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How to Reuse or Recycle Your Old Tech

2012-01-17T08:18:00.001-08:00

How to Reuse or Recycle Your Old Tech

We buy a lot of electronics in this country, and that means we throw a lot of electronics away, as well. In 2010 alone, the U.S. recycling industry spent $5 billion employing 30,000 people to recycle 3.5 million tons of electronics (up from about 1.4 million in 2005), according to the International Data Corporation (IDC).

What's worse, Pike Research says that by 2025, we'll double the amount of e-waste, sending all the gadgets directly to a landfill instead the recycle bin. They measured the increase in cubic feet—from 676 million (with an "m") cubic feet today to 1.465 billion (with a "b") in 15 years. So, even though more people are recycling, the efforts will probably never be enough, especially since the IDC says only 26 percent of tech recycling happens in homes; businesses do most of the recycling. That needs to change.

Of course, before you toss your old devices, particularly your desktop or laptop computers, you should do everything in your power to reuse them. A PC dating back to the Paleozoic era can sometimes get a new lease on life if you're willing to spend a little time and cash on it.

We're here to spell out for you a few simple and as-inexpensive-as-we-can ways to put old electronics and computers to use all over again, and where to consider donating them when you can't. If it's busted beyond repair, we'll tell you the spots where the devices should go to be recycled—places you can trust to have "downstream due diligence" to keep toxins and danger out of the environment, whether here or overseas, for good.—Next: How to reuse, regift, and resell your old computer >

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http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2398898,00.asp

Following The Trail Of Toxic E-Waste

2012-01-07T07:38:00.000-08:00

Watch the Segment »

(CBS) This story was first published on Nov. 9, 2008. It was updated on Aug. 27, 2009.

60 Minutes is going to take you to one of the most toxic places on Earth -- a place that government officials and gangsters don't want you to see. It's a town in China where you can't breathe the air or drink the water, a town where the blood of the children is laced with lead. It's worth risking a visit because, as correspondent Scott Pelley first reported last November, much of the poison is coming out of the homes, schools and offices of America.

This is a story about recycling - about how your best intentions to be green can be channeled into an underground sewer that flows from the United States and into the wasteland.

That wasteland is piled with the burning remains of some of the most expensive, sophisticated stuff that consumers crave. And 60 Minutes and correspondent Scott Pelley discovered that the gangs who run this place wanted to keep it a secret.

What are they hiding? The answer lies in the first law of the digital age: newer is better. In with the next thing, and out with the old TV, phone or computer. All of this becomes obsolete, electronic garbage called "e-waste."

Computers may seem like sleek, high-tech marvels. But what's inside them?

"Lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium, polyvinyl chlorides. All of these materials have known toxicological effects that range from brain damage to kidney disease to mutations, cancers," Allen Hershkowitz, a senior scientist and authority on waste management at the Natural Resources Defense Council, explained.

"The problem with e-waste is that it is the fastest-growing component of the municipal waste stream worldwide," he said.

Asked what he meant by "fastest-growing," Hershkowitz said. "Well, we throw out about 130,000 computers every day in the United States."

And he said over 100 million cell phones are thrown out annually.

At a recycling event in Denver, 60 Minutes found cars bumper-to-bumper for blocks, in a line that lasted for hours. They were there to drop off their computers, PDAs, TVs and other electronic waste.

Asked what he thought happens once his e-waste goes into recycling, one man told Pelley, "Well my assumption is they break it apart and take all the heavy metals and out and then try to recycle some of the stuff that's bad."

Most folks in line were hoping to do the right thing, expecting that their waste would be recycled in state-of-the-art facilities that exist here in America. But really, there's no way for them to know where all of this is going. The recycling industry is exploding and, as it turns out, some so-called recyclers are shipping the waste overseas, where it's broken down for the precious metals inside.

Executive Recycling, of Englewood, Colo., which ran the Denver event, promised the public on its Web site: "Your e-waste is recycled properly, right here in the U.S. - not simply dumped on somebody else."

That policy helped Brandon Richter, the CEO of Executive Recycling, win a contract with the city of Denver and expand operations into three western states.

Asked what the problem is with shipping this waste overseas, Richter told Pelley, "Well, you know, they've got low-income labor over there. So obviously they don't have all of the right materials, the safety equipment to handle some of this material."

Executive does recycling in-house, but 60 Minutes was curious about shipping containers that were leaving its Colorado yard. 60 Minutes found one container filled with monitors. They're especially hazardous because each picture tube, called a cathode ray tube or CRT, contains several pounds of lead. It's against U.S. law to ship them overseas without special permission. 60 Minutes took down the container's number and followed it to Tacoma, Wash., where it was loaded on a ship.

When the container left Tacoma, 60 Minutes followed it for 7,459 miles to Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong.

It turns out the container that started in Denver was just one of thousands of containers on an underground, often illegal smuggling route, taking America's electronic trash to the Far East.

Our guide to that route was Jim Puckett, founder of the Basel Action Network, a watchdog group named for the treaty that is supposed to stop rich countries from dumping toxic waste on poor ones. Puckett runs a program to certify ethical recyclers. And he showed 60 Minutes what's piling up in Hong Kong.

"It's literally acres of computer monitors," Pelley commented. "Is it legal to import all of these computer monitors into Hong Kong?"

"No way. It is absolutely illegal, both from the standpoint of Hong Kong law but also U.S. law and Chinese law. But it's happening," Puckett said.

The Ewaste Recycling Forum

2012-01-05T15:56:00.001-08:00

1 2 3

“It’s your world, shape it or someone else will”

Gary Lew

With 20-50 million tonnes of electronic waste, generated across the globe each year, it’s no wonder that obsolete electronics have fast become the largest, and most problematic waste stream around the world. Electronic waste accounts for more than 5% of all municipal solid waste, and poses serious problems for both the environment and our own health.

