Current Events in January 2014

The latest news story on the theme “Ways the NSA uses Americans' technology to spy on them” involves Google Maps and Angry Birds --specifically, the smartphone-app versions.

But Rovio, the company behind “Angry Birds,” responded to the news by blaming unnamed “third-party advertising networks” for supposedly letting “leaky data” escape for the NSA to collect.

Blaming a third party is a common technique among companies who have been embarrassed by revelations that hackers managed to breach their customer databases. For example: in 2011, when eHarmony got hacked, the Register (UK) noted that “[eHarmony’s chief technology officer Joseph] Essas blamed third party libraries that eHarmony used for content management.”

A 2012 post from the Destructoid tech blog discussing hacking problems with Xbox Live summarized various complaints before noting “Microsoft has indeed tried to blame a variety of third-party services.” Of course, the “hackers” in the latest Angry Birds/Google Maps security breaches also happen to be official U.S. government agents, so it probably makes good protective sense for Rovio to blame NSA spying on third-party advertising networks rather than, say, the NSA itself.

In the pre-Internet pre-smartphone days, if anybody complained “The feds are monitoring my communications and tracking my every move,” advising the complainant to line his hat with tinfoil usually did the trick. Unfortunately, wrapping your smartphone in tinfoil won't work and can actually damage the phone.

If you're a corrective-lenses wearer who thinks, "The problem with my life is, not enough of it is online in hackable form," great news! Google is expanding its business model to include prescription eyeglass frames designed to be worn with Google Glass. Frames in the “Titanium Collection” will cost $225, plus the cost of Google Glass ($1,500) and the cost of the lenses themselves.

However, if you do need corrective lenses and decide to splurge on a pair of Google Glass frames, make sure you have a second pair of ordinary, low-tech prescription glasses to wear on those occasions when Google Glass is inappropriate, including those situations where wearing Glass is legal but you'll still get in trouble because your local authorities don't know this.

For example: last October, California resident Cecelia Abadie was ticketed for driving while wearing Google Glass (believed to be the first such ticket of its kind ever issued). But the charges against her were thrown out earlier this month, since there was no evidence Abadie actually had the device turned on. (In most states, it's legal to drive while wearing Google Glass so long as it's turned off.)

Bad night at the movies

An Ohio moviegoer and Google Glass wearer had an even scarier experience two weekends ago; he went to his local AMC Theatre for a Saturday-night showing of “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” when, about an hour into the movie, an agent working for the Department of Homeland Security suddenly yanked off the glasses and spent the next couple of hours interrogating him and his wife on suspicion of illegally recording the movie. (He wasn't; he had the device turned off, but it took a couple of hours before authorities bothered to confirm this for themselves and return his glasses to him. Meanwhile, the man faced interrogation by intimidating federal agents, plus the additional handicap of dealing with whatever vision problems his prescription lenses were supposed to correct.)

The unnamed Glass-wearer first shared his story with The Gadgeteer tech blog on Jan. 20, but his story (or at least the broad outline of it) has since been confirmed by both DHS and AMC management.

That user also had prescription lenses in his Google Glass frames, which presumably were ordinary Google glasses rather than premium Titanium frames.

Gone nuclear

Incidentally, if you're one of the dozen or so Americans who still watches The Simpsons, you know that last Sunday's episode featured evil Scrooge-like boss Mr. Burns giving his employees the apparently generous gift of “Oogle Goggles,” the amazing high-tech computerized Internet-connected glasses. The catch was that evil Mr. Burns could then use the Oogle Goggles to spy on everything his employees did.

Of course, that is fiction. In real life, C. Montgomery Burns the nuclear plant operator could never use modern Internet-connected devices to spy on you; only members of the NSA, DHS, FBI and night-shift employees of your local movie theater can do that. And they won't give you the device for free: it'll cost you $1,725 for the Titanium frames with Google Glass hookup.

Let's call it what it is: the National Couch Potatoes Convention -- because that's pretty much what it boils down to.

The National Retail Federation is projecting 181 million people will tune in this coming Sunday when the Denver Broncos take on the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl. It's the most watched professional sporting event in America, drawing more than 75% of all U.S. TV viewers.

And, according to NRF’s Super Bowl Spending survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics, those viewers will spend an average $68.27 on gameday grub, athletic wear, decorations and TVs -- about the same as last year. Total spending is expected to hit $12.3 billion.

