<![CDATA[[MobileRatty] tag: jeans]]> http://mobileratty.com/tag/jeans Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:05:04 +0000 iRatty Engine http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss <![CDATA[Terrorists turn technology into weapon of war in Mumbai]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/39c364e94e8d914b47ed9c41ef782fec http://mobileratty.com/article/39c364e94e8d914b47ed9c41ef782fec
Among their arsenal of weapons are bags of almonds and BlackBerry mobile phones – almonds to keep their energy up, and the mobile internet connections to stay one step ahead of police and the military.

They are the new breed of terrorist – using everyday technology as a weapon of war.

Well-trained, focused and armed to the teeth, the small group of young but hardened Islamic militants slipped into India's financial capital undetected last week to unleash a wave of carnage.

Indian security officials said the attackers entered Mumbai by sea in small dinghies on Wednesday evening, having been dropped off near the coast by a larger ship.

They then split into groups: among the first targets was the Chatrapati Shivaji railway station, where at least two men opened fire with automatic weapons and threw grenades into a crowd of travellers in the main waiting hall.

They left behind a pile of nearly 50 bodies – and images of their young, calm faces caught by security cameras.

Evading capture as Indian security forces rushed to the station, the gunmen then attacked a charitable hospital for women and children, the Cama Hospital, shooting indiscriminately.

Again police responded, including the head of Mumbai's Anti-Terror Squad (ATS), Hemant Karkare, who was shot dead outside the hospital along with two other senior officers.

Another group struck at the Cafe Leopold, one of Mumbai's best-known restaurants and a favoured hangout of tourists and expatriates.

"They took weapons out of their sacks, lobbed three grenades and began shooting at anything that moved with their automatic weapons," a French tourist said.

Another group used a hijacked police vehicle for drive-by shootings before attacking the main targets, symbols of Mumbai's wealth and multicultural character.

The objectives were two luxury hotels – the Taj Mahal, one of Mumbai's most famous landmarks, and the Oberoi/Trident – plus a business-residential complex that also houses a Jewish centre and hostel for Israeli visitors.

Intelligence sources said some militants may have been in the city beforehand, pre-positioning arms and explosives and ready to link up with the boat squad.

Two of the killers were members of staff at the Taj Mahal hotel, according to one report, and two others were staying there as guests, enabling them to plan the attack and gain an edge over security forces by familiarising themselves with the layout of the labyrinthine Edwardian building.

Indian marine commandos who battled terrorists at the hotel, just across the road from the Gateway of India where terrorists had alighted by boat to begin their killing spree, said the gunmen were remorseless and well trained.

"Definitely they were trained,'' said a masked officer of the force.

''Not everybody can fire AK-series weapons.

''Using such weapons and explosives, it is obvious they were trained somewhere.

"These people were very, very familiar with the hotel layout.

''It appeared that they had carried out a survey (of the hotel) before.

''And they were very determined.

''Remorseless."

One of the rucksacks carried by one of the terrorists, later recovered by commandos, contained a Mauritian national's identity card, Chinese-made grenades, seven ammunition magazines, 400 spare rounds of ammunition, seven credit cards from different banks, dry rations and thousands of dollars in cash.

However amid the arsenal of military hardware, it was the use of humble mobile phones and internet technology that proved a key weapon – one which caught the anti-terrorist forces by surprise.

The use of BlackBerrys by the terrorists to monitor international reaction to the atrocities, and to check on the police response via the internet, provided further evidence of the highly organised and sophisticated nature of the attacks.

The gunmen were able to trawl the internet for information after cable television feeds to the two luxury hotels and office block were cut by the authorities.

The men looked beyond the instant updates of the Indian media to find worldwide reaction to the events in Mumbai, and to keep abreast of the movements of the soldiers sent to stop them.

Fighting room-by-room through two luxury hotels, over dozens of bodies and through darkened corridors slick with blood, the military forces came up against well-trained and determined gunmen.

Giving an account of the commando raid at the besieged Taj hotel, the leader of the elite marine commandos said his team saw about 50 bodies scattered through the hotel during the operation to flush out the terrorists.

Up to 15 bodies were found in one room, he said.

