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Did you cheap out on a TV stand? It probably just got recalled.


Let's be honest -- after sinking a few large on a new HDTV, a few hundies on some overpriced cables and even more on HD programming, you weren't about to cough up another month's paycheck for a decent TV stand. For the 48,600 customers out there who purchased one of four different King Pao Enterprise TV Stands (likely sold and distributed by Studio RTA), you now have a product known for tipping over and ruining lives. The E Series, Fierro, Madison DLP and Madison 3000 -- all of which were sold at Best Buy and other big box retailers from May 2004 to August 2008 -- have been deemed unstable and unfit for use in your living room, and it's suggested that you cautiously remove your set and wait for a "repair kit" before it does the removing for you. Godspeed.

FakeTV emulates human watching the tube, supposedly discourages thieves


What else can we say? The concept here is pure genius, and it totally makes those pricey security systems seem way pointless (okay, slightly less critical). The FakeTV is a strobe that sets up in an occupied room at night and flashes up beams of light. From the inside, we can imagine it looks fairly curious, but from the outside, it gives prospective burglars the idea that someone is actually awake and watching a television program. It promises to produce the effects of "scene changes, fades, swells, flicks, on-screen motion and color changes," just like they were generated by a bona fide set. We can't speak for how well (or not) this thing actually works, but at just $49, we'd say it's a solid buy if you're the paranoid type.

[Via BoingBoing]

Pyro Spectaculars to use HD-friendly fireworks


There's nothing like oversleeping on a Wednesday, only to realize that all is well thanks to a day we Americans get to celebrate our independence and utter obsession with pyrotechnics. This year, however, you may be better off watching the action from the comfort of your own sofa, particularly if you can tune in to a high-definition broadcast of a Pyro Spectaculars show. The firm will be utilizing a specially formed "HD shell" that's designed to "perform at a lower altitude" and react more cooperatively with cameras. Moreover, the fireworks emit "fuller bursts with more density and deeper colors," which purportedly perform quite admirably when captured in HD. The firm's wares will be used tonight at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California and also at Dodger Stadium, and those not in Schwarzenegger's state can catch them at the Macy's New York show as well as in Boston, Seattle, and Houston.




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