Canada has a grotesquely concentrated telcoms sector and a grotesquely concentrated media sector, and thanks to a series of extremely anticompetitive mergers, the two sectors are one in the same. (more…)

A woman off camera is talking, with a tone that sounds kind of harsh, and this mama dog doesn't seem to like it too much. She wraps an arm around her pup as if to shield it from the human, and then uses both arms and even her body to shield the pup even more. She's the cutest mama dog I've seen in a long time.

MINIM (Amazon) is a standard, regulation deck of cards that come in white or black and feature an absolute bare mininum of detail.Designed by Joe Doucet, they're made from PVC and abstract the classic suits into geometric symbols: "While it is necessary to mark the backs of regulation cards, we’ve done so with minimal diagonal lines instead of the typical ornamental graphics."The dark set looks very 1970s sci-fi and would be a perfect stocking stuffer for your favorite gambler, magician, or me.

For those who have never piloted a quadcopter, but don’t want to burn their cash on cheap plastic, the TRNDlabs Spectre offers a high-end feel with a gentle learning curve. It’s being offered in the Boing Boing Store now for $92.99.[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyrNj1-XAo0&w=560&h=315]To help you quickly get the hang of flying, this drone features a beginner mode with several handy flight-assist functions. It’s capable of super-simple takeoffs and landings, and can hold its present altitude steady to assist with capturing crisp photos and smooth videos with the onboard HD camera. When you’re ready to take the training wheels off (or if they were off to begin with), you can pull off precise stunts with first-person POV using the separately-sold IRIS VR goggles. Its controller even has a dedicated mount for your phone to provide quick access to camera controls.The TRNDlabs Spectre Drone has an MSRP of $149.99, but you can pick one up here for $92.99.

Marvin Hewitt never finished high school, but he taught advanced physics, engineering, and mathematics under assumed names at seven different schools and universities between 1945 and 1953. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll trace the curious career of an academic impostor, whose story has been called "one of the strangest academic hoaxes in history."We'll also try on a flashproof scarf and puzzle over why a healthy man would check into a hospital.Show notesPlease support us on Patreon!

Looking for a lovely way to honor a special pooch in your life? British sculptor Helen Thompson, aka Holy Smoke, creates textile sculptures of dogs that really capture the essence of dogness. (more…)

Do you co-sleep with your children? Do you have multiple partners? Are you tall? Are you larger than average? Do you have orgies on the regular? Do you like to pretend you're tiny?Well, whatever your reason, there's now an over-sized mattress for you.The Ace Collection offers over-sized mattresses (along with corresponding bedding and frames).The first one is called either the "Ace" or the "Ace Player," depending on how you orient it in your room. One way, the Player side, it's four inches wider than a standard King size bed but is much much longer. Flip it and it becomes an extra-wide bed:The really crazy big one is the "Ace Family" size. It's massive, measuring in at 144 inches wide. By my calculations, you could easily fit 4-5 adults on that thing.Mattress prices start at $2,250, bedding at $258, and frames at $500.Thanks, Dixie!

Here's some behind-the-scenes footage of Elton John in 1970 working out the harmony for what he describes as "the song about Bernie's girlfriend.""Bernie" is Bernie Taupin, the song's lyricist and the song is Tiny Dancer. Taupin's girlfriend at that time was the band's seamstress Maxine Feibelmann, a dancer who later became Bernie's first wife. In a 1973 Rolling Stone interview, Taupin acknowledged that the song is about her. When asked directly, he stated, "That's true, yes." The song is even dedicated to her on the album, Madman Across the Water.However, Taupin later stated that the song was about all the women he encountered in California in those days:

Utah-based online clothing brand Beloved makes something called the "Belovesie," which is a long-sleeve, unusually-patterned onesie for grownups. It zippers all the way up from deep crotch to the top of your head, completely covering your face. That feature, I think, is best described as "disconcerting."Enter the Sexy Christmas Belovesie which has truly nothing sexy about it. See for yourself:Sexy or not, I can think of one particularly great use for this suit: SantaCon. Get it now for $129.95.(Dangerous Minds)

Dutch doctor Philip Nitschke of Exit International has created the Sarco, a controversial "suicide machine" that allows people an easy exit.AlterNet reports:

Multiple White House sources have told reporters that the Trump administration has been negotiating with Erik Prince (founder of the war-crimes plagued mercenary firm Blackwater; brother to pyramid-scheme billionaire/Education Secretary Betsy Devos) and ex-CIA operative John R. Maguire to assemble a private army of deniable, off-the-books spy/mercenaries who could target Trump's "deep state" political enemies in the USA, and kidnap and render similar figures overseas. (more…)

Home security company ADT had an offer its website users couldn't refuse: never criticize the company or its products.Customers accessing the "My ADT" service were challenged to agree to new terms and conditions, among which was "Will not disparage ADT, ADT's products or services, or any of ADT's affiliates or their products of services.""The answer is NO, and I'm quitting your service and going to a competitor," wrote customer Matt Weeks on Twitter. "If you don't want bad reviews, try better prices and service, not this kind of shady legal garbage."After the online backlash, the company promised to remove the provision for users...https://twitter.com/ADT/status/937454724302983168...but somehow managed to make it worse, insisting that the disparagement clause still applies when "linking to our website."Attempting to legally control who can and cannot link to a website (and what they can say about you) is a legal theory with a sad and futile history, and it never seems to accomplish anything but attracting brutal criticism, much of it from lawyers who know better.https://twitter.com/Popehat/status/937518267979112448

"He's a liar," says Debbie Wesson Gibson of Roy Moore, the Alabama Republican nominee for U.S. Senate who has been accused by five women of pursuing them when they were teenagers. Moore denies knowing Gibson, but she says that Moore dated her when she was 17 and that he kissed her (with her consent). She has produced a scrapbook that features Moore's distinctive handwriting and says, “Happy graduation Debbie. I wanted to give you this card myself. I know that you’ll be a success in anything you do. Roy.”From The Washington Post:

Although Trump's personal lawyer John Dowd conveniently thinks that U.S. presidents are above the law and can't be removed from office for obstructing justice, Jeff Sessions, Mitch McConnell, and dozens of other GOP members of Congress disagree.(more…)

Treasure from Heritage Auctions:

If you're looking for something good to read during the holidays, you might want to check out one of Bill Gates' top five "amazing books" that he recommends for your winter 2017 reading list. "You can’t go wrong with one of these," he promises on his blog, Gatesnotes. Here's the list:The Best We Could Do, by Thi Bui – "This gorgeous graphic novel is a deeply personal memoir that explores what it means to be a parent and a refugee." Read Gates' review here.Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond – "Desmond has written a brilliant portrait of Americans living in poverty. He gave me a better sense of what it is like to be poor in this country than anything else I have read." Read Gates' review here.Believe Me: A Memoir of Love, Death, and Jazz Chickens, by Eddie Izzard – "Izzard’s personal story is fascinating: he survived a difficult childhood and worked relentlessly to overcome his lack of natural talent and become an international star." Read Gates' review here.The Sympathizer, by Viet Thanh Nguyen – "Despite how dark it is, The Sympathizer is a gripping story about a double agent and the trouble he gets himself into." Read Gates' review here.Energy and Civilization: A History, by Vaclav Smil - "Smil is one of my favorite authors, and this is his masterpiece. He lays out how our need for energy has shaped human history—from the era of donkey-powered mills to today’s quest for renewable energy." Read Gates' review here.Image: Gatesnoteshttps://youtu.be/69pwVFbJIaY

I am watching this SAR operation right now. A search for a missing person started last night.I hope they find whomever they are looking for. It is always impressive, and comforting, to watch them work.

In this security cam footage, we see a car pull up to a driveway. A female passenger gets out, walks up the driveway, and takes a package from the doorstep of the house. She runs back to the car, which still has the passenger door open for a quick getaway. When the thief gets in the car, the homeowner runs out and starts yelling. In a panic, the driver speeds off before the thief is fully in the car, so she falls in the street. (The stolen package is in the car) The homeowner runs over and grabs her. The thief screams to be let go, professing her innocence. The homeowner tells the thief that the crime was captured on camera, which does little to quiet the thief. The video ends before the police arrive but according to the YouTube description, they arrived and arrested the thief after 10 minutes. T

A retaining wall broke in Monterrey Nuevo León, Mexico, causing the collapse of several homes. The follow who videod his own house falling seemed pretty calm about it."My house is collapsing. The fourth house to fall after the failure of a retaining wall on a neighbouring construction site."