“As football fans gear up for the most anticipated game of the season, retailers are making sure they have an ample assortment of accessories, decor, athletic apparel items and even new televisions,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay.

What we buy

According to the survey, more than three-quarters (77%) will purchase food and beverages, 8.1% will purchase team apparel or accessories, and 7.2% are planning on buying a new TV to watch the game with friends and family.

This year, nearly 39 million viewers plan to throw a party and they can expect a high guest turn out, with 62 million eager viewers planning to attend a party. Restaurants and bars will see their share of fans; the survey found 10 million fans will enjoy the game from their favorite local establishment.

While the game itself is the most important part of the big day for millions of fans, the survey found that, of those planning to watch the game, seeing friends and commercials also carry some weight: nearly half (47.5%) said the game is the most important part, and 17.3% said getting together with friends mattered most. And, while on average one-quarter of adults (24.9%) say the commercials are the most important, 45-54-year-olds are the ones who rank commercials highest when it comes to the most important part of the game (21.4%), higher than any other age group.

The commercials

For those who have opinions about the commercials, 78.4% agree they are entertaining. Viewers also say commercials make them aware of the advertiser’s brand (16.9%). But not everyone has favorable opinions: 17.8% believe advertisers should save their money and pass on savings to their customers, and 9.3% say they make the game last too long.

“The Super Bowl is one of the most beloved events for sports fans, and those celebrating this year will look to make the most of the big day while also keeping in line with their budgets,” said Prosper’s Consumer Insights Director Pam Goodfellow.

Consumers of all ages enjoy the Super Bowl for different reasons. While young adults are more likely to attend a party than throw a party (38.2% vs. 26.7%), 18-24-year-olds will spend an average of $92.83 on Super Bowl-related celebrations; their slightly older counterparts (ages 25-34) will spend the most ($101.51).  

 If you normally pay someone to prepare your federal and state tax returns, you should have someone lined up by now. But if you haven't gotten around to that yet, you can still find a competent, thorough professional – if you know where to look and what questions to ask.

It's probably not a good idea to walk into the closest franchise storefront tax operation and simply hand over your tax records to whoever happens to be on duty. In some cases they aren't even full-time employees and might not be working there next tax season. Continuity, building a long-term relationship with your tax preparer, is a crucial first step.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) also suggests that you choose carefully when hiring an individual or firm to prepare your return. Most return preparers are professional, honest and provide excellent service to their clients, the agency says, but there are always exceptions.

Preparer Tax Identification Numbers

This year, the IRS is reminding taxpayers that they should use only preparers who sign the returns they prepare and enter their Preparer Tax Identification Numbers (PTINs). But regardless of who you choose, remember that you, the taxpayer, are legally responsible for what’s on their tax return even if it is prepared by someone else.

After establishing that your tax preparer is going to be there next season and the season after that, check the individual's qualifications. New regulations require all paid tax return preparers to have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN).

In addition to making sure they have a PTIN, ask if the preparer is affiliated with a professional organization and attends continuing education classes. It's worth noting the IRS is also phasing in a new test requirement to make sure those who are not an enrolled agent, CPA, or attorney have met minimal competency requirements. Those subject to the test will become a Registered Tax Return Preparer once they pass it.

Sleuthing

Once you are satisfied with the tax preparer's qualification, check into their history. Googling their name, along with “tax preparer” or “accountant” might turn up both flattering and unflattering information. Check their licensure status through the state boards of accountancy for certified public accountants; the state bar associations for attorneys; and the IRS Office of Enrollment for enrolled agents.

Next, find out what it's going to cost. This is going to depend on the complexity of your tax return. The fewer forms that are required to go along with your Form 1040, the cheaper it should be. The IRS suggests avoiding preparers who base their fee on a percentage of your refund or those who claim they can obtain larger refunds than other preparers.

Also, always make sure any refund due is sent to you or deposited into an account in your name. Under no circumstances, the IRS says, should all or part of your refund be directly deposited into a preparer’s bank account.

E-filing

A good tax preparer will offer electronic filing. In fact, any paid preparer who prepares and files more than 10 returns for clients must file the returns electronically, unless the client opts to file a paper return. The IRS strongly encourages electronic returns, along with direct deposit for refunds. The process will go faster and more smoothly if you file electronically.

