Judge Orders F.D.A. To Make Plan B Available To 17-Year-Olds [Your Health]

Judge Orders F.D.A. To Make Plan B Available To 17-Year-Olds [Your Health]

via Consumerist by Carey on 3/28/09

Great news, 17-year-olds! A federal judge has ruled that you can now avoid accidental babies by partaking in the emergency contraceptive wonder that is Plan B. Back in 2006, the Food and Drug Administration limited the contraceptive to women 18 and over, and ordered pharmacists to hide the drug behind their counters away from other common contraceptives. Judge Edward Korman ruled this week that the agency's decision was based on politics not science, and that it constituted an unacceptable public health buzzkill.

Such "political considerations, delays and implausible justifications" showed that the F.D.A. had acted without good faith or reasoned decision making, Judge Korman wrote.

Susan F. Wood, a former F.D.A. director of women's health who resigned in 2005 to protest the handling of Plan B, said Monday that the judge's decision to send the drug back for reconsideration signaled hope of the agency's ability to act independently under a new administration.

There is a new chance to "restore the scientific integrity of the F.D.A.," said Ms. Wood, now a professor of public health at George Washington University.

The FDA, which said it was "reviewing the ruling," has 30 days to comply with the judge's order.

Contraception Pill Strictures Are Eased by a Judge [The New York Times]
PREVIOUSLY: FDA Says Plan B Causes Teen Sex Cults

British cops identify 200 schoolchildren as potential terrorists

British cops identify 200 schoolchildren as potential terrorists

via Boing Boing by Cory Doctorow on 3/28/09

200 children in the UK, some as young as 13, have had files opened on them by the British anti-terror cops as potential terrorists -- even though they have committed no crimes. The children were reported to the anti-terror squad by their teachers on the basis of school work, journals and conversations that, in the teachers' view, indicated that the children were susceptible to extremist beliefs. The programme is only 18 months old and has already identified 200 children who should be treated as terrorism suspects. At this rate, every child in Britain should be on the watch list by, what, 2018?

The police say it's all right, though, so that's OK.

A Home Office spokesman said: "We are committed to stopping people becoming or supporting terrorists or violent extremists. The aim of the Channel project is to directly support vulnerable people by providing supportive interventions when families, communities and networks raise concerns about their behaviour."

Police identify 200 children as potential terrorists

No, You Should Not Pay Your $206 Speeding Ticket With Urine-Soaked Coins [Ba...

No, You Should Not Pay Your $206 Speeding Ticket With Urine-Soaked Coins [Bad Consumer]

via Consumerist by Carey on 3/29/09

47-year-old Washington resident Michael Lynch tried and failed to pay a $206 speeding ticket with a plastic bag filled with coins and urine. Surprisingly, his special payment for doing 54 mph in a 35 mph construction zone didn't violate any laws...

"It was nasty. It reeked," said Sgt. Phil Anderchuk.

Anderchuk called a U.S. postal inspector to see if federal law had been broken, and learned that it's not against the law to mail a box of bodily fluids, as long as it's properly packed and doesn't emit an obnoxious odor. (Court staff could only smell the contents once they opened the package).

So the sergeant sealed up the box and mailed it back to Lynch — with $27.30 postage due if Lynch wanted his change back.

The Multnomah County courthouse mailroom supervisor says that obscenity-laced payments are "a common daily occurrence," and the office refuses to accept more than $20 worth of coins.

Lynch tried to pay the fine with a standard check, but he addressed it to the wrong agency. He tried again, but made it out for the wrong amount. His ticket is now with a collections agency, which might be more accepting of urine-soaked payments.

Washington man streams his anger — but still must pay traffic ticket [The Oregonian]
(Photo: formatc1)

Help, My KitchenAid Dishwasher Hasn't Worked Since July! [Complaints]

Help, My KitchenAid Dishwasher Hasn't Worked Since July! [Complaints]

via Consumerist by Carey on 3/28/09

Katy's KitchenAid dishwasher hasn't dissolved soap or cleaned dishes since July, despite receiving four new parts over seven service visits. KitchenAid's service plan promises a replacement unit if the same part breaks three times, but KitchenAid still isn't sure which part of Katy's dishwasher is broken, and so they're refusing to give her a new one. Does that seem fair?

I ordered an extended warranty from KitchenAid Service Plan on a then one-year-old dishwasher. The soap never dissolved in the dishwasher and dishes remained dirty. The service administrator is TWG Innovative solutions. The unit was non-operable since June or July 2008. Three service companies, 7 visits later and 4 new parts later, the unit still does the same thing… still no fix.

Now I am requesting that they replace the unit since the warranty states under the No Lemon Policy that if the same item is replaced three times, the unit can be replaced. Well, it is technically not the same item three times. They just have not idea what the item is! Next step was to speak with the administrator. One hold for over 38 minutes I decided to call back to speak w/ a manager. They were all busy I was told. They explained they can expedite my request for an administrator to call me back. Five hours later I called to ask to speak w/ a manager or an administrator again, they said that they have the request and it looks like it will take 3 to 5 days to get a return call! Called KitchenAid and they said that I need to work with the warranty party although they admit that it was another division of their same company. What poor customer service. Needless to say I will never buy a KitchenAid appliance again.

Such a shame, KitchenAid is occasionally known for decent service. Kick your complaint up to KitchenAid's executives and tell them they have a simple choice: either replace your dishwasher, or come over and clean your dishes.

(Photo: SuziJane)

Immense 'GhostNet' Computer Spy System Is Going to Put Cranky Windows Guy Ov...

Immense 'GhostNet' Computer Spy System Is Going to Put Cranky Windows Guy Over the Edge [Spynet]

via Gizmodo by Jack Loftus on 3/29/09

If you thought Cranky Windows Guy was angry now, this vast spy system we read about today—targeting 103 countries—is really going to be the piss in his corn flakes that ruins the weekend.

More seriously, the New York Times reports that this gigantic spy system has targeted and exploited computers in governments agencies around the world. Even the Dalai Lama, famed Tibetan exile, has had files corrupted in some way. In fact, the spy system was discovered when the esteemed Dalai Lama asked Canadian firm Munk Center for International Studies to do a little anti-virus work on his computer network.

Which leads us to the source of the ring. Evidence all but proves that China (infamous for its anti-Lama rhetoric) is the country of origin, as pretty much all the controlling computers resided within its borders. Gasp!

More than 1,295 computers in 103 countries were affected in some way by the spynet, and the researchers say it's the largest such ring ever discovered, in terms of the number of countries involved. The Chinese government has not been *officially* fingered as the originator, but I wouldn't fault you a bit if you were a little suspicious:

The electronic spy game has had at least some real-world impact, they said. For example, they said, after an e-mail invitation was sent by the Dalai Lama's office to a foreign diplomat, the Chinese government made a call to the diplomat discouraging a visit. And a woman working for a group making Internet contacts between Tibetan exiles and Chinese citizens was stopped by Chinese intelligence officers on her way back to Tibet, shown transcripts of her online conversations and warned to stop her political activities.

For their part, the Chinese have denounced the ring publicly, and researchers did caution that this could be the work of a private firm of "patriotic hackers."

Other GhostNet highlights include the ability to turn on webcams and microphones remotely, and a browser-based "dashboard" that the spies use to control their network of 1,295 computers. And yes, I mean a dashboard as in what you use to post those American Idol rants to your Wordpress blog. Researchers discovered the spynet using, of all things, a Google search.

