LG Voyager Cell Phone

Few things are as disruptive to travel plans as an airline shutdown, and that's what has occurred for thousands of passengers booked on Mexicana. Earlier this week Mexico's largest carrier filed for bankruptcy protection in both Mexico and the United States due to its "fragile financial situation," and has suspended all flights until further notice.

U.S. and Canadian customers seeking refunds should visit Mexicana's site for specific instructions. Those who booked via credit card should receive direct refunds; reservations made by cash or check must be processed via a form available online.

Consumers Union has long advocated all travel purchases should be made via credit card, for protection against bankruptcies and other contingencies under the Fair Credit Billing Act.

Meanwhile, American Airlines is offering assistance by providing a 20 percent discount off published fares for those customers previously booked on Mexicana. The offer applies to passengers traveling between the 48 contiguous United States and Mexico, and there are multiple restrictions. Tickets must be issued by Sept. 5, so it's imperative to act quickly.

In addition, other regional carriers are offering fare assistance as well. In the case of Aeromexico, this means passengers will be waitlisted, so it's first-come, first-served.—William J. McGee

People hoping for a safe way to lose weight by taking a pill will have to wait a little longer.

Almost 12 years ago to the month, I remember reviewing the clinical trial data on the efficacy and safety of the just-approved prescription weight loss drug sibutramine (Meridia). At that time, many in the medical community had fairly high hopes for this drug, given that there were so few approved medications to help overweight and obese people—and especially given the ever increasing population of overweight adults. But many were also quite aware of the risks that these medications posed—especially the potential risks associated with increasing one's heart rate and blood pressure (which were likely already elevated) in people who were the ultimate target group.

In the previous year (1997), the Food and Drug Administration had actually removed from the market two popular weight loss drugs: dexfenfluramine (Redux) and fenfluramine (Pondimin) due to specific heart risks associated with their use.

Back then, we just weren't all that impressed by how little weight people actually lost with Meridia during the relatively short trials, compared to those folks who received a placebo (sugar pill). Those who took Meridia also experienced some clear increases in heart rate and blood pressure. So, we reported in November 1998 that we felt Meridia was not worth the risk and we titled our brief article that appeared in Consumer Reports on Health "Meridia: Not safe for slimming."

Fast forward to this week, and that recommendation 12 years ago seems quite prescient. On September 2nd, the much awaited results of SCOUT (Sibutramine Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial) funded by Abbott Laboratories (makers of Meridia) were published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Not surprisingly, the results of this huge, well-designed trial of good length showed that little weight loss was achieved by the group receiving Meridia compared to the placebo group during an average of nearly 3-1/2 years. In addition—and also not surprisingly—for overweight individuals in the trial with preexisting cardiovascular issues, there was a definite increased risk of nonfatal heart attacks and nonfatal strokes.

On September 15th, an advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration will convene to address the results of the SCOUT study and determine the future of this drug's availability to the public. What was stated in the last paragraph of the editorial that accompanied the NEJM study sums up our feeling on this issue best:

"The FDA advisory committee will now take up the matter. We surely need safe and effective medications to help overweight and obese patients lose weight and improve their long-term health. But given that sibutramine has minimal efficacy for weight loss, no apparent benefit for clinical outcomes, a worrisome cardiovascular risk profile, and a plausible mechanism to explain the cardiovascular risk, it is difficult to discern a credible rationale for keeping this medication on the market."

—Chris Hendel, Associate Director, Health & Family

International Living magazine is out with its latest rankings of 25 possible retirement destinations, based on cost of living and seven other factors. Full details are available on the magazine’s website, but here’s a cheat sheet:

1. Ecuador

2. Panama

3. Mexico

4. France

5. Italy

6. Uruguay

7. Malta

8. Chile

9. Spain

10. Costa Rica

11. Brazil

12. Argentina

13. Colombia

14. New Zealand

15. United States

16. Portugal

17. Australia

18. Belize

19. Malaysia

20. Ireland

21. Nicaragua

22. U.K.

23. Honduras

24. Dominican Republic

25. Thailand

Recently on the Consumer Reports Money blog, author and part-time expat (in #3, Mexico) Barry Golson shared these pros and cons of retiring abroad.

—Greg Daugherty

Greg writes the “Retirement Guy� column each month in our Consumer Reports Money Adviser newsletter.

 
As we noted here earlier this week, more Americans are expected to hit the highways and airways this Labor Day weekend. But clearly Mother Nature—in the form of Hurricane Earl and Tropical Storm Fiona—may be disrupting the plans of countless travelers.

At press time Earl was battering the East Coast, as well as travel itineraries throughout the country and the Caribbean. For the latest updates on Earl, Fiona, and other tropical storms, check the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s website.

