Popular Mechanics articles from February 2009

Popular Mechanics archives from February 2009

Recycling debate.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I found your story "Is Recycling Worth It?" informative and fitting For the times. However, I've always Found it interesting that people don't remember to reduce and reuse, as well. Coca-Cola, for example, began...

Shifting the debate.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... I was glad to read in your article "Is Recycling Worth It?" that we've ended the debate--and recycling won. Maybe now we can begin the debate on whether the billions of dollars the U.S. invests in missile defense shields, such as those in your...

Boneyard hot rods.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... I found your article "is Gray Primer the New Kandy Apple?" about the retro hot-rod movement fantastic, I've built a highly modified 1967 amphibious car with a Buick V6 mounted midship. Every part For the conversions was out of a boneyard or...

DIY bonanza.(PopularMechanics.com)(do it yourself)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Visit PopMech.com for project plans, tool advice and money-saving tips for your workshop. Come back every Friday for Joe Truini's DIY Guy column: He tackles subjects such as hiring a contractor, sealing leaks and...

Car, cars, cars.(PopularMechanics.com)(Detroit Auto Show )(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Our live coverage of the Detroit Auto Show includes long-anticipated fuel-efficient cars (including the 2010 Prius), along with muscle rides such as the 2010 GT500 Shelby Mustang. popularmechanics.com/automotive

Digital Hollywood.(PopularMechanics.com)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lost is back! PM has day-after analysis of every show: We talk with top scientists to debunk (or confirm) the science behind TV's most mysterious drama. popularmechanics.com/ digitalhollywood

Help on wheels: roboticists design a laser-guided replacement for in-home service dogs.(TECH WATCH: NEWS + TRENDS + BREAKTHROUGHS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Daily assistance to disabled people at home increasingly has been the domain of skilled dogs and even monkeys. Inspired by these highly trained animals, Georgia Tech's Healthcare Robotics Lab has developed a robot...

Keyed in to Paranoia.(TECH WATCH)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... * Computer scientists from UC San Diego have developed a program that can produce duplicates of a key based only on a photograph. They've demonstrated the system using a snapshot of a key taken by a cellphone camera, and have also used a photo...

Desktop earthquake detectors.(TECH WATCH)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Many laptops have tiny accelerometers that warn a computer that it is being dropped so it can protect its hard drive from impact Researchers at two California universities realized that these sensors could be used to...

Predictive weather vanes.(TECH WATCH)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... * A new sensor that anticipates wind direction could increase the power generated by wind turbines. The system, built by Virginia-based Catch the Wind, shoots a laser to detect the speed and direction of air particles 1000 ft away. The warning...

Measuring the great melt.(TECH WATCH)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * A NASA satellite mission has enabled scientists to "weigh" Alaskan glaciers. The GRACE mission consists of two satellites orbiting about 137 miles apart; the distance between them varies depending on the...

Air car's shot at street cred.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... * The concept of compressed-air-powered vehicles took a step closer to credibility when Air France and KLM agreed to conduct a six-month trial of the AirPods built by Luxembourg company MDI. The 485-pound, four-seat vehicles will be used to...

Superpower grid.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... * Siemens recently unveiled the world's first 800-kilovolt transformer, a key component in an extra-high-voltage line that will carry power between the Chinese provinces of Yunnan and Guangdong. When completed in 2010, the 870-mile transmission...

Beetles for biofuel: the future of ethanol fuel might be in the guts of a Chinese beetle.(TECH WATCH: EARTH TECH)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A group of scientists at Penn State University has plumbed the stomach of the Asian long-horned beetle for clues to making ethanol from wood. The bug has been ravaging trees in North America since its accidental...

Naval tech targets a new foe: cancer: an effort to identify underwater mines leads to improved screening for breast cancer.(TECH WATCH: EARTH TECH)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A method developed for spotting mines in the ocean may provide the unlikely inspiration for a new way to identify breast cancer. It turns out that, just as fish, waves and rocks can interfere with sonar signals,...

Alex Rose: PM interview author American rifle.(TECH WATCH)(Interview)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Most people think of a rifle only as a firearm with helix grooves in the barrel that help bullets fly straight. But military historian Alex Rose says that Americans have a special relationship with rifles that...

The kentucky rifle.(TECH WATCH)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The first "American rifle" was introduced in the 1720 Users of rifles customized shots by tweaking the amount of gunpowder needed for range and accuracy. American rifles were longer than European guns, maximizing...

