When you think of large machines, you probably picture a massive tractor or maybe an enormous science experiment. Think bigger — much, much bigger. How about the size of the entire United States? The world’s largest machine is actually the U.S. power grid and how it became one giant machine is an amazing story.
Amazon shoppers, take note: What NOT to buy from third-party sellers
Angela Bolger was a loyal Amazon customer and had no reason to suspect an item she ordered could put her life in jeopardy. But everything changed after she ordered a replacement battery for her laptop. Out of the blue, several months after it arrived, the battery exploded and inflicted third-degree burns on her body.
Unsurprisingly, Angela sued Amazon for her injuries. But her case was no match for Amazon’s lawyers, and a lower court in California ruled that the company was not liable. It seems like the only way cases like this get settled these days is through class action suits. Tap or click here to see if you qualify for Apple’s exploding battery settlement.
Angela wasn’t about to give up just yet and appealed the ruling. And now, an appeals court has reversed the decision and argues that Amazon is actually liable for defective third-party products. This ruling will no doubt have huge repercussions down the road and may change the way Amazon handles third-party orders forever. Here’s why.
A huge reversal — and a win for consumers
Amazon suffered a significant legal blow thanks to an appeals court ruling in favor of a burn victim named Angela Bolger. Angela had ordered a replacement laptop battery from a mysterious third-party seller called “E-Life,” and was severely burned when the battery exploded months after her order was delivered.
Amazon defends that E-Life was banned from the platform, but Angela claims to have never received any warning about the safety of E-Life’s products. Although Angela’s initial lawsuit against Amazon was a nonstarter, the new ruling puts the e-commerce giant directly in the crosshairs of customers with product grievances.
According to the appeals judge’s ruling, Amazon “was pivotal in bringing the product here to the consumer,” and “should be liable if a product on its website is defective.”
What does this mean for my orders going forward?
Previously, issues with Amazon orders shipped by third-party sellers were given a “hands-off” approach by the company. If you had a beef with the product, it would say, take it up with the seller, not Amazon.
But this ruling strikes a harsh blow at this logic, which Amazon has used to shield itself from malfeasance for years. But as of right now, this is only a single ruling. While you may have more recourse as cases like this one (and the many others Amazon has backlogged) make their way through the legal system, it may take time for new policies to be put into place.
Should I avoid ordering third-party products?
A lot of third-party sellers are honest people running small businesses and just looking to make a living. Then there’s the sketchy variety. Stay away from these types of products on Amazon’s Marketplace:
FDA says no to in-home coronavirus testing - here's what you can do instead
One of the biggest keys to successfully fighting COVID-19 is rapid, accurate testing anyone can access. In the United States, tests were not widely available until recently. And even then, you had to be showing symptoms to qualify.
Who's America's biggest cyber attacker?
When it comes to cyber attacks on the United States, who is America’s biggest enemy? You might be surprised.
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Chinese health warning: Shein and Temu are under investigation for selling deadly products meant for babies and toddlers. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission says both retailers “raise specific concerns” about quality control. This is your warning: Do not buy any baby clothes or toys from these retailers.
This week in 1997, a group of hackers cracked code written in Data Encryption Standard, which was designed to be impenetrable. Oops. How long did it take the hackers to crack? Was it … A.) Five days, B.) Five weeks, C.) Five months or D.) Five years?
Coronavirus rumors: Can you guess what's real and what's fake?
What a year the past month and a half have been, huh? There have been so many crazy headlines recently that it certainly feels like time has slowed down. But of all the news circulating since the start of the year, few stories have been as impactful or scary as the coronavirus outbreak in China.
Did you fall for this fake coronavirus CDC alert?
Did you hear the news? The Wuhan coronavirus has made its way to American shores! As of now, there have been 6 confirmed cases in the United States, and many more sick people are still waiting for a confirmation on their symptoms.
What’s the wingspan of the RQ-4 Global Hawk, our military’s biggest unmanned drone? Is it A.) 50 feet, B.) 89 feet, C.) 117 feet or D.) 131 feet? (Hint: The wingspan of an F-16 is about 31 feet.)
America's CEO tech giants stage a big show
Webster’s defines gaslighting as a form of psychological manipulation, distorting the truth to confuse or instill doubt — until the other person questions reality. Which brings me to the Big Tech CEOs, testifying yesterday before the United States Congress.
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This new search engine's focus is privacy, but will it really protect you?
Verizon is one of the biggest companies in the United States, and oversees numerous other businesses we’re all familiar with. It’s Yahoo’s parent company and owns AOL, Engadget, TechCrunch and more.
As you can see, the company isn’t averse to trying out new things. It even managed to cut a deal with Disney that gives Verizon subscribers a year of Disney+ at no additional cost. Tap or click to learn how to get Disney+ for free if you’re on Verizon Wireless.
This military scam is targeting Americans with bogus texts
In 1973, United States Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird announced no further draft orders would be issued for the military. This meant the process of conscription by lottery had been officially discontinued.
Flash forward to 2020 and the U.S. military is still the strongest on Earth — but our force is now entirely voluntary. In spite of this, scammers often exploit the American public’s lack of military knowledge to nefarious ends. Tap or click to see how this military dating scam exploded on Facebook.
Cyberwar: How the U.S. is under attack right now
Open/download audioIn today’s quickly changing world, war is no longer defined by bullets, bombs, and bloodshed. There isn’t even an enemy you can always identify. It’s called Cyberwar. The United States is under attack right now. No one knows exactly where some of the attacks are coming from. Listen for proof of these attacks and how they could lead to a much bigger war in the near future.
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Where do your taxes go? Find out with this site
They say nothing is certain but death and taxes. But, do you ever wonder where all that money is going? The United States collects billions every year but doesn’t make it clear where it’s all being spent. That’s where this website comes in. An amazingly simple website can show you exactly where each and every penny is going each year. You have to see how much they spend.
Bank data breach leaked account numbers, balances
Sometimes, hacks can be more annoying then necessarily dangerous or life-changing for those impacted. This latest data breach is not that. A recent hack and data breach at a major London-based bank has leaked not only people’s names and addresses, but also their banking information, account number and even, in some cases, their PIN. If you use this bank, you absolutely want to find out if you were affected.
Does your motherboard have a secret Chinese spy chip?
A recent Bloomberg report has stated that their might be evidence that some Chinese computer manufacturers may be putting a spy chip within the servers that could give Chinese hackers a backdoor.
Want to own a business? Amazon will help you with a van
The American Dream means something different to everyone, but for many it is owning their very own business. Amazon has made it easier for a contractor to start a business and get it going. But what has prompted this new delivery system and how can you take advantage of it?
CIA and FBI warning about Chinese smartphones
Open/download audioFor years, two giant Chinese tech manufacturing companies have done their best to get a foothold with American consumers. But the United States government is warning everyone to stay far away from their products.
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Downsizing for the freedom of the open road - Part 1
Open/download audioOne couple sells everything they have; including the kitchen sink, to travel the highways and byways of the United States. You’ll learn from their mistakes and find out if you have the right stuff to make it without a home base. Listen to my free podcast to hear their story.
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