I'm tempted, nay, inclined here to call shennanigans on the simplicity with which the speech-processing algorithm analyzes actual speech:

The algorithm counts usage of first person nouns - "I" tends to indicate less spin than "we", for example. It also searches out phrases that offer qualifications or clarifications of more general statements, since speeches that contain few such amendments tend to be high on spin. Finally, increased rates of action verbs such as "go" and "going", and negatively charged words, such as "hate" and "enemy", also indicate greater levels of spin.

I'm more inclined to subscribe to the newsletter of voice analyst Branka Zei Pollermann of the Vox Institute in Geneva (ah, neutrality). "The voice analysis profile for McCain looks very much like someone who is clinically depressed," says Branka, after running Senator McCain's voice through her software that analyzes "pitch, modulation, volume, and fluency" to generate a unique profile. Obama's varying pitch and tone are on the opposite spectrum, but his furrowed brow tends to project an overly concerned stance.

Check out the research summarized and decide for yourself, but don't miss this gem:

Additionally, McCain's voice and facial movements often do not match up, says Pollermann, and he often smiles in a manner that commonly conveys sarcasm when addressing controversial statements. "That might lead to what I would call a lack of credibility."

[New Scientist via /.]

In the TV report aired on HDNet Tuesday, Rather said that an aluminum body is safer than a carbon fiber airframe because it's not brittle, won't shatter on impact and doesn't emit poisonous chemicals when it's burning. Rowe counters that by pointing out the plethora of toxic fumes to worry about if a plane crashes no matter what its airframe is made of, and then astutely points out that military aircraft, race cars, train cars and sports cars have been constructed of carbon composite for years and have been subjected to horrific forces that in some cases show carbon fiber holding up even better than aluminum.

Rowe also got in touch with Cirrus Design which has been building aircraft out of composite materials for years, and that company's experts add that in some cases composites have better energy absorption in an impact than aluminum.

Rowe has now updated his post with even more experts chiming in to agree that Rather's assertions weren't worth the HD they were broadcast on. It's a great read that gets right at the truth. [Wired]

• "(Beep) That was bullshit"
• "(Siren) Bullshit detected, take precautions"
• "Bullshit level defcon 5"
• "Oh, come on now, that ain't even bullshit, that's horseshit"
• "Warning, warning, bullshit alert"

Plus, it's useful whenever you're actually playing the card game. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Find me a gift via i4u - Thanks Ray!]

Still giving no explanation to how this thing works, Furutech now offers a price on this DeMag. $2900. So here's our challenge, Furutech. Send us one to test (you have our emails on the left column) and we'll decide once and for all whether your thing isn't just a lousy $2900 CD/DVD holder. – Jason Chen

Furutech [via Random Good Stuff]

Here's the word straight from Cingular:

It's a fake.

RUMOR SMASHED! – Jason Chen

iPhone [Gizmodo]

We all need to face the fact that flying cars aren't gonna be happening in any of our lifetimes. I'm sorry, I don't mean to piss on your campfire, but let's be realistic about this. –Adam Frucci

X-Hawk Flying Car to be Ready by 2010 [MobileMag]

An ultra-sheer screen mist containing a pioneering combination of plant extracts capable of protecting the skin from the accelerated-ageing effects of all indoor and outdoor air pollution but most significantly, the effects of Artificial Electromagnetic Waves.

Spray On Magnetic Defense [Strange Harvest]

Come to think of it, Coke never did "officially" mention anything about weight loss with this drink, however, when you see the words "the calorie burner" directly above the brand name Enviga, one might be led to believe this could slim you down a bit. Or was that just wishful thinking on our part? But you called it, readers: 62.5% of you said "I call bullshit" in our Gizmodo Enviga poll. – Charlie White

Shocker: Enviga Doesn't Actually Burn Calories [The Consumerist]

Ingram didn't mention them by name, but the three leading antivirus applications are Symantec with 53.6% of the market, McAfee with 18.8%, and Trend Micro with 13.8%. On the other hand, one antivirus package he did mention by name was the Russian application Kaspersky, which he said blocks of 90% of viruses and Trojans.

There was also no mention of the performance hit antivirus software claims from your system. It's a shame that so many people are using useless applications such as Symantec antivirus software. The cure is worse than the disease. The funny thing is, viruses don't come to get you, you have to actively infect yourself with them. And, by the time any of these bullshit apps figure out how to deal with ever more masterfully-written viruses, the horse is already out of the barn. But just to be safe, don't use Internet Explorer and don't click on any attachments, and you'll be far more likely to be virus-free than if you're depending on any of these fraudulent applications. Or, you could just get a Mac. – Charlie White

Why popular antivirus apps 'do not work' [ZDNet Australia, via The Consumerist]

"This rare phenomenon is a public health issue, and education is necessary to highlight the risk of using mobile phones outdoors during stormy weather to prevent future fatal consequences from lighting strike injuries."

We're hoping this is just a joke, because this entire concept is based on a misunderstanding. You can't spot reduce, you can't stimulate metabolism in just one part your body (if you do lose weight your body will decide where it's coming from), and caffeine is not exactly a weight-loss drug. Heck, if caffeine were effective for weight loss, we would all be positively skeletal by now. And we're not. Available for non-skeptical Brits, Slim Fit 20 pantyhose are £27 for a pack of three.

Caffeine Tights [Coolest Gadgets]

What does this stuff do? Well, nothing, but if you believe Jana, the snake-oil salesmen who move this stuff for a big profit, it's supposed to make you feel less hungry, increase metabolism, and block carbohydrate absorption if you drink a bottle four times a day, a half-hour before you eat. Well, believing is probably enough to make this worthless substance useful about half the time. The placebo effect is a powerful thing.

Soon to be available at 7-Eleven stores, retail pricing is an astonishing $1.80 per 16.9-ounce (.5 liter) bottle, a steep price to pay even if the substance did have magical powers. Who would have ever guessed that water salesmen could extract such windfalls from innocent victims?

Diet Drinking Water [Strange New Products]

Skinny Water costs $39.99 [Amazon]