Stop Online Piracy Act

Many of you may have seen other websites blacked out today for the SOPA Blackout Day and to protest against SOPA.  Consumerqueen.com decided to instead take a moment to educate you about what SOPA is and what it means to you.

WHAT IS SOPA?

SOPA is actually House Bill 3261

WHO STARTED SOPA?

Texas Representative Lamar Smith introduced this bill on October 27, 2011.  It has 31 co-sponsors.  The co-sponsors are: Nevada Representative Mark E Amodei, California Representative Joe Baca, Georgia Representative John Barrow, California Representative Karen Bass, California Represenatative Howard L. Herman, Tennessee Representative Marsha Blackburn, California Representative Mary Bono Mack, Texas Representative John R. Carter, Ohio Representative Stave Chabot, California Representative Judy Chu, Michigan Representative John Conyers Jr, Tennessee Representative Theodore E Deutch, California Representative Elton Gallegy, Virginia Representative Bob Goodlatte, Arkansas Representative Tim Griffin, Pennsylvania Representative Peter T. King, Connecticut Representative John B. Larson, New Mexico Representative Ben Ray Lujan, Pennsylvania Representative Tom Marino, Mississippi Representative Alan Nunnelee, New York Representative William L. Owens, Arizona Representative Benjamin Quayle, Florida Representative Dennis Ross, Louisianna Representative Steve Scalise, California Representative Adam B. Schiff, California Representative Brad Sherman, Nebraska Represetative Lee Terry, Florida Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz and North Carolina Representative Melvin L Watt.

OK, well it is not like there are pirates online .....right?

Actually, yes there are "pirates" online.  While some of the items found on websites, like Consumerqueen.com, can be found on other websites such as the coupon matchups and the deals other items are the intellectual property of Melissa Garcia aka The Consumer Queen and her Princesses.  These "pirates" will come and take the articles and blog posts we wrote and post them on their website and claim the posts as their own personal property, just like pirates would steal the bounty of ships in open waters.  Another way these "pirates" get material is to "r@pe" or scrape a website which means taking pictures or material and changing a few words so it does not match exactly.  Some people have even found that their intellectual property turned into e-books by other people and other people are profiting off their intellectual property and not crediting them in any way nor reimbursing them for the use of their work.

OK...so there are "pirates" online what is SOPA all about?

I think OpenCongress.org says it best when they said:

This bill would establish a system for taking down websites that the Justice Department determines to be dedicated to copyright infringment. The DoJ or the copyright owner would be able to commence a legal action against any site they deem to have "only limited purpose or use other than infringement," and the DoJ would be allowed to demand that search engines, social networking sites and domain name services block access to the targeted site. It would also make unauthorized web streaming of copyrighted content a felony with a possible penalty up to five years in prison. This bill combines two separate Senate bills -- S.968 and S.978 -- into one big House bill.

Basically in layman's terms that means if the Department of Justice were to determine that a blog or any website's sole function was copyright infringement they could close it down.  They could actually have the website owner charged with a felony and have them spend up to five years in prison.

OK....that is clear as mud what does it really mean?

SOPA infringes on the First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. -http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_Am1.html

SOPA also charges website owners with the crime if the user posts copyrighted information on the website.  For example, take consumerqueen.com...supposed fan SillySally comes and posts copyrighted information from Company JFG.  The Department of Justice could shut down Consumerqueen.com and impose a prison sentence up to five years on Melissa.  Is that fair?  Now, I am sure that SillySally posting just one thing would not cause a problem; however, there are no guidelines set to say how much is too much and when the Department of Justice steps in or if they even issue a Cease and Desist Letter in advance of taking action.

Now think about another problem....the world wide web is also thought of as the interwebs.  Think about webs....webs are tangled bits of string.  It is almost impossible to untangle everything without causing problems.  If the Department of Justice were to start shutting down websites what will happen to other websites that are connected to the one shut down?

What if the Department of Justice shuts down a website in error?  Nothing is infallible.  So, if they shut down Consumerqueen.com will they reimburse Melissa for the lost revenue during the time the website was shut down?  How do you compensate for lost followers?  If people repeatedly attempt to access this website and they are unsuccessful they will stop trying.  How can the government pay that back?

