February 5, 2012 1:09:36 PM

Ex-FCC Chair: Spectrum Plan "Single Worst Telecom Bill I've Seen"

yro.slashdot.org

"Former FCC chairman Reed Hundt made waves when he called the House spectrum auction legislation 'the single worst telecom bill' he's seen. The legislation, which would severely restrict the FCC's ability to place conditions on spectrum auctions , is seen as a non-starter in the Senate where a bipartisan group of senators including John Kerry (D — Mass.) and Jerry Moran (R — Kan.) have signaled strong opposition to the House approach to authorizing spectrum auctions. In this interview, Hundt outlines his major objections to the House bill and describes what he would do differently to make more spectrum available."

10 Ways to Travel Smarter, Safer and Cheaper

February 5, 2012 12:00:16 AM

Top 10 Ways to Travel Smarter, Safer, and Cheaper

lifehacker.com

A vacation can range anywhere from a dream to a nightmare. While some of that depends on circumstance, there's plenty you can do to make your travel easier, more efficient, and more fun. Here are our top 10 favorite tips, tricks, and hacks to help make your next trip really great.

10. Pack Your Bags More Efficiently

A well-packed bag is one of the best ways to make traveling quite a bit more comfortable. If your stuff takes up less space, you can take a smaller bag—which is especially useful if you're flying and don't want to check your luggage—or you can just leave room for anything you might buy on your trip. Either way, it helps to know how to pack like a flight attendant . They fly all the time, so they've learned to be efficient. For the most part it involves rolling your clothing to fit more and avoid wrinkles, along with packing items in the most efficient order. If that's not your style, you can always try the bundled wrapping method or take some tips from author and super-light traveler Tim Ferriss .
Photo by mollypop .

9. Find a Cheap Place to Stay by Renting an Apartment

When I planned an awesome last-minute vacation on the cheap , I saved a ton of money by using a home-renting service called Airbnb . By now you've probably heard of it, or something similar like VRBO andHomeAway , but if you have yet to give it a try you should consider it on your next trip. Not only can you grab an enormous, wonderful place for the price of—or even less than—a hotel room, but you'll even save food on trip costs because most places will have a kitchen where you can cook your own food (if you want to). You are renting from individuals, in most cases, so you will want to read reviews and choose a reputable place in a good area. Also, be sure to ask the owner any questions you may have ahead of time so you don't run into any problems when you arrive. With those things in mind, you should end up having a really great experience for less money.

8. Get a Better Rewards Card and Fly Cheap (or Free)

Travel rewards credit cards are no secret, but if you're going to try and earn miles you should have the best travel rewards card possible . As was explained in the Ultimate Travel Hacking Guide , often times you can sign up for an airline-branded credit card that will award you with several thousand miles as a bonus. Generally you will end up with enough miles to fly for free right away. Earning miles slowly and steadily isn't bad, but if you really want to get some cheap (or free) tickets you'll find the most success by picking the right cards.

7. Easily Refill Your Travel-Sized Items

Travel-sized containers are really useful when you need to pack things like toothpaste, suntan lotion, and other tube-based items. If you're flying, it's particularly important because the TSA limits how much liquid you can take with you on the plane. Whether you're trying to save space or play along with the security theater performed by the Transportation Security Administration, buying tons of tiny tubes can get a little expensive. Instead of making several repeats purchases, just make yourself as simple tube refiller out of sugru . This way you can buy one travel size and refill it using a larger size, allowing you to buy in bulk and save some cash.

6. Compare Transportation Type Costs to Find the Cheapest Method

We make a lot of assumptions about the cheapest method of travel, but sometimes reality can surprise you. When you're deciding how you're going to travel, be sure to check all your options. Sometimes driving may seem cheaper, but the cost difference won't be worth the enormous increase in travel time. To find out, use this time and cost comparison calculator to discover which method of travel is best for you. Perhaps you won't be surprised after all, but it's worth a look to quickly find out if the better option isn't what you think.

