Switched http://www.switched.com Switched. http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com prods@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Producers) support@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Web Support) en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. View our terms of service here: http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/ Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[Chicago Catholic Church Warns Parents About Facebook]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/chicago-catholic-church-warns-parents-about-facebook/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/chicago-catholic-church-warns-parents-about-facebook/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/chicago-catholic-church-warns-parents-about-facebook/#comments facebook conversation While some outlets may bash Chicago's St. John Cantius Roman Catholic church for warning its parishioners of Facebook's moral dangers, we won't. After all, the church's clergy didn't forbid Facebook; they just declared that it facilitates vanity and dishonesty (specifically in children), allowing them to concoct their own identities and social realities with less risk of real-world consequence. We're right there with the church. Maybe we should've given up Facebook for Lent...

Chicago Catholic Church Warns Parents About Facebook originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> catholicchicago catholic churchChicagoCatholicChurchfacebookkidsparentsreligionsocialnetworkingtop Lee Bains Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:10:00 EST Switched <![CDATA['Witness' Security Program Lets You Watch as Thieves Steal Your Mac]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/witness-security-program-mac-laptop/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/witness-security-program-mac-laptop/ http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/witness-security-program-mac-laptop/#comments

These days, would-be thieves steal gadgets at their own risk. While yesteryear's TVs and stereos resulted in big money, today's laptops and smartphones -- what with their GPS tracking and Web connectivity -- typically result in quick arrests. And, thanks to a new program called Witness (which turns your Mac into an Internet-connected security camera), you can watch somebody stealing the computer you'll inevitably get back the first time he logs onto Facebook.

'Witness' Security Program Lets You Watch as Thieves Steal Your Mac originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> appscrimemacmacbooksecuritythieftopwitness Lee Bains Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Google Street View Update Allows Walking Tour of Roman Colosseum]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/30/google-street-view-comes-to-rome/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/30/google-street-view-comes-to-rome/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/30/google-street-view-comes-to-rome/#comments google street view of colosseum As lame as it may be, we occasionally hop on the ol' Google Maps, and meander our ways down scenic city streets from our desks. Paris, New Orleans and Buenos Aires can all be ours, regardless of where we lay our laptops. Thanks to an update from Google, we can now wander off the streets of Rome and into the Colosseum. We'll get some work done next week.

Google Street View Update Allows Walking Tour of Roman Colosseum originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> architecturecolosseumgoogleGoogleMapshistoryroman colosseumRomanColosseumromeStreetViewtop Lee Bains Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:15:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Science Proves That the Remote Is Stuck Under the Cushion]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/26/science-proves-that-the-remote-is-stuck-under-the-cushion/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/26/science-proves-that-the-remote-is-stuck-under-the-cushion/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/26/science-proves-that-the-remote-is-stuck-under-the-cushion/#comments We're not exactly sure why, but there's something really satisfying about science proving conventional wisdom right. A recent survey conducted by Logitech has confirmed what we've all long known: that, if you've lost your TV remote, it's probably between the couch cushions. In fact, there's a 49-percent chance it's there. Tied for the second most likely hiding place are the bathroom and a dresser drawer.

Science Proves That the Remote Is Stuck Under the Cushion originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> peripheralssurveytoptvTvRemote Lee Bains Sat, 26 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Facebook Game Offers Free Trip to Ireland for Best Virtual Roof-Thatchers]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/ireland-town-brings-farmville-model-to-tourism/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/ireland-town-brings-farmville-model-to-tourism/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/ireland-town-brings-farmville-model-to-tourism/#comments 'ireland town' In the same way that 'Mafia Wars' has drawn attention to Jersey, and 'FarmVille' has drawn attention to... uh... Iowa (or something), Zynga's newest Facebook gaming sensation 'Ireland Town' is advertising the Emerald Isle to Facebook users enthralled by such virtual activities as brewing beer and thatching roofs. Developed by Tourism Ireland, a joint enterprise between Ireland and Northern Ireland, the game offers a free trip to Erin for the best of the thatchers and brewers.

Facebook Game Offers Free Trip to Ireland for Best Virtual Roof-Thatchers originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> facebookFarmVilleirelandIrelandTownMafiaWarsNorthernIrelandonlinegamingsocialnetworkingtopweb Lee Bains Wed, 23 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[E-Books Pick up Steam as Paperback and Hardcover Sales Slide]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/e-book-sales-double-printed-books-slide/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/e-book-sales-double-printed-books-slide/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/e-book-sales-double-printed-books-slide/#comments Americans are increasingly doing their reading on screens, according to the Association of American Publishers. From January 2010 to January 2011, e-book sales more than doubled, increasing by 116-percent to $69.9 million. By contrast, hardbacks and paperbacks fell by 11.3- and 19.7-percent, to $49.1 million and $83.6 million respectively. By our calculations, ten years from now, "turn the page" will signify nothing more than a Bob Seger song.

