Fireworks in a microwave, what could possibly go wrong!?

Happy 4th of July!

via engadget:

We’ve alway known of Apple’s hopes to wean the masses off of their Windows peecees through the elegance of the iPod, but we’re afraid they’ve taken things a bit too far this time. According to Apple, less than one percent of their 5.5G iPod shipments made after September 12th have a little present in the form of the RavMonE.exe virus, which propagates via mass storage devices, and purportedly had infected a PC at the manufacturer where the iPods were produced. Apple has received 25 or so reports of the problem, which they learned of a week ago, and they’ve “been working around the clock to identify the problem and discover its root cause.” Apple has instructions for removal of the virus on their site, but there’s no need for full-blown panic because RavMonE.exe is “technically a worm, not a virus,” meaning it lowers the security of your PC, but doesn’t actual mess with your data itself. Of course, Apple is “upset at Windows for not being more hardy against such viruses,” but they’re “even more upset with ourselves for not catching it.” As they should be.

That’s just good fun… It’s also worth mentioning that just recently, Mc Donalds Japan distributed several thousand MP3 players infected with the QQPass trojan in a promotion with Coca-Cola.

Perhaps they should try some of the many virus scan products that are out, I hear they are very effective.

RavMon.EXE was initially discovered back in May 2004, the QQPass trojan back in September of 2003. Both very old (by Internet standards) and on I’m sure everyone’s signature database by now. There is no excuse for this.

This should probably come as no surprise (Hattip consumerist):

The rate of lost or mishandled baggage spiked by nearly 25 percent in August as airlines struggled to handle a surge in checked luggage after authorities banned most liquids and gels from passenger cabins, according to a government report released yesterday.

The airlines had some trouble keeping up before, now with the layoffs and the increased load it can only get worse. I’m thinking they could learn something from UPS and FedEx, they seem to handle a few more packages a day and don’t have an issue losing them. For some reason lost luggage is accepted in the airline industry. Maybe standardizing luggage so that it’s more modular would work out better, or when you check your luggage it’s immediately put inside a container that makes it easier to load and track? I don’t know what the answer is, but they’ve been doing it the same way since Tony Jannus piloted the first commercial airline from Saint Petersburg to Tampa in 1914, I’m thinking they could improve upon it slightly more than putting a barcode on the luggage.

Frankly I’m to the point that I’d rather just buy my clothes when I get to where I’m going. I check everything but my laptop now because it’s such a pain to get through the screening any more. I actually feel like a mental patient when I go through because I usually take off my belt and anything else metal and put it in my laptop bag. So while I’m in the screening line I’m walking around holding up my pants like George Costansa in the mental hospital. I actually made a funny suggestion when I was in Atlanta a few months ago: (more…)

I know it’s not news, but Cracked put together a reenactment on YouTube that’s both funny and deeply disturbing.

[youtube]B-nBWZD6fbI&eurl=[/youtube]

And of course, as a friend and I predicted a day or so ago. Mark Foley now claims his perverted IMs are the result of his molestation by a clergyman 40 years ago. Of course Foley won’t elaborate as to the identity of the clergyman or the church but Foley is supposedly Roman Catholic, yay for us… Remember, in this day and age nothing is your fault, there is always someone or something to blame. Although the article states:

“Mark does not blame the trauma he sustained as a young adolescent for his totally inappropriate”e-mails and instant messages, Roth said.”He continues to offer no excuse whatsoever for his conduct.”

We all know there is no other reason to bring that up unless you’re using it to deflect blame. That is all.

A horrible scene unfolded today as a Burger King customer was not only refused a proper Western Bacon Cheeseburger, but was also denied service by the Sheriff’s Office to enforce said burger. What is the world coming too??? Burger King 911 Call

911 Operator: What exactly is it you want us to do for you?

Complainant: Send an officer down here, I want them to make my…

911 Operator: Ma’am, we’re not going to go down there and enforce your western bacon cheese burger…

Complainant: What am I supposed to do?

911 Operator: This is between you and the manager, this, we’re not going to enforce how to make a hamburger, that’s not not a criminal issue

I think this woman needs to be evaluated before she drives her kids down a boat ramp somewhere…

Complainant: You’re supposed to be here to protect me

911 Operator: What are we protecting you from? A wrong cheeseburger?

Complainant: No.

911 Operator: Is this, like, is this a harmful cheeseburger? I don’t understand what you want us to do.

Complainant: Well, just come down here.

(Hat tip: The Consumerist)

Instapundit.com:

SELF-DEFENSE IS NOT A RIGHT, according to a U.N. Report. David Hardy has some thoughts. “As might be expected from the source, the concept of ‘right’ is rather ineptly socialist: rights are what you may ask the government to do for you.”

Wait a second, Franklin Roosevelt action figure dressed as Benjamin Franklin??? Clearly the people over at Target are communists, that explains their red logos. I especially love this line from the description:

Talking Action Figure has a 4 min. audio chip allowing it to speak 25 different phrases in the Presidents own Voice!

Wondering how they did that with Benjamin Franklin since audio recording wasn’t invented until the late 1800s… Maybe they went back in time with Bill and Ted, who knows. Not to mention Benjamin Franklin wasn’t a President, I guess if they went back in time, maybe a few things got messed up along the way. Looks like the commies at Target need an editor for their web site. (hat tip: fark.com)

Okay, the only way this is going to work is if you create some sort of James Bond villan inspired trap, where you are strapped to a table and the saw cuts you by some force other than your own hand. Stupidest idea I’ve ever heard of… The “meat” of the story:

Deputies say the unidentified man — who recently moved here from out of state and has been dealing with “mental issues” — stumbled into a Mobil station at Northcliffe and Mariner Boulevard at 3:49 a.m.

His left hand was mangled and part of his right arm was gone.

Detectives followed a trail of blood back to the 4200 block of Goldcoast Avenue. In a vacant lot, they found a circular saw with the cord plugged into an outdoor outlet.

I just have one question for the “Times Editor” does it matter if it was plugged into an outdoor outlet? Maybe this story gave him the idea? (via blogs.tampabay.com, thx Sean)

I’m glad I’m not the only one who hates the new “cast” of Flip This House this season. Say what you want about Trademark Properties President / CEO Richard C. Davis being a bit cocky but he has every reason to, he built a successful business and has been running it for over 10 years, he has a proven track record. However, even to call the guy cocky is a little bit strong, but if you were nitpicking there are times on the show when you can tell he’s puffing his chest out a little, but I think most people can forgive him for that.

I was shocked when I tuned into the new season of Flip This House to not see the usual Trademark Properties gang, but instead these Montelongos. I did a little research and it turns out that A&E decided to move ahead with a second season of Flip This House with out Richard and his company, even though Richard created the series. So Richard and Trademark filed suit against A&E and are now signing on with Discovery Communications for a similarly themed series on TLC.

Armando Montelongo on the other hand is a pompous, arrogant, gangster wanna be; who, while has made some progress in the real estate market, has no track record and no excuse to act like “the man”. Anna Johns says is best: (more…)

This has to be one of the stupidest things I’ve ever witnessed. Who would think that a scooter powering a merry-go-round would be a bad idea? Who knew it could go wrong? (via: digg)