NYC Sanitation Dept. Doesn't Care About Destroying Your Car

NYC Sanitation Dept. Doesn't Care About Destroying Your Car: "

I don't think we've ever had a municipal service division make it into the Worst Company In America tournament, but New York City's Sanitation Department seems to be gunning for a wild card slot this year. First, they tried to fine someone thousands of dollars for picking up a discarded air-conditioner from the curb, then there was the to-do over the woman ticketed $100 for throwing out a small bag of garbage in a public trash can. Now, as millions of New Yorkers attempt to dig out from one of the biggest blizzards to ever hit the city, the Sanitation folks have been caught on camera destroying a snowbound car.

According to the man who shot the video: 'I went down, I know the owner, they are aware of the video and no police ever came.'

"

Hacking Your Spouse's Email Could Land You In Jail For Half A Decade

Hacking Your Spouse's Email Could Land You In Jail For Half A Decade: "

Before you consider snooping in your spouse's email, you may want to pay close attention to a case unfolding in Michigan in which a man faces up to five years of prison for hacking into his wife's messages.

The Detroit Free Press reports the man faces felony charges under a Michigan anti-hacking statute that's usually used to prosecute identity theft and corporate espionage. The accused was trying to find out whether or not his wife was cheating. The good news for him and any others who go through their significant others' email is that a legal expert doesn't think the Oakland County prosecutor has much of a case:

'It's going to be interesting because there are no clear legal answers here,' the expert told the Free Press. 'I would guess there is enough gray area to suggest that she could not have an absolute expectation of privacy.'

What sort of electronic monitoring do you do on your significant other?

Is reading wife's e-mail a crime? Rochester Hills man faces trial [Detroit Free Press]

"

Roku Rep Tells Me There Are Secret Limits To Netflix Streaming

Roku Rep Tells Me There Are Secret Limits To Netflix Streaming: "

While Josh was streaming 30 Rock through his Roku via Netflix, he caught a plot twist that was more jarring than the announcement of the Kabletown merger: 'Content unavailable,' the screen said.

Josh went online and chatted up a Roku rep we'll call 'Kevin' who said depending on the title, Roku players restrict the amount of content that can be streamed on Netflix. Josh says there's no mention of the limit online or with his Roku paperwork.

An excerpt from the chat:

Kevin: Just now I inquired. Roku has limited access on certain titles.

Kevin: It may not play titles that can be played on computer through netflix.

Josh: I'm surprised to hear that. I don't think it was mentioned in the marketing of the product. The image I got was that if I could stream it from my Netflix account, I could stream it on my Roku.

Kevin: I apologize for the inconvenience.

Josh: ok - thanks. But that means you can't do anything about it?

Kevin: Yes, I apologize for that.

Josh: I just looked. On your website, it says, 'Amazing Value. With Roku, you get FREE access to the entire Netflix streaming library if you have a Netflix subscription starting at $7.99/month. Plus, you automatically get the new Netflix experience, featuring browse and search. '

Josh: Note the words 'entire Netflix streaming library'.

Kevin: Yes, I understand. Just now I inquired my supervisor. The roku player has limited boundaries.

Kevin: Can I help with anything else?

Josh: I guess not. I'm pretty disappointed that you are not delivering what you promised when I bought my Roku and you continue to promise. Don't you think Roku should inform future buyers of this limitation?

Kevin: Yes, I will send your feed back to the concern department for consideration.

If you have a Roku, have you gotten similar error messages? I've gone 30 Rock crazy on my Xbox 360, and have never suffered such an issue.

"

This Is Going to Be INCREDIBLE

This Is Going to Be INCREDIBLE: "

Crooks and Liars says that Bank of America is frantically buying up domain names to prepare for the upcoming BofA WikiLeaks releases:

According to Domain Name Wire, the US bank has been aggressively registering domain names including its board of Directors' and senior executives' names followed by 'sucks' and 'blows'.

For example, the company registered a number of domains for CEO Brian Moynihan: BrianMoynihanBlows.com, BrianMoynihanSucks.com, BrianTMoynihanBlows.com, and BrianTMoynihanSucks.com.

The wire report counted hundreds of such domain name registrations on 17 December alone. They were acquired through an intermediary that frequently registers domain names on behalf of large companies, says the report.

Bank of America has reputedly established a 'war room' to draw up strategy and rebutt [sic] allegations likely to emerge from the publication of thousands of internal documents by WikiLeaks.

I can't wait!

[ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]

"

Man Sues Restaurant For Not Stopping Him From Eating An Entire Artichoke

Man Sues Restaurant For Not Stopping Him From Eating An Entire Artichoke: "

A doctor has sued the Houston's restaurant in Miami after he ate a complete artichoke that he ordered, including the spiny and sharp exterior leaves. He subsequently suffered 'severe abdominal pain and discomfort,' and a 'exploratory laparotomy' showed that the artichoke leaves were jammed in his 'small bowel.' His lawsuit claims that he had 'never seen nor heard of previously' an artichoke and that it was the restaurant's fault for not teaching him how to eat it.

'It takes a sophisticated diner to be familiar with the artichoke,' says the man's lawyer. 'People might think that as a doctor, he'd know how to eat one. But he was thinking it was like a food he might have eaten in his native Cuba, where you eat everything on the plate.'

A spokesperson for the restaurant group told Business Insurance, 'What's next? Are we going to have to post warnings on our menu they shouldn't eat the bones in our barbeque ribs?'

For the record, the way you eat an artichoke is to first pluck off a leaf, then place it in your mouth and pull, scraping off the soft part from the fibrous part and leaving the soft part in your mouth. Repeat until you reach the soft inner heart, which can be consumed whole.

