New Station For GTA

Sick of the 80's music that pumps through every car you jack in GTA: Vice City? Then check out a new mod that lets you listen to an army recruiter, driving instructor or yo mama as you whore and maim your way through the game as Tommy Vercetti. The monologues were performed by voice actors and can be loaded
on your Xbox or PC to replace the game's in-built soundtrack. My favorite is the book on 8-track version of Terminator as read by Ahhhhnold.

Grand Thieves’ Audio MODologues [Bunkmag via Kotaku]

GloThongs

Call me crazy, but I find this a cool and surprisingly sexy idea. Look for hotties modeling one at your local Rave club soon. (or so one would hope)

--- Product Page --- [GloThong via Gizmodo]

School Crime; 30 year low.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Violent crime against students in schools fell by 50 percent between 1992 and 2002, and young people are more often targeted for violence away from school, according to a government report released Monday.

There were about 24 crimes of rape, sexual assault, robbery and physical assault for every 1,000 students in 2002, down from 48 per 1,000 a decade earlier, said the report from the Education and Justice departments.

The reduction mirrored the trend found outside classrooms -- overall crime is at a 30-year low across the nation.

*You have to wonder why things like this never make the front page. I suppose its easier to sell, "Kids are going to hell in a handbasket," then the truth.*

--- Read Article --- [CNN]

New Ways to Detect Lying

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Brain scans show that the brains of people who are lying look very different from those of people who are telling the truth, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

The study, using functional magnetic resonance imaging or fMRI, not only sheds light on what goes on when people lie but may also provide new technology for lie-detecting, the researchers said.

"There may be unique areas in the brain involved in deception that can be measured with fMRI," said Dr. Scott Faro, director of the Functional Brain Imaging Center at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

"There may be unique areas in the brain involved in truth-telling," Faro added at a news conference.

Faro and colleagues tested 10 volunteers. Six of them were asked to shoot a toy gun and then lie and say they didn't do it. Three others who watched told the truth about what happened. One volunteer dropped out of the study.

While giving their "testimony," the volunteers were hooked up both to a conventional polygraph and also had their brain activity imaged using fMRI, which used a strong magnet to provide a real-time picture of brain activity.

There were clear differences between the liars and the truth-tellers, Faro's team told a meeting in Chicago of the Radiological Society of North America.

--- Read Article --- [CNN]

Lava Lamp = Death

KENT, Washington (AP) -- A man who placed a lava lamp on a hot stovetop was killed when it exploded and sent a shard of glass into his heart, police said.

Philip Quinn, 24, was found dead in his trailer home Sunday night by his parents.

"Why on earth he was heating a lava lamp on the stove, we don't know," Kent Police spokesman Paul Petersen said Monday.

After the lamp exploded, Quinn apparently stumbled into his bedroom, where he died Sunday afternoon, authorities said.

Police found no evidence of drug or alcohol use.

DIY PS2 Portable

Now that's cool stuff. A portable PS2; homemade I might add. And for all you guys drooling at the mouth, the site has plenty of pictures and info on making one for yourself

--- Read Article --- [ RedFerret viz Gizmodo]

No False Advertising Here

Just what is ShitBegone, you probably don't wonder?

'ShitBegone is the American dream. A young man from Wisconsin makes his way to New York City, the Big Apple. There he sets out to forge his future, making his name in the world of toilet paper.'

'Part journey of discovery, part assertion of responsibility, part embrace of life, ShitBegone expresses our hope and belief that a better world is possible.'

We're sold. We wonder if they'd market our Michael Powell Begone line of boutique douches?

--- Official Site --- [Josh Rubin via Screenhead]

Flying on Halo 2

Well although i knew there were bugs, this has got to be one I didn't expect. The video get a little repetitive but is worth the time.

Evil Avatar via Kotaku]

Stripping the Nintendo DS

What’s the first thing a true geek does after getting their hands on a Nintendo DS? Why, take it apart of course. Lik Sang has a hands-on and hands-in review of the handheld, complete with pictures of the inner workings of a gutted DS. They also tested out a few GameBoy Advanced accessories and found that all of them worked with the DS. Rock!

Nintendo DS is here: Opened and Exposed Picture Gallery [Lik Sang via Kotaku]

Turn Your Back On Bush

Check this out: A bunch of people who are not so fond of Bush want to all get to together and sneak into the inauguration ceremony posing as supporters and then at a given time, turning their back on Bush, revealing anti Bush shirts, and chanting some yet undetermined mantra.

Alright, I understand you don't like him. That's fine and their are plenty of reasons not to. But for the love of God people is nothing sacred anymore. Over half the people that voted, voted for him. He won the popular vote, electoral vote, and the presidency. Although I support your right of protest completely, by using this venue what exactly do you plan to accomplish. We already know half the people in the country don't like him and the other half do or at least tolerate him. Seriously I see no point to this. Nevertheless here is the site.

http://www.turnyourbackonbush.org/index.html

Rather Moving On

"I have decided to leave the CBS Evening News on March 9, 2005," Rather said in a statement issued by CBS.

