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 2009 Weblogs, Inc. View our terms of service here: http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/ Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[Best of the Week: Fishnapping with Google Earth, Mario Tattoos]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/05/best-of-the-week-treat-rallies-for-mythbuster-but-not-astley-g/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/05/best-of-the-week-treat-rallies-for-mythbuster-but-not-astley-g/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/05/best-of-the-week-treat-rallies-for-mythbuster-but-not-astley-g/#comments

Ah, the rallying forces of the Internet. How we love to Tweet, status update, and virally inspire people to rush to our aid. Like 'Mythbusters' host Adam Savage using Twitter followers to protest $11K in excessive phone charges, or author Alice Hoffman baiting, er...asking, her fans to protest a negative review. Though, Internet rallies can turn into unconfirmed rumors, like when the blog-o-sphere went nuts with the fake news of Rick Astley's death. Sure, its great to have others as virtual support, just make sure you don't have the Web-induced Münchausen by Internet disorder. Other things that you may have missed this week include:

Filed under:

Best of the Week: Fishnapping with Google Earth, Mario Tattoos originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> bestoftheweektop switchedtips@gmail.com (Leila Brillson) Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Truck Plus Jet Engine Equals Fastest Pickup Truck Ever]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/05/truck-plus-jet-engine-equals-fastest-pickup-truck-ever/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/05/truck-plus-jet-engine-equals-fastest-pickup-truck-ever/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/05/truck-plus-jet-engine-equals-fastest-pickup-truck-ever/#comments

For those in the firm grip of a midlife crisis but unable to forego the practical requirements of hauling stuff around town, there is perhaps no better way to satiate your need for speed than a fast pickup truck. And when we say fast, we mean 2700 HP fast.

Just ask Chris Lentz, who strapped an M-701 turbojet to his Ford F-150 pickup to create such a monster for himself.

Continue reading Truck Plus Jet Engine Equals Fastest Pickup Truck Ever

Filed under:

Truck Plus Jet Engine Equals Fastest Pickup Truck Ever originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> f150jettoptruck switchedtips@gmail.com (Evan Shamoon) Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:02:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[New Blog Highlights Creative and Ridiculous Hacks ]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/05/new-blog-highlights-creative-and-ridiculous-hacks/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/05/new-blog-highlights-creative-and-ridiculous-hacks/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/05/new-blog-highlights-creative-and-ridiculous-hacks/#comments If there's one universal truth in the world, it's that things break. From the latest and greatest gadgets to your home's water pipes, nothing is quite immune from the realities of wear-and-tear and/or human error. And while there are things like warranties and repairmen to take care of such issues, nothing beats human imagination and some elbow grease, as showcased by site There, I Fixed It.

Featuring a wide assortment of user-submitted hacks, you'll find a gallery of the most absurd solutions to everyday problems. Smoke alarm busted? Stick a bag of popcorn on your wall. Out of spoons? Nothing a zip tie and some duct tape can't fix (check out the pic above). Some of the entries suggest incredible thriftiness, while others are clearly Photoshop jobs, but they're all definitely hilarious. Click on over for your moment of DIY Zen. [From: Wired]

Filed under:

New Blog Highlights Creative and Ridiculous Hacks originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> diyhackhumortop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:32:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Bizarre Toys Celebrate Japanese Weirdness]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/05/bizarre-toys-celebrate-japanese-weirdness/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/05/bizarre-toys-celebrate-japanese-weirdness/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/05/bizarre-toys-celebrate-japanese-weirdness/#comments The nation of Japan is respected for its great consumer tech (TVs, cameras, etc.), but we love it for its seemingly endless supply of hilarious, strange, and sometimes disturbing toys and games. While the odd offerings easily number in the thousands, IncredibleThings.com has managed to compile a condensed version of 14 especially bizarre Japanese toys.

Three in particular stand out for their inappropriate weirdness. The God-Jesus robot, which was first introduced in the '80s, acts as an all-knowing magic eight ball, but disappointingly does not turn water into wine. The President Obama action figure may seem like a respectable homage, but it's a bit mystifying as to why he's wielding samurai swords -- not that he couldn't handle them, of course. The Shimajiro Toilet Training Tiger emits motivational cheers while you take care of business, and its already made a splash stateside thanks to this video of animated talking excrement.

Continue reading Bizarre Toys Celebrate Japanese Weirdness

Filed under:

Bizarre Toys Celebrate Japanese Weirdness originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> biginjapanbizarre japanese toysBizarreJapaneseToysJapanese toysJapaneseToystop switchedtips@gmail.com (Warren Riddle) Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Bored? Check Out the Net's Most Boring 'Reaction' Videos]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/05/bored-check-out-the-nets-most-boring-reaction-videos/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/05/bored-check-out-the-nets-most-boring-reaction-videos/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/05/bored-check-out-the-nets-most-boring-reaction-videos/#comments
Since YouTube doesn't host videos of an obscene nature, the site has recently witnessed a burgeoning "reaction" movement, as thousands of users post videos of people watching various acts of perversion. Sometimes, though, the reactions of the desensitized watchers remaining emotionless creates an incredibly boring viewing experience.

BuzzFeed.com recently posted their choices of the most boring reaction videos, and they're all incredibly lame and monotonous. They don't provide much to the viewer except the opportunity to ridicule someone, and the opportunity to create subsequent vids of boring reactions to the original boring reaction.

Continue reading Bored? Check Out the Net's Most Boring 'Reaction' Videos

Filed under:

Bored? Check Out the Net's Most Boring 'Reaction' Videos originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> reaction videosreactionsReactionVideostopyoutube switchedtips@gmail.com (Warren Riddle) Sun, 05 Jul 2009 08:02:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Mafia Games Rule Social Networking Sites Like Facebook and Twitter]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/04/mafia-games-rule-social-networking-sites-like-facebook-and-twitt/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/04/mafia-games-rule-social-networking-sites-like-facebook-and-twitt/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/04/mafia-games-rule-social-networking-sites-like-facebook-and-twitt/#comments With the rise of social networking sites, it has become a little easier to join the Mafia. Your college roommate, little brother, or (God forbid) even your dad might send you an invite to join his or her 'Mob.' While this virtual 'organized crime' lifestyle won't cost you your life, it could cost you plenty of time, grief, and money, too.

According to CNET News, sites like Facebook, MySpace, and now Twitter are making tons of money from users playing Mafia-inspired multiplayer, online role-playing games developed by third parties. The names might vary ('Mobsters,' 'Mafia Wars,' '140 Mafia'), but the games stay pretty much the same. You either create or join a 'Mob' with your friends on the social network. Then, you carry out criminal activities, which include 'killing' and 'stealing,' against rival mobs. These activities earn you points, which are then posted for all your friends to see on the social network's news feed.

