Technology Slice Blog

New Hampshire High School Bans Safe-Sex Kits - Officials at a New Hampshire high school say they will no longer allow a group to distribute safe-sex kits to students because the contents include flavored lubricant and candy as well as condoms. Bruce Barlow of the Monadnock (moh-NAD'-nahk) High School board in Swanzey says school officials had approved the distribution but didn't know the contents. More than 70 students picked up the kits distributed last month by a group called AIDS Services as part of a World AIDS Day presentation. Some parents were upset. Susan MacNeil of AIDS Services for the Monadnock Region tells WMUR-TV that it's unfortunate some people are upset. She says the lubricant was included because it reduces the chance of a condom breaking. New Hampshire High School Bans Safe-Sex Kits

Matthew Hoffman Bodies in Tree - An Ohio man pleaded guilty early to the dismemberment slayings of a Knox County woman, her son and a family friend, the Columbus Dispatch reported. Matthew Hoffman, 30, faces life in prison without parole for the stabbing deaths of Tina Herrmann, 32; her son Kody Maynard, 11; and family friend Stephanie Sprang, 41. The court heard that Hoffman attacked the trio in Herrmann's home, cut up their bodies and tried to hide their remains in a hollow tree. Herrmann's 13-year-old daughter, Sarah Maynard, was later found bound and gagged in Hoffman's basement. A manager from Tina Herrmann's workplace checked her home when she failed to show up for work two days in a row in mid-November. He discovered blood in various parts of the home and alerted authorities. Knox County Sheriffs said at the time that Hoffman, an unemployed tree trimmer, gave them information that led to the discovery of the bodies. Matthew Hoffman Bodies in Tree

Mac App Store Hackers - Even though Apple's new app store is only approaching its second day, hackers claim they've already cracked it. Members of Hackulous, who became famous for cracking the Apple DRM, have developed "Kickback," a program that will allow you to download apps for free from the Mac App Store, according to Gadgets DNA.The catch is it won't be out until February. The reason for the wait? Dissident explains: Most of the applications that go on the Mac App Store [in the first instance] will be decent, they'll be pretty good. Apple isn't going to put crap on the App Store as soon as it gets released. It'll probably take months for the App Store to actually have a bunch of crappy applications and when we feel that it has a lot of crap in it, we'll probably release Kickback... So we're not going to release Kickback until well after the store's been established, well after developers have gotten their applications up. We don...

Blake Lively Chanel - Blake Lively is on a roll! The fashion darling, who already has a Christian Louboutin shoe named after her, has been tapped to front Chanel's new Mademoiselle handbag line, reports WWD. "She's a kind of American dream girl," says designer Karl Lagerfeld of the French design house's newest face. The blonde beauty, who spent much of her time in Paris last July mingling with fashion royalty during the couture shows, was photographed by the designer himself at Chanel's Rue Cambon headquarters for the new campaign. For the actress, being photographed in the historic apartment where Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel once showed her collections was humbling. "A dream come true is an understatement. I can say that I feel like the happiest, luckiest girl around." Blake Lively Chanel

Edison Pena Graceland - The Chilean miner who led Elvis singalongs for his colleagues while trapped underground for 69 days is going to Graceland. Edison Pena will be a special guest during Elvis Presley's annual birthday celebration in Memphis, Tennessee, on Friday. Presley would have been 76 on Saturday. The story of the miners, known simply as "the 33" in Chile, transfixed much of the world during their 69-day ordeal about half a mile below ground. They have been popular on the American talk-show circuit since their October rescue, and have been honored by Chilean President Sebastian Pinera and on the "CNN Heroes" show. The miners and their families toured Los Angeles in November. The entourage visited Hollywood landmarks such as the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard, including one belonging to Presley. Edison Pena Graceland

Hottest Men's Fashion Trends 2011 - Women's fashion usually takes the limelight in the fashion world, but there are plenty of men that follow the latest fashion trends. Fashion trends in 2011 are quite colorful. Some bizarre. Crop tops for men are making an entrance into mens fashion. This is quite odd considering crop tops are traditionally worn by women. Open chest tops usually worn by body builders are also becoming popular. So guys, get the razor out and shave that chest. Hottest Men's Fashion Trends 2011

How to Avoid Annoying Facebook Friends - We have all seen them and been annoyed by them. They are annoying Facebook friends. Facebook has grown so large, it is hard to find a person that doesn't have a Facebook account. But some of them are just plain annoying. Luckily Facebook has some functions to avoid annoying friends. Through the settings menu you can choose how much content you want to see from friends. You can hide content from specific friends in your news feed. As a last resort, you can delete an annoying friend and make them a friend no more. How to Avoid Annoying Facebook Friends