The network continues to operate, by the way, which leads me to... Hey Frucci, you haven't been cavorting with the Dalai Lama lately, have you? [New York Times]

South Korea prepares to nuke its technological competitiveness with a three-...

South Korea prepares to nuke its technological competitiveness with a three-strikes copyright rule

via Boing Boing by Cory Doctorow on 3/29/09

Joe sez, "South Korea is arguably one of the world's most internet-connected countries. Regrettably, the corrupt dinosaurs in the Korean National Assembly have just passed a bill in-committee to use a "three strikes" law against ISP connections there. The law awaits approval by the legislature. New Zealand recently defeated similarly-worded ISP laws. A brief prediction from someone who lives in Korea. Korea is like a high-tech ocean miles-wide and one-inch deep. Once the implications are understood, look for this law to collapse under its own bureaucratic deadweight, or to otherwise morph into the usual scofflaw behavior. Consider the following:"

1. Currently, under Korea's copyright law, there are broad classroom exemptions for educational use of material, without compensation to rightsholders. (Chapter 2, Section 4, Subsection 2, Article 25 ) Look for universities and other public schools to become hotbeds of exemption challenges.

2. PC Bangs (internet cafes) might try to put each other out of business using the new laws. This could result in some cafes using advanced black-box anonymizing services to protect themselves and their customers (not necessarily a bad thing).

3. Korean "netizens" might otherwise protest the new system by seeding government BBS and official websites with infringing links and material, and then use the reporting process to overwhelm the system.

4. This proposed law will push internet services into greater black-market criminal activity. Pirated software can be found everywhere, including software commonly-used by government employees. 99% of Korean software is Windows-based. Korea uses active-X controls for practically everything, meaning the entire country is already prone to security problems.

5. Additionally, the use of the internet for organizing civil protest in Korea has been highly effective: the recent Mad-cow Disease protests (while factually incorrect) reached hysterical proportions, delaying implementation of the US-Korea Free-Trade Agreement. Korea still has national security laws against criticizing the government. Online K-blogger Minerva was arrested because he brought to light the Korean government's economic manipulations. With an unstable currency and an undercurrent of restlessness among its populace, the government has been greatly embarrassed. Look for this law to be the perfect tool for Korea to once-again shoot itself in the foot.

Three Strikes, Movie Copyright and The Mad Cow Coming Home to Roost (Thanks, Joe!)

H&R Block's Refund Anticipation Loan Card Eats Your Refund [Refund Anticipat...

H&R Block's Refund Anticipation Loan Card Eats Your Refund [Refund Anticipation Loans]

via Consumerist by Carey on 3/28/09

Poor Sam didn't take our advice. He let H&R Block do his taxes and then took out a refund anticipation loan. The money, which was deposited on an H&R Block Emerald Card, is now tied up by several inexplicable holds for transactions he didn't make. The companies supposedly holding the funds have no clue who Sam is, or why they'd be holding his money. H&R Block's only response is to charge Sam $2 whenever he calls their customer service line for help.

Sam writes:

Please help me! I made the mistake of having my taxes done at H&R Block this year, and further made the even bigger mistake of getting a Refund Anticipation Loan on their Emerald Card.

The woman who did my taxes initially made several mistakes on my taxes, including my home address. Somehow H&R Block has, after repeated phone calls, been unable to even change my address to the correct one.

Currently, most of the money I have left on my "Emerald Card" is being held in my pending transactions. This is mostly for purchases that were denied - due to lack of funds - because I was unaware they were holding large sums of money for a company I have NEVER made a purchase from!!! Upon contacting H&R Block, they tell me I must contact the companies who are supposedly holding the money. Unfortunately, none of these companies - there are four - were able to help me. Why? They aren't holding anything!

Calling the 866 number provided on the back of the card proves useless. I have been hung up on (and still charged two dollars PER CALL) three times; I have been told that the customer rep in one case "didn't know what the problem was" and asked me to call back in an hour. One gentleman was actually able to help me and reverse about forty dollars worth of charges. Another lady later explained to me that he was able to do this because they were "duplicate charges". Which does not in any way explain why:

• 1. one of the charges he reversed was in fact the only charge from the company anywhere on my statement. and
• 2. why three exactly identical charges from another company entirely cannot be reversed.

She claimed that company was holding the money. This is in fact one of the companies that has said they cannot do anything because they are not withholding anything.

At this point, I am frustrated and angry and ready to just walk away from my money. H&R Block has completely failed me at every opportunity with their customer service.

A hint of irony in all of this - my roommate also has an H&R Block Emerald Card. She went to a different location then I did to have her taxes done originally... and she has had no problems whatsoever with her card. None. Even though she has shopped at all the same retailers I have.

Yeesh, there's no easy way to clear up this mess. The mystery hold may eventually dissolve, but unless H&R Block is willing to act, there's really very little you can do.

This is one of the many reasons we call refund anticipation loans the worst tax product ever. Stay away from them!

Texas Decides Evolution Needs More Study, I Decide I Need Less Texas [Science]

Texas Decides Evolution Needs More Study, I Decide I Need Less Texas [Science]

via Gizmodo by Dan Nosowitz on 3/28/09

In Austin, creationists have managed to include several amendments aimed at casting doubt on the theory of evolution. The amendments may affect the content in science textbooks across the country.

While the creationist groups did not manage to get the bulk of their agenda included in the State Board of Education's legislation, they did pass a few amendments casting doubt on the theory of evolution. Some tricky language, like an amendment requiring students to "analyze and evaluate scientific explanations concerning any data on sudden appearance and stasis and the sequential groups in the fossil record," is more insidious than it seems. When new textbooks come up for review in 2012, the board can reject books that they feel does not adequately address the issue, a key creationist talking point. And as Texas is a major buyer, textbook publishers may be forced to alter their products so as to avoid conflict with the self-proclaimed creationists on the Texas Board of Education, which could affect the rest of the country as well.

It remains to be seen if these new amendments will indeed affect science textbooks, and hopefully they'll make no difference at all. Check out Salon's article for more information from a decidedly pro-science point of view. [Salon]

Citibank Won't Accept The Extra Money You Sent To Payoff Your Student Loans ...

Citibank Won't Accept The Extra Money You Sent To Payoff Your Student Loans [Student Loans]

via Consumerist by Carey on 3/28/09

We're all about to see more money in our paychecks thanks to lower payroll taxes, but if you want to use the savings to payoff your student loans, you better act on the one day that Citibank will take your money. At least that's what Citibank told reader Valori, who tried sending the bank a check with instructions to apply it towards the principal on her student loans. The bank instead applied it to her usual monthly payment and told her that the only way to pay down her principal was to "setup an automatic payment on the Citibank website to debit on the same day as [the] automatic payment is direct debited." Does that seem easy to anyone?

Valori writes:

I'm a regular Consumerist reader, but this is the first time I've gotten pissed off enough to actually write to you. With the recent adjustment in payroll taxes that took place after the latest stimulus bill was passed, I decided to send the extra money in my paychecks to The Student Loan Corporation c/o Citibank in order to pay down my loan. I'm already enrolled in their direct debit payment system in order to take advantage of the .25% interest rate deduction they offer, so I made the mistake of writing them a check and enclosing with it a letter to put the extra payment towards the principal balance of my loan with the highest interest rate, which also happens to be the loan with the highest balance, thinking that they would actually do what I told them to do with the check I sent.

