Boing Boing

Another hour, another bombshell in the accelerating pace of criminal and espionage inquiries into Donald Trump and his team. (more…)

Sand. The indefinite but distinctive quality of Star Trek dialogue. We can beam out of the wilds any time. Space is desaturated now, but still with a brightly diverse cast. 1990s Babylon 5 outfits. Xtreme Klingons. Vulcan on the bridge (Type: Jewish ☐, British ☐, 1950s transatlantic newsreel accent ☑). "Starfleet doesn't fire first." Alien Mason Verger senses death. Looks fine!

The Justice Department has appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel overseeing the federal investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, including questions about contact between Russian officials and Trump campaign associates. (more…)

Netflix has become one of the main forces for DRM in the world, a driver behind the W3C's dangerous, web-scale DRM project, and now they've announced that their app will no longer run on rooted/bootloader unlocked Android devices, because these devices can run code that overrides Google Widevine DRM (Widevine doesn't work well under the best of circumstances, and it harbored unpatched, showstopper bugs since its very inception). (more…)

Well, this just made my day: Matt Ruff's outstanding anti-racist novel Lovecraft Country has been picked up for development into a TV show by Jordan "Get Out" Peele, JJ Abrams and HBO. (more…)

It's yet another fun-filled, fact-challenged week in the tabloids.Hillary Clinton and Huma Abedin have been "caught fleeing the country," FBI files expose Debbie Reynolds' "secret gay life," and singer Cher needs a liver transplant "in order to cheat death!" according to the 'Globe.'"The shocking photo proof!" screams the Globe cover, beside a snap of Hillary and her aide descending an aircraft stairway, reportedly about to flee to Bahrain amid the Benghazi scandal.But the photo was actually taken at Van Nuys airport, California, on August 22, 2016, as the duo arrived in Los Angeles to attend a taping of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live.' I'm pretty sure that if you're flying from Washington, D.C. that Bahrain is in the opposite direction.More bizarre, the 'Globe' ran this same story back in February, claiming that Hillary was caught trying to flee America to avoid indictment by a grand jury. But this week's cover now has photographic "proof" - of Hillary landing in Van Nuys.Great investigative work, guys.Debbie Reynolds' "secret gay life" amounts to one alleged entry in her FBI files, reportedly claiming that an unnamed informant told investigators that her ex-husband Eddie Fisher was homosexual, and Reynolds "engaged in both normal and homosexual relations." What more proof could one ask? Perhaps a photo of Reynolds arriving at Van Nuys airport might clinch the deal?And does Cher need a liver transplant? The tabloids love to find a "top doctor" who has not treated the stars to offer a diagnosis based on photos, but the 'Globe' now has its new toy: the Institute of BioAcoustic Biology, which claims it can diagnose ailments by analyzing a patient's voice. Just listening to recordings of Cher, the experts can tell she "is being ravaged by a mysterious liver disorder and desperately may need a transplant." I expect her flight to land at Van Nuys airport any minute now.What do Bill Cosby, Michelle Obama, Dolly Parton, Sharon Stone and Faye Dunaway have in common?None of them have been treated by New Jersey plastic surgeon Dr. Lyle Back, who has nonetheless commented critically in recent months on all of their alleged cosmetic procedures, which he diagnoses at vast distances for the 'National Enquirer.'He's also turned his scalpel-like eye on Meg Ryan, David Hasselhoff, Daryl Hannah, Olivia Newton-John, Bethenny Frankel and Renée Zellweger for the magazine.And this week he's featured in no less than three 'Enquirer' stories, revealing that Caitlyn Jenner's face is "falling apart," Melanie Griffiths' looks are "gone for good," and that Tori Spelling's "Frankenface" is "starting to unravel." All according to this "top plastic surgeon" who, we are assured, "has not treated" any of these stars. Perhaps because he's too busy critiquing them?"Drugs, gay sex, lies & intimidation" at Fox News are the surprising target of attack on the cover of this week's Trump lapdog the 'Enquirer,' promising to expose 'What They're Still Hiding!"Beneath the headline "Fox News' Secret Web of Sin!" the 'Enquirer' unveils the "chilling truth about racism, drugs, sex, wiretaps, payoffs, lies and evil dirty tricks" at the Trump-loving network. It goes beyond the sexual harassment payoffs made on behalf of Roger Ailes and Bill O'Reilly, pulling together old dirt with fresh innuendo and gossip. Would the 'Enquirer' have attacked Fox News without White House approval, I wonder? Could this signal a new level of paranoid isolationism from the Oval Office?We also have the 'Enquirer' reveal the "real reason behind Comey's FBI firing!" Trump brilliantly "short-circuited a plan by the intelligence community to seize control of the White House - and the country!" An unnamed insider tells the magazine: "The American people owe President Trump a huge debt of gratitude for not allowing a rogue intelligence community to usurp our democracy." Yes! We should all thank President Trump for preserving our democratic way of life from autocratic tyrants. Where would we be without him? Flying in to Van Nuys airport, is my guess.Thankfully we have the intrepid investigative team at 'Us' magazine to tell us that Chrissy Teigen wore it best, Jeffrey Tambor loves baking bread, Madchen Amick carries lavender oil, a bead necklace and Crest toothpaste in her vintage handbag, and that the stars are just like us: they drink, eat, catch cabs and carry groceries. What exciting lives they must lead!'Us' magazine devotes its cover to Katie Holmes and Jamie Foxx's romantic "Secret Paris Getaway!" Calling them "the most private couple in Hollywood," the magazine finds that it can't penetrate into their privacy, as the duo travel in cars with tinted windows, take secret back elevators, and dine in private rooms at restaurants. In short, the magazine confirmed that the duo were in Paris together, and little more. It's the kind of ground-breaking journalism we've come to expect from 'Us.''People' magazine brings us 'The Obamas' beaming from the cover like the stars of a new reality TV series, promising to reveal the delights of "their lives now." And their lives sound an awful lot like reality TV fodder: The Obamas are traveling to exotic locations, exposing flesh while indulging in watersports, are writing their memoirs - allegedly for a combined $60 million - and are trying to figure out how to work the coffee machine. Ex-Presidents: They're Just Like Us!.Fortunately we have the 'National Examiner' to tell us that "Pets do go to heaven!" and how to "develop your psychic power." A hint: wear loose, comfortable clothing, dim the lights, clear your mind and say a prayer. There's even a helpful warning: "Psychic work should never be undertaken when you are angry or under the influence of drugs or alcohol." But where's the fun in that?Of course, it's the 'Examiner' that tells us that Neanderthals came to America 100,000 years before previously thought, and are the "missing link" to the "elusive Bigfoot." If only big feet meant little hands, there may be an explanation for the Neanderthal in the Oval Office.Onwards and downwards . . .

In case you missed "I'm Just a Lie" on Tuesday night's Jimmy Kimmel Live, here it is – the updated version of Schoolhouse Rock's 1976 "I'm just a Bill."

Yesterday, The New York Times ran a story with the headline "Comey Memo Says Trump Asked Him to End Flynn Investigation." But another nugget was hidden towards the bottom of the article:Alone in the Oval Office, Mr. Trump began the discussion by condemning leaks to the news media, saying that Mr. Comey should consider putting reporters in prison for publishing classified information, according to one of Mr. Comey’s associates.But isn't it legal in the United States for journalists to publish leaks whether they are legally obtained by someone else or not? According to The Guardian:The real danger, which got far less attention, was that Trump might use the draconian 100-year-old Espionage Act to target reporters with prosecution for publishing classified information. Less than six months into his presidency, we now have reason to believe this is a distinct possibility.The Espionage Act is blatantly unconstitutional, which is part of the reason why every justice department in modern history has avoided reaching the point of prosecution against a newspaper. But it has long been a specter hanging over journalists: if you read just the text of the law, it is being violated almost daily by reporters at every major paper in the country. (And it’s not just journalists: the law is so wildly broad that just by reading the New York Times, you are arguably guilty.)Many lawyers have believed the law would be struck down if a prosecution ever took place, but it’s not exactly a chance anyone wants to take. Just by bringing a prosecution without conviction, Trump can surely halt an untold number of stories that come right up to the line.But the Guardian goes on to explain that there is good news as well:The Trump administration’s obsession with leaks has only emboldened more people to come forward, and journalists to push even harder behind the scenes. There are almost too many examples to count of the administration admonishing employees not to leak behind closed doors, only to see their warnings promptly leaked to the press.Ironically, Trump firing Comey – in part for not being aggressive enough in leak investigations – has opened the floodgates to more leaks on what his administration was doing to potentially obstruct justice.Image: Bill Kerr