Electronics are made up of toxic material, such as lead, cadmium and mercury which, when exposed, can contribute to severe health issues such as lung disease or kidney malfunction. Various legislation have been drafted worldwide – from Product Stewardship in Australia to the WEEE Directive in Europe – but ewaste is still being illegally exported to developing countries and dumped in landfill to pollute soil and water streams.

At ewaste.co, we are dedicated to making a difference to the future of electronic waste recycling, but we can’t do it alone. Should recycling obsolete electronics be the responsibility of the consumer or the manufacturer? Do you think that governments could be doing more to combat the issue of ewaste? Do you feel that more should be done to educate consumers about electronic waste and the threat that it poses? If so, then we want to hear from you – it’s time to have your say on ewaste and the future of our planet.

How to Find Details About a Registered Charity

2012-01-03T07:30:00.000-08:00

When you donate to a registered charity, you may be interested to know more details about fund raising and administrative expenses, or the percentage of funds that the charity contributes to programs. Once you find out more, you may decide to donate additional items, donate more often, or take your donations elsewhere. Taking the time to research details for registered charities can help you make the most informed decisions about your donations.

How to Dispose of Unwanted Electronics

2011-12-27T13:43:00.000-08:00

Several Web sites will buy (or tell you how to get rid of) your old TVs, cell phones, computers and more.

By Cameron Huddleston, Contributing Editor, Kiplinger.com

Recently I wrote about the financial benefits of decluttering, such as the tax write-off you can get by donating old clothes to charity or the cash you can earn by selling unwanted items at a yard sale.
But what do you do if you have old electronic gadgets that aren't easy to resell? The November issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance has tips on how to sell, donate and recycle cell phones, computers, electronics and TVs:

Cell phones

Sell: Ship your old phone to www.flipswap.com in Torrance, Cal., and within a few weeks you'll receive a check. The Web site provides instructions for erasing data and preparing the phone for a new owner.
Donate: To search for a drop-off location, visit www.recellular.com. You can download a free data-eraser program.
Recycle: Find manufacturers' programs at www.recyclewirelessphones.com, the Web site of CTIA-The Wireless Association. www.ewastedisposal.net

Computers

Donate: If your computer is less than five years old, prepare it for donation by visiting www.epa.gov for lists of refurbishers and disk-cleaning software. One refurbishing program, Reconnect, will accept any brand of computer equipment in any condition, as well as peripherals, accessories and Microsoft entertainment products, including Xboxes and Zunes. To find a drop-off location, visit www.reconnectpartnership.com.
Recycle: If the computer is more than five years old or broken, recycle it. First remove the hard drive (search www.youtube.com for "How to smash a hard drive"). To find a recycler, visit www.earth911.com.

Electronics

Sell: Gazelle.com will buy just about any type of electronic device, including computers and peripherals, game systems, MP3 players, digital cameras, satellite radios and GPS devices. Check , www.giftmypc.org
Recycle: For a list of manufacturers and major retailers (Best Buy, Costco, Office Depot, Staples) with programs for mailing back or trading in electronics, visit the Web site of the National Center for Electronics Recycling.

TVs

Recycle: To learn where you can recycle TVs by brand, go to www.epa.gov. Best Buy stores will accept any brand up to 32 inches for a $10 charge and will give you a $10 gift card to offset the cost. You can bring in two devices per day, per household. For a fee, it will remove up to two TVs from your home, up to 36 inches.

Christmas Electronics Recycle

2011-12-25T08:52:00.000-08:00

Appleton, WI - A recycling drive in the Fox Valley is hoping to cash in on people's Christmas donations. It's out with the old and in with the new at the Habitat for Humanity Re-store in Appleton. The group is accepting any kind of used electronics, that might be replaced this holiday season. Electronics will be cleaned up sold and the money will go to back into the community.
Matthew Daniels of Appleton Re-store said, "All the money is brought back here to the Fox Cities Habitat for Humanity, to build simple, decent, affordable homes for those in need. So far to date, the Fox Cities area has been able to build 147 homes here in the fox cities."
Habitat expects to raise several thousand dollars worth of electronics this holiday season.

Ten Tips for Donating a Computer

2011-12-22T11:46:00.000-08:00

1. Determine if Your Old Computer Can Be Reused

If your computer is less than five years old, chances are it can be put to good use by someone else. Usually, the lifespan of a computer is seven to eight years. Extending the computer's lifespan through reuse provides the highest environmental benefit of all electronics disposal alternatives.

2. Consider Donating Newer Equipment to a Refurbisher

You may be tempted to donate equipment directly to a favorite local school or charity. However, keep in mind that most organizations have very specific technology needs. A donated computer might not be a good fit. Refurbishers are better equipped to repair and upgrade older computers. They will ensure that equipment works well and runs legal software copies and that any e-waste is disposed of properly. They will pass on ready-to-use equipment to those who need it, often at little or no cost to the recipient.
Refurbishers work with newer equipment that can run current software programs. Therefore, if your computer is more than five years old, it's better to send it to a recycler.
Find refurbishers that accept donated IT equipment via the directory of Microsoft Registered Refurbishers. Most Microsoft Registered Refurbishers also accept Macintosh products. If you are planning a large donation of more than 50 computers, please consider donating to TechSoup's Refurbished Computer Initiative.

