U.S. Mail First-Class Letter Rates to Increase by Three Cents on January 26, 2014

The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) announced on Christmas Eve that it was approving a U.S. Postal Service request for a 3 cent increase in first-class mail single letter rates effective January 26, 2014. This will increase the price of stamps from 46 cents to 49 cents, or 6.5% (though I'm puzzled by the PRC press release that indicates an increase of 6.0%, which, if you do the math, is incorrect...maybe they need to hire me and my calculator).

This is a pretty significant increase, well in excess of the Consumer Price Index change that is typically uses to justify rate increases. The reason for this is that they are seeking to offset what they call "exigent" losses during the "Great Recession of 2008-2009." 

I had to look up the word "exigent" as it is not part of my limited vocabulary. According to Merriam Webster online, exigent is defined as "requiring immediate attention or action." OK, I guess I could have figured that out.

The PRC indicates that this increase is "temporary" however as it has determined that 25.3 billion pieces of volume were lost between 2008 and 2011 at a loss of $2.8 billion and that this temporary increase in excess of inflation would be put in place until the lost revenue is made up. This could be a few years.

Previous first-class letter rate increases were 1 cent in January 2013, 1 cent in January 2012 and 2 cents in May 2009.

This next month is probably the best time ever to stock up on "Forever" stamps to be the 6.5% price increase. If you don't use mail much, I suspect this will not have too big of an impact on you. If you do plan to mail a lot of stuff these next few years, it is exigent that you stock up soon.

Signs, Signs, Everywhere There's Signs Around Ventura County

The Five Man Electrical Band said it best in their 1970 song "Sign" - Sign, sign, everywhere a sign; Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind; Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign. Some signs provide more comic relief than others around Ventura County.

The Community Pool at Samuelson Aquatics Center is a pristine, 82 degree heated community pool at Cal Lutheran University that is located adjacent to the George "Sparky" Anderson Field & Ullman Stadium. As a result, flying baseballs can be an issue for poolgoers who dare to swim during CLU home games!

Dos Vientos Community Park in Newbury Park is popular with local soccer, baseball and other sports teams. The sign below indicates that perhaps too many local sports enthusiasts were using the walls of the snack bar/restroom facility at the park in their ball playing endeavors.

According to City of Oxnard Ordinance 2708, section 7-86(A), "It shall be unlawful for any person to have in his or her possession any adhesive sticker, etching tool, indelible marker, paint stick, or graffiti stick while in or upon any public facility, park, playground, swimming pool, beach, recreational facility, or other public building owned or operated by the city where signs forbidding such possession without valid authorization are displayed in a reasonable location or locations." So watch your stickers in public facilities in Oxnard! It is unlawful to have one in your possession!

Evolution of Bench at Upper Sycamore Canyon Overlook at Rancho Sierra Vista

The Springs Fire started the morning of May 2nd along the 101 freeway on the Conejo Grade and burned over 28,000 acres through portions of Camarillo, Newbury Park and the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Aea until it was fully contained the following week.

Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa and other trails in Pt Mugu State Park were re-opened in mid to late May. It will take time for the vegetation to grow back and for structures that were burned to be rebuilt. One such structure is the bench overlooking Upper Sycamore Canyon. The bench was burnt severely and was rendered unusable. However, lo and behold, the bench has been replaced! Happy trails!

The healthy, new bench overlooking Upper Sycamore Canyon in September 2013

Bench overlooking Upper Sycamore Canyon in August of 2013.

The not-so-healthy looking bench overlooking Upper Sycamore Canyon after the fire.View from the new and improved bench at Upper Sycamore Canyon Overlook in Sept 2013

Bench at Upper Sycamore Canyon Overlook on May 14, 2013Bench at Upper Sycamore Canyon Overlook prior to Springs Fire on February 10, 2013

All sorts of benches in and around the Conejo Valley

Touching Story of 96 Year Old Fred Stobaugh and the Song He Wrote For Wife Lorraine

Grab the tissues. Here's a touching story of a man named Fred, 96 years old, who responded to a singer/songwriter contest with lyrics to a song to his wife, Lorraine. Although his entry was not accepted because his lyrics were not sung by him, his lyrics are brought to life. Watch the video to see what happens, and his reaction.

You May be Eligible to Receive a Rebate for Apple In-App Purchases Made by Your Kids

Apple was sued recently by a group of plaintiffs who claimed Apple was at fault for their kids' in-app purchases on Apple devices such as the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Apple did not admit fault, but opted to settle the litigation by offering up a rebate for certain in-app purchases.

To receive a rebate (subject to court approval of the settlement in the fall), you must prove that, before May 2, 2013, a minor purchased in-app items on games like Angry Birds, Cut the Rope, Temple Run and a host of other game apps in your iTunes account without your knowledge or permission and you did not receive a refund from Apple for the charges.

I can relate to this issue. My kids got ahold of my 1st generation iPad a few years ago and began playing games like those mentioned above. It was all fun and good for awhile, until I began receiving emails from iTunes about various purchases. I thought maybe my iTunes account was hacked. I asked my wife, "who's buying stuff from iTunes?" She didn't know. Then l logged in to discover my youngest was buying virtual items via in-app purchases in the game. He didn't realize he was spending my money, to the tune of over $100.

My boys apparently enjoyed Battle Bears a bit TOO much with these in-app purchases.

I was able to get a refund for most of these "inadvertent" purchases from Apple and I also learned how to block in-app purchases made without use of a password. Learn more about Apple parental controls at support.apple.com/kb/HT4213.

But in the meantime, Apple is contacting iTunes customers to let them know about this proposed settlement. To learn if you are eligible, visit www.iTunesInAppPurchaseSettlement.com (catchy URL, eh?) for details.

If you are eligible for a settlement and the settlement is approved by the court, Apple will give you either a $5 iTunes Store credit or an iTunes Store credit totaling all unapproved charges made to your account within a single 45-day period by your kid. Ouch, for some that might be a pretty large amount! If your claim exceeds $30, or if you no longer have an iTunes account, you can opt for a cash refund.

The big winners in all of this may be the attorneys...the judge has approved $1.3 million from Apple for attorney fees and costs.  And the five Class Represenatives, or plaintiffs, will each receive a $1,500 payment from Apple.