Preservationists restoring an 18th century statue of Jesus that was hanging in Burgos, Spain's church of St. Águeda found a two handwritten letters tucked into the figure's buttocks. Dated 1777, the notes were written by chaplin Joaquín Mínguez from the Burgo de Osma cathedral. The letters will be archived by the office of the Archibishop of Burgos while copies were put back into the statue's bottom. From National Geographic:

In light of the recent news about Michael Flynn becoming a stool pigeon, UK bookmakers are adjusting the odds on the likelihood that Trump will be impeached.

A lot of people can apparently hear this GIF. I can feel it.The GIF was created by HappyToast.

I would have set this video to the Fraggle Rock themesong.Via Digg.

ETH Zurich researchers developed a "living ink" for 3D printers that's made from bacteria, nutrients, and a polymer gel. In a small scale demonstration, they printed a small 3D lattice of the material that cleaned up a beaker of contaminated water. From Science News:

Senator Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) wants to do away with the estate tax. After much research on why this is right, he reported on his findings: “I think not having the estate tax recognizes the people that are investing. As opposed to those that are just spending every darn penny they have, whether it’s on booze or women or movies.”From The Washington Post:

Fra-geelay! They must be Italian!You can decorate with this awesome string of Leg Lamp lights.https://youtu.be/lR29zxrY2LMA Christmas Story Kurt Adler UL 10-Lights Leg Lamp Light Set via Amazon

Tatsuo Horiuchi, 77, creates lovely landscape paintings using the color graphing features of Excel. As William Gibson said, "The street finds its own uses for things."

Ariel Olivar, a junior at Manvel High School in Texas, has powers. More on Olivar's magic at the Houston Chronicle.

If not-so-subtly insulting guests is your cup of tea, then Miss Havisham's teacups are for you. Prices start at $60.

There's going to be a feature documentary about Mister Rogers next year. It's aptly titled Won’t You Be My Neighbor? and will showcase "the lessons, ethics and legacy of iconic children's television host, Fred Rogers."

Science YouTuber (and former NASA engineer) Mark Rober explains how when you add air "in the just the right way" to sand, it "basically becomes a liquified soup." It sure does!Watch and learn.

Yulin residents in China’s Guangxi province were said to be excited last weekend about going to the city’s first zoo, which was advertised as having “rare” animals. Instead, attendees discovered blow-up penguins in areas that should have been designated for authentic flightless birds, according to the South China Morning Post.Guishan Zoo, which has since been closed, also included breathing monkeys, geese, roosters and turtles.For an admission costing approximately $2.25, inflatable penguins probably should have been expected.Via the South China Morning Post:

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As this tumultuous year draws to a close, you’ll probably want to use the holidays as an excuse for gluttonous hedonism. But instead of totally losing yourself to various seasonal greetings, you could get a head start on some professional development for 2018. Here’s 5 skills that will definitely boost your career in the next year:PythonIf learning to code is at the top of your list of 2018 New Year’s resolutions, Python is a great start for beginners. In the Python Power Coder BONUS Bundle, you can get familiar with the fundamentals of programming, as well as dive into data science topics, web development, and basic AI. These 8 courses are on offer in the Boing Boing Store for $44 — and you can still take an extra 70% off with code CYBER70.ExcelMicrosoft’s venerable spreadsheet engine is useful for much more than just household budgeting and blocky artwork. With a lifetime subscription to eLearn Excel, you’ll discover how to structure complex sheets, automate application functions, and build out powerful pivot tables in your own time. And once you’ve mastered Excel, you can do the same with the rest of the Office Suite. Take 40% off our $30 price for eLearn Office when you use CYBER40 at checkout.Digital MarketingFacebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social apps are home to unique communities and a never-ending supply of adorable animal content, but you can also use their ad tools to build engaging brands that have the potential to connect with millions. The Complete Digital Marketing Course 2017 will help you do just that, by introducing you to essential concepts like SEO, targeted email campaigns, social media management, and Google AdWords. It's usually in the Boing Boing Store for $19, and you can save an additional 40% off with coupon code CYBER40Ethical HackingThose whose holiday vacation consists of an extended social media sabbatical on the grounds of resistance to the surveillance state would probably feel more comfortable with a comprehensive overview to information security in the Ethical Hacking A to Z Bundle. This collection will teach you how perform penetration tests on a wide array of real-world systems, and is 70% off the normal $59 price with CYBER70.Project ManagementManaging complex projects is much more of a science than an art — when you take the right approach, of course. To get comfortable with the same successful methodology employed by giants in a variety of industries, this Six Sigma Green & Black Belt Certification Training features over 60 hours of instructional content. It’s available in the Boing Boing Store for $49, and we’ll let you take another 70% off that price with CYBER70 at checkout.