As you earn points, the game developers make money, from both display ads and from players who spend real-life money on in-game goods and health. For example, '140 Mafia,' which was developed for Twitter by LOLplaying, allows users to more quickly recover health by asking the 'godfather' for a 'favor,' a request which costs actual dollars. As long as folks are willing to pay and play, these apps will continue to grow, and much to our dismay, 'Mob' invites will continue to clog inboxes. Mafia Wars, which was developed by Zynga, has 15 million users across different social networks. For these developers, at least, it looks like crime does pay. [From CNET News]

Filed under: , ,

Mafia Games Rule Social Networking Sites Like Facebook and Twitter originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> facebookmoneymultiplayermyspaceonline gamingOnlineGamingrpgsocial networkingSocialNetworkingtoptwitter switchedtips@gmail.com (Caleb Johnson) Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:10:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Will 'Auto-Tune' Ever Die? Jay-Z Hopes So]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/04/will-auto-tune-ever-die-jay-z-hopes-so/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/04/will-auto-tune-ever-die-jay-z-hopes-so/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/04/will-auto-tune-ever-die-jay-z-hopes-so/#comments There's a great debate going on in popular music, and it centers on a software program called 'Auto-Tune.' Its name might not sound familiar, but if you've turned on the radio lately, you've heard it used. From country artists like Faith Hill to rap artists like T-Pain, musicians are using 'Auto-Tune' to change the pitch of their vocals, thus adding a robotic effect to the sound of their already overly processed voices, according to a report from MTV News.

Now Jay-Z, king of hip hop, has added his two cents with a new track titled 'D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune).' In the song, he issues a call to arms against the pitch-correction software. The rapper said it officially became a 'gimmick' when it was used in a Wendy's television commercial.










Continue reading Will 'Auto-Tune' Ever Die? Jay-Z Hopes So

Filed under: ,

Will 'Auto-Tune' Ever Die? Jay-Z Hopes So originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> auto tuneAutoTuneexpire-images:2010-7-4jay-zmtvmusicraptop switchedtips@gmail.com (Caleb Johnson) Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:25:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Woman Blocked by Twitter for Tweeting Too Much]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/04/woman-blocked-by-twitter-for-tweeting-too-much/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/04/woman-blocked-by-twitter-for-tweeting-too-much/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/04/woman-blocked-by-twitter-for-tweeting-too-much/#comments It's not uncommon for spambots to get the boot on Twitter for doing things like following hundreds (or thousands) of people, or blasting out messages non-stop. One woman managed to unintentionally fool the Twitter security systems into thinking she was one of the offending bots by sending too many hand-typed Tweets (as opposed to automated updates from a blog or music service like imeem) in the course of an hour.

Bonnie Smalley is a customer service rep for Comcast. The New York Times reports that she reaches out to the frustrated masses via social networking services, rather than sit around waiting for frustrated callers and angry e-mails. She spends time on Facebook, MySpace, Second Life and LinkedIn, but the real action is on Twitter. Here, Bonnie tracks Tweets about Comcast contacting customers before they reach out to customer support via the company's Web page.

Continue reading Woman Blocked by Twitter for Tweeting Too Much

Filed under: ,

Woman Blocked by Twitter for Tweeting Too Much originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> toptwitter switchedtips@gmail.com (Terrence O'Brien) Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA['Tourist Remover' Gets Rid of Annoying Photobombers]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/04/tourist-remover-gets-rid-of-annoying-photobombers/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/04/tourist-remover-gets-rid-of-annoying-photobombers/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/04/tourist-remover-gets-rid-of-annoying-photobombers/#comments
Photobombers: the scourge of tourists and photographers everywhere. You snap a beautiful panoramic shot of the Mediterranean coast, but when you get home to organize your pics, there's some Euro-dude in the distance wearing a Speedo and picking his nose.

Tourist Remover, as reported by BoingBoing, provides a solution to those photo crashers, and to other creepy lurkers who won't get out of your frame. The software only requires that a stationary photographer take several pictures of the intended area. And it works for fixed (like with a tripod) as well as hand-held shots. The program then melds the multiple images into a "composite photo with no interfering elements" by eliminating anything that doesn't remain stationary throughout all of the photos.

Continue reading 'Tourist Remover' Gets Rid of Annoying Photobombers

Filed under: ,

'Tourist Remover' Gets Rid of Annoying Photobombers originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> photographyphotossoftwaretoptourist removerTouristRemover switchedtips@gmail.com (Warren Riddle) Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:02:00 EST Switched <![CDATA['Awful Library Books' Blog Showcases Absurd Texts]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/03/awful-library-books-blog-showcases-absurd-texts/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/03/awful-library-books-blog-showcases-absurd-texts/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/03/awful-library-books-blog-showcases-absurd-texts/#comments There are tons of one joke blogs out there, but most of them are a tad low brow. It's a relief, then, to see Awful Library Books marry our love for quick, cheap laughs with something a little more sophisticated than stripper moms.

Awful Library Books was started by Mary Kelly and Holly Hibner, a pair of Michigan public librarians who have taken it upon themselves to point out some of the outdated and absurd tomes clogging up library shelves across the country. The blog features scans of the covers of books like 'Dee Snider's Teenage Survival Guide' and the 1985 computer program guide, 'Star power: Mastering WordStar, MailMerge, SpellStar, DataStar, SuperSort, CalcStar, InfoStar, StarIndex, CorrectStar, StarBurst, ReportStar & PlanStar.'

Yet, if this blog becomes popular, it may drive interest to some of these obscure and ridiculous titles, annulling at least part of their argument for retiring these texts. [From: Boing Boing]

Filed under:

'Awful Library Books' Blog Showcases Absurd Texts originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> blogblogsbookbookshumorlibrary switchedtips@gmail.com (Terrence O'Brien) Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Chinese Airline Proposes Standing Room Sections on Flights]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/03/chinese-airline-proposes-standing-room-sections-on-flights/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/03/chinese-airline-proposes-standing-room-sections-on-flights/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/03/chinese-airline-proposes-standing-room-sections-on-flights/#comments Spring Airlines of China has been struggling to accommodate an increase in passengers and flight routes while operating only 13 planes. The company ordered new jets (they're not expected to arrive until next year), so they want to propose a new boarding plan to the Chinese government: make certain areas of the plane standing room only.

