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 Billie Lourd's throwback photo with Carrie Fisher is so beautiful it hurts
Try to hold back your tears. It has been a very tough time for Billie Lourd after the passing of both her mother, Carrie Fisher, and grandmother, Debbie Reynolds, just a day apart in December. The Scream Queens actress has stayed pretty quiet on social media since their deaths but she has treated us to pictures with Reynolds and Fisher. Now, two months after her tragic loss, Lourd took to Instagram to show a rare old school photo with her mother. The simple caption says it all. Oscar Isaac to join long list of hot guys who star in 'Hamlet'
Fangirls, rejoice! Following in the footsteps of Ethan Hawke, David Tennant, Benedict Cumberbatch and a cartoon lion, everyone's fictional boyfriend Oscar Isaac is taking on Shakespeare's most famous monologue-r. This summer at New York City's Public Theater, Isaac will headline Sam Gold's production of Hamlet, per the New York Times. This production may sound familiar to theatre fans, as it was originally slated to run at the Theater for a New Audience’s Polonsky Shakespeare Center in Brooklyn this season, until Gold had a falling out with the theater last year. Luckily for us, the Public stepped in. Read more... More about Hamlet, Shakespeare, Oscar Isaac, Theater, and Entertainment Read More »Facebook will give you a chance to fly your own flag in your profile pic
Facebook just added almost 200 national flags to its Profile Frames feature, giving users an extra chance share their national pride with all their friends—or just make everyone quickly scrolling through their feeds double-check if their phone screen has a smudge when the flags fly past. The small flags, which appear at the top corner of profile pictures, don't make much of a statement beyond "hey, here's where I'm from" adding to Facebook's list of photo frames that allow users visually pledge allegiance to their favorite sports teams or social causes (think back to the much more affecting and ubiquitous marriage equality and Paris frames that filled newsfeeds in 2015). Read more... More about Frame, Filters, Flags, Profile, and Tech Read More »The Washington Post's new slogan is movie-poster worthy
The Washington Post has a new slogan: Democracy Dies in Darkness. That's not just something for its press materials. The words are now right there below the paper's name on the front page of its website. Image: washingtonpost.com Post owner Jeff Bezos, better known as CEO of Amazon, said the phrase in a 2016 interview with the paper's editor-in-chief Marty Baron. When asked why he bought the paper, Bezos told a story about watching the Watergate hearings with his grandfather, who he described as "kind of a news junkie." "I think that a lot of us believe this, that democracy dies in darkness, that certain institutions have a very important role in making sure that there is light, and I think the Washington Post has a seat, an important seat to do that," he said. Read more... More about Business, Jeff Bezos, Washington Post, Journalism, and Newspapers Read More »This innovative wind turbine can withstand hurricane-force winds
'IceWind' has redesigned the wind turbine to be more efficient and durable by flipping the blades sideways. Read more... More about Real Time Video, Real Time Video, Real Time, Real Time Video, and Design Read More »Pluto and its 5 moons are about to be the nerdiest worlds ever
Get ready to geek out, space fans. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) — the body responsible for assigning official names to all cosmic objects discovered by Earthlings — has officially approved naming schemes for features on the surfaces of Pluto and its five moons. This is good news for all you science fiction nerds out there. The IAU's naming scheme for Charon would allow scientists to name features on the moon after "fictional and mythological voyagers, travelers and explorers," according to NASA. SEE ALSO: Scientists need your help to find the mysterious planet they suspect is lurking in our solar system Read more... Elmo, Big Bird and the gang answer the internet's most searched questions about 'Sesame Street'
"Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?" isn't the only question everyone has about the famed educational neighborhood. All of your favorite Sesame Street residents got together to answer some of the internet's biggest questions about the furry friends and their home for Wired.
Bert is sassy, Oscar is grouchy and Abby Cadabby is adorable as always. They answer lots of questions from "How does Sesame Street change the world?" to "What species is Big Bird?" to "Does Cookie Monster eat vegetables?" Read more... More about Google, Questions, Internet, Muppets, and Big Bird Read More »'EVE Online' players can use the game's virtual universe to identify real-life exoplanets
Finding planets that orbit stars other than our own is no simple task. Some scientists are calling on gamers to help sift through huge amounts of astronomical data to confirm the presence of exoplanets throughout our Milky Way galaxy. In its second foray into scientific crowdsourcing, the popular online multiplayer game EVE Online is collaborating with Massively Multiplayer Online Science, Reykjavik University, the University of Geneva and professor Michel Mayor to bring real-world astronomical data to EVE and task players with classifying the data to help refine the search for more exoplanets. This is the second iteration of game developer CCP Games' citizen science efforts, Project Discovery. Read more... More about Gaming, Citizen Science, Exoplanets, Space, and Eve Online Read More »Beyonce out at Coachella, will headline in 2018 instead
NEW YORK (AP) — Beyonce, who is pregnant with twins, will not perform at Coachella this year, but will headline the festival in 2018. We finally unboxed Nintendo's Switch and turned it on
We finally opened the box. There's just over a week left until Nintendo launches its latest console, the Switch, on March 3. We showed off the box on Monday — look, Nintendo has weird rules, OK? — but now we're able to actually open it up and show you what's inside. What is inside? You get the Switch console itself (which is actually the hardware's tablet form), the Switch dock that beams a video signal to your TV, a pair of Joy-Con controllers, a few Joy-Con accessories and all the requisite cables you need to get started. Provided you have easy access to both a wall outlet and an HDMI port on your TV, total setup time — from unboxing to powering on — is roughly 5 minutes. The instructions printed right on the Switch box lay it out as a two-step process. Read more... More about Nintendo Switch, Nintendo, Gaming, Entertainment, and Entertainment Read More »What's coming to Netflix in March
No matter what any land rodents say, we've got a good six more weeks of winter in half of this country. That's six more weeks of guilt-free binge season, so make the best of it — and check out the latest on Netflix this March. Top pick: 13 Reasons WhyDylan Minnette and Katherine Langford in a flashback scene from '13 Reasons Why.' Image: Beth Dubber/Netflix It doesn't release until the end of the month, but Jay Asher's 2007 novel about a teen who commits suicide gets a worthy adaptation in this miniseries. Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) left behind a series of audiotapes explaining the reason she killed herself — 13 reasons, and they're all people. They stories interconnect and diverge darkly through the tormented recollection of her classmate Clay (Dylan Minnette), who loved her from afar until the end. Read more... More about 13 Reasons Why, Lists, Netflix, Television, and Movies Read More »Tesla is so sure its cars are safe that it now offers insurance for life
In the self-driving future envisioned by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, car owners might be saying "goodbye" to a whole lot more than steering wheels. Musk is so sure of the safety features bundled into Tesla vehicles that his company has begun offering some customers a lifetime insurance and maintenance package at the time of purchase. No more monthly car-insurance bills. No more unexpected repair costs. The news was dropped Wednesday in an earnings call, reports The Next Web, and suggests that Tesla executives believe they are uniquely qualified to change the way new cars are priced and purchased. Read more... More about Elon Musk, Tesla Motors, Tesla, Tech, and Tech Read More »Seth Meyers interviews 'rogue' climate scientist worried about Trump
Climate scientists don't typically make the rounds on late-night talk shows. But thanks to President Donald Trump, they do now. Ben Santer, a prominent atmospheric scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers on Wednesday night — a rare step for someone employed by a government-run lab. "These are strange and unusual times, and it seems kind of important to talk about the science that we do," Santer told Meyers, explaining he was there as a private citizen. Trump previously claimed that human-caused climate change is "a hoax." More recently, he's said he is "open-minded" on climate science but that "nobody really knows" what's happening to the planet. Read more... More about Donald Trump, President Donald Trump, Climate Change Deniers, Climate Scientist, and Climate Science Read More »'Planet of the Apes' series director Matt Reeves to direct 'The Batman' starring Ben Affleck
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt may have poked fun at the idea of "Too Many Spider-Men," but "too many Batmen" is a problem yet to plague Hollywood. Warner Bros. announced Tuesday that Matt Reeves will direct The Batman, the next film starring Ben Affleck's Caped Crusader, that Affleck himself was originally slated to direct. “I have loved the Batman story since I was a child," Reeves said in a Warner Bros. press release. "He is such an iconic and compelling character, and one that resonates with me deeply. I am incredibly honored and excited to be working with Warner Bros. to bring an epic and emotional new take on the Caped Crusader to the big screen.” Read more... More about Ben Affleck, Matt Reeves, Warner Bros., Dc, and Batman Read More »Everything we know about 'Game of Thrones' Season 7
Game of Thrones won't be back on our screens for a few more agonizing months, but that definitely won't stop us from obsessing over it in the meantime. Now that the show has moved past the storylines published in George R. R. Martin's series of novels and we're entering the home stretch everyone involved is being even more secretive than usual — but the cast and creators have shared a few tasty tidbits for us to chew on before the Season 7 premiere rolls around. Here's what we know about Season 7 so far: The show won't return until this summer.Usually, Game of Thrones debuts in April, just in time to distract us as the broadcast shows start airing their season finales. But this time around, HBO has pushed the premiere date back to summer, with a specific timeslot yet to be announced. This is mostly to accommodate the later production schedule for Season 7, which started filming a few months later than it normally does because... Read more... More about Game Of Thrones Season 7, Game Of Thrones, Entertainment, and Tv Read More »Witches worldwide plan to cast a spell on Trump, but they'll have some spiritual opposition
Witches of the world are uniting against the President of the United States, and it might just spark off a war of spells vs. prayers. A document has been circulating around the internet recently, detailing a "A Spell to Bind Donald Trump and All Those Who Abet Him (version 2.0)." Presumably, version 1.0 was unsuccessful, but witches are nothing if not resilient. While the instructions don't give a clear idea of what the spell is supposed to do or what 'binding' Trump will accomplish, it is very inclusive. "This binding spell is open source, and may be modified to fit your preferred spiritual practice or magical system," the description reads. Read more... More about Prayers, Witchcraft, Trump, Watercooler, and Watercooler Read More »6-month-old is better at plank pose than I am
To be fair, I'm out of practice. Still, plank posing for a full 34 seconds is an impressive feat for 6-month-old Rowan who's too young to say the words "plank pose," let alone pronounce the pose's proper name "phalakasana". At this rate, Rowan should have defined baby abs by summer. [H/T: Cosmopolitan] Read more... More about Watercooler, Watercooler, and Video Read More »The Weather Channel to Kenny G is the least necessary VR experience and we love it
Finally, you can get the weather report for Omaha in the 1990s in virtual reality — to the smooth sounds of Kenny G, no less. This three-minute, 360-degree video is all about the "conditions at Omaha," with plenty of retro footage from The Weather Channel. Google VR filmmaker Jessica Brillhart released the immersive throwback masterpiece Thursday, as she detailed in a Medium post. She said she wanted to "create a place of calm and serenity similar to that of watching The Weather Channel in the 90's while sitting a foot away from the television screen." Read more... More about Kenny G, The Weather Channel, 90s Nostalgia, 360 Video, and Watercooler Read More »Reese Witherspoon gets a margarita! Mindy Kaling gets a margarita! Everybody with Oprah gets a margarita.