"They were the kind of people with no remorse,'' a disguised commando told reporters.

''Anybody and whomsoever came in front of them, they fired.

"They appeared to be a determined lot, wanting to create and spread terror."

He said the commandos had been hampered by not knowing the layout of the 400 rooms in the hotel and the fact that the exchanges of fire took place in darkness.

The terrorists were hurling grenades and firing from different floors.

Because they could not be seen, they were operating with ease, he said.

Because of their knowledge of the building, the terrorists were able to strike at will.

The commando said the assault team had noticed only three or four terrorists.

The gunmen probably were operating from different floors, he said, because they appeared very well versed with the topography of the hotel, where they were holed up for nearly 40 hours.

"When we first exchanged fire we could have got the terrorists, but for the hotel guests (in the line of fire)," he said.

"The bodies were lying strewn here and there and blood was everywhere.

"These people were very, very familiar with the hotel layouts and it appears they had carried out a survey before."

The gunmen moved from place to place with ease.

To further confuse the commandos, they switched off lights.

Many guests hid in their rooms until they were rescued.

Others were not so lucky.

Many guests said they cowered in the dark for hours, waiting to be rescued and fearing the militants would shoot them at any moment. Others desperately armed themselves with knives and meat cleavers.

"We heard some gunshots,'' said Faisul Nagel, a South African security guard who was in the Taj Mahal hotel with colleagues when the assault began.

''We barricaded the restaurant and we moved everybody into the kitchen."

Using tables and refrigerators to barricade themselves in, Mr Nagel said they armed themselves with the only weapons they could find.

"We basically put the lights off in the restaurant just to create an element of surprise.

''And we armed ourselves with kitchen knives and meat cleavers."

They ended up helping about 120 people escape – including a 90-year-old woman who had to be carried in her chair down 25 flights of stairs.

source

]]> Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:15:00 +0000 hotel layout hotel taj hotel terrorists hotel guests fire fire ak-series weapons taj mahal hotel hotel layouts Terrorists turn technology into weapon of war in Mumbai <![CDATA[ Waistband Stretcher Only Delays the Inevitable Mumu Purchase in Your Future [Wardrobe Malfunction] ]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/5be1d81b0caf11b8ebbe69e5bdb24021 http://mobileratty.com/article/5be1d81b0caf11b8ebbe69e5bdb24021 While many people use the shopping bonanza Black Friday (now deadly, btw) to secure new clothes as gifts for loved ones, I use it as an excuse to buy new pants because my old ones don't fit after Thanksgiving dinner. Thankfully, I won't have to do that anymore, because the Waistband Stretcher removes that task and all other vestiges of personal accountability from the equation forever.

The $30 device slips into a pair of jeans or slacks and does as advertised. It stretches them out to a more pleasing and comfortable size 40, or whatever your waistline might be after a full day of gorging on turkey, potatoes and pie.

The stretcher promises to breath new life into your old wardrobe by adding one to five inches of extra girth. All you have to do is moisten the waistband of your pants, shorts or skirts and insert the stretcher. It's "easier and more economical than taking tight-waisted clothes to the tailor for alterations," says the marketing spiel, and who are we to argue?! The sad thing for the heftiest amongst us is the Waistband Stretcher only "rescues" garments with waistbands ranging from 21" to 45". But look on the bright side, you 46-inchers—there's always the mumu! [Skymall via Random Good Stuff]


]]> Sun, 30 Nov 2008 10:00:00 +0000 waistband stretcher stretcher waistband stretcher removes waistband bonanza black friday stretcher promises pants clothes equation forever Waistband Stretcher Only Delays the Inevitable Mumu Purchase in Your Future [Wardrobe Malfunction] <![CDATA[A skinny phone concept for tight jeans]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/9582c9816ff7814c31b4428b35d6f038 http://mobileratty.com/article/9582c9816ff7814c31b4428b35d6f038 A skinny phone concept for tight jeansIs that a cell phone in your pocket or are you just a mutant and very happy to see me? Your jeans can get pretty tight, which means that the bulge of your cellphone sticks out quite a bit. If you can even get your phone in your jeans. Designer David Turpin of France has come up with this Skinny Phone concept that should help.

