We Tested Five Ways To Find Hidden Cameras In Hotels And House Rentals

Have you ever wondered if you’re being watched?

It’s a feeling that’s creeping in for more travelers, as stories of hidden cameras — in hotel rooms, house rentals, cruise ships, even airplane bathrooms – continue to make headlines.

Spycams were once the stuff of international espionage, with secret agents given cameras resembling pocket watches, matchbooks – even tubes of lipstick.

Pieter Tjia, founder of Singapore tech company OMG Solutions, said that cameras have become smaller and harder to see in the past three years – often hidden in everyday objects such as calculators, diffusers, and water bottles.

But how hard is it to find these cameras? And do devices designed to locate hidden cameras really work?

Kiss Announce New York City Takeover In Conjunction With Final Shows Ever

KISS are certainly going out with a bang! In conjunction with their final shows ever on December 1st and 2nd at Madison Square Garden, the band has planned an epic takeover of New York City.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers announced on Tuesday (November 21st) a multifaceted takeover of the Big Apple, including a pop-up store at 248 West 37th Street featuring partnerships with Ed Hardy, Oxford Pennant, Trick or Treat Studios, and Funko.

Additionally, fans will be able to get their hands on a limited run of 50,000 KISS-branded Metro Cards at the Penn Station and Herald Square Station.

If that’s not enough, the New York Rangers are holding a “KISS Game Night” on November 29th as they take on the Detroit Red Wings.

And it doesn’t end there. The tattoo shop Inked NYC, located at 150 West 22nd Street, will be offering complimentary flash tattoos from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and face painting from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on December 1st and 2nd.

If it’s food you’re looking for, Prince Street Pizza will be serving up KISS-themed pizza complete with a collectible box.

“We’re thrilled to be performing our final shows at MSG since the band originated in New York City over 50 years ago,” stated KISS. “We are thankful for our long legacy of fans, the KISS Army, and excited to be celebrating through these activations.”

The band is partnering on the takeover with merch company Bravado, whose president Matt Young stated, “I’ve been a fan of KISS since I was 7 years old, and our team has enjoyed being a part of the KISS Franchise for the last 10 years. Bravado is honored to commemorate this extraordinary moment in the band’s legendary career by partnering with them to execute this massive NYC Takeover.”

Source: Yahoo

Model Accuses Michael Costello Of Whitewashing And Replacing Her Face With AI

Twenty-one-year-old model, Shereen Wu, has accused former Project Runway designer Michael Costello of using artificial intelligence – or of allowing a photographer to use it – to edit her face on the runway. The alleged modification didn’t seem just to change Wu’s features but also her ethnicity and race.

While Costello is known for his aesthetic and elegant designs, his negative headlines are just as widespread. Some could argue his industry reputation has been hanging like a thread.

In 2021, the designer found himself in the middle of multiple controversies such as alleged bullying from Chrissy Teigen, separate sexual abuse claims, body shaming claims from Leona Lewis and former Real Housewives of Atlanta star Falynn Guobadia, and his own reports of “suicidal thoughts.”

In other words, Wu’s recent controversy is one of others.

Wu walked in Costello’s October 22 Los Angeles Fashion Week show. She was one of a surprisingly diverse set of runway models, including Black, White, plus size, and Asian.

According to Wu, Costello posted edited visuals of her in his stories following the show. She alleges that her face was seemingly changed from Asian to “Anglo-Saxon.”

Source: HelloBeautiful

How To Steal And Lose More Than $3 Billion In Bitcoin

Twenty two year-old hacker Jimmy Zhong said he never meant to become a criminal billionaire. But that’s what happened in 2012 after he found a way to steal bitcoin from the Silk Road – a dark web exchange then known for some of the most unsavory trade on the internet – drugs, guns and porn. Over the next decade, the coins Zhong stole rocketed in value, ultimately reaching an eye-watering $3.36 billion.