I implore you to carefully weigh every decision you've made in your life and determine where you went so wrong that you were not present on the magical set of A Wrinkle In Time. Now, bartender Oprah has arrived to pour margarita salt in your wounds. She took it upon herself to distribute tequila and boundless joy to her fellow celebrities and the crew. Reese Witherspoon noted Oprah's skills on Instagram. You may notice that Oprah's bracelet coordinates perfectly with the margaritas because she is always prepared.
The 'Things I did on Ambien' subreddit is a wild ride of sleepy trips and Snapchat funtimes
Ambien: Well-known drug of choice for those with sleepytime problems. It works! But it can also make you trip balls. Enter the subreddit r/ambien, where Redditors using the sleep aid tell the wild tales of things they did under the influence of the drug. At the top of the sub, a sticky post from eight months ago sets the perfect tone for the forum. The comments range from genuine advice to others sharing their own horror stories. "I'd go for 'Sorry, i reacted badly to my sleeping medication' rather than 'Sorry, I'm on ambien'. Sounds less like you're a druggy IMO," one user wrote. Read more... More about Drugs, Ambien, Funny, Reddit, and Watercooler Read More »This robot spy dog is like 'Westworld' for animals
If it looks like a dog, walks like a dog, and barks like a dog, it's a robot built to spy on real dogs by making those dogs trust it so much they don't realize their entire lives are being recorded. Surveillance, Westworld-style! In order to get a better understanding of how wild dogs do wild dog things, the folks at PBS' Spy in the Wild put a life-like creature out in the, uh, wild, and waited for other wild dogs to come sniffing. The robot, equipped with 24 moving parts, cocks its head and stretches and yips just like you'd expect a wild dog to, and its flesh-and-blood counterparts don't seem to be able to tell the difference. Aside from the lifeless eyes, "spy pup" is kinda cute. Read more... More about Westworld, Robot, Surveillance, Spy In The Wild, and Spy Read More »Activist heroically flies over barricade to seize Confederate flag
By climbing a flagpole outside the South Carolina's statehouse, Bree Newsome practically wrote the modern book on removing Confederate flags from public spaces. Apparently, not everyone read that book, so now we have a sequel. Black Lives Matter activist Muhiyidin d'Baha was arrested on Wednesday in South Carolina after epically leaping over a police tape barricade to snatch a Confederate flag out of a protestor's hand. Since it took place directly behind a CBS newscast, the stunning moment aired on live TV — the cameraman followed d'Baha as he quickly ran across the shot. More about South Carolina, Activism, Confederate Flag, Black Lives Matter, and Watercooler Read More »People would rather get peed on than support Trump? Pretty much.
Sorry, President Trump: You're not doing so well on OKCupid. Their users say they're more into the idea of getting peed on than supporting you. Sad! The dating behemoth recently updated their list of iconic questions to cover current events and the results are...pouring in. They've found that their users are more likely to be into getting pissed on than they are to support Donald Trump. Yes, you read that correctly. Golden showers — which the now infamous Trump dossier brought back into the public eye — are more popular than the President himself. One word is all you need. Image: okcupid Twenty-four percent of OKCupid users who answered the new questions said that golden showers were a turn-on or they could be convinced to take one. Only 11 percent of people answered in the affirmative to the very simple question "Trump?" (To be exact, 4 percent said "Hell yes" and 7 percent went with the more muted "yes.") Read more... More about Okcupid, Watersports, Golden Showers, Donald Trump, and Dating Apps Read More »Patriots fans should be terrified after Tom Brady's latest Instagram
Kids, don't try this at home. Patriots fans, look away at all costs. New England quarterback Tom Brady appears to be celebrating his insane Super Bowl comeback and enjoying the NFL offseason by recklessly cascading down ski slopes and horrifying Patriots fans everywhere. If indeed it's him — but why would he post it if it wasn't? Brady's latest Instagram ostensibly shows the 39-year-old absolutely eating it on a big jump, then quotes a skiing scene from "South Park." For Patriots fans who want their aging, four-time MVP quarterback to play for a few more years, this video is terrifying. Read more... More about Nfl, Football, New England Patriots, Tom Brady, and Entertainment Read More »How you can help protect trans kids right now
Trans kids need protection, and there are several ways you can advocate for their safety. On Wednesday, the Trump administration revoked Obama-era guidance that allowed transgender students to use public school restrooms matching their gender identity. The move has received massive backlash, spurring the hashtag #ProtectTransKids in an effort to show solidarity with trans youth. But how exactly can advocates protect trans kids, especially now? Below are just a few tangible things you can do to help in the immediate aftermath of this setback to the community. Read more... More about How To Help, Lgbtq, Bathroom Bill, Education, and Transgender Bathroom Read More »The latest crop of #Influencers are lurking at your local Best Buy
Let's say you work at Best Buy. You recommend laptops, show off TVs and try to explain what's so great about the newest iPhone. You probably never thought of yourself as an “influencer”—a buzzword that now encompasses anyone from Kardashians to mommy bloggers to Instagram stars. But one company is betting that your blue polo shirt offers advertisers the same sort of value as Kim K's legions of Instagram followers. Salt Lake City-based Expercity has centered its business model around the idea that everyday people like store managers, ski instructors or cycling enthusiasts are all influencers in their own right. Read more... More about Influencer Marketing, Business, and Advertising Read More »Amazon's Alexa has mad skills. 10,000 of them, to be exact.