According to Sky News, Spring believes the standing plan, which must be approved by the government, will create a 40-percent increase in passengers per plane and a 20-percent decrease in company costs. A company representative told China's CCTV that the jettison of seats won't lead to safety concerns, though, as safety belts wil still fasten around sanding customers' waists. Also speaking to CCTV, Spring Airlines' president Wang Zhenghua said that Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang helped inspire the idea when he "suggested that, for a lower price, passengers should be able to get on a plane like catching a bus."

While air travel may already be uncomfortable without having to stand motionless, the plan may appeal to frequent travelerers (who don't want to deal with checking luggage) in other nations, as well. Although, with recent reports that U.S. citizens are fatter than ever, it's not likely that this idea will take flight in the States. [From: Sky News]

Chinese Airline Proposes Standing Room Sections on Flights originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> chinese air travelChineseAirTravelflightspring airlinesSpringAirlinesstanding plane passengersStandingPlanePassengerstoptravelweird switchedtips@gmail.com (Warren Riddle) Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:10:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[25 Years Later: Does Cyberpunk Classic 'Neuromancer' Hold Up?]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/03/25-years-later-does-cyberpunk-classic-neuromancer-hold-up/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/03/25-years-later-does-cyberpunk-classic-neuromancer-hold-up/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/03/25-years-later-does-cyberpunk-classic-neuromancer-hold-up/#comments 'The Matrix', 'Strange Days', and even 'Hackers' have all cribbed from William Gibson's cyberpunk masterpiece 'Neuromancer', which celebrated its 25th birthday on Tuesday. Written in 1984, Gibson's hyper-futuristic novel follows a super hacker named Case as he executes amazing cyber-feats, hired by a shadowy organization that immediately raise his suspicions.

When a former employer rendered Case unable to "jack-in" (literally, using electrodes) by frying his neurons so they were unable to receive information, Case accepts a job from a mysterious man who claims to be able to repair his brain. Alongside his bodyguard Molly, who has augmented senses like extendable fingernails and night-vision eyes, Case explores cyberspace and his new job, finding much more than he intended.

Continue reading 25 Years Later: Does Cyberpunk Classic 'Neuromancer' Hold Up?

Filed under:

25 Years Later: Does Cyberpunk Classic 'Neuromancer' Hold Up? originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> anniversarycyber spaceCyberSpaceinternetneuromancernoveltopwilliam gibsonWilliamGibson switchedtips@gmail.com (Leila Brillson) Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Modernize Your Grilling With High-Tech BBQ Gadgets]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/03/modernize-your-grilling-with-high-tech-bbq-gadgets/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/03/modernize-your-grilling-with-high-tech-bbq-gadgets/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/03/modernize-your-grilling-with-high-tech-bbq-gadgets/#comments It's the 4th of July weekend and millions of celebrants are mixing their marinades and prepping their grills for the upcoming barbeque festivities. Unfortunately, not everyone has the time to attend to each marinading piece, or possesses the ability to judge a meat's readiness simply by touching its exterior.

To help all the amateur grillers out there (and for the experienced gadget-loving Q'ers) DVICE has put together a list of six gizmos to bring your grill skills into the 21st century. The tools cover every part of the grilling process, from a marinade infuser that claims to give you "maximum flavor penetration," to a motorized brush that helps with messy grill cleanup. For the in-between steps, they list an apron, a discreet thermometer, and a pair of tongs with a flashlight just for night grilling.

Continue reading Modernize Your Grilling With High-Tech BBQ Gadgets

Modernize Your Grilling With High-Tech BBQ Gadgets originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> 4th of july4thOfJulybbqbbq grillsbbq toolsBbqGrillsBbqToolsgrillingholidaytop switchedtips@gmail.com (Warren Riddle) Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Court: MySpace Not Responsible for Assaults on Victims]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/03/court-myspace-not-responsible-for-assaults-on-victims/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/03/court-myspace-not-responsible-for-assaults-on-victims/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/03/court-myspace-not-responsible-for-assaults-on-victims/#comments The Second District Court of Appeals in Los Angeles earlier this week ruled that "Internet servers" (read: Web sites) like MySpace cannot be found liable in cases where a minor is sexually assaulted by someone they met on the site. Tuesday's ruling comes from the case Julie Doe II et al v. MySpace Inc, in which several female victims of sexual assault and their families blamed MySpace for not properly verifying the girls' ages or defaulting their MySpace profile pages to "private." A particular section of the Communications Decency Act was found by the courts to free the popular social networking site of any wrongdoing.

With cases like the Craigslist killer and "MySpace Mom" Lori Drew capturing the public attention, this ruling comes at a crucial time for big social networking sites. Right now, there is no perfect balance of safety, freedom, and responsibility on the Web's most communal entities, but that's part of what makes them such useful tools. The decision of how to police and manage users should be left up to the Web site, and not decided in arbitration. [From: Reuters]

Filed under: ,

Court: MySpace Not Responsible for Assaults on Victims originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> courtcrimemyspacerulingtop switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:07:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Wind-Powered Knitting Machine, Night Vision Mobiles]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/best-of-the-rest-wind-powered-knitting-machine-night-vision-ce/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/best-of-the-rest-wind-powered-knitting-machine-night-vision-ce/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/best-of-the-rest-wind-powered-knitting-machine-night-vision-ce/#comments

There's a load of great tech news happening out there every day, and, unfortunately, we just can't cover it all. Here are a few of the other noteworthy things we saw today on our never-ending journey through the wild, wild Web.
  • We've seen robots that knit before, but this is the first nature-powered knitting machine we've stumbled across. The Wind Knitting Factory uses, you guessed it, wind to create scarves. [engadget]
  • Ever wonder how a Segway would fare on a motocross course? The Internet has the answer. [clusterflock]
  • If you're stuck at work on the Fourth, get your pyro kick on your iPhone with the free Handmarks Fireworks App. [geeksugar]
  • Samsung announced the world's first cellphone with night vision video. [DVICE]
Got a tip? Want to talk to us? In need of more choice links like these? Drop us a line on Twitter and check out our new Tumblr blog.

Filed under:

Best of the Rest: Wind-Powered Knitting Machine, Night Vision Mobiles originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> bestoftheresttop switchedtips@gmail.com (Thomas Houston) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[EPA May Have Suppressed Anti-Global Warming Study]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/epa-may-have-suppressed-anti-global-warming-study/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/epa-may-have-suppressed-anti-global-warming-study/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/epa-may-have-suppressed-anti-global-warming-study/#comments Accusations are flying over leaked e-mails (warning: PDF) that the EPA suppressed an internal report that casts a skeptical light on using regulations to reign in carbon emissions and reduce global warming.

