Are there treasures in your house? Want to sell them?</h1> <article> <h1>Are there treasures in your house? Want to sell them?</h1> <p>PHRankin — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:59:00 GMT</p> <B>Post by Rod Wood - </B>How to tell if you've got a genuine collectible and how to get the most for it if you decide to sell.<BR> <BR>I've had a lot of calls from viewers through the years who've asked for advice on selling unwanted items from home. Part of this stems from folks who watch the PBS "Antiques Roadshow" in amazement as household items are sometimes appraised at thousands of dollars.<BR> <BR>Recently, Consumer Reports ShopSmart magazine offered five recommendations.<BR> <BR>(1) See local experts. You can get free advice from local antiques or collectibles dealers. But don't sell at this point, because a shifty dealer could lowball you to score a bargain.<BR> <BR>(2) Check out general price guidelines. Two examples are "Kovels Antiques & Collectibles price list 2007" and "Collectibles Price Guide 2007" by Judith Miller. Check your local library.<BR> <BR>(3) Surf the internet. Search to see what your items are selling for at online dealers and on eBay.<BR> <BR>(4) Spring for an appraisal. It may cost you hundreds of dollars, depending on the value of the item, but it's worth it if your research suggests big value. <BR> <BR>(5) Know your options. The most convenient way to sell is through a dealer, but you'll usually get 20 to 50 percent less than the "book value" shown in price guides, depending on the item's condition.<BR>Auctions can be a good choice if you have a large collection with at least some high-value items. But you'll pay a 10 to 15 percent commission.<BR>Or you can advertise in collectors' publications or online or sell at a collectors' show or to members of collectors' clubs, which you can find online.<BR>But beware of buyers who want to cherry-pick your choicest pieces. It can be more lucrative to sell collections intact.<BR> <BR><I>Have some thoughts on this topic? An experience in buying or selling collectibles? Tell us about it.</I><BR> </article> <article> <h1>Hillary Clinton’s Campaign</h1> <p>PHRankin — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:58:00 GMT</p> <b>Post by Dan Cummings - </b>She's our U.S. Senator and she will remain just that, for now. Or, vice-presidential candidate. Or, someday, maybe...secretary of health and human services. Or, someday, maybe...an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Or, none of the above. <br> <br>Two things occur to me: <br> <br>One, regardless of what you think of her politically or personally, Hillary Clinton's campaign made it's mark. Thanks to some critical strategic blunders born of hubris, she fell short, but just short. Neither she, nor her millions of supporters can be taken lightly. Her campaign meant something. <br> <br>Two, it may take some time for the nation to realize that this week has made its own mark on history. There'sa convention and a general election ahead of us...but this was the week when Senator Barack Obama became the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party for President of the United States. Either way, the Democrats were poised to make history, by nominating either a woman or an African-American. In the moment, it may be difficult to capture the significance of Obama's candidacy. But schoolkids in generations to come will learn about 2008 as a watershed year in U.S. politics.<br> <br>Less than a year ago, few were giving Senator Obama much of a chance. Senator Clinton was the "inevitable" nominee. (She certainly thought so). What remains to be seen: how vigorous will she be in support of the Obama candidacy? It may make all the difference come November. <br> </article> <article> <h1>Extra Special Olympics</h1> <p>Christie Casciano — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:11:00 GMT</p> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN> </SPAN>I’ve always been a big fan of the Special Olympics and I’m so grateful for my experience at last week’s spectacular event held at C-NS High School.</FONT></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN> </SPAN>As the grand marshal I had the honor of leading the parade of 450 athletes around the track on a glorious sun-filled Thursday.<SPAN> </SPAN>Music blaring, with a crowd cheering us on, I <SPAN> </SPAN>really tried my best to keep up the pace.<SPAN> </SPAN>Suddenly, one of the young athletes skirted around the parade<SPAN class=782110908-02062008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2> </FONT></SPAN>banner and darted out in front of me.<SPAN> </SPAN>I told him to slow down and wait for me.<SPAN> </SPAN>“Can’t!” he said.<SPAN> </SPAN>“I’m too excited.”<SPAN> </SPAN>“ Then I’ll catch up to you!”<SPAN> </SPAN>“Good luck,” he said.<SPAN> </SPAN>Away he went with me lagging yards behind.<SPAN> </SPAN>When I finally did catch up to him and catch my breath, the youngster, who must have been all of about 9, gave this out-of-shape mother of two a big high-five for trying. </FONT></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN> </SPAN>Along with catching my breath, I managed to catch a whole lot more during the morning with these young athletes.<SPAN> </SPAN>Standing next to a dad on the sidelines, who was clutching his stopwatch,<SPAN> </SPAN>I watched with him<SPAN class=782110908-02062008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2> </FONT></SPAN>as he rooted for his son who had been practicing for weeks for this moment on the track.<SPAN> </SPAN>His son didn’t win the race but did score a new personal best time on dad’s stopwatch.<SPAN> </SPAN>Dad couldn’t have been any prouder.<SPAN> </SPAN>Another young athlete hurried toward me after her race and couldn’t wait toshow me the piece of paper she held so tightly in her hand. First place! I will never forget her smile.<SPAN> </SPAN>I 'm also grateful for finally meeting a young devoted NewsChannel 9 and B104.7 fan named<SPAN class=782110908-02062008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2> </FONT></SPAN>Joey, who deeply touched my heart and made my day at the Special Olympics extra special. I have enough hugs to last until<SPAN class=782110908-02062008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2> ..... </FONT></SPAN> the next Special Olympics!<SPAN> <SPAN class=782110908-02062008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2> </FONT></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN><SPAN class=782110908-02062008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2> "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN><SPAN class=782110908-02062008><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2> - the Athlete's Oath</FONT> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><SPAN><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV> </article> <article> <h1>Handy websites for vacation travelers</h1> <p>PHRankin — Fri, 30 May 2008 21:00:00 GMT</p> <b>Post by Rod Wood - </b>We are heading into the busy summer travel season and I know many of you will want online access to information as you plan your trip. <br><br>Here are six sites that Consumer Reports ShopSmart magazine says can help you find bargains and make traveling more comfortable and trouble-free.