Mind Your Own Business

Pfaltzgraff closing outlets and local distribution center

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:43:29 -0500

Quick take a peek at the bottom of your plate, bowl or mug. Do you see the Pfaltzgraff marking?

Chances are you might. These dishes seem to be everywhere.

At least that's the case for me and a few of my co-workers.

When we heard the news that the company was closing retail outlet stores and the local distribution center, we all started talking about how all of our dishes were made by that company.

I remember eating off Pfaltzgraff dishes as a kid in my parents house. What do you remember about the company? Leave a message in the comments section and let us know!

Dover area getting discount grocer

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:52:38 -0500

If you want a change from a traditional grocery store, you might want to check out the new SaveSmart coming to Weigelstown soon. It'll replace the old Nell's Shurfine that closed earlier this month.

Here is what we have so far on it.

Discount is how they are marketing it, and it won't look like a traditional grocery store to keep costs low. So what do you think? Will that make you come check it out?

Tainted dog food issues strike babies in China

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:14:13 -0500

Another reason to buy American: The same sort of chemical that made its way into pet food shipped to the United States last year from China and killed our pets has made its way into baby formula.

Three babies have died and thousands are sick in China, and evidence of the tainted milk has spread to other countries.

And again, the reason is shady people using chemicals to fool quality inspectors and make more money. This makes me sick.

For parents: Why kids playing video games is a good thing

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:53:47 -0500

Almost every child in America plays video games, according to this study. I wanted to cry when I read it. I didn't play video games, and about half my friends didn't.

But I'm willing to bet the kids who played video games in my high school class now make more money than those who didn't.

Why?

Could you still work if your computers went down?

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:22:29 -0500

We learned the hard way yesterday that you can't do a whole lot of work in the modern office without a working computer network.

It didn't last long (happens to everybody at some point) but it still sparked a flurry of making backup plans, waiting for updates and other behavior akin to hunkering down during a natural disaster.

And me? I dug out that big, yellow book that's more dust-bunny habitat than directory nowadays. People still make phone books, ya know?

Of course, beyond calling a bunch of people and taking notes, I couldn't have done a whole heck of a lot. What does your office usually do when the computer network, or power for that matter, goes down?

Compared to the rest of the country, York gas prices are low

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:37:31 -0500

My editor sent me the link to this map, which shows the gas price averages throughout the country.

I was surprised to see how low York and Pennsylvania as a whole ranked compared to other portions of the country.

I was really surprised to see that areas that have been hit pretty hard by the hurricanes recently weren't in the red. I was sure they would be.

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.

Week in Biz: iPods, homes and smoking

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:52:16 -0500

Before you brave the nasty weather on the way to your car to start your weekend, here's some quick headlines you might have missed this week.

Public places are now smoke free.

Fewer homes sold last month.

The newest iPods were revealed this week.

If you want to hear why Sean isn't a fan of the new iPods or why Jess thinks they sound cool, take a listen to this week's podcast.

A sad fact about public transportation

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:23:42 -0500

I love bowhunting, but I still don't love this statistic I came across this morning while looking up some gas prices facts:

"The number of bowhunters equals the number of Americans using public transportation to commute to work. (USCensus, NSGA)." (Courtesy of Huntersurvey.com.)

I'm happy for my favorite fall sport. But really? That's all the public transportation-takers in America?

Living in Stepford.

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:13:06 -0500

Yes, I do live in Stepford. Aside from the gray or tan vinyl siding and manicured lawns, now the trash cans in my neighbordhood look exactly the same. Not similar, the same. On Sunday, the trash company that serves my neighborhood delivered to each house a 96-gallon can that can be used in place of the smaller variety that usually line the curbs of my neighborhood.

Getting student loans getting harder

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:47:05 -0500

See that picture? Students are seeing a whole lot less of that for college in central Pennsylvania.

A private student loan agency in Carlisle is limiting student loans it allocates from here on out, and a newspaper to the north of us is reporting the business isn't taking any new loan applications.

No matter what anyone says about race or gender glass ceilings still lingering in America, the 800-pound gorilla remains having the money for a good education. (Financial disparities are part of the race and gender ceilings, and in the end, money talks.) And like everything else in America, the degrees we buy - like hammers to smash through the glass - are bought on credit.

Credit woes aren't just something confined to people who were snookered on a bad mortgage or who ran up credit card bills at the mall, although sadly, that's part of what's caused the problem. And now kids can't afford college.

The situation with CampusDoor, I'm worried, will get worse. Do you know of anyone who is having problems with student loans this year? Are you worried education will become less available to those groups historically locked into class structures, and locked out of social mobility?

Getting gnomed

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:36:40 -0500

On July 4, the nation celebrated its independence. Well, it seems that some people in my neighborhood believed that the holiday extended to the liberation of lawn ornaments. At some point that night, a thief or thieves walked up to my front yard garden and stole about five gnomes. Go ahead and laugh. Yes, my front yard mulch bed had been filled with the little plastic and ceramic guys with pointed ears who prefer to wear cone-shaped hats. I had motion-sensing gnomes that spoke when you walked by, solar powered gnomes that switched on at dusk and the regular statue variety. And, they could be funny.

Doing the Fair on $20

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:30:55 -0500

Wednesday afternoon I experienced the York Fair for the first time, and I had the challenging task of trying to "do the Fair" on $20.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I had gotten a bunch of suggestions from people abut what I had to try.

York Fair on a budget

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:05:01 -0500

I'm headed over to the York Fair in an hour or so to see if I can really "do the Fair" on $20.

After the admission fee and paying to park, though, it's going to be more like doing the Fair on $10.

I have no idea what to expect. This is my first year in York so many of my friends have been giving me tips on food that I absolutely have to try.

I've been recommended the fried Oreos, the waffle ice cream sandwiches and soft pretzels, but I've also been told they are a bit pricey.

I don't really plan on riding the rides or playing too many games, but that's all stuff to consider.

Does anyone have tips or suggestions on what I absolutely must do while I'm at the Fair? Let me know in the comments section.

Little light, big panic

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:43:10 -0500

Today I did something I've never done before.

I ran my gas tank so low that the little warning light came on. That has never happened to me before.

After a traumatic incident when I was home from college on winter break where I ran out of gas on the side of an extremely busy road because the gas gauge broke and read half a tank when it was really empty, I have been overly cautious to make sure I fill up in time.

Ladies learn about cars

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:13:11 -0500

My editor just forwarded me an e-mail about an event that I needed to share with all my female readers. (Fellas don't tune me out yet, you may have a wife, sister, daughter who could benefit from this.)