3. Recycle Older and Broken Hardware

Any equipment that is not working or is more than five years old should go to end-of-life recycling, meaning responsible destruction. A computer recycler is a business or organization that salvages useful computer parts before breaking down what's left, safely removing hazardous materials in the process. Note that some recyclers will charge a fee to accept old computer equipment, especially monitors.
For listings of recycling drop-off locations in your area, visit:

4. Choose a Responsible Recycler

You've probably seen or heard horror stories about dangerous and irresponsible electronics recycling. However, there are certification programs for recyclers that can help you feel good about the recycler you choose.
Both the Responsible Recycling Practices (R2) and the e-Stewards® programs require recyclers to demonstrate that they meet specific standards for safe and responsible electronics recycling. They include environmental safety, worker health, and data security standards. You can learn more about certification programs at the EPA's Certification Programs for Electronics Recyclers page.

5. Contact the Refurbisher or Recycler Before Donating

Call the organization or check its website to ensure that it accepts the type of computer you plan to give away. Some refurbishing organizations, for example, will refuse anything older than a Pentium III. Many recycling and refurbishing organizations also have specific locations where equipment can be donated, while others have delivery instructions they expect donors to follow.

6. Remember the Software, Documentation, and Accessories

If you can, include the keyboard, mouse, printer, modem, packaged software, and any other accessories you have used with the computer. They can almost always be utilized by schools and nonprofits, and most organizations only accept complete systems.
Also pass along the original disks, media, Certificate of Authenticity sticker, user manual, and other documentation that came with the equipment. Keeping the Certificate of Authenticity sticker (usually on the computer) intact is generally the most important thing to remember. This allows refurbishers to inexpensively re-license and reload Microsoft Windows and Office software on the donated machines.

7. If You Clear Your Computer of Personal Information Yourself, Use Disk-Cleaning Software

The best way to protect against any unauthorized use of personal information is to use a disk-cleaning tool that obliterates all data on the hard drive. "Personal information" includes your Internet browser's cache, cookies, history; your email contacts and messages; your documents; your recycle or trash folder; and all nontransferable software.
Below are examples of recommended disk-cleaning utilities.

Commercial Windows Disk-Cleaning Software:

Free Windows Disk-Cleaning Software:

Macintosh Disk-Cleaning Software:

Disk Utility (built-in in Mac OS X, under "Security Options")
WipeDrive for Mac

8. Keep a List of What You Donated for Your Records

Remember that tax season will always return — and you are likely eligible for a deduction if you donate to a nonprofit refurbisher or recycler. Most school or nonprofit refurbishers and recyclers can provide a tax receipt upon request. Business donors can deduct the un-depreciated value of the computer, and individuals can deduct the current market value of a computer. To determine the fair market value of a computer, use an evaluator tool like GadgetValue. For more information on tax laws related to computer donation, see Section 170 of the Federal Income Tax Code.

9. Find Additional Information on Electronics Recycling

For more information on the urgent need to recycle discarded IT equipment properly, see the Electronics Takeback Coalition's overview of the problems created by computer dumping and the EPA's eCycling Frequently Asked Questions.

10. Find Additional Information on Refurbishing

www.giftmypc.org or www.ewqastedisposal.net

Cute dog

2011-09-14T09:05:00.001-07:00

As New York E-Waste Law Kicks In, the Ideal Option Varies

2011-04-05T08:25:00.000-07:00

As I report in Saturday’s Times, a new state law took effect on Friday making electronics manufacturers responsible for offering free recycling programs. Many residents of New York City are likely to continue relying on so-called collection events to get rid of their e-waste, however.

Ruth Fremson/The New York Times

Workers loading used electronics at a collection event in Manhattan.For harried city dwellers, such events save time that would otherwise be spent visiting individual manufacturers’ Web sites to study their take-back policies. Instead, they can dump computers, monitors, printers, keyboards, mice, cables, TV sets, fax and copying machines, DVD players and other outdated or broken items all at once.

”The reality is that there are likely to be different options available depending on where people live,” noted Kate Sinding, a senior lawyer with the Natural Resources Defense Council.

“For instance, in rural areas, people may have a mail-back option and very rare collection events.” she said. “In suburban areas, there might be permanent collection sites that are always available, plus periodic special collection events. In N.Y.C., it is likely to be dominated by periodic collection events.”

Both the city and nonprofit organizations have offered collection events for years, and some manufacturers are now sponsoring them under the new law as part of their mix of collection strategies.

The Lower East Side Ecology Center is holding 10 weekend e-waste recycling events this month with companies like Panasonic and Toshiba America as partners.

“We have seen an increase in participation in our programs over the years,” said Christine Datz-Romero, director of the center, who added that the center would add a drop-off site as well.

For other collection events around the city, check out www.nyc.gov/nycwasteless

Charitable donations: How important is it for you to know where your money goes?

2010-09-22T08:29:00.001-07:00

Canadian registered charities gave $762 million to third-party fundraisers between 2004 and 2008, all of it deducted from donations and often dwarfing guidelines set out by the Canada Revenue Agency, a CBC investigation has discovered.

In 2008, more than 200 charities paid at least half of the money they received from donors to pay third-party fundraisers, according to documents obtained from the CRA, which regulates Canadian charities.

The CRA recommends that no charity spend more than 35 per cent of revenue on fundraising and can revoke the registered status of any organization whose expenses appear to be disproportionately high.

But the CBC found examples in nearly every province in which local, provincial and national charities for years spent upward of 70 or 80 per cent of their revenues to recompense the companies that organized their fundraising drives.

Have you ever stopped giving to a charity because you became aware of the charity paying more than 50 per cent of its revenues to external fundraisers?

