Showing posts with label This is nuts. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

BofA's Newest Insane Fee and news from Huffington Post Business Brief

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

BofA's Newest Insane Fee

This year South Carolina income tax refunds will arrive on prepaid debit cards unless taxpayers specifically opt for a check or direct deposit.

	Dow Hits Huge Marker
	General Electric Tax Rate 2.3 Percent Over Decade, Report Finds
	The New One Percent May Cost Health Insurers Big Time
	'Tip Theft' Bill Would Crack Down On Alleged Employer Skimming
	The Wall Street Guide To Making A Boatload Of Money

BLOG POSTS

	Marcelo Giugale: The Lingering Global Crisis and the New Poor The lingering global crisis is forcing us to rethink the objectives and the tools of social policy. Past meltdowns in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin-America provide us with some good hints on what to expect and how to respond.
	Arvind Ganesan: Corporate Crime and Punishment Should corporations have immunity for human rights abuses? Today, the Supreme Court hears arguments in a case that will decide whether corporations will be exempted from a crucial law that allows foreign victims of serious human rights abuses to sue them in US courts for civil damages.
	Sen. Ron Wyden: Trade Rules Matter If China is violating trade rules to help its industries undercut the price of solar panels and other environmental goods, it changes the competition from a race to produce better products more efficiently to a competition to cheat better.
	John Fullerton: Beyond Firm-Level Sustainable Capitalism We need the sustainable business community to join the ongoing systems level conversation about how to make the whole global economy truly sustainable, not merely less unsustainable.
	Women 2.0: The New Girls Network: Building A Bigger Pie for High-Growth Women-Led Companies There are incredible things happening in the startup world for women entrepreneurs.

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

Thursday, January 19, 2012

U.S. Department of State: Denial of the Keystone XL Pipeline Application

Denial of the Keystone XL Pipeline Application

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/01/181473.htm

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

January 18, 2012

Today, the Department of State recommended to President Obama that the presidential permit for the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline be denied and, that at this time, the TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline be determined not to serve the national interest. The President concurred with the Department’s recommendation, which was predicated on the fact that the Department does not have sufficient time to obtain the information necessary to assess whether the project, in its current state, is in the national interest.

Since 2008, the Department has been conducting a transparent, thorough, and rigorous review of TransCanada’s permit application for the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline project. As a result of this process, particularly given the concentration of concerns regarding the proposed route through the Sand Hills area of Nebraska, on November 10, 2011, the Department announced that it could not make a national interest determination regarding the permit application without additional information. Specifically, the Department called for an assessment of alternative pipeline routes that avoided the uniquely sensitive terrain of the Sand Hills in Nebraska. The Department estimated, based on prior projects of similar length and scope, that it could complete the necessary review to make a decision by the first quarter of 2013. In consultations with the State of Nebraska and TransCanada, they agreed with the estimated timeline.

On December 23, 2011, the Congress passed the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 (“the Act”). The Act provides 60 days for the President to determine whether the Keystone XL pipeline is in the national interest – which is insufficient for such a determination.

The Department’s denial of the permit application does not preclude any subsequent permit application or applications for similar projects.

PRN: 2012/070

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Saturday, January 07, 2012

Voice of Baltimore: BATTER UP! — Convenience store clerk in Sykesville battered with baseball bat

Voice of Baltimore:

BATTER UP! — Convenience store clerk in Sykesville battered with baseball bat

http://voiceofbaltimore.org/archives/1745

BATTER UP! — Convenience store clerk in Sykesville battered with baseball bat

January 6th, 2012

Darrell L. Webb Jr. is wanted for armed robbery, first degree assault, and theft, after allegedly attacking a convenience store clerk early Friday in Sykesville with a baseball bat. He is still at large.

BYSTANDER INTERRUPTS ROBBERY,
TACKLES ASSAILANT BUT FAILS
TO SUBDUE HIM FOR POLICE

2nd BASEBALL BAT ATTACK IN WEEK

By Kevin E. Dayhoff

A baseball bat was the weapon of choice as a High’s Dairy Store employee in Carroll County was assaulted for the second time this week by a man who robbed the store, taking an undetermined number of Maryland Lottery scratch-off tickets.

