Consumerist
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Shopping
What Does The Weak Dollar Mean To Shoppers?
You've probably been hearing a lot about the weak dollar, but might not be sure what exactly it means for you. More » -
Mid-air near collisions happen way more than you think they do, says NASA. [NPR]
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But Seriously Folks
Comcast Calls FCC Decision To Ban Apartment Cable Deals "A Blow" To Consumers
The FCC approved a rule banning apartment building cable deals today, and Comcast is all mad about it. More » -
Personal Finance
How To Avoid Boredom While Turning Your Finances Around
The worst part of cutting your expenses is also the worst part of going on a diet. Boredom. Not being able to do exactly what you want, when you want to do it is boring. "Grown up," but boring. More » -
Videos
How Gmail Stops Spam
My spam has gone down like a million % since switching to Gmail from Yahoo mail. This amusing video shows you some of the techniques Google uses to keep spam out of your inbox. Just about all the spam we get is as a result of the forward set up from our old yahoo to our new gmail account. We hate spam and loves the Gmail. -
Good To Know
IKEA Will Recycle Your CFLs For Free
If you have an IKEA store near you, give them your old CFLs and they'll recycle them for free. CFLs contain small amounts of mercury and should not be thrown away or recycled with glass bottles. More » -
Privacy
AOL Announces It Will Let Users Block Targeted Ads
On the same day that consumer groups called for "Do Not Track" lists to preserve consumer privacy, AOL pre-emptively announced a new service that they say will let users opt out of receiving targeted ads. "Choosing to opt out sends a cookie to a user's computer that blocks the ads from appearing. AOL's system prevents the deletion of the opt-out cookie." More » -
Artificial
Fake Red Meat: Meatpackers Warn Consumers To "Use The Sell By Date"
As we've already mentioned, packing meat in carbon dioxide keeps it from turning brown, but doesn't keep it from spoiling—making it more likely that consumers will buy, and eat, nasty spoiled meat. More » -
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Personal Finance
6 Financial Demons And How To Exorcise Them
If you keep trying to save money and failing, there's a good chance you're possessed... by "financial demons," says Kiplinger. Here's a list of six common ones and how to exorcise them, before your credit rating goes all Linda Blair on you. More » -
Recalls
CPSC Tells Companies, "Don't Recall Products On Your Own"
A CPSC spokeswoman said this week that Wal-Mart's independent recall of lead-tainted toy animals on October 19th was all well and good, but that they should have included more information that consumers need in order to act quickly—including how many products were sold, when they were sold and at what other retailers, and the name of the manufacturer. Said the spokeswoman, "We are not big fans of when companies handle recall announcements independently of the agency. It can cause confusion and doesn't always provide consumers with the information they need." More » -
Privacy
Should There Be A "Do Not Track" List For Internet Users?
Several consumer groups have joined together to request that the FTC implement a "Do Not Track" list for online use, which would allow Internet users to request that they be told in advance any time their online patterns are being tracked for advertising purposes. They submitted a formal request today, before the FTC's 2-day workshop begins tomorrow where it will "study the increasing use of tracking technology to target online ads." More » -
Mergers and Acquisitions
Clorox Buys Burt's Bees
Clorox is sick of being unnatural so it's going to pay $925 million in cash for natural skin care products manufacturer Burt's Bees. More » -
Worst Company in America
NIN's Trent Reznor Shared Files On OiNK, Compares iTunes To Sam Goody
Trent Reznor was a member of now-shuttered illegal file sharing website OiNK, and he's not afraid to admit it to New York Magazine: More » -
Badvertising
Great Moments In Commercial History: Jhoon Rhee
This Jhoon Rhee commercial was suggested by a number of readers, including Vicki, who writes: Your "Great Moments in Commercial History" postings made me recall this commercial from my childhood, which ran on Washington DC stations in the days before cable. I remembered it as the "Nobody bothers me!" commercial, I couldn't even remember the company or product.
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Nancy Nord fights back against those calling for her resignation with an open letter posted to the CPSC's website. Go get 'em tiger. [CPSC]
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Retail
Walmart: "Black Friday" Is Now This Friday, Thanksgiving Surrenders
Walmart is moving "Black Friday" to this Friday in a desperate attempt to make some money this holiday season. Never mind that this "holiday season" is weeks away. Black Friday is here, folks. More » - Most Popular Stories Today's most popular headlines are Junk Mail Revenge: Taping Pre-Paid Business Reply Envelopes To Packages Works? (6,863 views today), Do Not Keep Buying Your Meth Lab Supplies At The Local Walmart (3,930) and Consumerist's 1st Annual Christmas Creep Gallery (3,733).
New York, 11:27 PM
Tue Nov 10
22 posts in the last 24 hours
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