All posts tagged: plate

I got £8,500 in Ulez fines after my car number plate was cloned | Money

I got £8,500 in Ulez fines after my car number plate was cloned | Money

Published by Sam Flores

Someone cloned my car number plate back in October and racked up £8,500 in Ulez fines. I appealed, but this was rejected. Unfortunately, the cloned car is the same make, model and colour as mine. I’ve now received 17 “order for recovery of unpaid penalty charge” notices from Transport for London (TfL). The bailiffs will arrive next week, according to their letters. I’ve never driven my car in London, and can’t afford these fines. RJ, Maidenhead Car number plate cloning rose by 9% last year, according to the DVLA. Criminals steal, or copy, registration plates to fix to vehicles that look similar. This allows them to evade parking and speeding penalties, as well as clean air zone fines. The cloning of your car coincided with a serious bike accident that required surgeries and meant you were unable to appeal against all the fines in time. TfL cancelled the penalties as soon as I provided evidence that you did not own the offending vehicle. It says: “We would encourage all drivers who believe they have received …

State Laws Against Surveillance and License Plate Cams: What Works Best for Your Privacy

State Laws Against Surveillance and License Plate Cams: What Works Best for Your Privacy

Published by skeptic

In my coverage of controversial surveillance company Flock Safety and similar license-plate trackers, such as Motorola’s VehicleManager, I mentioned that one of the most effective steps US readers could take to protect their home and vehicles was to encourage their representatives to pass the right privacy protection laws. That’s even more important now that AI recognition capabilities can instantly recognize a car, a person’s face and other identifying information. That raises a large question: What are the best privacy protection laws? I wanted to provide more details for anyone wondering what to support or what their state is currently doing. One challenge is that every state is different, and there’s no clear guide on what privacy laws work and which have flaws. I spoke to senior policy counsel and lead for American Civil Liberties Union’s surveillance work, Chad Marlow, to find the best examples. These laws are making the biggest difference in our privacy.  “Collective action, rather than individual action, is required,” Marlow told me. “I would caution that while Flock is the most problematic ALPR …

I tried Lidl’s new carbon plate running trainers — are the £40 kicks actually any good?

I tried Lidl’s new carbon plate running trainers — are the £40 kicks actually any good?

Published by Sam Flores

As any runner knows, getting the right pair of trainers is a fine art — one that often involves wince-inducing words like ‘pronate’, ‘gait’ and ‘expensive’. Most pairs of good running shoes will set you back at least £200, if not more. For regular pavement-pounders, they’re a necessary part of the lifestyle; not only are they more technologically advanced than ever, but a decent set of trainers will help keep you injury-free. As someone who has ended up with long-term knee problems from running in cheap trainers (RIP, my meniscus), the news that Lidl has launched its own £40 version of Nike’s celebrated Vaporfly was enough to ring a couple of alarm bells. Abha Shah In the name of journalism (and curiosity), I also agreed to test them out. The lure was too strong: after all, if Lidl’s pair turned out to be any good, they could spare me spending upwards of £150 every six months on a new pair of Asics. Enter: the Crivit CarbonLite 1.0. As the name suggests, it’s a carbon-plated running …

I tried a vibration plate for one month. Here’s what happened

I tried a vibration plate for one month. Here’s what happened

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Could the key to losing weight, building muscle and bone density and improving circulation be as simple as shaking for five minutes a day? That’s what I set out to discover over the last month by using a vibration plate for 5-10 minutes daily. The machine – a 2-3-foot wide plastic and rubber pedestal that vibrates at the command of a remote – has been around for more than 20 years. But it has found new fans across social media, featuring in more than 130,000 TikTok videos and Instagram Reels. A recent social media challenge asked users to film themselves trying to drink a cup of water on the plates. “I’ve seen the girlies who use this and they have abs, like actual abs,” says beauty influencer Maiya Sagoo, one of many toned women in workout gear posting videos while standing …

People Who Never Let Food Touch On Their Plate Usually Share These 11 Distinct Traits

People Who Never Let Food Touch On Their Plate Usually Share These 11 Distinct Traits

Published by Jenni Sidey

People who never let food touch on their plate might seem like they simply have a quirky eating habit, but the behavior can actually say a lot about their personality. How a person arranges their food, whether by carefully separating items or keeping everything orderly, can reveal insights into their approach to other aspects of life. For some people, keeping their plate tidy isn’t just a matter of preference. It reflects a deeper tendency toward structure, order, and attention to detail. People who dislike food touching on their plate often bring that same mindset into their daily routines. They tend to plan ahead, notice small details others overlook, and prefer environments that feel organized and predictable. It’s not about being controlling or overly picky. Instead, it’s often a sign of people who like doing things thoughtfully and deliberately. Here are 11 distinct traits people who never let food touch on their plate tend to share. People who never let food touch on their plate usually share these 11 distinct traits: 1. They’re highly organized Pixel-Shot …