<br> <br>FOR LAST-MINUTE DEALS: <a href="http://www.travelzoo.com">travelzoo.com</a> <br>It digs up discounted prices for airfares, resorts, vacation packages and cruises.<br><br>FOR TIMING YOUR TRIP: <a href="http://www.farecast.com">farecast.com</a><br>It can help you decide whether to buy your airline tickets now or wait for prices to drop.<br><br>FOR THE BEST AIRLINE SEATS: <a href="http://www.seatguru.com">seatguru.com</a><br>It can help you spot the seats with more reclining ability, more leg room, more width and, sometimes more padding than the other seats have. <br>The site can also help you avoid rows missing a window. <br><br>FOR TRAVEL REVIEWS: <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com">tripadvisor.com</a><br>It can tell you what recent guests have to say about a hotel, for instance.<br>You can also post questions in travel forums; check reviews of local restaurants, attractions and activities.<br><br>FOR ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS: <a href="http://www.johnnyjet.com">johnnyjet.com</a><br>Think of this site as an encyclopedia, with hundreds of travel Web site links in an easy-to-navigate format.<br> <br>FOR GREAT TRAVEL GADGETS: <a href="http://www.johnnyjet.com">magellans.com</a> <br>This is a one-stop shopping site for items like a doorstop alarm to alert you if someone opens your hotel room door, or a lightweight travel robe....and tips on everything tech related.<br><br> </article> <article> <h1>CBA drinking party</h1> <p>PHRankin — Fri, 30 May 2008 20:59:00 GMT</p> Here's hoping more than a few moms and dads, everywhere around Central NY, took note of this week's story about the underage drinking party in the Bradford Hills neighborhood of Syracuse one week ago tonight. Police estimate as many as 50 kids were there at the height of the bash. Most of them scattered in horror after the party suddenly ended early the next morning. One of the youngsters was severely injured when a dog bit her in the face. This girl needed extensive surgery just to begin to repair the damage to her face. She's a senior at Christian Brothers Academy. Graduation Day is this Sunday.<br> <br>Two other members of the CBA Class of 2008 were charged with providing the alcohol for the party. CBA's principal says "many" of those who attended the house party are students at his school. Word gets around fast when there's a house available for a party. Available because the parents are out of town for the night. <br> <br>I wonder how many parents whose children attended the fateful party...a) knew about their son or daughter's plans to be at that home that night, and, b) if they WERE aware of the party's location, how many moms or dads made a call or sent an e-mail to the OWNERS of the party house ahead of time...to make sure that adults would be present?<br> <br>Having pondered those questions, let's whisper a prayer for the young lady who paid an awful price for being at that house, that night...for her friends who witnessed something that they, too, will never forget (and who did what they could to help her until paramedics arrived)...and for all families with middle-and-high-schoolers: that open, respectful communication combined with good decision-making...can help prevent the next house party. </article> <article> <h1>School Zone Speeders</h1> <p>Christie Casciano — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:44:00 GMT</p> <P> For months now, Streets of Speed has been identifying areas where drivers need more training. Sadly, we're getting repeat calls to check out speeding problems in our school zones. Parents who have been complaining about fast cars on Court Street in front of Lyncourt Elementary School have good reason to worry. It's a clearly marked 20 mile an hour school zone. There are even flashing lights to alert drivers during school hours.</P> <P> Less than five minutes after photographer Jim Kearns and I settled ourselves into a well-marked and very visible sheriff's patrol car, Deputy Michael Quigley's radar started picking up some fast speeds. Speeder one zapped! 38 in a 20. A few minutes later another driver was caught going 16 miles per hour over the posted 20. Think that's bad? It only got worse. Deputy Quigley asked the driver to produce a license. She couldn't. She was driving with a suspended one and get this....she was in a hurry to make it to court to answer to charges of driving with a suspended license! She was arrested and slapped with another AUO charge. In the past week, Deputy Quigley has written more than 25 tickets in that school zone and has heard all the excuses in the book when a driver gets pulled over. We all hope drivers who speed in school zones get the message because the price they pay could be more than a speeding ticket.</P> <P> Also, I just wanted update those of you who called me on the crosswalk problem in front of Long Branch Elementary School. We've made some progress. The County Highway Department checked out the spot and agreed with those of you concerned about poor crosswalk markings. New signs went up over the weekend. An order for material to spruce up the crosswalk has been placed. Creating a more visible and safer crosswalk for the kids may happen as soon as this week. Baby steps, but steps, in the right direction. </P> </article> <article> <h1>This week's news weighs heavily on the heart</h1> <p>Dan C — Sat, 24 May 2008 01:19:00 GMT</p> <P><STRONG>Post by Dan Cummings-</STRONG> Sometimes, the emotional weight of the week's biggest news stories cannot be easily lifted. This was such a week. Starting with a homicide of a Syracuse teen last weekend, tragic loss of life multiplied as the week went along. A longtime school teacher in Jordan-Elbridge dies in a motor vehicle accident. Her husband, a volunteer firefighter, was among the first responders to the accident scene. A young man dies in a motorcycle accident, and his two brothers somehow push forward to keep playing lacrosse, as members of the Final Four-bound SU Orange. </P> <P>And, two young children and their mom die in an Eastwood house fire. Firefighters never had a chance to save any of them. </P> <P>I bet I'm a little like most of you who might read this. You didn't personally know any of these people... whose lives were suddenly cut short by fire, accident, or violence. But regardless, you identify with the surviving family members, friends and others who DID know them...and will never see them again. And like them, you ask "why?" When that one-word question isn't answered for you (it never is...it can't be), you whisper or say aloud a prayer or two (or a hundred), hug your own family a few extra times...and move on. All the while knowing that for so many in our community...those who WERE touched directly by these tragic losses...there really IS no moving on. Nothing will ever be the same for them. </P> </article> <article> <h1>The True Meaning of Memorial Day</h1> <p>Rod Wood — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:41:00 GMT</p> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=772372117-23052008><STRONG>Post by Rod Wood-</STRONG> Monday, May 26th we observe Memorial Day. </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=772372117-23052008></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=772372117-23052008>For some, it's just another holiday. </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=772372117-23052008></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=772372117-23052008>But all of us should take a moment to remember Memorial Day's true meaning.