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Pat's Picks | Archive | Pat's Picks
  1. Pat’s Picks: Monday, June 17

    The best headlines, the most interesting photography and conversation-starting articles from today’s newspapers.

    Summer the Season of ‘Site-Seething’

    Living in a city full of history is great—most of the time. Until everyone wants to visit at the same time. The Washington Post says D.C. residents have a name for the feeling that accompanies the crush of “friends” and distant relatives who surface on their couches and futons this time of year: “site-seething.” Writer Monica Hesse says Seinfeld’s puffy shirt is the site that gets her seething the most, not because she hates “Seinfeld” but because it’s on everyone’s must-see list.

     

    Shark Removed From Applebee’s For Eating Tankmates

    One shark is dead and another is wounded. It’s been quite a bloodbath in the 5000-gallon tank at Applebee’s new Coney Island restaurant, reports the New York Daily News this morning.  First employees had to remove a Blacktip shark named Zane because he kept eating his tankmates and then a Whitetip shark died after colliding with the tank’s three-foot Wonder Wheel replica.

     

    Meet ‘The Red Hook,’ Brooklyn’s Superhero

    Manhattan may have Batman but the New York Post says now Brooklyn has its own superhero. Meet the Red Hook, “a street-smart superhero inspired by the gritty waterfront neighborhood” he’s named after. A former boxer and thief who keeps the bad guys in check with his powerful right hook, creator Dean Haspiel says the Red Hook is unique because he comes with human flaws.

     

    Game On for Photos of Kim Kardashian’s Baby

    She’s America’s latest celebrity but no one knows what she looks like…yet. USA Today says photos of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s new daughter have yet to become public but that those first photos, whenever they trickle out, will be worth a pretty penny. PR experts say it’s likely that Kardashian and West have already brokered a deal for the shots and named their price.

     

    Photo-ID Database Casts Large Net

    The Washington Post has an interesting story about the massive expansion of police photo-ID databases in this morning’s paper. More than 120 million faces come up in interstate databases, which were initially created to prevent driver’s licence fraud but now are increasingly used by police to identify suspects and witnesses. Experts say the far reach of these databases routinely puts innocent people in a digital lineup, a practice that makes some uncomfortable, especially as the NSA’s surveillance program begins to come to light.

     

    Smartphone’s Future Lies in Software, Not Hardware

    In the New York Times this morning, writer Nick Bilton says we have to get used to the idea that software not hardware is where the big advances in smartphones will come.  Bilton says we’ve become addicted to the idea that there will be a new iPhone every year, which made some people disappointed when Apple “just” announced a software update last week.

     

    The Future of Web Security

    Forget having one password for your bank account, Netflix and Amazon accounts. The LA Times says in the wake of several high-profile cyber attacks, security officials are dreaming up new ways to protect your information. Like electronic tattoos that function as passwords or smartphones with built-in fingerprint scanners. Another idea in the pipeline: a USB thumb drive that would serve as a key once you insert it and unlock websites you visit.

     
  2. Pat’s Picks: Friday, June 14

    The best headlines, the most interesting photography and conversation-starting articles from today’s newspapers.

    Study: Lego Faces Angrier Than 24 Years Ago

    If the Legos your kids play with look a little more disgruntled than the ones you remember, you’re right. The San Diego Union-Tribune says a new study out of New Zealand has found that the faces on Legos have become “increasingly furious, sad and disgusted” over the last two decades. The researchers are also exploring whether being exposed to angrier faces has an effect on a child’s development.

     

    Phil Mickelson Pulls All-Nighter

    Phil Mickelson started off the US Open on about four hours of sleep, reports the New York Times this morning. His daughter graduated from 8th grade on Wednesday, which means to hear her commencement speech he had to hop in his private jet in San Diego, catch an hour of sleep on the plane, another hour or two when he landed in Philadelphia and be ready to hit the course at 5:30 in the morning. All in all, Mickelson put in an impressive 18-hour day and managed to shoot a 67.

     

    Commuters Endure Lost Bus Driver

    Commuters hoping for a smooth ride yesterday got more than they bargained for after a New Jersey Transit bus driver got lost on the way to Manhattan, turning what is usually a forty-minute commute into one that lasted well over two hours. Passengers told the Newark Star Ledger that they knew they’d be late for work when the driver pulled over to ask directions just blocks from their final destination.

