Can't you just block the servers used by Facebook games? e.g. Zynga, Mindjolt, etc. The domains and IP ranges should be easy to track down. That should eliminate a major time sink, while still allowing access to FB messages, events, groups, etc which could possibly be used for work.

But really, if you've got someone playing Farmville 6+ hours a day at work, then it is an employee problem, not a security problem...

1. Don't chew gum while tasting wine.
2. Delicate grapes on a vine can be a metaphor for your life / personality, or something.
3. If anyone orders Merlot, leave.

What kind of gathering would require a pure wi-fi solution? Is everyone using smartphones or tablet PCs? Do they need to move around? If this is your typical conference/meeting where people are rooted to one spot with their notebooks, you may want to consider wired connections, in addition to wi-fi. WAPs are cheap these days, but Ethernet switches are also cheap, and possibly cheaper. For e.g. you can buy well-known brand 16-port switches for about $60 ea. Plus you don't need to buy "enterprise-grade" switches either - any ole switch should be able to outperform an 802.11g WAP. There might be a bit of problem with providing Ethernet cables, but you could always ask everyone to BYOC.

Here's something else to consider. If you go as far as to turn your apt into an Faraday cage, use EMF shielding paint, or whathaveyou, you would probably draw the ire of the cellular co. Since your apt is so close to the tower, any shielding in your apt could affect other users "downstream" in a fairly wide radius. Plus, the apt is in Manhattan, so that could mean the tower serves hundreds or even thousands of users! The cellular co may accuse you of "cellphone jamming" or "blocking cellphone services", both of which are illegal in the US.

Well, you could weed out the countries NOT to emigrate to. The 2009 Failed State Index is out:

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/06/22/the_2009_failed_states_index

I found their rating criteria exhaustive, but fair. It's basically a shopping list for what a good country should have.

I thought someone had created that Swan electromagnetic thingy from "Lost"!

I'm probably showing my age by saying this ("I'm 37! What? I'm 37. I'm not old") but this appears to be a totally appropriate response by the school authorities. In fact, I would advocate smashing her phone into a thousand pieces with a sledgehammer, right in front of her. It's unfortunate that the cops have to get involved but remember that these days, teachers are hamstrung by lawsuits, PTAs and school boards. I would recommend that everyone read the *entire* report before jumping to conclusions. This student has had discipline problems in the past (see last sentence in first para), and she repeatedly lied to the teacher, the principal and the police officer about the phone. I also don't understand how anyone can claim that using a cellphone (this includes texting) during lessons is not disruptive. I'm sure parents would be aghast if their precious little snowflake pulled out a PSP or a Gameboy in class. And yet, using a cellphone in class is OK?

1. Adblock Plus (not plain Adblock)

2. FlashBlock

3. Modified Hosts file (http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm)

4. If you need to watch a Youtube vid more than once, you can download it to your PC via keepvid.com.