Chiff Chatter

After Christmas - Boxing Day Sales

2007-01-03T14:27:00.000-05:00

You may be too late to get the best after Christmas bargains if you didn't hit the stores on December 26th, but even after New Year there are plenty of bargains out there. The morning after Christmas - Boxing Day - is famous for sales. You'll find plenty of good sales for 25% off. As the days pass the discounts get deeper. You may find 75% off at the end of January... but you may not find anything left you want to buy!

Take a tip from thrifty shoppers and don't limit your after holiday shopping to decorations and wrapping paper.

Are you always at a loss when to comes to finding budget gifts for Secret Santas, coworkers or the kids' teachers? Stock up on more expensive items that are marked down to a fraction of the cost and make a box with your answer to next year's "what to give on a budget" presents. Make sure to pick items that won't be out of style next December. There are plenty of options leftover on the bargain shelves.

The latest fashion clothes and "hot" toys may not be in demand a year from now. Unless you have birthdays or other gift giving occasions right around the corner, pass on those bargains. Baby clothes and nursery items tend to be less trendy, so stocking up now for upcoming baby showers can be a great way to give generous presents on a tiny budget.

The Web is full of ideas for After Christmas Sales that you can use to save money on your after holiday decoration purchases as well as on gifts and home decor for the whole year.

Christmas & New Year Proposals

2006-12-23T08:26:00.000-05:00

Will you marry me? A very simple question that is so hard to ask.

What is it about the holiday season that makes proposing marriage so popular? Maybe it's the thought of the cold Northern winters - or the hot summer season if you're south? Maybe it's the seasonal good will?

Every year during December, the number of searches for "marriage proposals" on the Chiff.com site goes through the roof. We aren't the only ones who notice it. Whatever causes the rush to commitment, the end of December is a hot time for getting engaged -- second only to Valentine's Day.

If you're planning to pop the question under the mistletoe or with the New Year's Eve champagne, check our Web guide on How To Propose with tips on getting engaged, marriage proposal etiquette, and advice on very romantic ways to pop the question. Better hurry though, there isn't much time left to get ready...

Mobile MP3 Players - Not Just iPods

2006-12-15T11:25:00.000-05:00

Apple makes the iPod and most would agree that it's the most popular brand on the market. The problem with that is it is also the priciest MP3 player.

MP3 is the shortened version of MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3. It is a technical term for a way to compress the data that a sound recording needs to reproduce the music you listen to. Old fashioned, uncompressed audio feeds used to be huge files that made using them time consuming. Once the compression that kept the quality while it reduced the file size was developed the world was ready for tunes... on the Internet, on mobile players and phones.

Apple was the first brand to capitalize on this and their iPods brought digital music to the streets without any of the problems of tapes or portable CD players. With a full range of music options available for download from the iTunes shop, for a small price anyone could listen to any music where and when the mood struck... as long as they had an iPod.

It didn't take long for the clones to come along, but most of the early copycats were not anywhere near as good as the original. The iPod was the way to go if you wanted easy listening on the run.

That has changed a bit... there are now a large number of good MP3 mobile players that are made by other companies, but buyer beware. Not all MP3 players meet the Apple standard and even those that do may not be compatible with the iTunes Apple sells.

Before you plunk down any money on an iPod or other mobile MP3 player, do your homework to make sure it is the best choice for you.

Uggs By Any Name Are Not Ugly

2006-12-01T08:40:00.000-05:00

Ugg, Ug or Ugh... no matter how you spell, it you're talking about sheepskin boots that Aussies have been calling by the odd sounding name since the 1950s and 1960s. While there is an ongoing fight over who owns the rights to use the the name Ugg Boots, there is no disagreement when it comes to the wearing the boots. The sheepskin lining is a comfy way to keep warm when it gets cold outside.

Deckers Outdoor Corporation claims the trademark rights and sells the boots in the USA and the EU, but there are plenty of online shops that stock Uggs and most top end shoe retailers have a few versions on the shelves. They're a hot fashion statement that isn't going away anytime soon.