How important is it for you to know where your money goes?
Very important

Somewhat important

Doesn't matter

Undecided

Vote
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SUP: The Next Step Part 6 from 2007

2010-02-17T08:22:00.001-08:00

California provided a nice dose of life and added insight into stand up paddle. Al Merrick, as previously mentioned in this series blog, unfortunately had business to attend while I was out there and didn’t make it for our interview and action footage filming. Surfing being what it is brought me in connection with surfing/shaping legend, Mickey Munoz. Mickey, through our connection of his appearance in my upcoming documentary film about Felipe Pomar, wanted to provide his insight and knowledge about SUP. Mickey and I spent a wonderful afternoon together talking story about stand up surfing, surfing, sailing, exploring, living - all things waterman.

Mickey spoke of his larger Surftech longboards as being one of the first designs utilized for modern stand up paddle. Our conversations specific to SUP ran the gamut from boards to paddles. The paddle conversation touched upon the possibility of utilizing them for not only SUPs but also for smaller boards. The shorter board paddles we brainstormed could be made into tools which fit around ones hands to be used as foils to allow for radical direction change, increasing speed, stability and also exploring ways of using parts of the wave (such as the ceiling of a barrel) as never before. Imagine hanging from the ceiling of a barrel on specialized hand paddles/foils with a shortboard strapped to your feet dangling below - literally, hang body. The hang body thing might take a bit of developing but the catalyst of the SUP conversation takes surfing into unimagined directions. Through my upcoming film about ancient Peru’s surfing I’ve become interested in the possibility of the ancients and SUP. Mickey believes most coastal or water related ancient people have done a form of stand up paddle. During my visit with Glenn Hening we watched his video from Peru where a clip showed a Caballito de Totora fisherman standing on his craft utilizing the paddle for maneuvering in the waves upon approach to shore. If the standing position on a surf craft is natural today it is quite possible it was relevant during ancient times.

The perfect waves and set ups of California provides a great place for SUP to thrive. A certain San Diego reef has become a center of stand up paddle in the area. The overall group, consisting of all boarders, make it work. The SUP guys, from what I witnessed, were considerate of the other surfers and the vibe was mellow. With the cold water of California’s Pacific Coast, SUP provides a prefect fit with less contact of the cold water adding more time staying happy riding waves.

As this film production continues so do the advancements and future developments of SUP. Many manufacturers now offer new and diverse models of SUPs, where not too long ago only one general design was available.

With the numerous ideas currently in SUP the future looks fun and full of possibility for all of surfing.

Stay tuned for future entries related to this production - SUP: The Next Step

Stay stoked!

http://surferspath.mpora.com/blogs/arsen-brzostek/sup-the-next-step-part-6

Posted via web from The Newport Beach Lifestyle

Lamborghini Murcielago - What the Auto Press Says

2010-02-17T07:31:00.001-08:00

2010 Lamborghini Murcielago

2009 Lamborghini Murcielago

The 2010 Lamborghini Murcielago ranks 1 out of 7 Exotic Sports Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 8 published reviews and test drives of the Lamborghini Murcielago, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

The 2010 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 is every sports car enthusiast’s dream. Other super cars may offer more comfortable accommodations, but few -- if any -- can rival its performance abilities.

The Murcielago is named for a legendary nineteenth-century Spanish bull that withstood an unprecedented 24 thrusts of a matador's sword. True to its namesake, the Murcielago combines a muscular and aggressive design with knock-'em-dead performance capabilities.

Combining a 631-horsepower V12 engine with supercar handling, the Murcielago is a force to be reckoned with. While most sports cars struggle to break into the low four-second range, the Murcielago blasts from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.4. Plus it maxes out at 211 mph.

Multiply those figures by a wildly aggressive exterior design and first-rate interior craftsmanship, and it’s easy to see why reviewers find whatever faults the Murcielago has to be negligible. Car and Driver writes: "From mind-bending speed and the guttural shriek of the V-12 to the low-slung, sharply creased sheetmetal and the butt-on-the-ground seating position, the Murcie is the archetypal Italian exotic. It always draws a crowd, and it has the performance to warrant the attention."

If you're in the market for an exotic supercar, also check out the Ferrari F430. It’s not as powerful or quick as the Murcielago, but its Formula 1 inspired race technology makes it hard to ignore -- especially the high-powered Scuderia trim. It also features a classier low-profile exterior design and costs thousands less.

Shoppers seeking power and dynamic performance capabilities, but unable to break the 200 to 300 thousand dollar price range should opt for the 485-horsepower Nissan GT-R instead. It can hit a top speed of 193 mph and blast from 0 to 60 mph in the low three-second range -- not bad for a car with a sticker price under $80,000.

The 2010 Murcielago is available in two body styles, coupe and roadster.

"Snake-belly low and reverse-cowgirl sexy, this car ... is the most heinously irresponsible, developmentally arrested, awesomely cool sports car the world has ever known. This $405,000 hypercar is, in short, a great big booger flicked in the face of respectability." -- Los Angeles Times
"One look at this 50 Cent video on wheels, one taste of its seismic performance, and you'll know why the Murcilago LP640 is cross-referenced in the dictionary under 'centrifuge,' 'exhibitionism,' and 'lust.'" -- Motor Trend
"For some, it's a da Vinci painting, for others, a Stradivarius violin. Those who like their Italian art to 'move' them even more should find the Murcielago LP640 simply 'fantastico.'" -- Edmunds

Murcielago Performance - 9.2 (Excellent)

The Murcielago LP640 is more than a car; it’s a loud, scary and powerful monster. "Like the Countach and Diablo that preceded it, the Lamborghini Murcielago is a car built around its monstrous engine, a mid-mounted 6.2-liter 4-cam V-12 wrecking ball that gulps air and fuel and generates equal parts thrust, music and awe," writes
Road and Track. Plus, it’ll blast from 0 to 60 mph faster than you can read this line. Read More

Murcielago Exterior - 9.5 (Excellent)

