GorillaOffTopic, Everything But Gorilla Trades

Gorilla Off Topic is taking a pause for the holiday season.  We’ll be back January 5th.  Happy New Year!

Ahhh, the Gorilla remembers the good ole’ days of being a kid and writing letters to Santa c/o the North Pole. The post office was kind enough to handle these obscurely addressed letters from hundreds (and in some towns, even thousands) of eager kids, and it was all but guaranteed that you would receive a response; hand written by Santa himself, and in plenty of time before Christmas (given of course, that you sent it to him in time!).

But yes, those postal workers had their work cut out for them the good old fashioned way. No computers to help write them either, just a good pen and a lot of patience. (Remember that?) But alas, the world is now a very different place, besieged by a plethora of technologies, none of which requires a whole lot of effort compared to when we were all young.

Kids can now access Santa via various methods. Just think about the options: the whole world is texting these days, so why should Santa be any different?  Well, it turns out he isn’t. Last year Santa emailed and even sent instant messages to kids who wanted to hear from him online. Kids could also go online to track Santa Claus as he made his way in his sleigh around the globe. Kids can still take advantage of all of these options, but now if they want to, they may text Santa as well.

Kids can go to textsanta.net and for a small fee of around $4.95, they can text and receive texts from Santa Claus from now until Christmas Day. (Why is the Gorilla not surprised by this?) And one dollar goes to the March of Dimes so it’s a win-win for parents and their “Santa-hungry” kids. The Gorilla himself even goes online each year to log onto the high-tech Santa tracker to see where Santa is in his sleigh, hour by hour, on Christmas Eve. It is a fun and exciting way to be a kid again for a few minutes (even if it is a far cry from the letter writing of his childhood!).

But far as the texting goes…. well for kids it’s great fun to get a text from the Claus-Meister, but the Gorilla gets enough texts now that he is in the “cell phone zone” once again after years of not having a cell phone. He’ll pass on trying the new Santa Claus texts; at least for this year. But he must admit….the old dude is pretty cool.

Times are tough, we all know that, but when it’s hard enough to get a line of credit these days, who would expect that your existing credit card company would be hiking rates rather than lowering them? The answer is no one. But that is exactly what some credit card companies, like Citibank, are doing to its customers.

Many loyal good standing customers of Citibank are livid at the rate hikes, and who could blame them? The rate hikes are coming at a time when most companies are lowering prices and even the Federal Funds rate is at an all-time low, so what gives? It’s called “rate-jacking’ and it’s what many credit card companies are currently dong to re-coup some of their catastrophic losses in recent months. It comes on the heels of the HUGE taxpayer bailout.

Citibank is not the only company hiking rates, but since it is the largest credit card company, it is the one being most targeted by angry consumers, who claim that the rate-hike are really no different than “loan-sharking.” Citibank recently started sending out notices, alerting consumers about the rate hikes; some of which have zoomed from 7.95% to 16.99%!

Meanwhile, Citibank says that customers can opt out of the rate hike and they just need to read the fine print, which states this: If they do so, they must continue paying the lower interest, but they must close their account when their card expires. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, said she is sick of the fine print. “They have this provision that says they can raise the rate — any time for any reason,” she said.

The chairman of the Senate Banking Committee is pushing to place a ban on rate-jacking from credit card institutions, and hopefully it will get passed by 2010. 2010? The Gorilla doesn’t think that will help us right now!! His advice: Read the fine print!

The Gorilla is all about issues relevant to current themes, and so it is most appropriate at this festive time of year to address holiday parties. The Gorilla almost decided against having a holiday party this year since it seems that so many people are hurting financially. Spending frivolously seems to negate the obvious state of the economy. But then again, there was so much leftover liquor from the Gorilla’s last holiday party, he figured what the heck!

