Living Today: Issues of modern living

CADILLAC GAINS FROM SUPER BOWL

Cadillac enjoyed a large gain in both likeability and recognition, compared to before its Super Bowl commercials, according to an advertising effectiveness study by Clickin Research Inc.

"Cadillac's gain may be due in part to their strong TV campaigns during the last few months of 2002, which has laid a foundation of awareness," Martha Russell, Clickin Research president, says in a statement.

Clickin's study finds Budweiser benefited from Super Bowl airtime, but well-known advertisers like Levi's and Hanes showed little change. "Well-known advertisers do have something to loose if viewers don't like their Super Bowl ads," Russell says.

Visa and Sony both lost points between their pre-game and post-game likeability ratings, Clickin adds.

FOG COSTLY TO HOMEOWNER

Fats, oils and grease, known as "FOG" in the wastewater treatment trade, can cost homeowners big money if left to go down a kitchen sink drain.

Officials at the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District in Denver say homeowner's pay directly when they have to have a plumber clean out their sewer and indirectly in their wastewater treatment rates.

"Fats, oils and grease going down your drain congeal in your sewer pipe because it's cold there and they build up on root intrusions and pipe joints," Ron Maring, head of sewer maintenance for the MWDC, says in a statement.

Maring suggests people use an old soup can that is dry inside to collect grease from cooking. When it's half full, add some kitty litter to solidify and throw it away in the trash.

'LABORATORY' OF SAFETY

The first office tower built since the terrorist attacks on New York City will be a "laboratory" of ideas on safety.

The 52-story tower, 7 World Trade Center will have expanded fire stairs and landings as well as pressurized stairwells -- air will be forced in to prevent smoke from entering when the fire doors are opened, The New York

Times reports.

Larry A. Silverstein, who built the original 7 World Trade Center, says, "It is incumbent on us to make this the safest building."

The building will have a concrete core, rather than a steel-frame core, for protection from flying debris and there will be two sprinkler pipes -- the fire code requires only one -- feeding alternating floors.

PUNXSUTAWNY PHIL BEANIE BABIES

The two Beanie Babies Ty modeled after Punxsutawney Phil are popular with fans of the legendary weather forecasting Pennsylvania groundhog.

The limited edition Punxsutawney Phil Beanie Baby, which only was available in the souvenir shop of the Punxsutawney Area Chamber of Commerce, sold out in an hour Jan. 8.

Demand for the Punxsutawn-e Phil, available only at the Web site ty.com, continues to grow as Groundhog Day draws closer.

Ty Warner, creator of the collectibles, has committed a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Punxsutawn-e Phil to the Jefferson County American Red Cross and will present a check for $75,000 to the county this weekend.