The 98-page report (warning, PDF), primarily authored by Alan Carlin, argues that there is no reason to regulate carbon dioxide in the U.S. since much of the science cited by the Environtmental Protection Agency (EPA) in its recent pro-regulation recommendation to President Obama is outdated. Carlin claims that recent studies show that long-held assumptions about hurricanes in the Atlantic, the shedding of ice sheets in Greenland, and the trend of rising temperatures worldwide may be misguided.

Continue reading EPA May Have Suppressed Anti-Global Warming Study

EPA May Have Suppressed Anti-Global Warming Study originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> barack obamaBarackObamaepaglobal warmingGlobalWarmingsciencesuppression switchedtips@gmail.com (Terrence O'Brien) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Pre-Teens Build Successful iPhone App]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/pre-teen-pair-build-successful-iphone-app/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/pre-teen-pair-build-successful-iphone-app/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/pre-teen-pair-build-successful-iphone-app/#comments Apparently the children of the world are out to make us at the Switched offices feel, well, a tad unaccomplished. When it isn't nine-year-old Indian girls working for Microsoft, it's 11-year-olds getting astrophysics degrees, and sixth graders getting $6.5M to fund video game ventures. Even non-prodigy children seem to stumbling across rare interstellar phenomena these days.

So it's not that shocking that 11-year-old Owen Voorhees and his brother, 9-year-old Finn, were able to churn out an iPhone application. Despite their pre-teen status and programming skills learned on the fly, the duo produced a polished app that reached number 13 on the most popular paid-apps list in Apple's app store (education category).

Continue reading Pre-Teens Build Successful iPhone App

Filed under:

Pre-Teens Build Successful iPhone App originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> app storeAppStoreentrepreneurentrepreneurskidkidstop switchedtips@gmail.com (Terrence O'Brien) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:53:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Professor Gives Ethics to Robots on the Battlefield]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/professor-gives-ethics-to-robots-on-the-battlefield/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/professor-gives-ethics-to-robots-on-the-battlefield/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/professor-gives-ethics-to-robots-on-the-battlefield/#comments The groundwork for robotic morality was laid by science fiction writer Isaac Asimov, who created the 'Three Laws of Robotics.' Taking these ideas to war, Georgia Institute of Technology professor Ron Arkin has tried to establish ethical mores for bots on the battlefield.

Arkin, who used an advanced simulation system called MissionLab to create scenarios based on real-life, tested artificial intelligence's ethics on deciding who, and how, to attack during war-time. His qualifiers are much more detailed than Asimov's, including international law and conservative action. Using the argument that robots do not have an inherent need for self-preservation and don't feel fear (or hysteria), Arkin argues that robots -- when used ethically -- could save lives.

The conscientious droids are supposed to take the entire atmosphere into consideration, determining ways to avoid collateral damage and ascertain appropriate attack locations (it's against international law to engage soldiers in, say, a graveyard). Yet, even Arkin says more research needs to be done, and robots would be best when there is no ethical gray area. Ultimately, he contends, metal and silicon need to be held to the same standards as flesh and bone. [From: CNET]

Filed under:

Professor Gives Ethics to Robots on the Battlefield originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> AIethicsisaac asimovIsaacAsimovresearchrobotrobotstopwar switchedtips@gmail.com (Leila Brillson) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:50:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Web Advertisers' New Self-Regulating Policies -- Will They Work?]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/web-advertisers-new-self-regulating-policies-will-they-work/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/web-advertisers-new-self-regulating-policies-will-they-work/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/web-advertisers-new-self-regulating-policies-will-they-work/#comments

After Feds decided to step up their monitoring practices of Web ad companies that use behavioral advertising (which narrows ad content based on search terms, age ranges, and interests), a group of Web and media advertisers decided to launch new guidelines on privacy.

USA Today reports that more than 5,000 companies, along with the Better Business Bureau and the American Association of National Advertisers, developed seven main principles for self-policing, allowing surfers to 'opt-out' of any behavior advertising and showing what type of data is being collected, and by whom. Often, free services share search terms to sustain themselves, and most users are unaware of this policy.

Continue reading Web Advertisers' New Self-Regulating Policies -- Will They Work?

Filed under:

Web Advertisers' New Self-Regulating Policies -- Will They Work? originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> advertisingexpire-images:2010-7-2FTCprivacysearchsearch engineSearchEnginetop switchedtips@gmail.com (Leila Brillson) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:46:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Man Learns to Cope With First-Person-Shooter Disorder]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/man-learns-to-cope-with-first-person-shooter-disorder/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/man-learns-to-cope-with-first-person-shooter-disorder/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/man-learns-to-cope-with-first-person-shooter-disorder/#comments
Gene Simpkins walks with his arm swaying back and forth, straight out in front of him all day. He accidentally pulls out a 9 mm handgun while he's trying to make breakfast. You might ask, what could make a man do such things? It's called 'Duke Nuke 'em Disease.'

The folks over at Buzzfeed highlight the challenges of a man living with the motor skills of a character from a first-person-shooter video game. Thankfully, Gene finds ways to cope with this 'terrible' disease by doing motion-capture work for the new 'Call of Duty' game and forming a support group with Rob -- a similarly afflicted individual who's got a problem with three-dimensions. [From Buzzfeed]




Filed under:

Man Learns to Cope With First-Person-Shooter Disorder originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> comedyfirst person shooterFirstPersonShooterfunnyvideovideo gamesVideoGames switchedtips@gmail.com (Caleb Johnson) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:45:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Morning Xtra: Giant Anti-Missile Blimp, Insider Trading in Pirate Bay Sale? ]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/morning-xtra-giant-missile-defense-blimp-insider-trading-in-pi/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/morning-xtra-giant-missile-defense-blimp-insider-trading-in-pi/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/morning-xtra-giant-missile-defense-blimp-insider-trading-in-pi/#comments
Cruise missiles fly low and slow, so they're tough to track on horizon-limited radar. Solution: the largest blimp ever made for the U.S. military. [From: Fox News]

When trading volume and stock prices of your company explode the week before you announce you're buying Pirate Bay, don't be surprised when words like "insider trading" and "securities fraud" start floating around. [From: Wired]

Google's in full-on money-saving mode and it's cutting nonessential services. The latest to go? Comments on Google News stories. [From: Newsvine]

The millions of dollars Microsoft is spending on Bing promotion may be paying off. New numbers show Bing has taken a tiny bite out of Google's search market share. [From: Fox News]

