TowleTech V.82

Please welcome Jon Barrett, with this week's tech news about 80-proof art, Amazon's Kindle, the Earth on your desk, Google paparazzi, early hours at the Apple store, and the future of phone sex.

Now here’s some art almost everyone can inebriate. As TheCoolhunter first reported, Hannes Broecker’s exhibition in Dresden, Germany, includes this series of flat, glass containers filled with a variety of cocktails. Gallery guests fill their glasses with the “art” while they watch the multi-colored infusions diminish.

Better watch yourself if this Google-branded car is lurking on a street near you. As Google has been expanding the Street View feature of its map service, cameras mounted on cars like this have inadvertently photographed many a man in a compromising position—such as the guy to the right, outside an adult bookstore. Google Street View launched in May and is currently available for 15 U.S. cities. It’s now expanding to Canada and Australia, where Seb Ruiz snapped the shot of the Google car traversing Sydney streets and then posted it on his Flickr page. Google reps tell the Sydney Morning Herald that they take care to obscure people’s faces. Still, I won’t be taking any chances next time I’m at Fatburger.

In further Google news, the company on Wednesday launched Maps with My Location, which locates users who don’t have GPS-enabled phones—based on the nearest cell tower. PCWorld reports that “the service could be useful to a person who might be traveling in an unfamiliar city and looking for restaurants or other businesses.” In order to use it, phone owners must download a free application from Google, which will work on Blackberry, Windows Mobile, and Symbian phones.

Josh Rubin at Cool Hunting has pointed out the coolest desktop wallpaper yet. Earthdesk puts a constantly updated view of the earth on your screen. Reports Rubin: “The most striking part, of course, is that Earthdesk provides a visual of time pasing, with accurate shading delineating night, twilight, and daytime. It also (seemingly almost magically) shows real clouds, light emitted by cities and moonlight (which can be adjusted to show more or less city light)."

Nintendo on Wednesday became the first-ever company to receive a 0 out of 10 rating on Greenpeace’s guide to green electronics, The Christian Science Monitor reports. Why the low score? The watchdog group says Nintendo provides no information on the materials used in manufacturing its consoles nor on its plans to cut hazardous chemicals. This means it “completely fails to show any environmental credentials.” Also getting low marks are Philips, which scored 2 points, and Microsoft, which received 2.7. High-point earners were Sony Ericsson and Samsung—each receiving 7.7 points.

The Amazon Kindle has been taking a lot of heat from every direction since it debuted last week. But I’m a sucker for anything new and can’t stop thinking about it. (If only I had an extra $400 to check it out.) In case you’re in the market for an ebook, Gizmodo has posted a pretty comprehensive comparison of the Kindle and its predecessor, the Sony Reader. My verdict: Kindle’s still on my Christmas wish list.

One of the best features of the Microsoft Zune is that it allows users to swap musics. Now, thanks to miShare, a $100 device that has dock connectors on both ends, you may soon be able to do the same with your iPod. Specifics about the device are not yet available, and it’s not yet on sale. But you can get updates here, or see a video of how it works here.

If I’m awake at 3 a.m., it’s only to go to the bathroom or to pop another Tylenol PM. But Billy Chasen? You might catch him at the New York City’s 24-Hour Apple store, where he’s likely the only one who a.) isn’t wearing pajamas and b.) doesn’t smell like pot.

Just in time for the holiday crush of gift cards, Leveragecard.com this week launched a new service that lets users register all the gift cards they’ve received (to keep track of how much you have left on each card), buy new gift cards, swap cards with other users, and even manage loyalty reward programs, such as frequent-flyer or frequent-stay plans. Sounds useful, but knowing that 27 percent of the people who receive gift cards never even use them, it will be interesting to see how many people will take the time to register their cards.

