Pegged on SEGA's 60th anniversary, the company announced a tiny version of their Game Gear 8-bit handheld console first released in 1990. It will sell for 4,980 yen (US$50). From IGN:The Game Gear Micro is currently only available to preorder in Japan and will launch on October 6th. At time of writing, there has been no news of a Western release for the device.The console has a one-inch screen, and will arrive in four colour schemes, each with a different set of four games preloaded...Game Gear Micro (Sega.com) Read the rest
Dozens of former employees of Facebook blasted Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook in an open letter for the way it handles (or doesn't handle) political speech that is inaccurate and damaging. "Facebook’s leadership must reconsider their policies regarding political speech, beginning by fact-checking politicians and explicitly labeling harmful posts," the letter begins. And later: Facebook "is a betrayal of the ideals Facebook claims."The letter is in reaction to Trump's recent misinformed and hostile posts about both the George Floyd protests and his warning last week that mail-in ballots will rig the election. Twitter did something about them while Facebook did not.From The New York Times:Mr. Zuckerberg has been under fire since Twitter added labels to several of Mr. Trump’s tweets last week for the first time to indicate they were inaccurate or glorified violence. On Wednesday, Snap, which makes the Snapchat app, said it would stop promoting Mr. Trump’s Snapchat account after determining that his public comments off the site could incite violence.Facebook has taken no action on posts in which Mr. Trump made inaccurate statements about mail-in ballots in the November election or his aggressive messages about protesters after the death of George Floyd, an African-American man killed in police custody in Minneapolis.Mr. Zuckerberg has since faced strong internal pushback for the inaction. The dissent has spilled out across internal message boards, with some Facebook employees resigning in protest, while others staged a virtual “walkout” this week and refused to work. On Tuesday, Mr. Zuckerberg defended his position, saying Mr. Read the rest
Spanish police arrested Nacho Vidal — a porn star with a side hustle making penis candles — for suspected manslaughter following a "mystic ritual" in which participants smoked the psychedelic venom of the Colorado River Toad. According to Vidal's attorney Daniel Salvador, the fellow who died, photographer Jose Luis Abad, had "previously tried that substance and wanted to try it again" in a "comfortable" setting. Vidal "considers himself to be innocent" and insists the death was accidental. From the BBC News:The actor, who has featured in hundreds of pornographic movies, had been under investigation for 11 months over the death of the photographer, Spanish police said.Mr Vidal and the two other suspects were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and violating public health laws. All three were released provisionally.Investigators said they had discovered toad rituals were being carried out regularly on grounds they offered medicinal benefits.But the "apparently harmless ancestral ritual" posed a "serious health risk", attracting people who were "easily influenced, vulnerable or who were seeking help for illnesses or addictions using alternative methods", a police statement said.(Thanks, Gil Kaufman!)image: "Colorado River Toad" by I, Wildfeuer (CC BY-SA 3.0) Read the rest
After cowering in the White House bunker didn't work out for Trump, nor the ridiculous photo-op that followed it, the building itself is being surrounded by shabby fortifications: a fence to prevent protestors getting too close to the executive mansion. More fencing going up around the White House complex early this morning pic.twitter.com/VLBRnx1lgz— Betsy Klein (@betsy_klein) June 4, 2020"More fencing going up around the White House complex early this morning," writes CNN's Betsy Klein. "In addition to the new fencing, which now extends past the EEOB down 17th Street, @abdallahCNN reports that additional concrete barriers have been installed behind existing fencing at 17th and Pennsylvania Ave. NW."From Stonekettle: "We've reached the 'Walling yourself off so enraged citizens don't drag you out of the palace' stage of Making America Great Again."The funny thing about Trump is that you know that he has asked for a moat. Less funny is that he doesn't trust the Secret Service to keep him safe. Read the rest
