When you think of historic landmarks and centuries-old architecture, do you picture the Golden Arches gleaming nearby? If not, then you agree with the city of Florence, Italy, which recently put the kibosh on McDonald’s plans for a new location near its famed Duomo cathedral. The fast food giant has filed a $20 million lawsuit in response. [More]
thanks but no thanks
Don’t Waste Your Time Sending These Ideas To Ford
By 8.24.16
We’ve all been there: you’re in your car, driving along, when you’re suddenly struck with an idea for an insanely awesome invention that could totally change the way you and the rest of the world drive. That’s great, and Ford wants you to send it some of those ideas, but others, well, it’s heard’em before. [More]
Walmart, Best Buy Won’t Accept Apple Pay At Their Stores
By 9.12.14
Though the highways and byways of America may be dotted with their stores, customers shopping at Walmart and Best Buy won’t be able to pay for stuff using the new Apple Pay system announced this week. Both retailers are eschewing the near-field-communication (or NFC) method of payment in favor of another mobile wallet application. [More]
Charity Book Shops: No One Wants Your Used Copy Of Fifty Shades Of Grey
By 9.10.13
When does a book donation turn from a welcome bit of assistance into an unwanted nuisance? Perhaps after everyone has already read it, turning it into a wild success but one that doesn’t necessarily merit a permanent position on the book shelf. After all, who really needs to own a copy of Fifty Shades of Grey when all your friends have it for the borrowing anyway? [More]
Chrysler Says No To NHTSA Request To Recall 2.7 Million Jeeps
By 6.4.13
If you’ve read enough recall notices, you’ve probably seen that most of them say something like “Company X, in coordination with Regulator Y, have issued a voluntary recall of blah blah blah,” but sometimes regulators and manufacturers don’t agree about whether a product merits being recalled. Case in point: Chrysler’s decision to say no to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall 2.7 million vehicles over fuel tank concerns. [More]
Man Spends $20,000 To Clean Up Vacant Lot, City Says He's A Trespasser
By 9.14.12
During the past few years, a Philadelphia developer and business owner says he’s been fined for un-shoveled snow, trash and other violations for a vacant lot (pictured, left) adjoining one of his properties — a vacant lot he doesn’t even own. But after he decided to spend his own money and time having 40 tons of debris removed from that same lot, the city claims he’s a trespasser. [More]
Would You Like To Pay Groupon $1K to Name Your Baby “Clembough”?
By 6.12.12
Having a bit of a brain biff when it comes to naming your baby? Groupon thinks you might want to throw down $1,000 for the honor of having it name your baby “Clembough.” It’s got a deal going on right now that apparently someone has bought, but we’re guessing it’s got something to do with Father’s Day on June 17. [More]
GM Says It'll Pass On Advertising On TV During The Super Bowl
By 5.18.12
First General Motors was all like, “Facebook advertising? That’s for nerds, it doesn’t work!” and now the automaker has announced it’s not going to go for Super Bowl ads in 2013, either. [More]
Only 246 Fans Jilted At Last Year's Super Bowl Agree To Attend This Year's For Free
By 1.30.12
At last year’s Super Bowl in Dallas, 3,200 ticket-holding fans were denied the chance to take their seats because some seating was deemed unsafe. The league offered the displaced fans some make-good of options, including entry to this year’s game in Indianapolis. Only 246 of the bumped ticketholders took the NFL up on its deal to attend. [More]
My Ex-Husband Wasn't Too Happy When Chase Used His Money To Pay My Credit Card Bill
By 1.2.12
Amanda might not be married to her ex any more, but that doesn’t mean she wants to be in hot water with him for using his money to pay her credit card bill. Unfortunately, Chase seemed to want her to have a belated Christmas present and did just that. [More]
This Is Kind Of A Crappy Thank-You From Canon
By 4.27.11
“Our thanks to you!” trumpets this e-mail that Howard received from Canon after buying a printer from them. Well, that’s nice. How is Canon thanking their customers? By offering a free smartphone and Android app to customers…if they sign a two-year contract with Verizon. Isn’t that the deal you can get from Verizon if you walk in off the street? [More]
Sad In-Flight Meals Are Enough To Make Us Lose Our Appetites
By 4.4.11
There has been a lot of shouting and complaining in recent years as major airlines like Continental and United have done away with free food on domestic flights. But the folks at Jaunted.com have put together a gallery of craptastic airline meals that will make you glad you don’t have the option of chowing down for free. [More]
Consumer Reports Can't Recommend Verizon iPhone
By 2.25.11
Our cousins-in-arms at Consumer Reports have finished their tests on the Verizon iPhone and found that, just like the AT&T version of the iPhone 4, it offers great multimedia functionality, a sharp screen and one heck of an MP3 player. Unfortunately, when used without a case, it also shares its predecessor’s problem of dropping calls and weak signals. [More]
Wachovia's Lame Attempt To Get You To Sign Up For Overdraft Fees
By 12.7.10
Wachovia sent out an eblast trying to get people to sign back up for overdraft protection, and the fees that “service” entails. [More]
TruGreen Not Impressed With The Job TruGreen Is Doing On Your Lawn
By 3.13.10
Paul received a door hanger from with a nice personal note from a salesman for the lawn care company TruGreen. “I see you’re treating the weeds already, but I have licensed techs, who use industrial strength products,” he wrote. “Give us a call to see aggressive gauranteed [sic] results!” How perceptive! Paul could almost take it seriously were his current lawn care company not TruGreen. [More]
Thomas & Friends Customers Sent Lead Tainted Toys As Apology For Lead Tainted Toys
By 10.2.07
If you returned a recalled Thomas & Friends toy to RC2, you probably received an apology and a “bonus gift.” We hope you didn’t give the toy to your kid, because some of the “bonus gifts” have been recalled for lead contamination.
