Kill Your Phone Remotely

Many of today's most popular smartphones can be erased remotely if they are lost or stolen. Here's how to do it.

by Jamie Lendino

A handset may be valuable, but it's easily replaced. The data on it, however, is often much more important. Cell phones carry all kinds of personal and business information these days, and preventing it from getting into the wrong hands is key.

While a stray personal address book won't matter much to an unsavory type who finds a lost iPhone—they'd much rather just sell the phone—cached online banking passwords, corporate documents and VPN access are better off kept secure. That's why many of today's smartphones support a mobile kill switch, also called "remote wipe" capability. Remote wipe lets a device owner or IT support engineer remotely erase the handheld's data in case it's lost or stolen.

All of the major smartphone platforms have some kind of remote erase capability. There are several ways of doing it, such as installing apps on the handset, using a management console on the IT side, or signing up for a cloud-based service. Here's a rundown of what's out there for each platform. No matter which smartphone OS you or your employees use, you're bound to find something that can help put your mind at rest.

Though it varies by kill switch and platform, remote wipes aren't fail safe. If someone finds the phone before the remote wipe occurs—which could happen if the battery dies, or there's no signal to receive the command—a thief or corporate spy could disable the network connections and then hack into the device (the procedures would depend on the particular phone). Your best insurance is to flip the kill switch quickly, the same way you would call your credit card company the moment you noticed the card was missing.

Note: By "kill switch" we mean remote wipe capability; this is not to be confused with the "kill switch" found in iPhone OS and Android 1.5 that lets Apple and Google delete mobile apps they no longer approve of on existing handsets.

Apple iPhone
Apple's $99-per-year MobileMe service offers Mac users the ability to push e-mail, contacts, and calendar entries to the iPhone (among other things). But one key feature, first announced in March and later introduced with iPhone OS 3.0, lets MobileMe users perform a remote wipe on a lost or stolen iPhone. It's found under Account -> Find My iPhone -> Remote Wipe. It can also display a message on the phone's screen, like "please call Jamie at 718-555-1212 if found."

Palm Pre
All Palm Pre owners set up a Palm Profile when first activating their new devices. The Palm Profile lets users back up settings, receive over-the-air updates, or—ta da—remotely erase a lost or stolen handset. To begin, head to palm.com/palmprofile, enter your profile e-mail address and password, and click Erase Device (for more information on this, read Palm's detailed instructions). In addition, Palm's Exchange ActiveSync implementation in webOS 1.1 now supports Remote Wipe, which lets IT administrations do the same thing for centrally managed Pres.

BlackBerry OS
Any BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) handset can be erased remotely via the Erase Data and Disable Handheld IT administration command over the wireless network. IT admins can also specify if the handset should revert to factory default settings or retain the IT policy it had before. Individual users with BIS can install Roblock for BlackBerry 2.0, a $9.95 app that remote locks or wipes devices, offers GPS tracking, and recovers lost contacts.

Android OS
SMobile Anti-Theft for Android is a $19.95 app that features GPS locate and remote wipe functions for the T-Mobile G1, T-Mobile myTouch 3G, or any other Android-powered smartphone. The app can erase both the handset and any SD card data. The $29.95 Security Shield for Android also protects against viruses and other malware, but that's not much of a concern in the U.S. (at least at the time of this writing).

Windows Mobile
Microsoft's new My Phone Windows Mobile service, currently in beta, lets users locate lost handhelds via GPS and erase their data remotely. It also backs up contacts, photos, text messages, and calendar entries to Microsoft's storage cloud. My Phone (Beta) works with any Windows Mobile 6.0 handheld.

Microsoft Exchange Server can handle the same task for enterprise devices, along with Absolute Software's Computrace Mobile, which can manage enterprise devices running Windows Mobile or BlackBerry and issue remote wipe commands.

CableCARD Now Open To All, No Need For OEM Installations

By Shawn Oliver

For HTPC owners, most thought this day would never come. It's a liberation celebration, and frankly, it's coming way too late. Still, we'll take late over never almost all of the time, so we can't help but thank those involved for finally freeing CableCARDs of the OEM chains. This past week at CEDIA, Microsoft announced that anyone could now purchase an off-the-shelf CableCARD and install it into their system. This has absolutely not been the case in years past.

Up until now, users have had to purchase an entirely new system from a certified OEM (think Dell, HP, etc.) with a CableCARD installed at the factory. If you even attempted to install a loose CableCARD into your own machine, you'd never get anything to work. Without that OEM touch, CableCARDs were worthless. Obviously, this ensured that only the affluent ponied up for a CableCARD-equipped HTPC. After all, who wants to buy an entirely new rig just to use one $100 part?

As Windows 7 enters the fray, users will be able to add CableCARDs to their own systems with little to no hassle. These cards will allow users to access all of their carrier's cable channels right on their HTPC, eliminating the need for a cable box and a media center PC. Switched Digital Video support was also added into Windows Media Center for Windows 7, which definitely comes in handy for those looking to tune into SDV channels.

Switched Digital Video (SDV) Support Added for Windows Media Center

In response to customer requests and cable providers' deployment of SDV, Microsoft now supports SDV in Windows Media Center for Windows 7. In conjunction with a device known as a tuning adapter, supplied by a customer's cable provider, Windows Media Center and a digital cable tuner with CableCARD will be able to tune to SDV channels. Customers can enjoy SDV broadcasts on PCs running Windows Media Center in Windows 7 and a digital cable tuner with CableCARD.

End Customers Can Now Add Digital Cable Tuners With CableCARD to Their PCs

Microsoft and CableLabs announced that customers will now be able to add digital cable tuners with CableCARD to a Windows 7-based PC with Windows Media Center. A new tool will be provided by Microsoft that assesses the PC's ability to support the solution. This tool will analyze the customer's PC and enable digital cable support if the PC meets requirements, opening digital cable options to Windows Media Center customers across the country. Microsoft also announced that, with Windows 7, it has increased the number of TV tuners that can be connected to the PC from two to four per tuner type, thereby allowing customers to simultaneously record or watch as many as four digital cable TV channels.