Time machine: May 1950.(TECH WATCH)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In May 1950, almost a decade before the creation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, PM reported on engineers who claimed they could start building a lunar spacecraft "if [only] some agency would...

Rock stars: geologic research may hold the key to large-scale carbon-dioxide control.(TECH WATCH)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A new study raises hopes that huge volumes of a key greenhouse gas could be converted into inert rock and stored that way essentially forever. Columbia University geologist Peter Kelemen has found that peridotite, a...

Information surge: the pentagon needs quick ways to get small satellites into space to fill a shortfall in battlefield communication.(TECH WATCH)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Military satellites were once considered to be reliably out of harm's way. But antisatellite weapons and solar flares threaten to transform these important pieces of communications hardware into space junk. Even if...

Marathon maid.(UPGRADE: GEAR + TOOLS + TOYS)(Hoover Platinum Collection Cordless Hand Vacuum)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While plenty of hand vacuums dispense with bags by using cyclonic filtration systems, they can typically handle only small jobs. The reason: Their batteries rarely last longer than 5 minutes a charge. The Hoover...

Sleek Audio Wireless Headphones.(Test Drive)(Sleek Audio SA6 W-1 Wireless In-Ear Earphones )(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... We're skeptical of wireless headphones--whatever they add in convenience is usually offset by a loss of sound quality. But in our tests, the Sleek Audio SA6 W-1 Wireless In-Ear Earphones ($300) provided clear sound and full bass, even a...

Bosch PS50 Multi-X ($200 to $230).(UPGRADE: WISH LIST)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The swappable attachments on multipurpose oscillating tools make them useful for sanding, cutting, scraping and grinding. But the tools are typically tethered to cords and rely on a limited number of hard-to-find...

Robo Dishwasher.(UPGRADE: WISH LIST)( Miele G 2002 La Perla Series Dishwasher)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Most dishwashers are blind to their surroundings. The Miele G 2002 La Perla Series Dishwasher ($1200 to $2600) adjusts water heat and drying time based on the kitchen's temperature. At the end of the cycle, the door opens to let in air and...

The HP Mini 1000 (starting at $400).(UPGRADE: WISH LIST)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While cheap, ultraportable netbooks have become popular over the past year, most models' tiny drives and pitiful processors restrict them to simple tasks such as e-mail and word processing. The HP Mini 1000 (starting...

CamelBak RaceBak ($100).(UPGRADE: WISH LIST)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Some new gear is so obviously superior it's impossible to resist. The CamelBak RaceBak ($100) is not like that. Frankly, it's weird-looking--a hydration pack without the pack. Its 72-ounce bladder is built into a...

Backyard backhoe.(UPGRADE: WISH LIST)(DR Towable Backhoe )(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... The backhoe is an ideal tool for digging drainage ditches and clearing large rocks. But unless you run a construction company, owning such an immense piece of equipment is impractical. The garage-friendly DR Towable Backhoe ($6000) cuts the...

Consumer Electronics Show.(First Look)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Beer-lovers have Oktoberfest, cinephiles have Cannes and gadget fiends have the Consumer Electronics Show, which takes over Las Vegas every January. In past years, companies have used the behemoth expo to debut products such as the first HDTV...

Lenovo Thinkpad USB Portable Secure Hard Drive ($180).(UPGRADE: WISH LIST)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... A modern update to Occam's razor:. Sometimes, the simplest digital security is also the best. This external hard drive eschews biometrics for a simple combination lock--users must dial the correct code to access the sensitive data within....

Garmin approach G5 Golf GPS ($500).(UPGRADE: WISH LIST)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... GPS chips are now so cheap and flexible that manufacturers can use them in truly niche products. Like this waterproof golf GPS, which comes preloaded with maps of thousands of courses. Even if you don't get lost on the links, it shows the...

Wowwee Spyball (price not set).(UPGRADE: WISH LIST)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... There are plenty of Internet-enabled surveillance cameras, but none have ever been quite this fun. This rolling, robotic Big Brother can be accessed and controlled using a Web-enabled PC or phone, wowwee.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Sharp Aquos BD Series HDTV (price not set).(UPGRADE: WISH LIST)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Ubiquity is a digital format's best friend. That's why the DVD persists, even as superior technology vies to take its place--DVD players are everywhere. If Blu-ray is to succeed over the long term, it needs to find ways to do the same. These...