Shopping Sites: Thanksgiving Decorations

2006-11-26T18:49:00.000-05:00

Oriental Trading Company is one of our favorite sites for Thanksgiving decorations and craft ideas for home or classroom decorating. The selection is great and the prices are even better. We've shopped for events from birthday parties and graduations to showers and SuperBowl parties and have never been disappointed.

Focus - There are dozens of items in every category. The Thanksgiving crafts are easy to do and make colorful decorations and table settings for holiday gatherings. Their most popular Thanksgiving crafts for decorations are:

Fall Leaves Pin Craft Kit
Turkey Magnet Craft Kit
Felt Turkey Sucker Covers
Thanksgiving Ducks
Fall Leaves Craft Kit
Turkey Sign Craft Kit

If crafting is not in your Thanksgiving schedule, there are plenty of other decorations and novelty items that don't need any work to put together.

Check the personalized 12" Fall Leaf Stepping Stone for outdoor decor. The Fall Leaves Light Strings and Thanksgiving Votive Candle Lights help to create a festive mood. Fall resin vegetables and faux leaves in cello bags add a seasonal touch to the table.

Return Policy - There is no return policy posted at the site and we have never had to return any merchandise. There are toll free customer service numbers available to contact the company if you do experience any problems.

Shipping - Shipping rates depend on the total you spend and how fast you need to receive your order. They offer standard shipping, 3-5 days, 2-3 days and next day delivery. The next day delivery is not available for Canadian orders. Oriental Trading Company ships to the Continental U.S., APO/FPO, Alaska & Hawaii, U.S. Territories, and Canada. For International orders and shipping rates call 402-331-6800.

Customer Service - Customer Service Department for the USA can be reached at 1-800-875-8480. Canadian customers can call 1-800-228-8818 for customer service representatives. For other information on Canadian orders call 1-800-645-1500. Bilingual (English/Espanol) operators are available at 1-800-457-6728 (Lunes a Viernes entre las 7:30 a.m. a 3:30 p.m. hora central).

Prices - The Oriental Trading Company is a wholesaler and their prices reflect that. We have bought some items at a fraction of the cost that local stores and other web sites were asking. Some favors and decorations are comparably priced with other discount sites.

Shopping Sites: SmartBargains.com

2006-11-23T14:29:00.000-05:00

One of our favorite online shopping destinations

Smart Bargains.com has consistently offered the best prices together with great service and quick delivery. When items needed to be returned (duplicates from a baby shower), the customer service staff went out of their way to make sure we were satisfied.

Focus - Bed & Bath, Home Furnishings, Art & Wall Decor, Window Treatments, Gourmet, Kitchen & Dining, Outdoor Living, Luggage, Toys & More, Kids & Baby, Sandals, Shoes & Boots, Clothing & Outdoor Apparel, Dresses & Evening Wear, Petites, Plus Sizes, Fragrances for Her & Him, Handbags & Totes, Sunglasses, Watches, Jewelry, Collectibles, Luxury Gifts & Gifts Under $50.

Return policy - Most items sold by SmartBargains.com may be set up for return within 30 days of delivery. The return period is clearly marked on the receipt that comes with your delivery

Shipping - There is a base rate of $8.95 per order on most orders. Fragrances ship separately for a $5.95 shipping fee per fragrance item. If you order more than two items, there is a $1 charge for each additional item. Oversized items also add extra fees. Watch for their free shipping promos. The orders ship quickly and usually arrive on time - or earlier. Tracking info is available once the orders ship.

Customer Service - Excellent.

Prices - SmartBargains.com offers merchandise up to 70% off everyday prices. We have found them to be especially well priced for bed and baby items. The quality is first rate and not what you'd expect for such low prices. The one drawback is that items sell out quickly and they don't restock the same merchandise once it's gone.

Shopping Sites: Buy.com

2006-11-21T15:41:00.000-05:00

Keeping the holiday shopping theme going...

Buy.com, we're newcomers to shopping at this site, and our initial experience was not good.

We ordered two web cams that were reported to be compatible with Skype. It turns out that they only work with Skype IM and not with the Skype phone setup. When we contacted customer service to set up the return we were told that the 14 day return period starts on the shipping date not on the date we received the package. Their shipping date was the date we ordered the web cams - more than a week before we received them. The bottom line - we now have two web cams that we cannot use and will shop somewhere else for them.

