Nancy Nord and the CPSC have published what might the densest collection of common sense “advice” we’ve ever seen: the “2008 Holiday Decoration Safety Tips” brochure, which you can download here if you need to. Among their tips: buy fire-resistant or non-flammable items whenever possible, don’t leave candles unattended, and don’t overwhelm the CPSC with “too much” power.
Government Policy
The TSA Wants To Know Your Birthday, But Doesn't Plan On Sending A Gift
By 11.29.07
The TSA wants to know your birthday and if you are a boy or a girl, says USAToday. Apparently, they’ve been tagging too many of our fine citizens are terrorists and need more information in order to help with their “background checks.”
"Vista Capable" Stickers Causing All Kinds Of Problems For Microsoft
By 11.29.07
Around this time last year, computer manufactures were trying to convince people not to wait until Vista came out to buy a new computer. To that end Microsoft devised what was (and still is) considered to be one of the most confusing marketing campaigns ever.
11 Slowest Big-City Airport Security Lines
By 11.29.07
FareCompare’s Rick Seaney analyzed TSA’s data to find out which of the top 40 busiest airports have the longest security line waits. To get the results, they honed in on max times on Mondays from 2pm-6pm, Oct. 30 through Nov. 27.
The First Lead Related Holiday Ornament Recall Of The Season Is Here!
By 11.28.07
The first retailer to be mentioned in a holiday ornament recall this year is JC Penney! The ornament in question was sold at “various retailers nationwide, including JC Penney catalog and Web site, from July 2006 through October 2007 for between $15 and $18.”
Asbestos Found In Several Products
By 11.28.07
Lead-tainted toys are old news! This Christmas, the new new thing is asbestos-tainted toys and other products.
By 11.28.07
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Recalls: Dick’s Sporting Goods Lazy Loungers and Recliners (collapsing), Chintzy Reeves International horse ornaments (lead).
Lobbyists 1, Kevin Martin 0: FCC Compromises On New Proposal
By 11.28.07
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin thought he had the support of the two Democratic commissioners when he went forward with a proposal to invoke powers given to the FCC in the 1984 Cable Communications Act. The 70/70 rule, as it’s called, allows the FCC to adopt any rules necessary to promote a “diversity of information sources,” once 70% of households can receive cable and 70% of them subscribe.
The IRS Has $110 Million In Refund Checks For You
By 11.27.07
If you’ve moved recently and did not get your refund check, you might want to contact the IRS and see if it was returned as undeliverable.
By 11.27.07
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RECALLS: 686,500 Nissan Altima and Sentra cars (engine stalling), Bon-Ton hooded sweatshirts (strangulation), Dick’s Sporting Goods “Power Bolt” Pitchbacks (laceration), Meijer Firepits (can tip over and start fire), Performax and Wilton 10″ Sliding Miter Saws (laceration), 95,927 pounds of American Foods Group beef (E. coli), 98,000 pounds of Double B Foods frozen sausage products (Listeria).
Is The RIAA Afraid Of Harvard?
By 11.27.07
Of all the Ivy League schools, Harvard is the only one to have escaped the deluge of RIAA pre-litigation letters. What gives?
Budget Settles With FTC Over Bogus Fuel Fees
By 11.27.07
Budget Rent-A-Car settled with the FTC over its illegal charge of fuel fees even for customers who returned the car with a full tank of gas. Budget claimed in its advertising and in-store signage that customers would not be charge for fuel if the car came back with its tank full. In reality, Budget would charge customers a $5, $6, or $9.50 fuel fee if they drove fewer than 75 miles and returned with the tank full. The only way to get the fee reversed was to present a gas receipt, a procedure Budget didn’t disclose in advance. Under the terms of the settlement, Budget will have to stop doing this crap.
RIAA Told To Provide Breakdown Of Expenses Per Each Downloaded Song
By 11.27.07
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, a Brooklyn judge made a defendant in an RIAA lawsuit very happy when he ordered the RIAA to document the actual expenses incurred per downloaded song.
Senator Durbin On Toy Safety: "It Might Just Be A Good Christmas For Books Or Movies"
By 11.27.07
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) is the Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, which recently held hearings about the state of toy safety in the U.S. What did Sen. Durbin take away from those hearings?
Tamiflu And Relenza Treat Flu, But Might Make You Crazy
By 11.27.07
This week, an FDA advisory panel will review a recommendation to put a warning on flu drugs Tamiflu and Relenza that says there have been “psychiatric events observed in some patients.” The companies who make the drugs have both responded that they’ve found no causal link between their drugs and “psychiatric events.”
Complaints Against TSA Soar 88.1%
By 11.26.07
Complaints against the TSA have skyrocketed in recent months. August saw a 88.1% increase from a year prior. The TSA says that the increase is due to advanced technology they’ve implemented (more telephone lines, bandwidth and better software), that make it possible for every single complaint to be tracked. The new gear replaces the previous system which, taking inspiration from the Incas, relied on an intricate network of knitted yarn
Meat Sold In Bulk To Retailers And Distributors Recalled For e. Coli
By 11.26.07
Meat processed by American Foods Group of Green Bay, WI has been recalled following an investigation by the Illinois Department of Health. The meat was sold in bulk quantities to retailers and distributors and may not be easily identifiable to consumers, says the USDA:
The products subject to recall were distributed for further processing and repackaging and will not bear the recalling firm’s establishment number on the package. As the use-by date for products subject to this recall may have expired, consumers can contact their retailers to ask if they received any of these products and if so, consumers are urged to look in their freezers for these products and return or discard them if found.
By 11.26.07
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4 ways for small-business owners to save on next year’s taxes. [WSJ]
