Planning to celebrate our nation's independence by imbibing at a Baltimore bar?

Do everyone a favor and program this number into your cell phone first: 1-877-963-TAXI.

AAA, Yellow Cab and the Maryland Department of Transportation have partnered for this year's Tipsy?Taxi! program, giving revelers a free cab ride home from bars this weekend ... up to $50. If you live farther away, you'll have to cover the remaining cost. 

Anyone 21 years or older can take advantage of the program for a ride home ONLY ... they won't take you to another party. Don't try to pretend you live at Mother's Federal Hill Grille!

The free rides are available from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday, July 3; from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday, July 4; and 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. July 5July 6.

Remember: Tipsy?Taxi! ... it's the only number you want to drunk dial.

(photo: Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun) 

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

Please please please verify IDs before you let anyone into your home or open the door to anyone asking to enter your home.

If you missed this little blurb yesterday, the Associated Press reported that three men posing as utility workers entered a home in Westminster yesterday and stole money and other items.

Maryland State Police said it occurred about 12:30 p.m. The men, who kept in contact with one another with portable radios, diverted the victims' attention to steal from them. Police said the men then fled in a minivan onto Route 140.

It's happening more and more. Baltimore County Police issued a warning on similar deception scams running in their jurisdiction recently.

Continue reading "Scam Watch: Thieves posing as utility workers" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 7:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

The pen manager who oversaw some of the worst documented abuses of downed animals in the Hallmark Meat Company case pled guilty today to two counts of felony animal cruelty and two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to downed animals.

San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael A. Ramos charged Daniel Navarro with animal cruelty, which was uncovered by in an investigation by The Humane Society of the United States.

HSUS says that Hallmark principally slaughtered “spent” dairy cows for the Westland Meat Co., which was the nation’s No. 2 supplier of ground beef for the National School Lunch Program.

The HSUS investigation found that many of the animals were unable to stand and walk. An HSUS investigator filmed slaughter plant employees routinely beating cows to try to make them rise. Cows were repeatedly shocked in the face and eyes with electric prods, and even rammed with the blades of a forklift.

The mistreatment occurred just long enough to make the animals get up on their feet to be slaughtered — this, HSUS says, despite the known risks that such animals may be harboring foodborne pathogens such as E. coli 0157:H7 and Salmonella, or even infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, or “mad cow disease”).

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 4:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Remember when we told you that the Humane Society of the United States found downer cows at auctions in Maryland, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Texas?

And then we told you that the Westminster Livestock Auction Market owner, James Horak, was charged with four counts of violating State Animal Health regulations?

Yesterday, the Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Roger Richardson said in response to those charges, Horak signed a consent agreement regarding violations of the Maryland Animal Health law at the auction on April 22 and 23.

“A very deliberate investigation has revealed that a ‘downer’ cow was not treated in a humane manner and the market was not prepared to handle downer animals that night,” said Agriculture Secretary Roger Richardson. “Under the terms of the consent agreement, Mr. Horak, while not admitting guilt, is not contesting the charges filed against him and has agreed to a number of actions to assure that animals in his custody will be treated humanely and in accordance with State law. Even before signing the agreement, Mr. Horak already had instituted a number of these actions.”

Continue reading "NBotW Update: Westminster Livestock Auction Operator Signs Consent Agreement" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

You say toMAYto, I say toMAHto... Either way, they're still yummy and a staple of my diet. Problem is, I was out grocery shopping on Sunday at the Shopper's Food on Eastern Avenue and searched high and low for some juicy red tomatoes. To my great disappointment, there wasn't a single tomato in the entire store. WTH? (er... that's the PG-version of WTF).

Now, don't scold me for not knowing about this sooner. I've already told you I don't go food shopping often. Also, on weekends, I will occasionally enforce a news blackout just so I can relax (hey, if you were a mathematician, you wouldn't want to solve math equations all weekend, would you?).

Anyhow, that's my sorry excuse for missing the fact that over the weekend, the Food and Drug Administration expanded its nationwide warning that a salmonellosis outbreak has been linked to consumption of certain raw red plum, red Roma, and red round tomatoes, and products containing these raw, red tomatoes.

The FDA recommends that consumers not eat raw red Roma, raw red plum, raw red round tomatoes, or products that contain these types of raw red tomatoes unless the tomatoes are from the sources listed below. If you're not sure where the tomatoes are grown or harvested, you should contact the store where the tomato purchase was made.

You can still eat cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, or tomatoes grown at home, the FDA says.

Continue reading "Tomato Warning from FDA" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 5:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Don't wait until it's too late to take precautions to safeguard your computers and other electronic items from storm damage.

After the tornado watch and other foul weather yesterday, Tech Whiz Mike Himowitz has a very timely story today about protecting against power surges and other potential power mishaps.

According to him, you don't need to spend much to insure your hardware --- and the precious data stored within --- stays functioning through many a surge caused by weather or even the cycling of appliances within your home.