Here is the lawsuit:Arturo Carvjal sues Houston's Restaurant for not advising him on how to eat an artichoke.

Miami Doctor Sues Houston's Restaurant For Not Teaching Him How To Properly Eat Artichoke [Miami New Times Blog] (Thanks to David!)

RELATED

How to Eat an Artichoke [Chow]

"

Man Records Himself Being Detained At Walmart For A Receipt Check

Man Records Himself Being Detained At Walmart For A Receipt Check: "

A tipster has sent in an audio recording of himself being stopped at the Walmart doors for refusing to show them his receipt. He says that it's in his pocket and he just doesn't feel like getting it out. According to the reader, two of the men who stop him are sheriff's deputies. When he asks one of them their name, the man responds, 'John Doe.' Our reader, who says he is a cop of 20 years himself, says it took nearly half an hour of asking them whether they are placing him under arrest or if he can be on his way before they let him go.

The deputies say things like:

'Stupid what you're doing.'

'You wanna play games, we'll play with you.'

'You put your hands on me, I'll give you a reason... I wish you would.'

'I'll let the manager decide what he wants to do with this case, damn idiot.'

Reached for comment, a Walmart spokesman verified that the incident did occur. They said that a greeter asked the customer for his receipt and two police officers who were on the scene overhead him decline to show it and stepped in. That's about where the audio picks up.

'We're sorry that the incident occurred the way it did. Certainly it's not something we want customers to have to experience,' said the spokesman. 'It's not our goal to inconvenience customers, just under certain circumstances we do ask to ensure our merchandise is paid for and it shouldn't take all that long.'

Good times.

As we've discussed on this site many a time before, stores cannot legally prevent you from leaving if you decide to not show your receipt.

'In general, the store can't force someone to show their receipt,' Joseph LaRocca, senior asset protection advisor for the National Retail Foundation told MSN recently. 'The checks at the door are really designed to be a preventative measure and a customer service measure.'

One of the only time is if you've signed a contract with them where you agreed to do that, like with membership clubs like Costco.

The other is if the manager has reasonable suspicion that you are actually shoplifting, but you can hear in the audio the customer asking the manager several times if he would like to verify his purchases.

Of course if you make an issue out of it like this guy did, you can expect some hassle.

"

Wireless carriers openly considering charging per service

Wireless carriers openly considering charging per service: "

That slide above is no joke -- it comes from a marketing webinar put on by two companies that supply Verizon, AT&T and Vodafone as clients, and it describes a system that identifies customer internet activity and charges a different rate for using Facebook than watching YouTube, while allowing access to Vodafone services for free. Yes, that's basically the nightmare scenario for net neutrality advocates. The two companies behind the slide are Allot Communications and Openet, which sell subscriber-management tools to carriers around the world -- tools that Allot's director of marketing says can scan even encrypted packets to determine what service customers are using and charge accordingly. We're not making this up -- here's the direct quote from the webinar:

[We use] a number of different methods to accurately identify the application -- methods like heuristic analysis, behavioral and historical analysis, deep packet inspection, and a number of other techniques. What's key is that we have the best application identification available on the market, which means that even applications that are encrypted or use other methods to evade detection will be correctly identified and classified... We essentially feed this real-time information about traffic and application usage into the policy and charging system. Each subscriber has a particular service plan that they sign up for, and they're as generic or as personalized as the operator wants.

Yeah, that's not how anyone actually wants the internet to work -- except carriers, who've been saying increasingly insane things about charging even smartphone manufacturers for customer data usage lately. What's more, it's rumored that the FCC will cave to Verizon and AT&T and exempt wireless internet service from major parts of net neutrality regulation it's expected to pass next week, so this nonsense could very well hit the US sooner rather than later. We'll be keeping a close eye on things -- we'll let you know.

Wireless carriers openly considering charging per service originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Dec 2010 16:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Wired | Fierce Wireless Webinar, Reuters | Email this | Comments"

Best Buy Puts An End To Tyrannical Restocking Fees

Best Buy Puts An End To Tyrannical Restocking Fees: "

For years, Best Buy customers have complained about the 15% restocking fee on most electronics (10% on iPhones). So in the spirit of the holidays (and because they are afraid of losing anymore customers than they already have), Best Buy has very quietly announced that as of today, almost all restocking fees are no more.

In a brief statement titled 'Statement' on its website, BB writes:

Best Buy continually listens to our customers, and they told us they want to give confidently this holiday season and every other day of the year -- and with that comes easier returns. Effective Saturday, December 18, Best Buy is improving its return policy by removing restocking fees for all products except special orders.

Consumerist has also obtained a copy of an e-mail sent from Best Buy HQ to stores across the country alerting them to the policy change:

Effective Saturday, Dec. 18, the 15 percent restocking fee will no longer apply to computers (including notebooks, tablets and iPads), projectors, camcorders, digital cameras, radar detectors, GPS navigation, in-car video systems, DJ equipment and lighting, or Pro-Audio equipment. The 10 percent restocking fee will no longer apply to iPhones. Restocking fees shouldn't be charged for any returns of these products going forward.

This policy change is being made because we want to be the best destination for gifts and technology. To do that we need to make it easy for our customers to return product when they need to, which will give them one more reason to love Best Buy.

Additionally, the e-mail states:

If customers who were charged a restocking fee between Nov. 17 and Dec. 17 come into the store for a refund, process a return transaction for the restocking fee amount.

We'll be curious to see if any misinformed Best Buy staffers attempt to charge restocking fees next week.

"

Report: Walmart Jacks Up Toy Prices Just In Time For The Holidays

Report: Walmart Jacks Up Toy Prices Just In Time For The Holidays: "

Walmart might have had some decent toy prices on Black Friday, but a new report says that not only did those low prices not last -- many of them went up.

