Chad’s News

I’m all for à la carte cable television, where consumers get to choose (and pay for) only those channels they want to receive. I can understand why the cable companies are reluctant to provide this service, but I don’t see why the FCC has been dragging its heels. It really seems like a no-brainer.

Link: http://arstechnica.com/…

Starting next Monday (2007-05-14), first class postage in the US will increase to 41 cents. In addition, the previously mentioned “forever” stamps are already on sale. These forever stamps are a great deal, but I’m spending my money on the Star Wars stamps.

Link: http://www.usps.com/…
(via Lifehacker)

TurboTax customers who e-filed at the last minute this year ran into some serious problems. The company’s servers were overwhelmed—I heard a report on the radio saying they were getting 50-60 requests per second. Some customers printed out the forms and made a midnight run to the post office, while others missed the deadline. Fortunately the IRS was merciful and gave TurboTax users a 48-hour reprieve.

Link: http://news.com.com/…

If you bought one of the CDs associated with the Sony rootkit fiasco, there is a second settlement for which you qualify (first one here).

This settlement is between the Federal Trade Commission and Sony. It allows you to (1) exchange any affected CDs and (2) receive up to $150 in reimbursement for your efforts to remove the DRM software.

Everybody and their brother has been reporting on this, but nobody gave instructions on how to file a claim. So keep an eye on Chad’s News, and another one on the settlement page—the current info is for the previous settlement.

Link: http://www.ftc.gov/…

With a few exceptions, I try not to use Chad’s News as an editorial platform. But this statement by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales absolutely astounded me. It is wrong, wrong, wrong. (And keep in mind that I voted for this administration.)

Link: http://sfgate.com/…

Taxpayers are eligible this year for a one-time refund of excise taxes paid on phone bills. The standard refund amount varies from $30 to $60 -or- you can dig up old phone bills and calculate the actual amount paid. The refund is not automatic—you have to claim it by filling in a line on form 1040 or 1040a, or by filing form 1040EZ-T.

Link: http://www.snopes.com/…
(via digg)

The US Mint has implemented some regulations that prohibit people from melting down pennies or nickels. Apparently the base metals are worth more than the coins.

Link: http://money.cnn.com/…
(via digg)

From the article: “Of the 383 pieces of legislation that were signed into law during the two-year 109th Congress, more than one-quarter dealt with naming or renaming federal buildings…” I used to think it was a good thing if Congress just spun its wheels and didn’t accomplish much, but now that it’s happening, I’m not so sure anymore.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/…
(via digg)

Apparently it is quite easy (and legal) for law enforcement to use your cell phone as an eavesdropping tool. With the right software downloaded to the phone, it becomes a microphone and transmits all nearby conversations to a third party. This can be done without the owner’s knowledge, and the eavesdropping occurs even when the phone is turned off. There is, however, some question as to the exact methods used by the FBI in this specific case. They may have installed traditional hardware bugs in the suspects’ phones, but some experts believe they used the software method.

For the paranoid, there is this link, explaining how to detect/circumvent software bugs on your phone. More information on how a cell phone can become a bug is at this link (scroll down to the article entitled “Cell Phones Become Instant Bugs!”).

Link: http://news.com.com/…
(via Ars Technica)

A US District Court judge has ruled that the US Treasury must change its currency such that blind people can distinguish between bills of different denominations. Apparently the US is one of the few countries where this is a problem. An appeal has already been authorized.

Link: http://www.acsblog.org/…
(via Slashdot)

Link #2: http://today.reuters.com/…

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the US Dept. of Transportation are campaigning to put interlock devices in the cars of all convicted drunk drivers. The devices are essentially breathalyzers that keep the car from starting if alcohol is detected above a preset level. Most states already require them for some offenders, but MADD wants them installed for everyone convicted of drunk driving—even first offenders.

Link: http://www.iht.com/…

Starting in 2007, the US Treasury will release “presidential” dollar coins. They’ll be phased in over time, similar to the state quarters, for all presidents up through Richard Nixon. Of note is that the coins will have inscriptions on the outside edge with date, mint mark, “In God We Trust,” and “E Pluribus Unum.” I’ve also heard that they will not tarnish as quickly as the Sacagawea dollars.

Link: http://www.usmint.gov/…

Link: http://today.reuters.com/…
(via Blogcritics Magazine via digg)