Florida teen detained by TSA for design on her purse

It's not unusual for 17-year-old to find themselves in hot water with the fashion police. But on a flight from Virginia to Florida, Vanessa Gibbs found herself detained by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) over the appearance of her purse.

And just to be clear, it wasn't the content inside the purse that the TSA objected to. No, agency officials took exception with the design of a gun on Gibbs' handbag.

"It's my style, it's camouflage, it has an old western gun on it," Gibbs told News4Jax.com. Gibbs didn't run into any trouble while traveling north from Jacksonville International Airport. But on her way back home, TSA officials at Norfolk International Airport pulled her aside.

"She was like, 'This is a federal offense because it's in the shape of a gun,'" Gibbs said. "I'm like, 'But it's a design on a purse. How is it a federal offense?'"

After TSA agents figured out the gun was a fake, Gibbs said, they told her to check the bag or turn it over. By the time security wrapped up the inspection, the pregnant teen missed her flight, and Southwest Airlines sent her to Orlando instead. The changed itinerary created no small amount of anxiety for Gibbs' mother, who was already waiting for her to arrive at the Jacksonville airport.

"Oh, it's terrifying. I was so upset," said Tami Gibbs, the teen's mom. "I was on the phone all the way to Orlando trying to figure out what was going on with her. It was terrifying."

Less terrifying is the actual design on the purse, which is only a few inches in size and hollow. "I carried this from Jacksonville to Norfolk, and I've carried it from Norfolk to Jacksonville," Vanessa said. "Never once has anyone said anything about it until now."

Nonetheless, the TSA says the design could be considered a "replica weapon," something that the agency has banned since 2002. Just imagine what would have happened if Gibbs had also been wearing stiletto heels.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/florida-teen-detained-tsa-design-her-purse-221835034.html

By Eric Pfeiffer

5 Strange Predictors of Good Health

When it comes to judging someone's chances at living a long, healthy life, some clues are more obvious than others. Most of us would put our money on the guy who runs two miles a day and eats plenty of vegetables over the seriously overweight smoker, for instance. But some predictors of longevity you might not guess as easily. Here are a few unusual ways that may determine your likelihood of getting seriously sick. 

1. Finger length. Other researchers at ICR compared more than 1,500 men with prostate cancer to more than 3,000 random men. Ignoring family history and other factors, men older than 60 years with an index finger that was longer than their ring finger were 33 percent less likely on average to develop prostate cancer. Younger men with a longer index finger fared even better, with an 87 percent average reduction in risk.

2. Birth order. While there's no definitive proof, several studies indicate that first-born boys are exposed to higher levels of estrogen at birth, increasing their risk of testicular cancer. Older siblings also seem to have a greater risk of developing childhood leukemia. "There are suggestions that it may have to do with exposure to viruses and bacteria. Siblings aren't around to give them as much exposure," Elizabeth Rapley, a molecular geneticist and spokesperson for the Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) in London told gizmodo.com.

3. Grip strength. According to a 25-year study of more than 6,000 men aged 45 through 68, grip strength was the best predictor of how well they'd avoid being incapacitated later in life. The weakest-gripping men suffered twice the disabilities of ones with hands of steel. And in a separate study of older men and women, good grip strength was correlated with longer lifespan.

4. Hair loss. Studies done by researchers from the Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital have shown that pattern baldness-particularly significant hair loss at the crown-is associated with an increased chance of heart disease. Men who were completely bald at the crown had the most reason to worry-they were up to 36 percent more likely to show signs of trouble than those full heads of hair. "We found men with extensive baldness that involves the top of their heads have the greatest risk of heart disease," said JoAnn Manson, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

5. Religion. The oldest group of people in the country is a community of Seventh Day Adventists residing in Loma Linda, California. They have an average life expectancy of 88 years (a full ten years longer than the U.S. average). One reason may be that Adventists don't drink or smoke, and many follow the vegetarian diet the church advises. But not all members do, and even the meat-eaters live significantly longer than average. Dr. Gary Fraser, a researcher with the Loma Linda University School of Public Health who is researching the community, told the BBC. "At this moment we don't really know, but people who go to church regularly- whatever faith they have- live longer, and there's no question about that."

http://shine.yahoo.com/vitality/5-strange-predictors-good-health-165800438.html

By Reader's Digest Magazine 

Clark Gable’s Secret Daughter Dies

photo by Everett Collection

Judy Lewis, the secret daughter of screen starsClark Gable and Loretta Young, has died at 76. But her fascinating story lives on.

Lewis was conceived while Young was unwed and Gable was married to his second wife, Maria Langham. The two were filming "The Call of the Wild." Their affair resulted in a super secret pregnancy and a hush-hush birth. The actress left her love child at an orphanage for 19 months, returning only then to adopt her. Clearly, this was long before the Internet, DNA testing, or baby daddies.