E-Books Pick up Steam as Paperback and Hardcover Sales Slide originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> booksbusinessdeath of printDeathOfPrinte-booke-readerebooksereadersprint is deadPrintIsDeadsalestop Lee Bains Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:45:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Electronic Piggy Bank Takes 'Change' From Credit Card]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/zenona-piggy-bank/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/zenona-piggy-bank/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/zenona-piggy-bank/#comments zenona piggy bank The high-tech Zenona Piggy Bank's purpose isn't immediately clear, but when has that ever stopped technology developers? Comprised of an iPhone, Arduino BT and credit card slot, the half-bank half-Tamagotchi gets sad when it's been too long without a payment. Just swipe your card, and a pittance equivalent to pocket change will be transferred to a separate account. Weird.

Gallery: PiggyBank

Electronic Piggy Bank Takes 'Change' From Credit Card originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> arduinoCreditCardsdesigniosiphonemoneynoveltyPiggyBanktopweirdzenona Lee Bains Fri, 04 Mar 2011 07:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Beijing to Track Citizens' Cell Phones 'To Ease Traffic Congestion']]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/beijing-to-track-citizens-cell-phones-to-ease-traffic-congesti/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/beijing-to-track-citizens-cell-phones-to-ease-traffic-congesti/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/03/beijing-to-track-citizens-cell-phones-to-ease-traffic-congesti/#comments cell phone in beijing A savvy reader has informed Slashdot that the city of Beijing will soon begin tracking its citizens' cell phones -- ostensibly "to ease traffic congestion." According to the website of the Central People's Government, Beijing's cell phone-owning population (about 70-percent) will be tracked in real time as part of the project, which is called "Platform for Citizen Movement Information."

Beijing to Track Citizens' Cell Phones 'To Ease Traffic Congestion' originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> beijingcellphonechinagovernmentpoliticsprivacytop Lee Bains Thu, 03 Mar 2011 12:50:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[The Twit Tweets: Charlie Sheen Gets 700,000 Twitter Followers in No Time]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/02/charlie-sheen-joins-twitter-700000-followers/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/02/charlie-sheen-joins-twitter-700000-followers/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/02/charlie-sheen-joins-twitter-700000-followers/#comments charlie sheen tweet Not content wasting away in private, Charlie Sheen has certainly made the rounds the past couple weeks. But where is he supposed to spew egomaniacal jibberish and pitiful self-aggrandizements when he's not on TV or being chased by paparazzi? The same place everybody else does: Twitter. Since joining last night, he's gained over 750,000 followers, and made plans to hang out with P. Diddy. What have you done today?

The Twit Tweets: Charlie Sheen Gets 700,000 Twitter Followers in No Time originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> celebritiescharlie sheencharlie sheen twittercharlie+sheen+tweetscharlie+sheen+twitter+nameCharlieSheencharliesheentweetsCharlieSheenTwittercharliesheentwitternameSocialNetworkingtoptwitterweb Lee Bains Wed, 02 Mar 2011 09:32:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Green-Screen Tech Comes to iPhone With 'Kromath 3' App]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/03/01/kromath-3-app-brings-green-screen-to-iphone/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/01/kromath-3-app-brings-green-screen-to-iphone/ http://www.switched.com/2011/03/01/kromath-3-app-brings-green-screen-to-iphone/#comments 'kromath 3' If you have an iPhone and $20 to burn, you can now do your best impression of a weatherman, or Michael Jordan in 'Space Jam' -- thanks to the new 'Kromath 3' chroma-keyer app. Simply snap a photo of yourself in front of a solid-colored wall, and you'll have as many bizarre-o self-portraits as you could ever want.

Gallery: Kromath 3

Green-Screen Tech Comes to iPhone With 'Kromath 3' App originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> appsAppStorecamerachromakeyiosiphoneiphoneappkromath3PhotoEditingphotographytop Lee Bains Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Heather Armstrong Reigns Over Blogdom With Dooce.com]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/02/26/heather-armstrong-reigns-over-blogdom-with-dooce-com/ http://www.switched.com/2011/02/26/heather-armstrong-reigns-over-blogdom-with-dooce-com/ http://www.switched.com/2011/02/26/heather-armstrong-reigns-over-blogdom-with-dooce-com/#comments When asked what we do for work, we often wince before saying, "I'm a blogger." It's because, for most folks, the term likely describes a twenty-something nerd who lives in his mother's basement, collects unemployment, and writes in his LiveJournal about black metal bands. Thanks to the New York Times' profile of Heather Armstrong, though, "blogger" might soon mean an independently wealthy media personality with a family and a six-bedroom house.

Heather Armstrong Reigns Over Blogdom With Dooce.com originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 26 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blogbloggerbloggingdooceHeatherArmstrongmediatopweb Lee Bains Sat, 26 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Facebook Posts Promising Free Southwest Flights Are *Gasp* Spam]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/free-southwest-flights-facebook-spam/ http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/free-southwest-flights-facebook-spam/ http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/free-southwest-flights-facebook-spam/#comments southwest spam In today's Facebook travels, you may have noticed that free Southwest flights constituted a hot topic of discussion amongst your friends. (We received several comments today along those lines.) Well, to nobody's surprise, those comments were nothing but spam messages. In case you were goofy enough to click on one of those links, read Mashable's directions on how to disinfect your Facebook.

