Misc. notes I picked up on burning dvds under linux
Notes to myself from research I did on the web on video dvds under linux...
hav
# Use kino [schirmacher.de] to do the video editing, and output/export (i.e. save as) an MPEG-2 (DVD format). To get this to work you will most likely need Mplayer [mplayerhq.hu] installed because you'll need the mplex commandline tool to "multiplex" your audio and video files. Some like to use transcode [fh-weingarten.de], but I like Mplayer much better. Split the MPEG into multiple MPEGs if you want to have different chapters -- the best way to do this is to use a commandline tool called mpgtx [sourceforge.net]. Or just save different MPEGs from kino. BTW, if you need to get video footage to edit in the first place then use dvgrab to get video from your DV camcorder -- it should be a part of the kino suite of tools, but if it's not, get it from one of the pages in kino.
# Once you've gotten your MPEGs all created, now you can author. I use dvdauthor [sourceforge.net]. What you have to first do is create a XML text file to list the MPEGs you want to burn into the DVD. And example of such a file is found here [sourceforge.net]. The easiest method is to create a new chapter for each MPEG file. Then you run dvdauthor like so:
dvdauthor -o DVDdir -x xml-filename
DVDdir is the name of the output you want -- name doesn't really matter; xml-filename is the name of the text file you created.
# DVDdir will be a directory from which you then need to create a video ISO. You need the commandline tool mkisofs. Example is:
mkisofs -dvd-video -o fileoutput.img DVDdir
# Now you just need to burn fileoutput.img with your DVD recorder. I use dvdrecord (yes, it's a commandline tool):
Yes, I'm a glutton for punishment. There are lots of steps involved to do it in Linux, but it's quite powerful once you've gotten the basics down and have written shell scripts to automate the tasks.
If you find it difficult to install all these tools on your Linux box (as many do), may I recommend installing Debian linux? Best way to do this is to do a hard drive install from the Knoppix Live Linux CD [knopper.net]. The scripts to do this are built-in the cd: knx-hdinstall or knoppix-installer. Why do I recommend it? Installing all the tools I have listed above are a simple apt-get away -- i.e. "apt-get install kino" or "apt-get install mpgtx" or "apt-get install dvdauthor" -- I mean how much easier can it get?
Lastly, allow me to plug my blog that has documented this and a number of other linux tips ages ago: linuxathome.com [linuxathome.com]
Authoring video DVDs on linux is more than a little difficult, these days. That said, with a little command line knowledge and some good old-fashioned ingenuity, you can accomplish much.
I found this article [linuxgazette.com] to be a good starting point. The beginning of the article assumes that you'll be working with a framegrabber and generating MJPEG video with appropriate resolution/framerate, etc. Unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world, so you'll actually need to transcode your videos into the MJPEG format before you do the MPEG2 encoding. I find that mencoder is usually the best way to accomplish this:
Note that the above command assumes you are making a DVD for NTSC (US/Canada/Japan) format. If you use PAL, you'll want 720:576 as your resolution and 25 fps as your framerate instead. If you're encoding from a film (24 fps) source, try applying the telecine filter, as well (add ",telecine" after the scale command, and set "-ofps 29.97). This method of framerate conversion is the standard for cinematic DVDs.
Now, I know you're asking, why not use mencoder to encode the MPEG2 stream directly and skip the middleman? Well, I've tried this, and it isn't possible for a couple of reasons. The first is bandwidth control. Although mencoder will accept a bitrate option for MPEG2 encoding, it is not conscious of the buffering assumptions of the DVD standard, and will produce streams that will encounter buffer underruns in hardware DVD players. The second problem is that an MPEG2 program stream for a DVD must contain empty navigation packets (these get filled in when you create the actual vobs), which mencoder won't create. C'est la vie.
