Stuff You Don't Want

I had several bags of stuffing (for pillows and such) that I didn’t need, and in my efforts to find someone to take them off my hands, I stumbled across the ReDiscover Center right down the street from me. They have a warehouse full of reusable materials they make crafts and electronics from, and have classes as well as open nights of freeform craftiness for kids and adults!

The materials on hand range from cardboard tubes to rug samples to tiles, and they are pretty open about accepting donations that could be used in a crafty way. Stop by if you’re in the area!

P.S. If you have any leather, they have an upcoming workshop and could really use some donations.

There was a time, before the advent of commercial air travel, when the train was regarded as an incredibly efficient and pleasant means of getting from one place to another. You’d sleep in a well-appointed room for a few days, read a trashy novel, meet Cary Grant (or possibly, if you were less fortunate, Bing Crosby) in the dining car and have yourself a time. Now taking the train over any distance is seen as a quirky, non-viable option for most people, though if you are going from one obscure point (Alpine, Texas) to another (New Iberia, Louisiana) it it may still be your most convenient travel option.

What about for city slickers within driving distance of an airline hub? If you’ve got a little extra time, I put forth that the long-distance train might not be a bad choice. You can sightsee! It’s relaxing! You can get up and walk around at will! And I’m not going to pressure you, but it is way less taxing on the environment than taking a big old jet.*

As a veteran of many train trips, from interstate ones to those that go clear across the US of A, I can offer you some tips to make your journey more pleasant:

1. Remember that your train trip is not just a means to an end; it is part of your vacation itself. If you’re going to get all Type A about how long it’s taking and constantly clock how far behind schedule you are, you are just going to drive yourself batty. It’s like complaining your horse-drawn carriage around Central Park is ten minutes behind schedule. Feel that gentle rocking? Isn’t that nice? Now go get yourself a glass of wine and a deck of cards.

2. Bring lots of ones and fives. They’re good for tipping in the dining car, and always appreciated at the snack counter.

3. Bring a variety of entertainment options. You’ll find yourself daydreaming and staring out the window a lot, which is a perfect use of your train time. However, take it from someone who has gone from LA to Boston on the train multiple times: you’re going to need more entertainment than lollygagging will provide, and there’s nothing like finding yourself stuck with a collection of Busby Berkeley musicals and discovering you’re in the mood for a crime drama. I bring podcasts, TV series, books, writing projects…and I will generally only use a few of the many options available to me. I love knowing I have options, though.

4. Chat people up. The dining car is the best place to make the acquaintance of new compatriots, since group seating is compulsory, but time isn’t a particularly rare commodity on the long-distance train, and you may find an opportunity for conversation in the observation or lounge car. I can’t say as I’ve made any lifelong friends in this manner, but what other opportunity do I have to meet a stay-at-home Mom from rural Mississippi or a friendly Mennonite?

5. Relax. It’s rare that you are in a position where you can have absolutely nothing to do. Embrace the chance to let your mind wander. You might have a revelation that changes your life!

4. Give in to the will of the train. No one is less of a morning person than I am. However, breakfast starts at 5:30 or 6:00 and often ends shortly after 8:00 — and, friends, I am a fan of pancakes. Besides, once they’ve started those announcements over the loudspeaker there’s no sleeping, anyway.

I hope you’ll give long-distance train travel a shot, if only once, for the sheer novelty. You might have a nice trip for a change. And who ever says that about a plane ride?

*the only reason I can justify having this post on my environmental blog

Angela Gaines, the director of marketing and communications for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, kindly agreed to answer a few of my questions about her food bank. I’m sure their needs are typical, regardless of where you live. I hope this is helpful, with all the holiday food drives coming up!

Since the economy has gotten worse, more Oklahomans are turning to the Food Bank for assistance.

Canned meat, canned vegetables, canned fruit, canned tuna, peanut butter, rice and beans. We also accept miscellaneous canned goods, packaged goods, personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, and paper goods. We do not accept baby food in glass containers.

We require the items to be unopened, in non-breakable packaging, and not past their expiration date. We do not accept homemade items.

Food that has been expired for a long time.

Vegetables, yes. Prepared food, no, but some of our partner agencies, like the Salvation Army, can.

Cash. Every dollar donated will provide five meals for hungry Oklahomans.

Non-perishable items and healthy vegetables are preferred.

A friend of mine recently posted on Facebook about her concern that the teapot she’d just acquired from a thrift store could be a source of lead. While I was pretty sure she had nothing to worry about, given that it looked to be manufactured recently, it made me think that the vintage dishes I ate off of every day — made in the 1950s, before current FDA lead standards were in place — could be problematic.

