Costco Connection - June 2006

DIALOGUEletters
Online Edition Bonus Dialogue
Odds and ends
No-interest interest

I disagree with Stefanie Wedin’s e-mail [May 2006] regarding “No interest in interest-only loans.” I purchased an interest-only loan to buy my “starter” home in Monterey, California. This type of loan afforded me the opportunity to get into the real estate market with the lowest possible payment. I sold that home after three years with a $250,000 profit. I don’t know, but in my book that’s a pretty great return on investment, and I did it all thanks to an interest-only mortgage!

Teresa Kistler
Monterey, California
Mac immunity

In the “Tech Connection” section of the May 2006 issue, a reader asked, “How do I make sure right away that my new computer doesn’t get viruses?”

Although the response that followed was thorough, it was entirely focused on Windows-based PCs. Considering that more than a few of your readers are Mac users, and that Costco has sold Macs at its warehouses, a short paragraph addressing the same concerns for Mac owners would have been useful. For example, “There are currently no known viruses or spyware for the Mac, but antivirus software is available to protect you when they (inevitably) hit the platform; Mac OS X also includes an effective firewall.”

This information may also have been useful to those shopping for a new computer; some people may want to consider the differences in security between the two platforms when making a buying decision.

Dan Frakes
Senior Editor, Macworld
Los Altos, California
Hearing is believing

It was an ad for your Hearing Aid Center that got our attention and changed our lives.

My husband, Bill, made an appointment, got his test and walked out a changed man. He has had his new hearing aids since February and has had a new take on life ever since. He can hear me speak in our truck while we travel. He’s never been able to do that.

A few weeks ago he called me on his cell phone to let me know he could hear spring now. The birds were singing and he could actually hear them. The coolest thing is that last weekend our 10-year-old granddaughter came to spend the night. He said it was truly the first time he had been able to hear her speak.

Thank you, Costco.

Connie Spinner
Eugene, Oregon

The Costco Connection JUNE 2006

Saving more than money I just read Suze

Orman’s answer to Deepak Chan-drasekhar (“Ask

Suze Orman,”

May Connection) regarding how to reduce his taxes now that he took her advice and paid off his mortgage. I was very disappointed that she didn’t suggest that he invest in other human beings by giving more to charities. Donations to worthy charities would allow him to take the gift as a deduction, thereby reducing his taxes. The money goes where he chooses, rather than to the government.

Pam Boersma
San Jose, California
Doing what you love

In one of your past articles, I read about a Costco member who created the Web site www.ptcruiserclub.org. He had everything you wanted to know about the PT Cruiser, but it was consuming about 30 to 40 hours a week to keep it up to date.

He changed the site to members only, and charged $40 per year for a membership. Five thousand members later, he quit his job and focused on the Web site full time.

From that idea, I have created two Web sites that provide services to the general public: NSTradesmen.com and MaritimeClassicCars. com. Both sites have been recently launched.

I read The Connection each time it comes out and think back to that article that had this profound influence on my life, and it may mean early retirement. I will keep you posted.

Steve Cooper
Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada

BRUCE FORSTER

The story about Mike Challis and his Web site for PT Cruiser fans appeared in the December 2001 Connection.

CHRIS RUSNAK

Piano man

Thank you for the great article in your January issue [“Give us a call, mister piano man”] about Mark Miller, a piano teacher who gives lessons by phone all over the world from his studio in Barrington, Illinois. After reading the article, I went to Mark’s Web site, www.pianoweb.com, and listened to all the interviews, music, etc.

I was so impressed that I contacted Mark, bought a piano and started lessons in January. Now, only four months later, I can play many songs and I’m learning chords and music theory. The Costco Connection is really top on my list for information about so many things.

Elizabeth (Betty) Walkiewicz,
via e-mail
Hazardous duty

I must begin by admitting that I didn’t read your March “Editor’s Desk” column ... sorry about that. But the responses you good-naturedly published in the “Dialogue” section of the May Connection prompted me to send you this thought, as one editor to another: No matter what you write, there’s someone out there who will misunderstand you, bridle with righteous indignation and write to tell you what a stinker you are.

Being offended seems to have become a national pastime in the United States. You could publish the text of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” in your column and someone would send a letter protesting how you’ve demeaned Mary, contributed to animal abuse and overlooked the contributions of underpaid schoolteachers everywhere.