It's worth noting that you can get at more advanced bitrate control options for libavcodec's MPEG2 encoder by using lavc's native transcoding application, ffmpeg. At least, theoretically you can. My version of ffmpeg 0.4.7 doesn't seem to include mpeg2 as a possible output format, even though it's accessible through mencoder. Go figure.
OK, let's move on to our friend mpeg2enc. The first thing you'll notice is that it's slow. Really slow. Especially compared to mencoder. You'll live, though. Take a nap or something. The instructions in the article will give you a stream that's perfectly fine for DVD encoding, but it's definitely worth looking at the manpage as well. One of the most important things you'll learn there is that mpeg2enc takes arguments for both aspect ratio and framerate of incoming movies. Add the option "-a n" to the command given in the article, substituting 2 for n if your video is in the 4:3 aspect ratio (regular TV), 3 if it is 16:9 (letterbox widescreen format, most movies), or 4 for 2.21:1 (cinemascope widescreen, movies shot in panoramic view). The "-F n" command specifies the framerate. IF you are using PAL or SECAM, always use 3. If you are using NTSC, always use 4. Anything else will make you cry. Finally, you can add the "-p" option if you have 24 fps input video that you intend for NTSC viewing, and you didn't already have mencoder apply telecine. I actually prefer to have mpeg2enc do telecine, as that way you are certain to avoid A/V sync problems.
Moving right along, the article tells you how to use the dvd authoring tools to eventually get an iso file ready to burn. It should be noted that the image you have ready won't have menus or other niceties. For sooth! Lucky for you, you actually can include these things, but it won't exactly be easy. Now that you know the basics of encoding for the DVD format, this guide [tappin.me.uk] can instruct you on how to add things like menus and whatnot. Anyway, once you get the iso file ready to go, I highly recommend you burn it with KDE's excellent K3B [sourceforge.net], unless you
Details about a couple of interesting services that help with large fiel transfers via email. I am curious about their privacy standards, how they make money, and what is in this for them.
TOUGH COOKIES
Clogged in clay? Here are 30 plants that refuse to crumble
By DANNY C. FLANDERS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/24/04
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know the drill. When it comes to gardening in Georgia, you've got to amend, amend, and then amend some more the heavy clay soil clogging most of the state.
No doubt, adding nutrient-rich compost breaks up compacted soil and improves drainage, helping to ensure a healthy garden.
But you can't just add compost to a planting hole; you've got to amend the whole planting bed, because as roots extend out and reach the clay wall, they turn back, prohibiting the plant from gathering nutrients.
Sound like too much work?
Take heart: There are plants that tolerate — and even thrive in — clay soil, and they should make your spring planting a breeze.
Here are 30 suggestions offered by metro gardeners and horticulturists at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
These shrubs, perennials and bulbs are available from most local garden centers or mail-order nurseries.
An good read from the Houston Chronicle. Did you know that your diet and exercise choices are the main factor in your weight? Next thing you know they will be trying to tell us men and women are different.
Now to be serious it is an interesting article.
Excerpt:
Weight loss boils down to choice
By ANA VECIANA-SUAREZ
Like much of America, McDonald's is going on a diet. Cutting back. Trimming down. Holding off. Some might say that darn it, Ronald, it's about time. The fast-food behemoth's menu choices had gotten way too expansive.
Earlier this month the company announced it was downsizing its supersize choices by the end of the year. "Menu simplification," a spokesman explained. The rest of the world, however, suspects the move was more public relations than desire for simplicity. Those calorie-laden meals were garnering too much interest -- from lawyers, the food police and consumers themselves.
McDonald's announcement was followed by the federal government's "State of the Waistline," a report that should plump up the sales of even the most obscure diet book. I can best sum up its findings this way: We are a nation of fatsos. Blubber-butts. Tubs of lard.
About 130 million Americans, or nearly two out of three, are overweight or obese, and those numbers have been steadily increasing for years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a result, obesity is on track to overtake cigarette smoking as the leading cause of preventable death.