     

    Lawsuit Tries To Undo Birthday Song’s Copyright

    It’s sung to us once a year, and we sing it to others many times a year. But Warner-Chappell Music owns the copyright of “Happy Birthday” and collects millions in licensing fees from public performances of the song. The New York Times says a production company is suing to change that, claiming that “Happy Birthday to You” is actually just an 1893 adaptation of a song called “Good Morning to All.”

     

    Little Mariachi Singer Returns to Sing Anthem

    Flanked by a coterie of NBA all-stars and the mayor of San Antonio, Sebastien De La Cruz returned to sing the national anthem last night in front of a sold-out Game Four crowd. The Express-News says the encore performance was organized after the 11-year-old mariachi singer was the subject of a barrage of racist tweets following his performance on Tuesday. De la Cruz, who was born in San Antonio, received a “deafening reception” last night. VIDEO

     

    Miami Deck Collapse Leaves 2 Dozen Injured

    A deck collapsed at a Miami sports bar last night dumping dozens of NBA fans into the water below and injuring at least 24 people. Witnesses told the Miami Herald that “there was just a crack, and then we were in the water.” The water was shallow enough to stand in but it was hard to make an exit because it was crowded by tables, chairs and wood from the collapsed deck.

     

    NFL Bans Purses, Bags from Stadiums

    Attention ladies (and gentleman): the NFL would like you to leave your purses at home. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette says the rule change, which will be enforced at stadiums around the country starting this preseason, is a reaction to the Boston Marathon bombing. The ban includes bags of all sizes including coolers and camera bags but does allow fans to bring one-gallon clear plastic freezer bags.

     
  3. Pat’s Picks: Thursday, June 13

    The best headlines, the most interesting photography and conversation-starting articles from today’s newspapers.

    Bookies Hoping Miami Heat Doesn’t Regain Its Fire

    San Antonio residents and Spurs fans aren’t the only ones hoping for the Miami Heat to lose the NBA Finals. The Sun Sentinel says bookies have their fingers crossed that Miami will continue to falter, so they won’t have to pay out the majority of people who bet early and often on them to win a repeat title. Vegas insiders say 35 percent of the money put down on future books—a season-long pool—was placed on the Heat.

     

    The Summer of Long Customs Lines

    If you’re planning an overseas trip, be sure to pack a good book and some patience. The Wall Street Journal says those passing through U.S. Customs checkpoints this summer should ready themselves for an extra long wait. Miami and JFK are the worst points of entry, though wait times are routinely above two hours at many major airports around the country. Officials blame the slowdown on a shortage of Customs agents.

     

    Photo of the Day: Summer in Alaska

    There’s an awesome illustration of summer in Alaska on the front page of the Anchorage Daily News this morning. East Anchorage resident Maria Smith says she woke up to find a large summer guest drinking from the sprinkler in her lawn. The moose stayed and relaxed in Smith’s lawn all afternoon and she says he was “very friendly.”

     

    Regional Maps Show How Americans Talk

    Do you refer to a Pepsi as—a soda or a pop? Or a coke? What about the act of throwing toilet paper from the trees—is that TPing or rolling? The Raleigh News and Observer says the detailed maps created by grad student Joshua Katz showing regional dialects have gone viral since he released them last week. Katz took research from a 120-point survey done in 2002 and plotted the answers on several maps to show the density of certain turns-of-phrase around the country.

     

    Use Your Yahoo Email or It Will Disappear

    If you’re one of those people who keeps a Yahoo email account around so your spam has somewhere to go, consider yourself warned. USA Today says starting June 15 the company will put user IDs that have been dormant for more than a year back on the market. It’s the latest in CEO Marissa Mayer’s attempts to make Yahoo more relevant.

     

    NAVY ABANDONS ALL CAPS

    ATTENTION: THE NAVY HAS ABANDONED ITS REQUIREMENT THAT COMMUNICATION BE IN ALL CAPS. The Wall Street Journal says the switch to title case marks an end to an era which honored the “legacy of primitive technology combined with the service’s love of tradition.” The order came with a word of warning for sailors “not to go too crazy”—mixed-case sentences are only okay in the body of a message.

     
  4. Pat’s Picks: Wednesday, June 12

    The best headlines, the most interesting photography and conversation-starting articles from today’s newspapers.

