Check out this cool video about the science of running a marathon…what’s going on in your body, etc. I’m currently training to run my first marathon this spring, and found this video entertaining but also educational.
BGF – a possible safe alternative to BPA?
The alternatives to BPA in plastics (like BPS) are quite likely no better than BPA itself…but there’s a new substitute being developed which has the potential to truly offer a safe alternative. Bisguaiacol-F, or BGF, is made from a byproduct of the paper making industry called lignin. These lignin fragments are converted into a compound that has a similar shape as BPA (and thus predicted to have similar mechanical/thermal properties), but a different molecular structure to help ensure it doesn’t produce hormone-like responses in the body. More work remains, so the soonest we’d see BGF on the market is in five years or so. In the meantime, minimize the use of plastics in food and beverage storage and serving.
Freeze your credit
Getting a new credit card is really easy for those with decent credit. Same goes for buying a new car. This convenience comes at a price – the risk of identify theft, where other people pretend to be you to open up credit accounts such as these. Fortunately, there’s a little-known tool available to consumers to protect them, and it’s called a Security Freeze. Once enabled, this makes your credit report visible only to companies you already do business with. It’s safe to say that no one will open a new account for someone pretending to be you without first viewing your credit report! It’s a great tool to help prevent identify theft and the financial frustrations that can come with that.
What’s the catch? Well the catch is, the big three credit reporting agencies don’t really want you to do this, as they’re in the business of helping banks open new accounts, by providing them with consumers’ credit reports upon request. Fortunately, governments in various states and federal levels have put enough pressure on them to at least enable this feature…though if you ever do wish to apply for new credit, you’ll need to ‘thaw’ your credit report which may cost around $30-40 (depends on what state you live in, some let you do it for free) and may take a week or so, causing delays for any new credit accounts. Small price to pay for the peace of mind this provides though.
I found the process of adding a Security Freeze to be pretty simple, and it could all be done online in a minutes. Follow the links below, and as part of the process you’ll either receive or create a PIN…be sure to keep this number somewhere safe, for you’ll need it to thaw your credit report later on. You’ll need to set up a Security Freeze with each of the three credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian, and Transunion (click those links for direct links to their Security Freeze websites). You can also read more about this in this article at the NYTimes.
The risks of BPA-free plastic
After the BPA scare of a few years ago, consumers generally felt safe buying BPA-free plastic products. Well, I first reported on the risks of this last year, and now a new study warns of the dangers of these alternatives to BPA. The bottom line is that these new plastics pose similar risks as BPA (follow the link above, this one, and also this one for more information). My recommendation is the same – minimize your use of plastics in your food chain. Use stainless steel or glass where possible. Avoid aluminum water bottles too, as those are usually lined with plastic. Keep in mind that in the US at least, manufacturers aren’t required to demonstrate the safety of chemicals like these before they go on sale to the public.
Internet-based TV on the way?
Good news for those wishing for the death of traditional TV...deals are currently being struck between various companies that allow for internet-based distribution of TV content. The latest is between Dish Network and Disney, with Verizon and DirecTV also rumored to be pursuing similar content deals. This means a potential end to the near-monopoly of cable companies and increased competition in the marketplace. It also opens the door for Apple to move their AppleTV past the ‘hobby’ stage into a disruptive force in that market (or so I hope). Read more over at Engadget.