HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy New Year to everyone!

Thanks for reading Consumatron.com. It's been an interesting first three months. I'm still getting my feelers adjusted to this daily website thing but the comments and e-mails I've received have been helpful and greatly appreciated.

I haven't been able to connect to the internet for the last couple of days and have been busy preparing for my New Year's blowout so regular posts will be back on Jan. 2nd.

I'm not the New Year's resolution kind of person, but I will make one regarding the site:

I resolve to update Mediatron at least 2 times a week in 2006. That's right! That means approximately 112 102 (man, I wasn't even drunk yet) Mediatron reviews in the new year!

Now let's hope that resolution doesn't suffer the fate of all of my past ones.

Alright everyone, I've got more liquor to buy and samples to make. Have a safe and fun New Year!

And don't go shooting your pistol into the air at midnight...it's just not a good idea!

WHAT CONSUMATRON WANTS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Please read this post to find out what Consumatron is asking for this holiday season.

(hint: it's not a bottle of Bowmore single malt scotch no matter how much we want to try it)

Check out today's charity: (LINK)

Past Charities: America's Second Harvest / Global AIDS Alliance / Greenpeace / American Cancer Society / Kiva.org / Amnesty International / World Wildlife Fund / National Center For Family Literacy / National Alliance for Autism Research / National Federation For The Blind / MENC: The National Association For Music Education / Direct Relief International / American Red Cross / Save The Children / The Sierra Club / Planned Parenthood / Electronic Frontier Foundation / Rails To Trails Conservancy / Project Vote Smart / Technoserve / Trickle Up

daily posts will continue below

Fellowes NEATO Colored CD/DVD Slim Jewel Cases (25 pk)

Item Purchased: Fellowes NEATO Colored CD/DVD Slim Jewel Cases (25 pk)
Location Purchased: Target / 1154 S. Clark St. / Chicago, IL
Price: $7.99 + tax (gift card used for purchase)

Review: I needed some jewel cases for the mix CDs I make every year for close friends and for people who attend my New Years party. Having exhausted the extra cases I amassed from magazine inserts and ruined CD burns over the year, I had a spindle of about 45 more CDs without food or shelter.

These jewel cases are affordable, sturdy and packaged in quantities of 25 unlike the rest of the brands at Target that come in packs of 20. Some people get pissy about the color-tinted cases, but I personally don't care. It is a device to carry and protect your CD and liner notes. Not a fashion statement people! Unlike other brands, these cases have opaque white back pieces instead of a uniform color throughout. Again... doesn't matter to me. The cases are sturdy and get the job done.

My only complaint is that when I unwrapped the plastic around the brick of cases, the top case was cracked down the middle. Would it be that much of a hassle for jewel case manufacturers to insert a piece of cardboard into the top case to prevent such product damage? Or better yet, package these cases with those little pads of blank liner notes that most other brands include and slide those into the first case. Problem solved!

Rating: 3.75 / 5

(Buy some Jewel Cases at Amazon.com!) (Fellowes)

Holiday Charity for Dec. 30th - Trickle Up

I've been fascinated with microcredit and microloans ever since my friend Mike wrote me an e-mail explaining the concept. Today's charity is Trickle Up, an organization that has been working to help the lowest income people worldwide take the first step up out of poverty, by providing conditional seed capital and business training essential to the launch of a microenterprise. Unlike Kiva.org, you don't get to track your donation, but Trickle Up does keep a detailed blog on their website about their ongoing projects in several countries. Please check out Trickle Up's website and consider helping out with what you can.

To make a donation, follow this link. Don't want to give money, but still want to help, check out the materials needed by Trickle Up and consider making an In-kind donation here.

To view Trickle Up's Give.org report, click here.

And remember to let me know if you make a donation. I'll send you some Consumatron.com buttons and enter you into a drawing for one of our sweatshirts. Read this post for more information.

Consumer News and Links for Dec. 29th

From the 2 Cents A Day Is Better Than None department:

-Richard D. North at the Times tells us why our addiction to our wasteful consumer culture is good for us. It's liberating, he says... and it helps the world's poor, he says. And you thought you had to be an ethical person, give to charity and care about your fellow man. Fuck no! Just spend as much as you can and everything will be just fine! North does admit that not all is perfect with our consumer affluence though. For instance, he wishes that a Big Mac was more like a Whopper. (The Times Online)

From the Wires Are For The Birds department:

-Today on Woot.com, you can get a wireless keyboard, wireless mouse, PC headset and webcam all for $34.99 shipped. As soon as woot offers a 6-foot flatscreen moniter, you will be able to sit on your couch while picking up girls in chat rooms! (Woot.com)

From the International Inaction department:

-The Telegraph in Calcutta, India has an article about the recent surge of home fitness equipment sales. It seems that workers are finding less time to actually walk somewhere so they need to have something to keep in shape during their off hours. I find it interesting that first there is major concern about the outsourcing of American jobs to India and now we are outsourcing our working family fitness methods. When can we outsource Paris Hilton and Desperate Housewives? Those are two things I wouldn't mind seeing shipped overseas...for good. (The Telegraph)

From the Apple Employs Ex-Lunch Ladies department:

-KHON2 News (The Team That Knows Hawaii) reports that Rachel Cambra of Mililani put a $300 iPod Video on layaway so she could afford it for her son's Christmas gift. On Christmas morning, Cambra's son opened his gift wide eyed and smiling only to find a shrink-wrapped slab of unidentified meat instead. The iPod was purchased at the Walmart where Cambra works. The store has agreed to replace the iPod. According to KHON2 News, No one knows how the mystery meat got inside the package. Well... I know I'm not part of the team who knows Hawaii, but if I had any say in it, I'd begin by interviewing the Walmart employees who are in charge of the layaway department. KHON also reports, Apple couldn't be reached for comment. Of course not! First of all, it was a SLAB OF RAW MEAT! As far as I know, Apple doesn't stock their vending machines with deli cuts and production on the iSteak isn't slated to begin until oh... never! Secondly (and most importantly), the iPod was from WALMART! Really now, does that surprise anyone at all? (KHON2 News via Gizmodo)

Holiday Charity for Dec. 29th - Technoserve

Technoserve is a company out of Connecticut that dedicates their time to helping entrepreneurs in developing countries build businesses of their own by offering them the same kind of business consulting that top corporations get.

To make a donation, follow this link.

To view Technoserve's Give.org report, click here.

And remember to let me know if you make a donation. I'll send you some Consumatron.com buttons and enter you into a drawing for one of our sweatshirts. Read this post for more information.

Dec. 29th - Previously Reviewed Purchases

Item Purchased: 7-Eleven Smoked Turkey & Jack Cheese Sandwich w/Southwest Mayonnaise
Review: (LINK)

Item Purchased: Planters Smoked Almonds (1.5 oz tube)
Review: (LINK)

Item Purchased: Medium Caribou Coffee (Light Roast)
Review: (LINK)

Señorío de Nava Tinto Wine 2003 (750 ml bottle)

Item Purchased: Señorío de Nava Tinto Wine 2003 (750 ml bottle)
Location Purchased: Lush Wine & Spirits / 1306 S. Halsted / Chicago, IL
Price: $10.75 + tax

Review: I bought this bottle of wine for my upcoming New Year's Eve party, so I haven't opened it yet. Fortunately, I have been lucky enough to have made the acquaintance of Erica at Lush Wine & Spirits, who let me sample a bit of this wine. First off, let me say that Lush is a great little wine shop that just opened up in the University Village on South Halsted. Specializing in imported wines, a small but exquisite selection of beer and liquor and great customer service, I have a feeling that Lush will be a familiar place to me. You should stop in and give them a look. At any given moment, there will be at least 15 different wines opened and ready for your palette.

The wine. I don't usually buy a lot of wine. When I do, it is a cheap Shiraz. Of course, I haven't been properly introduced to good wines before. Now that I have Erica and co. at Lush as my guide, I have a feeling I will be drinking a lot more and a wider variety of the grape juice of adults everywhere.