As expected, these fat figures have touched off a debate about who is responsible for such weighty largess, and what should be done about it. Should we take personal blame for stuffing our faces? Or, are we simply the victims of a greedy industry that lures us with its mouth-watering commercials, its fat-laced offerings and its misleading labels?
Just last week, the House of Representatives voted to protect fast-food restaurants and others in the food industry from lawsuits, but the measure -- unofficially called "the cheeseburger bill" -- is predicted to die in the Senate. Apparently, our elected officials, like most of us, can't decide if common sense should be the order of the day.
It doesn't take a food scientist, though, to figure out what my 10-year-old so aptly blurted when he overhead the news from the Golden Arches: "Why don't people stop eating what makes them fat?" Then again, that would require will power, the one thing we really, really need in XXL size.
The point is we already "know" how to eat right. Starting in preschool we're bombarded with nutritional information, with (in my time) the food pyramid and, now, the philosophy of nine-a-day-servings of fruits and vegetables. Ads constantly remind us to choose the carrot sticks over the chocolate bar. Still, we make unhealthy choices.
But while carrying around a hefty spare tire is worrisome, the easy readiness of fast food and our growing demand for it seems to speak to a larger problem. Our society, and the speed with which we live our lives, has changed dramatically in a generation. The convenience of the corner drive-through simply feeds into it.
We no longer have the time to cook a dish or sit down with family to enjoy a real meal. Like so many other events in our frantic lives, eating is done on the run and on the way. To compound the damage, many of us seek sweet solace in comfort foods. Who wouldn't go for an order of french fries, lots of ketchup, during a down time?
Eateries can offer us all the low-cal, low-fat, low-carb specials they want to, but they can't choose for us. They can't force us to walk instead of drive, to nibble on carrot sticks instead of noshing on chips, to work out in the gym instead of vegetating in front of the TV.
Ultimately, we're the only ones who can decide who -- and how big -- we want to be as we eat.
An interesting article from the mayo clinic about the glycemic index. From what I understand the glycemic index is somewhat flawed and the glycemic load might be a better measure. I wish there was a good place to find glycemic load values for foods.
Excerpt from the article:
Glycemic-index diet
What can you tell me about the low-glycemic-index diet? No name / No state given
Glycemic index (GI) is used to rank carbohydrate-containing foods, based on their effect on blood sugar levels. Foods with a high GI are associated with greater increases in blood sugar than are low-index foods. Keep in mind that low-index foods aren't necessarily healthier. Foods that are high in fat tend to have lower GI values than do some healthy foods such as potatoes and carrots.
Sample glycemic index values (low to high)
Cantaloupe
45.5
Potato chips
54
Pound cake
54
Sweet corn
55
Pizza
60
Macaroni and cheese
64
Croissant
67
Whole-wheat bread
69
Bagel
72
Cake doughnut
76
Rice cakes
82
Source: Adapted from International Table of Glycemic Index, 2002
Potential benefits from using the GI for meal planning if you have diabetes include:
Improved blood sugar levels
Decreased blood fats
Reduced risk of obesity
However, using the GI for meal planning is a fairly complicated process. Many factors affect the GI value of a specific food, such as how the food was prepared and what you eat with it. Also, the GI value for some foods isn't known.
Another meal-planning tool is the glycemic load, which multiplies the GI of a food by the amount of total carbohydrates in a serving. For example, eating small amounts of a food with a high GI has less impact on blood sugar.
Talk to a registered dietitian if you're interested in learning more about any of these meal-planning tools. He or she can help you incorporate proper changes into your diet.
Jordan Rubin isn't the first to base a diet on biblical teachings. Here are books recommending other religion-based diets:
"What Would Jesus Eat? The Ultimate Program for Eating Well, Feeling Great and Living Longer" (Thomas Nelson, 2002, $22.99): Dr. Don Colbert promotes a diet that Jesus might have eaten: whole grains, fish, fruits and vegetables with modest amounts of olive oil, meat and wine. The diet also bans shellfish and pork, as does the Old Testament.
