Publicly-owned broadband networks can be a great alternative to incumbent ISPs like Comcast and AT&T in towns where there’s no competition, or in areas that existing providers don’t want to serve at all. Incumbent ISPs tend to like their pervasive monopoly status, though, and so they support and bankroll protectionist laws that prohibit municipalities from launching their own networks. [More]
yay
This Lady Knows How To Shop For Music At Walmart
By 8.17.10
This lady shows us how it’s done. We should all be more like her. I wish she’d teach me how to dance, I’m awful. [More]
16 Items They Only Sell At Chinese Walmart
By 5.20.10
BuzzFeed has compiled 16 photographs of things they only sell at Chinese Walmart. We have chosen three of our favorites. [More]
Microsoft: We May Have Recovered Sidekick Users' Lost Data
By 10.15.09
Maybe those lawsuits over the Sidekick data outage were a little premature. Microsoft, parent company of Sidekick maker Danger Inc, reports that they have recovered most, if not all, of users’ lost data. Yay!
BofA, Chase To Limit Overdraft Fees
By 9.23.09
Sometimes lawmakers can cause reform just by threatening legislation. That seems to be the case with Sen. Chris Dodd making Bank of America and Chase flinch by proposing legislation that would force banks to get customers’ permission to charge them overdraft fees.
Man Gets $10,000 Back From Insurance Company Thanks To Metafilter
By 6.22.09
We readily admit that there are places on the Internet other than Consumerist where one can harness the Internet hive mind to solve consumer issues. Ask Metafilter user Jason sought help when his former insurance company wouldn’t stop auto-billing him, and emerged victorious, collecting the $10,000 he was wrongly charged…plus interest!
L.L. Bean Rocks
By 12.8.06
After the first or second ring, a REAL LIVE HUMAN BEING answered. I’ve heard tales of such wondrous, magical, fantastical happenings, but this was happening to ME! Anyway, a very pleasant woman named Michelle helped me with everything and I hung up very happy. It’s true. LL Bean rocks.
IRS Is Really A Nice Guy, After All
By 5.22.06
Next time the IRS bangs on your door asking you for your tax form, just tell ’em your dog ate it. Your dog named TurboTax.
