McDonald's Must Pay For Making Employee Fat [Lawsuits]

McDonald's Must Pay For Making Employee Fat [Lawsuits]: "

A judge in Brazil has ruled that McDonald's must pay a man $17,500 because the man gained 65 pounds in a dozen years of employment at McDonald's. He felt 'forced to sample the food each day,' for quality. [AP] More »

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DIY Arduino Magstripe Emulator [Video]

DIY Arduino Magstripe Emulator [Video]: "

Whether you want to duplicate your easily losable keycard or you want to duplicate other magnetic card stripes, you can do so with just an Arduino, some electrical tape, copper wire, and a thin piece of metal. More »

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iPhone "secret button sequence" security flaw: fix promised in November

iPhone "secret button sequence" security flaw: fix promised in November: "An iPhone 4 security flaw makes it possible to bypass a passcode-protected lock screen with a few button presses: tap the 'Emergency Call' button, then enter three pound signs, hit the green Call button and immediately press the Lock button. Voilá, full access to the phone function, including contacts, voicemail, and call history. Apple has acknowledged the issue and promises a fix in November. More: 9to5Mac, Wired News, MacRumors.


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$107 Sears catalog home, 1908 (assembly required)

$107 Sears catalog home, 1908 (assembly required): "

Image: Click to embiggen.
1908 Sears mail-order house No. 115 for $725.

I used to write ads for Sears, and I always admired their influence in American DIY/maker culture. They had a huge influence on reducing local general stores' price-gouging practices, and they gave consumers access to goods that were hard to come by (they started when there were no cars and only 38 US states). Back when Sears, Roebuck & Co. and Montgomery Ward were battling it out over who would be the analog version of Amazon, Sears offered increasingly ambitious and specialized catalogs. One of their most ambitious projects was mail-order homes, inspired by success of The Aladdin Company. Last year, Cory blogged about Thomas Edison's similar prefab concrete home venture. But Sears Modern Homes had huge success with their wood-framed homes from 1908 through the Great Depression. Their cheapest model was $107 in 1908 (about $2,000 today). Unlike a lot of modern prefab, these were made to last; you can still find these homes here and there around the country.

Sears Homes 1908-1914

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Photos from Toronto's crane-climbing urban explorer

Photos from Toronto's crane-climbing urban explorer: "


David Topping from Torontoist sez, 'Torontoist has an interview with HI-LITE, an urban explorer who favours cranesâ€'and whose shots of Toronto from dozens of storeys off the ground are totally amazing.'

I left Toronto in 1999 after 29 years in the city; every time I go back there's a whole new forest of high-rises (usually filled with badly made, tiny condos) on display.

As it is on the high seas, perched on a tower crane, wind is a constant. The entire crane actually sways to and fro. Winter or summer, the air is always chilled. Replacing the scent of salted sea air is the smell of the industrial lubricants used to maintain the crane's slewing unit.

At night, the crow's-nest view from the operator's cab is a treasure trove of glinting city lights. The daytime view is concrete, glass, sunlight, and blue horizons as far as the eye can see.

Considering the heights HI-LITE has to climb, this sky pirate carries as little as possible. Two cameras (one digital, the other a 35mm), a change of lens, a tripod, and not much else. Spending a maximum of thirty minutes atop a crane, HI-LITE will periodically bring along a safety harness.

View From The Crow's Nest


(Thanks, David!)

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Marijuana legalization ad to air on Colbert and Daily Show: "If We Vote, We'll Win!"

Marijuana legalization ad to air on Colbert and Daily Show: "If We Vote, We'll Win!": "

Anthony Papa of the Drug Policy Alliance says: 'We are taking ads out for marijuana legalization on the Colbert and Daily show leading up to the November 2, vote in California.'

Text of ad: 'They're hoping we don't vote this year. That's why they don't talk about Prop 19. How it'll force the government to stop wasting money on outdated pot laws. How it'll let the police spend more time locking up real criminals. How it'll bring up to two billion dollars a year to California. But the biggest thing they didn't tell us about Prop. 19 is that the polls show if we vote we win. So vote yes on Prop 19. (And we win.) Yes on 19.'

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Plan A: impress the Scottish by insulting redheads!

Plan A: impress the Scottish by insulting redheads!: "

How to lose a reputation for 'po-faced political correctness' fast: mock a rival's red hair during a speech, in Scotland, concerning political 'mutants' that need to be 'got rid of.' [Telegraph]


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Stoners says yes to Prop. 19

Stoners says yes to Prop. 19: "

(Video Link) As Allen Ginsberg said 50 years ago, 'Pot is Fun.' (The folks here were cast via a Craigslist ad.)

