Summer Tip for Garden Hoses

 

Having spent a lifetime being somewhat aggravated by the rather clumsy system of turning my exterior hose spigots on and off (twisting the metal handles), I decided to try something new this summer.  There are a few brands of "easy shut offs" --- little devices you install on the threaded spigot and then control the on-off by twisting a comfortable lever, not risking knuckle banging with the conventional twist-faucet-handle.  

Also, I think it would be less wear and tear on the faucet this way, since the faucet resides outdoors, year round, and is not always well manufactured for high usage.   The pictured unit (above) I found at Lowes for $5 --- and it is zinc with some plastic parts.  Wal-Mart has something similar for $3.57 which has a nice, shiny chrome appearance, (but says it is also zinc). The Wal-Mart unit has only a plastic shut off lever, no other plastic parts. 

I can say I am very pleased with both the Lowes and the Wal-Mart cutoffs, they don’t appear to restrict water flow when “full on”, they just offer a very convenient way to cut the water on or off fast.  No more knuckle banging.

Please comment if you have had a different experience or a better suggestion.  Note: a neighbor told me I should open this new valve in winter, or remove it, and, of course, cover the faucet with insulated cover (which I now do anyway).

The Lowes item  Yardsmith Restricted-Flow Water Shut-Off

Item #: 228729 |  Model #: 8822   

Both items might be available on Amazon as well, I didn't check.  

Recall For Air Bags, A Website To Check Your Car

http://www.safercar.gov/

https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/

Enter your VIN number for your vehicle --- and then you have to enter a 3 or 4 digit number.  (see black or grey shaded area) and it will bring up the recall status of your vehicle – whether or not it is affected by the massive Air Bag recall. Or the ignition key recall I supposed, or any other recall.

There is another option which will appear once you check the VIN number, and it will let you see more general information and complaints filed on your vehicle (but not your specific  VIN number, this is a more general checkup).

Since this is a government run website, I believe it is accurate and will not try to sell you something based on your giving up your VIN number.

More Air Bag Recalls May 19,2015

A friend referred me to this website (below), run by the US Government, where you can check your vehicle by VIN number to see if it is involved in the airbag (or other recall).  Usually your dealer or the car company notifies you of such recalls, but if you bought a car used, perhaps they don’t know how to contact you. 

https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/  to search by your VIN number

http://www.safercar.gov/  The home page for car safety (US government operated website, I assume it is accurate and up to date)

The massive air bag recall (expanded May 19 to include millions more cars I have read). For example, Toyota and Nissan have recalled an additional 6.56 million cars equipped with possibly faulty airbags manufactured by Japan-based Takata. 

Please leave comments if you have better, or newer, information on how to check your personal vehicles. 

Lending Club – Small Business Loans

www.lendingclub.com

An interesting concept, Forbes calls this a “promising new company” for the future.  Inc Magazine has done a long profile article on the company recently.  They have already made $9 billion in loans, $1.6 billion in the last quarter.  By keeping costs lower than banks, they can make loans faster and possibly cheaper.  Check it out.

http://www.inc.com/magazine/201505/robb-mandelbaum/lending-club-money-on-demand.html

Pill Taking Simplified (Really)

PillPack.  This new company sells drugs for no more than conventional pharmacies (they say) and they mail them to your house. Unlike pill bottles, they come with each pill (or sets of pills) you want to take put in a shrink pack, by dose, with the time of day and date printed on it.  Watch the video on the website.  

I think this is a revolution that is long overdue.  Many people have multiple pills to take and at different times of the day.  This packaging system groups them by time and date, so older people (or just anyone) can figure what pills they have taken, and what’s next.  Surprised no one thought of this before. 

They even put non-prescription pills, like vitamins, and supplements, in the pouches for you, and I especially like the fact that they print the names and doses of each item in the pouch right on the bag.  Suppose you are not home at the time of day for the pill?  These sanitary packs fit in your pocket or purse much easier than conventional pill-organizers.

And since the pricing is the same as drug stores; this should be a winner.

www.pillpack.com

PS -- wouldn't even hospitals and nursing homes love it coming in this type of packaging as well ? 

Source:  Forbes Magazine  May 4, 2015  Page 40 and following.