• skype.com - free long distance calling over the Internet
• hud.gov - find FDA refund money
• surgicaleyes.com - lasik eye surgery discussions

So many people now have high speed Internet access in their homes that they can turn their computer into a phone and call anywhere in the world. You are probably familiar with “instant messaging,” or “IMing,” which is free and takes place from computer to computer. But now you can use your computer to make phone calls for free. It’s a given that IM services are free, but the idea of free telephone conversations over the Internet is also possible. One of the biggest and fastest growing of these services is Skype. About 22 million people are now using Skype around the world. You call other Skype customers for free using a headset device, and calling people without the service is less than two cents a minute. Apparently, the sound quality is near perfect, as well. All you have to do is download the program on your computer and you’re set. Calling overseas costs nothing! That is great news.

---

In other telecommunications news, hotels are blocking cell phone signals in their rooms and lobbies because they are losing tons of money on missed phone charges. People are using cell phones instead of making calls from their hotel phones. So, hotels in the U.S. have imported a German-made device that blocks cellular signals. The equipment is apparently illegal, but it’s not stopping hotels from doing it. If you need to dial 911 in an emergency, this is bad news. Just remember that it’s happening. And, if you’re traveling and are in a hotel, you may need to go outside.

You’ve probably bought something in a store with a check even though you don’t have the money in your account at the time. You figure you have a few days for the check to clear, and by then the money will be there. It’s called the “float.” Well, the float is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Because of a new law going into effect in October, money will be drafted from your account immediately when you write a check. It’s called “Check 21,” and it allows retailers to scan your check through a machine that deducts the cash within minutes. It’s essentially the end of the paper check system, as well, because the check will eventually be destroyed. There will be an image of the check online and that will serve as proof if you need it. But everything is becoming electronic, and a bank will know if a check is good right away. So, be prepared to move to an electronic bill pay system. It’s the smart way to go. What about checks that you deposit? Well, the float is no longer available to you, the customer. But the bank still will hold a deposit for a few days to make sure it clears. It’s not fair, but it’s the way it’s happening.

n the United States, we lose about 40,000 people a year to auto accidents, and just over one-third of those are alcohol-related. These are completely preventable accidents, if the person responsible simply chose not to drink and drive. Maybe there is a better way to handle this problem. It comes from Europe and is now being used in Switzerland, Italy and France. Basically, if a resident of those countries gets the equivalent of a DUI, that person’s license is taken away immediately. The offender is allowed to get a “junior license,” which gives him or her access to drive a very low powered car. The car will not go above about 30 mph, and there is a sticker on it saying what its maximum speed is. So, offenders ride around with a Scarlet Letter on their cars and cannot drive on interstates. At the same time, the risk to other drivers is minimized. According to the New York Times, car manufacturers are specifically making these cars because they are in such high demand. Tens of thousands of people are paying for them, the paper said. So, it’s an idea worth considering in America.

Say you own a business and you need some resources for that business. You may have noticed ads in a weekly or community newspaper from a well-known bank or mortgage lender, offering great deals on loans. You may even fill out a loan application with one of them and get approved. But before anything happens, the friendly bank representative tells you that you have to send a “loan processing fee.” And the money must be wired to them through Western Union. You send off the $600 to $800 and it’s gone forever. Why? These banks are bogus. The FDIC has issued a warning about these ads. Weekly and community papers don’t have large enough advertising departments to screen advertisers. If a company has money, they will take it. So, you should know a few things. First of all, a legitimate bank won’t ask you for an advance fee to take out a loan. The only exception is if you’re taking out a new mortgage when there may be a small application fee. Secondly, a bank would not ask you to wire the money to some third party. You would pay the money directly to that institution. And, lastly, just because an ad looks like it’s from a legitimate bank doesn’t mean it is.

Five big department stores that have been around since the 1800s will soon bite the dust. Bon Marche, Rich’s, Goldsmith’s, Lazarus and Burdines will now all be called Macy’s, in an effort to keep the department store industry alive. It’s happening because people have become much more price sensitive when it comes to shopping. Malls and old line, family-owned department stores such as these are not attractive to people anymore because they haven’t shifted with the times and are still considered quite pricey. Price is now the key with shoppers, and these stores –which are usually in malls – just can’t compete. Target, on the other hand, has transitioned into a fashion forward icon, in part, because it’s so affordable. Target is the fourth largest retailer in the country. On top is Wal-Mart, followed by Home Depot, Kroger, Target, Costco and Sears. At one time, Sears was the world’s largest retailer. Today, Wal-mart is seven times as big as Sears. Traditional department stores are way down on the list. So, it’s clear that the retail industry has shifted completely, and it will always shift toward consumers needs eventually.

Clark wears glasses and he absolutely hates it. He would love to never wear glasses again. He hasn’t gotten laser eye surgery because about 15 percent of people are still having complications with it. The industry would like you to believe differently, but you can see what is really going on at surgicaleyes.com. The good news is that there is now another approved procedure out there for you to consider. It’s been used in Europe since the ‘80s, and it’s basically a contact lens that is implanted in your eye. Instead of having to change your lenses every day, these stay in your eyes permanently. It’s called an “intraocular lens implant” and the FDA has now approved it. It’s much more expensive than lasik, at about $4,000 an eye. But it may be worth it to you.