Sen. Dianne Feinstein asks the FTC to investigate a 30-cent rise in California gasoline prices since the start of the month, saying prices rose after the fire at Chevron's refinery in Richmond, Calif., even though the incident has not led to a shortage in supply that could justify the price increase. Gasoline prices have increased across the U.S., but Feinstein says they've risen faster in California. [View news story]
The Obama administration releases its final fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks, requiring each automaker's fleet to reach an average 54.5 miles/gallon by 2025, nearly doubling current levels. To meet the standard, automakers will need to introduce new technologies and sell more alternative fuel vehicles. Critics say the rules will add thousands to new car prices. [View news story]
We are true Americans the ones who care where our country is headed.
The Obama administration releases its final fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks, requiring each automaker's fleet to reach an average 54.5 miles/gallon by 2025, nearly doubling current levels. To meet the standard, automakers will need to introduce new technologies and sell more alternative fuel vehicles. Critics say the rules will add thousands to new car prices. [View news story]
Verizon Wireless (VZ, VOD) received top marks in J.D. Power's annual study of U.S. mobile network quality. Big Red was said to have the best network in 5 of the 6 regions covered in the study, which measures issues such as dropped call rates and Web connection errors. U.S. Cellular (USM) was named the best carrier in the "North Central" region, while AT&T (T) was declared the worst carrier in 4 of 6 regions. Verizon is hoping its network will allow it to maintain premium pricing. [View news story]
Verizon received top marks, can't prove it by me. I would give it top marks for the slowest speed and connection loss.
Dish Network (DISH +0.5%) gets slapped with a lawsuit from the FTC for allegedly calling consumers in violation of Do Not Call rules. The agency says the company "flagrantly" made millions of invasive calls. [View news story]
Good, I was being annoyed day and night with their calls.
Sprint's (S) latest tactic for halting share losses to AT&T and Verizon: the carrier is offering $400 of in-store credit to families who switch 3 or more lines from another carrier to a Sprint Everything Data Share or Simply Everything Data plan. The promo, which lasts until Sep. 15, comes shortly after Sprint began offering $100 AmEx gift cards to new customers, and led the way in slashing iPhone 4S prices. [View news story]
A San Francisco judge rejected on Friday a $20M deal to settle a lawsuit from five Facebook (FB) users that the social network violated users' rights through its "Sponsored Stories" advertising feature. Judge Richard Seeborg is concerned as to why $10M is going to lawyers, why the rest is going to advocacy groups, and why none is going to Facebook members. [View news story]
Isn't that the way it works in America the victim gets little or nothing.
Congressmen Elijah Cummings and Henry Waxman warn Wal-Mart (WMT +0.3%) in a letter that they hold evidence of wrongdoing at the company's Mexico affiliate including tax evasion and money laundering. The finding from the pair of lawmakers is unrelated to any conclusions the DOJ may be making on the issue. On tap for Wal-Mart: Q2 results (earnings preview) [View news story]
First Solar (FSLR +6%) jumps after the White House announces it will expedite seven solar and wind projects, including First Solar's Silver State South Nevada project. Wind turbine component maker American Superconductor (AMSC +7.6%) is also among the day's big winners. FSLR is now up 36% since it delivered a huge Q2 beat, but remains down sharply on the year. [View news story]
Obama wants his teleprompters running on solar energy.
Pimco CEO Mohamed El-Erian says the strong jobs report "is not an economic recovery game changer." The picture is still mixed, the economy is healing, but only gradually. Regardless, we won't see much from the Fed either way come September, because it lacks the tools to deal with the underlying problems. (Video) [View news story]
One of Marissa Mayer's first priorities as Yahoo (YHOO) CEO will reportedly be to increase the company's "engineer-to-everyone else ratio." Mayer has already said bringing in fresh talent to Yahoo, which has been near the bottom of Silicon Valley's talent totem pole, would be a top priority, and some ex-Yahoos have suggested many non-technical workers need to go. But not everyone is convinced an engineer-driven approach is the right way to go for one of the Web's biggest media properties. (also) [View news story]
User discontent with Facebook's (FB +2%) Timeline feature has led to declining customer satisfaction, claims research firm ACSI. Its latest consumer survey gives Facebook a score of 61, down 760 bps from the year-ago period. Of course, customer satisfaction and customer usage aren't the same things - Google+ scored a 78, and AOL a 74. But data has emerged recently suggesting Facebook's U.S. consumption has hit a plateau. [View news story]
Angela Merkel's approval rating soars 8 points in a month to 66%, according to a poll by the ARD TV network. One wonders whether it's the tough public stance she's taking toward the debt-addled EU states, or citizens rallying around a national leader who's used as a whipping post every time tensions spike in world financial markets. [View news story]
A government report estimates 68% of U.S. households had broadband access in 2010, up from 64% in 2009. However, only 57% of rural households, and 43% of low-income residents, had broadband. At the FCC's prodding, Comcast (CMCSA) and others have been launching inexpensive Internet plans for low-income households. [View news story]
Sen. Dianne Feinstein asks the FTC to investigate a 30-cent rise in California gasoline prices since the start of the month, saying prices rose after the fire at Chevron's refinery in Richmond, Calif., even though the incident has not led to a shortage in supply that could justify the price increase. Gasoline prices have increased across the U.S., but Feinstein says they've risen faster in California. [View news story]
The Obama administration releases its final fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks, requiring each automaker's fleet to reach an average 54.5 miles/gallon by 2025, nearly doubling current levels. To meet the standard, automakers will need to introduce new technologies and sell more alternative fuel vehicles. Critics say the rules will add thousands to new car prices. [View news story]
The Obama administration releases its final fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks, requiring each automaker's fleet to reach an average 54.5 miles/gallon by 2025, nearly doubling current levels. To meet the standard, automakers will need to introduce new technologies and sell more alternative fuel vehicles. Critics say the rules will add thousands to new car prices. [View news story]
Facebook - From Headliner To Also-Ran [View article]
and appreciate fresh new articles.
