Google has assembled a suite of free tools (developed by researchers, not by Google itself) that let you measure things like BitTorrent throttling, upload/download speeds, and last mile snafus. In exchange for “free,” the test data is being made public to enable further study of broadband connections. You might want to bookmark the site for future reference when you’re trying to figure out what’s going on with your ISP.
Government Policy
A More Helpful Big Brother: Grocery Store Loyalty Programs Used To Notify Customers Of Salmonella Recall
By 2.9.09
According to Consumer Reports, some grocery stores are using their loyalty card registrations to get in touch with customers who bought recalled peanut butter products.
Apple's Uses Ultra-Large Boxes To Replace Ultra-Compact USB Power Chargers
By 2.8.09
Remember those ultra-compact USB adapters Apple recalled because they could electrocute people? Like most Apple products, they were cute and small, but apparently the “environmentally friendly” computer maker decided to ship the replacement chargers in surprisingly large cushioned boxes.
So, Who's To Blame For The Salmonella Outbreak? PCA, The FDA, The CDC…
By 2.6.09
We know there’s salmonella story fatigue setting in, but this new overview from yesterday’s Senate hearing is the best yet as far as piecing together exactly how salmonella-tainted peanut butter made it into our food supply for such a long period of time, and why it took so long to trace it back to a single rotten peanut plant in Georgia. Ultimately the blame lies with Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) for failing to maintain its factory and for not destroying lots that tested positive for salmonella, but both the FDA and the CDC had a role in it, too. One example: the FDA didn’t even know the plant produced peanut butter or peanut paste until 2007.
Landlords Drop Demands For Murdered Woman To Pay Back Rent
By 2.6.09
The landlords that sent a demand for unpaid rent and citing “insufficient notice to vacate” to the estate of a mother who was murdered in a Christmas kill-spree say they will not go after the rest of the rent after all. They say the request for payment was just the management company’s standard procedure and they didn’t know the woman was a murder-victim.
AT&T Mobility Sues Over Auto Warranty Robocalls
By 2.5.09
You know those annoying robocalls on your mobile phone about renewing your car warranty? The companies behind the calls use spoofing to remain hidden, but AT&T Mobility just filed suit in federal court to track down the culprits, then hopefully make them stop. This is great news, because judging from the quotes given to RCR Wireless, the FTC and FCC both don’t seem too concerned about the matter.
MySpace Kicks Off 90,000 Registered Sex Offenders
By 2.5.09
This revelation is totally appalling and unacceptable, and this shocking revelation, resulting from our subpoena, also provides compelling proof that social networking sites remain ripe with sexual predators.”
Woman Sues McDonald's For Serving Cleaning Liquid Instead Of Iced Tea
By 2.5.09
A Baltimore woman is suing McDonald’s for negligence, after she says they served her a cup of kitchen equipment sanitizer instead of iced tea.
Landlord Orders Ex-Husband To Pay Murdered Wife's Rent
By 2.5.09
The ex-husband of a woman who was murdered at a Christmas party along with 8 other people has been ordered by her landlord to pay her rent. The landlord says she gave insufficient notice to vacate the premises, and broke her lease. Apparently they require 60 days notice before being shot dead by your sister’s ex-husband in a Santa suit.
Kevin Bacon, Sandy Koufax, Mets Owners All Got Screwed By Madoff
By 2.5.09
A court filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan made public a 162-page document listing his various clients, which include Hall of Fame Pitcher Sandy Koufax, actor Kevin Bacon, and the Wilpon family, owners of the New York Mets.
My iPhone Got Jacked At Gunpoint – Help!
By 2.5.09
Reader Dan says he was walking home last night and got robbed at gunpoint, losing his iPhone, which he only got five days ago, in the process. He asks, “Any tips from you or readers? Can it be tracked using the onboard gps? This STINKS!”
FBI Reopens Infamous "Tylenol Murders" Case
By 2.5.09
If you’ve ever wondered why medicines have tamper-proof seals — there’s one reason: an group of still unsolved murders over a quarter of a century old. In September of 1982, cyanide-laced Tylenol killed seven people in the Chicagoland area. Despite a nationwide recall and investigation, no one was ever charged with the crime. Now the FBI has reopened the case.
Congressman Wants Ticketmaster Investigated For 'TicketsNow' Website
By 2.4.09
Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D) of New Jersey has asked the FTC and the Justice Department to investigate the relationship between Ticketmaster and its reseller website, TicketsNow, after consumers who tried to buy Bruce Springsteen tickets encountered technical problems that prevented purchase, and were then redirected to TicketsNow where prices were “hundreds of dollars above face value” (actually, more like “thousands of dollars,” based on our check just a few minutes ago).
Peanut Corp Says Salmonella Plant Was Regularly Inspected, Given Good Ratings
By 2.4.09
Peanut Corp. of America is now saying that its Georgia plant was regularly inspected by the FDA and given a “meets or exceeds” rating. This doesn’t excuse the company from its own failings, but we think it points out what President Obama recently noted, which is that the FDA inspection system doesn’t seem to work very well.
3 iPhone Class Action Lawsuits Filed In The Past Week
By 2.4.09
The number of people gunning for some Apple/AT&T cash keeps increasing, with three new class action lawsuits filed over the past 8 days alone. In all three suits, the primary complaint is the same: that AT&T Mobility’s 3G network isn’t robust enough to deliver the type of experience promised by iPhone marketing.
Kroger Apologizes For Calling You A Thief, Banning You From Store For Buying And Eating Their Donuts
By 2.3.09
Every Saturday morning, Beth’s father walks to…
Walmart Greeter Attacked By Cop During Receipt Check Suing For $21 Million
By 2.3.09
Remember the Walmart greeter that got attacked by a cop during a receipt check? Well, he’s suing for $21 million, says Chattanooga’s News Channel 9.
Comcast Gives $10 Coupon To Super Bowl Pecker Peepers
By 2.3.09
Comcast is giving a $10 service credit to every Tucson customer whose Super Bowl viewing was interrupted by a porno snippet, but you have to call in. The number to call is 1-888-315-8219. A thorough system review indicated there was no technical glitch, “suggesting someone deliberately seeking to interrupt the broadcast rather than a technical glitch,” wrote WSJ. US Attorney General spokesman Wyn Hornbuckle said, “We take this matter seriously.” The pancake pupcake pile said, “You can call me nanerpus, nanerpus.”