Focus - Computers, Networking, Electronics, Cameras, Software, Games, Books, DVDs, Baby Items, Toys, Bags, Sports Items, Cell Phones, Clearance, CDs & Downloads, Home & Outdoor.

Return policy - Most items sold by Buy.com may be set up for return within 14 days of shipping. This means that you need to contact them immediately if you need a refund or exchange. They do charge a restocking fee for returns.

Shipping - There is a free shipping offer on selected items but there may be a shipping delay if you use it. Budget shipping takes a while. Beware of the return policy if you choose these options. Buy.com displays shipping charges for items in your shopping cart when you go to checkout. Tracking info is available once the order ships.

Customer Service - Polite.

Prices - A limited low price guarantee assures you that you'll get good prices. There is also a promotion offering a US$10 dollar discount if you use Google Checkout.

Shopping Sites: Overstock.com

2006-11-17T18:35:00.000-05:00

'Tis the season and shopping is on everyone's holiday list.

Overstock.com, a site we've used for years, gets kudos for great online shopping.

When we shop online we look for a few must-haves before we start to compare prices.

Focus - Just about anything you might want to buy, but you can't count on always finding the labels or brands that you want. The items they have for sale move quickly and once the supply is gone... it's gone.

Return policy - Most items sold by Overstock.com may be set up for return within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. For returns set up after 30 days, Overstock.com may grant a credit of up to 50% of the item’s value. They do charge a fee for returns unless there is something wrong with the item you purchased. We've been burned by other online shops where the return period starts on the date they send the item. Overstock stands by their return policy

Shipping - There is a flat fee of $2.95 on most orders. The orders ship quickly and usually arrive on time - or a day earlier. Tracking info is available once the orders ship.

Customer Service - Excellent.

Prices - Dirt cheap, although as with any other bargain warehouse-type outlet, be prepared to dig a little for value AND mileage.

We're Back

2006-11-15T09:21:00.000-05:00

Chiff Chatter has been on break while the editorial staff decided what you, our visitors would want to see in this space.

We've received tons of suggestions from you asking for movie reviews, wine reviews, advice on how to get a date or turn down a date - but the most popular suggestion was that we spend some time talking about the sites we visit.

These are the Web pages that :

~ Make it into the human-reviewed Chiff.com Directory

~ Just miss getting in

~ Haven't got a chance

So, due to the popular demand, we're back.... (Please, hold the applause. You're too kind, really!)

We'll focus on reviewing sites and add a wine review, movie review or let you know about other topics that are in focus as we blog.

Thanks for the support. We'll do our best to blog what you are looking for...

An end to fashion...

2006-10-07T17:45:00.000-04:00

There are so many great fashions bloggers online. Just check out the Top Fashion Blogs to get an idea how many people love to watch the trends and predict the fashion scene.

We bow to the many who do this job so well and have decided to remove our fashion focus - whether we will end the blog permanently or just move the topic is under discussion.

Thanks to all who shared their views on fashion with us.

The Chiff.com Editorial Team

Fashion Week in NYC - Sept. 8, 2006

2006-09-08T02:28:00.000-04:00

Want to know what's going on in the fashion world? Check out these designers new styles for Spring 2007 at Fashion Week from Sept 8 through Sept 15 in New York...

Parties and shows are not usually open to the public, but Look Online's archives article on How To Get Into a New York Fashion Show may give you some pointers on getting an invite to one of these events...