Several airlines are addressing this situation by waiving change fees for passengers seeking to rebook. Since this situation remains quite dynamic, if your flight is affected it’s best to check directly with your carrier. Here are links to some major airlines' travel advisory sites:
AirTran Airways
American Airlines
Continental Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Frontier Airlines
JetBlue Airways
Southwest Airlines
United Airlines
US Airways

• If you’re flying, check your airline’s Contract of Carriage to determine what the carrier will do for you in the case of “force majeureâ€� events such as extreme weather; this document can be found on the airline’s website.
• If you’re booking through a travel agent or tour operator, ask in advance about contingency plans for hurricanes and severe weather.
• If you’re going to be cruising in potentially threatening waters, speak to your travel agent or cruise line about the potential for delayed, diverted, or cancelled itineraries.
• Before booking a hotel or resort, inquire about cancellation penalties due to hurricanes.
• If you’re driving, learn the safest routes to avoid catastrophe, since even natives can be caught off-guard by a hurricane. Earlier this month, AAA reported an online survey revealed 33 percent of Florida residents are unsure of their emergency evacuation routes.
• If you’re overseas, check the U.S. State Department’s Travel page for updates on severe weather; the site offers traveler tips as well.

As for travel insurance—well, it’s too late in the case of Earl. Once a storm has been identified and named, buying coverage is no longer an option.—William J. McGee

In today's Digital Dispatch:

iOS now 3rd most popular internet platform after Windows, Mac (TiPb)

Net Applications is reporting that iOS has passed Linux to become the third most popular platform accessing the internet.

Google Introduces Branded Map Icons (ClickZ)

...In the initial beta stage, a handful of brands including HSBC now feature their logos in place of the standardized images Google has been using when users zoom in closely on a map area.

Verizon Wireless Offers Very First Prepaid Smartphone Data Plans (mocoNews.net)

...The variety of phones is really where this offer stands apart from the rest. It works with a dozen of smartphones, ranging from BlackBerry devices, and a handful of Android devices.

Skype Doubles Down with 10-Person Video Chat (ReadWriteWeb)

...When the company first introduced group chat in May, it limited the number of participants to five, but now it has doubled that number to 10.

Watchdog Group Takes Google to Task in Times Square (Marketing Pilgrim)

...“We’re satirizing Schmidt in the most highly trafficked public square in the nation to make the public aware of how out of touch Schmidt and Google are when it comes to our privacy rights.�

About Digital Dirk's Dispatches
Dirk Klingner, our technology-trend watcher, sifts through hundreds of blog posts and news articles daily to bring you the Digital Dispatch—a compilation of the most important and interesting tech news for consumers. If you have a tip on a story you want to share, leave a comment below.

• Ace: 20 percent off all Royal and Royal Finest paints.
• Lowe’s: $5 off 1-gallon containers and $20 off 5 gallons of selected Valspar paints.
• Home Depot: $5 off 1-gallon containers and $20 off 5-gallon containers of Behr, Glidden, and Martha Stewart Living paints.

Click here to play the Sound Byte: Money-saving
tips for printing at home. (MP3 software required.)
podcast: Consumer Reports

If you're shopping for a printer, you'll find some good and inexpensive choices in our latest report and Ratings of printers (available to subscribers). But whether you're buying a regular inkjet, laser, all-in-one, or snapshot printer, one thing is for certain: you'll bleed a good amount of green for ink and toner cartridges.

In last week's Sound Byte, Associate Editor Terry Sullivan discussed with Dave Graveline of "Into Tomorrow" some money-saving printing tips. Listen to the podcast (by clicking here), and hear Terry outline how:

• Changing fonts can yield more printed pages per cartridge
• Free software programs (such as GreenPrint World) can print Web pages more effectively
• Your printer's "low ink" warning doesn't necessarily mean you need to immediately replace its cartridge

Our printer buying advice also includes tips for cheaper and earth-friendly printing.

Click this link to listen to our latest Sound Byte podcast. (You'll need software, such as iTunes or Quicktime or RealPlayer or an MP3 audio-capable Web browser to play the file. Right-click the link with your mouse, choose "save as..." to download the Sound Byte to your computer or MP3 player for later listening.) For the complete three-hour "Into Tomorrow with Dave Graveline" show featuring this segment, click here.

Until next week... Happy weekend, everyone!

—Paul Eng

About Sound Bytes
Every week, Consumer Reports experts produce a short (less than two minutes in length) audio segment which cover a wide variety of issues regarding consumer electronics and technology. These small "sound bites" can be heard on Into Tomorrow with Dave Graveline. The Sound Byte that is featured in the Consumer Reports Electronics Blog is a segment that aired on last weekend's Into Tomorrow over-the-air broadcast.

About Into Tomorrow
Now in its 15th year, Into Tomorrow with Dave Graveline covers the Latest in Consumer Electronics & Technology available today and... into tomorrow. The show airs on over 160 AM and FM radio stations around the U.S., on SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio, radio stations in Germany, Bermuda, New Zealand, Canada and several other sources including Mobile Broadcast Network, BeOS Radio, Sprint Radio, TiVo, and many others—every weekend. "Into Tomorrow" is also heard around the world on the Armed Forces Networks in several other countries. You can also catch all Into Tomorrow episodes on the Web. (The most recent show is usually added about three or four days after it has been broadcast on the radio.)

