Dangerous

Cablevision Strings Cables Like Blind Might A Christmas Tree

Peter writes:

Some construction work was ongoing in the neighborhood, and it disrupted the underground cable services. Verizon and the electric provider fixed their wires within a day. Cablevision couldn't figure out how to fix their underground wiring, so they proceeded to run a coaxial cable out of the pedestal on my front property, up a tree in my front yard, where it was tied on with some copper wire, thrown across the street, tied to a lamppost head again with copper wire, dropped back down the lamppost, into another pedestal. It sat like this for well over a month and Cablevision insisted there was nothing they could do about it...

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3:49 PM on Tue Jul 1 2008
By Ben Popken
8,170 views, 47 comments

Latest by n/a: After a hurricane where I live (East coast) the overhead utility wires (phone, electric) were fixed within two weeks. The cable line? Left to dangle at head height for 3 months until I badgered them enough (Time Warner). more »

airlines

Pilots Complain That Cash-Strapped Airlines Are Skimping On Fuel

What's the surest way to save money on rising fuel prices? Don't use it! MSNBC has gathered pilot complaints from a database NASA maintains for the FAA, and they show that airlines are challenging pilots' refueling decisions, urging them to carry only the minimum fuel required by FAA regulations in order to reduce the weight of the plane and improve mileage. Pilots, however, have the final say on the matter and some of them are upset that cost-cutting is a factor at all in such a crucial decision. One pilot wrote in his complaint, "It's almost like a contest to see how far we can spread this company thin, and when an accident happens, we'll start reintroducing the safety elements we once had."
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8:12 PM on Fri Apr 18 2008
By Chris Walters
8,419 views, 34 comments

Latest by Mr. Gunn: Kopiok: So they're not actually sneakily skipping the line by falsely claiming to be low on fuel? more »

defective products

Apple's MagSafe Adapters Still Fraying, Melting, Sucking

Apple's perpetually melting and fraying MagSafe adapters—apparently these things are made out of Styrofoam and rice paper—continue to cause trouble. Christine, call Apple and explain your problem, and see if they'll replace it for free.

Hey Consumerist,

I've been using Apple products for years. I've always been satisfied with their customer service and exceptional products. Naturally, I was upset when I noticed the MagSafe power adapter on my Intel Core Duo Macbook (ca. 2006) was fraying by the magnetic port, rendering it mostly useless (or at least, useless if I didn't want to set my house on fire charging my Macbook with exposed wires).

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11:02 AM on Fri Apr 4 2008
By Chris Walters
5,036 views, 73 comments

Latest by n/a: I have fried out 2 magsafe adapters and apple has replaced them both. Mention the possibility of fire and they pretty much have to send you a new one. The second sent was even after my warranty ended. more »

prescriptions

Walgreens Fills High Blood Pressure Prescription With Generic Allergy Pills

Tina claims that last December she had her prescription filled at a Dallas Walgreens store, and was surprised to see that the pills had changed. She "thought they must have changed to a generic" and took them anyway—but when she next refilled the prescription, "the pills were back to what I'd taken for years. It ended up taking Walgreens six weeks to get the pill identified."
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3:46 PM on Mon Mar 24 2008
By Chris Walters
4,647 views, 60 comments

badvertising

FlyJumper Ad Promises To Make You Awesome, Then Rich, Then Dead

In the U.S. they're called PoweriZers, but in the U.K. those springy pogo-boot things are called FlyJumpers, and the company that sells them has come up with a bizarre ad that appeals to... materialistic and amoral fame-seekers who are suicidal, we guess? The commercial—which is available on the Amazon.co.uk product info page—shows a bank robber making an amazing escape on his FlyJumpers, and getting away with thousands of pound notes. Then, inexplicably, it turns into a scene from "Final Destination." More »

2:52 PM on Thu Oct 4 2007
By Chris Walters
4,598 views, 23 comments

Latest by n/a: @liquisoft: Mythbusters couldn't do it with an industrial steel ceiling fan and a lawnmower motor. more »

fast food

Drunk Crashes Car Into Arby's, Makes A Run For The Border

An Oregon man smashed into an Arby's drive-thru and crashed into the building before driving across the street to get some Taco Bell. From KOIN TV:

Police arrested 47-year-old Davis Katlaps of Lake Oswego, Ore., and charged him with driving under the influence after he reportedly blew .283 on an Intoxilyzer

Oregon's legal limit is .08. More »

12:59 AM on Sat Feb 3 2007
By Meg Marco
366 views, 9 comments

dewalt

DeWalt Recalls Dangerous Saws

Watch your fingers, kids. DeWalt has recalled 97,000 framing saws and 37,000 circular saws because the lower blade guard can fail to close, leaving the blade exposed and presenting a laceration hazard to consumers. More »

2:46 PM on Tue Nov 14 2006
By Meg Marco
247 views, 6 comments

Consumerist

UPDATE: Ruby Tuesday Says Man Ordered Fatal Crab Dish

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