J. Lo prefers all-white decor, Mary J. Blige demands a fresh toilet seat... and M.I.A. would like 3 young women dancing in full-body burqas, thank you During a 1982 world tour, Van Halen made the now-legendary stipulation that all brown M&Ms be removed from candy dishes in the rockers' dressing rooms. Ever since, fans and critics have made a hobby of perusing celebrities' often outlandish demands — called riders — for what venues must provide them during appearances. This week, "Paper Planes" singer/Super Bowl bird-flipper M.I.A.'s tour rider leaked — and it's a doozy.
Selected by qgchew
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Most Topular Stories
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Celebrity tour riders: The most 9 ridiculous demands
Holy Kaw!10 Feb 2012 | 7:17 am -
Hey Internet, Leave This Genius Crafter Alone
Mashable!10 Feb 2012 | 7:33 amA woman who creates stuffed animals based on children’s drawings has defied Internet protocol by doing something really cool, posting it online, and then asking that nobody talk about it. As photographs of the heartwarming creations on her site, Child’s Own Studio, consistently pop up on Twitter feeds and Pinterest boards, their creator Wendy Tsao is begging her fans to not spread the word, but stop it: “My site has gone viral; people say that I’m on Pinterest; people are blogging about me,” she wrote on the Child’s Own Studio site. “But now I don’t… -
Android Hack Exposes Google Wallet PIN On Demand
TechCrunch10 Feb 2012 | 7:18 amLike most hacks, this discovery of a way to find an Android phone’s Google Wallet PIN requires a lot of initial access but is disturbing nonetheless. Google knows about the hack and is repairing it. Discovered by Joshua Rubin of Zvelo, the hack is one of the most interesting attacks on Google Wallet so far. In short, this hack allows access to credit card data and purchase history and could, in theory, allow a hacker to use a Google Wallet freely in the wild. However, it does require the hacker to have unfettered root access to the phone. Using a small program, the exploit simply… -
7 Things Everyone Should Know About Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D
Wired Top Stories10 Feb 2012 | 6:15 am3D doesn't add much to the first Star Wars prequel, but seeing it on the big screen may be worth it for the family. -
Build Up Your Spice Tolerance with These Strategies [Food]
Lifehacker10 Feb 2012 | 7:30 amMore »
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Holy Kaw!
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Celebrity tour riders: The most 9 ridiculous demands
10 Feb 2012 | 7:17 amJ. Lo prefers all-white decor, Mary J. Blige demands a fresh toilet seat... and M.I.A. would like 3 young women dancing in full-body burqas, thank you During a 1982 world tour, Van Halen made the now-legendary stipulation that all brown M&Ms be removed from candy dishes in the rockers' dressing rooms. Ever since, fans and critics have made a hobby of perusing celebrities' often outlandish demands — called riders — for what venues must provide them during appearances. This week, "Paper Planes" singer/Super Bowl bird-flipper M.I.A.'s tour rider leaked — and it's a doozy. -
How to put out a fire in space
10 Feb 2012 | 7:15 amScreaming "fire" in a crowded spacecraft may still create a panic just as it would here on Earth, but putting out the flames isn't as easy as grabbing the nearest fire extinguisher. Fire behaves very differently in zero or low-gravity. Here on Earth, hot air rises, pulling combustible material way from the flame and drawing oxygen toward it. That's why candle flames look like a teardrop. Full story at Discovery News. More news from Discovery Communications. Permalink | Leave a comment » -
An interview with the Internet queen of cross-cultural communication
10 Feb 2012 | 7:12 amBoogers are a universal human condition, though you’re not likely to get a lesson in the finer points of body gunk vocabulary in any textbook. That’s where Jessica Beinecke’s OMG! Meiyu, a smash hit video series, comes in serving up American slang to Chinese speakers. The show was originally meant to be a monthly TV feature for China’s VOA, but Beinecke pitched the idea of a daily online version last spring and hit a viral chord with her show “Yucky Gunk,” discussing boogers last August. With more than 200,000 followers, she appears to be bridging a divide… -
Older flies with sexy smell turn on the males
10 Feb 2012 | 7:03 amChanges in pheromone production that occur with age can reduce sexual attractiveness, according to a recent study with fruit flies. Pheromones are chemicals produced by an organism to communicate with or attract another. The new study examines how pheromones play a role in the sexual attractiveness and aging process of the common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, says Scott D. Pletcher, associate professor in the department of molecular and integrative physiology at the University of Michigan. “Our research showed this attractiveness was driven by the production of this cuticular… -
Writers remember “The Phantom Menace”
10 Feb 2012 | 6:21 amStar Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace debuted in theaters 13 years ago and, in case you missed it the first time around, the controversial flick is being rereleased in 3D this weekend. That’s right; it means Jar Jar Binks all up in your popcorn tub. Moviefone asked 13 writers to reflect back on their initial encounter with the first of the Star Wars prequels. Will Leitch, Contributing Editor, New York Like everyone else, I was so excited to see The Phantom Menace -- egged on in part by the public boosting of Kevin Smith, someone else I was dumbly a much bigger fan of 1999 than I am…
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Mashable!