5. Get Discounts at Retail Stores by Asking for a Tourist Discount Card

While it won't be an option everywhere you go, it's a good idea to ask if a store offers a tourist discount card to get discounts up to 11% on your purchases. Generally, all you have to do is show your out-of-state (or country) ID and you'll get a card to use with your purchases. This practice is most common at larger retailers and department stores, such as Macy's and Bloomingdales. You don't have to haggle—just ask.

4. Ask Retail Stores to Ship Your Purchases Home to Avoid Taxes and an Overstuffed Suitcase

While shopping isn't necessarily a primary attraction for everyone on vacation, most people come home with something new they picked up along the way. These items can be hard to fit in your suitcase, but most stores will ship them home for you for a small fee. Depending on how much you buy, this fee can be smaller than tax—which you won't have to pay at many stores if your order is being shipped out of state. It can save you money and hassle while traveling, so be sure to ask to have your order shipped home whenever possible.

3. Pack These Items for Added Security When Traveling

Being a tourist can be risky, because you're suddenly thrown into a new environment you don't know. For some additional peace of mind, there are a few items you can pack to boost your safety . A secure bag or purse can help deter a robber. A rubber door stop can provide additional security in your room. An RFID-blocking wallet can help shield your passport from identity thieves. These are all pretty negligible items to bring with you, and there are more options if you want them.
Photo by Andreas Thell

2. Protect Your Home While You're Away

When you travel, your home is particularly vulnerable, regardless of whether you live in a house or an apartment. It isn't too hard to protect your home while you're away , however, by taking a few simple precautions. You can turn your Windows PC or Mac and webcam into a DIY security system. You can use motion-sensing lights and leave the radio on to appear like you're home. And just in case the worst happens, it's good to create a home inventory so you're ready to provide it to your insurance company should you need to make a claim.
Image remixed from originals by FusionMS and ssuaphotos (Shutterstock)

1. Prepare Your Smartphone and Laptop for Travel

Traveling is so much easier when you're prepared to explore a new destination. While you don't want to spend too much of your time behind a screen, it's a good idea to prepare your laptop and smartphone for your trip so you have tools to help you discover great new experiences. This means having your geek vacation checklist in order, getting useful apps on your phone (here are some suggestions for Android and iPhone , knowing where to find free Wi-Fi , and keep track of your itinerary with a service like TripIt . If you don't let your technology become a distraction on your vacation, it can be an incredible asset to help make your trip far more fun and memorable.

Cartoon Girls and Their Real-Life Counterparts

February 6, 2012 10:10:24 AM

Cartoon girls and their real-life counterparts by Ryan Astamendi : theCHIVE

thechive.com

Photographer Ryan Astamendi has a famous little collection of real life models set after Disney girls/princesses. He did a pretty bang up job if you ask me.

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Skyler Vallo, a.k.a. “Rapunzel”

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Cyndi as Snow White

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Sherri as Pocahontas

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Princess as Sleeping beauty (no really, that’s her name)

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Adrien as Jasmine

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Holly Madison as Tink

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Holly Madison as Belle

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Android - iPhone - BlackBerry Sex Survey Recap

February 5, 2012 8:33:20 PM

Android users are more likely to have sex on first date | VentureBeat

venturebeat.com

A recent survey by Match.com has revealed Android users need lovin' a little quicker than iPhone and Blackberry users.

The survey was broken down by Match.com's "Relationship Insider" Kimberly Moffit, who revealed that 75 percent of Canadian singles believe e-mail and texting have significantly improved their dating life. "More so than zodiac signs or astrology, smart phones are the new way Canadian singles can decode their dating style and determine if they've met their match," wrote Moffit.

So, what does your smartphone say about your life love?

iPhone Users: The Office Romantic

• iPhone addicts are the most likely to date someone in their workplace. Nearly a quarter of iPhone singles have had an office romance in the last five years.
• After a first date, iPhone users wait just one day to reach out, while Android or BlackBerry users will wait until after 2-3 dates.

