drugs

OK, we're not really sure what demographic this fake iPhone pocket scale is aiming for, and we also don't condone illegal drug use, but we still have to admit this is pretty funny stuff.

It's just what it appears to be: a fake iPhone that conceals a pocket scale for weighing minute quantities of, uh, cinnamon. Or oregano, maybe. For discreet chefs on the go. It was found on a shelf in a head shop in (where else?) Amsterdam. That said, I've actually seen one in a convenience store here in Seattle.

Really, though, an iPhone? … Read more

It's not easy being a drug cop.

You're constantly dealing with characters who can be less savory than mud pie. And then you discover that some of these people have vast amounts of money.

Who amongst us would not, therefore, in the midst of a raid on a suspected drug dealer's house, avail himself of the suspect's loot? Consider, for instance, the suspect's Wii.

In some highly entertaining footage from WFLA Tampa, cops appear to have been caught red-fingered by a security camera they missed in the home of Michael Difalco, an alleged drug dealer … Read more

There are many medical conditions that involve medication with intermittent doses on an as-needed basis, and often, that medication cannot be taken orally.

Scientists have long struggled with how best to deliver medication under these circumstances, where the delivery system might meet three key needs: intermittent dosing, with extreme precision, over the long term.

Research led by Daniel Kohane at Children's Hospital Boston may have hit on an effective new approach: a tiny, implantable device that releases the medication through a membrane whose porousness responds to the switching on or off of a magnetic field.

The membrane is embedded … Read more

Before you make another run for the Canadian border in search of cheap meds, try flashing the NeedyMeds iPhone app at your local pharmacist.

This drug-discount card promises to save you up to 75 percent on your prescriptions. It's not insurance, but rather a free program that's available to anyone.

No, really. There's no charge for the NeedyMeds app, no charge to use it, and no registration required.

Just install it on your iPhone or iPod Touch, head to the drugstore (NeedyMeds is accepted at over 50,000 pharmacies, including all major drugstore chains, according to the … Read more

Caroline McCarthy and Tim Geisenheimer join The 404 today, while Jeff pretends to celebrate the Passover with his family. The ace reporter brings in cupcakes made with bacon cream-cheese frosting and beer. Sounds incredibly healthy. Here's the recipe.

On today's show, we cover the news that Yelp is finally letting businesses respond to negative reviews that users write. Did you know that The 404 has a Yelp page? Wilson discovers that you can actually write reviews for almost anything, including homeless people. In the same vein, feel free to write Yelp reviews for your favorite 404 hosts.

In more outrageous news today, PETA is holding an animal protest rally in World of Warcraft. WoW players are slaughtering baby seals in the "Howling Fjord." We think PETA should spend its time trying to stop Tim from killing baby seals on the weekends, rather than virtual seals. Also, a man in Texas got stabbed for farting in the room with his buddies. This happens on a daily basis in Wilson's office. More from Texas: a state legislator says that Asian American names are too confusing. And South of the border, Mexican drug dealers are sending blatant death threats on YouTube.

Thanks for sending in your survival stories. Keep them coming. E-mail them or call us at the usual number. And be sure to RSVP for the upcoming 404 meetup on April 16 next week. Here's the link. Jennifer Love Hewitt and Megan Fox will be there! (Not really, but Natali Del Conte will be.)

Oracle on Monday announced plans to acquire Relsys, which develops drug safety and risk management applications.

The acquisition, which is expected to close by June, is designed to bolster Oracle's Health Sciences Global Business Unit, formed last summer. Health sciences is one of a number of industry sectors into which Oracle is delving via a buying spree.

Relsys develops applications designed to aid drug, biotech, and medical-device companies in streamlining their operations, adhering to regulatory compliance and improving the safety of their products.

With the acquisition, Oracle aims to provide its customers with the ability to identify safety risks … Read more

Just another Friday here at CNET, which apparently means we talk about drugs and porn. Justin recounts his tales of chivalrous battle with house mice (TIP: He used peanut butter not cheese). Also, Playboy pulls out of the DVD business, changing the face of the adult film industry forever and those anti-drug ads don't actually work. Stick around for a special guest caller in the show's second half.

Dan the Mantern here. One of today's stories is about preparations for Halloween safety in Annapolis, Maryland, which apparently has an inordinate number of child molesters. In order to protect Trick or Treaters, signs were mailed out to the homes of sex offenders that say: "No candy at this house." They will be required to post it on their front doors. I understand the message being sent out here, but look at the sign. It's a Jack-0-Lantern... Kind of sending a mixed message here. Kids see carved pumpkin and think Halloween, costumes, and candy corn, not "KEEP OUT." Epic fail, Annapolis Police Department, epic fail.

Tune in on Monday to catch Internet celeb Dan Ackerman talking about his new album and how many hours he's already spent with an advanced copy FALLOUT 3!

Amid an economic crisis, Congress found some time this week to address online threats to children.

The Protect Our Children Act, introduced by Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., made it through the Senate on Thursday. Separate bills authored by Sens. John McCain and Hillary Clinton were folded into the legislation, which authorizes more than $320 million for the Justice Department over the next five years for, among other things, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The bill would affect how Internet companies report online child pornography to authorities, and it approves funds for law enforcement to focus on online child … Read more

Online pharmacies will face stricter regulations under new legislation Congress is considering.

The Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act would ban the sale or distribution of prescription drugs over the Internet without a valid prescription. In order for a prescription to be valid, it must be issued by a practitioner who has examined the patient in person at least once.

The legislation provides an exemption, though, for "telemedicine practitioners"--that is, practitioners (not pharmacists) communicating remotely with the patient or the health care professional treating the patient.

Under the proposed law, online pharmacies would have to comply … Read more