While sitting along the levy last Saturday watching the yunguns shoot off fireworks I struck up a conversation with the father of another family doing the same thing.  Naturally the topic of work came up and when I mentioned that I make most of my money online these days he became intensely interested in what I had to say.  It seems this gentleman has been kicking around an idea for an online business for a couple of years now but simply has been unable to find the right web designer to turn it into reality.  His hopes were dashed (once again, apparently) when I informed him that I no longer do serious web design work myself, but I promised to see if I could find somene able to handle his needs.

Yesterday I came across VenalTech.com and immediately knew I’d found the answers to his prayers.  Venal Tech is a relatively young company dedicated to bringing your online business to life (or moving your brick and mortar business into the digital age).  Not only can they develop a website of any size or scope, utilizing all of the latest web technologies, but they’ll also handle marketing, promotion, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and all of the other areas that are unique to running  abusiness online.

Of course, there are quite a few companies (and individuals) offering similar services, so how did I know that VenalTech.com was perfect for turning this man’s dreams into reality?  Well, it was founded by none other than Brian Holt, whose former projects have included MovieForumz (once one of the top 500 most visited websites in the world) and YouPorn (currently one of the 50 most visited websites).  With that kind of talent and experience I have no doubt that they can handle this project.

Astute readers will note that I’ve yet to actually share any details about the venture itself.  That, dear readers, will have to wait until VenalTech has done their job as I’ve been sworn to secrecy on all the juicy details.  But don’t worry, as I’ve been promised plenty of sneak peeks an shwag as the busines develops, all of which I’ll be able to share here at Gilroy Review.

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Every year I order copies of my credit reports from Equifax, Experion and TransUnion.  I just received my latest report and discovered some random towing bill from about five years ago has suddenly appeared.  The weird thing (and why I’m writing about this here) is that the collection agency currently holding the note is located right here in Gilroy.

I had no idea we had debt collectors operating out of our sleepy little agricultural town, but apparently they are.  Who knew?  So now I can actually walk down to their office and complain and/or negotiate with them.  Pretty cool, though unnerving at the same time.  But what we really need here in Gilroy is a locally owned Debt Counseling company. After all, my best guess would be that we have a larger than average percentage of people with serious credit and debt problems.

Until then, I highly recommend checking out TheCreditExchange.com.  They are (apparently) the only a debt consolidation referral service in existence today.  Essentially, theyreview all of the various debt counseling, debt consolidation and equity repositioning companies out there and then do their best to match you up with the service that fits you best.  Makes a lot more sense than picking one at random based on a banner ad, Google search or flipping through the phone book, doesn’t it?

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I’ve frequently ranted (although apparently not on this blog) about the fact that the government grants monopolies to cable companies in various cities.  In Gilroy, of course, we have Comcast.  The problem isn’t necessarily with Comcast, per se, butwith the fact that a monopoly means there’s no real need for the cable company to innovate since there is no competition.  Luckily, Comcast has been feeling the pressure from not only satellite services, but internet streaming video as well, and they’re strating to come out with some truly worthwhile packages and deals.

But even more importantly is what they’ve done to their website lately.  If you haven’t checked it out you should.  Now whenever my football maniac (buit computer illiterate) roommate asks me about the latest happenings within the NFL, I can just swing by Comcast’s site and get everything I need.  Whether I’m looking for scores, the schedule for upcoming games, video highlights or even the latest dirt on which coach or player is going where (and why), Comcast’s got everything I need on one clean and straightforward page.  So even for the football illiterate such as myself I can not only pull the data he wants in seconds, but also maintain meaningful conversations with him on his addiction… er… hobby of choice.

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It’s that time of year again. If you haven’t started doing so yet it won’t be long before you start dragging out boxes of receipts and paperwork to begin preparing your taxes. Assuming that, like most people, your (so called) fair share this year is more than you expected and or thought fair yourself you’ll be looking for ways to reduce that debt without having to go to jail for noncompliance. Well, have you considered participating in the goodwill car donations program?

I know, I know, it’s too late to get the write off on the taxes you’ll be paying in April, but it’s never to early start for next year. Especially once you take into account that you won’t know the exact value of your donation until after the car is sold. That’s because the federal government prohibits non profit organizations from assigning values to material donations. However, your donation is valued at the full retail value of the car. So this is how it works…

1. Check out the site linked above for details
2. Call your local Goodwill to find out the procedure in your area
3. Turn over the car and wait for it to be sold
4. Once your vehicle is sold, you will be notified of the sale price and all the documentation that you will need to claim the deduction on your tax return will be sent to you, including a donation receipt and the IRS Form 8283.