Critics contend that the 2010 Murcielago doesn’t just garner attention, it stops traffic. "Only those happy to suck up the constant attention and public palaver that inevitably accrue to a Lamborghini driver should even consider one," warns
Car and Driver. "You know who you are." The Murcielago is available as a coupe and convertible. Read More

Murcielago Interior - 8.0 (Very Good)

Reviewers complain that the Murcielago’s scissor doors make it difficult to enter and exit its cabin. However, once inside, they admire its solid craftsmanship and highly-customizable look and feel.
Forbes explains, "All Lamborghinis can be customized with carbon-fiber trim as well as other special materials and finishes in the cockpit." Still, don’t expect much in the way of comfort and cargo room. Read More

Murcielago Safety - NA

The 2010 Murcielago hasn’t been crash tested, but comes equipped with loads of standard safety equipment -- including traction control and a four-wheel drive system. Reviewers, however, complain of hampered rearward visibility. Read More

Murcielago Reliability - NA

Lamborghini protects the Murcielago with a class-competitive three-year/unlimited-mile
warranty. Read More

Posted via web from The Newport Beach Lifestyle

Where's housing headed? Follow rents

2010-02-17T06:51:00.001-08:00

By Shawn Tully, senior editor at largeFebruary 16, 2010: 10:40 AM ET

NEW YORK (Fortune) -- It may not be the most widespread measure of housing prices, but if you want to follow a powerful driver, look at rents.

Specifically, it's the rents Americans pay on condos, apartments or houses that are about the same size, and share the same neighborhood as your ranch or colonial, that in the end determine what your house is worth.

"If you look at the trend in rents to see where housing prices are headed, you're looking at the right measure," says Yale economist Robert Shiller.

In recent reports, Deutsche Bank demonstrates how steady or even falling rents have pulled down housing prices, to the point where in many markets it costs about the same amount to own as to lease. That's a golden mean that America hasn't seen in almost a decade. The DB research also offers convincing evidence that the wrenching adjustment in housing prices is finished for much of the nation, with a bit more pain to come in selected areas.

Housing outlook for 2010

Before we get to the numbers, let's examine why rents exercise a kind of gravitational pull over home prices.

In normal times, people won't pay too much more to own a house than to lease it. After all, if you're paying rent instead of a mortgage and taxes, you still get to enjoy the same rec room, chef's kitchen, and casita for visiting grandparents. So the surest sign of a frenzy appears when owning becomes far more expensive than renting. That's precisely what happened during the last bubble.

And the surest sign that prices have fully adjusted arrives when the ratio of what people pay in rent versus what owners spend on the same property returns to its historic average.

That brings us to the Deutsche Bank studies. Its REIT research team first established a benchmark for a "normal" ratio of rents to ownership costs -- what it calls ATMP, or after-tax mortgage payment -- for 53 U.S. cities.

On average, DB found that families across America were spending about 87% as much to rent as to own in 1999. Hence, they were traditionally willing to pay a premium as homeowners, though not a big one.

But by mid-2006, with the craze in full swing, the figure fell below 60%. At that point, Americans were spending an incredible 66% more to own than to rent. It was far worse in the bubble markets: In Las Vegas, Phoenix and Miami, homeowners were paying twice as much as renters, and in San Francisco and Orange Country, owners' monthly payments were triple those of their neighbors with leases instead of mortgages.

So how did that happen? During the bubble, rents -- the real engine that drives values -- were inching along at more or less their usual pace. From 1999 to 2007, apartment rents increased only 32%. But home prices jumped more than three times as fast, around 105%.

DB reckoned that housing prices are more or less reasonable when the ratio returns to its 1999 level. Why 1999? Because the ratio was relatively stable throughout the 1990s, and it was the year the steep rise in prices began in earnest.. At the end of the third quarter of 2009, the overall number stood at 83%, meaning renting was just a tad more attractive than owning.

But the picture varies widely from city to city. In 15 of those 53 metro areas, including St Louis, Indianapolis, and remarkably, Phoenix and San Diego, it's now higher than in 1999, meaning that homeowners' costs actually dropped versus what renters pay, courtesy of the steep decline in prices. In California's San Bernadino and Riverside Counties, it now costs 10% less to own than to rent; in 2006, owners paid more than twice as much as renters.

In another 14 cities, a list encompassing Boston, San Jose, and Chicago, the cost of owning exceeds that of renting by 6% or less. In the remaining 24 markets, housing is still moderately to extremely overpriced. The biggest problem areas are Baltimore, Long Island, and Seattle, where the ratio is still between 24% and 32% above the 1999 benchmark.

What does that mean for future prices?

Given that analysis, it's likely that prices will fall another 5% or so nationwide. The drop could even be slightly greater. One reason: Rents, the force that govern housing prices, are still falling.

In 2009, apartment rents dropped 2.3%, and the fall continues. And enormous adjustments are needed in still-exorbitant markets such as New York and Baltimore. Thankfully, the improving economy and decline in the rate of job losses means that rents should soon stabilize and could even start increasing by the end of 2010.

But fortunately, for most of the U.S., the sudden, terrifying fall in prices worked its own black magic. The numbers are back in alignment, or close to it. It had to happen. That's what rents, housing's great master, were telling us all along.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/12/real_estate/housing_prices_rents.fortune/index.htm

Posted via web from The Newport Beach Lifestyle

Ways to Control Catalog Clutter

2010-02-17T06:46:00.001-08:00

During the post-holiday season, retail catalogs begin swamping mailboxes as the stores where you shopped add your address to their mailing lists. The huge amount of paper and ink used to produce catalogs is an environmental no-no. Producing all these catalogs is a big waste of energy and resources, especially because most of the products and information can be found on the retailers' websites.

