Bill Bunten is the mayor Google, Kansas—formerly known as Topeka, Kansas. He signed a proclamation temporarily renaming the city in an effort to convince Google to make Topeka a test site for a gigabit fiber Internet connection.

According to Bunten, he hopes that changing the city's name for the entire month of March "would set Topeka apart from other cities vying for Google's attention, which include Grand Rapids, Mich., and Baton Rouge, La."

Ah well, do whatever it takes, Bunten. It's not like this is Topeka's first peculiar name change, anyway. In 1998, the city was renamed "to "ToPikachu" to honor a nationwide kickoff of the Pokemon franchise. [CJ Online]

Oh, this weird box at the center top still baffles people. Is it where you search? Is it where you submit blackmail? What sort of comments go in there? Find out in this week's edition of Gizmodo's Tips Box.

Of course tips aren't the only thing you can submit through that box since it leads you to the wonderful land of tag pages, but let's focus on the hot-hot-hot tips that came in through it this week, shall we?

We got introduced to something oddly tasty looking called the BatterBlaster by mhsrebelguy06. (Warning; Some sound plays automatically on the linked site.) Speaking of mhsrebelguy06, he also taught us about how women are amazing firewalls.

We also got to see a neat infographic shared by dfp3050 that breaks down spending and religious beliefs.

Our dear otko decided to be funny and give us a $5 tip. (I haven't received a check yet, buddy!)

CrispyAardvark has found some rather neat Lego models by 15-year-old Sven Junga:

gawkerGallery(5483334,4,'');

ochee_ found weird contraptions that made me want to hug all the world's children and promise them that I won't ever shove them into one of these torture devices disguised as freaky art:

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Oh, and this week there were a ton of videos dropped into #tips. Here are a few amusing-yet-far-too-weird ones:

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That's some of the craziness that we've sifted through this week, but we encourage you to add to it—both silly things and serious tips.

We're proud of our comment system and commenter community. In fact, many of our posts come from items submitted to our #tips box. Gizmodo's Tips Box is a regular feature to show the funny, scary, and freaky things we just couldn't post, but want to share.

It's not like your two ears really need 7.1 channels of audio, but what your home theater does need is simplicity and an eagerness to support the third dimension. In truth, we can only safely say that those beliefs are shared by Pioneer, who has today introduced a new pair of 5.1 AV receivers that offer Bluetooth streaming, HDMI 1.4 and an unmistakable "3D ready" label. There's also the obligatory Works with iPhone certification on the VSX-820-K, which enables it to transfer iPod navigation control and on-screen graphics from the remote back to the Apple device. Outside of that, most everything else is identical between the two, as they each offer five channels of 110 watts, at least 3 HDMI sockets and rather reasonable price tags. Speaking of, you'll be asked to pay $229 for the 520 and $299 for the 820 when they splash down later this month.

Pioneer brings Bluetooth streaming, 3D-readiness to VSX-520-K and VSX-820-K receivers originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A new study found a direct link between the time teenagers spent staring at screens and their inability to have meaningful relationships with their parents and peers. This study obviously was conducted before that Russian kid blessed us with Chatroulette.

You've likely been at one end of this debate—either you were a teenage TV zombie being told by your parents to go play outside, or you were that parent trying to keep your kid from spending another mindless hour on the Internet. In this battle, it turns out, the wisdom of age prevails.

The study, published in this month's Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, found that every hour of TV watched increased the teen's likelihood of detachment from friends and family 4% and each hour of Internet increased it 5%. Let's break that down: If you're 16 and watch 4 episodes of 24 after school, you're 20% more likely not to like hanging out with your parents.

So it's true, being glued to screens deprives kids of all those emotions that aren't represented with emoticons. Thankfully, in the intervening months since this study was completed, Chatroulette has come and totally renewed young people's interest in interacting with other human beings. And their genitals. [PhysOrg]

Ever get the feeling that what you see on paper just isn't going to be as good in person? That's sort of how we felt today when we stopped by Gigabyte's CeBIT booth to get a look at its newly announced T1000 netvertible. On the spec front the T1000 has everything we could possibly want in a netbook -- a new 1.83GHz Atom N470, 2GB of RAM, a chiclet keyboard and a 1366 x 768-resolution multitouch display -- but in our few minutes of use things were far from rainbows and butterflies. The resistive touch panel required a pretty firm press, and when in slate mode there's no buttons (or accelerometer) for rotating the device. While we liked the chiclet keyboard, we'll never understand why Gigabyte has kept the two mouse buttons on the sides of the touchpad. We realize that we may be jumping to conclusions too quickly here, so we'll let you decide for yourselves with the help of a short video after the break.