It slides sideways to reveal a QWERTY keypad, but other then that we don’t have any detailed specs. It’s just a slim dream at the moment for all of you who have to grease yourselves up to get your pants on. Even if it existed, battery life would leave a lot to be desired.

One day my tight jean wearing friends. One day, it may come true.

[Yanko]

]]> Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:15:05 +0000 phone skinny phone concept jeans designer david turpin cell phone qwerty keypad day tight jean slides sideways A skinny phone concept for tight jeans <![CDATA[Skinny Phone Fits Skinny Jeans]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/825a85ecaa39f473b1ab6e3c49409b46 http://mobileratty.com/article/825a85ecaa39f473b1ab6e3c49409b46 I know this phone doesn’t have a lot going for it, being concepted before the current spate of touchscreen wonder gadgets, but I’ve always had a hankering for longer, skinnier phones that won’t make pockets bulge. The designer, David Turpin, is based out of France, which might explain his preference for more elegant form factors.

Designer: David Turpin

]]> Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:35:54 +0000 david turpin elegant form factors phone designer skinnier phones pockets bulge lot gadgets france Skinny Phone Fits Skinny Jeans <![CDATA[Skinny Phone Concept Fits Tight Jeans Pockets]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/7b3dc6c812dab42991bbfbf59a01740d http://mobileratty.com/article/7b3dc6c812dab42991bbfbf59a01740d Skinny Phone Concept Fits Tight Jeans Pockets

We all know just how tight jeans pockets can get, so designer David Turpin of France has come up with this Skinny Phone concept. It slides sideways to reveal a QWERTY keypad, but otherwise no detailed specifications were revealed. We can safely say that technology has not advanced to such a point yet, although it would be nice to have something so slim inside our pockets without bulging out like an eyesore, although battery life would be a main concern here. Nothing too skinny is recommended though, since that could break rather easily (or at least it gives out such an illusion).

Permalink: Skinny Phone Concept Fits Tight Jeans Pockets from Ubergizmo (US, FR) | Good deals | Hot: The Uber10 List

]]> Tue, 25 Nov 2008 06:57:29 +0000 skinny pockets tight jeans pockets skinny phone concept designer david turpin main concern uber10 list qwerty keypad slides sideways Skinny Phone Concept Fits Tight Jeans Pockets <![CDATA[Beer bladder product shot expertly identifies its target consumer: the New Jersey guido]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/02c9d6f37dd5601b72fe88a121f5fa5f http://mobileratty.com/article/02c9d6f37dd5601b72fe88a121f5fa5f 3050994643_7aba855fc9.jpgKnow your guido! Your life may depend on it. Look for the tell-tale signs: the torn, skin-tight blue jeans, boxer shorts clearly exposed. The puffy sneakers and sockless ankles. The orange skin and jutting teeth stained with bronzer. The grease-stained bandana. The waxed chest and ruddy areolae. And, of course, the $39.99 beer bladder crammed down the front of the slacks, its long plastic hose snaked suggestively out of the zipper.

Still confused? This is the North American guido's mating dance, as flaunted on the boardwalks of the New Jersey shore each and every day:

The Beer Belly Beer Dispenser [Foolish Gadgets]


]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:28:00 +0000 guido beer bladder north american guido skin-tight blue jeans waxed chest tell-tale signs ruddy areolae orange skin boxer shorts Beer bladder product shot expertly identifies its target consumer: the New Jersey guido <![CDATA[Mister Freedom: The Last Cruise, Salty Years]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/6593d3a569068a04355f6cb791a882f4 http://mobileratty.com/article/6593d3a569068a04355f6cb791a882f4 MF_foulweather_01-727461.jpg MF_cpo_02-717408.jpg MF_peacoat_01-732563.jpg

The brainchild of LA-based Frenchman Christophe Loiron, Mister Freedom is a denim clothing line produced by Toyo Enterprises (of Sugar Cane and Buzz Rickson fame) that sticks to an overarching Naval theme. Like the first line, the new winter collection imagines the tailored clothing of a merchant Navy sailor as he travels the seven seas. This time around, we find our sailor in the Southern Indian Ocean on his last cruise after 10 years in the service. Now an "old salt" in mariner's parlance, the clothes are weathered and faded by the extremes of sun, ocean water and use.