Could this be the future of phone sex? This video is NSFW (unless you have headphones).
(via Queerclick - also NSFW)

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Judge Sets Bond for Killer of Sean William Kennedy

A judge today set a bond of $25,000 and ordered home detention for 19-year-old Stephen Andrew Moller, who delivered a lethal punch to Sean William Kennedy last May outside Brew's Bar in Greenville, South Carolina. Kennedy fell to the ground and died of his injuries 17 hours later.

The arrest warrant for Moller said "investigators believe the assault was due to the victim's sexual orientation" GreenvilleOnline reported shortly after Moller's arrest.

"Sheriff's Office investigator Paul Silvaggio testified today in Greenville County Circuit Court that after an 'extensive investigation,' he determined that Kennedy's homosexuality did not motivate the attack," GreenvilleOnline reports:

"Moller's attorney Ryan L. Beasley said Moller, who has been incarcerated since May, would have to live with this the rest of his life. Kennedy's mother Elke Kennedy addressed the court, saying 'At least he gets to live. My son won't be home for Christmas.' She characterized Moller as a 'violent man,' and has previously objected to the reduction in charge from murder to involuntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of five years. She has said that her son was openly gay and she has advocated for the passage of hate-crime laws that would apply to sexual orientation. Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor Bob Ariail has said the charge of involuntary manslaughter is not sufficient, but 'correct under the law.' Beasley said if released, Moller would live with his mother, that he had turned himself in to police, and that he isn't a danger to society. Couch ordered that Moller may go to work, may see a lawyer or doctor, and may have no contact with the victim's family."

A disappointing end to a tragic, unnecessary hateful event.

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SC Hate Crime: Mother of Sean Kennedy Speaks Out [tr]

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Hostage, Possible Bomb Situation at Clinton NH Campaign HQ

Two women and a child taken hostage at the Hillary Clinton campaign headquarters in Rochester, New Hampshire by a man with a suspicious device strapped under his clothing have been reportedly released, according to CNN.

The hostage taker, reportedly a local man in his 40's with a history of mental illness who demanded to talk to Senator Clinton, is still inside at this moment and a swat team has stabilized the area.

UPDATE: The hostage taker has been identified as Lee Eisenberg.

ABC News reported that the man told his son to "watch the news."

Officials were alerted to the situation by a woman with an infant who was released early on, a witness told local station WMUR: "A young woman with a 6-month or 8-month-old infant came rushing into the store just in tears, and she said, 'You need to call 911. A man has just walked into the Clinton office, opened his coat and showed us a bomb strapped to his chest with duct tape."

Hillary Clinton is in Virginia and canceled a 3 am campaign appearance because of the situation. Her campaign released this statement: "There is an ongoing situation in our Rochester, N.H. office. We are in close contact with state and local authorities and are acting at their direction."

UPDATE: Crisis has ended, suspect taken into custody...

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Uruguay to Legalize Same-Sex Civil Unions

Lawmakers in Uruguay have approved legislation that will allow same-sex and heterosexual couples to form civil unions after living together for at least five years, it was reported yesterday.

"Under the law, couples will be granted rights related to social security payments, pensions, inheritance and parenting. To gain these cohabitation rights, couples must register the relationship with authorities. They also will be able to register the end of a union. Gay civil unions are allowed in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires and in Mexico's capital and in Coahuila state. Uruguay's law would be the first nationwide measure. Gay marriage would remain illegal in Uruguay, a small South American country known for its secular streak."

Said left-wing politician Edgardo Ortuno: "This recognition of the legal status of couples ... recognizes the legal status of homosexual couples, which gives it a completely new dimension."

Uruguay set to legalize gay civil unions [tr]

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Rhydian the Rugby Player

I've posted a few videos of the UK's current X-Factor favorite Rhydian Roberts. Today, the Brit tabloid Daily Mail chronicles his transformation from busted-up rugby player to peroxide pop singer.

Below, a vlog Rhydian posted yesterday, along with his most recent performance.

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DILF of the Day: Justin Chambers

The Grey's Anatomy hunk graces the pages of Italian Vanity Fair. Two more after the jump...

More here...

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