Friday September 8:

9AM John Bartlett
Bryant Park, the Tent
10AM A La Disposition
Altman Building, 135 W. 18th St., nr. Seventh Ave.
10AM Perry Ellis
Bryant Park, the Promenade
10AM Brian Reyés
XChange, 222 Twelfth Ave., at 27th St., ninth fl.
11AM BCBG Max Azria
Bryant Park, the Tent
12 Noon Alfred Fiandaca
Bryant Park Grill, Bryant Park
12 Noon Toni Maticevski
Bryant Park, UPS Hub
1PM Lyn Devon
Altman
1PM Marc Bouwer
Bryant Park, the Atelier
2PM Cia Maritima
Bryant Park, the Promenade
2PM Yigal Azrouel
Bumble and Bumble, 415 W. 13th St., nr. Ninth Ave.
3PM Gottex
Bryant Park, the Tent
3PM Rag & Bone
The Tunnel, 222 11th Ave., nr. 25th St.
4PM Verrier
Bryant Park, UPS Hub
5PM United Bamboo
Exit Art, 475 Tenth Ave., at 36th St.
6PM Andres Aquino
Waldorf Astoria, 301 Park Ave. between 49th and 50th Sts.
6PM Duckie Brown
Bryant Park, the Atelier
6PM Mara Hoffman
Altman Building, 135 W. 18th St., Sixth Ave.
6PM Gen Art Pre-Reception & Show
Manhattan Center, 311 W. 34th St., at Eighth Ave.
Tickets online or call 212-255-7300.
7PM Nicole Miller
Bryant Park, the Promenade
8PM Baby Phat - K.Lee Simmons
Bryant Park, the Tent
9PM Ashish N'Soni
Bryant Park, the Atelier
9PM Form
Altman Building, 135 W. 18th St., nr. Seventh Ave.
9PM Nicole Romano
Capitale, 130 Bowery, at Grand St.
10PM Chris Aire
Bryant Park, the Promenade

If The Shoe Fits - Where to Find Large Shoes

2006-09-01T14:57:00.000-04:00

If your shoe size is well past petite and you're tired of the limited selection you're used to...

There are great shops for larger sized shoes online.

Shoebuy.com is probably the place with the most choice. They offer shoes for men, women and kids in large sizes with free shipping to the USA. More than 200 designer and name brands are stocked. You can search by Brand, Size, Wide Shoes, Narrow Shoes or Sale Shoes. In each category you can narrow down the search by price starting fom US$ 35. They also offer bonuses for frequent shoppers and rewards for referring friends.

Friedman's shoes is a family owned shop that can fit up to size 22 for men and size 13 for women. Check their catalog for sports shoes, fashion footwear, designer brands, sandals and more...

Big Feet Store is a great pace to shop for shoes in all sizes. If you're searching for smaller sizes - men's 3-12 and women's 3-10 in from super slim to extra wide widths, they'll help you find them. The selection of men's and women's shoes in large sizes is, well, huge!

A great selection of woman's formal and wedding shoes - check the Satin Jewelled Thong with a 2 3/4" heel that comes in sizes up to 10.5 in medium, wide and extra wide widths. Large size Western boots, work boots, winter boots and rainy day boots for men and women and golf shoes in large sizes are a rare find...and they offer free shipping.

You'll also find designer labels, sports shoes and more. They have therapeutic shoes for diabetics and a great section on fitting, shoe care and general things you might wany to know about shoes.

2BigFeet.com focuses on the man who needs big shoes. They have a great shoe sizer if you're not sure exactly what size you take. The selection is smaller than Friedman's, but they have two pairs of dress shoes that go up to size 24 3E and more work boots, casual shoes, athletic shoes and therapeutic shoes that fit up to 15, 17, 18 or 20 depending on the style. They also have big socks!!

Cinderella may have has petite feet, but Cinderella shoes is for the woman who the shoe didn't fit. Search by sizes - with sizes up to UK size 12, EUR Size 46 and USA Size 14 you should be able to find plenty of high fashion and casual shoes that your feet will love. They deliver all over the world with a Euro based shipping charge.

If you can't find anything you like at these shops, just do a search for "large size shoes" and be amazed at the number of shops who want to fit you.

Finally, there are plenty of choices when you're shoe shopping for larger sizes!

Top 10 Back-To-School Online Shopping Sites

2006-08-31T05:37:00.000-04:00

Labor day weekend is coming up in the USA and that means fall is not far off.

The back-to-school shopping season is winding down, but there's still time to pick up those last few hot fashion statements to start the year off on the right foot.

If you wonder where people are going to shop and check out the fashion scene, Hitwise United States has put together a list...

