Anti-metered broadband advocates are rejoicing today as TWC admitted defeat and delayed its plan to expand metered broadband to Rochester, NY.
government
Treasury Secretary Is Cool With Firing Bank CEOs
By 4.6.09
Hey, bank CEOs! Need “exceptional” help from the U.S. Government? Get ready to be fired. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner told “Face the Nation” that he was open to firing bank CEOs in much the same way that GM chief Rick Wagoner was recently shown the door.
By 4.2.09
../../../..//2009/04/02/suffolk-county-executive-steve-levy/
Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy has signed the nation’s first BPA ban into law. The law bans BPA from empty children’s containers like sippy cups and bottles, and will go into effect in 90 days. The infants of Long Island just got a little safer.
1 In 10 Americans Are On Food Stamps
By 4.2.09
32.2 million people, about 1 in 10 Americans, are now on food stamps according to the latest government report. The number is a new record.
Chase Stops Charging $120 Annual Fee For Balance Transfer Customers
By 4.1.09 — Updated: 10.25.12
We wrote in January about a new $10 per month fee that Chase was arbitrarily imposing on customers who had transferred balances to their Chase cards. Well after having a little chat with New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Chase announced that they’ll stop charging this ridiculous fee and they’ll be refunding customers’ previous payments.
Banks Seeking To Value Assets Higher Than Market Value
By 3.27.09
Banks are pushing for a change to banking rules that would allow them to ignore mark to market accounting for assets in markets that they deem “inactive.” In other words, if a bank is loaded with worthless assets but decides that the market for those assets is frozen, they can value those assets higher than the market would. Or to simplify it even more, they can create value out of toxic assets. And it looks like now the Financial Accounting Standards Board, which so far has been against this rule change, is caving in.
Parking Meter Revolt: Chicagoans Are Vandalizing Parking Meters In Protest!
By 3.25.09
The Chicago parking meter saga continues today with a post from theexpiredmeter.com, a blog about Chicago parking tickets and how to fight them. The post has photos of parking meters being spray painted, destroyed and otherwise defaced. Guess people aren’t too thrilled with paying 28 quarters for 2 hours in the Loop…
NJ May Ban 'Brazilian' Bikini Waxing Due To Infections
By 3.20.09
Two women have reported being injured while getting a “Brazilian” bikini wax — leading New Jersey to consider banning the practice.
Chicago's Privatized Parking Meters Are An Epic Failure
By 3.20.09
The City of Chicago has gone ahead with a deal to lease the city’s parking meters to a company that raised the rates — and the results are reportedly tragic. It now costs 28 quarters to park for two hours in the Loop, which some say is causing the meters to fill up with quarters and break.
Congress Considering Sending The IRS After AIG
By 3.19.09
The Washington Post says that the House will vote this afternoon on a bill that would seek to impose a 90% tax on the AIG bonuses. The Senate Finance Committee is also working on similar legislation, but have not yet scheduled a vote.
Next Saturday, Let IRS Agents Fill Out Your Taxes
By 3.15.09
Next Saturday, 250 IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers staffed with IRS agents will open their doors to anyone making $42,000 or less. With money tight for everyone this year, if you qualify, take the government up on its generous offer and let the IRS agents fill out your tax forms.
By 3.12.09
../../../..//2009/03/12/our-food-safety-problems-have/
Our food safety problems have been solved! [The Onion]
Do Not Give Money To People Who Say They Can Get You Stimulus Cash
By 3.5.09
Here we go again, scammers are using the recent headlines about the stimulus package to take advantage of people looking for a handout. Emails promising to help you qualify for a chunk of the new spending program in exchange for a small fee or some personal information are popping up in inboxes, according to the FTC.
Find Out If You Qualify For Mortgage Assistance
By 3.4.09
The Obama Administration announced new details about its massive foreclosure relief program — and the Washington Post says that it includes a refinancing program for homeowners with little equity in their homes, but who otherwise would be able to refinance. The Post has a quick interactive tool that will help you to determine whether or not you qualify for the program.
Suffolk County Bans Bisphenol-A In Baby Bottles
By 3.4.09
Suffolk County, New York enacted the nation’s first Bisphenol-A (BPA) ban on Tuesday when it voted to ban BPA from bottles for children 3 and under.
Watch President Obama's Address To Congress
By 2.25.09
President Obama is addressing Congress this evening in what is expected to be a somber pep-talk on getting the economy right. We’ve embedded the Hulu feed, watch it and add your comments, thoughts, and reactions to this post.
Laid Off? Get Ready To Pay Bank Fees On Your "Unemployment Debit Card"
By 2.20.09
The Associate Press says that 30 states have cut deals with bailed out banks like JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, and Bank of America to distribute unemployment benefits on debit cards instead of paper checks. The catch? All of these programs have fees — and in some states the cards are mandatory.
What's In This New Obama Foreclosure Plan?
By 2.18.09
With the economic stimulus (or “e-stim,” as we’ve been calling it) signed into law, President Obama turns his attention to the foreclosure crisis. At an event in Arizona today, he announced the following proposals to help homeowners.