Tears Chemical Turn-off Weizmann Institute of Science - According to Noam Sobel, a cognitive neuroscientist at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, tears contain chemical signals that decrease sexual arousal and testosterone levels in men, reports Nature. In the study, men were asked to sniff vials containing either the women's tears or saline that had been applied to their cheeks. Results showed that men who sniffed the tears perceived those women as sexually less attractive than did men who sniffed saline. And men who took a whiff of tears (and not saline) reported a decrease in sexual arousal. These men also reported reduced activity in the areas of brain that are associated with sexual arousal, such as the hypothalamus. "I think the study has used sound methodology and the results indeed are fascinating. But as far as I know, there is no clear logical, theoretical or empirical justification to design a study on the effects of tears on sex," N...

How to get the Job of your Dreams - Getting your dream job maybe be easy or difficult depending on what your expectations are. The idea of a dream job will change from person to person. Some think job satisfaction is the most important factor while others think the salary offered is the decider. To get your dream job you first need to decide which of the two you are and figure out all the things that would make up a dream job for you. It's harder than it sounds. Once you figure out what you want from your dream job, the next step is finding it. This may be difficult depending on your luck. Applying for as many jobs as possible is not the way. Patience is a virtue. Have a good look around on the job market until you find the job that matches the criteria you decided on earlier. Once you find the dream job advertised, make sure your resume is in good shape and addresses any points mention in the ad. If you get an interview, be well prepared. Do your research on the company. Ha...

How to Live on a Tight Budget - Living on a tight budget isn't that difficult. Most people think to have more money, they need to make more money. But what most wealthy people will tell you is it's the way you spend your money, not how much you make. With the global financial crisis, many have found themselves out of jobs and living on a very tight budget. Some cope better than others depending on how educated they are on managing money. There are several things one can do to cut back on expenses. Two car homes are common now. Only one car is really needed and the extra car is a financial burden in many ways. Firstly, cars lose value the second you drive them off the lot. Secondly, the car needs fuel every week. Thirdly, the most expensive part of owning a car is maintenance and registration etc. After you add all this up, a car is a big drain on the budget. Minimizing utility bills is also a must. Turning off lights when no one is in the room, limiting air conditioning ...

"Social Network" Re-Release - Columbia Pictures on Wednesday said it will re-release Facebook film "The Social Network" in about 600 U.S. theaters this weekend, a move that looks to capitalize on the film's recent Oscar buzz. The redistribution to theaters is unusual in that it precedes the January 11 DVD release of "Social Network" by only four days, and typically a movie studio would not want to take a chance on curtailing sales of a home entertainment product. But "Social Network" has been named the best movie of the year by some critics groups and been nominated for the top film by others, including voters for Golden Globes. It is widely expected to bring home an Oscar nod when nominations for the industry's top movie awards are handed out on January 25. "'The Social Network' has struck a chord with audiences all around the world," said Jeff Blake, Chairman, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution for Sony Pictur...

Jennifer Connelly Baby Bump - Pregnant actress Jennifer Connelly showed off her growing baby bump in Chicago Thursday. Clad in a Lanvin dress, the 40-year-old actress was all smiles at the world premiere of her new film Dilemma in Chicago. (UsMagazine.com first broke the news of her pregnancy). Connelly, who is expecting her third child with hubby Paul Bettany, recently gave David Letterman an update on her pregnancy. "I'm feeling great -- now," she told the late night host. "The first three months were very sketchy. You know how like you have your cell phone and you have to stand in one spot? It was like that with nausea." "I had to stand in one spot, which happened to be in front of my refrigerator," she continued, "which was open with me dipping pretzels in cream cheese and stuffing them in my mouth." Jennifer Connelly Baby Bump

Seacrest: J.Lo is Mean Idol Judge - Simon Cowell is gone, but mean critiques from the "American Idol" judges' table will continue thanks to Jennifer Lopez! "Jennifer [is the mean one]," "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest told Access Hollywood at the 2011 E! TCA party on Tuesday. "She expects a lot... she's tough, but she gives tough love." J.Lo might be the stern judge, but according to Ryan, Steven Tyler is the sensitive one who will be shedding some tears. "Steven is probably our most emotional judge. We will probably see tears from Steven as well as laughs and he's a prankster too, but they got along very well on the road," Ryan continued. In addition to "Idol," Ryan is busy at work producing and slew of shows for E! and in the future is hoping to possibly launch is own network, like Oprah's OWN. "The idea is to try and come up with as many different shows as possible so that there would be an opportu...