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=772372117-23052008>It's a day to remember those who have died in service to our nation.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=772372117-23052008></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=772372117-23052008>Perhaps there'</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=772372117-23052008>s someone in your family or maybe a friend who made the supreme sacrifice.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=772372117-23052008>You might want to take a moment to honor the memory of that person during your family's holiday gathering...</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=772372117-23052008>in some cases, a visit to the cemetery. </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=772372117-23052008></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=772372117-23052008>All of us should remember that we live in a free nation today because of their sacrifice.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=772372117-23052008>God bless all of those who have served our nation.....God bless America. </SPAN></FONT></DIV> </article> <article> <h1>Cicero’s property assessments</h1> <p>PHRankin — Mon, 19 May 2008 21:04:00 GMT</p> <b>Post by Dan Cummings - </b>They say (whoever "they" are) you can't fight city hall. And, you can translate that as town hall, if you like. And yet, last week, we found out that if something's clearly just not right...you can fight...and win.<br> <br>I'm talking about the town of Cicero, and the hundreds of new, residential property assessments that were, in many cases, "just not right." Objectively, real estate professionals who work in Cicero told me that so many of the homeowners who called and e-mailed Newschannel 9's Your Stories to complain about their soaring assessments...were, in fact, correct to complain. There was no market data to support some of the huge increases along the waterfront...from Brewerton to Chittenango Creek and most places in between.<br> <br>Indeed, I was told that recent comparable sales data did NOT support some of the new values attached to these homes. Many homeowners were seeing increases that ran as high as 200, 300, in at least one case, more than 400 percent.<br> <br>The assessor, Anita Barnello, is reluctantly accepting the town board's extraordinary move of Friday morning, May 16-th...and will, at the board's unanimous request, throw out the new assessments she came up with, in favor of a revised roll to be submitted by July 1-st. The new assessments will be rolled back to last year's levels...with the exception of homes where physical improvements or additions have been made recently. <br> <br>The town board also set up a special committee to recommend how to go about the assessment process in the future. <br> <br>So the taxpayers' fight that won at Cicero Town Hall? The outpouring of complaints about unfair, and unjustified assessments. The town board listened and took action.<br> <br>But this fight is clearly not over. Questions remain, including: how and why did the assessor come up with some of the huge increases to begin with? Her answers to me on this one were incomplete. Was she under some pressure from someone outside the assessor's office to hike the values so much? (She says town supervisor Chet Dudzinski told her to reassess the waterfront, but didn't tell her how high to go. Dudzinski says it was Barnello who told HIM she was going to make a priority of those homes, and he said, "OK." But nothing more).<br> <br>In any event, the waterfront homeowners in Cicero need to be prepared for NEXT year. Without question, the market value of many of those properties HAS, in fact, gone up recently, and where assessments need to be updated, increases are a certainty. But next time, the town assessor needs to make a better case for the size of those increases, and she's already indicated that the town may need to phase them in over two or three years, instead of hitting people all at once.<br><br> </article> <article> <h1>How to lower your grocery bills</h1> <p>PHRankin — Fri, 16 May 2008 21:46:00 GMT</p> <b>Post by Rod Wood - </b>Prices for just about everything at the supermarket are soaring. But with a little discipline, you can still reduce your grocery bill and provide your family with nutritious food. <br> <br>Here are five tips from Consumer Reports: <br> <br>(1) Make a list of food items your family needs before you go shopping and stick to it!<br>Walking aimlessly up and down the aisles will encourage you to pick up extra items like cookies and other munchies.<br> <br>(2) Don't shop when you're hungry! Shoppers tend to be more impulsive, and pickup unnecessary items when shopping on an empty stomach.<br> <br>(3) Buy store brands. The quality of store branded food items has improved dramatically in recent years and many now compete with major national labels. You can save anywhere from 20 to 50 percent.<br> <br>(4) Evaluate unit prices. Compare the cost per unit on both big and small packages to see which is a better deal.<br> <br>(5) Clip coupons. Look through circulars for special deals.<br> <br>Have other money saving ideas? Send them along.<br> </article> <article> <h1>Picky about pasta? Which shape is best?</h1> <p>PHRankin — Fri, 09 May 2008 22:00:00 GMT</p> <b>Post by Rod Wood - </b>As a long time pasta fan, I know it can be confusing when buying the right shape pasta at the supermarket. It's not easy doing the shopping when you're the only non-Italian in your household. But I've finally found an excellent guide in this month's issue of Consumer Reports ShopSmart. It tells you how to pick the best shape pasta for whatever sauce you're making<br> <br>The sauce:Marinara<br>Best pasta:Capellini<br> <br>The sauce: Classic garden vegetable<br>Best pasta partner:Fusilli<br> <br>The sauce: Puttanesca<br>Best pasta partner: Spaghetti<br> <br>The sauce: Bolognese<br>Best pasta partner: Rigatoni<br> <br>The sauce: Pesto<br>Best pasta partner: Linguine<br> <br>The sauce: Alfredo<br>Best past partner: Fettuccine<br> <br>My favorite sauce is my wife's and she says it's a secret recipe.