MF_sweater_01-727523.jpg misterfreedom.jpg MF_bucket_01-777449.jpg

Titled "The Last Cruise, Salty Years," the collection focuses on extreme weather gear. With cuts and designs from early 20th century military wardrobes, the pieces use durable denim and authentic vintage flourishes. The Denim Pea Coat follows the 1910 Navy pattern and uses 14oz dark indigo selvedge denim made from a 50/50 blend of sugar cane fiber and cotton. The Foul Weather Coat is made of a blue "jungle cloth" used by the Navy from the 1920s to 1950s. A material known for being sturdy and weatherproof, while remaining comfortable to wear. It uses an exact replica of the 1930s "hookless" zipper and is fully lined with a naval wool blanket. Other items include a pair of Modified Type 7161 denim jeans, a wool/cotton sweater, a Denim CPO Overshirt, a Wool Watch Cap, a Jungle Cloth and Chambray Rain Hat and three different t-shirts.

mermaid_sleeve.jpg

One particularly interesting stylistic touch is the "Liberty Cuff." In the 1920s, it was common for enlisted men to have local tailors add multicolored stitching to the inside of sleeves. That way, it wouldn't be visible to their superiors while on the job, but they could fold up the sleeves to impress the locals while on shore leave. The mermaid design (pictured above) can be found in the Pea Coat and serves as both an attractive design element and interesting historical note.

Mister Freedom can be purchased through CH favorites Self Edge. Kiya Babzani, the San Francisco shop's proprietor, went so far as to call Mister Freedom "maybe the most important line being produced in the world right now." And that's high praise, considering the source.

]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:29:07 +0000 mister freedom pea coat denim pea coat denim denim cpo overshirt navy merchant navy sailor call mister freedom sugar cane Mister Freedom: The Last Cruise, Salty Years <![CDATA[Mister Freedom: The Last Cruise, Salty Years]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/0401b87e5f47c3a48a9491c2d537e358 http://mobileratty.com/article/0401b87e5f47c3a48a9491c2d537e358 MF_foulweather_01-727461.jpg MF_cpo_02-717408.jpg MF_peacoat_01-732563.jpg

The brainchild of LA-based Frenchman Christophe Loiron, Mister Freedom is a denim clothing line produced by Toyo Enterprises (of Sugar Cane and Buzz Rickson fame) that sticks to an overarching Naval theme. Like the first line, the new winter collection imagines the tailored clothing of a merchant Navy sailor as he travels the seven seas. This time around, we find our sailor in the Southern Indian Ocean on his last cruise after 10 years in the service. Now an "old salt" in mariner's parlance, the clothes are weathered and faded by the extremes of sun, ocean water and use.

MF_sweater_01-727523.jpg misterfreedom.jpg MF_bucket_01-777449.jpg

Titled "The Last Cruise, Salty Years," the collection focuses on extreme weather gear. With cuts and designs from early 20th century military wardrobes, the pieces use durable denim and authentic vintage flourishes. The Denim Pea Coat follows the 1910 Navy pattern and uses 14oz dark indigo selvedge denim made from a 50/50 blend of sugar cane fiber and cotton. The Foul Weather Coat is made of a blue "jungle cloth" used by the Navy from the 1920s to 1950s. A material known for being sturdy and weatherproof, while remaining comfortable to wear. It uses an exact replica of the 1930s "hookless" zipper and is fully lined with a naval wool blanket. Other items include a pair of Modified Type 7161 denim jeans, a wool/cotton sweater, a Denim CPO Overshirt, a Wool Watch Cap, a Jungle Cloth and Chambray Rain Hat and three different t-shirts.

mermaid_sleeve.jpg

One particularly interesting stylistic touch is the "Liberty Cuff." In the 1920s, it was common for enlisted men to have local tailors add multicolored stitching to the inside of sleeves. That way, it wouldn't be visible to their superiors while on the job, but they could fold up the sleeves to impress the locals while on shore leave. The mermaid design (pictured above) can be found in the Pea Coat and serves as both an attractive design element and interesting historical note.

