"Your toolkit for prevention, redemption, and occasionally retribution." -Ralph Nader Whenever you purchase goods or services in a personal, household, or family capacity, you are entitled to the rights and remedies of state and federal consumer law. Realistically, only a very small percentage of consumer problems can be addressed by hiring a private attorney. Everyday Law for Consumers teaches practical self-help remedies that ordinary Americans can use to protect their consumer rights. Michael L. Rustad, a nationally known practicing attorney and legal scholar, translates into plain English the legalese that forms the basis for many common transactions, including consumer loans, credit repair, credit, consumer leases, usury, interest rates, Internet transactions, identity theft, distance contracts, home shopping, television advertisements, door-to-door sales, and telephone solicitations. Using real-life examples, sample complaint letters, and an appendix of further examples, this easy-to-read book empowers everyday people to become effective self-advocates in an increasingly consumer-driven society.

A lifelong love of vintage clothes and bargain hunting sustained Lynne when she was made redundant. Borrowing, blagging and begging her way around the country, she found her feet again in the cowboy boots of yesteryear, and brought her discoveries back to share. From Aberdeen to Brighton, Victorian beading to 1980's neon, across 15 cities and all decades, Lynne reveals the things she loves about her favourite vintage haunts. Layering vintage chic, gorgeous photographs and a soupcon of fashion history, A Girl's Guide to Vintage is for both initiates and adepts at the alter of vintage.

Go beyond the glass and discover the secrets behind your favorite style of whiskey. Over the past three decades, Lew Bryson has been one of the most influential voices in whiskey—a longtime editor of Whisky Advocate and author of the definitive guide Tasting Whiskey. In this book, Lew shares everything he's learned on his journey through the worlds of bourbon, Scotch, rye, Japanese whiskey, and more (yes, there are tasty Canadian and Irish whiskeys as well!). In this book, you'll find it all: An overview of the different types of whiskeys, including the rules and identities of each. He also includes information on craft whiskeys, which tend to be more creative and freewheeling than the styles made by traditional producers. Exploration of the key whiskey ingredients, with a close look at the flavor contributions of malt, peat, corn, rye, wheat—even water matters. Distillation for non-distillers and the beauty of barrels: Whiskey is both an art and a science, and what's in the glass is affected by things like pot stills vs. column stills, barrel char, and of course, time.  Numerous interviews with master distillers, still makers, and other artisans at the top of their field. Tasting notes throughout so you can identify the whiskeys you might want to try next. Every chapter contains a variety of unique, often behind-the-scenes photography. And with whiskey as the subject, this is a class where you'll want to do the homework!

America is the only country in the world that does not regulate medication prices. The result is that prescription drug prices are rising at an astronomical rate. Pharmaceutical companies make an enormous amount of money by continuously coming out with the "latest" medication for common ailments. Smart Medicine is a practical book that helps readers take control of the cost and safety of the prescription medicines they take. The first chapter is a no-holds-barred examination of how we got to where we are with unregulated drug prices. Subsequent chapters explain specific strategies for saving significant money such as: Shopping on-line Buying generic equivalents Buying in foreign countries How to acquire discount cards.

The appendix, "Setting up your personal medical information center," contains resource names, Web sites, toll-free numbers, and publications to help readers take charge of their medications.

Here is a book packed with good advice on how to find and maintain a Desmoquattro twin Ducati. From running costs, through paperwork, vital statistics, valuation - this book shows you exactly what to look for when examining a potential Ducati Desmoquattro purchase. Along with a detailed description of all the individual models, there is a comprehensive condition checklist and guide, plus photos of key areas to check and foibles to be aware of. Also includes info on key specifications and useful upgrades that will enable one of these classic machines to be used on a regular basis, and a guide to the market and value - everything you need to buy the Desmoquattro of your dreams. Ian Falloon has 40 years of experience with Ducati, and has written several books covering the Desmoquattro models. He has owned several examples of this bike, and in his role as a motorcycle journalist attended the press launches for many of the models covered in this book. Ian's close association with the factory, and personal association with many of the engineers involved, has given him an invaluable insight into these models.

*** Miller's Antiques Handbook & Price Guide remains the essential and trusted guide to the antiques market. It has earned the reputation of being the book no dealer, collector or auctioneer should be without. Compiled by Judith Miller, world-renowned antiques expert and co-founder of the book, the guide features more than 8,000 antiques. Comprehensive sections cover Ceramics, Asian Antiques, Furniture, Glass, Silver and Metalwares, Jewellery and objets de vertu, Clocks and Watches, Books, Textiles, Toys, Decorative Arts and Modern Classics. Special features explain why one piece is worth more than another, show how to value an item and teach you to be your own valuer. Biographies of designers and factories give the background information you need to help date and value objects, while special 'Judith Picks' sections give fascinating background and valuation details for particularly interesting or unusual objects.