To add to the mystery, Young kept her daughter in the dark about her family history. Born on November 6, 1935, Judy was eventually raised by her mother and Young's husband, Tom Lewis, whose last name she took. Lewis never did have a relationship with her biological father, although when she was 15, Gable visited her without telling her why. It took 31 years for her to learn the truth, which her mother told her privately but would not admit to publicly.

As Lewis told the Philadelphia Inquirer in 1994, when she finally wrote a memoir of her parents' romance and subsequent cover-up: "It was very difficult for me as a little girl not to be accepted ... by my mother, who to this day will not publicly acknowledge that I am her biological child."

Loretta Young and Judy Lewis (photo by Everett Collection)

Young eventually did admit that Lewis was her daughter with Gable in her authorized biography, "Forever Young," which was published after her death in 2000.

In fact, Lewis resembled her dad, and according to the New York Times, she was teased in school because her ears "stuck out like Dumbo's. Or, as Hollywood rumors had it, they stuck out like Clark Gable's." Her mother hid them under hats, and had her daughter undergo plastic surgery at age 7 to make them less Gable-like.

The daughter of Hollywood royalty first followed an acting career, with roles in "General Hospital," but left the theatrical world to become a therapist. By the time she was a young woman, it was an open "secret" that her father was Clark Gable. Even her husband, Joe Tinney, told her before he married her that it was "common knowledge" that Gable was her dad, but she didn't believe him.

In her 1994 memoir, "Uncommon Knowledge," Lewis notes that her mother's career would have ended if she had admitted to the out-of-wedlock birth. In her book, Young, who was Catholic, tells her, "Wouldn't you [be unhappy] if you were a movie star and the father of your child was a movie star and you couldn't have an abortion because it was a mortal sin?"

Lewis is survived by her daughter, two grandsons, and two half-brothers -- and a solid place in Hollywood lore.

http://movies.yahoo.com/blogs/movie-talk/clark-gable-secret-daughter-dies-203307041.html

By Claudine Zap

TV Specs That Aren’t Worth Paying For

Almost every year, TV manufacturers have touted some shiny new technology as the reason you need to buy a new set: flat screens, HDTV, plasmas, LCDs, 3D TV… but all of these are now old news. Practically the only trick stores have left is to reduce the price. This makes it an ideal year to get a great bargain, but only if you know what to look for — and what to avoid.

Plasma vs. LED vs. LCD

Not all HDTVs are created equal. If you're getting a new set, the first factor to decide on is the type of TV that is best for you. Your main choices include:

*Plasma - Plasmas feature an older technology, but don't completely count them out. They are cheaper, have deep blacks for rich contrast, and handle sports and fast motion well.  But they are energy hogs, using three or four times as much electricity as Energy Star LEDs.

*Traditional LCD - Bright, with middle-of-the-road cost, traditional LCDs are prone to greyish blacks, and budget models can have blockier motion processing than other options.

*LED-backlit LCD - LED displays can be brighter and thinner than plasmas and LCDs. They are more energy conscious, and the top of the line models handle blacks as well as plasmas do.

Specs to Ignore (or at least not pay extra for)

Resolution

Resolution is the measure of how many pixels are on the screen. The higher the resolution, the higher definition you get. HDTVs (High Definition Televisions) are generally sold as either 720p or 1080p - which have 720 or 1080 rows of pixels. You might think having more pixels is better, and you'd be right — but only to a point. The real truth is that the human eye can barely discern the difference between 720p and 1080p except at a close distance on really big TVs. So paying extra for 1080p on a smaller set doesn't make a lot of sense.

Internet connected TV

Sometimes known as smart TVs, Internet-connected TVs allow you to stream to your set all that the Web has to offer. While that's a handy feature, you can always add on a device like the Roku for around $50-$70 or the Apple TV for about $100. Also most DVD players these days also have an Internet port or a way to get access to your home wifi network.

Refresh rate (or Hz)

Refresh rates determine how fast the TV repaints the image on the screen. 60Hz models refresh the screen 60 times per second; 120Hz models refresh the screen 120 times per second. It's true that buying a TV with 120Hz refresh rate instead of 60Hz makes a noticeable difference when watching fast-moving programs like sports, where motion blur can become an issue at 60Hz.

But if you get tempted to buy a more expensive 240Hz model because you think it'll make your TV viewing even better, think again. Many tech analysts agree that the naked eye can barely perceive thedifference between 120Hz and 240Hz, making it unnecessary to pay extra for the latter.