    Jockey Remakes The Bra

    Ladies, forget your bra size. With a system it calls “revolutionary,” Jockey has remade the bra, abandoning the number/letter system in favor of ten “volumetric” sizes. According to the New York Observer, the idea is to give women more range while also freeing them from the stigma that comes with certain sizes. Jockey’s shift reflects the growing bust line in this country—while it’s hard to get an accurate measurement, some sources say the average American woman now wears a 36C, a full cup size bigger than in 2004.

     

    Staying Cool in Bed

    The Wall Street Journal has a story about the lengths some couples go to to achieve to different climates in bed.  According to the Better Sleep Council, which keeps track of things like this, bed temperature ranks right up there with snoring when it comes things that stand in the way of a good night’s sleep. Mattress makers have responded by creating a slew of temperature-controlled models.

     

    Rocking at Famed Rehab Center

    Looks like you can rock out anywhere. Minnesota’s famed rehab center Hazelden has helped everyone from Steven Tyler to Natalie Cole kick their addictions. So it makes sense—kind of—that the center is gearing up to host its first music festival, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune this morning. The list of performers at HazelFest includes a slew of people with recovery experience. It’s also a rare opportunity to see inside the famed facility, which one-time resident Eric Clapton likened to Fort Knox.

     

    Chimps Get New Protections

    Good news for chimps in today’s LA Times. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is considering reclassifying chimpanzees as endangered, a move that would afford those in captivity with a much greater level of protection. If the new rules are adopted, scientists would have to apply for a permit each time they wanted to perform an invasive test on a chimp, including drawing blood.

     

    Photo: Water Cannon Hits Istanbul Protester

    Don’t mess with a water cannon. There’s a dramatic photo of a Turkish protester on the front page of the Washington Post this morning. Police used water cannons and tear gas on those gathered in Istanbul’s Taksim Square yesterday to clear the area. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has faced major opposition since his decision to break up a peaceful riot with force two weeks ago snowballed into a larger protest against what many see as his administration’s “creeping authoritarianism.”

     

    Mr and Mrs. Whistleblower

    The LA Times has the scoop on the girlfriend of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. According to her prolific blog, which has been taken down since Snowden’s rise into the spotlight, Lindsay Mills describes herself as a “world-traveling, pole-dancing super hero.” Neighbors in Hawaii describe the couple as “quiet and private,” though Mills has quite a digital trail of photos featuring her “dancing, posing with friends, and scantily clad.”

     

    Mystery Solved: 1365 Damien Hirst Spot Paintings

    The New York Times says the answer has finally been revealed to one of the art world’s most enduring questions: How many Damien Hirst spot paintings are there? The artist first starting making his iconic spot paintings in the mid 1990s. Hirst says he made the first few dozen, and then left it up to his assistants to fill in the spots, which means no one is quite sure how many spot paintings actually exist. Until now. Hirst cooperated with a London publisher on a book that will reveal there are exactly 1,365 spot paintings.

     
  5. Pat’s Picks: Tuesday, June 11

    The best headlines, the most interesting photography and conversation-starting articles from today’s newspapers.

    And the Song of Summer Is…

    The New York Daily News’ music critic Jim Farber says it’s pretty much over already.  Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” seems unstoppable as this year’s song of the summer.  Radio programmers say it’s a song with enough staying power that you’ll hear it through July and August.  Farber predicts Mariah Carey’s “Beautiful” and Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” will also be playing on repeat this summer.

     

    New Album from Black Sabbath, Ozzy Included

    Black Sabbath is releasing an album today, the band’s first effort in 35 years that “fully” includes Ozzy Osbourne. The Prince of Darkness told USA Today it took a while for him to learn how to be part of a group again:  “It takes a while to switch off being Ozzy. I’ve been on my own for 35 years and it took me three or four gigs to become un-Ozzy and be a member of Black Sabbath again.”

     

    Doughnuts Gone Wild

    Anyone in the mood for a Krispy Kreme Sloppy Joe? USA Today says doughnuts have gone wild this summer as the country’s biggest brands roll out a slew of strange concoctions aimed at expanding their reach from breakfast snack to anytime snack. In addition to the aforementioned Sloppy Joe—which comes with cheese, by the way—Dunkin’ Donuts rolled out its own Glazed Donut Breakfast Sandwich and iHop put Jelly Donut Pancakes on its menu.

     

    Guardian Makes Waves in US

    The New York Times has a good piece about how the NSA story has put Guardian on the map in the US. The British paper set up shop on this side of the pond two years ago and now has around 60 employees scattered around the country. Insiders credit the Guardian’s recent successes, both the NSA scoop and other high-profile stories, to its continuing investment in and “longstanding liberal and anti-establishment approach” to journalism.

