The Transportation Security Administration has actually done something right! They’ve approved a new laptop bag which will allow laptop owners to run computers through security without the extra step of removing it from the bag. The T.S.A. will allow the new cases as soon as they’re available on the market. Being developed by Targus and Pathfinder Luggage, both companies estimate these cases will be available in September or October.
According to an article in the NY Times, “the new cases include either a fold-down section in a bigger briefcase or a stand-alone protective sleeve that contains no extra clutter and can be readily viewed through the scanner.” This maybe helpful to the 70% of business travelers who feel rushed when trying to catch their flight or to the 60% of travelers who worry that security checkpoints will prevent them from boarding their flight on time.
I know I fall into the category of Americans who travel with their laptops, which according to a recent survey is nearly 25% of all airline passengers. I’ve always been concerned about the damage possible to my laptop when putting it on a moving conveyor belt or when the bin is pushed on its side because the subsequent luggage rams into the bins that have backed-up because people were trying to put their shoes back on. That’s another time waster I can’t bother with in this post!
I’ve also feared my laptop might walk off if I’ve been held up by the T.S.A for another scanning or pat-down. According to a recent survey by Ponemon Institute, I should be worried! Business travelers loose more then 12,000 laptops a week! Yes, 12,000! LAX leads the pack, averaging 1200 lost or stolen laptops weekly. Here in Washington, DC, DCA travelers average 450 lost laptops weekly and at Dulles more than 400 disappear each week.
With these new laptop bags, hopefully travelers will feel less rushed and be more aware of their belongings, since 40% of the lost computers occur at security checkpoints. The bags will have a retail price around $39 for a backpack style up to more than $200 for a rolling case. Either way, the function will be the same – protect your laptop and save time by not having to remove it from the bag. Now, if you truly want to save time, buy Clear, the only government-approved screening process. The company estimates you’ll spend no more then 14 seconds in line at airport security. If I traveled more often, I would happily pay the $128 annual fee for this fast pass.
ID theft is a rapidly growing challenge faced by everyone. One way to protect yourself is to take advantage of this free “community shred” for Montgomery County residents. NBC 4, Shred-it, and PNC Bank are co-sponsoring the event this weekend. Each resident can bring up to 5
boxes of paper. No business papers are accepted.
Date: June 28, 2008
Hours: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Location:
Montgomery County Fairgrounds
* The Perry Parkway entrance will be the only one open that day, June 28th.
They’ll accept:
All types of paper; (staples and papers clips are OK)
Empty binders;
Unwanted/expired credit cards; and
Computer disks (disks may be shredded off-site).
As an organizer, I often take clients’ donations to Goodwill. I rely on the client to know the value of what they own. Occasionally I’ll ask a client if we should sell an item or have something appraised before we simply put it in the donation box. Usually, they say, “Oh, that? It’s fake.”
The story was very different in Easton, Maryland, when a painting worth more than $40,000 was donated to Goodwill in error.
This impressionist street scene, “Flower Market” by Edouard-Leon Cortes, was dropped off at an Easton Goodwill store. An employee noticed the unusual painting and plucked it out of the day’s donations for special attention. The painting featured a gold embossed nameplate bearing the artist’s name and the painting’s title. The employee Googled the artist and compared the signature found on the painting with online sources. Excited the painting might be particularly valuable, Goodwill sent it to Sotherby’s for cleaning, authentication, and auction. Goodwill says that even if the owner didn’t intend to make such a large donation, she is out of luck because donations are not tracked and each is considered a legal and final transaction.
Just imagine, this beautiful work of art might have been yours for $100 at Goodwill!
Many people ask me what kind of questions they should be asking a professional organizer. Here are my top 10.
Ask for references and be sure to check them.
Find out their professional involvement. I believe you should hire someone committed to their profession and continued education.
Determine what your investment will be up front by asking how they charge. Some organizers charge by the hour, others may charge by the project.
Ask the organizer if he/she specializes in any particular area of organizing (technology, chronic disorganization, closets, etc.).
You probably want to work with someone experienced, so ask how long he/she has been in business and if she is a Certified Professional Organizer®.
Ask if you will be working with the person you are speaking to or if you will be working with an employee or subcontractor.
Determine if he/she has a minimum number of hours or if you are obligated by a contract.
Every organizer works differently, so ask how he/she will approach your unique situation and what the process entails.
Ask him/her to describe her typical organizing project and client. Does the description sound like your situation and what you need?
Finally, if you’ve tried getting organized before, ask why he/she thinks his/her service will be a better fit for your circumstance.
Your professional organizer and you are a team. An organizer cannot perform effective services for you unless he/she knows what is important in your home or office and how that space functions. It’s in your best interest to find someone who shares your views. Base your final decision on a professional organizer who has the expertise, skill set, and personality which best suits you to help you achieve your goals.
New on the market is Bagster®, a portable trash dumpster made of a unique, woven material that can hold up to 3,300 pounds of household junk, construction debris, and even yard waste. The process is simple:
BUY the Bagster bag from one of the retail partners for $29.95.
FILL with up to 3,300 pounds of household junk, construction debris and yard waste.*
GONE after scheduling collection with Bagster on the phone or online, and paying the collection fee. Bags are gone in 1 – 3 business days. You need not be home for pick-up service.
The cost for a pick up in the Washington, DC area is $129 for the first bag and $99 for each additional bag.
Important to note, you can not put the following items in your Bagster bag; Appliances, Electronics, Tires, Food Waste, Large Stumps, Toxic/Hazardous Waste, Railroad Ties, and in some regions, Yard Waste.
If you live in an area without a drive way or which has a tall fence or landscaping element that prevents the bag from being more then 5 feet from the cube, be sure to check out the policies on bag placement.
Stay tuned for a follow-up post on the differences of using a service like Bagster as opposed to a local junk removal company.
Organizing your closet is possible! Here are a few simple how-to’s for decluttering and organizing your closet.
Empty out the closet completely. Yes, completely!
While it’s empty, vacuum and dust the interior.
Sort the clothing and accessories by categories: jackets, pants, skirts, shirts, shoes, belts, and so forth.
Pick a category and start returning items from that group to the closet. When placing them in the closet, group them by color and by season. Don’t put clothes back that have stains or tears, are unworn, or are out of style.
Hang the items ‘backwards’ (note the hanger in this picture). Once you wear the item, return it to the closet ‘forwards.’ At the end of the season all of the backward hangers are clothes you did not wear.
Bonus tip: Keep a paper bag in the bottom of your closet. During the season drop items into the bag you will no longer use. Once the bag is full take it to Goodwill or your favorite clothing charity.
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