"We are excited that digital cable customers will now be able to take advantage of this new opportunity to bring great cable TV programming to the PC," said So Vang, vice president of OpenCable at CableLabs. "We are dedicated to helping customers get the most from their cable service, and this will be a great win for both the customer and the cable operators."

Digital Cable Customers Can Now Enjoy More TV Portability in Windows Media Center

Microsoft and CableLabs also announced that they worked together to enable digital cable tuner with CableCARD customers to enjoy more portability for digital cable TV that is marked as "copy freely" (CF). Customers will be able to play CF-marked digital cable recordings, such as those from local channels, on other PCs, devices and portable media.

Windows Media Center Features in Windows 7 Highlighted

Using new Windows 7 features such as Windows Touch, HomeGroup, Remote Media Streaming and PlayTo, sharing recorded TV, videos, music and pictures throughout the home, while on the road and to remote locations has never been easier. There is also support for the AVCHD format. This allows customers to view HD video from many popular HD video cameras.

In addition, support for the international broadcast TV standards that was released with the Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 will also be included in Windows Media Center in Windows 7. This includes native support for both ATSC and QAM, the ability to remap channels, and support for subchannels.

New Firmware for ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuners

In conjunction with the Microsoft and CableLabs announcements, Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) will be providing a new firmware update that is available to all ATI TV Wonder digital cable tuners being used with Windows 7 and Windows Vista. This firmware update will allow existing digital cable tuner with CableCARD customers to enjoy more portability for digital cable TV marked as CF. Customers will be able to play CF-marked digital cable recordings, such as those from local channels, on other PCs, devices, and portable media. In addition, the firmware will contain support for SDV. When installed on a Windows 7-based PC with a digital cable tuner with CableCARD and a tuning adapter from a cable provider, it enables access to switched digital channels in locations where SDV has been deployed.

New hybrids proclaim their German engineering

by Peter Glaskowsky

I'm a big fan of "German engineering"--that combined focus on power and precision that distinguishes the better automobiles designed or manufactured in Germany.

At Frankfurt's International Motor Show, BMW will be showing off two new hybrid cars intended to deliver the full promise of German engineering. This is no small thing because most hybrid cars to date have been lightly built and somewhat underpowered in order to improve fuel economy.

The two new BMWs are more like previous offerings from that company: big, solid cars with lots of power to maintain performance in spite of the weight. They're also real cars, not just prototypes.

Fortunately, I don't need to describe these new cars here; there's a great article by Antuan Goodwin over on CNET's Car Tech blog that does a fine job of that (see "BMW unveiling two big hybrid models at Frankfurt"). What I would like to do instead is to drill down into their respective powertrains, which represent two different solutions to high-performance hybrid design, using images provided by BMW.

The ActiveHybrid X6, due to go on sale in the U.S. later this year, represents one end of the spectrum: higher-power electric motors and a larger battery pack. As the first image shows, the new X6 model has a twin-turbo V8 gas engine with 400 horsepower. Though this is a reasonably efficient engine for its size, it certainly wasn't chosen primarily for its fuel economy.

BMW's ActiveHybrid X6 uses a large NiMH battery pack and a new transmission with two integrated electric motors to augment its 400-horsepower gasoline engine.

(Credit: BMW)

The large NiMH (nickel metal hydride) battery pack is also visible in this view, mounted above the rear drivetrain components and below the floor of the luggage compartment. This battery pack holds 2.4 kWh (kilowatt-hours) of energy; BMW also specifies a "nominal" 1.4 kWh figure, but doesn't explain the difference between total capacity and nominal capacity. I suspect the difference may be related to improving battery lifespan, or perhaps provide some extra storage to ensure that electric braking assist (regenerative braking) is always available. BMW does say that this braking mode can generate as much as 50 kilowatts of power and 0.3 g of deceleration force.

In the following view of the X6's transmission, the electric motors are shown built right into a new transmission that BMW describes as an "electric continuously variable transmission"--the electric motors and three planetary gearsets work together to provide the equivalent of seven gear ratios.

The transmission in the ActiveHybrid X6 has two integrated electric motors totalling 177 horsepower.

(Credit: BMW)

Interestingly, with ratings of 91 and 86 horsepower respectively, the two electric motors could provide a total of 177 horsepower, but the vehicle isn't designed to operate that way. BMW specifies a maximum system output for the ActiveHybrid X6 of 480 horsepower, reflecting a maximum contribution from the electric motors of around 80 horsepower.

Part of the issue here is that the battery pack is rated at a maximum output of 57 kW, roughly 76 horsepower, so there isn't enough electrical power to drive both motors at full power. I expect there are also some issues related to heat and torque, but BMW hasn't offered a full explanation of this limitation.

It's also interesting to note that while the new X6 supports a pure electric drive operating mode, it's only good up to 37 mph and 1.6 miles. This figure is well below the energy capacity of the battery pack, probably reflecting more limitations imposed in the name of long-term reliability.

The ActiveHybrid 7, a hybrid version of BMW's 7-series luxury sedan due out in the spring of 2010, takes a very different approach. It has only a small electric motor positioned between the engine and transmission, and it comes with only a small lithium-ion battery pack. The following figure shows that the battery pack is located to the side of the trunk, leaving plenty of space for golf bags. (BMW says that four standard bags will still fit, which I suppose is a critical specification for 7-series customers.)

The ActiveHybrid 7 is powered by a 440-horsepower gasoline engine and a small 20-horsepower electric motor with a lithium-ion battery pack.

