The CPSC has announced the recall of 100,000 ThinkPad extended life batteries. “If the battery in the laptop is struck forcefully on the corner, such as from a direct fall to the ground, the battery pack can overheat and pose a fire hazard to users. This is not an internal battery cell defect.” Lenovo has received 4 reports of batteries overheating and damaging the notebook. There have been no injuries except “in one case, minor eye irritation to one consumer.”
Government Policy
American Airlines Opens 1st Class Lavatory To Coach Passengers
By 3.1.07
American Airlines is abandoning a policy that prevented coach passengers from using the first class lavatory on all its flights. After 9/11, the TSA added a rule stating that on all international flights to the US, passengers were allowed access to the lavatory in their own seating section and no other.
Sorry, Chase Does Not Accept $50,000 Checks From God
By 3.1.07
Police were called to Chase Bank, 1800 E. 80th, about 4 p.m. after Russell tried to cash the check, which was written on an invalid Bank One check with no imprint, White said. Russell had several other checks with him that were signed the same way but made out in different dollar amounts, including one for $100,000.
Who knew that the Lord and Savior had to worry about ID theft?—MEGHANN MARCO
FDA Approves Drug For Carsick Dogs
By 3.1.07
The FDA said the drug, Cerenia, is the first to prevent and treat vomiting in dogs. When used in tablet form, the Pfizer Inc. drug can prevent vomiting associated with motion sickness, the FDA said. The agency also approved an injectable form of the drug, known generically as maropitant citrate, that it said can prevent and treat acute vomiting due to chemotherapy, parvovirus, kidney disease, pancreatitis and other causes.
A Humble Suggestion: Do Not Try To Trade Your Baby For A Dodge Intrepid
By 3.1.07
Police Sergeant Brett Wilson says the department was notified of the alleged baby swap yesterday morning. Within hours, they had mother Nicole Uribe behind bars and the baby safely placed with a foster home.
How To: Attract An IRS Audit
By 2.28.07
Sometimes the best way to avoid something is to know what attracts it. Thankfully, J.D. at Get Rich Slowly has put together a list of suspicious items that will set off an audit flag on your return. Here are a few:
Lead Prompts Recall Of Children's Necklaces, Earrings, And Rings
By 2.25.07
Kmart and Big Lots! are voluntarily recalling 121,000 necklaces, earrings, and rings that contain lead. This stunning announcement is sure to devastate Valentine sweethearts in pre-schools across the nation.
Recall: Oscar Mayer/Louis Rich Chicken Infected With Listeria
By 2.24.07
Kraft foods is recalling all Oscar Mayer/Louis Rich chicken breast strips on fears they may be infected with Listeria monocytogenes.
Dean, US's #1 Milk Company, Says "No" To Milk From Cloned Cows
By 2.23.07
From Forbes:
Milk from cloned cows is no longer welcome at the nation’s biggest milk company.
RIAA Hates Open WiFi
By 2.23.07
Debbie Foster was sued by RIAA member company Capitol Records for allegedly sharing copyrighted material on a P2P file sharing network. However, the alleged infringement was apparently committed by someone else with access to her ISP account. Foster had the case dismissed last summer, and as reported by Listening Post earlier this month, was awarded attorney’s fees in excess of $50,000.
Howto: Get Your Name Off The No-Fly List
By 2.22.07
The Department of Homeland Security has finally woken up, and now admits that the No-Fly List has its problems.
Recall: E. Coli in Mushrooms From BJ's Warehouse
By 2.22.07
BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. said Tuesday it was recalling packages of fresh mushrooms after it a routine inspection revealed the possible presence of the deadly bacteria E. coli.
Verizon Sues to Shut Down Vonage
By 2.21.07
Vonage, which is one of the best-known brands in the Internet phone world, acknowledged last week that it doesn’t have a plan for getting around use of technology that Verizon claims violates patents it owns.
Avoid The "Dirty Dozen" Tax Scams
By 2.21.07
It’s nice to save money at tax time, but watch out your preparer isn’t leading you into a scam, like these on the IRS top twelve to watch out for this year:
10 Phat Tax Breaks
By 2.20.07
CNN Money has got ten “secret” deductions to use this year. Yeah, that phone tax rebate that everyone won’t shut up about is there, but there’s also…
Identity Thieves Steal For Peanuts… Literally
By 2.18.07
In some twisted way, it makes sense when a criminal steals your identity to rip you off for thousands of dollars. You might call that normal crook behavior. But these days identity thieves, who now range from far-flung organized crime rings to local drug addicts, are also using your identity for the basics, such as groceries.
Bush Expected To Nominate Industry Lobbyist To Head CPSC
By 2.18.07
The President plans to install Baroody over President’s Day weekend as a recess appointment. The recess appointment, which is usually reserved at the end of a session or during the Senate’s summer recess, will be effective until the adjournment of the 110th Congress in 2008. After that, if the Senate doesn’t confirm the nominee, the position again becomes vacant.
