12-year-old "Magneto Man" breaks every computer he touches

Confirming our belief that some people are just "bad with computers," a boy named Joe Falciatano III from Pulaski, New York, seems to have simply the worst luck ever -- and some think it could be do to an overly magnetized touch. While using PCs at this elementary school, Joe -- who dubbed himself "Magneto Man" -- found that every system he laid his hands on went totally haywire. Only after a teacher suggested he use a grounded, anti-static wrist strap did the systems experience relief from his Geek Squad-inducing grasp. Apparently, the boy has also disrupted slide show presentations and caused his Xbox to freeze repeatedly. Though tests have been run on Joe, there's still no conclusive evidence about the source of the problem, though at least one electricity expert said the cause could be his over-insulated shoes. Maybe, but we won't be surprised when he forms an army of mutant super-villains and tries to take control of the White House. Check the video after the break for the whole report.

[Via ScienCentral]

[iomatic @ Mar 2nd 2008 11:14PM]

It's clearly Windows.

[Justin @ Mar 2nd 2008 11:18PM]

haha, i believe this explanation actually explains a lot

[siriusfox @ Mar 3rd 2008 12:01AM]

I'm not convinced the kid has done anything. He's just using the top row of number keys, and tapping caps lock. Caps lock doesn't work on the top row of number keys. No doubt he has figured out a way to lock the shift key.

He's toying with these guys to get some attention.

[kash @ Mar 3rd 2008 5:13AM]

LOL ITS NOVELL.... the suckiest client schools use... lol

[Mike10010100 @ Mar 3rd 2008 6:14AM]

Yeah, it's not the caps lock, it looks like he simply changed the font size.

This is another kids claims of special-ness just to get attention.

[giantenemycrab @ Mar 3rd 2008 11:56AM]

I must admit the kid had that look that most kids get when they're not telling the whole story. But, I don't know if it's that he found out how to "lock the shift key," I don't think that's possible.. is it?

[insertAlias @ Mar 3rd 2008 5:44PM]

@giantenemycrab
Sticky Keys. Press shift five times in windows.

[mike @ Mar 2nd 2008 11:14PM]

QuickTime sucks!

[The General @ Mar 2nd 2008 11:21PM]

Video worked fine for me!

/mac user :-P

[mike @ Mar 2nd 2008 11:25PM]

/me Windows XP user who refuses to install QuickTime (Or iTunes)...

[austin @ Mar 2nd 2008 11:29PM]

So, mike youre one a those guys who refuses apple all together and doesn't realize what youre missing?

I was the same way. Now the only microsoft product in my house is my 360. Your time will come

[letstakeawalk @ Mar 2nd 2008 11:32PM]

I agree, I really dislike QuickTime. It tried to take over as my default player for everything, so I uninstalled it as best I could. My only problem now occurs when someone feels the need to post a Quicktime vid and my browser (IE7 on Win XP) tells me the mimo-whatever associations are lost - or some goobledy gook that I simply don't care to deal with. I use an iMac at work, I carry a 4G eee in my bag, and I use this Win box when I feel like editing photos or my web page. QuickTime chafes my a*se - sorry, rant over.

[DaMan09 @ Mar 2nd 2008 11:33PM]

Yeah, quicktime does suck, very buggy

/mac user using firefox

[Spyvie @ Mar 2nd 2008 11:38PM]

"me Windows XP user who refuses to install QuickTime (Or iTunes)..."

Me too...

[Steffen Jobbs @ Mar 2nd 2008 11:41PM]

Aw, come on. That video played perfectly and looked nice and clear. Much better than that youtube crud.

They should have him use Macs. Then he wouldn't have the problem of his computers breaking down.

[Saad Rabia @ Mar 2nd 2008 11:42PM]

/me Vista with Quicktime Alternative; FTW.

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/QuickTime_Alternative.htm

/Also, I hate Quicktime.

@ austin: you're one a those guys who refuses Microsoft all together and doesn't realize what you're missing? I was the same way. Now I have nothing Apple in my house. Your time will come.