If the IRS has a question about your return once it is file, will your preparer still be around to help you deal with it? Don't just assume – ask.

Once the return is complete, review it carefully. A paid preparer must sign the return and include his or her PTIN as required by law.

Do you really need a tax preparer? If your tax situation is simple, you might not. The IRS can even help many taxpayers prepare their own returns without the assistance of a paid preparer. Before seeking a paid preparer, taxpayers might consider how much information is available directly from the IRS through the IRS Web site.

Ordinarily a fickle bunch, consumers have been happy with the economy for two straight months.

The Conference Board reports its Consumer Confidence Index was up more than three points in January -- to 80.7. In addition, the Present Situation Index shot to 79.1 from 75.3, and the Expectations Index rose to 81.8 from 79.0 last month.

Confidence back on track

“Consumers’ assessment of the present situation continues to improve, with both business conditions and the job market rated more favorably,” said Lynn Franco, Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board. “Looking ahead six months, consumers expect the economy and their earnings to improve, but were somewhat mixed regarding the outlook for jobs. All in all, confidence appears to be back on track and rising expectations suggest the economy may pick up some momentum in the months ahead.”

Consumers’ assessment of overall present-day conditions continues to improve. Those claiming business conditions are “good” increased to 21.5% from 20.2%, while those who think conditions are “bad” edged down to 22.8%t from 23.2%.

Consumers’ appraisal of the labor market was also more positive. Those saying jobs are “plentiful” ticked up to 12.7% from 11.9%%, while those who believe jobs are “hard to get” decreased slightly to 32.6% from 32.9%.

Rising expectations

Consumers’ expectations, which had improved sharply in December, were up again in January. Those who expect business conditions to improve over the next six months was unchanged at 17.4%, while those anticipating business conditions to worsen decreased to 12.1% from 13.9%.

The outlook for the labor market was mixed. Those expecting more jobs in the months ahead declined to 15.4% from 17.1%. However, those anticipating fewer jobs decreased to 18.3% from 19.4%. The proportion of consumers expecting their incomes to increase rose to 15.8% from 13.9%t, while see a decrease in their incomes declined to 13.6% from 14.3%.

The monthly Consumer Confidence Survey, based on a probability-design random sample, is conducted for The Conference Board by Nielsen, a provider of information and analytics around what consumers buy and watch. The cutoff date for the preliminary results was January 16.

The word "natural" doesn't really mean much of anything but food and beverage companies have had a lot of luck using it as a sort of substitute for "organic" or, perhaps, "healthy."

But after legal challenges and complaints from consumer groups, Pepsi has decided to jettison the "natural" tag on its food and drink products. Instead, it will simply call them "Simply"

How's that again? Well, instead of "Natural Quaker Granola," you'll be seeing "Simply Quaker Granola" on the shelves.

It's simple, really. No one can complain about the word "simple," which means even less than "natural." The ingredients will, naturally, remain the same, so it's simply a change of a few letters.

What's natural?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't have a hard and fast definition of "natural" so it doesn't tightly regulate its use, but in general it frowns on companies using the term if their products contain added color, artificial flavors and other additives.

Perhaps more significantly, consumer groups like the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) have been filing lawsuits against food manufacturers including Ben & Jerry's, Nature Valley, Kraft, 7Up and others, challenging their use of the "natural" label.

Last year, Pepsi agreed to remove the words "all natural" from its Naked juices and dropped its Gatorade Natural line of energy drinks.

But even "simply" may not be sufficiently vague. In 2010, CSPI sued General Mills over its "Simply Fruit" products, saying they contained more than simply fruit. 

Consumers were a little freer with their budgets in December.

The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index, made up of four components -- tax burden, initial unemployment claims, real wages and real home prices -- increased to 4.3 from 3.9 in November.

“Economic fundamentals that influence consumer spending moved in a positive direction in the latest Index,” said Daniel Bachman, Deloitte’s senior U.S. economist. “Median home prices increased, while initial unemployment claims continued to fall. Real wages, which have remained stubbornly flat, increased slightly as well.”

Alison Paul, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP and Retail & Distribution sector leader, says Retailers need to keep their foot on the gas in light of the positive signals that suggest improved consumer confidence and spending levels in the months ahead.

