McDonalds, however, is fighting the good fight. I just got an email for a free espresso drink from them, and their marketing plan appears to be mocking “snobbish” coffee. I think that is a good tact for them to take. They also included in the email a coupon for two hours of free wireless access from their restaurants which have a hotspot, to go along with the coffee. If you did not receive such an email, just leave me a comment or use the email link, and I can forward you a copy of my email.

Certainly, hanging out in Starbucks is a world away from hanging out in McDonalds. You do those things on completely different occasions. However, McDonalds has the advantage of a playland in some locations. For example, the Maple Valley location has both a playland and wireless hot spot. I’ve never tested this plan, but theoretically I could have coffee and free wireless Internet access for 2 hours while my kids play, all at no charge. I’ll have to add this to my mental list of free kids’ activities for spring break.

First, the HOT Lanes are being implemented this month on HWY 167 (aka The Valley Freeway) using the Good to Go transponders to pay your toll. If you are a carpool, you do not need to pay the toll, and can cover the transponder with aluminum. I’m honestly not sure how this honor system is supposed to accomplish anything. It seems like it will be harder to patrol than a simple carpool lane. And I can see why some have called it the “Lexus Lane”. But people who are carpools, or willing to pay the varying fee (up to $9) can ride in the HOT Lane on 169 when it opens April 26th.

The other plan is simply to slow us down via speed limit signs rather than stop n go traffic. I’m fairly confident it no longer meets the definition of a freeway if there is a 30MPH sign. Be that as it may, new speed limit signs will be installed next year on on a six-mile stretch of I-5 between Boeing Field and I190. These will be overhead electronic signs that slow people down - theoretically - to the optimal speed to keep traffic moving slowly instead of stop and go. Does anyone plan to slow down to the posted speed limit instead of going normal freeway speeds if possible? And does it make you feel better about going 30MPH on the freeway if it is the posted speed instead of “just” traffic? We’re spending $25 million dollars to find out.

Related articles:  call 5-1-1 on your cell for real-time traffic information.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think about these traffic plans. Will they help?

For most of us, we can celebrate this month by dreaming of what we will do when spring actually arrives. However, The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) wants to use this month to train up the next generation of landscape architectures. Which is ok by me as long as they come work on my yard. And I use the term “yard” loosely. It’s more like “nature outside my house”.

Eddie George is a Heisman Trophy winner, former NFL Pro-Bowl running back, and landscape architecture firm principal. Isn’t that an interesting combination? He is helping promote landscape architecture careers to young people. ASLA chapters across the country will host activities throughout the month of April, highlighting what landscape architects do and the broad range of careers available in the field.

ASLA would like to point out that “a recent survey” shows that the average landscape architecture student receives three job interviews during their final semester at school, resulting in two job offers. The starting salary for graduates with undergraduate degrees is $40,080 and with graduate degrees is $44,600. The annual salary and bonus for all landscape architects averages nearly $90,000, with experienced landscape architects and firm owners earning much more.

To learn more about landscape architecture or to find local events in your area, visit http://www.asla.org.  Renton Technical College offers a landscape design class which I highly recommend.  Since most of us don’t do “landscape design” nearly as much as good old fashioned “gardening”, check out Susan’s Earthly Garden, also on 451press.net

They state that “the problem is not widespread” but I’d rather not chance swallowing some glass. If you have any of the affected products, just return it or toss it:

Affected products would be 6-ounce Fat Free Blueberry yogurts carrying one of following product codes printed along the cup bottom that start with the following dates:

Apr 14 08
Apr 15 08
April 25 08
Apr 26 08

It is a lot more frugal to focus simply not spending, rather than trying to find ways to spend money cleverly. However, if and when you order online, you can get rebates from this website, ranging from a few cents to a few dollars. Different websites offer a different percentage, some quite high. Ebates is one of many shopping portals that gives you a percentage of the purchase, in exchange for using them as the referral. It does not interfere with the use of coupons. And it does not matter what payment method you use (for example, a cash-back credit card).

You receive this rebate either by your choice of check or PayPal. The only catch is that there is a significant delay, and your money is sent quarterly if the amount is at least $5. I have earned over $190 since I joined, an undetermined amount of time ago. So it’s not a lot of money, but better than nothing.

Ebates has some software called Moe Money Maker, which you can download to “help” you save money by “remembering” to go through their portal, but it’s pretty bad. I tried to use it, I really did, but it would hijack my browsing in the most annoying way, and many people online think it is spyware. Fortunately, you don’t need to use it.

Generally I feel it is unethical to use referral links in a forum such as this, but I will provide a clearly identified referral link here, because you can get a $5 bonus (as do I) if you sign up this way.