Sony HDR-XRS20V 240 GB Handycam Camcorder ($1500).(UPGRADE: WISH LIST)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Geotagging has long allowed photographers to match up a picture with a location. This high-definition camcorder uses a GPS chip to do the same for videos 0t works by embedding the data in a screenshot thumbnail). And in case you get lost, the...

Optoma Pico Projector ($300).(UPGRADE: WISH LIST)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Microprojectors were omnipresent at last year's show, but nothing beyond the concept stage was on display. Commercially available pocket-size projectors are finally here. This battery-powered display is one of the first: It plugs into an iPod,...

Casio Ex-FS10 Digital Camera ($350).(UPGRADE: WISH LIST)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Last year, Casio wowed CES with a digital camera that could shoot at 60 frames per second (most cameras top out at two or three). But the camera was as big as an SLR and cost $1000. This year, the company has brought...

Staple guns.(Abusive Lab Test)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2009... Construction staplers add a little oomph to your standard Swingline, firing off fasteners for tasks like securing wires, screens or fabric to lumber. We pit three staple guns against each other--a classic steel Arrow and two newer models that...

Future eco exotic.(NEW CARS: SUPERCAR + MINIVAN + LUXURY SEDAN + MOTORCYCLE)(Honda FC Sport concept car)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LOS ANGELES : Auto Show Special: Honda FC Sport Concept Last year, Honda's FCX Clarity gave us a glimpse into the world of fuel cell propulsion, but its tame sheetmetal belied the radical technology under the...

Hollywood stars.(NEW CARS: L.A. AUTO SHOW)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... ECONOMIC TROUBLES KEPT GM AND CHRYSLER FROM SHOWCASING FRESH CARS IN L.A. BUT OTHER BRANDS BROUGHT NEWS OF FUEL EFFICIENCY AND FUN. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * 2011 Hyundai Hybrid Hyundai finally has its own North American hybrid...

Track star.(NEW CARS: TEST DRIVES)(2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 Black Series)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 Black Series We once thought the 638-hp Corvette ZR1 was the pinnacle of horsepower madness. But Mercedes has stormed right past that Vette with the 661-hp twin-turbo 6.0-liter V12...

Old-world charmer.(NEW CARS: TEST DRIVES)(2009 Ferrari California)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2 2009 Ferrari California In the '60s, only the wealthiest and most glamorous people in the world owned Californias. Now Ferrari is rekindling that spirit with a new $200,000 two-plus-two California,...

Big luxe, small bucks.(NEW CARS: TEST DRIVES)(2009 Hyundai Genesis)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1 2009 Hyundai Genesis The Genesis is something of a revelation: It's the first rear-drive sedan Hyundai has produced for the U.S. and the first powered by an optional and robust 375-hp V8 engine, as well as...

Hot flashes.(NEW CARS: TEST DRIVES)(2010 Audi S4)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2 2010 Audi S4 Sound bounced off the tall stone walls along the single-lane stretch of tarmac in Majorca, Spain, where we were testing Audi's supercharged V6, amplifying the muted whine into a dull roar. We...

Separated at birth.(NEW CARS: TEST DRIVES)(2009 Volkswagen Routan)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 3 2009 VW Routan Volkswagen, like everyone these days, is trying to do more with less. Call it corporate belt-tightening. So, to deliver a proper American-style minivan, VW went to Americans. The seven-seat...

Cheap thriller.(NEW CARS: CRUISERS: TEST DRIVES)(2009 Yamaha V Star 95 )(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1 2009 Yamaha V Star 95 Yamaha's Star division made headlines when it took the wraps off the nearly 200-hp VMax. But the $18,000 pavement scorcher isn't exactly the best choice for commuters (or even most...

Big-bore bruiser.(NEW CARS: CRUISERS: TEST DRIVES)(Suzuki C109R)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The C109R is an unapologetically mammoth cruiser. The muscle comes from a 115-hp 1783 cc V-twin endowed with the fattest cylinders of any road-going gasoline vehicle. Woof. A dry weight of 787 pounds makes this...

Long-haul touring.(NEW CARS: CRUISERS: TEST DRIVES)(2009 Star Stratoliner)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE BEST WAY TO SEE THE AMERICAN WEST IS FROM THE SADDLE OF A CRUISER. SO WE THREW A LEG OVER A 2009 STAR STRATOLINER AND HIT THE ROAD. Outside Bryce, Utah, the temperature dipped into the low 40s and bullets of...

