Engadget

via Apple’s US online store begins selling unlocked, contract-free iPhone 4S: $649 and up.

You can’t expect to see one for “one to two weeks,” but those hellbent on holding out for an unlocked iPhone 4S here in the US of A can finally snag one without jetting off to Australia (among other places). Nearly five months to the day after Apple started selling the iPhone 4 in unlocked fashion in the States, the iPhone 4S is joining the club, with a 16GB model going for $649, a 32GB model for $749 and a 64GB variant for $849. Just so you’re aware, the unlocked phone enables you to use any micro-SIM from any GSM carrier worldwide, but it won’t play nice with CDMA carriers “such as Verizon Wireless or Sprint.” And yes, both the black and white versions are up for order. Hit the source link to part ways with your chosen amount of cash.

via Don’t Say You’re “Experienced” on Your Resume (and Other Words to Banish) [Resumes].

You can be “experienced” in something after you’ve done it once-or every day for the past 10 years. So drop this nebulous term and be specific. If, for example, you’re a Client Report Specialist, using a phrase such as “Experienced in developing client reports” is both vague and redundant. But sharing that you “Created five customized weekly reports to analyze repeat client sales activity”-now that gives the reader a better idea of where exactly this so-called experience lies, with some actual results attached.

via Adobe confirms Flash Player is dead for mobile devices.

We heard the talk and now here’s the confirmation: Flash Player for mobile devices is officially dead. Adobe is reaffirming its commitment to “aggressively contribute” to HTML5, a platform with broader support and capabilities than Flash was ever able to deliver. Adobe will of course also be pushing developers to work in its AIR platform for a more native experience, and the company will continue to work on Flash Player for desktop operating systems, but one can’t help but see the platform as a whole standing on fairly shaky footing at this point.

via Adobe confirms Flash Player is dead for mobile devices.

We heard the talk and now here’s the confirmation: Flash Player for mobile devices is officially dead. Adobe is reaffirming its commitment to “aggressively contribute” to HTML5, a platform with broader support and capabilities than Flash was ever able to deliver. Adobe will of course also be pushing developers to work in its AIR platform for a more native experience, and the company will continue to work on Flash Player for desktop operating systems, but one can’t help but see the platform as a whole standing on fairly shaky footing at this point.

via Shooting reported at OccupyVermont encampment – USA Today.

A man died today of a gunshot at an Occupy Vermont camp in Burlington’s City Hall Park. His death may be a suicide.

Update at 7:49 p.m. ET: Occupy Burlington protesters have clashed with police after the chief said the park needed to close for 24 hours so today’s fatal shooting could be investigated, The Burlington Free Press now says. One woman was briefly detained.

The confrontation came after a city officials met with Occupy organizers to discuss the future of the encampment. Police Chief Michael Schirling said tents may be banned.

Across the country, the mayor of Portland, Ore., announced that Occupy camps would be evicted from two downtown parks at 12:01 a.m. Sunday.

via Facebook Retreats on Privacy – Fox News.

Facebook is close to a settlement with the U.S. government over charges that it misled users about its use of their personal information, the latest sign of widening public concern over privacy in the digital age.

According to people familiar with the talks, the settlement would require Facebook to obtain users’ consent before making “material retroactive changes” to its privacy policies. That means that Facebook must get consent to share data in a way that is different from how the user originally agreed the data could be used.

The pact-which awaits only final approval from the Federal Trade Commission-has the

via Cops: Man bound and stabbed over 300 times by two women – CBS News.

(CBS) MILWAUKEE – Two women are under arrest for allegedly cutting and stabbing a man more than 300 times during a bizarre two-day ordeal.

According to a search warrant affidavit posted on The Smoking Gun website, the 18-year-old victim met Rebecca Chandler, 22, online and traveled by bus from Phoenix to Milwaukee to meet her. When he arrived, the young man told police, he was bound and stabbed for two days.

Detective Michael Walisiciwicz stated in the affidavit that he was called to the neighborhood Sunday evening and found the man bleeding, with what looked to be restraints made of duct tape and rope nearby. He followed the blood trail to Chandler’s nearby apartment, and found the door open. Inside, he found a large amount of blood on the floor and bedding, as well as books including “The Necromantic Ritual Book.”

Nielsen Wire

via Thrill of the Chase: Best-Liked Ads of Q3 2011 Depict Pursuit of Love.

via//: Google+ launches Pages for businesses and brands.

“It may have taken a while, but Google has now officially opened up Google+ to business and brands, not just individuals. It’s calling the new feature Google+ Pages, but there appears to be little difference between a Page and an individual account in practice — you’re able to add Pages to any of your regular Circles, and Page owners are able to post as usual and take part in Hangouts.” – Donald Melanson

Continue reading Google+ launches Pages for businesses and brands

“When we tackled the topic of food myths last month, our inbox was flooded with more reader-submitted followup myths than we could debunk at one time. We asked our nutritionists back to debunk some more common misconceptions about food, health, and nutrition that are still widely believed, even though there’s overwhelming evidence to the contrary. We also asked them some of your questions. Here’s what they said.