"3D: Diet, Discipline and Discipleship" (Paraclete Press, 2002, $25): This program, designed by pastor's wife Carol Showalter in 1972, puts spiritual guidance first, in the form of weekly support meetings and devotional materials. The food plan borrows from the American Diabetic Association. Millions have completed the 12-week program.
"The Weigh Down Diet" (Galilee, 2002, $12.95): No menus, no special foods, no calorie-counting and not even any exercise. This faith-based diet, designed in 1997 by registered dietician Gwen Shamblin, preaches weight loss by getting right with God. Dieters study the Bible and learn to eat only when they're hungry and only until they're satisfied, not stuffed.
3655 Preston Ridge Road
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 664-1220
LOCATIONS
for Metro Atlanta YMCA Branches
. Bransby Outdoor YMCA Center at Rock Chapel . Centennial Place Family YMCA . Cherokee Outdoor YMCA . Covington YMCA . Cowart Family / Ashford Dunwoody YMCA . Decatur-DeKalb YMCA . Fayette Family YMCA . Robert D. Fowler Family YMCA . Ed Isakson / Alpharetta Family YMCA . Carl E. Sanders YMCA at Buckhead . South DeKalb YMCA . South DeKalb YMCA Child Care Academy . Southeast Family YMCA . Southeast YMCA Family Place . Southwest YMCA . J.M. Tull / Gwinnett Family YMCA . YMCA Camp High Harbour Services .
YMCA of Metro Atlanta - Offices
Email Metro Atlanta YMCA
100 Edgewood Ave., NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 588-9622
Bransby Outdoor YMCA Center at Rock Chapel
1185 Rock Chapel Rd.
Lithonia, GA 30058
(770) 484-9622
(Outdoor summer camp.)
Centennial Place Family YMCA
555 Luckie Street
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 724-9622
Cherokee Outdoor YMCA
201 East Bells Ferry Road
Woodstock, GA 30189
(770) 591-5820
(Outdoor summer camp, corporate or family picnic site, rental cabins.)
Arlington, Va.: I'd just like to plug Real Simple magazine's recipes. Every month they feature recipes for 3 or so meals that use leftovers from the previous day's meal and/or overlapping ingredients. I find them a great way to make sure we're eating home-cooked, healthy meals, and the shopping list they provide helps me stay organized. It's refreshing to have most of the week's meals planned out, and since serving sizes are usually for 4, my husband and I get lunches out of it, too!
Sally Squires: Thanks Arlington. That is a nice magazine. I enjoy it too. Others in the chat have also given kudos to Cooking Light and Eating Well magazines. I'm also a fan of Cook's Illustrated and of the women's magazines, Woman's Day and Family Circle. They've got good, basic recipes that usually feature nutrititon info and even cost per serving. Great for budgeting groceries. Thanks!
Eastern Market: I want to offer the suggestion to use the large stability balls to strengthen core muscles. They really work - make you use small muscles that you were not aware you had. Makes all the difference in the world. Sit-ups, ball raises, there are many gyms offering these "ball" classes. Try them!;
Sally Squires: They are great, plus they're also fun! In fact, I tested them for a piece we did on January 5 about exercise in the Health section. Thanks!
Washington, D.C.: My doc says my triglycerides are high; I need to lower them. When I look at nutrition labels, though, I see no mention of them. Which foods make my problem worse and which makes it better?
Sally Squires: Hey DC: Sugar is a big culprit in raising trigylcerides, a type of unhealthy blood fat. So you want to get as many carbs as possible from vegetables, fruit and whole grains rather than highly processed stuff. Losing weight may also help if you are currently not a healthy weight.
Find more about trigylcerides:
http://nhlbisupport.com/chd1/tri.htm
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/why1.htm#tri
Let us know how it goes.