     

    San Francisco Puzzled by Bus Jumpers

    San Francisco officials are equally baffled and worried about a new trend sweeping their city. It seems bus riders in San Fran have decided jumping from moving buses is their preferred exit method. Drivers say they’ve had at least 15 jumpers since the beginning of June—and virtually none before that. While some seem to be tired of waiting for expresses buses to make their limited stops, others seem to enjoy “riding the surf,” or hanging on to the outside of the bus while it’s cruising along.

     

    Quitting a Coffee Addiction

    According to the Wall Street Journal, caffeine withdrawal is now a mental health disorder. So is caffeine intoxication. Needless to say, it can be tough to quit a coffee habit. Experts recommend tapering down your consumption instead of going cold turkey to avoid side effects, including headaches, depression and nausea. For those who don’t want to quit altogether, try drinking coffee at irregular intervals, to avoid forming a pattern, and stick to less than 100 mg a day.

     

    Survey: Women Last 1 Hour Before High Heel Pain Sets In

    It takes one hour, six minutes and 48 seconds for the average woman to begin to feel the pain of her high shoes, according to a survey in today’s New York Post. While only 12 percent of men say they would intentionally buy shoes that are uncomfortable, more than 50 percent of women say they do so on the regular. Some women gave the Post tips on how to withstand the pain, like buying heels a size too big so your feet can expand without cramping.

     

    NFL Star Gets 30 Days for Slapping Lawyer’s Butt

    Former NFL star Chad Johnson just received 30 days in jail for slapping his lawyer’s butt, reports the Sun Sentinel this morning. Johnson was in court facing domestic violence charges from 2012. He was just about to leave when he playfully congratulated his lawyer for a job well done. The judge didn’t think his tush touch was very funny, or that Johnson was taking his court time very serious, and threw down his gavel.

     

    Jay Leno and His 3-D Printer

    Who says Jay Leno isn’t modern. The Wall Street Journal includes the comic and car aficionado in its special section on digital technology this morning. Apparently, when Leno needs a part for one of his old cars, he just makes it with his 3-D printer: “The days of going to a junkyard and trying to find an auto part that says Packard or Franklin on it are over.”

     
  6. Pat’s Picks: Monday, June 10

    The best headlines, the most interesting photography and conversation-starting articles from today’s newspapers.

    Tech’s Biggest Week

    It’s the tech industry’s biggest week of the year, says USA Today this morning. Apple kicks off the fervor with its first product announcement in nine months. Sony’s Playstation 4 is also rumored to debut today, setting the stage for a “hardware war” between it and Microsoft’s rival console, Xbox One. And, as USA Today reminds us, all of this comes against the backdrop that tech biggest names—Google, Microsoft, Apple—cooperated with the NSA’s surveillance program.

     

    Man Behind NSA Leaks Outs Himself

    The man behind the NSA leaks has outed himself, reports the Washington Post on its front page this morning. Edward Snowden is a 29-year-old tech specialist and former undercover CIA employee. He says that “no single event” confirmed his decision to blow the whistle on the NSA, but noted that the “President Obama has failed to live up to his pledges of transparency.” Experts say Snowden’s acknowledgment is highly unprecedented and opens him up to prosecution. VIDEO: Snowden Reveals Identity

     

    Biking Under the Influence—Legal But Dangerous

    The Minneapolis Star Tribune takes a look at “buzzed biking” in today’s paper. In most states it’s not illegal to ride your bike after consuming alcohol—California and Oregon have laws against it—but it is dangerous, say safety experts. That could change, however, as more and more people come to view their bikes as serious transportation and laws around the country start catching up.

     

    New Tourniquet Targets the Groin

    Experience in the battlefield has led to a new type of tourniquet, says the Houston Chronicle—one that “goes where others couldn’t.” Called the Junctional Emergency Treatment Tool, the tourniquet is designed specifically to fit around the groin. Dr. Keith Gates developed the new device after a tour of duty in Afghanistan, a job that required him to amputate dozens of limbs caused by IED blasts.

     

    Sustainable, Healthy Food Comes to National Parks

    No longer do you have to settle for beautiful scenery or good food. The Anchorage Daily News says the National Parks Service is stepping up their food service, issuing orders last week that all concession areas must offer healthy food to guests. That means menus that include “fruits and vegetables, low-sodium and low-fat meals, reduced portion sizes, and non-sugary drinks.” The NPS is also encouraging the use of local and sustainable foods. But have no fear, the agency went out of its way to mention that hot dogs, pizza and ice cream will still be available.