I asked a dietitian which fiber-rich foods should be on everyone’s plate this winter—here’s what she had to say

I asked a dietitian which fiber-rich foods should be on everyone’s plate this winter—here’s what she had to say

Published by Jenni Sidey

For a long time, fiber has been an underrated nutrient, but it’s starting to steal some of the limelight from protein—and for good reason. Benefits of a fiber-rich diet include improved digestion and blood sugar regulation, better heart health and gut health. Experts suggest eating between 25 and 30g of dietary fiber every day, but most adults fall short of the recommended amount. You may like While fibermaxxing has been trending on social media for several months, and it’s great to see people trying to pack more fiber into their diets, there’s more to it than just eating more—variety matters as much as quantity. That’s easier said than done, but one good reason to branch out a little is cost. If you focus on eating seasonal foods you may be able to make smart savings while expanding your sources of fiber. As we’re in the depths of winter (in the northern hemisphere at least), I asked registered dietitian Jordan Langhough to share her top five fiber-rich foods that are in season. If you want some …

You’re Probably Not Getting Enough Fiber: Add These 5 High-Fiber Foods to Your Plate

You’re Probably Not Getting Enough Fiber: Add These 5 High-Fiber Foods to Your Plate

Published by Jenni Sidey

Some signs you might not be getting enough fiber include bloating, constipation (and hemorrhoids), irritable bowel syndrome, or diverticulitis, says LeVeque. High-Fiber Foods to Add to Your Shopping List LeVeque says she recommends getting your fiber from whole foods like produce, nuts, and seeds before turning to supplementation. “Embracing a holistic approach to nutrition, I find that incorporating these wholesome options not only contributes to my daily fiber intake but also offers myriad [other] essential nutrients,” she says. Here’s what you can load up on to reap the health benefits of dietary fiber: 1. Fruits “Fruit has a bad reputation often with dieters because of its sugar content, but fruits are high in fiber,” says Berghoff. “I want you to eat your fiber, eat your fruits and vegetables”—preferably with the skin on. “When you juice them, it takes away most of that fiber and then leaves just the high sugar, which … spikes your insulin levels.” LeVeque says some of her favorite fruits include berries and avocados (yes, avo is a fruit). Pears, apples, kiwi, …

The Merach Vibration Plate Is the Funniest Workout I’ve Ever Done

The Merach Vibration Plate Is the Funniest Workout I’ve Ever Done

Published by skeptic

Many years ago, my brother-in-law was renovating an 18th-century house in New Orleans. As I spent the day searching through piles of moldy copies of Peanuts comics, I found a (still working!) 1950s-style fat-jiggler machine. From the Remington Beltmaster to the classic Shake Weight, many gimmicky fitness devices over the years have tried to capitalize on the concept of dynamic inertia to help us get toned and lose weight. Most human beings don’t like to move, even though moving is how you maintain your muscle mass and, you know, how you stay alive. A vibrating device offers you a mystical promise: You can trick yourself into exercising while staying absolutely still, as long as you’re standing on, near, or holding something that’s vibrating! Violently! Anyway, this is a long way to go about saying that for a few weeks, I have been vibrating myself while watching Train to Busan and other zombie movies. While I do think that the long-standing claims that you can vibrate your way to weight loss are mostly bogus, they do …

Want a healthier Thanksgiving? Experts suggest these four swaps to your plate

Want a healthier Thanksgiving? Experts suggest these four swaps to your plate

Published by Daniella Wilson

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Thanksgiving dinner is fast-approaching, and so is a looser notch on your belt buckle. Many holiday favorites are packed with artery-clogging saturated fats, an exorbitant amount of sodium, and refined sugar, none of which spell good news for your health in the long-run. Americans at Thanksgiving dinner on average, heaping on seconds of fatty casseroles, and mac and cheese. But experts say Americans don’t need to sacrifice their health to enjoy a delicious meal with family and friends. “Every food fits in your Thanksgiving meal,”Lea Obeid, a dietitian at Houston Methodist, said in a statement. “But there are alternative ways to prepare certain dishes, where the base of the dish doesn’t change but different ingredients are used to help make the dish better for you.” open image in gallery Many holiday …