Facebook Posts Promising Free Southwest Flights Are *Gasp* Spam originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> facebooksecuritysocialnetworkingsouthwest airlinesSouthwestAirlinesspamtopweb Lee Bains Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:50:00 EST Switched <![CDATA['Great Gatsby' Flick to Be Shot in 3-D]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/great-gatsby-movie-shot-in-3-d/ http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/great-gatsby-movie-shot-in-3-d/ http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/great-gatsby-movie-shot-in-3-d/#comments It sounds like a story line straight out of 'The Simpsons.' For the first time in years, a movie director will soon adapt 'The Great Gatsby' to the silver screen. Except this Gatsby will be in 3-D. And in Australia. Let's just hope that director Baz Lurhmann goes ahead, fully embraces absurdity, and writes in a few car chases.

'Great Gatsby' Flick to Be Shot in 3-D originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> 3-d3dBazLuhrmannGreatGatsbyliteraturelolzmediamoviestopweird Lee Bains Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:40:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Dorky Dad Bakes Son 'Angry Birds' Birthday Cake, Lazy Parents Roll Eyes]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/02/21/angry-birds-cake/ http://www.switched.com/2011/02/21/angry-birds-cake/ http://www.switched.com/2011/02/21/angry-birds-cake/#comments
If your kids are currently in the room, it's probably in your best interest to refrain from watching this video. No, it's not because of bad language or nudity or violence. It's because, if they see this monstrosity of a birthday cake (and working model of 'Angry Birds'), they will not rest until you construct it. And that would take us months.

Dorky Dad Bakes Son 'Angry Birds' Birthday Cake, Lazy Parents Roll Eyes originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> angry+birds+birthday+cakeangry+birds+cakeAngryBirdsangrybirdsbirthdaycakeangrybirdscakeappsbirthdaydiyfoodgamingkidslolztop Lee Bains Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Nun Ousted From Spanish Convent for Facebooking]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/02/21/sister-maria-jesus-galan-ousted-over-facebook/ http://www.switched.com/2011/02/21/sister-maria-jesus-galan-ousted-over-facebook/ http://www.switched.com/2011/02/21/sister-maria-jesus-galan-ousted-over-facebook/#comments Sister Maria Jesús Galán facebook page Ten years ago, the sisters of the Santo Domingo el Real convent in Toledo, Spain decided to get a computer. "It enabled us do things [sic] such as banking online and saved us having to make trips into the city," 54-year-old Sister Maria Jesús Galán recently told the Telegraph. Having taken to the computer perhaps more quickly than most, Sister Maria set about digitizing the archives of the 700-year-old convent, for which the Toledo government awarded her a prize in 2008, and for which she received hundreds of Facebook friend requests. Thanks to the latter, at least in part, Sister Maria has been asked to leave the convent.

Apparently, the convent's other sisters disapproved of the time that Sister Maria had been spending on the Internet, saying that it "made life impossible." The convent has declined to comment, and the Archbishop of Toledo has described the affair as "an internal matter." We can only hope that Sister Maria finds a way to continue her good works with the talents she's been given.

Nun Ousted From Spanish Convent for Facebooking originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> catholicchristianityconventfacebooknunreligionsister maria jesus galanSisterMariaJesusGalantopweb Lee Bains Mon, 21 Feb 2011 09:20:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Bieber the Face (and Hairdo) of MTV and Facebook's Anti-Cyber-Bullying Campaign]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/02/17/justin-bieber-draw-your-line-against-cyberbullying/ http://www.switched.com/2011/02/17/justin-bieber-draw-your-line-against-cyberbullying/ http://www.switched.com/2011/02/17/justin-bieber-draw-your-line-against-cyberbullying/#comments
MTV, Facebook and Justin "The Beebs" Bieber have launched Draw Your Line, a campaign to track and discourage acts of cyberbullying. While we hate cyberbullying as much as the next blog, we have to question the inclusion of Justin Bieber, as it reminds us of those old anti-drug specials featuring the Ninja Turtles. Young dope fiends didn't care about masked reptiles back then, and we'd wager young bullies don't care about cherubic teen idols nowadays.

Bieber the Face (and Hairdo) of MTV and Facebook's Anti-Cyber-Bullying Campaign originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> CyberBullyingDraw Your LineDrawYourLinefacebookJustin BieberJustinBieberkidsmtvtop Lee Bains Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:00:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Make Actual Music Virtually With Tellart's 'Bells!']]> http://www.switched.com/2011/02/17/tellart-bells-make-actual-music-virtually/ http://www.switched.com/2011/02/17/tellart-bells-make-actual-music-virtually/ http://www.switched.com/2011/02/17/tellart-bells-make-actual-music-virtually/#comments
Clang your way through the end of your work day by plugging your favorite tunes into Tellart's nifty 'Bells!' site. By merely dragging those little virtual bells into position, you'll trigger an Arduino processor that plays the genuine articles right there in Tellart's Rhode Island office (watch in your browser!). We figured out AC/DC's 'You Shook Me All Night Long,' and were pleasantly surprised.

