The Drywall Safety Act of 2012 passed Congress on New Year’s Day 2013 and is currently waiting for President Obama’s signature. The purpose of the bill is to keep stinky and hazardous drywall out of American homes. Simple enough. Thanks to the miracle of democracy, the bill has been watered down and gives less power to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and more to the building industry to draw up its own voluntary standards. [More]
Government Policy
Hold Your Horses. Tax Season Will Kick Off Late This Year
By 1.8.13
We know you’re all just ready to put on your IRS face paint and get into the spirit of Tax Season, but there’s some sad news for tax fans everywhere today — this year’s filing season won’t kick off until Jan. 30, more than a week later than expected. [More]
Fisher-Price Recalls 800,000 Newborn Rock ‘N Play Sleepers Seats Because They Might Be Moldy
By 1.8.13
Fisher-Price has issued a recall of about 800,000 of its Newborn Rock ‘N Play Sleepers due to an insidious problem that could be growing right under customer’s noses: mold. The company and the Consumer Product Safety Commission are warning consumers to stop using the sleepers if they spot mold on it, particularly in between the removable seat cushion and the hard plastic frame of the product. [More]
TSA Screener Fired For Allegedly Swiping $36 From Traveler’s Checked Luggage
By 1.7.13
We’ve seen so many stories of Transportation Security Administration agents pilfering, stealing, looting and otherwise stealing from travelers that this entire post could be a series of links. And hey, here’s another one for the pile, because apparently the TSA just can’t resist: An agent in North Carolina is facing accusations that he stole not electronics, not bags stuffed with cash, but just $36 from checked luggage. [More]
FDA Proposes New Food Safety Rules In Wake Of Peanut & Cantaloupe Contamination
By 1.4.13
Following more than a year of ugly headlines about recalls of possibly tainted peanuts, cantaloupes, leafy greens and other food products, the Food & Drug Administration has proposed new rules aimed at making the food on our plates safer to eat. [More]
Transocean Pleads Guilty, Agrees To Pay $1.4 Billion To Settle Charges Related To Gulf Oil Spill
By 1.3.13
Transocean, the offshore drilling company that operated, on BP’s behalf, the ill-fated Deepwater Horizon rig whose collapse resulted in multiple deaths and untold amounts of oil being released into the Gulf of Mexico, has agreed to plead guilty to violating the Clean Water Act and to pay a total of $1.4 billion in civil and criminal fines and penalties. [More]
Google Settles With FTC, Agrees To Change Anticompetitive Business Practices
By 1.3.13
For more than a year, the Federal Trade Commission has been looking into various business practices of Google — covering everything from online advertising to search results to wireless patents — that allegedly stifled competition and innovation. Today, the agency and the Internet giant announced an agreement that has Google changing some of the ways it operates. [More]
Maker Of ‘Nap Nanny’ Fights Recall Of Product Linked To Death Of Five Infants
By 1.3.13
We’ve been following the saga of the Nap Nanny baby recliner since it was first recalled back in 2010 following the death of one child. Then in early December, the government filed suit against the company after learning of several additional fatalities. Now, the company is fighting back. [More]
Amazon Payments Locks Me Out Of Form For Not Filling Out Form
By 1.3.13
Rey had a really great idea for a Kickstarter project. We don’t know what it is: he didn’t tell us. The world may never have the chance to know what his amazing idea was, because he didn’t even get to the point of setting up his page and posting a slick video. Instead, Amazon stood in his way. Amazon? Why Amazon? Well, you have to accept Amazon Payments to use Kickstarter. Amazon needed information that Rey had already provided long ago and was still valid. In fact, they had just sent him some money. They asked him for it again anyway, and then things got ridiculous and confusing. [More]
Congress Reaches Compromise On Farm Bill To Avoid Going Off The Milk Cliff
By 12.31.12
While there’s still that pretty important fiscal cliff Congress is still trying to avoid careening over, it seems lawmakers have at least reached a compromise that will keep the country from the so-called “milk cliff.” The deal still has to be approved by both the Senate and the House, but if it works, we likely won’t be seeing $7 milk in the grocery aisle any time soon. Whew. [More]
FCC Makes Changes To Improve Availability Of In-Flight Internet Access
By 12.28.12
For more than a decade, the FCC has been approving individual applications from companies to provide in-flight Internet access. But this burdensome process will soon be cut in half thanks to new rules issued by the Commission. [More]
Sam’s Club Recalls Smoked Salmon Sold In 42 States
By 12.28.12
With year-end parties still to come, there will probably be some of you munching on Smoked Salmon in the next few days. If that salmon was purchased at Sam’s Club, you might want to keep reading. [More]
Retailers Recall ‘Nap Nanny’ Following Lawsuit & Deaths Of 5 Infants
By 12.27.12
Three weeks after the maker of the Nap Nanny baby recliner was sued by the government for allegedly failing to address safety concerns that are tied to the deaths of at least five infants, some major retailers have issued their own voluntary recall on the product. [More]
City Government Busts Old-Timey Soda Fountain For Selling Old-Timey Candy Cigarettes
By 12.27.12
As a child of the ’80s raised by a pair of reformed smokers, I never had candy cigarettes. They weren’t common when I was growing up, and even if they had been, I wouldn’t have been allowed to have them. You may be surprised to learn that they still exist. Until recently, you could buy them at a retro old-timey soda fountain in St. Paul, Minnesota. Until Big Government swooped in and told the owner that the candy cigs had to go, because they’re illegal. [More]
December Recall Roundup: Sparking Mugs And Plummeting Parents
By 12.26.12
Reading through this month’s recalls, you may have an interesting question. “Consumerist, why is a mug a fire hazard?” you’re probably asking. That’s a good question. It’s because it apparently didn’t occur to the mug designers that people might want to microwave it, and that silver-colored bucket handle is metallic enough to cause spectacular sparks when zapped. In this months’ recall roundup, you’ll find flaming fireplaces, non-edible magnets, and lead paint on kids’ clothing. [More]
Food Companies Have Figured Out How To Market To Kids: Smartphones, Duh
By 12.21.12
If you’re suddenly hearing things from your kids like, “Mommy, can I please have a [insert food item child has never, ever asked for before]?” just look at the piece of electronic gadgetry in your child’s hands. Food marketers have wised up to the fact that kids these days are getting smartphones younger and younger, and subsequently becoming glued to the devices early on. Ah, nothing like a captive audience to get your ad campaign across. [More]
There Is Such A Thing As The Milk Cliff: If Congress Doesn’t Act Soon, Prices Could Double
By 12.21.12
For the apparently shrinking amount of milk drinkers out there, we’ve got some bad news: There’s a thing called the Milk Cliff, and we’re standing on it. If Congress doesn’t act on a new farm bill that amends a policy from 1949, the price of a gallon of milk could increase and possibly even double. Yes, a milk cliff. It’s a thing. [More]
Feds Say They’ll Study Safety Of Airport Full Body Scanners Yet Again
By 12.21.12
If you’re one to eye those full-body scanners warily at the airport, wondering what kind of stuff is zipping and zapping around your organs, you’re not the only one. The Department of Homeland Security is responding to critics who question the safety of the instruments by launching another study to check out the devices used by the Transportation Security Administration. [More]
