I’m not sure if this goes into the “well DUH” file or if it’s actually a good reminder. You’ll have to tell me. I’m talking about the FTC‘s publication of some new guides for bloggers with respect to disclosing relationships they may have with those companies or products they review. In a nutshell, bloggers are advised (they’re not actually rules or pay a fine) to say if they’re being given free product or paid somehow for their review by the reviewed entity. Those same standards don’t apply to “traditional” media such as newspapers. There is a good explanation of the arguments here and of course the blogosphere is buzzing but to me it’s a whole lot of “so what.” Continue reading
Category Archives: Huh?
Held Up Without A Gun
I’ve been holding this post until today since it’s food related and we try to do food on Fridays. The Springsteen-based title is in honor of taking the family to see him tomorrow night but it’s applicable to the subject at hand. My friend Mongrel is of Italian descent and revels in what he calls the “underlying criminal mindset” of the entire country. I think he’s typically hyperbolic about that but a couple of food incidents sort of have me believing it. Continue reading
Filed under food, Helpful Hints, Huh?, Reality checks
Stolen Cars
Suppose someone steals your Escalade. Your car is important to you in many ways beyond the thousands of dollars it cost you. It might get you to work so your livelihood depends on it. You use it to go to the store. You drive to pick up your kids. It’s important, right? Let’s further suppose that you have OnStar activated in the car and you’ve paid your $200 for the yearly subscription. The good folks at GM will use the system to help the police find your vehicle since not only have they sold you the car and taken your support money but they have a vested interest in you remaining a customer when you go to buy your next vehicle. Common sense, it seems. Well, based on this article from yesterday’s NY Times, apparently not to everyone. Continue reading
Filed under Helpful Hints, Huh?, Reality checks
Consult Keith 