“Wow,� my wife said. “It’s a good thing you didn’t talk about the AC.�

“It’s a good thing,� I said.

Okay, my wife is crazy with the AC! Granted, it’s been the hottest summer on record in the Northeast, with temperatures hovering again this week in the uppers 90s. That doesn’t mean it should go down to the low 70s indoors. But those are the icy conditions I’ve come home to on several occasions this summer. A few times it’s even been in the 60s! I’m a strict 78 degree F guy myself, which Consumer Reports has called an ideal temperature for combining comfort and efficiency. In an informal poll on this blog, 665 (31 percent) of you agreed, saying you set your AC between 76 and 78 degrees. My wife’s not alone, however, with 348 respondents (16 percent) voting for a 71  to 73  degree setting.

The new Durango goes on sale late in 2010. See more 2011 Durango photos.

How do you like the overall package and styling? Post your thoughts in the comments below.

Also read:
New-car fuel-economy stickers promise abundant information and connectivity
Your vote: Should new car fuel economy labels include letter grades?

—Eric Evarts

See our guide to fuel economy for advice on saving gasoline. Learn about future technologies in our guide to alternative fuels.

• Florida, whose cash for appliances program ended in April, launched a new state program that will provide 10,000 $1,500 rebates on energy-efficient central air conditioning systems. But concerns have arisen that there are may not be enough accredited professionals to perform the sophisticated duct testing required by the program.
• West Virginia, which still has approximately $1.05 million available in its cash for appliances program, is running a sales-tax holiday on Energy Star-qualified washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators and freezers, dehumidifiers, programmable thermostats, ceiling fans, air conditioners, and CFL light bulbs through November 30. That’s a six percent savings for consumers.

Cash for appliance rebates are still available in 33 states and territories. Next week check for Consumer Reports Energy Saving package will be online and on newsstands.

—Gian Trotta

—Eric Evarts

See our guide to fuel economy for advice on saving gasoline. Learn about future technologies in our guide to alternative fuels.

Abuse of cough medicine containing dextromethorphan, known as “robo-tripping�, is on the rise according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which has asked the Food and Drug Administration to look into ways to control the abuse. The DEA says that emergency room visits from abuse of the drug have increased in recent years and about half of those visits involve young people aged 12 to 20.

Dextromethorphan (which is a cough suppressant) is not very effective at controlling the most common coughs caused by cold or flu. It is available over-the-counter in more than 120 products, such as Coricidin, Nyquil Cough, Robitussin DM, and Vicks 44. When used as directed, dextromethorphan is considered safe by the FDA. But even standard doses of the drug can cause agitation, muscle spasms, and allergic reactions. Overdosing can bring hallucinations, rapid heartbeat, loss of coordination, and a ''high'' similar to psychotropic drugs like PCP. Some of the products also contain other ingredients, like the pain-reliever, fever-reducer acetaminophen, which can cause liver damage when overused or combined with alcohol, and the decongestant pseudoephedrine, which can increase blood pressure.

The DEA says that the Internet may play a role in the spread of "robo-tripping," because a proliferation of how-to websites now explain how to abuse the drug. A quick look at You Tube shows that a number of young people apparently videotape themselves abusing the drug and post the video of themselves or their friends “robo-tripping� online. Pop-culture may play a role in the rise as well. The rapper ‘Lil Wayne has sung about “sippin’ syrup� and in 2009 talked to Katie Couric about his addiction to prescription cough syrup.

On September 14th the FDA will convene a meeting to review the increased incidents of cough medicine abuse, and consider whether increased restrictions could help curb the problem. In the meantime, if you have young people in your home, be aware of the risk of cough medicine abuse. And if you want to replace your dextromethorphan products with remedies that actually help treat a, see How to Treat a Cough.

—Kevin McCarthy, associate editor

For more drug safety news and tips, sign up for our Best Buy Drugs e-newsletter and our mobile health alerts. 

Today's electronics deals, courtesy of The Consumerist:

• HP Direct: HP Coupon Code $250 off HP Laptops $1349+ (Combines w/ Instant Discounts!)
• JR.com: Logitech Harmony 700 Advanced Universal Remote Control (similar to Harmony ONE) $80
• Buy.com: GPX Under-Cabinet 8.1" LCD 1080p HDTV with Radio Tuner for $65.99 w/ Free Shipping
• Walmart: Sony 16GB MP3 Video Player with Speakers - Red for $79 w/ Free Shipping
• Roku: Roku SD $59.99, HD $69.99, HD-XR $99.99 (were $80, $90, $130)
• NewEgg: Western Digital VelociRaptor 150 GB 10,000 RPM 3.5" Hard Drive $99.99 + free ship (next best $135)
• Google Code University: FREE Tutorials on Web Programming, Databases & more

Entertainment

• Buy.com: Wii Fit Charging Stand with Two Rechargeable Battery Packs for $14.99 w/ Free Shipping
• GoGamer: Tekken 6 $14.90 + $2.99 ship (next best $30)
• iTunes: Build-a-Lot 2: Town of the Year for $0.99 (was $2.99)

Neither Consumer Reports nor The Consumerist receive anything in exchange for featuring these deals; the posts are intended to be purely informational. These deals are often fleeting, with prices changing or products becoming unavailable as the day progresses.

