Investigation Reveals Widespread Fraud In Seafood Packaging

Investigation Reveals Widespread Fraud In Seafood Packaging: "

It's a common, legal practice to protect seafood with a layer of ice before packaging it up for retail sale. It's also apparently a common practice to add that ice into the total weight of the seafood, and in some cases to add more ice than necessary just to bump up the total weight, which isn't legal and which defrauds the consumer. The National Conference on Weights and Measures recently investigated seafood packaging in 17 states and pulled more than 21,000 packages of seafood from store shelves, noting that in one particularly bad case ice made up 40% of the total listed weight.

The NCWM won't name names on which companies are the worst offenders, but a spokesperson told the Chicago Tribune that if you suspect you're being charged for ice with your seafood purchase, you should report it to your state authority. The FDA is currently investigating the organization's claims.

'National Investigation Exposes Fraud in Frozen Seafood Labeling' [NCWM]

'Investigation into seafood weight reveals expensive ice' [Chicago Tribune]

Remains of the Day: Why DRM Doesn't Work Edition [For What It's Worth]

Remains of the Day: Why DRM Doesn't Work Edition [For What It's Worth]: "

Designer Brad Colbow details how to download an audio book from the Cleveland Public Library (or why DRM doesn't work), YouTube adds closed captioning to all videos, and a Google employee predicts that 'in three years time desktops will be irrelevant.'

(Click the image above for a closer look.)

Man Spends $700 On Cell Phone Minutes To Get $700 Unemployment Check

Man Spends $700 On Cell Phone Minutes To Get $700 Unemployment Check: "

Filing for unemployment benefits can be an exhausting bureaucratic mess, but it shouldn't cost you hundreds of dollars. In theory. According to TV station KOB, though, a New Mexico man spent so many hours on hold with the unemployment office that he ran up a $700 cell phone bill.

Sanchez says his cell phone is his only line, and if he didn't make the calls to Workforce Solutions, he wouldn't have gotten his money.

The bill shows Sanchez made 1,114 calls to the unemployment office in one month. Some days, it took hundreds of calls to get through—each call costing $0.45.

When he would get through, he says he would be put on hold. One time, he was on hold for almost 3 1/2 hours.

I think the only thing worse than listening to bad music on hold for the unemployment department has got to be paying 45 cents per minute for the privilege.

Man racks up huge cell bill to claim unemployment [KOB] (via Huffington Post - thanks, Rodrigo!)

39% Of Bagged Salad Is Gross, Some Has Poop

39% Of Bagged Salad Is Gross, Some Has Poop: "

As we told you earlier this month, sister pub Consumer Reports tested 208 bagged salads and found 39% had excessive bacteria, including fecal contamination. That means there's poop in the greens. And now there's something you can do about it.

Consumer Reports tested for total coliforms and other bacteria including enterococcus. According to industry experts, 10,000 or more colony forming units per gram (CFU/g) is excessive. The tests of 16 different brands had 39% exceeded that level for total coliforms, and 23% for enterococcus.

Hate spinach? Bacteria doesn't. Many of the unacceptable packages contained spinach and were within 1-5 days of their use-by date. Bag vs clamshell, organic vs non, baby greens or no baby greens, made no difference. And packages that were 5-8 days until their use-by date fared better.

Even if the package says super-duper-washed, you should still wash them by hand. Or, better yet, just buy your salad elements separately, wash them, and chop them.

The big problem is the FDA hasn't set limits for how much poop or other bacteria can be in bagged salad. Tell 'em to get crackin' by signing this petition.

Bagged salad: How clean? [Consumer Reports]

PREVIOUSLY: Who Keeps Pooping In My Bags Of Salad?!

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The Secret Government Surveillance Document Microsoft Doesn't Want You To See [Privacy]

The Secret Government Surveillance Document Microsoft Doesn't Want You To See [Privacy]: "

Microsoft has a 22-page document which outlines how they store all your private data in their online servers. The document also tells government agencies how they can get it. But, oh surprise, they don't want you to see it:

Microsoft Spy

The document was unearthed by Cryptome, the site who previously unveiled similar papers by Facebook, Skype, and other online giants. When Microsoft learned about it, they sent their rabid law dogs to tear Cryptome apart, Digital Millennium Copyright Act in one hand, iron bar in the other. So far they have managed to coerce Cryptome's host company to take down the site the pages aren't taken down. Network Solutions complied with Microsoft's barking, passing along the message to Cryptome that, if they don't take down the 'secret' material, they would take down the whole site.

Obviously, Microsoft and Network Solutions don't give a damn about public interest. Make no mistake: Knowing what Microsoft can disclose and how, no matter if you are a criminal or just some innocent dude using Microsoft's services, should interest you. [Microsoft Spy via Business Insider]

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