Alexa: Congratulate yourself. Amazon’s digital assistant for the Echo and other devices officially has 10,000 skills, the company announced Thursday. The lucky 10,000th skill: Beat the Intro, a game that tests your ability to recognize songs. It joins a growing list of talents, including the ability to check your bank account, turn on your smart home lights and set you up with some sweet jams while you cook. "We've been blown away by the innovation and activity in the Alexa developer community," wrote David Isbitski, Amazon's "chief evangelist" for Alexa and Echo, in a blog post. Read more... More about Skills, Developers, Digital Assistant, Alexa, and Echo Read More »Tech companies blast Trump for transgender rights reversal
Silicon Valley and the administration of President Donald Trump have played a kind of "will they won't they" game since the new president took office in the middle of last month. Some have openly courted a relationship with Trump, such as Peter Thiel, a cofounder of surveillance-happy Palantir and of PayPal. Others, such as Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, initially courted Trump only to back out of a formal relationship after a growing tide of customers shouted at him (and boycotted) the company. Plenty of tech CEOs also showed up to meet the Trump administration in Trump Tower before Trump became president. Read more... More about Microsoft, Apple, Google, Lyft, and Uber Read More »Artist locks himself inside a rock for a week, and tries to hatch eggs with his body warmth
With the way things have been going lately, you might just want to crawl under a rock and hang there for a bit. But what about crawling into a rock? Well, French artist Abraham Poincheval is living out that reality — for seven full days. In a performance art piece called "Stone," Poincheval has wedged his body into a hole made for his body inside a large boulder, The Telegraph reports. He first entered the rock at the Palais de Tokyo museum in Paris on Wednesday and will remain inside there for a week, doing it all on a diet of soup cartons, other liquids and dried meat. More about France, Art, Arts Culture And Entertainment, and Lifestyle Read More »'Overwatch' director on the game's diversity: 'normal things are normal'
The Overwatch developers' goal was not to make a diverse game, but an inclusive one. Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan spoke about Blizzard's hit competitive shooter game at the D.I.C.E. Summit Wednesday, discussing some of the design decisions that led to the game's colorful cast of characters and the team's overall goals for Overwatch. You can watch his whole discussion (starting at 7:25) here: "I think it's really interesting that people think that diversity was the goal of the Overwatch team when it was not," Kaplan said. "What we cared about was creating a game in a game universe in a world where everybody felt welcomed. And really what the goal was was inclusivity and open mindedness." Read more... More about Jeff Kaplan, Esports, Gaming, Blizzard Entertainment, and Overwatch Read More »World's longest ever golf putt puts your feeble minigolf efforts to shame
While many of us struggle at the local minigolf course, these guys are killing it. And from a great distance. Australian YouTubers, How Ridiculous, managed to sink a miraculous 120.6 metre (135.67 yard) putt, which just happens to be the new Guinness World Record for the longest putt ever in a non-tournament. Their ecstatic response is something else. The record has stood since 2001, where a putt measuring 114.3 metres (125 yards) was set by Scotsman Fergus Muir. And here you are, still struggling to get the ball in the hole after eight strokes of putt putt golf. Read more... More about How Ridiculous, Putting, Sports, Golf, and Videos Read More »February heat wave: record highs beating lows by more than 100-to-1 ratio
There's just something about a warm February day that reminds you that something just isn't right. It gives you that nagging feeling that maybe global warming is real after all (newsflash: it is). February 2016 has featured prolonged warm weather the likes of which many areas have not seen before, or have only experienced on rare occasions. Taken as a whole, the month-to-date in the U.S. has seen a ridiculously lopsided ratio of daily record highs to daily record lows, which is a key indicator of short-term climate and long-term climate change. More about Temperature Records, Global Warming, Science, Weather, and February Warmth Read More »Google goes after Uber in court over self-driving car secrets
Silicon Valley giants seem to be stepping on each other's toes in the race to bring self-driving cars to the road. Waymo, the autonomous car arm of Alphabet (which owns Google), filed a lawsuit against Uber on Thursday accusing the ride-hailing company of stealing its trade secrets. In a lengthy Medium post announcing the suit, the company's spokespeople alleged that a former project manager, Anthony Levandowski, stole thousands of proprietary files before leaving to start his own self-driving car startup, Otto. Otto, which Uber bought last fall, then used that technology to build a radar system nearly identical to Waymo's, the company claims. Read more... More about Otto, Waymo, Alphabet, Google, and Uber Read More »This weekend, Android prepares for the iPhone X
It's Android's time to shine. In less than a week, Mobile World Congress (MWC), an annual event that brings together the phone and telecom industries, will kick off in Barcelona, and as is customary, a lot of new Android smartphones will make their debuts. This year is a little different, though. After years of iterative upgrades, Apple's iPhone — which, like it or not, is the smartphone that sets the trends in the industry — is widely rumored to receive a revolutionary upgrade. Its screen will get larger, reports say, covering the phone's entire face. Buttons, including the iconic home button, may disappear altogether. The aluminum back cover might be replaced by glass. Read more... More about Moto, Sony, Oppo, Samsung, and Huawei Read More »New Nokia 3310 will have a color display, report says, so 'Snake' will look super dope
We may have a few more details about what the new version of Nokia's classic 3310 will look like. The handset will ship with a color display and have feature phone capabilities, according to information from Chinese site Vtech, which claims to have leaked information about the upcoming handset. The original 3310 was released in 2000, back when people were still burning CDs and loading up Microsoft Encarta. The new version looks like it won't disappoint longtime fans. According to Vtech's sources, the new 3310 will look very similar to the original but will have a slightly updated design that's lighter and thinner. Read more... More about Mobile World Congress, Nokia, Mobile, Tech, and Tech Read More »Pissed off investors have had it up to here with Uber
Two of Uber's earliest investors have joined the hate-on-Uber parade. In a stern open letter published on Medium, Mitch and Freeda Kapor, who invested in Uber in 2010, criticized the company for a history of "toxic patterns" and hiring a "team of insiders to investigate its destructive culture and make recommendations for change." Those charged with digging into sexism and sexual harassment allegations that surfaced over the weekend following a female engineer's scathing blog post all have ties to the company, the early investors point out. They have little faith that the investigation will be truly independent. Arianna Huffington's on the board, Chief Human Resources Officer Liane Hornsey reports directly to CEO Travis Kalanick, and former attorney general Eric Holder was once a paid lobbyist for Uber. Read more... More about Startups, Business, Uber, Apps And Software, and Tech Read More »This NBA trade marks the end of basketball's best pre-game dancing duo
Trades in professional sports are bittersweet — while they usually upgrade teams in one way or another, they often result in teary goodbyes to beloved players. Or in the Oklahoma City Thunder's case, the end of a dynamic dancing duo unlike any other. In a package that will surely benefit both sides, the Thunder sent young point guard Cameron Payne to Chicago ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline. Oklahoma City gets a pair of solid shooters in return, but fans will no longer have access to the entertainment spectacle that is Payne and Russell Westbook's pregame dancing. Read more... More about Basketball, Nba, Entertainment, and Sports Read More »Trans activists on why Trump’s bathroom decision could hurt so many kids
In response to Donald Trump's decision to roll back guidance for public schools on transgender students and restrooms, members of the trans community and those impacted have begun sharing emotional personal accounts of harassment. On Thursday, prominent voices in the LGBTQ community — writer Janet Mock, teen activist Jazz Jennings and comedian Rhea Butcher — set out to raise awareness of the importance of trans protection by sharing their powerful bathroom-related anecdotes on social media after Trump rescinded the Obama-era rule allowing transgender students to use the restroom that matches their gender identity. Read more... More about Conversations, Social Good, Politics, Bathroom Bill, and Transgender Rights Read More »How to live the life you love even when you’re injured
Everyone has their good days and their bad days — it’s just human nature. But when a bad day hits — car accident, slippery ice, clumsy roommate — the life you love shouldn’t need to change. Not so fun fact: The average cost of a broken leg is $7,352. If you’re like most young adults, chances are you don’t have that kind of extra cash just lying around. Supplemental insurance with Aflac helps you maintain your lifestyle even when you’ve hit a bump in the road. Watch the video above to see just how big of a difference this can make. Coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York. Read more... More about Supported, Sponsored, and Lifestyle Read More »In murder case, Amazon says Alexa's speech is protected by the First Amendment
Add yet another skill to Alexa's repertoire: staunch defense of the First Amendment. Amazon is holding firm and refusing to hand over voice and transcription data recorded by an Echo speaker to prosecutors in Arkansas as part of a murder trial. Amazon maintains the authorities haven't clearly established that the investigation is more important than a customer's privacy rights, according to an AP report, and claims the recorded data and Alexa's responses are protected under the First Amendment. Last week, the company filed a 91-page motion (obtained by Ars Technica) with the Benton County Circuit Court to kill the search warrant. Read more... More about First Amendment, Trial, Amazon Alexa, Amazon Echo, and Amazon Read More »In pep talk fail, Jameis Winston tells elementary school girls they're 'supposed to be silent'