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Hey Internet, Leave This Genius Crafter Alone
10 Feb 2012 | 7:33 amA woman who creates stuffed animals based on children’s drawings has defied Internet protocol by doing something really cool, posting it online, and then asking that nobody talk about it. As photographs of the heartwarming creations on her site, Child’s Own Studio, consistently pop up on Twitter feeds and Pinterest boards, their creator Wendy Tsao is begging her fans to not spread the word, but stop it: “My site has gone viral; people say that I’m on Pinterest; people are blogging about me,” she wrote on the Child’s Own Studio site. “But now I don’t… -
55% of Shoppers Are Uncomfortable Giving Credit Card Info to Social Networks [INFOGRAPHIC]
10 Feb 2012 | 7:17 amDespite the prevalence of social networks, consumers are still queasy about oversharing when it comes to credit card info. That, at least, is the crux of an online survey executed by digital marketing firm Digitas and conducted by Harris Interactive in early January. Canvassing 2,247 would-be online shoppers, showed a slight majority weren’t ready to use Facebook et al. as a buying platform. Predictably, older and richer consumers were even less apt to share such data. Other factoids that emerged in the survey: People are spending almost as much time accessing social networks via their… -
NASA Might Build a Deep Space Outpost Near the Moon
10 Feb 2012 | 7:03 amNASA’s dreams of a moon base may still be far from reality, but a deep-space outpost near the far side of the moon could be an intermediate step toward further space exploration. A recent NASA memo explores the possibility of building a human-tended, deep space outpost near Earth-moon libration point 2 (EML-2), a place where Earth and the moon’s gravitational pulls cancel each other out. Such a station could be a gateway for exploring the moon, asteroids and Mars, allowing robotic spacecraft to venture far into space and providing supplies for space vehicles, NASA says. It would… -
Siri Stars as Travel Guide, Music Coach in New iPhone 4S Ads [VIDEO]
10 Feb 2012 | 6:21 amApple may well have passed on the Super Bowl, but the brand hasn’t stopped trying to woo new consumers to experience the iPhone 4S and its key selling point, Siri. The company rolled out two Siri-focused ads Thursday night that present Apple’s voice-recognition software apparatus as an astute travel companion and font of musical knowledge. “Road Trip,” presented above, features a Gen Y couple that appear lost — literally — without Siri. The ad starts with the male half of the couple covertly asking Siri for the best way to Santa Cruz as his female companion… -
10 Free iPhone Apps You’ll Use Every Day
10 Feb 2012 | 5:59 amEveryone knows the iPhone isn’t just for making and taking calls — it’s a slim supercomputer at your fingertips, with the potential to improve your daily efficiency. But it can be a difficult task to sort through all of the available apps and find which ones can help, especially those that are free. Have no fear: We’ve compiled a list of free iPhone apps that will help get you through each day, whether it’s waking up in the morning, keeping up with the news or managing your to-do list. Download these apps and you’ll be more organized and productive in no…
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TechCrunch
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Android Hack Exposes Google Wallet PIN On Demand
10 Feb 2012 | 7:18 amLike most hacks, this discovery of a way to find an Android phone’s Google Wallet PIN requires a lot of initial access but is disturbing nonetheless. Google knows about the hack and is repairing it. Discovered by Joshua Rubin of Zvelo, the hack is one of the most interesting attacks on Google Wallet so far. In short, this hack allows access to credit card data and purchase history and could, in theory, allow a hacker to use a Google Wallet freely in the wild. However, it does require the hacker to have unfettered root access to the phone. Using a small program, the exploit simply… -
Proxama, ARM Partner For Joint NFC Venture
10 Feb 2012 | 7:17 amNFC is picking up traction everywhere you look, and the latest news comes out of the UK’s Proxama. According to a release sent out this morning, the company is planning a partnership with ARM to create an NFC system. Employing ARM TrustZone technology in conjunction with the Proxama Mobile Wallet, the venture aims to provide secure NFC contactless payments and mobile internet payments to more mobile devices. “2012 will see an explosive growth in smartphones and tablets that have enhanced security based on TrustZone technology and Trusted Execution Environments,” said Ben… -
Verizon’s Latest LTE Smartphone Leaked: Is This The HTC Incredible 3?