It won’t cost much and people don’t need to be reminded of the doom and gloom that is so apparent in the world right now. Instead, they need some relief! Since the Gorilla has the means to do so, he decided to offer that relief in the form of a good ole’ fashioned celebration- but with a catch: since people are coming to whoop it up and get their holiday cheer on, shouldn’t they also be concerned about those who are less fortunate? Hence the idea of bringing a new, unwrapped toy to the celebration.

The Gorilla figured they are coming anyway so why not ask them to dig a few dollars out of their pockets to donate a toy to TOY’S FOR TOTS? This concept is certainly not a new one; however, it is a popular idea these days so the Gorilla is asking you to pass it on. If you know someone who is throwing a party for whatever reason, why not suggest they have and underlying charitable cause to donate to?

If you are getting a large group together, it is a great way to give back to your community! It doesn’t have to be “Toys for Tots.” It can be for any charitable cause, whether it be kids in need, the elderly, or personal causes within your community. Some people are even throwing parties just so that they can give to the community.

These charitable gatherings are a great way to make you feel great, while socializing and having a good time. So with any luck, the Gorilla’s holiday party will do a world of good (or at least a house-full) for some kids who could really use some of OUR holiday cheer! Why not pay it forward this holiday season and do one yourself?

Great news folks! The Gorilla has been shopping at major retailers all over, and guess what? Almost all of them have actually lowered their price points on items that were normally about 20-30% higher. No not “sales” per se, actual lower prices on everyday items, which were once much more expensive.

These items include electronics, housewares, clothing, shoes, and more. The Gorilla has been doing a bit of “market research’ since he has had to holiday shop anyhow, and the price differences are phenomenal. The Gorilla’s better half has noticed it as well, so the Gorilla sent her out on a little “shopping mission” to see if it was just the Gorilla who found these valuable savings. (Surprisingly, the Gorilla’s wife was unusually cooperative in the matter)!

Now these weren’t “sale” items, these were regular priced items, such as a pair of pants. According to Mrs. Gorilla, in the past, in one store the Gorilla’s wife frequents, a pair of Cashmere blend pants cost around $129, but when the Gorilla’s wife checked the price, they were only around $58. She thought it was a mistake, so she inquired as to why the pants were so cheap. The store manager explained to the Gorilla’s wife that the company was trying “lower price points” on almost all of its items in order to increase sales. She further explained that it was a company-wide decision and that all of the related chain stores in the company would be following suit.

Naturally, the Gorilla’s wife purchase twice as much as she would have, thus the sale for the store was about breakeven rather than losing a sale due to the cost being too high. (Mrs. Gorilla says she would most likely not have purchased the pants at all if they had been $129, but instead, not only did she buy the pants, but she also purchased a top as well). So you see- this is clever marketing, which has its basis in good old fashioned psychology. Many stores are now trying this “strategy” in the hopes of boosting sales during an economically tough time in this country.

So go out there and do your homework. You may be surprised at how many stores are offering lower prices on items that you have purchased at a higher price in previous years! Now, if we could only get the Apple store to do that……..

Still have some holiday shopping left to do? If you are like the Gorilla, and about half of the population who waits until the last minute, you are not alone. Many of us have gifts to buy and it can be very stressful. The traffic, the limited parking situations, the lines, the crowds! Who needs that aggravation?
 
But shop you must or you will let your loved ones down. However, last minute shopping doesn’t have to be quite so harried, so here are a few tips from the Gorilla to help quell the stress: To start with, why not try shopping online instead of running around all creation to get your gifts? Each and every major chain store has online shopping available to all and yes, there is a God because you can request express shipping and have it sent either to you, or (as the Gorilla has in the past) directly to the recipient. And here’s the very best part: they will wrap it for you! Talk about a stress-free way to beat the crowds!
 
Another suggestion from the expert (otherwise known as the Gorilla) is to shop at stores that are less-likely to be crowded. You may ask what the heck the Gorilla is referring to since almost ALL stores are crowded this time of year, however, that is not necessarily true. For instance, if you know someone who loves to paint, shop at an art store. Or you may try one of those smaller specialty stores that is family owned or one of a kind. The Gorilla went to one of those just today and it was not busy at all and there were virtually no crowds! Antique stores are a great idea as well. They often have much more than just antiques and the gifts are less typical, and certainly more original than what all the big chain stores are offering.
 