Señorío de Nava is a winemaker out of Spain, located in Nava de Roa. The grapes used in making their wines come from the lush and fertile ground on the coast of the Duero River. This particular wine, which seems to be their basic red, is almost better tasting than any wine I have tried before. Unlike most red wines I am used to drinking, the smell of this particular wine hits you far before your lips greet the liquid. A soothing and bold fruit scent wafts from the glass as you raise it to your lips and, as expected, a mouthful of flavor immediately sends your tongue through a virtual triathalon of taste. The familiar wine taste is there, coupled with a bold raspberry taste. Swirling throughout, is an ever so slight tickling sensation to your tastebuds. Despite the complexity of this wine's flavor, when I swallowed my mouthful, it went down smooth and left no aftertaste. I've never had Spanish wine before, but if it is all this tasty and refreshing, I'm hooked. And at only $10.75 a bottle, this imported wine is a steal that even I can afford.

Rating: 4.75 / 5

Black Forest Ham & Cheddar Cheese Sandwich from 7-Eleven

Item Purchased: Black Forest Ham & Cheddar Cheese Sandwich from 7-Eleven
Location Purchased: 7-Eleven / 1350 S. Halsted / Chicago, IL
Price: $3.29 + tax

Review: I had the hankering for ham today. It's not often I have the hankering for ham. Usually, ham is veiny, fatty and otherwise disgusting. So, when I saw this sandwich with it's dark and lean ham erupting from the crust seams, not even the crappy white bread could keep me away. The lettuce looked fresh, the ham looked delicious and the label even said that the sandwich was finished with a sweet jalapeno pepper relish. It wasn't until I unwrapped the loose plastic wrap that my lunch-break experience took a turn for the worse. Oozing from the bottom of the otherwise delicious sandwich were goo-gobs of plain white mayonnaise. I hate mayonnaise. Nowhere on the sandwich's packaging did it say that there was mayonnaise slathered inside. And you couldn't tell by looking at this sandwich that disgusting soy-egg sludge lay waiting for me inside. I shut my eyes...bit down...chewed... and swallowed. And you know what, even with the mayonnaise, this sandwich wasn't that bad. The lettuce was fresh, the sweet relish was strong enough to drown out the taste of the mayo and the ham was lean, tasty and vein-free. If ever I have a hankering for ham again at lunch time, I just may get one of these sandwiches again. Mayo and all.

Rating: 3.25 / 5

Consumer News and Links for Dec. 28th

From the Say Woot! department:

-For all of you who have thought about switching to digital photography but have held out with the celluloid this long like me, Woot.com is offering a 3.1MP digital camera with 4x digital zoom and video capabilities for $75 shipped. It's nothing special, but it is an affordable option for those of us who are sick of our bedroom photos getting lost at the photomat. (Woot.com)

From the Mac vs. PC Deathmatch department:

-30-somethings around the world erupt in fierce chatroom competition from their parents basement today as reports of Powerbook errors when you update OS X. Being a PC user, I have my own fistfulls of problems to worry about, but apparantly when you update your Powerbook, there is a good chance that your computer's lower RAM slots will be rendered inoperable. Not only that, but fresh off of the recent iPod class action lawsuit, there may be another one about this one. Man, apple users get all sue-happy when the littlest thing goes wrong. Buck up. I've been dealing with update problems ever since Windows 3.1. (Powerbook Lawsuit Information story via Engadget)

From the Rachel Ray's Bubble Butt Got Me Fired department:

-Chicago cooking Store, Sur La Table recently fired one of their employees over a blog post he made about a visit from Rachel Ray. He didn't even say anything bad. The worst comment he made was that she has a cute bubble butt. What a bunch of horse pucky! Rachel Ray held a book signing at the store where I work once and though I wasn't there, I have it on good authority that she snapped her fingers at our store manager to get him to do something. I can't stand her abundance of fake joy and if she snapped her fingers at me, I'm not sure what I would do. Probably make a derrogatory blog post about it. But my company most likely wouldn't fire me over it. If you are a culinary minded person in Chicago, try going elsewhere for your Rachel Ray regalia. And if you think this action is as wrong as I do, why not drop Sur La Table an e-mail telling them what you think? (Link to Blog Post via Bookslut) (Contact the Chicago Sur La Table)

Holiday Charity for Dec. 28th - Project Vote Smart

Project Vote Smart is an organization made up of mostly unpaid volunteers who dedicate their time to researching political candidates and issues around the country to bring you an even-handed report of the issues that matter to you. I have used this resource several times in the past to find out the nitty gritty about those people I am voting for. No mudslinging, no private funding from special interest groups... just the facts about political candidates and their causes. Even if you don't donate, check out their website and do a little research on your favorite government worker. You may be surprised at what you find.

To make a donation, follow this link.

To view Planned Parenthood's Give.org report, click here.

And remember to let me know if you make a donation. I'll send you some Consumatron.com buttons and enter you into a drawing for one of our sweatshirts. Read this post for more information.

Dec. 28th - Previously Reviewed Purchases

Item Purchased: Planters Smoked Almonds (1.5 oz tube)
Review: (LINK)

Consumer News and Links for Dec. 27th

From the Non-Violent, eh? department

-So much for my peaceful neighbors to the north. Yesterday, Canada celebrated Boxing Day, the biggest shopping day of the year in Canada, when gunfire began at a shopping center in Toronto. Seven people were shot on Yonge Street amidst the holiday bustle. One teenage girl is dead. No specifics in the article as to what the shooting was over though it seems the injured people were innocent bystanders and shoppers. (CBC News)

From the Slow News Day department

-Wow, it must be boring in Palm Springs...wait... I visited a friend there once... it is boring in Palm Springs. The Desert Sun reports that teens turn to caffeine for their legal buzz. Wait... so you mean to tell me, that kids like ingesting coffee and carbonated soft drinks in Palm Springs?!? What the? Alert the media! Oh wait, someone did...and the Desert Sun made a story out of it. Back when I was a teen, you know where we turned for our buzz? To our parents' liquor cabinets. (The Desert Sun)

Holiday Charity for Dec. 27th - Rails To Trails Conservancy

So this is a unique organization. The Rails to Trails Conservancy spends their time and money turning old, abandoned train tracks and routes into wilderness trails. Doing their part to reverse the adverse effects of the industrial revolution. Interesting.

To make a donation, follow this link.

To view Rails to Trails' Give.org report, click here.

And remember to let me know if you make a donation. I'll send you some Consumatron.com buttons and enter you into a drawing for one of our sweatshirts. Read this post for more information.

Dec. 27th - Previously Reviewed Purchases

Item Purchased: Smoked Turkey Pita Sandwich from 7-Eleven
Review: (LINK)

Item Purchased: Planters Smoked Almonds (1.5 oz tube)
Review: (LINK)

Consumer News and Links for Dec. 26th

From the Martha Stewart Street Team department:

-30-year old Michael Cornwell of Springfield, OH jumped on the hood of a shoplifter's car and clung to the windshield wipers for nearly a mile while the car cruised at speeds up to 80 miles per hour. The women driving the car had just left a local K-Mart. There were a few bottles of stolen perfume and cologne in the car. When asked why Michael pulled such a dumb act of vigilantism, he replied, "I don't believe in shoplifting." (Akron Beacon Journal)

From the That Smells Worse Than High Prices department:

-Dozens of shoppers in St. Petersburg have been rushed to the hospital after an unidentified gas was released in a shopping center. Details are still coming in about this incident. (BBC News)

Last Minute Gourmet Penne With Vodka Sauce

Item Purchased: Last Minute Gourmet Penne With Vodka Sauce
Location Purchased: Jewel / 1224 S. Wabash Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $3.99 + tax

Review: Usually I wouldn't buy a meal that uses the phrase "last minute," but with the holidays here, everything seems to be last minute. My mother shoved several tins of cookies and candies in my bag before I left home this morning, but unfortunately, that is all I currently have in my apartment to eat. Having to prepare for the upcoming New Years party here at Consumatron central, I don't have too much time to cook. So I am reduced to this.

Last Minute Gourmet is a company right here in Chicago that creates all kinds of cellophaned plastic containers full of prepared meals such as this one. They do not freeze any of their products, shipping out to the stores on a daily basis. Sounds great... fresh pasta or meats... all I have to do is pop them in my microwave and enjoy, right? Well... my microwave doesn't work very well so I threw the Penne and crayon-red sauce into a pot and heated it on my mini stove. What I ate was chalky pasta and bland sauce. If this was supposed to be Vodka sauce, something tells me that there is a sauce technician somewhere in the Last Minute Gourmet plant feeling pretty tipsy right now. I should know better than to buy a pre-made pasta dish (it's not as if pasta is all that difficult to make...or gourmet now that I think about it...wtf?), but sometimes exhaustion and convenience get the best of me.

