Are food expiration dates required by law?

Do you trust expiration dates when deciding whether to throw food away? Image courtesy consumerist You may not want to. … More

Why is Christopher Columbus Day a federal holiday?

Trending this week: an elegant webcomic from Matthew Inman (of the Oatmeal) called “Columbus was awful (but this other guy … More

How are electric utility rates set?

How are your electric utility rates set? Image courtesy lydiashiningbrightly If you answered, “THE FREE MARKET!” you would be wrong! … More

Why does the government play a role in disaster response?

As Tropical Storm Karen nears the Gulf Coast, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has recalled staff members who have … More

Why can you be arrested for killer cantaloupe?

In 2011, a deadly listeria outbreak killed 33 and hospitalized 147. Cantaloupe from Jensen Farms in southeastern Colorado was the … More

Why is marijuana usage illegal in (parts of?) the United States?

Back in the day, marijuana was a remedy for everything from gout to inflamed skin. Image courtesy Matthew Kenwrick In … More

Why can you buy gas with an 85 octane rating in Colorado when the standard is usually 87?

Why are there regional variations in octane ratings? Why do some Rocky Mountain states allow 85, 85.5, 86, or 86.5 … More

Why aren’t movies rated by the government?

Why aren’t movies rated by the government? Image courtesy M4D Group. They were, before the 1960s! Some states and big … More

Why does FM radio go from 87.9 to 107.9?

In the United States, the frequency modulation (“FM”) radio band stretches from 87.7 MHz (megahertz) to 108 MHz. The center … More

Why does bedding have a tag that says "Not to Be Removed Except By Consumer?"

Back in the day, mattresses came stuffed with nasty stuff. Not my modern mattress! All new material, baby. Secondhand stuffing … More