If you work from home and/or are self-employed, you’ll likely want to claim the home office deduction on your taxes this year.
Government Policy
What Is The Definition of "Real Kraft Cheese"?
By 2.5.07
Kraft, like many food makers, often walks a fine line with its marketing, testing the limits of federal labeling regulations that are often vague or confusing.
Maytag Recalls 2.3 Million Dishwashers Due To Fire Hazard
By 2.3.07
Do you have a Maytag or Jenn-air dishwasher? Did you buy it from July 1997 through June 2001? If so, you need to check the model number against the CPSC’s website and if it matches… stop using the dishwasher immediately, as “liquid rinse-aid can leak from its dispenser and come into contact with the dishwasher’s internal wiring which can short-circuit and ignite, posing a fire hazard.” It’s supposed to be jet dry, not jet burn the damn house down, so taking steps to prevent your dishwasher from igniting are, uh, strongly recommended.
Drunk Crashes Car Into Arby’s, Makes A Run For The Border
By 2.3.07 — Updated: 7.19.13
Police arrested 47-year-old Davis Katlaps of Lake Oswego, Ore., and charged him with driving under the influence after he reportedly blew .283 on an Intoxilyzer
Oregon’s legal limit is .08.
Coke & Nestle Sued Over Enviga's Bogus Calorie Burning Claims
By 2.1.07
Eviga, the so-called “calorie burning soda” has landed Coke and Nestle in some hot water, as the The Center for Science In The Public Interest has filed suit against both for false advertising claims — the same we mocked back in October.
US Food Safety Is Broken: Different Agencies Oversee Open-Faced vs Closed-Faced Sandwiches
By 2.1.07
A report was released Wednesday by the Government Accountability Office that designated Food Safety as a high risk area “because of risks to the economy and to public health and safety.” The report finds that: “The current fragmented federal system has caused inconsistent oversight, ineffective coordination, and inefficient use of resources,” and they’ve recommended a fundamental reorganization of the entire system.
Part 3: I Was A Cybercrook For The FBI
By 2.1.07
Part 3 of Dave Thomas’ story of working as a cybercriminal for the FBI story is up on Wired, The Boards Come Crashing Down.
Report Fraud To Law Enforcement Agencies With Consumer Sentinel
By 2.1.07
Consumer Sentinel is
“a one-stop, secure investigative cybertool and complaint database, on a separate restricted-access secure web site, that provides hundreds of law enforcement agencies immediate access to Internet cons, telemarketing scams and other consumer fraud-related complaints.”
Oh, a cybertool! The database is maintained by the FTC and currently holds over a million complaints.
FDA To Change The Way Drugs Are Approved
By 1.31.07 — Updated: 11.5.12
The Food and Drug Administration said yesterday that it is making changes in the way it operates to prevent the kind of drug safety controversies that have dogged the agency in recent years.
Tax Tip: New State Sales Tax Calculator
By 1.31.07
The Sales Tax Calculator is another interactive tool on the IRS.gov web site designed to help make it easier for taxpayers to figure their taxes,” said IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson.
I Was A Cybercrook For The FBI
By 1.31.07
Parts 2 and 3 of the Dave Thomas Cybercrook story are up on Wired. The excellent report by Kim Zeter, two years in the making, offers a fascinating insight into the world of identity thieves, credit card scammers, phishers and all sorts of electronic fraud. Follow along as Dave transitions from petty thief, to cyber-crime master under the name “”El Mariachi” and with a James Cagney online avatar, to informant on the noose for the feds.
Sony BMG Settles FTC Charges; Customers to Get $150
By 1.31.07
U.S. regulators said Tuesday Sony BMG Music Entertainment agreed to reimburse consumers up to $150 for damage to their computers for selling CDs with hidden anti-piracy software.
T.J. Maxx Gets Class Actioned For Credit Card Breach
By 1.30.07
A class action lawsuit was filed yesterday against TJ Maxx for allowing millions of customer’s credit cards to be stolen in a Jan. 17. security breach.
Inside Organized Credit Card Fraud
By 1.30.07
It was November 2002, and Thomas, then a 44-year-old Texan, was in Washington to collect more than $30,000 in merchandise that a Ukrainian known as “Big Buyer” ordered from Outpost.com with stolen credit card numbers. His job was to collect the goods from a mail drop, fence them on eBay and wire the money to Russia, pocketing 40 percent of the take before moving to another city to repeat the scam.
FTC Announces Bureau of Consumer Protection Appointments
By 1.30.07
The FTC yesterday announced several appointments within the Bureau of Consumer Protection (BCP). Mary Beth Richards became a Deputy Director in the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Maneesha Mithal was appointed Chief of Staff of the Bureau, and Frank Gorman became Assistant Director
Taxes: Breaking Changes To How You Claim College Deductions
By 1.29.07
December tax law changes mean 1040 filers claiming college deductions will have to take special steps.