(Credit: BMW)

Zooming into the transmission in the following picture, we can see the pancake-style electric motor in front of what appears to be a fairly conventional 8-speed automatic transmission. In its press release, BMW does emphasize that this is a new transmission design "specifically tailored to the demands of hybrid technology," but the release doesn't explain how this gearbox differs from the 8-speed automatics on previous BMW cars.

The ActiveHybrid 7's electric motor is tucked away between the gas engine and a conventional 8-speed automatic transmission.

(Credit: BMW)

The new 7's electric motor produces a mere 15 kilowatts, roughly 20 horsepower. Together with the gas engine, the vehicle's maximum output is rated at 455 horsepower. The electric motor also functions as a starter motor for the gas engine and a generator to charge the two batteries on the car: a conventional 12V lead-acid battery and the 120V lithium-ion pack in the trunk.

The latter is a small pack storing only 400 watt-hours of energy--that's about like eight average laptop batteries. BMW doesn't mention whether the new 7 can run solely on the electric motor, but I doubt it; 20 horsepower probably isn't enough for that. Certainly the range would be negligible given the low battery capacity.

Instead, BMW describes the value of the electric motor in terms of two uses: first, it's powerful enough to restart the gas engine almost instantly (in less than one rotation of the crankshaft) so the engine can be shut down at stoplights, just as the Toyota Prius does. Second, the electric motor provides supplemental power while the gas engine is running, thus improving overall fuel efficiency. Since the battery can be charged by recovering braking energy, the power from the electric motor is often free.

BMW says the hybrid systems in the ActiveHybrid 7 were developed jointly with Daimler, maker of Mercedes automobiles. This partnership also led to some Mercedes models, and indeed, Mercedes has also introduced hybrids with powertrains similar to that of the ActiveHybrid X6. (Mercedes is announcing a new S500 hybrid in Frankfurt but didn't provide such nice pictures, so I didn't include it in this post.)

Both of these approaches will need to be developed substantially before they can reduce the total cost of owning and operating a motor vehicle. But it's clear that BMW, having waited this long to get into the hybrid car business, is giving its customers two very different choices. What the company does in the future will probably depend on how its customers respond.

Peter N. Glaskowsky is a computer architect in Silicon Valley and a technology analyst for the Envisioneering Group. He has designed chip- and board-level products in the defense and computer industries, managed design teams, and served as editor in chief of the industry newsletter "Microprocessor Report." He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.

Unwanted fat can be used as 'natural' breast implants: Two-in-one op joy for women

By Paul Sims

It promises to give women going under the knife a double boost.

A 'two-in-one' breast enlargement operation takes excess fat from the thighs and stomach and moves it to the bust.

The pioneering technique has been tested in Britain and the U.S. and is expected to be offered to British women by early next year.

A woman being readied for liposuction procedure. Unwanted body fat can now be used to augment the breasts

The procedure transfers fat from unwanted areas to create 'natural' breast enlargements. Doctors believe it will bring several benefits, including a more natural shape and feel compared with augmented breasts.

It could also avoid the problems associated with some artificial implants, which can harden and change shape and may need to be replaced.

More than 2,500 women have already expressed interest in the surgery, which is expected to cost £8,000.

Mel Braham, chairman of the Harley Medical Group which will offer the technique, said: 'This is the most exciting breakthrough in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery that I have seen over the last two decades.

'It amounts to two beneficial procedures in one - taking unwanted fat from one or two areas of a patient's body and transferring it to the breast area.'

He said a study of UK and U.S. patients who had the procedure four or five years ago had confirmed that the results were lasting.

He believes the procedure will eventually become more popular than implants and dominate the market within ten years.

The Harley Medical Group, which has a chain of 26 cosmetic surgery clinics, says it hopes the procedure will become commercially available in Britain early next year.

Zdenek Pros, one of the surgeons who will carry out the operations, said: 'Natural breast enlargement using fat grafting, in addition to increasing the size of the breast, has a more natural look and feel.

'In simple terms, the fat transfer procedure collects fat from a part of the body with excessive fat deposits and then places it in another part of the body where it is used for cosmetic and aesthetic purposes.

'This type of augmentation technique is very effective in enabling surgeons to shape the breast and achieve smooth, natural-looking contours.'

An increase of up to three cup sizes can be achieved by the redistribution of body fat, said surgeons.

A 34-year-old woman from Northampton, who had fat removed from her hips and transplanted to her breasts four years ago as part of the British pilot study, described the results as 'incredible'.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said: 'I would never have considered having a breast implant, but a natural way of increasing my bust size was like a dream come true.

'I wanted a very natural increase of just one and a half cup sizes, which returned my breasts to their pre-childbirth form.

'Getting rid of my muffin top [fat around the waist] and getting my breasts back in one operation was incredible.'

The procedure will be discussed at the annual meeting of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons this week.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/beauty/article-1213149/Two-op-joy-women-Unwanted-fat-used-natural-breast-implants.html#ixzz0RHoBnfHM

Plea to ease curbs on 'miracle' heroin drug

• Naxalone used to revive users who have overdoses
• Some fear proposals could encourage riskier habits

• Denis Campbell, health correspondent
• guardian.co.uk

The government's advisers on illegal substances want curbs eased on a controversial "Lazarus" drug that reverses heroin overdoses, in an effort to cut the rising death toll among addicts.

When a heroin user has an overdose, one injection of naloxone revives them from unconsciousness and gives them enough time for medical help to arrive. It is already used by ambulance crews, casualty staff and out of hours GPs faced with someone who has taken a potentially fatal dose of heroin or another opiate.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, the body that advises the Home Office, is pushing for naloxone to be made much more widely available so that people working with the UK's estimated 300,000 heroin addicts can stock it.

The ACMD has asked the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, the government's medicines watchdog, to allow frontline drugs workers, managers of hostels for the homeless and other staff who may witness an overdose to retain and inject the drug.