<br>Perhaps you have some advice you'd like to add? Feel free to pass it along to me. </article> <article> <h1>Keeping Prom & Graduation Season Safe</h1> <p>PHRankin — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:18:00 GMT</p> <b>Post by Dan Cummings - </b>I hope you've paid a visit to the "Safe and Sober" section on our homepage (<a href="http://www.9wsyr.com/content/high_school/safe_driving/2008.aspx">click here to visit the page</a>). This week, I had the opportunity to report on the annual, community-wide effort by DeWitt Police, the Jamesville-DeWitt School District, and businesses in the town...to fight underage drinking during prom and graduation season.<br> <br>I took away some very encouraging signs from my meeting this week with law enforcement, moms of JD seniors, store and hotel managers. First, the moms say parents are talking to each other about "party plans." If they hear talk about the Friday or Saturday night party at this house, or that house...phone calls are made among parents, to check it out...to make sure a mom or dad will be on hand, at the very least. I also heard how hotels and motels are taking extra steps to discourage, or outright refuse to accept reservations for rooms that are likely to be used for underage drinking parties. And, I also heard how those "compliance checks" are meeting with almost 100% success in DeWitt. That's where underage undercovers are sent in by police to attempt to purchase alcohol. Almost without exception, the latest such "sting" operation found no violators, almost full compliance (one store out of 30 was referred to state authorities for illegal sale...not bad). The next round of compliance checks begins in a few days, and will run for several weeks.<br> <br>And, it sounds like those "after" parties, sponsored by the school district itself, are more "cool" than ever. At least in J-D, where they've been holding such safe and sober parties since the '80's. This year, more than 200 members of the senior class of 255 are expected to attend the "after the ball" party, the first weekend in June.<br> <br>If you know of any new, or unique ways that your school or community is approaching the underage drinking issue, please let us know. And, here's hoping for a safe and sober spring full of celebration, especially for graduating seniors and their friends. <br> </article> <article> <h1>Are you left handed? You have some famous company.</h1> <p>PHRankin — Fri, 02 May 2008 22:30:00 GMT</p> <b>Post by Rod Wood - </b>From everything that I've read, right handed people make up about 90 percent of Americans. That leaves me among the ten percent who are left handers....or southpaws as we're sometimes called. I recently learned that Left-Handers Day is August 13th. Maybe that's the time for a celebration!<br><br>I was amazed recently to learn the names of hundreds of famous left handed people. Here are some of them:<br> <br>Left-Handed U.S.Presidents<br>James A.Garfield<br>Herbert Hoover<br>Harry S.Truman<br>Gerald Ford<br>Ronald Reagan<br>George H.W.Bush<br>Bill Clinton<br> <br>Miscellaneous Left-Handers<br>Joan of Arc<br>Alexander the Great<br>Julius Caesar<br>Napoleon Bonaparte <br>Prince Charles of England<br>Prince William of England<br>Fidel Castro<br>Edwin Aldrin, astronaut<br>Wally Schirra, astronaut <br>Edward R.Murrow<br>Jay Leno<br>Barack Obama<br><br>Any left-handed people you think should be added to the list? </article> <article> <h1>When you get the wrong Meds</h1> <p>Jennifer Lewke — Fri, 02 May 2008 22:21:00 GMT</p> <DIV><SPAN class=116002021-02052008><FONT face=Arial>Your 4 year-old daughter was prescribed Zyrtec for her allergies. For three weeks she took the medication that had been given to her but wasn't getting any better. When she went the doctors office... you find out why. The pharmacist had made a mistake. Your little daughter had been taking Zantec</FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=116002021-02052008><FONT face=Arial>, an acid reflex medication.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=116002021-02052008><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=116002021-02052008><FONT face=Arial>It's a true story that a friend of mine was telling me a few weeks back. The mistake didn't make the little girl violently ill but what if it could have? How often do these pharmacy foul-ups happen?</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=116002021-02052008><FONT face=Arial>I started with a call to the State Pharmacy board, the agency in charge of making sure pharmacists are playing by the rules. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>3-4 million outpatient prescriptions are written a year in New York State. <BR><SPAN class=116002021-02052008>The head of the state pharmacy board </SPAN>claims most <SPAN class=116002021-02052008>they never know about most p</SPAN><SPAN class=116002021-02052008>harmacy foul-ups </SPAN>because consumers don't file complaints and pharmacist, like doctors and dentists aren't required to report them. <BR><BR>When a complaint does come in, an investigator is assigned to it. If it's anything other than "The drug is the same, it was just a generic" they normally forward those complaints onto the board.<BR><BR><SPAN class=116002021-02052008>The</SPAN> <SPAN class=116002021-02052008>State Pharmacy B</SPAN>oard received 11<SPAN class=116002021-02052008>1</SPAN> complaints <SPAN class=116002021-02052008>last year </SPAN>about prescription errors for review. Not all of them end in disciplinary action but some do<SPAN class=116002021-02052008>, it depends how severe the error was. The board has to prove gross negligence once, or a pattern of negligence for d</SPAN>isciplinary action<SPAN class=116002021-02052008> to be taken. </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=116002021-02052008><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=116002021-02052008><FONT face=Arial>So what causes the errors?</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=116002021-02052008></SPAN><BR><FONT face=Arial>55% of prescription errors in NY are caused by bad handwriting or bad oral communication. A pharmacist couldn't make out the script so <SPAN class=116002021-02052008>he/she did their</SPAN> best, or mis-understood what the physician's office was calling in.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial><BR>Another big problem...