According to a Nov. 30 e-mail obtained by Bloomberg News, Walmart HQ instructed store managers to immediately jack up prices on 1,800 different toys 'to better enable your store and the company to have a successful financial month.'

Experts say this directive stands out from the retail giant's policy in holiday shopping seasons past.

'In previous years Wal-Mart has come out and hammered everyone with unbelievably low toy prices,' explains the director of the Center for Digital Strategies at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. 'They stepped away from that this year, and after Thanksgiving their prices have crept back up... Most of their hot toys are out of stock and the stuff that is there is not low-priced.'

A rep for the company tells Bloomberg that the price increase was just a response to existing rollbacks on those items: 'Once a rollback ends, the item returns to its original everyday low price.'

Have any parents out there noticed if the prices on Walmart toys have increased dramatically? And are you doing your holiday toy shopping at Walmart or at a different store?

Wal-Mart Raising Toy Prices, Squeezing More Out of Holidays [Bloomberg]

"

FTC: Dannon Agrees To Stop Selling Activia As Cure For Irregularity

FTC: Dannon Agrees To Stop Selling Activia As Cure For Irregularity: "

More than a year after settling a class-action lawsuit over false advertising claims, Dannon has finally settled a separate but related complaint from the Federal Trade Commission. As a result, the company says it will no longer market unproven health benefits of its Activia and DanActive yogurts.

Both Activia and DanActive contain probiotic bacteria, which Dannon has made the center of its ad campaigns.

In a Worst Ad In America nominated series of commercials for Activia featuring Jamie Lee Curtis, Dannon touted the yogurt as a way to curb irregular bowel movements. Just one serving a day is all it takes to fight irregularity, claimed the ads.

Meanwhile, DanActive was touted for its purported ability to help people avoid catching colds and the flu.

The FTC called BS on the claims made about both of these products and filed complaints against Dannon for deceptive advertising. The FTC also charged that Dannon's statements that it wasn't true that the products' health benefits had been clinically proven.

From FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz:

These types of misleading claims are enough to give consumers indigestion... Consumers want, and are entitled to, accurate information when it comes to their health. Companies like Dannon shouldn't exaggerate the strength of scientific support for their products.

Details of the settlement:

* Dannon is prohibited from claiming that any yogurt, dairy drink, or probiotic food or drink reduces the likelihood of getting a cold or the flu, unless the claim is approved by the Food and Drug Administration. 0

* Dannon may not claim that Activia yogurt will relieve temporary irregularity or help with slow intestinal transit time, unless the claim is not misleading and the ad conveys that three servings of Activia yogurt must be eaten each day to obtain these benefits.

* Dannon may not claim that any other yogurt, dairy drink, or probiotic food or drink will relieve temporary irregularity or help with slow intestinal transit time unless the claim is not misleading and the company has two well-designed human clinical studies that substantiate the claim.

Dannon has also agreed to pay $21 million to 39 states whose attorneys general had opened investigations into similar complaints.

In a statement, Dannon explains its view of the agreement:

After the comprehensive review with regulators of Dannon's scientific substantiation, consistent with the FTC standards, Dannon agreed to more clearly convey that Activia's beneficial effects on irregularity and transit time are confirmed on three servings per day... Dannon also agreed that DanActive will not be marketed as a cold or flu remedy, which Dannon maintains it has never done.

Dannon Agrees to Drop Exaggerated Health Claims for Activia Yogurt and DanActive Dairy Drink [FTC.gov]

"

This Dunkin' Donuts Tip Cup Has Trust Issues

This Dunkin' Donuts Tip Cup Has Trust Issues: "

The workers at this Dunkin' Donuts hope that you'll be happy enough with their service that you'll leave a tip. But doesn't trust you not to run off with the tip jar.

Consumerist reader Chris snapped this photo of the bottomless tip cup at his local Dunkin'. You can see in the picture that there is a hole in the cup and this hole continues through the counter and, presumably, down to a larger tip jar below.

Do you think this encourages or discourages tips?

"

Burger King Customer Dies After Being Punched In Face By Employee

Burger King Customer Dies After Being Punched In Face By Employee: "

Earlier today, a fight broke out between an employee at a Detroit Burger King and a 67-year-old customer. In the end, one man was behind bars and the other was dead.

According to the Detroit News:

During the fight, the worker delivered a punch that may have caused the man to choke on his dentures, police said. The unidentified victim died at a hospital.

'The victim fell to the floor,' a police sergeant said. 'He was conveyed to a hospital and pronounced dead.'

Police say it's not yet clear what caused the fight to break out in the first place. A rep for BK says the company is cooperating with authorities in the investigation.

Senior dies after fight with employee at east side Burger King [Detroit News]

"

HSBC Redefines "Opt-in," Won't Accept "No" For An Answer

HSBC Redefines "Opt-in," Won't Accept "No" For An Answer: "

Daniel came across this page while logging in to his credit card account. 'I can sign up, sign up, say yes or be reminded later. I couldn't find anywhere on this page that would let me say 'No, I don't want this',' he writes. 'It seems kind of, well, wrong to not give a customer the option to NOT opt in.'

Yes, being able to opt in to something means that you should also be able to opt out. Daniel should send a copy of this message to the bank, as well: but will they see anything wrong with it?

Which option would you choose?online survey

"

FDNY To Begin Charging Motorists In Car Crashes

FDNY To Begin Charging Motorists In Car Crashes: "

The Fire Department in New York City thinks the taxpayers should no longer be the only ones paying when firefighters are called to the scene of a car crash. Starting next summer, the FDNY will begin billing their time to the motorists involved in the incidents.