Continue reading Gigabyte T1000 takes a new twist on life with Atom N470 and a multitouch display

Gigabyte T1000 takes a new twist on life with Atom N470 and a multitouch display originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Based on its name, I thought the iLuv Premium iMM178 Vibe Plus is an overpriced sex toy, but it turns out it's a rather clever iPod/iPhone-compatible alarm clock which shake-shake-shakes you awake. Just hope the headboard doesn't hit the wall.

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The idea is that you shove that mouse-looking thing under your pillow and wait for your alarm to go off. When it does, everything will get a bit shaky while a speaker blares whatever sound or music you've selected. In theory, this should wake up even the deepest sleeper, but I'm more entertained about the thought that it could move beds enough to make your neighbors believe that you're having the most precisely timed sex ever. Every single morning.

iLuv Announces the Premium iMM178 Vibe Plus, A Dual Alarm Clock with Speaker Integrated Bed Shaker for iPhone & iPod Users

iLuv releases premium new Apple iPhone-certified version of bedside alarm clock that will shake the deepest of sleepers awake

PORT WASHINGTON, NY – (March 1, 2010) – iLuv Creative Technology, the leader in innovative solutions dedicated to developing unique accessories for Apple's iPhone and iPod announces the iMM178 Vibe Plus, the next generation model from their Shake & Awake alarm clock dock series originally launched last year with the iMM153 . This Apple iPhone-certified new improved version features a sleek and slim black body design with a bed shaker that includes a speaker and volume control. iPhone and iPod users now have ten ways to wake up to their favorite music and this dock provides a 7 day – 5 day – 2 day alarm option for waking at a set time everyday, weekdays only or weekends. The Vibe Plus will be available now for the suggested retail of $89.99 at www.i-luv.com and other retailers.

This Apple iPhone-certified alarm clock with a premium bed shaker for iPhone and iPod includes a multitude of features and functions.

Key Features:
• Bed shaker vibrates a bed or a pillow to wake up the heaviest of sleepers and includes a 3-level volume control
• Built-in speakers featuring jAura acoustic speaker technology allow you to hear your music with depth and clarity
• Dual Alarm function for 7-5-2 everyday, weekday or weekends wake options • Time-sync function that synchronizes time for your iPhone & iPod • Large easy to read digital display with 10 level LCD dimmer control • 2 Way volume control – from the main unit or from the shaker
• Integrated universal dock for your iPod plays and charges your iPhone and iPod
Digital Dual Alarm Clock Capabilities:
• Dual alarm clock function allows a couple to wake to separate alarms • 10-Way to wake up including to iPod, FM radio, buzzer, bed shaker, iPod + bed
shaker, FM radio + bed shaker, buzzer + bed shaker
Radio Functions:
• FM stereo • PLL digital tuning technology improves the radio signal clarity
• Programmable presets for 10 radio stations

*Compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, iPhone, iPod Touch 2nd generation, iPod Touch, iPod Nano 1st – 5th generation, iPod Classic, iPod with video, iPod 4th generation, iPod mini

[iLuv]

You've been up nights, we know, and now Microsoft has finally ended your torment: the long-promised Facebook application is now available for download to the Zune HD. Go wild, but not too wild, alright everybody?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Facebook app now available for Zune HD originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flickr user rediv (aka Alan M) went and made himself some sexy LEGO fembots. Why? I dunno, he's sick in the head or something. Or maybe he just needs somebody to talk to (get a fish, God!). Isn't that right, Mr. Tickles? You're my friend, aren't you? Mr. Tickles? MR. TICKLES? OKAY, WHO THE F*** FED MY FISH AN OMELET?! Hit the jump for a couple other shots, including an ass one, because you have issues.

You can now feed your social media obsession even further by downloading a Facebook app onto your Zune HD. Heads up though, seems that you may need to update your Zune software first. [CrunchGear]

Well here's an interesting one: starting today, users of the legendary Windows 7 Release Candidate should "begin experiencing bi-hourly shutdowns," yet we haven't received a single tip on this annoying "feature." We have only two assumptions: either our faithful readers have already moved on to the real thing, or you sly devils are on a hacked RC of some sort. In any event, you've got until June 1st to do a full reinstall (no upgrade options on RC, sadly), after which you'll be blocked from important updates and persistently bugged by a "This copy of Windows is not genuine" notice. Need more arm-twisting? Just picture Steve Ballmer hunting you down with a sledgehammer.

Windows 7 Release Candidate starts bi-hourly hiccups today, seemingly affects nobody originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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