Speed reader.(NEW CARS: TECH BREAKOUT)(BMW 750i)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2009... The fifth-generation 750i, as well as the 750Li version with its longer wheelbase, boasts more electronic advances--not to mention outright lavishness--than any BMW in the company's history. Would you believe this Bimmer can read? True. We...

Long-term test cars: our Hyundai Veracruz departs, but we add an equally practical soft-roader to the fleet.(TEST DRIVEN)(Hyundai Veracruz Limited, Subaru Forester 2.5XT Limited, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR and Nissan Maxima 3.5 SV )(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Subaru Forester 2.5XT Limited + FIRST REPORT As solid as the previous Forester was for toting kayaks and hauling a cabin full of hikers, it wasn't exactly a looker. Well, Subaru has fixed that with the 2009...

Cows to kilowatts.(ALTERNATIVE ENERGY)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Holstein No. 2699 gazes warily over Shawn Saylor's shoulder. The 39 other cows lining the stainless-steel stalls of the milking parlor at Hillcrest Saylor Dairy Farm appear unperturbed--by two strangers or by the...

NASA & its discontents: frustrated engineers are going underground in a bid to change the agency's direction. What does the rebellion say about the future of U.S. spaceflight?(Cover story)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Late one evening in August 2006, Ross Tierney logged on to the chat room at nasaspaceflight.com, an unofficial cyberspace water cooler popular among NASA engineers. Tierney, a wiry 34-year-old space buff in Cocoa...

Personal subs: there's a whole world to explore underwater, if you have the right ride.
February 1, 2009... THE WATER IS RISING, Already the murky, greenish sea is swirling around my feet, and it's coming up fast. Fortunately, I'm staying dry inside a 54-in.-wide watertight acrylic sphere attached to the front end of a 3.5-ton canary-yellow submarine...

If you act now ... PM brings as-seen-on-TV products from your living room to our laboratory, testing claims to get results you can trust. We try 'em--so you can buy 'em (or not).(PM LAB TEST)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2009... Selling stuff on a TV infomercial is tough business. Thirty-nine out every 40 television-pitched products fail, and the typical "success" stays on the air for a year, on shelves for another, and then it's over. Some retain brand recognition...

Mega vehicles: the monster machines that keep our world moving.
February 1, 2009... BIG MACHINES RULE THE EARTH. There are about 6.7 billion people on our planet, and they all need to be fed, housed, moved and supplied with power. These herculean tasks require either an army of small machines working independently or a handful...

Grover masters: trim routers are light and handy. we tested seven--and found big differences in design and performance.(Tool Test)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The trend in power tools is to do more with less. Today's woodworkers are as likely to pick up a trim router to do a small job as they are to hoist a full-size router onto the workbench. Principally designed to trim...

Replacing a staircase handrail small can be beautiful when it comes to DIY projects--this upgrade was done in a day.
February 1, 2009... I suppose I'm like most people when I consider home improvement ideas--I tend to think big: adding a master bedroom suite, building a multilevel deck, expanding the kitchen, replacing windows and doors, and other dream projects. But over...

Making an entrance.(Homeowners Clinic: Q + A)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q Our house has no overhang or protection from the weather at the front door. We want to add a covered entry area, Can you offer some advice? A It's surprising how many houses have either no covered entrance at...

Network interface devise.(Homeowners Clinic: Q + A)(maintenance of phone box )(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Recently, I had a phone problem, so I went outside and plugged my landline phone into the phone service box to check whether the problem was in the house or with the phone company's equipment, I found that the inside of the phone box was dirty...

Lean and mean.(Homeowners Clinic: Q + A)(correcting a leaning building)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... We have a large old shed on our property that leans to one side. Can it be fixed, do you think? Well, any building can be repaired. The question is whether it's worth your time. Here's what to look for to help you make the right call. ...

Off the beaten track.(Homeowners Clinic: Q + A)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Our house has closet doors that slide past each other (not into the wall). We took them down to paint them and have had a hard time getting them back in place. They either don't hang properly or they pop off the track or scrape as they roll...

The better entry.(DIY DESIGN)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... A covered entry is more than just a nice touch--there are several practical reasons for it. First, it protects you from the weather as you open the door. Next, it protects the front door itself from weather, and that's particularly important if...

