I recently received a bill from my local utilities company stating that they had accidentally undercharged me for the last year. Now they want me to pay 438.53. Here’s the letter, is there a way out of this? [Link]
Quality & Safety
Sony Recalls Gateway, Sony, Toshiba, Fujitsu Batteries
By 10.24.06
Monday, Sony launched a voluntary recall of laptop batteries for the manufacturer’s listed in the headline of this post. If you own a notepad made by one of these people, check this chart to see if you computer is affected.
No, Dell Ain’t Charging For Replacement Batteries
By 10.18.06
Contrary to the vituperations of Lowell G, Dell is not charging people for swapping out their exploding batteries.
HOWTO: Report Dangerous Products
By 10.10.06
Strangling crib slats, exploding chairs, and that whole various easily swallowed pieces crowd… why should everyone else get all the fun?
Replacement Apple Batteries Have Their Own Problems
By 10.5.06
The fun isn’t over for some Apple Powerbook G4 owners affected by the recent battery recall. Not only did some replacement batteries not power systems correctly, others don’t even fit flush with the laptops.
More Uhauls Of Shame
By 10.3.06
Blah blah blah Uhaul wouldn’t rent me a Uhaul because I’m too much of a slacker to show up on time. That’s what ran through our brains when we first read Christopher’s letter. Then we stumbled across this gem.
Self-Check Kiosks Pose Airline Safety Threat
By 9.28.06
Having conquered the imminent threat of self-immolating shampoo, airline safety has returned to “iron-clad” status. Yeah right, all the terrorist need is a credit card with the same as someone flying that day. Using such a card, one can print a boarding pass and get on the aircraft. Creating the card would require access to a credit card writer, which hasn’t proved an obstacle for numerous identity thieves and ATM hackers.
The Party’s Over: Spinach is Coming Back
By 9.26.06
That’s right, you heard me. You’re not leaving the table until you finish your spinach.
Hardee’s Unfazed By Water Cut-Off
By 9.26.06
Bunnyspatial wrote to us about a local Hardee’s that was conducting business with its water turned off, and the fascinating implications that raises:
QVC Drinking Glasses Explode for No Reason
By 9.19.06
QVC is recalling 2,200 sets of glasses because the “inner walls of the double-walled glasses can break during use, posing a laceration hazard to consumers.”
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.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Warns: “Kids Are Idiots.”
By 9.14.06
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s newsfeed is a daily source of hilarity. “Barbecue recalled for fire hazard!” it warns. “Trampolines recalled for falling risk!” it hollers and cries. I rarely click though: the actual details could only disappoint. I like living in a world where the government needs to issue daily reminders verbalizing common sense.