I saw the check cleared a few days after I mailed it and thought nothing more of it; however, when it came time for the auto-debit to occur on the 23rd of the month, imagine my surprise when I saw that freaking Citibank deducted the extra payment amount from what was due and only debited the difference out of my checking account.

I called Customer Service this morning and spoke to Unhelpful Jim, who informed me that the only way to make an extra principal payment is to setup an automatic payment on the Citibank website to debit on the same day as my automatic payment is direct debited. I am trying to give this gigantic, screw-up of a corporation even more of my money than I am supposed to and THEY WON'T TAKE IT! No wonder the banking system is in the toilet!

(Photo: sfxeric)

Walmart Violates Company Policy, Pretends Not To Accept Bike Returns [Preten...

Walmart Violates Company Policy, Pretends Not To Accept Bike Returns [Pretend Policies]

via Consumerist by Carey on 3/28/09

The Walmart in Norman, Oklahoma refused to accept bike returns until a district manager, acting on a reader tip, reminded the store that they were violating company policy. Reader Keia tried to return the "shoddily constructed," "dangerous piece of garbage" for a bike that Walmart sold him, but an employee, backed by the store manager, explained that since Walmart could repair the bike, their return policy didn't apply. That didn't sound right, so Keia went over their heads...

He writes:

Just thought I would share an experience I had at Wal-Mart purchasing a bike. I bought a bicycle with Wal-Mart in order to save on gas money and try to increase my overall health. Living within 2 miles of my University, and considering I happen to work there as well, riding a bike only made good sense.

I bought a Next brand bike from Wal-Mart for the cost of 110 dollars, and about 100 dollars in accessories (helmet, lights, lock, etc). The first problem I had - none of the accessories fit. Literally, none of them. The lights, the bike pump, everything I purchased did not fit correctly on the unit I purchased. "Well, I'll just deal with it", I said to myself. Within a week, the chain kept coming off, the brakes were so tight the wheels could barely turn (because the tires, when completely aired up, were too big for the brakes), and on top of all that the right plastic pedal snapped while I was riding the bike and nearly threw me into traffic. All in all, it was a shodily constructed and dangerous piece of garbage.

Needless to say, I thought it would be best for me to return it to Wal-Mart. I loaded it in my car, took it to my local Supercenter with receipt in hand, and headed to the customer service counter. There I encountered Cheryl, the Customer Service Manager at the Norman - East branch. Upon trying to return it, I was told that they had a strict policy regarding bike retuns. What follows is a rough approximation of my conversation with her:

Me: "I'd like to return this bike."

Her: "We don't return bikes."

Me: "Why not?"

Her: "Because we can repair them for you, so we don't give refunds on them."

Me: "What? It isn't listed as an exception on the wall behind you."

Her: "We can't have all of our exceptions listed, that would take up room we use for advertising."

Me: "No one told me about this policy before I bought the bike though."

Her: "We don't have to."

I stood there in shock for a few minutes, shooting her the most angry stare I could manage. I packed up the bike, and left. Later, I called them, asked for her full name (which she wouldn't give me) and told her that I would be filing a lawsuit in small claims court against them. To my wife's first year law school brain the Return Policy on that wall is a contract that allows me to return the bike within 90 days of purchase with valid receipt, and a lawsuit in SCC would almost be a guaranteed win.

Luckily, before filing the suit, I called the district manager. She told me that the "policy" touted by Cheryl did not exist, and urged me to contact the store manager before filing a claim. If the store manager refused to take care of it, she would handle it from the district level. He told me the same thing Cheryl did until I mentioned my chat with his boss, and he amended his stance to say "that the policy was more of a guideline than anything else" to avoid returns for flat tires. This is just as absurd as what Cheryl told me, but regardless, I got my refund - and I purchased a bike from a real bike store.

I just wanted to share my experience with the readers of The Consumerist, so they could be wary of buying an important purchase like a primary mode of transportation from such an unscrupulous company - and to be wary of what lower management tells you. Worst case scenario, contact district staff. Wal-Mart is seems to be often more afraid of pad PR than anything else.

Great work, Keia! Don't take no for an answer just because it's delivered by someone wearing a smock and a name tag. If you firmly and politely escalate your complaint, more often than not, you'll get exactly what you want.

Nine West Overcharges You Because Calculating Taxes Is Hard [Math Problems]

Nine West Overcharges You Because Calculating Taxes Is Hard [Math Problems]

via Consumerist by Carey on 3/27/09

Nine West wasn't sure how much tax to charge Jane for her online order so they have gave her a price that was $5.48 less than what they actually charged. When Jane wrote in to complain and to ask for her money back, Nine West explained that it was impossible to instantly calculate how much tax to charge because they use two highly-sophisticated tax gizmos that simply can't interface with their online store. Jane wants to know if Nine West's charges are ethical and whether it's worth complaining over six bucks.

Jane sent us her correspondence with Nine West:

To Whom It May Concern:

On order number E5449228 I was overcharged $5.48. My order confirmation states that the total with tax and free shipping is $214.46.

I was charged:
$55.11 on 2/10/09
$66.13 on 2/10/09
$99.30 on 2/6/09

That comes to $220.54, which is $5.48 more than stated in the confirmation email. Could you please help refund this to my card ASAP?

I'd like to say, too, that it seriously concerns me that you charged more than the amount I'd authorized. This is the type of thing that'd make me think twice before ordering from you again.

Thank you for your help on this matter.

Nine West responded:

Thank you for your e-mail. I have checked on your order and I see that your order total is as follows:

Total Product $ 199.96
Sales Tax 20.49
UPS GROUND .00
Total for order is: 220.45

When placing your online order, on your checkout page you will see that we indicate the sales tax amount as being an approximate rate. Once your order is submitted, we pass it through two separate tax verification systems to ensure that you are charged the correct tax amount for your county. I'm very sorry if we have caused you any concern and please let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Jane replied:

Thank you for the clarification. I understand where you're coming from, but this seems like a poor business practice for a well-established company like Nine West. Shopping online should be as easy and surprise-free as shopping in your bricks and mortar locations. I've never had another company give a total at checkout that turned out to be inaccurate. At no point before it showed up on my credit card statement was I told that there would be an additional charge. The confirmation email did not indicate that the total was not final or could possibly change.

If Nine West is able to offer their collection for sale on the internet, they should be able to accurately calculate taxes. Consumers should never be surprised with extra charges. Stores that can only provide approximate charges are obligated to receive permission before charging any more than the authorized amount.

Don't waste your time convincing Nine West that they're wrong. Send your confirmation receipt to your credit card company and let Nine West eat the chargeback.

(Photo: saturnism)

ShamWow Guy Arrested For Beating Up Prostitute [Shamwow]

ShamWow Guy Arrested For Beating Up Prostitute [Shamwow]

via Consumerist by Chris Walters on 3/27/09

Slap chop to the face! Vince Shlomi, aka the ShamWow Guy, aka You're Gonna Love My Nuts, was "arrested last month on a felony battery charge following a violent confrontation with a prostitute in his South Beach hotel room," reports the Smoking Gun.

Shlomi says the prostitute bit his tongue while kissing him, so he had to punch her to get her to let go. We guess that's one of those things you learn in the real world, like how to survive a bear attack or how to fend off a shark. The police, however, say both of them were drunk, which sounds even more believable. The website reports that prosecutors decided not to file formal charges against either party this month.