BlackBerry Users: The Drunk Dialer

• If you're dating a BlackBerry fan, prepare to imbibe. BlackBerry users are most likely to drink alcohol on a first date – 72 percent will have a boozy beverage on a first night out.
• A whopping 67 percent of BlackBerry users say they have experienced love at first sight.

Android Users: The Seducer

• Android users are most likely to be seduced on a first date. 62 percent of Android singles say they've done the deed after date number one, compared to 57 per cent of iPhone users and 48 percent of BlackBerry users.
• Out of all smart phone users, Android fans are most likely to have a one-night stand (55 percent).
• 72 percent of Android fans have visited an online dating site, compared to 58 percent of iPhone users and 50 percent of Blackberry users.

Is Facebook Worth $100 Billion

February 3, 2012 4:36:32 PM

$100 billion: That's the number that has been tossed around Wall Street in recent weeks as the social-networking juggernaut quietly began the process of becoming a publically traded company. Yesterday, investors finally got the information they needed to make a more informed choice as Facebook filed papers with government regulators declaring its intent to sell stock to the public.

Facebook's Closely Guarded Secrets

Facebook's hotly anticipated initial public offering (IPO) filing briefly crashed the Securities and Exchange Commission's website last night, as gaggles of investors and financial journalists downloaded the massive S-1 document.

Facebook's S-1 was full of information and little factoids that, up until now, were closely guarded secrets of the notoriously enigmatic Silicon Valley phenom. For the first time, the public saw how much money Facebook has made over the years  – and how it spends it. With this information finally public, investors can now come up with their own valuation for Facebook.

A $100 Billion Valuation

Founder Mark Zuckerberg (along with a whole slug of investment banks and big private investors) think that a $100 billion valuation is right on the money for the company. That would mean Facebook, an eight-year-old company, would have a higher valuation than more-established giants, like Goldman Sachs or Amazon.com. Zuckerberg would become worth around $26 billion if the $100 billion figure came true, making him one of the world's richest men at the tender age of 27.
Determining the value of Facebook is equal parts art and science; there are thousands of things to consider and hundreds of moving parts. But at its core, a company's stock price is basically worth the present value of its future cash flows, augmented by the firm's propensity to grow is revenues.

How Does Facebook Stack Up?

Well, the firm is rapidly growing its revenues, which is a good thing. But revenue growth, although still rapid, has started to show signs of slowing down. In 2010, Facebook's revenues jumped up 154% from the previous year to $1.9 billion, as the firm started to rapidly expand across the country. But last year, revenue growth was up by just 88% from 2010 at $3.7 billion. The slowdown in growth is very troubling, as it means that the firm's earnings potential may not be as great as some might have hoped.
Investors are happy to pay a premium for a company if they see it rapidly expanding. While Facebook is expected to continue growing its revenues, it may not be as fast as some investors expect, given the high valuation that the company claims. After expenses, Facebook made $1 billion in profits last year (valuing the company at 100 times earnings). Multiples that high have not been seen since the dotcom heyday of the late 1990s. To put it into perspective, Google currently trades at 20 times its current profits.

Trouble Ahead?

It's hard to really make out the firm's future potential earnings power given some uncertainties. The company warned in its S-1 that users may eventually lose interest in the website (remember MySpace and Friendster?).
Additionally, Facebook depends on advertising to supply 85% of its revenues, with one company, Zygna, the online social-gaming company, providing 12% of that revenue. A slip in advertising dollars could send revenues plummeting. To make matters more complicated, Facebook is concerned that more and more people will choose to access Facebook via their mobile phones. That's a problem, as they have not developed a way to advertise neatly through smart phones just yet.

Will Investors Agree?

Facebook's valuation will ultimately be determined in April when its shares hit the market for the first time. The bankers will announce Facebook's initial stock price usually the day before the stock goes on sale to retail investors. The firm valued its class B stock at around $30 a pop in December. It will be interesting to see if investors agree with that number.