Make Actual Music Virtually With Tellart's 'Bells!' originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> arduinobergberg londonBergLondonmusictellarttopweb Lee Bains Thu, 17 Feb 2011 07:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Frightened Dell Employees Call Cops on Horribly Misguided P.R. Campaign]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/02/16/dell-employees-call-cops-on-horribly-misguided-campaign/ http://www.switched.com/2011/02/16/dell-employees-call-cops-on-horribly-misguided-campaign/ http://www.switched.com/2011/02/16/dell-employees-call-cops-on-horribly-misguided-campaign/#comments We're comforted to know that we're not the only ones who get severely weirded out by overzealous P.R. people. Dell employees in Round Rock, Texas were so freaked out, in fact, that they recently wound up calling the cops on their own coworkers. Of course, they didn't realize at the time that the black-clad, mask-wearing men clutching "metallic objects" and barking orders at them were doing so as part of an internal marketing campaign. Imagine that...

Frightened Dell Employees Call Cops on Horribly Misguided P.R. Campaign originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> advertisingdelllawlolzmarketingpolicetopweird Lee Bains Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST Switched <![CDATA['A' Is for ADD: 'Sesame Street' Coming to Microsoft Kinect]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/02/15/sesame-street-coming-to-kinect/ http://www.switched.com/2011/02/15/sesame-street-coming-to-kinect/ http://www.switched.com/2011/02/15/sesame-street-coming-to-kinect/#comments 'sesame street' on xbox360 Perhaps you're the type of parent that hates to see a child become ADD-addled and glassy-eyed in front of the TV. Well, thanks to 'Sesame Street' and Microsoft's motion-control Kinect gaming system, you can soon have your little tyke unresponsive and rambunctious. According to the Xbox PR folk, the multiple 'Sesame Street'-themed games encourage "dancing, jumping, flying and more." We would rather discourage our children from trying to fly, but different strokes...

'A' Is for ADD: 'Sesame Street' Coming to Microsoft Kinect originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> gamingkidskinectSesameStreettopvideogamesXbox-360 Lee Bains Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:45:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Black Eyed Peas Halftime Show Suffers From Wireless Malfunction (Among Other Things)]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/02/07/will-i-am-black-eyed-peas-tweet-superbowl-halftime-show/ http://www.switched.com/2011/02/07/will-i-am-black-eyed-peas-tweet-superbowl-halftime-show/ http://www.switched.com/2011/02/07/will-i-am-black-eyed-peas-tweet-superbowl-halftime-show/#comments
black eyed peas at the super bowl
Yesterday, before the big game, Black Eyed Peas figurehead Will.i.am promised USA Today that he would totally tweet during the halftime show! Well, he didn't. Here was his explanation, as taken from his Twitter feed, decidedly post-game: "Att crashed...ahhhh!!!! The worse." He then added, "At&t??? Wow...no service during halftime...unbelievable." It really is a shame he didn't get a chance to tweet in front of everybody. That would've proven to the world that Will.i.am can do something a toddler could do, while making music a toddler could make.

Continue reading Black Eyed Peas Halftime Show Suffers From Wireless Malfunction (Among Other Things)

Black Eyed Peas Halftime Show Suffers From Wireless Malfunction (Among Other Things) originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> attblack eyed peasblack+eyed+peas+halftime+showBlackEyedPeasblackeyedpeashalftimeshowcelebritiescellphonehalftime+showhalftimeshowmusicsportsSuperBowlsuperbowl+halftime+showsuperbowlhalftimeshowtoptwitterwill.i.am Lee Bains Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Clever Cartographer Counts Cusses on Twitter, Maps the U.S. of A-hole]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/01/26/daniel-huffman-maps-twitter-swearing-united-states/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/26/daniel-huffman-maps-twitter-swearing-united-states/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/26/daniel-huffman-maps-twitter-swearing-united-states/#comments
Having scoured Twitter for profanities last year, clever cartographer Daniel Huffman has mapped the prevalence of pottymouths across the U.S. The darkest shade of red indicates a citizenry that routinely watches its mouth, while the bright crimson marks a particularly pottymouthed populace. Sure, New York City's scorching scarlet and Oklahoma City's dull red likely won't shock anybody. But Los Angeles is surprisingly dark, and South Georgia is on fire.