"ShamWow Guy In Slap, Chop Bust" [The Smoking Gun] (Thanks to Maya!)

This Subway Sub To Salad Conversion Is Pretty Expensive [Subway]

This Subway Sub To Salad Conversion Is Pretty Expensive [Subway]

via Consumerist by Alex Chasick on 3/27/09

Reader Will sent us the above picture and asked why we thought it would cost so much more to substitute a plastic bowl for a piece of bread.

Because we worked at Subway headquarters in high school, we know the reason is that the salad lettuce is actually shredded dollar bills that were removed from circulation by the government and given to Subway in exchange for party subs at the U.S. Mint.

Or someone accidentally put a 5 up there, but seriously, why is a bowl and some extra lettuce any more expensive than delicious, store-baked bread?

Airport Security Says Disabled Man Isn't "In Possession Of" His Luggage [Dumb]

Airport Security Says Disabled Man Isn't "In Possession Of" His Luggage [Dumb]

via Consumerist by Alex Chasick on 3/27/09

Blogger Dave Hingsburger writes about a horrifying experience at the airport. Dave, who is disabled, was informed by airport security that because he was in a wheelchair, he wasn't technically "in possession of" his luggage and that "some body" needed to attend to it. The security guard continued to argue with Dave until a pilot apologetically intervened. Well done, airport security. An Elephant Disappears (Photo: ringmaster006)

Google Checkout Just As Bad As PayPal [Online Brokers]

Google Checkout Just As Bad As PayPal [Online Brokers]

via Consumerist by Chris Walters on 3/27/09

Web brokers Google and PayPal don't believe in human-to-human communication, and one place where you really need that is when you're troubleshooting financial transactions. An interface designer/developer who used Google Checkout to sell an ebook has just been given a huge serving of suck by the "don't be evil" company—they closed her account on her without warning and refuse to tell her why the closed it. The $200 in earnings that hadn't been paid out yet are unretrievable, and she can't open a new one.

The simple truth is, online transaction brokers aren't held accountable to the same rules as banks, and resolving fraud and billing issues doesn't appear to be scalable, or machine-solvable, to the degree Google and eBay would like. I'm as guilty as anyone of using both PayPal and Google Checkout to quickly pay for online transactions, but as of today I'm turning my back on both. Until they agree to staff resolution centers with real people who can resolve issues, there's zero reason to trust them. If I pay with a credit card—and a single-use card if possible—then at least I know I have some rights should something go wrong. And the merchant, too, can trust that she'll receive her money or have some legal recourse.

"Google is Evil, Worse than PayPal: Don't use Google Checkout for your business" [slash7] (Thanks to Joshua and Heather!)

KFC's Mashed Potato Bowl: Picture Vs Reality [Unacceptable Food]

KFC's Mashed Potato Bowl: Picture Vs Reality [Unacceptable Food]

via Consumerist by Chris Walters on 3/27/09

Jay sent us this picture of a KFC Mashed Potato Bowl he purchased. It's probably blurry in real life, too. Click through for larger, even less appetizing pics, plus a special YouTube tribute.

Of course, a photo like this demands that we include Patton Oswalt's rant about KFC Food Bowls. It's NSFW in terms of language.

Shopper Arrested For Saying "The F Word" At Walmart [Odd]

Shopper Arrested For Saying "The F Word" At Walmart [Odd]

via Consumerist by Meg Marco on 3/27/09

Well, here's a truly weird story, disorderly conduct charges have been dropped against a Texas woman who dropped an f-bomb at her local Walmart.

According to the Galveston County Daily News the woman was shopping for batteries in preparation for Tropical Storm Edouard when she said aloud:

"They don't have any fucking more."

This, apparently, was enough to get her handcuffed and written a citation by an assistant fire marshal who was near enough to overhear her. Dwight Shrute? Is that you?

The judge dropped the charges Wednesday due to insufficient evidence.

"I wasn't verbally attacking anyone," the f-bomb dropper told the local newspaper. "I didn't start to flip out until he acted like he was going to arrest me for something I said in casual conversation between two adults."

F-bomb charge dropped [Galveston Daily News]
(Photo:msmail)

Acne-Exaggerating Light Keeps Awkward Teenagers at Bay [Britain]

Acne-Exaggerating Light Keeps Awkward Teenagers at Bay [Britain]

via Gizmodo by Adam Frucci on 3/26/09

Here's a mean-spirited way to keep teenagers away from your place of business: a pink florescent light designed to make acne look much worse.

British local councils now have this, as well as the famous "mosquito" speaker that produces an annoying high-pitched tone that only young people can hear, at their disposal to give to shopkeepers who hate kids. It's all very dickish and over-the-top.

Is it just me, or does Britain seem like a downright fucking horrible place? Between bullshit like this, their decent into an Orwellian surveillance state, the terrible food and lousy climate, it's definitely fallen near the bottom of my list of places I want to go. Nice work, Britain. [Dan Lockton via Boing Boing]

Bank Of America Charges You To Cash Its Own Checks If You're Not A Customer ...

Bank Of America Charges You To Cash Its Own Checks If You're Not A Customer [Bank Of America]

via Consumerist by Chris Walters on 3/26/09

Bank of America doesn't think cashing checks drawn on its own accounts is a service that should be free to no-name people who come in off the streets—they want $6 for that privilege, one reader recently discovered.

Here's what Kerry wrote to BoA about the incident:

I wanted to share with you my experience today and tell you what kind of an effect it had on me.

I had a check that was drawn on B.O.A. from my employer. I decided to simply cash it at B.O.A. rather than mess around with my account since it was only an $18.00 check. I was told there would be a $6.00 fee to cash this check. I left the bank rather surprised since it was DRAWN on a B.O.A. account. I then left and went down the street to cash it. The fee to cash it was $1.80 and I was fine with that fee as it was reasonable. I paid it without a second thought.

Okay guys, lets cut to the chase here, I know times are tough, and I know that any of you couldn't care less what someone thinks about your banks, especially since you can fail and fail and the government will force us tax payers to save your behinds. Let me tell you though, the vast majority of people are fed up with bogus fees and poor service.

People now are looking for real quality and value, and I know from reading so many articles on the Consumerist.com that B.O.A. often drops the ball on both issues. It would seem to me that in an effort to drum up some new business or at least keep the business you already have, you may want to reconsider such unreasonable and unnecessary fees.

I know that if things would have gone a bit differently today I might be inclined to defend B.O.A. the next time they appear on the pages of the Consumerist...(and we all know that B.O.A will again grace the pages of the Consumerist.) I might even be inclined to do business with B.O.A. at some point.

I can only hope that someday, the tax payers will not be forced to keep you in business and at that time you will be forced to care, maybe at such time B.O.A. executives will remember the countless emails and comments regarding customer service and implement a more caring, nicer, friendly, and less hostile B.O.A. in the future.

We couldn't have put it better ourselves, and sadly it isn't just Bank of America that tries to screw over non-customers. You'd think when a non-customer presents a check drawn on that bank at a branch location, it would be a perfect opportunity to show that customer how awesome the bank is, and maybe even (shudder) attempt to upsell the customer. At BoA, however, even non-customers are punished, just for walking in the door.

(Photo: TheTruthAbout...)