Even though the Chinese government postponed its mandate to computer manufacturers to include controversial filtering software on Chinese computers, some companies went ahead and did it anyway. [From: AP/ Yahoo! Tech]

Google has beefed up Gmail's labeling system. Finally, labels on the Web e-mail client behave like folders -- including drag and drop, show/hide functions, and an easier-to-use location. [From: Official Gmail Blog]

Filed under:

Morning Xtra: Giant Anti-Missile Blimp, Insider Trading in Pirate Bay Sale? originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> morningxtratop switchedtips@gmail.com (Chad Mumm) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:50:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Jay Leno Wins Cybersquatting Case]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/jay-leno-wins-cybersquatting-case/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/jay-leno-wins-cybersquatting-case/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/jay-leno-wins-cybersquatting-case/#comments
When Guadalupe Zambrano registered his Web site in 2004, he probably thought he'd struck digital 'oil.' The Texas real-estate agent found a domain name that would attract thousands and thousands of users -- thejaylenoshow.com. Just one problem one problem: a certain large-chinned comedian now wants his name back, and it looks like he'll get it, too.

According to Reuters, the World Intellectual Property Organization issued a ruling today that says Zambrano must turn the domain name over to former 'Tonight Show' host Jay Leno within 10 days. The ruling fell under the section of the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act that makes it illegal for someone to mislead, confuse and steer users to their site. Reuters reports that Leno's 30-year career in entertainment gives him common law trademark rights to his name, and case arbitrator William Towns says Zambrano also registered the site in 'bad faith.'

Continue reading Jay Leno Wins Cybersquatting Case

Filed under: ,

Jay Leno Wins Cybersquatting Case originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> comedycourtcybersquattingexpire-images:2010-7-2jay lenoJayLenonbctexastopweb switchedtips@gmail.com (Caleb Johnson) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:58:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[The Daily Engadget: Track Your Tech at gdgt, Microsoft 'Pink' Phone?]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/the-daily-engadget-track-your-tech-at-gdgt-microsoft-pink-ph/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/the-daily-engadget-track-your-tech-at-gdgt-microsoft-pink-ph/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/the-daily-engadget-track-your-tech-at-gdgt-microsoft-pink-ph/#comments


Our friends over at Engadget obsessively cover everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics, which is why we compile this daily roundup of their top stuff. For more details on any of these stories, click on the Engadget links in each story below.

Gizmo-tracking Site gdgt Launches
Former Engadget editor-in-chief, Ryan Block, and Engadget founder, Peter Rojas, unveiled their latest project yesterday -- gdgt. The site mixes social networking, news aggregation, and wikis to build a database and a community around gadgets. It's like Facebook, Wikipedia, and Newsvine had a baby -- but for nerds.

Microsoft Prepping iPhone Competitor?
Although the Zune's popularity may pale in comparison to the iPod, Microsoft may be getting ready to take on the iPhone with a Microsoft-branded handset, codenamed "Pink." Details are still slim, but the new system appears to be running on top of Windows Mobile.

Continue reading The Daily Engadget: Track Your Tech at gdgt, Microsoft 'Pink' Phone?

Filed under: ,

The Daily Engadget: Track Your Tech at gdgt, Microsoft 'Pink' Phone? originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> thedailyengadgettop switchedtips@gmail.com (Terrence O'Brien) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:03:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[U2 Takes Massive Transforming Screen on Tour]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/u2-takes-massive-transforming-screen-on-tour/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/u2-takes-massive-transforming-screen-on-tour/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/u2-takes-massive-transforming-screen-on-tour/#comments Twenty years ago, as one of the world's biggest rock bands, U2 could appease their fans by simply playing "Where the Streets Have No Name" on a building rooftop. Twenty years later, U2 is still huge, and their live performance has evolved into a gargantuan show of lights, screens, and over-the-top stage props. Don't believe us? Check out the band's expanding screen currently in use on the U2 360° tour.

The display, made by Hoberman Associates and Innovative Designs (also responsible for the mammoth screen used on U2's PopMart tour), contains 888 individual screens for a total of 500,000 LED pixels. By using hundreds of small screens that expand and contract in their distance to one another, the screen can literally change its shape. And because the space between each screen is adjustable, it can also take on a transparent quality that allows fans to see images projected in 360 degrees without blocking the view of the band. To see the monstrous screen in action, check out the video here. [From: Core77]

Filed under:

U2 Takes Massive Transforming Screen on Tour originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> displayledmusicscreensu2 switchedtips@gmail.com (Kaiser Hwang) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:22:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[FFSearcher Stealthily Hijacks Your Searches]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/ffsearcher-stealthily-hijacks-your-searches/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/ffsearcher-stealthily-hijacks-your-searches/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/ffsearcher-stealthily-hijacks-your-searches/#comments Click fraud, the redirecting of search requests to malicious sites, is one of the more easily recognized pests in the malware world. The problem for the fraudsters is that most users quickly realize something is amiss when they search for something on Google and it is instead displayed on some other (and likely unfamiliar) site.

But the hackers behind the new Nine Ball attack have figured out how to disguise their click fraud scheme by using Google's AdSense for Search program. The Google product allows users to put a Google search box on their page, and the company profits by collecting commission on ads displayed alongside the results. FFSearcher, as the new scheme is called, has found a hole in the system that allows it to hijack all searches on Google and redirect them through a custom AdSense search. That means that search results are displayed with little evidence that the data is being intercepted by a third party. The fraud is even harder to recognize since FFSearcher doesn't point you towards other malicious sites, it simply collects revenue if a searcher clicks on ads displayed on the results page.

SecureWorks has alerted Google to the fraud, and Google has begun shutting down AdSense accounts associated with it. Unfortunately, FFSearcher has the ability to switch accounts, meaning Google may simply be engaging in a wild goose chase.