Top 10 Shopping and Classifieds Apparel and Accessories sites:

The average shopper spent 9 minutes, 27 seconds looking for either brands or bargains, but you know there were some guys who took 20 seconds to buy new jeans -- and some fashion divas who spent an afternoon surfing around the sites!

From the looks of this, sexy bottom layers are going to be covered by sporty-outdoorsy jeans and comfy shirts and blouses.

Hope your summer was cool and your vacation was a dream. We'll be following the fashion trends for fall and the Holidays...are you ready?

Cutting Edge Shades - Summer Sunglasses 2006

2006-05-27T16:13:00.000-04:00

If you pay attention to the fashion trends, you'll find most men sticking with thin rimless sunglasses. Avaitor styles and wraparounds are hot styles for guys and gals for summer 2006...but ladies, ooh-la-la!

The Euro-metro trend to round or square BIG plastic rims is firmly entrenched and big in the USA.

It started with big black plastic frames - you remember them from pictures of fashion setting Jackie Kennedy-Onassis, sweet 'n sexy Audrey Hepburn & sultry Sophia Loren in classic retro movies.

Black proved too unimaginative for the rest of the hot summer fashion colors and white became the standout...but why stop there? Let your style and personality shine with hot red, sky blue, orange, pink or green.

Patterns and polka dots add to the fun in big sunglasses this summer and the monokini bathing suits with their cutout designs will be a great match with cutout designer frames. Bling hits the sunglasses scene with sparkling logos and accents embedded in frames around the lenses.

Dolce & Gabbana's 2006 summer line of sunglasses (just click the link for sunglasses in their site map) combines the skinny wraps with a mix of the big and bold look. Their green selection is only dark and only two - one with a round big frame the other a wrap around style. They do go bolder in their sky blue and pink frames.

Burberry is also carrying a mix. Check out their model Burberry 8452/S sunglasses in racing red or bright blue at Frames Direct.

For a rundown of high end name brands like Carolina Herrera, Juicy Couture, Marc Jacobs and others plus a "wear over your prescription glasses" and a visor that doubles as a case... click over to All About Vision's What's New in Sunglasses or check the rest of their info on sunglasses.

Take a look at what the Bag Lady has to say about the hot looks in sunglasses in the UK and check the styles and tips for designer looks "on the cheap."

Rene Soltis of the Vision Council of America showed the three hottest styles in shades to co-anchor Rene Syler on The Early Show. There is a video of the sunglasses class online.

She finds.com offers views of oversized designer shades - Tom Ford's Carine Sunglasses, $490 and the more affordable Isaac Mizrahi Glamour Oval Sunglasses, $20 at Target and MICHAEL by Michael Kors, $80 at Nordstrom.

If you just want a pair of sunglasses that are impossible to lose and don't mind being the one setting the trends...take a look at Ron Lando's CliCs. They will definitely make you stand out in a crowd!

2006 Summer Bathing Suit Fashions

2006-05-26T09:38:00.000-04:00

Memorial Day marks the start of the summer beach season in the US and the end of May means summer swimwear for many other parts of the world.

The bathing suit styles for 2006 are trending back to more coverup with the popular tankini and the monokini giving the teeny bikini some real competition on the beach and at the pool.

The trend this summer is more subtle, alluring swim wear that complements your body.

Triangle bikini tops are this years fashion statement. Forget the wisps of cloth and string bikinis of summers past. Topless and nude sun bathing makes suits that are barely there passe. If you dare - go bare, but if not wear a suit that makes you look cool in the summer sun. Accent your curves and highlight your best features instead of just showing skin. Many designer's bikini bottoms for summer 2006 look more like short shorts than strings!

The tankini gives that extra coverage for women who don't feel comfortable flaunting their stuff...or who think they may have a bit too much stuff on display!

The monokini is a one-piece swimsuit based on the bikini. Don't imagine a one piece bathing suit. This is a style that uses strategically placed cutouts on the sides, across the midriff and anywhere else a designer thinks will make a bold statement and good lines. Most designers from Gucci to Speedo are getting into this modified bikini look for 2006.