FTC Sues Dish Network For Violating Do Not Call List [Lawsuits]

FTC Sues Dish Network For Violating Do Not Call List [Lawsuits]

via Consumerist by Meg Marco on 3/25/09

A lawsuit has been filed against Dish Network by the U.S. Justice Department (on behalf of the FTC) alleging that the company violated "Do Not Call" rules by phoning potential customers without their permission.

According to the lawsuit, Dish violated the rules by encouraging its dealers to use robocallers.

In a statement, Dish said it can't be "held responsible for Do Not Call violations by independent retailers." The company said the FTC is "equating merely doing business with an independent retailer to 'causing' or 'assisting and facilitating' violations by that retailer."

From Reuters:

"Because a few bad actors still don't get it, we want to make it crystal clear. If you call consumers whose numbers are
on the Do Not Call Registry, you're breaking the law," said Eileen Harrington, acting director of the FTC's consumer
protection unit.

Keep reporting those DNC scofflaws!

UPDATE 1-US accuses Dish of violating do-not-call list [Reuters]
Dish Network Accused of Violating 'Do Not Call' Rule (Update3) [Bloomberg]
(Photo:frankieleon)

Your ISP Hates You: AT&T and Comcast Confirm They're Working With RIAA [Net ...

Your ISP Hates You: AT&T and Comcast Confirm They're Working With RIAA [Net Neuterality]

via Gizmodo by matt buchanan on 3/25/09

Remember how the RIAA was getting ISPs to help battle copyright infringers after they gave up lawsuits, and AT&T was all "no comment"? Now AT&T and Comcast admit, yep, they're working with the RIAA.

AT&T says they're not doing any of the actual spotting—the RIAA is handling that part—they're just "forwarding notices from content providers to our customers" to edumacate them. Cnet's Greg Sandoval reports that a Comcast executive not only confirmed their part of the RIAA's new buddy group—which includes AT&T, Comcast and Cox—but said that they've sent customers two million warning notices about infringement.

What happens if you ignore AT&T's notices? Will they disconnect you? Here is their lovely wishy-washy answer that really doesn't say anything at all: "We are not suspending or terminating our customers' service. With that said, we do refer customers to our Acceptable Use Policy, which governs use of our service." Just keep in mind, it's the same AT&T that was plotting a massive, intelligent anti-piracy dragnet that would sweep their entire network for pirated content.

Probably not a distinction they want, but since they're the only major ISP that's not seriously clamping down on bandwidth usage and hanging out with the RIAA at bars, Verizon still looks like the best ISP around for people moving around less-than-legally shiny material (i.e., everyone on the internet), especially if you get FiOS. [Cnet via CrunchGear]

ACLU Sues Prosecutor Over 'Sexting' Child Porn Charges

The American Civil Liberties Union is helping three teenage girls fight back against a Pennsylvania prosecutor who has threatened to charge the girls with felony child porn violations over digital photos they took of themselves.

In a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday in Pennsylvania, ACLU lawyers accuse District Attorney George P. Skumanick, Jr. (.pdf) of violating the civil rights of three girls. The lawsuit says the threat to prosecute the minors "is unprecedented and stands anti-child-pornography laws on their head."

The lawsuit comes in the wake of a string of cases around the country in which teens have been arrested on child porn charges for making and distributing nude and semi-nude photos of themselves.

At issue in the case are photos seized from student cellphones last year by officials of the Tunkhannock School District in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. The practice of taking nude or semi-nude self-portraits and distributing them via a cellphone or the internet has come to be called "sexting" and has resulted in teens being arrested in a number of states under child porn production, distribution and possession charges.

One photo of Marissa Miller and Grace Kelly shows them two years ago at age 13 lying side by side while one talks on the phone and the other make a peace sign with her fingers. The two are photographed from the waist up and are wearing white opaque bras. A second photo shows a girl referred to in the court document as "Jane Doe" photographed outside a shower with a towel wrapped around her waist. Her breasts are bared.

Last year, Tunkhannock school officials discovered that male students had been trading the photos. Officials confiscated the phones and turned them over to county prosecutors who began a criminal investigation.

Skumanick then threatened to charge the three girls with producing child porn unless their parents agree to place them on a six-month probation and send them to a five-week, 10-hour education program to discuss why what they did was wrong and what it means to be a girl in today's society. The girls also must agree to subject themselves to drug testing.

Skumanick told an assembly of students that possessing inappropriate images of minors could be prosecuted under state child porn laws. Anyone convicted under the laws faces a possible seven year sentence and a felony conviction on their record. Under a state sex offender law, they must also register as a sex offender for 10 years and have their name and photo posted on the state's sex offender website -- the latter requirement will include juvenile offenders when the law is amended later this year.

Skumanick, who is running for re-election in May, also sent a letter to about 20 students who were found to be in possession of the images. In a meeting with students and their parents, he said he would file felony charges against the students unless they also agreed to six months of probation, paid a $100 fee and participated in an education and counseling program. Skumanick gave the parents 48 hours to agree to his terms or he'd file felony charges against their children. He later changed some of the terms and allowed parents a week to sign an agreement. The parents of the three girls facing felony charges refused to sign.

The ACLU of Pennsylvania is representing the girls and their parents. In its lawsuit -- filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania -- the organization charges that the prosecutor violated the girls' First Amendment rights. The lawsuit says the photos do not constitute child pornography under Pennsylvania's criminal code since they depict no sexual activity and do not display the pubic area of the girls' bodies.

"Skumanick's threatened prosecution chills Plaintiff's First Amendment right of expression, causing them concern about whether they may photograph their daughters, or whether the girls may allow themselves to be photographed, wearing a two-piece bathing suit," the ACLU wrote.

The lawsuit also claims the demand that the parents agree to place their girls in a re-education program violates the parents' Fourteenth Amendment rights to direct the upbringing of their own children.

According to the ACLU filing, Skumanick told Miller's parents that the photo of their daughter constituted child pornography because she and her friend were posed "provocatively." When lawyers for the parents asked for a copy of the photos that would be used to charge their children, Skumanick reportedly refused on grounds that he would be committing a crime by sharing child porn.

Neither Skumanick nor the ACLU responded to calls for comment.

Sears Clarifies Craftsman Tools Warranty [Follow Ups]

Sears Clarifies Craftsman Tools Warranty [Follow Ups]

via Consumerist by Chris Walters on 3/25/09

Earlier this month, we noted how a reader was having trouble getting Sears to properly honor the lifetime warranty on his Craftsman tools. Now David Figler, a vice president of the company, has responded and said, "We stand behind the warranty—complete satisfaction—period." Below is his email, and a portion of the memo he sent to Sears stores on the matter.

I work at Sears Holdings to develop and promote Craftsman tools. I am sorry to hear that we did not get it right the first time Brian visited his Sears store for a Warranty exchange on Craftsman tools. Unfortunately, we do not always get 100% execution from all our associates on our warranty exchanges, although we are always striving towards it.

In response to your column, I have worked internally to be explicit on the issues pointed out to make sure we do not disappoint again. Craftsman tools have a heritage of performance and trust. I want to assure you and your readers we stand behind the warranty – complete satisfaction – period. Though disappointed with Brian's experience, I'm grateful that I could learn of it and take steps to prevent a similar mistake in our stores for the next customer. An excerpt from the internal communication to our store associates is below.

