Exploding laptop

When a BSOD isn't enough: Dell laptop explodes at Japanese conference. With pics, one in mid-eruption, another of the flaming debris.

At the half, the score is Journalism 1, Stupidity 1

Journalism scored on this brilliant play by the Wichita Beagle:

This one might earn an honorable mention in the Darwin Awards, Wichita police say.

A 28-year-old man wanted to see whether his girlfriend's Walther .22 handgun was loaded, so he pulled the trigger -- and blew a hole in his left hand.

For some reason, Capt. Joe Dessenberger said, the man had placed his hand in front of the barrel as he pulled the trigger on Monday in east Wichita.

The man was treated at Wesley Medical Center.

Dude, that's the whole article.

But CBS scores in the opposition's goal (you will need to see the graphic to get it):

Professional journalistic standards are on display tonight at CBS News, where they don’t seem to know the difference between China and Japan.

Several readers have pointed out that not only is the flag wrong, but the shadow added by CBS is going in the wrong direction.

And that’s not all. This isn’t even the Earth’s moon. It’s Dione, one of the moons of Saturn.

Day of St00pid continues

I didn't think anyone could top the particle physicist who checked to see if a gun was loaded by putting his left hand over the barrel and pulling the trigger. This just might.

AT&T rewrites rules: Your data isn't yours

AT&T has issued an updated privacy policy that takes effect Friday. The changes are significant because they appear to give the telecom giant more latitude when it comes to sharing customers' personal data with government officials.

The new policy says that AT&T -- not customers -- owns customers' confidential info and can use it "to protect its legitimate business interests, safeguard others, or respond to legal process."

The policy also indicates that AT&T will track the viewing habits of customers of its new video service -- something that cable and satellite providers are prohibited from doing.

Oh, and via brucha, more st00pid from our friends at LJ Abuse: Trent Reznor licking a microphone cannot be your default icon. I don't know what they're paying these people, but even if it's nothing, it's too much. Just ask alexlucard.

Picasa + the Web = Google pwnz

I'm not sure that I'm in love with it yet, but I'm certainly curiously intrigued by the new version of Picasa. I signed up for the beta of its new Web Albums, and while mine's kinda sparse, the integration with Picasa's client makes it very palatable. I'm still not completely comfy with the client interface, but it makes uploading/gallery making a breeze, so I think I'll stick with it....

If only it didn't lock up on my work computer. Still, pretty pictures.

(Edit: Okay, 168 pictures now. No longer sparse.)