A fellow named Alain Ducas posted video that he says he shot in Bangor, Maine from the roof of the Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway Bangor overlooking the Penobscot River. I don't think that's a new river cryptid though. More likely it's the Loch Ness Monster on vacation in Maine. After all, Nessie hasn't been spotted in her Scotland home since May 7 when the video below was captured. That said, the Penobscot River Monster could just as easily be Champ, the monster residing in Michigan's Lake Champlain. (Mysterious Universe)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxGuTMF9jlQThe new Penobscot River Monster video is very similar to the Olsen Champ video of 2009.https://t.co/gqlVesQlHUHere's a 2009 screen grab. pic.twitter.com/NKxCKL2WTV— Loren Coleman (@CryptoLoren) May 11, 2017

When you sit next to a texter in a movie theater it can be a little irritating. But when Brandon Vezmar from Texas took his date to see Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2, he became so annoyed that he's now suing her for $17.31 – the cost of the movie ticket. According to USA Today: “This is, like, one of my biggest pet peeves,” he told Austin’s American-Statesman.“It was kind of a first date from hell,” he told the paper, saying that about 15 minutes after the movie began, his date – who he met on dating app Bumble – started texting.In his lawsuit, which was filed at a Travis County small claims court, Vezmar said the woman “activated her phone at least 10-20 times in 15 minutes to read and send text messages.”But perhaps it's not just the texting that left the 37-year-old gentleman smarting. When he told her to leave the theater if she wanted to text, she went outside and never came back, leaving him to find another ride home.Apparently, the couple, who met on the dating app Bumble, were not a match.Image: Jhaymesisviphotography

I tried using a gas barbecue for a couple of years. I like charcoal grills much more. The food tastes better. And instead of using starter fluid, I use this Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter ($15 on Amazon). I've had it since 2013. After four years, it's showing some signs of rust but is perfectly serviceable. To use it, you crumple a couple of sheets of newspaper and put it in the bottom chamber, and fill the top chamber with charcoal pieces or charcoal briquettes. Light the newspaper with a match and let it go to work. In about 20-30 minutes you'll have glowing coals. Pour them into the grill and start cooking.

Many thanks to the good folks who came out to Bellingham's Village Books for last night's Walkaway event; tonight, I'll be appearing in Vancouver before flying home to Burbank for an event at my local Dark Delicacies on Saturday and then going straight to the airport for the start of my UK tour. (more…)

Ryanvasan of Reddit says: "Wife toured 80 year old couple's house for sale and this setup was in their office." The Macintosh Plus came out in 1986. I doubt many people still use it as a daily driver (if you do, tell us about it in the comments, and provide screenshots of what Boing Boing looks like on it).Image by Rama. - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.0 fr, Link

Today, the whistleblower Chelsea Manning stepped out of the Military Corrections Complex at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, having served the longest sentence in US history for whistleblowing; for the duration of her ongoing appeal, she is on "excess leave in an active-duty status" which entitles her to access to military health-care insurance and other benefits. (more…)

Speaking to U.S. Coast Guard graduates today, president Donald Trump said that no politician in history had been treated worse than him."Look at the way I have been treated lately, especially by the media," he said. "No politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly. You can't let them get you down, you can't let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams."Trump's White House is besieged by bipartisan questions about his alleged request to former FBI Director James Comey to halt an investigation into his former top national security aide.He's really asking for it, isn't he?Crises so far this weekMonday: Trump blurting classified info to Russian diplomats in meetingTuesay: Trump told FBI Director to make investigation disappearWednesday: Putin says he might release transcripts of Monday's chat.