Thankfully, there are ways to detect an infection. AdSense searches don't appear exactly the same as a standard Google search. If your search results page doesn't display a total number of results, you may have been a victim of FFSearcher. If you think you have been compromised by FFSearcher, run anti-malware programs (yes, plural) such as Spybot, AVG, or -- for the more advanced among you -- HijackThis. [From: Washington Post, via SlashDot]

Filed under: ,

FFSearcher Stealthily Hijacks Your Searches originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> adsenseadsense for searchAdsenseForSearchclick fraudClickFraudffsearchernine ballNineBall switchedtips@gmail.com (Terrence O'Brien) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:35:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Rick Astley Still Alive: Celebrity Death Hoaxes Sweeping Twitter]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/rick-astley-still-alive-celebrity-death-hoaxes-still-sweeping-t/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/rick-astley-still-alive-celebrity-death-hoaxes-still-sweeping-t/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/rick-astley-still-alive-celebrity-death-hoaxes-still-sweeping-t/#comments Pop culture was hit hard last week with the deaths of Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon, and Michael Jackson. If you believe everything you read on Twitter, though, many more well known personalities have died lately. Sadly, the passing of OxiClean pitchman Billy Mays was verified, but the purported deaths of Britney Spears, Jeff Goldblum, Harrison Ford, Miley Cyrus, George Clooney, and, most recently, Rick Astley are all without merit.

According to The Telegraph, the '80s pop singer Rick Astley was the latest name to be thrown into the death pool. But the smooth-jam-slinging chanteur is still just as alive as his RickRolling 'Never Gonna Give You Up' Web phenomenon. According to StarPulse, Astley's rep assured the public that the singer didn't die in a Berlin hotel room (as was falsely reported), and is still scheduled to perform in Denmark later this week.

Continue reading Rick Astley Still Alive: Celebrity Death Hoaxes Sweeping Twitter

Filed under: , ,

Rick Astley Still Alive: Celebrity Death Hoaxes Sweeping Twitter originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> celebritycelebrity deathsCelebrityDeathsexpire-images:2010-7-1hoaxrick astleyRickAstleyrickrolltopTwitter switchedtips@gmail.com (Warren Riddle) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:44:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Personality Disorders We All Have Because of the Net]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/personality-disorders-we-all-have-because-of-the-net/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/personality-disorders-we-all-have-because-of-the-net/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/02/personality-disorders-we-all-have-because-of-the-net/#comments The Internet is a great source for communication and research... and it makes people act absolutely insane. Just think of the various stresses we receive from our daily encounters with cell phones and computers. Carpal tunnel? Cellbow? General malaise? But now, just to complete the list of ways tech is ruining our lives, Cracked has collected its list of 'Internet Personality Disorders.'

The list takes real-life disorders, like OCD and Low Frustration Tolerance, and applies them to virtual situations. The Internet Explosive Disorder, for instance, explains away the unseemly outbursts of forum lurkers who have a penchant for pernicious punctuation ('R U KIDDING ME!??!?!?!'). There's also the Münchausen by Internet sufferer: that's the guy who can't wait to rally sympathizers around his horrendous life by posting about the death of his father/cat/friend, the loss of his job/girlfriend/hair, or the injustice of Iran/Republicans/Democrats, eventually just leading the griper to become addicted to attention.

After being raised and nurtured by the Internet, we ourselves suffer from several of these disorders. But we've also known a couple afflictions that Cracked forgot to mention. Check them out after the jump. [From: Cracked]

Continue reading Personality Disorders We All Have Because of the Net

Filed under:

Personality Disorders We All Have Because of the Net originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> funnyhealthinternetpersonality disorderPersonalityDisordersatiretop switchedtips@gmail.com (Leila Brillson) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:45:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Human Printers, Gadget-Charging Solar Vest]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/best-of-the-rest-human-printers-gadget-charging-solar-vest/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/best-of-the-rest-human-printers-gadget-charging-solar-vest/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/best-of-the-rest-human-printers-gadget-charging-solar-vest/#comments

There's a load of great tech news happening out there every day, and, unfortunately, we just can't cover it all. Here are a few of the other noteworthy things we saw today on our never-ending journey through the wild, wild Web.
  • Few gadgets are hated as much as printers, but a group has taken on the task of printing by hand -- yes, these extremely patient individuals create images in CMYK and black and white with markers and a lot of time. [clusterflock]
  • You may not look cool wearing it, but this solar vest will charge your gadgets as you're exploring the outback. [DVICE]
  • Invader, a Parisian artist who uses the medium of Rubik's cubes and mosaic tiles, recently showed off his latest works in New York. You'll see everything from recreations of classic albums from Nirvana and the Clash to a unique take on classic 8-bit gaming. [StreetLevel]
  • With 'Transformers,' the latest 'Terminator,' and other mechanized apocalyptic movies hitting theaters lately, we're pretty sick of hearing about robot invasions. Take heart, these Kauzbots won't be taking over the world anytime soon. In fact, part of the purchase price goes to the kause of your choice. [Kauzbots]
Got a tip? Want to talk to us? In need of more choice links like these? Drop us a line on Twitter and check out our new Tumblr blog.

Filed under:

Best of the Rest: Human Printers, Gadget-Charging Solar Vest originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> bestoftheresttop switchedtips@gmail.com (Thomas Houston) Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:01:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[HDTV Listings for July 1, 2009]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/hdtv-listings-for-july-1-2009/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/hdtv-listings-for-july-1-2009/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/hdtv-listings-for-july-1-2009/#comments What we're watching tonight:
  • ABC (720p) has 'Wipeout' at 8 p.m., 'I Survived a Japanese Game Show' at 9 p.m. and 'Primetime' at 10:01 p.m.
  • NBC (1080i) has 'America's Got Talent' at 9 p.m. and the series premiere of 'The Philanthropist' at 10 p.m.
  • Discovery (1080i) has the season finale of 'Pitchmen' at 10 p.m.
  • MTV (1080i) has 'The Real World' at 10 p.m.
  • A&E (720p) has 'Tattoo Highway' at 10 p.m.
  • TBS (1080i) has 'Meet the Browns' at 10 & 10:30 p.m.
  • Comedy Central (1080i) has 'Reno 911' at 10:30 p.m.
  • ESPN (720p) has Giants/Cardinals baseball at 8 p.m.

Filed under: ,

HDTV Listings for July 1, 2009 originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> hdtvlistingstop switchedtips@gmail.com (Switched Staff) Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:20:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Students Devise Method of Using Roads as Energy Source]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/students-devise-method-of-using-roads-as-energy-source/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/students-devise-method-of-using-roads-as-energy-source/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/students-devise-method-of-using-roads-as-energy-source/#comments The National Weather Study Project, a competition in Singapore that promotes thinking green, recently pitted teams from 152 schools against one another. The various groups submitted a total of 235 projects. One of the three winning teams, from Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) in Singapore, developed an idea so intriguing it earned the designers a $10,000 prize and a chance to demonstrate it at an upcoming showcase in Germany.

According to the Straits Times, the group of four students from ACJC developed a system involving water pipes built under roads. Heat gathered and stored by the roads warms the water, providing a greener alternative to gas or electric heating systems, and a significantly cheaper alternative to solar panels.