     

    Nation’s Largest Casino in High-Heeled Battle

    Cocktail waitresses at the country’s largest casino are lining up to demand they be able kick off their high heels once and for all. The New Haven Register says Foxwoods Resort Casino is in the middle of a fight with the union which represents the waitresses over the right to wear whatever shoes they choose. Many of the server have worked at the casino since it opened in 1992 and say they have suffered through years of pain and doctors appointments to meet the high-heeled requirement.

     

    In Table Tennis, a Hardbat Revival

    There’s an interesting story in the Wall Street Journal this morning about why the sandpaper ping pong paddle is superior to its sponge cousin. In recent years, sponge and rubber have become the materials of choice on the professional table tennis circuit because they offer players more spin. But a hardbat revival is growing, says the Journal, as people take note of the sponge paddle’s high price tag and tendency to end matches quickly.

     
  7. Pat’s Picks: Friday, June 7

    The best headlines, the most interesting photography and conversation-starting articles from today’s newspapers.

    NSA’s PRISM Program Doesn’t ‘Target Americans’

    The Washington Post is the first paper to connect the big names people interact with everyday on social media—Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft—to an NSA program called PRISM, which was created to take advantage of the country’s role as the global hub of telecommunications and harvest information. Of the nine telecommunication giants called out by the Post, Microsoft was the first to open up its records to the NSA, back in 2007. The response from security officials? PRISM data isn’t allowed to “target Americans,” a rationale not likely to sit well with the rest of the world.

     

    Opinion Round Up: NSA Surveillance is Good, Bad, and Funny

    NSA’s surveillance program hits the opinion pages this morning with a wide range of commentary. The Wall Street Journal defends the program, describing it as “data mining” and calling it “legal and necessary.” The New York Times takes the opposite opinion, penning an angry editorial that excoriates the Obama Administration for condoning a program that “fundamentally shifts power between the individual and the state, and it repudiates constitutional principles governing search, seizure and privacy.” The New York Daily News responds with a cartoon: A waitress offers her phone number to an NSA official. His response? “Already have it.”

     

    NASA’s ‘PhoneSats’

    NASA is an agency known for going big, which is why its latest project is an unusual one, says the Orlando Sentinel. In April, NASA launched three tiny satellites into orbit, all smaller than a coffee mug and built using pieces from old smartphones. Instead of a multi-million dollar price tag, each was made for under $8,000. Not only did they survive the trip into orbit, the “PhoneSats” beamed back complex data, even photos of Earth. Next up, scientists are putting the tiny satellites up to the more rigorous challenge of measuring space radiation. The hope is that cheap technology will figure into all future satellites.

     

    Kid Rock Caps Tickets at $20

    Kid Rock is trying something new this summer. Instead of taking a big fee up front for his summer tour, the musician struck a deal with promoter Live Nation to share more of the risk. In exchange, ticket prices will be capped at $20 and he’ll receive a share of the merchandise and beer sales. The Wall Street Journal says Rock’s novel approach already looks like it’s a profitable one, as ticket sales for his shows continue to spike.

     

    Summer Reading List: 2013

    The New York Times puts together a list of beach reads, just in time for the weekend. Topping the list is a new book from Stephen King, “Joyland.” King’s latest offers up “retro thrills” but its title is also co-opted by the Times to describe what summer reading is all about: “To get to a book lover’s Joyland, just leave your guilt at the door, seek gratification over edification, and don’t take offense easily.” With that in mind, be sure to check out “Crazy, Rich Asians”—this year’s “Bergdorf Blondes” and Carl Hiaasen’s send-up of South Florida, “Bad Monkey.”

     

    Screen Legend Esther Williams Dies at 91

    The LA Times has a front-page obituary for Hollywood icon Esther Williams in this morning’s paper. Williams, who was known for her “aqua musicals,” died yesterday at the age of 91. The paper harkens back to a sentence it wrote in 1984 to describe the screen legend’s pull on the American public: “Esther Williams did more for a bathing suit than John Wayne ever did for a cowboy hat, Tom Mix for a horse, Errol Flynn for a sword, Ronald Colman for a pith helmet or Cary Grant for a tuxedo.”