If you have experience with Ebates you would like to share, or would like to suggest a future Friday Freebie, leave me a comment and let me know.

The 2008 Seattle Center Whirligig is March 28 – April 13. There will be super-sized inflatable rides, roaming clowns, face painters and FREE entertainment, turning the Center House into a colorful house of bounce. A special Toddler Zone is also available.

Admission for the inflatable rides is $7.25 for an all-day pass, $4.25 for toddlers and $1.50 for a single ride. Kids ride FREE at Seattle Center Whirligig! on Thursday (hint, it’s a colorful rainbow parachute).

Hours:
Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Friday – Sunday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

For the standard small print and thanks to sponsors:
This collection of entertainment is produced by Seattle Center and is presented with generous support from Seattle’s Child magazine. Additional support is provided by Radio Disney AM 1250, Seattle Center Fund and the City of Seattle.

For regular tips on more downtown Seattle activities check out http://www.about-seattlewa.com/. She has a wonderful Weekend Edition that comes out every Friday.

The FDA is urging consumers to discard Honduran cantaloupes after a salmonella outbreak sickened 59, including at least 14 in the Pacific Northwest. While the Honduran government argues about whether they should be blamed, or the cantaloupe picked up the germs whilst in transit, I say it doesn’t really matter to the consumer where it is contaminated. Either toss the fruit or wash it very carefully. Like you always do, right?

Being the paranoid, er, careful, consumer that I am, I keep an eye on the FDA recalls.

The FDA recommends that consumers take the following steps to reduce the risk of contracting Salmonella or other foodborne illnesses from cantaloupes:

* Purchase cantaloupes that are not bruised or damaged. If buying fresh-cut cantaloupe, be sure it is refrigerated or surrounded by ice.

* After purchase, refrigerate cantaloupes promptly.

* Wash hands with hot, soapy water before and after handling fresh cantaloupes.

* Scrub whole cantaloupes by using a clean produce brush and cool tap water immediately before eating. Don’t use soap or detergents.

* Use clean cutting surfaces and utensils when cutting cantaloupes. Wash cutting boards, countertops, dishes, and utensils with hot water and soap between the preparation of raw meat, poultry, or seafood and the preparation of cantaloupe.

* If there happens to be a bruised or damaged area on a cantaloupe, cut away those parts before eating it.

* Leftover cut cantaloupe should be discarded if left at room temperature for more than two hours.

* Use a cooler with ice or use ice gel packs when transporting or storing cantaloupes outdoors.

This is not Renton-specific, but all of us tax-paying Americans will be receiving stimulus checks starting in May, and it is our patriotic duty to spend them! Then we will stimulate the economy, thus the “stimulus” checks.

For the few who haven’t heard, all individuals or married couples who filed their 2007 taxes will automatically receive the stimulus payment either by direct deposit, if you had a refund direct deposited, or by check to your mailing address. The amount for most people is $600 single, $1200 married, plus $300 per dependent. You can calculate your exact amount using the IRS calculator here.

People who file a return after April 15 will still receive their economic stimulus payment, but probably about two weeks later than the schedule shows. A return must be filed by October 15 in order to receive a stimulus payment this year. According to most reports, there will be an opportunity to claim this amount during the 2008 tax year filing.

And now for the payment schedule you have all been waiting for:

DIRECT DEPOSIT

PAPER CHECK

Related 451press articles: check out HomeBizNet’s review of tax prep software.

The reason I love Mozy is that it is truly set-it and forget-it. I use my laptop for a home business, which makes backups even more critical, but all of us underestimate the importance of our files. Your email, those pictures you just took, and certainly your copy of Quicken. If your last backup was a month ago, that is not much better than no backup. What about the email you received yesterday about that thing you have to do, and do you want to re-enter a month’s worth of transactions into Quicken? I didn’t think so. Mozy can be set to backup daily, or whenever you computer is idle (based on your definition of idle). I don’t need to do anything, and I’ll never loose more than 24 hours worth of information. Data is well-encrypted, and if you would feel better about it, you can even choose your own encryption key.

Like most great web apps, they provide a free , limited version for light users, and a paid version for those who need it and are willing to pay for it. The free version allows you back up 2Gigs of data. This is enough for a typical person with email and a few documents, maybe a few pictures you haven’t yet permanently saved to DVD.

If you want or need unlimited backup, you can get it for the very reasonable price of $5/month (paid one year at a time).

I could sing the praises of Mozy for much longer than I have space in this blog. I have written some articles for Associated Content which go into more detail on How to Get the Most from Your Mozy Online Backups and the key difference between Backing Up Your Working Files and Archive Data. If you have used Mozy, or have another candidate for a future Friday Freebie, leave me a comment and let me know.