<SPAN class=116002021-02052008> a</SPAN> lot of medications have similar names<SPAN class=116002021-02052008>, </SPAN>only one or two letters off<SPAN class=116002021-02052008>. </SPAN><SPAN class=116002021-02052008> </SPAN> </FONT></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=116002021-02052008><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=116002021-02052008>The push to get doctor's offices and pharmacies using </SPAN>electronic prescription <SPAN class=116002021-02052008>systems to cut down some of these errors is on but consumers should ask plenty of questions to make sure what's in that bottle is what was prescribed. </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=116002021-02052008><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=116002021-02052008><FONT face=Arial>By law, every time you bring a new script in to be filled, your pharmacist should tell you the name of the drug and what it's used fore before you leave the counter. That simple extra minute can catch mistakes. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=116002021-02052008><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=116002021-02052008><FONT face=Arial>Again, most errors go un-reported because they're dealt with in-house by the pharmacist but if you're not satisfied with the response you get. File a complaint with the State Board of Pharmacy. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=116002021-02052008><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=116002021-02052008><FONT face=Arial>Have you been the victim of a Pharmacy Foul-up? Tell us about it below:</FONT></SPAN></DIV> </article> <article> <h1>Your home's assessment</h1> <p>PHRankin — Thu, 01 May 2008 22:30:00 GMT</p> <b>Post by Dan Cummings - </b>If it's not too late (and it shouldn't be)...you should take the time to review the assessment on your home, and if you think it's too high...call your assessor and schedule an informal review. For several years now, Newschannel 9 has provided some in-depth coverage at this time of year on assessments. My reporting on this topic THIS year showed me that more than ever, the assessors seem to be listening. One example: by Wednesday afternoon, in Fulton, the assessors had done just under 200 informal reviews with homeowners. Fewer than 10 of those 200 people went on to file a grievance. That means that during the informal, almost all of them were given a break in their assessment. All of those people were able to convince the assessor that the proposed new value of their home was too high. In some cases, the reductions granted at the informals were significant. (Of course, that raises the question: why was the new assessment set so high in the first place ? And, you should ask your assessor THAT question, too...if it applies).<br> <br>I heard similar stories coming out of Salina and Onondaga. If you can make the case that recent sales of homes comparable to yours in your neighborhood are at prices significantly lower than the assessed value of YOUR home, you can talk the assessor down. It's an inexact science, this business of assessment...but the bottom line is this: the assessed value should be very close to what you could get for the house right now, if you put it on the market. <br> <br>Even if you didn't get one of those "change notices" or "impact letters" from your town or city this spring, now is the time to review your assessment. Grievances in most municipalities must be concluded by late May or early June, and the new tax roll is set in stone by July 1-st. (That's for the towns. The city of Syracuse and some other municipalities work on different schedules).<br><br><a href="http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=2061b1d6-da1d-431e-b150-a56f17f6d027">Click here for our "Fighting Your Assessment" stories.</a><br> </article> <article> <h1>Feedback Wanted: 9wsyr.com Video</h1> <p>Jim Tortora — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 02:19:00 GMT</p> <P>Hello Everyone. Once again, we're looking for feeback to enhance your experience on 9wsyr.com. We're trying to make our video easier to locate. Right now you have several options, but we'd like to learn more about how you navigate 9wsyr.com. </P> <P>It seems pretty easy when it's attached to a story in the top stories section.</P> <P> </P> <P>But if not, do you click on "video" in the top horizontal menu bar which takes you to the "media center"? </P> <P> </P> <P>Do you use the flash video player on the home page? </P> <P></P> <P>If so, have you accessed the individual categories at the bottom? </P> <P>We'd love to get your suggestions.</P> <P>Also, we are aware that some of you are having trouble with the load time of the home page player, and we are trying to track down the problem. So please let us know if it gets better or worse. </P> <P>Thanks as always for your thoughts. We truly value your feedback. If you're uncomfortable responding to this blog, feel free to e-mail <A href="mailto:thewebunit@9wsyr.com">thewebunit@9wsyr.com</A>. </P> <P>Jim Tortora, Director of News & Content. </P> <P>Helpful hint: In case you didn't know it was available, you CAN search video by keywords. Right under the 9wsyr.com header use the dropdown in the google search bar and select "search video". </P> </article> <article> <h1>Do you need a digital converter for your TV?</h1> <p>PHRankin — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:30:00 GMT</p> <b>Post by Rod Wood - </b>When February 17, 2009 rolls around, U.S. television stations will stop broadcasting analog signals and send only digital transmissions. By law, stations like NewsChannel 9 must make the switch.<br><br>Here are some questions and answers about the transition:<br> <br>Why is this happening? <br>- DTV has better picture and sound quality. Also, stopping the analog broadcasts will free up a huge amount of airwaves. The government has auctioned off some of them for use by wireless broadband and cell-phone TV.<br> <br>Do you need a digital converter box?<br>- If you have cable or satellite TV, only extra sets that are not hooked up will be affected.<br>- If you get TV over the air, your TV might not work without a converter box.<br>- Most new TVs sold today, including flat-panel sets, have digital tuners and won't need a converter box, but double-check when buying.<br> <br>How much do the converters cost?<br>- The converter boxes generally cost $50-$60, so the final cost is between $10 and $20 per box after the $40 coupons given out by the government. Go to <a href="http://www.dtv2009.gov">www.dtv2009.gov</a> or call 1-888-DTV-2009 to get up to two $40 coupons per household.<br><br><a href="http://www.9wsyr.com/content/news/dtv/story.aspx?content_id=49882575-8bbd-413a-82d1-69ced3f39b14" target="_blank">Click here for many more questions and answers about Digital Television (DTV).</a><br><br><a HREF="/blogs/plugged_in_the_dtv_switch/default.aspx">Click here to visit our DTV blog, where you can find more answers and ask your own questions.