Popular Mechanics - February 2011 vol. 188 no. 2

116 Pages·2010·39.32 MB·English

by  James B. Meigs Editor-in-chief

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SCIENCE OUTDOORS TECHNOLOGY AUTOMOTIVE HOME

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odyssey. honda.com

VAN. MYTH. LEGEND.

The best-selling minivan’ in the land is now vanlier than ever. Available features
like a Split-Widescreen Rear Entertainment System! a hard drive that fits thousands
of songs,’ a USB Audio Interface" and a leather-trimmed Interior will have you
riding in dazzling van glory. While a powerful and efficient 28 hwy mpg’ V-6 engine
will take you places you forgot existed. The van beckons. Like no van before.

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1-800-33-Honda *Basedon RL. Polk & Co. US. retail registrations, Minivan segment, 08 -7/10. TA separate source device is required to use split-screen functian.
“Hard disk drive (HDD) 14-68 memory audio system standard on navigation-equipped models. ffThe USS Audio Interface is used for direct connection to and control of
some current digital audio players and other USE devices that contain MPS, WMA or AAC music files. Some USE devices with security sattware and digital nghts-protected
files may notwaork. Please see your Honda dealer for details. 219 city28 hwy 2077 EPA mileage estimates for Odyssey Touring models with GAT Use for comparison purposes
only Actual mileage will vary Touring Elite modal shawn, ©2010 American Handa Motar Ca,, Ine.

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Popular Mechanics

Cellphones are Nail-gun mishaps,

invading your pri- crushed fingers,

vacy, marketers sell flaming engines,

your personal data, runaway floor

and cyberstalkers sanders, rampaging ns

can empty your bank power washers—

account with a few you name it, we've —- PM FEATURES |!
clicks. PM explores dealt with it. Here, ~

these and other we share our sage oS
digital threats—and advice so you can

how to fight back. avoid these com-

BY GLENN DERENE mon mistakes.

AND SETH PORGES BY THE EDITORS

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The automobile
is morphing into
a sophisticated
mobile gadget.
PM explores the
trend and tests
six state-of-the
art communica-
tion, navigation
and entertain-
ment systems.
BY G.E.
ANDERSON 4

The
5 sy Resurrection
ae -" of XZ439

i” Ina $1 million
adventure that
nearly costs him
his life, a former
U.S. Marine Corps
test pilot recruits a
team of volunteer
mechanics to reno-

e
Staff Sgt. Bryant Halford, a U.S. Marine

vate and fly the
Corps aviation mechanic, works on the first civilian-owned
vertical tail assembly of Harrier XZ439. Harrier jump jet.

BY MICHAEL
KAPLAN

ON THE Are digital devices intruding upon your privacy? In a word, yes. Photograph taken by Phillip Toledano in November 2010

in New York City. Prop styling by Shawn Patrick Anderson, styling by Nellie Fleischner, grooming by Patricia Iglesias.

PHOTOGRAPH BY TIM WRIGHT POPULARMECHANICS.COM | FEBRUARY 2011 5

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* COLUMNS

46 I'll Try Anything 48 The Security 52 How It Works:
Entering the near-freezing We Want Top-Fuel Dragster
waters of Canada’s Hudson Amid the recent furor over Ina 1000-foot run, it reaches
Bay, PM's thrill-seeking full-body scans and invasive 300 mph, generates insane hp
reporter takes a swim with pat-downs at airports, Glenn and destroys its own engine.
hundreds of hungry, two-ton Harlan Reynolds weighs the PM peels back the paint to
beluga whales. attendant legal, ethical and expose the source of the
security issues. top-fueler’s awesome power.

pm do-it-yourself

= | Popular Mechanics

HOME

Wpae PM DEPARTMENTS
>. NEW TOOLS / CARS / HOME / HOW-TO 81 Block Busters
® , 7 _* a . Boring through concrete calls
a = ° al > r for a big, bad tool. We test 11
i‘ a - 7 - . hammer drills to find the best.

84 Homeowners Clinic
Building a proper top for your
door trim’s crown molding.
PLUS How to remove
stubborn wallpaper;
optimizing outdoor lighting.

90 PM Saturday

Wet boots can ruin a winter
day. Our DIY “incubooter”
dries up the problem.

93 Saturday Mechanic

The alcohol in gasoline can
gum up your fuel system.
We've got a few tricks to keep
your motor running smoothly.

96 Car Clinic

Ever notice how your wheel
bearings, axles and CV joints
fail at the same time? Here's

why. PLUS Does a clear-coat
finish need to be waxed?

102 Fighting RF
Interference
Annoying gadget sounds and
data interruptions: why they
happen and how to stop them.

105 Digital Clinic

What you need to know about
Facebook Groups. PLUS
Sharing Netflix accounts;

*TECH WATCH *UPGRADE *NEW CARS how to get PDFs onto Kindles.

15 An Ear to the 25 Chop Sticks 35 Legendary

(M oving) Ground Fiskars's 1.65-pound X7 Explo rer

Geotechnical experts develop hatchet is a campsite-friendly The reborn Ford Explorer THECOVER

a sound-based landslide- wood chopper. PLUS Keep shows off its gentle side. 52 Top-Fuel Dragster /
warning system. PLUS Using feet warm with Columbia‘s PLUS We test the Nissan 54 How Gadgets Spy on You /
biotechnology to stop invasive battery-charged Bugathermo Leaf's range; carbon fiber goes 64 20 DIY Goofs /

species in the U.S., from varroa Techlite boots; we sneak-peek mainstream; a twin-turbo 74 Car Nav Systems /

mites to brown tree snakes. the greatest gadgets of 2011. rocket Benz. 48 TSA Body Scanners

IN EVERY ISSUE How to Reach Us 12 / Letters 13 / This ls My Job 112

8 FEBRUARY 27011 | POPULARMECHANICS.COM PHOTOGRAPH BY NATHAN PERKEL

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