Author: colin
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How to Communicate if Your Government Shuts Down the Internet
With Egypt shutting down the internet to control the recent protests and talk of an internet “kill switch” in the US, it might be a good idea to take a look at this Wired How-to Wiki article. Scenario: Your government is displeased with the communication going on in your location and pulls the plug on…
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Protect Yourself Against Warrantless Mobile Phone Searches
As a result of recent court cases, it is now legal in California and some other areas of the United States for law enforcement officers to search your cell phone upon arrest without a warrant. An article on Ars Technica provides an explanation of the law and instructions and tips for securing your phone and…
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Fake Watchful Eyes Discourage Naughty Behavior
According to a study at Newcastle University in the UK, a photograph of staring eyes on a sign or poster along with a command can promote behaving, compliance with orders,  and “doing the right thing”. Psychology researchers at Newcastle University hung two different posters at a restaurant, to see how customers would react. They both featured…
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Card Sharp Credit Card Knife
A knife is one of the simplest, most versatile tools you can own, and a sharp blade can be a valuable asset in a wide variety of situations. The Card Sharp is a small pocket knife with a 76mm blade that unfolds into a flat profile the same size as a credit card. This compact…
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How to Make a Hollow Book Safe
From James Bond to The Shawshank Redemption, the book safe is a classic hallmark of the espionage and crime genres. This tutorial from The Art of Manliness demonstrates the process for making your own hollowed-out book safe. With a few hours’ work, you’ll have a hidden container in which to stash your valuables or secrets.…
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Win a Coin Toss by Volunteering to be the Flipper
The coin toss is the go-to solution for whenever a decision needs to be left to chance. But according to a study done at the University of British Columbia, it’s much easier to influence the outcome than you’d think. Participants were able to raise their chances of flipping a heads to 68% after just a…
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Unlock an Airplane Bathroom Door from the Outside and More Evil Tricks…
As part of their “Evil Week” series of posts, Lifehacker shares this surprisingly simple trick to unlocking one type of airplane lavatory door. Simply lift the little “Lavatory” sign above the lock, then slide the now exposed lock open. Hit the links for pictures. Step 1: Approach locked lavatory Step 2: Lift “LAVATORY” sign Step…
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Set Up a Simple Webcam Surveillance System
This video tutorial from Tinkernut demonstrates how to set up a simple home surveillance system. Using free software and a few webcams or wireless IP cameras, you can keep an eye on things from anywhere you’re able to access the internet. Once you have the hardware, it’s as easy as adding your webcams to a…
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False Memories
Your memory is not as reliable as you might think. Things like simply changing the wording of a question regarding an event can affect how it is remembered. David McRaney at the You Are Not So Smart blog explains how it happens, and why it may make eyewitness testimony untrustworthy. Each time you build a…
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Bulletproof Liquid Body Armor
Scientists at BAE Systems in the UK are working on a new type of body armor that uses shear thickening fluids in combination with traditional Kevlar to create lighter, more flexible body armor. The shear thickening fluids act like a liquid under normal conditions, but harden instantly on impact, forming a rigid shield. Basically, like this. The…