Food Prices Are On The Rise

Consumers Aren't The Only Ones Making Changes






Joyce Ogirri
NCC News Reporter

Syracuse, NY



American grocery shoppers are paying more than ever for the basic staples like milk, bread, and cereal. Food prices increased more in the past year than at any time since the early 90s.

Joan Rohe lives on a diary farm and knows first hand what struggles farmer go through.

“The price of milk doesn’t scare me. It should go up to help the farmers out. You have to raise the milk prices,” said Shopper Joan Rohe.

In the last year, the average price of flour is up 40%, eggs are up 33%, and even beer has increased. Local grocers are looking for ways to cut back.

“We are price sensitive to everything that we but that comes in our door. We try to keep our margins consistently tight with the industry,” said Leah’s Big M owner Dan Hodgins.

The reason for increases economists say its higher energy process and transportation costs.

“Consumers have to retrench and kind of reallocate their budgets and see what they can afford,” said Economist Don Dutkowsky.

This is not just happening at the grocery store. Restaurants, taverns, and bakeries all over Syracuse are raising their prices, passing along their own higher cost of business.

At Empire Brewing Company in Armory Square, a pint of beer will cost you an extra 50 cents. Owners blame it on the rising cost of hops and malt, beer’s two main ingredients.

“We’re not going to gauge you, we’re just going to recover what we need to in order to make our business profitable,” said Brew Master Tim Butler.

On the city’s north side, family owned Columbus Bakery is coping with the soaring price of flour, which doubled what it was a year ago.

“It trickles down to the consumer and I have to raise my prices. I’m the bad guy, I don’t want to be,” said Owner Jimmy Retzos.

The restaurants are especially sensitive to higher food prices. Kevin Gentile serves up eclectic Italian cuisine at his little family owned restaurant on Burnet Avenue. He changes his complete menu four times a year.

“I’ve been in the restaurant business for 22 years. I have noticed more fluctuation in commodity items and prices of vegetables in the last two years than I’ve ever seen in my life, said Owner Kevin Gentile.

With a recession on the horizon, both consumers and business owners have to pay closer attention to their budget.

Analog to Digital Switch: Less Confusing Then You Think

On February 17, 2009, the FCC is requiring local broadcaster to send out a digital signal rather than an over-the-air analog signal. The changeover from analog to digital is presenting a lot of confusion among the many Central New Yorker and the almost 100 million TV viewers in America.

CONFUSION

Around 14.5 million people still own an antenna-powered television. These are the people that are still confused as to what to do. Many of them are senior citizens according to Time Warner Cable Spokesperson Jeff Unaitis.

“I think at this point there’s still a lot of confusion we’re hearing from a lot of elderly customers that they think they need to buy a new TV set, let along sign up for cable or get a digital tuner.”

Tiffany Lentz, a student at Syracuse University, said “I don't have a TV prepared for it, but I'm prepared, if that makes any sense.”

Confusion shouldn’t be on the agenda because there is a simple solution. The website dtv2009.org is offering coupons for anyone still with analog TV’s for a converter box. The converter box connects to the back of the TV and to your old antenna and you should be good to go. If you have digital cable or satellite, your fine.

Most of the people confused over weather to get a TV or not are the older citizens though. At the Circuit City at Carousel Center, Manager Todd McNeil said, “I think it is the older crowd that has the hardest time understanding why they're the one's that kinda get upset over it. Most of the younger generation just doesn’t worry about it and just buys a new TV."

Some senior citizens at the Ida Benderson Senior Center are both unaware about the switch and are confused about what will happen to their TV. Some said that they will not have the ability to purchase cable. “Can't afford to get any more than what I have as that's what I'm concerned being an older person on a fixed income."

ECONOMIC LOSSES

The FCC requiring the local broadcast stations to switch over to an all digital output is costing some stations in Syracuse lots of money. “Well the initial outlay was in the order of millions of dollars as it was for every other station in the area as when we begin broadcasting that,” said Kevin Wright, chief engineer of WTVH 5 in Syracuse. The FCC may approve legislation requiring broadcast stations to run four 30-minute ads daily in the hope to inform the public about the switch.

Others that stand to not gain much from the digital to analog switch are the recycling companies. The County Resource Recovery Agency hopes that people try to keep their TV’s away for the moment. “People don't have to panic and buy a new set. We can kind of keep that tsunami of old waste down to maybe just a little ripple if we all just work together,” said Tom Rhodes, Executive Director of OCRRA.

Another local business that can’t do anything with the TV’s is Jim Moltion at the Northeast Supply Company. He stands to gain nothing out of the television except for some money from the old cooper wires and the steel from the old bunny ears. “All these tubes contain about 40 percent lead and its an integral part of the glass. It's a crisis, but nobody gives.”

INFO TO KNOW

All TV’s manufactured after March 1st will be required to come with a digital signal. The FCC will send agents to senior centers. Congress has ordered the switch to digital television to free up public airwaves for police and fire departments and the analog airwaves will be auctioned off for commercial services.