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X Factor Twitter names and Facebook pages of contestants confirmed

X Factor Twitter names and Facebook pages of contestants confirmed: "

The Twitter and Facebook details of the remaining X Factor contestants have today been confirmed by ITV1.

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Merkel: Multiculturalism Has Failed In Germany

Merkel: Multiculturalism Has Failed In Germany: "Multiculturalism in Germany has 'utterly failed', according to Chancellor Angela Merkel in comments likely to spark debate on immigration policy."

Man walked around Narberth town centre with crossbow and bolts

Man walked around Narberth town centre with crossbow and bolts: "A drunk man who walked around a Pembrokeshire town centre with a crossbow and bolts was told by a judge he would be going to jail if he had been properly prosecuted."

Owner of Victoria Inn in Roch fined over poor hygiene standards

Owner of Victoria Inn in Roch fined over poor hygiene standards: "The owner of the Victoria Inn in Roch was fined a total of £500 by Haverfordwest Magistrates on Monday after severely substandard hygiene conditions were found during a routine inspection of the
premises."

Dyfed-Powys Police slammed for 'unbelievable and inept' response to rape allegation

Dyfed-Powys Police slammed for 'unbelievable and inept' response to rape allegation: "An Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation into Dyfed-Powys Police's handling of a historic rape allegation found both individual and organisational failures which meant that the
rape allegation was not properly investigated."

now there's a suprise!!

Backstage Star Wars Photos

Backstage Star Wars Photos: "

These photos from the backstage of Star Wars absolutely blow my mind. Thanks for the tip Mr Hicks.

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Council hits back over 'unnecessary jobs' claim

Council hits back over 'unnecessary jobs' claim: "Pembrokeshire County Council has hit back at a report by the TaxPayers’ Alliance claiming the authority had eight “unnecessary” jobs,
which could be cut “without threatening the delivery of frontline services”."

Scots teachers call for legal clampdown on Facebook as schools see rise in cyberbullying

Scots teachers call for legal clampdown on Facebook as schools see rise in cyberbullying: "Scottish teachers want a legal showdown with Facebook in a bid to make social networking sites accountable for abusive and intimidating comments posted online by school children."

MUM LEAVES HUBBY FOR STEPSON..THEN DUMPS HIM FOR HIS BEST MATE

MUM LEAVES HUBBY FOR STEPSON..THEN DUMPS HIM FOR HIS BEST MATE: "

And they're all still pals

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Expenses peers face Lords suspension - Independent

Expenses peers face Lords suspension - Independent: "

Telegraph.co.uk

Expenses peers face Lords suspension Independent Three peers face suspension from the House of Lords for months after investigations into their expenses, it was claimed last night. Parliamentary authorities will tomorrow demand the repayment of almost £200000 ... Labour 'expense-cheat' peers facing Lords ban following investigationDaily Mail Expenses scandal: three face suspension from House of LordsTelegraph.co.uk Two dozen Conservative peers set to be created before ChristmasTelegraph.co.uk Sify -Watford Observer all 13 news articles »

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Benefit cheats are 'mugging taxpayers' says Osborne

Benefit cheats are 'mugging taxpayers' says Osborne: "

Chancellor George Osborne today announced a crackdown on benefit cheats, comparing them to muggers robbing taxpayers of their hard-earned money.

Related Stories

• Miliband ally tells the rich: you should pay higher taxes
• Cameron steps in to limit defence cuts
• Equitable Life losers set for £1.5bn payout
• Huhne drops Severn barrage to invest in wind power
• Expenses peers face Lords suspension

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Health and safety spells the end for cobblestones

Health and safety spells the end for cobblestones: "Councils have ripped up or paved over acres of traditional cobblestones from
streets across Britain, amid fears of compensation claims from people who
trip over on them."

More charity gigs could be the future for Pink Floyd

More charity gigs could be the future for Pink Floyd: "Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason says the legendary rock band may get back together to play concerts for charity."

Attorney General Holder opposes California marijuana bill

Attorney General Holder opposes California marijuana bill: "LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Attorney General Eric Holder says federal authorities will continue to prosecute individuals for possession of marijuana in California even if voters there approve a ballot measure legalizing recreational use of the drug.

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