10 Feb 2012 | 7:17 amWith MWC drawing ever closer, new handset leaks are hitting the wires hard and fast. Today alone we’ve seen the Galaxy Mini 2 break cover and new images of the LG Miracle Windows Phone emerge, and now HTC’s latest LTE-friendly Android phone has been caught on film. As PhoneArena notes, this mysterious handset sports the same sort of curvaceous back that gave devices like Verizon’s HTC Incredible and Rezound a bit of extra visual flair. That, coupled with the appearance of Verizon’s own 4G LTE logo and what looks like the Verizon Wave wallpaper means that we could be… -
Foursquare Adds NFC Support To Its Android App
10 Feb 2012 | 7:04 amIn addition to the updated “Explore” feature that rolled out to Foursquare’s Android and iPhone applications this week, the social discovery service also added a special feature to its Android app that sort of flew under the radar: support for NFC. NFC, or near field communication, allows devices to exchange data over short distances, typically with a wave or a tap. In Foursquare’s Android update, NFC support has been added for the app’s Venue, Lists and Me pages. On Android, NFC support has been rebranded for marketing purposes, and is called “Android… -
Tesla Unveils The Model X, An Electric CUV With Futuristic Gullwing-like Doors
10 Feb 2012 | 6:39 amTesla Motors’ family is growing. The company just unveiled its first crossover, the Model X. Like the Roadster and Model S, the Model X is a purely electric vehicle, built on the same platform as the Model S. Tesla says pricing will be similar to that of the Model S, making the base model around $50k after tax credits. But, if all the available options are checked including the largest battery pack and performance drivetrain, the price could close in on $90k. But who cares about the price when the vehicle packs gullwing-like doors — Tesla calls them Falcon Wings, but you can call…
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Wired Top Stories
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7 Things Everyone Should Know About Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D
10 Feb 2012 | 6:15 am3D doesn't add much to the first Star Wars prequel, but seeing it on the big screen may be worth it for the family. -
High School Debate at 350 WPM
10 Feb 2012 | 3:30 amA nerdy high school competition has morphed into a nonsensical exercise in high-speed talking. -
Prepare for Liftoff With Automotive Cheat Codes
10 Feb 2012 | 3:30 amYour ride could have a secret power. What you need is an access code. -
Review: Phantom Menace Bores, Annoys (Now in 3-D!)
10 Feb 2012 | 3:30 am -
U.S. Space Science Confronts New Economic Reality
10 Feb 2012 | 3:30 amAstronomers are worried. It's not some new unexplained mystery of the universe or the upcoming launch of a space telescope that is unnerving them, though. The problems they currently face are much more down-to-Earth -- and the future of space exploration hangs in the balance.
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Lifehacker
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Build Up Your Spice Tolerance with These Strategies [Food]
10 Feb 2012 | 7:30 amMore » -
PaperKarma Stops Junk Mail with a Snap of a Photo [Downloads]
10 Feb 2012 | 7:00 amMore » -
Keep Practicing After Perfecting a Task to Boost Efficiency [Body Hacks]
10 Feb 2012 | 6:30 amMore » -
Stick Tape on IDs and Cards in Your Wallet to Make Them Easier to Remove [Clever Uses]
10 Feb 2012 | 6:00 amMore » -
This Is My Jam Encourages You to Share and Discover Music, One Song at a Time [Music Discovery]
10 Feb 2012 | 5:30 amMore »
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Zen to Fitness
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Simple Running Tips
7 Feb 2012 | 3:23 amWhile running shouldn’t be the be all and end all when it comes to exercise I feel that when used correctly it can be a great tool to relieve stress, boost your metabolism and generally feel better. I have gone from periods of running 4-5 times a week to others when I havent gone for a run in months, recently though a more balanced approach has worked best. I like to keep running simple – no set route, no times to beat or aim for and no strict quota for how often to should run. Running is supposed to fun, something we do when there is an urge to move or get out into the open. Not… -
From Nothing To Fit
3 Feb 2012 | 8:32 amEditors Note: This is a contribution from Jake O’Callaghan of Slow Change and Zenteen. Before my injury I was a pretty fit guy. I could knock out pushups and pull-ups and run a few miles with ease. Developing fitness wasn’t hard for me, so I thought people who weren’t fit were simply lazy. When I became injured I became sedentary. I went from working out everyday to laying in bed. It was weeks before I could even walk. Months past before I could run again. So I was starting out with Zero Fitness. My leg had no muscle and I had lost my endurance. It was like I was a couch… -
Life Lessons from a 5 Year Old
26 Jan 2012 | 3:59 amEditors Note: This is a Contribution from Eric Hulse. “No one has yet fully realized the wealth of sympathy, kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure.” - Emma Goldman, Author Children are amazing. It’s a shame we have to “grow up”. I’m completely in favor of “Peter Panning” my way through life however, I am well aware that adulthood has fully set in and there is no turning back! So, to combat the inevitable, I have chosen a career which allows me to be around kids all day. Besides… -
Simple Sports Nutrition
15 Jan 2012 | 11:37 pmFor those of us who are very active – whether due to job or just by choice things change. nutrition and eating has to change as our bodies start to work in a different way. Usually this is as simple as following our intuition but for many people who are into health and fitness this intuition is spoiled by bouncing from theory to theory over how and what to eat. If you are doing lots of sports, cycling to and from work, have an active job or whatever it is that increases activity levels it is key first and foremost to eat more. And eat more calorie dense food. The alternative is to… -
3 age-old eating rules you can use to your benefit!