Nature prints are the way to go for the hottest summer swimwear. Summer colors yellow, pink, fuchsia, turquoise and apple green are brightening up the shore this summer in the shape of butterflies, flowers and leaves. You can always count on being in style with the classic bathing suit slimmers in black, brown, dark blue.

Look for details to catch the eye - buckles and belts accent both tops and bottoms. For fashionistas, beach bling is hot with jeweled bathing suits catching the sun, but be warned...

In March 2006, New York designer Michael Kors told The Associated Press, "I think the interesting thing is we've had quite a few years of bling, bling, bling, bling, bling. To me, it's like too rich of a meal. At some point, you need to cleanse your palate."

Look for the next designer driven trend to be bling and hot colors on sunglasses, shoes, bags and other accessories with natures influence in colors and decorations toning down bathing suits and clothing. Natural colors - Whites, ivory, creams and taupes with plenty of lace and, yes...polka dots!

Check out some of the tips and the hot labels at AdVersus. You'll find sloggi, gas, speedo, occhiverde, sea folly and more along with tips - "Swimsuits and bikini's are sleek, chic and sophisticated. Sexy but not provoking (forget strings and invisible bikini tops)."

More Swimsuits.com has a great section on beach styles for summer 2006. Along with plenty of swim suit fashion tips they offer good advice, "When shopping for a bikini top this summer, be sure to remember all the aspects you love about your favorite, most flattering bra so you can find your new favorite, most flattering bikini top."

Brazilian Bikini has tons of articles on buying the right bathing suit - one or two piece.

The New Zealand site, Fashionz, has some great swimwear plus tips on getting a bathing suit that fits your style and your body. They also have some cute kids swimwear that is designed to keep the sun's rays from doing damage while your children play in the sand.

Take a look at the bathing suits beauty queens are wearing at Pagentry Magazine.

Fashion Wire Daily offers their summer bathing suits tips at Suit Yourself: Sexy Swimwear that Flatters The Figure.

Don't forget the cover ups - SUMMER FASHION: THE GREAT SWIMSUIT COVER-UP - gives a run down of what's chic in toppers and tunics for a special beach event, cruise wear or just a day at the beach.

Have a fun holiday at the beach, on a boat or at your own backyard barbecue!

How to Be Happy

2006-03-01T19:24:00.000-05:00

Recently, there's been two reports that actually show how to be happy, and live longer in the process.

LiveScience (The Keys to Happiness and Why We Don't Used Them) reports American university findings and polls on what puts a smile on most people's faces.

Contributing to the report was the University of Pennsyvlania which has an entire questionnaire on the subject; Ed Diener, a psychologist and presumably happiest professor at the University of Illinois; and Sonja Lyubomirsky of the University of California at Riverside.

So what makes people happy?

The experts will tell you it doesn't depend so much on your genes, but your attitude. And on that important point most often quoted is that famous manic-depressive Abe Lincoln, who once said, "Most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be."

Other factors for a happy life include strong friendships, and ready forgiveness of other people's faults. In addition, happy people are generally grateful for small blessings, and have a knack for a mysterious process called flow in which they lose themselves in work or hobbies that banish care and worry.

Then, hard on the heels of that report, came another similar study that gave our lives dynamic new meaning: eating chocolate may help you live longer. Chocolate is not only chock full of antioxidants, it also lowers your blood pressure according to a recent Dutch study among hundreds of men aged 65 - 85.

What doesn't make people happy - no surprise - is money. The glow of getting a hefty raise usually lasts all of five minutes. Then it's back to thinking, "Geez, it could have been more." On the flip side, the report concludes that most happy people earn more money anyway, since they're ultimately less resentful on the job and get more work done.

So in conclusion, the expert advice seems to be : eat chocolate, lose yourself in the flow, get off your booty. Be happy.