These posts are not an endorsement of the featured products or the Web sites that sell them—though some of the sites may be included, and recommended, in our Ratings of retailers for computers and other major electronics (both available to subscribers). Price shouldn't be your only criterion. Be wary of lower-priced deals that seem too good to be true, and check return policies for restocking fees and other gotchas.

For general buying advice for many of the products on sale above, check out our free Buying Guides.

Far too often, recalls and safety alerts don’t reach the consumers that need them the most.  There’s typically only a 10 to 30 percent consumer response rate to recalls. That puts a lot of consumers who may never have received the information in harm’s way. Children are particularly vulnerable to risk of injury, illness, or death from unsafe foods and products.  Busy parents are bombarded with information and often don’t hear about vital safety issues and recalls. So Consumers Union  set out to find a way to get safety into the homes of parents with school-age children.  

We’ve created a unique coalition of government agencies, parent organizations, and school administrators to disseminate recalls and safety alert information to parents and caregivers.  The National School Safety Coalition, currently comprised of 21 members, puts the word out through www.clickcheckandprotect.org.

Read more and comment

We’ve worked together with the National Parent Teacher Association  and the National School Boards Association  to form this coalition and developed innovative methods for getting safety information directly to parents through their children’s schools.

This program will go a long way towards warning families about unsafe products and foods.  Make sure both you and your school subscribe to this free website www.clickcheckandprotect.org.  Ask your PTA, school board, and school administrators to include it in newsletters and school websites so the information can be passed down to all parents and their children.

—Don Mays

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Federal Trade Commission
• American Association of School Administrators
• American School Counselor Association
• American School Health Association
• California School Boards Association
• Consumers Union
• Council of Chief State School Officers
• Council of Great City Schools
• National Alliance of Black School Educators
• National Association for the Education of Young Children
• National Association for Elementary School Principals
• National Association of School Nurses
• National Education Association Health Information Network
• National Organizations for Youth Safety
• National Parent Teacher Association
• National School Boards Association
• National School Public Relations Association
• New York State Parent Teacher Association
• New York State School Boards Association

But there's no federal requirement for seat-belt notification systems in the back seats of vehicles, where children usually ride. Consumers Union and some other safety groups want that to change.

Read more and comment

—Bob Williams

Rep. Nita Lowey with Consumers Union's Jim
Guest (right) and Michael Hansen (left).

Read more and comment

"The proposed food-safety legislation is the first major update of our food safety laws since 1938," said Lowey. "We must focus on prevention to stop outbreaks before they occur." Lowey pointed out that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are 76 million Americans who suffer from food-borne illness each year.

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act would, among other things, require the FDA to conduct inspections of food-production facilities, give them mandatory recall authority for unsafe foods, and give them more enforcement powers, including the ability to levy civil penalties against wrongdoers.

Hansen gave examples of how the proposed law could have stemmed the large egg recall, which has been associated with sickening almost 1,500 people with Salmonella Enteritidis poisoning. Once the FDA was allowed to inspect the Wright County Egg farms, they found multiple violations of food safety standards, most of which are truly disgusting.

What this egg recall has done—like the peanut products, cookie dough, spinach, and countless other recalls before it—has focused everyone’s attention on the urgent need for better authorities and funding for the FDA to prevent these kinds of dangerous foods from getting on the marketplace before anyone gets sick.

Congresswoman Lowey urged the Senate to pass the bipartisan FDA Food Safety Modernization Act as soon as it returns in mid-September. "Consumers have a right to expect that their food supply is safe," said Lowey. "It is outrageous that the FDA is so severely lacking in the basic authority it needs to protect the public from contaminated food products." We couldn’t agree more.

For more information on Consumers Union’s food-safety initiative and to see what you can do to help, visit CU's NotInMyFood.org.

The Galaxy Tab as seen in Samsung's video.
Photo: Samsung

Samsung today released new details about the Samsung Galaxy Tab, the first viable iPad competitor we know of. (For basics on the device, see our blog, Samsung Galaxy Tab: The first serious iPad competitor from last week).

Here's the new information:

• The tablet weighs about 13 ounces. Its TFT-LCD display's resolution is 1024 x 600 and measures 7 inches. That makes it 7 ounces lighter than the iPad and its display quite a bit smaller than the iPad's 10 inches.