So, what can I do about it?

Speak out!  Let your voice be heard.  Remember YOU elected these people into Congress.  They are called REPRESENTATIVES which means they represent YOU!  Write them and tell them that you disagree with them supporting and passing House Bill 3261.  You can find your Representative's Contact information at http://www.house.gov/

(I hope this made sense!--It is probably clear as mud to most people.  Sorry my mind sometimes over thinks things even when I try to explain them simply!  ~Princess Karen)

Image taken from www.usps.com

Highlights of the new single-piece First-Class Mail pricing, effective Jan. 22, 2012, include:

• Letters (1 oz.) – 1-cent increase to 45 cents

• Letters additional ounces – unchanged at 20 cents

• Postcards – 3-cent increase to 32 cents
• Letters to Canada or Mexico (1 oz.) – 5-cent increase to 85 cents.
• Letters to other international destinations – 7-cent increase to $1.05

Prices also will change for other mailing services, including Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services and Extra Services. This announcement does not affect Express Mail and Priority Mail prices. More information on the new pricing is available at http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2011/pr11_factsht_pricechng_1018.pdf

According to CNN Money Zappos.com and their sister company 6pm.com were hacked over the weekend.  The hackers were able to get the names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers and partial credit card numbers (last 4 digits only) of over 24 million customers. It is recommended that if you have an account with either of these websites that you change your password immediately.

You can find out more details at CNN Money

(Thanks Skimbaco Lifestyle)

More Frugal Tips /The Royal Family/From Our Readers /Guest Post

I have always been pretty good about putting money away for a rainy day but this year I am really taking it more seriously. We have already paid off all of our credit cards and we no longer use them. Right now we are working on paying off my car so that we can get my husband a new car. We are trying to be smart about our purchase. Waiting until we pay off the car we have now and then saving up to make a good down payment is a decision that my husband and I made last year. We are big fans of paying cash when you can and asking ourselves do we really need it if we have to charge it? We are making lots of changes in 2012, how about you?

Below are our Top 10 tips for saving money in 2012 you should think about if your wanting to make a change in your financial status.

Couples and Finance - The first thing you need to do is sit down and talk with your spouse and work on your goals together. You need to get real with one another and pledge to be honest with each other about your spending habits.Then make the pledge to keep each other accountable and create a budget.  I feel like this is the most important step and this you should be the first one you work on before moving on to the others. Check out our Couples and Finance post.

Say No to Charging - I can't tell you how much of a relief it is not to have credit card debt. Start working on paying those credit cards off and then put them away for emergencies only. Ask yourself, if I can't pay cash for it do I really need it? I can't tell you how many parents I see going into debt because they want to give their kids everything they cannot afford.  Don't worry your kids will survive if you don't give them that new toy they wanted that you can't really afford. You need to remember what kind of message and what kind of example you are setting for your kids.  Trust me they are watching and learning from your every move.

Plan for the Future -It is really important to start thinking about the future. My husband and I are really working on this right now. We have signed up for a 401k plan at work.  Check with your financial advisor or bank about possibly setting up an IRA or whatever works best for you.  Check your bank for special programs.  Bank of America has their Keep the Change program.  Anytime you use your debit card they round up to the nearest dollar and put the difference in your savings account.

Couponing - I know, I know, we have talked about couponing before but I want those who still haven't jumped on the band wagon to really listen up.  Make the change to start couponing today and for every dollar you save using coupons put that into a savings account.  For example if you use a $3 coupon take that $3 and put it into a savings account.  If you are having to use coupons because you simply can't afford groceries start small. Put back a penny for every dollar saved.  I know it doesn't sound like much but it's a start and it will add up fast.  If everyone put forth the effort we could have a lot less people relying on food stamps and learning to helping themselves.