Teeth Whitening Dangers

Many people feel having bright, white teeth is essential to their image and with lots of over-the-counter products available these days to help them achieve their goal, some are using too much of them, exposing themselves to potential dental problems.


"You're smiling," Sonja Vigneux, of Syracuse, said. "They got nice bright white teeth and, just their whole face glows and shines and makes you want to approach them."


Americans love white teeth. And nowadays, they don't have to go to the dentist to get those pearly whites. Americans can just walk to the nearest pharmacy. This year, consumers will spend more than 1.5 billion dollars on over-the-counter teeth whitening products.


But Dentists say consumers need to be aware that, at the end of the day, they're putting chemicals in their mouth that could cause problems when consumers use too many of these products. Katrina Devis is a graduate student at Syracuse University. She says she tried an over-the-counter whitening product once and says it made her teeth hurt.


"It was horrible," Devis said. "I mean, it made my teeth white but at the same time it made my teeth very sensitive so that wasn't something I thought was a good investment after a while."


Every over-the-counter teeth whitening product has a warning label, reminding people of serious side effects. Devis says she followed the instructions, but not everyone does.

The Dangers

Use too much of an over-the-counter whitening product and you could experience gum irritation, teeth sensitivity, and the rare but irreversible, teeth translucency. Dr. Lynwood Bennerson, a Syracuse dentist, says people need to realize the damage they can cause to their teeth. "The most common side-effect would be hyper sensitivity which is your teeth becoming very sensitive to hot or cold," he said. "It can be extreme, it can be very slight depending on the enamel makeup of the persons teeth."


Dr. Bennerson offers professional bleaching in his practice, which is more intense and expensive than an over-the-counter product. He says despite their best efforts, people can only get so much improvement using the products they bought in a store.


"Those products are self limiting," he said. "They're probably not going to let you go any further than a certain point for liability reasons to the company."

Why Are People Doing This?

But why are some people willing to risk the long-term health of their teeth just so they can have some pearly whites for a period of time? In an msnbc.com article last year, people said the perfect teeth of Hollywood stars make them feel theirs are inadequate. Some also reported to feeling addicted to the products because they feel their teeth could always be whiter.

"People who have very white teeth, get so many compliments that they want to have it even whiter," Tibor Palfai, a professor of psychology at Syracuse University, said.

But lots of Hollywood stars have porcelain veneers, which are layers of tooth-colored material, and it's impossible to get regular teeth as white as clean snow. But Dr. Bennerson says, if used correctly, over-the-counter teeth whitening products do work and won't cause any damage.

What you need to know about the switch to digital

In one year from now the way you’ve always watched television is going to change. But you might not even notice a difference. On February 17, 2009 analog television broadcasting is going to switch over the digital.

Customers are confused about what the switch is going to mean for them. Robert Dunton of Volney said he is not sure what is going to do. “So for me the option is throw all the TV sets away and don’t even use them or maybe go digital. But I’m really angry about digital.” He said he is most frustrated about not knowing who is responsible. “If I knew who was responsible I would like to mount a campaign to vote them all out of office.”

Estimates have been as high as 21 million households with analog television. But recent estimates put the number at 13 million. There are about 55,000 households that get analog signal in Syracuse.

Television repair stores have been receiving lots of phone calls from people who think they will lose their television signal. Television repairman Anthony Palmisano said he is trying to ease people’s concern. “I had a lady the other week, she’s almost crying. My TVs not going to work. I said do you have cable. Yes. We’ll it’s going to work. You made my whole day. That’s what I’m getting at.”

People are mainly confused about who is affected. If you have cable or satellite the switch over will not affect you. But for those who get their television through rabbit ears or antenna will need to make changes. These changes could include purchasing a converter box, upgrading to satellite or cable or a digital television with a built in tuner. The government is providing vouchers for converter boxes. Each household can file for two vouchers, each valued at $40. They cannot be combined in purchasing a converter box and expire after 3 months.

The biggest beneficiaries of the switch should be television retailers and the cable companies. Bill Alsip works at best buy and he said customers with analog television sets are coming in to buy new television. “And many of them are using this as an excuse to buy a new television.”

Time Warner Cable is also expecting new customers because of the switch over.

More information about the switch is available at dtvanswers.com.

The Switch to digital

Syracuse, NY: If you think you will need to buy a brand new TV in order to watch TV next year, you’re wrong. With TV set to be broadcast solely in digital come next February, most people won’t even notice the change.

The switch to digital means people who receive television programming from their rooftop antennas or rabbit ears will need to buy a converter box or else their picture will disappear. Those with cable or satellite won’t have to do a thing.

Nick Palmisano is a TV repairman in Syracuse, and he said that he gets several calls a week from confused customers.

[“I had a lady come in here yesterday almost in tears. She said ‘My TV won’t work anymore.’ And I said ‘Do you have cable?’ And she said ‘Yes.’ And I said ‘It’ll work.’ And she said, ‘You made my day.’”] Nick Palmisano

One company benefiting from the switch is Time Warner Cable. They say the switch to digital gives them the opportunity to attract new customers. But they say it doesn’t mean they’ll be extending their service to not currently serviced.