9 Jan 2012 | 11:39 pmEditors Note: This is a post from our contributor Megha Mehta Here’s a mini quiz to get you thinking about the rules we’ll talk about - if you’re a fiery ambitious easily irritable person who doesn’t take well to hot weather and ur in the middle of this desert town and have been eating spicy barbecued food for the last one week – guess how ur going to be feeling? - imagine a working executive who lives in a highly urbanised town surrounded by concrete most days of the week and feels burned out and has low energy levels. what food group do you think he will…
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Engadget
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DarwinBot is a surrogate play partner for man's best friend
10 Feb 2012 | 6:17 amThe problem facing Microsoft developer Jordan Correa and his wife was hardly an uncommon one. They both have full time jobs (that's not the problem), but they also have an adorable dog Darwin that is left alone for about eight hours each day. Correa decided to keep his pup active and virtually bridged their physical divide by building his own telepresence robot using Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio, a Kinect and a pile of other parts. Jordan can connect to his pup by dialing into the bot via Skype, allowing him to bark commands, pilot it around the house with an Xbox 360 controller and… -
Phones 4u 'JUMP' plan lets you swap phones every six months, for a price
10 Feb 2012 | 5:44 amBritons! Dedicated followers of fashion! If your clothes are loud (but never square) and you've just gotta keep up with the latest trends, then Phones 4u should be your next stop. The independent phone retailer is offering customers JUMP (short for "Just Upgrade my Phone"): a 24-month deal that'll let you upgrade your handset every six months. Rather than signing a vanilla deal with your carrier, you plump for a cheaper plan and then rent-to-buy the handset from the store. It's a little more complicated -- and costly -- than your average contract, so keep a calculator handy as you try to… -
Distro goes 'Beyond the Revolution' to explore tech in post-Mubarak Egypt
10 Feb 2012 | 5:15 amNearly one year ago, dictator Hosni Mubarak was forced to step down after 18 consecutive days of protest by Egyptian citizens. Those demonstrations were organized largely through the use of social networking, cell phones and banned TV channels, a greater trend that permeated the revolutionary period now known as the Arab Spring. To mark the anniversary of Mubarak's ousting, Sharif Sakr traveled to Egypt to speak with five Egyptians about the role that technology plays in their lives today. This issue of Distro also features reviews of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, Motorola's Droid RAZR Maxx,… -
CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show wrap-up
10 Feb 2012 | 4:47 amIt's never easy to leave Japan -- the friendly people, incredible food, cutting-edge tech, clean streets and efficient public transit network mean we never hesitate when given an opportunity to visit this incredible country. But sadly, our latest adventure has come to an end. This year's CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show brought thousands of photography fans to Yokohama, a metropolis just a short train ride away from Tokyo. And while CP+ is still primarily a Japanese trade show, it served as the global launching ground for dozens of top camera models, including the Nikon D800, Olympus E-M5… -
Sony 500mm f/4 G SSM lens hands-on (video)
10 Feb 2012 | 4:11 amYou don't see many lenses pop up 'round these parts, but Sony's new 500mm f/4 G SSM optic is impressive enough to warrant some hands-on attention. We spotted the new A-mount telephoto mounted on an Alpha A77 at Sony's booth at CP+ 2012, and queued up for a chance to take some shots. The lens focused surprisingly quickly, especially given its massive 500mm fixed focal length. Moving from subject to subject at varying distances, we were typically able to achieve focus in a fraction of a second. Long lenses have traditionally been tricky on the focus front, but this guy handled it like a champ,…
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Gizmodo
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Photoshop Tutorial, North Korea Edition [Humor]
10 Feb 2012 | 7:29 am -
Conan Proves the Twitter Fail Whale Even Sucks at Dunking [Video]
10 Feb 2012 | 6:50 amAs much as we'd love to see Mark Zuckerberg face Sergey Brin in some one-on-one, we will have to settle for this clip from Conan starring some of the worst mascots ever: a Netflix envelope featuring an unwatched copy of Tree of Life, and the Twitter Fail Whale. Are they ready for the NBA? [Conan] More » -
This Is What Nuking an Earth-Killing Asteroid Looks Like [Video]
10 Feb 2012 | 6:35 amMore » -
The First Ever Seated Ski Back Flip [Video]
10 Feb 2012 | 6:25 amMore » -
Why Google's Foray Into Hardware Could Be a Total Disaster [Google]
10 Feb 2012 | 5:39 am
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Wired: Gadgets
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7 Things Everyone Should Know About Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D
10 Feb 2012 | 6:15 am3D doesn't add much to the first Star Wars prequel, but seeing it on the big screen may be worth it for the family. -
Circuit Playground App Caters to Electronics Hobbyists
10 Feb 2012 | 5:30 am -
Review: Phantom Menace Bores, Annoys (Now in 3-D!)