Clever Cartographer Counts Cusses on Twitter, Maps the U.S. of A-hole originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> daniel huffmanDanielHuffmaninfographicmapsprofanitystatisticsswearstoptwitter Lee Bains Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Report: Father-in-Law Kidnaps Man, Takes Xbox as Ransom]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/01/25/allen-begley-kidnapped-xbox-taken-ransom/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/25/allen-begley-kidnapped-xbox-taken-ransom/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/25/allen-begley-kidnapped-xbox-taken-ransom/#comments Oh, the hazards of working in the family business. According to reports, Allen Begley got a call from his employer (and father-in-law) Joshua Seal this weekend. After arriving at Seal's Flooring in Kingsport, Tennessee, Begley was allegedly locked in a room, assaulted, and accused of stealing jewelry valued at $245 from a job site. Seal reportedly released Begley -- but only after taking an Xbox 360 as ransom from one of Begley's friends.

Report: Father-in-Law Kidnaps Man, Takes Xbox as Ransom originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> crimegamingkidnappingtopweirdXbox-360 Lee Bains Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[George Lucas's 2012 Prophecy Was a Joke, Says Lucasfilm]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/01/21/george-lucas-2012-prophecy-was-a-joke-says-lucasfilm/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/21/george-lucas-2012-prophecy-was-a-joke-says-lucasfilm/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/21/george-lucas-2012-prophecy-was-a-joke-says-lucasfilm/#comments Just hours after dorks worldwide had worked themselves into a tizzy over George Lucas's prediction that the world would end in 2012, the Jedi Master announced, via his intergalactic PR team, that he had been joking "when he talked about the end of the world in 2012." The initial report of the director's doomsday prophecy came from actor Seth Rogen, who said he had begged for a seat on Lucas's post-apocalyptic spaceship. Seat taken, Seth!

George Lucas's 2012 Prophecy Was a Joke, Says Lucasfilm originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> 2012celebritiesGeorgeLucaslolzSethRogentop Lee Bains Fri, 21 Jan 2011 11:40:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Turnstyle Design Strips the Record Player Down to Its Essence]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/01/21/turnstyle-record-player-rd-silva/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/21/turnstyle-record-player-rd-silva/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/21/turnstyle-record-player-rd-silva/#comments While it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to buy vinyl records of albums that were recorded, mixed and mastered digitally, it sure is cool. Taking this observation into consideration, R.D. Silva has applied space-age, minimalist design to the age-old phonograph, and wound up with the Turnstyle record player. Thanks to what looks like parts scrapped from an air conditioner, this sucker is hotter than Arcade Fire, and cooler than Gucci's new tattoos.

Turnstyle Design Strips the Record Player Down to Its Essence originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 07:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> designmusicrd silvaRdSilvarecord playerRecordPlayertopturntablevinyl Lee Bains Fri, 21 Jan 2011 07:15:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Pennsylvania Police Find Kids in Filthy House, Neglected by Game-Addict Mother]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/01/20/uniontown-police-find-kids-game-addicted-mother/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/20/uniontown-police-find-kids-game-addicted-mother/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/20/uniontown-police-find-kids-game-addicted-mother/#comments Police in Uniontown, Pennsylvania were shocked to find a home stinking of feces and six children sleeping on bare mattresses. The childrens' mother, who had left the pantry bare and food rotting in the refrigerator, was neither absent nor an alcoholic; she was a gaming addict. After the children, three of whom are toddlers, were removed from the residence Monday, their stepfather told WPXI that his wife played online games compulsively, neglecting every other priority as a result. The mother, who has not been named, will likely be charged with child endangerment.

Pennsylvania Police Find Kids in Filthy House, Neglected by Game-Addict Mother originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> ChildAbusegamingInternetAddictionkidsnegligenceparentspolicetopVideoGameAddictionweb Lee Bains Thu, 20 Jan 2011 11:15:00 EST Switched <![CDATA['Lights Out' on Lil Wayne's Twitter Account After Hacker Tweets at Soulja Boy]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/01/19/lil-wayne-twitter-account-hacked-soulja-boy/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/19/lil-wayne-twitter-account-hacked-soulja-boy/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/19/lil-wayne-twitter-account-hacked-soulja-boy/#comments Over the weekend, a hacker got hold of Lil Wayne's Twitter account, tweeting affronts to Soulja Boy, 50 Cent and Weezy, himself. One tweet, likely addressed to Soulja Boy, read, "I sent a donations to your Paypal, check it, I heard you got 13,000 sales lil homie, I feel bad for you!" Another, still more incendiary tweet read, "The real reason I made 6'7 is cuz that's how tall the n***a in rikers was that raped me." Having finally recovered control of his account, Weezy has suspended it indefinitely.