High praise from a former US president to a future US president: "I did not see the program, but Mrs. Nixon told me you were great on the Donahue Show."[via]

There are many wrong ways to sense the world around you, and one of them is the best way to ensure your survival. Amanda Gefter of Quanta Magazine interviewed Donald D. Hoffman, a professor of cognitive science at the University of California, Irvine. Hoffman has spent the past three decades studying perception, artificial intelligence, evolutionary game theory and the brain, and his conclusion is a dramatic one: The world presented to us by our perceptions is nothing like reality. What’s more, he says, we have evolution itself to thank for this magnificent illusion, as it maximizes evolutionary fitness by driving truth to extinction....But how can seeing a false reality be beneficial to an organism’s survival?Hoffman: There’s a metaphor that’s only been available to us in the past 30 or 40 years, and that’s the desktop interface. Suppose there’s a blue rectangular icon on the lower right corner of your computer’s desktop — does that mean that the file itself is blue and rectangular and lives in the lower right corner of your computer? Of course not. But those are the only things that can be asserted about anything on the desktop — it has color, position, and shape. Those are the only categories available to you, and yet none of them are true about the file itself or anything in the computer. They couldn’t possibly be true. That’s an interesting thing. You could not form a true description of the innards of the computer if your entire view of reality was confined to the desktop. And yet the desktop is useful. That blue rectangular icon guides my behavior, and it hides a complex reality that I don’t need to know. That’s the key idea. Evolution has shaped us with perceptions that allow us to survive. They guide adaptive behaviors. But part of that involves hiding from us the stuff we don’t need to know. And that’s pretty much all of reality, whatever reality might be. If you had to spend all that time figuring it out, the tiger would eat you.

The Trumpian trial-balloon on banning laptops in the cabins of planes coming from Europe has put the shits way up the airline industry (rightly), who have published their own (data-free) costings for such a ban: $1B, with $216M for delays, $655M from lost productivity, and $195M for renting airline-supplied devices to use while your laptop is in the cargo hold, awaiting its destiny in one or more of employee theft, gross destruction, or massive lithium-battery fires. (more…)

In this video, you'll learn why you shouldn't rub chopsticks together to remove splinters, stick your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice, pass morsels from one set of chopsticks to another, and two other dining taboos.

Balenciaga sells a $2,145 leather bag that looks exactly like a cheap, big, blue plastic Ikea Frakta bag. (more…)

This week on Donald Bell's Maker Update -- a skateboard that shoots fire, design concepts from Hackaday prize, a dirt-cheap telepresence robot, cardboard rivets, a microcontroller guide from MAKE, a (canvas military tool bag), and Maker Faire Bay Area, the biggest show and tell on Earth. Extended show notes and transcript are here.By the way, if you're coming to Maker Faire this weekend, I'll be on a panel with Donald, April Wilkerson, and John Edgar Park, moderated by Gareth Branwyn. I'm also giving a talk about making a 1-string guitar in 15 minutes. I hope to see you there!

