Times are tough everywhere. Which means desperate people will consider taking jobs, like stripping or performing nude on a web cam, they wouldn’t otherwise have considered. But the government in the UK doesn’t want to encourage its citizens to find these types of sexy jobs and has banned a certain class of employers from advertising at tax-funded employment offices. [More]
Government Policy
Watch Out For Sneaky New Credit Card Fees
By 8.2.10
Remember the CARD Act, that shiny new law that’s supposed to stop credit card issuers from hitting you with all kinds of nasty fees and force them to disclose all of their terms? Well, even if you do, it looks like the card issuers have forgotten all about it. They’re working overtime to come up with a raft of new charges on things that aren’t covered by the new law, like annual fees and cash advances. [More]
Hot Flash Spray Evamist Causes Boobs On Pets, Kids
By 8.2.10
I like FDA warnings like this new one about Evamist, because I can file the symptoms away and use them to impress someone with my Sherlock Holmes skills. Friend: “How did you know she used Evamist?” Me: “Note the tell-tale breasts on her grandchildren and her terrier.” [More]
NYC Has Spent $3.3 Million On Food And Booze This Year
By 8.2.10
The New York City Mayor’s Office took part in its own stimulus program, apparently pumping $18,000 into liquor stores for unexplained booze binges. [More]
Lawsuit Asks FDA To Regulate Sperm-Damaging Antimicrobial Soap Chemicals
By 8.1.10
Thirty years ago, the FDA considered regulating two toxic chemicals that can damage reproductive organs, sperm quality, and hormone production. Rather than do something, the agency instead did nothing. Last week, the National Resources Defense Council sued the agency, asking them to finally finish the job and regulate the chemicals triclosan and triclocarban. [More]
10 State Taxes That May Be Coming Your Way
By 7.30.10
As states scramble to fill coffers, lawmakers are getting creative in dreaming up new ways to tax you. [More]
Saggy Pants Legal: Your Constitutional Right To Foolishness Has Been Protected
By 7.29.10
A Bronx judge has ruled that saggy pants are not, in fact, illegal and do not constitute “Disorderly Conduct.” The ruling comes in a case where a gentleman was issued a summons because he was wearing “his pants down below his buttocks exposing underwear [and] potentially showing private parts,” says Gothamist. [More]
Toyota Recalls 373,000 Avalons Over Steering Issue
By 7.29.10
The recall tab for Toyota keeps adding up, as the world’s largest automaker announced a recall of 373,000 Toyota Avalons “to address the possibility that the vehicle’s steering lock bar could break under certain conditions.” [More]
Kiddie Viagra Could Earn Patent Extension For Pfizer
By 7.28.10
Viagra for kids? That sounds… well, wrong. But apparently, low doses of the erectile dysfunction drug can help children stricken by a rare lung disorder. It could also earn Pfizer a six-month extension on the patent for its blue-chip brand. [More]
Homeowners Association Spends $300,000 In Legal Fees Over A Pick-Up Truck
By 7.28.10
A homeowner in Florida was awarded $187,000 in legal fees from a years-long court battle over the right to park a pick-up truck in his driveway. Now the homeowners association is going to have to pick up the tab for $300,000 in fees. [More]
Apple Sued Because iPad Does Not Work "Just Like A Book" As Claimed
By 7.28.10
A new class action suit filed in California takes issue with how the iPad shuts off automatically if it overheats. In particular, however, the suit claims that the marketing phrase “reading on the iPad is just like reading a book” is misleading, and that Apple is therefore engaging in fraud and misleading consumers. This is great news for me, because I was thinking of suing Apple for not providing dustjackets for iBookstore titles but my friends told me I shouldn’t. [More]
The Mystery Of The $100,000 Water Bills
By 7.27.10
Something is amiss with the water in Brockton, MA. No, it doesn’t smell or taste funny — it’s just costing some of the town’s citizens one hell of a lot of money. In fact, some residential customers have been charged as much as $100,000 for one month’s worth of H20. [More]
McDonald's Last Airbender Toy Dangerous If Wrapped Around Neck?
By 7.27.10
According to the Connecticut Consumer Protection Commissioner, a bracelet that comes with the “Last Airbender” Katara toy could be dangerous if your child wraps it around his/her neck. That’s what allegedly happened to one CT toddler. His mother says he passed out after the bracelet cut off the blood to his head. [More]
30,000 Nap Nanny Baby Recliners Recalled Following Death Of Infant
By 7.26.10 — Updated: 12.5.12
Following the death of a 4-month-old baby, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Baby Matters LLC have announced the recall of 30,000 Nap Nanny portable baby recliners. [More]
A List Of 18 "Free Credit Report" Websites Warned By The FTC
By 7.26.10
The FTC recently amended the Free Credit Reports Rule to require “certain disclosures to help consumers distinguish between ads for free credit reports that often require them to buy credit monitoring or other services.” [More]
San Francisco Considers Ban On Almost All Pet Sales
By 7.26.10
A few months ago, in an effort to not contribute to the puppy mills and kitty factories of the world, San Francisco began mulling over the possibility of forbidden canine and feline sales within city limits. But, as happens when the discussion turns to the critters of the world, that ban has now grown to include just about everything you would ever want to even consider having as a pet. [More]
V.A. Okays Medical Marijuana For Veterans In 14 States & D.C.
By 7.26.10
Even though more than a dozen states and Washingon, D.C., continue to square off with the federal government regarding the legality of medical marijuana, the folks at the Veterans Affairs Dept. has decided not to penalize veterans who use the drug in states where its permitted for medicinal use. [More]
Plant Under Investigation Giving Johnson & Johnson Indigestion
By 7.25.10
If the shuttering of a Tylenol plant gave Johnson & Johnson a headache, this most recent investigation into a factory that makes Pepcid, Immodium and Mylanta is surely giving the company a case of sour stomach (get it? Medicine jokes!).The Lancaster, Pa. plant was issued a Form 483 by the FDA earlier this month, and now a new report indicates 12 violations of good manufacturing processes. [More]