     
  8. Pat’s Picks: June 6

    The best headlines, the most interesting photography and conversation-starting articles from today’s newspapers.

    NBA Finals Make for Lazy, Sleepy Workforce

    The Heat has really started to affect workplace productivity in Florida, says the Sun Sentinel. And they’re not talking about the temperature. The paper says the weeks and weeks of late-night NBA playoffs have taken its toll on the state’s workforce. Apparently, it’s not just Florida. A nationwide survey found that the NBA finals “rank among the top 10 productivity-sapping activities at work.” The NCAA tourney comes in second.  And tonight’s game against the Spurs, which starts at 9:00 p.m., offers no reprieve.

     

    US, Verizon Secretly Collecting Calls

    Some shocking news in this morning’s New York Times. According to a court document that was de-classified last night, the government has secretly been working with Verizon to collect phone records of every business transaction that takes place on U.S. soil. What is unclear is whether it applies to Verizon landlines or Verizon Wireless or both. The Times story seems to indicate no one knows the answer beyond that it applies to the “Verizon Business” unit. See the Document

     

    Live-Streaming Your Wedding

    This might be the year you stop worrying about what to wear to the eighth wedding you’ve RSVP to because the Wall Street Journal says more and more couples are live-streaming their big day. What started out as a way to accommodate sick or distant relatives has turned into an economical way to grow your guest list. Professional sites do all the work—all guests must do is log on at the appropriate time. Etiquette experts are still debating whether an online RSVP warrants a gift or not.

     

    Help Remembering Your Passwords

    The New York Times’ David Pogue has a solution for all of us who have a hard time remembering all of the passwords crowding our brains. Memorizing dozens of long, unique passwords and changing them every thirty days is out of the question, but luckily Pogue says Dashlane, a site dedicated to doing all that for you, just released its 2.0 version, which he calls “attractive, effective, loaded with timesaving features— and free.”

     

    A Flower Crime Turns Fruitful

    Sometimes, it pays to break the law. The LA Times says a horticulturist’s decision to steal a prized lotus species from a California park has turned out to be fortuitous. Randy McDonald did his illegal snipping eight years ago—just in time, it turned out. The lotus in question started dying about seven years ago—by 2008 they were extinct. Except, of course, for the specimen McDonald had smuggled out and cultivated.

     

    Drinking Icebergs

    It’s iceberg season in Newfoundland, says the Wall Street Journal. Every season sea captain Ed Kean makes his way into to the North Atlantic to scoop up pieces of Canadian icebergs that have fallen off. He then sells his booty to various interested parties, including a vodka maker, a winery, a brewery and a mineral water company. The claim is that the water extracted from icebergs is about the purest on Earth, protected for centuries from pollution.

     

    Supersizing Hits Japan

    McDonalds is really big in Japan. The Wall Street Journal says McDonalds has introduced the “Mega Potato,” a box of fries that’s double the size of the current large and packing a whopping 1142 calories—more than two Big Macs. Selling for less than $5, the ‘Mega Potato’ is McDonald’s attempt to boost sales and fry consumption and “establish its ‘core’ menu in the consciousness of Japanese consumers.”

     
  9. Pat’s Picks: Wednesday, June 5

    The best headlines, the most interesting photography and conversation-starting articles from today’s newspapers.

    Study: Paper Towels Better Than Hand Dryers

    Ditch the hand dryer, says the Daily Mail. According to scientists regular old paper towels are much more effective at getting rid of germs because they dry hands quicker and physically remove germs. Studies have shown that germs can actually live inside dryers and are blasted around the room when they are activated, a concern in public restrooms where the level of germs is high thanks to constantly flushing toilets.

     

    Alabama Sen. Wife Warns Women to Stop Flirting

    The wife of an Alabama state senator took to Facebook yesterday to share her displeasure at the attention her husband regularly receives from members of the opposite sex. The Huntsville Times says Heather McGill, wife of Sen. Shadrack McGill, warned women to stop sending her husband photos of themselves. McGill says her 35-year-old husband is so popular with the ladies that during his 2010 two strippers came to their house and demanded to see him. Read the Post

     

    Giant Shark Catch Breaks Record, Causes Outrage

    Six men in California managed to reel in the largest mako shark ever caught by line, says the LA Times. But the catch, which was filmed as part of a reality show for the Outdoor Channel, has conservationists in a tizzy, who say the men should have reeled in the 1,323.5-pound fish and then released it. Scientists, on the other hand, say they are excited to examine the fish up close, especially since it appears to be pregnant.