Construction is near to completion on Apple's $5B campus in Cupertino, and the project has included many odd notes, like the insistence on not having thresholds on the floor of the doorways lest daydreaming engineers trip over them, and some weird ideas about where the bathrooms should go. (more…)

It's been 15 years since the publication of Steven Wolfram's A New Kind of Science, a mindblowing, back-breaking 1,200-page book that (sort of) says the whole universe is made up of recursive fractals, also noteworthy for the frequent repetition of the phrase "A new kind of science" in its early chapters. (more…)

Death Row inmate JW Ledford, after enjoying a 5,000-calorie last meal, was killed with a lethal injection by the U.S. State of Georgia this morning. He quoted Cool Hand Luke, smiled and said "you can kiss my white trash ass," then had his mic cut as he began ranting.For his final meal on Friday, Ledford requested filet mignon wrapped in bacon with pepper jack cheese, large french fries, 10 chicken tenders with sauce, fried pork chops and a blooming onion.For dessert he had pecan pie, vanilla ice cream and sherbet, washed down with a Sprite, according to WGLC-TV, an Atlanta news station.Ledford robbed and murdered his neighbour, Dr Harry Johnston, stabbing him in the neck at his home on 31 January 1992.He then threatened the victim's wife before stealing money, four guns and vehicle from the house.

Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church is a powerful reactionary figure in the country's toxic political scene, which has welded a tale of thwarted imperial destiny to a thin-skinned fundamentalist theology that can't bear the slightest sign of mockery; he's blamed ISIS on secularism and Pride parades and says that marriage equality literally heralds the imminent apocalypse. (more…)

Fergus Wilson rents almost 1000 properties in Kent, England, but not to Indians, Pakistanis, or women who have been victims of domestic violence. The BBC reports that this sterling example of British tolerance is getting sued.He has insisted he is not racist and has rented to "non-white" people, including Gurkhas.Mr Wilson said: "It is not the colour of their skin, but the smell of the curry."The EHRC appears to be saying that the purchaser then must let the house to someone who does cook curry."Advocacy group Hope Not Hate said: "Mr Wilson needs to join the 21st century."It's almost as if he has taken a tick box to offend every vulnerable group in Britain."We hope these legal proceedings will help him rapidly re-focus his outdated views."It's almost comical, how his rental criteria measure a disparate but illustrative collection of inane bigoted resentments.

Motion designer Christian Stangl and composer Wolfgang Stangl created this gorgeous short film, titled LUNAR, from thousands of NASA photographs taken by astronauts. From the film description:In the year 1957 the cold war expands to space. The Soviet-Union sends Sputnik as the first manmade object into earth-orbit. 2 years later Yuri Gagarin enters space as the first man in space. The so called "Space Race" seems to be decided. But in 1961 President Kennedy promised to send American Astronauts to the moon. The Apollo Project was born. A space ship had to be built that is strong enough to escape earth's gravitation, land on the moon and bring the crew safely back to earth.

In the world of professional sand sculptors, Toshihiko Hosaka is known for his large commissioned works (like this commissioned Colossal Titan from Shingeki no Kyojin) and for creating an environmentally friendly sand glue, being used in the video above. (more…)

For their film Fire, Saulo Jamariqueli and Dirk Rees put a couple of fire breathers in a dark studio with a reflective surface, then ran the impressive footage through a kaleidoscope filter, making it even cooler. (more…)

Jodipan was a colorless slum until the local government decided to spend about $22,000 on a colorful makeover. Now the area is a tourist destination. (more…)

At $11, the Proctor Silex K2070YA 1-Liter Electric Kettle was the cheapest model I could find on Amazon that didn’t look like it would result in electrocution or an explosion of boiling water. I’ve spent three months with it. It’s OK.In fact, it’s showing no sign at all of problems. It boils water fast. The cord is detachable. It automatically shuts off when it boils, or if you try to boil air. The design makes it possible to refill from a faucet or fridge dispenser without opening the lid. You can see from across the room how full it is, too, thanks to its nice big window.The little “heating in progress” LED light inside the transparent switch is still working after months of use, and there’s no rubbery seal around the lid slowly failing; two problems that soon became annoyances on the $75 Breville this replaced. The only problem, such as it is? The LEX part of the logo has completely and slightly mysteriously disappeared.Here’s a photo of the heating element after a thousand or so boils:If you do want to die, though, the $2.17 Lookatool Pocket Boiler is where it’s at. The Ovente looks quite similar to the Proctor Silex model, comes in several cool colors, and is currently the same price, but has a stupid window.

