May 2008 Archives

The economic trends are obvious: higher prices and higher energy costs. Your dollar simply will not buy as much as it did a year ago and it is unlikely that your salary has increased to match the rising cost of your expenses. The economic downturn is likely to continue and those who are wise will look for ways to save money.

I've begun compiling list which you can add to at the end of this post.

1. Plan your errands. Fewer trips means less gas.
2. Don't go out to eat. Instead, for one-quarter the cost, buy a special meal from a grocery store
3. Eliminate that costly phone service by switching to Skype or Vonage
4. Cancel cable TV - I know it's heresy but there is a lot online you can take advantage of rather than spending $50-$100 a month.  There are also better uses of your valuable time.
   
5. Never see a movie in the theater. If you do go to a matinee or wait for a budget theater. Never buy food or drinks from a theater.
6. Rent the DVD instead of seeing the movie. 
   
7. Dump $4 DVD rentals and sign-up for Netflix $7.99/month service
8. Better yet, borrow the DVD from the library.
9. Always get more than one estimate. Whether you're doing home repairs or buying a new car never agree to a deal without more than one quote.
10. Ask for a discount. Everything is negotiable and even large retail stores will often give you a discount if you request one.
11. Research prices and then shop on ebay.com or craigslist.com .
12. Sleep on every purchase decision to avoid impulse buying. Plan and budget your money.
13. Leftovers - eat those recycled meals, especially fruits and vegetables.
14. Lunch - make yourself a sandwich, go for a walk and stop eating out
15. Eliminate soda from your diet
16. Make your own coffee and save $2-3 per cup.
17. Use generic drugs when possible (stop paying for a name)
18. Clothing - stop buying from the Malls and spend time getting to know outlet centers and discount retailers.
    
19. Clip coupons and use them
    
20. Insurance - it's time to ask Geico and others for quotes.
    
21. Transportation - cut your $200/month gas bill in half by carpooling with a co-worker.
22. Reduce the cost of commuting more by taking the bus.
23. Sell your stuff - stop storing mountains of outdated clothes, furniture, toys and other miscellaneous things that you don't use. Sell it on ebay or craigslist.
    
24. Car maintenance - keep your at its peak efficiency by making sure its tires are properly inflated and the air filter is not clogged.
25. Drive smarter - driver slower and stop peeling out to reduce gas consumption.

Yes, there are many more ways to save money.  Add yours in the comments section.

After suffering seizures earlier this week, Sen. Ted Kennedy,76,  has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and will remain hospitalized for at least several days as he and his family determine his treatment options.  The Massachusetts senator has been diagnosed with a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe.

 

What you have to understand is that a glioma is an aggressive central nervous system tumor, commonly arising in the brain, that kills fifty percent of its victims within a year and the vast majority within three years.  The fact that the Senator's tumor is malignant indicates a high-grade anaplastic or undifferentiated tumor.  The American Cancer Society estimates that 21,000 Americans a year are diagnosed with brain tumors;  about one-half are gliomas.

MSNBC Reports:

A glioblastoma is the most common brain tumor that affects adults. It is also the most rapidly growing malignant tumor of the brain, with the shortest survival rate. Death may occur within months.
 

"It's the most malignant, the most aggressive, the tumor of the brain associated with the shortest survival," said Marc Chamberlain, a professor of neurology and director of the Brain Tumor Program at University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

Doctors likely suspected a brain glioma when Kennedy was hospitalized with seizures and most likely made the diagnosis the same day.

Standard treatment options for glioma tumors include surgery (the mainstay - remove as much of the tumor as possible), radiation therapy and chemotherapy although there are non-standard approaches.     In the case of surgery, a craniotomy is performed and a surgeon removes the glioma.  If surgery is not an option high-energy rays (radiation) can be used to blast the tumor cells or chemotherapy applied to kill tumor cells.

Of course our thoughts are with Senator Kennedy and his family at this time of need.

Amazon has solved its supply chain woes and is again offering the trend setting Kindle to its customers.

Amazon's Kindle places a library of books at your fingertips with a device that is designed to be one thing: an electronic book.  Although Amazon is not the best company to design and manufacture such a product, they are the first and have successfully linked their product to a vast database of material. 

Wireless connectivity  without a monthly service charge enables you to shop the Kindle Store directly from your Kindle--whether you're in the back of a taxi, at the airport, or in bed.  In addition to books, users are treated to a large selection of magazines, newspapers and blogs.

No, the product design is not perfect, but the marketing is brilliant.  However, some may find the $400 price tag unsettling.

The Kindle quickly sold out last year, shortly after it's launch (the first batch sold out in 5 1/2 hours).  The good news is that it is back in stock.  Click here.

Motley Fool notes: 

If it takes off, Amazon has a meal ticket to cash in as the gateway to literary digital distribution. It can become to books what Apple has become to music -- a savior riding in on the promise of inventory-free media delivery.

Let me add that this is a key change in digital media which is likely to shape the future of books, libraries and consumption of written material.  Whole libraries can be permanently shelved in favor of a single device that is capable of being easily transported and used anywhere (well, almost anywhere).

For those interested we have duplicated below a letter from Amazon President Jeffrey P. Bezos:

We have an aging population, one that is concerned with both health and the perception of growing old. I suppose it makes sense that the focus of biomedical research is often on improved disease treatments for degenerative and age-related disorders.

The Albany Medical Center Prize for medicine and biomedical research is especially news worthy considering that it is the first time women have received the $500,000.

One of two recepients, Yale professor Joan Steitz, is known for her leading edge work improving the diagnosis and treatment of lupus, scleroderma and arthritis, all of which are autoimmune in nature.

From the University of California,  Elizabeth Blackburn made the groundbreaking discovery of  telmoerase, an enzyme that is associated with a reduction in heart problems.

Congratulations to both!

The Chinese government is struggling to prevent an epidemic of enterovirus 71, a disease afflicting primary children that can cause hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).  In fact, 22 have died and there were 3,321 reported cases in children.

The news is especially relevant considering the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics.

We expect to hear additional previously unreported stories about China's health woes and general health apathy as western media are given access to the general population.