It's been over a hundred years since the Titanic sank, and its wreckage in the North Atlantic Ocean has been protected by an International Agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom. But since 2000, that agreement has specifically forbidden anyone from cutting into the wreckage or detaching any part of it. In other words, the wreckage itself must be preserved, even as researchers explore and salvage around it.From CNN:Virginia's eastern district court amended that order "for a unique opportunity to recover an artifact that will contribute to the legacy left by the indelible loss of the Titanic, those who survived and those who gave their lives in the sinking," Judge Rebecca Beach Smith wrote.[…]The Marconi device and the artifacts associated with it face "significant threat of permanent loss," the judge said in her approval of the expedition.The radio isn't a blackbox, per se — it's not like modern planes that record the final fates of people on board. But it certainly has historical significance. Even though, on the surface, "Rescuing the radio but not the Titanic" sounds like a depressing metaphor for watching the world fall apart all around you.Radio used by the Titanic to call for help can be salvaged, judge rules [Kay Jones, Sheena Jones and Theresa Waldrop / CNN] Read the rest

Okay, now THIS is a quarantine crafting project.An amazing terrarium coffee table, shared by IMGURian @timsterrariums206.Go see the entire gallery.I made a terrarium coffee table[source: IMGUR] Read the rest

Pro-democracy lawmakers denounced the plans as “the end of Hong Kong”.

These two little bear cubs are play-fighting, but they look beary serious.Scary up close bear fighting!! pic.twitter.com/hKRka6A6Gd— Josh (@Pasta_Josh) May 21, 2020 Read the rest

• Ruairi O Leocháin of Athlone Wildlife Apiaries decided to make a lego beehive "just for a bit of craic" A beekeeper in Ireland put their coronavirus quarantine time to good use by crafting an elaborate, fully functioning beehive out of LEGOs.Here's the original story published by Westmeath Independent:A beehive which an Athlone schoolteacher and wildlife activist made out of lego has been creating a real buzz since video footage of it was shared online in recent days. Ruairi O Leocháin of Athlone Wildlife Apiaries decided to make a lego beehive "just for a bit of craic", but a video clip he shared of the bees in their colourful new home has been hugely popular and is about to surpass 100,000 views on Facebook. "To be honest, I wasn't expecting such a big reaction," he said."I have had people getting in touch with me from China, America, and elsewhere saying that they love the idea." LEGO Beehive Read the rest

Your concerns about the privacy and security risks of using state-run coronavirus contact tracing apps? They're reasonable concerns.This new report from mobile privacy firm Jumbo Privacy says the official North Dakota contact-tracing app is sharing location data with Foursquare and an advertising ID with Google. Writes Steven Melendez for Fast Company:The app, called Care19, and produced by a company called ProudCrowd that also makes a location-based social networking app for North Dakota State sports fans, generates a random ID number for each person who uses it. Then, it can “anonymously cache the individual’s locations throughout the day,” storing information about where people spent at least 10 minutes at a time, according to the state website. If users test positive for the coronavirus, they can provide that information to the North Dakota Department of Health for contact-tracing purposes so that other people who spent time near virus patients can potentially be notified.According to the app’s privacy policy, “location data is private to you and is stored securely on ProudCrowd, LLC servers” and won’t be shared with third parties “unless you consent or ProudCrowd is compelled under federal regulations.”But according to the Jumbo report, the app sends the random ID number, along with a phone ID used for advertising purposes and apparent latitudes and longitudes of places visited by the user, to Foursquare, a leading location-data provider. The app also sends the random ID to servers run by Bugfender, a Barcelona-based service used by app makers to track and diagnose software malfunctions, according to Jumbo, which monitored internet traffic generated by the app. Read the rest

Trump's pick follows 9/11 truther and QAnon conspiracies

William “Roddie” Bryan Jr. charged with Felony Murder & Criminal Attempt to Commit False Imprisonment.