“The holiday season underscored that consumers are not only willing to shop, but expect to do so on their time and on their terms,” said Paul. “Retailers can keep up the momentum by targeting consumers across different channels and geographies with more personalized, high-touch connections through mobile and online points of contact that reach a broader swath of shoppers with greater precision.”

Paul says retailers should also consider how to reign in shoppers’ dependence on discounts, through new products, assortment and service that entice shoppers to spend at full price points, to not only drive sales but preserve margins.

Index highlights

• Tax burden: The tax rate is up now at 11.8%, a 0.6% increase from last month. Believe it or not, that's a positive sign. A rising tax rate is associated with increasing incomes.
• Initial unemployment claims: Claims were down 14% from the same period last year, falling to 324,000.
• Real wages: Real hourly wages rose 1.3% from this time a year ago -- to $8.83, showing a second month of accelerated increases.
• Real new home prices: New home prices climbed to $116,000, an increase of more than 5% from the same time last year.

Consumers are being warned to keep an eye out for a post-holiday email scam carrying malicious malware disguised as a link to a helpful “change of address” form. 

In Washington State, consumers have reported receiving emails containing names and logos of legitimate companies such as Costco and Walmart, notifying the recipient that their “order has been cancelled.” Scams that employ the names and logos of trusted businesses are a favorite of con artists.

The emails imply the retailer was unable to deliver an order due to an incorrect shipping address. The message attempts to entice recipients into clicking on a link in order to correct the shipping address.

Clicking on the link in the email prompts the recipient to download a change of address form. However, instead of downloading a form, consumers download malware that infects their computer.

What to do

The first question to ask yourself is whether you actually ordered anything from the merchant supposedly emailing you. If not, the email is obviously a scam. 

The rule for dealing with scam emails is always the same: delete it and don't click on any attachments. 

If you do have outstanding orders, the safer method is to go to the retailer's website and log in using your account ID. You should never provide personal information in response to an email.

George’s Inc., of Springdale, Ark., is recalling approximately 1.25 million pounds of frozen par-fried chicken tender products.

The products are formulated with wheat, an allergen not properly declared on the labels.

There have been no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

The products subject to recall include:

• 10-lb. cases of “George’s Uncooked Breaded Chicken Breast Tenderloins” with Case Code 4831 and packaging dates between Feb. 21, 2013 and Dec. 19, 2013.
• 10-lb. cases of “George’s Uncooked Chicken Tenderloin Fritters” with Case Code 4861 and packaging dates between Feb. 21, 2013 and Jan. 4, 2014.
• 10-lb. cases of “George’s Uncooked Chicken Tenderloin Fritters” with Case Code 4880 and packaging dates between Feb. 21, 2013 and Jul. 19, 2013.

The products  bear the establishment number “P-13584” under the USDA Mark of Inspection and were sold to wholesale locations for distribution to institutional users nationwide.

Consumers with questions may contact Ali Perry at (479) 927-7256.  

PMI Nutrition of Arden Hills, Minn., is recalling its 20 lb. bags of Red Flannel Cat Formula cat food for possible Salmonella contamination.

There have been no reports of illness related to this product to date.

Red Flannel Cat Food was sold through dealers to customers in Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

The lot number is printed on the lower back side of the bag in a white box on the right-hand side. The lot number will be preceded by a time stamp that will be unique to each bag. (Example 14:32) The lot number and best-by date impacted by this recall are as follows:

• Best by 05 06 14 096 13 SM L2 1A (lot number)
• UPC code is 7 42869 00058 5.

No other products/lot numbers are affected by this recall.

Customers should immediately discontinue use of and return the product to their dealer for a full refund or replacement.

For more information, customers can contact the customer service line for PMI products at 1-800-332-4738 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST.

There is no debate that the U.S. – and the world – is struggling with rising obesity that poses a threat to long-term health. The debate is over who is to blame – or if anyone is.

Because the rising rate of obesity coincided with rapid growth of fast food restaurants, they get a lot of the blame. Because the rise in obesity also coincided with the increasing use of high-fructose corn syrup as a sweetner in food, the food industry gets a lot of the blame as well.

In the debate over what to do about obesity, fingers have been pointed at grocery stores and even government policy makers. However, researchers say that if you ask consumers, they are likely to say individuals are to blame for their own obesity.