"I have been lucky and blessed over these years to have what is, to me, the best job in the world and to have it at CBS News," he added.

It seems that that Rather would rather be doing other things than giving great little quips every night on the evening news. And at the ripe young age of 73 I would say it is a well deserved retirement; and timed rather well for Rather amid the National Guard hoopla. I would rather remember Rather in a more distinguished manner though. Rather, whether your on the news or, rather at home, we will always remember you.

*I would rather you forgive me for my liberal and somewhat excessive use of the word rather, but I would rather seize this opportunity to use the word rather when speaking of Rather, rather than not. Rather good of you to amuse me*

PA School Teaches Intelligent Design

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A Pennsylvania school district on Friday defended its decision to discount Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and take a lead in teaching what critics say is a version of creationism. Dover Area School District in south-central Pennsylvania is believed to be the first in the country to approve the teaching of a new theory called "intelligent design," according to the National Center for Science Education.

Proponents of intelligent design argue that the complexity of nature is such that it could not have occurred by chance, as Darwinian theory holds, and so must have been created by some all-powerful force.

That being is not explicitly identified, but many of the theory's conservative religious supporters say it is God

--- Read Article --- [Reuters]

Locked and Loaded

The second fix for Halo 2 just went live. This latest patch fixes the matchmaking problems, fixes the HDTV problems and unlocks the Foundation map for all you lazy people;).

And as if you didn't have enough reasons already to get Xbox Live, it seems the only way you can get this patch is through Live. Apparently they cant throw it on the Xbox Magazine CD.

--- Read Article --- [Bungie ]

Nintendo DS to get TV Tuner

Well I was waiting for this to come out for the SP, and so it seems Nintendo DS is getting a TV. So for all you that look back fondly on your GameGear tuner take heart. The TV Tuner for the DS will fit into the Game Boy Advance slot on the bottom of the console and use its own set of four AAA batteries so it can run for six hours. The device will be made by Agatsuma Entertainment and is set for a Japan release in January for about $90. No word on when it comes to the U.S.

--- Read Article --- [IGN via Kotaku]

New Pentateuch translation from original Hebrew meanings

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- It is considered the most magisterial opening in English literature: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

But now a major revisionist translation of the Bible would have the cosmos begin with a more conversational clause: "When God began to create heaven and earth ... "

And where the King James translation of Genesis had the earth begin "without form and void," the new translation of the Hebrew Bible says that the earth was "welter and waste."

Biblical scholar Robert Alter's major new English translation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible -- alternately called the Five Books of Moses, the Torah or Pentateuch -- has some critics manning the barricades while others are applauding his efforts to return the work to its original Hebrew meanings and majestic repetitions.

--- Read Article --- [CNN]

Fake Half-Life 2 game released to catch pirates

Valve software has released a fake copy of Half-Life 2 onto the Internet in the hopes of tracking and catching pirates. The very unconfirmed rumor includes a quote from Half-Life creator Gabe Newell:

“We’re running a bit of an experiment. We’re keeping track of the accounts that do this and will be shutting them off.

I’m not sure if I buy it, but if it’s true it’s a very cool concept. I don’t think it would be too hard for a developer to do something like this either.although I think I wouldnt say anything about it. Pirates be warned.

--- Read Article --- [FileFront via Kotaku]

Hey it was worth a shot.

This is hilarious. He should have made it with bids though.

Don't pay one of these jerks on eBay $200 for a copy of Halo 2. They are readily available all over for $54.99. However, if you feel like wasting your money, and to make this a legitimate auction, I have in hand one precious copy of Halo 2 Limited Edition that I am selling for a buy it now price of only $1000.00. That's right, $1000.00. What all will you get with that price? One copy of a $54.99 video game, and that is it! Heck, I'll even autograph it for you! Who am I? Nobody, but you'll have an autographed copy!

You will be proud in knowing that you paid the highest price of anyone for a copy of Halo 2!! And, the best part is, I will have made $950!

Please be prudent in your search for Halo 2. They are available EVERYWHERE! But, if you want to throw away your money, please throw it at me.

The Buy it Now price include free overnight shipping! Heck, I may even take a road trip anywhere in the US just to deliver it to you in person!

---Auction --- [Thanx LiquidGlass]

Believe it or Not! Atlantis May Be Found.

LIMASSOL, Cyprus (Reuters) - A U.S. researcher claims he has found the lost civilization of Atlantis in the watery deep off Cyprus -- adding his theory to a mystery which has baffled explorers for centuries.

Robert Sarmast said on Sunday a Mediterranean basin was flooded in a deluge around 9,000 BC which submerged a rectangular land mass he believes was Atlantis, lying 1.5 km beneath sea level between Cyprus and Syria.