The Gorilla also knows that you may have teenagers or those who follow the trends and you really can’t get away with avoiding the mall or large retail chains any way you look at it. So with that in mind, here’s a little hint: These stores are now offering extended hours up until the holiday with some even opening their doors at 7 or 8 A.M. This is the very best way to get in and avoid the crowds and filled parking lots. Yes, there are usually a few people in the stores, but not nearly as many as one would think, so it’s a great time to shop before the crowds hit.
 
Okay, you’ve got the tips, now get out there and spend some money (if you can) and don’t worry so much. Use these helpful tips and you are sure to feel a bit more “jolly” this holiday season. Yes, you can just call him “Santa Gorilla” and no thanks are required. It’s just the kind of primate he is!

With only 15 days left until Christmas, and even fewer until Hanukah begins, many people are still scrambling to make ends meet and find great gift deals at the same time. Times were already tough, but then you have your kids, who want Christmas and Hanukah just like every year. So how do we, as parents, make it all happen in the midst of such trying financial times?

To start, it’s a good idea to let kids know the truth: times are tough and money is tight, therefore, don’t expect the usual amount of gifts. What? Let my child only have 7 gifts instead of 15 or 20? Perish the thought! But better the thought than your finances! Kids need to know that they are not immune to economic, political, or cultural woes that may affect them as well. It is important to not let them live in a “bubble” in which they never have to deal with real issues; such as having to cut back in troubling times. By doing this, you actually hurt the child and create a false sense of security for them. After all, you can’t protect them forever! Not to mention, most kids wouldn’t want the gifts if they knew their parents had to go into even more debt to do it.

Children can be surprisingly unselfish if given the opportunity. Don’t underestimate them. And better they learn now, rather then suffer later. Plus, your kids love the holidays as much as you so it does not necessarily have to be centered around gifts only. But for some really great deals for kids this year the stores are offering such deep discounts you can practically get 2 for one on just about everything! But again, be honest with your kids and take some of the pressure off of yourself. After all, half the fun for kids is just unwrapping STUFF. It doesn’t necessarily matter what the heck it is.

Make sure and make a big deal of all the little things this holiday season; you may just be surprised by things you never stopped to notice before. The beautiful lights, the wonderful food, family, and fun parties to dress up for. These are the things that make the holidays really fun and memorable. As for the expensive gifts? The Gorilla can almost guarantee your kids won’t remember the doll or the teddy bear or the X-Box 360. Most likely, the things they will remember the most don’t cost a dime! 

Recently, the Gorilla read a story about how many employers are now checking out potential job candidates by checking their MySpace and Facebook accounts, before considering employing them. After giving this idea some thought, the Gorilla came to this conclusion: It’s a major invasion of privacy! Why not just put a web-cam in your employees’ homes so you can see each and every tiny detail of their private lives!

We all have our private lives, and what we do in them is #1, nobody’s business, and #2, not necessarily a reflection of whether or not a person is a good candidate for a job. Disagree? Well, you’re entitled to, however, many of you along with the Gorilla have had co-workers who were very professional on the job, but were wild partiers behind closed doors- or simply “after hours.”

There is a reason why it is called “happy hour” after all. Unless a potential employee is participating in some kind of illegal activity (a picture of a girl kissing another girl on Facebook is certainly NOT illegal!), then there should be absolutely no cause for voyeurism on an employer’s part and yes….it is considered voyeurism. The Gorilla simply does not see the justification for employers taking a look into people’s personal lives in such a way because most people have pictures of themselves on vacations, getting a little wild at a party or bar, or often times have pictures of their kids on these social networking sites.