Whatever Jameis Winston's intentions were, things went way, way off track. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback spoke to a group of elementary school students in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Wednesday, hoping to inspire the community's youth. But things went horribly wrong when Winston had the boys in the room stand up and the girls sit down and cheer for them, preaching the idea the men should be loud and women should be silent. Winston started off his pep talk with some good messages about God, education and the belief that you can accomplish anything. Then, he said this, courtesy of the Tampa Bay Times' Tom Jones. Read more... More about Gender Equality, Equality, Football, Nfl, and Entertainment Read More »Florence and the Machine's Opera House show fined for being too loud
If you want your new neighbourhood to be quiet, maybe buying a place next to one of the world's most famous music venues isn't a great idea. Australia's Sydney Opera House was fined A$15,000 (US$11,562) for violating noise limits during a Florence and the Machine gig, according to The Australian. It followed complaints from grouchy nearby residents at "the Toaster," an apartment block adjacent to the Sydney Opera House. The apartments were built in 1998, and a penthouse sold for A$22 million (US$16.9 million) in 2015. Read more... More about Noise Complaint, Music, Florence And The Machine, Sydney Opera House, and Sydney Read More »Dude really loves his 'biggest ever' huntsman spider, named Behemoth
Like big spiders? Of course you like big spiders. Someone else who seems to LOVE big spiders is the General Manager at the Australian Reptile Park, Tim Faulkner, who is having a ball showing off his friend "Behemoth." The park claimed in a Facebook post that "Behemoth" is the country's biggest huntsman spider. Look, it's pretty big. According to the Newcastle Herald, the giant was handed in during the park's drive for funnel web spiders. The park has a venom program, and is looking for more arachnids to milk in order to produce antivenom. Read more... More about Video, Videos, Animals, Huntsman Spider, and Huntsman Read More »Tell your pal and a confidant: The 'Golden Girls' cafe is Instagram heaven
Picture it: The year's 2017 and despite being cancelled in 1992, Golden Girls is still your favorite show. What's a cheesecake-loving gal to do? Where can one hang out with pals and confidantes? Don't worry, fellow friends of Dorothy (and Blanche, Rose and Sophia) — the first Golden Girls cafe is open for business, and Instagram users have been showing it love. NYC's Rue La Rue carries the motto "thank you for being a friend" and is dedicated to Rue McClanahan, who played everybody's favourite Southern floozy, Blanche Devereaux, on the iconic series. Read more... More about Michael Larue, Cafe, Tv, Rue Mclanahan, and Golden Girls Read More »Caitlyn Jenner sends Trump a critical message from 'one Republican to another'
Caitlyn Jenner has been a problematic, Donald Trump-loving spokeswoman for the transgender community. But that didn't stop her from coming out hard against the president Thursday night. The transgender former-Olympian turned reality star isn't happy with Trump's reversal this week of an Obama-era action that allowed transgender kids to use the bathrooms of their choice in schools. In fact, she wants him to call her, stat. Jenner has been swatting away critiques since she stumped for Republican candidates during the grueling 2016 election cycle. She said she wanted to be the trans ambassador for Ted Cruz and insisted that Trump would be a good candidate for women. Read more... More about Title Ix, Protection, Bathroom, Lgbtq, and Donald Trump Read More »Facebook's new emoji are finally available to everyone
No longer a company that prioritizes moving fast and breaking things, Facebook has finally finished rolling out new emoji across its desktop and mobile sites. Those of you excitedly awaiting the latest rendition of that instant classic, Man in Business Suit Levitating, need wait no longerEmojipedia reports that all users of Facebook's website now have access to the entire new set of emoji designs. That's right: Your ghosts, thinking faces, and drooling faces all have a fresh look. The company began rolling out the update in stages starting in September of last year. So far, only users of the website have access to the full range of emoji. People using Facebook's mobile apps will have to wait at least a little longer to bask in the glory that is the mean-mugging deer. Read more... More about Emoji, Mobile, Tech, Facebook, and Tech Read More »Apple to investigate iPhone 7 that 'blew up'
A dramatic video of a smoking iPhone 7 Plus is really freaking Twitter out. Brianna Olivas says her rose gold iPhone 7 Plus exploded and began smoking Wednesday morning when her boyfriend grabbed his phone and began recording. The video, which Olivas shared on Twitter later that day, shows smoke pouring out of one side of the phone and the iPhone's case melting away. The video, which has already been viewed more than 1.26 million times, garnered a swift reaction, with more than 18,000 retweets and hundreds of replies. Amateur Twitter sleuths are even already attempting to diagnose what went wrong (one running theory is that Olivas' liquid-filled iPhone case somehow contributed to the issue, though there's no evidence to back that up.) Read more... More about Apple, Note7, Iphone 7, Mobile, and Tech Read More »Video of 'chubby' tigers taking down a drone may be way darker than you think
A video of "chubby" Siberian tigers taking down a drone, complete with a silly soundtrack — like so much viral content — is more than what it seems. While the video's been shared far and wide, but the origins of the footage have been a cause for concern for a while now. As science journalist John R. Platt tweeted, the footage is "obviously a tiger farm."
Teenager expertly wrestles a live python out from underneath a car
What were you doing when you were 14? Eating Doritos and watching Buffy? Same. But not Australia's Oli Wardrope. Instead, he's pulling live, massive snakes out of the bottom of cars. Before school, even. Queensland man, Yogi McDougall, posted the video to Facebook Friday, writing "All part of the job. I love having apprentices." The video shows young Wardrope wrestling with half of a large carpet python, while the other half grips stubbornly to the underside of the vehicle. "Oh, he's coming out now ... he's loosened up now," Wardrope says. "I've got his head, I've got his head, I've got his head!" Read more... More about Snake, Python, Watercooler, Australia, and Videos Read More »Google to launch a desktop version of Allo messenger
Google's Allo messenger will soon be easier to use at work, thanks to a new desktop version to complement the mobile app. The company's VP of communications products, Nick Fox, tweeted out a sneak peek at the desktop app in development.
The desktop version looks like it'll be a web app for Google Chrome. This means it won't be native as a separate Windows or Mac download, but will work across operating systems — including on Chromebooks, of course. Read more... More about Google, Messengers, Google Allo, Allo, and Tech Read More »VX was the liquid that killed North Korea's Kim Jong-nam, but what is it?
It's almost like something out of a spy novel. On Friday, Malaysian authorities announced that VX, the "deadliest nerve agent ever created", was used to assassinate Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korea's current leader. The alleged killers are believed to have wiped a substance on Kim's face at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The poison was so fast-acting that Kim died soon after, on the way to the hospital. What is VX?VX has been described as the "most potent of all nerve agents", and is so lethal its only known use is in chemical warfare. Read more... More about Vx, Chemical Warfare, Malaysia, North Korea, and Poison Read More »Awesome 11-year-old girl invents a prosthetic arm that blasts glitter
The world needs more glitter and 11-year-old inventor, Jordan Reeves, knows it. She designed and created a prosthetic arm that shoots out glitter. It's working title? "Project Unicorn." Why didn't we think of that? The arm itself is mostly 3D printed, and uses compressed air to shoot out sparkles. Pretty awesome. Her finished invention was presented to the judges of Shark Tank on TV show Rachael Ray back in January, and has been impressing people on social media ever since. She said thinks it should retail for "four dollars" — although the panel of judges thinks she should sell it for much, much more. Read more... More about Inventions, Prothestics, Kids Toy, Kids, and Videos Read More »How one startup peon had a real-life Slumdog Millionaire moment
As you sow so shall you reap. The old English proverb came to life for Mumbai-based Shyam Kumar, a peon at mobile wallet firm Citrus Pay. He became a millionaire after his employer was acquired by Naspers-backed online payments company PayU in a $130 million deal last year. 42-year-old Kumar, a migrant from Uttar Pradesh, had joined Citrus Pay for a salary of Rs. 8,000 ($120) in 2010 when it was a lesser-known entity and e-commerce in India was just about finding its feet. After the Naspers buyout, he was rewarded with employee stock options for his unwavering loyalty to Citrus Pay, helping him earn Rs. 5 million ($75,000) in the process! Read more... More about Million Dollars, Jobs, India, Ecommerce, and Startups Read More »Malaysia says it'll seize motorcycles being operated as ride-sharing vehicles
A hot fledgling motorcycle taxi hailing service has hit a wall in Malaysia before it's even gotten off the road properly. Dego Ride found itself effectively banned from Malaysian streets on Friday, after regulators threatened to seize motorcycles belonging to people offering rides on their vehicles, local news reports say. The penalty is an unusually stiff one, compared with other countries which have typically issued fines to unauthorised drivers from ride-sharing apps. A director for the Road Transport Department said that over 6,000 motorcycle riders were registered with Dego Ride in the Klang Valley — an area surrounding Malaysia's capital of Kuala Lumpur. Read more... More about Dego Ride, Motorcycle Taxi, Taxi, Ride Hailing Apps, and Ride Sharing Read More »Asia's best restaurant has a frustratingly confusing menu of only 22 emojis
Gaggan is a posh restaurant that's been crowned Asia's best for the third year in a row. So imagine going there and having to order off an all-emoji menu Gaggan's menu is a minimalist one-pager of just 22 emojis, each representing one dish. The emojis provide a clue as to what each dish is, although if you ask us, it's still some pretty tough guesswork. Image: live from a lounge However, some of the dishes look pretty true to their emoji counterparts. Take for example the first course, "Kiss Me", which is represented by a kissing emoji. Read more... More about Emojis, Gaggan, Fine Dining, Restaurant, and Thailand Read More »Reince Priebus rejects Steve Bannon's touch in awkward TV moment
Sorry, Steve Bannon, Reince Priebus doesn't want to hold your hand. In a delightful moment broadcast from a Feb. 23 CPAC event, Bannon reached out for a brief moment of human connection only to have his advances sort of... swatted away? By Chief of Staff Priebus. It's five seconds long, but people are already latching on to this little incident.
