At the request of Motorola, which claims Microsoft is violating its wireless technology patents, the United States International Trade Commission is conducting an investigation that Motorola hopes ends with Microsoft forbidden to import Xboxes. [More]
Government Policy
5 Downright Silly Sales Taxes
By 12.24.10
Several months ago, we wrote about New York State’s decision to crack down on bagel vendors who weren’t charging an 8.875% sales tax on sliced bagels. Believe it or not, that’s not the silliest sales tax story of the year. [More]
Town Spends $17,000 To Defend $5 Fee It Charged Resident, Loses
By 12.23.10
The town of Bridgewater, NJ, just spent $17,000 in legal costs to defend its right to charge a guy $5 for a CD recording of a town council meeting. The man had argued that he should only be required to pay for the actual cost of the CD. The case went to court and the town ended up losing. The kicker? They also had to pay him back a $4.04 refund for the overage. [More]
Man Sues Restaurant For Not Stopping Him From Eating An Entire Artichoke
By 12.23.10
A doctor has sued the Houston’s restaurant in Miami after he ate a complete artichoke that he ordered, including the spiny and sharp exterior leaves. He subsequently suffered “severe abdominal pain and discomfort,” and a “exploratory laparotomy” showed that the artichoke leaves were jammed in his “small bowel.” His lawsuit claims that he had “never seen nor heard of previously” an artichoke and that it was the restaurant’s fault for not teaching him how to eat it. [More]
Thanks To Census, Sun Belt Swipes People, Clout From Midwest, Northeast
By 12.23.10
Cries of “they took our jobs” can be replaced with “they took our votes,” thanks to census data that will shift seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and electoral votes away from the Midwest and Northeast to southern and western states. [More]
FCC Ruling On Net Neutrality Is A Big Compromise
By 12.22.10
The FCC has ruled on net neutrality and offered up a compromise solution: ISPs can’t throttle fixed line computer users based on what kind of content they’re accessing, but wireless providers can. [More]
Toyota Must Fork Over $32.4 Million More In Fines
By 12.22.10
The thrashing continues for Toyota, which has had to recall more than 11 million cars since the Fall of 2009 thanks to myriad problems, including bum gas pedals and steering relay rods. The car company has coughed up $16.4 million in government fines, and now will pay $32.4 million more. [More]
Terrorists Beware: Toledo Express Airport Gets A Full-Body Scanner
By 12.20.10
‘Tis the season to give, and it seems Toledo Express Airport in Ohio is the newest recipient of some fancy holiday largess: This week it was announced that the regional airport, boasting five departing flights per day, will receive a full-body scanner. Our tax dollars at work! [More]
Eagle-Eyed TSA Screeners Don't Notice Loaded Handgun In Man's Carry-On
By 12.17.10
If you thought the TSA’s inability to notice a 6-inch hunting knife was a sign that airport screeners might as well be watching Spongebob instead of X-raying you and your stuff, here’s further proof. [More]
You Care About Recalls, But Can't Find Out About Them
By 12.16.10
According to a new poll by our careful cousins at Consumer Reports, most Americans are concerned about product recalls, but don’t believe they’re getting enough information about them. Only 13% said they were very confident that they were getting enough information about recalls from manufacturers and retailers. And just 8% were very confident that the government was getting enough information from those companies. [More]
Nike Goes After Man For Ordering One Pair Of Counterfeit Shoes
By 12.16.10
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from either the war on drugs or the RIAA’s fight against music piracy, the most effective way to fight crime is to punish the end user. That must be why Nike is using a similar strategy in the UK to combat counterfeit footwear. [More]
Government Bans Drop-Side Rail Cribs
By 12.15.10
In order to prevent kids from dying, the government has issued a ban on selling or making traditional drop-side cribs. If the gate or slate on the side of the crib gets loose, a baby can fall in there and get trapped, eventually hanging themselves to death. [More]
74-Year-Old Accused Walmart Shoplifter Fights To Clear Name
By 12.15.10
No one wants to spend their golden years fending off unwarranted shoplifting charges, but that’s the situation in which a 74-year-old Missouri man finds himself. Following up on Walmart complaints, authorities accused the man of nearly 20 robberies at stores throughout the midwest. He’s maintained his innocence and finally seems to be making some headway. [More]
FTC: Dannon Agrees To Stop Selling Activia As Cure For Irregularity
By 12.15.10
More than a year after settling a class-action lawsuit over false advertising claims, Dannon has finally settled a separate but related complaint from the Federal Trade Commission. As a result, the company says it will no longer market unproven health benefits of its Activia and DanActive yogurts. [More]
Real-Life Danny Ocean Robs Bellagio Of $1.5 Million
By 12.15.10
A gunman allegedly robbed the Bellagio casino in Las Vegas, and he didn’t need to split his take with an acrobat, explosives expert or Matt Damon. The thief sauntered into the casino, made off with $1.5 million in chips from a craps table, then sped off on a motorcycle. [More]
CPSC Says Lead Wizard Of Oz Glasses "Are Not Children's Products"
By 12.13.10
A recent study commissioned by the AP showed that dozens of decorative glasses featuring superheros (like Wonder Woman and Superman) and movie characters (like the cast of Wizard of Oz), have “up to 1,000 times more” lead than is currently allowed for children’s products. The AP asked the CPSC to issue a recall. The CPSC’s response? The glasses are not children’s products. [More]
NBC Tells Staff To Submit Paperwork For Comcast Transition, Even Though Merger Isn't Approved
By 12.13.10
A tipster says that NBC is having employees submit new paperwork for a new personnel management software program that will take over after the Comcast merger, even though that merger hasn’t been approved by the FCC yet. Hmm. Here’s the note: [More]
Latest Rolaids Recall Gives Johnson & Johnson Heartburn
By 12.10.10
Two weeks after recalling some cherry flavored Rolaids softchews for “uncharacteristic consistency or texture,” Johnson & Johnson’s beleaguered McNeil Laboratories division has issued a slightly larger Rolaids recall. And by “slightly,” we mean all lots of Rolaids Extra Strength Softchews, Extra Strength plus Gas Softchews, and Multi-Symptom plus Anti-Gas Softchews. [More]