Great Wines and Great Writers are a Wonderful Blend"Guides to the wide world of wine are many but this is the first book on the market to pair books with wine by an author who is a preeminent expert on both." -Thriftbooks.com #1 Best Seller in Wine & Spirits Buying Guides A fact-filled, jargon free guide to wine, bursting with entertaining anecdotes, literary quotes and compelling humor that teaches you everything you always wanted to learn about wine but were too scared to ask. The pleasures of great wine and great writers. Under the careful guidance of his father, Patrick Alexander began drinking wine with his meals at the age of five. At the same age, encouraged by his mother, he began a lifelong love-affair with books. The twin pleasures of wine and writing remained his passion up to this day. He has raised his own children in many of the world's great wine growing regions, from Bordeaux and Piedmont in Europe to the Santa Cruz mountains of California while researching and writing his definitive guide to the novels of Marcel Proust. History of wine and some of the best wines. For several years, Patrick has been teaching a sold-out wine appreciation class at the nation's No.1 independent bookstore, Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida. The Booklovers' Guide to Wine is based on this very successful class and blends Patrick's passion for the culture and history of wine and his love of literature for the world's great writers. A literary twist on traditional food and wine pairings, this book explores how great wines and great writers can be combined to enhance the enjoyment of both. The book describes the history of wine from the time of Noah to the birth of two-buck Chuck. If you are a fan of wine books such as Cork Dork, Wine Folly, Wine Simple, or The Wine Bible, and appreciate great literature, you will love The Booklovers' Guide to Wine.

Climate change is the greatest challenge facing humanity: drastic reduction of carbon emissions is vital if we are to avoid a catastrophe that devastates large parts of the world. Governments and businesses have been slow to act and individuals now need to take the lead. The Earth can absorb no more than 3 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year for every person on the planet if we are to keep temperature and rainfall change within tolerable limits. Yet from cars and holiday flights to household appliances and the food on our plates, Western consumer lifestyles leave each of us responsible for over 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year - four times what the Earth can handle. Individual action is essential if we want to avoid climate chaos. How to Live a Low-Carbon Life shows how easy it is to take responsibility, providing the first comprehensive, one-stop reference guide to calculating your CO2 emissions and reducing them to a sustainable 3 tonnes a year.

Money-saving advice from Canada's leading consumer advocate

In this book Ellen Roseman distills the financial advice she gives in her columns and blogs into 81 quick tips that all Canadians can use to help them spend sensibly, save money, and avoid costly consumer traps. This book of "personal finance greatest hits" is filled with illustrative examples and cautionary advice from Roseman and stories from her faithful readers. Filled with a wealth of information, the book includes the low-down on dealing with banks and car dealers, cutting costs of communication services, improving your credit, buying and renovating a home, fighting online fraud, ensuring you have the right insurance, and more.Offers an easy-to-use guide for being smart with your moneyIncludes how to advice on handling the most common financial pitfallsContains the best advice from Ellen Roseman's columns and blogsWritten by Canada's most popular and savvy consumer advocate

Don't spend another dollar until you read Ellen Roseman's best-ever tips for saving money and making wise financial decisions.

An easy, informative introduction to the world of wine If you love wine and are interested to learn more about it, Uncorked is the perfect tool to gain a straightforward understanding of the essentials of wine, allowing you to enjoy wine and be at ease in any setting. This entertaining guide is presented in an easy-to-understand format, covering topics on everything from the winemaking process, wine vocabulary, and red wine versus white wine, to tasting and selecting wines for any occasion. With a helpful glossary and brief topic-by-topic chapters, this accessible, snobbery-free guide is the perfect companion for purchasing wines and navigating your way skillfully at parties, dinners, wine tastings, wine shops, and more.   Learn how to: Understand the origins of wine and the process of making it Know and speak the language of wine with terms like tannins, oaks, residual sugar, dry, medium- and full-bodied, and more Properly taste and drink wines   Choose wines to complement foods Save money by making choices that suit your palate

Now more than ever, we live in a society where we covet new and shiny things. Not only has consumption risen dramatically over the last 60 years, but we are damaging the environment at the same time. That is why buying quality and why Tara Button's Buy Me Once brand has such popular appeal. Tara Button has become a champion of a lifestyle called 'mindful curation' - a way of living in which we carefully choose each object in our lives, making sure we have the best, most classic, most pleasing and longest lasting - kettles, desks, pots & pans, scissors, coats and dresses, instead of surrounding ourselves with throwaway stuff and appliances with built-in obsolescence. Tara advocates a life that celebrates what lasts, what is classic and what really suits a person. There are 10 steps to master mindful curation and each is explained in this book, from understanding and using techniques to freeing yourself from external manipulations. Finding your purpose and priorities and identifying your core tastes and style. Learning how to let go of the superfluous and how to make wise choices going forwards. Mindful curation is a lifestyle choice that will make you happier, healthier and more fulfilled spiritual as well as helping save the planet.

