Reader Paul is pissed because he found out that DirecTV’s DVR will only let you schedule 50 shows to record and watched. Having more than one person in his house, he hit this limit pretty fast. So how can you record more than 50 shows on the DirecTV in-house brand DVR? One thing you can do is use the enhanced search function with “boolean operations.” [More]
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TSA Gives Breast Cancer Survivor Invasive Patdown After She Goes Through Scan
By 10.3.11
A breast cancer survivor says she was forced to go through a patdown where TSA agents touched her breasts, even though she had already gone through the backscatter body scanner and had an ID card explaining the tissue expanders in her chest. [More]
Starbucks Barista Fired For Posting Satirical Song
By 10.3.11
Starbucks fired a barista last week after his satirical song aimed at his employer went viral. In it, the ex-barista, wearing nothing but a Starbucks smock, croons an acoustic guitar ballad about how baristas trick customers when they’re short on supplies, how rude customers stink, and the drink purchasing habits of different races. [More]
Roving Tellers Spread Banking To India's Hinterland
By 9.30.11
Human ATMs are traveling from village to village in India, sometimes by rickshaw, armed with computer gear and taking deposits. They’re part of a state-wide initiative to spread banking to the vast rural population that normally has no access to it. [More]
OXO Saves Day, And Possibly A Finger
By 9.29.11
A few weeks ago reader Elizabeth bought a discount “as is” mandoline slice from Bed Bath and Beyond. It didn’t have the food holder so she bought some cutting gloves from Amazon, which fit her, but not her husband. In vain, she searched for the replacement parts online. So she sent OXO an email asking if she could buy one directly. She was pleasantly surprised by their reply. [More]
Teen Freed From Coke Machine He Tried To Steal From
By 9.28.11
The recession continues to inspire people to do stupid crap to avoid paying money. This week’s case in point, the teen who got stuck in a Coke machine after he tried to get a free can of soda. [More]
Verizon Makes Online Chat Just As Crappy As Calling In
By 9.27.11
Verizon FiOS has done an admirable job with their online chat-based customer service, making it seem incredibly real and human. You almost forget that you’re not talking to a person over the phone. One of the ways they make this simulacrum seem so life-like is that you can be transferred from one agent to another, and then there’s silence on the other end because there’s no one there — just like the real thing! Reader Michael shares a recent chat transcript to illustrate: [More]
Watch Out For Camera Lens Thieves
By 9.27.11
You might think that it’s safe to walk around as a tourist with your big fancy SLR or DSLR camera as long as the strap is around your neck. But who needs the whole camera when the lens itself is worth a bunch of coin? That quick-release button means it’s easy on, easy off, and easy to miss the pickpocketing if you’re distracted. The BBC’s The Real Hustle shows how the con goes down. [More]
Tweet Gets Citi To Stop Junk Mail Deluge
By 9.27.11
Dan and his wife were getting hit by two pieces of junk mail from Citi almost every day. One to him, and one to his wife. He couldn’t figure out how to tell Citi to stop, until he remembered the online service with the little blue bird that goes “Tweet, tweet.” [More]
Update: Comcast Sends You To Collections For Bill You Already Paid
By 9.26.11
Last week we brought you the story of Bruce, whom Comcast had sent to collections over a bill he should have never been charged in the first place. After his story went up, Comcast reached out through us to Bruce to give him sweet satisfaction. [More]
OnStar Says Not To Worry About It Tracking Your Car Even After You Cancel It
By 9.26.11
Last week, OnStar raised some eyebrows when they emailed their customers to say that the company will tracking their car even after they canceled service. They then followed up with an emailed statement to the press to let everyone know they’re not bad guys. [More]
Feds Seize Deadly And Illegal Pest Poison Called "The Cat Be Unemployed"
By 9.21.11
The amusing name belied the deadly and illegal contents. “The Cat Be Unemployed” read the package, featuring a yellow background with a bright-eyed cartoon feline and thick black Chinese characters underneath. Within, was rat poison, and the chemical brodifacoum at 61 times its legal limit. It doesn’t kill just rodents. [More]
OnStar Now Tracking Your Car Even After You Cancel Service
By 9.21.11 — Updated: 3.28.13
OnStar sent around an email to users this week letting them know they’ll be keeping close tabs on their cars, even if they cancel the service. The navigation-and-emergency service will keep tracking your car, and the company is reserving the right to anonymously resell the collected data to third parties. [More]
Instead Of Fixing His Computer, Sony Sends Him 7 Other Customers' Broken Ones
By 9.21.11
A man was waiting for Sony to send him a box and a shipping label so he could send his laptop off for repair. Instead, he got sent broken computers from seven other Sony customers. [More]
McDonald's Manager Interrupts Attempted Coneing
By 9.20.11
“Coneing” is a “trend” where “people” have their “friends” YouTube them grabbing an ice cream cone from a fast food place by the top of the ice cream instead of the cone. The “comedy” arises out of the shocked reactions from the unsuspecting fast food workers seeing the customer get ice cream all over their hand on purpose. But here’s a video of McDonald’s manager who was hip to the game. He totally “coneblocks” an attempted coneing. [More]
Despite Their Protests, Airlines Are Indeed Liable For Lost Luggage
By 9.20.11
Many airlines have inserted “checked baggage limitations of liability” into their contracts which try to act like it’s not their fault if jewelry or gadgets somehow go missing during transit from your luggage. They’re bunkum. [More]
Coleman Live Help Only Open 1 Minute Once Per Week?
By 9.20.11
Hopefully this is some kind of typo, but, as it stands, Coleman’s website says that its live chat help is only available for one minute, once a week. Better set an alarm and have your finger poised over the mouse if you want to get in! [More]
Buying Sears Refrigerator Ends In Gnashed Teeth
By 9.19.11
Remember when stuff just worked? You bought it, brought it home, and it diligently performed its advertised function? Me neither, but suposedly there was a bygone era where products were made to last, instead made to break. In any event, we’re certainly not in those times now, and Jeff’s tale of trying to buy a simple refrigerator from Sears is proof positive. [More]
