TEDx Talk with Damien Riehl: “Copyrighting all the melodies to avoid accidental infringement” (30 Jan 2020) In the litany of copyright infringement lawsuits, technology lawyer and musician Damien Riehl demonstrates that music is merely math, and has a finite number of possible melodies. If you’ve ever thought a song you like sounded similar to another, the… Continue reading Damien Riehl is going to copyright billions of unique melodies and put them in the public domain (30 Jan 2020)
Category: Consumer News
HEALTHCARE – Why Drugs Are So Expensive
Americans today spend more on pharmaceuticals per capita than anyone else in the world, and more than one in five say they have trouble affording their prescription drugs. But they might not know about the alternative pathways to medicine. VICE’s Hamilton Morris explores the world of clandestine chemists, DIY bio hackers, and grey markets to… Continue reading HEALTHCARE – Why Drugs Are So Expensive
Why College Athletes Don’t Get Paid
College sports have become a multi-billion dollar industry, but the NCAA’s regulations prohibit amateur athletes from profiting off their abilities to go pro. But a new lawsuit could completely uped the NCAA and the college athletic business model. VICE News’ Gianna Toboni meets several athletes and coaches living the pay-for-play saga. (VICE News, 29 Dec… Continue reading Why College Athletes Don’t Get Paid
When Nina Kollars Received a free Nespresso machine.
Introduction A con artist conducting a financial fraud scam through eBay sent Nina Kollars a free Nespresso machine. The scammer didn’t realize that Nina Kollars is an Associate Professor at the Naval War College with extensive experience in Strategic and Operational Research. Suspecting something was going on, Nina began conducting an elaborate research project on… Continue reading When Nina Kollars Received a free Nespresso machine.
Promoting Alcohol and Tobacco by Advertising to High School Students
It’s getting more difficult for companies to advertise tobacco and alcohol products. Tobacco ads are no longer permitted on television.(1) On websites and YouTube, age verification is required to view content purportedly targeting an adult audience. The tobacco industry has a long history of marketing to young people. The goal is to get people addicted… Continue reading Promoting Alcohol and Tobacco by Advertising to High School Students
Briggs & Stratton Definitely Wants You to Buy/Not Buy the Snapper Cordless Lawn Mower
I was researching cordless electric lawn mowers recently and was very encouraged to see that Briggs & Stratton has rebranded themselves in a future-forward way by providing battery packs for Snapper cordless electric lawn mowers. So, in this way they are offering the ‘engine’ of the future. Still powering our lives, but now with a quieter,… Continue reading Briggs & Stratton Definitely Wants You to Buy/Not Buy the Snapper Cordless Lawn Mower
How to Unsubscribe from the Wall Street Journal and Cancel the Digital Access Subscription [SOLVED]
To unsubscribe and cancel digital access to the Wall Street Journal, follow these instructions: From the main Wall Street Journal website visit the Customer Care page (linked under your profile icon). You’ll find an automated chat system under Contact Us. Click on ‘Cancel’ and the toll free number is provided 1-800-JOURNAL or 609-514-0870. You must… Continue reading How to Unsubscribe from the Wall Street Journal and Cancel the Digital Access Subscription [SOLVED]
How to unsubscribe from the Los Angeles Times and Cancel the Digital Access Subscription [SOLVED]
UPDATE: 28 Mar 2023 The LA Times now provides a page with this concise description of how to unsubscribe: They have clarified that even if the payments stop being received, your subscription obligation continues until you formally request a cancellation of the subscription. You will be obligated to pay past-due subscription fees until you cancel.… Continue reading How to unsubscribe from the Los Angeles Times and Cancel the Digital Access Subscription [SOLVED]
Q: How is spam sent from my own email address? [SOLVED]
Have you ever wondered how or why spam seems to be sent from your own email address? Perhaps you’ve receive a notices of undeliverable messages that you’ve never sent, or a confirmation receipt for a message you never sent. This video with Greg Johnson explains these common issues. (10 Apr 2019) Learn more at ResourcesForLife.com/technology
Product Review Bias – It’s hard to criticize what we really like.
When creating reviews of products or services, it’s natural to praise the products we like and use. We tend to overlook their faults. This video with Greg Johnson explores this issue. (8 Apr 2019)
CONSUMER ALERT – Microsoft OneDrive PDF Phishing Shared Document Scam
This video describes a Microsoft OneDrive phishing scam that arrives as an email and appears to be from a known acquaintance sharing some PDF files. As the video explains, the process builds trust with the ultimate goal of getting the user to enter their Microsoft account login information.
Dark Patterns Attempt to Manipulate and Control Consumers
Dark Patterns are attempts by advertisers and content designers to manipulate consumers into taking actions that companies desire (like purchasing something) while making it difficult or confusing to take actions companies don’t want (such as canceling an account or opting out). Here are some resources to help you learn more about these deceptive practices. More can… Continue reading Dark Patterns Attempt to Manipulate and Control Consumers