Legendary chemists and psychonauts Nicholas Sand and Nick Scully created the legendary version of LSD known as “Orange Sunshine” that was so widely used in San Francisco in 1967. Sand died on April 24 at his home in the Northern California community of Lagunitas. He was 75. (more…)

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House today. While the two authoritarian heads of state chatted, Erdogan's thugs beat the crap out of Kurdish protesters nearby. (more…)

Paul Manafort received a 3.5 million dollar tax-free and payback-free loan from someone yet unknown, right after he left Donald Trump's presidential campaign. Federal investigators have subpoenaed Manafort's records to find out more about this weird real estate loan transaction, and his finances in general. (more…)

A sharia court in Indonesia’s ultra-conservative Aceh province has sentenced two gay men to public caning. (more…)

Before Trump fired James B. Comey last week, he asked the FBI director to end its investigation into former Trump advisor Michael Flynn and Russia, reports the New York Times. This is big news, and has since been confirmed by a number of other news organizations. (more…)

Michael from Muckrock writes, "The 'friendly' rivalry between America's East and West Coasts extends from hip-hop feuds to pizza bagels, and recently unearthed memos regarding California champagne from the CIA's declassified archive shows that even the Agency isn't immune." (more…)

Between 1838 and 1841, an enterprising London teenager repeatedly broke into Buckingham Palace, sitting on the throne, eating from the kitchen, and generally causing headaches for Queen Victoria's attendants, who couldn't seem to keep him out. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll describe the exploits of Edward Jones -- who some have called the first celebrity stalker.We'll also salute some confusing flags and puzzle over an extraterrestrial musician.Show notesPlease support us on Patreon!

There's some remarkable craftsmanship at work in this step-by-step video of making a large brass fidget spinner shaped like the Batman logo. The best part is they are giving it away to a viewer. (more…)

Alberta’s Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology displays a nodosaur fossil that is so well-preserved that bumps and crevasses on its surface are clearly visible. National Geographic's Robert Clark captured amazing images. (more…)

A woman in the street interrupted a live BBC television interview and the reporter gently pushed her away with his hand. Did he know where he was pushing?

I've been interviewing a lot of people via Skype recently. I like to pace around while I talk so I bought this lightweight $20 Bluetooth headset on Amazon. It paired easily to my computer (a Macbook Pro) and the sound quality is fine. I've made a point of asking the people I've been interviewing me if they can hear me clearly and they've all said yes. The manufacturer promises "up to 12 hours continuous talking time and 200 hours standby time with single fully charged in just 2 hours." It charges through a micr-USB connection (cable included).

The best part of waking up...

National Security Sharer H.R. McMaster's overnight flip from denying the Washington Post story about Comrade President sharing classified data with the Russians during his job interview last week, to calling this blunder critical for national security is par for course.It is now far easier to trust just about anyone other than the White House.Slate tears into the logic of trusting the White House:The Post’s sources have made factual allegations that can be checked. The administration hasn’t.Contrast this record with the administration’s response. The White House has released three statements. McMaster says the Post story, “as reported, is false,” but he doesn’t debunk any specific claim in the story. He says “it didn’t happen,” but he doesn’t say what “it” is. The empirical claims he makes—for example, that “at no time were intelligence sources or methods discussed”—are compatible with the Post report, which alleges not that sources and methods were explicitly discussed, but that they were inadvertently exposed by Trump’s disclosures.The other two statements released by the White House are equally hollow. Dina Powell, the White House deputy national security adviser, says: “This story is false. The president only discussed the common threats that both countries faced.” Again, the factual claim fits the Post story, and the denial is too vague to check. A third statement, issued by Tillerson, doesn’t even say the Post story is false. It just says the people in the meeting “did not discuss sources, methods or military operations.”To be fair, that last claim by Tillerson is falsifiable. Indeed, it seems false. According to McMaster, Trump “did not disclose any military operations that were not already publicly known.” It’s hard to imagine why McMaster would add the caveat about “not already publicly known” unless Trump had, contra Tillerson, discussed military operations.On Tuesday morning, Trump himself weighed in. “As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety,” he tweeted. Trump’s tweets, like his subordinates’ statements, didn’t challenge the Post’s reporting.A few hours later, at a White House briefing, reporters asked McMaster what elements of the Post story were false. He ducked the question, instead disputing what he called the story’s “premise”: that what Trump had said in the meeting was “inappropriate.” He was then asked about four claims in the story: that Trump had shared classified information, that he had revealed the city where the crucial intelligence was obtained, that the information he shared came from a U.S. intelligence partner, and that Bossert had subsequently contacted the CIA and NSA. McMaster disputed none of these allegations.