In a letter to the MHRA, Prof Les Iversen, chair of the ACMD's technical committee, said the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA)'s decision to let 950 relatives and carers of heroin addicts be trained in using naloxone "represents a step forward in tackling the high number of fatal opiate overdoses".

He adds: "We consider that provisions should be extended to cover others who may be in contact with drug users through their work."

Iversen, a professor of pharmacology at Oxford University, has hailed naloxone as "a miracle drug in terms of opiate overdoses" that could save 500 heroin users from dying every year. It might have saved singer Michael Jackson's life if it had been administered after his overdose, he believes.

However, doctors and drugs experts are divided about proposals to make naloxone more readily available.

Some fear that it could encourage users to indulge in even riskier drug-taking. Others have warned that up to 3% of those receiving naloxone suffer potentially life-threatening side-effects ‑ and even that it can be used as a weapon in fights between users.

But interest in naloxone as an antidote and potential lifesaver is growing, especially following the most recent annual statistics for deaths from all types of drugs that showed they rose by 11% to 2,928 in 2008 – the highest figure since 2001.

The Medical Research Council hopes to give the drug to 58,000 heroin users who have recently been released from prison as a way of examining its advantages and disadvantages, and a £1m pilot project research project involving 5,800 ex-inmates is due to start soon.

Prof John Strang, one of those behind the MRC's move, said: "The downsides of naloxone are very little. It's not pleasant, because it induces almost instantaneous cold turkey, but it saves lives."

The NTA's director of delivery, Rosanna O'Connor, said: "Naloxone forms part of the government's harm reduction and overdose prevention strategy. The government recognises the life-saving potential of naloxone and supports its use in a number of settings."Hero

Commuting 101, Riding the Train, Bus, Subway, Rail, & Metro

WTF!!

By Jason Robicheau

Warning: this list may offend you. Please don't read if you haven't got a sense of humor or can't appreciate angry tirades.

1. The Wedge


We all know this one. You can see them coming a mile away as the train pulls into the stop. They waddle in their muumuu over to the doors and into the train, wheezing and hawing, out of breath. You know exactly where they’re headed; right into the empty seat next to your own. You know those plastic luggage holders in the airport, used to ensure your carry-on meets the overhear requirements? I think we need those for chub-chub’s too. Repeat after me: If the seat don’t fit, you must not sit. It’s awful to experience someone’s rolls pushing against and over-spilling into your seat, compressing you into the next passenger. These McFatties are always the one’s to complain too when they’re charged double-fare for flights. What makes you think the subway should be any different? No one wants you to wedge your disgusting self into a seat that’s made for the normies. Don’t like it? Stand up for 10 minutes, at least that might burn 6 or 7 calories while the rest of us can ride in comfort.

2. The Cell Phone User


As if this person needs any introduction either. Yap, yap yap, all the way into the tunnel, where they suddenly get this perplexed look on themselves, as if they never realized you can’t make calls underneath 50ft. of concrete and pipes. Hello, asshole! Can you hear me now? We don’t want to hear your conversation any more than we want to talk with you. Have something important to discuss? Fine, keep your fucking voice down or get off at the next station. Yeah, the train is noisy … it’s a goddamn subway car! That doesn’t mean you can attempt to talk over it, which you can’t do anyways.

3. The Pushy Old Lady


I get it, you’re old and you feel entitled. You’ve lived on this Earth for millennia and now you want to sit down and rest your tired bones for a few minutes. I appreciate that and will gladly give up my seat to those who are in need. But when you push and shove your way into the front of the subway door entrance, elbows flying like a rugby pro from Manchester, I feel no empathy for you or your precambrian brethren. I love my grandma, but I’d tell her the same thing too. Show some manners or eat a spoonful of castor oil and get lost.

4. Children


Ahh, yes the screaming child. Who doesn’t love those? I’m not a breeder, so I’m sure some parents will cry foul on this one. You know what? I don’t care. Keep your annoying child in their seat, don’t give them liquids that will spill all over other people, and learn to discipline the rugrat. Oh, and leashes work too. I really like those. If all else fails, take a taxi or shove a pacifier in their mouth. Remember that old saying? Children should be seen and not heard.

5. The Bum


“Hey buddy, can you spare some change?” When this happens, you invariably catch a whiff of Listerine or Mad Dog 20/20 on their breath, and your own BAC just went up a notch thanks to them. You occasionally find them sprawled out across the seats on the Orange Line, sound asleep in their moving apartments, resting off the past months binder. Be forewarned, Homo Misellus will usually mark their territory by urinating in the corner of most subway cars or leave their shopping cart of possessions in a nearby place. Thankfully the Homo Sapiens has adapted an acute sense of smell to avoid these areas.

6. The Loud Conductor


When the speaker in the subway car blasts announcements at over 200 dB, human hearing can easily become damaged. I partially blame the MBTA on this one, but the loud-ass conductor shouting at everyone to step away from the platform certainly doesn’t help things much either. I’d like to take a baseball bat to the side of their head as it hangs out their window sometimes because of this. You know it’s bad when you can hear them through your headphones, resonating at the base of the skull. I smell a lawsuit on this one eventually.

7. Monkey in the Middle


Who hasn’t been the unfortunate victim of getting stuck in between two people conversing over you? I ain’t Casper the Fucking Ghost, so stop talking through me and show some respect to a fellow passenger. Perhaps you should swap seats with me so I don’t have to be party to your recap of last night’s team huddle or yesterdays episode of Guiding Light.

8. Mr. Headphones


This guy blares his headphones with a reckless audio level that would scare even the loud train conductor. You’ll hear the cheesy techno-beats through those oversized Bose headphones and wonder how the hell it all sounds so crisp and clear … nah, you’ll just want to rip ‘em off and bash the fucking iPod into his skull to the same beat as that DJ What’s-his-face that’s now stuck in your head for the day’s remainder. Please, for the sake of your fellow passengers (and your hearing) turn down the volume a bit. Mmm-kay?