Verizon Wireless (VZ, VOD) received top marks in J.D. Power's annual study of U.S. mobile network quality. Big Red was said to have the best network in 5 of the 6 regions covered in the study, which measures issues such as dropped call rates and Web connection errors. U.S. Cellular (USM) was named the best carrier in the "North Central" region, while AT&T (T) was declared the worst carrier in 4 of 6 regions. Verizon is hoping its network will allow it to maintain premium pricing. [View news story]
Dish Network (DISH +0.5%) gets slapped with a lawsuit from the FTC for allegedly calling consumers in violation of Do Not Call rules. The agency says the company "flagrantly" made millions of invasive calls. [View news story]
Sprint's (S) latest tactic for halting share losses to AT&T and Verizon: the carrier is offering $400 of in-store credit to families who switch 3 or more lines from another carrier to a Sprint Everything Data Share or Simply Everything Data plan. The promo, which lasts until Sep. 15, comes shortly after Sprint began offering $100 AmEx gift cards to new customers, and led the way in slashing iPhone 4S prices. [View news story]
A San Francisco judge rejected on Friday a $20M deal to settle a lawsuit from five Facebook (FB) users that the social network violated users' rights through its "Sponsored Stories" advertising feature. Judge Richard Seeborg is concerned as to why $10M is going to lawyers, why the rest is going to advocacy groups, and why none is going to Facebook members. [View news story]
Congressmen Elijah Cummings and Henry Waxman warn Wal-Mart (WMT +0.3%) in a letter that they hold evidence of wrongdoing at the company's Mexico affiliate including tax evasion and money laundering. The finding from the pair of lawmakers is unrelated to any conclusions the DOJ may be making on the issue. On tap for Wal-Mart: Q2 results (earnings preview) [View news story]
First Solar (FSLR +6%) jumps after the White House announces it will expedite seven solar and wind projects, including First Solar's Silver State South Nevada project. Wind turbine component maker American Superconductor (AMSC +7.6%) is also among the day's big winners. FSLR is now up 36% since it delivered a huge Q2 beat, but remains down sharply on the year. [View news story]
Pimco CEO Mohamed El-Erian says the strong jobs report "is not an economic recovery game changer." The picture is still mixed, the economy is healing, but only gradually. Regardless, we won't see much from the Fed either way come September, because it lacks the tools to deal with the underlying problems. (Video) [View news story]
One of Marissa Mayer's first priorities as Yahoo (YHOO) CEO will reportedly be to increase the company's "engineer-to-everyone else ratio." Mayer has already said bringing in fresh talent to Yahoo, which has been near the bottom of Silicon Valley's talent totem pole, would be a top priority, and some ex-Yahoos have suggested many non-technical workers need to go. But not everyone is convinced an engineer-driven approach is the right way to go for one of the Web's biggest media properties. (also) [View news story]
User discontent with Facebook's (FB +2%) Timeline feature has led to declining customer satisfaction, claims research firm ACSI. Its latest consumer survey gives Facebook a score of 61, down 760 bps from the year-ago period. Of course, customer satisfaction and customer usage aren't the same things - Google+ scored a 78, and AOL a 74. But data has emerged recently suggesting Facebook's U.S. consumption has hit a plateau. [View news story]
Angela Merkel's approval rating soars 8 points in a month to 66%, according to a poll by the ARD TV network. One wonders whether it's the tough public stance she's taking toward the debt-addled EU states, or citizens rallying around a national leader who's used as a whipping post every time tensions spike in world financial markets. [View news story]
A government report estimates 68% of U.S. households had broadband access in 2010, up from 64% in 2009. However, only 57% of rural households, and 43% of low-income residents, had broadband. At the FCC's prodding, Comcast (CMCSA) and others have been launching inexpensive Internet plans for low-income households. [View news story]