You don't need to be a user-interface guru like Don Norman to understand that, when dealing with electronic equipment, the user should always be in control.

ENGADGET: Switched On: Jane, Stop This Crazy Thing

There are a number of obstacles to that, including fees for electronic filing, and taxpayer concerns about dealing with third-party processors.

NPR: TurboTax Prepared for Filing Crunch

But with our appetite for these consumer goods continuing to grow, experts believe we are still going to have our work cut out dealing with our electric and electronic waste.

BBC: Computer mountain graphic

The bipartisan uproar that's greeted the disclosure about the electronic surveillance program stems from the fact that Congress in 1979 enacted a federal law specifically aimed at dealing with such national security problems.

NPR: Gonzalez: U.S. Surveillance Legal