ArchivesOctober, 2010

by Doug Desjardins Anyone planning to travel by air over the holidays had better make their reservations soon because airfares aren’t getting any cheaper. After a slow year in 2009, airlines have seen business increase in 2010 and have raised prices accordingly. With airlines continuing to reduce flights, there are fewer seats available and they’ll Continue Reading

by Doug Desjardins With the start of the holiday shopping season just a few days away, research firms are issuing their holiday sales forecasts and, so far, most of them are optimistic. The National Retail Federation (NRF) is forecasting a 2.3-percent increase in holiday spending, just below the 10-year average of 2.5 percent. The low-single-digit Continue Reading

I love Halloween.  A whole holiday devoted to fun and candy.  What could be better? Mr. Third Grader is worried about Halloween this year, for some reason.  "Mom, we have no Halloween decorations," he declared the other day. This is nothing new.  We never have Halloween decorations.   Actually, this year we have three big pumpkins Continue Reading

Check it before you use it!  Make sure the items in your home and workplace aren't listed on this month's safety recalls. Appliances:  GE Profile and Monogram dishwashers, which can catch fire, have been recalled.  Frigidaire and Electrolux smooth-top cooktops are recalled as well. Outdoor items:  Briggs and Stratton riding mowers (sold at Sears) are Continue Reading

The good thing about laptop computers is that you can use them anywhere. The bad thing about laptop computers is that you can use them anywhere.  And it's never just a laptop around here.  It's notebooks, pencils, textbooks and highlighters. My older son used to litter his desk with all the stuff he needed for Continue Reading

The fad started in the NFL and has now trickled down to the college players.  I guess they think it looks cool.  I think it looks dangerous.  I'm talking about football players with long hair that hangs out of the backs of their helmets. Have the NFL and NCAA made rules against tackling a player Continue Reading

How do you know when it's time to replace your cordless phone set? When you can't remember how long ago you purchased it? When the number "3" doesn't work anymore on one of the handsets? When you see the marks from where your youngest child used the top of the phone as a teether--and he's Continue Reading

This past weekend, the sports fans in my family were all sorely disappointed. On Friday night, my mom's beloved Yankees lost their bid to be a World Series team this year.  Baseball is now over for her for the year.  She wasn't even interested in watching the Phillies-Giants matchup on Saturday night, choosing instead the Continue Reading

I remember all those trips my dad would take to bring me home from college for vacations.  It was a two-hour car ride each way, through some of the most beautiful country of northeastern Pennsylvania.  At this time of year, those rides provided views of particularly lovely scenery. Now my own son is on college, Continue Reading

by Doug Desjardins The holiday season is important to retailers but vital to toy retailers, who generate about 40% of their annual sales in November and December. And for the first time in several years, they’re looking forward to happy holidays. Though analysts haven’t released specific sales projections for toys, they’re expected to be part Continue Reading