According to the Wall Street Journal, a vehicle fire or any other incident with injuries will cost $490. A vehicle fire without injuries will cost $415. And incidents without fire or injuries will cost $365. The FDNY responded to around 14,000 accidents last year.

'We want to relieve pressure on the taxpayer and place it on those at fault and their insurance,' said a spokesman for the FDNY. 'Right now if you're at fault at an accident or a vehicle fire, you get a free ride. And that should not be borne by the taxpayers.'

The invoices will be sent directly to the driver, who can then choose to pass it on to their insurance company.

While the so-called 'crash tax' will add millions of dollars to the city's strained coffers, some fear that it could also cause insurance rates to rise.

The president of the New York Insurance Association calls what the FDNY is doing 'double billing':

If the police show up at your house for a domestic violence dispute or a break-in, are they going to send you a bill? Those are services that are typically covered when you pay your taxes.

Meanwhile, the AAA says the FDNY's plan is 'short-sighted.'

'We have concerns that some motorists might be less likely to call police to crash scenes, allowing drunk drivers, uninsured drivers, drivers with suspended licenses, and others to go undetected,' said a rep for the organization.

City to Bill Motorists Who Crash and Need Aid [WSJ]

"

Consumer Reports Breaks A Lot Of Glass Investigating Shattering Pyrex Bakeware

Consumer Reports Breaks A Lot Of Glass Investigating Shattering Pyrex Bakeware: "

Three years ago, Consumerist told you about the possible shattering risk of so-called 'oven-safe' Pyrex bakeware. And for the last year, our investigative siblings at Consumer Reports have been combing through complaints to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and testing Pyrex and other glass bakeware in the CR testing facility.

For its article in the current issue of Consumer Reports, the magazine investigated 163 incidents of glass bakeware that shattered suddenly:

In some cases it was in the oven, while cooling on a countertop or even while they were holding it, sometimes sending shards of hot glass flying and causing injuries. Only some of the cases seemed to involve clear violations of the bakeware's instructions. While hundreds of millions of glass dishes are used safely each year, we saw enough incidents to raise concern.

In the CR labs, the magazine tested not only Pyrex and Anchor Hocking brand glass bakeware sold in the U.S., but also European-made Pyrex and Arcuisine Elegance glass bakeware. As we reported back in 2007, Pyrex sold in the U.S. is now made of soda lime glass instead of the borosilicate that had been used for decades and which is still used in Europe. They even managed to scrounge up some old borosilicate Pyrex made in the U.S. for comparison.

In the video below, you'll see that when the soda lime bakeware is exposed to extreme heat and then placed on a wet granite counter, it shatters instantly. The borosilicate bakeware from Europe fared better, though it still shattered after being heated in ovens at 500 degrees. However, the older borosilicate Pyrex didn't even shatter at that temperature.

As a result of its investigation, Consumer Reports has called on the CPSC to look into the problem of shattering bakeware. And when you buy glass bakeware, be careful to read over the manufacturer's instructions for handling the product.

FOIA requests examine glass bakeware that shatters [Consumer Reports]

"

Feds Arrest Online Seller Who Tried To Drive Up Google Ranking By Scaring People

Feds Arrest Online Seller Who Tried To Drive Up Google Ranking By Scaring People: "

Pushing the 'there's no such thing as bad publicity' mentality to the extreme, an online retailer allegedly stalked and threatened customers in order to boost his search engine visibility. The seller reportedly went to such extremes that federal authorities stepped in and arrested him on charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, making interstate threats and cyberstalking.

The New York Times reports the man, who sold eyeglasses online, threatened sexual assault against a customer and sent her a picture of her front door to intimidate her. The Times had reported earlier that the reason for the seller's behavior, other than outright creepiness, was to generate bad buzz to boost his profile on Google search engine rankings.

Google responded by announcing it has changed its algorithm, causing searches to bury companies that provide customers with 'an extremely poor user experience.'

Threatening Online Seller Arrested [The New York Times]

PREVIOUSLY

Google Fixes Algorithm So Harassing Your Customers Doesn't Boost Your Page Rank

Harassing Customers As A Business Model

"

Movie Studios Blocking Special Features On Rental DVDs

Movie Studios Blocking Special Features On Rental DVDs: "

In an apparent effort to give customers a reason to buy DVDs instead of renting them, movie studios have begun disabling certain features of new releases on discs rented out by Blockbuster and Netflix.

Consumerist reader Joseph brought this to our attention after he spent $3.99 to rent the DVD of Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World from Blockbuster. When he went to the disc's main menu and attempted to watch the Blooper Reel special feature, he was greeted by a screen telling him: 'This disc is intended for rental purposes and only includes the feature film. Own it on Blu-Ray or DVD to view these bonus features and complete your movie watching experience.'

Over at HackingNetflix, they have the same report from a reader who rented the disc from Netflix. The site also claims that the Netflix version of the disc for hit Disney/Pixar film Up contains no captions for the same reason.

Let's go back to a frustrated Joseph for his final thoughts:

I didn't pay $3.99 to just watch the movie itself; I paid $3.99 to rent the physical DVD for a week. To have full access to the entire DVD and everything contained within the menus. What made it worse was that Blockbuster gave me absoutely no warning that the DVD had its Special Features locked. There was no warning label or sticker or anything of the sort.

Should rental companies be alerting customers that the special features are blocked on these discs?

"

Wachovia's Lame Attempt To Get You To Sign Up For Overdraft Fees

Wachovia's Lame Attempt To Get You To Sign Up For Overdraft Fees: "

Wachovia sent out an eblast trying to get people to sign back up for overdraft protection, and the fees that 'service' entails.

The email warns of the embarrassing consequences that can happen when you try to buy stuff you don't have money to pay for it.

