melissa

The third most difficult part with humor is when you have to explain it.

The second most difficult is when someone actually gets offended.

The most difficult part is when a joke might cost you your career because you posted it on Facebook.

That is the prospect facing 33-year-old Melissa Cairns, a teacher in an Ohio middle school. Cairns' heinousness stems from an episode in her classroom at the Buchtel Community Learning Center.

"I made a bad mistake of thinking it was funny," she told ABC affiliate WEWS-TV.

What did she do? Well, a student had a problem … Read more

What if every time a Facebook friend liked one of your Facebook posts, that friend appeared out of nowhere, wrapped her arms around you, and gave you a big hug of appreciation? That would be pretty sweet.

Since that's not likely to happen in reality, you'll have to settle for the Like-A-Hug vest from Melissa Chow, Andy Payne, and Phil Seaton at the MIT Media Lab.

When a friend likes your photo, video, or status update, the vest inflates. Send a hug back to your buddy by squeezing and deflating the vest.… Read more

It appears that the Dallas Cowboys don't want their famous cheerleaders generating their own attention. And doing so can get them kicked off Twitter.

Note: Please see below for updates, including a response from the Cowboys.

On Thursday, during the team's Thanksgiving Day game against the Miami Dolphins, cheerleader Melissa Kellerman was accidentally tackled at the end of a play by Cowboys tight end Jason Witten. Afterward, Kellerman tweeted light-heartedly about it. Now, according to CNBC reporter Darren Rovell, the team has forced Kellerman to delete her Twitter account.

After the tackle--which was caught live on camera (see … Read more

We live in a world of free expression. It's just that sometimes we pay a large price for it.

I give you--for she is now free to express herself however she wants--Melissa Petro.

Petro was an elementary school teacher in the Bronx. She taught art. And it just so happened she used to be paid for performance art. Yes, Petro used to be a stripper and a prostitute.

You can imagine that, when her school found out, it wasn't overcome with pleasure. Indeed, it suspended her, which, according to CBS New York, drove her to a resigned state. … Read more

Until all gadgets go wireless, you'll have cables to deal with. Bluelounge--an LA-based design studio--realizes every device comes with a cable (or two), so it's created products that organize cables that help to defeat their everyday annoyances.

Bluelounge studio's Melissa Sunjaya and Dominic Symons do more than design furniture and accessories. The internationally recognized artists have designed Web sites, interiors, footwear, fashion accessories, and other products that benefit from a contemporary look. Their designs are distinct and inspire clean and happy feelings.

Minimalists will enjoy the StudioDesk, a work space with a cubby to conceal unattractive … Read more

Melissa Hathaway, acting cyberspace director for the White House's National Security and Homeland Security councils, has resigned from her post, citing personal reasons, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The White House press office did not immediately respond to a call seeking confirmation of her resignation, but a spokesman has offered an e-mail statement to other publications.

"We are grateful for her dedicated service and for the significant progress she and her team have made on our national cybersecurity strategy," White House spokesman Nick Shapiro said in an e-mail to the publication Federal Computer Week.

The timing … Read more

A correction was made to this story. Read below for details.

A decade ago there was no Facebook, no iPhone, and no Conficker. There was dial-up and AOL and a nasty virus called Melissa that ended up being the fastest spreading virus at the time.

CNET News talked to Dmitry Gryaznov, a senior research architect at McAfee Avert Labs who was among the researchers who worked to fight the Melissa outbreak and track down the creator.

Q: How was Melissa discovered? Gryaznov: Avert as a whole discovered it as did some of the competitors. It was submitted to us by … Read more

In a move that could reshape the federal government's cybersecurity efforts, President Obama on Monday said a former Booz Allen consultant would conduct an immediate two-month review of all related agency activities.

The announcement indicates that the White House's National Security Council may wrest significant authority away from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which weathered withering criticism last fall for its lackluster efforts.

Obama selected Melissa Hathaway, who worked for the director of national intelligence in the Bush administration and was director of an multi-agency "Cyber Task Force," to conduct the review with an … Read more