     

    ‘Price is Right’ Contested Busted for Disability Fraud

    The price may have been right, but her story wasn’t, it turns out. The New York Daily News says a contestant on “The Price is Right” has some explaining to do after she was shown on national television doing some heavy lifting despite receiving disability payments from her employer for the last nine years. The U.S. postal worker claimed that she couldn’t lift mail trays after suffering an at-work injury back in 2004. But that didn’t stop her from spinning the game show’s giant wheel…twice.

     

    Meet Your ‘Digital Doppelgänger’

    Next time you send out a sexy message via email, check the address field twice. The Wall Street Journal says it’s common for our “digital doppelgängers” receive love letters, car pool reminders—even sensitive business documents. It’s even more common for the same-named strangers to reach out and say hello. Some digital doppelgängers have even struck up a correspondance of their own or met in person after several chance encounters.

     

    Tips for Watering Your Garden

    The Minneapolis Star Tribune has some tips for gardeners looking for the most effective way to water their budding plants this summer. Rule one is to water deep, reaching the roots of the plant, which will apparently make your plants grow faster, building up resiliency and better equip them to withstand tough conditions. You should also wait at least a few days between waterings to make sure you don’t drown your plants.

     
  10. Pat’s Picks: Tuesday, June 4

    The best headlines, the most interesting photography and conversation-starting articles from today’s newspapers.

    REI Does Away with Anytime Return Policy

    Outdoor retailer REI has decided to roll back its generous return policy after noticing an uptick in customers who were essentially renting the company’s products and then returning them with years of wear and tear—like the mom who returned a stroller because her kids had outgrown it. The new policy from Washington-based REI is still generous, says the Seattle Times, allowing returns up to a year after purchase.

     

    Obama Cracks Down on ‘Patent Trolls’

    President Obama is cracking down on “patent trolls,” reports the Wall Street Journal this morning. Among the executive actions the White House is scheduled to unveil today, the Patent and Trademark Office will be given the authority to demand that applicants disclose the owner of a patent. The president will also ask Congress to pass legislation making it possible for prosecutors to go after companies who file lawsuits “deemed abusive by courts.”

     

    United Subscription Guarantees Bigger Seat

    It’s like the Amazon Prime of air travel. USA Today says United will begin selling “subscriptions” to its “Economy Plus” section. That means you’ll be able to pay $499 and get the bigger seat whenever you fly. The airline is also rolling out a checked baggage “subscription,” which will allow passengers to pay $349 a year to check one bag on flights within the continental United States.

     

    ‘Love Contracts’ Do Away with For Better or Worse

    Pre-nups are about more than just money these days. The New York Daily News investigates a trend towards “love contracts” in this morning’s paper. Gaining popularity with celebrity couples, the lifestyle pre-nups clarify the rules a couple wants to maintain in their relationship. Like one person can cheat if the other doesn’t remain slim. Infidelity is the most common lifestyle clause—newlyweds Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake allegedly have an agreement that awards her $500,000 if he cheats.

     

    Study: One Third of Marriages Begin Online

    Forget the matchmaker. According to a new study, more than one third of recent marriages began online. USA Today says researchers also found that relationships which began online are slightly happier than those that began in person, and also tend to last a little longer too. Some experts are questioning the study’s results, mainly because of the lead scientist’s ties to the online dating website eHarmony.

     

    Study: Sunscreen Keeps Wrinkles Away

    New research has demonstrated what dermatologists have been saying for decades: applying sunscreen everyday keeps the wrinkles away. The Wall Street Journal says according to a new study, people who used a sunscreen with SPF 15 everyday showed about 24 percent fewer lines than those who did not.

     

    French Wine Came from Italy

    The French didn’t invent wine, but they did perfect the art of cultivating it. Which is why a University of Pennsylvania scientist’s recent discovery has wine lovers talking, says the Philadelphia Inquirer. After examining several ancient vessels used for transporting wine, the researchers have concluded that the French imported their first wines from Italy.

     

    Top 101 TV Shows of All Time

    The Writers Guild of America gives their picks for the 101 best TV shows of all time in this morning’s LA Times.  “The Sopranos” tops the list, which includes classics like “The Honeymooners” (no. 31) and “All in the Family” (no. 4). Tons of modern classics make the cut as well—“Mad Men” comes in at no. 7; “Louie” just makes it at no. 99.

     

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