9. The Tourists


I guess living in Boston you simply need to get used to these people. Hemming and hawing over the buildings, sights, etc. Always taking pictures, wearing those cheap-o Boston sweatshirts, wondering where they can find Cheers. I suppose it could be worse. Being a former citizen of Salem, I think Boston has it easy. Enough said here on tourists. They help support our economy, so I guess they ain’t too bad. Just stay the Hell out of my way and pay attention. People in Boston walk fast and have no patience for idiots. Fucking peepers.

10. The Hoodlums and Punks


One of the marks of adulthood is the transition to one who despises this riffraff. The homeys, hooligans, ghetto filth, and rabble-rousers, all of them are contributing factors to a shitty time using public transportation. These guys are usually characterized by the saggy pants, bad attitudes, 5th grade graffiti, and a look of contempt that requires a slap upside the head. If I ever require the use of a cane, I will be sure to use this for lads such as them.

11. The Drunk Sports Fan


Woo-hoo, go Redsox/Celtics/Bruins/etc. We get it, you love sports and you love booze. Those two don’t always mix well, though. Case in point: The Green Line. Anyone who rides it knows what I’m talking about. These asshats and their testosterone levels and belly full of beer can only lead to a miserable time on the train home. Packed like a sardine can, the train now becomes a roving sport bar … oh, and watch out for the projectile vomit.

12. The Smelly One / Tuna Breath


One word: Toothpaste. Another word: Deodorant. Want some more? Use less perfume and cologne. We don’t need to smell the Drakkar Noir or Axe that you tried to mask your B.O. with when there’s already an assault on the senses everywhere else. Remember, a little dab’ll do ya!

13. The Groper




This one goes out to all the ladies in the house. Although rare for men to get groped, there was this one time a little old Asian lady pulled a cockgrab on me, though for the most part, it’s the women who have to worry. Props to the signs on the MBTA cars and their efforts to nip this one in the bud. I myself have seen a creep or two cop a feel or pull the “oops, I tripped into your tits” trick, and I have only the deepest sympathy for the victims here. Kick the pedo in the balls. We won’t say anything.

14. The Lingering Stare


Some women refer to this guy as the Eye Rapist. But it’s not always about checking you out. Sometimes it’s just some sketchy MoFo grilling you for the entire ride. Maybe he’s got a crazy eye, botched lobotomy, or got the hots for you. Maybe be wants to pick a fight, or thinks you’re his long-lost high school buddy. Frankly, I don’t care. Put on some sunglasses if you like to play amateur sociologist. At least that will bring down the creep-o-meter in our guts.

15. The Suit / Crackberry Addict




This turd in his three-thousand dollar suit should come as no surprise to anyone when he walks into you because he’s too busy typing an email on his Blackbery to notice. The air fills with a sense of superiority when this guy enters the train car. He’s all business, and can generally be a nice guy who keeps to himself … just be sure to stay out of his way or carry a cell phone jammer.

Father shows off device he dug up in back garden... unaware it's an unexploded anti-tank grenade

By Daily Mail Reporter

A father-of-two posed for photographs unaware he was holding a live Second World War anti-tank grenade after digging it up in his back garden.

Paul Davies, 32, found the undetonated bomb and thought it was part of an old lawn mower or machine.

He took it into his house, where his friend used a camera phone to take a picture of him joking and holding the eight-inch device.

Explosive: Paul Davies, 32, poses with the anti-tank grenade he dug up in his back garden. Twelve nearby homes were evacuated after he realised what it was

Mr Davies, a window cleaner, then placed it near his sink next to some washing up where it sat for more than two hours.

But later in the morning he had a 'bad feeling' and after checking the internet, he realised the rusty lump of metal was an anti-tank grenade.

He threw it into his back garden and called police, who evacuated 12 nearby homes and summoned bomb disposal experts.

They set up a 100 metre exclusion zone around the house before taking the bomb - which was still live - to a nearby field to blow it up.

Mr Davies, of Exeter, Devon, said: 'I couldn't believe what was happening. I dug this thing up and it looked like a part of some old machine.

'I took it inside so I could show the kids when they came home from school and my mate took a photo of me for a laugh and I put it down the side.

'A bit later on I suddenly thought it might be dangerous and had a look on the internet. I said "I think it's a bomb".

'I can't believe I had it in my hand and was posing for a picture. The bomb team told me it was still live.'

Lucky escape: The unexploded grenade next to the sink. Bomb disposal experts safely detonated it in a nearby field

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said the anti-tank grenade was detonated by experts at 12.50pm on Friday.

He said: 'The bomb disposal team took it away and blew it up. We visited homeowners and asked them to leave their houses to retreat behind a cordon. Twelve properties were affected.'

Mr Davies added: 'It wasn't buried that deep in the earth. I've asked around and apparently the guy who used to live here years ago had an air raid shelter.

'It must have been buried then. I'm glad I didn't hit it with my spade when I dug it up - it could have been kaboom.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1213144/Father-poses-photograph-digging-unexploded-anti-tank-grenade.html#ixzz0R7PjcdK6

'Curb Your Enthusiasm' trailer (video)

'Curb Your Enthusiasm' trailer (video)

From the upcoming seventh season: Larry David vs. the anti-theft plastic electronics box.

8 Brilliant Bicycle Concepts

Take a spin through our list of innovative cycle designs

By Brynn Mannino

from WomansDay.com

The bicycle, which, according to the Pedaling History Bicycle Museum, evolved from a pedal-less machine built in 1817, is constantly at the center of innovation—whether to correct a flaw, meet a mobility need or simply as a means of artistic expression. So, we set out to find new bikes crafted with modernity in mind, regardless of whether they are rideable or not. From the motor-assisted Gocycle to a three-wheel seesaw-inspired cycle, each of the bikes below binds together the world of cycling and design.