'Lights Out' on Lil Wayne's Twitter Account After Hacker Tweets at Soulja Boy originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> celebritieshackLilWaynemusictoptwitter Lee Bains Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:20:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Webcam Shotgun Hunting Setup Spotted in Georgia Woods]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/01/17/webcam-hunting-setup-spotted-in-georgia-woods/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/17/webcam-hunting-setup-spotted-in-georgia-woods/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/17/webcam-hunting-setup-spotted-in-georgia-woods/#comments Webcam HuntingThis fall, while working on a Georgia Power Company right-of-way in South Georgia, a power company employee found a bank of shotguns that was aimed directly into a wild boar feeding area, and fully connected to the Internet. After taking a few pictures, the employee called the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, who, in turn, called the Office of Homeland Security. In a November 19th bulletin, the Georgia Information Sharing & Analysis Center stated, "[Three] shotguns were set up on a platform and linked to a Web-accessible camera system that allows the guns to be fired via an Internet connection." Apparently, another cluster of shotguns (again, three of them) was found sitting on the other side of the food plot.

The shotguns, all manufactured by Benelli, were taken down before the Wildlife Resources Division could revisit the site. Cyber-hunting has been the object of speculation over the past several years, but, at present, is illegal in many states (Georgia being among them). And, seeing as cyber-hunting's disgustingness affords hunters and animal rights advocates the rare occasion to agree with one another, we don't see public opinion changing anytime soon.

Webcam Shotgun Hunting Setup Spotted in Georgia Woods originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> crimegunshuntingillegalsportstopWebCam Lee Bains Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST Switched <![CDATA['Pac-Man' Live Action Reality TV Show Inexplicably in the Works]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/01/17/pac-man-live-action-reality-tv-show/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/17/pac-man-live-action-reality-tv-show/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/17/pac-man-live-action-reality-tv-show/#comments As bizarre (or impossible) as it sounds, 'Pac-Man' will soon be transformed into a live-action television show. According to Deadline, it will resemble 'Wipeout,' a highly physical, slapstick game show. The show commemorates the game's 30th anniversary, and should provide just as much brain-numbing enjoyment (or, at least, just brain-numbing) as the original.

'Pac-Man' Live Action Reality TV Show Inexplicably in the Works originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> pac-manPac-manTvShowtoptvvideogames Lee Bains Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:15:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Laser Enthusiast Pops Popcorn at the Rate of One Kernel Per Minute]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/01/16/laser-pops-popcorn/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/16/laser-pops-popcorn/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/16/laser-pops-popcorn/#comments Surely, we've all heard the old saying: "He's smart enough to make it rain, but doesn't have the sense to come in from out of it." Well, the man behind the YouTube handle 'WorldScott' has successfully popped a single kernel of corn with the help of two lasers. And that one kernel took only one minute of being bombarded with lasers. Somebody get this boy an umbrella.

Continue reading Laser Enthusiast Pops Popcorn at the Rate of One Kernel Per Minute

Laser Enthusiast Pops Popcorn at the Rate of One Kernel Per Minute originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 16 Jan 2011 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> laserlaser pointerLaserPointerlolzpopcornspydertopweird Lee Bains Sun, 16 Jan 2011 17:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Office Gladiators: Turn Your Employed Life Into a Battle With Cubeduel]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/01/14/cubeduel-office-life-who-would-you-rather-work-with/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/14/cubeduel-office-life-who-would-you-rather-work-with/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/14/cubeduel-office-life-who-would-you-rather-work-with/#comments From what we've heard (because we've certainly never used it), LinkedIn is a social network with twice the "work" and none of the fun -- a sort of Facebook without the face. Well, the minds behind Cubeduel hope to change that perception. Drawing its information from your Linked In profile, Cubeduel goes through your past and present fellow employees, asking you to rank them as coworkers. It's sort of like Hot Or Not. But more like Relatively Balanced And Socially Functional Or Not.

Office Gladiators: Turn Your Employed Life Into a Battle With Cubeduel originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 09:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> cubeduelemploymentjobslinkedinsocialnetworkingtop Lee Bains Fri, 14 Jan 2011 09:37:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Palin-Signed Xbox Will Sell for $1.1M on eBay, Confused Canadian Hopes]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/01/14/palin-signed-xbox-ebay-david-morrill/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/14/palin-signed-xbox-ebay-david-morrill/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/14/palin-signed-xbox-ebay-david-morrill/#comments We Americans are labeled with several stereotypes. Such confused foreigners interchangeably think that we are are all extravagantly wealthy, Tea Party supporters, or incredibly dumb. But rarely does a citizen of the world believe as fully in all of those things as does David Morrill, who hopes to sell a Sarah Palin-autographed Xbox 360 for $1.1 million on eBay. Sure, he hasn't found a buyer in two years, but we admire this Albertan's persistence. It is the American way.

Palin-Signed Xbox Will Sell for $1.1M on eBay, Confused Canadian Hopes originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> eBayEbayAuctionebaywtflolzpoliticsSarahPalintopvideogamesweirdXbox-360 Lee Bains Fri, 14 Jan 2011 07:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Web Service Called 'Hipster' Has Hipsters Scratching Beards in Confusion]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/01/13/hipster-website-has-hipsters-scratching-beards-in-c/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/13/hipster-website-has-hipsters-scratching-beards-in-c/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/13/hipster-website-has-hipsters-scratching-beards-in-c/#comments hipster screenshot As the notion of the "hipster" has pretty well crossed the threshold into banality, TechCrunch has a pressing question to ask: is this new Web service 'Hipster' cool or not?! While nobody's entirely certain of what Hipster does yet (as the company is just trying to collect e-mail addresses from interested early adopters), folks are certain that, if the name 'Hipster' is meant ironically, it's cool. And, if it ain't, it ain't.

