Wired reports that the government is considering a ban on the import of Burmese pythons and eight other “injurious species” of snake, because loser pet owners in Florida keep releasing them into the wild where they breed and take over. If enacted, the ban would only affect imports, not sales by breeders in the US, but prices will probably shoot up. [More]
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T.J. Maxx: Good News, Profits Are Up, Bad News, Hostage Situation
By 11.18.09
Yesterday T.J. Maxx announced that third-quarter earnings surged ahead 47% as the company attracted great-recession-weary shoppers to its stores. Oh, and there might have been a “hostage” situation in one of its Florida stores.
Angry Customer Shoots Taco Bell Employee Because They're Closed
By 10.9.09
So, you roll into Taco Bell at 3:30 am. They’re closed. Sure, you’re upset, but do you need to shoot the person working there? One guy in Miami thinks so, and he’s apparently still at large after shooting a Taco Bell employee in the leg simply because the restaurant wasn’t open.
Florida State Universities Launch Free Digital Textbook Program
By 9.30.09
If you’re going to school at a Florida state university, your fee burden just grew a little bit lighter:
Florida AG Sues TigerDirect For 'Continually Blaming Customers' For Rebate Delays
By 9.8.09
Waiting for a rebate from TigerDirect? Good luck with that. In a suit filed last Friday, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum is charging the company with, among other things, promising customers that rebates would arrive in about 8-10 weeks of submission, when in fact “a vast number of customers experienced delays ranging from one to more than eight months, before receiving their promised rebates, if at all.” The suit also charges TigerDirect with engaging in “deceptive and unfair trade practices.”
Good News,That Dead Mouse In Your Diet Pepsi Was Actually A Toad
By 9.3.09
Remember the purported mouse that a man in Florida purportedly found in his can of Pepsi? Lab tests are back, and it turns out that it wasn’t actually a mouse.
Comcast Won't Let Me Watch Cartoons!
By 8.26.09
According to reader Chris, Comcast in South Florida has been cutting into TV programming with commercials, preventing viewers from watching various kinds of shows. Reader Chris H. writes:
Beware Scammers Installing City-Mandated "Whole House Water Systems"
By 8.25.09
A city in Florida has just warned its residents of a weird scam: someone’s been hanging pink notices on doors around town that say, “Due to the water quality in this area, we will be installing whole-house water treatment systems.” You’re supposed to fill out the back of the notice and leave it out for further contact. Remember, don’t let anyone remodel your home on behalf of the city. It probably goes without saying, but still.
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Despite Refinance, Homeowner Evicted And House Sold [Updated]
By 8.21.09
Imagine coming home to find the sheriff on your doorstep with an eviction notice, and then being given 3 hours to get the hell off your property, which is no longer yours because your bank mistakenly sold it out from under you for about a third of its value. Oops! Although we initially assumed WaMu/Chase was behind all of it, NCB Miami reports that actually “a mistake in the Miami-Dade Clerk’s Office appears to be behind the mishap, which landed Ramirez homeless for more than 24 hours.”
Family Lives Alone In 32-Story Tower
By 7.30.09
Thanks to their bank, Victor Vangelakos and his family live by themselves in a 32-story tower.
Pardon Me, But There Is A Mouse In This Can Of Diet Pepsi
By 7.29.09
(Ed. note— Ok, let me just tell you that reading this story made my stomach flip, which is something that almost never happens to me, so if you’re eating lunch or (heaven forbid) drinking a Pepsi — just go to Cute Overload and forget this ever happened.) A Florida man says he was drinking a can of Diet Pepsi when he noted that it tasted funny. (Warning: “Not Safe For Lunch” graphic picture inside.)
Citgo Employees Smoke Cigarettes At Gas Station, Are Apparently Fireproof
By 7.22.09
Maybe these guys know something about the risks of combining fire and gasoline that we don’t, but we’re pretty sure that you’re not supposed to smoke at a gas station. Reader Chris didn’t think so either, and he sent us these pics of employees taking a smoke break at his local Citgo.
Be Sure To Wear Your Wetsuit, Blindfold, Pepper Spray Necklace To Florida's Water Parks
By 7.17.09
Various water parks in Florida have taken on a weird Westworld vibe this summer, only instead of robots gone mad it’s fellow parkgoers, and instead of trying to kill you they’re trying get at your genitals. And by “you” we mean teenaged girls and boys.
By 7.17.09
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Florida, the nation’s fourth-largest honey producing state, has banned “fake honey”—the honey has to be 100% pure with no additives, sweeteners, or chemicals. [Examiner.com]
"60 Days Notice Required Before Dying" Landlord Loses Appeal
By 5.21.09
The sun has set for Sun Harbour Apartments in their attempt to steal money from a dead man’s family. Court documents obtained by Consumerist indicated the landlords recently lost their appeal in a case where they tried to charge the estate of the late Arthur Zissenfor the 3 months left on the man’s lease, as well as taking his security deposit. The apartment complex have a 60 days advance notice required before vacating the premises policy and not even a swoosh of The Reaper’s scythe could break it, Sun Harbor believed, erroneously. Inside, the local newscast from when the case first went to court.
Ways To Keep Mickey's Damn Dirty Hands Off Your Wallet At Disney World
By 5.11.09
Writing in the USA Weekend Sunday newspaper supplement, travel columnist Everett Potter provides some tips on how to save money on a vacation to Disney World.
Out-Of-Work Adults Try To Nab Summer Lifeguard Positions
By 5.8.09
Some adults who are out of work are now going after classic teen jobs, says ABC News. In Florida, which has the fourth-highest unemployment rate of the nation, men in their 30s and 40s “have pulled on swim trunks in hopes of beating out the teenagers for a few choice positions as $9.37 an hour lifeguards.” The report also says adults are trying out for jobs at places like Six Flags. All of this reminds us a little of this Kids In The Hall Sketch (see below) where a young boy finds a stray businessman and brings him home.
Man May Lose Home Over Refusal To Pay Dog-Walking Fine
By 4.20.09
A Florida man who won’t walk his dog on a leash now seems set to lose his $380,000 home, all because he refuses to pay a $1,000 ‘leash violation’ fine to his Homeowners Association. And he’s ready to kill over it.