[“State law requires us to provide cable where there are 35 homes per square mile, and that’s not going to change.”] Jeff Unaitis- Time Warner Cable

That’s bad news for Robert Denton, who lives outside of the village of Volney. Denton cannot get cable, and refuses to install a satellite dish. He is just one resident who is not happy about the switch to digital.

For Denton the switch to digital could get kind of pricey. He owns five television sets. All would need a converter box.

“For me the options are to throw out my TV’s and don’t even use them, or go digital. So I’m really angry about digital.” [Robert Denton]

And it’s that kind of throwaway mentality that has the government nervous... It is estimated that nationwide 21 million households still receive their TV from an antenna. In Central New York that translates into about 55 thousand homes. That means thousand of old TV’s could soon flood the landfills.

Jim Moltion owns Northeast Supplies and Materials, and he is very concerned about the switch to digital. He said the government needs to mandate what to do with the old TV’s, or else it could do harm to the environment. There are more than 75 old TV sets just sitting in his warehouse. He has no plans of taking them apart.

The Onondaga County Recovery and Recycling Agency (OCRRA) is trying to help. They have arranged a TV drop off day at Alliance Bank Stadium on April 19^th. They hope this will discourage residents from throwing their TV’s in the trash.

For those opting to keep their old TV’s, people wanting to watch TV thru their antenna will need to buy a converter box. The government is offering two $40 coupons (per household) toward the purchase of the converter boxes. If you have more questions about the switch to digital, or want to apply for the coupons, visit the DTV transition website.

A Suffering Horse Economy

It’s a crisis that’s sweeping across the nation. Among the estimated two million horse owners- many especially here in upstate New York- are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of hay, grain, and straw.
In a sign of hard economic times, unwanted horses are now being abandon and left for death. And families are being forced into bankruptcy.

A labor of love
Cathie Hallett of Fairport New York has owned a stable for nearly ten years. She says this has been the worst year she has ever seen.
“Almost everything has doubled in two years, so it’s putting a very big financial hardship on being able to maintain, not even improve, the value of horses lives.”
Not even four years ago, a bag of grain was being sold for about six dollars. Today, that same size bag costs Cathie about fifteen dollars.
“That doesn’t even feed five horses a day” says Cathie.
Recently Cathie was forced into selling three of her horses due to financial reasons. Now down to twenty-two horses, Cathie is worried she may have to down-size yet again.
“To have to choose which ones need to go is just heart wrenching… you don’t sleep well at night, knowing that this decision has to be made and where your friend has to go.”
While Cathie says the horses are more like family then pets, she must remember that this is a business. If a horse is not bringing any profits to the stable through lessons or competitions, then it must go.

What is causing this problem?
According to the American Horse Council, Americans own more than nine million horses today. Up from about six million horses in the mid 1990’s.
A growing horse population mixed with rising gas, hay, and grain prices are making it difficult for owners to afford the horses.
The over-population is also making it difficult to sell a horse. The market value of horse is constantly decreasing. A horse that may be worth ten-thousand dollars is now being sold for as little as 1 dollar.
Not even being able to sell the horse, owners are having no choice but to desert or release their horses.

Help is hard to find
Horse owners aren’t the only ones suffering. Rescues like the Humane Society are having to turn down more and more people as their stables fill up.
“I’ve had about twenty calls this past month from families who don’t know what to do” says Joanna Dychton of the Lollypop Humane Society in Fairport New York.
Joanna says a responsible rescue has to know when to stop and say no. Taking a sick horse or an old horse is not very adoptable and a big expense.

Hoping for the best
If prices keep rising it will be difficult for people like Cathie Hallett to keep up.
This year is critical.
“We made a promise that when we bring them in to do no harm...so if we go without than that’s what we need to do. There is only so long you can continue to do that…and I give us a year. If next year we’re in the same situation...most of the farms around here will have to file for bankruptcy and will have to shut down.”

Instant Access of Movies

The Instant Gratification of Home Movie Watching

Going to the movies was once a part of American culture. Families piled in the car to go to the local drive-ins and dates headed off to the theater to watch a flick on the big screen. Syracuse University professor Robert Thompson says the idea that you go out to eat and then go to a movie was a common American activity. “People outside the big cities don’t have much to do. Going to the movies is one of the major things people do," Thompson added.

But many people today enjoy watching a movie within comforts of their home. According to the Washington Post, this makes the gratification of watching movies instantaneous, and while this has become a more popular trend, businesses are taking advantage of this by allowing people to choose movies at home with just a click of a button.

The Kinsey family in Dewitt is one of many families who frequently watch movies On Demand through their cable provider. “We don’t really go to the movies too often, usually when there’s something that’s advertised on TV that catches our eye, we discuss it and see if we want to take a peak at it," Darlene Kinsey said. The On Demand feature provided by Time Warner allows customers to choose from the newest releases as well as movies arranged into categories.