Put a stop to the catalog deluge before it begins by refusing to provide your address or phone number when you shop. If you place your order by phone, tell the operator to keep your name off the company's mailed catalog lists. (image source)

If catalogs are still piling up at your house, here's how you can stem the paper tide:

1) Call the 1-800 number provided in the catalog and ask the operator to remove your name from the company's lists.

2) Sign up for free with Catalogchoice.org and cancel catalogs you no longer wish to receive.

3) Pay $19.95 and Stopthejunkmail.com will let you choose which catalogs you wish to keep; the group will contact the others repeatedly until they have removed you from their lists.

4) Stop 85-90% of all unwanted catalogs and junk mail for 5 years for $41 at 41pounds.org.

For more ways to reduce catalog clutter, see all ten tips here.

Forest Ethics calls junk mail an 'environmental crisis.' You can sign their petition to end junk mail here.

Technorati Tags: catalog clutter, forest protection, Stop junk mail

Posted via web from The Newport Beach Lifestyle

Downsizing: Today's Home Buyers Are Thinking Small

2010-02-16T21:23:00.001-08:00

- During the real estate boom, new home construction became a game of ever increasing square-footage. That had a certain logic to it: If you saw your house as an investment to make you rich, bigger could only mean better, right?

Now that the economy has unfurled and people are realizing that prices don't always go up, houses are getting smaller — and more practical. Instead of feeding the desire for flash, architects and homebuilders are responding to how families actually spend time and use space, as well as to new buyers entering the market. "A house is back to being a house," says Stephen Moore, a senior partner of the architecture and planning firm BSB Design in Des Moines, Iowa. (See high-end homes that won't sell.)

What does the new American home look like? The shift is obvious as soon as you step through the front door. The grand entryway — the two-story foyer with a sweeping, often multipronged staircase — is quickly giving way to a more modest entrance. Stairs are less about architectural flourish and more about getting upstairs (if you can imagine). That means they're either moving back up against the wall or turning into more-compact switchbacks. The two-story foyer is becoming less and less popular too — in an era of tighter purse strings, who wants to heat and cool all that empty space? "Would you rather have the extra volume or a game room upstairs?" asks Ken Gancarczyk, a senior vice president at KB Home who runs the Los Angeles–based builder's architecture group. Buyers, KB is finding, want the room.

Part of the trend toward sensibility is being driven by a shift in buyers. With home prices back to earth and federal dollars encouraging first-time owners, Generation Y is out shopping in a way it never has before. People in their 20s and early 30s aren't looking for large move-up homes, rather simple starters that put minimal space to efficient use. (See pictures of Americans in their homes.)

Add in the fact that people are staying single for longer but still want to buy homes, and there's a whole new taste afoot — Santa Barbara–based B3 Architects is building a series of 800-square-footers. "The big-box house is no longer the market," says Charles Shinn, principal of the builder consultancy Shinn Consulting in Littleton, Colo.

That demographic influence extends inside the house too. The great room that first caught on in the early 1990s is undergoing a revival — a large, undelineated family room–breakfast nook–kitchen combination meshes well with attitudes of casualness and flexibility. For years, the bell has been tolling for the formal living room, and that trend is accelerating.

Meanwhile, outdoor living space is growing. Nearly two-thirds of architects are seeing increased demand for things like outdoor kitchens and fireplaces, according to a survey by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). "There are no longer these hard divides between how folks are living inside and outside," says Kermit Baker, AIA's chief economist and a senior research fellow at Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies.

Though that isn't to say the baby boomers, the most marketed-to generation on record, are suddenly being ignored. They're still influencing design too, just not like they used to. With the kids off to college, "they're not buying a five-bedroom home in the suburbs anymore," says Steve Melman, director of economic services at the National Association of Home Builders. What they do increasingly want: compact, one-story homes that are easier to get around. KB is offering twice as many single-story layouts as it was a year ago.

Barry Berkus, president of B3 Architects, sees another trend in the offing: multigenerational housing that includes multiple master-bedroom suites. We're not there yet, but overlay the aging boomers with the unemployment rate and the burgeoning habit of college graduates to bounce back home for a while, and what's needed is a space that can handle a family that looks nothing like Ozzie and Harriet's.

"The housing that has been built doesn't fit the market any longer," says Berkus. Which is part of the reason that, even with so many existing homes sitting unsold, we keep building.

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1925511,00.html

High-End Homes That Won't Sell

Posted via web from The Newport Beach Lifestyle

Attorney Generals tips for funneling money to charity, not for-profit fundraisers

2009-12-22T07:33:00.000-08:00

The next time you get a phone call seeking donations to your favorite charity, you may want to hang up.

If you write a check directly to the charity and pop it in the mail instead - or better yet, donate online - your dollars will do about twice as much good.

This is some advice to add to the pearls of wisdom from the California Attorney General Jerry Brown, in the wake of his latest report on commerical fundraisers. (His full list of his tips are below.)

We told you last week that while the vast majority of nonprofits don’t wind up in the red when they hire commercial fundraisers, the vast majority get less than half of what is raised in their name (after paying fundraisers’ fees and commissions):

•In California as a whole, commercial fundraisers hauled in revenues of almost $400 million in 2008, of which nonprofits got just $167.6 million - or 42 percent.•Orange County charities and local commercial fundraisers fared slightly better than the state average. Campaigns with a local connection brought in $19 million, of which nonprofits got $8.4 million, or 44 percent.
Wondering what to ask when your phone rings? Here are some tips from Brown (emphasis is ours):

1. Ask the solicitor how a donation will be distributed.
2. Ask what percentage of donations will be used to pay for fundraising expenses.
3. Ask if the solicitor works for a commercial fundraiser and is being paid to solicit.
4. Avoid cash donations.
5. Avoid giving credit card information to a telephone solicitor or in response to a telephone solicitation.
6. Learn about a charitable organization, its activities and its fundraising practices before giving.