A fascinating insight into the strange world of collectors of the macabre, Morbid Curiosities features 18 unique collections and an extensive interview with each collector, explaining how and why they collect, and showcasing the most remarkable pieces from each collection. The collections include skulls, mummified body parts, taxidermy, occult objects and various carnival, and side-show and criminal ephemera. Detailed captions tell the curious stories behind each object, many of which are being shown outside the private world of their collections for the first time. Morbid Curiosities includes stunning, specially commissioned photography of both the individual objects and the context of how the collector exhibits their work, forming a unique showcase of the bizarre and the intriguing.

"To some, piercing is just another accessory; to others, it's the beginning of a new life."--Dennis Sullivan, Certified Body Piercer, Spokane, Washington

Body piercing has become more commonplace in today's society. It can be artistic and expressive and a reflection of your personality. But there is more to piercing than shoving a needle through the skin. In The Art of Body Piercing, author Genia Gaffaney provides a thorough guide to getting a body piercing and follows the procedure step-by-step to ensure a successful experience.

In this guide, Gaffaney, a certified body piercer since 2000 and business owner since 1993, answers a host of questions related to the body-piercing process--before, during, and after:

How do you select a body-piercing shop?What is the appropriate age at which to get a piercing?What type of jewelry should you choose?How should you clean body jewelry?How should you change body jewelry?What should you know about genital piercing?How can you avoid infection?Should you get more than one piercing in the same area?

With charts and photos, The Art of Body Piercing details a host of practical information to let you express yourself through piercings and body jewelry.

Foreword by Christian Louboutin Vintage Shoes recounts a century of shoe history, from Andre Perugia's designs for society women in the 1920s to Christian Louboutin's red soles. Accompanied by archive images, stunning fashion photography and specially commissioned photographs of rare period footwear, the most collectible and fabulous footwear designs are showcased. An invaluable reference as well as a visual delight of times past, the book explores the key designers, technical developments and cultural influences that shaped shoe fashions, presenting exquisite footwear from such trailblazers as Salvatore Ferragamo, Charles Jourdan, Roger Vivier, Beth Levine, Vivienne Westwood and Manolo Blahnik.

Is hunting for hidden treasures at garage sales, flea markets, estate sales, auctions, and antique shops your idea of a good time? If you love to poke around these places but don't know the difference between something that is just plain old or something that is a bona fide antique, then you might want to make Antiquing For Dummies your next purchase. Written in Dummies-style plain English, this book is not your average highfalutin, highbrow book on antique collecting. Instead of getting a lot of attitude, you get loads of down-to-earth advice about talking the talk with antique dealers, participating in auctions, and using win-win bargaining strategies.

Authors Ron Zoglin and Deborah Shouse can help you develop a plan of attack before you begin your hunt. Even if you are already a dedicated collector, Antiquing For Dummies has plenty of sound advice and information to help you brush up on your collecting skills and broaden your knowledge. And whether you enjoy collecting furniture, glass, ceramics, or silver, you find sections in the book dedicated to each collectible that tell you how and where to buy them. Plus, after you've found that beautiful antique, you find decorating ideas and suggestions for integrating it into your household. Antiquing For Dummies is guaranteed to show you the pleasure and art of antique collecting.

According to a recent study, it is estimated that more than 10 million Americans are unable to stop themselves from frequent shopping binges that lead to debt, damaged relationships, and depression. In this book, April Lane Benson draws on decades of clinical experience and on recent research to offer information, insights, and practical strategies for overcoming compulsive buying. The cardinal signs of compulsive buying are: frequent purchases of unneeded or unaffordable items; intrusive or uncontrollable impulses to buy; and, emotional let-down or feelings of guilt after shopping. In plain and encouraging language, Dr. Benson helps readers to identify their 'overshopping sequence' - the pattern of triggers, actions, and aftershocks (or negative consequences) that plague compulsive buyers.With this awareness of the dynamics of their shopping problem, readers gain the ability to address the root causes. Dr. Benson demonstrates how unaddressed emotional pain can drive us to over shop, as can limited and unrealistic concepts about what will make us truly happy in life. To promote recovery, she offers readers an integrated approach that enlists the mind, the heart, and even the body to develop a mindful awareness around shopping and take back control over buying and spending. It includes patient stories, practical strategies, exercises, and information on financial planning.