Syracuse University student Rohan Mascarenhas says whenever he has time he prefers to watch movies at home on his laptop. He says because Netflix allows him to receive movies in the mail or download them from, he watches about three movies a week. “Their selection is a huge draw because Netflix has foreign movies, old movies, classics and new stuff, and you get it all from your laptop, you don’t have to go anywhere," Mascarenhas added.

While this instant access to movies at home would appear to threaten theater’s business, the Washington Post says theatergoers are not completely gone. The Washington Post states that while theater numbers dropped in 2006, they now seem to be leveling off. Thompson attributes this to theaters' ability to bounce back from new technology threats. “Weekly attendance at the theaters has never gone back to pre-television numbers, but by raising the price of tickets, Hollywood continued along just fine," Thompson said.

Continuing along is what local theaters like the Manlius Cinema are doing. Manlius Cinema owner Nat Tobin says he personally welcomes customers to each show to keep them coming back. “We try to provide them with an atmosphere in which they feel more at home, where they don’t feel processed in and out of an institution," Tobin said.

Although Tobin says there’s nothing like watching a movie on the big screen, companies like Netflix, CinemaNow and Apple will continue to market products to this generation of home moviewatchers.

Snow Puts Fulton on Freeze

How are Fulton residents surviving the winter that stole its mobility? 

TAISHA WALKER

Reporting for NCC News 

Fulton, NY

There are a few things that people living in Fulton can expect year round, snow, snow and more snow.   In many places 17 feet of snowfall can shut down a town causing children to stay home from school and parents to call in sick from work.  Well that's not the case for Fulton.  

In fact, residents of the town say the snow is no big deal at least after you get used to it.  "We usually get large amounts in a short period of time which makes it challenging as far as getting the city cleared and the businesses, people to work and school," said Tom Handley, who has lived in Oswego County for over 20 years.

Handley says part plows, snow blowers and snow removal equipment are tools everyone in the town needs to survive the winter.  In a town with the population of about 12 thousand people, it would be hard for anyone to move around town without plowed streets and cleaned sidewalks. But that very thing did happen.

 

Fulton's Department of Public Works had a hard time removing the 37 inches of snow that covered the town in late-January because their  plows, snow blowers and garbage trucks were trapped under concrete and dust. 

Heavy snow falling on top of the DPW Highway garage caused the building to crumble almost taking the lives of four workers down with the structure said Dan O'Brien, DPW Commissioner.

"The DPW garage collapsing hindered our mobility and our ways to respond to the snow storm said O'Brien.

With the town at a stand still, the work of many city workers started to pile up like the feet long snow banks. But Captain Daniel Abell, of the Fulton Fire Department says people are  understanding when it takes his team a bit longer to respond to a fire. 

"Most people that are from this area know what it is like to travel and navigate the streets through a snow storm of that nature, and they understand that you can only get there in a reasonable time during these weather conditions," said Abell. 

  So members within the community and surrounding neighborhoods chipped in and helped in any way they could. Some helped elderly neighbors shovel snow, some used their personal plows to help clear streets and many just held their trash until garbage trucks came the following week. 

Some people may think the snow storm that caused the garage collapse was an awful event.  In this small city where everyone seems to know each other, many residents were glad that the event brought the community bond even closer.   

Eating Organic

Is organic really better for you and your family?

Christina D'Amato, NCC News

Syracuse, NY- Farmers across Central New York are part of a small but fast-growing farm movement called "organic." America has a big appetite for healthier versions of some of their favorite foods. According to the Organic Trade Association, consumers spend nearly $14 billion on organic food each year. But organic food still has a long way to go to rival non-organic food each year for market share and it still has to win over some consumers.

WHAT'S ORGANIC?
Foods must follow these guildelines by the Organic Foods Protection Act:

• banning the use of pesticides, antibiotics and growth hormones


• growing produce on land that has been free of chemicals for at least three years


• prohibiting genetically modified crops


• planting with organic seeds

CNY FARMS

There are currently 528 certified organic farms, dairies or processors in New York state as of August 2007, according to NOFA-NY Certified Organic.

Allison Frost, owner of Frosty Morning Farms in Cortland County, is a small scale non-mechanized farm. Frost grows all her organic produce by hand and uses no herbicides or fertilizers. Growing organically creates more work for Frost and her family. She employs no one on the farm, only her two horses who help plow the soil.

Bill Armitage, owner of Mack Creek Farms in Seneca County, also uses old-fashioned farming techniques in his organic beef. Armitage took on the responsibly of keeping his cattle farm organic, which is an intensive process of feeding his livestock only certified organic food from birth. The 400 acre farm has been in the family for over 200 years.

THE GROCERY STORE

Supermarkets are a popular place to purchase organic foods because consumers already shop there. Organic alternatives are available for almost every conventional food product- fruits, vegetables, cereal, milk, meat and even dog food.

Organic products take more time to produce, process and handle. Therefore, organic foods typically cost more than non-organic foods.