At some point in the future, global communications networks will likely reach one standardized protocol that everyone uses. If you look back over the past few decades, there’s a decent chance that when the story of digital networking is finally settled once and for all, it’s Cisco and Cisco-based systems that the globe will be using.As a worldwide leader in network technology, Cisco hardware and software are everywhere. If you’re an IT professional or an aspiring IT professional, a strong familiarity with how to manage and administrate Cisco systems, particularly with some certification credentials to back you up, could go a long way to ensuring your value in any organization. With the training in The Premium Cisco CCNA and CCNP Lifetime Certification Prep Bundle, you’ll be well on your way to being a respected networking pro.Including seven courses packed with almost 100 hours of instruction, this training is focused on getting you ready to take and pass the Cisco CCNA and CCNP certification, two of the most sought-after credentials in the field.With Cisco CCNA 200-301 Bootcamp and New Cisco CCNA (200-301) Volume 1: The Complete Course, you’ll first get some training in passing the Cisco CCNA 200-301 exam, the test created earlier this year by Cisco consolidating several previous training areas into one all-encompassing networking basics exam.Through hands-on labs and other exercises, students will learn how routing and switching technologies work under real work conditions to help you build your knowledge to install, manage, and grow networks using Cisco routers and switchers. Read the rest

Last weekend, the Schantz family was on a drive in Caroline County, Virgina when the car in front of them swerved to avoid a bag in the middle of the road. The Schantzes stopped to pick up the bag and noticed another in a nearby ditch. Assuming the bags were garbage, they tossed them in the back of their truck to throw away later. They eventually discovered that the bags contained nearly $1 million in cash. From CNN:Within the two larger bags were smaller ones, each containing some information on where the money should have been deposited."Inside of the bag, there were plastic baggies and they were addressed with something that said 'cash vault,'" Emily Schantz told CNN affiliate WTVR.The Sheriff's department conducted its own investigation before turning it over the United States Postal Service, which is now looking into the matter [...]"It's really a credit to just the character and fiber of the family," [Caroline County Sheriff's Department Maj. Scott] Moser said. "I'm sure it'd be difficult to make that decision. It's almost $1 million in cash. But they did the right thing."image: Caroline County Sheriff's Department Read the rest

Joni Mitchell's "River," from her 1971 masterpiece, Blue, has long been one of my favorites of her compositions. The sad, dreamy imagery of a wintertime love lost and the desire to skate away on an endless frozen river forever has got to be one of the most potent evocations in popular music.In this isolated vocal from that track, we get to hear just how pure, powerful, and expressive Joni's vocals were on this recording.[Via Far Out Magazine]Image: YouTube Read the rest

Astronaut Chris Hadfield explains how astronauts wash their hands in the microgravity of space. Formerly the commander of the International Space Station, Hadfield spent nearly six months offworld. (via The Kid Should See This) Read the rest

I bought a Durascoop cat litter scoop about five years ago because the little plastic scoop I’d been using for a couple of years had gotten flimsy from use and would often buckle at the handle.The Durascoop is made from cast aluminum and will never bend. It easily shaves off hardened clumps of litter from that litter box that would cause a plastic scoop to fold in half. It’s actually a beautiful looking tool, too. If Raymond Loewy designed a scoop, it would look like this (except maybe the handle wouldn’t be covered with textured plastic). Read the rest

The robot is your shepherd. In collaboration with cloud robotics firm Rocos, Boston Dynamics demonstrates how their robot dog Spot can herd sheep and handle other farming tasks. From the video description:The use of autonomous robots in agriculture is increasing the efficiency of food production. Robots, like Spot from Boston Dynamics, increase accuracy in yield estimates, relieve the strain of worker shortages, and create precision in farming.More on the Rocos/Boston Dynamics collaboration here.And some context, albeit from 2018: "As Immigrant Farmworkers Become More Scarce, Robots Replace Humans" (New York Times) Read the rest

As part of HiloBrow's Movie Objects series of essays, Jonathan Lethem writes about Burt Lancaster's hammer in the 1958 movie adaptation of George R. Stewart’s almost last-man-on-earth novel, Earth Abides.Earth Abides surrounds a feral-looking Burt Lancaster, fresh off the set of John Huston’s The Unforgiven, with a cast of New York stage actors and unknowns, among them a young Gena Rowlands and the unforgettably eccentric character actor Timothy Carey. The material of Stewart’s Earth Abides is a lot less doomy, actually, than the Shute — despite 95 percent of the world population being extinguished in a viral plague, as the title suggests, it’s a book about survival and contemplation. The main character, Ish (Lancaster), wanders the emptied streets scouting for food and companions, but also meditating on the profound and lyrical encroachment of the natural environment over humankind’s works, and the persistence of life and meaning in the absence of societal certainties.Those who know don't ask, and those who ask don't know. Read the rest