“Bio-Cycle”

Requiring 100 hours of work, Jud Turner’s “Bio-Cycle”—made of welded steel and found objects—is part of his ongoing series of sculptures that examine how humans are intertwined with their modes of transportation. It sports an exact replica of a human skeleton, the bones of which are coated with a metallic finish, whose feet are attached to the pedals and whose arms serve as the bike’s forks. Displayed in May 2008 at the Mary Lou Zeek Gallery in Salem, Oregon, the “Bio-Cycle” was purchased by a private collector within two days for $3,000. Photo courtesy of Jud Turner via JudTurner.com.

The Contortionist

Dominic Hargreaves designed the Contortionist to—unlike other folding bikes—specifically showcase the aesthetics and feel of a traditional bike. Mechanically, he aimed to create a bike that was unable to fold up while being ridden, even if the quick release were to come loose. The aluminum frame collapses between the two wheels, making its compact size equal to that of a 26-inch wheel, allowing it to be easily carried (or rolled!) onto public transportation. When opened up, it becomes a standard, full-size bike. Click here to watch the bike fold up. Photo courtesy of Dominic Hargreaves via EyetoHand.com.

Gocycle

The final of many prototypes, Karbon Kinetics Limited’s Gocycle took its desired form in spring 2009 as a compact, electric-assisted, corrosion-proof folding bike. Designed to meet the everyday get-around needs of British citizens, the three-speed cycle with five-spoke wheels is equipped with optional accessories including a lightweight kickstand, chain guards to prevent oil rub on pants, integrated cable locks and luggage carriers on the front of the bike (in the form of a mount that allows you to hang a standard pannier) as well as at the back (a luggage arm can be mounted above the rear tire for transporting heavier cases). Fully assembled, the Gocycle costs ₤1,198 (approximately $1,995). Photo courtesy of Gocycle.com.

Skybike

The Skybike, a project designed by Marios Diamantis for the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, was meant to satisfy abstract needs as opposed to practical ones. Rather than providing a transportation solution, the Skybike, which has the rider sitting upside down and pedaling backward, is meant to make a person feel as if they are “riding on the sky” according to Diamantis. The artist claims that this concept raises questions such as “What is the purpose of designing only objects that adapt or apply to everyday life?” Click here to watch the Skybike in action. Photo courtesy of Marios Diamantis via itp.nyu.edu/~md1660/skybike.html.

Cardboard Bicycle

Phil Bridge, who majored in Product Design at Sheffield Hallam University in Sheffield, England, aimed to design a recyclable bike that was, in essence, worth nothing. Bicycles are often stolen or damaged throughout England, so he hoped his cardboard creation, devoid of sentiment and cost, would deter thieves while also preventing owner worry. A waterproof, honeycomb-structured cardboard called Hexacomb—generally used for engineering purposes—was used for the frame, pedals and wheel spokes. Designed to withstand approximately six months of constant use, the bike has an estimated production cost of around ₤15 (approximately $25). Photo courtesy of Sheffield Hallam University via shu.ac.uk/art/design/news/cardboardbike.html.

Bi-Cycle

This unique tandem bicycle is all about trust! Allowing both riders to contribute equally to the riding experience, the Bi-Cycle requires one rider to pedal forward and the other to pedal backward while they sit with their backs to each other. Designed by My Atomic Mass designer Elad Barouch as a “couples counseling” technique, the Bi-Cycle is meant to help a pair establish trust and communication to provoke forward movement within the relationship; once established, the rest should be fun! Watch the video to see how it’s done. Photo courtesy of Elad Barouch via MyAtomicMass.com.

SeeSaw Bike

Displayed at 2008’s Design Miami conference, the SeeSaw Bike is a prime example of bike-meets-art. Though two people cannot ride this bicycle at the same time, designer Elad Barouch was intent on building it with real variables (manufactured bike parts) while imitating an actual object (a seesaw!) so that the SeeSaw Bike creates the illusion that it could, in fact, work with multiple riders. After creating the Bi-Cycle (see above), Barouch aimed to “create an object that stands on that thin line between reality and imagination” and wanted observers to have “a baffled look about what their eyes are seeing.” Photo courtesy of Elad Barouch via MyAtomicMass.com.

Nulla Bicycle

Still just a concept, the Nulla, which means “nothing” in Italian, embraces a minimalist approach to bicycle design. Named as such due its missing parts, including the chain, fork and spokes, the Nulla uses a “direct-gear-chain drive system” instead to support the wheels and produce movement. Created by Bradford Waugh, the bike is still causing much debate as to whether or not it would indeed be operable, but most cycling enthusiasts agree that with its sleek, beautiful design it doesn’t matter all that much. Photo courtesy of Bradford Waugh via LikeCOOL.com.

Extravagant Dubai island project sinks under weight of the credit crunch

By James Mclean and Brian McDonald

THE Galwayman who bought Ireland is dead, England is deserted, while Australia and New Zealand have merged.

They were designed to make Dubai the envy of the world: a series of paradise islands inhabited by celebrities and the super-rich reclaimed from the azure waters of the Arabian Gulf and shaped like a map of the Earth. It was called The World.

As millions of tonnes of rock were dumped into the sea for the foundations, timely leaks suggested that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were to buy Ethiopia, Richard Branson was tipped to occupy England, while Rod Stewart would border him in Scotland.

Hazard

Instead it has become the world's most expensive shipping hazard, guarded by private security in fast boats and ringed by warning buoys to keep the curious away.

A development that was meant to send Dubai's star into the firmament of First World cities has been left to the mercy of the waves and the baking winds.

