In this restive spot after Thanksgiving and before Christmas-time madness, why not start getting your taxes together? Blueprint For Financial Prosperity has a roundup of useful tax time articles. — BEN POPKEN
Government Policy
TSA’s Multimillion Dollar Ion Sniffer Is “Out Of Order”
By 11.29.06
A sign on this multi-million dollar terrorism sniffing device reads, “Out of Order.” Spotted this morning in Charlotte’s airport. From the Smith’s website:
Fake Boarding Pass Creator Goes Free
By 11.29.06
Cnet is reporting that the creator of the fake NWA boarding pass generator has been freed and all charges dropped due to lack of criminal intent on his part. “They’ve given me back my passports, my computers, and I’ll be getting the rest of my stuff back shortly. Essentially, I’m a free man–with no charges filed,” Christopher Soghoian wrote on his blog Tuesday, talking about the investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.
Man Hides in Furniture Box; Steals $80,000 from Kmart
By 11.28.06
Introducing our new favorite alleged thief, Greg G. Giannotta. Our buddy Greg, “hid inside a furniture box at Kmart until closing time and, according to police, swept the jewelry department nearly clean of merchandise.”
Customers Sue Time Warner
By 11.27.06
Former Comcast and Adelphia customers sued Time Warner last Wednesday over the service disruptions caused when Time Warner bought their networks.
Cleveland Airport Confiscates Passenger’s ‘Dangerous Liquid’ Pies
By 11.26.06
A Cleveland airport considers pie filling a dangerous liquid, while at JFK the pie loses its incendiary properties. TSA employees seized at least a dozen of the baked goods from travelers.
Ohio AG Suing Scammy Gift Card Site
By 11.21.06
The Ohio Attorney General is suing GiftAssistant.com for using unfair and deceptive methods to take at least $42,000 from at least 250 people. At least one of those people the company bilked was a Consumerist reader, as we reported previously.
Target Recalls 190,000 Really Gender-Specific Toys
By 11.16.06
Target is recalling a whopping 190,000 play-set type toys. “Some of these toys contain lead paint, which is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects. Also, some of the toys have sharp points, posing laceration or puncture wound hazards. The recall involves “Kool Toyz” brand toys, including sets containing die-cast cars, playground set, doll house set, dinosaurs, trucks, boats and planes. The packaging is primary blue and has the “Kool Toyz” logo is on the upper left corner of the packaging.” If you have these toys, take them away from children and bring them to Target for a full refund.
Why Net Neutrality Is Good
By 11.16.06
Just because Verizon gave it link love, you didn’t think we would let that post, “Why Net Neutrality Is Bad,” get away with standing there unopposed, now did you? — BEN POPKEN
T-Mobile Sued Over Early Termination Fees
By 11.15.06
Someone give this guy a medal, not just of the chocolate kind. — BEN POPKEN
Why Net Neutrality Is Bad
By 11.14.06
Voluminous pixels are spilt in defense of Net Neutrality, the premise that ISP’s shouldn’t be allowed to throttle, toll-house, or block access to certain sites because the ISP finds it financially beneficial to do so (e.g. Verizon creates its own videosharing site and blocks YouTube).
Exploding Laptop Caught On Film
By 11.13.06
They try to test the heat using a remote thermometer (like the one mentioned in today’s Morning Deals) but the temp is so high, the instrument gives an error code. This means the temperature was over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit.
So You’ve Been Served By A Debt Collector
By 11.10.06
Not all people whose accounts are sold to debt collectors are cheats and scalawags. Sometimes they’re just people who made a mistake somewhere… or sometimes the debt isn’t even valid
Surprise, “Cars” Toy Box Full of Lead
By 11.9.06
Cars don’t use leaded gasoline anymore, but boy, oh boy … do toy companies still use lead paint! This Disney/Pixar branded toy chest is painted with red paint that “contains high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.”
Millions of Acetaminophen Pills Recalled For Metal Shards
By 11.9.06
Millions of generic acetaminophen pills were recalled today after metal shards were found in in 200 pills.