Hot water help.(Homeowners Clinic: Q + A)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... I want to set my electric water heater to save energy while producing as much warm water as possible. I'm confused, though, because it has two heating elements with a thermostat for each. Can I set one lower to save energy, or do I set them...

The one that nearly got away.(THE DIY LIFE)(Select-A-Bit DA86450)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... + There's a point at which you rely on a tool and use it so often that it becomes an extension of your hand. You can't picture yourself without it. I have a ratcheting screwdriver that I use on nearly every job. Its unique gear case...

Problems starting up? Don't go out and buy a new battery just because your car won't start.(DIY AUTO: STARTING ISSUES + FOGGED-UP WINDOWS + BACK-PROBING)
February 1, 2009... SATURDAY MECHANIC * DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY /// EASY Twist the key, Your car cranks for a second or two, springs to life, and then quickly settles down into a fast idle while it warms up. At least that's how it's supposed to work. This...

Probing possibilities.(Car Clinic: Q + A)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Q My next-door neighbor used to be a mechanic. He was helping me investigate a short underhood, and warned me to always check the connections from the back of the socket, instead of the front--but he didn't know why. So... why? ...

Quick change.(Car Clinic: Q + A)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... I bought a 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid in September. It just turned 1000 miles on the odometer. I would like to change over to synthetic oil. At what mileage would you recommend I make the change? Read the owner's manual. Your Escape is already...

Blown filters.(Car Clinic: Q + A)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... I work in a repair shop. A week ago, we replaced an oil filter on a Toyota Camry. This week, the owner came back to our shop and said that the oil filter exploded. What happened? Was the filter defective? I've blown up the odd filter or...

Defrosted.(Car Clinic: Q + A)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Why do my windows fog over and ice up so badly overnight? Some mornings I spend more time defrosting the windows than I do driving. Start by keeping all the windows cleaner, so the moisture won't be attracted to the glass. I use a...

Lost connection.(Car Clinic: Q + A)
February 1, 2009... I plan to disconnect the battery in my new Kia Sorento, which will be garaged in Maine while I am away for six months in Florida. Is there any harm in doing that? No problem. In fact, it's a good idea. Cars have a residual power drain of a...

Riding on air.(Car Clinic: Q + A)
February 1, 2009... Is there any advantage to using nitrogen instead of compressed air in tires? Will I notice improved fuel economy or a smoother ride? Will my tires last longer? Sort of. From the top: Air is 78 percent nitrogen, just under 21 percent...

Car control 101: don't freeze up--keep driving even if your car is a little out of control.(MIKE'S DRIVING TIPS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's winter, and I'm seeing a lot of bent rims and out-of-alignment cars. Why does soft snow cause bent parts? I'll tell you. Yesterday I saw a driver overestimate the traction available as he slowed for a...

Light the night.(Car Clinic: Q + A)
February 1, 2009... The other night I was on a long drive when I noticed one vehicle with bluish headlights among the thousands passing in the other direction. This reminded me that some years ago these blue headlights began appearing frequently. Now, I rarely see...

Home control: by linking a home automation system to a Wi-Fi network, we turned a cellphone into a whole-house remote.(DIY TECH: BATTERY LIFE + MAC SILENCE + TRACKING DOWN TUNES)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Home automation exists in the curious realm where screwdrivers and drywall meet PCs and routers. The category is still evolving--there are multiple, incompatible standards--and getting this stuff to work requires...

Conservation of charge.(Digital Clinic: Q + A)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q The lithium-ion batteries in my electronics never seem to last long enough. How can I make them go longer between charges? A These days, we ask a lot of our gadgets. They, in turn, ask a lot of their batteries....

Mislabeled MP3s.(Digital Clinic: Q + A)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... My MP3 collection is full of mislabeled tracks. Is there any easy way of fixing this? MP3 players and music-playing programs organize your music library using information such as a song's title, artist and track number. This info is...

Silent startup.(Digital Clinic: Q + A)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... The startup sound on my MacBook is loud. Is there any way to mute it? Windows users can easily silence startup sounds via the Control Panel without affecting output volume levels. But Mac users don't have this option. Apple's official...

This is my job: location sound engineer.(Scott Carter)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... SCOTT CARTER AGE: 37 YEARS ON JOB: 12 While most guys are watching the football game at home, location sound engineer Scott Carter is capturing the grunts, chatter and play decisions where the action is: on the field. The...