Turns Out The Jeep Renegade Has Kind Of A Huge Braking Problem

Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay $72M over cancer death

Cbsnews.com - A Missouri jury has awarded $72 million to the family of an Alabama woman who died from ovarian cancer, which she said was caused by using Johnson & Johnson's well-known baby powder and other products containing talcum.

Jeep Grand Cherokee owner Teg Sethi makes rap video about how bad the car is

Vietnamese tourist kneels and begs for refund of iPhone 6 at Sim Lim Square

Little Girl with 'Scary' Scars: KFC Donates $30000 for Medical Bills of Victoria Wilcher Following Discrimination Incident at Fast Food Chain

Victoria Wilcher

Ibtimes.com - An unnamed KFC employee asked Victoria Wilcher, 3, and her family to leave the fast food chain in Jackson, Mississippi because the other customers got disturbed with the little girl's scarred face that she got when three pit bulls attacked her. KFC Corp. found out about the incident and decided to conduct an investigation on the reported discrimination.

The incident that happened at KFC was posted last Friday, June 13, on the Facebook page "Victoria's Victories" where a photo of Victoria Wilcher was shared. "Does this look scary to you? Last week at KFC in Jackson MS this precious face was asked to leave because her face scared the other diners," the caption reads. Click HERE to see photo.

The Kentucky.com report revealed that KFC immediately started an investigation on the issue. "As soon as we were notified of this report on Friday, we immediately began an investigation, as this kind of hurtful and disrespectful action would not be tolerated by KFC," spokesman Rick Maynard stated in an email sent to The Associated Press on Sunday, June 15.

The spokesman further added that the company already apologized to Victoria Wilcher's family and assured to give assistance to the little girl. "The company is making a $30,000 donation to assist with her medical bills. The entire KFC family is behind Victoria," Maynard declared.

Kelly Mullins, Victoria's grandmother, recounted the unpleasant incident that happened at the KFC restaurant. According to Mullins, they stopped by the fast food chain to buy mashed potatoes for Victoria after visiting a doctor's office.

Then, the KFC employee approached the family to tell them that they have to leave. "They just told us, they said, 'We have to ask you to leave because her face is disrupting our customers'," Mullins revealed to WAPT-TV.

Victoria's grandmother further shared in the WAPT report that the KFC incident made the little girl hate the way she looks. Kelly Mullins revealed that the right side of Victoria's face is paralyzed and she has a lot of surgeries to go through.

Mullins added that when they now go to a store, Victoria does not want to step out of the car anymore. The little girl does not want to look at herself in the mirror as well. "She's 3 years old and she's embarrassed about what she looks like. She's embarrassed and I hate it because she shouldn't be. It ain't her fault," Mullins shared.

According to the RYOT.org report, Victoria Wilcher survived the attack from three pit bulls last April while staying at her grandfather's home. The attack cost Victoria her right eye, major scars on her face, a broken nose and a broken jaw so the little girl has to use a feeding tube to eat and visit a speech therapist for recovery sessions.

Consumer Reports names the 23 worst used cars to buy

Foxnews.com - The annual Consumer Reports auto issue is out, and among all of its suggestions for the best vehicles in just about every class is a list of what it says is the worst used cars and trucks you can buy.

Based on a survey of its subscribers, the collection covers vehicles from the past decade that have been reported to have “much-worse-than-average overall reliability” for multiple years.

The list is limited to vehicles with at least three years of data, and specific issues aren’t mentioned.
A few of the vehicles, like the Chevrolet Uplander and Saturn Relay, and the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT, have many of the same mechanicals despite wearing different brand names, which adds some credence to the poor impressions owners have in this unscientific survey.
 
Here’s the full list:

Pepsi One contains high levels of potential carcinogen, Consumer Reports reveals

Foxnews.com - Recent testing by Consumer Reports has revealed that cans of Pepsi One may contain high levels of a potential carcinogen called d 4-methylimidazole (4-MeI).

Under Proposition 65, the state of California mandates that any food or beverage that exposes people to more than 29 micrograms of 4-MeI per day must carry a health warning on its packaging.

Knowing that 4-MeI is often used in the artificial caramel coloring that gives soda its brown hue, Consumer Reports tested 81 cans and bottles of popular soft drinks purchased in New York and California between April and September 2013. The researchers then retested any brands that initially tested as containing over 29 micrograms of 4-MeI per can or bottle.

Both rounds of testing revealed that Pepsi One and another soft drink called Malta Goya contained more than 29 grams of 4-MeI per can or bottle.

Testing also showed that Coke, Diet Coke and Coke Zero contained less than 5 micrograms of 4-MeI, which Consumer Reports considered acceptable. Additionally, Sprite showed no significant levels of the chemical.

When asked to comment, PepsiCo told Consumer Reports that California’s Proposition 65 requirement is based on exposure to 4-MeI per day – not per can. PepsiCo also cited data stating that most consumers drink less than a third of a 12-ounce can of soda per day.

