1. An article “ FACTBOX: Government backs Obama call to inflate tires” by Reuters discusses the subject and offers Energy and Transportation Departments’ recommendations, such as: “Proper tire inflation also plays a large role in keeping vehicles fuel efficient. For example, a vehicle with a recommended pressure of 35 psi whose tires are at 28 psi will have increased its rolling resistance by 12.5%.” and “If you keep your tires inflated properly, you can improve your fuel economy by as much as 2.5%.The recommended tire pressure can be found in your owner’s manual or on a sticker on the doorjamb of your car, not on the tire itself.”

 
2. Kate McLeod in her article “Tires are the key to gas bills savings” in San Francisco Chronicle writes about rolling resistance of your car’s tires.
Here is one quote for you to ponder upon: “Not all tires are created rolling-resistance equal. Rolling resistance is influenced by design, dimensions and tread compounds. Different tire brands of the same size and type to equip the same vehicle can differ by up to 50 percent in rolling resistance or fuel efficiency performance.”

 
Also, “Ask about high fuel-efficient tires. Make sure you’re getting well-rounded performance. Tires that improve fuel economy but last only half as long won’t be a good value in the long run”.

 
3. How to find out the correct pressure for your tires?
Read “How to Inflate Car Tires” article for the tips. Read the comments, too.

a

 
Skype is a telephone service you can use for free. Yes, that is correct: talk with friend locally or in other states for free, make international calls any time, too. You may have a camera connected to your computer and have a video session as well. How does it work? Actually, easy.

 
The only requirement is: have a computer, an Internet connection and a free software, which you download from Skype. The person on the other end of the world or the city, should have it, too. That would be a Skype-to-Skype call. That’s it. Enjoy.

 
A headset and a microphone are recommended for better clarity. You may buy these things online, at RadioShack, or at any place, that sells electronics.
To make a call to a regular or mobile phone you’ll have pay, but the rates are very good.

  
Find out more by visiting  http://www.skype.com/getconnected/

 
P.S. I already wrote, that 1-800-FREE411 is available on Skype, too.
Get Directions by Text Messaging and Other Ways to Find Information/

a

 
“Simply text your question to 242-242 (spells ‘ChaCha’) or call 1-800-2ChaCha (800-224-2242) from your mobile phone to ask any question and you will receive the answer as a text message. If you have a web browser on your phone, just click on the short website link that’s also included with your answer to see a reference website with more information. Since ChaCha uses human guides, you can easily reply with follow-on questions as if you are exchanging messages with a friend.”

 
Find out more About ChaCha , see home page: ChaCha.com

a

 
Here is how it works: while shopping at the a store, a shopper sees the products and wonders if he can buy it from Amazon for less. From his mobile phone he can send a text message with an item name (for example, iPod) to 262966 (Amazon), get back a text reply with a few items listed, and press 1 or 2, indicating a choice. Next, get a call from Amazon, confirming an order. Done.
(You can search on any keyword: item name, author, USBN or UPC code).

 
Read more about this service at the: Amazon.com

a

 
What about times, when you thought you know how to get to your destination, but got lost, or a trip, which you had to take unexpectedly, left you with no time to plan and research the route and you don’t have a computer with you?

 
The solution: have your cell phone ready and know how to read text messages.

 
There is a great way not only get your directions by the phone, but have it written down as well.

 
Here is what you do: Dial 1-800-FREE411 and listen to an ad supported directory assistance. When it’s time for your listing, you may choose an option for the detailed directions text messaged to you. All you have to do at that point, is enter your starting and ending location (even cross streets will do) and you should get your directions in the form of a text message in a few seconds.
Because it’s free, you’ll have to accept an ad at the end of your text message, as well.

 
The 1-800-FREE411 is available on Skype, too. Find out more at the site: http://www.free411.com/index.php.

 
There is a variation of this service, already available, where you just dial a word “directions”, which is 347-328-4667, and go thru basically the same routine (don’t know about the ads).

 
As of March 1, 2008, with service starting in Bay Area, Los Angeles and Chicago and within 30 days to go nationwide, keep in mind, you can use your cell phone to get directions text messaged.

 
Be prepared to hear offers for products or services and know when to accept it or say “No, thank you”.

 
Anyway, save the number in my cell phone directory. You may need it.

 
And right now you may click on www.dialdirections.com or www.free411.com links to see the pictorial and video presentations.

 
If you are looking for a local business, use may Google: “Connect to the business directly, free of charge. No need to write down a note or memorize long phone numbers. GOOG-411 connects you, free of charge. Dial 1 800 GOOG-411. For fastest access, simply add GOOG-411 to your contact list: 1 800 466-4411“.
See it here: www.google.com/mobile/goog411.

 
With all this information available, you should be able to get your directions from somewhere. I suggest, you also print this post and keep it in your car and suitcase for future references.

a

 
Vacationing Strategy
If you prefer renting an apartment, instead of staying in a hotel (in Paris, for example), go to a Craiglist Paris and try to find a place there. You may rent a two bedroom apartment for a price of one room in a hotel. Don’t forget to check references from previous renters before sending a security deposit.

 
Talk Strategy
You may talk with your friends worldwide for free, if you go to a Talkster.com and enter both of your phone numbers at this website. You’ll be issued a set of local numbers you can call to connect. No registration, no credit card. In exchange for the service you’ll have to listen a ten-second ad.