This meal did one thing right. It filled me up and prevented me from eating any more cookies. Unfortunately, that won't make me a repeat customer.

Rating: 1.5 / 5

Small Green Jasmine Tea from Caribou Coffee

Item Purchased: Small Green Jasmine Tea from Caribou Coffee
Location Purchased: Caribou Coffee / 1328 S. Halsted / Chicago, IL
Price: $1.35 + tax

Review: I gave my father a bunch of flavored coffees for Christmas. He likes to mix and match and create his own coffee flavor sensations. He's sort of a coffee chemist, if you will. Needless to say, this weekend I drank so much coffee that I can still feel it sloshing around in my stomach.

So today, tea.

Green tea. Anti-oxidants and all that jazz. It still has caffeine and is not as heavy as coffee. On this post-Christmas day it was the perfect thing to imbibe while coming down off of a weekend-long sugar buzz from all of the pastries and cookies I ate.

Caribou uses whole leaf teas, not ground up Liptons fare. Whole leafe usually leads to a fresher taste and Caribou is no exception. The green jasmine has an almost floral taste, but it isn't distracting from the slightly bitter thirst quenching qualities one comes to expect from a good green tea. Despite the holiday leftovers I have been shoveling into my mouth all day, this light and refreshing green tea left me feeling halfway healthy after finishing it.

Rating: 4 / 5

Dec. 26th - Previously Reviewed Purchases

Item Purchased: Drum Rolling Tobacco (40 gr.)
Review: (LINK)

Item Purchased: Amtrak Hiawatha Train from Milwaukee to Chicago
Review: (LINK)
Note: Wake up at 6:00 AM to get to work by 12:30 PM? For the birds I say. Which is why I slept on this train ride back home with a belly full of jelly... filled cookies and other holiday treats. Feels good to be back in Chicago though.

Item Purchased: 7-Eleven Smoked Turkey & Jack Cheese Sandwich w/Southwest Mayonnaise
Review: (LINK)

Holiday Charity for Dec. 26th - Electronic Frontier Foundation

The Electronic Frontier Foundation is an organization that works to protect our privacy and freedoms when it comes to technology. Whether you are just a casual websurfer, a blogger or a legitimate online journalist, the EFF is fighting to preserve your rights. Formed long before the internet was a ubiquitous entity, the organization consists of lawyers, activists and analysts who have paid close attention to the technology most of us take for granted. Current campaigns are in action to protect bloggers' rights, prevent voting machine manufacturer Diebold from aiding the theft of future elections and holding them accountable for a paper trail of all votes and helping to form laws consideirng P2P filesharing. If you are reading this, this means you should be concerned about these issues and more. Please join the EFF today!

To make a donation, follow this link.

The EFF does not have a Give.org report, but you can take a look at 15 things they have accomplished this past year by clicking here.

And remember to let me know if you make a donation. I'll send you some Consumatron.com buttons and enter you into a drawing for one of our sweatshirts. Read this post for more information.

Merry Christmas!

No purchases today. Been too busy meeting with family, eating far too much and staying warm with blankets, wine and liquor. Hope everyone out there is having a fantastic Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, or just a great Sunday! Regardless of what you celebrate... or if you don't celebrate anything at all, I hope you are able to get together with those you care about and share a night or two talking laughing and bonding. See ya tomorrow... I think there are some more cookies left in the kitchen...

Please Excuse Our Holiday Stagger!

Just a note to say that the updates to Consumatron may be a bit staggered from now through Christmas due to our travel schedules and family gatherings this holiday. We hope everyone out there has a happy and meaningful holiday, no matter what you celebrate. We'll poke our heads in occasionally this weekend and purchase reviews will be back on track on Monday.

Happy Holidays from Consumatron.com!

Consumer News and Links for Christmas Day

From the Do As I Say Not As I Do department:

-The pope decried consumerism this season, urging his followers to give joy at Christmastime rather than expensive products. Yeah... I can see him shuffling around the streets of rome in his Prada slippers and Cartier watch, just sprinkling joy wherever he goes. This guy wears a Cartier watch and he has the balls to tell his congregation not to spend money on the holidays? This makes me want to max out a credit card or two. (Winston-Salem Journal)

From the Worldly Turkey department

-BBC News reports that your Christmas Dinner has probably been more places since its recent death than you have been in your life. Well, at least when you are carving your Turkey tonight, you can take comfort that Mr. Gobbles led a full life. (BBC NEWS)

Consumer News and Links for Dec. 24th

From the This Is My Body, Spread Cheese On It department:

-In Jacksonville Florida, workers at the Stadium Club have received a surprise visit from the King of Christmas. At the bottom of a nacho warming tray, mineral deposits from the filthy (holy?) water have left a stain that some workers swear is the image of Jesus. To me, it looks like South Park's rendition of Jesus. A spokesman for the restaurant says that they will no longer use the tray for warming nachos. Great... you know what that means... soggy, microwaved nachos with velveeta melted on them. Thanks Jesus! Thanks a lot! (NBC News via Obscurestore)

From the Open Source Price Tag department:

-Two stories of people switching price tags on high-priced items this holiday seasons. First, a Colorado University Student made his own barcodes that rang up $4.99 at his local Target. In a stroke of genius, he plastered them on a $149.00 iPod box. Yeah, no one is going to notice that markdown. (Denver Post)

-Second, a woman in New Jersey was caught switching $14.99 price tags to $59.99 and $49.99 bed linens. There's more? She was a corrections officer for 25 years. What does she do now? Why, she is a New Jersey Lawmaker of course. I've heard of the government stealing from the community, but I never expected it to be so direct. (All Headline News)

Holiday Charity for Dec. 24th - Planned Parenthood Federation of America

It's the day before Christmas and there is no doubt in my mind that teenage boys across the country are sweating and shaking in shopping malls across the country ready to max out their first credit card for diamond earings the size of pinheads to give to their high school sweetheart in hopes of getting a little nookie. Luckily, there are organizations out there like Planned Parenthood who dedicate themselves to educating and supplying people with all of the necessary knowledge and materials needed to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. As well as providing the questionable option of abortion, PP provides condoms and contraceptive to young and old alike. Regardless of where you stand on the Abortion issue, I am sure most of us can agree that teenage children should not be parents in this country. Also, the amounts of sexual health and information that PP provides to its clients is invaluable. They help stop the spread of STIs, STDs and whatever other acronym you give to sexually transmitted diseases. So, please, snuggle up with your loved (or just really really liked) ones this holiday season, get messy and wild, but also remember to take precaution, and help others to do the same by donating to Planned Parenthood.

To make a donation, follow this link.

To view Planned Parenthood's Give.org report, click here.

And remember to let me know if you make a donation. I'll send you some Consumatron.com buttons and enter you into a drawing for one of our sweatshirts. Read this post for more information.

Consumer News and Links for Dec. 23rd

From the Don't Make Us Sell Wholesale Tommyguns department:

-In a Capone-esque act that my city of Chicago would be proud of, the wholesale megamarket, Costco is suing Washington state's Liquor Control Board on anti-trust grounds so they can buy liquor directly from wineries and breweries so frat boys won't have to ask their parents for money as often. (Seattle Times)


From the Beer Goggles department:

-Cornell University conducts research that matters. According to research, most bartenders pour up to 30% more liquor into stout wide glasses than tall skinny ones. So next time your order that Cranberry Vodka with six cherries, be sure to tell the bartender to make it in an Old Fashioned glass. (Newswise)

Holiday Charity for Dec. 23rd - The Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. They are dedicated to protecting the ever diminishing wild places on this planet, promoting responsible use of the ecosystem and improving the quality of our communities.

To make a donation, follow this link.

To view the Sierra Club's Give.org report, click here.

And remember to let me know if you make a donation. I'll send you some Consumatron.com buttons and enter you into a drawing for one of our sweatshirts. Read this post for more information.