The inimitable Jimmy Slonina cloned himself four times to lip-sync The Temptations' "I Can't Get Next to You."(Thanks, Pat!)Image: YouTube Read the rest

"In lieu of flowers, please pay someone's open bar tab." That's the request to those mourning the loss of one Randall Jacobs of Phoenix, Arizona, who died at age 65. According to his obituary, RJ, aka Uncle Bunky, "told his last joke, which cannot be printed here, on May 4th, 2020." He sounds like a real character and will be greatly missed by those who knew him. From Legacy.com:When the end drew near, he left us with a final Bunkyism: "I'm ready for the dirt nap, but you can't leave the party if you can't find the door."He found the door, but the party will never be the same without him.In lieu of flowers, please pay someone's open bar tab, smoke a bowl, and fearlessly carve out some fresh lines through the trees on the gnarliest side of the mountain.(via Fark) Read the rest

"The glove remover is a simple device that reduces the risk of contamination when changing protective gloves while increasing efficiency and convenience."The website has a link to the 3D model so you can print your own (if you have a 3D printer or access to one). Read the rest

Kevin Kelly alerted me that Jamis MacNiven, owner of Buck's, the "famous and famously weird, restaurant in Woodside at the end of Sand Hill Road," has shut down the restaurant for good because of Covid-19. "Instead," says Kevin, "he is doing this weird newsletter/blog about all the exotic Pacific islands you will never visit." Read the rest

My friend Nik Shulz (aka L-Dopa) creates beautiful designs and illustrations. I hired him when I was an editor at Wired and at Make. In recent years Nik has branched out into furniture making, and his work is just as beautiful as his illustrations.In his newsletter, Nik linked to an article by Joshua Farnsworth on how to make a collapsible Viking camp chair.Image: YouTube Read the rest

A Volkswagen ad posted to its official Instagram account depicted an enormous disembodied white hand dragging a black man away from a Volkswagen Golf, then flicking him into a building signposted "Petit Colon", which translates as "little colonist". Volkswagen soon removed it an apologized."We posted a racist advertising video on Volkswagen's Instagram channel," the VW brand's head of sales and marketing Jürgen Stackmann and group head of diversity Elke Heitmüller said in an apology posted on social media. "We understand the public outrage at this. Because we're horrified, too," they added. How odd that through the whole process of commissioning the ad, filming and editing it, approving the results, transcoding it to mobile-friendly formats, and posting it to social media, no-one realized it was racist. But as soon as it went live, they say "we're horrified, too."Last year, VW apologized after CEO Herbert Diess used the expression "Ebit macht frei," or "Ebit sets you free," at a management event. Ebit is short for earnings before interest and tax and is a measure of company profits. The phrase sounds similar to "Arbeit macht frei," which was inscribed on the gates of Auschwitz and other Nazi concentration camps during World War II.There is a culture problem at VW. Read the rest

Spanish explorer Alvaro Cerezo emailed me about the recent Guardian story titled "The real Lord of the Flies: what happened when six boys were shipwrecked for 15 months."He said:It was the most read article last weekend in The Guardian. But I actually got the document on video.It's the real Lord of the Flies returning to his island where he was stranded for 15 months when he was a kid.Kolo Fekitoa, one of the six castaways alive, had terminal cancer and a dying wish to survive again on his beloved island of Ata where he was shipwrecked with his five friends when he was a boy in 1965.In 2015 I made the 24-hour boat journey to bring Kolo to his Island, and to maroon ourselves for 10 days with only limited food, water, and supplies – surviving in the same way Kolo did decades before.Kolo finally passed away two years later in 2017. He was one of the last real castaways alive, and Ata is one of the only few real desert islands remaining on the planet.Cerezo is launching a documentary about the Tongan castaways this summer.Image: YouTube Read the rest

I have a soft spot for Wheatus's "Teenage Dirtbag," mostly as a fun karaoke song that namedrops Iron Maiden and a boyfriend who's a dick. But I've always been surprised by its lasting endure — it's even by covered by One Direction, and the band re-recorded a translation in Irish Gaelic. Not bad for a song that never even charted in the US.But apparently — as I learned after reading this Rolling Stone article — there's a lot more going on in that tune than realized. Singer/writer Brendan B. Brown genuinely considers it to be his sort of magnum opus, loosely inspired by a horrific murder in his hometown, and he himself has never grown tired of it. In fact, he's been in the process of meticulously re-recording the band's entire first album — including "Teenage Dirtbag," with (ideally) all of the exact little cellphone trills — to make-up for the fact that the master tracks went missing. This isn't just about revisiting a 20-year-old album to make it sound better; it's about recreating it to exacting perfection (which is perhaps even more impressive when you realize that the album was recorded in Brown's mother's basement).Brown’s re-recording project has cost him countless thousands of dollars, and hundreds of hours spent obsessing over bass lines and synth sounds fans almost certainly never noticed in the first place. His quest has sent him scouring the internet for gear that most closely resembles what the band originally used to record the album. Read the rest