• Powered by a 1GHz Cortex A8 processor, the Galaxy Tab will connect via 3G, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. You'll be able choose from models with 16 or 32GB of built-in memory; an external slot can accept up to 32GB of removable memory. Samsung claims the Galaxy Tab's battery will last 7 hours playing movies.

• With a camera on the front (1.3MP), you'll be able to do videoconferencing. The rear camera is 3MP, with auto focus and LED flash. A gyroscope sensor, geo-magnetic sensor, and accelerometer add location, direction, and motion capabilities.


• Samsung didn't list a dedicated USB port as part of the Galaxy Tab's connectivity. Presumably, USB connections are made via the 30-pin connector.


• The tablet will also play HD videos, supporting a variety of multimedia formats. Access to films and video will be available, Samsung says, through the company's "Media Hub" and to music via its "Music Hub." Samsung says its e-reader app, Readers Hub, will provide access to reference materials as well as classics and bestsellers.

The company says that the Galaxy Tab will be launched in the US "in coming months."

—Donna Tapellini

—Daniel DiClerico 

A group of more than 40 organizations, including our publisher, Consumers Union, came out hard against a set of proposed standards for organic Canadian seafood this week. The proposals would allow an organic label to be slapped on fish that comes from farms that use antibiotics and feed their fish up to 30 percent nonorganic food—including fish from the wild that could easily contain mercury and PCBs, according to a letter from the groups.

“Consumers deserve clear assurance that their choice of organic products supports a safer and more sustainable environment,� says Urvashi Rangan, Ph.D., technical policy director at Consumers Union. “Fish labeled as 'organic' that are not fed 100 percent organic feed, that come from polluting open-net pen systems, or that are contaminated with PCBs fall significantly short of expectations for organic products.�

Similar proposed organic standards for U.S. farmed fish have also been issued and are awaiting final review and rulemaking from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The U.S. standards being recommended would also fall far short of the standards set for other organicly-raised animals—unless the USDA revises the proposals before finalizing them—according to Consumers Union and many of the organizations that signed the letter to the Canadian government.

—Kevin McCarthy, associate editor

• City and highway fuel economy ratings
• Long-term fuel costs
• Comparative ratings against all other cars
• Greenhouse gas emissions in grams per mile, as well as a comparisonagainst all other cars
• A bar comparing air pollution that is not included in the overall letter grade

—Eric Evarts

The poll is not scientific. It reflects the opinions of only those Web users who have chosen to participate. The results cannot be assumed to represent the opinions of Web users in general, nor the public as a whole. Consumers Union is not responsible for content, functionality or the opinions expressed therein.

See our guide to fuel economy for advice on saving gasoline. Learn about future technologies in our guide to alternative fuels.

Morningland Dairy of Mountain View, Missouri, is recalling 68,957 pounds of cheese because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and has the potential to be contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus.

The recall involves a range of sizes and products under the Morningland Dairy and Ozark Hill Farms labels. The raw cow’s milk cheeses are Colby, Hot Pepper Colby, Garlic Colby, Italian Colby, Dill Colby, No-Salt Added Mild Cheddar, Mild Cheddar, Medium Sharp Cheddar, Sharp Cheddar. The raw goat’s milk cheeses are Colby, Hot Pepper Colby, Italian Colby, Garlic ‘N’ Chive Colby, Mild Cheddar, Medium Sharp Cheddar, Sharp Cheddar. 

The codes affected by the recall are handwritten on the front of the label and range from A10 (representing January 1, 2010) through F250 (representing June 25, 2010). 

There have been no illnesses reported to date. 

Listeria can cause listeriosis, which can bring on fever, muscle aches, and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea. Infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth, premature delivery, or infection of the newborn.

Staphylococcal food poisoning is a gastrointestinal illness that can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. It’s usually mild and most patients recover after one to three days, though  in a small minority of patients the illness may be more severe.

In today's Digital Dispatch:

Navteq tries to make GPS directions more 'human' (cnet)

...Rather than say, "turn right in 150 feet," as current GPS devices do now, Navteq's system gives directions based on landmarks. The instructions will include "turn right after the yellow shop," or "turn right at the traffic signal," the company said in a statement.

Google Making Extraordinary Counteroffers To Stop Flow Of Employees To Facebook (TechCrunch)

...One recent Googler, we’ve confirmed, was recently offered a counter offer he couldn’t refuse (except he did). He was offered a 15% raise on his $150,000 mid level developer salary, quadruple the stock benefits and…wait for it…a $500,000 cash bonus to stay for a year. He took the Facebook offer anyway.

Mercedes-Benz updates mbrace app with fancy pants 'Concierge' service (engadget)

...Mercedes-Benz just announced a new app that connects its in-car navigation systems with its customers' iPhones.

BeamAtic Premium headlights might be the next big thing (ubergizmo)

...will rely on an on-board camera and selected image processing software which is capable of tracking oncoming vehicles, while featuring several movable dousers attached to the headlights to deflect light so that it will not bother others who share the road with you.

