Freezing Tomatoes, Thunderstorms and Telephones, Doubling Coupons, Catalog Back Orders, Refrigerators for Cars, Moth Ball Odors
Q: CAN HOME GROWN TOMATOES BE FROZEN, AND IF SO, WHAT'S THE BEST WAY?
A: WE WENT TO THE NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERVICE TO GET YOUR ANSWER. IT SAYS SLICE THE TOMATOES INTO HALF INCH THICK SLICES, PUT TWO PIECES OF WAX PAPER OR PLASTIC WRAP BETWEEN THEM AND PACKAGE THEM IN A RIGID, AIRTIGHT CONTAINER.
THE UNIVERSITY'S WEBSITE HAS MORE INFORMATION ON FREEZING FOOD...YOU CAN GET TO IT BY GOING TO OUR HOMEPAGE NBC4-DOT COM AND CLICKING ON NEWSLINKS.
Q: I've heard that you're not suppose to use a telephone in a storm can you tell me why that is? And does it matter if it's a portable, cell or just a regular phone that comes out of the wall, thanks so much, bye bye?
A: CALLED THE AUTOMATED WEATHER SOURCE FOR THE ANSWER. T SAYS YOU SHOULD NOT USE A HARDWIRE TELEPHONE DURING A THUNDERSTORM BECAUSE OF LIGHTENING. LIGHTENING COULD STRIKE THE TELEPHONE POLE AND THAT COULD SEND A SURGE OF ELECTRICITY THROUGH THE TELEPHONE LINE.
IF YOU'RE TALKING ON A CELL PHONE OR CORDLESS PHONE YOU MAY HEAR LOUD, CRACKLING NOISES BUT YOU'RE NOT IN ANY DANGER OF BEING ELECTROCUTED.
BY THE WAY, YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE SHOWER DURING LIGHTNING STORMS. THAT'S BECAUSE THE WATER AND THE PLUMBING IN YOUR HOUSE ALSO CONDUCTS ELECTRICITY SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO STAY OUT OF THE SHOWER DURING A THUNDERSTORM.
Q: WHY STORES LIKE SAFEWAY AND GIANT DON'T DOUBLE COUPONS THAT ARE FIFTY CENTS OR MORE?
A: WE CONTACTED SAFEWAY AND GIANT FOR THE COUPON QUESTION. BOTH COMPANIES SAY THEY DOUBLE COUPONS FOR COMPETITIVE REASONS. HOWEVER IT'S THEIR STORE POLICY NOT TO DOUBLE COUPONS WORTH MORE THAN 50-CENTS.
THAT'S BECAUSE MANUFACTURES ONLY PAY THE FACE VALUE OF A COUPON. SO IF A STORE DOUBLES A COUPON, THAT EXTRA MONEY COMES OUT OF THE RETAILER'S POCKET. GIANT AND SAFEWAY SAY THEIR PROFIT MARGINS ARE SMALL, ABOUT ONE PERCENT, AND COUPONS CUT INTO THAT PROFIT.
Q: IS IT LEGAL FOR A MERCHANT TO CHARGE YOUR CREDIT CARD FOR AN ITEM ON BACK ORDER THAT YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED?
A: WE WENT TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION TO GET YOUR ANSWER. GUESS WHAT, THE F-T-C DOES NOT REGULATE WHEN A COMPANY CAN CHARGE YOUR CREDIT CARD.
THOSE POLICIES ARE UP TO THE MERCHANT AND THE CREDIT CARD COMPANY. HOWEVER IF A COMPANY IS UNABLE TO SHIP TO YOU WITHIN THE PROMISED TIME, IT MUST NOTIFY YOU AND OFFER YOU THE OPTION TO CANCEL WITH A FULL REFUND.
Q: Somewhere I saw advertised a refrigerator that plugs into your cigarette lighter or whatever you call it in the car. Can you tell me where I find one and if they work okay? Thank you.
A: WE THINK WHAT YOU WANT IS THE COOL-IT PERSONAL FRIDGE. WE FOUND IT AT THE SHARPER IMAGE FOR $79.95. SHARPER IMAGE THE COOL-IT IS 10-AND-THREE-QUARTERS INCHES TALL AND WEIGHS 4-POUNDS.
UNLIKE A COOLER, THE COOL-IT ACTUALLY CHILLS BEVERAGES AND FOOD. AND IT WILL HOLD A 6-PACK OF DRINKS OR A FEW SANDWICHES AND SNACKS. THE SHARPER IMAGE TELLS US THE COOL-IT WORKS GREAT. YOU CAN FIND IT AT SHARPER-IMAGE-DOT-COM.
Q: A VIEWER HAS AN OLD TRUNK THAT REEKS OF MOTHBALLS. SHE'S TRIED EVERYTHING TO GET RID OF THE SMELL AND WANTS TO KNOW WHAT TO DO.
A: WE WENT TO OUR FAVORITE HOW-TO BOOK, HALEY'S HINTS, TO GET YOUR ANSWER. IT SAYS TO REMOVE ODORS TAKE A SLICE OF BREAD, SOAK IT IN VINEGAR, AND PLACE IT IN THE TRUNK FOR 12 HOURS.
YOU CAN ALSO REMOVE THE ODOR FROM THE TRUNK AREA BY PUTTING OUT AN OPEN TRAY OF CAT LITTER. EXPERTS ALSO TOLD US THAT SODIUM BICARBONATE LIBERALLY SPRINKLED OVER ALL SURFACES CAN HELP. YOU CAN FIND MANY PRODUCTS WITH SODIUM BICARBONATE AT HARDWARE AND GROCERY STORES.
