Donating a kidney or part of a liver is a risky proposition, even when you’re giving the donation to a loved one or family member. But a new study asks whether or not people would be more willing to part with an organ if tens, or even hundreds, of thousands of dollars were offered. [More]
pennsylvania
Soda Tax Failing In NY, Big Joke In Philadelphia
By 3.16.10
Several states and cities around the country consider taking part in the latest trend of levying a “soda tax” on high-calorie beverages. But in New York state, the measure looks certain to die a quiet death in the state house, while the folks in Philadelphia are looking at a loophole that could render the whole “combatting obesity” thing nonexistent. [More]
Man's Water Bill Jumps From 4,000 To 23,000 Gallons Per Month
By 2.24.10
Reader Jim just got a water bill that says his usage has jumped up to 19,000 23,000 gallons per month from his usual 4,000. This is a guy who lives in a one-bath, one-toilet, one-sink house. “Must be that swimming pool I filled in the middle of winter in Western PA,” he says. So far, the utility has dismissed all his requests for explanation, or logic, and demanded he pay up immediately. [More]
Philadelphia's Public Libraries Not Closing After All
By 9.21.09
Lovers of books, free Internet access, and community gathering spaces, rejoice. The Philadelphia Free Library will not be closing on October 2nd, as previously threatened.
Crazy Pennsylvania Beer Law Bars Convenience Stores From Selling Beer Six-Packs
By 6.22.09
Poor Pennsylvanian beer-lovers — not only is there a bizarre, ancient law on the books that prevents convenience stores from selling six-packs, but the state supreme court has gone and upheld it.
Pennsylvania Training Its State Liquor Store Employees To Be Nicer
By 3.10.09
If you buy your devil juice from Pennsylvania, you might notice a difference in the way you’re treated starting later this month. Pennsylvania is spending $173,000 to train employees of its state-owned liquor and wine stores to be more polite, reports PhillyBurbs.com: “The board wants to make sure clerks are saying ‘hello,’ ‘thank you’ and ‘come again’ to customers coming in for wine and liquor.”
Top 10 Most And Least Affordable Cities
By 2.20.09
The National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo have put together an index of the most and least affordable metro areas. The index was created by calculating what percentage of a city’s residents making the median income can afford a house in that city.
Pre-Loaded Benefit Cards Nickle And Dime Unemployed
By 2.9.09
Pennysylvania’s unemployed are getting nickled-and-dimed by pre-loaded unemployment benefit debit cards that come come pre-loaded with hidden fees.
Prod Unemployment Office To Action With Your Local State Rep
By 12.5.08
Aaron has gotten a busy signal from the Pennsylvania unemployment office call center for a month. He started filing his claim online, which was fine, until he started getting automated emails saying there were problems with the online system, and instructed him to call the toll-free call center number. That’s right, the one that’s a constant busy signal. So, he got in touch with his local state representative, and got results!
Shopper Takes Walmart To Court Over $2 And Wins $100
By 11.10.08
The Pennsylvania woman who makes a hobby out of taking retailers to court over pricing errors has struck again. This time Walmart was ordered to pay Mary Bach $100 for repeatedly failing to correct a $2 error.
"Everything Here Is $1.00… Except This.. And This… And This…"
By 11.3.08
Reader Summer B. says that dollar stores are raising their prices. She visited a dollar store in PA where everything was a dollar… except this… and this… oh, and this…
Best Buy Apologizes For Charging You Too Much Tax On Your DTV Converter Box
By 7.7.08
The way coupons are taxed is different in every state— and believe us — it gets really complicated. The general rule, in most (but not all) states is that consumers are taxed on the full amount of the transaction — including any reimbursement that the store gets.
By 5.1.08
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Pennsylvania, a land ruled by the draconian “Liquor Control Board,” may allow wine vending machines with “fingerprints and biometric readings” for age verification to be placed in grocery stores so that people can finally buy wine at the supermarket. What the hell is wrong with Pennsylvania?[Dr. Vino ]
Arbol Cafe Responds To Tipping Controversy
By 4.30.08
Two weeks ago, we made note of a word war going…
Walmart Won't Let You And Your Friend Each Buy A Wii Because You're "Together"
By 4.29.08
Reader Dave said he was shopping with his friend (male) at Walmart, searching for the coveted Nintendo Wii. He was happy to find that Walmart had 7 or 8 of the consoles in stock — enough for both he and his friend to purchase one. Walmart, however, had other ideas. Dave says that Walmart wouldn’t let he and his friend each purchase a Wii because they were “together.” First they’re rationing rice and now men are forced to share their video games? What’s going on in America, folks?