That’s all ther eis to it! So it’s not difficult, but it can take some time. You’re thinking about taxes now anyway, right, so why not keep that forward momentum by donating to your favorite charity as well?

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Having worn glasses for more than 30 years now (since second grade) I’ve been keeping an eye on LASIK technology for a while now (pun intended, BTW). It’s amazing how much progress this vision correction surgery has made over the last decade or so.

Now, instead of using a single hand held laser to perform the surgery, two separate and distinct lasers are used in combination with the wave-front technology that you’ve probably heard of. Basically, it goes like this-

1. Wave-front maps your eye to determine how it is unique.
2. Laser one cuts a corneal flap with the assistance of computer guidance.
3. Laser two  does the actual vision correction with the assistance of the wave-front maps.
4. Follow up with an optometrist to make sure everything went okay.

That’s pretty much all there is to it.  One of the (small) things that has kept me from moving forward with iLASIK surgery (as it’s now called) has been the hassle of repeatedly having to go up to San Jose or somewhere along the peninsula for repeated after-care visits.  But while I was poking around for LASIK information recently I discovered that you don’t have to receive your follow up care from the same office you get the surgery.  In fact, there are several optometrists right here in Gilroy!

Better, safer, more effective technology combined with more and more convenience is dropping those barriers to LASIK like hot rocks.  It seems I’ll be leaving my glasses behind sooner rather than later.

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Zaira recently bought herself a new laptop. Well, technically, I loaned Zaira some money so that she could buy a laptop. The deal included that the computer would remain in my possession until she had fully paid it off. So I’ve been taking advantage of this system since her laptop is significantly better than even my desktop, not to mention my laptop.

Part of my playing with it has been exploring connection possibilities in and around Gilroy.  According to hotspotr (a WiFi location directory), there’s only a single free Hotspot location in Gilroy.  In just my first morning of looking I’ve found four:

• First Street Coffee – 1211 1st St.
• COG WiFi – City of Gilroy(?)  Available both in the same shopping center as First Street Coffee, though stronger on the far side of the parking lot, near Togos.
• Safeway WiFi – 905 1st St – This network barely reaches past the building itself.  The tables out front get a great signal, but even the closest parking lots get a Fair signal at best.
• COG WiFi – In front of Grocery Outlet (727 1st Street).  I picked up a decent signal from various spots in this parking lot.  Perfect for lunch at Wienerschnitzel or breakfast at Gilroy Donuts.

I was really hoping to find one near South Valley Middle School so I could work while waiting to pick up Zaira from school, but no such luck.  Later this evening I intend to explore over by Gilroy Crossing.  Have you found any other free Hotspots or unsecured WiFi connections in Gilroy?  If so, I’d love to hear about them!

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I’ve had this in my “to write about” pile for some time now, but when I learned that Eco Joes was hosting the Festival of Frugality I knew I needed to get it written.

I was visiting a friend a short while back when his “deconstruction” crew arrived.  I thought he was joking because they’re tearing out their old kitchen and putting in a nice shiny new one.  Turns out he was very serious.  He and his partner hired a deconstruction firm to help with their remodel in order to be both more earth friendly and to actually help pay for the remodeling itself.  According to the Marcan Enterprises website-

With deconstruction, houses and fixtures can be carefully taken apart, and salvaged. Kitchen cabinets, bath fixtures, furnaces, doors, windows, carpet, water heaters, light fixtures, garage doors, lumber, framing can all be carefully and efficiently removed. Then we bring them to The ReUse People where they are salvaged for other building projects both here are abroad.

The great news is that tax donation of the salvaged materials can offset, or is usually even much greater than the cost of the deconstruction itself. Deconstruction takes a few extra days, but usually pays for itself. Plus the materials are put to good use, and kept out of landfills, so it’s an excellent, green alternative – something that makes us all feel good.

Sound to good to be true?  Well, I thought so too, but then he told me that they were paying the deconstruction crew $2500 and claiming a $4200 tax deduction for the cabinets, windows and fixtures that are being replaced.  Normally these things would simply find their way into the landfill and completely new ones would be created from raw materials to meet demands.  With deconstruction everybody saves: my friend saves on his taxes; the people using the recycled materials to make new materials can do so more cheaply; therefore future customers can buy for lower prices; and less raw materials is good for the environment.  So everybody wins as well.

I know that there are folx out there who have shelved their home renovations projects due to economic uncertainty.  Before you totally backburner them I recommend you ask your contractor about deconstruction or check the Building Materials Reuse Association to find a deconstruction company near you.

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