My research revealed that lead is commonly used in the ceramics process, and the presence of lead per se in dishware isn’t a problem — it’s that sometimes, if the glaze is deteriorating, the lead can leach into to your food, and potentially lead to lead poisoning, which can be very serious, especially for children. In some cases, excess lead ingestion can also result from contact with new dishes that don’t conform to current FDA standards (pottery from Mexico, in particular, is a problem.)

I bought a test from the hardware store (essentially a few small strips of paper with rhodizonate or sulfide on them, which react when coming into contact with lead), followed the instructions, and my plates came up positive for lead. However, the pink color that indicated a positive result is very similar to the color of the pink paint on my plate, and when I tried applying vinegar to that same area (as the test suggested) the cotton ball also turned slightly pink, thus invalidating the entire test, according to the instruction’s own guidelines.

In addition, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has noted that a lot of these home tests give incorrect results (more typically false negatives than false positives) so I really didn’t know what to think. However, in the interest of science and my health, and my grandparents’ entire dish set, I bit the bullet and sent one of my plates to Chicago Spectro Service Laboratory so they could check it out. Though several articles on the subject of lead testing suggested sending a sample from your set of dishware for this kind of official testing, it’s a fairly impractical solution on a wide scale since (a) they’re not really set up to deal with the public — they ignored my email and I had to break down and call them, and (b) it’s not that cheap, $35, which, if you have just a few related items, may not make financial sense, and (c) they will destroy the item in the process, thus making it completely pointless for a single item. But, hey, even if you’d never go that far, you can live vicariously through me!

Today I got my results back! It looks as if my dinner plate, which was absolutely the most beat up one that I could find in the bunch, leaches 3.04 ppm (parts per million!) of lead, which is such a tiny, miniscule amount above the 3.0 ppm that the FDA recommends that I think it’s totally fine. (They actually recommend testing six related items and getting an average, though I declined to pay for and destroy six pieces of my dish set to totally comply with this recommendation.)  I don’t know if my dishes are typical of their era (the 50s, I think), but I can tell you if you’re eating off Crooksville china like me, you’re probably not in too much danger.

If you have older dishes, or new ones that are handmade or which originate from somewhere with dubious lead standards, it’s best to not store food in your dishes and to avoid eating acidic foods off them. Also, don’t use them in the microwave or dishwasher.

I hope this won’t discourage you from buying used dishes! Lead standards in ceramics have been in place for the FDA for over forty years, and, as you can see from  my results, just because dishes predate those standards doesn’t mean they’re actually dangerous. If you’re seriously worried, you can stick with dishes made after the 1970s, or stick with glass plates.

If you do want something tested, I recommend the Chicago Spectro Service Laboratory. I got my results within a week or so of mailing in my plate, and the information was provided in a very straightforward way that was easy for me to understand.

I can finally stop eating my dinner off a pie plate like an animal!

Clothes eventually wear out. If you care about the environment and labor issues, you’re not buying disposable clothes at H&M and Forever 21 that will only withstand a handful of washings. You’re buying good quality, lasting pieces (maybe used ones!) that will stand the test of time. And when you do get a tear in something you can often get the item patched at the tailor,
which is not nearly the big deal that people seem to think it is. I recently got these Theory pants (which I bought used, because they’re otherwise way out of my budget) patched up for ten bucks when I tore a three-inch tear in the seat. And you can’t even tell when I’m wearing them!

Another issue that comes up with clothing is button loss. Higher quality items often have extra buttons attached, either in a little pouch that came with the garment or sewn into the label. However, when this is not the case, you can almost certainly find a substitute button for a buck or two at the fabric or craft store. I recently lost a button on my fancy Free People sweater, and it was a pretty unusual one, and couldn’t easily be replaced. However, I went to the craft store and found a whole new set of buttons for about $4.00, and got a few extra to spare, in case one falls off. I brought the sweater with me to test drive the buttons to make sure they fit through the hole!
Not good at sewing buttons yourself? I can do it, but I’m terrible at it, so I’m sure I’ll end up bringing the job to my local tailor, along with some pants I need shortened. I think they charge a dollar a button. Totally worth it!

Harriet A. Hall, MD, know as the SkepDoc, is a retired family physician and former Air Force flight surgeon who writes about medicine, quackery, and critical thinking for Skeptic Magazine and the Science-Based Medicine blog, which she co-founded. I thought she’d be a great person to ask about the value of health supplements and beauty products, since I’m always trying to get everyone to buy less crap!

1. What cold medications, if any, are worth buying? Other than zinc supplements, I haven’t seen anything that has research behind it that shows it lessens the length of a cold.