Organic Produce

Organic produce is priced 20 percent to 30 percent higher than conventional produce because of the extra time employees take to follow organic guildelines. All organic fruits and vegetables must be handled seperaetley from non-organic produce to prevent contamination according to produce workers at Wegmans in Syracuse.

Organic Beef

Organic meat has been a tough sell at the grocery store. According to retail butchers, the price of organic beef is $20 to $50 a pound. "The red meat has not taken off like the crops and the dairy has. Milk and your field crops is where organic farmers are making all their money," Bill Armitage said.

SPENDING WORTH THE COST?

Despite generally higher prices, many Central New York shoppers are buying organic. They do not mind paying a smaller mark-up for items such as milk, bananas, salad, chicken and corn flakes, which are nearly doubled in price.

Paula Wells never ate any processed foods because she grew up on a farm. "I think that the reason I'm so healthy and don't look my age is because of what I've eaten."

But for other Wegmans' shoppers, they are used to eating conventional foods because all food must meet the same quality and safety standards. "I'm comfortable with the food supply the way it is. And I think it's safe and healthy the way it is," Dan Campbell said.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there is no evidence that organic food is healthier than conventaional food. " Because something's not grown in pesticides or is grown with pesticides doesn't change the nutritional composition of the food," Kiersten White, registered dietitian, said.

Blu-ray v. HD-DVD

There’s a new tech trend breaking into the mainstream, and NCC’s Kristen LaVerghetta found out that in this crystal clear and crisp HD world, high definition movies have consumers a bit confused.

HD-DVD and Blu-ray are both high definition movie formats, and they are competing for market control. To the average consumer these formats may look the same, but there are some major differences. And these differences are giving Blu-ray a leg-up in the industry.

“Blu-ray is better than HD because it can operate at 10-80 P, which is 10 hundred and 80 pixels on the screen verse high definition, which can only do 720 pixels. So it’s a step above and beyond what high definition TV can display at.” Explained Brian Venuti, a technology enthusiast and former Best Buy employee. David Baselli, a home theater specialist, says that the audio capabilities on Blu-ray also exceed those of HD-DVD.

With 75 percent of the movie studios backing Blu-ray, this format also offers consumers more movie choices. However, the advanced performance and variety comes with a higher price tag. Blu-ray players cost about $400, and the average cost of a movie, is between $25 and $40. HD-DVD technology is less expensive. HD-DVD players cost around $150, and the movies cost between $20 and $30.

Robert Thompson, Director of the Bleier Center for Television & Popular Culture at Syracuse University, questions whether or not either format will be relevant in the near future. He says that people will soon be able to download content directly from their computer to their television.

However, Thompson believes that DVD’s, in one format or another, will probably always exist. “DVD’s are really interesting fetish objects… I think there is still going to be this desire for these thing that we can put on a shelf”

So what should high def craving consumers do when it comes to movies? Baselli says that purchasing a combination player is a safe investment for consumers. These players are compatible with both Blu-ray discs and HD-DVDs.

Combo players are not cheap! They can cost as much as $800. If you’re not quite ready to make that type of investment, you might want to wait. In a high-def industry on the cutting edge of change, experts say something even BETTER could be just a day...or a download away.

Watching More Movies at Home

Going to see a movie is an all-American pastime. Consumers spend 50 billion dollars a year on movie tickets, DVDs, and rentals--an industry that keeps growing, with more ways to watch than ever before.

“If there’s something we really want to watch," said Darleen Kinsey, a Fayetteville mother of two, "we’ll buy-on-demand, and watch it at the house as a family.”

The Kinseys can choose from hundreds of the latest movie releases. They’re one of a growing number of families who are taking advantage of technology to download movies at home.

“The home screen’s getting bigger and bigger," said Robert Thompson, a pop culture expert at Syracuse University. "And the multiplex screens are getting smaller and smaller. It’s almost like they’re meeting somewhere in the middle."

Some independent theaters around Syracuse like the recently closed Westcott Theatre took a heavy hit in revenues. But others are getting the hint--they're making the movie watching experience more comfortable, with more of the conveniences of your own home.

“We have a unique relationship with the cafe," said Tina Holava-Hughes, the manager of the Palace Theatre on James Street. "“We allow them to bring their dinner into the movie if they’re running a little late....It’s the convenience of home with your own kitchen.”

The owner of the Manlius Theater, a small, independent art house has his own tricks. “If there’s a large enough group," said owner Nat Tobin, "I introduce the film to let the audience know what’s coming."

But while new movies come out every week, they're not saying in theaters as long as they used to. Studios are banking more on DVDs, with more opportunities to make a buck.

Syracuse resident Ron Metger rents movies for a dollar a day at Redbox kiosks in front of grocery stores. It's a simple as using a vending machine. “I use it when I come into Wegman’s," said Metger, "I usually rent one or two movies a week.”

While the selection is small, that seems to be a trend with brick and mortar stores that are competing against online rentals like Netflix, who ship to your door, Apple's iTunes, and even Blockbuster, which is moving most of its titles online.