_______________________
Washington, D.C.: I participate in a flexiball class once a week and follow up with additional exercises at home with my own flexiball. The class focuses on the use of the core muscles (stomach and trunk area) to balance yourself on the ball to do exercises such as push-ups and pikes. Leg extensions and leg curls, while lying on the floor, also uses the core muscles in ways you never thought of.
Sally Squires: Hey DC: It is interesting, isn't it, to discover muscles you didn't know you had? And Jeff Potteiger at Miami University told me that raking, sweeping, shovelling snow--let's hope we don't have to do that any more this winter-- etc are other great ways to strengthen core muscles.
Washington, D.C.: Is there a healthier substitution for vegetable oil?
Sally Squires: Hey DC: Depends on what you're trying to do. Most vegetable oils are pretty healthy. Canola and Olive are two good choices. If you're cooking, black beans, applesauce, prune pastes are often used in place of oil in baked goods. Broth can be used in place of oil in sauteeing. I need more info to provide more help. You can also e-mail me after the chat at leanplateclub@washpost.com
__
Arlington, Va.: I have been doing many things well:
- joined a gym and am working 2-3 times/week with weights and cardio equipment;
- eating healthily, in general;
- drinking lots of water, cutting back on caffeine;
- getting extra exercise by walking the dog, walking to the metro, walking to do neighborhood errands, racquetball once a week, BUT
I love sweets. I feel like I'm sabotaging myself, but I really love chocolate, fruit desserts, cookies, and cake. Just about every day I'm tempted to eat one or two of these items. Can you or others suggest good ways to cut back or cut out these items? I don't even keep them in the house, but still am tempted and often get something sweet at work, or while I'm out doing errands. I've tried to limit it to only high-class, "special" things in small quantities, like one or two Godiva chocolates, but still the cravings continue. Please help with suggestions!
Sally Squires: Hey Arlington: You're doing some great things. So go ahead, have some of these treats. Just do so in moderation. And plan for them. And by the way, those fruit desserts are a great thing. Ditto for something like pumpkin pie. Make it without the crust, and it's a low-fat veggie. Have a piece of really great chocolate. Just make it one piece. You get the idea. Work these favorite foods into your healthy lifestyle. The Lean Plate CLub is not about deprivation or forbidden foods. It's about Eating Smart! And Moving More!
Washington, D.C.: Sally, I really liked your frittata suggestion last week and even whipped one up for my husband and me (i tossed in some cooked linguine b/c we're not opposed to carbs!). my only question is: how many eggs a week can we eat? we generally eat 2-3 eggs each over the weekend, but felt like we'd used up our egg quotient with the frittata. we're both highly active, but do have higher levels of cholesterol (inherited). what do you think?
Sally Squires: Hey DC: You're going to love next week's Health section which will go into the egg question--as well as other commonly held health advice. In the meantime, I don't want to leave you hanging, so if you and your husband have elevated cholesterol, you want to go easy on the egg yolks. Current advice for folks in your situation are less than 200 milligrams per day of cholesterol from all sources. So one frittata with yolks is probably all you want to do. You could however use Egg Beaters, or your own mixture (two egg whites mixed with one teaspoon of canola oil) to make as many frittatas as your heart desires.
The Chattahoochee is a good place to fish, particularly for trout. You can choose to fish either above or below Buford Dam—both spots boast plenty of fish and great people, should you need equipment or guidance during your expedition. North of Buford Dam, from Highway 75 Alternate and the bridge in Robertstown to the Helen city limits, the Chattahoochee is open year-round to the public. Cane poles, spinning poles, or a fly rod can all be used. A fishing license is a must. Below Helen and downstream there is much private property. Check with landowners before fishing in this area. Approximately 1.5 miles of private property is occupied by Unicoi Outfitters, a full-service fly-fishing shop and guide company. Unicoi specializes in wade fishing, particularly fly, and they offer day and half-day fishing trips in the Chattahoochee and surrounding creeks (half-day trips are great for novices). Also check out The Gilligan’s Tour, which is designed for two people to spend three hours with a guide, all equipment provided. Catering to fishing enthusiasts of all levels, they offer rental equipment and fly-fishing lessons. They also sell equipment. Fishing with Unicoi is done on a catch and release system and barbless hooks are used. The most popular time of the year for fishing is fall and spring, but trout can be caught year-round. For more information and prices, call (706) 878-3083.
