It’s Saturday — time for some tasty news chum stew. Today’s stew, which is almost a specifically flavored post, provides some information on things you see, and things you don’t (including things you once saw):
- Hidden Things on the iPhone. Two articles touching on the same subject: Apple has installed some hidden packet sniffing technology on the iPhone, although Apple says the services are “diagnostic” in nature. The problem is, of course, that hackers very often figure out how to exploit these “diagnostic” services for their own purposes. Tsk, tsk, Apple.
- The Pastoral Life. We often don’t think about what our preachers and religious leaders get paid. For all the mega-leaders at mega-churches, there are ten times or more leaders at smaller churches, at much smaller salaries. This article explores the vanishing middle-class clergy, and how more and more pastors must turn to second or third jobs to make ends meet. Although the article is couched towards Christianity, it is true in Judaism as well — dues are down, and more congregations have part time rabbis and cantors.
- What Is It Really Like. We’ve all seen the image: the scantily clad girl pops out of the cake at the party. Here’s an interesting article that looks at that situation, only from the point of view of the girl in the cake. Life, it seems, isn’t as sweet for her.
- High Five, No Jive. We’ve all given someone the high five. Do you know where it started? Here’s an article on the inventor of the “high five” — who was also one of the first openly gay baseball players — and paid the price.
- I’ll Have What She’s Having. Wendy’s has had some memorable commercials, from Clara Peller and “Where’s the Beef?” to the commercials starring the founder of Wendy’s, Dave Thomas. The latest commercials start a cute redhead who is intimated to be “Wendy”. So who is that girl?
- Third Floor, Ladies Lingerie. This week, the Robinsons in Beverly Hills was demolished. My grandmother once worked there, so I have a sentimental spot in my heart for the building. Here’s a look back at what Robinsons was.