How?

Brown’s office maintains a searchable online database on registered charities here.

You can also find registered commercial fundraisers in California here .

Donors can also check the Web sites of the Wise Giving Alliance, the American Institute of Philanthropy, Charity Navigator and Guidestar (where thousands of nonprofit tax returns are posted).

The state’s guide to charities is here.

The Attorney General’s annual report on commercial fundraisers is in its 17th year of publication. We note, for the record, that Brown is the leading Democratic candidate for governor in next year’s race.

More giving wisely:

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Prominent OC nonprofits lost money after hiring pro fundraisers
Commercial fundraisers pocket millions meant for charity
Avoid jail time! Deduct year-end donations without running afoul of IRS
Giving wisely when charitable donations have tanked by $6 billion
Which charities would you like us to check on?
Don't be suckered into giving to fake fire charities, AG warns
Brown sues to shut down five O.C. charities
Two of America's worst charities call OC home, watchdog says
Of giving and getting taken
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Will Silverado-Modjeska go bankrupt paying developer's legal bill?
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Giving: Tough Times, Tough Choices

2009-12-03T17:13:00.001-08:00

When you sit down to consider your charitable contributions this year, you may want to bring your heart along with your budget.

The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day are crucial fund-raising periods for charities.

.Many of us, facing pay cuts, job worries and uncertainty about what's ahead, may not feel able to give as much this year as we have in the past, forcing us to make difficult decisions beyond dollars and cents. A recent American Red Cross poll found that 20% of givers planned to reduce their contributions this year, though 62% were hoping to give about the same amount.

Yet with unemployment at the highest level in a generation, basic needs are greater than they have been in recent memory. A nationwide survey of food banks in September found an average increase in demand of 30%, and even in places where more food was available, the gains weren't enough to offset the surging need.

Just over half of all charities have seen donations fall this year, according to an informal poll by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and another 27% are flat with a year ago. Now, at the beginning of the crucial fund-raising season between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, when many charities raise more than half of their annual donations, many are working harder to reconnect with former donors and refining their messages to grab our attention.

With fewer disasters bringing in donations this year, the American Red Cross has launched an advertising campaign, bought Google search and banner ads and dug deeper into its mailing lists in hopes of renewing relationships with lapsed donors, says Jeff Towers, chief development officer. It also created a giving "catalog" of donations, such as $54 for three warm blankets or $50 for a "comfort kit" for a wounded veteran, in hopes of persuading some folks to give contributions this year instead of traditional purchases.

The American Cancer Society, where donations for the year ended Aug. 31 were down 11%, also is trying to reach more old donors and renewing its message that cancer "doesn't take a rest." Meanwhile, foundation endowments are still reeling from last year's stock-market debacle, and the groups have less to distribute. The Council on Foundations said earlier this year that 62% of foundations planned to reduce their grants in 2009.

All this adds up to tough choices for givers, who need to weigh not just how much to give, but also whether to focus on those most in need instead of old favorites like animal societies, universities or the arts.

Here is some advice from giving professionals on making this year's giving meaningful and effective:

• Think like a foundation. Teresa Bonner, a principal at Family Philanthropy Advisors, a Minneapolis firm that advises family foundations, says that this year's tough choices may give families a chance to think more strategically about their donations, in the same way that foundations define their missions and their objectives.

She suggests pulling the family together to ask the question: Where would we like to make a difference?

"There's no shortage of need—that's one thing about this year," she adds. Involving everyone can make for a valuable discussion about what the family really cares about.

And there's a teachable moment, too: In a post-Madoff world, looking into your giving options provides opportunities to research exactly what charities do and to evaluate which ones do a good job and which ones don't. You can use resources such as the Better Business Bureau's www.bbb.org/charity, www.charitynavigator.org or www.guidestar.org.

• Make your list. Many of us are committed to religious organizations, our alma mater and certain favorites among the roughly two dozen organizations to which the average person gives each year. Lorie Slutsky, president and chief executive officer of the New York Community Trust, says the donors she has talked with are, for the most part, giving the same number of grants this year, but making them smaller.

"There's a certain kind of tentativeness, even among very generous people," she says. Less common, she says, is reducing the number of grants, and giving larger donations to select groups.

She suggests defining your giving goals first, and then perhaps breaking your gifts into tiers—your $50 groups, $500 gifts, $1,000, $5,000 or more.

• Look for a match. Many companies still match employee donations, which can turn a modest gift into big spending. Beyond that, see if your local community foundation or other charities this year have lined up matching donations, which can help your giving go much further.

The Philadelphia Foundation and the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Conn., for instance, have matching-donation programs in place right now for organizations that provide basic services like food, housing and transportation.

Similarly, the Tulsa Community Foundation, with more than $4 billion in assets, will announce on Dec. 7 a $725,000 match if the community donates $275,000 to provide food, clothing and shelter to the needy. Tulsa Community Foundation CEO Phil Lakin Jr. says that his foundation will collect the funds and distribute them to about 30 organizations.

• Be selective. If you make many donations, you may feel bombarded this time of year by phone, mail and email solicitations—and turning these off can be a challenge. In addition, scammers prey on generous givers at this time of year, including the elderly, calling, sending note cards and other premiums and asking repeatedly for money.

Charities aren't covered under the federal Do Not Call Registry, so to stop the phone calls, you'll need to ask each caller individually to be put on its do-not-call list.

As a rule, don't donate over the phone. "A legitimate charity will always send information" in the mail, says Paulette Maehara, president and CEO of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, an Arlington, Va., trade group. In addition, legitimate charities will post their mission statements, their annual reports and, usually, information for opting out of their mailings and email solicitations on their Web sites.