The store clerk at High’s Village Road location in Sykesville was struck several times in the head and body early Friday by an assailant who had allegedly threatened him several days before and who then fled the scene after being interrupted by a bystander who observed the incident and attempted to intervene.

State troopers and Sykesville police responded to the store about 6:45 a.m. Friday in answer to a report of an “assault with a baseball bat.”

According to the Maryland State Police, when the officers arrived on the scene, they “located the lone store clerk suffering from multiple injuries from an apparent strike to the head and body with a baseball bat.”

A warrant was subsequently issued for Darrell L. Webb Jr., 21, of the 1800 block of Amanda Lane in Sykesville, charging him with armed robbery, first-degree assault, and theft, with additional charges pending.

“Troopers believe Webb acted alone and at this time is the only suspect in the incident,” the state police reported.

Voice of Baltimore: BATTER UP! — Convenience store clerk in Sykesville battered with baseball bat http://tinyurl.com/8x8e6g4

Labels: Carroll Co Dist Sykesville, Carroll Co Dist Sykesville Police, Carroll County crime, Crime, Dayhoff Media Voice of Baltimore, Law Order, MD State Police, Media Voice of Baltimore, This is nuts

http://voiceofbaltimore.org/archives/1745

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Friday, January 06, 2012

Convenience store clerk assaulted with baseball bat duringrobbery in Sykesville

Darrell L. Webb Jr., 21, wanted for armed robbery, first degree assault, and theft.

A citizen interrupted the robbery and tackled the suspect as he fled the store but was unable to hold him until police arrived

By Kevin Dayhoff, January 6, 2012

http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2012/01/convenience-store-clerk-assaulted-with.html

Maryland state troopers and Sykesville police responded to the High’s Convenience Store at 7400 Village Road, Sykesville this morning for a report of an assault with a baseball bat.

The Maryland State Police have reported that when the officers arrived upon the scene, at approximately 6:45 a.m., “officers located the lone store clerk suffering from multiple injuries from an apparent strike to the head and body with a baseball bat.”

A warrant has subsequently been issued for Darrell L. Webb Jr., 21, of the 1800 block of Amanda Lane, Sykesville, Md., charging him armed robbery, first-degree assault, and theft with additional charges that are pending. “Troopers believe Webb acted alone and at this time is the only suspect in the incident,” according to state police.

The 21-year-old clerk was transported to the Carroll Hospital Center by the Sykesville Volunteer Fire Company with non-life threatening injuries.

State police report that the preliminary investigation indicates that “Webb entered the convenience store and threatened the store clerk verbally. He then used the bat to strike the clerk several times before fleeing the store.”

Police say that in addition to assaulting the clerk with a baseball bat, Webb also stole an undetermined amount of Maryland Lottery scratch off tickets…

“An alert citizen observed Webb enter the store with the bat and interrupted the assault,” say police. “The citizen tackled Webb as he fled from the store but, but was unable to detain him until police arrived.”

Webb is reported to have fled the scene “in a dark blue 2006 Chrysler Sebring with Maryland tags 8AK5106,” according to state police.

It has also been reported that this is not the first time Webb has threatened the clerk. In the course of the investigation “Investigators also learned that Webb is believed to have threatened the same store clerk with a baseball bat several days prior to this incident. That incident is being investigated by officers with the Sykesville Police Department.”

Troopers from the Westminster Barrack, along with members of the Sykesville Police Department, are searching for Webb. Anyone with information about the robbery or Webb’s whereabouts is asked to contact state police at 410-386-3000.

