We’ve all toyed around with those gDisk exploits in the past right? You know, those programs which turned the left-over storage from your Google GMail account into a remote hard drive. Good, because The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Google plans to launch a remote storage service as early as “a few months from now.” Or so say “people familiar with the matter.” While a Google spokeswoman refused to comment on specific storage plans, she did say, “storage is an important component of making Web [applications] fit easily into consumers’ and business users’ lives.” The service would be free (GMail already tops 5GB of free storage) with additional storage available for a fee. Interesting when you consider the launch of Android, Google’s possible bid for a chunk of 700MHz spectrum and rumored interest in Sprint’s WiMax infrastructure. Hell, perhaps this might even kickoff that rumored .Mac overhaul you faithful subscribers have been waiting (and waiting) for.

How to Deal With a Bad Kisser

So that new guy or girl in your life is just perfect. Kind, caring, fun, exciting–he or she has it all. Except… Oh, what a terrible kisser! From the guy who draws blood with every kiss to the girl makes that weird clicking sound when you lock lips, bad kissers are everywhere. For many of us, kissing is a very important part of a relationship and, unfortunately, the inability to deliver a passionate kiss (or worse, the ability to deliver a disgusting kiss) can be a deal breaker, no matter how great the person is otherwise. Luckily, most bad kissers can become good kissers if you have a little patience, tact, and courage.

Steps

1. Make up a reason to get away. The rest of this article will focus on how to deal with a bad kisser that you’re in a relationship with or with whom you want to pursue a relationship, but if you’re just looking for something casual and that guy or girl at the bar just gave you a horrible kiss, don’t mess around. Say you’re feeling tired, or you have to go with your friends. You can always say, "Yuck," but you probably don’t want to offend and embarrass someone.
   • Alternatively, you can pull away from the kiss, look the person in the eyes, and say something like, "This is how I like a kiss." Then kiss that person as you would want to be kissed. You may offend the person, and that’s why you need a little more patience if you’re already in a relationship with someone you care about, but if you want a quick tip that will either work or get rid of someone, that’s it.
2. Figure out what it is that you don’t like. Before you can encourage good kissing, you need to figure out what makes a good kiss for you. This can be difficult, because we generally like different kinds of kisses at different times. If you have a hard time defining a good kiss, you probably won’t have too much trouble determining what you don’t like about your partner’s kissing style. Think about it, and identify the real problems so you can coach your partner along. If you do end up having to talk to him or her about it, you don’t want to just say, "you’re a bad kisser." You want to offer constructive input.
   • Is the person really a bad kisser, or are you just used to something else? Especially when people get out of long-term relationships and start anew, they may miss the way their ex kissed them. Just because somebody doesn’t kiss you exactly like your old flame did, however, doesn’t mean that he or she isn’t good at kissing. Keep an open mind and, as long as you’re not disgusted, give it a little time. You may come to like the way your new partner kisses.
   • Look within. Do you really like the person? If you don’t feel passion for a person, anything they do can seem wrong. If you’re still hung up on an old boyfriend or girlfriend, or if you’re just not into someone, you have bigger issues to deal with.
3. Set a good example. Try to kiss the person like you want to be kissed. Kissing is an interactive experience, and each partner needs to follow the other’s lead at some time. When it’s your turn to lead, make it count. This can be an especially useful technique if your partner doesn’t have much kissing experience or isn’t sure he or she is doing it right.
4. Give your partner signals. When your partner kisses you in a way that you really don’t like, don’t be afraid to pull away. Use body language, and hope he or she gets the hint. Even more importantly, when your partner does something you like, let him or her know. Moan softly, hold them closer, melt in his or her arms–send out signals that he or she is getting it right. Most bad kissers aren’t bad all the time, so you should have opportunities to reward them for a job well done. Keep reinforcing what you like and discouraging what you don’t, and your bad kisser may become a good kisser without you ever having to say a word about it.
5. Tell the person what you like. Signals aren’t working? Suppose you want your partner to kiss you more passionately. Try telling him or her that you love it when he or she kisses you like they really want you. Say it even if they don’t actually do what you like. Just telling the person what you like will reinforce that idea in his or her head. If that doesn’t work, encourage experimentation. If you see a great kiss in a movie, for example, mention that you’d really like to try kissing like that. Be as specific as you feel you need to be.
6. Have a talk. When subtle hints fail, it’s time to bring it out in the open. This is an uncomfortable talk to have, but if you care about the relationship you have to do it, for both of you. Communication is essential to any relationship, so don’t be afraid to tell the person how you feel. Be tactful about it, though, and compliment your partner on what he or she does right. Don’t make blanket statements. Instead, address specific issues so that your partner will know you’re not just being mean and so he or she can actually work on improving.
7. Break up. If nothing else works, you’re left with two choices: lower your standards or break up with the bad kisser. If the person is wonderful in all other respects, and if kissing just isn’t that important to you, just live with it. If, however, you really need a good kisser, you have to end the relationship. If you really try to communicate your needs early in the relationship, but the person still doesn’t adapt, they probably won’t be responsive to your needs in other areas either, and they won’t likely make a good long-term partner for you anyway. It’s hard to break up with someone, but remember that you’ll be better off and, hopefully, that person will also finally take the hint and become a better partner for someone in the future.