My friend Gina Borys has released a delightful, old fashioned Christmas song on iTunes, called "I Caught a Snowflake." We've added to our holiday music playlist.Here's a snippet:[audio mp3="https://media.boingboing.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/snippet.mp3"][/audio]

One of my favorite illustrators is eBoy (a collective of people from Germany and LA). They designed our Jackhammer Jill logo and did a cool Boing Boing shirt many years ago (I don't think it's available any longer). eBoy just created this gigantic poster of New York, which you can tape to a wall and color in with pens or colored pencils. This would make a good gift.

When Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn pled guilty to lying to the FBI about contact with a Russian ambassador, it brought Robert Mueller's investigation right into Trump’s innermost circle.We don't know what's next in the election meddling probe, but the vice grip on Flynn is tight. Trump can't be comfortable, either. Nor, one imagines, is Jared Kushner, one of the 'senior officials' indicated in the legal filing released today.(more…)

Former National Security Agency employee Nghia H. Pho said in a Baltimore courtroom today he'd illegally taken home classified documents from NSA that are understood to have later “been stolen from his home computer by hackers working for Russian intelligence,” the NYT reports.

Gaspar Palacio is brilliant, and concise.

Stock photography is always good for a laugh, as artistic license often gets in the way of reality. Instagrammer @YouDidNotSleepThere, aka Luisa Jeffery, finally got fed up and started cataloging the most staged campsite images. (more…)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSuregWhlWkInto the blue again after the money's gone.

Pharmadouchebro/Larval Trump Martin Shkreli was convicted of securities fraud in August and then sent to jail in September for putting a bounty on a lock of Hillary Clinton's hair. (more…)

Michael Flynn, former National Security Adviser to President Trump, was charged today with lying to the FBI about his contacts with agents of the Russian government. He is expected to enter entered a guilty plea in court Friday, thought to part of a deal with Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller that observers expect will implicate others in Trump's circle and perhaps the president himself.

The FEZ Vaporizer is highlighted by 60-second convenience and temperature customization, and is currently available in the Boing Boing Store for 43% off retail price.Despite its minimalist look, this vape lets you choose the right heat level to match your herbal strain. Its single button control makes it dead simple to use — just give it a press, and it’s ready to go in less than a minute. You can get over 2,000 puffs on a single charge, and it’s easily rechargeable from any USB power source.The FEZ also comes with a full set of miniature cleaning tools, but you rarely need to clean it; it’s designed to eliminate toxic compounds from plant material. You can get the FEZ Vaporizer from the Boing Boing Store in black, white, or red for $79. Plus, you can use coupon code CYBER20 (yes, Cyber Monday continues!) for an extra 20% off at checkout.

Goldstone Books, an online used-book seller in Wales, spruced up their offices with this gorgeous reception desk skinned with books. (via Blog on the Bookshelf)

Tom Colella worked for 20 years as an Instrument Electrical Tradesperson for Aroona Alliance in Western Australia, until he was fired in on Sept 20, 2016 for sneaking off to play golf every Wednesday afternoon and hiding his absences from his employer by putting the PDA that he was obliged to carry -- in order to track his movements -- in a mylar potato-chip bag that acted as a Faraday cage and prevented it from receiving GPS signals and other location-identifying beacons and storing or communicating his location for his employer. (more…)

Last month, James "New Aesthetic" Bridle published an influential essay exploring the prolific and disturbing video-spam that had come to dominate Youtube Kids, in which seemingly algorithmically generated videos endlessly recombined a handful of Disney characters and assorted others engaged in violent, abusive and even psychosexual conduct, over a soundtrack of a few repeated public-domain kids' songs, with all sorts of trickery designed to uprank them in Youtube's play-next, recommendation and search results -- keyword stuffing, duration-stretching and more. (more…)

This week, global finance criminals Morgan Stanley published a report warning investors that a victory for Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party would be worse for its fortunes than even the most shambolic, bungled Brexit (which the Tories are on track to deliver). (more…)

Variety is reporting that the desk recently-fired TODAY anchor Matt Lauer's desk was rigged with a special button:

This year's Cards Against Humanity secret Xmas surprise has begun, and on day one, they've delighted buyers (I'm one!) by sending us a share certificate for an infinitesimal fraction of a stretch of US/Mexican borderlands, along with details of their plans to keep the land secure from Trump's attempts to seize it and build a stupid wall on it. (more…)