Specs that Matter

Size

Buy as big as you can afford, but not too big for your room. THX came up with a useful guide that helps you determine optimal screen size based on the distance you'll sit from the screen:

• 32 inch class TV = 3.5-5 feet away
• 42 inch class TV = 4-6 feet away
• 50 inch class TV = 5-7.5 feet away
• 60 inch class TV = 6-9 feet away

If a TV's thickness matters to you, then you may want to take a closer look at LED TVs. Samsung's LED9000 series measures a wafer-like 0.3" in depth; no traditional LCD or plasma TV is that thin. LED displays can be thinner than plasmas and CCFL-lit LCDs because some models are edge-lit, meaning the LEDs that illuminate the screen are only located on the edges.

Dimming

If you've narrowed your selection down to LEDs, consider getting a set with local dimming. LEDs without this feature can look blown out, with blacks that look more like greys. Local dimming turns down the brightness in areas that are supposed to be dark, dynamically improving the contrast. Note that edge-lit models with local dimming don't perform as well as full-backlit units with local dimming capacity.

While LED with its local dimming feature, thinness, and minimal energy use may sound the ideal HDTV set, know that it can also be the most expensive option among the three. The 55" Samsung LED9000 model, for example, costs around $2,500 whereas some of Samsung's 50" plasma TVs can be priced as low as $1,149.99.

Matte vs. Glossy

LCDs used to all have matte displays, which tend to fare better in parts of the house with an abundance of ambient light. Glossy displays have better contrast and sharper colors, but you may want to place them in darker places so your TV viewing won't be ruined by glare from lights and windows reflecting on the screen.

What About 3D?

It's a personal decision, but one that will cost you. According to the shopping site dealnews.com, a 3D TV will go for almost double the cost of a comparable 2D TV.

Active or passive 3D glasses?

If you do pony up for 3D, you'll need to decide between systems that require active or passive glasses. Active shutter glasses can produce slightly better images, but are heavy, need recharging, andcould cost a ton — yes, you need to pay extra for your 3D glasses on top of the TV itself. Some lower-end active glasses cost around $20, while higher-end ones are in the three figure price range. Passive 3D glasses are lighter and cheaper, but passive systems produce lower-quality images.

Glasses-free models

Manufacturers are working on 3D TVs that don't require any kind of glasses, but they are hardly ready for prime time. Toshiba, for instance, has released a no glasses 3D TV, but it's only available in Europe and Japan and costs a mind-blowing $10,000 for a 55" model — and it has viewing angle problems. Samsung says it won't be able to mass produce glasses free models for quite some time.

Where's the content?

While manufacturers would love for you to pay a premium for 3D systems, there's not a lot of content available to watch. That may be changing, but right now producing 3D content is the lowest priority among TV executives.

The Bottom Line

The type of TV you choose should depend on your needs and the television's placement in your home. If you don't mind paying a premium, LED TVs offer the full package, and are also the most future-proof. Traditional LCDs and plasma TVs lag behind when it comes to features. But if you're looking to get the largest HDTV your money can buy, either of them may be the better choice for you.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/upgrade-your-life/tv-specs-aren-t-worth-paying-225518304.html

Tecca's Mariella Moon contributed to this story.

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j. lo

Jennifer Lopez, 42, showed off her toned gams in a short, white version of the dress in Paris on June 15. She matched it with movie star-cool sunglasses, a snakeskin clutch, white pumps, and, of course, some of that J.Lo bling in the form of H. Stern jewels.

The shape of this creation is chic, no matter the color or styling. Jenny from the Block rocks it, thanks mostly to the perfectly snug fit. The white hot hue of the garment, which highlights her signature glow, as well as the sparkling accessories are simply icing on the cake. 

http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/the-thread-omg/fashion-faceoff-jennifer-lopez-vs-julianne-hough-191459197.html

5 ways to make your Windows computer lightning fast

Nobody enjoys using a slow computer. You want your computer to be fast and responsive, whether it's brand spanking new or four years old. Follow our tips to keep you zooming along the information superhighway, regardless of your PC's age!

1. Run the essentials

The most basic thing you can do to speed up your computer is also one of the fastest changes you can make — close unneeded applications! If you're working in Excel, the odds that you'll need Word open at the same time are slim. Limit open software to what you are using at the time. This also cuts down on distractions and helps you get your work done more quickly.

If you have a stubborn application that won't close, treat it as a frozen application and kill it via Task Manager by hitting Ctrl+Alt+Del and selecting Start Task Manager.

Your computer automatically starts some programs when you turn it on. Some of these are necessary parts of the Windows operating system, but you may be able to disable some applications. Open the program in question and go into Properties or Options. Usually, auto-start options are found under General or Launch settings and will be labelled "Launch when Windows starts." Uncheck the check box and save the setting change to keep the application from coming back up the next time you reboot.

If you don't find an option like that, there's one more place to look for applications that auto-start. Be forewarned, this option is for advanced users — disabling essential startup items can have catastrophic results. Don't kill the auto-start settings for anything you don't recognize!