Flash Coming to the iPhone? Skyfire Submits First Mobile Browser to Apple Capable of Playing Flash Video (skyfire)

Skyfire is submitting a mobile browser to Apple’s App Store capable of playing Flash video while adhering to all Apple’s guidelines regarding HTML5 open-video standards on Apple devices.

Police embrace Twitter but lack strategy (BizReport)

A new study from the Canadian Association of Police on Social Media takes a look at the Tweeting habits of cops and their agencies in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. It transpires they're doing a cracking job but, as with other corporate users, could do with putting social media policies in place.

Lighter Side: Unhear It' - Get One Annoying Song Out of Your Head With Another (urlesque)

Unhear It is a simple website with a simple goal: To get the annoying earworming song out of your head.

About Digital Dirk's Dispatches
Dirk Klingner, our technology-trend watcher, sifts through hundreds of blog posts and news articles daily to bring you the Digital Dispatch—a compilation of the most important and interesting tech news for consumers. If you have a tip on a story you want to share, leave a comment below.

If you just sent your kid off to college with a new laptop, be aware that computer maker Toshiba is recalling 41,000 Satellite T135, Satellite T135D and Satellite ProT130 Notebook Computers because they can overheat at the plug-in adapter and burn. The Irvine, Calif. company has received 129 reports of the computers overheating and deforming the plastic casing. 

The computers were sold through electronics stores and other retailers nationwide and online, including at Toshibadirect.com and other websites, from August 2009 through August 2010.

The recall notice says, “Consumers should immediately download the latest version of Toshiba's BIOS computer program to their notebook computer at http://laptops.toshiba.com/about/consumer-notices. This new computer program will detect whether the notebook computer is overheating, and if so, disable the notebook computer's external power and display a message directing the consumer to contact Toshiba for a free repair. Consumers who do not have Internet access should contact Toshiba to arrange for installation of the updated BIOS.�

You can also contact Toshiba at (800) 457-7777 or on their website. 

In opening such an investigation, NHTSA is trying to determine how widespread the problem is before beginning the process that could lead to a recall. The new Sonata is the first model-year 2011 vehicle facing a safety investigation by NHTSA.

See our Hyundai Sonata review video.

Are liquid calcium supplements absorbed better than calcium pills? —H.C., Ferndale, Wash.

Possibly. Liquid or chewable supplements give the body a head start on absorption because they’re already broken down when they reach the stomach. If you prefer pills, calcium carbonate has the highest percentage of calcium and usually costs less.

Pick products that bear the seal of the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), which ensures they’ve been tested for purity and potency. You can also check your supplement’s solubility by putting it in a glass of vinegar for 30 minutes and stirring periodically. If it doesn’t dissolve, it probably won’t be absorbed well in your stomach.

Read more on supplements to avoid and those worth considering. If you're taking a supplement, you can check up on its safety and effectiveness in our Natural Medicines database (available to subscribers).

Today's electronics deals, courtesy of The Consumerist:

• Tanga.com: Continental Cordless Sewing Machine For $17.99
• Dell: 15.6" 2.2 GHz Dell Studio XPS 16 Laptop $909.99
• Buy.com: GreenDrive 1TB USB & eSATA Drive $59.99 shipped
• Dell: 15.6" 2.2 GHz Dell Studio XPS 16 Laptop $909.99
• Buy.com: GreenDrive 1TB USB & eSATA Drive $59.99 shipped
• Buy.com: Canon imageCLASS MF3240 Monochrome Laser All-in-One Printer $84.99 Free Shipping
• CES: CES (Consumer Electronics Show) FREE Registration Until September 30
• Amazon: Pogoplug Multimedia Sharing Device for $47.99 w/ Free Shipping
• iFunCity: Apple iPad Leather Case for $13.99 w/ Free Shipping

Entertainment

• iTunes: Smash Fiesta for $0 (usually $0.99)
• iTunes: Mad O Ball 3D rolling game for $0 (usually $3.99)

Neither Consumer Reports nor The Consumerist receive anything in exchange for featuring these deals; the posts are intended to be purely informational. These deals are often fleeting, with prices changing or products becoming unavailable as the day progresses.

These posts are not an endorsement of the featured products or the Web sites that sell them—though some of the sites may be included, and recommended, in our Ratings of retailers for computers and other major electronics (both available to subscribers). Price shouldn't be your only criterion. Be wary of lower-priced deals that seem too good to be true, and check return policies for restocking fees and other gotchas.

For general buying advice for many of the products on sale above, check out our free Buying Guides.

Not keen on battling the crowds (or wary of Hurricane Earl)? You can also find great deals online, especially on small appliances, such as vacuum cleaners and toaster ovens. In our annual survey of appliance retailers, perennial-favorite Amazon was again deemed best overall for smaller purchases, combining excellent pricing and selection.

Update: Some of your favorite retailers are advertising sales on paint.