Not that effective

University of Illinois researcher Brenna Ellison and her colleague, Jayson Lusk at Oklahoma State University, say their research leads them to conclude that creating and enforcing public policies to help reduce obesity and/or encourage healthier food choices may not be as effective as policy makers think.

For example, to give consumers better information about the food they are consuming policymakers have required some restaurants to post calorie information on menus. In some jurisdictions they are taxing sugar sweetened beverages.

Ellison and Lusk asked why aren't these policies working? Why aren't consumers responding to increased soda prices or calorie information on menus?

"Obesity is in the news every day so it would be hard to say that people are unaware of the policy initiatives in place to reduce U.S. obesity rates," Ellison said. "Based on our study results, the more likely conclusion is that consumers' beliefs about who is to blame for obesity don't necessarily align with the beliefs of policy makers and public health advocates. In the United States, we're known for being an individualistic-based society, so it's not exceptionally surprising that we would put this responsibility for obesity on ourselves."

Survey results

The survey was conducted by Clear Voice Research, which asked 774 consumers to assign blame for the rise in obesity, with seven choices: individuals, parents, farmers, food manufacturers, grocery stores, restaurants and government policies.

The results were unambiguous. They showed that 94% of people surveyed believed individuals are primarily or somewhat to blame for the rise in obesity, with parents coming in second at 91% primarily or somewhat to blame.

On the other hand, survey respondents felt farmers and grocery stores were relatively blameless for the rise in obesity. And there was at least one surprise.

"We learned that farmers and people who received food stamps were more likely to blame government and farm policy," Ellison said. "That seems off. You wouldn't expect that opinion from people who are benefiting from those policies; however, these individuals could be in the best position to observe the potential harm that some government policies create."

Why is it important?

Why assign blame? Because until you can find out what's causing the problem, it's hard to address it effectively. For example, if individuals are indeed to blame for their expanding waistlines, giving them information about calories may not change their behavior if they simply don't care. They have to want to process the information and order a salad instead of a triple bacon cheeseburger.

There are many reasons to avoid obesity, most having to do with health. Obesity increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Carrying extra weight places stress on knee and hip joints.

Whether individuals are to blame for their own obesity or whether other factors are at work is a matter for debate. After all, the rise in obesity has been relatively sudden, coinciding with more sedentary lifestyles and changes in diet. But what consumers in the survey seem to be suggesting is the solution lies, at the heart of the matter, with individuals. Solutions, the researchers suggest, need to focus on individuals.

"Unquestionably, U.S. obesity and overweight rates are much higher than they were 20 or 30 years ago so it is not surprising that policy makers and public health officials are looking for potential solutions,” Ellison said. "That being said, if individuals view obesity as a personal problem, how confident can we be that these solutions will work? We need to be realistic about the solutions we're proposing and implementing, and if people are not buying into them, they may need to be re-evaluated."  

People who are prone to impulsive behavior are known to be more likely to abuse alcohol and other drugs. And now a new study says they may also be more susceptible to food addiction.

In a paper published recently in the journal Appetite, University of Georgia researchers found that people with impulsive personalities were more likely to report higher levels of food addiction — a compulsive pattern of eating that is similar to drug addiction — and this in turn was associated with obesity.

"The notion of food addiction is a very new one, and one that has generated a lot of interest," said James MacKillop, the study's principal investigator and associate professor of psychology in UGA's Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. "My lab generally studies alcohol, nicotine and other forms of drug addiction, but we think it's possible to think about impulsivity, food addiction and obesity using some of the same techniques."

It's not an idle question. With more than one-third of U.S. adults not being categorized as obese by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a huge portion of the population has a heightened risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. The estimated annual medical cost of obesity was $147 billion in 2008 U.S. dollars, and obese people pay an average of $1,429 more in medical expenses than those of normal weight.

Treatments and interventions

MacKillop said he and his team hope their research will ultimately help physicians and other experts plan treatments and interventions for obese people who have developed an addiction to food, paving the way for a healthier lifestyle.

The contemporary food industry has created a wide array of eating options, and foods that are high in fat, sodium, sugar and other flavorful additives and appear to produce cravings much like illicit drugs, MacKillop said. Now they will work to see how those intense cravings might play a role in the development of obesity.