I've always been a big fan of Caitlin Doughty and her Ask a Mortician YouTube channel, but I especially liked this almost 40-minute mini-doc she did on the disastrous voyage of the Essex, the Nantucket whaling ship which served as part of the inspiration for Herman Melville's classic, Moby Dick. I knew some of this story, but Caitlin provides all of the bone-chilling, marrow-sucking details. Image: YouTube Read the rest

Live long and prosper — by social distancing! Potter Tom Edwards knows what's up. His new "Kirk and Spock's Social Distancing Alert! Mug" ($40) sends the message of "stay away!" loud and clear in an old-school Star Trek way.Be sure to check out his other wares, including this bowl ($35) that announces that there's LSD in the dip... a little too late.(RED)Thanks, Marcia! Read the rest

We’ve all grown accustomed to the new world order. And until we can go out and experience the world again like we used to, we’ll settle for the next best thing: bringing the world to our door.And if ever there was a time for wine (and lots of it), it’s now.So even if you don’t know a bung from a sommelier, you can get yourself fully versed on wine by sampling some of the world’s best with this $155 credit towards 12 bottles of wine delivered directly to you courtesy of Winc Wine Delivery.Winc’s been up and running for almost a decade, curating a spectacular collection of the world’s top wines. But their stockpile isn’t what brings fans back over and over again — it’s Winc’s game-changing ability to determine the exact wines that you’ll actually like before you even taste a drop. Using a simple six-question survey, the wine experts at Winc customize choices that fit your exclusive tastes. Armed with Winc’s recommendations, you can let them curate a 12-bottle experience of wines you’re likely to love, or you can go rogue and pick ‘em all on your own.Whether you’re a Chardonnay fan, a Pinot Noir devotee, or a connoisseur of the Merlot (unlike Paul Giamatti in “Sideways”), you’ll have over 100 different varieties to choose from. Whether you want a classic from France, a homegrown California specialty, or an adventurous vintage from Italy, Spain, or Argentina, they’re all here.Meanwhile, Winc wants to offer a little education with your booze as well, including a host of flavor notes, vineyard backstories, and food pairing ideas to go along with each and every bottle. Read the rest

In this video, taken on the set of Twin Peaks's Black Lodge, Kyle MacLachlan demonstrates his expertise at falling over. Director David Lynch is impressed. Read the rest

I learned this morning that the Mac chime – the epic C Major chord that plays when you boot an old Mac – can be turned on in newer models. Here's the terminal command, courtesy of Mr. Macintosh:sudo nvram StartupMute=%00And to turn it off again:sudo nvram StartupMute=%01 Read the rest

With so many cheap and accessible streaming options out there for your entertainment, there likely aren’t many final sticking points keeping the last few of you tethered to a cable subscription. But one of those final questions stopping many from cutting the cord for good is, “How do I watch my local stations?”The Monster Targe 80 indoor/outdoor HD TV antenna is more than up to the task of supplying all your local TV channels — and may be the last step in finally freeing you from the monthly cable bill once and for all.Unlike all those old-school weather vane-style antennas that used to dot the roofs of suburbia, the Targe 80 is all digital, capturing every variety of TV signals from as far as 80 miles away. HD, standard definition, 4K, even ancient analog signals are all fair game for this model, equipped for long-range, midrange, and even urban area usage.The built-in Monster CleanSignal is also a big step up for standard digital antenna, boosting your signal quality and reducing grain to offer you the clearest possible picture. It’s even packing 360-degree signal reception to capture the best omnidirectional signal from transmitters located anywhere within your radius. And yes, its weatherproof coating and sturdy construction mean it will still work like a champ during storms or other severe weather.The included coax cable connects directly to your TV and doesn’t require an internet connection. But for an added boost, the Targe 80 also comes complete with an amplifier that connects directly into your TV’s built-in USB port with no extra outlet space required. Read the rest