Consumer News and Links for Dec. 22nd

From the "That's So Five Days Ago..." department:

-Today at Woot.com, they are offering a small (128Mb and dimensions of a cigarette lighter) and cheap ($24.99 w/shipping) MP3 player. You can only fit 30-60 songs on this little thing, but I think it's a great little opportunity for those of you who don't have an iPod yet. I have an iPod and I think I want one of these puppies to store samples and kick around mix ideas to my DJ friends. You can also use it as a USB hard drive to transfer files. If you don't need the latest and greatest toys but still want to keep up with the times, today's woot is for you. (Woot.com)

From the It Ain't Easy Being Green department:

-The Jim Henson Company has announced the first annual Jim Henson Honors winners. Among the winners are JK Rowling for encouraging people of all ages to rediscover the joys of reading and the Toyota Prius hybrid automobile. Jim Henson is a hero of sorts to me due to my love of puppetry and Doozers. Awarding fun, innovation and social commitment, these awards are more important than any Grammy or Grouch (er... I mean Oscar). And I have to agree that the Prius is an amazing machine. (PR Newswire)

From the Beggars Can Be Independents department:

-I work at an independent bookstore here in Chicago and I will be the first one to tell you how hard it is to compete with the big chains. Our main strategy has always been to hire people who are passionate about books instead of simply cashiers so that the customer can relate to us and find something new and exciting to read. Obviously this isn't enough for the customers of Lorem Ipsum in Cambridge. This holiday season, they are offering Indulgence certificates to their customers. Basically, you pay any amount of money and get a little slip of paper that absolves you from any chain-store purchases you have made over the last year. Cute. Maybe we'll have our booksellers stand out on the street with coffee cups and ask people for change next year to cover our costs. This gimmick would make me steer clear of Lorem Ipsum and make a b-line for the nearest Barnes and Noble or Borders. There, I am sure to encounter stylish hipsters and college students who don't know Dubravka Ugresic from Danielle Steel, but at least I won't be guilted into making a donation. Worst idea ever. (LoremLabs via Consumerist)

Holiday Charity for Dec. 22nd - Save The Children

In Honor of board member, Bill Haber, winning the First annual Jim Henson award for community service, today's charity is Save The Children. STC works in 49 countries and 18 states across the United States with communities, governments, foundations, corporations, national and international agencies and other private organizations to design and implement programs that will improve the lives of children, families, and communities. Please give what you can today!

To make a donation, fololow this link.

To view the Red Cross' Give.org report, click here.

And remember to let me know if you make a donation. I'll send you some Consumatron.com buttons and enter you into a drawing for one of our sweatshirts. Read this post for more information.

Dec. 22nd - Previously Reviewed Purchases

Item Purchased: Maxwell Street Polish Sausage w/Fries
Review: (LINK)

Item Purchased: Chocolate Chip Cookie from Caribou Coffee
Review: (LINK)

Consumer News and Links for Dec. 21st.

From the Product Molestation department:

-Pilotonline.com has a story that contemplates that ever-important social dilemma...whether or not we will spend our money in stores or online. From the article: "I just don't think it could ever replace store shopping because there's a need to feel the apparel and look at the computers and touch things" Well, one thing's for sure, grocery stores are safe because there is always some old lady standing in front of the fruit I want squeezing and shaking all the damn produce for twenty minutes! (Pilotonline.com)

Southwest Chicken Soup Breadbowl from Quiznos

Item Purchased: Southwest Chicken Soup Breadbowl from Quiznos
Location Purchased: Quiznos / 1332 S. Halsted / Chicago, IL
Price: $5.49 + tax

Review: I can't pass up soup served in a breadbowl, even if it is from the over-priced sandwich shop, Quiznos. You know that saying, "Crazier than a soup sandwich?" Well, I think that must be an older saying from the time before some culinary Michaelangelo came up with the idea to hollow out a dough ball and serve soup in it. Unfortunately, I probably should have passed this edible soup bowl up. Inside of the bread clump was three or four strips of lightly grilled chicken and a melted layer of cheddar cheese. It all had a waxy look to it which I tried to forget when the creamy soup, chunked with corn and spices, was poured over it all. The bread was shiny, crispy and warm, but the soup itself sloshed creamily around in my stomach for hours after I finished eating the last bite. Imagine trying to eat a bowl of soup in the form of a sandwich made with a croissant. That's what this was. Plus a light feeling of nausea atop all of that. Blech. I should know better than to go to quiznos, but the convenience and close location brings me back time and time again.

Rating: 2 / 5

Small Holiday Blend Coffee from Coffee & Tea Exchange (12 oz.)

Item Purchased: Small Holiday Blend Coffee from Coffee & Tea Exchange (12 oz.)
Location Purchased: Coffee & Tea Exchange / 3311 North Broadway / Chicago, IL
Price: $1.25 + tax

Review: There are two things I miss about living in the Boystown area of Chicago. One is the excellent Melrose Diner which serves the best split-pea soup I've ever encountered and a heavenly breakfast concoction known as the tomato, basil and parmesan omelette. The second is the Coffee & Tea Exchange on Broadway. It is a small coffee shop with only one available seat inside that is usually taken by an employee, but filled with barrels full of coffee beans of all flavors. I used to go to this place every morning just to get a cup of coffee and flirt with the girls behind the counter when I lived around the corner. Most of their coffees are affordable and many of them are fair trade coffees. My favorite is their "special" blend which always seems to have the perfect taste no matter how you brew it. Today, however, I was up in Boystown doing some last minute holiday shopping and I decided to drop in and get a cup of whatever light roast they had brewing.

With a little bit of cream and three packets of sugar, this small cup tasted better than most coffees I usually drink. Surely better than Starbucks or Caribou, it had a light smoky flavor and virtually no acidity to it. Alas, the C&TE has only one consumer location, and if I had to take the train a half hour every morning before drinking my first cup of coffee, I don't think most people I encounter would like me very much.

Rating: 4 / 5

Holiday Charity for Dec. 21st - American Red Cross

Okay, so if you don't know what the Red Cross is, you need to thaw out your heart in a microwave. The Red Cross collects blood and money to help out disaster victims and disadvantaged individuals around the country. Kinda like a character from the movie Blade without the guns and swords. They've done more than a fair share for Katrina and continue to dedicate their time to helping even more. Now it's your turn. Give blood if you can, give whatever you can!

To make a donation, fololow this link.

To view the Red Cross' Give.org report, click here.

And remember to let me know if you make a donation. I'll send you some Consumatron.com buttons and enter you into a drawing for one of our sweatshirts. Read this post for more information.

Dec. 21st - Previously Reviewed Purchases

Item Purchased: Medium Coffee from Dunkin' Donuts
Review: (LINK)

Item Purchased: Medium Caribou Coffee (Light Roast)
Review: (LINK)

Item Purchased: 7-Eleven English Muffin w/Sausage, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Sandwich
Review: (LINK)

Item Purchased: American Spirit Regular Filter Cigarettes (Hardpack)
Location Purchased: 7-Eleven / 1350 S. Halsted / Chicago, IL
Review: (LINK)

Consumer News and Links for Dec. 20th

Saving by Spending department:

-CNET News has an article about a new online T-shirt shop called Goodstorm.com that helps out non-profit organizations through T-Shirt sales. Their tagline is Capitalism Done Right and it seems to fit. Offering nearly 70% of the profits made to the designer or organization selling their shirts, which is far far better than other online T-Shirt shops like Cafepress.com, Goodstorm offers charitable organizations an easy and stylish way to raise funds for their cause. I think this is a fantastic idea and am thinking of setting up a shop with these guys after the new year if they will have me. Maybe give the proceeds to a different organization every month? Let me know what you think. (CNET News article - Goodstorm.com)

Black Markinomics department:

-It wouldn't be Christmas time without a slew of reports concerning attempted shoplifting at Walmart by some dumbass. In Columbus, Nebraska, a couple tried to return a power washer and a welder to the store by taking the items from the shelf, wheeling them around in a cart and walking up to the front. I've only ever driven through Nebraska so I don't really know what Christmas entails there, but if some of the most common Christmas gifts include power washers and welders, Nebraska's cultural scene must be something else! If you are going to try the oldest trick in the book, at least pick something that is believable as a gift! (The Fremont Tribune)

Needless But Useful department:

-Gizmodo.com seems to think the Miracle Remote brand-specific remote control is a laughable item. I doubt Gizmodo has ever tried to program a universal remote for my roommate's television. We can get the remote to do everything but change the inputs so we can't watch movies. In my apartment, we only get about 3.5 channels. There is only so much Mexican soap opera actresses can do to liven up a lazy Sunday. I'm hoping this thing works. It'll make a perfect Christmas gift for my roomie. (Miracle Remote via Gizmodo)

French Roast Coffee from Wild Bean Cafe (16 oz.)