"Modern neuroscience has helped us understand how substances like drugs and alcohol co-opt areas of the brain that evolved to release dopamine and create a sense of happiness or satisfaction," he said. "And now we realize that certain types of food also hijack these brain circuits and lay the foundation for compulsive eating habits that are similar to drug addiction."

If we were prone to believing conspiracy theories, we'd think at least one high-ranking Google executive is actually a deep-cover secret agent working for the competition, with the mission “Make everybody hate Google and especially hate the Google+ social-media platform.” What else can explain the proliferation of Google+ bad-guy stories since the start of the new year?

First there was Massachusetts resident Thomas Gagnon, arrested because the Google+ invite he'd sent his ex-girlfriend violated the restraining order she'd taken out against him. Except Gagnon and his attorney say Google+ sent the invite automatically, without Gagnon's knowledge or consent.

Then, the Consumer Watchdog group criticized Google in an open letter charging serious privacy flaws in its Google+ system: basically, that anyone on Google+ can add anyone else on Google+ to their “Circle” of friends, without their knowledge or consent.

Meanwhile, Google changed the settings of Gmail and Google+ so that, once again, anybody with one such account can contact anybody else with such an account, without their knowledge or consent. (Notice how that phrase “without their knowledge or consent” keeps appearing here? You'd almost think it a recurring theme, regarding Google's attitudes toward its users.)

Integration mania

Many of these problems can be blamed on Google's mania for “integration” – the company (or the secret-agent executive working to bring about the company's downfall, if you prefer) somehow manages to completely ignore the possibility “Maybe people don't want all of their online activities and accounts consolidated into a single mass. Maybe some people prefer, for example, one account for their professional business life, another account for when they're interacting with young children and need to Set A Good Example, a different account for when they're discussing R-rated movies with their grownup friends and Not Setting A Good Example At All …. no no no, here at Google that's just lunacy talking.”

This unwilling integration is behind yet another Google+ privacy complaint, this one plaguing Android phone users who recently upgraded to the KitKat version. On ZDNet, sex-and-technology blogger Violet Blue explained how Google outed a transgender friend of hers without her knowledge or consent (look, it's that phrase again!).

A woman was using her old (male) name at work, and when her Android phone updated to KitKat - with Google+ integrating chat and SMS into "hangouts" - this is what happened when she texted a coworker:

(ICYMI earlier: KitKat did indeed out me to a coworker. I am freaking out.)

— Erika Sorensen (@eiridescent) January 3, 2014

Somehow I didn't think through the potential consequences of Google+ embedding itself ever deeper into stock Android stuff

— Erika Sorensen (@eiridescent) January 3, 2014

Google's response was that her outing was "user error" - Google blamed her, the user for not understanding the new, confusing integration. …. The issue with identity and Google+ Hangouts overwriting people's Gmail and SMS contacts has been trans-unfriendly since its rollout. One woman worried about the privacy of her transgender sister's identity wrote in Google's Forums (Gmail),

My sister is transgendered and has yet to legally switch to female, and because of this has yet to change her name on her Google+ since she has professional contacts on her page.

(...) Now that I have used the video chat option on Hangouts, everything is reverting back to her old name.

She did not receive a response.

Violet Blue went on to list and link to several additional examples of Google taking a cavalier attitude toward users' privacy concerns, before she wistfully said:

On some level, I want to imagine that Google will fix this.

I don't want to think that controlling our own identities doesn't matter to Google; or it's as if to Google we are the faulty parts of its machine. Or we are Google Plus with a body vaguely attached. Or to Google, the problems are our own faults, and any calls for respect or privacy in a painful world are just annoying to Google, which has better things to do, like terrify us with the privacy nightmare of Google Glass and making bulk data consolidators' jobs of cataloging our personally identifying information easier.

Can't blame Ms. Blue for not wanting to think this, as these are depressing thoughts indeed. That's why we kinda favor the “at least one high-ranking Google executive is actually a deep-cover secret agent working for the competition” theory. Granted, this theory sounds unnecessarily complicated and highly implausible, but it's a lot less depressing than Ms. Blue's.

Legally, there is a difference between being a “sperm donor” and being a “father,” and a Kansas man learned the hard way that if you want to be the former without taking on the responsibilities of the latter, you should not make your sperm-donor arrangements over Craigslist.