Although new fan fiction is probably already in the works, for politics-slash-romance fans. Read more... More about Cpac, Bannon, Watercooler, and Watercooler Read More »These people dancing during a traffic jam is straight out of a scene from 'La La Land'
Remember that unrealistic opening scene in La La Land when everyone got out of the car during a traffic jam and just started dancing? It's just happened in real life. A group of around 30 men and women in China decided they had enough of waiting during a traffic jam and decided instead to come out of their cars to dance. The commuters in Shandong city were filmed bursting into a synchronised song and dance on the emergency lane. According to one onlooker in the video, the group danced for around 10 minutes. Image: 新浪山东/pear video Read more... I will never understand how this guy solves Rubik's cubes so fast
There's the way we plod along trying to solve the Rubik's cube... and then there's speed cubing. Rubik's cube champion Feliks Zemdegs shared a video of solving the puzzle in a scorching 3.81 seconds — quicker than his previous world record time of 4.73 seconds. The 21-year-old shares all his stats and personal bests on his Facebook and Twitter pages, should you wish to deep dive into the world of speed cubing. We share your fist-pumping joy at the end, Feliks. Read more... More about Impressive, Amazing, Videos, Rubiks Cube, and Australia Read More »Beluga whale wedding picture gets a new Photoshop battle and it's glorious
Beluga whales crashing weddings have been a thing since at least 2013, when a photograph of a smiling, peering whale went viral, becoming one of the most incredible photobombs in wedding day history. Apparently, the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut is one of the main destinations for newlywed couples in search of a quirky photo in front of these creatures. A picture of a whale attending a wedding ceremony there featured in a recent Photoshop Battle on Reddit. And the results are magnificent: Read more... I'm sorry Mindy, we don't choose who we fall in love withMore about Wedding, Photoshop Battle, Beluga Whale, and Watercooler Read More »India takes a mature stand on same-sex love and Twitter hails it
"A boy can cry to give vent to his feelings. He can also be soft-spoken or shy. Being rude and insensitive is not a sign of masculinity," reads the instruction manual of a health kit issued by the Indian government. There's more"Adolescents frequently fall in love. They can feel attraction for a friend or any individual of the same or opposite sex..." Now, this is unprecedented, inspiring and perhaps long overdue. For India, a country where sexual activity between members of the same gender is illegal, it is a huge deal when the government makes these statements. Read more... More about Adolescents, Education, Healthcare, Gender Issues, and Gender Equality Read More »The painful reason Emma Thompson won't be in the Love Actually reunion
Disclaimer: this article will break your heart. It was announced last week that Love Actually is getting a spring sequel — 14 years later (because Christmas is all around us even in March, eh?!). The short film - also written and directed by Richard Curtis — will reunite old cast members and catch up with their characters in 2017. However, Emma Thompson won't be joining co-stars Hugh Grant, Bill Nighy, Liam Neeson, Martine McCutcheon, Colin Firth and Keira Knightley. The reason is as simple as it is heart-breaking. Her close friend and partner in the film Alan Rickman died last year and it would be too painful. Read more... More about Alan Rickman, Love Actually, Emma Thompson, and Entertainment Read More »The best signs from the 'Reclaim the Night' protest against sexual violence and victim blaming
Thousands of women took to the streets of Manchester, UK, on Thursday evening to protest sexual violence, street harassment and victim blaming. The first "Reclaim the Night" march took place in 1977 after police implemented a curfew while the "Yorkshire Ripper" — an English serial killer who murdered 13 women between 1975 and 1980 — was active in the north of England. Women across the country were angered when Yorkshire police told local women not to go out at night, effectively putting them under curfew. On Nov. 12, 1966, women marched in cities across the UK to fight for a woman's right to walk without fear at night. Read more... More about Uk, Sexual Violence, Rape, Feminism, and Protest Read More »Girl Scouts around the world pen powerful letters about hopes for a better world
Girl Guides and Girl Scouts all over the world are writing powerful letters to share their hopes, ambitions and fears for the future. The letters are part of a campaign by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts encouraging members to write about issues affecting them. From Syria to the Philippines, young women around the world have put pen to paper sharing their experiences of growing up and the difficulties they face, and their hopes for change. 'People are the same, no matter how we look'A 12-year-old unnamed Girl Guide from Greece shared her experience of carrying out aid work with refugees. Read more... More about Feminism, Womens Rights, Notes, Children, and Girl Scouts Read More »That story about a nuclear bunker with a massive weed farm isn't what it seems
On the surface, it may seem like a story that's highly relevant to millennial interests. Police in Wiltshire uncovered a massive weed farm inside a bunker built in 1985 to protect government officials and local dignitaries in the event of a nuclear attack. What's cooler than thousands of cannabis plants, worth £1 million ($1.26 million) in total, for your doomsday scenario? Image: wiltshire police The raid is also straight from an action movie. The bunker, which was owned by the Ministry of Defence and shut down in 1992, is almost impenetrable so officers had to wait for three people to leave in order to detain them and gain access to the site. Read more... More about Cannabis Factory, Nuclear Bunker, Weed Farm, and World Read More »WhatsApp hits 200 million active users in India
WhatsApp has hit 200 million monthly active users in India as the Facebook-owned service continues its dominance in developing markets. India remains the biggest market for WhatsApp, which had 166 million active users in the country last November. Moving forward, Brian Acton, a founder of WhatsApp, said the company will explore ways to contribute to "India's vision for digital commerce." WhatsApp is simple, secure, and its vision is in line with (the government initiative) Digital India, Acton said. He's on a one-day trip to the country, where he met India's IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to talk about ways WhatsApp could further help empower people in rural and poor areas, as well as commercial messaging and mobile payments. Read more... More about Hike, Facebook, India, Whatsapp, and Tech Read More »Watch Ellen DeGeneres give an entire class of high school seniors scholarships for college
The senior class of Summit Academy Charter School in Brooklyn, New York, got a huge surprise Thursday while guesting on Ellen. In one of the biggest giveaways in the history of her show, host Ellen DeGeneres secured full four-year college scholarships to any New York state university for each student in the class of 2017. And if you've never seen an entire class of high school seniors find out they're all going to college for free, prepare for pure, unfettered joy. Read more... More about Tv, Ellen Degeneres, Videos, Watercooler, and Watercooler Read More »India is so tired and so overworked
We told you that our lack of sleep is costing the world billions of dollars. We also told you that Gen-Z might be the most hardworking people ever. Now it's time to put the spotlight on India — a country of 1.3 billion people with 65% below the age of 35. In short: India is tired, overworked, sleep-starved and vacation-deprived. Here are 5 stats that show India needs to up its work-like balance game: Read more... 1. Almost a quarter (22%) of Indians are concerned about being tired. That is their biggest health concern, this report says.More about Millennials, Indians, Human Resources, Employee, and Workplace Cuture Read More »Great news, 'Zelda' fans: 'Breath of the Wild' gets off to a killer start
After five hours of tooling around in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, one thought keeps flitting back into my head again and again: This. IsGreat. Breath of the Wild is unlike any Zelda game you've ever played. It might even be more accurate to say it's unlike any Nintendo game you've ever played. By now you've probably heard all about the massive open world. The easy comparisons it draws to games like Skyrim. There's crafting; there's stealth; there's a whole mess of weapons and armor. You're a fan. You know the bullet points. But how does it feel to actually play? Read more... More about Nintendo, The Legend Of Zelda, The Legend Of Zelda Breath Of The Wild, Gaming, and Entertainment Read More »Cry of the Week: Alas, poor Jar Jar! We weep for Star Wars' most hated character
Welcome to our new weekly series "Cry of the Week," in which we highlight whatever moment made us ugly cry on our couches the most in the past seven days. If you truly hate Jar Jar Binks, this week's cry may not be for you. For those Star Wars nerds who feel at least some sympathy for the Gungan outcast, read on. Earlier this week, Mashable reported that the story of Jar Jar Binks — loved by few, hated by many — didn't have such a happy ending. As we know, the bumbling Gungan created by George Lucas first appears in The Phantom Menace as comic relief, then has a hand in creating the Empire as an advocate of emergency powers for the duplicitous Palpatine. Read more... More about Lucasfilm, Jar Jar Binks, Film, Star Wars, and Cry Of The Week Read More »Stephen Colbert doesn't buy Sean Spicer's excuse for transgender bathroom protection roll back
Ouch, Spicer is going to need ice with that burn. Last night on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the late night host tore into President Trump's decision to rescind protections for transgender students that allowed them to use bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity in schools. And, since it was the issue of bathroom rights, Colbert threw in an obligatory golden showers joke. Colbert also took a shot at White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer after he defended the president's decision by stating that Trump "has always maintained that this is a states' rights issue." Colbert said what we were all thinking, "Grow a pair." Read more... More about The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Stephen Colbert, Sean Spicer, Watercooler, and Watercooler Read More »His last book changed how we see history. This one destroys your future.