Clean out the Clutter - How many of you have a storage unit filled with collectibles and stuff you haven't used in over a year?  My husband and I just had our own little mini storage wars where we invited family to come over and take what they wanted out of our storage unit.  We figure if we have not used it by now we are not going to.  The rest was donated to a local charity.  Just by making this one change we are able to save $130 a month, that's a savings of $1560 a year.  Quit holding on to the junk.  Got collectibles just collecting dust? You can't take it with you so why not sell it, put the money in a savings account and let someone else enjoy them.  They are not doing you any good locked away in a dungeon.  You just gotta let go!

Pay Attention to you Bank Account - Start paying attention to your bank account and looking over it with a fine tooth comb on a weekly or monthly basis.  You will be surprised how much money you are spending at Starbucks or eating out.  Start looking for unnecessary things you can cut out.

Cut It Out - Call your local phone and cable company and find out what specials they are offering for the new year.  Take a look at what you really don't use and cut out what you don't need.  This also goes for car insurance etc.

Give Yourself an Allowance - A budget can be really hard to stick to if you don't make plans for some me time. "You work hard for the money" as they say,so make sure you put a little back to treat yourself every once in awhile.

Don't Impulse Buy - Impulse buying can be very costly.  Tell yourself your gonna wait and if you still want those new pair of shoes next month, then you can treat yourself.  You will be surprised how much less you will be spending because the window shopping experience has worn off.

Make Wise Decisions - Let's just be honest with each other hear.  I can't tell you how many people I hear say I don't have money or I'm broke but their actions directly affect the reason why.  The decisions we make today directly affect our future.  We have to start taking accountability for our actions.  Stop complaining about not having money and do something about it.  It's not about taking the easy road.   You have to work hard for the things that you want.

What steps are you taking to achieve financial freedom in 2012? If you pledge to make a change for 2012 reply here so we can help support each other and when you cross a milestone be sure to share it on our Facebook so we can celebrate with you. (Please note I am not a financial adviser, these are only my opinions)

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More Freebies /Daily Deals/Ultimate Gift Guide /Submit A Deal

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Colorful Hearts Teddy Bears

Units: 284,000 in the United States and 13,200 in Canada

Manufacturer: Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc., of St. Louis, Mo.

Hazard: The teddy bear’s eyes could loosen and fall out, posing a choking hazard to children.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported

Description: The Colorful Hearts Teddy is a stuffed animal about 16 inches high with black plastic eyes. The bear’s fabric covering is printed with multi-colored heart shapes.

Sold by: Build-A-Bear Workshops nationwide and online at www.buildabear.com from April 2011 through December 2011 for about $18 in the U.S. and $23 in Canada.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled teddy bear from children and return it to any Build-A-Bear store to receive a coupon for any available stuffed animal from Build-A-Bear.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact the firm toll-free at (866) 236-5683 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT and on Sunday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT, visit the firm’s website www.buildabear.com or email the firm at colorfulhearts@buildabear.com.

 
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Christmas tipping, which has its own Tipping Etiquette guidelines, is discretionary. If you plan on tipping for Christmas but aren’t quite sure of how much to tip or who to tip, there are a few things to consider. Keep in mind, who to tip and who not to tip at Christmas is entirely up to you.

Christmas Tipping – For Who and How Much?

* Babysitter: One evening’s pay, plus a small gift from your child.
* Barber: Cost of one haircut, and/or gift.
* Beauty salon/hairstylist: $10 to $60 each, giving most to those who provide the most service.
* Child’s teacher: Give a gift, not cash. Consider a Gift Certificate; fruit basket or picture frame.
* Daycare Services: $25-70, plus a small gift from your child.
* Dog walker: One week’s pay and/or a gift.
* Doormen/Concierge: $10 to $80 each, with a bigger tip for the doormen who serves you more.
* Garage attendants and newspaper deliverer: $10 to $30 each.
* Housekeeper: One day’s pay.
* Mail carrier: Gifts up to $20 each, but no cash. *See the rules below for giving Christmas tips to USPS workers below. Only tip your regular mail carrier that you know and see regularly.
* Nanny/Au pair: One week’s to one month’s salary based on tenure, plus a small gift from your child.
* Personal trainer – $60-100 upon reaching goal.
* Super: $25 to $100.
* Doorman: $10 to $80.
* Handyman: $15 to $40.
* Trash collector: $10 to $30 each (for private service); for municipal service, check local regulations.