The Topeka Capital-Journal first broke the news on Jan. 23, although the story has since made headlines throughout the world:

District Court Judge Mary Mattivi said that because William Marotta and the same-sex couple failed to secure the services of a physician during the artificial insemination process, he wasn’t entitled to the same protections given other sperm donors under Kansas law.

“Kansas law is clear that a 'donor of semen provided to a licensed physician for use in artificial insemination of a woman other than the donor’s wife is treated in law as if he were not the birth father of a child thereby conceived, unless agreed to in writing by the donor and the woman,' ” Mattivi wrote....Marotta contended he was only a sperm donor to a same-sex couple seeking a child, but the Kansas Department for Children and Families argued he is a father who owes child support to his daughter. The girl is 4 years old.

The lack of a physician was the main factor in deciding the case; it certainly does not mean that all American sperm donors (in Kansas or any other state) need worry that they will eventually be asked to write child-support checks.

Indeed, previous attempts to hold sperm donors financially liable for their biological offspring have failed; in 2009, judges in Massachusetts rejected an unnamed woman's attempt to seek financial assistance from the anonymous donor who'd fathered her children (who were nine or ten years old at the time). The sperm donor in that case went through “traditional” sperm-donation channels, which presumably protected him from financial fatherhood obligations.

But in Kansas last week, Marotta's attorney, Benoit Swinnen, argued (unsuccessfully) that the Kansas statute severing sperm donors from fathers does not specifically require sperm-donor conceptions to be carried out by a physician.

Marotta plans to appeal the ruling, though as of press time it is not known when that appeal will move forward.

The state of Kansas wants Marotta to pay child support for the rest of his biological daughters' childhood, and also repay approximately $6,000 in public assistance benefits the child has received thus far.

Sales of new single-family houses fell in December for the second straight month.

The decline of 7.0% to -- a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 414,000 -- follows a drop of about 2% in November, but is still 4.5% above the December 2012 total of 396,000.

For all of 2013, an estimated 428,000 new homes were sold --16.4% more than the 368,000 sold the previous year, and the most since 485,000 in 2008. While that's a big improvement, keep in mind that than a million new homes were sold each year from 2003 to 2006.

Home prices

The median sales price of new houses sold in December was $270,200. The median is the point at which half the prices are higher and half are lower. The average sales price was $311,400.

An estimated 171,000 new houses were for sale at the end of December. At the current sales rate, that represents a 5-month supply.

The complete report on new home sales for December is available on the Commerce Department website.

This may not strike fear into the hearts of stink bugs but it may provide some encouragement to homeowners and farmers who are thoroughly sick of the pests ... or soon will be.

Congress today directed the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency to ramp up their efforts to deal with the nasty pests.

Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) has championed efforts to find a way to deal with stink bugs not only because of their stench but because of the havoc they wreak on crops – including apples, peaches and grapes. He said there is language in the recently approved 2014 Omnibus spending bill to continue to prioritize stink bug control research at USDA.

Wolf has worked to include similar language in past spending bills.  The new language is part of a five-year plan to find a solution to the problem.  He said the bill requires USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to help states implement biological control technology to minimize the pests once it is developed and directs EPA to quickly approve any recommendation so products can be sold on the open market.   

“Whether you have a home herb garden or acres of farm land, we can all agree that the pervasive problem of stink bug infestation needs to be tackled head-on,” Wolf said.  “These pests are an annoyance that not only affect everyday life in people’s homes, but also vital American industries that have a broader impact on the economy. 

Native to China, the stink bug was first discovered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 1998.

The pest has no natural predator in the United States and is reproducing at an increasingly rapid pace.  It has already spread to 40 states, the District of Columbia and Ontario, Canada, which is 15 more states than when the committee first addressed this issue in 2011, Wolf said.

USDA estimates that roughly $21 billion of crops could be at risk.

While many efforts have been made to combat this pest, it is estimated that this year's bug cycle will be 60 percent stronger than last year’s. The stink bug has been called the number one economic threat to cotton in Alabama and Georgia, and is now causing significant damage to crops in Oregon and Washington. 

Earlier this month, U.S. Customs and Board Patrol reported that a new kind of  stink bug was discovered on a shipment of Mexican basil at San Francisco International Airport - the first time this species has been found in the Bay Area.