https://youtu.be/3H-Y-D3-j-MIn this 1981 Nightline interview Ted Koppel asks 26 year old Steve Jobs "There is a sense that many of us have who really don't understand how computers work, or what they do for us or to us, that we are becoming controlled by the computers. Any danger of that happening?"Jobs said: "Well, as you know, the product we manufacture, many people see it for the first time and they don't think it's a computer it's about 12 pounds you can throw it out the window if the relationship isn't going so well."

This crazy, groovy flick from the US Army was made in 1970 and features a Army Captain giving great fashion advice to a young soldier. Army Captain: Say, that's a beautiful dress. Where did you get it?Soldier: Where did I? Oh... I, uh, bought it at Lorman's last Thursday. Army Captain: You know, I wish I could wear one of those. They're really cute, but... well, I guess they're a little young for me.Soldier: But I thought, that, well, you didn't dig -- oh, excuse me ma'am, that you didn't like miniskirts and clothes like that.Army Captain: No, now that's not exactly right. We do have certain ideas about how you should look in your uniform... and I guess sometimes we do express these feelings rather strongly. How you dress in your off-duty hours is another matter… Now we do expect a girl to show good taste… but that shouldn't keep you from expressing your own individuality… take miniskirts, I think they're great, and you look good in them…If you aren't in the mood to watch all 20 minutes, here's the 3 minute highlights reel:https://youtu.be/Ow4feuNaKTI[via]

We are introducing Evezor, a robot that can carve, draw, engrave, pour, pick, place, cut, weld, print, grab, mill, assemble and create your next project or business. Powered by Raspberry Pi, open source software and hardware, Evezor is the most hackable robotic arm there is. Evezor can share and automate the hand tools you already own and with open toolhead platform, anyone can make tools for this machine. (more…)

FaceApp is a smartphone app that can add a smile to an unsmiling person's face. Olly Gibbs, the digital and print designer at Empire Magazine, used the app at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum to improve the paintings on display there.Went to a museum armed with Face App to brighten up a lot of the sombre looks on the paintings and sculptures. The results... pic.twitter.com/N0zYGAFgKW— Olly Gibbs (@ollyog) May 11, 2017And some more Face App museum creations... pic.twitter.com/0mBRgiLgCb— Olly Gibbs (@ollyog) May 12, 2017I hear your calls for more #MuseumFaceApp art! Again all from the brilliant @rijksmuseum... pic.twitter.com/xXHNTu86eW— Olly Gibbs (@ollyog) May 12, 2017

A man wearing a bright orange Home Depot apron loaded some air conditioners into a truck. No one noticed he was actually a thief until he got greedy and went into the store for more. That's when the store manager saw his name tag that said "Shannon" with flowers drawn around it. The observant manager knew the store didn't employ anybody with the name of Shannon, so he called the police.Shannon turned out to be 53-year-old Bernardo Calana from Massachusetts. The gentleman tried to tell the police he had nothing to do with the air conditioners, but the orange apron stuffed in his back pocket gave him away. This is something straight out of an I Love Lucy episode, minus the jovial laugh track to make it all good in the end.Thanks Seattle Times!Image: Enriquecornejo