Below Buford Dam to Peachtree Creek is a 50-mile stretch of the Chattahoochee River ripe for trout fishing. Here, River Through Atlanta Guides can be found. This is a reservation-based business offering full-day fly or artificial lure fishing trips on a drift boat. All trips are guided, with the guide providing information on trout behavior, entomology, fishing techniques, weather and river conditions, and drinks (you have to furnish your own lunch). The advantage of this kind of trip on the Chattahoochee is the amount of river you get to see. Also, individual service is a priority, with only one client per day. The maximum capacity is two anglers and kids are catered to. Fish are caught on a catch and release system, but there is a limited harvest rule. River Through Atlanta Guides is open year-round. The best time to fish is the spring. For more information and prices, call (770) 650-8630.
More information about the Chattahoochee River and its recreational opportunities can be found in The Riverkeeper’s Guide to the Chattahoochee. This book is the leading guide to the Chattahoochee and a great resource for people interested in enjoy
An interesting idea from the Lean Plate Club chat this week was to combine a can of black beans and a box of brownie mix to make black bean brownies. The reviews have been good so far.
washingtonpost.com: Black Bean Brownie recipe from Lean Plate Club Discussion Transcript (Live Online, Feb. 24)
Sally Squires: They were delicious! Take a 15 ounce can of black beans. Don't drain. Blend to a nice smooth consistency in a blender or food processer. Add to a brownie mix. I used one that also had a Hershey's chocolate syrup packet. Hand mix well. (No need to add eggs or other liquid). Put into a greased pan and into the oven. I did wind up cooking mine longer than I thought--about 40-50 minutes. They are great!And you get a load of fiber, complex carbs and protein.
Sally Squires: They are great,aren't they? I made a batch for my colleagues here as well as one at home. But as someone pointed out in last week's chat, you may want to be careful about surprising folks. That member had a good allergy and said that eating black beans unknowingly would have sent him or her to the hospital.
Also, these brownies aren't necessarily lower in calories than the regular brownies.But for those looking for ways to increase fiber, avoid cholesterol or saturated fat and boost some complex carbs they could be just the thing. Glad you liked them!
------------------
Arlington, Va.: Sally,
I discovered your chat a few months ago after enjoying your column every Tuesday, and really look forward to coming home and reading it every Tuesday! Someday I hope to be able to participate in the live chat.
That black bean brownie recipe was amazing. It sounded so wierd that I just had to try it because I couldn't believe that it would really be good, but to anyone that has not tried it, it really is amazing....you have no idea that there are beans in there! And the brownies are really moist! Being a vegetarian, I had another thought...it would be a very good brownie recipe for vegans.
My personal favorite brownie recipe is to use any Duncan Hines brownie mix, (I think that brand tastes the best) and I slightly change the lowfat recipe. I use one of those single size containers of applesauce...I think that it is about 1/2 C, more than the lowfat recipe calls for, and the same amount of water called for on the package and 1 egg, as is called for. The people that I have made these for love them, and I have made lots of them. But I will make the black bean recipe again, I'm sure.
Sally Squires: Another vote for the black bean brownies! Thanks Arlington.
I have seen http://www.angelfire.com/extreme4/kiddofspeed/page2.html referenced on several blogs in the last few days. I think Boing Boing is the first place. It is a harrowing read.
Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant me to so follow in faith where you have led the way, that I may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake in your likeness; for your tender mercies’ sake. Amen.
A neat tuna recipe from Put down the donut. I have been looking for better (or at least different) ways to eat canned tuna. It is great but can be repetitive if you are not careful.
# 3 cans of Albacore tuna in water
# 1 red pepper, diced into little tuna salad sized pieces
# 1 yellow pepper, diced same
# 1/4 cup of onion, diced same
# Dijon mustard
# Romaine hearts (bagged are easiest)
Mix veggies and tuna in a bowl. Add mustard to taste. ("I add a little horseradish to spice things up, but I don't know how many people besides me like horseradish.") Mix really well.
I keep the bowl in the fridge and whenever I need a quick lunch, I scoop some out into a bowl and then spoon some into the center of the romaine hearts and make lettuce wraps with it. It is like a tiny tuna taco and super low calorie, so you can hungrily scarf down a bunch without going overboard. It is a great option for all of those out there that are still living in fear of the dreaded carbohydrate. Enjoy.
Tired of annoying "pre-approved" credit card offers? I sure am. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) of 1970 as amended in 1996, the four major credit bureaus have the right to sell your information to companies that want to offer you a credit card. Fortunately, the amendment also stipulated that credit bureaus must provide a way for consumers to have their names excluded from pre-approval lists. If you're a United States citizen sick of getting pre-screened credit card offers, this article will show you how to avoid receiving them.
I'm a college student, currently in my fourth year. I got a credit card in my name during my freshman year. I've carefully paid off the full balance every month, simply using the credit card for convenience as "plastic money" in an effort to build my credit rating. I appear to have done all too well.
receive on the order of two or three new credit card offers every week. Apparently creditors just love college students, and they absolutely adore a college student with good credit. Some offers tell me that "All of the other students at Worcester Poly Inst are getting a card", and one offer was even themed as a supposed instant messenger conversation between two students.
It came to a head last month. I had been on vacation for a month and a half, during which time my mail had piled up. When I got home, fully two thirds of all of the mailings I received were credit card offers. Several times I received multiple competing offers from the same bank. I decided that I needed to take action.
As a conscientious credit card user, I rarely have the need to actually use the credit being offered to me. Balance transfers at lower rates simply do not interest me. Low limited-time APRs that expire in three months are equally unimportant. The environmentally conscious hippy inside me deplores the resources wasted to send me offers for credits I simply do not want. If I ever want a new credit card, I'll apply for it myself rather than responding to a pre-approval offer.
Fortunately, hidden away in the fine print of every single pre-approved offer sent to consumers is a paragraph stating how to prevent credit bureaus from including you in pre-screened lists. If you're like me and always end up throwing these offers away, I urge you to follow one of these procedures to notify the four credit reporting agencies of your request to opt out.
Opting out by mail
You can write to the four major credit bureaus individually to request that your name not be included on their pre-screened lists. Send a letter indicating your intention to opt out, including your phone number, name, ZIP code, mailing address, and Social Security Number to each bureau. If you've moved in the past six months, you should include your old address as well.
The information below was compiled by examining the websites of the bureaus in question and comparing the data found with the information in the fine print of my credit card offer. Equifax and TransUnion both hid the information in small links at the bottom of their pages, but who can blame them?
* Equifax
Equifax Options
PO BOX 790123
Atlanta, GA 30374-0123
* TransUnion
TransUnion LLC's Name Removal Option
PO Box 97328
Jackson, MS 39288-7328
* Experian
Consumer "OPT-OUT"
901 West Bond
Lincoln, NE 68521
* Innovis
Most people have only heard of the three credit bureaus above. Innovis Data Solutions seems to have snuck into the business quietly in 2001. Unlike the other three bureaus, Innovis Data Solutions does not directly sell credit reports to creditors. Instead, they help creditors compile marketing lists by providing two services: Failsafe and New Movers. FailSafe compiles a list of consumers who may present a credit risk, helping creditors pare down their marketing lists. New Movers is a monthly list of who's moved. That deluge of mail that arrives almost before you do at your new house is due in part to Innovis Data Solutions.
