By showing you this picture of a young man in a shirt with guns on it, we’re putting the lives of thousands of air travelers on the line.
Government Policy
FCC Ordered “Monopolies Are Bad For Local TV” Study Destroyed
By 9.15.06
A study showing how having fewer owners of media outlets hurts local TV news was ordered destroyed by the FCC. It has since come to light and a California senator demands answers.
Merck’s Vioxx Replacement Still A Heart Risk
By 9.15.06
Merck’s getting in on the arthritis market again with a new drug, called Arcoxia. You might remember their previous offering, Vioxx, which was discontinued two years ago after octogenarians countrywide lifted their contorted, claw-like hands to a withered chest and let out a rattling gasp under the influence of a massive, Vioxx-induced heart attack. Lawsuits abounded.
Popeye Gets E. Coli
By 9.15.06
And millions of small children all across America suddenly break out into one collective peal of delight: a massive outbreak of E. coli in bagged spinach has federal health officials warning consumers not to eat the foul-tasting weed.
UPDATE: Identity Thief Who Beat Up Fox Reporter On Camera Pleads Not Guilty
By 9.15.06
Generally speaking, your hopes of a successful plea of “not guilty, millud!” fade into the ether the second you beat the crap out of a news reporter on live television.
How To Join The Mile High Without K-Y?
By 9.12.06
Everyone with any sense knows that flying is dehydrating. Oh, sure, airlines and the TSA disagree, but a parched throat and dry, crackling skin is par for the course of most of our catapultings across the stratosphere.
AOL Now Looking in Spammer’s Grandpappy’s Yard For Gold
By 9.6.06
Rebuffed by former neo-Nazi Davis Wolfgang Hawke’s parents, AOL turned to his grandparent’s yard in their search for gold. AOL won a $13 million spam suit against Hawke last year but has been unable to collect. They’re convinced Hawke buried $351,000 in gold and platinum bars on his parent’s property. Or his grandparents. Whoever comes first.
6,000 Panasonic Laptops Recalled
By 9.6.06
Out of concern that the batteries might combust, Panasonic announced a recall of Japanese models of CF-W4G Let’s Note W4 laptop sold between April and May 2005.
Consumers Get Refund For Moribund Telephone Tax
By 9.1.06
Next April, you can get $30-$60 in drinking money and whoop it up on Uncle Sam. The IRS announced a new deduction for consumers following the May repeal of a moribund long-distance telephone tax.
Yo Quiero Your Stolen Cellphone
By 9.1.06
Although not as deliciously trashy as the infamous How Not To Steal A Sidekick story of June, we can glean a few interesting details about the criminals who stole the Practicalist’s cell phone and then inadvertently uploaded their snapshots to his Flickr account.
GE Lethargic In Aiding Fiery Dishwasher Recall
By 8.30.06
Doug just wants his dishwasher to burn his house down. He adds an expletive before house in his letter, but this is a family blog, after all. The CPSC sent Doug a letter telling him to contact GE as he had a dishwasher affected by the recall. One case of the dishwasher catching on fire and causing minor property damage was reported, but GE didn’t seem to care much, submitting Doug to a byzantine maze of rotting phone trees and callous reps. It was only after Doug lied to the phone tree was he able to get traction on his issue.
Verizon Drops Baseless DSL Fee After FCC Pressure
By 8.30.06
Nine days after installing a new “supplier surcharge” fee to essentially replace one government regulators dropped, Verizon DSL decided to stop levying the fee. Verizon came under heat from customers and received a letter from the FCC asking it to explain its actions. BellSouth, which also received a FCC letter, announced it would drop a similar charge.
Foxconn Nukes iPod City Journalists From Orbit
By 8.30.06
Foxconn was ill-pleased with the allegations of two Chinese journalists that they had set-up massive iPod sweatshops in Rural Red Country. How ill-pleased are they? As they previously warned, they are suing these guys into oblivion.
Arabic “I am Not a Terrorist” Tshirt
By 8.28.06
Now you too can bother Midwesterners and airport security, just like Raed Jaer, with your very own “I am not a terrorist” tshirt.
Please Copy 415 Serial Numbers To Complete Your Apple Battery Recall
By 8.25.06
Paul is the tech guy at an all-Mac private school and he’s more steaming than a self-immolating battery.