Dr. Drew Alcoholics Snooki - Nicole “Snooki” Polizzo is a charming little fireball who took the world by storm with her guido and guidette friends on MTV’s Jersey Shore last year. They became pop culture icons for their over-the-top personalities and penchant for alcohol binges and the indiscriminate sexual activity that can accompany it. Most people who have been to college, (or been between the ages of 18 and 23) have experienced at least a taste of this type of care-free, irresponsible behavior. For most of us, however, too much of this stuff can fail us out of college, ruin our job prospects, and have other fairly immediate consequences that usually leads to curbing behavior before we develop a more severe problem that can lead to crippling health problems, and other life-ruining type situations. For the young adults on Jersey Shore, the more drunken, debauched behavior, the bigger their paychecks, fame, and opportunities. And that could lead to a dangerous path. In May, whe...

Clooney: 'Excitement' for Sudan Peace - As many as four million people from Southern Sudan will go to the polls later this week to decide whether to separate from the rest of the country and become an independent state. It is a referendum that marks the culmination of six years of peace following decades of conflict and could see the mostly Christian south turn its back on historical domination by the muslim north. Actor George Clooney has campaigned for peace in the troubled East-African state for many years. At the end of December, Clooney also launched a satellite surveillance project in the country to help monitor violence during the January vote. The program will use satellite images to assess the situation on the ground for any signs of conflict, monitor hotspots in real time and post the findings online. Clooney: 'Excitement' for Sudan Peace

"Lost" Numbers Mega Millions Lottery - Tonight, there is a new "Hollywood Twist" that is now breaking news. It turns out that over 40,000 winners picked four of their lotto numbers from the hit ABC show "Lost" that aired for the last time in 2010! Each winner will recieve about $150 dollars. The "Lost" numbers were picked by the character "Hurley" on the show (Played by Jorge Garcia) to win the "Mega Lotto" of $114M. The numbers on the show were also in the background of the popular series for several seasons, from story lines to the background plots. Tabloid programs have been showing up at Jorge's girlfriend's house today - trying to interview him on this amazing part of the Mega Millions drama. "Lost" Numbers Mega Millions Lottery

Winter "Wipeout" Premiere - Winter wonderlands are made to appreciate from afar, that is unless you are looking to make some cash dealing with the elements. Tonight on ABC the premiere of Winter Wipeout has cold souls rushing through a winter obstacle in Wipeout style. There will be fall, spills and thrills with the frigid idea that contestants can’t be choosers of the weather as snow is shoved in their direction. The fourth season of Winter Wipeout debuting Thursday night has some wonderful moments too. Our eyes will be glued for the flying pigs (yeah, we’re partial to pigs, what’s your point?) This stunt is called Holiday Hams and we couldn’t be more excited to see what meat gets thrown in with the cold stunts to make it festive. The return of Wipeout on ABC is really quite delightful. The Big Balls wipeouts make us gleeful and knowing the contestants will drop into a vat of ice water takes our breath away. Ah, actually it takes their breath away and we can’t get enoug...

Paint Ball for Beginners - Paint ball is a good weekend activity that also gives you a good workout. And it's not only for weekend warriors. Everyone can enjoy a good game of paint ball with friends. Most people don't know what to expect before they play. So here is a quick run down. There are always two teams going against each other. If you have enough friends with you, you can form a team. The two teams will usually have different colors on to distinguish them from each other. There are several short games played. Capture the flag is a popular one. This involved both teams trying to get each others flags from opposite sides of the course and bring it back to their base. Some quick paint ball tips Don't go spraying paint balls because you think you are rambo. Paint balls can finish very quickly and you will be stuck without ammo. Only shoot when you think you have a chance of shooting someone. Keep in mind paint balls hurt when they hit you so cover up. Always ...

Paltrow's Favorite Kiss Tom Cruise - Actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who locked lips with Tom Cruise in 'Austin Power, describes the star as an amazing kisser. "I did a little cameo once at the beginning of 'Austin Powers 3', I think it was, and I got to make out with Tom Cruise. He was an amazing kisser!" people.com quoted Paltrow as saying. Paltrow's recent outing is "Country Strong" and she enjoyed stepping out of her otherwise regimented life for her role as alcoholic singer in the movie. "You just get really drunk all the time. Which is awesome! At least I did anyway, it's not very professional. There's a Bloody Mary at 10 a.m. and keep it going all day!" she said. "It was actually very liberating and amazing to play somebody who just didn't think about consequences because I'm so responsible with my life, and too worried about everybody and my kids and where's everybody going," she added. Paltrow...