Innovis Data Solutions' website is a rather spartan affair devoid of much useful information. I can't seem to find an address to which to mail an opt out request. I imagine that an address could be found by calling their customer service number, but this is not necessary if you opt out by phone.
Notifying all bureaus with one phone call
1-888-5-OPTOUT is an automated service run jointly by the four main credit bureaus. With one phone call you can opt out of pre-screened mailings from all four bureaus.
1. Call 1-888-5-OPTOUT.
2. Select option 2 to skip a message about an internet email (described below).
3. Select option 2 to opt out of mailings permanently. Be careful, because option 1 only opts you out for two years.
4. Follow the prompts to enter your phone number, name, zip code, address, and social security number.
The service states that your request will be processed within 5 business days, and a "Notice of Election" form will be mailed to you.
Some controversy exists surrounding this number. How can we be sure that it is legitimate? Why is a social security number required?
To further confuse the issue, an email forward spread across the internet starting in July of 2003, spreading some mis-information about this phone number. Nevertheless, the FTC lists the phone number on their website, so I guess we can assume that it is legitimate.
Exercising my right
I chose to opt out using the 1-888-5-OPTOUT phone number. The process was simple, and I was told I would receive a letter confirming my intentions by mail within a week or two.
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Mark 11:25
More confirmation we are becoming more and more rotund. For the first time in decades they are surveying average body sizes and they are much larger. The good news was that older men have thinner thighs.
An interteresting quote from our savior Mel Gibson:
Mel Gibson has come under fire for being hard on Jews in his film The Passion of the Christ, but apparently, he feels that Protestants are also doomed to damnation. In fact, it looks as if Gibson, a conservative Catholic, believes that his Episcopalian wife could be going to hell.
Gibson, interviewed by the Herald Sun in Australia, was asked if Protestants are denied eternal salvation. "There is no salvation for those outside the (Catholic) church," Gibson replied. "I believe it."
He elaborated: "Put it this way. My wife is a saint. She's a much better person than I am. Honestly. She's, like, Episcopalian, Church of England. She prays, she believes in God, she knows Jesus, she believes in that stuff. And it's just not fair if she doesn't make it; she's better than I am. But that is a pronouncement from the chair. I go with it."
1. Don’t blow wet leaves. Wait until they are dry or use a rake.
2. Don’t use the blower before 10 AM.
3. You don’t need to get every leaf as soon as it falls (everyday).
4. Don’t throw the leaves in trash – shred for mulch or compost.
5. If the leaves land in your yard, they’re your leaves. If the tree is in the neighbor’s yard don’t blow the leaves back.
6. Don’t blow the leaves into the street or into the storm drain.
7. If the leaves aren’t on the grass, the sidewalk, deck, driveway or in the gutter, then leave them; that’s why they’re called leaves.
8. Don’t pile them too thick around plants. This can promote pests or diseases.
9. If you burn your leaves, follow local ordinances. Don’t leave burning piles unattended.
10. Rake or blow the leaves into a huge pile and let the kids jump into them – this is a must for the fall season.
Investors can buy individual inflation-protected bonds from the Treasury (www.treasurydirect.gov) or from issuing companies through LaSalle Broker Dealers (www.lasallecdips.com) in Boca Raton, Florida, or Incapital (www.internotes.com) of Chicago.
There are also several mutual funds that specialize in inflation-protected bonds. Among the most cost-effective are the Vanguard Inflation Protected Securities Fund (www.vanguard.com) and the TIAA-CREF Inflation-Linked Bond Fund (www.tiaa-cref.com). And the exchange-traded iShares Lehman U.S. Tips Fund (www.ishares.com) specializes in these securities.