The Supreme Court on Wednesday temporarily blocked the Democrat-led House of Representatives from access to secret grand jury testimony from former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. From Reuters:In a brief order, the justices put on hold a March ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that the material must be disclosed to lawmakers. The order gave the administration until June 1 to formally appeal that ruling, meaning that if the justices decide to hear the case a final resolution may not be reached until after the Nov. 3 election in which the Republican president is seeking a second four-year term. If the justices refuse to hear the appeal, the materials would need to be handed over.Mueller submitted his report to U.S. Attorney General William Barr in March 2019 after a 22-month investigation that detailed Russian hacking and propaganda efforts to boost Trump’s candidacy as well as multiple contacts between Trump’s campaign and Moscow. Read more at Reuters:U.S. Supreme Court blocks disclosure of Russia report material Read the rest

ProPublica reports the administration of Donald Trump has given coronavirus bailout funds to two different elite private jet companies which were owned or founded by individuals who donated to the Trump campaign.“The two private jet companies are among the first 96 airline companies disclosed as recipients of taxpayer funds under the CARES Act,” Jake Pearson reports in ProPublica's May 15 story:An Omaha, Nebraska-based private jet company whose principal owner donated generously to Donald Trump and Republicans ahead of the 2016 election received $20 million in taxpayer aid from the federal bailout package passed in March.Jet Linx Aviation, which caters to well-to-do CEOs and executives, was the second private plane company founded or owned by Trump donors to receive federal funds designated for the airline industry under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. CNBC reported on Thursday that Clay Lacy Aviation, a Van Nuys, California-based private jet company whose founder has given nearly $50,000 to the Republican National Committee and Trump, got $27 million in federal funds.Jet Linx Management Company Vice Chairman John Denny Carreker and his wife, Connie, gave $68,100 to Trump’s campaign, the Republican National Committee and the Trump Victory Committee between October 2015 and November 2016, Federal Election Commission filings show. Connie Carreker gave an additional $1,000 to the Trump campaign in November 2018, according to the FEC.(...) Jet Linx and Clay Lacy are among the most prominent in the industry: Last year, the flight tracking firm Argus Traqpak ranked them fifth and 11th, respectively, in hours logged, according to a list of the top 25 private air charter operations. Read the rest

Tom Corboy's "Mondo Elvis" (1984) is a short, award-winning, and oddly unsettling documentary about extreme Elvis Presley fanatics after The King's demise. From the description at Mondo A-Go Go Video's channel:"This award-winning film takes a searing look at Elvis Presley's most fanatic followers. Meet such devoted disciples as the twin sisters who believe Elvis was their father, a woman whose husband divorced her for excessive devotion to Elvis, and an impersonator who claims The King came to him in a dream.Disturbing yet entertaining, haunting yet hysterical, this program is a must for anyone interested in comprehending the significance of America's greatest cultural hero."(via r/ObscureMedia) Read the rest

As everyday carry (EDC) items go, we’re all looking for the same thing. We want items that help us all the time, don’t take up much space and generally make us look smart and cool. Hey, we’re simple creatures...and impressions matter.When you find an item that can check all three boxes, it’s worth a look —and the Keyport Pivot Minimalist Bundle not only covers all three areas, but it actually consolidates a few of those everyday carry items down into one super-compact, super-effective unit.First, the Pivot replaces the bulky keychain jangling around in your pocket with a streamlined holder for anywhere from two to nine of your most important keys. The unit has a proprietary locking mechanism that puts just the right amount of tension on the keys to keep them in place while always ready for easy use. There’s even a swivel D-ring to clip on other important items like your car or truck key fob.Next, the Pivot comes packing its own MOCA 10-in-1 multi-purpose keychain tool, ready to tackle any number of daily encounters with the world. Nestled snugly inside the Pivot, the MOCA is ready to be deployed for a variety of duties, including a bottle opener, flathead screwdriver, a cord cutter, a box opener, a multi-setting wrench and more.Of course, with all those vital keys and a versatile multi-tool, a user would hate to lose a Pivot. So to make sure that never happens, the purchase also comes with a free two-year subscription to the KeyportID service, an online lost and found for your Pivot. Read the rest