'Having your debit card declined when you are making a purchase - such as buying groceries or paying for your restaurant meal - can be frustrating, especially if you do not have an alternative form of payment like cash or a credit card to complete your purchase. That is why Wachovia offers Debit Card Overdraft Service as an optional new service to help you avoid declines.'

Or, you know, you could just bring enough money to pay for what you're buying and if you don't have it, don't buy it.

'The subject line of 'Avoid Debit Card Declines' had me imagining some pretty awful things,' writes tipster Alyssa. 'Luckily, though, just a bad pitch for Overdraft Protection!'

"

The Fuel Doctor FD-47 Is More Of A Fuel-Savings Quack

The Fuel Doctor FD-47 Is More Of A Fuel-Savings Quack: "

A basic understanding of physics should tell you that the Fuel Doctor--a small device that you plug into the 12-volt power outlet in your car--will not work. The gadget claims that by 'conditioning' your car's electrical systems, it increases power and gas mileage. But...why have none of the major automakers thought of this? Is it all a plot between the car and gas companies... or is the Fuel Doctor just automotive snake oil?

To find out, Consumer Reports plugged the device in to cars set up with sensitive fuel mileage meters, and also tested the vehicles' power with and without the Fuel Doctor. Their verdict? Well, there are some pretty red and green lights on the Fuel Doctor, so it makes a festive holiday decoration. That's about it.

Fuel Doctor FD-47 fails the Consumer Reports mpg test [Consumer Reports Cars]

"

FBI Warns Video Camera Barbie Could Be Used For Kiddie Porn

FBI Warns Video Camera Barbie Could Be Used For Kiddie Porn: "

The FBI is downplaying a leaked internal memo that reminded field agents that 'Barbie Video Girl', which has a video camera embedded in her necklace, could be used by pervs to produce child pornography.

However, 'There have been no reported incidents of this doll being used as anything other than as intended,' said an FBI spokeswoman at a news conference. She clarified the purpose of the alert was to make sure law enforcement didn't overlook the doll while executing a search.

'Budding filmmakers, take note: Barbie doll now doubles as a video camera!' reads the copy on the Mattel website advertising the toy. 'Girls can record and play back clips with this multi-tasking doll, which has a video camera built right in. Capture everything from a doll's-eye-view, then watch it instantly or upload to your computer. There's an LCD screen on Barbie doll's back, and a camera lens hidden discreetly in her necklace. Talk about making movies in style!'

In a statement released to the press, the doll's manufacturer said, 'Mattel products are designed with children and their best interests in mind. Many of Mattel's employees are parents themselves and we understand the importance of child safety -- it is our number one priority.'

FBI Memo: Video Barbie Doll Could Be Used For Child Pornography [KIRO]

FBI: New Barbie 'Video Girl' doll could be used for child porn [CNN]

"

SNL's Black Friday Stampede Sketch

SNL's Black Friday Stampede Sketch: "


SNL this week did a pretty good parody of Black Friday madness with this madcap fake ad for 'Mega-Mart.' 'Your shopping gorge can only be stopped by one thing: boxes! So everyone in our Mega-Mart 12 minute frenzy will get a free boxcutter at the door!'


It starts off looking like a normal ad, then progressively heightens as the store adds more and more bonus gamechangers, prizes, and contents that endanger customer's lives.


What makes it really special, and disturbing, is that it used actual footage of stampedes and tramplelings inside Walmart during Black Fridays from years past. Shop till you drop!

Keeping Up With The Kardashian Kard's Hidden Fees

Keeping Up With The Kardashian Kard's Hidden Fees: "

Keeping up with the Kardashians comes at a cost. The reality show star is pimping a new prepaid debit card targeted at kids that is as bursting with hidden fees as Kim's shirt, featured prominently on the plastic, is bursting with integrity. Yeah, I think using sex to sell hidden fees to kids is pretty messed up. Just take a look at all these fees:

Kardashian Prepaid MasterCard
Card Purchase (Includes monthly fees for 6 months) $59.95
Card Purchase (Includes monthly fees for 12 months) $99.95
Monthly Fee (Applies after initial purchase period) $7.95
Card Replacement - Primary or Companion $9.95
ATM Withdrawal - Domestic $1.50
ATM Inquiry or Decline - Domestic $1.00
ATM Withdrawal - International $2.50
ATM Inquiry or Decline - International $2.00
Point of Sale - Decline -Domestic $1.00
Point of Sale - Decline - International $1.00
External Checking or Savings Transfer (To/From) $1.00
Account to Account Transfer * $1.00
Retail Load Fee (MoneyGram) $1.00
Load Account by Debit/Credit Card ** $1.00
Cancel Account - Request Balance Mailed by Check $6.00
Service Center Care-Live operator $1.50
Bill Pay - Per Item $2.00
Replacement Card Expedite Fee (Overnight) $25.00
* Fee for transferring money from external accounts and to other cardholder accounts
** 2.5% surcharge of transaction amount applies

If you're looking for a more convenient, and instructive, way to let kids use their allowance, something like USAA's Teen Checking, or Wells Fargo teen checking, is a better way to go. Your local credit union may have good options as well. Kids need bank accounts, not prepaid fee magnets."

Teens Busted For Selling Cupcakes Without A License

Teens Busted For Selling Cupcakes Without A License: "

In news that's reminiscent of the Oregon Lemonade Stand Scandal of 2010, two 13-year-olds in New York state had their baked goods business shut down by police for operating without a license.

The two teens had been selling cupcakes, cookies, brownies and other things that are making me really, really hungry right now, for $1 each in a park in Chappaqua, NY, when a local politician ratted them out to authorities for operating sans permit.