10 Feb 2012 | 3:30 am -
Apple Patent Shows 3-D Interface Calibrated by Eye Positioning
9 Feb 2012 | 3:43 pmAn Apple patent titled "Three Dimensional User Interface Effects on a Display by Using Properties of Motion" illustrates how eye tracking and other sensor information could be used to display a user interface that automatically adjusts to your positioning and environment. -
Protesters Crash Apple Stores, Demand Apple 'Manufacture Different'
9 Feb 2012 | 2:12 pmToday at Apple Stores around the globe, users gathered to deliver a petition calling for Apple to make its next iPhone model "ethical." The petition's more than 250,000 signees want Apple to respond to allegations of worker abuse in its Chinese factories, and dedicate itself to developing ethical products in the future.
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Mens Underwear Blog
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50% Off Sale at Andrew Christian
7 Feb 2012 | 8:00 pmCalifornia-based underwear giant Andrew Christian is having a huge 50% off sale from now until Valentine's Day so you can stock up for the big day. 100s of items are up to 50%, just check out the sale here. It's not all underwear, so you have scroll through, but they also sell a lot of other fun stuff. So check it out and enjoy. Feed contents copyright © M.U.B 2010. All rights reserved. Please do not use text without prior written permission. Images copyright © by their respective owners. Also, please visit the original source here. -
Super Bowl Ad: Beckham's new Underwear Line
2 Feb 2012 | 6:00 amIt has long been rumored that David Beckham would be launching his own underwear line after his success with promoting Emporio Armani. Well here it is folks. This ad is set to debut during the Super Bowl this Sunday. From the ad though, I have to say I'm a little disappointed. These undies are pretty basic and it's in partnership with H&M. That's not exactly your own line. I was under the impression that Beckham would be actually starting up his own company. What are your thoughts?Feed contents copyright © M.U.B 2010. All rights reserved. Please do not… -
New Gear from BumChums
21 Jan 2012 | 11:45 amBack in December I briefly mentioned one of my favorite new brands Bum-Chums in my holiday gift guide. Today I'd like to spend a little time to tell you a bit more about the brand and some of their new collections. Bum-Chums is a British company, but recently they have exploded across the pond to the United States as well as Australia and Europe. Perhaps one of the most unusual but key aspects of the Bum-Chums brand is the location of manufacture; Bum-Chums manufacture all their high quality products in Yorkshire, England, and can therefore truly claim to be a wholly British… -
Eye Candy: New Year's Celebration from Andrew Christian
9 Jan 2012 | 3:30 pmWhat better way to start off the new year than with some hot, hunky models from Andrew Christian getting down and showing off to Cazwell's new single "Unzip Me". Enjoy! Feed contents copyright © M.U.B 2010. All rights reserved. Please do not use text without prior written permission. Images copyright © by their respective owners. Also, please visit the original source here. -
New Celebrity Brand: Rated M
28 Dec 2011 | 2:30 pmActor Mario Lopez of Saved by the Bell and Dancing with the Stars fame has recently launched his own collection of underwear. The brand is called Rated M and is for "Manful men and their very special guests" according to the tagline. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of information available on this brand. But from what I gather, there's a collection available through Mario's own site here. This collection includes trunks, briefs, singlets, and much more in basic cuts and solid colors. The collection looks like it would make a great foundation for dancing and…
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UndiesDrawer
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CheapUndies.com Men’s Underwear and Swimwear Deals
10 Feb 2012 | 2:50 amSeems like the internet is all about deals and coupons lately. Well, it seems that the world of men’s underwear and swimwear has also finally got its own Groupon-like website. It’s called CheapUndies.com and it is a great place to get brand name undies for dirt cheap. Apparently, the masterminds behind this new site annoy and haggle underwear brands to secure large quantity of stuff for crazy cheap from them. And these they can then sell at ridiculously low prices. The motivation behind this, is that, at CheapUndies, they believe no one should have to pay $25 for a pair of boxer or… -
Valentine’s Day Offer from International Jock
9 Feb 2012 | 1:40 amJust wanted to let you know that it is not too late to take advantage of the Valentine's Day Sale at International Jock. In other words, you can still save 25% on all items from Joe Snyder, Intymen, Good Devil and more. And while you’re there, you might also want to check out their huge selection of brand new underwear and swimwear from Tulio, new sportswear from Under Armour and Ergowear's new "InCopper" styles. They also have a huge selection of sensuous, intimate gifts that are sure to please your guy. So I suggest you go check that out. -
2Wink Has a Great Valentine’s Day Gift Idea