Tips

• Be proactive. Don’t wait for months or years to address the kissing problem. The longer you wait, the harder it will be for you to bring it up and the harder it will be for your partner to change his or her ways.
• A good way to open the door to communication is to ask them if there’s anything YOU can do better or anything they’d like you to try. a) You might just learn something and b) they may very well follow with asking you the same question. Even if they don’t, people are usually a little more receptive when you’re not coming across as superior. Say, "I love it when you do this…" but "I’m not sure how I feel about…"
• Maybe you’re not such a good kisser yourself. At the very least, you may not kiss your partner exactly like he or she would like. Try to be perceptive of your partner’s body language and subtle hints, and be responsive. This will help you to communicate openly and to get what you want. What’s more, you may be a bad kisser without even knowing it, but you, too, can break the habit.
• The first kiss can make a big impression, and some people aren’t willing to even try to develop a relationship with a bad kisser. If you’re one of these people, keep in mind that bad kissing doesn’t have to be a lifelong affliction if you’re willing to help your partner out. If you dismiss someone because of one bad kiss, you could be missing out on a great relationship. That said, it is sometimes the case that bad kissing is just a symptom of a person who won’t be a responsive, attentive partner anyway, and he or she may be just as bad at other important things as well. Try to consider how much kissing experience the person has. If you can chalk up the bad kissing to inexperience, there’s probably hope, but if the person has had plenty of time and partners to figure it out, you’re probably at a dead end.
• Next time you’re in front of your computer with your partner, casually decide to look at some wikiHow articles. Check out a variety of things, and then have a look at some articles on kissing, like How to Kiss or How to French Kiss. Don’t let on why you want to look at the articles, and have fun reading them together, joking, and kissing. This is a great opportunity to mention things you like or don’t like.

How to Open a Door With a Credit Card

You see it in the movies all the time. A slick protagonist needs to explore the bad guy’s abode, so he whips out a card, wiggles it in the crack of the door, and strolls right on in. However, in real life, it’s not a universal lock pick technique, nor is it legal (if you don’t have permission to enter). But, it is a pretty cool thing to know how to do, especially if you find yourself locked out of your own home!

Steps

1. Choose your largest, most easily flexible credit card. You may want to use something other than a credit card if it’s more flexible and dispensable (such as gift cards, membership cards, ID cards, or any other plastic laminated cards).
2. Slide the card into the vertical crack between the door and the frame (where the lock is) as far as it will go at a perpendicular angle with the door.
3. Tilt the card so the side that’s closest to you is almost or is touching the doorknob. Push it again until you feel it slide in more.
4. Bend the card the opposite way, forcing the lock to go back. Quickly open the door.

Tips

• An alternative method is to push the card between the door and the frame, as said above, then pull and push at the doorknob while applying pressure on the card. This will pry the lock open eventually, but takes a bit of time, and causes more damage to the card.
• Instead of using a credit card, you can also use a strip of plastic cut out from a plastic soda bottle for extra length and flexibility, as well as not ruining your card.
• When it won’t work:
  • If you are on the side of the door that the lock is not slanted towards, the only way to open it with a card may be to cut it into a wide "U" then hook it around the lock and bend it as described above.
  • This method will only work on inexpensive or improperly installed locks. Most doors have a special tab that sticks along side the latch to prevent picking with a credit card. If you can get this tab to drop into the hole that the rest of the latch goes into, then the door is improperly installed and this method will work.
  • Many exterior doors will have an additional deadbolt lock – deadbolts cannot be picked with a credit card and require picking the lock or kicking down the door.
  • Inside doors may have trim around them that will prevent you from opening it with a card. Either remove the trim or find an alternative method of opening the door.

Just when you thought every USB gadget that could be invented has graced these pages, along comes the USB Putt Returner. This is not going to help you win any bets on the real links, but just like a full-size putt returner, this one pops your ball right back to you if you nail one. And hey, it’s powered by any USB port. It’s available now for £9.99 (about $20).