Quail Hunting Safety Tips

2006-02-13T17:33:00.000-05:00

THE ELEVEN COMMANDMENTS OF QUAIL HUNTING SAFETY

1) Always treat the gun as loaded.
2) Never have a loaded gun except when hunting.
3) Always make sure that the barrel and action are clear of obstructions.
4) Always carry your gun so dig you can control the direction of the muzzle, even if you stumble.
5) Always keep the safety on until the gun is brought to shoulder.
6) Always make sure your target is a quail and your backstop is not a hunter or a dog.
7) Never point a gun at anything you do not want to shoot.
8) Never leave guns or ammunition within reach of children or careless adults.
9) Never climb trees or fences with a loaded gun.
10) Never shoot at a flat, hard surface or water.
11) Never drink alcohol or take other mood-altering drugs before or during a hunt.

With thanks to Jesse's Hunting & Outdoors

Related Web Sites of Interest:

See Dick. Run!

Quail Hunting Advice

Texas Hunter Education Home Study

What Are You Feeding Your Dog?

2006-01-10T14:29:00.000-05:00

From Cornell News Service

Even though Diamond, Country Value and Professional brand dog foods have been recalled for containing highly toxic aflatoxins, they have caused at least 100 dog deaths in recent weeks, say Cornell University veterinarians, who are growing increasingly alarmed.

While dogs keep dying from eating pet food tainted with aflatoxin, Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine is announcing it has developed protein tests that accurately indicate a dog's liver failure caused by the toxin.

Dog owners may want to seek veterinary testing for animals that have been fed affected lots of food even if they are apparently well. Recent experience has shown that apparently healthy dogs can develop liver damage after 2-3 weeks.

Diamond Pet Food has set up a website and toll free phone number to answer all questions relating to the recall. Information can be found at: Diamond Pet Food Recall

We hope that this information can save some lives by reaching those who were not aware of the recall or the terrible impact it has had. Our thoughts go out to those that have lost their beloved dogs and hope the suffering is brought to a halt with increased coverage of this story.

The New Year Brings New Worries for Windows Users

2006-01-04T03:34:00.000-05:00

It seems that a security problem with newer versions of windows will allow nasty programs to get into your computer through images.

A graphic embedded in an email or on a web site can access your Windows files and sneak into your computer. This has not been a major problem, but now that it is getting lots of attention, you can bet that adware and spyware designers, as well as just plain mean people, will be working hard on setting up delivery systems.

To find out more about this, just do a search on Google for:
Windows .WMF flaw.

There is no need to panic, but you should protect your system. Infoworld reports that if you already use a reputable anti-virus program, you are probably safe from this threat.

Ilfak Guilfanov has put together a patch that will fix the problem. You can download the fix that has been tested and revised and will not cause damage to your computer here.

Many thanks to Ivan for providing this solution.

Microsoft is working on a patch of their own, but will not have one ready for at least a week.

The Guilfanov patch is installed on all of the Chiff.com systems and it is not creating any difficulties, so we believe that it is safe to download and install it...ASAP.

In the meantime...

We hope all of your holidays were full of feasting and fun!

Happy New Year

2005-12-29T10:21:00.000-05:00

It seems everyone is looking forward to the beginning of 2006. Web searchers are busy planning parties for New Year's Eve, making resolutions for the year ahead and thinking about a short holiday to recover from the fun filled stress that the season brings.

In the US, the Super Bowl is always a good excuse for a February party. Ideas for how to put a great Bowl party together are already a top search.

Makar Sankranti is approaching in India and other countries where the Hindu religion is important. A large part of the world is busy planning reunions and festivities to welcome the Year of the Dog, on January 29, 2006. Dragon dances and fireworks are just part of the fun. Chinese New Year is a global feast of Sticky Rice Cake (Nian Gao), Steamed Dumplings (Jiao Zi) and family fun.

Wherever you greet the New Year, however you celebrate and whatever your plans are, we hope that 2006 will be a happy, healthy and prosperous year for everyone!

After Christmas Shopping

2005-12-26T02:37:00.000-05:00

End of year clearances are a great way to get started on next year's gift list...or, even better, treat yourself to a few gifts at rock bottom prices. The after Christmas sales can go down as much as 70 or 80 percent below the prices you saw while you were doing your holiday shopping! The Boxing Day sales in Canada and the UK and other Commonwealth countries have all but changed the meaning of the words. Some modern shoppers are beginning to think the "boxing" refers to the mayhem in the shops as customers fight over limited quantities of highly sought after items. The price cuts are so steep that tempers have been known to flare even in the best shops.