Mister Freedom can be purchased through CH favorites Self Edge. Kiya Babzani, the San Francisco shop's proprietor, went so far as to call Mister Freedom "maybe the most important line being produced in the world right now." And that's high praise, considering the source.

]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:29:07 +0000 mister freedom pea coat denim pea coat denim denim cpo overshirt navy merchant navy sailor call mister freedom sugar cane Mister Freedom: The Last Cruise, Salty Years <![CDATA[Tony Stamolis: Frezno]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/3a6e893bc0662999c1849e50b2416e90 http://mobileratty.com/article/3a6e893bc0662999c1849e50b2416e90 Stamolis_Frezno-cover.jpg Stamolis_lead.jpg

by Tamara Warren

Fresno, CA-born photographer Tony Stamolis’ new book "Frezno" examines life in California’s sixth largest city with vivid, stark and honest imagery. Stamolis captures his hometown, once a beacon of booming surburbia, with a seedy, fluorescent pallor.

The cover shot—two shirtless youths wearing KISS-inspired makeup and black jeans and standing under high-voltage electricity towers—sets the tone for Stamolis’s return-to-home pictorial essay. Other images show a masked man tending marijuana crops; one portrait depicts a heavily tattooed man with his back to the camera flaunting a bold “Frezneck” emblazoned in green script across his shoulder blades; and another captures a lone shaggy skater making use of an empty swimming pool, his shadow contrasting the decaying cracks in the bowl.

Rounding out the portraits, still life pictures, like Christmas tree holders carelessly strewn on what appears to be a store shelf, offer more subtle hints at Fresno life. While Stamolis lives in New York and has shot for the New York Times, Black Book and Giant, his intimate relationship with home resonates in the familiarity with which he approaches his subjects. The downtrodden Fresno that Stamolis depicts is an affectionately up-close look at pure Americana frozen in the frame.

stamolis_marijauna.jpg

Stamolis celebrates the book launch 20 November 2008 at Stricola Contemporary in New York City.

Buy a copy from Amazon or Powell's.

More images after the jump.

]]> Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:05:04 +0000 stamolis stamolis depicts york book launch stamolis lives book york times stamolis captures fresno Tony Stamolis: Frezno <![CDATA[Tony Stamolis: Frezno]]> http://mobileratty.com/article/67caba8d32c5a9d8d7aa3c63e49ec393 http://mobileratty.com/article/67caba8d32c5a9d8d7aa3c63e49ec393 Stamolis_Frezno-cover.jpg Stamolis_lead.jpg

by Tamara Warren

Fresno, CA-born photographer Tony Stamolis’ new book "Frezno" examines life in California’s sixth largest city with vivid, stark and honest imagery. Stamolis captures his hometown, once a beacon of booming surburbia, with a seedy, fluorescent pallor.

The cover shot—two shirtless youths wearing KISS-inspired makeup and black jeans and standing under high-voltage electricity towers—sets the tone for Stamolis’s return-to-home pictorial essay. Other images show a masked man tending marijuana crops; one portrait depicts a heavily tattooed man with his back to the camera flaunting a bold “Frezneck” emblazoned in green script across his shoulder blades; and another captures a lone shaggy skater making use of an empty swimming pool, his shadow contrasting the decaying cracks in the bowl.

Rounding out the portraits, still life pictures, like Christmas tree holders carelessly strewn on what appears to be a store shelf, offer more subtle hints at Fresno life. While Stamolis lives in New York and has shot for the New York Times, Black Book and Giant, his intimate relationship with home resonates in the familiarity with which he approaches his subjects. The downtrodden Fresno that Stamolis depicts is an affectionately up-close look at pure Americana frozen in the frame.

stamolis_marijauna.jpg

Stamolis celebrates the book launch 20 November 2008 at Stricola Contemporary in New York City.

Buy a copy from Amazon or Powell's.

More images after the jump.

]]> Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:05:04 +0000 stamolis stamolis depicts york book launch stamolis lives book york times stamolis captures fresno Tony Stamolis: Frezno