Mile after mile of breakwater built from boulders brought hundreds of miles by ship has been laid, but inside its man-made lagoon, work has completely stopped.

The expected map of the world of 300 islands is instead a disjointed and desolate collection of sandy blots -- a monumental folly just out of sight of Dubai's shore.

Those who bought into what was the world's most ambitious building project were not celebrities.

Many were more ordinary investors who put down 70pc deposits, some of them Anglo-Indians.

Galway auctioneer turned developer, John O'Dolan (51) fronted a consortium under his O'Dolan International banner and bought Ireland for e28m in 2007 and last year snapped up England from under the noses of several UK interests for e23.5m.

But the property crash brought tragedy in its wake as the Galwayman committed suicide in February of this year.

As well as his foreign investments, the popular family man had extensive business interests in Ireland. He owned a bar and a hostel in Galway as well as other properties in Dublin and Limerick.

A couple of weeks before his tragic death, a receiver was appointed to his Galway hostel and a property company. His body was discovered in a shed on his Barna Road property.

His fellow investors in the Dubai development now have little prospect of seeing a return. The World has stopped, but they can't get off.

"The World has been cancelled. It doesn't even look like the world. Basically there is one island that is maintained that is said to be owned by the Sheikh [Dubai's ruler] and the rest looks like a pile of muck," said one local property agent.

It is the starkest example of a financing crunch that faces the emirate but many other projects are also in jeopardy.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), of which Dubai is a part, about $300bn (e205bn) of building is on hold after prices began tumbling.

Abu Dhabi, Dubai's oil-rich neighbour, is helping to support it through the crisis, so far to the tune of about $10bn. Another $10bn is likely to follow soon, and more may follow.

Property is not the only dark spot in the UAE. In the nearby emirate of Sharjah the credit crunch caused massive power outages, leaving businesses and houses without electricity

Troubles

This week, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai's ruler and the UAE's Prime Minister, vowed to steer the emirate through its troubles and pledged to further rein in extravagant developments.

Officially, however, not a single project has been cancelled -- just delayed.

"I don't blame anybody. Some papers try to write this but they are forgetting their problems [in their own countries] ... But people only throw stones when a tree has fruit," he said.

- James Mclean and Brian McDonald

How to Accurately Predict the Lottery on Live TV

By andy, under Articles.

Most Americans aren’t familiar with Derren Brown, the mentalist-cum-magician-cum-con man, but in the UK, he’s been boggling the minds of TV watchers for years, with his oft-unexplained feats of psychological tomfoolery, such as reading minds, performing live séances, and predicting horse races. In the first of series of live specials for UK’s Channel 4, he upped his game by claiming to be able to predict the outcome of the British National Lottery on live television, a feat he apparently successfully achieved. Here is that broadcast:

Now, Derren Brown himself calls this a “highly complex event of misdirection”, so you know things aren’t exactly as they appear. His own explanation involved 24 volunteers, long division, and a heart free from avarice– basically bullshit.

Discarding that explanation, several enterprising viewers claim to have figured out how he did it, and the results seem to fall in line with what was broadcast.

The Solution: the 30-second version
Mutated Monty applies Occam’s Razor to the task: the simplest solution being the best. He demonstrates how some phony camera shake and a split screen gave Brown enough time to jigger with his balls.

The Breakdown
Noiseache gives us a play-by-play of exactly what’s going on during the broadcast:

The Evidence
And DerrenExposed corroborates this explanation, exposing a technical glitch in a close-up of the balls:

And Just For Laughs
And finally Holy Moly takes the piss out of Derren Brown with this send-up:

Despite what Derren Brown claims is the “official” explanation, he has maintained that it’s just a trick after all. This doesn’t detract from the fact that he’s a master of misdirection and manipulation by suggestion as one of my favorite clips below demonstrates:

Derren Brown Uses Subliminal Ads to Influence People – Watch a funny movie here

Better Tomatoes Via a Fertilizer of...Human Urine?

By Rebecca Boyle

Tomatoes C.P.Storm (CC licensed)

You say tomayto, I say tomahto.

You say Miracle-Gro, I say ... pee.

Apparently, human urine works remarkably well as a fertilizer for tomatoes, according to a new study out of Finland.

Plants fertilized with a mixture of stored human urine and wood ash produced 4.2 times more fruit than plants without the pee, the study found. The urine-fertilized tomatoes had more beta-carotene than unfertilized ones, and much more protein than traditionally fertilized plants.

And the tomatoes were just as good as those grown with traditional fertilizer, according to a panel of 20 brave tasters.

Healthy human urine is rich in nutrients like nitrogen, potassium and phosphate, all key ingredients for healthy plants. As long as the pee doesn't contain any fecal matter, it's usually free of any microorganisms.

Surendra K. Pradhan, K. Holopainen and Helvi Heinonen-Tanski of the University of Kuopio in Finland collected human urine during the winter of 2007-2008 from several eco-toilets in private homes. The urine was stored for about six months at 45 degrees F and tested for microbes and bacteria. The team mixed it with wood ash collected from a household furnace, and found the mixture was just as good as -- or better than -- conventional chemical fertilizer.

In taste tests, the urine-fertilized tomatoes tasted different from those fertilized with urine and ash, but tasters didn't have a preference -- "all tomato samples were evaluated as being equally good by the tasters," the study says. The results are reported in the latest Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

The same team had previously tested human pee as a fertilizer for cucumber and cabbage, and a South African team reported last year that urine had successfully fertilized maize. The Finnish team said they tried tomatoes because they're grown all over the world and are a staple ingredient in many recipes.

The use of urine to fertilize crops has been practiced since ancient times, but is relatively rare today, thanks to the ick factor and the prevalence of chemical and mineral fertilizers. But as farmers and home growers seek organic ways to grow food, urine could be a solution.