Specifics of how the system works aren't available yet. If truly effective, the system could actually become a widely accessible green energy source (we've got a lot of streets), since solar panels and other methods typically require exorbitant costs to purchase, install, and maintain. [From: Straits Times via Newsvine]

Filed under: ,

Students Devise Method of Using Roads as Energy Source originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> national weather study projectNationalWeatherStudyProjectroadroadstop switchedtips@gmail.com (Warren Riddle) Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Best Super Mario Bros Tattoos]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/the-best-super-mario-bros-tattoos/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/the-best-super-mario-bros-tattoos/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/the-best-super-mario-bros-tattoos/#comments Nerd-tattoos are usually the laughingstock of the Internet, with barcodes and Star Trek characters becoming the anchors and 'Mom' of the 21st century, so it's only fitting to give credit where it is deserved.

WiiNoob scoured high and low to find Super Mario Bros tats that are worthy of the Nintendo legacy, and fortunately, they found a handful that aren't cringe inducing. In fact, some have beautifully illustrated scenes from the game and don't look like something done in a dark back alley.

From Jedi Mario to the four-armed Hindu Mario God, the ink is more creative than, say, a flaming twenty-sided die, congrats to you gamers who think outside the Wii and, well, onto your arms. [From: WiiNoob]

Filed under:

Best Super Mario Bros Tattoos originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> geek chicGeekChicnintendosuper marioSuperMariotattootop switchedtips@gmail.com (Leila Brillson) Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:33:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Man Saved From Certain Death by His BlackBerry ]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/man-saved-from-certain-death-by-his-blackberry/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/man-saved-from-certain-death-by-his-blackberry/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/man-saved-from-certain-death-by-his-blackberry/#comments How's this for a new BlackBerry commercial? A skier glides down a powdery, white slope in Switzerland. Suddenly, he falls into a crevice. Just before he slips farther, his BlackBerry (stored in his chest pocket) catches the ice and saves him from falling to his death. It might not be a practical way to sell a product, but the phone company won't have to search for a spokesman.

According to a report by The Sun, David Fitzherbert's half-inch wide BlackBerry provided just enough girth to keep him wedged in one of the Matterhorn's icy crevices, estimated to be about 700-feet-deep, while his mountain guide contacted a rescue team that could pull him out. Fitzherbert dropped 70-feet down a crevice while skiing down a glacier. He was stuck in the crevice for two hours while rescuers drilled, dug and eventually winched him out using a helicopter.

Continue reading Man Saved From Certain Death by His BlackBerry

Filed under: ,

Man Saved From Certain Death by His BlackBerry originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> blackberrydeathmatterhornrescueskiingtelecommunicationstopweird switchedtips@gmail.com (Caleb Johnson) Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:39:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Canadian Thieves Return Stolen Monitors to Church, With an Apology]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/canadian-thieves-return-stolen-goods-with-an-apology/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/canadian-thieves-return-stolen-goods-with-an-apology/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/canadian-thieves-return-stolen-goods-with-an-apology/#comments Residents of Kelowna, British Columbia were shocked and appalled when, in early June, thieves pilfered dozens of computer screens from a resident's driveway, according to The Province. Kelowna General Hospital had donated the monitors to Trinity Baptist Church, and had planned to then distribute the screens to impoverished hospitals in Cameroon, Africa.

As a church volunteer loaded the monitors in his driveway on June 11th, the unknown perps swiped 31 of the screens, prompting local police to appeal to the community for help. Someone contacted the church and stated that they knew the whereabouts of the thieves. Soon after, 29 of the monitors reappeared in the original driveway with a handwritten note attached that read, "Sorry for the trouble hope you forgive us hope those kids in Africa enjoy." The church now plans to ship the monitors to Africa at the end of July.

Continue reading Canadian Thieves Return Stolen Monitors to Church, With an Apology

Filed under:

Canadian Thieves Return Stolen Monitors to Church, With an Apology originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> charitychurchcomputerscrimemonitorpolicereligionstolenthefttop switchedtips@gmail.com (Warren Riddle) Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:48:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[NASA's Astronaut Sports Drink Now Available to Earthlings]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/nasas-astronaut-sports-drink-now-available-to-earthlings/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/nasas-astronaut-sports-drink-now-available-to-earthlings/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/nasas-astronaut-sports-drink-now-available-to-earthlings/#comments Gatorade has some competition now. Coolers bearing that famous logo -- green block letters with an orange lightning bolt in the background -- might soon be replaced on the sideline, in the dugout, and on the bench.

On June 11th, NASA began publicly offering its own sports drink, developed almost 20 years ago to save astronauts from muscle fatigue and dehydration. You can buy it online now, and soon the drink will be available in specialty sports stores. MSNBC reports that this concoction of sea salt and sodium citrate, when combined with water, increases endurance by 20-percent more than do water and drinks with carbohydrates. What did the marketing geniuses over at Colorado-based Wellness Brands, Inc., which licensed the drink from NASA, decide to call the product? "The Right Stuff," of course.

Continue reading NASA's Astronaut Sports Drink Now Available to Earthlings

NASA's Astronaut Sports Drink Now Available to Earthlings originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> astronautcarbohydratesfoodhydrationnasaspacesports drinksSportsDrinkstop switchedtips@gmail.com (Caleb Johnson) Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:54:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[10 Video Games That Should Be Made Into Movies]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/10-video-games-that-should-be-made-into-movies/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/10-video-games-that-should-be-made-into-movies/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/10-video-games-that-should-be-made-into-movies/#comments

Video games rarely make a successful transition to the big screen. Most are box-office bombs, and game fans lambaste every shot, frame, and scene via blogs and message boards. They can't bear to see something they love turned into an unrecognizable disaster starring Jean-Claude Van Damme ('Street Fighter,' anyone?). So why does Hollywood keep churning them out? Simple. Gamers comprise an extremely devoted fan base that could net film studios a fortune, if only they could get the formula right.

We at Switched venture to believe that some video games would make first-class flicks with the right directors and casts. The intricate plots, slick-cut scenes, and unforgettable characters in many of today's titles are begging for the silver-screen treatment. Don't forget old 8-bit classics, either. After the jump, we make our elevator pitch for why each of these 10 games should be made into a film, complete with director and casting suggestions. So listen up, Hollywood! We're here to help.