</a><br><br><i>- information from the AP</i><br> </article> <article> <h1>After the PA primary</h1> <p>PHRankin — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:30:00 GMT</p> <span>Post by Dan Cummings - </span>Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was, and pleasantly so. On Tuesday in Scranton, Pennsylvania, I was covering the get-out-the-vote effort for Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in the state's pivotal Presidential primary. And right there, in the Scranton campaign offices of both candidates...were several people from...Oswego, Marcellus, and Cortland. A busload of Central New Yorkers had made its way from the Empire State to the Keystone State to work the phones and the streets...for their candidate. Later that evening, when the results were in, I met a couple from Manhattan who were celebrating the 10-point win of their candidate, Senator Clinton. I got to wondering if this many Pennsylvanians came to New York State to volunteer for our primary earlier this year. I doubt it. (of course, Senator Clinton's built-in advantage as our junior U.S. Senator gave her a bigger edge here, so our primary wasn't nearly as hotly contested).<br> <br>The contest for the Democratic nomination this year is one for the ages. And it became very clear to me this week, how high the emotions can run...and how deep the passion can be...for both Clinton and Obama. Some, of course, will concede the obvious...that they are BOTH quality candidates, and that EITHER would make for a strong nominee. But the vast majority of Democrats, it seems to me...are probably like the people I met in those Scranton campaign offices this week: intense in their devotion to one candidate or the other, convinced that either he, or she...is best suited to lead the country. And they will travel to neighboring states, if they can, to work for the election of their favorite. One Oswego woman told me she'll probably head to West Virginia in advance of the primary there...to work for Senator Clinton.<br> <br>There is much at stake in the 2008 Presidential election. It is refreshing and encouraging to see the numbers of people paying serious attention, and in many cases, taking an active role in the outcome. </article> <article> <h1>Springtime: Are Your Tires Safe For The Highway?</h1> <p>PHRankin — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:49:00 GMT</p> Properly inflated tires will keep you and your loved ones driving safely.<br> <br><b>Post by Rod Wood</b> - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has attributed under inflated tires to crashes that result in 660 fatalities and 33,000 injuries each year. Sadly, a survey by the <br>Rubber Manufacturers found that an estimated 15% of drivers properly check their tires.<br> <br>NHTSA also found that 27 percent of passenger cars and 32 percent of light trucks have at least one significantly under-inflated tire.<br> <br>One flat tire is bad enough---don't get stuck with two. 71% of drivers do not check the inflation pressure in their spare. Check your spare tire every month.<br> <br>Drivers can improve gas mileage by around 3.3% by keeping tires inflated to the proper pressure.<br> <br>To properly check inflation pressure: Use the correct inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer, not the pressure listed on the tire sidewall.<br><br>Check tires when they are cold or haven't been driven for at least three hours. </article> <article> <h1>The Philadelphia Debate</h1> <p>PHRankin — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:48:00 GMT</p> <b>Post by Dan Cummings</b> - I had the opportunity to cover Wednesday's debate in Philadelphia between Senators Obama and Clinton. If you follow this race closely, you don't need another long take on the debate and its potential impact...so how about a short one? <br> <br>Before the debate, ABC News political correspondents Jake Tapper and Mark Halperin told me Senator Clinton may have to take the risky approach of going on the offensive, being aggressive...in questioning Senator Obama's chances against John McCain in November. She needs a big win next Tuesday in the Pennsylvania primary, and latest polls show she's only leading by single digits. In my opinion, and despite other reports you may have seen that indicated Clinton went "on the attack" in the debate...I think she laid back a bit. <br> <br>When asked directly if she thinks Obama can beat McCain, she said "yes, yes, yes." But, she then spent most of the next hour, politely but repeatedly questioning whether Obama, in a general election, would wither under the likely GOP attacks against his associations with his outspoken former pastor and a former member of the radical "Weather Underground,"...and recent comments by the Illinois Senator that the "bitter" working class in PA might be clinging to their guns and religion, to cope.<br> <br>Her so-called "attacks" were rather subtle. Too subtle, I think, to be labeled "attacks" at all. We'll find out Tuesday if her debate strategy worked. </article> <article> <h1>When your Car is a Lemon...</h1> <p>Jennifer Lewke — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:14:00 GMT</p> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=508065015-18042008>With the weather warming up, we're getting into prime car buying time. In most cases, people are very happy with the new or used car they purchase but occasionally the vehicle comes with problems you didn't bargain for. </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=508065015-18042008></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=508065015-18042008>If you're working with the dealer and they just can't seem to fix the issues with your <EM>new </EM>car, you may be able to get a full refund or a replacement. Under the state's lemon law, if you're having frequent problems and the dealer is unable to repair the car or truck after a reasonable number of attempts, they may have no other choice than to take it back. For your new car to be a lemon, it has to have less than 18,000 miles on it or you have to have had it less than 2 years. </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=508065015-18042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>If you bought a <EM>used </EM>car and it's breaking down all the time, you may be entitled to similar benefits. If you paid more than $1,500 and your car/truck has more than 18,000 miles on it but less than 100,000 miles you too could be eligible for a refund. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=508065015-18042008></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=508065015-18042008></SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=508065015-18042008></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=508065015-18042008>The best thing to do is try and work with the dealer but if all else fails you'll have to go through the state attorney general's office to get your car designated a lemon. The outline of who's eligible is just that, an outline. Once you get into the process you'll likely have to provide piles of paperwork and service records to prove your car is a dud. </SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=508065015-18042008></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=508065015-18042008>Have you had success getting your lemon replaced? Tell us about the process below:</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV> </article> <article> <h1>The Passing of “The Play Lady”</h1> <p>PHRankin — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:41:00 GMT</p> Remembering Jean Daugherty: A television pioneer.