Item Purchased: French Roast Coffee from Wild Bean Cafe (16 oz.)
Location Purchased: Wild Bean Cafe @ BP Gas Station / 1221 S. Wabash / Chicago, IL
Price: $1.25 + tax

Review: This coffee was almost as bad as the Columbian Supremo blend from Wild Bean. Ah well, when one is rushing to finish their holiday shopping and working every day up until the Christmas weekend, you can't be picky. At least it was warm. A nice offset to the 7 degree weather in Chicago. This coffee almost woke me up half as much as the biting winter wind. Not because it was strong...but because it tasted like torched motor oil that had been sitting at the bottom of a pig's trough for a week.

Rating: 0.76 / 5

Vienna Almonds (4 oz. bag)

Item Purchased: Vienna Almonds (4 oz. bag)
Location Purchased: Sweet Swabian / Christkindlmarket / Daley Plaza / Chicago, IL
Price: $4.00

Review: Another great selection from Sweet Swabian. These warm roasted almonds are generously glazed with honey and sugar. The sign said "lightly glazed" but they were anything but. Throughout the bag of crunchy almonds, there were little drops of candied glaze that made me feel as if I was losing my teeth as I sucked on them. The healthy aspect that almonds are known for isn't present here, but damn they taste so good... and to be munching on something so warm on a Chicago day that is so cold at least simulates the warmth one is supposed to be feeling at all times this season.

Rating: 4.25 / 5

2 Bags of Fresh German Gingerbread

Item Purchased: 2 Bags of Fresh German Gingerbread
Location Purchased: Sweet Swabian / Christkindlmarket / Daley Plaza / Chicago, IL
Price: $5.00

Review: Every year I head out to Chicago's Christkindlmarket where several companies from around the world set up outdoor kiosks to sell foods and Christmas gifts. It gives me a chance to tie up the loose ends in my holiday procrastination and see what kind of wares are being offered, sometimes by the craftspeople themselves. One of the highlights is the spiced wine stand and Sweet Swabian who sell several kinds of roasted almonds and this fantastic gingerbread. At two large bags for $5.00, it is a steal.

The gingerbread looks almost like cubes of fudge. Not the gingerbread most Americans are used to, this is actual sugared and spiced bread instead of a flat crisp cookie. The bread has volume and is soft and chewey...and most of all addictive... which is why I made sure to share the bags with my co-workers.

Rating: 3.75 / 5

Holiday Charity for Dec. 20th - Direct Relief International

The earthquake in Pakistan. The tsunami in southeast Asia. Hurricane Katrina. This year has been a bad year for natural disasters. There are several ways and organization you can donate your resources to, and I'm sure many of you have. Direct Relief International dedicates their resources to helping people in need around the world, and when it comes to a natural disaster, these folks jump into action to help with relief efforts. Also, their website is one of the most comprehensive for resource expenditures and information that I have ever seen. Even if you have already given to your relief fund of choice, I strongly urge you to make a donation to DRI. There are many people in the world still struggling to recover from everything Mother Nature has wrought this year. It makes me feel better knowing organizations like DRI are out there to help.

To make a donation, fololow this link.

To view the MENC's Give.org report, click here.

And remember to let me know if you make a donation. I'll send you some Consumatron.com buttons and enter you into a drawing for one of our sweatshirts. Read this post for more information.

Dec. 20th - To Be Reviewed On Mediatron

Media Purchased:

DVD - Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price - (2005)

Dec. 20th - Unreviewable Purchases

Item Purchased: Hot Cocoa from Wild Bean Cafe
Location Purchased: Wild Bean Cafe @ BP Gas Station / 1221 S. Wabash / Chicago, IL
Price: $1.25 + tax
Note: Purchased for my friend Pete, who I haven't seen in quite a while. He flew in from LA last night and we spent the morning walking around in the cold, taking care of some last minute holiday shopping.

Dec. 20th - Previously Reviewed Purchases

Item Purchased: Camel Turkish Royal Cigarettes (Hardpack)
Review: (LINK)

Back from a weekend of unanalyzed consumerism!

It has been nearly three months since I have purchased something for myself without reviewing it. It is strange to see how creating this blog has changed my purchasing habits. For the two days that I gave myself the freedom to purchase without writing about it, I was able to see how easy it is to spend money on things I didn't need or necessarily want. For instance, while out doing a little Christmas shopping, I ducked into a Charbucks and bought a coffee. It didn't take me long to realize the error in my ways. Even before they charged me their ridiculous prices, they corrected my ordering nomenclature twice. Apparently, "small" is "tall" and "coffee with a shot of espresso" is a "red eye." Sooooorrrrrrrrrrrry!

Anyway, I'm back and I'm reviewing my purchases again. Already today I've noticed how much keeping this website going has changed my buying habits. I'm no angel, but I tend to check the "Made in" tags on things and stop myself if I feel the urge to step into a Starbucks for coffee. On the flipside, when I am feeling lazy, sometimes I tailor my lunch around things I have already reviewed for the site so I won't have to make the time to write a review later... ehem... I mean so I will have more time to work on Mediatron.

Anyway, thanks for reading. The visits to the site kept up over the weekend even without new content, so I must be doing something right. I hope the stresses of the holiday aren't getting the best of you.

-Kevin

Consumer News for Dec. 19th

-It's the rematch of the century! Jesus vs. Santa. Though Jesus has got the moves and a quickness, my money's on the big guy in red. He knows when the big J is sleeping and then, BAM! Sneak attack! (The Austrailian)

-...and as if Santa doesn't have enough to worry about with only six days until he flys around the world at mach 42, he is keeping a blog. Today Santa tells us that his slaves (er... elves) are busy wrapping the millions of presents he has to deliver and filing them according to which tree they go under. Cute little blog for those of you who still want your kids to believe and your creditors to stay in touch with you. (KPRC Houston)

Holiday Charity for Dec. 19th - MENC: The National Association for Music Education

I'm a huge music fan. I go digging for records all the time, I DJ a bit and my tastes run from symphonies of Shostakovich to Cursive to Scarface. Music moves me. There have also been studies that those people who have learned to play an instrument score higher in school and on intelligence tests. Music does something to our brains. Today's charity, MENC, raises money to encourage people of all ages to make music of any kind. Whether it is buying instruments for disadvantaged children or offering classes to senior citizens, MENC makes sure there is a tune to get us through our day wherever we go.

To make a donation, fololow this link.

To view the MENC's Give.org report, click here.

And remember to let me know if you make a donation. I'll send you some Consumatron.com buttons and enter you into a drawing for one of our sweatshirts. Read this post for more information.

Dec. 19th - Previously Reviewed Purchases

Item Purchased: Veggie Focaccia Sandwich from Caribou Coffee
Review: (LINK)

Item Purchased: Medium Depth Charge from Caribou Coffee
Review: (LINK)

Item Purchased: Large Caribou Coffee (Light Roast)
Price: $1.75 + tax
Review: (LINK)
Note: This time, I didn't purchase a coffee for myself. I bought a cup for the man who asked me for change out on the freezing cold Chicago streets. He also asked if I wanted to buy some batteries he was hustling. I declined but gave him a couple of bucks anyway. He was very respectful and not at all pushy like most of the people who ask me for money. I give a lot of change away when I can spare, but I have to admit that I do feel better when I can help someone out with something that will do them some good (in this case, a hot drink on a cold night).