In my opinion, there are no cold medicines worth buying. A cold lasts seven days if you treat it and a week if you don’t. There are comfort measures that might make you feel a little better, like decongestants or salt water nasal irrigation or a hot toddy or Tylenol or chicken soup. But no medicines significantly affect the course of the cold. Colds are best treated with “tincture of time.” I like to reframe the idea of a cold as a good excuse for a mini-vacation. You can rest, take naps, put your responsibilities on hold, and pamper yourself.

2. What are the pros and cons of vitamin and mineral supplements? Does the average person need them, or should you only take them when you have a diagnosed deficiency?

There was a good review of vitamin supplements in The Medical Letter. They said “supplements are necessary to assure adequate intake of folic acid in young women and possibly of vitamins D and B12 in the elderly. There is no convincing evidence that taking supplements of vitamin C prevents any disease except scurvy. Women should not take vitamin A supplements during pregnancy or after menopause. No one should take high dose beta carotene supplements. A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables may be safer than taking vitamin supplements. No biologically active substance taken for a long term can be assumed to be free of risk.”

The average healthy person does not need vitamin or mineral supplements, and taking them only results in expensive urine. Multivitamins are not indicated. Specific supplements may be indicated for specific reasons: your doctor will let you know if you need them.

3. What trendy health supplements are actually worth it? What about probiotics?

No trendy supplements are worth it. If they had been tested and proven to be safe and effective, they would not be trendy supplements but would be FDA approved as prescription or over-the-counter drugs. There are some preliminary studies showing benefits for probiotics in specific medical conditions, but the sales hype goes far beyond the evidence. My digestive system can regulate itself quite well without the help of Activia, thank you very much!

4. Do any weight loss supplements actually work?

The ads that say “eat all you want and still lose weight” are lying. Stimulants can increase metabolism and might make a small contribution to weight loss, but ephedra is off the market and you can get more health benefits from coffee than from caffeine in pills. Weight loss supplements can act as a placebo aid to motivation, but they don’t have any objective effects. The most effective aid to weight loss is to keep a food diary and systematically reduce your calorie intake. No cost involved except the cost of paper, and you’ll save money by buying less food.

5. What’s your take on traditional Chinese medicine? Has any of that stuff been subject to thorough enough testing to know if it works?

Most Chinese herbs have not been adequately tested. Some of them have been shown to work but have not been tested for safety as rigorously as prescription drugs. In general, the mixture of ingredients in the herb works no better than a purified active ingredient, and some of the other plant compounds might be counterproductive.  My biggest concern about Chinese herbal medicines is a lack of quality control. Products on sale have been found to contain toxins, carcinogens, insect parts, etc. and the dosage listed on the label may not reflect what you are actually getting.

6. Are any anti-aging products effective?

“Anti-aging” creams are not anti-aging. They do nothing but temporarily improve the appearance of the skin. Expensive moisturizers are no more effective than greasing the skin with Crisco; they’re just more aesthetically acceptable.

Thanks SkepDoc! With the money you’re going to save on these unnecessary products, you can go out and buy yourself some delicious healthy food, or a slightly used compostable hat. Have a great day!

Garage sale expert Lynda Hammond writes a weekly column at the Arizona Republic on garage sales, maintains a web site on the subject, and has even written a book about it. She graciously agreed to a brief phone interview with me so I could pick her brain!

1. What originally got you interested in yard sales?

My sister-in-law and her mother took me garage sale-ing for this first time ever in Kansas in the early nineties. They had to drag me along because I was a garage sale snob. I thought: ‘why would I want to buy used crap from someone’s house?’ When I got there, I was really shocked. I couldn’t believe some of the things for sale. Cool-looking antiques, things you simply can’t buy in a store anymore. The thing I walked away with was an old copper boiler. I remember the man kept talking about price, and I finally got it down to $30. He said it was his grandmother’s and it reminded him so much of her. I realized that he might be ready to change his mind about selling it, so I walked away fast!

I didn’t start doing it professionally until I had to. I became unemployed and bought things at garage sales and sold them online. Anything you could imagine that I thought might be collectible or desirable. One of the first things I bought were Monopoly coffee cups for a dollar. I sold them for ten bucks apiece.

I was able to pay my house payment and utility bills for three months by going to garage sells and selling stuff online.

2. What’s the best single item you’ve ever purchased?

I have lots of different favorite things. One of my favorite things is a seven-foot tall iron candleholder with six separate places for candles. I was with my parents, and we were going to a mall, and I saw a garage sale sign, and said ‘let’s go.’ I saw this iron gizmo sticking up over this wall, and I told my dad I don’t know what this is, but I think I want it. We went around the corner and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this 7-foot tall candleholder. I asked the lady how much it was and she said I think my daughter wants ten dollars for it. I couldn’t get the money out fast enough. I didn’t even look around the sale, I was worried the daughter would come out and want a hundred for it. So I gave her the ten as fast as I could and I told my dad: pick up the other end, let’s go.