The New York Times today printed a call for the U.S. military to crush protests against police brutality. Today is also the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing, when the Chinese government sent tanks in to clear demonstrators and showed the world what happens when military power is turned against against the public. Embedded below is NBC News's coverage of the slaughter.Reporters at the Times understand the cost in human life and suffering that a military crackdown on U.S. soil would entail. Many of them have spoken out against the publication of the piece. They know that the Times' published call for violence may well be answered (President Trump himself openly praised what happened in Tiananmen Square). And they know that their lives—and most especially the black lives of Times workers—have been put at risk.The leadership of the Times could not care less. They live in a floating world far from the contemporary anguish of American life or even the fears of their own employees. They stay close to power and avoid detail in favor of abstraction at all costs. Americans will die for their narcissitic and mendacious belief that until something is published by the paper of record, it hasn't been given enough exposure for others to reject. So dream of something you know it would not publish. Let it consume you, no matter how furious or ferocious or dreadful. Hammer it into the stone of your mind and remember that this is what was meant when we were told the revolution would not be televised. Read the rest
This video depicts a giant gnome statue being unveiled by a man in Ekeberg Park in Oslo. The gnome is holding a similarly enormous buttplug. The man is suspended by hooks in his own flesh, by an out-of-shot crane. The gnome, buttplug and veil are red? Not sure what else to say, really. DIREKTE: Skulpturen, populært omtalt som «analplugg-gnomen», blir avduket i Ekebergparkens skulpturpark. Video: Per Ervland Read the rest
East Bay artists: got mural-painting skills? I've been informed by a friend-in-the-know that a loosely organized group has formed to cover up pre-primed window boards with art in downtown Oakland, California. They're looking for help and supply donations. Read on.Redditor mtweiner shares some details:We have 2-3 dozen spots boarded and primed, ready for any artists who want to come through. Most folks are out 10a-3pmish every day, starting at 13th & broadway.Meet us at the Tribune Tower if you'd like to volunteer! Supplies can be provided for any artists who would like to join in. Spaces are ready to be painted!...for those of you asking about donations, we currently don't have a specific fund set up. If you're local, any spray cans, ladders, poles, brushes, or paint you have around that you would like to donate please swing by 13th & Broadway - theres a building open collecting supply donations. Same goes for Tribune Tavern on Franklin & 13th. Calling all Oakland Artists! We need help painting murals downtown from oakland art/image by @dimebagdarla, used with permission Read the rest
Apparently, Charlie Brooker has put Season 6 of Black Mirror on hold because he fears that reality has caught up with the dystopian series. Picking up on that, a Madrid ad agency, called Brother, came up with a mock ad for the show. It reads:“Black Mirror 6th Season. Live Now, everywhere.”Black Mirror. Season 6 pic.twitter.com/v2sZiqFAPZ— Faisal Almalki (@faisalalmalki) June 2, 2020Image: Twitter screengrab Read the rest
With everything happening in the last few months, we all but guarantee no one has been thinking about their taxes. That’s understandable — because, beyond all of our current concerns, nobody enjoys the whole tax filing process during even the best of times.Unfortunately, Benjamin Franklin was right — taxes truly are as inescapable as death. And while the U.S. tax filing deadline was extended by three months while the nation worked its way out of the COVID-19 nightmare, your 2019 tax form still needs to be filed with Uncle Sam by July 15. And if you find you have any questions about your eminent filing, well...don’t count on turning to the Internal Revenue Service for help these days.However, you can still turn to trusty tax e-filing services like TurboTax to help point the way to a successful return. TurboTax is already used by over two-thirds of all online tax fliers — and deluxe users are guided through the entire tax preparation process so they get full advantage of every favorable tax law with every entry double checked along the way.All a new customer has to do is answer a few quick questions, upload an image of their W-2, verify the information, then sit back as TurboTax searches out deductions and credits you deserve -- from more than 350, in all -- ensuring you’ll always receive the maximum refund possible.TurboTax is always up to speed, so if you have questions about mortgage interest, property taxes, charitable deductions, medical expenses, child credits and more, you’re covered. Read the rest
Just now in Alta, Norway: Huge mudslide dragging several houses into the sea. pic.twitter.com/xR4t5zLI7m— Jan Fredrik Drabløs (@JanFredrikD) June 3, 2020This video of farmhouses and land sliding into the ocean is like a nightmare that keeps getting worse.Image: Twitter Read the rest