9 Feb 2012 | 1:32 amStill not sure what to get him? Well, the 2Wink Australia Candy Briefs in the Forbidden Cherry color might be just the perfect thing. If nothing else, they will add some color to his underwear collection. These classic cut briefs are designed with maximum comfort in mind. So whether he’s wearing them while working at the office, sweating it out at the gym, digging a ditch, or on a hot date with you, these comfy briefs won't let him down. And best of all, 2Wink offers free worldwide shipping. Though if you want to get these by February 14, you’ll have to order soon. -
Mid-Week Valentine’s Day and Other Sales
8 Feb 2012 | 2:07 amYet to do your Valentine’s Day shopping? Well, here is a little run down of the sales and promos to give you some ideas, and help you save some money. You now have less than a week left to get that special gift for that special someone. Or simply something nice for yourself. First, at 10percent.com you can now save up to 30% on their Top 20 Underwear Styles. This includes items from Rufskin, Go Softwear, Obviously, and more. And while you’re there, you might also want to check out their 24-hour Clearance Blowout. It’s a great chance to save an extra 30% off all clearance items. Next,… -
New Style Alert: Limited Edition Avalon Jock by Andrew Christian
7 Feb 2012 | 4:15 amStill looking for a great Valentine’s Day gift, but don’t want to go with pink? The new Limited Edition Avalon Jock by Andrew Christian is a great alternative, if you ask me. And the price is right too. One of the best things about this jock® is that it is limited edition and will not be produced again. As such it is quite unique, since only 300 of them were ever made. It is made of 100% cotton, which makes it very, very comfortable to wear. And the stitching on the front of the pouch gives that extra lift and awesome support. The Avalon Jock comes in a regular/slim Fit, which looks…
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Wired Science
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U.S. Space Science Confronts New Economic Reality
10 Feb 2012 | 3:30 amThe Hubble space telescope floats above the Earth. Astronomers are worried. It’s not some new unexplained mystery of the universe or the upcoming launch of a space telescope that is unnerving them, though. The problems they currently face are much more down-to-Earth — and the future of space exploration hangs in the balance. The anxiety stems from the fact that astronomy, especially space-based astronomy, is just plain expensive. And with federal budgets tightening, the government will be less and less able to make huge investments in big science projects. “We may see in the… -
Origami Robots Run Only on Air
9 Feb 2012 | 11:38 amPowered by nothing more than puffs of air, robots molded from paper and silicone rubber can bend, twist, grip and even lift more than 100 times their weight. The pneumatic prototypes aren’t as advanced as their metallic brothers, and the “soft” robots contain no electronics yet. But their creators, funded by Darpa, imagine applications where a soft-bot might be the best tool. “If you want to go through a winding tube or rubble or some other tough environment that’s difficult to reach, you need to be flexible,” said chemist Xin Chen of Boston University,… -
Black Hole Eats Asteroids, Burps Out X-Rays
8 Feb 2012 | 2:31 pmThe supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy may be constantly snacking on asteroids. A new study finds that asteroids at least 12 miles wide falling into the black hole would account for the regular bright x-ray flares seen through telescopes. Though nothing, including light, can escape a black hole, most are ringed by a disk of gas and dust. As it falls in, this material heats up to incredible temperatures, generating energy. For several years, NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has spotted daily fluctuations in the emissions coming from the Milky Way’s central black… -
European Cave Spiders Produce Super-Stretchy Silk
8 Feb 2012 | 2:00 pmScientists have discovered some of the most stretchable spider silk ever, which can elongate up to 7.5 times its initial length. European cave spiders produce the silk to build egg sacs that protect their developing young. Spider silk is a remarkable material known for its strength and toughness. Most species secrete seven or eight types of silk for different purposes. Dragline silk, for instance, anchors spiders to a surface and is used as the backbone of most webs while other silks are used for web scaffolding or to wrap captured prey. Female European cave spiders (Meta menardi), which live… -
Asia and Americas on Course for Arctic Collision
8 Feb 2012 | 1:06 pmIt’ll be a geological showdown for the ages, with North America, South America, Europe and Asia colliding head-on over the North Pole to create a supercontinent called Amasia. Unfortunately, nobody we know will be around to watch the collision, which won’t happen for another 50 million years or more. But it’s still fun to imagine. “The snapshot that is the present is smack-dab in the middle of what we call the supercontinent cycles,” said geologist Ross Mitchell of Yale University, lead author of a Feb. 8 Nature prediction of supercontinental trajectories.