Continue reading 10 Video Games That Should Be Made Into Movies

Filed under: ,

10 Video Games That Should Be Made Into Movies originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> featuresmoviestop switchedtips@gmail.com (Caleb Johnson) Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:59:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[U.K. City Unable to Issue Traffic Tickets After Conficker Attack]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/u-k-city-unable-to-issue-traffic-tickets-after-conficker-attack/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/u-k-city-unable-to-issue-traffic-tickets-after-conficker-attack/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/u-k-city-unable-to-issue-traffic-tickets-after-conficker-attack/#comments In the occasional rush to get to the office on time, just about all of us have either illegally driven in the carpool lane or exceeded posted speed limits. Sometimes, you get caught and pay a fine, and sometimes, you get away scot-free. Call it luck and thank the Lord, but drivers in Manchester, England have something else to thank for eluding recent traffic fines -- the Conficker worm.

The Register reports that after Conficker infected the city's computer systems in February, more than 1,600 drivers who were spotted on camera driving illegally in bus lanes were saved from paying fines totaling £43,000, or about $71,300. In response, the city disabled all USB ports on government computers and outlawed memory sticks, which it claims caused the infection. All in all, the worm cost the city nearly £1.5 million, or $2.4 million, between unpaid fines, consultants' fees, clean-up costs, extra staff, and a new backup strategy for its system.

Continue reading U.K. City Unable to Issue Traffic Tickets After Conficker Attack

Filed under:

U.K. City Unable to Issue Traffic Tickets After Conficker Attack originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> computerconfickergovernmentpolicetrafficworms switchedtips@gmail.com (Caleb Johnson) Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:02:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[Morning Xtra: Flickr Opens to Twitter, MacBooks for Maine Students]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/morning-xtra-flickr-opens-to-twitter-macbooks-for-maine-studen/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/morning-xtra-flickr-opens-to-twitter-macbooks-for-maine-studen/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/morning-xtra-flickr-opens-to-twitter-macbooks-for-maine-studen/#comments
Maine Students Get MacBooks
CNet reports that the state of Maine is continuing its plan to provide laptops to kids by purchasing MacBooks for all public school students in the seventh through 12th grades. Talk about lucky; it's got to be easier learning to type on those sleek MacBooks than on the ancient IBMs we had. [CNet]

Flickr Opens to Twitter
Flickr, star of the early Web 2.0 days, has finally added Twitter functionality. Flickr users are now able to share their images on the popular microblogging site with an in-browser tool or with a mobile phone using a new, "2twitter" e-mail address. Full explanation, with pictures, at ReadWriteWeb. [From: ReadWriteWeb]

Continue reading Morning Xtra: Flickr Opens to Twitter, MacBooks for Maine Students

Filed under:

Morning Xtra: Flickr Opens to Twitter, MacBooks for Maine Students originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> morning xtraMorningXtratop switchedtips@gmail.com (Chad Mumm) Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:10:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[The 'Matrix' Merovingian's Tie, and Other Sci-Fi Styles]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/the-matrix-merovingians-tie-and-other-sci-fi-styles/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/the-matrix-merovingians-tie-and-other-sci-fi-styles/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/the-matrix-merovingians-tie-and-other-sci-fi-styles/#comments For tie-wearers who abide by the fashions of geek chic, the ultimate is most certainly the Ediety Knot, unofficially titled the "Merovingian knot" due to its being worn by the French hedonist in the 'Matrix' trilogy. Known as being incredibly complicated and definitely suave, this how-to video breaks down the knot so anyone can imitate the slick rogue 'program' with a taste for French expletives. [From: Lifehacker]

This fancy knot makes us think of the other great additions to fashion that sci-fi has given us. And we don't just mean the Princess Leia buns. Everyday shoes, sunglasses, and even runway styles have found inspiration in the frames and pages of science fiction classics. Here are our five ultimate, and most wearable, pieces of nerd gear.

Continue reading The 'Matrix' Merovingian's Tie, and Other Sci-Fi Styles

Filed under:

The 'Matrix' Merovingian's Tie, and Other Sci-Fi Styles originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> clothingfashiongeek chicGeekChicmoviessci fiSciFistyletop switchedtips@gmail.com (Leila Brillson) Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:18:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[The Daily Engadget: Firefox 3.5 Released, BlackBerry Saves Skier's Life]]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/the-daily-engadget-firefox-3-5-released-blackberry-saves-skier/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/the-daily-engadget-firefox-3-5-released-blackberry-saves-skier/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/the-daily-engadget-firefox-3-5-released-blackberry-saves-skier/#comments The Daily Engadget: Firefox 3.5 Released, Palm Pre Gets PlayStation Games
Our friends over at Engadget obsessively cover everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics, which is why we compile this daily roundup of their top stuff. For more details on any of these stories, click on the Engadget links in each story below.

Firefox 3.5 Arrives
Yesterday, Mozilla released Firefox 3.5 to the world. We've been using the latest version of one of the world's most popular browsers and, after a heavy browsing session yesterday, we can confirm that it does feel a bit zippier.

BlackBerry Saves Skier's Life
We've heard of many BlackBerry smartphone users losing their personal lives thanks to the devices, but we'd never heard of someone actually having their lives saved by one of the things.

Continue reading The Daily Engadget: Firefox 3.5 Released, BlackBerry Saves Skier's Life

Filed under:

The Daily Engadget: Firefox 3.5 Released, BlackBerry Saves Skier's Life originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> thedailyengadgettop switchedtips@gmail.com (Tim Stevens) Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:35:00 EST Switched <![CDATA[21st Century Broadway: 'Web Site Story']]> http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/21st-century-broadway-a-web-site-story/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/21st-century-broadway-a-web-site-story/ http://www.switched.com/2009/07/01/21st-century-broadway-a-web-site-story/#comments
The Internet has changed basically everything -- most prevalently, the dating habits of its users -- and the College Humor crew decided to take on romance. The team reimagined the world of 'West Side Story' as if it had happened in the Web-obsessed age of 2009. 'Web Site Story' follows the story of Tony and Maria, a couple that met through Facebook, tweets about their lives, and sends each other E-vites for secret balcony meetings. Clicking mouses replace the original's classic finger-snapping routines, and the mini-musical hooked us with lines like "Pandora, I've just found a site called Pandora /I'm suddenly equipped like I'm hanging out in hipster bars."

Fans of the video can follow the writer and director Sam Reich on his Tumblr for behind the scene info and insider College Humor updates. [From College Humor, via Urlesque]

Filed under: ,

21st Century Broadway: 'Web Site Story' originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]> collegehumorhumorinternetmusic videoMusicVideo switchedtips@gmail.com (Kendra Cunningham) Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:45:00 EST Switched