There’s a reason that, after centuries of homemade potency potions that fell flat, the world went crazy for drugs like Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil). It’s because they apparently work. So it’s no surprise that companies may be trying to mix these prescription drugs into their “dietary supplements” and hope that no one actually tests them. [More]
Government Policy
The TSA Now Has A Nice Six-Point Throwing Star With Folding Blades In Its Collection
By 5.6.14
Of course there’s the occasional time you forget that nice set of kitchen knives is in your carry-on, or you didn’t realize that all-purpose razor fell into the bag. But wouldn’t you probably remember not to pack your six-point throwing star with folding blades? It’s just that kind of apparent forgetfulness that has given the Transportation Security Administration a new ninja weapon. [More]
FDA Says Taking Aspirin Daily Won’t Help Patients With No History Of Heart Attacks
By 5.6.14
If you were thinking of popping a few aspirin today in hopes that it might prevent a future heart attack, you might want to reconsider that plan. Consumers without a history of heart attacks or strokes could be putting themselves in greater danger by swallowing the pill the Food and Drug Administration says. [More]
Police Use Pinterest To Get Victims’ Stolen Stuff Back To Them
By 5.5.14
If you’re a police department and want to reunite people with their stolen property, you need to get pictures of recovered items in front of the public. What’s the best way to do that? Social media, of course. By posting albums on Facebook and Pinterest, departments can get pictures of recovered items in front of a maximum number of eyeballs, increasing the odds that someone will recognize a piece. [More]
FTC Continues Crackdown On Companies That Make False ‘Green’ Promises About Products
By 5.5.14
Sometimes consumers make purchases based on the fact that the product is good for the environment, or at least won’t wreak havoc on it. So misleading consumers on the nature of a products natural composition is grounds for a slap on the wrist by the Federal Trade Commission. [More]
FCC Catches Vigilante Highway Cell Phone Jammer, Wants To Fine Him $48K
By 5.2.14
Admit it: there’s been at least one moment in your life when you secretly wished for a cell phone jammer in your pocket. Maybe you were in line at the grocery store, or watching a movie, or someone who wouldn’t stop texting almost merged into you on the highway. However, you should not actually do this. Why? Let the case of this Florida man serve as a cautionary tale. [More]
POM Wonderful Tries Again To Convince Court Its Ads Aren’t Misleading
By 5.2.14
For the last few years, the Federal Trade Commission has repeatedly spanked the makers of POM Wonderful beverages for making unsubstantiated advertising claims about the health benefits of its pomegranate juice products. But today in a federal appeals court, POM argued that the FTC went too far in regulating the ads in question. [More]
GM Asks Plaintiffs To Pretty Please Hold Off On Ignition-Related Lawsuits
By 5.1.14
General Motors has already asked a federal bankruptcy court to put an end to the spate of recently filed lawsuits related to an ignition defect that has resulted in the deaths of at least 13 people, but the carmaker is now asking the plaintiffs in those suits to voluntarily back off. [More]
Will FCC Overturn State Laws Blocking Municipal Broadband?
By 5.1.14
Because heaven forbid someone other than cable and phone companies offer quality Internet access, some 20 states have laws that either ban or heavily restrict municipal broadband, and recent attempts to ban muni broadband in Kansas, and Georgia have only failed following public outcry. Yesterday, FCC Chair Tom Wheeler gave some hope that his agency would stop new bans from being put in place, but didn’t mention the fate of the existing laws. [More]
Report: Debt Collectors Now Using Court System To Unfairly Force Consumers To Pay Up
By 4.30.14
Debt collection is a big business that doesn’t look to be shrinking anytime soon. But along with the rapid expansion of the industry, there has been an increase in abusive and predatory collection practices. One of those practices, obtaining default judgements against consumers, has led the Center for Responsible Lending to call for stricter regulations over the process of selling debt to collectors. [More]
GE And Midea Recall Fire-Prone Dehumidifiers Sold At Walmart
By 4.30.14
Were you relieved to learn that your GE-branded dehumidifier wasn’t part of the massive recall of fire-prone units made by Gree Electrics? Yeah, about that. You’re going to have to check that model number again, because 15,000 dehumidifiers from a different manufacturer have been recalled because they might overheat and cause fires, too. [More]
FCC Chairman: I’d Rather Give In To Verizon’s Definition Of Net Neutrality Than Fight
By 4.30.14
With every word he writes, recently installed FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler shows he has little interest or belief in net neutrality as most consumers understand it. In another flimsy attempt at defending his position on “fast lanes” — i.e., allowing Internet service providers to charge more to content companies seeking priority access to end-users — Wheeler contends that consumers should do what Verizon and other telecoms want because well, it could take a while to do it correctly. [More]
TSA Extending PreCheck Expedited Screening Program To International Airlines
By 4.29.14
Relief is in sight, ye weary travelers setting off to farflung parts of this sphere we call Earth: Screening lines at airports are about to get a lot speedier for travelers flying on international airlines now that the Transportation Security Administration has expanded its PreCheck program. [More]
Netflix Will Also Pay Verizon To End Streaming Bottleneck
By 4.29.14
The months-long game of chicken between Netflix and Verizon has come to an end, with the streaming video company agreeing to pay off the ISP for a more direct connection to its network. For Netflix users with FiOS accounts, it means you will finally be able to watch streamed reruns of Mad Men without having to guess which character you’re looking at, but it continues to demonstrate that ISPs can passive-aggressively compel data-heavy content companies to ante up in order to reach their users. [More]
April Recall Roundup – Look Out For Unexpected Crossbows
By 4.29.14
In this month’s Recall Roundup, a lawnmower keeps going even after its operator has dismounted, computer batteries overheat, fireplaces explode, and a self-destructing goldfish bowl is no place for fish. (Actually, a goldfish bowl is no place for a goldfish: take the $20 you get back and put it toward an aquarium.) [More]
Congress Wants To Restore Glory Days Of Misleading Airfares And Hidden Fees
By 4.28.14
Remember what it was like to book air travel way back in ye olden days of three years ago? You’d spot a really excellent online deal on a flight, only to discover at checkout that after the taxes and fees, it was $50 higher than you’d thought. The Dept. of Transportation changed all that in 2012 — but now, a bill rapidly moving through Congress could reverse that change entirely. [More]
Stories You Might Have Missed Because You Were Too Busy Being Awesome
April 26, 2014
We post a lot of stories during the week, and we know that most of you have jobs, families, lives, hobbies, nagging itches and other more important things to do than read every single thing we write. So for those who might be playing catch-up on the weekend, here are some of the things you might have missed… [More]
Everything You Need To Know Before E-mailing The FCC About Net Neutrality
A lot of people have had a lot to say about the FCC’s proposed “fix” to the recently-vacated Open Internet Rule, better known as net neutrality. The official proposed rule will become available to the public on May 15, but the FCC has already established a way to accept public comments by e-mail. But the process is fraught with questions: is it worth your time? Will they publish your personal information? Does the FCC even take any e-mailed comments into consideration when they’re making their new rules? [More]