Southwest Airlines today began selling seats on its first-ever international flights. The discount carrier begins service to Aruba, the Bahamas and Jamaica July 1.

Beginning July 1, 2014, Southwest Airlines will operate daily, nonstop flights between:

• Atlanta and Aruba, and Montego Bay
• Baltimore/Washington and Aruba, Nassau, and (twice daily) Montego Bay
• Orlando and (Saturday only) Aruba, and Montego Bay.

Southwest subsidiary AirTran Airways will continue service between Atlanta and Nassau, between Chicago Midway and Montego Bay, as well as flights to/from Cancun, Los Cabos, and Mexico City, Mexico, and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

"Southwest Airlines democratized the sky from our first flights more than four decades ago," said CEO Gary Kelly. "Today's milestone enables us to reach new territory, new customers, and build upon a four decade foundation of doing right by the travelers who trust our value and our people."

Southwest is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded and operates the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world to serve 96 destinations in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and five near-international countries via its wholly-owned subsidiary, AirTran Airways.

Uber is sort of the Airbnb of the taxi and limousine business. It's basically an app that lets you order a ride via your smartphone. In theory, you punch in your location and a car comes zipping along in no time to pick you up. You can choose from an economy car, a regular taxi, a "black car" or several other categories, with pricing to match.

And, just like Airbnb, Uber conveniently overlooks all kinds of local regulations that cover its more traditional competitors. But after several years of rapid growth, Uber is now beginning to run into the problems that accompany fielding thousands of cars in more than 60 big cities. 

What kind of problems? Well, running over pedestrians for starters. A wrongful death suit is expected to be filed today in San Francisco, where an Uber driver hit a family in a crosswalk, killing a 6-year-old girl. Uber, of course, says the drivers are free lancers and disclaims any responsibility.

The San Francisco Cab Drivers Association is using the incident to demand tighter regulation of Uber, saying it unfairly competes with better-insured taxis.

Price-gouging?

Then there's pricing. Uber's prices vary with demand. When lots of people want rides, the price goes up. This annoys passengers and also irks some drivers, who say it sometimes cuts into demand. In East Coast cities, fares were raised during the recent snow storms, sparking complaints of price-gouging. 

Drivers sued Uber last August, saying the company told consumers that tips were covered in the fare but then failed to reimburse them. The case is making its way through the courts. 

Then there's the little matter of insurance. Most insurance policies specify that they cover you and your car only for personal, non-commercial use. If you are carrying passengers or freight -- operating a for-hire service -- your policy may not be valid. 

The same applies to driver's licenses and state vehicle registration. In most states, you need a commercial driver's license to carry passengers for hire -- and also a commercial license plate.

Uber says it helps its drivers comply with local laws but, significantly, compares itself to eBay, saying it only brings passengers and drivers together and isn't responsible for happens after that.

That's an argument that is not finding much traction, however, as local and state regulators begin to take notice of Uber and its competitors and they're not showing a lot of sympathy so far.

"Matter of public safety"

The California Public Utilities Commission has had its eye on Uber and simlar companies for several years and recently ruled that Uber is a transportation company and thus subject to regulation, though it has so far applied standards that are more lenient than those applied to traditional taxis. Uber says it will appeal.

“This is a matter of public safety,” said Brigadier General Jack Hagan, Director of the CPUC’s Consumer Protection and Safety Division in a statement issued after the commission fined Uber and two of its competitor $20,000 each in November 2012. “If something happens to a passenger while in transport with Lyft, SideCar, or Uber, it is the responsibility of the CPUC to have done everything in its power to ensure that the company was operating safely according to state law.

"That means that the company has insurance to cover an accident and that its employees are protected and are suitable drivers. I look forward to working with these companies to bring them into compliance with our safety laws.” 

Could be, but cities that don't yet have Uber-style transit are feeling left out. A move to bring Uber into Miami was blocked by political maneuving on the Dade County Commission, to the chagrin of Mayor Carlos Gimenez, an Uber proponent who has been trying to market the county as a high-tech innovation hub. He called the delay “an embarrassment to the city.”

“We’re trying to position ourselves as technology leaders and entrepreneurs,” he told the Miami Herald. “If it doesn’t go through, it’s a black eye on Miami-Dade County.”