Pioneering hip hop musician Afrika Bambaataa's love for Kraftwerk is evidenced by his groundbreaking 1982 electro track "Planet Rock" (above). Indeed, Bambataaa's underground DJ sets in black nightclubs were a key point-of-entry into the United States for many international electronic musicians in the early 1980s, from Yellow Magic Orchestra to Gary Numan. I hadn't realized though that Kraftwerk readily acknowledged that it was a two-way musical conversation: Black American music, particularly R&B, was a massive influence on Kraftwerk's music. In The Wire, John Morrison writes:In an interview with Dan Sicko, the late author of Techno Rebels: The Renegades Of Electronic Funk, former Kraftwerk percussionist Karl Bartos gives an essential statement on the influence of black R&B on the band's work: “We were all fans of American music: soul, the Tamla/Motown thing, and of course, James Brown. We always tried to make an American rhythm feel, with a European approach to harmony and melody.” When exploring the band’s early work, this rhythmic influence does occasionally peek its head up through their abstract sound. On “Tone Float” (the title track from founder members Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider-Esleben’s pre-Kraftwerk 1970 debut album as members of Organisation), the band can be heard experimenting with a rhythmic framework similar to the “Bo Diddley'' beat, the heavily accented drum pattern that dominated rock ’n’ roll in the 50s and early 60s. For their first release as Kraftwerk, the “Bo Diddley” beat remerges, albeit with an aggressive Jazz flair courtesy of drummer Charly Weiss providing the driving pulse for the the album’s ten minute closer “Vom Himmel Hoch”. Read the rest

Facebook fastidiously copied Bitmoji's artwork for its new avatars feature. Consider a) the access to legal expertise and b) the shameless indifference Facebook has to ethical standards, bad PR or media exposure. In this image (posted to twitter by Alex Heath) is a detailed lesson in exactly how closely you can copy others' work and get away with it. Or if you prefer, it establishes the necessary quantum of difference to avoid liability, in Facebook's calculation.i really am curious what its like to straight up copy competitors products at FB, without even pretending otherwiselike does one feel a little guilty, or is it "all part of da game" https://t.co/JuhmwZlkQu— rat king (@MikeIsaac) May 20, 2020Google reportedly has the same mentality. It's not "plagiarism", it's "don't re-invent UX."want to know a Google+ story?at a team meeting, an unnamed executive posted the Facebook newsfeed UX & said something to the effect, "if you're designing something that looks any different than this, you're going to have to justify why"— ??‍?☕️ (@hunterwalk) May 20, 2020 Read the rest

The governor of Mississippi just read a list of 2020 HS graduates during virtual-graduation and someone slipped-in the name "Harry Azcrac" on him...??? pic.twitter.com/Pk6oOvZOXW— Rex Chapman?? (@RexChapman) May 19, 2020On a Facebook Live event Sunday, Mississippi governor Tate Reeves read the names of graduating seniors including good ol' Harry Azcrac. He took the prank well though, following up with this Tweet:Harry’s submitter has a bright future as a Simpson’s writer!In 10 minutes we’ll be honoring more graduates on Facebook Live. Maybe even Ben—the pride of the Dover family. https://t.co/Njw0GcNCXN— Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) May 19, 2020 Read the rest

As of today, everyone in England is an organ donor, unless they explicitly opt out, are tourists or recent immigrants, or are incapable of giving consent. Wales moved to the opt-out system in 2015, and Scotland plans to follow later this year.Correction: England, not the U.K. Read the rest

In her first UK concert, Spanish opera soprano Laura Ruhí Vidal warms up the Rainer Hersch Orkestra audience with a surprise performance of the Theme from Star Trek. Composed by Alexander Courage, the original TV theme was sung by Loulie Jean Norman. Here are Gene Roddenberry's unsung lyrics that he apparently only wrote to get a piece of the action in royalties:BeyondThe rim of the star-lightMy loveIs wand'ring in star-flightI knowHe'll find in star-clustered reachesLove,Strange love a star woman teaches.I knowHis journey ends neverHis star trekWill go on forever.But tell himWhile he wanders his starry seaRemember, remember me. Read the rest