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Product Reviews | Wired.com
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High Performance for High Society
10 Feb 2012 | 3:48 am<< Previous | Next >> << Previous | Next >> View all Like bacon-laced ice cream or deep-fried turducken, the ultra high performance SUV is a curious amalgam of ingredients governed by an inscrutable raison d’être. How does this mutant automotive strain survive the vagaries of the market, and what draws drivers to this genre like a spacecraft to a black hole? Rather than ponder the why, let’s consider the how. The ass-kicking SUV was unofficially inaugurated in the automotive heyday of the mid-’80s, when the Lamborghini LM002 ignited passion among the… -
Built to Last
9 Feb 2012 | 12:56 pmPhoto: Jim Merithew/Wired.com Any lasting relationship isn’t reliant on looks alone. Sure, it starts with lust. But we get older, slower. We grow love handles and extra chins. But we stay together because, ultimately, the connection is based on something deeper than the superficial. It’s a dramatic conceit to apply to a smartphone, but an apt one — when Motorola rebooted its iconic Razr brand last November with the debut of the remarkably svelte Droid Razr, we fell in love with its looks. Like the iconic, massively popular Razr V3 flip-phone released just seven years ago,… -
A Business Laptop That’s Good for Nights and Weekends, Too
8 Feb 2012 | 12:29 pmPhoto by Jon Snyder/Wired With the Folio 13, HP arrives both a bit late and a bit heavy to the ultrabook party. While the Folio looks quite svelte, it is technically over the weight limit Intel has set for ultrabooks. The official limit is 3.1 lbs, and the Folio tips the scales at 3.3 lbs, so it’s a stretch to use that term as a descriptive. It’s hardly back-breaking, but compared to featherweight machines like the 2.4-pound Toshiba Portege Z835, it’s absolutely huge. Apart from heft, you’ll find its feature set to be typical of ultrabooks: 1.6GHz Core i5, 4GB of RAM,… -
Little Lenses: 3 Miniature Cameras Tested
8 Feb 2012 | 3:21 am<< Previous | Next >> Sure, your smartphone has a camera. It takes awesome 8-megapixel photos that you can upload to Instagram or Facebook where they're tagged, liked, and commented upon. But everybody's phone does that stuff. To truly stand out and claim your own hill on the island of photo-nerd coolness, you need one of these miniature cameras. Tools for self-styled spies, objects of collector lust, pocket candy for the retro-fetish set -- no matter the motive, these tiny machines make picture-taking fun and different. The Full Package Kodak's Easy Share Mini M200 manages to… -
Samsung Tackles the Tween-Book
6 Feb 2012 | 11:44 amWhen it’s time to shop for a new laptop, everybody wants an ultrabook. But few remain quite so excited when they see the often-limited performance and inflated price tags. Samsung’s solution: Jam a standard, 14-inch laptop into what is essentially an ultrabook case, giving you (in theory) the best of both worlds. The 14-inch Series 7 Chronos does look like just another ultrabook. Its footprint (12.8 inches x 8.8 inches) is actually smaller than the 13-inch MacBook Air’s (at 12.8 x 9.0 inches). But thanks to its super-skinny bezel, Samsung has squeezed a full 14-inch LCD into…
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The Online Photographer
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PX PLZ*
9 Feb 2012 | 12:26 pmNotice anything missing? Read on for the answer. By Ctein I'm of the persuasion that feels that most decent art is capable of speaking for itself. With occasional exceptions—and there are always exceptions—I think that work that cannot be understood in its own vernacular is not successful work. Photographs are, for the most part, meant to be looked at. If I can't appreciate it without knowing journalism's "5 Ws"—who, what, where, when, why, and how—it's likely not a particularly good photograph (of course, tautologically, photojournalism and narratives… -
New Olympus E-M5 (OM-D): First Look
8 Feb 2012 | 9:42 amThe E-M5 could be the centerpiece of a capable lightweight camera system. By Eamon Hickey Last week, I had a relatively brief chance to handle the new OM-D E-M5, courtesy of the folks at Olympus America. I thought I'd report a few random thoughts and impressions with an eye towards some things not necessarily apparent from the spec sheet. Let me just get a business prediction out of the way first. This looks like a good all-around effort from Olympus, and I'm guessing it'll sell pretty well. Making an advanced photographer's Micro 4/3 body with weather sealing and a… -
Comic Relief
8 Feb 2012 | 8:11 amXKCD adroitly skewers the tendency of photographers to overlook content and see only technique (style, too, sometimes). There oughta be a name for that. Take a look. Mike(Thanks to Charlie and several others) Send this post to a friendPlease help support TOP by patronizing our sponsors B&H Photo and Amazon Note: Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. More...Original contents copyright 2011 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Featured Comment by Dennis: "Reminds me of that Nikon ad from the… -
Nikon D800, Woo-Hoo!
7 Feb 2012 | 8:39 amIt's here, folks. The long-awaited and much-talked-about (and probably natural-disaster-delayed)...drum roll...Nikon D800. Nikon's replacement for the superb, much-loved, and undyingly popular D700 (a.k.a. the digital F100) is everything that was rumored: full-frame and 36 megapixels. And it's essentially no bigger or heavier than the camera it replaces. Both cameras are positioned as Nikon's "top of the line amateur DSLRs" but the D700 has been widely used by professionals, as a backup and as their main axe. Just as some automotive buffs advocate buying a model… -
Movies and Photography
6 Feb 2012 | 10:49 amA car thief and a Minox "spy camera" feature in the plot ofLouis Malle's famous Ascenseur pour l'échafaud. You can tell a real movie lover because their list of all-time best or favorite movies doesn't contain mostly films from the years of their own teens and early twenties. Those are, certainly, the years of our lives in which movies matter most to most people. My best movie-watching experiences came from those years of my life, but for a different reason. At Dartmouth, in the years when I was a student there or lived nearby, the Dartmouth Film Society showed a…