Says the mom of one of the teens:

The police officer was extremely pleasant. He said he was sorry to have to do this, but that he was following up on a report filed over the phone by a Town Board member... [My son] was so upset, he was crying all the whole way home. He was worried if he was going to get arrested or have a criminal record.

The Scrooge-like politico who dropped a dime on the teens says rules are rules: 'All vendors selling on town property have to have a license, whether it's boys selling baked goods or a hot dog vendor.'

When asked why he didn't just approach the boys and tell them they needed the license, Mr. Wet Blanket said, 'In hindsight, maybe I should have done that, but I wasn't sure if I was allowed to do that... The police are trained to deal with these sorts of issues.'

New Castle councilman calls cops on boys' cupcake sale [LoHud.com]

"

Buy A Truck, Get A Free AK-47

Buy A Truck, Get A Free AK-47: "

A used truck dealer in Florida, birthplace of dreams, is offering an interesting promotion. Buy a truck and get an assault rifle thrown in the back for free.

Buyers have to pass a background check first. The $400 voucher can be used towards a different kind of gun if they want, or they can get it as cash-back. The dealership says that business has more than doubled since the promo went into effect on Veteran's Day.

The owner told the AP, 'My buyer is absolutely a gun owner, no question.'

Guess it pays to know your audience!

Fla. dealership offers free AK-47 for truck buyers [Associated Press]

"

San Francisco Mayor Vetoes Happy Meal 'Ban'

San Francisco Mayor Vetoes Happy Meal 'Ban': "

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has made good on his earlier promises that he would veto the recently passed kids meal ban (which isn't actually a ban, but new regulations that would effectively ban most kids meals from being sold in the city as they are currently configured).

Says Mayor McCheese:

Parents, not politicians, should decide what their children eat, especially when it comes to spending their own money... Despite its good intentions, I cannot support this unwise and unprecedented governmental intrusion into parental responsibilities and private choices.

Unless a large number of the city's Board of Supervisors, who approved the measure by a vote of 8-3, change their mind, it's likely that Newsom's veto is all for naught, as the Board has enough votes to override his decision.

His rep says the mayor is hoping the Board will have a change of heart:

He hopes some members will reconsider should it be put up for an override... One of the eight is not entirely comfortable with it and some of them are getting heat as this thing is being mocked around the world.

Mayor vetoes San Francisco ban on Happy Meals with toys [CNN]

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Police Raid Spencer Gifts, Confiscate 'Sex-Related' Products

Police Raid Spencer Gifts, Confiscate 'Sex-Related' Products: "

We hadn't been in a Spencer Gifts (aka Spencer's) since Color Me Badd was lighting up the charts, but our memories of the mall-based stores are of goofy bachelor party gag gifts and posters of bikini-clad women. The authorities in Rapid City, SD, believe the store is an unlicensed 'adult-oriented business' and on Monday the police seized boxes containing around 2,000 'sex-related' products.

Though the Spencer's in the Rushmore Mall had been in business since 1979, it was only in the last year that someone got around to filing a complaint with the city, which then sent letters demanding the store be in line with regulations regarding adult-oriented businesses.

And then, according to the Rapid City Journal, on Monday, the police showed up with a search warrant:

The search warrant... allowed officers to seize all merchandise designed for use during sexual activity, books, films or other visual representations of sexual activity or anatomical areas, novelty items depicting genitals or exposed female breasts and packaging of items depicting sexual activity or anatomical areas, according to court documents.

The city attorney told the paper that he anticipates filing charges soon based on the evidence seized during the raid.

One point of contention is just how much of Spencer's stock is actually adult-oriented. Local regulations say that businesses can sell adult merchandise without a license as long as it does not make up a 'substantial or significant portion of its stock.' Various courts have defined substantial to mean anywhere from 20-50%.

A lawyer for Spencer's says that adult material only made up 5% of the items on sale at the Rapid City store.

If Spencer's is found to have been operating an adult-oriented business without a license, the owner could be looking at a $200 fine and 30 days in jail for every day a business fails to register.

Spencer's could face criminal charges; more than 2,000 products confiscated [Rapid City Journal]

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Microsoft, Sony Pay GameStop To Upsell You Downloadable Add-On Codes

Microsoft, Sony Pay GameStop To Upsell You Downloadable Add-On Codes: "

GameStop employees now have more than just pre-orders, strategy guides and loyalty cards to pressure unsuspecting customers into buying. The game dealer has moved into selling downloadable content cards, and revealed it's getting a cut of the action, given it more incentive to convince players their games aren't complete without an extra map pack.

Joystiq reports the company's head chair explained to attendees of the BMO Capital Markets Digital Entertainment Conference:

'I won't get into the details of the agreements, but obviously we get paid for selling the digital content. We get paid less than what we would get paid for a typical new game [retail game], because we don't have inventory carrying costs, shipping costs, etc. But needless to say, we believe it will bring operating margins similar to new games.

If you shop at GameStop, what types of pitches have you gotten from employees to buy DLC?

GameStop details a bright (profitable) future with DLC [Joystiq]

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TBS Makes Conan Episodes Available For Free Online

TBS Makes Conan Episodes Available For Free Online: "

For the Conan fans out there who don't feel like ponying up for basic cable, TBS has decided to post every episode of his new show online the day after it airs.

While Conan's old network NBC makes both Jay Leno's and Jimmy Fallon's late night chatter fests available online, TBS had not been doing the same for its Lopez Tonight talk show, which moved to midnight to make room for Conan's new show.

But with much time and money invested in promoting Conan, the network is making sure it's seen by as many people as possible (though only U.S. web users will have access to full episodes).

From a statement on TeamCoco.com:

Clips of our show WILL be available to everyone on Earth! Provided you have a computer and an internet connection, of course. Ha ha. We ain't gonna be transcribing our show and dropping leaflets into the jungles of South America, after all.

