A PSA from the Reformed Chicks: Turn off your email refresh when traveling abroad

Or you will be hit with a huge bill like Chris Anderson, the editor-in-chief of Wired:

Chris Anderson, the editor-in-chief of Wired, the US technology magazine, has revealed he was hit with $2,100 in charges for using his iPhone on a recent foreign trip, thanks to a glitch that led him to be charged each time the mobile handset automatically refreshed his e-mail inbox.

Mr Anderson said he was travelling in China when he received a message from AT&T, Apple's US mobile partner, saying he should phone customer support to "prevent a costly bill".

It later emerged that he had run up more than $2,000 in charges even though his iPhone had remained in his pocket for most of the trip, according to Mr Anderson.

He said the bulk of the charges were due to the fact that his iPhone was set to check his e-mail account for new messages every 10 minutes. The Wired editor said that he receives "hundreds" of e-mails every day.

[...]

AT&T also added that users "can very easily turn data roaming off with the flick of a switch" on the iPhone. This includes the e-mail feature.

Shouldn't the editor-in-chief of a tech magazine know that? How embarrassing!

(via)

RCB PSA: Watch those Crocs when getting off the escalator

They've been getting caught in the teeth of the escalator when kids get off:

At rail stations and malls around the world, reports are popping up of people, particularly children, getting their toes caught in escalators. The one theme? The victims are wearing the soft clogs known by the name of the most popular brand, Crocs.

[...]

One of the nation's largest subway systems -- the Washington Metro -- has even posted ads warning riders. The ads feature a photo of a crocodile, though they don't mention Crocs by name.

[...]

According to reports from as far away as Singapore and Japan, entrapments occur because of two of the shoes' selling points: their flexibility and grip. Some report the shoes get caught in the ''teeth'' at the bottom or top of the escalator, or in the crack between the steps and the side of the escalator.

A PSA from the Reformed Chick for laptop owners

Laptops are causing back, joint and neck strain. Elevate the computer and don't rest it on your legs, resting it on your legs causes you to look down at the computer which puts a strain on your neck. Also, don't rest your wrists on the edge of the laptop, this causes nerve injury:

Nicola Hunter, a physiotherapist and occupational health specialist, said that hand and arm pain similar to repetitive strain injury was easily induced by resting wrists against the edge of a laptop.

She added: "There's evidence that it stops the nerves and tendons moving as they normally would, and this can cause nerve injury."

(via)

This is the problem that I'm having now. I've been getting a pain in my right wrist, a very sharp pain and I'm unable to pick anything up because of it. It went away during my vacation but it's back now. I guess I'll have to start using a table but if I do that, doesn't that defeat the purpose of having a laptop? Why not just use a desk top?

A PSA from the Reformed Chicks: Don't speed in NJ this month

How does one teach their children that the police officer is their friend, when they want to punish us because they are taking the heat over one of their own speeding and allowing the governor to drive in the front seat without his seatbelt.

Some state troopers, feeling they have been publicly ridiculed for the accident that almost killed Gov. Jon S. Corzine, appear to be plotting a ticket blitz against the public this month, followed by a slowdown in June, according to a chilling series of anonymous online postings.

And the state's top trooper says he won't tolerate it.

""Great idea,'' wrote a person posting under the name "soundsgood.' ""Absolutely hammer everyone (obviously except cops and family) who does 1 m.p.h. over the limit.,Let's really give them something to complain about.''

""I am all for the May 1st blitz, Better start presigning my summonses,'' wrote
another poster going by the handle of "reckrids.'

""Everyone has to take part in this,'' wrote "20alphabravo.' ""We are taking an absolute beating from the public and media, and the so-called "officers' are doing nothing about it to protect or support us in any way. May 1st. Spread the word. It's go time.''

The comments appeared on a password-protected section of the Web site for the state troopers' union, the State Troopers' Fraternal Association. Union president David Jones issued a lengthy statement, saying it was irresponsible for the media to traffic in the postings.

[...]

But State Police Superintendent Col. Joseph ""Rick'' Fuentes took the postings serious enough to order commanders to try to make sure troopers don't launch the ticket storm. ""He made it clear to the command staff, what is posted there he won't tolerate,'' said Capt. Al Della Fave, spokesman for the patrol.

The comments were first reported publicly by Craig Carton and Ray Rossi, the afternoon ""Jersey Guys'' on New Jersey 101.5 FM radio.

""We must all do this together. Don't let the brass tell us any different,'' wrote
"soundsgood.' ""When they were on the road, they could deal with people the way they needed to be treated, but unfortunately it is a different time.''

""Soundsgood'' went on: ""No matter how junior you are, you must stick it out regardless of threats to be "sent to the pike.' We can't all be sent to the pike, and it's not that bad a gig out there anyway. Crush 'em in May.''

Corzine's trooper-driven sport-utility vehicle was leading a two-car state police caravan at 91 mph with its emergency lights flashing when it crashed on the Garden State Parkway April 12, critically injuring the governor, who was not wearing his seat belt.

[...]

""There are many more of "us" than there are of "them,''' wrote "letsroll,' adding, ""The tickets generate a large revenue for the state, and if the slowdown is done properly, we can make a change!''

It's such a joy to live in NJ, even our state troopers sound like thugs. And for really thugish behavior, how about this?

The head of a State Troopers union today suspended his campaign to publicize the home addresses of radio presonalities critical of the State Police pending a meeting Monday with State Police Superintendent Rick Fuentes.

"I made a promise to the Colonel (Rick Fuentes) that I would stand down until Monday," said David Jones, head of the State Troopers Fraternal Association.

Jones is facing the possibility of an Attorney General's review of his decision to hold a press conference yesterday at which he displayed the home address, license and car model of Craig Carton, a host of the Jersey Guys radio program on New Jersey 101.5 FM.

Jones promised to reveal the same information about Carton's co-host, Ray Rossi, and other 101.5 executives starting today.

Jones was retaliating against the radio hosts for reporting on the air on Tuesday about anonymous postings on a password-protected Association website that enouraged troopers to harass motorists with a "ticket blitz" in May.

And then there's this:

Jones said the accusation that troopers are conducting a blitz has led to arguments between motorists and troopers on highway roadsides, creating danger to both troopers and the public.

Trust a New Jerseyan to use the blitz to try to argue his way out of a ticket. Typical.