- 30-

Labels: Carroll County crime, Dayhoff writing essays crime, Law Order, This is nuts

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Friday, December 30, 2011

Verizon Wireless to charge customers $2 when they pay bills online or by phone - The Washington Post

Verizon Wireless to charge customers $2 when they pay bills online or by phone - The Washington Post: "By Paul Miller | The Verge, Published: December 29

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/verizon-to-charge-customers-2-when-they-pay-bills-online-or-by-phone/2011/12/29/gIQAUaBqOP_story.html?wpisrc=nl_tech

Well, it's true. Verizon has confirmed to us that it's adding the $2 convenience fee for paying your bill online or over the phone, and has posted a blurb in its News Center detailing the options available to someone who wants to avoid it.

Obviously many customers use AutoPay, which avoids this hassle entirely, but we're sure there will be plenty of customers frustrated by the fee when it goes live on January 15th.

What's unclear right now is if this constitutes a change in contract terms, which could potentially allow unsatisfied customers to hop off Verizon without a spendy ETF penalty.

We've asked Verizon to clarify, and we also asked for some more details on exactly why online and robo-phone payments are more expensive to process than the "free" options they list — you know, the ones where you pay Verizon money, but don't pay for the privilege." http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/verizon-to-charge-customers-2-when-they-pay-bills-online-or-by-phone/2011/12/29/gIQAUaBqOP_story.html?wpisrc=nl_tech

'via Blog this'

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2011/12/verizon-wireless-to-charge-customers-2.html

++++++++++++++

Verizon Preps New $2 Convenience Fee:

Verizon Faces Backlash Over Fees, Outages

http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2011/12/29/verizon_preps_new_2_convenience_fee.html?from=rss/&wpisrc=newsletter_slatest

Company blames network glitches on "growing pains," says more are possible.

By Josh Voorhees and Will Oremus | Posted Friday, Dec. 30, 2011

"UPDATE: The last week of the year has not been a good one for Verizon.

Not only is it dealing with an Internet backlash over its new convenience fees, but it vaunted 4G data network suffered its third outage of the month. In an interview with the tech blog GigaOm, a top company official blamed the spotty service on "growing pains."" http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2011/12/29/verizon_preps_new_2_convenience_fee.html?from=rss/&wpisrc=newsletter_slatest

'via Blog this'

More Update:

Verizon Drops Plan for $2 Fee on Some Bill Payments

By BRIAN X. CHEN and RON LIEBER

| December 30, 2011

In a remarkably swift reversal, Verizon Wireless has canceled plans to impose a $2 “convenience fee” on some bill payments, just a day after announcing thenew policy.

The company said in a statement that it was dropping the plan in light of customer feedback.

“Verizon Wireless has decided it will not institute the fee for online or telephone single payments that was announced earlier this week,” it said. “The company made the decision in response to customer feedback about the plan, which was designed to improve the efficiency of those transactions. The company continues to encourage customers to take advantage of the numerous simple and convenient payment methods it provides.”

Objections to the fee came fast and furious... http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/30/verizon-backtracks-on-plan-for-2-convenience-fee/

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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Christopher Elliott: TSA Watch special report: A Christmas card from Al-Qaeda

TSA Watch special report: A Christmas card from Al-Qaeda

DECEMBER 25, 2011

http://www.elliott.org/blog/tsa-watch-special-report-a-christmas-card-from-al-qaeda/

Maybe it was the frosting, which a TSA agent tsk-tsked for being “too gel-like.”

Or maybe it was the sinister name of the company that baked it — Wicked Good Cupcakes — that made the federal agency charged with protecting America’s transportation systems suspect the cupcake contained more than chocolatey holiday cheer.

Whatever the reason, we now havethe latest TSA scandal: Rebecca Hains, a Peabody, Mass., college professor, says a single cupcake was confiscated by TSA agents in Las Vegas last week.

The agency bans certain liquids and gels, even though there’s no convincing evidence that terrorists are plotting to bring down a plane with liquid explosives, or specifically, that the topping in a single tasty holiday cupcake could incinerate an aircraft.

These must be actions of a single, overzealous TSA agent, right?

If only. When I mentioned this story on Twitter a few days ago, I heard back from readers who said airport screeners were busy confiscating all kinds of Christmas contraband, including snowglobes and cheese dip.

