Marketers Launch Sneaky Campaigns at Kids
Some of the consumer groups have published a new report documenting some of the marketing practices aimed at kids. Like this one:
KFC used a high-pitched tone as a promotional "buzz" device for a recent "interactive advertising campaign." The MosquitoTone™ was embedded in TV commercials to launch KFC’s new "Boneless Variety Bucket™." In its press release, .... [Click here to read the rest of this post]New Hampshire Gets Tough on REAL ID
In a move that is satisfying and liberating, the state of NH has proposed the strongest anti-REAL ID bill to date.
I. The general court finds that the public policy established by Congress in the Real ID Act of 2005, Public Law 109-13, is contrary and repugnant to Articles 1 through 10 of the New Hampshire constitution .... [Click here to read the rest of this post]EU Tells Google, 2 Years is 2 Long
While many applauded this (because at least they were going to anonymize it), many others say it doesn't go far enough.
When asked why they need personally identifiable information in the first place, their answer is for service optimization. I, .... [Click here to read the rest of this post]
Tags: Google, UKWordPress Security
So there's a bunch of vulnerabilities in older versions of wordpress. There are other reasons to upgrade besides security.
For example, just going from 2.0 to 2.1, I could see a ton of usability features that made my site much easier to manage. And when I read about 2.2 and how a error in your code wouldn't .... [Click here to read the rest of this post]
Tags: WordpressLightsaber Toy Becomes Crime-Fighting Device
This is pretty neat. This drywall contractor with no inventing experience made an effective telescoping stun stick / taser out of a simple lightsaber toy.
That's pretty slick.
.... [Click here to read the rest of this post]Tags: Lightsaber, Self DefenseDoctors Fight Data Brokers
Seattle pediatrician Rupin Thakkar's first inkling that the pharmaceutical industry was peering over his shoulder and into his prescription pad came in a letter from a drug representative about the generic drops Thakkar prescribes to treat infectious pinkeye.
In the letter, the salesperson wrote that Thakkar was causing his patients to miss more days of school than .... [Click here to read the rest of this post]Using data brokering to Take the Elderly
You know all those times I've complained about data brokering and how companies are able to hit us where we are weakest because of all they learn and profile about us? I'm not just making this stuff up.
Mr. Guthrie, who lives in Iowa, had entered a few sweepstakes that caused .... [Click here to read the rest of this post]Baroody Withdraws!
From the, maybe things really are starting to look up, department, Public Citizen reports that Michael Baroody, the worst possible choice for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, has withdrawn from consideration
Of course, the White House defended him:
"Obviously we feel that he was a strong candidate who would have done a .... [Click here to read the rest of this post]Congress Applies Pressure to Gonzales After Comey Testimony
In what will hopefully end up with Gonzales fired or in jail and a trail of Bush cronies jumping ship leading to the big cheese himself, congress is finally starting to make noise about conflicts in Gonzales's testimony, questions about his fitness for the job, and most importantly, demanding that the details of the spying program come under proper .... [Click here to read the rest of this post]
Tags: Alberto Gonzales, Congress, George BushGore Attacks Bush in New Book
From ABC news:
He doesn't assail any Democrats by name. Bush, however, he names. Over and over.
...
While Gore stops short of flatly calling for the impeachment of Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, he certainly gives the impression that in his view such a move would be well deserved. He calls the president .... [Click here to read the rest of this post]