Christmas Tipping Mail Carriers

According to USPS, the rules and regulations about Christmas tipping mail carriers are as follows:

While many Postal Service™ customers have traditionally thanked their mail carrier with gifts of cash during the holiday season, this practice puts our employees at risk of violating federal law. The Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch (Standards), specifies that Postal Service employees may not accept gifts from outside sources (including Postal Service customers) or gifts given to them because of their official positions. Postal Service employees are also prohibited from soliciting gifts from outside sources.

There are a number of exceptions and exclusions to the general gifts rule. Postal Service employees may accept the following items:

* Snacks and beverages that are not offered as part of a meal.
* Items with little intrinsic value (i.e., greeting cards, plaques, pens, coffee mugs, etc.).
* Perishable items (i.e., flowers, chocolates, cookies, etc.).
* Items with a market (retail) value of $20 or less.
* Gifts motivated solely because of a personal relationship.
* Gifts for which the employee has paid market (retail) value.
* Gifts paid for by the Postal Service.

Postal Service employees may not accept cash – in any amount or form (bills, checks, money orders) – from an outside source.

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Ice cream dippers

Units: About 20,000

Distributor: The Pampered Chef, of Addison, Ill.

Manufacturer: The Zeroll Company, of Fort Pierce, Fla.

Hazard: When the liquid-filled ice cream scoop is exposed to warm water, the cap and seal at the end of the scoop handle can fly off with substantial force, posing an impact injury hazard to nearby consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: The Pampered Chef has received 16 reports including damage to kitchen items and six reports of personal injuries including lacerations, bruises and redness caused by caps coming off the base of the handle.

Description: The dippers are metallic gray aluminum with a plastic dome-shaped cap on the base of the handle. “Pampered Chef” is imprinted in the cap. The ice cream dippers measure around seven inches in length. A non-toxic liquid is sealed inside the handle of the product which conducts the heat of your hand to more easily scoop hard ice cream.

Sold by: Pampered Chef consultants and online at www.pamperedchef.com from July 2010 through September 2010 for about $15.

Manufactured in: USA

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled ice cream dippers and contact The Pampered Chef for instructions on obtaining a replacement or refund. Consumers can also contact their Pampered Chef consultant for replacement and refund information.

Customer contact: For additional information, contact The Pampered Chef toll-free at (877) 917-2433 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. CT Monday through Friday and between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT on Saturday or visit the firm’s website at http://www.pamperedchef.com/recall/cust info collection.jsp. Consumers can also e-mail The Pampered Chef at productalert@pamperedchef.com
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Hamilton Beach® classic chrome 2-slice toasters

Units: About 14,000

Importer: Hamilton Beach Brands Inc., of Glen Allen, Va.

Hazard: When the toasters are first plugged into the outlets, the heating element can be energized although the toaster lifter is in the up or off position, which can pose a fire hazard if the toaster is near flammable items.

Incidents/Injuries: Hamilton Beach has received 5 reports of toasters being energized when first plugged into an outlet. There have been no reports of injuries or property damage.

Description: The Hamilton Beach recall involves model 22602 toasters. The model number is printed on the bottom of the toaster. The toaster has a chromed steel exterior, a front control panel with a rotary toast shade selector and function buttons arranged in an arc, a front removable crumb tray and “Hamilton Beach” printed below the control panel.

Sold at: Mass merchandisers and department, grocery and home center stores nationwide from August 2011 through November 2011 for between $19 and $34. Also, some of these toasters were sent to consumers as replacements for model 22600 toasters recalled in June 2011.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled toasters and contact the firm to receive instructions on how to obtain a free replacement toaster.

Customer contact: For additional information, contact Hamilton Beach at (800) 576-6600 anytime, or visit the firm's website at www.hamiltonbeach.com.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Holiday decorating plans do not normally include lacerations, falls and fires. Unfortunately, these hazards make an unwelcome appearance in the homes of thousands of consumers each year. To help avoid hidden decorating dangers, CPSC and UL are providing families with tips for a safe holiday home.