Photos show Zhong on yachts, in front of airplanes, and at big time football games over the decade he confounded law enforcement officers trying to solve the theft. He even bought a weekend lake house to use as a party pad, and decorated it with a giant Trump flag and a stripper pole. But then, Zhong made a phone call that ruined his life.

In this documentary, CNBC’s Eamon Javers speaks exclusively with the IRS-CI, the agency that investigated this billion dollar crime as well as the people who knew Zhong during the decade he evaded law enforcement. Javers’ reporting also uncovers a long, digital trail that leads back to the earliest days of bitcoin and reveals a dark truth about the world of hackers and coders responsible for the creation of bitcoin.

Perrier’s Bottle Gets A Historic Makeover From Renowned Designer Philippe Starck

Perrier, a brand synonymous with bubbly delight, is ringing in its 160th birthday with a fresh twist on its renowned green bottle. Dubbed Perrier+Starck, this limited-edition reincarnation will make its global debut this October. The mastermind behind this reimagining? None other than visionary French industrial architect and designer Philippe Starck.

Rewind to 1906: St John Harmsworth, the British brainchild of the Perrier brand, sculpted the signature green bottle, taking cues from Indian juggling clubs—a nod to his daily workout regime. Over time, the bottle’s elegant curves have graced the royal tables at Buckingham Palace and inspired striking brand imagery, all the while retaining its quintessential shape, turning it into a global emblem.

However, Starck’s iteration is not just a makeover, but an ode to the bottle’s legacy. He’s the first creator called in by the brand to redefine the bottle’s silhouette, says Perrier. Still, even with all this freedom in his hands, he chose to honor its shape.

Instead, he reimagines its contours with tactile, horizontal etchings, drawing parallels with Perrier’s vivacious effervescence and its enigmatic blend of water and bubbles. In Starck’s hands, the Perrier vessel transforms into a work of art that marries its traditional aesthetic with innovative allure.

The designer’s inspiration? Fresnel’s optical lens. Developed in 1823 by French engineer Augustin Fresnel, this lens boasts a unique pattern of carved ridges, channeling rays to enhance the light’s consistency and intensity. Celebrating its 200th anniversary this year, the Fresnel lens not only revamped maritime signaling but continues to impact today’s technology, from projectors to solar cells.

“As a child, I always used to be afraid that the bottle would slip from my hands,” Starck recalls. “I would clutch it very tightly, to the point where it hurt. This is why I chose this striated pattern. The bottle clings to me, I cling to the bottle: another form of play. And you’ll see it, in this new bottle, the bubbles are absolutely out of this world.”

Source: DesignTAXI

Copycat In-N-Out Restaurant In Mexico Changes Name To Sofi’s Burger

The Mexico-based restaurant that made headlines for its similarities to In-N-Out Burger restaurants has changed its name, SFGate reported.

The restaurant, formally known as In-I-Nout, has changed its name to Sofi’s Burger, according to its Instagram account.

Pictures on the restaurant’s Instagram page still show red trays plated with grilled topped burgers and fries covered in special sauce, similar to food served at In-N-Out restaurants. However, some photos also show other food offerings that In-N-Out doesn’t sell, like chicken nuggets.

When news first broke about the imitation restaurant, the real In-N-Out didn’t seem too happy with the surprise pop-up eatery, telling KTLA that they are unable to comment “due to ongoing litigation” – signaling that the restaurant was pursuing legal action against the copycat.

In-N-Out Burger opened in 1948 as a tiny stand at Francisquito and Garvey avenues in Baldwin Park. Harry and Esther Snyder, the company’s founders, are credited with inventing the world’s first drive-thru with a two-way speaker box that same year.

For years, the restaurants could only be found in the Los Angeles area, but company officials slowly began expanding its footprint to other regions across the state and nearby states.

As of 2023, the company has 385 locations across the western half of the nation. In January, the company announced that it would open restaurants and a corporate office in Tennessee by 2026.

Source: KTLA