Remember the controversy over Apple’s exploding laptops? It turned out Apple, Dell and some other computers had batteries that could overheat and do anything from scorch your groin to explode.

The good people at PC PitStop thought a safety reminder was in order, so they set up a test to duplicate conditions under which a laptop could explode.

“We intentionally created conditions in which the Li-ON battery pack would explode inside a generic portable. The results are dramatic. There are numerous conditions where these fires can occur in real life. Faulty battery packs (driving the recalls), faulty protection circuits inside the PC, exposure to excessive heat, and blunt force are some of the major ways that this could happen to you.”

Here are the results of their test:

We don’t normally write articles about Beyoncé, not because we’re above talking about popular music babes, but mainly because that “é” at the end of her name is tricky to get right.

It’s been said that Ginger Rogers earned her place in history by doing everything Fred Astaire did, except backwards and in high heels. It looks like Beyoncé may earn her place in history, not by being the leading lady of soul, but by doing everything that the recently deceased Steve “Crikey” Irwin did, except in high heels and a freaky bikini.

Anyway, Beyoncé is on PETA’s list following remarks she made recently about taping a baby alligator’s mouth shut at the photo shoot for her new album, B-Day. Beyoncé revealed in the September issue of Arena magazine, “There was a shot where I held an alligator. He had his mouth taped-that was my bright idea. He was really cute, but since his mouth was taped, he didn’t have any way to defend himself. He was upset, so he peed on me. That was an experience!”

PETA, never ones to pass up an opportunity to get publicity, enlisted British biologist Clifford Warwick, an esteemed fellow at the Institute of Biology, to give Beyoncé an education on reptiles.

“As a specialist in reptile biology and welfare, I’m concerned about your posing with a terrified baby alligator for your new album cover. Humans and alligators are not natural bedfellows, and the two should not mix at events such as photo-shoots. In my view, doing so is arguably abusive to an animal.”

Not to be snarky, but we’d guess that, if he found himself in Beyoncé’s lap, even an esteemed fellow might wee himself.

Here’s the full text of the Warwick’s letter:
Continue reading ‘Beyoncé Makes Alligators Wet Their Pants; But They Don’t Have Any Pants; It Makes PETA Mad!’

Every Friday at Axehole, we bring you the most unusual music or audio find of the week. In previous weeks, we’ve delivered a veritable cornucopia of strangeness, including Microsoft’s plan to buy its want into your pants, stripper ringtones and grunge-guitar robots.

But in the immortal words of James Brown, “Show me your horn! Hah!

You don’t keep the Godfather of Soul waiting, and we can’t hold out on you either - so check out HornMassive:

HornMassive is a 2 Ton (4500 Lbs US), 2000 watt steel and aluminum mobile sound system. It’s enough horn to be heard 1 km away.

It’s the horn o’ plenty.

Continue reading ‘WTF Friday: The Horn o’ Plenty’

Italian scientists have found that the effects of ecstasy are more pronounced in presence of music.

At least, if you’re a rat.

The scientists gave rats ecstasy and exposed them to music at club noise levels. Measurement of electrical activity in the rats’ brains showed that noise prolonged the effects of ecstasy by up to five days.

Continue reading ‘Italian Scientists Give Rats Ecstasy and Send Them Clubbing’

Hoshino USA Inc. has announced that it is recalling about 700 Ibanez bass guitars. Apparently, if the battery is improperly installed backwards, the basses can overheat, causing internal damage and a fire hazard.

This recall involves 2005 and 2006 Ibanez Soundgear, Roadgear and Gary Willis series basses. Model numbers are on the back of the headstock. Models included in this recall are: GWB105NTF, SR1000EBGNTF, SR1000EFMNTF, SR1000EPBNTF, SR1000EWNNTF, SR1000EZWNTF, SR1005EBGNTF, SR1005EFMNTF, SR1005EPBNTF, SR1005EWNNTF, SR1005EZWNTF, RD900AHNHS and RD900FMNT. Continue reading ‘Ibanez Bass Guitars Burning Down the House; Not in a Good Way’