Subject: Craftsman Hand Tool Lifetime Warranty

There have been several news articles and emails regarding customers being denied Craftsman Hand Tool exchanges for reasons that are not part of the warranty. We've had specific complaints of denied exchanges based on:

- Tools having rust on them

- A 3 Piece per day limit on exchanges

These are NOT valid reasons for denying our customers their right to exchange their Craftsman Tools under the Lifetime Warranty.

The warranty states: "If for any reason your Craftsman hand tool ever fails to provide complete satisfaction, return it to any Sears store or other Craftsman outlet in the United States for free repair or replacement. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state."

Our Craftsman Hand Tool Lifetime Warranty is one of the most important competitive advantages we have in the market. It is crucial that we ensure all of our sales associates are trained to understand all the hand tools that are covered under this warranty.

Is Borders About To Go Under? [Speculation]

Is Borders About To Go Under? [Speculation]

via Consumerist by Chris Walters on 3/25/09

Yesterday's post about Borders closing down its unprofitable CD and DVD sections prompted a tip from the owner of a small music label. He says his distributor has already cut off shipments to Borders once for nonpayment (in November 2008), and on Monday the distributor warned labels that they'll have to agree not to hold him "liable on any future shipments to Borders in case they file for bankruptcy." Borders' CFO left in January, which is rarely a good sign for a troubled company. And this morning, the Detroit Free Press notes that the bookseller is facing being delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. We may not have to wait long to find out; CEO Ron Marshall is hosting a conference call with analysts and investors next week.

(Photo: doortoriver)

No One Asking For Hyundai Refunds After Job Loss [Hyundai Assurance Program]

No One Asking For Hyundai Refunds After Job Loss [Hyundai Assurance Program]

via Consumerist by Ben Popken on 3/25/09

You know that Hyundai Assurance program where, if you lose your job within a year of buying a new car from them they let you return it for almost a full refund? So far, no one has returned any of their new Hyundais. What does it mean?

The easiest conclusion is that none of the buyers have lost their jobs. But perhaps it just means people who are financially secure enough to be in a position to buy a new car got there by making secure bets, so they would gravitate towards a program that provides buyer protection. While on the face of it The Hyundai Assurance program looked like a way to help the financially shaky, maybe it was really a way to draw the safe money from the sidelines. Then again, it could come down a classic dealership truism that's been around since before The Great Recession, and will remain true even after: once you drive off the lot and bond with the car and show it off to your friends, it's hard for you to give it up.

No Need for Hyundai Assurance, Yet [Kicking Tires]

Stop Hungry Hungry Hippo Banks From Gobbling Your Bucks [Videos]

Stop Hungry Hungry Hippo Banks From Gobbling Your Bucks [Videos]

via Consumerist by Ben Popken on 3/25/09

Oh noes! The Hungry Hungry Hippo Banks are trying to gobble up your happy money fish! You only have 5 days left to get them to stop by writing the Fed and saying NO to banks default stuffing you into an overdraft fee programs. Send an email to regs.comments@federalreserve.gov with "Docket No. R-1343" in the subject line. Or you can use this online form.

PREVIOUSLY: Tell The Feds You Want A Choice On Overdraft Fees

AIG Financial Products Employee's Public Resignation Letter [Aig Bailout]

AIG Financial Products Employee's Public Resignation Letter [Aig Bailout]

via Consumerist by Meg Marco on 3/25/09

Here is a resignation letter sent on Tuesday by Jake DeSantis, an executive vice president of the American International Group's financial products unit, to Edward M. Liddy, the chief executive of A.I.G. It was published in the New York Times.

Jake DeSantis writes:

DEAR Mr. Liddy,

It is with deep regret that I submit my notice of resignation from A.I.G. Financial Products. I hope you take the time to read this entire letter. Before describing the details of my decision, I want to offer some context:

I am proud of everything I have done for the commodity and equity divisions of A.I.G.-F.P. I was in no way involved in - or responsible for - the credit default swap transactions that have hamstrung A.I.G. Nor were more than a handful of the 400 current employees of A.I.G.-F.P. Most of those responsible have left the company and have conspicuously escaped the public outrage.

After 12 months of hard work dismantling the company - during which A.I.G. reassured us many times we would be rewarded in March 2009 - we in the financial products unit have been betrayed by A.I.G. and are being unfairly persecuted by elected officials. In response to this, I will now leave the company and donate my entire post-tax retention payment to those suffering from the global economic downturn. My intent is to keep none of the money myself.

I take this action after 11 years of dedicated, honorable service to A.I.G. I can no longer effectively perform my duties in this dysfunctional environment, nor am I being paid to do so. Like you, I was asked to work for an annual salary of $1, and I agreed out of a sense of duty to the company and to the public officials who have come to its aid. Having now been let down by both, I can no longer justify spending 10, 12, 14 hours a day away from my family for the benefit of those who have let me down.

You and I have never met or spoken to each other, so I'd like to tell you about myself. I was raised by schoolteachers working multiple jobs in a world of closing steel mills. My hard work earned me acceptance to M.I.T., and the institute's generous financial aid enabled me to attend. I had fulfilled my American dream.

I started at this company in 1998 as an equity trader, became the head of equity and commodity trading and, a couple of years before A.I.G.'s meltdown last September, was named the head of business development for commodities. Over this period the equity and commodity units were consistently profitable - in most years generating net profits of well over $100 million. Most recently, during the dismantling of A.I.G.-F.P., I was an integral player in the pending sale of its well-regarded commodity index business to UBS. As you know, business unit sales like this are crucial to A.I.G.'s effort to repay the American taxpayer.

The profitability of the businesses with which I was associated clearly supported my compensation. I never received any pay resulting from the credit default swaps that are now losing so much money. I did, however, like many others here, lose a significant portion of my life savings in the form of deferred compensation invested in the capital of A.I.G.-F.P. because of those losses. In this way I have personally suffered from this controversial activity - directly as well as indirectly with the rest of the taxpayers.

I have the utmost respect for the civic duty that you are now performing at A.I.G. You are as blameless for these credit default swap losses as I am. You answered your country's call and you are taking a tremendous beating for it.

But you also are aware that most of the employees of your financial products unit had nothing to do with the large losses. And I am disappointed and frustrated over your lack of support for us. I and many others in the unit feel betrayed that you failed to stand up for us in the face of untrue and unfair accusations from certain members of Congress last Wednesday and from the press over our retention payments, and that you didn't defend us against the baseless and reckless comments made by the attorneys general of New York and Connecticut.

My guess is that in October, when you learned of these retention contracts, you realized that the employees of the financial products unit needed some incentive to stay and that the contracts, being both ethical and useful, should be left to stand. That's probably why A.I.G. management assured us on three occasions during that month that the company would "live up to its commitment" to honor the contract guarantees.

That may be why you decided to accelerate by three months more than a quarter of the amounts due under the contracts. That action signified to us your support, and was hardly something that one would do if he truly found the contracts "distasteful."

That may also be why you authorized the balance of the payments on March 13.

At no time during the past six months that you have been leading A.I.G. did you ask us to revise, renegotiate or break these contracts - until several hours before your appearance last week before Congress.

I think your initial decision to honor the contracts was both ethical and financially astute, but it seems to have been politically unwise. It's now apparent that you either misunderstood the agreements that you had made - tacit or otherwise - with the Federal Reserve, the Treasury, various members of Congress and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo of New York, or were not strong enough to withstand the shifting political winds.