Item Purchased: Omega 3 Brown Eggs from Vegetarian Chickens (6 egg carton)
Review: (LINK)

Consumer News for Dec. 18th

-Frances Stead Sellers over at the Washington Post dedicates some of her holiday shopping money to ethical gifts. A mild but interesting overview. Even my favorite corporate scapegoat, Starbucks, is mentioned now that they have decided to delve into the wild world of fair trade coffee! (Washington Post)

Holiday Charity for Dec. 18th - National Federation Of The Blind

I've seen it happen several times. There is a blind man crossing the street by himself, tapping his cane while dozens of people stand around and stare in amazement. Conflicted as to whether they should offer to help or let him be in case a helping hand would be a swift kick to his pride. Some of the onlookers look amazed, some look like they are waiting for something to happen and others seem almost scared of someone who can't see. As if not seeing hinders moral judgment in a person or social mores. My blind friends never cease to amaze me. Sometimes I think they are more in tune to the world around us with one sense missing than I am I am with all five in check. When I stop to think of it though, I can't even begin to imagine attuning myself to this world with one less sense. The National Federation of the Blind makes this process easier for blind people by raising awareness, funding braille publications and researching technologies that aid with this disability.


To make a donation, fololow this link.

To view the NAAR's Give.org report, click here.

And remember to let me know if you make a donation. I'll send you some Consumatron.com buttons and enter you into a drawing for one of our sweatshirts. Read this post for more information.

WEEKEND BREAK

I am going to be busy preparing for the upcoming holidays this weekend, so there won't be any daily reviews for a couple of days.

I will try to post the daily charity and some news links. Daily reviews will return on Monday.


Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Consumer News for Dec. 17th

-If loving your signifigant other isn't reason enough to buy her jewelry, some stores are now offering free pizza and beer to urge men to shop. (Chron.com)

-The worlds oldest profession (and consumer service) is popular among all social classes in Columbia. "It can be 50,000 pesos ($22) or less, up to 200 million pesos ($88,000) for someone such as a famous model who is on the TV." (The Daily Journal)

Holiday Charity for Dec. 17th - National Alliance for Autism Research

I have had the privalege, on several occasions, to spend time with Autistic children. I have seen the brilliance shine through from what is, at first glance, a debilitating condition. At first exposure, autism may elicit pity or discomfort in those around, but as you spend more and more time with an autistic person, the discoveries are nothing short of fascinating. The way almost nothing in the mind of an autistic person seems to perform up to par, until there is that glimpse of streamlined understanding and humanity. It's not like Rainman, but rather a look or a sound that makes you feel as if there is something extraordinary going on in the person's mind. The most frustrating aspect of autism is the fact that communication is nearly impossible because the condition inhibits a person's ability to respond to surroundings and form relationships with others. This is a devastating thing to families with a child that is autistic. The National Alliance For Autism Research spends their time and money researching treatments and cures to this disorder in attempts to make it possible for people with autism to connect with the people who love them. Sadly, autism research is one of the least funded medical programs today. Please help if you can.

To make a donation, fololow this link.


To view the NAAR's Give.org report, click here.


And remember to let me know if you make a donation. I'll send you some Consumatron.com buttons and enter you into a drawing for one of our sweatshirts. Read this post for more information.

2 64-minute Dryer Loads at Spin Cycle

Item Purchased: 2 64-minute Dryer Loads at Spin Cycle
Location Purchased: Spin Cycle / 1658 N. Milwaukee Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $4.00

Review: A year and a half ago, when I used to come to this Spin Cycle to do my laundry, the humungoid dryers cost $0.25 for every 10-minutes. Due to the rising cost of...hot air?... it now costs the same for eight minutes of drying time. I don't know how I feel about the inflation waged on cleanliness, but it is still nicer than having my clothes air dry for a full day before they reach anything near wearable. And by tumble-drying my clothes, it ensures that they will be soft and pleasant to the touch rather than wrinkled and crispy from the stale cold air in the back of my apartment. Two of my wash loads fit comfortably in each dryer with room to spare, and after an hour of sipping free joe, leafing through several magazines and playing around on the internet, the payoff of cuddly clothing was worth the minor inflation that initially had me concerned.

Rating: 3.75 / 5

4 Laundry Loads at Spin Cycle

Item Purchased: 4 Laundry Loads at Spin Cycle
Location Purchased: Spin Cycle / 1658 N. Milwaukee Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $7.00

Review: It's been quite a while since I have gone to a laundromat to do my laundry. This isn't because I have a laundry room in my apartment. Quite the contrary, there is not a laundromat or publick washing machine (that I know of) withing 2 miles of my apartment. Most of the other buildings in my neighborhood are high rises which I am sure are complete with laundry rooms that power the workout rooms and heat the rooftop pool. My old loft, however is just space with four walls. Very big space, but not much else. So, instead of trucking my laundry 5+ miles every week, I have been using one of these things to wash my clothes for the last year and a half. It is kind of a pain only being able to wash about three shirts or one pair of pants at a time, but once you get into a habit of washing something every day, it isn't so bad. It sure saves you a bunch of quarters anyway!

The laundry has been piling up though, so I decided to borrow my roommate's truck and head out to my old washing ground out in Wicker Park. I used to bike out to this Spin Cycle from the Gold Coast (ugh.. can't believe I ever lived there) with a duffel bag full of clothing strapped to my back, wash my undies and watch pretty girls fold their underwear (oh don't play all high-and-mighty with me, you know you like that about laundromats too). Today, however, it was all about keeping on schedule. I needed to get four loads of colors and whites done before I had to be at work by three. So, weighing my options, I separated my clothing into rough divisions, loaded up four standard size top-loaders and dropped my quarters in. $1.75 for a 33-minute wash cycle. It's no cyclone mini-washer, but not too bad for a public laundromat with free coffee and several wireless connections to skitch off of while I waited for my clothes to come clean. And oh how clean my clothes are now! I had forgotten the wonders of a full-size washer! I might even go back tomorrow, because the undies have been piling up. Look for me folding my bleached, ripped and faded boxer shorts tomorrow. You know you want to ladies!

Note (02/11/06): Shout out to whoever used my detergent while I was sitting across the laundromat reading: next time, why don't you ask before using someone else's shit and, most importantly, if you do use someone else's shit, don't leave the bottle all covered with detergent drippings! Thank you and have a nice day.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Holiday Charity for Dec. 16th - National Center for Family Literacy

Okay, so those of you who know me knew that this would be coming sooner or later. I work in a bookstore and because I still believe that the printed word has the power to enlighten us and make us better human beings, literacy is important to me. Even though I will rail on for hours against the popularity of shoddy fiction like the Da Vinci Code, deep down, I am happy that people walk through the doors of a bookstore at all any more. It's amazing how many people in the U.S. alone can't read above a fourth grade level (which, btw, is written at about a fourth grade reading level IMHO). The National Center for Family Literacy funds programs to help children as well as adults learn to read and also fund several ESL programs. So please, help fund literacy in our country by making a donation.

To make a donation, follow this link.

To view the NCFL's Give.org report, click here.

And remember to let me know if you make a donation. I'll send you some Consumatron.com buttons and enter you into a drawing for one of our sweatshirts. Read this post for more information.

Omega 3 Brown Eggs from Vegetarian Chickens (6 egg carton)

Item Purchased: Omega 3 Brown Eggs from Vegetarian Chickens (6 egg carton)
Location Purchased: Jewel / 1224 S. Wabash Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $1.99 + tax

Review: Even during the short time I toyed with vegetarianism and was on a quasi-health kick (y'know, eating black beans with everything I cooked and going to health food stores to stock up on the latest super-vitamins), I never tried these natural eggs. The idea behind it is appealing. Eggs from free-range chickens that haven't been pumped full of antibiotics and synthetic feed. While picking up some beer tonight at the grocery, I decided to give these things a whirl. The strangest thing about these eggs is not the brown color (that, my friends, is natural), but that the package says that the chickens from whence they come are vegetarians.

Howzzat?

I would like to know what kind of carnage we are infusing into the chicken feed in this country. Is it a teryaki beef satay or BBQ pork tenderloin? Does Foghorn leghorn prefer a T-Bone or is he a cannibal that enjoys a deep-fried Chicken Little? Since when do farm chickens eat meat at all?