“You can go into a Blockbuster," said Thompson, "Some of the collections are pathetic. Ten million 'March of the Penguins.' But you can’t even find Citizen Kane! That industry seems to be shedding its stock.”

But some customers still go to video stores for the impulse rental.

“With Netflix, it’s kind of like you have to want the movies in advance," said Emerald City Video customer Diana Jaramillo-Decarlo. "I guess I’m more spontaneous. Oh, it’s not like I’m planning to watch a movie.” Jaramillo Decarlo said she also comes to Emerald City for its unusual selection of independent films.

But for some, it’s an inconvenient trip. Syracuse University student Rohan Mascarenhas would rather watch movies on his laptop

“When you’re alone in the room late at night, or it's a rainy day outside, you can find basically anything online," said Mascarenhas. “Selection is a huge draw. They have foreign movies, old movies, classics, new stuff, tv stuff, and you get it all on a laptop. You don’t have to go anywhere.”

And for families like the Kinseys, who can access movies with a touch a button, that can mean less traveling, and more quality time at home.

“Just sitting around as a family," said Kinsey's husband James, "just enjoying each other’s company.”

Eating Organic-Is it Worth All the Hype?

It’s a word we used to only see on local fruit stands, but now you will see it in almost every aisle of grocery stores across America…organic. However, NCC news reporter Sujata Khandelwal says even though it’s a growing trend, eating organic isn’t necessarily better for you.

What is organic?
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, organic foods are grown or raised in an environment completely free of any chemicals. “There’s no pesticides or herbicide use on any of the land. None of the feed can come from anything other than certified organic land,” says Bill Armitage of Seneca County. Armitage owns the largest herd of organic USDA-certified beef cattle in Central New York.

“It’s a way of life.”
Not far from the Armitage farm in Seneca County, Alison Frost owns an organic vegetable farm. Frost grows everything from herbs and carrots to brussel sprouts. She says it’s a very labor-intensive process because you are not only growing crops, but also cultivating the soil. “You’re not going to be able to use herbicides. You’re not going to use like quick-fix fertilizers so you’re building up the soil, you’re growing soil as well as the food you’re growing.” It is this extra quality control, which comes at an added price.

Buying into it.
The Organic Trade Association says American consumers spent nearly 17 billion dollars on organic foods in 2006. Organic foods are generally double the price of their conventional counterparts. But, are they really a better buy? “Just because something is not grown in pesticides or is grown with pesticides isn’t going to change the nutritional composition of the food,” says Kiersten White, a registered dietician at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse. According to White, there are no documented studies indicating that eating organically grown foods has long-term health benefits. She says it’s all about personal preference.

So, at the end of the day why go organic? For Bill and Alison it’s about placing a quality product on the shelves. For some consumers it’s simply about being healthy, and they say, for that peace of mind, there is no price too high.

New York State Goes Green to Save Energy

William Scranton and his family live in an old house in Norwich...complete with cracked windows, poor insulation and holes in the floor...a house he admits is falling apart and costing way too much to heat in the wintertime. “Our utility bills here are astronomical. They’re hovering around six hundred dollars a month," says Scranton.

That's why the Scranton’s are among a growing number of Americans willing to invest in a new and greener house this year.



“We feel moving into a new home with more efficient heating, lighting and everything, we could save fifty percent or more,” says Scranton.

Green homes are sprouting up across New York State under an energy program with an ambitious goal of making the state thirty-percent more energy efficient.

Kevin Stack owns Northeast Natural Homes and is a LEED inspector, an organization that provides green building standards. Stack says, “If you take a holistic approach to building, how you design and build a structure, it doesn’t cost more, it actually costs less. For every day it’s alive, every year, every month. It’s going to use less energy and be less of an environmental impact.”




Angelina Maynard is a carpenter for Von Wettberg Builders. So far she has assisted the company in building two green homes. She says, “There’s no one set way to do green. It’s all a fairly new process. It’s still developing.”

A green home takes into account how a house it built, where it is built, the materials used inside the home and many other elements. “You just try to create the least amount of waste that you can in the process of building. And that encompasses a lot of the green building,” says Maynard.

The Scranton family is in the beginning stages of designing their new energy efficient home. The plan is to build a single level home with an open floor plan. The kitchen, living room and main bedroom are on one side of the house. The guest rooms are on the opposite side. So the Scranton family can partially heat their home, saving energy and money.

If you’re looking to go green take baby steps: exchange your current light bulbs for Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs, buy energy efficient products by Energy Star, and hire someone to inspect the energy efficiency of your home.

And here’s a tip for everyone in the cold country: if you have icicles streaming down from your roof, that means you have poor insulation and heat is escaping from your home.

The Dangers of Teeth Whitening

Hollywood has put a premium on physical attractiveness and people are always trying to keep up with the latest celebrity trends. A new phenomenon is the obsession with white teeth and people are trying anything to get the perfect smile. Bright, white smiles, which used to be a luxury, is now attainable and affordable for everyone with the introduction of over-the-counter whitening strips. The daily routine of brushing and flossing is now being partnered with 30-minute whitening routine for some Americans.