TBS has already posted last night's premiere episode -- which featured the masturbating bear -- here.

Full 'Conan' episodes to be available online [Reuters]

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SunChips Canada To Noisy Bag Haters: Here's Free Earplugs

SunChips Canada To Noisy Bag Haters: Here's Free Earplugs: "

Unlike their lilly-livered counterparts to the south, Sun Chips Canada has decided to hold the line on their jet-engine loud biodegradable bags. Instead of caving to detractors, they're offering them free earplugs.

'Our bag is loud, our bag is different, our bag is good for the environment, and our bag will remain on store shelves,' says the company. They've also launched a public awareness campaign, starting with this informational video:



Hopefully they'll also be making a series telling people about how to make their compost piles, too. The bags advertise that they'll break down in 9 weeks, but you'll need a much more intense compost pile than most people have the time or care to make.

You'll want your compost pile to preferably over 130 degrees and at least 21 cubic feet. SunChips's instructional PDF recommends a recipe of the following to create optimal conditions:

1 part food scraps (greens)

2 parts leaves (browns)

2 parts grass (greens)

2 parts hay (browns)

1 part finished compost (a bacterial activator to start the composting process)

Still, even if you have to wait a few more months for the bag to decompose, that's a lot faster than a traditional chip bag, which will take hundreds of years to break down, and even then will only be a fine grain of plastic dust.

Know what's even more annoying that a noisy bag? A planet full of garbage.

SunChips to complaining consumers: 'Yeah, compostable bag is noisy - get over it' [Sustainable Food News]

Do Sunchips 'compostable' bags really decompose in a compost pile? [Examiner]

PREVIOUSLY

Were 'Biodegradable' Sun Chips Bags Not So Biodegradable?

Unbearably Noisy Biodegradable SunChips Bag Terminated

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Who Is The First Moron To Break His TV With The Kinect?

Who Is The First Moron To Break His TV With The Kinect?: "

All those shattered TVs and cut-up hands that resulted when the Nintendo Wii first came on the scene sorta made sense. People were flailing their limbs around holding a plastic controller with a flimsy strap. But the new Kinect motion-sensing system for the Xbox 360 should have cut down on at least some of the damage done by removing the controller completely. And yet, some moron in Arizona has already ruined a perfectly good TV with his recklessness.

Over on his blog, the moronic moron writes:

A public service announcement: Do not under any circumstances play Kinect Sports Volleyball at 1:30 a.m. while standing under a ceiling fan with a dangling chain for a light switch. You could conceivably spike it into your year-old amazing TV, causing it to die with a rainbow LCD teardrop dripping down from the impact wound.

Plus you'll lose the match by forfeit.

When reached by Consumerist for comment, the moron said, 'It's fine. If there is a time to volleyball spike the shit out of your TV it's November.'

Yes, I Am The First Moron To Break His TV With Kinect [BecauseItoldyouso]

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Most "Close Door" Buttons Don't Work, And Most Office Thermostats Are Fakes

Most "Close Door" Buttons Don't Work, And Most Office Thermostats Are Fakes: "

You can stop pounding on the 'Close Door' button on the elevator. They're not there for you. Turns out that most of them don't work unless you've a maintenance person or fireman with the special access key inserted. It's just one of several different 'placebo buttons' placed around our world that only give us the illusion of control.

Walk buttons? In Manhattan they're totally useless, as the New York Times reported in 2004. And most office thermostats are dummies, not connected to any system at all. In 2003 the WSJ detailed how they're just installed by HVAC guys who are sick of office workers calling them up and complaining about the temperature.

To get around this, some NASA engineers described how they tweak the temperature, like:

* Getting ahold of the special wrenches to undo thermostat covers

* For heat, strapping bags of ice water to the sensors

* For cold, holding lamps or monitors up to the thermostat

* Getting a ladder, popping through the drop ceiling, and adjusting the dampers for more cold

Crazy! Next thing you'll be telling me this button in the coffee break room that says 'Get Raise' isn't functional.

Employees Only Think They Control Thermostat [WSJ via Futility Closet]

For Exercise in New York Futility, Push Button [NYT via Futility Closet]

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Cops Catch ATM Napkin Scammer

Cops Catch ATM Napkin Scammer: "

San Francisco PD have caught a crook using an ingeniously low-fi method to rip people off ATMs: napkins.

A merchant on Divisadero Street tipped the cops off after he spied the crook stuffing napkins up into ATM cash dispenser slots. When people tried to take cash out, it would get stuck up behind the napkins. After they walked away frustrated, the guy just strolled over, reached up into the slot, and dislodged the napkins, and walked away with their cash.

According to the police, the man who lived in the Tenderloin district of San Fran, is a serial napkin stuffer. He was charged with burglary. After they arrested him, cops found another ATM stuffed with napkins close by.

So if you go to withdraw money from an ATM and it doesn't come out, don't just finger around in the try, also reach up into the slot and see if there's anything stuck there. After that, try to take a cellphone picture of the ATM screen for evidence and then call the number on the ATM for service. (If the ATM is in a bank, you of course should just go inside and ask for help.)

Cops catch crook in ATM scam [Law & Disorder] (Thanks to Rachel!)

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Dodgers Forget They Left Brooklyn In 1957, Sue Brooklyn Burger Over Logo

Dodgers Forget They Left Brooklyn In 1957, Sue Brooklyn Burger Over Logo: "

Fifty-three years ago, the Dodgers told the borough of Brooklyn to shove it its nose with a rubber hose and lit out for the warmer climes of Los Angeles. Now they've returned -- well, at least their lawyers have -- to file a lawsuit against a local burger company for daring to use a similar font and the word 'Brooklyn.'