Regardless of the dietary patterns of our fowl I enjoy eggs of all kinds on a regular basis. Since I used these eggs in a rice dish, I can't comment on their particular flavor by itself. I will say that they cook a bit slower than the generic eggs I usually buy. They also seem to be a bit fluffier when finished and the yolks have a milder yellow hue to them. They tasted great with the rice and beans I cooked up, doused in hot sauce and the miracle spice, Old Bay. I'm not sure I will be buying these healthy alternative eggs due to the price, but I plan on trying them between two slices of toast tomorrow morning when I wake up. Speaking of waking up... it is late. good night.

Rating: 3.75 / 5

Killian's Irish Red Premium Lager (6 pk)

Item Purchased: Killian's Irish Red Premium Lager (6 pk)
Location Purchased: Jewel / 1224 S. Wabash Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $6.29 + tax

Review: Red beers have always been some of my favorite. Between Killian's and Leinenkugel's Red, I think I would choose the Leine's, but that may only be due to the fact that they are located in my home-state of Wisconsin. I may not be loyal to a sports team, but if I have to be territorial about something, it may as well be my intoxicating substances.

Killian's Red is usually a medium-priced beer and usually on ice at the Jewel, so it makes for a great late-night cap right before going to bed. The slightly malty taste and refreshing consistency of this beer went well with the spicy brown rice & beans topped with scrambled eggs that I made for a late-night snack. After only two bottles of the brew, I was feeling pretty good. Just relaxed enough to still think and get some writing done before crashing out on my futon. Killian's has no stale aftertaste like a lot of amber beers tend to and as an added bonus, the great pop band Nada Surf wrote a song about the beer. You can read the lyrics here.

Killian's Red. An affordable beer that I can't think of a meal it would go bad with... except maybe cereal. But if you drink beer while you eat cereal, you've got worst problems than which beer to choose. Like picking out the right kind of milk to go on your cereal.

You can buy Nada Surf's great new album "The Weight is a Gift" at amazon.com by the way: Consume.

Rating: 4 / 5

Holiday Charity for Dec. 15th - World Wildlife Fund

I used to think that this WWF was the same as the wrestling WWF, but then I got one of their informational mailings and read about all of the great services they provide around the world. Not just to cute little animals, but the ecology as a whole. Their main focus is to preserve endangered species and wildlands to safeguard our ecological balance and natural resources. Please check out the World Wildlife Fund's website and consider making a donation!

To make a donation, follow this link.

To view the WWF's Give.org report, click here.

And remember to let me know if you make a donation. I'll send you some Consumatron.com buttons and enter you into a drawing for one of our sweatshirts. Read this post for more information.

Dec. 15th - Previously Reviewed Purchases

Item Purchased: American Spirit Regular Filter Cigarettes (Hardpack)
Review: (LINK)

Item Purchased: Medium Caribou Coffee (Light Roast)
Review: (LINK)

Ben & Jerry's Oatmeal Cookie Chunk Ice Cream (1 pt.)

Item Purchased: Ben & Jerry's Oatmeal Cookie Chunk Ice Cream (1 pt.)
Location Purchased: Jewel / 1224 S. Wabash Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $3.50 + tax

Review: I have reviewed different flavors from the Ben & Jerry's arsenal before. In that review, I praised the company's ethics when it comes to charity and seeking out natural ingredients. Though I still stand by that review and applaud Ben & Jerry for their efforts, it was by some strange coincidence that, while I was eating this latest flavor of Ice Cream, I was also reading a passage from Douglas Rushkoff's new book, Get Back In The Box. In this passage, Rushkoff questions whether the ethical commitment of a company is all that meaninful when the company itself sells something that aids in the increasing obesity of the general public such as ice cream. Oddly enough I was reading this passage as I was shoveling the frozen oatmeal tastiness into my eager gullet.

I felt a bit guilty.

Still, if I am going to make my own dietary decision to pig out, at the very least, I can buy the object of my swinehood from a company that at least tries to have its head in the right place.

The oatmeal cookie chunk flavored ice cream is one of the most interesting B&J flavors I have ever tried. First off, the ice cream itself is flavored with cinnamon, which would have been enough for me. Second, there are frozen fudge chunks scattered throughout. Last but not least, there are huge gooey lumps of actual oatmeal cookie dough which not only add more cinnamon to the mix, but also give the ice cream a chewey texture that you will be hard pressed to find in any other frozen dairy treat (unless you buy some past due push pops from your local convenience store). The experience of eating this ice cream reminds me of eating regular oatmeal with frozen vanilla yogurt plopped on top. Maybe not ethical at the core, Ben & Jerry's are still a company I get behind and I urge you to try this out-of-the-ordinary flavor and feel that tasty guilt like a lump in your stomach.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Holiday Charity for Dec. 14th - Amnesty International

If you have a problem with the proposed "War on Terror," the Abu Ghraib tortures or the shady goings ons at Guantanamo Bay, why not consider donating to Amnesty International. Probably one of the most well known international charity organizations, Amnesty International works hard to ensure that every person enjoys basic human rights as outlined in their own Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This means everything from no torture to adequate medical care for citizens and prisoners from every walk of life. AI aims to realize humanity at its best. The organization does not align itself with any government or religious belief, but rather with the things we all have in common.

I have given to Amnesty International several times in the past and hope you will consider doing the same.

To make a monetary donation, follow this link.

To view Amnesty International USA's Give.org report, click here.

And remember to let me know if you make a donation. I'll send you some Consumatron.com buttons and enter you into a drawing for one of our sweatshirts. Read this post for more information.

Dec. 14th - Unreviewable Purchases

Item Purchased: 2 Bags of Ruffles Potato Chips
Location Purchased: 7-Eleven / 1350 S. Halsted / Chicago, IL
Price: $0.99 + tax
Note: Purchased for Lawrence in order to smooth over any hard feelings.

Dec. 14th - Previously Reviewed Purchases

Item Purchased: Medium Caribou Coffee (Light Roast)
Review: (LINK)

Item Purchased: Chocolate Chip Cookie from Caribou Coffee
Review: (LINK)

Wasabi Tempura Avocado And Lime Glazed Asparagus Maki from Rodan

Item Purchased: Wasabi Tempura Avocado And Lime Glazed Asparagus Maki from Rodan
Location Purchased: Rodan / 1530 N. Milwaukee / Chicago, IL
Price: $7.00 + tax

Review: I've raved about the food at Rodan beforee, so I will keep it to a minimum here. But damn, it's so good, stylish and affordable! Mostly good though. Eight pieces of avocado and asparagus rolled up in sticky rice and seaweed, arranged on a long rectangular plate. On the side is a generous dollop of army green wasabi with the spicy artillery to boot and ginger shavings folded ever so neatly atop one another as if it were being packed in a little sushi suitcase for vacation. There is also a square china dish that serves as a soy sauce wading pool for the maki. I like to let them sit in there until I see the sauce soak up from the bottom then stuff the entire piece in my mouth and enjoy the juicy bite and wasabi afterburn in my sinuses. The advertised lime glaze is subtle but noticeably present and it adds a whole new dimension to your sushi experience.

All this from an appetizer, which is what Rodan limits their menu to after 11:00 PM. With appetizers this good an this filling, you don't have to worry much about when you show up. Just show up and enjoy the music, atmosphere, not-as-pretty-as-they-think-they-are crowd and then get lost in the friendly service and spot on kitchen creations.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Deli Select Sliced Turkey Breast (0.56 lb.)

Item Purchased: Deli Select Sliced Turkey Breast (0.56 lb.)
Location Purchased: Jewel / 1224 S. Wabash Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $3.68 + tax ($6.58/lb)

Review: Can anyone really tell the difference between the inexpensive deli turkey and the high-falutin' premium deli turkey at the supermarket? I'm convinced it's all from the same turkey torture plant. Sure some might have a honey glaze sprayed on them to give them a glossy sheen under the flourescent deli lights, but really, they are all pretty much the same.

That's why I opted for the cheapest turkey in the glass case. Incidentally, it was also the largest chunk of turkey left in the glass case. My fellow shoppers seem to be easily fooled. Ah well. More juicy discount fowl for me! That's just what I will be snacking on at work through Thursday too... juicy, taste-filled turkey. No veins or tendons in these cuts o' carnage. Call me a snob, but I hate those vacuum sealed turkey discs that you get out of the lunch meat section. Those things are always salty and have some kind of sausage casing along the outside edge. Not with the deli-cut real deal.

