence around your pool.
• Don't leave the little ones unattended.
• Don't get distracted, as accidents can happen in a split second.
• Put an alarm on your pool gate.
• Put a lock on your pool gate and check it daily.
• Don't leave toys in the pool that could entice a little one to jump in.

For more tips visit www.californiawaterbabies.com/prevention.html.

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.

Chuck Trunks' Latest Work - "Zuma Beach"

One of Chuck's most vivid memories from his first days in Los Angeles in the late 1980s was spending time at Zuma Beach.  His latest precision abstract captures the feel of Zuma Beach in Chuck's own unique way.   I had to find a picture to compare it to and found this one.  Visit www.chucktrunks.com for more of Chuck's signature work and click here and here for more on Chuck on Conejo Valley Guide.

Chuck was also selected by the Simi Valley Town Center in a countywide competition to have his work featured in its monthly calendar.  Over 400 artists submitted entries.  See the other winners at www.simivalleytc.com/go/Poolb.cfm?MallID=781&FPURLID=2129965923.

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.

The Man, The Boy and The Brick

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in a new Jaguar. While watching for kids darting out from between parked cars, there was movement on the sidewalk that made him slow down.

As the car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the car's side door! The executive slammed on the brakes and drove the Jaguar back to the spot where the brick had been thrown.

The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed the child against a parked car shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?"

The youth was apologetic. "Please...please, I'm sorry...I didn't know what else to do "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..." With tears, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. "It's my brother, he rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up."

Now sobbing, the child asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

The driver was moved beyond words and hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the boy's scrapes and cuts. A quick look over the minor injuries relieved the executive.

"Thank you," the grateful child told the stranger.

Too shook up for words, the young executive simply watched the child push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. The dent was there to remind the executive this message:

Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!

The universe whispers messages to our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time...a brick is thrown to ensure we listen.  It's our choice to listen or not.