 
Text Messaging Strategy
Send you text messages to cell phones for free from your computer. How? Type your friend’s cell phone number into the “to” box in the E-Mail header. Than, add @ and their provider’s code. Meaning:
for Verizon Wireless customers, type: number@vtext.com;
for AT&T – number@txt.att.net;
for T-Mobile – number@tmomail.net;
for Sprint – number@messaging.sprintpcs.com.
Yes, you should know the provider. I tested it with ATT. Works great.

 
Reading Strategy
For a free E-book downloading go to a Gutenberg.org.
There are over 20,000 free books in the Project Gutenberg Online Book Catalog.
Here Gutenberg Catalog  you may browse by Author, Title, Language or Recently Posted. Mostly classics. Check it out.

 
Gift Cards Strategy
If you have an unused gift card, you can sell or swap it at www.plasticjungle.com. You may also buy a gift card at a discount. (Example: Buy a $1,000 gift card for a certain store for $875). The company, PlasticJungle, verifies the balance on each card, so you run no risk.

a

 
“Even before Congress passes an economic stimulus package, identity thieves are using promises of tax rebates to trick people into revealing financial and personal data, the Internal Revenue Service warned Wednesday.

 
Under one scheme, the IRS said, people are receiving phone calls telling them they can receive a rebate only if they provide bank account information for a direct deposit. The tax agency stressed that it does not collect information by telephone and that no legislation has been enacted that would allow it to provide advance payments to taxpayers or that specifies the details of those payments.

 
The House last week, as part of an economic stimulus package, approved tax rebates of $600 and $1,200 respectively for most individuals and couples, with an additional $300 per child. The Senate is now considering a slightly different version.
The IRS also repeated past warnings of e-mails, supposedly coming from the agency, where people are asked to enter personal information on a form needed to obtain a tax refund.

 
A new scam, it said, involves an e-mail notification that a person’s tax return will be audited with instructions to click on links to complete forms with personal and account information.
Businesses and accountants are also getting e-mails with instructions to download information on tax law changes. Clicking on these links could download malware onto the recipient’s computer that gives the scammer remote access to the computer hard drive.
In another telephone scam, a caller claims to be an IRS employee who says the taxpayer has not cashed a refund check and asks the person to verify his or her bank account number.

 
The IRS advised people not to click on any link from an e-mail purporting to come from the tax agency. People receiving questionable e-mails can contact the IRS at phishing@irs.gov“.

 
Source: www.sfgate.com

a

 
“Eleven years ago, the Queens Library system, the largest in the nation by circulation, hired a professional enforcer to collect the 25-cents-a-day late fines as well as missing library materials from books to DVDs to rare musical scores…The gambit has paid off handsomely. The haul so far: $11.4 million, about half of that in fines…
Borrowers who fail to return Queens Library books can be reported to a collection agency and to a credit bureau, with a damaged credit rating as a result…

 
The gambit has paid off handsomely. The haul so far: $11.4 million, about half of that in fines. That’s a lot of quarters.

 
Borrowers who fail to return Queens Library books can be reported to a collection agency and to a credit bureau, with a damaged credit rating as a result…

 
The company’s muscle comes from its ability to report some library users to credit bureaus. Unique Management contacts library patrons by letter and phone with an encouraging yet ultimately threatening message: Your library wants to keep you as a patron in good standing. Contact them to return your books and settle your fees. Or we will report you.

 
It works. About 70 percent of the people contacted by the company (who, in Queens, have ignored or missed four notices from the library) return some of their overdue materials or pay part of their fines.

 
“Once reported, this adverse information can stay on your record for seven years!” declares one of the company’s standard letters, which goes on to warn that car dealers, department stores and banks may learn of the library users’ misdeeds. “Why allow this to happen?”

 
…the New York Public Library, which runs branches in Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx, has been a satisfied client since 1995, library officials said. Unique has retrieved $5.8 million for the system, including, in the fiscal year that ended in June, $415,695 worth of materials and $335,062 in cash, money that the library spends on new materials.”

 
Read the article here: www.nytimes.com 

 
I don’t know if other states employ similar tactics to get their books back, but consider yourself warned.

a

 
Ask.com launched a new service: call in, say where you are and where you are going, and recieve a text message with a link to directions. Direction are given for driving or walking. 
“Click to speak” is a free, voice activated service available to those, who have Web enabled mobile device. Program the www.ask.com in your contact list and don’t hesitate to ask, when in need.

 
For more info read: news.moneycentral.msn.com )

a

 
As of January 1st 2008 your spare lithium batteries can’t travel in your checked baggage: “passengers are allowed to pack two spare batteries in their carry-on bag, as long as they’re in clear plastic baggies.”
“…you don’t have to worry about the batteries that are already installed in the devices you’re bringing. The TSA has said it’s safe to check in items like a laptop or iPhone that already have the batteries in place.”
“If you do plan on bringing spare batteries in your carry-on bag, be aware of some other rules: You can only bring batteries with an equivalent of up to 8 grams of lithium content. (Most batteries for cell phones and laptops meet this requirement.) And for lithium metal batteries, whether carried as a spare or installed in a device, batteries are limited to 2 grams of lithium metal.”

 
(Source: www.news.com)

a