“For that reason, they believe that Pepsi One does not require cancer-risk warning labels—even if the amount of 4-MeI in a single can exceeds 29 micrograms,” Consumer Reports said.

Consumer Reports has alerted the California Attorney General’s office of its findings.  The organization also plans to petition the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), urging them to set federal standards for exposure to 4-MeI and to require manufacturers to list the type of artificial coloring used on their packaging.

According to Consumer Reports, the FDA has said it doesn’t believe current levels of 4-MeI from caramel coloring in food are a risk, but they are conducting their own testing.

Would a smartphone 'killswitch' deter thieves?

Cnn.com - As violent crime tied to smartphone theft continues to rise nationwide, law enforcers are publicly calling on manufacturers to install "killswitch" technology that would render a stolen device useless.

The "Secure Our Smartphones" initiative, spearheaded by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón, officially launched on Thursday. The goal is to make smartphones less valuable to thieves, who can currently sell stolen devices on the black market for hundreds of dollars.

That big payoff for often little effort, dubbed "Apple picking" because iPhones typically attract the most money, has led to a shocking crime wave. Last year, about half of all robberies in San Francisco involved a mobile device. Phone-theft victims in several cities have been killed.

To address this, Schneiderman summoned executives from smartphone companies Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500), Google (GOOG, Fortune 500), Samsung and Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500) to his office in New York City on Thursday. The meeting was closed, but Schneiderman held a press conference before the summit to detail what lawmakers want.

"Our parameters for success are clear," Schneiderman said. He added later that "smartphone makers need to make every stolen phone a paperweight" -- that is, once a device is marked as stolen, it cannot be reactivated.

He stressed that any anti-theft technology needs to be "universal to all phones," and that he thinks "this problem is solvable within a year." Next year's devices should have such technology installed, Schneiderman added.

Lawmakers are putting pressure on smartphone manufacturers after an effort by carriers last year to deter crime did not work. Wireless association CTIA attempted to create a database of smartphones reported as stolen, but Schneiderman referred to that program as a "failure," as thefts continued to rise.

Gascón was blunt about his view on smartphone makers' responsibility, saying they have "a moral obligation" to address the problem.

He was also skeptical of Apple's new Activation Lock feature, which was announced Monday and will be part of Apple's upcoming iOS 7 operating system. Activation Lock requires a user to log in with the phone's associated Apple credentials in order to reactivate the device.

Gascón said he didn't think that "will get us quite where we need to go, but it's a step in the right direction." He added that they would reserve judgment until they have a better understanding of the technology, but he again stressed that lawmakers are pushing for a true "killswitch."

Schneiderman made it clear that he won't rule out legal action if the manufacturers refuse to make changes. Samsung declined to comment, while Microsoft and Google did not reply to a request for comment. Apple released a statement pointing out that the company launched its "Find My iPhone" feature back in 2009, which gives customers "more control" and acts as a theft deterrent.

Schneiderman and Gascón clearly want more, though. What such anti-theft technology will look like depends on smartphone makers. But even a killswitch may not completely end smartphone crime. If we've learned anything about modern technology, it's that any system is hackable -- and even a deactivated, "bricked" phone can be sold for parts.

But Kevin Mahaffey, the co-founder of security tech company Lookout -- which is advising Schneiderman and Gascón on the smartphone theft issue -- said putting barriers between thieves and easy money is the key to deterring much of the current street crime. If a thug needs to pay a hacker a few hundred dollars to reactivate a bricked device, that should lessen the incentive to steal.

"From a security standpoint, there are always ways around any system," Mahaffey said. "There is no silver bullet. But these thieves are not technologically savvy, most of the time -- and if you layer different solutions together it can make a huge difference. At this point, implementing any smart solution is better than the situation we have now."

Hong Kong Starbucks Used "Toilet Water" To Make Coffee

Kotaku.com - In Hong Kong, Starbucks patrons are upset and for good reason: the coffee chain's Central Hong Kong branch has used "toilet water" to brew coffee since it opened two years ago.

According to Apple Daily, a staffer would push a cart into a men's restroom in a nearby parking garage, fill it will water, and then push the cart back to Starbucks, where the "toilet water" would be then filtered. This would happen up to seventy times a day. The bathroom faucet was used because there was no nearby water source.

The faucet that Starbucks used was only a few feet away from a urinal. There were concerns about hygiene, and Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department told Apple Daily that this Starbucks' use of water was not within regulations. Since this discovery, the department has apparently issued a warning to the coffee chain's Central Hong Kong restaurant.

Ben Cowling, associate professor from the University of Hong Kong’s School of Public Health, told HK Magazine that filtering the water should remove harmful bacteria. However, a purifier would be necessary to remove the smaller-sized viruses that could be present in the water.