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News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
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'No Future in Photojournalism' - an interview with Dan Chung
9 Feb 2012 | 4:04 pmAward-winning photographer Dan Chung explains why he thinks there's no future for traditional photojournalism. As a staff photographer for the Guardian and Reuters, Dan has been touring the world's trouble-spots for more than a decade, supplying images to newspapers and websites all over the globe. But although he made his name as a stills photographer, he's been shooting increasing amounts of video both for the web and for TV. We asked him why. -
Kodak to stop making digital cameras
9 Feb 2012 | 11:17 amKodak will stop making digital cameras within the next few months. The company, currently in bankruptcy protection, will also stop making pocket video cameras and photo frames as a cost-cutting measure. Instead it is looking to license its name to other manufacturers who wish to sell cameras under the Kodak brand. Closing the business will cost around $30m, mainly in the cost of laying-off workers, but will save around $100m per year in running costs. All product warranties will be honored. -
Fujifilm firmware attempts to fix X10 white discs
9 Feb 2012 | 11:00 amFujifilm has released the promised firmware update for its X10 enthusiast compact that aims to reduce the 'white orb' blooming effect that users have complained about. The firmware claims only to reduce, not eliminate, the problem that we'll look at in our forthcoming review. The latest firmware adds a series of extra functions and improves behavior of some existing ones. This includes adding face tracking AF to both stills and video mode and preventing the ISO and dynamic range settings changing when you switch between exposure modes. The update also enables the RAW button to be reconfigured… -
Sony full-frame camera coming, 500mm F4 lens finally announced
8 Feb 2012 | 7:05 pmSony has confirmed it will be making a full-frame replacement for its flagship A900 DSLR. No further details were given during a round-table discussion at the CP+ show in Japan, but we find it hard to believe the result will step away from the SLT technology the company has invested so heavily in. The company has also finally announced the A-mount 500mm F4 lens that it has been showing in various states of preparedness since PMA 2007 will be available from late March. -
Ricoh reshuffle sees Pentax take control of cameras
8 Feb 2012 | 5:07 pmRicoh has announced that its Pentax Ricoh Imaging (PRI) business unit will take full control of the design, development and sales of the company's cameras, worldwide. PRI was created when Ricoh bought Pentax and is the business that has been responsible for the design, manufacturing and sales of Pentax cameras. It will now absorb the consumer businesses of Ricoh's Personal Multimedia Product Company, which was responsible for the design, manufacture and sale of Ricoh cameras. The change will take effect from April 1st 2012.
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Gear Patrol | Spirit of Adventure, Passion for Gear
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New Balance Minimus Trail – MT10
9 Feb 2012 | 3:16 pmThe barefoot running revolution is headed off-road and companies are scrambling for a foothold. The New Balance Minimus Trail or MT10 ($105) is just as the name suggests: minimal. As in only a 4mm drop from heel to toe; a traditional running shoe by comparison is about three times that. The Vibram designed outsole means you’re getting a durable and lightweight base to run on. We found the shoe to be amazingly stable given how little material was actually on our feet. A real plus on uneven terrain. To keep the shoe secured, New Balance uses an elastic band that runs across the forefoot. -
La Colombe Lyon Charitable Coffee
9 Feb 2012 | 2:10 pmPhiladelphia-based La Colombe Torrefaction has already captured the hearts of the coffee community and it looks like the charitable clique is next. Their new Lyon coffee ($13) is the result of an alliance with Mr. Amsterdam Vallon himself. 100% of all Lyon sale’s profits will go to the Leonardo DiCaprio foundation, which supports a variety of green projects, like land and ocean preservation, clean water, endangered species protection, disaster relief, and renewable energy. According to the press release, Lyon is “velvety, nectar like and sweet…a masterpiece of taste achieved… -
AT Action Camper for Jeep
9 Feb 2012 | 1:15 pmJeep’s are legendary for their ability to go anywhere, but what do you do when you get there?. The At Action Camper ($53,500) is designed for extended expeditions into the bush, and features 6’3? of interior headroom, a king-size bed, three-burner stove, sink, 40 liter top-loading refrigerator, integrated dining table, chemical toilet, plenty of storage space, and back access through the cab. Just in case you were curious about hygiene, the AT says the faucet may be pulled out to extend as a shower or bidet combination (oh so Euro). This also isn’t the type of camper you can… -
Viewfinder: The Derelicts by ICON
9 Feb 2012 | 11:39 amIf push came to shove, we’ve probably sell a kidney or two for one of ICON’s glorious vehicles. So when our friend Michael Williams at A Continuous Lean was kind enough to point out this excellent video on the brand’s latest pet project, dubbed The Derelicts, put together by the folks at eGarage, we had to share. The dilapidated exterior of these beauties may not appeal to all, but you have to admire the spirit behind it all. Now excuse us while we live vicariously for the next 6:32. Need more patina goodness? Check out our series on the topic here. -
Dahlgren Socks
9 Feb 2012 | 10:13 amWhile we prefer the warmer, sockless months, the colder ones are just a fact of life. And as such, the right socks are critical. You want to look good, maybe show some ankle flair, and most importantly keep your feet dry. Wicking moisture away from your feet actually keeps them warm in the winter, or cool when socks are called for in the summer. We’ve been wearing Dahlgren Socks ($19) on our feet the last few months and happy to report they’ve done an excellent job keeping the swampiness at bay. The key is a combination of merino wool (of which we’re already a fan) and…
