The Rigged-Up Net

Leader of the Free World How Linus Torvalds became benevolent dictator of Planet Linux, the biggest collaborative project in history.

Bluetooth is dead There, I’ve said it. I feel better already. I’ve been thinking along these lines for more than three years, but that’s the first time I’ve made it public. I’m very rarely inclined to trash such major efforts, but the jury’s back, and really has been for a while. Bluetooth is toast, finished, […]

This is Not by Scott Adams

Frozen IVF embryos linked to ectopic pregnancy The rate of ectopic pregnancy is over 17 times greater when using frozen embryos for in vitro fertilisation rather than fresh ones, suggests a new US study. Ectopic pregnancies cannot result in the birth of a baby and can endanger the life of the mother.

Critics say human frailties taint NYSE As the New York Stock Exchange is being forced to take the closest look ever at its business practices, some of its biggest customers are calling for one of the most radical changes in the Big Board’s 211-year history.

Welcome to Molested Cars! This site is dedicated to exposing one of the auto-world’s most perpetrated crimes: the molested automobile! Yes, you’ve seen them. They’re everywhere! Just when you think you’ve seen it all, another most unsightly car appears before your eyes.

I thought that SaveKaryn was bad… but this has got to take the cake: What is InvestInMyBreast.com? InvestInMyBreast.com is a new site to help all women who would like breast implants, but can’t afford the high cost of augmentation surgery.

“The portable gameday flask that straps around your waist!” I wonder if its from the same guys that made the SneakyLeaker Check it out

caloriesperhour.com The health-conscious have found their Mecca. Calorie Counter breaks down your food intake and activities into tangible figures (no pun intended) that provide insight into how healthily you live your life. Who knew putting on makeup could burn calories? The site even has tips on weight loss and basic diet info.

AMG All Music Guide Say, for example, that you like the B-52’s, but you find them just a little too perky. AMG All Music Guide will direct you to a darker, more pessimistic group that, according to site member reviews, shares a similar musical feel (in this case, Oingo Boingo). Beyond the fun of this […]

Money = Models? October 14, 2003 – They’ve signed up thousands of potential models, telling them they’ve got the look. But now a so-called modeling agency has got their money. News 4 WOAI’s Amy Davis is uncovering what some say is less than model behavior.

How to be a Shirt-Ninja (Thanks Chris)

Telemarketers to Target Cell Phones sik puppy writes “According to this article on msnbc, telemarketers may soon be targeting cell phones.” The article discusses how some of these will be accidental, but others will be in response to things like the do-not-call registry.

Coffee makes sperm speed up Coffee makes sperm go faster, reveals a new study by Brazilian scientists. They suggest caffeine could form the basis of infertility treatment for some men.

Obesity predicted for 40% of America About 40% of Americans, or 68 million people, will be obese by 2010 if people keep gaining at the current rate, government researchers predict.

Pretty funny Umbro commercial… view it here

Gene mix makes quitting smoking easier Smokers with a combination of two gene variations find it easier to kick their habit than others, suggests a US study.

Obesity explodes from teens to 20s When young people leave the nest to fly on their own, their weight often soars, too. The percentage of people who are obese doubles from the teen years to the mid-20s, according to a study that tracked almost 10,000 people.

Microsoft names Rackspace hosting service provider of the year Rackspace Managed Hosting was named Microsoft Corp.’s Hosting Solutions Service Provider of the Year at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2003 in New Orleans.

New Texas Driving Laws As an experienced driver, you understand how important it is to drive safely and to obey the law. But as of September 1, 2003, there are some new laws that you should be aware of because they may affect you or someone you love. Below is a brief overview of these […]

Some people have a rather dark worldview that divides people into two groups: suckers and non-suckers. We hear their stories. This American Life (Thanks Dirk)

Maryland’s first lady tries to recover from Britney jest The wife of Gov. Robert Ehrlich apologized for saying she would shoot pop singer Britney Spears, but reiterated her message about the difficulty of raising girls in a society saturated with sexually provocative images

Rejection really hurts finds brain study Lonely hearts have spent millennia trying to capture the pain of rejection in painting, poetry and song. Now neuroscientists have seen it flickering in some remarkable brain images from college students suffering a social snub.

Cloaking Device Made for Spammers Call them spackers — they’re the new breed of computer crackers who earn a living in cahoots with spammers.

Teenage generation is biggest ever Today’s teenage generation is now the biggest the world has ever seen, according to a UN report released Wednesday. One in five people on Earth are adolescents between 10 and 19, and about half the world’s population is under 25.

Tantalising evidence hints Universe is finite Perplexing observations beamed back by a NASA spacecraft are fuelling debates about a mystery of biblical proportions – is our Universe infinite? Scientists have announced tantalising hints that the Universe is actually relatively small, with a hall-of-mirrors illusion tricking us into thinking that space stretches on forever.

Survey: Most employers monitor e-mail, Internet use More than nine out of 10 (92 percent) managers check up on their employees’ use of e-mail and the Internet at work, according to a new survey of 192 companies by Bentley College’s Center for Business Ethics.

Cholo is bursting out of the barrio Mainstream America is learning how to say a new word: cholo.

HBO loses its Sunday momentum Viewers this fall have kicked the Sunday-night HBO habit.

Multiple Monitors Increase Productivity eggoeater writes “An systematic study conducted by NEC-Mitsubishi, ATI Technologies and the University of Utah has concluded that the use of multiple monitors in the workplace increases productivity. The study is discussed on Tom’s Hardware, EE Times, and there’s a detailed press release on NEC-Mitsubishi. For those of us who use […]

Ok… I have no idea if they’re real or not… but this certainly a very compelling set of data. The Mystery of Britney Spears’ Breasts

Face it, you’ll never be rich Why do Americans still believe in the rags-to-riches fairy tale? In this final extract from his explosive new book, Michael Moore explains why the corporate bosses will never let the American dream become a reality I’m starting to believe this guy is a cynic…

This is fun to play with… they have a valley-girl setting which is quite amusing. http://www.rhetorical.com/cgi-bin/demo.cgi

Shift key breaks CD copy locks A Princeton University student has published instructions for disabling the new anticopying measures being tested on CDs by BMG–and they’re as simple as holding down a computer’s Shift key.

Human gene on/off switches to be mapped The world’s first project to map key chemical changes that switch human genes on and off has begun. The endeavour could provide a crucial link between human genetics and health.

Forty-second ecstasy tablet test developed A new technique that rapidly analyses ecstasy tablets could provide an early warning system for rogue pills and also police help trace illicit manufacturers.

Doll offers image of modesty and self-esteem for Muslim girls At first glance, this new girl on the block doesn’t give Barbie much of a run for her money. After all, Barbie is everything Razanne is not — curvaceous, flashy and loaded with sex appeal.

This is cool… get your hometown put on your clothing… Now instead of “Compton” you can have “Sunnyvale”… or something… 🙂 Check it out

(Thanks Patrick)

Going for ‘The Gold’ Turns Pineapple World Upside Down In the global search for the perfect pineapple, no fruit has come as close as the “Extra Sweet Gold.” And few have started a bigger fight Who knew that the pineapple industry was so cut-throat?! (Thanks Monica)