But that wasn't his only concern, HK Magazine pointed out. "If the staff need to frequently visit the toilet, they may increase the risk of bringing other pathogens from the washroom into their food and drink preparation area," Cowling added.

Patrons are understandably upset. One woman told Apple Daily that it was Starbucks' responsiblity to have a clean water supply, no matter the cost. "People with common sense wouldn't have used the water from toilet pipes," said a male Hong Kong resident. Many Starbucks patrons expressed uneasiness about the whole situation.

While it might be debatable whether what we all are drinking is technically "toilet water", the thing that many patrons seem to find most offensive is where the water was taken from—literally, a faucet next to a urinal.

"Making huge profits globally but chose [SIC] to use toilet water for making coffee in that store rather than spending a few cents to use distilled water," wrote Hong Kong resident Kevin L on the Starbucks Facebook page. "We pay a few dollars to buy a cup of coffee (and you know your profit margin) and we get this kind of disrespect for our mind and health!"

On Facebook, Starbucks Hong Kong issued this reply: "Please kindly accept our apologies for the concerns raised by the coverage on the water source at the Bank of China Tower store. While the water used at that store was drinking water and certified as safe, we would like to clarify any misperceptions, as quality and safety have always been our top priority. We are now using distilled water to serve that store while we work with all parties on acceptable options."

The Starbucks began using distilled bottled water this past weekend.

US investigating Ford pickups for engine issue

Foxnews.com - The federal government is investigating Ford F-150 pickups with EcoBoost engines after drivers reported that the engines lost power during acceleration.

The government estimates around 400,000 F-150 pickups from the 2011 through 2013 model years are involved.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received 95 reports of engines losing power during hard acceleration, such as when passing. The incidents often occurred in rainy or humid weather. NHTSA has no reports of crashes or injuries.

NHTSA says Ford told dealers how to fix the issue but hasn't alerted owners. NHTSA investigations often lead to recalls.

Ford owners in Ohio and Louisiana recently sued Ford in federal court, claiming the EcoBoost engine is defective because it loses power during acceleration.

The Dearborn, Mich., automaker says it's cooperating with the investigation.

FDA says 5 deaths, heart attack reportedy linked to Monster Energy Drink

Foxnews.com - The highly caffeinated Monster Energy Drink has been cited in five deaths and one non-fatal heart attack, according to reports that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is investigating.

The reports claim that people had adverse reactions after they consumed Monster Energy Drink, which comes in 24-ounce cans and contains 240 milligrams of caffeine, or seven times the amount of the caffeine in a 12-ounce cola.

Although the FDA is investigating the allegations, which date back to 2004, the agency said the reports don't necessarily prove that the drinks caused the deaths or injuries.

"As with any reports of a death or injury the agency receives, we take them very seriously and investigate diligently," Shelly Burgess said in a statement.

News of the FDA's investigation follows a filing last week of a wrongful death suit in Riverside, Calif., by the parents of a 14-year-old Hagerstown girl who died after drinking two, 24-ounce Monster Energy Drinks in 24 hours.

An autopsy found that Anais Fournier died of cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity that impeded her heart's ability to pump blood. She suffered from an inherited disorder that can weaken blood vessels. But the child's parents claim Monster failed to warn about the risks of drinking its products.

Monster Beverage Corp., which touts on its web site that the Monster Energy Drink is a "killer energy brew" and "the meanest energy supplement on the planet," puts labels on cans that state that the drinks are not recommended for children and people who are sensitive to caffeine. The company, based in Corona, Calif., did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment on Monday, but said last week that it is "unaware of any fatality anywhere that has been caused by its drinks."

Monster is among a growing group of energy drinks on the market. Energy drinks are a tiny part of the carbonated soft drink market, representing about 3 percent of sales volume, according to a recent report by industry tracker Beverage Digest. But at a time when soda consumption is declining, energy drinks are becoming more popular: Last year, sales volume for energy drinks rose by nearly 17 percent.

Monster has benefited the most from the rise in popularity. Last year, Monster had a 35 percent share of the energy-drink market based on volume, while Red Bull had 30 percent and Rockstar had 19 percent, according to Beverage Digest. Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are far smaller players in the arena, with about 5 percent each.

Investors have warmed up to the drinks as well. In the past two years, Monster's shares have more than tripled, from about $22 and hit a high of about $79 in June. But on news of the FDA investigation, Monster's shares plunged $7.59, or 14.2 percent, to close at $45.73 in trading on Monday.

The increase in popularity has brought heightened scrutiny. The levels of caffeine in the drinks have raised worries: Although the FDA caps the amount of caffeine in soda to 0.02 percent, there is no such limit for energy drinks.

In August, New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman issued subpoenas to energy drink makers, including Monster, as part of the state's investigation of the industry. And in September, Senators Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., asked the FDA to take another look at the effect that caffeine and other ingredients in energy drinks have on children and adolescents.

Consumer Reports finds Lexus trunks can trap people inside