Consumer Reports articles from August 2003

Consumer Reports archives from August 2003

What works against e-mail spam. (Have You Heard?).
August 1, 2003... I can't imagine keeping up with family, friends, and business contacts these days without e-mail. I'm frustrated and angry that such a convenience turned into such a hassle so fast. It took Hormel Foods 65 years to sell 6 billion cans of...

Suzuki Samurai case: Update. (Have You Heard?).(U.S. Court of Appeals in California rules that lower court should allow Suzuki to proceed to a full trial against Consumer Union)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... In 1988, CONSUMER REPORTS tested the Suzuki Samurai and reported that it had tipped up severely and repeatedly during our emergency-avoidance-maneuver tests, while three other SUVs had no tip-ups at all. We judged the Samurai "Not Acceptable."...

Backpacks for back to school. (Up Front).(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2003... Most kids' backpacks can easily hold school necessities. Is one pack better than another, or are they pretty much equal behind the brand name and the price tag? To find out, we bought a half-dozen moderately priced packs plus a messenger...

Malternatives: beer? cocktails? both? (Up Front).
August 1, 2003... If it's flavored with liquor and labeled with a well-known liquor name, then is it liquor? That's the central question in a growing hubbub over malternatives, flavored alcoholic malt drinks from Anheuser-Busch, Bacardi, Smirnoff, and other...

Quick Tips.(tips on potted plants)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Hot and thirsty? Your plants are, too. To keep potted plants healthy in summer, our master gardeners have these low-cost suggestions * Cut off the bottom of an empty plastic water bottle and bury the bottle as shown in the drawing....

Claim check.(Orka Silicone Oven Mitt)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2003... The claim: The Orka Silicone Oven Mitt, $19.99, is "heat resistant to 500[degrees]F so it protects hands during contact with direct flame, hot grills, glowing charcoal, and spattering fat or oil...is waterprool...will not stain." The check: A...

Which power-window switches are safer? (Up Front).
August 1, 2003... At least 25 children have died during the past decade from injuries involving power windows in cars, according to Kids and Cars, a nonprofit group that tracks auto-safety issues involving children. Typically the child has his or her head out...

Tomato terms. (The Talk).
August 1, 2003... Twenty years ago, the tomatoes people bought tended to be round, pink, tasteless, and available in small, medium, and large. Now you may see them in colors from dark brown to near-white, and in sizes from pea to 4pounder. What follows is a...

Hybrid. (The Talk).(hybrid tomatoes)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Must be produced from two distinctly different "parents" Hybrids that are destined for supermarkets are often bred to ripen at the same time, and to be solid and thick-skinned, so that they can withstand harvesting, shipping, and storage at the...

Heirloom. (The Talk).(heirloom tomatoes)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... The "hot" tomato seen increasingly in backyards, at farmers' markets, and in gourmet shops. One of hundreds of types that have been grown for at least 50 years, they can reproduce themselves from seed (unlike hybrids). They're often sweeter,...

Grape. (The Talk).(tomatoes)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Bite-sized (less than an inch in diameter), very sweet, and big sellers since their debut in the U.S. in the 1990s.

Cherry. (The Talk).(tomatoes)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... A bit bigger than a grape tomato, an inch in diameter, more or less (more makes it a cocktail tomato). They're red, yellow, or orange and may be less sweet than grape tomatoes.

Paste or plum. (The Talk).(tomatoes)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Egg-shaped, meaty, and less juicy than others, which makes them ideal for cooking.

Beefsteak. (The Talk).(tomatoes)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Refers to any variety that grows big enough to cover a burger with a single slice and can weigh several pounds.

Hydroponic. (The Talk).(tomatoes)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... May be grown without soil, in a greenhouse. Plants are given water with dissolved nutrients while typically growing in a porous medium such as rock wool.

Field grown. (The Talk).(tomatoes)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Refers to tomatoes grown outdoors; they may have a higher brix, or sweetness, than greenhouse tomatoes.

Vine-ripened. (The Talk).(tomatoes)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Grown outdoors or in, they're usually picked when turning from pink to red.