If you're looking for even better deals, check out this smart shoppers secret...

Shipping Only is one place to look for amazing offers all year long. The idea behind the site is that manufacturer's contribute merchandise and the site makes everything available for the price of shipping only - that's where the name comes from.

The explanation? "Every time you claim a free product from ShippingOnly.com, a portion of your shipping and handling fees benefit a nonprofit organization (the Long Island Network of Community Services). Product fulfillment is handled by people with special needs as part of a professionally supervised vocational training program. " There are actually some deals worth the price. New items are posted every Tuesday. There are limited quantities and the best deals go quickly.

50 Years of Tracking Santa

2005-12-23T10:44:00.000-05:00

The kids are not the only ones keeping an eye out for Santa and his reindeer. As the elves finish packing the sleigh, NORAD is gearing up to keep Santa on radar when he leaves his base at the North Pole. They will provide information on St. Nick's progress to kids around the world in English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Japanese.

They've been tracking Santa every year since 1955, which makes this their 50th anniversary.

If you haven't sent your letter to Santa yet, it not too late to get it to him before the elves finish packing all the goodies. NORAD has Santa's email address... NorthPole@OfficialSantaMail.com.

They are not the only ones keeping tabs on Santa as he makes his annual trip to the rooftops of the world. Visit the Chiff.com Santa information page to learn all about the places online to watch Santa's trip.

Just don't stay up too late and make him miss your house!

Merry Christmas to all!

Travel Tips For the Holidays

2005-12-21T19:38:00.000-05:00

Getting ready to travel home for the holidays?

The low fare airline, Air Tran has some last minute advice:

Leave the Wrapping to Santa's Elves - Wrapped gifts will have to be unwrapped during security screenings.

Keep Your Valuable Stocking Stuffers With You - Place your medicine, jewelry, and other valuables in your carry-on baggage.

Everybody Wants to Be Home for the Holidays - During the busy holidays, anticipate possible slowdowns and arrive at the airport a minimum of 90 minutes before your scheduled departure.

There's Not Much Room in the Sleigh - Remember you are allowed one carry-on bag and one personal item.

If your plans include escaping from the stress of holiday activities, check out the travel tips and guides to worldwide destinations. For advice on where to travel with your animal friends, click over to Travel With Pets.

So You Want To Be A...

2005-12-20T03:11:00.000-05:00

If your Christmas wish is to be discovered as the newest teen model, you may be in luck.

The So You Want To Be A Model Contest - teamed up with CosmoGIRL! Magazine and Supermodel Niki Taylor have 13 to 24 year old applicants flooding them with applications. The contest is limited to American beauties and there are no height or weight requirements. There is a $20 fee for the registration. The 12 finalists get a 5-day working photo shoot in South Beach Miami. They'll receive a Model's spa makeover participate in a professional photo shoot that will appear in the 2006 August Back-To-School issue of CosmoGIRL! Magazine.

Finalists will also get to meet Niki Taylor and compete to win a $50,000 modeling contract with Niki's agency, PLANIT m. For more information, visit http://www.soyouwanttobeamodel.com before the December 31st deadline.

If your Christmas dreams run more in the direction of becoming a top sports photographer, The Sports Shooter Newsletter Annual Contest may be more to your liking. Along with recognition of your talent, the prizes include camera bags, digital cameras and other photography related prizes. The deadline is in January -- at midnight Pacific time on Super Bowl Sunday.

Whatever dreams fill your Christmas list, may they all come true...but if not, you can always make your New Year's resolution to work on making your dreams a reality in 2006!

What's On TV for the Holidays?

2005-12-15T02:27:00.000-05:00

Everyone has a favorite holiday special and the odds are that your's will be on at least once this month!

If you just can't survive a December without at least one viewing of the Dicken's Classic, A Christmas Carol, you'll have plenty of choices. With most versions showing up in one or more time slots, it will be hard to miss.

Check out the US holiday TV listings for Scrooge, Charlie Brown and the Grinch to make sure you plan your schedule or schedule your TiVo to catch the shows you have to see to celebrate the holidays!