Maybe not the best place to hide your stash. Read the rest

Security research Ophir Harpaz was trying to book a flight using Onetravel; as she browsed available itineraries, she couldn't help but notice a prominent warning that "39 people are looking at this flight" (this is a cheap gimmick, one of the many "dark patterns" that once lured naive internet users to making rash decisions, but whose efficacy has since regressed to the mean). Read the rest

Isaac Protiva wanted to know who was behind the "Stop City-Funded Internet" campaign that was pouring a fortune into scuttling the plan to build a fast, efficient, low-cost city network in his hometown of West Plains, Missouri; after a lot of digging, he discovered that (naturally), the "collection of fiscally conservative Missourians" who were nominally behind the site was actually the local cable-monopoly, Fidelity Communications, who came clean (but never apologized). Read the rest

The fakers at ADDYOLOGY posted a scam video purporting to create a homemade wireless smartphone charger that is both dangerous and useless. The always-entertaining ElectroBOOM did this epic takedown and electronics tutorial. Read the rest

Tweeted last night by Rosanne Cash, daughter of country legend Johnny Cash:

"Miss my dad, gone 13 yrs today. Here he is after I told him I got a ticket for driving 102 mph in his car."

(via @rosannecash) Read the rest

Hurrah for the Sonoma County Sheriff deputy who took no guff from a Border Patrol officer who headed for a disabled parking spot at a NASCAR race— than flashed his badge when caught. Not everyone gets a ticket: sometimes they're just told to get lost. Sadly for this gentleman, his bully move earned a fine: according to KRON, up to $1075. Read the rest

Cooks Source Magazine editor Judith Griggs is getting a lesson in journalism via the internet today. In 2005 LJ user Illador posted a piece called a "Tale of Two Tarts." Then she found out through friends that Cooks Source had apparently lifted the piece. They published it uncredited after doing some editing to the original. After making reasonable requests for rectifying the matter, Monica got this from the editor:

But honestly Monica, the web is considered "public domain" and you should be happy we just didn't "lift" your whole article and put someone else's name on it! It happens a lot, clearly more than you are aware of, especially on college campuses, and the workplace. If you took offence and are unhappy, I am sorry, but you as a professional should know that the article we used written by you was in very bad need of editing, and is much better now than was originally. Now it will work well for your portfolio. For that reason, I have a bit of a difficult time with your requests for monetary gain, albeit for such a fine (and very wealthy!) institution. We put some time into rewrites, you should compensate me! I never charge young writers for advice or rewriting poorly written pieces, and have many who write for me... ALWAYS for free!

The Cooks Source Facebook page is alight with flames this morning. Feel free to join in if so inclined.

(via nprmonkeysee)

Update: the inevitable fake @cookssource twitter account is a recipe for lulz. Read the rest

Video link. It's election time, which means politicians are overstating or fabricating their qualifications. One of the most unfortunate forms is overstating one's military service, usually upgrading one's service to one of the elite groups like Green Berets, Rangers, SEALs, etc.

Although the Stolen Valor Act making such lies a crime was declared unconstitutional this summer, a few veterans have taken matters into their own hands.

By far the funniest is Don Shipley, a retired Navy SEAL who shames the shameless in the highly entertaining PHONY Navy SEAL of the week.

(Thanks, former SEAL / current actor Joel Lambert) Read the rest