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Not a huge change, but annoying nonetheless… From my latest Verizon bill: Effective September 1, 2004, a monthly recurring charge of $1.50 will be charged to all subscribers of the Verizon e-Values Long Distance Plan.
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Noticed today that as a result of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) of 2003, consumers are entitled to a free credit report each year. I browsed the various credit reporting web sites, however, and all of them still charge a small fee. Apparently, this part of the law doesn’t go into effect … …
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Republican-Led House Defeats Effort to Curb Patriot Act. The Republican-led House bowed to a White House veto threat Thursday and stood by the USA Patriot Act, defeating an effort to block the part of the anti-terrorism law that helps the government investigate people’s reading habits. The effort to defy Bush and bridle the law’s powers … …
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Yahoo Fantasy Football is up. Only two more months until the season begins…
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Just noticed earlier this week that half.com is shutting down later this year. Probably a good move for Ebay since I think they can make more money in the long run this way. Since there are no listing fees on half.com, I could list a book for six months and even after paying a 15% … …
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Top Court Rules People Must Give Police Their Names. I first read about the Hiibel case several months ago, and it inspired me to experiment with carrying no identification except for a health card (and work ID when necessary). Interestingly, this created a problem only once a few weeks ago when I was carded at … …
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Government Rejects $1.6 Billion Loan Guarantee for United. An unexpected but excellent decision. The rejection was the second in 18 months for United, which is based outside Chicago. In December 2002, the Air Transportation Stabilization Board rejected United’s first request, for $1.8 billion in loan guarantees. That action sent the airline into bankruptcy.
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No Conviction for Student in Terror Case. Follow-up to an April NY Times article. Handing the government a stinging defeat, a jury acquitted a Saudi graduate student on Thursday of charges that he had used his computer expertise to help Muslim terrorists raise money and recruit followers. “I hope the message is that the First … …
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Time to get off my duff and restart the learning Cantonese project. It would be a shame to let so many years of Chinese school go to waste. The annual Museum Mile Festival will be held next week.
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RCN filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection yesterday. Looks like the bondholders get converted to new equity as expected. RCN’s stock is effectively worthless under the plan as proposed. Holders of RCN’s existing preferred stock and common stock will receive, on a basis to be determined, equity warrants that are exercisable into two percent of … …