“I live for the lord, I ain’t got to do all the boogie woogie.”
Mattel Thought They Could Outsmart The Chinese Poison Train
By August 2, 2007
Two weeks before announcing the recall of nearly 1 million toys tainted with toxic lead paint, Mattel was featured in the New York Times as a role model, the “gold standard” for companies manufacturing goods in China. The Chinese Poison Train’s ability to sneak past Mattel’s fortified defenses highlights the tremendous difficulties faced by well-meaning American manufacturers trying to police their supply chains. Mattel spared no expense to ensure the safety of their products.
By August 2, 2007
Amend your Christmas list, Grand Theft Auto IV has been delayed until at least April 2008. [Kotaku]
By August 2, 2007
Alcohol-themed chapstick in kid friendly colors! Remember candy cigarettes? We’re getting nostalgic. [Flickr]
Massive Layoff At Dell Call Center
By August 2, 2007
Dell’s Oregon based call center experienced a massive layoff this morning, according to KPIC. All of the employees were herded into a conference room and told that their positions had been eliminated.
Teen Faces Charges For Recording 20 Seconds of "Transformers"
By August 2, 2007
Don’t use your digital camera in a theater to record 20 seconds of the movie Transformers (even if it’s just to show your little brother) or you could face 1 year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
StubHub Becomes Official Scalper Of Major League Baseball
By August 2, 2007
Private ticket sales will emerge from the shadows under a five year agreement signed by Major League Baseball that will make StubHub the only official site where fans can buy and sell baseball tickets amongst themselves. 25 of the 30 MLB teams already run secondary ticket trading sites, but starting in 2008, they will consolidate under a StubHub-run, MLB-branded site. Some teams are less than excited.
Proposed Legislation In Ohio Would Require Women To Get A Man's Permission To Have An Abortion
By August 2, 2007
New proposed legislation in Ohio would make it illegal for a woman to get an abortion without a man’s permission, according to the Record-Courier.
Comcast Drops "West Coast" Feeds On The East Coast?
By August 2, 2007
Reader Steve says Comcast has dropped the west coast feeds on his premium channels without telling him about it. Now his sadness can not be quantified.
Starbucks to Downsize Drink Menu In Attempt To Speed Up Ordering Process
By August 2, 2007
“Starbucks also said it plans to cut the number of different drinks on its menu, a move it hopes will help baristas get customers through the line more quickly.”
Don’t get your Juicy Raspberry in a twist over it, Seattlest reminds us of the Starbucks “secret menu” (you can order whatever you want and they have to make it for you) and the infinite possibilities it contains.
By August 2, 2007
Eyewitness account with photo evidence of a McDonald’s cocktail party complete with mojitos and mini-quiches. Reminds us of the time we were strolling past the then-new McDonald’s on the corner of Lincoln and Fullerton in Chicago and witnessed a formal event taking place… complete with string quartet. [False 45th] (Thanks, Maura!)
Customers Seeking Better Customer Service Buy Bundles From Telecoms, Not Cable Companies
By August 2, 2007
Well done Charter, people would prefer to buy bundled services from AT&T because they think phone companies provide better customer service than cable companies. Both cable companies and telecoms rank towards the bottom of the American Customer Satisfaction Index.
More Coverage Of The Fisher Price Recall
By August 2, 2007
The clip has a sound bite from the CPSC, as well as your typical concerned Mom interviews and a round-up of recent Chinese Poison Train stories.
Hospital Found Negligent For Hiring Worst Doctor Ever
By August 2, 2007
According to the Charleston Gazette, Putnam General Hospital in West Virginia was guilty of “wantonness, recklessness and gross negligence” in not properly checking the background of John A. King, a surgeon who is now facing more malpractice lawsuits than any other doctor in the state’s history.
580,000 Americans Still Rent Their Phone From The Phone Company
By August 2, 2007
Phones can be purchased for around $20, but over half a million mostly older Americans still send the phone companies between $4.45 and $19.95 each month for a rented phone. Many senior citizens mistakenly believe that their rented phones are a great deal. From Bankrate:
Woman Caught "Faking" Slip-And-Fall At Florida Grocery Store
By August 2, 2007
Step 1) Locate olive oil aisle.
American Will Test In-Flight Broadband Next Year
By August 2, 2007
American Airlines will test fee-based broadband on its transcontinental flights early in 2008. If you hate listening to other people talk on the phone, don’t worry—they’re going to block Skype and its ilk.
Toxic Lead Paint Prompts Recall of 967,000 Fisher-Price Toys
By August 2, 2007
Sorry kids, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Fisher-Price are recalling Big Bird, Elmo, Dora and 83 other types of fun toys that happen to be covered with toxic lead paint from China.