In the future, will humans become immortal, yet anxious, gods? Or will they become soulless devotees of data who worship at the altar of algorithms? That's the choice posed by Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, historian Yuval Harari's long-awaited follow-up to Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. (Longer awaited in the U.S., where Homo Deus finally arrived this week. It was published in Europe last year.) If you haven't read Sapiens, get it on your bedside table immediately. It's one of those books, like Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs and Steel and Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States, that is powerful enough to change your entire worldview even if you're not the sort of person who reads nonfiction. Read more... More about Writers, Reading, Books, Sapiens, and Entertainment Read More »Aubrey Plaza gives charming, adoptable puppies fantastic backstories
Puppies plus late night television is always the recipe for a great video. On Thursday night's Late Show, Stephen Colbert decided to help some cute puppers out by airing a segment called Rescue Dog Rescue with Aubrey Plaza. The two took turns cradling adoptable puppies and fabricating ridiculous personalities for them so as to make them more attractive to potential owners. Honestly, we don't need funny backstories to love these pups. Just one glimpse at their tiny faces will do. But laughing while we awww is always a welcome addition. Read more... More about Dogs, Cute Animals, Puppies, Aubrey Plaza, and Late Show With Stephen Colbert Read More »Girl Scout cookie doughnuts prove too much of a good thing is just enough
If you managed to make it through the doldrums of February without any Girl Scout cookies, bravo. And simultaneously, "awww...sad." Don't worry. Even if your local scouts have stopped selling cookies, Broad Street Dough Co., in Oakhurst, New Jersey, has the cookie/doughnut mashups of your dreams. The innovating company have turned your favorite Girl Scout cookies into doughnuts. The Thin Mint doughnut is a chocolate doughnut with chocolate frosting, chocolate crunchies and a chocolate mint glaze. Read more... More about Donuts, Girl Scout Cookies, Cookies, Food, and Watercooler Read More »9 ways to get free tax help from a human being
Tax help can cost a lot of money. Pros charge $150 an hour on average to do a federal and state return, according to the National Society of Accountants. Help with planning, back taxes or audits can cost even more. But there are a few ways to get human tax help for free. 1. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)What it is: A federal grant program that helps community organizations provide free tax-prep services to low- and moderate-income individuals, the disabled, the elderly and limited-English speakers. How it works: Taxpayers can get face-to-face help from local, IRS-certified volunteers. Generally, the income limit is $54,000. Volunteers won’t prepare the Schedule C (sorry, freelancers), the complex Schedule D (sorry, investors) or forms associated with nondeductible IRA contributions, investment income for minors, premium tax credits, requests for Social Security numbers or determinations of worker status.“In a lot of communities, [people] can just dial 211 to find out information about the nearest VITA site and get more information about whether or not they qualify,” says Rebecca Thompson, project director of the taxpayer opportunity network at the Corporation for Enterprise Development, which focuses on fighting poverty. Read more... More about Business, Taxes, Work Life, and Business Read More »Roads made from recycled plastic are paving the way to a greener tomorrow
Roads laid with asphalt are so 20th century. They're unsustainable, brittle and they contribute over 1.6 million tons of carbon dioxide around the world each year. Construction company, VolkerWessels, is using recycled plastic bottles to pave the roads. Lightweight and easily installed, the roads are built to last three times longer. Read more... More about Real Time Video, Recycled Materials, Recycled Plastic, Volker Wessels, and Plastic Roads Read More »iPhone 8 rumors include a feature that lets you take 3D selfies
The 10th anniversary iPhone reveal is (very) slowly approaching, and we've been collecting rumors about what Apple might have in store for it. Read more... More about Real Time Video, Real Time Video, Real Time, Real Time Video, and Real Time Read More »All the Oscar-nominated films you can stream before Sunday
No one sees all the Oscar-nominated films in theaters. Not even your friend who wears chunky-hip glasses and all black. And these days, who really needs to? While some films — notably Oscar frontrunner La La Land — are still only in theaters, many are already available on VOD. Here's a look at all the Oscar-nominated films you can enjoy from the comfort of home, ordered by number of nominations. You have three days to get ready for Hollywood's biggest night. Good luck! MoonlightNominations: Eight: Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Mahershala Ali), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Naomie Harris), Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score and Best Adapted Screenplay. Read more... More about Kubo And The Two Strings, Florence Foster Jenkins, Jackie, Moana, and Arrival Read More »Beyoncé voices her support for trans youth after Trump's bathroom decision
Beyoncé shared a message of support for trans students on Thursday, a day after President Donald Trump rescinded rules that allowed trans students to use school bathrooms that align with their gender identities. "#LGBTQ students need to know we support them," a post from her Facebook page reads, before sharing a link to GLSEN.org, an organization that advocates for LBGTQ students. As the New York Times reports, acting against the wishes of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Attorney General Jeff Sessions pushed for Trump to rescind the bathroom rules put in place during the Obama administration. Read more... More about Trump, Bathroom, Lgbtq, Beyonce, and Watercooler Read More »The Tesla Model 3 gets real in July
Tesla's 2016 earning report and letter to shareholders presented some exciting news for some of its most eager customers. The letter revealed that production for Model 3 — the company's "affordable" electric car — is on track to start in July 2017, with volume ramping up by September. The company predicts production will scale to "exceed 5,000 vehicles at some point in the fourth quarter." By the end of 2018, Tesla expects to be producing 10,000 cars per week. In May 2016, Musk announced that production for the Model 3 was targeted to start in 1 July 2017, but said at the time it was an "impossible" date because he suspected suppliers will be late to deliver. His rationale for setting the date was that they needed to set the July deadline to keep suppliers accountable, so Tesla can start actual production a few months later. Read more... More about Model 3, Production, Cars, Tech, and Tesla Motors Read More »Bitcoin reaches an all-time high as SEC decision looms
Bitcoin is reaching new highs. The cryptocurrency on Friday morning was trading at $1,197 — just above the $1,165 record high average price set three years ago, according to CoinDesk. Bitcoin has staged a comeback after nearly reaching a record high but then falling at the very beginning of 2017. On the currency's first day of trading in the new year, it steadily rose to over $1,000 before crashing into the $900 range. At the time, demand for bitcoin was growing in China and some buyers in India were turning to bitcoin amid the country's demonetization crisis.
Kindergartener adorably recreates iconic historical figures for Black History Month
There are so many ways to celebrate Black History Month online, but dressing up as legendary black women might take the cake. That's what kindergartner Lola is doing this February with the help of her mother and 28 legends that changed history. The two have created an adorable way to bring history lessons to life with a photo series they are sharing online. In January, Lola's mother, Cristi Smith-Jones, began having conversations with her daughter about slavery, Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights movement. Read more... More about Kindergarten, Photo Series, Recreation, Black History Month, and Conversations Read More »Barack Obama hasn't updated his LinkedIn page and now we're even more depressed
Even Barack Obama can't handle the truth. I'd been waiting for the LinkedIn notification, "News about Barack Obama," or "Congratulate Barack Obama on his new position." But there's been nothing. Then I checked the former President's LinkedIn page, one he created in 2007, while he was just an Illinois senator running for president. Barack Obama hasn't updated it. He's still listed as "The President of the United States of America." This page is just lying to us. SAD! Image: LinkedIn Reading his LinkedIn profile is like stepping into a socio-political time-machine, where everything is as it was pre-Jan. 20, 2017 when Donald J. Trump took the oath of office and became our 45th president. Read more... More about Linkedin, Barack Obama, Us World, and Jobs Read More »The holy grail of VR headsets might look something like this
Having conquered smartphones and smartwatches, Qualcomm now wants its powerful mobile chips to power all-in-one virtual reality headsets. The chipmaker announced its latest processor, the Snapdragon 835, will play a key role in accelerating the adoption of headsets that aren't dependent on a smartphone or a tether to a PC. To help developers get a jump on creating mobile VR experiences, Qualcomm's introducing a Snapdragon VR development kit (VRDK) that includes an all-in-one VR headset (often called the holy grail of VR) with a bunch of sensors that doesn't require a smartphone to be slotted in. The headset is a reference design, meaning Qualcomm has no plans to market it as a consumer product. Read more... More about Developer Kit, Vr Headset, Vr, Snapdragon 835, and Qualcomm Read More »Here's what to say at your Oscar party so you sound smart
We get it: There's too much content. You're binging 17 shows and way behind on podcasts and since when were there so many Best Picture nominees and when was the last time you read a book? We in the media biz are here to help, starting with your 2017 Oscar cheat sheet. Whether you've seen them all or just *couldn't* get to it, here's the lowdown on this year's Best Picture nominees, along with what to say at your Oscar party so you sound smart and informed. MoonlightThe poster for Barry Jenkins' 'Moonlight' Image: A24 TL; DR: Moonlight is this year's "_____ was robbed." Barry Jenkins' poignant and poetic look at the life and identity of a young queer man, Chiron (played at different ages by Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders and Trevante Rhodes) is breathtakingly beautiful and and heartbreaking in the same swoop. Read more... More about Arrivals, Hacksaw Ridge, Hell Or High Water, Manchester By The Sea, and Fences Read More »Justin Bieber tweets about being a big boy who doesn't pee himself
"If it makes you happy, it can't be that bad," the underrated philosopher Sheryl Crow once sang. Now, Justin Bieber is keeping her flame burning. Biebs responded to allegations that he might have peed in his very expensive sweatpants with a smile and a simple explanation for why his "dick area" was wet.