Scour your programs list for items that can be deleted

2. Fluff not necessary

Unless you've built your PC from scratch and manually installed Windows, hands have touched your computer before. Heck, you may have even had some kind of setup service performed at the store immediately following your purchase. The downside to all this pre-use activity is that applications that you will likely never touch have likely been installed and are running on your computer.

To deal with this preinstalled mess, go to Control Panel > Programs and Features and uninstall the unwanted items. Things to avoid removing include standard Microsoft software bundles such as Office, software you have actively paid for such as Photoshop, and your antivirus package. If you're not sure where something came from or what it does, do your online homework and search for software's name before uninstalling — better safe than sorry!

Extra software can also end up on your computer after you install applications you actually want. As you go through the installation process, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for additional install prompts. These will look something like "Install Utility Name for Internet Explorer/Firefox" with a check box next to it. Make sure the checkbox is not checked, to keep the junk software at bay.

3. Safe and simple browsing

Current versions of popular browsers (such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome) let you do much more than the mere web surfing of their predecessors: extensions and add-ons let your browser do all sorts of things. Have you set up something in your browser that displays an unread emails count icon, or maybe clips web sites to Evernote with one touch? Then you're using extensions!

Did you know these extensions require additional resources beyond the standard browser requirements to run? You can disable these items when you want to speed up your computer (and your browser). The process varies a bit based on your browser:

• Internet Explorer and Firefox Go to Tools > Add-ons or Manage Add-ons (depending on your version) and disable individual add-ons that you don't use.
• Chrome Right-click on any of your add-on icons (located between the address bar and the wrench icon) and select Disable. You can also click Manage Extensions to go through your installed/enabled add-ons in one page.

Browser add-ons can seriously hinder your speed

Internet Explorer comes with an option to launch entirely without add-ons, so you don't have to disable individual add-ons on a session-by-session basis. To access this version of IE, click the Start Button and type in Internet Explorer. You should see two versions come up: Internet Explorer and Internet Explorer (No Add-ons). Select the second version, and IE will launch without any add-ons or plugins. To use a version with add-ons, simply launch IE from your regular shortcut.

4. Timing your antivirus scans

You may think that running your antivirus program at all times is the epitome of safe browsing. While it's true that running scan jobs during peak hours may keep your computer marginally safer, it comes at a serious expense to speed. Most antivirus packages have a background task that runs at all times and scans new files when they are downloaded, while operating with a lower demand to your computer's resources.

To keep your top browsing hours free of any unneeded antivirus burden, configure full scans during hours that you are definitely not on your computer.

• Workday hours (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) This works best if you use a different computer for business purposes.
• Early evening (6-7:30 p.m.) Scan while cooking dinner or unwinding after the workday.
• Late night (1-4 a.m.) Let it run while you're asleep.

Find the hours that work best for you, and configure your scanning schedule accordingly. Make sure that your real-time or on-demand scanning is also enabled when setting up your schedule!

5. Add a physical boost

If you've done everything above and your computer is still sluggish, your last option is to upgrade thememory (RAM) in your computer. RAM acts kind of like short-term memory for a person, giving your programs more room to keep data while they're running. However, figuring out what kind of RAM your computer needs and installing it can get complicated: so if you want to upgrade your computer's memory, we recommend calling your local computer repair shop and letting them take care of it.

Good housekeeping

Keeping your computer in top form requires regular maintenance. Follow a maintenance schedule for your standard activities, perform a little seasonal cleanup, and use Tecca's maintenance tips to keep your PC at its speediest!

This article was written by Liz Patt and originally appeared on Tecca

Fashion Faceoff: Emma Watson vs. Chloe Moretz

Basic black can be so boring! Starlets Emma Watson and Chloe Moretz instead opted to show off their fun fashion sense in a plaid McQ mini dress just four days apart. So … it's time for us to judge just who wore it better.

Emma Watson: September 6, 2011. -- Chris Jackson/Getty Images non-NA

Chloe Moretz: September 9, 2011. -- Jerod Harris/Getty Images North America

Emma Watson, 21, posed in the frock while attending the GQ Men of the Year Awards in London on September 6. "Harry Potter's" Hermione shook things up by pairing the design with a leather jacket, a tulle tutu, and a pair of Christian Louboutin pumps.

Chloe Moretz, who's only 14, wore the same dress at the 2011 Toronto Film Festival in the same week. The "Kick-Ass" actress made the look her own by accessorizing with black heels and socks, which have much the same effect as ankle boots.

Both beauties win props for daring to wear the printed garment, but only Emma had the style savvy to rev up its volume with a tutu and add edginess with her outerwear. For that, I declare her the winner. There is consolation for Chloe, though, who proves in this ensemble that in years to come, she'll definitely be one to watch on the red carpet. 

By Raechal Leone Shewfelt