So, the question before us: is Hipster The Beatles or The Monkees? 'Repo Man' or 'Valley Girl'? Is it a genuine offshoot of the contemporary youth culture, or is it a shaky facsimile of that culture, made to dupe the poseurs? Is it marked with the irony so dearly held by those young folks, or is it just trying too hard? We think it's the latter on both counts, but marinate on this for a second: It's totally hip to wear a Monkees T-shirt, and lame to wear a Beatles tie-dye. And 'Valley Girl' posters adorn many a hipster's dorm room wall. Because it's ironic. (Duh.) So, our suggestion to the tried and true hipster? Bookmark Hipster. Since it's not at all ironic, doing so would be totally ironic.

Web Service Called 'Hipster' Has Hipsters Scratching Beards in Confusion originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> brandingbusinesshipsterSocialNetworkingtopusehipsterweb Lee Bains Thu, 13 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Universal Donates 200,000 Classic Recordings to Library of Congress]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/01/11/universal-donates-200-000-classic-recordings-to-library-of-congr/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/11/universal-donates-200-000-classic-recordings-to-library-of-congr/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/11/universal-donates-200-000-classic-recordings-to-library-of-congr/#comments Making its first high-minded and forward-thinking move in recent memory, Universal Music Group has donated 200,000 master recordings to the Library of Congress. A boon to the Library's 3 million-strong collection of recordings, the discs and tapes, from the 20's through the 40's, will be digitized -- many for the first time. We foresee an exhibit at the Smithsonian: "For the Record: The Last Time Major Labels Consistently Released Good Music."

Universal Donates 200,000 Classic Recordings to Library of Congress originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> historyLibraryOfCongressmusicpreservationrecordstopuniversaluniversal music groupUniversalMusicGroup Lee Bains Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:50:00 EST Switched <![CDATA['Attack a Teacher Day' Facebook Event Leads to Six Adolescent Girls' Arrests]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/01/10/facebook-attack-a-teacher-day-6-girls-arrested/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/10/facebook-attack-a-teacher-day-6-girls-arrested/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/10/facebook-attack-a-teacher-day-6-girls-arrested/#comments Six middle-schoolers in Carson City, Nevada have been arrested for using Facebook to threaten violence against their teachers. One of the six students, all of whom are 12- and 13-year-old girls, created a Facebook event entitled "Attack a Teacher Day," and allegedly invited around 100 others to do that very thing last Friday. The other five girls, among the invitees, allegedly posted threatening messages to the event's page.

"Even if the six girls meant it as a joke, there's no way to know if the other students who accepted the invitation weren't going to carry out the attacks in some fashion," said Carson City Sheriff's Deputy Jessica Rivera to the Associated Press. Quickly released to their parents after the arrests, the girls are all facing suspensions from school, between three and five days long. Surprisingly enough, the girls had never seen such trouble before. Some, in fact, were near the top of their classes, and others had held what the AP is calling "leadership positions."

'Attack a Teacher Day' Facebook Event Leads to Six Adolescent Girls' Arrests originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> attack a teacher dayAttackATeacherDaycarson cityCarsonCitycrimefacebooknevadaschoolSocialNetworkingstudentsteensThreattopviolence Lee Bains Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:33:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Facebook Flooded with Record 750 Million Pics Over New Year's Weekend]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/01/05/facebook-record-750-m-photos-new-years-eve/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/05/facebook-record-750-m-photos-new-years-eve/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/05/facebook-record-750-m-photos-new-years-eve/#comments Facebook on Twitter Yesterday, Facebook announced that its users had uploaded a record number of photos over New Year's weekend. Now, the more optimistic among you might be thinking: "See, because New Year's is such a magical time! Even in days as uncertain as these, mankind has the spirit to rejoice at new beginnings! Everybody was posting what will become sweet remembrances of youthful days!" RIght. We think it's just because more people have smartphones, and were able to instantly upload pictures of their bros puking in the backyard.

Facebook Flooded with Record 750 Million Pics Over New Year's Weekend originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> facebooknewyearssocialnetworkingtop Lee Bains Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:10:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Argument Over Facebook Page Turns Into Stabbing for Indiana Couple]]> http://www.switched.com/2011/01/04/facebook-argument-stabbing-shemicka-mcvey/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/04/facebook-argument-stabbing-shemicka-mcvey/ http://www.switched.com/2011/01/04/facebook-argument-stabbing-shemicka-mcvey/#comments An Indianapolis couple has proven (yet again) that Facebook is nothing but trouble. After Maurice Davenport refused to let his girlfriend, Shemicka McVey, see his Facebook profile last Sunday night, an argument erupted. Taking the argument downstairs, and away from their two-year-old child's bedroom, McVey and Davenport continued to argue, while, at some point, McVey picked up a kitchen knife. It was this knife, McVey claims, with which she accidentally stabbed Davenport in the bicep.