"We have definitely found it," said Sarmast, who led a team of explorers 80 kilometers (50 miles) off the south-east coast of Cyprus earlier this month.

Deep water sonar scanning had indicated man-made structures on a submerged hill, including a 3-kilometre-long wall, a walled hill summit and deep trenches, he said. But further explorations were needed, he added.

"We cannot yet provide tangible proof in the form of bricks and mortar as the artifacts are still buried under several meters of sediment, but the circumstantial and other evidence is irrefutable," he claimed.

--- Read Article --- [yahoo]

Didn't See This One Coming.

Powell Quits, Rice to Be New Secretary of State

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - websites), widely respected in a world often wary of America's superpower diplomacy, resigned on Monday and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice (news - websites) was set to replace him.

Powell, viewed as a moderate in the right-wing Republican administration, is the top official to quit since President Bush (news - websites)'s re-election, and was one of four Cabinet resignations announced by the White House on Monday

--- Read Article --- [Yahoo!News]

686 Tool Belt

Check out this cool belt. Not that I would wear it, but would still be cool. Its got screwdrivers and wrenches built into it. Awesome idea.

--- Catalog Page --- [ExtremePie via CoolHunting via Gizmodo]

Three Flavors of Xbox

There will be three flavors of Xbox Next when it launches next year, according to the latest NextGen rumors. The Xbox Next will not include a hard drive, while the creatively named Xbox Next HD will. Both will hit shelves in Fall 2005. The Xbox Next PC, which will release the following year, will include a CD burner, wireless keyboard, mouse and controller and run Windows. It sounds like the blending of Sony's multimedia PSX and a Media Center PC. It also sounds like a load of steaming crap. The Inquirer claims they extracted the info from a slide shown during a non-disclosure agreement presentation. I guess Microsoft wanted to summarize, in one picture, exactly what no one should be talking about.

--- Read Article --- [The Inquirer via kotaku]

Women Allege Boss Spanked Them for Errors

RED BANK, Tenn. - Two young women complained to police that they were spanked by their 57-year-old employer for mistakes on the job, and the boss now faces criminal charges.

One of the women told police that on her first day at the Tasty Flavors Sno Biz, before any spanking, owner Paul Eugene Levengood made her sign a statement that said: "I give Gene permission to bust my behind any way he sees fit."

The separate complaints prompted two sexual battery charges against Levengood of Cleveland, who was freed on a $2,000 bond pending a Nov. 16 court hearing.

I found this horribly ironic At the company headquarters in Minneapolis, sales manager Tom Novetzke described Levengood as a "very Christian person." He said the company's toll-free number is very visible
for employees and customers.

[yahoo via drudge]

Gmail Enables POP

Looks like Gmail is about to officially offer POP access, according to this message in their sdupport database. This function has already been enabled by lots of third party tools, but has been expected from Google themselves for quite a while. It doesn't appear to be actually be enabled yet—not for me, anyway; a few people are reported to have gotten it working—but it looks like it is just around the corner.

Text for their configuration instructions is incomplete, make sure to use
port 995 for pop.gmail.com and to enable SSL. One current drawback is that
mail sent from the web client appears in the Inbox.

This is good news for mobile devices, as even the most basic usually have a
POP client of some kind, even if they can't run Gmail's web-based client. And
that means using Gmail as your primary email account is going to be a lot more
viable.

Support Page [Gmail.Google]

Update: It's official. They say they're intro'ing it in "phases."
Why don’t I have POP access? [Gmail.Google]

Safe Sex By Text?

Teaching kids about safe sex certainly seems like an admirable goal -- but, is sending them text messages with safe sex tips really the best way to accomplish this goal? It sounds like someone just said "hmm, kids use text messaging... so let's send them text messages!" However, think about it from the kids' side. First off, who is going to sign up for such a thing on their own? If someone wants to know about safe sex, is their first thought going to be to sign up for a text messaging service that will send them random tips? How does the service time the tips? Is it on request -- as in, will bumbling teens be sending in text messages from the back of their parents cars asking for help? Or will kids get randomly timed messages telling them completely out of context information? Generally, safe sex education doesn't seem like the type of info that works well in a "tips" format -- but rather in a more comprehensive program

Told ya so.

Bush Nominates Gonzales to Replace Ashcroft

President Bush nominated as his new attorney general on Wednesday the top White House lawyer, Alberto Gonzales, a son of migrant workers who rose to become a confidant of Bush and helped shape legal opinions about prisoner treatment in the war on terror.

If confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate, Gonzales, 49, would be the first Hispanic-American to become the country's top law-enforcement official. He would replace Attorney General John Ashcroft, whose resignation was announced on Tuesday night and was the first of several expected changes in the Bush Cabinet in his second term.

--- Read Article --- [Reuters]