Do home cholesterol tests work? (Up Front).(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2003... Comprehensive cholesterol screening should be a regular part of your medical checkups. But should you also test cholesterol at home with a kit available from the pharmacy or via the Internet? Our advice, after testing five widely sold kits:...

Multifunction microwave misses the mark. (Up Front).(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2003... The new Samsung Toast & Bake MT1066, about $200, caught our eye because it promises a great deal of versatility It's a one-of-a-kind countertop appliance that microwaves, toasts, bakes, broils, and roasts. Unfortunately, it doesn't excel at any...

Your Letters.(Correction Notice)
August 1, 2003... BUZZED As a nature writer, photographer, and speaker, I work to educate people about the natural world and the detrimental effects people often have on it. I object to the May article on mosquito traps and zappers. Zappers are not...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
August 1, 2003... In the April Auto Issue, we incorrectly said that federal loans bailed out Chrysler Corp. in 1979. We should have said that federal loan guarantees bailed out Chrysler.

Starbucks to take back kids' cups. (Recalls & Safety Alerts).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... The Starbucks coffee chain is recalling thousands of tumblers featuring the likeness of the chain's Bearista Bear character. The cup's flexible plastic straw could break into small pieces when chewed, creating a choke hazard for small children....

"Swim Ways Deluxe Dive Buddies" weighted dive sticks. (Children's Products).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Child could fall or land on sticks in shallow water and possibly be Impaled on them. Products: 25,000 packages of dive sticks sold 12/02 to 5/03 at specialty pool stores nationwide for about $10. Dive sticks are soft plastic tubes with...

Lane "High-Leg" recliner chair. (Household Products).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Your fingers could be injured if you open or recline chair by reaching under footrest. Products: 620,000 recliners sold 12/89 to 4/02 at furniture stores nationwide for $500 to $1,200. Recall involves three-position recliners that have...

Panasonic rechargeable battery packs for cordless power tools. (Household Products).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Could unexpectedly detach from tool and possibly injure user. Products: About 64,000 battery packs made 5/1/01 to 11/20/02 and sold at home-improvement and hardware stores and by mail for $50 to $100 individually and from $150 to $400 as...

'03 BMW 325i, 325Ci, 330i, and M3. (Vehicles and Equipment).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Occupants could get pinched or trapped if they're in the way of a closing window. Models: 13,100 cars made 8/02 to 11/02. What to do: Have dealer inspect and, if necessary, replace electronic control unit for window autoreverse device....

'94-97 Chevrolet, GMC, Oldsmobile minivans, pickups, sport-utility vehicles. (Vehicles and Equipment).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... On vehicles with certain model-engine combinations, windshield wipers could fail because of cracked solder joints on controller circuit board. Models: 1,755,876 vehicles made 3/94 to 9/96. Recall involves the following: '94 Chevrolet and...

'02 Dodge Ram. (Vehicles and Equipment).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Defroster may not work properly. Models: 287,725 pickup trucks made 7/01 to 7/02. What to do: Have dealer install wiring harness overlay to prevent climate-control-system motor from failing.

'02-03 General Motors sport-utility vehicles. (Vehicles and Equipment).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Even when ignition is off, transmission could be shifted into gear and key could be removed from ignition with shift lever in any gear, in violation of federal safety standard. Models: 511,167 sport-utility vehicles made 10/00 to 9/02,...

'03 Mini Cooper. (Vehicles and Equipment).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Screw that connects suspension strut to chassis could eventually break. Models: 5,110 cars made 9/02 to 11/02. What to do: Have dealer replace lower screw connection to rear struts.

Our independence matters to you. (Recalls & Safety Alerts).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Did you know that CONSUMER REPORTS accepts no paid advertising. In fact, unlike our competitors, CONSUMER REPORTS accepts no free samples of the products it reviews, no free trips, no free lodging, no freebies at all. CR is published by...

How to stop it from stalking you. (E-mail Spam).(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2003... The battle between those who send unsolicited e-mail advertisements, commonly known as spam, and those blocking them has become an arms race. On one side are hordes of spammers who find ways, through technology and guile, to penetrate...