At present, it seems that neither lovebird has pressed charges, and that the two are still happily friended on Facebook. We wish these two the best, and hope that they can put down the social networking for a little while, and work out their troubles the old-fashioned way: going on a talk show.

Argument Over Facebook Page Turns Into Stabbing for Indiana Couple originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> crimedatingdomesticviolencefacebookprivacyrelationshipsstabbingtop Lee Bains Tue, 04 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Palin's E-Mails to Be Made Public in May (Maybe)]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/12/29/sarah-palin-email-public-may-31/ http://www.switched.com/2010/12/29/sarah-palin-email-public-may-31/ http://www.switched.com/2010/12/29/sarah-palin-email-public-may-31/#comments Everybody's favorite reality TV star ex-governor will finally have her official e-mails released this spring. Major members of the press, including the Associated Press, have been clamoring for Sarah Palin's documents for over two years, but the Alaskan governor's office has repeatedly stated the need for extensions. May 31st however (pending another extension, of course), we will finally be privy to Palin's every correspondence.

Palin's E-Mails to Be Made Public in May (Maybe) originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> emailsgovernmentpoliticspresssarah palinsarahpalintop Lee Bains Wed, 29 Dec 2010 07:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[All Those Free Trial CDs Cost AOL Around $300 Million]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/12/28/aol-free-trial-cds-cost-300-million/ http://www.switched.com/2010/12/28/aol-free-trial-cds-cost-300-million/ http://www.switched.com/2010/12/28/aol-free-trial-cds-cost-300-million/#comments In the mid-'90s, we remember being befuddled whenever we'd open the Sunday paper to find a CD emblazoned with the AOL logo. Were these people made of money? Were they really giving away compact discs?! As it turns out, yeah, pretty much. According to various former executives, AOL spent something in the neighborhood of $300 million to ship all of those discs.

All Those Free Trial CDs Cost AOL Around $300 Million originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> advertisingaolbusinessmarketingmediamoneytopweb Lee Bains Tue, 28 Dec 2010 12:45:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[First X-Ray Picture of Lightning Taken]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/12/28/first-x-ray-picture-lightning/ http://www.switched.com/2010/12/28/first-x-ray-picture-lightning/ http://www.switched.com/2010/12/28/first-x-ray-picture-lightning/#comments Think, for a moment, about lightning. With all our talk of sci-fi and high-tech, we often forget that, in our world, since long before the dawn of man, rays of fatal electricity have shot down from the sky to stab the earth. Crazy. And it's crazier still to think that we've never tamed it -- never used it to power our personal hovercrafts. Of course, before the other day, we'd never taken an X-ray image of lightning, either...

First X-Ray Picture of Lightning Taken originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> lightningnaturephotographysciencetopxray Lee Bains Tue, 28 Dec 2010 10:10:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Navy Pilots Flew Helicopters Into Lake Tahoe for Facebook Picture]]> http://www.switched.com/2010/12/27/navy-pilots-flew-helicopters-into-lake-tahoe-for-facebook-pictur/ http://www.switched.com/2010/12/27/navy-pilots-flew-helicopters-into-lake-tahoe-for-facebook-pictur/ http://www.switched.com/2010/12/27/navy-pilots-flew-helicopters-into-lake-tahoe-for-facebook-pictur/#comments Helicopters on Lake Tahoe When two Navy helicopters unexpectedly landed at Lake Tahoe Airport on September 13th, they did so with half a million dollars in damages. Even more unexpected, an ensuing Navy investigation has found that the damage was caused by the crafts' two pilots and their decision to hover just above the surface of Lake Tahoe -- so that they could post the pictures to Facebook, no less. (Did we mention that MH-60 Romeo helicopters can't really hover over water?) After falling into the lake, the choppers were able to regain enough power to limp over to the airport.

Both helicopters' crews have gotten their comeuppance for the crash, but the Navy has been characteristically austere in its statements. "The investigation identified the decision of the aircraft commanders to conduct hovers over Lake Tahoe without completing the necessary engine performance calculations as the causal factor for the mishap," stated a release. Officially, the Navy has stripped the two pilots of their flying status, and forced the two student pilots to repeat their training. (Unofficially, we'd imagine that the first part entails the most demeaning assignment imaginable, and that the second part involves a more aggressive pedantic approach.)

Continue reading Navy Pilots Flew Helicopters Into Lake Tahoe for Facebook Picture

Navy Pilots Flew Helicopters Into Lake Tahoe for Facebook Picture originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> facebookfacebookfacelosshelicopterlolzmilitarynavySocialNetworkingtopweb Lee Bains Mon, 27 Dec 2010 10:25:00 EST Switched