Besides, ever since I graduated High School in 1997, there is really no other place I can see a sweet (but obviously tired-of-her-job) woman in a hairnet and plastic gloves handle foodstuffs.

Rating: 4 / 5

Jewel Brand Yellow Mustard (9 oz. squeeze bottle)

Item Purchased: Jewel Brand Yellow Mustard (9 oz. squeeze bottle)
Location Purchased: Jewel / 1224 S. Wabash Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $0.79 + tax

Review: Tired of paying $4 a sandwich at 7-Eleven on my lunch break, I stopped at the grocery store to pick up some sandwich fixins for the rest of the week. I had to skimp on quality because I didn't have much cash on me and needed some change to get on the bus. That's how I ended up buying this flourescent condiment.

The ingredients on the bottle list mustard seed pretty high on the roster. I think I am supposed to take the singular tense literally because this so-called mustard tastes more like yellow than mustard. Saucy yellow vinegar spread would be a better name for this turkey topping. Ah well, for $0.79, I can't demand too much more.

And now I am confident that I can recognize the taste of pure yellow if the challenge should ever arise.

Rating: 2 / 5

Holiday Charity for Dec. 13th - Kiva.org

Today's charity is a little different as it isn't really a charity. Kiva is a microcredit organization that allows people to loan money to small business owners and entrepreneurs in Africa. For as little as $100, you could sponser a hard working citizen in Uganda who wants to start a business trading and selling goats or open a small curio shop.

I am new to the idea of microcredit, but it seems like a great idea. You get to see your donation or loan in action directly and have a direct line of communication with the person you are helping out. I thought Kiva.org would be a nice alternative for those of you who are leery of charity organizations. I know that there is always that fear that an organization is wasting too much money on advertising campaigns and not actually focussing on using the money they raise. Well, here is your opportunity to actually help someone... one individual... directly.

Please take a look at Kiva.org and consider sponsering a business endeavor in the developing world. If we are to have a real world economy, we need small businesses everywhere, not huge corporations exploiting labor across the world.

This company is not rated by the Better Business Bureau, so do your own research and check out the website.

Help start a business in Africa: (LINK)

Remember to let me know if you provide a loan. Read this post for more information.

Dec. 13th - Unreviewable Purchases

Item Purchased: Prairie Farms Half & Half (1 pint carton)
Location Purchased: 7-Eleven / 1350 S. Halsted / Chicago, IL
Price: $1.69 + tax
Note: I used the last of the cream in the refrigerator at work. I wanted to restock so I wouldn't upset the supremely cranky HR manager, Lawrence. Thinking it dangerous to crack the new cream, I left it unopened as an act of good will. I think my co-worker Pete used it though, which is only fair since he's the one who picked it up for me when he went to the 7-Eleven.

Item Purchased: Glass of Shiraz from Rodan
Location Purchased: Rodan / 1530 N. Milwaukee / Chicago, IL
Price: $6.00
Note: Purchased for Michaelia on the eve of her departure to the city of sin.

Dec. 13th - Previously Reviewed Purchases

Item Purchased: Brownberry Whole Grain Classics 12 Grain Bread (24 oz. loaf)
Review: (LINK)

Item Purchased: Rodan Pizza With Asparagus, Tomato, Avacado and Red Pepper
Review: (LINK)

Item Purchased: Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) on Draft
Location Purchased: Rodan / 1530 N. Milwaukee / Chicago, IL
Price: $3.00
Review: (LINK)

Smoked Turkey Pita Sandwich from 7-Eleven

Item Purchased: Smoked Turkey Pita Sandwich from 7-Eleven
Location Purchased: 7-Eleven / 1350 S. Halsted / Chicago, IL
Price: $3.39 + tax

Review: 7-Eleven could use a bit of simplicity. Anyone who has seen the mind-boggling contraptions laid out on the counter next to the slurpee machine will tell you the same thing. Who knew that convenience could be so complicated and exotic?

Simplicity is just what you get with this Pita sandwich. Pita, turkey, lettuce and Swiss cheese. That's it. No southwestern upside-down mayo. No silly contraption to drop the lettuce on top of the turkey. Just a simple sandwich. A welcome addition to the 7-Eleven deli (read: refrigerated racks).

Just a sandwich.

Just what I needed.

Just a little bit too expensive for what you get.

Rating: 3.25 / 5

Holiday Charity for Dec. 12th - American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society

I am not suggesting this charity because I smoke. I am suggesting this charity because due to the blatant disregard we have given our environment, it is now estimated that 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will develop cancer in their lifetime. You are telling me that children as young as six can figure out how to download whole movies off of the internet months before they hit theaters and brilliant scientists who have studied for years are not able to find a cure for cancer? Can someone say disproportionate distribution of effort and funds?

It's no fun to watch someone who you love suffer through their body eating itself alive. So please, give generously and let's help find the cure for this disease that is long overdue.

To make a monetary donation, follow this link.

View the ACS's Give.org info sheet: (LINK)

And remember to let me know if you make a donation. Read this post for more information.

Dec. 12th - Previously Reviewed Purchases

Item Purchased: Planters Seasonuts Heat Peanuts (small tube)
Review: (LINK)

Budweiser (12 oz. bottle)

Item Purchased: Budweiser (12 oz. bottle)
Location Purchased: The Abbey Pub / 3420 W. Grace / Chicago, IL
Price: $3.00

Review: Budweiser falls in the category of "the water beers" meaning that they are refreshing and easy to drink. Much like water gets the job done by keeping you hydrated, "water beers" get the job done by slowly but surely getting you tipsy. Though, don't expect any standout taste from these beers. Budweiser is more refreshing and palatable than many of the other beers in the same price range and whenever I need a cheap generic beer, I tend to reach for this one. A solid average score for this one.

Rating: 2.5 / 5

Bangers and Mash from The Abbey Pub

Item Purchased: Bangers and Mash from The Abbey Pub
Location Purchased: The Abbey Pub / 3420 W. Grace / Chicago, IL
Price: $7.95 + tax

Review: The first time I had bangers and mash, I thought it was something dirty until my plate came. It was only after it came out of the kitchen that I realized that it wasn't. At least not in the carnal sense of the word. By the looks of it though, bangers and mash will cause your arteries to need a good cleaning. And if there's one thing I know in this world, it's that anything that looks that bad for you has got to taste good.

The Abbey Pub's Bangers and Mash try and put on an air of healthiness by coming served with a pile of steamed and seasoned vegetables. Let's be honest though, no one eats much of these things. First of all, the veggies aren't all that great and second, they taste as if they were glazed with the very gravy that sits in a pool atop the hefty mound of freshly mashed potatos. As soon as you pop, say, a piece of broccoli in your mouth, you immediately crave the lumpy potatos and gravy. Then the chain reaction begins and you come upon the four thick and greasy sausages buried underneath the potato pile. The sausages are plump and taste as if they are made from only a few animal parts rather than every animal part like a typical sausage does.

The Abbey's bangers and mash will probably give you a heart attack, and if that isn't a glowing review, I don't know what is. Good thing I ate a vegetarian breakfast this morning.

Rating: 4.25 / 5

Turkey Sandwich from Coffee on Milwaukee

Item Purchased: Turkey Sandwich from Coffee on Milwaukee
Location Purchased: Coffee on Milwaukee / 1046 N. Milwaukee Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $4.49 + tax

Review: I was sitting around all day today using the free Wi-Fi at Coffee on Milwaukee when I got to feeling the hunger deep inside my soul... or at least inside my stomach. Not feeling up to walking around in the slushy Chicago winter to get some chinese takeout, so I made Josh's day and ordered a turkey sandwich.

The sandwiches at Coffee on Milwaukee are nothing to write home about, but they prepare them fresh right before your eyes and put on any and all of the available ingredients you like. I had my sandwich on wheat bread with lettuce, tomato, green pepper and mustard. Toasted and cut in half, just like Mom used to make, my sandwich experience was reminiscent of hanging out in my parent's basement with my friends when I was a kid. As Josh will attest, making sandwiches is kind of a pain for the employees at Coffee on Milwaukee, but they are fresh and taste good, so if you order one, be sure and drop whatever spare change plus a buck or two in the tip jar for 'em! Also, be sure to grab a bag of chips on the way to your table, as you get one free with each sandwich purchase.

Rating: 4 / 5