[purezerg @ Mar 2nd 2008 11:45PM]

anyone managed to view this clip on vista x64? apparently mac software is only good in mac enviroment.

[Tiptup300 @ Mar 2nd 2008 11:59PM]

I personally want to welcome are coming overlords of mutants...

[Ayle @ Mar 3rd 2008 12:41AM]

suffer in silence then or use quicktimealternative.

[Shawn @ Mar 3rd 2008 1:08AM]

"me Windows XP user who refuses to install QuickTime (Or iTunes)..."

ditto.

[Archdoom @ Mar 3rd 2008 1:39AM]

@Purezerg
Yep, and it was ok, except for bad sound quality, lots of static (ironic, eh?)
As much as I don't like quicktime, the video quality is better than youtube etc.

[Atanas Boev @ Mar 3rd 2008 1:43AM]

I refuse to install quicktime because of
1) the horrible way it handles mp3 links in browser
2) quick time agent in system tray
3) itunes
4) "you should update itunes" (what? i dont weven want to use itunes!)
5) interface inconsistent with windows.

I call it anti-halo effect.

[rTwelve @ Mar 3rd 2008 1:53AM]

FANBOYISM SUCKS

Stop just adhering to and ignoring brands and use WHAT WORKS FOR YOU.

If an iPhone, a Dell, and a PS3 works for you, or a Symbian, iMac, and Wii, or whatever combination, then do it.

Stop going on on a holy war like the other guy is the spawn of Satan unless you're on commission.

[wildtang3nt @ Mar 3rd 2008 2:18AM]

Works fine for me. Using Linux... MPlayer ftw

[dfgsdfsdf @ Mar 3rd 2008 3:25AM]

I totally agree. Firefox and Quicktime don't work very well together on Windows. I have Quicktime installed, but Firefox won't find it. It will try to install it again, and it will fail. A manual install won't work either.

Please let us all stick to Flash video - the only Internet video format that always works everywhere.

[ErikLindemann @ Mar 3rd 2008 3:20AM]

Mike, you're living in the past. Install quicktime you silly bastard.

[MikeG @ Mar 3rd 2008 11:42AM]

I refuse to become a part of apple's "iLife"
1. Because it soudns so lame,
2. Because of the scalf wearing-art students who use the products.

Also, QuickTime always crashes my firefox when I'm looking at por....t holes

[sdh @ Mar 3rd 2008 4:40AM]

Woah, that was really a sore subject huh? Seriously I don't see what's wrong with qt. I live by a simple rule, when I run Windows I have qt installed and when I run OS X I have codecs for wmv installed. So then both platforms works with both movietypes. Whatcha people crying about?

[andi @ Mar 3rd 2008 4:56AM]

worked perfectly on ubuntu with VLC

[yavin @ Mar 3rd 2008 6:06AM]

at least it's not a Realcrap video format that you can only read with f***ng Real Player!!!

[Neebs @ Mar 3rd 2008 6:22AM]

I'd hate to just add to this spamchain and beat the dead horse but really, there's a lot of people not using QuickTime and for good reason - I too uninstalled it so it would not take over my media.

[CosterMonger @ Mar 3rd 2008 10:25AM]

@dfgsdfsdf

on Microsoft Windows Vista... RIGHT?

[Scott @ Mar 3rd 2008 10:33AM]

At least you have the choice to uninstall Quicktime if you want, unlike WMP that CAN'T BE UNINSTALLED!

[DonatoM3 @ Mar 3rd 2008 12:41PM]

I wouldn't need to uninstall quicktime if it didn't ask me to update my iTunes (which I don't use or have installed) every single week. That's why I won't install Quicktime, not because it's an Apple product.

[dfgsdfsdf @ Mar 3rd 2008 3:35PM]

@CosterMonger: No, on XP.

[Lazarus Dark @ Mar 3rd 2008 4:55PM]

To add to the cacophony:
Quicktime Alternative FTW.