The poop of King Penguins releases high levels of nitrous oxide, aka laughing gas. An international team of researchers from China, Denmark, and the UK were studying how the retreat of glaciers and penguins activity impact soil greenhouse gases on South Georgia, an island north of Antarctica. They observed that the penguin guano is rich in nitrogen that, when it interacts with bacteria in the soil, is converted into nitrous oxide. From CNN:"It is truly intense," said Bo Elberling, an author of the study. He noted it's not an insignificant amount, either -- the emissions measure about 100 times more than a recently fertilized Danish field. There was enough emitted nitrous, in fact, that one researcher went "completely cuckoo," while "nosing about in guano for several hours," Elberling said..."The small nitrous oxide cylinders that you see lying in and floating around Copenhagen are no match for this heavy dose, which results from a combination of nitrous oxide with hydrogen sulphide and other gases," he added, referring to the containers designed for whipped cream but often used as a recreational drug."Combined effects of glacial retreat and penguin activity on soil greenhouse gas fluxes on South Georgia, sub-Antarctica" (Science of the Total Environment)image: transformation of original photo by Andrew Shiva (CC BY-SA 4.0) Read the rest

Kelvin Watson (27) has been charged with attempted first-degree murder after police in Colorado say he shot a Waffle House cook who told him he couldn't order food without wearing a mask.From CBS 4 Denver:The cook said he told Watson he was not going to serve him and that he needed to leave the restaurant. Watson reportedly became very upset and slapped the cook across the face with an opened left hand, cutting his lip. The cook said he ran to the back of the restaurant and Watson followed him.Once outside, the cook said Watson made numerous statements to the effect of “You better shut the **** up and serve me.”That’s when Watson shot him, the cook said.(Image: rpavich, CC-BY-2.0) Read the rest

I mean, sure why not at this point from r/IdiotsInCarsA couple of gentlemen enjoying a soak in the back of a makeshift pickup truck swimming pool were enjoying the luxury of receiving McDonald's food at a drive-through when the driver accelerated too quickly and then hit the brakes, causing the bathers some discomfort.Image: Reddit Read the rest

Have you ever wanted to find a book, but you don't know the title? This video and article from Make Use Of has some ideas that could help. Suggestions include using Google Book Search, BookFinder, WorldCat, The Library of Congress, and Ask a Librarian.Image: Jumpstory/CC0 Read the rest

Tucson.com reports that the United States government gave a $1.28 billion border wall contract to Fisher Sand and Gravel, a private company run by Tommy Fisher.Fisher Industries seems well-suited for a president like Trump. From Wikipedia:Tommy Fisher has appeared on local and conservative TV and radio and is a donor to several charities and the Republican Party. Senator Cramer suggested Fisher's Fox News appearances are what attracted Trump to the company.The High Plains Reader has documented environmental violations and tax evasion by the company, including 169 citations and paying $1 million in air quality violation fines in Maricopa County, Arizona over the past 10 years. In 2009 Michael Fisher, then-owner of Fisher, pled guilty to nine counts of felony tax fraud, being sentenced to 37 months in prison and over $300,000 in restitution. The comptroller also pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States in 2009. Another former head of the company, David William Fisher, pled guilty in 2005 to child pornography and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was released on April 30, 2010.By the way, illegal border crossings have been declining for the last 20 years. "In 2017, border-crossing apprehensions were at their lowest point since 1971." (NY Times)Image: YouTube/Fisher Industries Read the rest

Hawaii is still having to deal with covidiots who want to take a vacation there and possibly spread the virus to locals. The governor issued a two-week quarantine rule for anyone arriving in the state, but many tourists are ignoring it, reports MSN. Approximately 20 people have been arrested and hundreds more have been fined for ignoring the order.State parks and Hawaii’s famous beaches have been closed. Hotels are issuing single-use keys, forcing quarantined guests who leave their rooms to go to the front desk and explain why. Airlines have been encouraged to suspend incoming flights. The state’s visitors bureau has asked media organizations to “refrain from publishing any stories about Hawaii that might encourage people to travel to the islands.”Image: Jumpstory/CC0 Read the rest

Advice from David Bowie for artists: "always remember that the reason that you initially started working was that there was something inside yourself that you've felt that if you could manifest it in some way you would understand more about yourself and how you coexist with the rest of society." [via @ThamKhaiMeng] Read the rest

