who knew?

James Crawford

Court Halts Chicago Soda Tax, But Some McDonald’s Restaurants Didn’t Get The Message

Only hours before a new tax on sweetened beverages was set to kick in, an Illinois judge issued a temporary injunction keeping it from going into effect. However, not everyone got that message and some McDonald’s customers in the Chicago area were charged a tax they shouldn’t have paid. [More]

Adam Fagent

DNA Molecules Can Now Store Hundreds Of Megabytes Of Digital Data

In a scene that could be straight out of Battlestar Galactica or Caprica, researchers from Microsoft and the University of Washington say they have found a way to successfully encode and store hundreds of megabytes of data in synthetic DNA molecules. [More]

André-Pierre

Yes, People Do Still Really Use The Yellow Pages

Can you remember the last time you used the Yellow Pages? No, not as a doorstop or a booster seat, but as an actual resource? I know, we have the internet, but there are some folks out there still consulting a big yellow book full of phone numbers, and businesses who still take out display ads in the hopes of attracting customers. [More]

Broadband For America boasts 300 members, but some of them -- like an Ohio advocacy group and a bed and breakfast -- say they aren't actually part of the coalition.

“Broadband For America” Members Didn’t Know Group Was Front For Anti-Neutrality Cable Industry

Last week, we told you about the handful of in-name-only broadband advocacy groups that are funded by the cable and wireless industries and who are pushing its boneheaded talking points about net neutrality and how it will bring about the end of days if enacted (it won’t). We also pointed out how the member list of the questionably named Broadband For America coalition is littered with organizations — from nonexistent websites to a tile company and an Ohio inn — that are out of place next to Comcast, Verizon, AT&T and pals. Now, some of those BFA members are denouncing the coalition’s stance on net neutrality, or saying they had no idea why they were listed as coalition members to begin with. [More]

GM Test Drivers Knew Of Ignition Problem In 2006

GM Test Drivers Knew Of Ignition Problem In 2006

Another data point on the General Motors ignition recall timeline has been filled in with the latest revelation that test drivers for the car maker’s Cadillac division spotted the problem eight years ago, possibly leading to a hush-hush design tweak in the switch. [More]

Working For McDonald's Is Apparently Good Training For A Job At Volkswagen

Working For McDonald's Is Apparently Good Training For A Job At Volkswagen

Fast food jobs have been the butt of easy jokes since the first person asked if you’d like fries with that. But the volks at Volkswagen say that people who’ve worked behind the counter at McDonald’s are ideal for staffing the assembly lines at the company’s plant in Tennessee. [More]

SF Muni Workers Don’t Know Their Own Rules, Fine Man $100 For Being $.05 Short

SF Muni Workers Don’t Know Their Own Rules, Fine Man $100 For Being $.05 Short

While many public transit systems have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to having the required fare, San Francisco commuters who use the Clipper Card system to pay for their Muni bus and rail rides can actually complete their trip; the uncollected fare will just be subtracted the next time the user adds money to their card. Unfortunately for one man, no one at Muni seems to know this, and he’s now out $125. [More]

Stuck With A Forged Check? Homeowners Insurance To The Rescue

Stuck With A Forged Check? Homeowners Insurance To The Rescue

The bad news: Someone passed a bum personal check to you as a payment. The good news: Your homeowners insurance policy might cover you — even if you got stiffed with bogus cash. [More]

JeepersMedia

Hey! You Can Buy Alcohol At Costco And Sam’s Club Without A Membership!

Need some quality alcohol at discount prices? Don’t want to sign up for a Costco, Sam’s Club or BJ’s membership? There may be hope for you!