Image remixed using a photo by Alex Galt.

Myth 1: Skipping a Single Meal Will Slow Your Metabolism and Force Your Body into “Starvation Mode”

Many of you brought this one up after our last article. You rightfully pointed out that when we debunked the “Don’t Eat After X:00pm” myth, we said that skipping a meal will cause the body to enter starvation mode and encourage overeating the next day. We went back to Boston-based nutritionist and wellness counselor Alannah DiBona, who made the intial claim, with your skepticism.

“I love being taken to task,” she said, and went on to explain that your suspicions were correct. Skipping a meal does not appreciably change your metabolic rate, and it certainly doesn’t send your body spinning into a fat-saving “starvation mode.” However, that doesn’t mean you should skip eating if you’re hungry and the clock happens to be have passed an arbitrary time. When you do, your blood sugar plummets, which results in cravings and increased hunger pangs. When you do sit down to your next meal, your body will send you messages that you’re hungrier than you actually are, and you’re likely to overeat. The best advice? Eat when you’re hungry, and eat something appropriate for the time of day. If it’s 9pm and you’re not headed to bed for another three hours, have a light snack instead of going to bed hungry.

As for the so-called “starvation mode?” DiBona notes that it actually takes two to three weeks of consistently low caloric intake and at least 24-hours of no caloric intake for your body to compensate with significant metabolic shifts. The United Nations University has an excellent (if not old) paper on the effect of low and no-calorie diets on people of otherwise normal weight that illustrates exactly when the basal metabolic rate begins to trend downward after a dietary change.

Photo by Carly Shell.

Myth 2: Eat a High-Protein Diet to Gain Muscle Mass

You’ve probably heard the myth that gulping down thick protein shakes and letting meat take over your diet will help you bulk up faster. Not so, says Seattle-based Registered Dietitian Andy Bellatti. He explains, “gaining muscle mass requires two things: weight training that stresses the muscles and consuming extra calories. Eating a high-protein diet that doesn’t meet increased caloric needs is not conducive to gaining muscle mass. By simply eating more calories from healthful, whole foods (ie: grains, nuts, seeds, fish), you will take care of all the necessary nutrients that support muscle growth.”

This myth has been circulating for so long—even among bodybuilding circles—that there’s an excellent article at Bodybuilding.com explaining that while protein is a needed component in any healthy diet, there’s entirely too much emphasis on it when it comes to adding muscle. In fact, the American Dietetic Association and the FDA have specific guidelines for an appropriate diet conducive to resistance training. They suggest limiting your protein intake to no more than 1.7 grams per kilogram of body weight (or 0.77 grams per pound of body weight).

Worse, too much protein in your diet can actually be a bad thing. Alannah DiBona noted that too much protein can stress the digestive system, and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) points out there’s research to support the position that super-high-protein diets actually lead to other health problems. While that research isn’t conclusive, everyone agrees: a balanced diet—of which protein is a component—that scales with your resistance training is the key to building muscle mass.

Photo by stefanpinto.

Myth 3: Salt is Bad For You

This myth has its roots in scientific fact. Part of the problem is that salt has been painted as all good and all bad over the years, as both the cause of high blood pressure and heart disease in some cases, and a maligned source of added deliciousness in others. Alannah DiBona explains, “In the 1940s, Duke University researcher Walter Kempner, M.D., famously used salt restriction to treat people with high blood pressure. As the average American diet grew increasingly processed and pre-packaged, excessive levels of sodium became difficult to avoid, and salt quickly became demonized.”

As with many things, the key with sodium is moderation, and the problem with the myth is that it speaks in absolutes. People with hypertension and high blood pressure can and should monitor and limit their salt intake to help control their blood pressure. People with normal blood pressure, on the other hand, have no reason to fear or limit their sodium intake aside from the FDA’s daily recommended amount. There’s mounting evidence to support the notion that salt isn’t all bad.

That said, don’t reach for the salt shaker just yet. We said moderation was key, and unfortunately most American diets are bereft of moderation. Salt definitely has an impact on the body’s ability to regulate blood pressure. Most food prepared in kitchens and restaurants is incredibly over-salted, and the amount of sodium in preserved and processed foods is remarkably high. One 2006 study (PubMed, login required) points out that while normal salt intake may not cause hypertension, the increasing amount of salt in our diets may be a contributing factor, especially among people already at risk.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health stands by a 1998 statement on the matter advising most people reduce their sodium intake, and last year the FDA agreed. If you’re worried about your salt intake, DiBona has a suggestion for you: “It’s been common scientific knowledge for 20 years that potassium and sodium balance each other; consuming more potassium (in the form of spinach, broccoli, bananas, and beans) can have a regulatory effect on blood pressure.”

It’s a delicate balance. Too little sodium in your diet is unhealthy. Too much sodium in your diet is also unhealthy. A good, moderate amount (at or around the FDA guidelines) is fine. People who already have high blood pressure or are at high risk for hypertension and heart disease should monitor their sodium intake carefully and talk to their doctor about their particular case. Either way, don’t be afraid of the salt, just enjoy it sensibly.”

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