Brown Bag Lunch Ideas - Lunch doesn't always have to be boring, nor does it simply have to be left overs from last night's dinner. There are several things you can add to spruce up your lunch. Fruit is always a good addition to any lunch. Not only is it healthy, it can also be tasty. You could add some ripe grapes for dessert or even some mango. Sandwiches might sound boring, but they don't have to be. Be creative with what you put in them. Beetroot, cucumber and tomato are good additions. As are any type of beef or chicken. Brown Bag Lunch Ideas

Check for Groundwater Contamination - Interactions between groundwater and surface water are complex. Consequently, groundwater pollution, sometimes referred to as groundwater contamination, is not as easily classified as surface water pollution. By its very nature, groundwater aquifers are susceptible to contamination from sources that may not directly affect surface water bodies, and the distinction of point vs. non-point source may be irrelevant. A spill or ongoing releases of chemical or radionuclide contaminants into soil (located away from a surface water body) may not create point source or non-point source pollution, but can contaminate the aquifer below, defined as a toxin plume. The movement of the plume, a plume front, can be part of a Hydrological transport model or Groundwater model. Analysis of groundwater contamination may focus on the soil characteristics and site geology, hydrogeology, hydrology, and the nature of the contaminants. Sampling of water for physical or ...

Are your Foundation Cracks Serious? - Foundations cracks are serious business. The foundation of the house is the most important part. Everything else can pretty much be easily replaced. The first thing that needs to be done is to find the cause of the cracks. Was it an earthquake? Is your house slowly sinking to one side? If the cause isn't identified, the same thing could happen again after repairs are made. The type of repairs done will depend on the cause of the cracks. Sometimes, during times of drought, soil becomes dry and compacts taking up less volume cause the house to sink. In this instance, the course of action may be to get a professional to inject water deep in to certain points in the soil. Once the soil gets enough water, it will expand and may even lift the foundation back up to it's original position. Remember to always get a second or third opinion to evaluate both the best price, and the best course of action. Are your Foundation Cracks Serious?

Jorge Garcia Mega Millions Numbers - That's the message that Jorge Garcia, who played unlucky lotto winner Hugo "Hurley" Reyes on "Lost," has for the more than 9,000 Mega Millions winners who cashed in by using the mysterious numbers from ABC's hit show. "The numbers are bad," he writes in a post on his blog headlined, "When Will People Learn?" The post continues with the words "Enjoy your" and an image of a $100 bill and a $50 bill with the word "cursed" stamped over them. Mega Millions players who picked the numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42 -- the same numbers that haunted Hurley and the other islanders on "Lost" -- before Tuesday's drawing won about $150 for matching four of six of the jackpot-winning numbers, 4, 8, 15, 25, 47 and 42, with 42 being the Mega Ball number. Jorge Garcia Mega Millions Numbers

160 Skiers Rescued Austria Helicopters - Police say helicopters and emergency crews rescued about 160 skiers and snowboarders stuck on a defective chairlift in western Austria. Most of them were winched down to the ground but 17 had to be attached by cables to helicopters and flown out because of the rugged terrain below them. The crews were called into the Gruenau-Kaesberg ski area on Wednesday after one chairlift lurched to a stop. Officials say no one was hurt in the rescue operation but several people had to be treated for shock. 160 Skiers Rescued Austria Helicopters

Southwest Airlines Frequent Flier Makeover - Southwest Airlines is taking its rewards program from what one industry expert calls "anemic" to competitive with the unveiling of an improved Rapid Rewards program. "This is very big," Tim Winship, editor-at-large for SmarterTravel.com said of the changes, which are aimed at making it easier for members to earn and redeem points. "This move by Southwest is going to prompt a lot of internal discussion at the major airlines about what it means to them, what their competitive response should be and then so on," Winship said. Southwest Airlines Frequent Flier Makeover One of the key changes in Rapid Rewards is that members can now redeem points on every seat, every day and on every flight with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. As long as members fly or use a partner once every two years, their points will never expire. The changes, which will officially launch on March 1, will improve on Southwest...