<br> <br><b>Post by Rod Wood: </b>I knew Jean had been in failing health in recent years, but I still wasn't ready to hear of her death over the weekend at age 84. <br><br>I first met Jean at the age of 11, when I appeared in plays put on by the Syracuse University Drama Department Children's Theater. We had a show on Thursday afternoons on what was then WHEN-TV channel 8.<br><br>Jean was the director, and one of the first female TV directors in the nation. One time I somehow didn't stand in the right spot for the camera and Jean quickly yet politely corrected me. That was 1952!<br><br>It would be 15 years later, before I began working with Jean again when I joined the news staff of WHEN radio and TV. She knew I had a knack for doing special voices, so she was quick to enlist me to do my part for “The Magic Toyshop.”<br><br>Christmas season was always a joy because she would have me emcee when the cast would entertain at the Saturday morning “Breakfast with Santa” program at the former E.W.Edwards store. I was known as "Mister Rod" at those functions.<br><br>Jean was a tireless writer, sometimes cranking out a week's worth of scripts in a single day!<br><br>She had a special way with children, their parents and grandparents. Jean almost never turned down a request for a community appearance and lent her support to countless causes for children, for the hungry and for senior citizens.<br><br>Thousands of children grew up to “The Magic Toyshop” and now they are parents, grandparents, and maybe even great-grandparents. What a shame children of today can't enjoy that wonderful program and its founder Jean Daugherty. <br><br>Jean will be missed both here in Central New York and in her native Barnesboro, Pennsylvania. She always spoke lovingly of that community. <br><br>Jean was one of a kind. She's looking down at us from heaven right now.<br> </article> <article> <h1>Jamie Lee Curtis and her "Strapless" pose</h1> <p>Christie Casciano — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:35:00 GMT</p> In the days leading up to the show, we saw the Oprah promos; "At almost 50...why Jamie Lee Curtis posed nude for this." <br><br>A very misleading promotion after watching the show and hearing the actress set the record straight. Curtis says that she wasn't naked in the AARP magazine shot.. <br><a href="http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200804/20080407/slide_20080407_350_101.jhtml"><br>Here's a link to read her comments and then please share yours.</a> </article> <article> <h1>Used Car Buyer's Guide for Spring</h1> <p>PHRankin — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:38:00 GMT</p> <B>Post from Rod Wood: </B>Planning to shop for a used car this spring? According to <I>Consumer Reports ShopSmart</I> magazine, here are seven questions you should ask the seller before you buy:<BR><BR>(1) How's it equipped? For example, does it have a working air conditioner?<BR>Think about what would be deal-breakers for you.<BR><BR>(2) How many miles on the odometer? Lower is better but you'll pay more.<BR>Also, for every year it's been on the road, it shouldn't have more than 20,000 miles.<BR><BR>(3) Are you the only one who owned it? The fewer owners, the better.<BR><BR>(4) Was it ever in an accident or flood? <A href="http://www.carfax.com/">Carfax.com</A> and <A href="http://www.autocheck.com/">autocheck.com</A> can ID some<BR>(but not all) problem cars.<BR><BR>(5) Has it had any recalls? Major ones could be a red flag. Dealerships have records.<BR><BR>(6) May I see the service records and any receipts for repairs? Regular oil changes and<BR>maintenance appointments are a good sign.<BR><BR>(7) Why are you selling it? Asking may reveal some surprises. Be wary of evasive answers.<BR><BR> </article> <article> <h1>Chief's opening day, a sign of the season</h1> <p>PHRankin — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:24:00 GMT</p> <B>Post by Dan Cummings - </B>Let's keep it light this week. I'll join my voice to others you may hear, and read....and say "Take Me Out to the Ballgame!" And I'm not even a huge baseball fan. But, just like the St. Patrick's Parade in mid-March, opening day for the Chiefs at Alliance Bank Stadium is a sign of the season. I think they call it spring, even if it takes forever to arrive in Central New York. Our Triple-A team has launched another season, and they deserve our support. The grass is real now. There's plenty of parking. And whether it's an evening or a weekend afternoon...the ballpark can be a fantastic place to take the family and get some fresh air. And cheer the Chiefs on to victory. <BR> <BR>Before long, spring softball leagues and Little League games will be in full swing, too. Winter has finally melted into spring, we hope. And the sights, sounds and smells of the great American pastime are taking center field again. <BR> <BR>So, when it comes to the Chiefs, a full ballpark could go a long ways towards community spirit, and a few more wins. Wins have been hard to come by for this team in recent years. Win or lose, the could use our support. No better time to show it than right now, at the start of a brand new season. <BR> </article> <article> <h1>Let's Go Crunch!</h1> <p>Christie Casciano — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:03:00 GMT</p> <P><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=173462812-03042008> Hey hockey fans, how excited are we? There's no team hotter than the Syracuse Crunch right now. No team has been hotter all year! What a game last night. ( I especially love the music Tony) Now that the Crunch have won 9 games in a row, the team has set a franchise record for consecutive wins and is streaking into the playoffs. I think the team is only going to improve with the return of players like McKenzie, Smith, and of course the captain... <FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><STRONG>Zenon Konopka! </STRONG></FONT></FONT></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=173462812-03042008> Who have you loved to watch this season ? How long do you think this streak will continue? Let's hope they maintain the hunger! </SPAN></FONT></P> <P><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </P> </article> <article> <h1>Tired of E-Mail Spam?</h1> <p>PHRankin — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 04:11:00 GMT</p> <P><STRONG>Post by Rod Wood -</STRONG> Tired of SPAM? No not the meat in a can but that other garbage that turns up in your computer.<BR> <BR>Consumer Reports ShopSmart magazine offers these five tips to protect yourself from spam:</P> <P>(1) Never respond to spam. That just lets spammers know that your e-mail address is active.