The study "may contribute to the development of positive attitudes about the use of urine and ash as fertilizer as a way to both increase crop yield and reduce water pollution," the authors wrote.

It may not be necessary to go all NASA with our pee and start drinking it. But if we can safely and efficiently grow food with it, why not?

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Jeff Bridges in talks for 'True Grit'

Role would reunite 'Lebowski' star with Coens

By MICHAEL FLEMING

In what is shaping up as a "Big Lebowski" reunion, Jeff Bridges is in discussions with Paramount to star in Joel and Ethan Coen's redo of "True Grit." Bridges would play the role that won John Wayne an Oscar for the 1969 original.

Bridges last worked with the Coens when he turned in a heralded performance as Jeffrey "the Dude" Lebowski in the 1998 cult fave.

The picture, which also reunites the Coens with their "No Country for Old Men" producing partner Scott Rudin, has been redrafted by the brothers to be more faithful to the Charles Portis novel on which the original film was based.

Story centers on a 14-year-old girl who tags along with an aging U.S. marshal, Rooster Cogburn, and another lawman to track the outlaw who killed her father. The original told the story from Cogburn's point of view, but the new version will work from the viewpoint of the girl.

The Coens premiere "A Serious Man" at the Toronto Film Festival. Bridges most recently starred in "The Men Who Stare at Goats" and reprised in "Tron Legacy."

ends

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New Pirates Movie w/ Johnny Depp Coming In 2011

Studio backing Guillermo del Toro production shingle

By Paul Bond

"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"

ANAHEIM -- Disney has teamed with director Guillermo del Toro to create Disney Double Dare You, a new label with a mandate to produce spooky animated feature films.

Studio chairman Dick Cook made the announcement Friday in front of 5,000 enthusiastic fans of all things Disney during the second day of the company's four-day D23 Expo.

The first film from the new studio is called "Trollhunters" and based on an original story by del Toro. He'll also produce the movie.

Del Toro was in New Zealand directing "The Hobbit" for MGM and New Line. However, there was plenty of star power on hand to wow the crowd. And Cook had other official announcements up his sleeve.

Cook confirmed that Disney will remake the 1968 Beatles' film "Yellow Submarine," to be written and directed by Robert Zemeckis and turned into a 3D motion-capture spectacle.

Zemeckis showed the attendees scenes from his upcoming take on "A Christmas Carol" that stars Jim Carrey in "seven or eight roles" (he couldn't quite remember which). "And we only had to pay him once," Cook quipped.

Johnny Depp also hit the stage to a standing ovation. Playing a drunken Jack Sparrow, he and Cook announced that the fourth "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie will be subtitled "On Stranger Tides" and hit theaters in summer 2011.

Tim Burton also joined Cook -- rousing almost as much passion from the audience as did Depp -- and showed some "Alice in Wonderland" clips. He confirmed that he is working on a feature-length version of his 1984 short film "Frankenweenie."

John Travolta, wife Kelly Preston and their daughter Ella Bleu Travolta showed scenes from their upcoming comedy "Old Dogs," which also stars Robin Williams. It's 9-year-old Ella Bleu's feature-film debut.

Miley Cyrus, who stars in next year's "The Last Song," sang her hit tune "The Climb," and Jerry Bruckheimer showed snippets from "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time."

Nicolas Cage told Cook he's interested making another "National Treasure" movie and he showed scenes from "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," a live-action film inspired by Disney's 1940 animated "Fantasia," which Cage called "the most beautiful movie ever made."

Cage also took a few moments to get serious, noting that Friday marked the eighth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Turmoil like that inspires him to make family-oriented movies, he said.

The nearly two-hour event at the Anaheim Convention Center began with a lengthy montage, accompanied by a live orchestra, of Disney films through the ages, with fans showing their appreciation with various degrees of applause. For those keeping score, the crowd made the most noise for "Mary Poppins," "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Beauty and the Beast."

And not only did directors, stars and movies receive love from the fans, so did Cook, providing evidence that the Disney studio itself attracts the sort of loyalty usually reserved for celebrities.

That sort of reaction must have been like music to the ears of Steven Clark, head of the D23 Expo. The conference ends Sunday, when Disney-Pixar chief creative officer John Lasseter will head a presentation similar to Cook's.

Clark wouldn't reveal how many attended the conference -- beyond "tens of thousands" -- nor would he guarantee a repeat performance next year.

He did, though, say that if D23 Expo is to be an annual event, he plans to keep it in Anaheim.

D23 is the name of the $75-a-year fan club that Disney launched six months ago. The D23 Expo is its "signature event," Clark said. The number "23" is an homage to 1923, the year Walt Disney founded his animation studio.

Clark says Disney's intent is to break even on D23 Expo, though it's obviously a marketing effort and -- judging from the positive reaction from fans and attention it has been getting from mainstream media outlets -- a successful one.

Attendees paid $37 a day or $111 for all four days, with discounts for children and D23 members. Clark said attendees have come from all 50 states and several countries, "including large contingents from Australia, the U.K. and Japan."

This is what two million people looks like

Reader Discovers New Secret Menu Order At In-N Out

By Phil Villarreal

A couple years ago we put together a comprehensive list of all the secret menus in the world. But time continues to march on and apparently there are still new menu secrets to be discovered.

Madison writes in to tell us about a burger cooking style that isn't even on In-N-Out's not-so-secret secret menu. She writes:

If you like a spicier In-N-Out burger, order it with 'fried mustard & chopped chilis'. The chilis are the yellow style. Awesome.

Has anyone out there tried the Fried Mustard & Chopped Chilis burger? And now that we've re-opened this can of fried worms, are there any other new secret menu items — for any restaurant — that have popped up over the past couple years since we ran that post?

If so, email them to us at tips@consumerist.com with "Secret Menu" in the subject, or leave them in the comments of this post.

(Photo: hellochris)