As the school year began for my kids, I received a form from our school district that would let me opt out of allowing my children to have Internet access from their school computers. Like many schools, ours block access to certain websites that may reveal a child’s identity, or have prurient or other inappropriate content for children. Plenty of parents worry about what their children are exposed to on the Web, and for good reason.

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The Federal Trade Commission recently put together an excellent program for keeping kids safe online. Their brochure, “Net Cetera – Chatting with Kids About Being Online,â€� is available free from the FTC by visiting their OnGuard Online website. Hard copies are also available for schools. 

The Net Cetera brochure is chock full of a good advice for parents and caregivers. "We wrote Net Cetera to encourage parents to communicate their own values to their kids," said Carolyn Shanoff, director of consumer and business education for the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "When parents are upfront about their values and how they apply in the online world, kids are more likely to make thoughtful decisions when they face tricky situations." Here are just some of the tips:    

•    Talk to your kids as soon as they start using a computer, cell phone, or any other mobile device. Explain about the dangers of Internet use, perhaps by discussing news stories about cyber bullying and the like.

•    Keep the computer in a common area of your home, not a private one, so your child is cognizant of potential parental supervision while she surfs the Web.  

•    Check the sites your children are visiting to make sure they’re appropriate, and review the sites’ privacy policies. Find out what information a website wants from your child; websites are required to get parental authorization to collect personal information on a child. 

•    Review your child’s friends list on social networking sites, and have her "friend" you so you can see who she is communicating with.

•    Set the parental controls on the computer to filter out inappropriate websites, and privacy settings to restrict who can access and post on your child’s social media profile. 

•    Explain to your kids why they should post only information that they are comfortable with others seeing. Discuss how their electronic communications leave “footprintsâ€� that can’t be erased.

•    Talks to your teen about avoiding sex talk online, and the perils of “sexting.â€�

•    Have your kids create safe screen names that can’t be used to identify who they are or where they are located.

•    Have them create strong e-mail passwords and have them share those passwords with you. 

•    Know your rights. You have the right to demand that personal information on your child be removed from any website. 

Consumers Reports has produced a video on Internet safety for kids that is being shown by major retailers. To view the video click here. 

Consumer Reports keeps an eye on the latest digital security news and has also tested and rated Internet security software and reports on Internet security risks frequently. Ratings, and advice are available on our Internet safety hub (Ratings are available for subscribers only). 

—Don Mays

The new Apple iPod Nano is smaller and more squarish than its predecessor.
Photo: Apple

Apple today announced sweeping changes to its lineup of iPod digital media players and unveiled a redesigned version of its Apple TV media server. It also updated its iTunes service and the iOS 4 software that powers iPods, iPads, and iPhones. Here are the details:

iPod Touch. As expected, the new Touch model is basically an iPhone 4, minus the phone, boasting the same ultra-sharp Retina display, fast A4 processor, and two cameras, including a front-facing one to facilitate FaceTime video chats with other Touches and iPhone 4s. As with the iPhone 4, the front rear-facing 5 megapixel camera can shoot pictures (960 x 720) and capture video in HD (720 P), has advanced on-board editing tools (a $5 download), and can beam that content wirelessly to the new Apple TV (see below). Measuring 4.4 x 2.3 x 0.28 inches, the Touch is smaller than its predecessor. One surprise: Prices and capacities remain unchanged: a 8GB player is $230; a 32GB player is $300; and a 64GB player is $400. The fate of the hard-drive-based iPod classic, however, remains uncertain.

Apple's revamped iPods: the Shuffle, the Nano
and the Touch (from left to right).
Photo: Apple

iPod Nano. The Nano gets the most radical redesign, shedding 46 percent of its bulk and 42 percent of its weight. It now measures 1.48 x 1.61 x 0.35 inches and weighs 0.74 oz. Gone is the iconic click-wheel, whose navigation duties will be taken over by the Nano's multi-touch display. There's no accelerometer, but you can rotate the screen display with a twist of your fingers. Measuring a mere 1.54 inches, the squares display will undoubtedly be a less appealing medium for viewing photos and videos. Also gone is the camera and the ability to tag songs you hear on the player's on-board FM radio. But a new clip allows you to attach the Nano to your clothing or favorite body part. The 8GB version is $150, while the 16GB model is $180.

iPod shuffle. Still cute as a button and not much bigger, measuring 1.14 x 1.24 x 0.34 inches (including clip.) Back by popular demand is the circular five-way control pad. The new model retains the VoiceOver feature that announces songs, playlists, etc. and adds the ability to run Genius mixes, a popular feature that automatically finds songs that sound great together. Only one model: 2GB for $50.