You've now asked the current employees of A.I.G.-F.P. to repay these earnings. As you can imagine, there has been a tremendous amount of serious thought and heated discussion about how we should respond to this breach of trust.

As most of us have done nothing wrong, guilt is not a motivation to surrender our earnings. We have worked 12 long months under these contracts and now deserve to be paid as promised. None of us should be cheated of our payments any more than a plumber should be cheated after he has fixed the pipes but a careless electrician causes a fire that burns down the house.

Many of the employees have, in the past six months, turned down job offers from more stable employers, based on A.I.G.'s assurances that the contracts would be honored. They are now angry about having been misled by A.I.G.'s promises and are not inclined to return the money as a favor to you.

The only real motivation that anyone at A.I.G.-F.P. now has is fear. Mr. Cuomo has threatened to "name and shame," and his counterpart in Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal, has made similar threats - even though attorneys general are supposed to stand for due process, to conduct trials in courts and not the press.

So what am I to do? There's no easy answer. I know that because of hard work I have benefited more than most during the economic boom and have saved enough that my family is unlikely to suffer devastating losses during the current bust. Some might argue that members of my profession have been overpaid, and I wouldn't disagree.

That is why I have decided to donate 100 percent of the effective after-tax proceeds of my retention payment directly to organizations that are helping people who are suffering from the global downturn. This is not a tax-deduction gimmick; I simply believe that I at least deserve to dictate how my earnings are spent, and do not want to see them disappear back into the obscurity of A.I.G.'s or the federal government's budget. Our earnings have caused such a distraction for so many from the more pressing issues our country faces, and I would like to see my share of it benefit those truly in need.

On March 16 I received a payment from A.I.G. amounting to $742,006.40, after taxes. In light of the uncertainty over the ultimate taxation and legal status of this payment, the actual amount I donate may be less - in fact, it may end up being far less if the recent House bill raising the tax on the retention payments to 90 percent stands. Once all the money is donated, you will immediately receive a list of all recipients.

This choice is right for me. I wish others at A.I.G.-F.P. luck finding peace with their difficult decision, and only hope their judgment is not clouded by fear.

Mr. Liddy, I wish you success in your commitment to return the money extended by the American government, and luck with the continued unwinding of the company's diverse businesses - especially those remaining credit default swaps. I'll continue over the short term to help make sure no balls are dropped, but after what's happened this past week I can't remain much longer - there is too much bad blood. I'm not sure how you will greet my resignation, but at least Attorney General Blumenthal should be relieved that I'll leave under my own power and will not need to be "shoved out the door."

Sincerely,

Jake DeSantis

Do you feel bad for this guy?
( polls)

Dear A.I.G., I Quit! [NYT]

Parking Meter Revolt: Chicagoans Are Vandalizing Parking Meters In Protest! ...

Parking Meter Revolt: Chicagoans Are Vandalizing Parking Meters In Protest! [Privatization]

via Consumerist by Meg Marco on 3/25/09

The Chicago parking meter saga continues today with a post from theexpiredmeter.com, a blog about Chicago parking tickets and how to fight them. The post has photos of parking meters being spray painted, destroyed and otherwise defaced. Guess people aren't too thrilled with paying 28 quarters for 2 hours in the Loop...

An entire block of parking meters, numbering nearly 20, were spotted along west Irving Park in the Albany Park neighborhood, that had both the front and back of their heads spray painted black. Once spray painted, these meters are unreadable by Parking Enforcement Aides and therefore, vehicles can't be ticketed as it's impossible to see if the meters were fed or not.

Some angry citizens are going for the simple approach and simply peeling the stickers off the meters so that they don't have the instructions required by law.

One tipster named Brian says, "In some cases, these decals just peel right off the front of the meter with little or no effort. When these stickers were originally applied, the weather was very cold and it seems the adhesive didn't adhere correctly. These stickers just come right off. They also appear to be too big to fit into the recessed area they are being placed in. Yet another case of someone in charge not knowing what they are doing."

Other tactics that have been documented include, gluing quarters into the slots with superglue, ripping the meters out of the ground, stealing the coin box, and filling the meter with pennies so it breaks.

Apparently, the pennies don't register as money, but they do break the meter.

"We are finding a lot of pennies and nickels in coin slots," confirmed one LAZ Parking employee we confronted on the street. He wouldn't give us his name, his job it is to repair parking meters. "We see a lot of that going on."

And then, there's this:

Has The Parking Meter Revolt Begun? [The Expired Meter] (Thanks, Lindsay!)

Komodo dragons kill man

Komodo dragons kill man

via Boing Boing by David Pescovitz on 3/25/09

A man picking fruit on an island in eastern Indonesia fell out of a tree where he was then mauled to death by two Komodo dragons. From The Guardian (photo by Dezidor/Wikimedia Commmons):

The man, Muhamad Anwar, 31, was found bleeding from bites to his hands, body, legs and neck within minutes of falling out of a sugar-apple tree on the island of Komodo and died later at a clinic on neighbouring Flores. The giant lizards had been waiting for him under the tree, according to a neighbour, Theresia Tawa...

The carnivorous Komodos, which live for up to 50 years, can grow to 10ft in length and weigh up to 200lbs. Though they rarely attack humans – and had not previously killed an adult for more than 30 years – an eight-year-old boy died after being mauled in 2007 and attacks are said to be increasing as their habitat becomes restricted. Their diet usually consists of smaller animals, including other members of their own species.

"Komodo dragons maul man to death"

Previously:

• Virgin komodo dragon birth: the miracle of Christmas - Boing Boing

Chinese Villager Takes Wooden Bike Out For a Spin [Wooden Bicycle]

Chinese Villager Takes Wooden Bike Out For a Spin [Wooden Bicycle]

via Gizmodo by Elaine Chow on 3/25/09

A carpenter in a Chinese village, perhaps unwilling to spend what would amount to a month's pay on a bicycle, has created a 100% wooden one to ride around town instead.

55-year-old Peijia Wu, from Shandong province, allegedly took three months to build his DIY wooden bike. It features no metal parts whatsoever – joints are fixed with small wooden bungs and a rod-crank system has replaced where the chain would normally be.

Ingenious! It's like a stair master and a bike rolled into one and it's probably less likely to fall apart than other wooden bike models. [Chine Informations via Shanghaiist]

If You Steal Somebody's iPhone and Don't Know How to Use It, You'll Go to Ja...

If You Steal Somebody's iPhone and Don't Know How to Use It, You'll Go to Jail [Dumb Criminals]

via Gizmodo by matt buchanan on 3/24/09

Shoe designer Sayaka Fukuda was mugged by two men who made off with her purse and iPhone. After reporting it to police, she noticed a strange email in her outbox. Guess what happened next?

She knew she didn't send any email, so she opened the attachment, which was a self-portrait her attacker emailed to himself. She forwarded the picture to police, who quickly matched it to a mug shot of Dacquan Mathis.

Fukuda made the not so bright move of emailing Mathis directly, telling him the cops were onto him. He cheerfully replied to her, "I will kill you! I know where you live, I know where you work. I'll send people."

But we all know how this ends—the cops busted him, and he confessed to jacking the iPhone as well as another mugging involving an iPod.

Moral of the story: Whenever you steal a piece of technology, make sure you know how it works, or you'll get made fun of on a bunch of blogs. Oh yeah, and go to jail and stuff. [NY Post via Gothamist - Thanks Ace!]