Lenovo's new Chromebook Duet is only $280, but it's getting excellent reviews from sources that are usually lukewarm on low-end gadgets running Google's operating system. The 10" convertible tablet isn't going to muscle out a Surface Pro or iPad Pro, but it doesn't feel cheap.The Verge's Monica Chin: "It feels much more like a Surface Go with some concessions than it does an ultra-budget PC. ... Another area where the Duet is punching above its weight class: battery life. Lenovo claims 10 hours; I got close to 11 and a half, running the device through my typical workload of Chrome tabs and apps including Gmail, Twitter, Slack, Asana, Facebook, Docs, and Sheets."Wired's Scott Gilbertson: "It's plenty fast enough for getting work done in the browser, sending emails, and other communications—even light photo editing (in Gimp, running via the Linux support) and document editing. I only started to see some slowdowns after having 15 to 20 Chrome tabs open with half a dozen Android apps running simultaneously alongside some Linux for Chrome OS apps."Android Authority's Eric Zeman: "It's practically a steal ... Lenovo's little Chromebook isn't perfect, and in fact has a few significant drawbacks, but almost nothing else competes on value. With a price starting at just $279, few Chromebooks or tablets offer as much flexibility out of the box as the Lenovo Chromebook Duet."PC Mag's Eric Grevstad: "The Chromebook Duet earns an honorable mention among Chromebooks for consumers and captures our Editors' Choice among Chromebooks for students. Read the rest

Irish radio DJ Elaine Howley posted this on Twitter the other day:The teddy display at Cork City dump has always been strong but it is reaching new heights pic.twitter.com/AgHIfhAlp3— Elaine Howley (@potentialprez) May 18, 2020Which lead me to discover that, yes, this stuffed animal display like a terrifying hybrid of Toy Story and It is, in fact, a thing. As The Irish Times reported in September 2019:As char­i­ties stopped ac­cept­ing toys they ar­rived in droves to the dump. But in­stead of dis­card­ing the on­celoved ted­dies, work­ers have placed them art­fully — and hu­mor­ously — around the en­trance to Cork’s Civic Amenity Site just off the South City Link Road.[…]"We used to do­nate the toys to char­i­ties, but health and safety reg­u­la­tions stopped that," [said site man­ager Derek Cam­bridge.]"Ted­dies come in daily. Some ar­rive brand new. We thought chil­dren would take them so we left them out by the en­trance. But they didn’t, so we put them up here in­stead."It seemed a shame to just dump them."I quite like Cork. Last time I was there, I enjoyed some great craft beer as I laughed at all the graffiti boasting that, "Cork is daycent." But a stuffed animal trash pile might be an even more beautiful metaphor for that fine city. Read the rest

Your heart will race and your skin perspire, of course, but the real magic happens in your kidneys. Dr. Bernard Hsu reports on B.B., a 21 year old man presenting to the emergency room unconscious, having been found collapsed while studying for his final exams. Unfortunately, his worst subject just happened to be chemistry. Read the rest

• Yay, Clearview AI but for shopping!Facebook Mark Zuckerberg today announced the launch of Facebook Shops, an e-commerce feature to allows business users to list and sell products on Facebook and Instagram.Here's the Facebook blog post launching the new shop feature.Today we're introducing Facebook Shops, which will make it easy for businesses to set up a single online store on both @facebookapp and @instagram, and soon @messenger and @WhatsApp too pic.twitter.com/bBloRGBFzP— Facebook (@Facebook) May 19, 2020Here's more at CNBC about Facebook Shops.Separately, Kyle Wiggers at VentureBeat reports on some of the very creepy personal details examined for the shopping experience by Facebook's artificial intelligence:Facebook says its AI-powered shopping systems segment, detect, and classify images to know where products appear and deliver shopping suggestions. One of those systems — GrokNet — was trained on seven data sets containing images of products that millions of users post, buy, and sell in dozens of categories, ranging from SUVs to stiletto heels to side tables. Another creates 3D views from 2D videos of products, even those obscured by dim or overly bright lighting, while a third spotlights apparel like scarfs, ties, and more that might be partially obscured by their surroundings.Facebook says that GrokNet, which can detect exact, similar (via related attributes), and co-occurring products across billions of photos, performs searches and filtering on Marketplace at least twice as accurately than the algorithm it replaced. For instance, it’s able to identify 90% of home and garden listings compared with Facebook’s text-based attribution systems, which can only identify 33%. Read the rest

The SEATBELTS, the original band that recorded the theme song to the amazing Japanese anime TV series, Cowboy Bebop, have recreated the song in social isolation. "Tank," the jazzy theme song, was recorded at home by each of the ten individual players. The song has always been memorable and this performance nails the its intensity and excitement.Image: YouTube Read the rest