IOS4. Version 4.1, a free update for the Touch, iPhones, and iPads, brings a Gaming Center to iPhones and iPods. The new games, such as the upcoming medieval-battle game code-named "Project Sword," allow you invite others in its network to play against you. Once they become your "friend," you can see what games they've been playing as well as check out pending friend requests you receive and add as you see fit. The Game Center's leader boards allows you to see how your score ranks against your opponents as well as other people in you network. For older iPod Touches, the iOS 4.1 also brings multitasking. The multitasking capability for the iPad won't be available until November with the next update to iOS4: version 4.2. The 4.2 OS will also finally bring wireless printing capability to Apple's tablet.)

iTunes. Version 10 introduces a new social-networking feature called Ping. Borrowing heavily from Facebook and Twitter, Ping is a free service for sharing your thoughts and activities with "friends" in your network. You can also follow the activities of participating musicians and other celebrities, as well as receive notifications of upcoming concerts and other events that Ping thinks may interest you. But its main purpose is to help participants "discover" new music by publishing the music purchases of what you and your friends bought on iTunes. We'll have to explore this new feature further, but it seems Ping only posts short snippets of songs, of a minute at most, before giving you the option to buy. The other noteworthy iTunes tweak is a feature that consolidates lists of five or more songs from the same album under one album cover.

Air Tunes, a wireless technology that allows users to stream iTunes music throughout the house over their Wi-Fi network will now be called Air Play. In November, Air Play will allow users to beam video content as well.

Apple TV. This was transformed from a $229 set-top box with a built-in hard drive to a $99 device, a quarter the size, that (via Wi-Fi or Ethernet) streams content (including video, music, and photos) from iTunes on any networked device to your home entertainment system, including your TV set. The slimmed-down Apple TV goes on sale in four weeks.

As rumored, content for the device—and any other that uses iTunes, presumably—will now include 99-cent rentals of streamed TV shows from ABC and Fox. Indeed, streams are all that Apple TV can do; it is no longer a storage device. The streaming options will expand, though, to include some of the same services found on the Internet tiers on TV sets and Blu-ray players, including videos from Netflix and YouTube, and photo streamed from online Flickr albums. iPhones, iPod Touches, and iPads will also be able to stream content to the Apple TV, as well as act as as remote controls for managing content for that device.

—Mike Gikas and Paul Reynolds

• Never leave a kid alone in a car. In the summer, there are significant risks, with the interior temperature rising quickly, and children being particularly vulnerable to temperature changes. Beyond temperature, there are security concerns and risk that a child could disengage a parking brake or otherwise move the vehicle.
• Check your car before you leave, especially if you have a change in your normal routine. To avoid accidentally leaving a child in the car, some people use a stuffed animal in the front seat as a reminder that a child is in the rear. You can also put an essential item like your purse or briefcase in the back seat, so you know you have to open the back door before leaving the car..
• Lock up your car. To avoid children playing in the car when it is unattended, keep it locked with the windows up when you are not using it.
• Look around. If you are in a parking lot, casually look around to see if any children are left in vehicles. If so, take action and call 911 immediately.

If you’re less excited about eggs lately because of the massive multistate recall, you’re not alone. So far, approximately 1,470 salmonella poisonings have been linked to the contaminated eggs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And reports show worried consumers are changing their buying and eating habits, opting for eggs sold at local farmer’s markets and shying away from runny yolks.

Salmonella enteritidis is a serious illness, marked by fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea beginning 12 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated food; symptoms can last four to seven days. Most people recover without antibiotic treatment, but some become so ill they require hospitalization. The elderly, infants, and people with compromised immune systems are more susceptible to severe illness.

The good news is you don’t have to give up eggs altogether. Eggs are packed with protein and are a good source of vitamin D and choline, a nutrient recently linked to a reduced risk of birth defects and possibly breast cancer. You can reduce your risk of getting sick from eggs by following the CDC’s safety tips:

1. Don’t eat recalled eggs. They might still be in grocery stores, restaurants, and people’s homes. Consumers who have recalled eggs should discard them or return them to their retailer for a refund. A searchable database of products affected by the recall is available to consumers. 
2. Keep eggs refrigerated at or under 45° F (≤7° C) at all times.
3. Discard cracked or dirty eggs.
4. Wash hands, cooking utensils, and food preparation surfaces with soap and water after contact with raw eggs.
5. Eggs should be cooked until both the white and the yolk are firm, and eaten promptly after cooking.
6. Do not keep eggs warm or at room temperature for more than two hours.
7. Refrigerate unused or leftover egg-containing foods promptly.
8. Avoid eating raw eggs.
9. Avoid restaurant dishes made with raw or undercooked, unpasteurized eggs. Restaurants should use pasteurized eggs in any recipe (such as Hollandaise sauce or Caesar salad dressing) that calls for raw eggs.
10. Individuals who think they might have become ill from eating recalled eggs should consult their health-care provider.

—Ginger Skinner, Web associate editor

Get more egg safety tips from a staffer who swears by his home-grown eggs. And we'd like to hear from you: How has the egg recall affected you? Are you buying fewer eggs? Opting for organic? Avoiding runny yolks?