Spirit Airlines Charges $10 For Buying Tickets Anywhere But Ticket Counter (...

Spirit Airlines Charges $10 For Buying Tickets Anywhere But Ticket Counter (Again) [Fees]

via Consumerist by Alex Chasick on 3/24/09

Habitually awful carrier Spirit Airlines is bringing back its "passenger usage fee," which charges passengers $4.90 each way for booking tickets online or over the phone. The only way to avoid the fee is by purchasing directly from a ticket counter at the airport. Convenient!

Spirit tried to impose this charge last summer as a "web convenience fee," before getting hit with a $40,000 fine from the Department of Transportation for what it called an "unfair and deceptive trade practice and an unfair method of competition." They've been allowed by the DOT to resurrect the fee because they're now including it in the listing of fees.

Spirit says they're imposing the fee as a way to offset distribution costs. Which sounds dubious, considering the costs of staffing a ticket counter and printing actual boarding passes versus operating a computer (or even a call center) and letting customers print their own boarding passes.

Next Airline Fee: Buying Tickets? [WSJ]
PREVIOUSLY: Spirit Airlines Drops $10 Fee For Ordering Tickets Online
Spirit Airlines Charges $10 Fee For Ordering Tickets Online
Thanks, Jason!

'Unafraid' of Internet, China Appears to Block YouTube

'Unafraid' of Internet, China Appears to Block YouTube

via Wired Top Stories by Reuters on 3/24/09

BEIJING (Reuters) - China is not afraid of the Internet, its Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, even as access to the popular video sharing site YouTube appeared to be blocked.

YouTube has been unavailable for users in China, which filters the Internet for content critical of Communist Party rule, since late on Monday.

"Many people have a false impression that the Chinese government fears the Internet. In fact it is just the opposite," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters.

Qin said China's 300 million Internet users and 100 million blogs showed that "China's internet is open enough, but also needs to be regulated by law in order to prevent the spread of harmful information and for national security."

He said he did not know about YouTube being blocked.

Access to YouTube had been spotty earlier in March, the one-year anniversary of widespread protests by Tibetans against Chinese rule.

An Internet crackdown that began in January has closed hundreds of Chinese sites, including a popular blog hosting site and several sites popular with Tibetans.

It has been described by analysts as another step in the Party's battle to stifle dissent in a year of sensitive anniversaries, including the 20th anniversary of the government's bloody crackdown on the pro-democracy Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.

(Reporting by Lucy Hornby; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Teenager's 60-Foot Roof Wang Backfires, Rich Parents Dole Out "Punishment" [...

Teenager's 60-Foot Roof Wang Backfires, Rich Parents Dole Out "Punishment" [Pranks]

via Gizmodo by Sean Fallon on 3/24/09

Inspired by all of the classy art on Google Maps, 18-year old Rory McInnes decided to create a 60-foot phallic masterpiece on the roof of his parents' stately English manor.

The painting stood for almost a year until a helicopter noticed it and contacted the Sun newspaper. The Sun followed up by contacting the owner who thought the whole thing must be some sort of joke:

He said: "It's an April Fool's joke, right? There's no way there's a 60ft phallus on top of my house."

Oh yes, Mr. McInnes, there is definitely a 60-foot wang on top of your house. Now what are you going to do about it? Does it involve a belt? A lifetime grounding perhaps?

The boy's father appeared to take the prank in good humour.

But he said: "When Rory gets home he will be given a scrubbing brush and white spirit and he can go and scrub it off."

Oh yeah, that will teach him. Rory did get his comeuppance...in a way. Despite his prank, the house roof remains penis-free according to Google. [Telegraph]

Kodak's Overpriced Photo Site Will Delete Your Photos If You Don't Spend Mon...

Kodak's Overpriced Photo Site Will Delete Your Photos If You Don't Spend Money [Online Photo Sites]

via Consumerist by Chris Walters on 3/23/09

Kodak Gallery is a poor choice for online photo storage. As of this month, they've changed their storage policy so that now you must spend a minimum amount—$4.99 or $19.99, depending on whether you're under or over 2GB of storage—every 12 months or your pics will be deleted. By comparison, Shutterfly has no minimum spending requirement and unlimited storage.

Both sites charge 15 cents per print, so there's no savings from Kodak Gallery when it comes to printing.

Threatening to delete your photos is bad enough, but Kodak Gallery also overcharges for archive CDs. We're not big fans of the one-way storage solutions offered by most photo storage sites, and Shutterfly is as guilty as Kodak in this regard—you can upload all you want, but will have to pay to get those photos back should you lose your own copy some day. But compare these prices from the two companies (current as of March 23, 2009) for 2,000 photos on an archive CD:

Kodak Gallery: $55
Shutterfly: $25

We're just comparing Shutterfly to Kodak, but there are other services you may want to check out as well. Snapfish, another popular site, falls somewhere between the two: 4x6 prints are only 9 cents and there are no explicit spending requirements to keep your account active, but retrieving your images from them is ridiculously expensive.

If you're going to be downloading lots of your stored images frequently, consider a $25 annual Flickr membership (unlimited storage, free access to high-rez versions of your photos). Otherwise, Shutterfly is far and away a cheaper alternative to Kodak Gallery.

(Thanks to Edward!)

Walgreens Doesn't Want You To Print Your Own Passport Photos [Walgreens]

Walgreens Doesn't Want You To Print Your Own Passport Photos [Walgreens]

via Consumerist by Chris Walters on 3/23/09

Walgreens charges a hefty $7.99 for passport photos. Is it because they're super fancy, or technically challenging to create, or the paper is strawberry scented? The answer to all of these questions is no. It's because it's an easy way to make a quick buck. That's why they hate it when you find a cheaper online solution and try to print out your own 4x6 layout of passport photos via their stores.

Last year we wrote about epassportphoto.com, a free online service that lets you create your own 5-pic passport layout suitable for printing on a 4x6 photo, which you can then print anywhere you like and save yourself the expense and trouble of so-called "professional" passport photo fees. They started offering a service where, for $7, you can pick up the print at Walgreens—but Walgreens is not happy about this and is trying to put a stop to it. Here's an email they sent to epassportphoto.com:

We do not allow customers to create their own passport pictures and print them themselves. It would be appreciated if you would no longer endorse our photofinishing services on your website.

Tom, the guy behind epassportphoto.com, told us, "We've had numerous customers reporting to us that Walgreens people tried to charge them the Walgreens fee" in addition to the fee they'd already paid epassportphoto.com to print the photo on their behalf.

We contacted Walgreens customer service for clarification, and were told that a passport photo is different than a regular photo and that's why it costs more, even if you do the work ahead of time and just send them a single 4x6 to print out the same way they print everything. This is pure nonsense—it's like saying photos of zoo animals are different from other photos, and therefore you must pay an $8 "zoo pic" processing fee.

Tom's website is still offering the in-store pickup option on their site, but he says epassportphoto is currently looking into using a different retailer for the in-store pickup option.

If you're really looking to save money, however, you should download the free file and print it yourself. Or, follow Tom's suggestion and open an online photo processor account somewhere that comes with free prints. Just don't be surprised if Walgreens gives you trouble if you try to print it via one of their drugstores.

"What's Walgreens afraid of? (tiny ePassportPhoto.com!?)" [epassportphoto.com]