Surge protectors start at $8 and go way up from there, but just make sure you look for a few basic characteristics before you invest: 

Continue reading "Storm-proof your electronics" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 3:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Tuesday's column focused on the spread of Voice over Internet Protocol phone service, or VoIP as its better known, and the concerns behind relying on a telephone that you might not work when the power goes out or when your Internet service is interrupted.

While the popularity of VoIP has grown, I'm not altogether sure that consumers are aware of the possible drawbacks to using an Internet phone, which the column pointed out that calling emergency services can be problematic. Please remember that if you move your VoIP service, you must change your billing address AND your emergency address with your provider or your 911 call could get directed to the wrong emergency calling center.

Since I haven't tried to sign on for this service myself, I was really interested to hear from Frank Bonomo who told me about what he discovered when he jumped at a triple play offer:

Continue reading "Voice over Internet phone concerns" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

At the rate we're going, we're probably going to exceed last year's record-setting number of product recalls, sez the Consumers Union, the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports.

Thus far, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has had to call back nearly 10 million products in the first quarter of this year due to 121 recalls. If this trend continues, it will mean at least 800 total by year's end --- a 70 percent increase over 2007.

What's so offensive is that some of the products recalled violate laws that have been on the books for years. If manufacturers are flouting existing rules, how can regulators protect us against new threats posed by emerging technology?

Full text of the Consumers Union announcement below the jump: 

Continue reading "Recalls on pace to break last year's record" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

As promised, here's the undercover video from the Humane Society of the United States on downer cows at auctions in Maryland, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Texas.

According to HSUS, the video of the downers was shot in April and May and shared with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer last week at a face-to-face meeting. HSUS said that Schafer pledged to look into the issue.

This video isn't quite as gruesome as the one involving Westland/Hallmark where downer cows were being poked, prodded, pushed and pulled by forklift into pens for slaughter, but it does make you worry about what might be making it into our food supply.

Continue reading "Video of more downer cows in MD & three other states" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 1:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

In just a few minutes, the Humane Society of the United States will announce new finding of its next investigation into downer cows that are being mistreated at auctions in Maryland, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Texas.

As you'll recall us telling you, HSUS undercover investigators documented earlier this year cows that were too sick or injured to stand or walk -- called "downers" by the industry (see the orginial downers video) -- being kicked, beaten, dragged with chains, shocked with electric prods, sprayed in the face with hoses, and rammed by forklifts in efforts to get them to their feet to pass USDA inspection.

The video led the recall of 143 million pounds of raw and frozen beef from California-based Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. That's the largest meat recall in U.S. history -- far surpassing 1999's 35 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat.

Continue reading "More downer cows making it into our food system?" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

A word to the wise: don't screw a compact fluorescent light bulb into a light fixture with a dimmer switch. Bad things will happen. Instead, procure a CFL that's been specially made for dimmers.

CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) — A Cumberland family has lost their home to a fire caused by using a compact fluorescent light bulb in a lamp controlled by a dimmer switch.

The state fire marshal's office says such fires are rare, but they're a real danger that people should consider when replacing incandescent bulbs with the more efficient fluorescent type. Some fluorescent bulbs are specially designed to work with dimmers. Those that shouldn't be used with dimmer switches carry a warning label.

Truck driver Rick Jenkins says he didn't think to read the label before screwing in the bulb. The fire caused 165,000 dollars worth of damage to his home.

We've blogged before about the precautions necessary when disposing of these bulbs, but there are definitely benefits.

Continue reading "Don't dim these bulbs!" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 6:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

RadioJamaica reported this week that the Consumer Affairs Commission cautioned consumers to be on the look out for a toy labeled "Fart Bomb" that is packaged in aluminum foil.

On Tuesday, more than 30 children of the Bradford Preparatory School in Buff Bay, Portland were hospitalized after a dangerous chemical escaped in a classroom after a child reportedly opened the package. The students experienced vomiting, difficulty breathing and diarrhea as a result of the chemical, RadioJamaica said.

Follow the jump to see the directions on the fart toy.

Continue reading "Recalled: Stink Fart Bomb causes nausea and vomiting" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

This morning as I was driving on Falls Road, a woman in a minivan was riding up on my back bumper close enough that I thought she was about to climb right into my passenger seat. Of course, when I looked at her more closely (gosh, I probably could have whispered in her ear she was so close), she was yapping away on her phone.

It almost made me fully support the measure trying to ban cell phone use while driving.

But then I rememberd that Jonathan Adkins from the Governor's Highway Safety Association e-mailed and said, "These bans are popular with the public, but have little impact on safety. If your readers need a resource as to which states ban cell phones while driving, our website is current."

http://ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html

When I mentioned banning texting, he responded by saying: "We don't support the ban on texting either. Very difficult to enforce. That said, it's common sense that drivers shouldn't be texting and driving."

Ah. But see? He makes such a good point. I think he's convinced me. We shouldn't have to legislate common sense, but we sure do try don't we? (cough cough... trans fats anyone?).

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 6:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

The issue has come before the General Assembly before and failed to pass. My colleague Tim reported yesterday that legislation to ban using a cell phone while driving once again ran into a bump in the road. Members of the  House Environmental Matters Committee raised skepticism about the bill that already cleared the Senate last week.

If passed, the measure would outlaw talking on a hand-held cell phone or text-messaging while driving. It would still allow, however, hands-free devices and speakerphones. Also, if you are penalized $50 for a first-time offense, you can have that waived if you purchase hands-free gear.

Will it pass? It's hard to say since it's got plenty of support and opposition. Keep in mind that other legislation introduced this year that would have banned text-messaging or forbidden school bus drivers from using cell phones has died in committee.

Depending on which side you support, there have been a lot of studies on the subject. Check out this Insurance Information Institute fact sheet. Some say banning talking while driving is good. Some challenge the theory that hands-free cell use is safer. Some found that drivers were far less distracted by cell phones than by other common activities like reaching for items on the seat or glove compartment or even just talking to other passengers. 

Continue reading "Texting and talking while driving: Yay or Nay?" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 5:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Remember when we told you compact fluorescent lights won't kill you? We're still sticking to that story, BUT ace weatherman and science writer extraordinaire Frank Roylance had a really good story today about the hazards behind these popular energy-saving bulbs.

While it's still true that CFLs contain an average of 5 milligrams of mercry -- Frank says, that's about a speck that would barely cover the tip of a pen -- disposal of the bulbs can be hazardous if they break. And if enough people, we're talking the millions who have converted to CFLs from the old incandescents, just toss them in the trash then that's a whole lot of hazardous mercury in our landfills... which could eventually seep into the earth.

When you put it that way, it does make you think twice about CFLs. Yes, they're still great energy savers. But seriously, you have to be careful with CFLs when you're getting rid of them. As Frank's story says, the country needs to come up with better disposal methods for CFLs.

Here's how to do your part to protect yourself and the environment:

Continue reading "Fluorescent lights might kill you? Part II" »

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued three toy recalls this week for problems that sound awfully familiar.

Children could ingest or aspirate magnets from the 7,000 Battat Magnabild Magnetic Building Toys or Sets sold between 2005 and this year. To get a prepaid mailer to return the product, contact Battat Inc. at (800) 247-6144 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or visit the firm’s Web site at www.battatco.com. 

Continue reading "More toy recalls" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

How many of you out there reach for your copy of Consumer Reports, or at least check them out on the Web, before you purchase anything? As a consumer columnist, I value them personally and professionally.

When I write a column, they are one of the sources I tap on subjects ranging from finance to consumer scams. Personally, I've used them in my research to figure out which car, computer or any other product I want to buy for myself. They're always one of the many sources I check for all my research. Between the Web's many offerings of consumer advocacy sites, the Attorney General's Office, the Better Business Bureau and CR, we consumers have a lot of help available at our fingertips.

It's not an easy job that CR does. I don't do reviews here because it takes too much time, money and expertise. Read this Wired story to find out how CR tells you which condom, car or ice cream to buy. Pretty cool, fascinating stuff.

Posted by Dan Thanh Dang at 8:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

You can spot them everywhere --- people strolling down streets and boarding public transportation with white headphones trailing from their ears, enjoying tunes or a podcast. Is it any wonder that criminals see iPods too?

That's the hypothesis of Washington-based think tank the Urban Institute, which has issued a report attributing a spike in robberies in 2005 and 2006 to the music players, which became ubiquitous right around the same time.  

The researchers surmise that iPods are "criminogenic," or have a number of "crime-causing" characteristics that make them attractive to thieves.

They're valuable status symbols, so they could be stolen for use as well as resale. They don't require passwords, subscriptions or contracts and don't come with any anti-theft protections. And the earbuds themselves reduce the user's awareness of their surroundings, assisting a would-be Fagin achieve his goal.

It's happened before, they say: 

Continue reading "iCrime wave?" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 7:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

Don't miss science reporter and weather blogger Frank Roylance's story about smoke detectors today.

Last year 23 people died in Baltimore due to fire --- more than any year since 2001. It's not clear whether there were working smoke detectors in many of these homes.

While fire officials emphasize that while any detector is better than none, some say ionizing alarms, the most common --- and cheapest --- variety of smoke detectors, are less likely to trigger during certain types of smoldering fires. Plus, they are more likely to sound due to cooking smoke, and as a result people often disable them ... so they're not functioning when fires actually occur.

"Every night before I fall asleep I say a prayer for the two or three people I know are going to die that night because they have the wrong smoke detector," said Deputy Chief Joseph M. Fleming of the Boston Fire Department.

Fleming is an outspoken advocate for alarms that use an alternative "photoelectric" technology to sense smoke. Photoelectrics cost slightly more, he said, but they're quicker to sense smoldering fires and less prone to nuisance alarms. Although ionization alarms are faster at detecting flaming fires, he said, the advantage is a small one. 

A dual alarm might be your best option, according to the Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports.

Continue reading "Smoke detectors save lives" »

Posted by Liz Kay at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)