Home improvement: pick the product, then the contractor.
August 1, 2003... Roughly 75 percent of homeowners choose their own exterior house paint and stain, thanks in part to decades of consumer advertising. But when it comes to asphalt roofing and vinyl siding, most people still let their contractor choose. ...

Roofing: fiberglass dominates.(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2003... Laminated fiberglass shingles now command a large part of the roofing market. These shingles are meant to mimic the appearance of wood or slate, yet they cost much less than the real thing. That's an appealing combination for some homeowners;...

Vinyl siding: more uniform plastic.(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2003... Vinyl will soon account for more than half of all siding sold. Higher standards and some industry self-policing have helped bring this product in line with its claims, including panel thickness--a much-touted feature manufacturers use to...

House paint: paying more pays off.(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2003... Don't assume you can simply buy more of the house paint you've favored in the past to tackle the job this time. Manufacturers reformulate familiar brands to cut costs, tweak performance, or comply with environmental regulations. That means you...

Exterior stains: A few go the distance.(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2003... Wood siding needs some protection. It shouldn't be left unfinished. Stain can't offer the same degree of protection as paint, since stain soaks into the wood instead of coating its surface. Still, the best of the 23 stains we tested should last...

Deck treatments: long-lived colors.(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2003... Opaque and semitransparent deck finishes used to come in a very small selection of colors, most of which had all the pizzazz of battleship gray. Today, manufacturers offer dozens of off-the-shelf premixed shades as well as colors mixed at the...

The history of Consumers Union.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... In February of 1936, a dedicated band of professors, journalists, engineers and labor leaders founded Consumers Union-an organization dedicated to providing information on products and services, educating the public, and as the charter said,...

The truth about irradiated meat.
August 1, 2003... In the aftermath of record meat recalls, certain supermarkets and restaurants are touting something new irradiated chicken and ground beef. Irradiation eliminates any bacteria that might exist in food," according to a Food Emporium...

Washers: loads for less.(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2003... Uncle Sam Is putting washers on a diet. Starting in January, the government is reducing the maximum amount of energy a washer can use by about 25 percent. In 2007. washers will be required to use even less juice to get your jeans and jammies...

Detergents: wash-day winners.(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2003... Liquids are big sellers these days, but results from our tests of 19 detergents may make you pick a powder. Liquids are touted for their convenience: They dissolve instantly even in cool water, and their bottles are easy to carry. Yet with...

Dryers: drum majors.(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2003... Appliances don't get much simpler than clothes dryers. All dryers circulate heated air through a drum that tumbles the laundry The best do the job without overheating or overdrying your clothes, which can cause more problems than you may...

Waist management: gauging your risk. (Health).
August 1, 2003... A $2.99 fabric tape measure may do a better job than a$65 bathroom scale when it comes to determining whether your body-fat level puts you at higher risk for heart disease, diabetes, or breast cancer. Research shows that waist size correlates...

Snore silencers. (Names & Claims).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... "Eighty-five percent of snoring couples could be waking up this happy," promises the caption on a photo of smiling bedmates in an ad for Breathe Right nasal strips and Breathe Right Snore Relief throat spray. The adhesive strips, made of...

Is your life insurer safe or sinking? (Money).(Industry Overview)
August 1, 2003... The last time a wave of failures rocked the insurance industry in the early 1990s, thousands of life-insurance-policy and annuity owners were left dangling while state regulators took over the failed companies. Most policyholders were able to...

Putting the pieces together: midsized SUVs car-or truck-based? five passengers or more? The right choice depends on your needs.(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2003... Few types of vehicles present as confusing a selection today as sport-utility vehicles. That's because there's now a wide array of different versions, each with advantages and disadvantages. In the past few years, CONSUMER REPORTS testing...

Assault on organic standards. (View Point).
August 1, 2003... It took 12 years of hearings, hundreds of thousands of comments from the public, and the drafting of 600 pages of proposed standards to create the "USDA Organic" label. Issued last October, it was a major achievement. Even its toughest...

Rub-a-dub. (Then & Now).( )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Wash day 1936 was 99 44/100 percent pure drudgery. That year, CONSUMER REPORTS' first year, only halt of American homes had a washing machine, and the ones they had weren't too good. You used laundry soap then; detergents were not yet...