April 30th is the day you stop working for the government and start working for yourself, according to the Tax Foundation’s annual estimate dubbed “Tax freedom day.” CNNMoney explains:
government
How Effective Is The Do Not Call Registry?
By 4.8.07
A report recently released by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hails the Do Not Call registry as “an effective consumer protection initiative.” Since its inception in 2003, the registry has grown to include 132 million numbers.
The agency said the program’s primary goal of reducing unwanted telemarketing calls is succeeding, largely due to a “high degree of compliance by telemarketers.” The report notes that while roughly 1.15 million complaints were received in fiscal 2006 from 374,937 registered phone numbers, that was the equivalent of only about one-quarter of 1 percent of the numbers in the database.
Telemarketers are required to pay an annual fee to access the list so they know whose dinner not to interrupt. Still, the FTC put down its fork and left the table to fine 28 companies, including DirecTV, for calling people on the Do Not Call registry.
US Government Sues Jackson Hewitt Alleging "Pervasive Fraud"
By 4.5.07
The US Government has filed “civil injunction suits against five corporations that operate Jackson Hewitt tax preparation franchises, as well as 24 individuals who manage or work at the franchises.” The suits allege that employees at 5 Jackson Hewitt franchisees committed pervasive fraud.
The Conversion to Digital Television Is Going To Be Unpleasant
By 3.29.07
Congress has ordered broadcasters to shut off old-style analog TV broadcasts by Feb. 17, 2009, and replace them with sharper digital ones. When that happens, millions of households with pre-digital TVs that rely on antennas will need to have purchased and installed digital converter boxes that will cost a minimum of $60 each.
Local Government Powerless Against Comcast, Tells Residents To Switch To Satellite
By 3.29.07
“We’re between a rock and a hard place,” Gregor said. “We could drop the franchise, but then a lot of people won’t have television.”
Senators Have Tough Words For DirecTV's "Extra Innings" Deal
By 3.28.07
Senator John Kerry, D-Mass., had questions for Major League Baseball and DirecTV at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on behalf of subscribers to cable TV and EchoStar Communications Corp.’s Dish Network who are threatened by the DirecTV-only “Extra Innings” deal.
Need a Passport? Apply Early, Expect to Wait
By 3.23.07
The State Department is swamped with passport applications. The backlog is driven in large part by new rules that require U.S. citizens to have a passport (and not just photo id and a birth certificate) in order to re-enter the country by plane from Canada, the Caribbean, and other countries in the Western Hemisphere.
Where 311 Fails, Will Blogging Succeed?
By 3.21.07
Sigmund, a resident of Brooklyn, is hearing a piercing alarm-type sound that lasts anywhere from minutes to hours on end. The sound can be heard with the windows closed. Upon complaining about this noise to the police and local authorities,Sigmund was told that unless other people complained… nothing could be done.
Airlines Are So Bad They Make Secular Progressives Agree With Bill O'Reilly
By 2.28.07
The fiasco managed to unite liberal California Sen. Barbara Boxer with … Bill O’Reilly.
Time Warner's New DVR Software Is So Horrible That Lincoln, NE Has To Hold A Public Hearing
By 2.28.07
“There are serious problems here,” Cook [City Councilman] said Wednesday afternoon. “I think Lincoln customers deserve better. They are not getting what they have paid for.” The new guide has been beset with problems since its introduction. Complaints have ranged from the guide itself — ugly graphics, incomplete information, etc. — to problems with slow-reacting cable boxes and DVRs after the software was loaded into them, causing some subscribers to reboot one or more times a day.
Watch Sexy Webcam of Senate Predatory Lending Hearings
By 2.9.07
The Senate Banking Committee held a hearing Wednesday on predatory lending practices titled: “Preserving the American Dream: Predatory Lending Practices and Home Foreclosures.”
FTC Announces Bureau of Consumer Protection Appointments
By 1.30.07
The FTC yesterday announced several appointments within the Bureau of Consumer Protection (BCP). Mary Beth Richards became a Deputy Director in the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Maneesha Mithal was appointed Chief of Staff of the Bureau, and Frank Gorman became Assistant Director
Watch Sexy Credit Card Senate Hearing Cam!
By 1.26.07
- Guests include Elizabeth Warren, Leo Gottleib Professor of Law and author of The Two Income Trap: Why Middle Class Mothers and Fathers are Going Broke, Harvard Law School; Dr. Robert Manning, Professor of Finance and Author of Credit Card Nation, Rochester Institute of Technology; John Finneran , President of Corporate Reputation and Governance, CapitalOne Financial; Richard Vague, Chief Executive Officer, Barclaycard US; Carter Franke, Executive Vice President of Marketing, JP Morgan Chase & Co.; Tamara Draut, Director, Economic Opportunity Programs, Demos; and Travis Plunkett, Legislative Director, Consumer Federation of America.
Ohh, CapitalOne. If they show up late we hope the senate charges them a fee.—MEGHANN MARCO
Bush: I Can Read Your Mail
By 1.4.07
The New York Daily News is reporting on a signing statement President Bush issued two weeks ago when signing a postal reform bill, in which he “asserts his right to open mail without a warrant.”
Media Demands Secret AT&T Papers
By 12.21.06
Wired News is reporting that several media outlets (San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, San Jose Mercury News and Bloomberg News) have joined together to with Wired to petition for the release of “secret” AT&T papers detailing the extend of the White House’s warrantless wiretapping program. AT&T is resisting because they claim the papers contain, “corporate trade secrets.” “At 2 p.m. Thursday, both sides will make oral arguments before U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker in San Francisco.”
US Threatens to Sue if Maine Probes Verizon’s Phone Record Gift to NSA
By 8.8.06
Verizon customers in Maine asked the Public Utilities Commission to investigate whether the cellphone company handed over their phone records to the NSA. A July 28th letter from the DOJ to the PUC asked them to demure, and intimated at possible legal action.
The Dumbest Dell CSR Who Ever Lived
By 7.27.06
Jessica L. thinks she possibly made contact with the stupidest person to ever man the Dell phone lines.