Popularity of Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening has now become the most requested cosmetic dental service today and its popularity is only growing, according to a survey in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Whitening has become just as popular outside the dental office as well. This year, Americans will spend more than $1.5 billion on over-the-counter teeth whitening products.

Side Effects of Whitening
The cost some people are paying for white teeth is becoming much more than monetary. About half of people who bleached their teeth experienced some sensitivity in a Journal of the American Dental Association survey. The level of sensitivity ranged from slight tingling to extreme sensitivity to air. Side effects, such as tooth sensitivity and gum irritation, can pass with time, but tooth translucency, a more serious side effect, is irreversible.

Bleaching Can Lead to Addiction
Some people are even getting addicted to teeth whitening, and continue to bleach, despite having extremely white teeth. People with this addiction are being referred to as "bleachorexics" in the media.

"You can become addicted to anything," says Tibor Palfai Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Syracuse University. "If something is extremely pleasant for you, it actually changes your brain and you will seek that all the time. People with white teeth get so many compliments that they want to have it even whiter."

Syracuse dentist, Lynnwood J. Bennerson D.D.S., says he has encountered people with this affliction and as a health care professional advised them to discontinue.

"If you are looking at a patient that is essentially over-bleaching and you have told them that they can do harm and they continue. Then, you are looking at not a dental problem, but a psychological problem." says Dr. Bennerson.

What Others Say
Despite the physical and psychological risks, people continue to whiten their teeth with these products. But, not everyone is buying into the recent whitening craze.

"I think it is just a phase like everything else," says Syracuse resident Tracy Raymond.

Teeth whitening may have its doubters, but some think the future of these products is as bright as the smiles it creates.

Going Green Today Can Save You Tomorrow

Green houses appear to be a growing trend across the nation. The government estimates that 750,000 energy-efficient homes have been built since 1992. Not only environmentally-friendly, they can save homeowners money spent on bills. However, some worry the cost of building a green home might negatively out-weigh the benefits.

COST ACTUALLY SIMILAR
"It's not necessarily true that most materials are more expensive now. They're getting very close to either the same cost or no cost increase at all," said contractor Kevin Stack. He also owns Northeast Natural Homes, a company that specializes in building energy-efficient homes.

OLD HOMES COST, TOO
In fact, homeowners who have standard –or non-green- houses may be paying more money in living expenses. Bill Scranton, a resident in the City of Norwich, said his current home's utility bills run upwards of 600 dollars. To renovate his home he would have to pay around 50,000 dollars-and that would just fix windows and insulation. Cracks in the ceiling and floors, thin walls, and drainage problems would be additional costs.

THE BENEFIT OF GOING GREEN
Instead, he has decided to build a new, energy-efficient home. By doing so, he plans to cut his electric and heating bills down to about 200 dollars a month.

WHO TO TURN TO
In 1992, the Environmental Protection Agency established the Energy Star Program. They determine through building, heating, and appliances how much energy can be saved in a home. They hope to cut energy-usage in houses by 30 percent.

TIPS FOR BUILDING GREEN

When building a green home, good insulation and window placement are key factors. By placing most windows on the south side, a home can be heated mainly through solar power. That’s one way building green can incorporate the environment. Thick insulation from floor to ceiling, around window frames and even behind electric sockets can save your home from letting heat out-or cold air in.

AND IF YOU CAN'T BUILD 'EM, JOIN 'EM
If building an energy-efficient home isn't in your budget this year, there are steps you can take to go green.
-Change your light bulbs. Florescent bulbs last longer, and are better for the environment

.
-Keep doors closed to rooms you aren't using, so energy and money aren't wasted trying to heat those areas.
-If you do have to buy a new appliance, check the energy ratings. The more energy they save, the more money you can.

As Smartphone Technology Grows, So Do The Risks

Brad Seal N-C-C News

Febuary 2008- If you got a new smartphone such as a Blackberry or Iphone over the holidays, be cautious about what you do with it. As smartphones grow more powerful, more information can be stored on them. "There definetely is a trend towards making these devices provide the same kinds of services as notebook computers in a much smaller form." says Dave Molta, Director of Information Technology at Syracuse University.

Smartphones, however, are much easier to misplace than notebook computers. In fact, over half a million smartphones were lost in airports and taxi cabs alone last year. Couple that with the claim by various tech websites that up to 90% of smartphones can be invaded by hackers, and loss of indentity and information becomes a real possiblity.

Even today business owners aren't aware of just what kind of information is stored in employee smartphones. "It's a lack of perceived risk. Corporations don't understand what their smartphone users are doing, what they're getting access to." says Syracuse University Technology Analyst Sean Ginevan.