Furthermore, you must be an “approved” friend in order to gain access to a person’s personal page and pictures on these sites. If the Gorilla was being interviewed, and an employer asked to see this personal information, he would be offended to say the least, and would refuse! Does this mean that people have something to “hide?” Absolutely not, but just because you have nothing to hide, does not mean you would allow just any individual a peek at your private life! That is a privilege reserved for those we deem close to us!

Perhaps after you have been hired and you have gotten to know your boss a bit better, it would be the appropriate time to allow him access, but at your own discretion and choice. Maybe you can tell your potential boss that very thing if you are asked. Otherwise, they should butt out!

As we go through our everyday routine, life can be a bit draining. It’s important to take care of yourself. No, you don’t have to wait until you are over 50 to do this. In fact, many medical professionals suggest that starting young can actually decrease the chances or prevent the onset, of some very serious conditions, such as heart disease.

So now is as good a time as any to start taking a multivitamin and a few other supplements, but the problem is.. what do you take? That is the question on everyone’s mind when they decide it’s time for a little “boost” or prevention, if you will. But with all of the many supplements out there, it can be confusing. Ever walk into the vitamin isle and draw a blank once you’ve beheld the vast array of choices? How nice.

There’s so much to choose from. Wow.. there are at least 5 different kinds of everything. The Gorilla doesn’t know about you, but he has roamed around and walked away empty handed on many occasions! But to go away empty handed is not what your body needs, so what should you do?

 Well, to start, find out the supplements that your doctor recommends the most. Whatever he/she is taking will obviously be the best bet for you as well. Think your doctor doesn’t take vitamins? Think again. This ain’t 20 years ago pal! Doctor’s DO, in fact, take supplements and here’s what the Gorilla found out they are taking:  1) Multivitamin (almost any brand will suffice) 2) Vitamin D (Look for vitamin D3 NOT D2!) Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to breast cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, and much more! 3) Magnesium (lack of Magnesium can lead to irritability, irregular heartbeat and muscle weakness). 4) Co Q10 (This vitamin protects the cells from damage, may help with aging, and helps the functioning of the immune system to fight off infections and diseases such as cancer).  5) Many doctors recommend Omega 3s as well, and you can find these in fish oil supplements. (It has been known to lower blood pressure and triglyceride levels and can help with depression.   So, what don’t doctors recommend? Well, they say that no one over the age of 50 needs to take iron or vitamin E and they also claim that the vitamins for hair or nails or skin are usually not really that necessary and that you are better off getting those nutrients from eating healthy foods.  

So there you have it folks! Now the Gorilla has finally gotten the “doctor recommendation” on what vitamins to buy, and just having the knowledge has made him feel better already. Take care of yourself eat well and don’t forget to exercise!!

We’ve all heard that smiling is contagious. If you try this social experiment yourself you will see that it is, for the most part, absolutely true. So if a smile is contagious, shouldn’t happiness be as well? If you think about it, who doesn’t want to be around a happy person? Happy people don’t dwell on the glass being half full, but instead, seem to find the good in just about every situation. They smile more, they laugh more, and they seem to give people the benefit of the doubt more often than unhappy or serious types.
 
The Gorilla has always felt that people seemed to want to be around him because of his cheerful demeanor! And the Gorilla could swear sometimes that there were those who seemed to want to sap that happiness right out of him. It turns out that there may actually be some merit to that thought. Researchers at Harvard and the University of California at San Diego, report in the British Medical Journal online that “happiness spreads among people like a salubrious disease.” You don’t say!  The researchers found that an individual’s happiness is chiefly a “collective affair,” depending, in large part, on his or her friends’ happiness — and the happiness of their friends’ friends, and even the friends of their friends’ friends.
 
So, even though it may not be your closest friend who affects you, it could be your friend’s neighbor or your bosses’ uncle that affects you, and you may not even know their name! We needed researchers from Harvard to tell us this? So, if you are a “happy person,” please spread the good vibes. The world could really use your joy right now!