Ethanol Energy Drinks - Truckloads of Four Loko and other alcohol-laced energy drinks are being recycled into ethanol and other products after federal authorities told manufacturers the beverages were dangerous and caused users to become "wide-awake drunk." Wholesalers from Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland and other East Coast states started sending cases of the high-alcohol, caffeinated malt beverages to MXI Environmental Services in Virginia after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a crackdown on the sale of such beverages in November. Ethanol Energy Drinks Brian Potter, vice president of operations at MXI's facility in Abingdon, Va., said about a couple of hundred truckloads of the drinks would be coming to the plant. Each truck holds 2,000 cases of the 23.5-ounce cans. MXI Enterprises is one of three facilities in the U.S. that recycle ethanol, according to the American Coalition for Ethanol, an industry group. Potter said Thursday that his com...

Walking Speed Predicts Life Span - Stephanie Studenski of the University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues conducted a study to assess the association of gait speed with survival in older adults and to determine the degree to which gait speed explains variability in survival after accounting for age and sex. The study included a pooled analysis of 9 participating studies (collected between 1986 and 2000), using individual data from 34,485 community-dwelling adults age 65 years or older with walking speed data available at the beginning of the study, followed up for 6 to 21 years. During the course of the study, there were 17,528 deaths. The overall 5-year survival rate was 84.8 per cent; the 10-year survival rate was 59.7 per cent. The researchers found that gait speed was associated with differences in the probability of survival at all ages in both sexes, but was especially informative after age 75 years. At this age, predicted 10-year survival across the range of gait speeds ra...

CDC Seat Belt Use 85 Percent - Wearing a seat belt is more commonplace than ever before, according to a study released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 6 out of 7 U.S. drivers report they always wear a seat belt when driving or riding in a motor vehicle. While seat belt use has become the national norm in most states, rates of self-reported use vary widely from state to state, with a high of 94 percent in Oregon and a low of 59 percent in North Dakota. Montana is in the middle at 69.4 percent. Wyoming is at 67.4 percent. Still, every 14 seconds, an adult in the United States is treated in an emergency department for crash-related injuries. Buckling up cuts in half the chance of being seriously injured or killed in a crash, CDC Director Dr. Thomas R. Frieden said. "If everyone in the vehicle buckled up every time, we could further reduce one of the leading causes of death," Frieden said. CDC Seat Belt Use 85 Percent

Depression Gene Linked to Stress - A new study shows that an individual's genetic makeup strongly affects his/her susceptibility to depression. The study, one of the biggest of its kind, supports previous studies showing a link between a gene that regulates a brain chemical called serotonin and an individual's ability to rebound from serious emotional trauma, such as childhood physical or sexual abuse. In the latest study, a team of researchers led by Dr. Srijan Sen, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan Medical School, examined 54 studies dating from 2001 to 2010 and encompassing nearly 41,000 participants - making it the largest analysis of the serotonin gene's relationship to depression to date. Depression Gene Linked to Stress The study was published online today in the "Archives of General Psychiatry." "When we included all the relevant studies, we found that an individual's genetic make-up does make a difference in...

How to Trade Goods Online - Trading goods online has become a hobby for some, a career for some but is still new to many. Selling goods online is easy even for the beginner with websites that cater for everyone. The most popular website, and probably the easiest to use would be eBay, so this would be a logical first stop to get your feet wet. Here you can list pretty much anything and everything you want to sell. Payment is made through paypal and can be withdrawn to your bank account. If you want the funds more readily, paypal even has a debit card you can use to spend your money. Listing your products is easy, selling them is more of an art. You can't just slap the item up and expect it to sell straight away. A good, thorough product description is needed to ensure the buyer gets all the details they need. Multimedia is also appealing to the eye so put up as many pictures as you can. Finally, and most importantly, price your product correctly. If the price is too high you ...

Tips for Strengthening Lower Back - The lower back is one of the most important parts of the body and most often, the most neglected. You see most men doing bench press exercises or bicep curls, but you do not see many work out their lower backs. The reason the lower back is so important is because it is part of the bodies "core". It is being used every second you are awake to stabilize your body, to keep your balance, when you get up from a chair and the list goes on. A strong lower back equals strong, practical strength. When you pick things off of the ground you are using your lower back. Think about how many times you pick things up during a normal day and you will start seeing the importance. There are several machines that can help strengthen the lower back, but the most useful exercise I've found is the dead lift. This involves pick a weighted barbell off of the ground to knee height. There are several causes for a sore lower back. One of them is trauma. T...