Good reading for January 11th:
- FBI wiretaps dropped due to unpaid bills – Yahoo! News – “Telephone companies have cut off FBI wiretaps used to eavesdrop on suspected criminals because of the bureau’s repeated failures to pay phone bills on time.” Glad to hear they don’t discriminate.
- Technology Review: Second Life Closes Banks – …this week, Linden Lab abruptly banned virtual banks that can’t furnish “proof of an applicable government registration statement or financial institution charter.” The requirement appears likely to shut down all of Second Life’s banks.
- BusinessWeek: Delinquency Rates On the Rise – After a gloomy holiday season hobbled by rising unemployment and fears of a recession, the bad news just keeps coming for cash-strapped consumers. Rates of delinquency for credit-card holders rose in November…
- Fresh Air: Fees, Cheats and ‘Gotcha Capitalism’ – [Bob] Sullivan’s latest book is about the hidden fees found in many phone, cable, credit card and other bills. All told, he says, corporations are nickel-and-diming their customers to death — or at least to the tune of $1,000 or more a year.
- The 15 most rewarding credit cards – MSN Money – The thrill of a credit card rewards program is so fleeting. Yes, it’s wonderful to get free stuff — travel, cash back, money for college — just by using your credit card. But with so many rewards programs out there, it’s hard not to second-guess your choice.
- Conveniently Reduce Energy Consumption With Belkinâ��s Conserve Surge Protector – “The new Belkin Conserve is an 8-outlet surge protector that makes it simple to eliminate wasteful standby power to your electronic devices…” Nice!
- F.T.C. Asks if Carbon-Offset Money Is Winding Up True Green – New York Times – Corporations and shoppers in the United States spent more than $54 million last year on carbon offset credits … But where exactly is that money going?
