In spite of the fact that regulations to phase out high-wattage incandescent bulbs were signed into law in 2007, the ability to buy antiquated, inefficient lighting somehow became a lightning rod topic in recent months. And so legislators who want to defend your right to waste electricity (and still be able to use your old Easy Bake Oven) managed to find a way to stave off enforcing the rules until next fall. [More]
Government Policy
TSA Agent Finds Pot In Rapper's Bag, Leaves Note Rather Than Confiscating It
By 12.16.11
Remember that TSA agent who left a “get your freak on” note inside the bag of a woman who packed a vibrator — and was subsequently fired for doing so? Well it looks like that agent was not the only wannabe quipster among his security-screening kin. [More]
Government Cuts Off Funding For New Chimp Research
By 12.16.11
Rest assured that the government is determined to prevent the events from Rise of the Planet of the Apes from unfolding. Kidding aside, the government aims to ensure humane treatment of chimpanzees. The National Institutes of Health announced that they won’t give out new grants for biomedical and behavioral research on chimps because they deserve “special consideration and respect.” The organization acted on a recommendation from the Institute of Medicine that concluded most chimp research is unnecessary. [More]
SEC Would Rather Fight Judge Than Try To Win A Real Victory Over Citigroup
By 12.15.11
Back in November, a U.S. District Court judge in Manhattan rained all over the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Thanksgiving parade when he refused to sign off on the regulator’s $285 million settlement with Citigroup because — as is usual in these sorts of deals — the bank neither admitted guilt nor defended itself. But rather than take the judge’s decision as an impetus to push harder on Citi, the SEC reportedly just wants the court to stop being such a wet blanket and let it have its settlement already. [More]
Legislators Kill Bill To Allow Robocalling Of Cell Phones
By 12.14.11
Less than three months after introducing a bill that would legalize automated robocalls to cell phone numbers, the Nebraska Congressman behind the legislation has listened to reason and pulled the plug on it. [More]
The U.S. Mint Halts Production Of $1 Coins Because No One Wants Them
By 12.14.11
If you really love $1 coins, you’re probably in the minority. The U.S. Mint announced their vaults are jammed so full of the things, they’re going to pull back on producing them. Not only do they have enough hanging around, the dang things keep coming back because people just don’t want them. [More]
D.C. Residents, Recycle Your Cat Litter Or Face Garbage Snooping, Fines
By 12.14.11
The Washington, D.C. Department of Public Works is apparently so dedicated to enforcing recycling laws that they’re willing to dig through trash to find evidence to issue fines. A resident says she’s been stuck with $2,000 worth of fines, some of which come from a government employee who admits to discovering her violations by snooping in her garbage. [More]
Postal Service Will Delay Mass Closures
By 12.14.11
The outlook is grim for the U.S. Postal Service, with plans to close thousands of post offices and cutting processing centers, but the inevitable is being postponed for now. [More]
Pennsylvanians May Soon Have More Choices In Buying Beer & Wine
By 12.13.11
Consumers have limited options in Pennsylvania right now when it comes to getting booze, as the state-run Liquor Control Board runs all the stores selling liquor, wine and beer. But new proposal could be close to passing in the legislature that would shake things up a bit and offer more options for shoppers. [More]
NTSB: You Shouldn't Be Using Your Cell Phone While Driving, Even Hands-Free
By 12.13.11
The day could be coming when it would be illegal for that girl yapping on her headset in the lane next to you on the freeway to be yapping at all, even on a hands-free cell phone. The National Transportation Board said states should ban all cell phone use for drivers [More]
FDA Issues Warnings About Misleading Lap-Band Ads
By 12.13.11
The FDA has issued warning letters to eight surgical centers in California and a marketing firm behind the 1-800-GET-THIN number for misleading advertising of the Lap-Band, an implanted device intended to promote weight loss in severely obese individuals. [More]
Carrier IQ: We Never Gave Anyone's Phone Data To The FBI, Promise!
By 12.13.11
The mysterious case of Carrier IQ and its software that some claim is tracking every move on our phones continues, as the company denies ever providing phone users’ data to the FBI for law enforcement purposes. [More]
FCC: TV Commercials Will Be A Lot Quieter One Year From Now
By 12.13.11
Today the Federal Communications Commission is expected to pass regulations requiring that all commercials on TV be at a constant level — which means no sudden blaring of Wacky Wild Wally screaming at you about the best RV deals in town. Well, he might still be screaming but he won’t permanently damage your hearing. [More]
AT&T Mulling Over Revisions To T-Mobile Deal To Appease Regulators
By 12.12.11
We’re guessing that when AT&T announced it was going to buy T-Mobile USA for $39 billion that it didn’t expect the deal would receive such jeers from the regulators at the Justice Dept. or the FCC. But with the former ready to go to trial to block the merger and the latter saying it will hold its own hearing if the DOJ fails, AT&T now appears to be looking at the Darth in the mirror. [More]
Even More Dog Food Recalled Because Aflatoxin Is Not Part Of Your Pet's Diet
By 12.12.11
Last week, we told you about the recall of some Iams and other dog food brands over concerns about the possible contamination by a nasty mold. Well, the recalls continue, as Advanced Animal Nutrition has announced a recall of its dry Dog Power Dog Food for the exact same reason. [More]
Apple Removes App That Let Users Make Fake Driver's Licenses
By 12.12.11
Well, that was quick. On Friday, we wrote about the iOS app that allowed users to craft fake driver’s licenses — for the sole purpose of entertaining and amusing their friends, of course — and how one U.S. Senator had appealed to Apple CEO Tim Cook to have it removed from Apple’s online store. Looks like that may have been sufficient, as the app has is no longer on sale. [More]
Republican Senator Summons Soviet Russia Comparison For Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
By 12.12.11
After Republicans blocked the confirmation of Richard Cordray as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, North Carolina’s Sen. Lindsey Graham is explaining that he just doesn’t want a Soviet dictator like Joseph Stalin to have so much control. Ostensibly in this comparison, Cordray is Stalin? We’re not quite sure. [More]
Lawmakers Ask TSA To Place Passenger Advocates In Airports
By 12.12.11
Considering all the negative press the Transportation Security Administration has received in recent years over its invasive airport security screening procedures, it couldn’t hurt for the TSA to have staffers on hand whose job it is to consider the best interest of the passengers. [More]