But since nothing is real until you meme it, he followed up on Instagram with a nod to his unlikely buddy Adam Sandler. Read more... More about Pop Star, Celebrities, Justin Bieber, and Watercooler Read More »Every day a sweet dog peeks out from under a gate, waiting for his friend
May we all find a secret dog bud that will wait for your pets every day. Elisa Lee a 17-year-old senior at Lakewood High School in California has developed somewhat of a routine with her newfound friend Ralph, a golden retriever that really enjoys some friendly pets. SEE ALSO: Meet the dog who's basically a saint
"One day my friend was giving me a ride home and I saw this dog near the gate," Elisa explained in an email. "At I was afraid that he would bite me since most dogs would bark at you and seem aggressive if you came near their house. Days have passed and he was still waiting there, so one of my friends encouraged me to try to pet him." Read more... More about Cute Animals, Tweets, Dogs, Watercooler, and Watercooler Read More »KFC is coming for clean eaters with this hilarious parody
#CleanEating might not be everyone's favourite Instagram trend. But KFC has decided to come after the clean eating brigade in an inexplicable parody. KFC UK and Ireland tweeted a video of their new "#CleanEating burger," a chia seed-topped cauliflower bun containing spiralised chicken breast dressed with "ice cube relish" and 100% British kale. Right.
Just swearing at Trump (probably) won't get you in Twitter timeout
Twitter has created "Twitter timeout" — or what I like to call "Twitter jail" — in which the reach of a user's tweets is limited for a 12-hour period if that user is flagged for harassment. The feature, first reported by BuzzFeed, began rolling out earlier this month but is just starting to cause quite the commotion in the Twitter-verse, inciting theories that the move is directly tied to tweets against President Donald Trump and the administration.
Calvin Harris blesses us with Frank Ocean and Migos together on a sunny track
Sure, the effects of global warming are becoming more apparent every day—but at least we have a fire song to breeze through the last days on this planet (until we make our way to the other seven). Calvin Harris, with the help of Frank Ocean and the Migos, comes through for us all this warm winter with a summer track that somehow works perfectly for the middle of February. The breezy track "Slide" was teased last month by Calvin Harris in a series of Snapchats, but on Thursday night, the Scottish DJ officially released the song. Read more... More about Music, Entertainment, Conversations, New Music, and Migos Read More »Has Ed Sheeran betrayed Taylor Swift and her squad?
For years, Ed Sheeran has enjoyed a low-key membership in Taylor Swift's squad, even attending her annual Fourth of July party/grueling photo shoot last year. But did he just evict himself from her castle on a hill? Just before the Brit Awards on Wednesday, Sheeran not only crashed a BBC 1 interview with Swift enemy Katy Perry, he pleasantly participated in it. Like, the two discussed hugging each other, having the flu, Natalie Imbruglia and how many Grammys they have not won — all the things you talk about when you are friends. Watch out, little Ed. The squad might not be a "vaginas only club," but will it take kindly to treason? Hmm. Read more... More about Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Watercooler, and Watercooler Read More »Apple: Random iPhone battery shutdowns are way down
Good news for iPhone users fed up with infuriating battery-shutdown woes: There might just be a solution to your problem. Chances are, it's already at work in your phone. Frustrated iPhone users have reported unexpected system shutdowns for months. The battery issues, which affect iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6S and 6S Plus devices, typically strike when power levels dwindle to about 30 percent. The phones shut down without warning with no way to restart the system until it's plugged in to a power source. Believe it or not, Apple is aware of the issue and hasn't been sitting on its hands about it. It included some measures to address the problem in iOS 10.2.1 (which was released on Jan. 23), and now the company says it's gathered enough data to conclude the shutdowns are becoming less of a problem. Read more... More about Apple, Ios 10.2, Software Update, Shutdown, and Battery Life Read More »'Street Fighter V' commentators' sound effects save the day after audio cuts out
Live broadcasts always have the looming possibility of interruptions or problems, and it takes true talent to turn a disastrous situation into an entertaining one when the cameras are rolling and you can't yell cut. As Street Fighter V competitors Bryant "Smug" Huggins and Arturo "Sabin" Sanchez were trading blows in a Next Level Battle Circuit match Wednesday, the game's audio cut out, leaving commentators Michael "IFC Yipes" Mendoza and Francis "Lee Chung" Lee Chong with quite a bit of silence to fill. So the duo started dishing out their own sound effects. SEE ALSO: Gamers donated over $70,000 to get 'Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3' to Evo 2017 Read more... Lana Del Ray calls upon fellow witches to cast spell on Donald Trump
For what is probably the first time in history, witches are preparing to gather their sorcery and cast a collective spell on the President of the United States on Friday, Feb. 24 at midnight, and Lana Del Ray is all in. The singer tweeted her support for the call on Thursday night and instructed her fans to search online for the specific steps needed to take on Donald Trump with the power of witchcraft.
The 'Bob's Burgers' soundtrack will have 112 songs, which is not enough
The songs from Bob's Burgers will finally get the official, sensual release they deserve. Sub Pop will release the show's official soundtrack, which will have no less than 112 tracks — 107 from the show and 3 covers from St. Vincent, The National, Lapsley and Stephin Merritt of Magnetic Fields. It's called The Bob's Burgers Music Album, naturally. You can read full track list — which, yes, includes "Butts, Butts, Butts" — and pre-order the album, which drops May 12, over at Sub Pop. It's also available on iTunes if you don't think you can outdo this enticing unboxing video. Read more... More about Music, St. Vincent, Tv, Kristen Schaal, and Soundtrack Read More »New 'Twin Peaks' posters give us the first real clue about Showtime's revival
Devoted Twin Peaks fans are probably well aware that February 24 is a special day for the show — marking the date that the body of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) washed up on the shore of the sleepy burg, and that FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) drove into town — at 11:30 a.m., as our hero noted on his tape recorder in the show's pilot. To commemorate the occasion that has come to be known as Twin Peaks Day among the faithful, Showtime has released two new posters for the upcoming revival of the cult hit, one featuring Laura Palmer, the other featuring Dale Cooper. Read more... More about Sheryl Lee, Showtime, Kyle Machlachlan, Twin Peaks, and Entertainment Read More »The Trump-Putin New Yorker cover is clear about who's really in charge
The New Yorker isn't afraid to call out Donald Trump or his Russian bro, Vladimir Putin, that's for damn sure. For its latest artistic masterpiece, Barry Blitt transformed the magazine's iconic first cover from 1925 — featuring New Yorker mascot Eustace Tilley inquisitively gazing at a butterfly — into political commentary on the eerily complex Trump-Putin relationship. Under "The New Yorker" spelled out in the Cyrillic alphabet, a nattily-dressed Putin can be seen inspecting a tie-wearing butterfly with a Trump head through his monocle. (Luckily, no top hat.) Read more... More about Art, Conversations, New Yorker, Magazine Cover, and Russia Read More »The making of Planet Coaster, evolved simulation gaming at its finest
Paid Content by Frontier DevelopmentsOver the past 12 years, Frontier has made leaps and bounds of progress in the arena of sim gaming, evidenced by the debut of its new build-your-own-theme-park game Planet Coaster. The game is revolutionary for several reasons: each simulated character in the theme park possesses his or her own "Guest Brain" that dictates individualised behavior; the game employs absolutely stunning visuals that transport users into the worlds they create; and every detail behind park design, down to the nuts and bolts of the coasters, has been crafted with meticulous care Last but not least, it’s just heaps of fun to play Read more... More about Computer Games, Amusement Parks, Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, and Simulation Games Read More »Britain declares war on North American grey squirrels
The future of red squirrels in the UK is in danger and conservationists are calling for your help. The endangered mammal needs protection from the invasive grey squirrels introduced in 1876 from North America. A total of 5,000 volunteers are required in "red squirrels strongholds" across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Volunteers will work with partner organisations to monitor the red squirrels, set up camera trips to film their behaviour, educate the public about the species and "speedy report" the larger, common grey squirrels when they move into strongholds for red squirrels. Read more... More about North America, Grey Squirrels, Red Squirrels, and World Read More »Prepare to blast off to the coolest galaxy cake ever