The L.A. Dodgers (note: L.A., as in 3,000 miles away) have filed suit against the owner of Brooklyn Burger because they think the logo and name would somehow, possibly in some world, confuse people into thinking the burger company was associated with a team that hasn't existed in over half a century.

The Brooklyn Burger logo was actually approved for trademark back in April, and yet the Dodgers have just filed their official complaint with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Brooklyn Burger's lawyer tells Gothamist that the whole thing is just stupid:

People who see [Brooklyn Burger's logo] in Brooklyn aren't going to think the Brooklyn Dodgers are selling hamburgers... It's crazy for the Los Angeles Dodgers to claim exclusive rights to the word 'Brooklyn.'

If you check out the Brooklyn Burger site, you'll see that the company is actually the official meat patty provider for a Brooklyn baseball team -- the minor league Cyclones in Coney Island.

Let's just hope this lawsuit gets thrown out before Brooklyn Burger is forced to move to the west coast.

L.A. Dodgers Sue Over Brooklyn Burger Logo [Gothamist]

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TSA Officer Pretended To Find Cocaine In Flyers' Bags

TSA Officer Pretended To Find Cocaine In Flyers' Bags: "

The Smoking Gun has procured internal TSA memos about the security officer who was fired after pulling jokes on travelers by pretending to find cocaine in their luggage.

It turns out the powder was creatine that the officer was supposed to be using to test new bomb detection equipment.

One of the of the incident reports is from a fellow officer who saw what happened:

On Jan 5th, 2010, I observed BAO [redacted] approach a female passenger on lane #7. He showed her a small clear plastic bag which contained white powder. He told her that he found this bag amongst her property in the x-ray bin and he believed the white powder was cocaine.

The female passenger [redacted] was surprised to hear this as she denied ever using drugs. She also stated that she had no idea how the plastic bag got mixed in with her property.

BAO [redacted] told her that she did not have to lie to him and asked her again as to why her property would have this plastic bag. She vehemently denied having the plastic bag in her property. Once BAO [redacted] realized that she was getting upset, he told her it was a hook and she would have to admit that it was funny. She said it was not funny but was rather cruel and unprofessional o him to do this.

Once the female passenger left the checkpoint (D/E), I informed ST30 [redacted] of my observation of this incident.Pretty screwed up abuse of power. Also screwed up? Out of the six workers interviewed, this was the only one who reported the incident to a supervisor.

Memos Detail TSA Officer's Cocaine Pranks [The Smoking Gun]

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San Francisco Bans Happy Meals [Happy Meals]

San Francisco Bans Happy Meals [Happy Meals]: "

San Francisco has done the unthinkable. Not win the World Series. It's effectively banned happy meals. More »

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McDonald's Boss Tells Employees To Vote For His Candidates Or Risk Losing Pay Raises & Benefits

McDonald's Boss Tells Employees To Vote For His Candidates Or Risk Losing Pay Raises & Benefits: "

The owner of a McDonald's restaurant in Canton, OH, may have gone a little too far in attempting to get out the vote for the candidates he supports in tomorrow's election when he placed notes in his employees' pay envelopes saying their pay and benefits were at risk if certain nominees didn't win.

The pamphlet included with the staffers' pay was in support of three candidates up for election. It said, 'If the right people are elected, we will be able to continue with raises and benefits at or above the current levels. If others are elected, we will not.'

A rep at McDonald's HQ tells the NY Times that the owner's decision to distribute the pamphlets in his employees' pay was an 'unfortunate lapse in judgment' on the owner's part and that 'he's disappointed with himself.'

Through the corporate rep, the eatery owner released a statement saying, 'For those that I have offended, I sincerely apologize.'

The owner's decision to hand out the pamphlets the way he did might have violated a 1953 Ohio statute that prohibits political material from being attached to wage envelopes.

McDonald's Workers Are Told Whom to Vote for [NY Times]

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Study: Higher Minimum Wage Doesn't Increase Unemployment

Study: Higher Minimum Wage Doesn't Increase Unemployment: "

A new study shows that increased minimum wage does not increase unemployment.

Over a 16-year period, the study looked at counties that were located across the border

from another county that had a minimum wage increase. Instead of increasing unemployment, the study found that higher wages decreased worker turnover. That's good for both employers and employees.

Here's a transcript of an interview with one of the study's authors.

MINIMUM WAGE EFFECTS ACROSS STATE BORDERS: ESTIMATES USING CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES (PDF) via Economix

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Man Dies After Ingesting Enough Caffeine For 70 Energy Drinks

Man Dies After Ingesting Enough Caffeine For 70 Energy Drinks: "

A 23-year-old man in the UK has passed away after he reportedly ingested 'spoonfuls' of powdered caffeine at a party.

A statement on the caffeine's packaging says to not ingest more than 1/16 of a teaspoon, but according to testimony given at the inquest, the man swallowed spoonfuls of the caffeine -- the equivalent of 70 cans of energy drink. He became ill within a matter of minutes.

'He was puking up blood and he was sweating really bad,' one friend testified. Others said he became incoherent and his speech was slurred.

While police have said there were no suspicious circumstances and the deceased was not acting illegally, the local coroner criticized both the availability and labeling of the powdered caffeine:

Caffeine is so freely available on the internet for £3.29 [$5.27] but it's so lethal if taken in the wrong dose and here we see the consequence...

Who would take [one sixteenth of a teaspoon]? It's such a small dosage, the warning is so small on the front of it.

If you're sharing a bag, carrying it around and if you hadn't seen the warning - it could be that anyone at the party could have taken it. It's so dangerous to take something like this.

'Strong caffeine products should be banned' says grandmother of overdose victim [Nottingham Post]

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