There is security for smartphones to guard against information loss. One of the most effective security measures is the password lock that is available on nearly every smartphone available. Most smartphone users shun this security for the sake of convenience. "You want to be able to pull your phone out, turn it on, and start making phone calls. You don't want to be hunting around, trying to enter a password before you can use your phone." says Molta.

Users who value convenience over security may find themselves losing more than they bargained for if they ever misplace their smartphone.

Protect the Privacy of Your Smart Phone

Jordan Meddy, NCC News

The latest generation of smart phones is allowing people to combine many of their electronic activities into one device. But as mobile devices become more like mobile computers, they'll be prone to the same security threats now facing personal computers athome. "Fundamentally these smart phone devices are portable computers. They’re a full blown operating system and as such they have security vulnerabilities,” said Dave Molta, Director of the Center for Emerging Network Technologies (CENT) at Syracuse University.

Nearly 8 million smart phone devices were lost last year and smart phones were 40 percent more likely to be lost than regular cell phones, according to InStat. Users can pay a steep price if their device is lost or stolen, especially with the new types of information people store on mobile devices. “For example on my smart phone if you were an inquisitive and creative enough person you might be able to find my brokerage account, that I have in my own code, but it is there,” Molta said.

Convenience and style are what convinced Syracuse University student Taylor Weidman to buy an iPhone eight months ago. Weidman tries not to keep vital personal information on the device. He says he doesn't worry much about his iPhone's security, but realized recently the need to be careful. “I downloaded a program that lets you control your computer from your phone,” Weidman said. “And then I realized that anyone that got my password could go in and get all my stuff from my computer. So I deleted that program and got rid of it. That didn’t make me comfortable at all.”

Users should also be aware of the so called "virus threat." Like on personal computers, smart phone users can receive spyware when connected to a network that allows others to gain access to their data. Vendors are concerned with security, but it's hard--they say-- tokeep up with those who try to break through. “Apple’s been pretty good about patching the iPhone so far,” said Sean Ginevan, a technology analyst for CENT. “But it’s really become a war between the hackers who want to keep their device free and Apple who wants to try to keep it secure.”

Experts warn that as technology evolves...so too will privacy threats or identity theft. And for that--they say--people must take the lessons from computer desktops at home...to their smart phones on the road.

HD-DVD vs. Bluray

Who's Winning? Does it even matter?








Matthew Schultz Reporting for NCC News

Syracuse, NY

Now that more than 35% of American households have high-definition televisions, everybody wants to experience movies in HD. But with the current format war between Bluray and HD-DVD, no one wants to buy the technology that will soon be obsolete. "If we could define the format that's going to win," said Tom Coughlin of Coughlin Associates, "it would be extremely important to the industry because then I think that would free up consumers to start making decisions on their purchasing systems."

Now that consumers - especially movie buffs - want to experience movies in HD, Bluray has become a household word. But what is a Bluray? Well, it's Sony's version of a high definition movie player, and was named after the blue-violet light used to read the discs. Despite it's strange name, it is winning the format war thanks to support from major movie studios.

"Bluray manipulates about 75% of the movie market right now," said David Baselli, a home theater expert for Bestbuy. The reason the movie studios chose it was that it has more storage space...which means it can hold more advanced audio and video.

Upconverters
There is another player in this battle. DVD upconverters make regular old DVDs look better on HDTVs. They are included in Bluray and HD-DVD players, but can be found as standalone units for less than $50. Upconverters do NOT make your DVDs high definition, though. In an informal survey of Bestbuy shoppers, only one person could not tell the difference between a bluray disc and an upconverted DVD. So HD is noticeably better. But is Bluray worth the price? Said Anthony Hankelman, "If you have money to throw out, definitely (I would buy one), but, if you don't, you should save up."

Does it Matter?
Although HD movies look better than regular ones, and Bluray appears to be winning the war, you may still want to hold off on purchasing one. The reason? According to Robert Thompson, director of the Bleier Center for Television and Pop Culture, "The idea of a disk may be...it's alreayd sounding old fashioned to me, so by the time the HD-Bluray battle finally gets finished, the victor may not have that many spoils to be dealing with because we may have moved on to something else. There's no reason why we can't speculate, in the very near future, you couldn't carry around the Warner Brothers library on something about the size of a thumb drive and pop it in when you feel like, and who needs to bother with this ancient technology of a disk?"

Apple TV already offers high definition movie rentals. It's only a matter of time before we'll be buying movies online and saving them to a flash drive from the comfort of our own couches. A time will likely come when the DVD will have gone the way of the VHS tape, and be forgotten.

RTN 667.1 SPRING 2008

WELCOME TO SYRACUSE

Over the next 10 weeks, we invite you to learn more about issues of interest to Central New York through the enterprised reports of grad students in the Class of '08. The stories will draw from the following 12 reporter beats:

• Health/Fitness
• Consumer/Credit
• Economy/Marketplace
• Environment/Ecology
• Urban/Social Issues
• Lifestyle/Pop Culture
• Business/Finance
• Sports/Business/Medicine
• Education
• Crime & Public Safety
• Science/Technology
• Religion/Spirituality