A possible red flag: requests for very small amounts of money, which likely are intended as a way to get a foot in the door. While charities may say they appreciate all donations, those of, say, $15 or less probably don't cover the cost of soliciting them.

Write to Karen Blumenthal at familymoney@wsj.com.

Calif. requires TVs to be more energy efficient

2009-11-18T13:01:00.001-08:00

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Power-hungry TVs will be banned from store shelves in California after state regulators Wednesday adopted a first-in-the-nation mandate to reduce electricity demand.

On a unanimous vote, the California Energy Commission required all new televisions up to 58 inches to be more energy efficient, beginning in 2011. The requirement will be tougher in 2013, with only a quarter of all TVs currently on the market meeting that standard.

The commission estimates that TVs account for about 10 percent of a home's electricity use. The concern is that the energy draw will rise by as much as 8 percent a year as consumers buy larger televisions, add more to their homes and watch them longer.

Commissioners say energy efficiency standards are the cheapest and easiest way to save electricity.

"We have every confidence this industry will be able to meet the rule and then some," Energy Commissioner Julia Levin said. "It will save consumers money, it will help protect public health, and it will spark innovation."

TVs larger than 58 inches, which account for no more than 3 percent of the market, would not be covered by the rule, a concession to independent retailers that sell high-end home-theater TVs. The commission is expected to regulate them in the future.

Environmental groups supported the tougher standards and hoped they will prompt manufacturers to make new energy-efficient models for the rest of the nation. They said the rules would cut California's power bill by $1 billion a year, avoiding the need to build a 500-megawatt power plant.

Some manufacturers said implementing a power standard will cripple innovation, limit consumer choice and harm California retailers because consumers could simply buy TVs out of state or order them online.

Industry representatives also have said the standards would force manufacturers to make televisions that have poorer picture quality and fewer features than those sold elsewhere in the U.S.

As an example of the new standards, all new 42-inch television sets must use less than 183 watts by 2011 and less than 116 watts by 2013. That's considerably more efficient than flat-screen TVs placed on the market in recent years.

A 42-inch Hitachi plasma TV sold in 2007 uses 313 watts — slightly more than the power consumed by five 60-watt light bulbs — while a 42-inch Sharp Liquid-crystal display, or LCD, TV draws 232 watts, according to Energy Commission research. LCDs now account for about 90 percent of the 4 million TVs sold in California annually.

Some televisions already meet the early standards imposed under the rule approved Wednesday. About three-quarters of the TVs — more than 1,050 models — sold today comply with the 2011 California standards, and more than 300 comply with the 2013 standard, according to the Energy Commission.

California has previously led the nation in setting efficiency requirements for dishwashers, washing machines and other household appliances as a way to address the state's growing electricity demand.

Utilities and environmental groups say the TV standards should head off steep increases in home electricity use and rising electric bills.

Each energy-efficient TV would save a household roughly $30 a year in lowered electricity costs. If all 35 million TVs watched in the state were replaced with more efficient sets, Californians would save $8.1 billion over 10 years, according to the Energy Commission report.

Televisions account for about 2 percent of California's overall electricity use. Requiring them to be more energy efficient would save enough electricity to power 864,000 single-family homes a year in California by 2023. That's enough for Anaheim, Burbank, Glendale and Palo Alto combined.

The electricity savings could help California meet the goals of its 2006 global warming law, which calls for the state to cut greenhouse gases 25 percent by 2020.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger praised the commission's action as another signal of California's leadership on environmental matters. He noted that the state's per-capita electricity consumption has remained flat over the last three decades while energy consumption nationwide has increased.

"I applaud the commission for its hard work to enact these and other cost-effective energy efficiency standards that are not only great for the environment, but also good for consumers," the governor said in a statement.

GiftMyPC.org Donate unwanted electronics

How to Reuse or Recycle Your Old Tech

How to Reuse or Recycle Your Old Tech

Following The Trail Of Toxic E-Waste

Watch the Segment »

The Ewaste Recycling Forum

How to Find Details About a Registered Charity

How to Dispose of Unwanted Electronics

Several Web sites will buy (or tell you how to get rid of) your old TVs, cell phones, computers and more.

By Cameron Huddleston, Contributing Editor, Kiplinger.com

Related Links

Cell phones

Computers

Electronics

TVs

Christmas Electronics Recycle

Related Articles

Ten Tips for Donating a Computer

1. Determine if Your Old Computer Can Be Reused

2. Consider Donating Newer Equipment to a Refurbisher

3. Recycle Older and Broken Hardware

4. Choose a Responsible Recycler

5. Contact the Refurbisher or Recycler Before Donating

6. Remember the Software, Documentation, and Accessories

7. If You Clear Your Computer of Personal Information Yourself, Use Disk-Cleaning Software

Commercial Windows Disk-Cleaning Software:

Free Windows Disk-Cleaning Software:

Macintosh Disk-Cleaning Software:

8. Keep a List of What You Donated for Your Records

9. Find Additional Information on Electronics Recycling

10. Find Additional Information on Refurbishing

www.giftmypc.org or www.ewqastedisposal.net

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2010 Lamborghini Murcielago

Murcielago Performance - 9.2 (Excellent)

Murcielago Exterior - 9.5 (Excellent)

Murcielago Interior - 8.0 (Very Good)

Murcielago Safety - NA

Murcielago Reliability - NA

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Ways to Control Catalog Clutter

Downsizing: Today's Home Buyers Are Thinking Small

High-End Homes That Won't Sell

Attorney Generals tips for funneling money to charity, not for-profit fundraisers

Giving: Tough Times, Tough Choices

Calif. requires TVs to be more energy efficient