Reports of falls from ladders while stringing lights and hanging decorations, incidents of lacerations from broken glass ornaments and other holiday-related injuries are increasing. During November and December 2010, CPSC estimates that more than 13,000 people were treated in emergency departments nationwide due to injuries involving holiday decorations. This is an increase from 10,000 in 2007 and 12,000 in 2008 and in 2009.

Although estimates of deaths and injuries related to Christmas tree and candle fires are down, there are still an alarming number of incidents. Live trees or other evergreen decorations that have dried out burn fast and hot in a matter of seconds if they come in contact with an open flame.

Between 2006 and 2008, there was an annual average of four deaths and $18 million in property damage related to Christmas tree fires. During this same time period, CPSC received reports of about 130 deaths and $360 million in property losses related to candle fires.

"A well-watered tree, carefully placed candles, and carefully checked holiday light sets will help prevent the joy of the holidays from turning into a trip to the emergency room or the loss of your home," said Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "Follow CPSC's safety tips and give your family the gift of a safe holiday home."

"This is easily the busiest time of year, but it's important to make time for safety while celebrating the holidays," said John Drengenberg, director of consumer safety at UL. "By committing a few minutes each day to safety, many accidents can be avoided and your holidays will be memorable for all the right reasons."

CPSC and UL suggest using the following 12 safety tips to help keep your holiday home safe this year:

1. Buying live trees, check for freshness.A fresh tree is green, its needles are hard to pull from branches, and its needles do not break when bent between your fingers. The bottom of a fresh tree is sticky with resin and, when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
2. Setting up a tree at home, place it away from heat sources,such as fireplaces, vents, and radiators. Because heated rooms rapidly dry out live trees, be sure to monitor water levels daily and keep the tree stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic, and do not block doorways with the tree.
3. Buying an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant."Although this label does not mean that the tree will not catch fire, it does indicate that the tree is more resistant to catching fire.
4. Decorating a tree in homes with small children, take special care to avoid sharp, weighted, or breakable decorations. Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children who could swallow or inhale small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.

5. Keep burning candles within sight.Extinguish all candles before you go to bed, leave the room, or leave the house.
6. Keep candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface where kids and pets cannot reach them or knock them over. Lighted candles should be placed away from items that can catch fire and burn easily, such as trees, other evergreens, decorations, curtains and furniture.

7. Use only lights that have been testedfor safety by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as UL. Lights for both indoor and outdoor usage must meet strict requirements that testing laboratories are able to verify. On most decorative lights available in stores, UL's red holographic label signifies that the product meets safety requirements for indoor and outdoor usage. UL's holographic label, with the green UL Mark, signifies it meets requirements for only indoor usage.
8. Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Throw out damaged sets and do not use electric lights on a metallic tree.
9. Check each extension cordto make sure it is rated for the intended use.
10. Check outdoor lights for labels showing that the lights have been certified for outdoor use, and only plug them into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)-protected receptacle or a portable GFCI.

11. Use care with "fire salts,"which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if swallowed. Keep them away from children.
12. Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.

To find more valuable safety information for keeping your home safe and bright this holiday season, please visit www.cpsc.gov or UL's www.SafetyAtHome.com

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This is taken from News9.com

HOLLIS, Oklahoma -

Residents in Hollis, Oklahoma are advised to not use city water, because several water samples have been tested positive for E.Coli bacteria.

According to the city manager, officials submitted routine water samples taken on Monday to the lab, and one of the samples was tested positive for E.Coli. Four more samples taken Thursday were also submitted to the lab and two of them were tested positive for E.Coli.

Officials said residents are now advised to use bottled water until city water samples are tested free of E.Coli bacteria.

According to the city manager, emergency management crews are trying to obtain clean water for the residents while they kill the bacteria. The city is increasing chlorination, flushing water lines, increasing sampling for coli-form bacteria, and check for leaks.