Finally, more margarine spreads without trans fats

Hey, you always learn new things all the time. Before this news story, I thought that Smart Balance and Canola Harvest spreads/margarines were the only ones without trans fats (hydrogenated oils).

Now comes word that Unilever, which makes half of the spreads in the United States will have all their spreads without trans fats by middle of next year. What I didn't know was that currently their Imperial margarine was free of trans fats. Brummel and Brown also is free of trans fats. The brands that will be added to their list of products free of trans fats will include the "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" and "Country Crock" brands.

Click here for the article on USA Today.

Just a reminder that the FDA allows product packaging to say "No Trans Fats" if the serving contains less than 0.5 grams of Trans Fats. The problem is that it becomes a math game in determining the serving size just right to qualify. It's always important to look at the ingredients for "hydrogenated" oils. If it is listed, then it is in the food.

Click here to read more about Trans Fats at the American Heart Association's website.

From Forbes.com: Stupid Debt Tricks

As previously stated, I'm still getting Forbes magazine for free. In the latest issue, there was an "Ideas and Opinions" look at what games states are playing to plug holes in their budgets. I found the same thing on the website. Here's a couple (see below for the link):

• How does California save $1.2 billion by changing the date on their salary checks from June 30 to July 1? It seems like it would be a one-time effect. It would catch up the following year (or so it seems).
• Michigan plans to charge a $250 license fee on strippers. It is important to note that this opinion reports that there are only 83 topless establishments. They may also take in California prisoners (where does that money come from? California?).
• New York will put ads on their garbage trucks and charge an 18 percent tax on sugary drinks.

Click here for more details.

PBS Show: Walking the Great Divide and websites on the CDT

Just finished watching around 2 hours on Channel 58.1 KLCS (http://www.klcs.org/) which is a local PBS station here in Southern California. Today it was from 2 PM to 4 PM. If you missed it, they will be showing it again (not sure which parts, not clear on website or on-line schedules) on Tuesday night, 7/28/09 at 9 PM and 8/1/09 at 2 AM!

It's a fascinating documentary following an approximately 6 month journey from the Mexican border through 3,100 miles of trails and ending at the Canadian border. There's also a "tri-continental" divide where from one point, the water flows to the Arctic, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans.

You can purchase the expanded 2-disc DVD version from Flagler Films (http://www.flaglerfilms.com/).

Not sure if I have the stamina, energy, and time to do it all in one stretch. I might consider doing it in bits and pieces. The people he interviewed (most are fellow CDT hikers) all report the same things, mind over body, pain, etc.

Other sites that may be of interest:

• Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Divide_Trail)
• Continental Divide Trail Alliance (http://www.cdtrail.org/)
• Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (http://www.fs.fed.us/cdt/admin.htm)
  

Ways to help your monthly cash flow

I found this interesting article from Kiplinger and on Yahoo! Finance about 20 ways to waste (or not waste) your money.

I think the big ones for myself are Numbers 1, 5, 10, 12, and 18. We all could do better.

Click here to read the article and see if there are areas you can improve as well.

VW and Porsche saga finally winding down

Here's a nice summary of everything that has happened in the last four years. Click here for the Yahoo! Finance article. Porsche failed in its bid to take over VW (David and Goliath sort of deal) and now is ending up being merged into VW and will likely be one of the VW brands.

With increased Reward comes increased Risk. Market forces will drive them to balance each other out.

Using Variable Ratio/Variable Reward to encourage saving

I just read this interesting piece by Jason Zweig about a bank that is offering prizes (or raffles) just for opening a bank account.

We all know that variable ratio / variable reward is the best way to encourage behaviors. Think of gambling (don't know when you're going to win or how much you're going to win) or even other activities such as golf (don't know when the next good shot will come or how great it will be).

Of course, the rates are a little lower than current market and the differential is how the credit union pays for the "prizes." The article reports the following: "You are sort of betting, but there's no losing."

But in reality, there is losing because of the differential in return and losses to inflation. How you make it up is in the risk/reward ratio. If you contribute the minimum like the reported person who placed only $25 in their CD (Certificate of Deposit) and won $400, the ratio is more justified as compared with someone who opens their CD with $100,000 and wins $400, but misses out in $1,000 for every 1 percent interest rate differential.

60 minutes: Following the Trail of E-Waste

Alright. One of my friends brought reality back. Reminded me of this segment of 60 Minutes which airs on the CBS network. Of note, it's the only show (that I know of) that doesn't have a theme song other than a ticking stopwatch.

They ran a tragic and unfortunate segment following the trail of how e-Waste is supposed to be recycled and what really happens in some cases. You'll have to watch it yourself.

Click here to be taken there.