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Month: February 2015

Cybercrime / Privacy

VIDEO: Yea! Net Neutrality passed and the dress is blue. Now, how about focusing on the real problem?

February 27, 2015 Bob Sullivan 0

As if on cue, the Internet exploded yesterday with a vigorous debate involving millions of people around the globe, celebrating the arrival of Net Neutrality. The debate was about the color of a dress.  Thank goodness for Net Neutrality. So before I get to Net Neutrality, let me get this [Keep reading]

The Restless Project

Even as minimum wage rises, college grads’ pay falls — and America hasn’t gotten a raise in 35 years

February 26, 2015 Bob Sullivan 0

There’s been a lot of talk about raising the minimum wage lately, and it is good that workers and Walmart, TJ Maxx, and Marshall’s will soon have a little more money in their paychecks. Now, what about the rest of the country? Another comprehensive report issued by the Economic Policy [Keep reading]

Personal

Beneful lawsuit: Sure sounds scary, but pet owners should do their own research

February 25, 2015 Bob Sullivan 0

By now, you’ve do doubt heard about a lawsuit alleging that Purina’s Beneful dog food is dangerous. Depending on the social media post of a link to a story about another social media post that you re-posted, you might now believe that thousands of of dogs (3,000? 4,000?) have died [Keep reading]

Gotchas / Consumer

You’re saving a lot of money on gas — perhaps $750 this year. Where’s it going?

February 25, 2015 Bob Sullivan 0

Americans are enjoying a nice raise at the moment, in the form of dramatically lower gas prices. The government’s Energy Information Administration estimates that the average household will spend $750 less on gas this year, which is like getting a roughly $1,000 raise, since the savings aren’t taxed. For a little [Keep reading]

Gotchas / Consumer

Here a score, there a score, everywhere a score…consumers confused, CFPB says

February 23, 2015 Bob Sullivan 0

Credit scores and credit reports have been somewhat of a mystery to the public for decades, but now U.S. consumers are gaining unprecedented access to them. The new transparency is undoubtedly positive, but a critical question remains: Will it help consumers, or just confuse them? The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau [Keep reading]

Personal

VIDEO: Inside Emily’s “Oz,” and how tech helps people with disabilities

February 20, 2015 Bob Sullivan 0

As a committed tech skeptic, I am often wrong =)  Technology does wonderful, often magical things for the world, but there’s nothing more magical than those who do work on accessibility.  I was lucky enough to be included in a beautiful TODAY show piece Friday by colleague and friend Kerry [Keep reading]

Gotchas / Consumer

Why aren’t airline ticket prices falling along with fuel prices? A ‘free’ market lesson

February 19, 2015 Bob Sullivan 1

With fuel costs plummeting, why haven’t airlines dropped ticket prices? After all, airfares rise pretty quick when has prices rise.  After all, supply and demand are all that matter in a free market, right? What goes up must come down, right? Ah, were it only that simple.  Here’s another lesson [Keep reading]

No Picture
Gotchas / Consumer

Red Tape Archive: Why prices go up faster than they come down

February 19, 2015 Bob Sullivan 5

APRIL 25, 2011 — You might have heard over the weekend that skyrocketing gas prices have finally “plateaued.” If gas prices were like gravity, you would anticipate they would start plummeting soon. Raise your hand if you expect that. Me neither. While the words “skyrocketing” and “gas prices” often end [Keep reading]

Cybercrime / Privacy

VIDEO: Yes, your TV really may be watching you

February 19, 2015 Bob Sullivan 3

After we all did Big Brother stories last week about Samsung’s ominous Smart TV privacy policy, more alarming information was found. The biggest “Doh!” — Samsung not only collects what you say in your living room, it uploads the content in the clear, without encrypting it. That means anyone who [Keep reading]

Cybercrime / Privacy

Know the signs: Six horror stories of elder financial abuse (part 2 of a series)

February 17, 2015 Bob Sullivan 1

Elder financial abuse is a big problem that’s getting bigger. Back in 2010, MetLife released a report estimating that $2.9 billion is lost by America’s elderly each year, based on published accounts of fraud, but most observers believed that figure was low. A new survey released last week might be [Keep reading]

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About me

BOB SULLIVAN is a veteran journalist and the author of four books, including the 2008 New York Times Best-Seller, Gotcha Capitalism, and the 2010 New York Times Best Seller, Stop Getting Ripped Off! His latest, The Plateau Effect, was published in 2013, and as a paperback, called Getting Unstuck in 2014. He has won the Society of Professional Journalists prestigious Public Service award, a Peabody award, and The Consumer Federation of America Betty Furness award, and been given Consumer Action’s Consumer Excellence Award.

Bob Sullivan

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