Technology Slice Blog

Secondhand Smoke ADHD - Kids who grow up among smokers are more likely than kids in smoke-free homes to suffer from a number of neurobehavioral disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities and conduct disorders. That's the finding from a new study published online this week in the medical journal Pediatrics. Researchers from the Tobacco Free Research Institute in Dublin, Ireland, and from the Harvard School of Public Health reviewed data on more than 55,000 U.S. children under the age of 12. (The kids' parents were interviewed as part of the 2007 National Survey on Children's Health.) Of all the kids who grew up in smoke-free homes, 8.6% of them — or about one in 12 — had been diagnosed with at least one neurobehavioral condition. But among kids who lived with a smoker, more than twice as many — 20.4%, or one in five — had been diagnosed. The study authors warn that that their findings so far are "associational and ...

Noise Pennsylvania Restaurant Ban Kids - We all know the phrase "no shirt, no shoes, no service" but one restaurant in Pennsylvania is adding something else to the list -- no kids. That's the new policy at McDain's restaurant and golf center in Monroeville. The local eatery has been serving customers lunch and dinner for years. But starting next weekend children under the age of six will no longer be welcomed. The restaurant doesn't want those younger and sometimes noisier guests to ruin the dining experience for others. "Nothing wrong with babies, but the fact is you can't control their volume. And there may be restaurants that prefer to cater to such things, not here," said restaurant owner Mike Vuick. "I think it's the height of being impolite and selfish." Noise Pennsylvania Restaurant Ban Kids

Driving Tips to Save Gas - According to an Autos.ca survey on Fuel–Efficient Driving, high gas prices have motivated most Canadians to either adopt or consider adopting fuel–efficient driving. Among the ones willing to make an effort, 58% said they were willing to reduce unnecessary idling and 56% indicated being ready to drive more smoothly and evenly to reduce their gas consumption. Proven fuel–efficient driving habits include: • Moderating Speed – Why rush? Respecting speed limits is not only safer, it will also reduce your gas consumption. • Reducing Unnecessary Idling – Turn–off the engine while waiting for more than 1–2 minutes. It's simple and will help you save on gas consumption with the added benefit of being more environment–friendly. • Maintaining Proper Tire Pressure – Check your tire pressure, especially before long trips. • Avoiding Sudden Accelerations – Smooth and even driving will not only help you save on gas, but will also reduce your stress l...

Dog Found 2,800 Miles Away - Pollux, a black lab-mix that vanished from its Montreal family's yard a year ago has turned up 2,800 miles away in Kamloops, British Columbia, officials say. The 9-year-old dog is to be flown back to the Isabelle Robitaille family Thursday, thanks to donations to the SPCA, The (Vancouver) Province reported Wednesday. "We're like, 'Oh, my God. Are you kidding me?'" Robitaille told Kamloops This Week when asked about her reaction to the news Pollux had been found in good health. "Everybody here is so excited. She's going to eat a great big T-bone." Pollux had disappeared June 20, 2010. The Robitailles thought their dog was gone forever after they put up posters and hunted throughout the neighborhood but saw no sign of the animal. Sarah Gerow, acting manager of Kamloops SPCA, said a family in Wallachin, British Columbia, about 40 miles from Kamloops, came across Pollux drinking from a river and turned the dog in...

3D Chocolate Printer - The world's first 3D chocolate printer was just unveiled in the U.K., led by the University of Exeter in collaboration with the University of Brunel and software developer Delcam. Typically, 3D printers create objects by gradually stacking layers of material into a desired shape, and that's how the chocolate version operates. Also known as additive manufacturing, the process has mostly been used for plastic and metal production, which isn't quite as tasty. The printer lets you create your own designs on a computer and reproduce them physically in 3D chocolate. Just imagine the next time you want to say, "I'm sorry." You could do it in the form of a dark chocolate version of your face, with your apology in a speech bubble. Creating the delectable chocolate printer poised several challenges (aside from a lot of missing samples). "Chocolate is not an easy material to work with because it requires accurate heating and cooling cyc...

800-Foot Fall Skier - Ryan Redmond, 33, was skiing with pals in Grand Teton National Park Saturday when he plunged off of the south facing of Middle Teton, park authorities told Reuters. Another skier called rangers from a cell phone and Redmond was taken down the mountain in a litter suspended by 200 feet of rope from a helicopter. Redmond was then airlifted to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, where he was in critical condition in the intensive care unit. Redmond was unconscious during the rescue and had not regained consciousness, said Jack Shea, director of Teton Science Schools in Jackson, where Redmond was a volunteer through the AmeriCorps program. 800-Foot Fall Skier

Robert Pattinson Haircut - Robert Pattinson has got himself a crazy makeover that may send his fans scream and cry. The Edward Cullen of the "Twilight Saga" series was snapped rocking a patchy haircut in the wee hours of Thursday, July 7. A photo shows that his messy and long hair is being left long on one side and raggedly buzzed on another. The 25-year-old actor debuted the punk rocker-feel do when leaving the set of current film project, "Cosmopolis", in Toronto, Canada. Donning a pair of jeans and a black printed T-shirt, he stopped for over ten minutes to sign autographs and take pictures with a group of fans. The actor, who has chopped his hair short for "Water for Elephants", got this wild cut for "Cosmopolis", the big screen adaptation from Don Delillo's acclaimed novel. In a scene from the book, his character Eric Parker flees the barber's shop in the middle of a haircut. A drama thriller from director David Cronenberg, ...

Zac Efron Rumer Willis - New videotape of Nickelodeon star Ryan Rottman‘s DUI arrest last night shows Zac Efron was there — and Rumer Willis, too! Zac, wearing a plaid shirt, is seen in the PopCandiesTV video (via TMZ) talking nervously on his cell phone. The actor is reportedly standing outside Dillon’s Irish Pub while police spoke with Ryan, who was wearing a dark blue shirt. The Gigantic star was pulled over in Hollywood after his car jumped a curb. A breathalyzer test reportedly showed his blood alcohol level to be twice the legal limit. In the video, Zac is seen being driven away from the scene by Bruce Willis‘ daughter Rumer. As for Ryan, he was taken to jail and booked. The actor was released shortly after without having to post bail. Zac Efron Rumer Willis