</P> <P>(2) Avoid shopping from a spammed offer. At the very least, you're encouraging spammers to send out more junk mail. At worst, you're compromising your system. If possible, don't open the messages at all.<BR> <BR>(3) Never provide your password in e-mail, and do not verify your account or provide other information by clicking on an e-mail link. No reputable company would ever ask you to do so.<BR> <BR>(4) Set up two e-mail accounts, one for friends and the other for subscribing to online services like newsletters and for posting on forums.<BR> <BR>(5) Make sure your antivirus and antispyware programs are activated. If you've just bought a computer, make sure you're running full versions of the software and not just short-term trials. If your e-mail provider offers an antispam program, activate it.<BR> <BR>Have you had any bad experiences with spam? Feel free to write me.<BR></P> </article> <article> <h1>Donte' Greene's Future at Syracuse</h1> <p>PHRankin — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:06:00 GMT</p> With the end of the SU basketball season comes the inevitable question: Will Donte’ Greene go pro?<BR><BR>He told us Tuesday night after the loss to UMass that he really hadn’t made a decision yet. He essentially said that he wanted to take some time and get as much information as possible. Let’s look at some of that information.<BR><BR>When Greene arrived on campus in the fall, he was considered a top five pick. Now that his freshman season is complete, most draft experts have him listed as a mid-first round selection. That’s a big difference in terms of money. Consider that last year’s #15 pick, Rodney Stuckey, is making about $1.5 million this season. Last year’s #5 pick meanwhile, Jeff Green (out of Georgetown), is making twice that. Green’s 2008 salary is more than $3 million. That certainly adds up over the course of a three-year contract.<BR><BR>So, that’s the dilemma facing Donte’. He has said before that “the NBA will always be there.” And he’s right. If Greene comes back to school one more year, he could improve his game, improve his NBA value, and take a shot at winning a national championship. If he leaves now, he’ll still be a first-round pick, but he’ll require more on-the-job training and have to work that much harder for a big contract down the road.<BR><BR>Donte’ Greene isn’t ready to become a star in the NBA next season. We all know he has things he needs to work on. But keep in mind that he has size, athleticism, and a very good outside shot – all things that are hard to find and all things that NBA scouts are looking for.<BR><BR>So should Donte’ Greene enter the 2008 NBA Draft? Will he enter the NBA Draft? The answer to those two questions may not be the same. One thing we do know, is that Donte’ has exactly one month to decide. The clock is ticking… </article> <article> <h1>Clay Police and Sheriff's Department Proposed Merger</h1> <p>PHRankin — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:57:00 GMT</p> A tip of the hat this week to an apparent win-win idea in the town of Clay. Some time ago, town leaders approached county government with a suggestion to eliminate the Clay police force, in favor of covering the entire town with added patrols by the county sheriff's department. Sheriff's patrols for years have already been covering large portions of Clay. Town fathers thought it made sense to go all the way. It will reportedly save money for Clay town taxpayers and produce a more efficient law enforcement coverage for Onondaga County's largest township (60 thousand people living on almost 60 square miles).<BR> <BR>There are at least 3 reasons why this particular approach to government consolidation is likely to work, where others have failed (notably, the brief shotgun mergers many years ago between Syracuse, Liverpool and Solvay police departments):<BR> <BR>One: this was a bottom-up proposal. The town government went to the county and asked for this. <BR> <BR>Two: Clay, unlike Solvay and Liverpool, doesn't have a town or village center. While heavily populated, Clay is also spread out, lessening the need for the kind of local police presence you normally associate with a town or village.<BR> <BR>Three (and perhaps most important): People who live in Clay will have the final say, in a scheduled June referendum. County executive Joanie Mahoney told me this week she's confident Clay residents will see the wisdom of the plan and vote to approve it. But if not, she says that will be the end of it. There will be no attempt to force this idea down anyone's throat.<BR> <BR>I'd be happy to hear what you think, and if you've got other suggestions about government consolidation where you live...pass them along. <BR> </article> <article> <h1>Making Some Extra Cash</h1> <p>Jennifer Lewke — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:20:00 GMT</p> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=718403717-28032008>With the economy the way it is, most of us are looking for ways to make a little extra cash. If you've got a lot of "stuff" laying around your home that you really haven't used in years, maybe you're considering selling it off. </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=718403717-28032008></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=718403717-28032008>A few friends of mine have turned into e-bay entrepreneurs in the last few months... cleaning out the clutter in their closets and actually making good money on it. They've even starting offering their services (for a small percentage) to acquaintances. If you know how to use E-bay or Craig's List, that may be a great way to make a few extra bucks when you get home from your 9 to 5. </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=718403717-28032008></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=718403717-28032008>But what if you're not very computer savvy? Don't forget the good old garage sale. The weather will be getting nicer soon and if that doesn't motivate you to do some spring cleaning maybe a cash incentive will. Who knows what you can find hidden away that you could make some money on? </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=718403717-28032008></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=718403717-28032008>Then there's the pawn shops. If you've got jewelry, an old musical instrument or baseball cards, you might consider shopping them around at a few shops to see what you can get for them. Even if you've never stepped foot in a pawn shop, if you've got something you think you can make some cash on, it could be something to consider. </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=718403717-28032008></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=718403717-28032008>Have you tried selling off your stuff lately? How did you do it and did you make decent money? Share your experience below:</SPAN></FONT></DIV> </article> </main></body></html>