UPDATE 2/6/2012: Unfortunately for the our pal Kenneth, aka the $16 house man, a judge has ruled that Bank of America can make him move out, as they own the deed on the foreclosed home. [More]
Government Policy
Woman Accused Of Groping TSA Agent — Yeah, You Read That Right
By 7.18.11
Accusations of groping involving Transportation Security Administration agents are far from unheard of, but it’s rare that it’s a security officer who’s the one filing the complaint. Yet a Colorado woman stands accused of groping a TSA agent at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport Thursday. [More]
Forever 21 Sued Again, This Time For Allegedly Swiping A Textile Design
By 7.18.11
Poor gigantic corporation Forever 21! They just can’t stop getting sued by people claiming they’ve stolen stuff! In the latest lawsuit against the low-priced fashion chain, the Feral Childe line claims Forevs ripped off one of their textile prints. [More]
Lawsuit Claims 70-Year-Old Woman Illegally Downloaded Porn
By 7.18.11
“Grandma, what are you doing on the Internet? Oh, downloading porn illegally?” Yeah, that scenario doesn’t seem too likely, but nonetheless, a 70-year-old woman is being told to pay up in a settlement pushed by a Chicago law firm, claiming she and others pirated porn. [More]
Appeals Court: Feds Rushed To Roll Out Controversial TSA Scanners
By 7.15.11
An appeals court panel in Washington, D.C., ruled today that the government jumped the gun by not seeking public feedback before rolling out airport scanners that see through travelers’ clothes. Unfortunately for those opposed to these devices, the scanners are not going anywhere. [More]
Treasury Announces The End Of Paper Savings Bonds
By 7.15.11
It’s the end of an era. In an effort to save cash and cut down on waste, the Dept. of the Treasury announced earlier this week that paper savings bonds will be a thing of past starting January 1. [More]
Mass. Court Rules It's OK For Town To Charge $320 To Appeal Parking Ticket
By 7.15.11
If you get a parking ticket in Northampton, Mass., don’t appeal it unless you want to bet $320, in addition to the cost of your ticket, that you’ll win. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the town’s appeals process is valid, ruling against a man who appealed two parking tickets and was forced to cough up about $320 in court fees. The original fine was $15. [More]
TSA To Test Trusted Traveler Program With Certain Delta & American Airlines Frequent Fliers
By 7.14.11
In May, TSA chief John Pistole said the agency was considering a program that would allow pre-vetted “trusted travelers” to get through airport security faster. Today, the TSA announced actual details of the program it will begin testing on a small group of fliers. [More]
Bank Of America Paying Out $410 Million For Reordering Your Transactions To Maximize Overdraft Fees
By 7.14.11
What makes this Bank of America $410 million class action settlement special is that it’s over a basic consumer banking business practice. For years, banks have been processing your daily transactions in order from highest to lowest, rather than real-time. They say they’re doing us a favor so that if we have a check bounce, it’s the one for the babysitter and not the mortgage payment. But this class action suit claims that Bank of America did this to unjustly enrich itself. It’s one of over 60 lawsuits against various banks for similar practices, and it could reshape the entire industry. [More]
Moody's Could Downgrade U.S. Government Bond Rating If It Misses Debt Payments
By 7.14.11
Even Uncle Sam needs to make his payments on time or risk taking a hit on his credit rating. Moody’s is reviewing the U.S. government’s Aaa government bond rating, and could downgrade it if government gridlock fails to raise the federal debt ceiling. The government has reached its $14.2 trillion debt limit and lacks congressional authority to borrow more to pay its bills, according to the Treasury Secretary, starting Aug. 2. [More]
Congressmen Vow To Fight For Your Right To Wasteful Light Bulbs
By 7.13.11
There are only a few months to go before a long-awaited ban on inefficient light bulbs kicks in. And even though Congressional opponents of the regulation failed yesterday in their bid to stop it, they have vowed to continue to fight for your right to buy cheap light bulbs that run up high electric bills. [More]
Dodge Recalls 242,000 Ram Pickups Over Steering Concerns
By 7.13.11
Because they don’t want you possibly smashing up your truck — or anyone else’s vehicle — the folks at Dodge have issued a recall on more than 240,000 Ram pickup trucks over concerns about the tie rod assembly in the front steering system. [More]
Woman Arrested For Being Verbally Abusive To TSA Agents While Refusing To Let Daughter Be Screened Or Patted Down
By 7.13.11
A woman was arrested over the weekend at Nashville International Airport after her refusal to let her daughter be scanned or pat-down turned nasty. [More]
Dollar Tree Recalls 117,000 Glass Candles For Shattering
By 7.13.11
117,000 glass votive candle holders sold at Dollar Tree, Dollar Bill$, and Dollar Tree Deal$ stores have been recalled. They can shatter when they’re lit, leaving glass and fire all over the place where it can cut and/or burn you. [More]
Lawsuit Accusing Starbucks Of Denying Tips Dismissed
By 7.13.11
A group of former assistant managers of New York Starbucks sued the company, saying it violated state labor laws by denying them tips. A U.S. District judge stiffed the workers, dismissing the suit because they didn’t show they had the right to the gratuities. [More]
National Sheriffs' Association Wants ISPs To Keep Web Surfing Logs For 18 Months
By 7.13.11
If a law enforcement trade association gets its way, a federal law will require internet service providers to maintain logs of all web addresses customers visit for 18 months. The information would be used to prosecute crimes. [More]
Man Who Hacks Neighbor's WiFi And Tries To Frame Him For Crimes Gets 18 Years
By 7.13.11
Good firewalls make good neighbors, but they won’t stop a determined hacker from busting through and manipulating your cyber footprints. For proof, look at the Minnesota man convicted of hacking his neighbor’s WiFi and attempting to frame him for child pornography and other crimes will serve 18 years in prison. [More]
FCC Proposes Anti-Cramming Regulations For Landline Bills
By 7.12.11
Last month, FCC chair Julius Genachowski said the commission was preparing to take on the problem of landline bill cramming, the practice of placing mysterious third-party charges for everything from long-distance to yoga classes on your landline bill. Earlier today, the FCC announced more details of its proposed plan. [More]
