Toyota Announces Comprehensive Plan to Fix Accelerator Pedals on Recalled Vehicles and Ensure Customer Safety

TORRANCE, Calif., February 1, 2010 – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) U.S.A., Inc., today announced it will begin fixing accelerator pedals in recalled Toyota Division vehicles this week. Toyota’s engineers have developed and rigorously tested a solution that involves reinforcing the pedal assembly in a manner that eliminates the excess friction that has caused the pedals to stick in rare instances. In addition, Toyota has developed an effective solution for vehicles in production.  Read more

Free and Inexpensive Entertainment is Available

My wife and I are beginning to find the joy in going out to the movies again.  We both love movies, but they are too expensive to attend while they play at the major theatres.  Most cities have at least one second run movie theatres.  Our local theatre charges $2.00 Monday through Thursday and $3.00 per person on Friday through Sunday.  If you take advantage of the specials available at the concession stand, you can have a fairly inexpensive date.

Buck Weber has several suggestions for free entertainment his blog post entitled Nine Ways to Find Cheap or Free Performances

The Wisconsin Cheeseman® Recalls Cheese Logs/Cheese Balls

Sun Prairie, WI - January 10, 2010 – The Wisconsin Cheeseman® announced today that it is recalling cheese log/cheese ball products in conjunction with the voluntary recall initiated by Parkers Farm, Inc. on January 15, 2010. Parkers Farm, Inc., located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, believes some of its food items have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The recall was a result of a sampling done by the state of Wisconsin and the state of Minnesota.


Nine of the recalled products are cheese logs/cheese balls purchased from Parkers Farm, Inc. and then distributed by The Wisconsin Cheeseman®. These products bear the Parkers Farm logo. None of the other recalled products at Parkers Farm, Inc. was purchased or distributed by The Wisconsin Cheeseman®. Read more.

Lysol Steam Cleaning Mop Recalled by Conair Corp. Due to Burn and Laceration Hazards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. Read more.

Toyota is Recalling Certain Model Year Vehicles Due to Friction Lever Concerns

The following is a list of Toyota defects and recalls.

10 Tips for Buying an HD TV

With television stations vigorously promoting HD TV and with the NFL's national holiday coming up on February 7th, Consumer Reports has written an excellent article on tips to consider before purchasing a new HD television this month.  Read this before you buy.

Second Thoughts on Second Thoughts

Some time ago I wrote that I would no longer post to this blog, but my interests in consumer economics is such that I cannot let this blog die.  I will be writing about consumer interests in this blog.  I hope you enjoy.  Pass it on!

Final Post

This is my final post for the Second Thoughts blog.  Second Thoughts was created to be a reference blog for the South Sioux City Public Library.  It contained information of interest to consumers, the disabled, students and others who would come to the library for reference questions.  The theory was if some people need this information others will, as well. 

I still believe in that premise, but maintaining three quality blogs on my own time is too taxing.  So I will split up the Second Thoughts material into tow parts and include them in The Antiquarian Librarian and Heartland Heartbeat

The Antiquarian Libraian will cover information about goveernment publications, new websites and technology interests.  While Heartland Heartbest will take the consumer information part of the blog and focus on those things that well help people in need to prosper.

I hope that if you followed me on Second Thoughst you will join one or both of the other blogs.

Until I see you on the Social web.
Dan

First-Time Homebuyer Credit Extended to April 30, 2010; Some Current Homeowners Now Also Qualify

IRS.gov announces the extention of the First Time Homeowner's Tax Credit.

Vehicle Purchase/Modification Funding Resources

The Easter Seals' Project Action has a fact sheet on purchace and modication funding for those who need vehicle modification.  Read