The discovery of seven new planets was definitely a highlight of the week. In fact, some might say that galaxy deserves a delicious sort of tribute. Stand down, JLaw. This cake, posted by Imgur user Pedagiggle is a much better tribute. In fact, it blows any other cake out of the galaxy. Sure, on the outside it's just cute, frosted in buttercream and decorated with fondant planets, stars and a rocket ship. But on the inside... Image: imagur it is magnificent. Pedagiggle posts steps online how to create this masterpiece at home. Be prepared, it seems lengthy and a little complicated. Read more... More about Galaxy, Dessert, Cake, Baking, and Food Read More »Barack Obama was just spotted in New York City and people treated him like a rockstar
To everyone who silently begged for Barack Obama's return from the sunny British Virgin Islands: today is your lucky day. The former president of the United States is officially back, and made a surprise appearance in New York City to the delight of the city's civilians. Obama stopped by a building in Fifth Avenue for an unknown reason and upon leaving, was met with cheers from a crowd outside. Sunglasses and coffee in hand, he waved at those gathered on the sidewalks before ducking into a black car and whisking away. He's back, baby. Read more... More about New York City, Watercooler, Conversations, Barack Obama, and Watercooler Read More »Woman having a scary good time at a concert is everything
"What are these things attached to my hands?" After capturing a woman having a very intense experience at a concert, Redditor santiSC, a festival organizer claims he offered the woman a free guest list pass for life to his shows if he could use the footage. The woman apparently agreed, so santiSC used the footage to highlight the show that happened last weekend, called Wobbleland, which seemed like a real scary good time. Read more... More about Funny, Viral Videos, Videos, Watercooler, and Watercooler Read More »Netflix continues comedy takeover, signs deal with Tracy Morgan
The points may not matter in comedy, but for anyone keeping track, Netflix is winning. The company announced Friday that it would be exclusively streaming Tracy Morgan's upcoming comedy special Staying Alive. Netflix's upcoming comedy deals include specials from Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock and Amy Schumer, to add to the streaming platform's already massive comedy library. Netflix sent out a press release describing the special as well as Morgan's illustrious comedy career: Staying Alive hits Netflix May 16. Read more... More about Tracy Morgan, Netflix, Comedy, Entertainment, and Entertainment Read More »Ian McShane thinks 'Game of Thrones' fans need to 'get a f*cking life'
Ouch. Deadwood star Ian McShane spent one episode in the world of Westeros last season, and now he can't stop ragging on Game of Thrones fans. "The show is huge, but some fans seem to identify with it [too closely]," he told Empire magazine, according to British sites Metro and the Belfast Telegraph. "You want to say, 'Have you thought about your lifestyle? Maybe you should get out a little more.'" Et tu, Al Swearengen? The lovably curmudgeonly thesp played Brother Ray, a rural priest who rescued The Hound and nursed him back to health in the Season 6 episode "The Broken Man," before meeting an untimely demise at the hands of the Brotherhood Without Banners. Read more... More about Hbo, Ian Mcshane, Game Of Thrones, Entertainment, and Tv Read More »'Tokyo 42,' that colorful 'Grand Theft Auto'-like game, reveals more of its tricks
We're getting another look at the pretty, colorful, minimalist Tokyo 42 today thanks to a new gameplay clip. The latest from Tokyo 42 — an isometric assassin stealth-action game coming out later this year for PC, Xbox One and PS4 — showcases the Cop Drop, a minigame where you, you guessed it, take on the law. Sure sounds GTA-ish The new clip from developer SMAC and publisher Mode 7 gives you a glimpse at new combat units featuring increasingly difficult levels of policemen with pistols, shields and a trigger-happy yellow robot unit that'll eventually drop in as you continue to break the law. Read more... More about Tokyo 42, Gaming, Entertainment, Entertainment, and Gaming Read More »Fans wave what appear to be Russian flags in support of Trump at CPAC
America has always been the land of red, white and blue — but now those colors come with a Russian twist. On Friday, some attendees at CPAC, the annual Conservative Political Action conference, waved tiny flags that appear to be exactly copies of the Russian flag, however these have the word "Trump" emblazoned on them. CPAC staff quickly went around and confiscated those flags so please, stop worrying America, there's clearly no pattern. Go home and find those leakers! The difference between the Russian flag and these Trump flags is profound. Read more... More about Russia, Cpac, Donald Trump, Watercooler, and Watercooler Read More »Natalie Dormer reveals what it's like to be killed off on 'Game of Thrones'
Anyone who's seen Game of Thrones will know that the phrase "All men must die" isn't just restricted to men. Margaery Tyrell, who went out in a blaze of green glory in the Season 6 finale, is just one of the show's latest victims. Read more... More about Game Of Thrones, Margaery Tyrell, Real Time Video, Real Time Video, and Real Time Read More »Texting on Android will soon get a lot better
Texting on Android is about to get a much needed makeover. On Friday, Google announced a push to bring Rich Communications Services (RCS) messaging to Android users around the world. RCS is a communication protocol used by wireless carriers, and it's an upgrade to SMS — you know, the thing you probably call "texting." By bringing RCS messaging to Android phones, Google aims to upgrade the current SMS protocol, which is pretty limited. Things like stickers and iMessage effects only work because of proprietary platforms, and they'll only work within specific apps (like WhatsApp or Snapchat) or specific hardware (like iPhones). RCS coming to Android means those kinds of abilities will become native to "texting" on the Android platform, regardless of device. Read more... More about Android, Google, and Tech Read More »Watch this aerogel insulated jacket withstand liquid nitrogen
Oros outerwear is made with an insulating aerogel inspired by NASA technology used in space suits. Read more... More about Aerogel Insulated, Nasa Earth Observatory, Real Time Video, Real Time Video, and Invention Read More »Europeans are cutting down U.S. forests for so-called 'sustainable' energy
European nations, including the UK, are making a grave accounting error that will result in the emissions of more planet-warming greenhouse gases, according to a new report from an independent London think tank. By counting the burning of wood pellets from felled forests in the U.S., Canada and Russia as a "renewable" or "sustainable" form of energy, nations in the European Union are masking their full impact on the environment, the report warns. The study, from Chatham House, comes as European officials debate policies that favor particular energy sources, including biomass energy such as wood pellets, as a way to cut planet-warming carbon dioxide. Read more... More about Science, Paris Climate Agreement, Subsidies, Carbon Dioxide, and Carbon Emissions Read More »Have a great time looking at these round chinchilla butts
Surprise. People online love fluffy chinchilla butts. And these objects of the internet's affection are from Cameron's Chinchillas, a small scale breeding business run by Cameron Holmes in the British county of Buckinghamshire. Holmes says that the chinchillas love to nap, eat healthy snacks like rolled oats or mini shredded wheat and take dust baths to clean their fur. In the morning, he said, "we turn the lights and say good morning to all of the chinchillas and each of them is waiting by their food hopper waiting for it to be filled up." Wow. Read more... More about Instagram, Animals, Watercooler, and Watercooler Read More »30 of the brightest tech innovations from the UK
Paid Content By UK's Department for International TradeThe UK is a world-leading hub for business with an unrivalled network of experienced and innovative companies. Our businesses offer exceptional products and services that have transformed the day-to-day lives of people around the world.The UK has been home to some of the most genius inventions. Did you know the first photograph was pioneered on our group of islands? That UK physicists, developers and innovative minds have disrupted all areas of lives across the globe? The UK’s rich history of innovation and invention has provided the world with ideas and products we can’t live without - the mobile phone you could be reading this article on began as the humble telephone back in 1876. Read more... More about Supported and Tech Read More »Uber whistleblower Susan Fowler breaks silence for first time since going public
Susan Fowler Rigetti became a whistleblower Sunday when she published a blog post describing the sexist work culture and oppressive management style she experienced while at Uber. Since then, other women stepped forward with similar stories and the company's investors are now demanding action. Uber CEO Travis Kalanick held an all-hands meeting Tuesday, in which he promised change throughout the company, and announced that he'd enlisted former US Attorney General Eric Holder with conducting an investigation into the matter. Read more... More about Tech, Business, Susan Fowler, Silicon Valley, and Workplace Culture Read More » | ||||
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petak, 24. veljače 2017.
FeedaMail: Mashable
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