If I wanted to use Apples crap, I'd get on my fiance's Mac.

I tried QT ONCE, and it took over my whole system it seemed. I did a fresh install of XP just to get rid of it all (uninstall does not get rid of it all!)

[Chris Macdonald @ Mar 3rd 2008 6:06PM]

I don't mean to be a (OMG ENGADGETS BIASEDED TO APPLE PRODUCTS OMG TOO MUCH IPHONE NOOZ)but, couldnt they get the vid up there on something other than quicktime?

[jason @ Mar 3rd 2008 6:24PM]

I love how there is almost more comments on quick time than the actual story..

Its a load of crap (the kid) .. its called sticky keys...

another good one is ctrl + alt + arrow keys... (win xp) tell them your monitor broke and you need a better one... I heard it almost never happens to a 26" monitor....;)

[Timerider @ Mar 4th 2008 11:23AM]

Screw you, Quicktime is awesome. It's lightyears beyond windows-fucking-media. Windows media is always extremely buggy no matter what it's on. I've had a PC before and I have no damn idea what you people are complaining about. If you don't want Quicktime as the primary player, there's an option to disable it. Quicktime is the only non-buggy video player around, flash players are low quality, time out, and don't consistently work.

[Andrew @ Mar 4th 2008 1:02PM]

Quicktime does suck, on my Windows box. I never found using the Quicktime player practical on the PC, when I could just download the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack, and use Media Player Classic as my default player for anything video. I was surprised though, to find out that on my Mac, it's a completely different story. Quicktime suits my needs as a MPC replacement, when paired with Flip4Mac, and Perian, which which allow Quicktime to play most file extensions. Quicktime, along with iTunes, and especially Safari, are easily several times faster and lighter on the Mac, and more stable than their Windows counterparts. Quicktime on the PC is a no for me. As are Safari and iTunes, which are replaced by Firefox and WinAMP. This is how I use my applications. My operating systems, my life. Just because I've found that my method works for me, I'm not going to try and justify it as the be-all-end-all solution to everyone's life, nor am I going to push my views on others. Use what you find works for you, and you only. And stop the ridiculous fanboyism, as all it succeeds in doing is hurting the feelings of one person after another.

@Lazarus Dark: You formatted your PC because you didn't know how to remove Quicktime? Wow, way to be dramatic for the sake of emphasizing a point.

[Matthew C @ Mar 8th 2008 1:22AM]

I'm not pro- quicktime (divx stage 6 is my preferred web player, tho not all that common), but seriously- the quality was MUCH higher than youtube. And i'm running a PIII w/ windows xp.

[Graham @ Mar 2nd 2008 11:15PM]

So Be Kind Rewind *was* based on a true story!

[granny down east @ Mar 2nd 2008 11:48PM]

AFROTC or CAP??

[Graham @ Mar 2nd 2008 11:51PM]

CAP. Joinin the Marines in December though =)

[Panathas17 @ Mar 3rd 2008 12:16AM]

Bet you a Mac and a PS3 wouldn't go haywire! ;)

[granny down east @ Mar 5th 2008 10:49PM]

Graham, Godspeed with your plans for the Marines.

I am a CAP SAR/DR pilot.
You get over this way our CAP sqdn meets at Cherry Point 1830 Tuesdays.
Granny out.

[Graham @ Mar 5th 2008 11:00PM]

thanks alot. Yea I will have to try and make it up there some time. Im down in florida at the squadron at Patrick AFB.

[fischju @ Mar 2nd 2008 11:16PM]

My god, I hope this kid gets a job in a cubicle and a camera.

[Saad Rabia @ Mar 2nd 2008 11:16PM]

If he had magnetic powers, the monitor would flip out with rainbow colors on the sides. I say this kid is pulling a smart prank on everybody, he sounds like someone who would such thing.

[Justin @ Mar 2nd 2008 11:19PM]

Yea, a keyboard typing symbols when caps key isn't on doesn't sound like magnetic powers. I thought this meant he messed up computers, not just having random keyes