The TSA’s explanation, in case you care ... http://www.elliott.org/blog/tsa-watch-special-report-a-christmas-card-from-al-qaeda/

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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Christopher Elliott: TSA Watch special report: The TSA is like getting a Christmas card from Al-Qaeda, confiscated snowglobes and other epic sagas from the world of traveling in America

Christopher Elliott: TSA Watch special report: The TSA is like getting a Christmas card from Al-Qaeda, confiscated snowglobes and other epic sagas of security-theater from the world of traveling in America

http://www.elliott.org/blog/tsa-watch-special-report-a-christmas-card-from-al-qaeda/

Whatever the reason, we now have the latest TSA scandal: Rebecca Hains, a Peabody, Mass., college professor, says a single cupcake was confiscated by TSA agents in Las Vegas last week...

The TSA later backtracked and said pies were OK.

Snowglobes are not, however. Why? I haven’t heard a reasonable explanation yet. But here’s what happened when agents told blogger and Houston Chronicle features editor Kyrie O’Connor she couldn’t take hers on the plane earlier this month: http://blog.chron.com/memo/2011/12/america-declines-and-takes-me-with-it-part-the-567th/:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

Labels: Annual Christmas, Business airports airlines flying, This is nuts, Transportation Security Admin,Travel, US Govt TSA qv Transpo

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2011/12/christopher-elliott-tsa-watch-special.html Christopher Elliott: TSA Watch special report: The TSA is like getting a Christmas card from Al-Qaeda, confiscated snowglobes and other epic sagas from the world of traveling in America...

Elliott's E-Mail
12/27/2011 | Advocating for you since 1996

What's the "point"?

This is the time of year for the legendary "mileage runs" -- the fabled flights to nowhere that elite-level frequent fliers take in order to retain their status. But in my latest National Geographic Traveler column, I wonder if the game is worth playing at all.

I devote an entire chapter in my book, Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals, to loyalty programs. If you want to read more about the hazards of point collecting, you absolutely have to pick up your very own copy.

By the way, Scammed arrives in stores today! Be sure to ask for it at your favorite bookstore. (And please consider supporting your local bookstore, which is a vital part of every enlightened community.)

I want to give a big shout-out to my friends at Luggage Pros, which offers all the name-brand luggage you need for your next trip, plus an exclusive 115 percent low price guarantee and free returns on all products. Luggage Pros is one of the underwriters that funds the consumer advocacy you read here. If you're looking for great luggage, I hope you'll visit Luggage Pros.

Also ...

• You've probably heard about the TSA's cupcake incident. Now read the rest of the story, including the incidents the other TSA beat reporters overlooked, and what it means to air travelers. You can also read it over at the TSA News Blog.

• If you've thought that luggage fees were a scam, you'll want to read today's story about Air Berlin. Did they offer this customer, whose luggage was also delayed by almost a month, enough compensation?

• Plus, tell me if I should mediate the case of a cruise passenger who says he was smoked out of his suite on a recent vacation. Should cruise lines be responsible for letting secondhand smoke into a room, and if so, what should they do?

Everyone likes to think of the week between Christmas and New Years Day as being slow, but not for me. A lot of you are out traveling, and I'm here for you. Thank you for being there for me in 2011.

Buy this book now

Critics have called Scammed: How to Save Money and Find Better Service in a World of Shemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals "eye-opening” and "inspiring” — it'll "grab your attention and won't let go.” This page-turner is available right now. Order your copy!

Connect with me online

I love hearing from you. Really, I do! Please e-mail me at elliottc@gmail.com or call me at (202) 370-7934. Also, try me onFacebook, LinkedIn and Google. Or follow me on Twitter or Yelp. See you online.

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http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2011/12/christopher-elliott-tsa-watch-special.html Christopher Elliott: TSA Watch special report: The TSA is like getting a Christmas card from Al-Qaeda, confiscated snowglobes and other epic sagas from the world of traveling in America...
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