This week, the House of Representatives passed a new bill that gives the FDA the power to require new warning labels on existing prescription drugs, and the power to request “post-approval” studies of medicines as warranted. It also gives the FDA the authority to levy fines as high as $10 million to companies that fail to comply. The bill passed with a 405-7 vote on Wednesday and is expected to be passed by the Senate and approved by the President.
Government Policy
AT&T Promises Nationwide Naked DSL By The End Of The Year
By 9.20.07
Naked DSL, (DSL without the requirement to have a landline), will be available nationwide by the end of the year, according to statement made by AT&T to the Wall Street Journal.
My Wonderful Trip To South Africa That Didn't Happen Thanks To The TSA And Delta Airlines
By 9.19.07
Here’s a ridiculous story about the TSA, the San Diego Airport and Delta Airlines. It even involves allegations of “death threats.”
At this point the husband of the family, my hero – got love New Yorkers (living in Florida). Screams at the top of his lungs “He’s with us, you let him up here right now!” directly into the face of the TSA bouncer that made the announcement earlier.
Interview With RIAA Lawsuit Target Tanya Andersen
By 9.19.07
You might remember Tanya. She was falsely accused by the RIAA of sharing over 1,000 songs. Rather than admit they had the wrong person, the RIAA lawyers just wouldn’t quit.
Hypochondriacs Rejoice! CSPI Launches Foodbourne Illness Outbreak Database
By 9.19.07
Here’s a nifty little tool for you hypochondriacs, the CSPI has put together an easily browsable database of all the foodbourne illness outbreaks in the US! Did you know that lima beans caused an outbreak of Clostridium perfringens at an Illinois jail in 1996? Now you do!
Target, Limited Too and Dollar General Quietly Pulling Lead Contaminated Items Off Shelves
By 9.19.07
According to the NYT, Target, Limited Too and Dollar General have located additional products that are contaminated with lead, but no recalls have been announced by the CPSC.
By 9.19.07
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REI Novara Afterburner Trailer Bicycles (can detach from adult bicycle…).
Liveblogging The House Energy And Commerce Subcommittee Hearing On Toy Safety
By 9.19.07
Parading before you today will be two familiar panels: The first will feature acting Consumer Product Safety Commission Chair Nancy Nord and Commissioner Thomas Moore, who skipped out of last week’s hearing for a dentists appointment. The second will be devoted solely to Mattel CEO Robert Eckert.
Mars Breaks Rank, Promises Consumers It Will Keep Using Real Chocolate
By 9.19.07
On Monday, Mars Snackfoods US—makers of “pokin’ at you pokin’ at you” Snickers bars, M&Ms, and other popular office meal replacement systems—announced that it would not seek FDA permission to replace its cocoa butter with cheaper vegetable oil, which is what the rest of the industry is lobbying for. Okay, first of all, yech, just… vegetable oil? But second of all, yay for Mars for drawing a line somewhere on poor product quality.
Chrysler Recalls 300,000 Vehicles Due To Potential Braking Problem
By 9.19.07
Chrysler has announced a recall of over 300,000 vehicles due to a potential problem with the car’s ability to brake while coasting uphill.
IRS Launches Special Website Section For People Facing Foreclosure
By 9.18.07
The IRS has launched a special section of its website aimed at helping people who are facing foreclosure navigate the tax issues that surround debt forgiveness.
Attention All Coaches: Belichick's Cheating Is A Business Expense
By 9.18.07
According to the WSJ Law Blog, the common consensus is that Patriots coach Bill Belichick will be able to deduct his $500,000 cheating fine as an “ordinary and necessary business expense.” Hooray?
Joyriding Jerks Steal Food Bank Truck, Ruin 1 Ton Of Food For No Reason
By 9.18.07
A local non-profit wants to know who would steal food from the hungry. A thief took a refrigerated Food Bank of the Rockies truck Monday that was stocked with enough food to feed 1,500 families.
Dole "Hearts Delight" Bagged Lettuce Recalled For E. Coli
By 9.18.07
Dole is recalling bagged lettuce tainted with e. coli today, so you’ll want to check your fridge lest you develop bloody diarrhea.
By 9.18.07
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Dole Hearts Delight salad mix (E. coli), Braun Normal Saline Flush syringes (particulate matter in the saline), Stone Meats 5 lb lean meat (pieces of metal).
By 9.17.07
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A pregnant woman and her cousin used a U-Haul to steal clothing, baby goods, groceries, and Halloween decorations from three different Wal-Mart stores over the course of a single afternoon.
"Easy-To-Follow" Diet Requires Injections, Colonics, And More
By 9.17.07
Let’s say you bought a diet book that was advertised to provide an easy-to-follow diet that you can do at home and that allows you to eat whatever you want—and then, once you buy the book, you find out that it “describes a complex, grueling plan that requires severe dieting, daily injections of a prescription drug that consumers cannot easily get, and lifelong dietary restrictions.” The FTC apparently thinks that’s misleading, and they’re going after Kevin Trudeau (yet again) for it.
Are Bundled Packages A Threat To Privacy?
By 9.16.07
The L.A. Times read the privacy policies of several bundled service providers and found that they are feverishly monitoring their subscriber’s activities. With the ability to monitor internet, phone, and television preferences, bundled service providers are able to track nearly every aspect of their subscriber’s digital lives. While Google retains personally identifiable for less than two years, some ISPs like Time Warner cling to your data for an astounding fifteen years in order to “comply with tax and accounting requirements.” It gets worse.
There are red flags to be found in each telecom provider’s privacy policy. A close reading of Time Warner’s policy reveals:
