"The View” is Set to be Investigated by FCC Over Bias

In January, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) demanded that daytime and late-night TV talk shows featuring interviews with political candidates must comply with equal time rules that give airtime to views of opposing candidates and that the shows can’t rely on a 2006 decision that suggested they were exempt. Now, the FCC is going to be taking on The View, after they reportedly ran afoul when when they gave Texas Senate candidate James Talarico 9 minutes to speak, while giving his opponent, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, 17 minutes. The inequity appears to have set off an alarm on the new emphasis on equal time. The FCC ruled that any program or station seeking assurances that the equal time requirements don’t apply should promptly file a petition for a declaratory ruling. Disney, the parent company of ABC, which has aired The View since 1997, didn’t make an equal-time filing for Talarico’s interview, which suggests they are relying on the exemption. Also under scrutiny is ABC’s late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which has also violated the equal-time rule. Meanwhile, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has been busy attempting to rid the airwaves of what he sees as a liberal bias against President Donald Trump.

Continue Reading...

Beware of “Rent Now, Pay Later” Services

Rent can eat up an entire paycheck at the start of the month, so a growing number of renters are turning to a financial product that promises relief by letting them split the bill — for a price. So-called “rent now, pay later” services have emerged over the past few years as housing costs climb and paychecks grow less predictable. That’s where companies like Flex, Livable and Affirm come in. They say breaking rent into multiple payments can help renters manage cash flow, but consumer advocates warn that their services function as short-term loans that layer fees onto already strained budgets and, in some cases, carry triple-digit interest rates. For example, Kellen Johnson started using Flex to split his rent payments about two years ago. Instead of paying the entire $1,850 of his rent on the first of the month, Johnson would pay $1,350 on that date and $500 on the 15th of the month. For the service, Flex collected a $14.99 monthly subscription fee, as well as 1% of the total rent, which for Johnson was $18.50, bringing his monthly charges for the app to $33.49. With Johnson paying $33.49 for a 2-week loan of $500, he was effectively paying an annual percentage rate of 172%. Johnson said he was willing to pay the extra costs because he worked as an independent contractor and his paychecks varied. “Renters should be skeptical of any financing providers that have partnered with a landlord,” said Mike Pierce, Executive Director of Protect Borrowers.

Continue Reading...

Target’s Plan to Lure Customers Winds Up Chasing Them Away

Ahead of the holidays, Target introduced a new guideline intended to draw customers in, but it wound up doing exactly the opposite. In November, Target demanded that workers slap a smile on their face any time they came within 10 feet of a customer. Not only that, employees were instructed to “enthusiastically” greet every shopper that came within four feet of them. Target executives hoped that the new policies would drive up sales after a streak of disappointing numbers. Unfortunately, the overbearing game plan has apparently flopped, with people posting comments on social media like, “I will spend any time at Target making sure I’m not within 4 feet of any employee!” Customers pointed out that the aggressive forced interaction is the reason they have stopped shopping at at the discount retailer. Even Target employees are rallying against the rules: “We have all entered our creepy smile era,” said one employee. Hopefully, Target executives will be able to connect the dots between the implementation of the forced smile rule in November and its stock taking a 37% nosedive.

Continue Reading...

Florida Cold Snap Brings Out Restaurant’s Creativity

While cold-stunned iguanas are falling out of trees in Florida, some people are using the opportunity to cook up some unique dishes. Bucks Coal Fired, a pizzeria in North Palm Beach, mustered their creativity and whipped up an iguana pizza this week. Franky Cecere (pictured above), manager of the restaurant, called it the “Everglades Pizza.” So, exactly how do you make an iguana pizza? First Franky rolled out the pizza dough, then drizzled it with some olive oil, followed by cheese, bacon, and venison meat, and finally topped it off with iguana meat. “This is the first iguana pizza in the history of mankind,” said Franky. Once the pizza was finished baking, he finished it off with some ranch dressing. Local content creator Ryan Izquierdo, who supplied the restaurant with the frozen iguanas, said the iguana meat on the pizza tasted like frog legs. “It’s a little bit sweet,” said Izquierdo. “I can’t really describe it,” he added. The restaurant hopes to add the pizza to their permanent menu in the near future.

Continue Reading...