3. What do you think keeps people away from attending yard sales?

The same thing that kept me from attending them. Thinking ‘I don’t want to go to someone’s sale and buy their old crap.’ It’s a huge misconception. You can find brand new things at garage sales.

4. What are some of the key elements to throwing a good yard sale?

To make the most money, don’t price stuff. Often times you’ll get more money if you let people make an offer. When you’re thinking about what to sell, don’t discriminate. You’d be surprised at what sells.

Electronics are very saleable. People will buy them even if they’re broken, for parts. Furniture, collectibles. Anything goes, really. When in doubt, put it out.

5. Do you think Americans in general buy too much stuff?

We are definitely a society that likes to buy stuff, especially new stuff, and garage sales are a great place to do that. You often can buy new things at garage sales, because we all get gifts that we don’t use, or buy things and change our minds about them.

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When I turned thirteen, my Italian grandmother gave me what she felt was an appropriate gift to help me ease into womanhood: a pizzelle maker. (If you have never eaten pizzelles, they are not-very-sweet, waffle-like cookies that were a staple at my grandparents’ house, unignorable when prepared fresh.) For many years this was the only appliance I possessed. Over ten years ago, however, I tragically lost the cord to this appliance, and, because it is was one of these two-prong types from an earlier era (circa 1980), it was tough to replace. A week or so ago, I re-opened my search for a replacement cord, and came across Michael Sheafe’s Toaster Central, which, while primarily a place from which to buy fixed up vintage appliances, also sells my much needed replacement part!

Michael graciously agreed to be interviewed for this site about his business. I hope this will convince you to buy used appliances and to try to find parts for the ones you may already have that are good quality.

In 1967 I bought a great old Sunbeam toaster, took it home, cleaned it up and used and enjoyed it for decades.  In 1998 I’d had a great job downtown for a dozen years, but was burned out and quit my job.

So, after years of hearing people complain about their crappy toasters, I decided to start a little business to supply a decent two-slice pop up toaster. I acquired toasters that were manufactured in the 1930s through the 1960s, cleaned and repaired them, and sold them at the local flea markets.  Just to make toast, and guaranteed to please.  No lights or buzzers or settings for pop tarts; just toast.

The cord sales is a complementary line of business.

No, they are made commercially, but few hardware stores carry them.  People seem appreciative to find them for sale, but I usually recommend that you check locally at hardware and housewares stores first.  Take the appliance with you.

Yes. Older appliances are made of steel and brass and chrome and copper and were designed to be repaired.  They were made by humans assisted by machines, but still essentially hand built.

New appliances are made by machines assisted by humans.  Materials and manufacturing have evolved so that a toaster cannot be repaired, and is made of cheaper materials. (Remember our mass retailer W*lmart is pounding manufacturers to make it cheaper and cheaper.)  Expectation of the lifespan of a new toaster has dropped dramatically.  I believe a refurbished older toaster is a much better value.

Materials are different, manufacturing methods are different, and nearly all new toasters cannot be repaired.

Movies, Broadway and Fifth Avenue (Bergdorf Goodman), and theater and film companies in the US, Canada and Australia.  It’s a small part of my business and requires a good deal of work and special handling.

Yes, especially owners of the family toaster or waffle iron, Westinghouse Roaster, or Sunbeam deep fryer.

Tread lightly on the earth.

Thanks a lot for the interview! I defy you to not be impressed by his incredible selection of beautiful and functional appliances!

Los Angeles has a well-earned reputation for dropping the ball in the public transportation arena. However, there are a few bright spots. While the “subway to the sea” suffers from local political struggles that may take years to resolve, light rail continues to expand at a good pace, and the Culver City station just had its grand opening! Yesterday, my friend Kim and I opted to drive to the station (where there was copious free parking) and take it to the end of the blue line to 7th and Hope downtown. It was a mere buck and half each way (fifty-five cents for seniors and disabled people!), and the trains were clean, efficient, and pleasant. We were able to walk from the station to The Last Bookstore and then have a delicious meal at Bottega Louie on the way back, all without the hassle of driving and parking.

Interestingly, you don’t insert your ticket to get on or off the train, but they spot check for tickets during the ride. Not that any of you would ever think of taking advantage of this semi honor system, but if you get busted you get fined $250, so don’t even think about it. On our trip, they didn’t check on the way out, but they did on the way back.

Don’t be discouraged by the Metro’s general lack of signage at the new station (which is at Washington and National, though it’s hard to tell from their map.) It’s a great way to get downtown from the west side and connect to other routes throughout the metropolitan area.

*cue Berlin song