Jim Mattis was Trump's first defence secretary, serving from 2017-2019. He quit and promised he would not be quiet forever, but also said it would be improper to criticize a sitting president. When protests over George Floyd's death at the hands of the police sprang up, many wondered if he would finally speak. He finally spoke.The protests are defined by tens of thousands of people of conscience who are insisting that we live up to our values—our values as people and our values as a nation. We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution. ... Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try. Instead, he tries to divide us.We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership. We can unite without him, drawing on the strengths inherent in our civil society. This will not be easy, as the past few days have shown, but we owe it to our fellow citizens; to past generations that bled to defend our promise; and to our children. ... Instructions given by the military departments to our troops before the Normandy invasion reminded soldiers that ‘The Nazi slogan for destroying us … was “Divide and Conquer.” Our American answer is “In Union there is Strength.”’ We must summon that unity to surmount this crisis—confident that we are better than our politics.” Read the rest
The New York Times today published a column by Sen. Tom Cotton calling for the U.S. military to violently suppress nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed by police in Minneapolis. These rioters, if not subdued, not only will destroy the livelihoods of law-abiding citizens but will also take more innocent lives. Many poor communities that still bear scars from past upheavals will be set back still further.One thing above all else will restore order to our streets: an overwhelming show of force to disperse, detain and ultimately deter lawbreakers. It is completely mad that the Times would publish such an piece, even as an op-ed. It does so from a floating world which has no idea how quickly or how hard it could be brought crashing to the ground. It invites violence against everyone, from all quarters of power, and America will pay for it in blood.I have lots of friends who work at the NY Times and do amazing work. This destroys all of their credibility. It's one thing to post opposing views. But this is not that. This is blatant support for fascism. pic.twitter.com/ZJkO7jeFzG— Mike Masnick (@mmasnick) June 3, 2020i feel compelled to say that i disagree with every word in that Tom Cotton op-ed and it does not reflect my values. this piece does though https://t.co/Vrlw3NVtBH— Charlie Warzel (@cwarzel) June 3, 2020where’s the red line for the NYT do we think pic.twitter.com/AGZHfIzz7W— Jason Wilson (@jason_a_w) June 3, 2020I truly, truly cannot believe the New York Times published a piece calling for military force to be used against civilians. Read the rest
Most parents know that giving their kids educational toys and other projects will expand their minds. But what many might not realize is that physical play is actually building their mental abilities as well. Studies are still in beginning stages, but some early research supports the theory that kids who get the chance to get outside, run around and play are not only getting important health benefits, but that physical playing also increases memory retention and cognitive development.That’s what prompted the creation of the Zubi Flyer Hackable Frisbee, a STEM-based toy that couples futuristic technology and challenging gameplay with a kid’s natural love for running, jumping and generally covering every physical inch of ground they can.Right out of the box, the Zubi Flyer looks like a frisbee -- and if your kid takes it outside, it’ll cut through the air just like your old-school Wham-O. But there’s a lot more happening here than just a soaring plastic disk. Once you screw the Zubi’s circuit board into place, you can push buttons or use the magnet wind to bring the Zubi Flyer to life and play 12 different games with full lights and sound.Playing Hot Potato, Copycat, Pong and more, kids will have their memory tested and their minds expanded -- and they can all be played while you’re throwing the frisbee.Of course, the games are just the start of the Zubi Flyer’s exploration. Once it’s connected to a computer, kids can effectively hack it, adjusting games, modifying the light and sound patterns or even creating games of their own. Read the rest
• Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison increased the charge against Derek Chauvin, and charged Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao with aiding and abetting second-degree murder in the death of George Floyd.On Wednesday, three additional Minneapolis police officers were charged in the killing of George Floyd, and charges against Derek Chauvin were elevated to second degree murder.READ THE AMENDED CRIMINAL COMPLAINT: [PDF LINK]All four officers seen on the video in which George Floyd dies a violent death have been charged in connection with George Floyd’s death.Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J Alexander Kueng face aiding and abetting second-degree murder.Derek Chauvin’s murder charge, previously third-degree, has been upgraded to second-degree unintentional murder.18/ And the latest, today, June 3: Attorney General Keith Ellison elevated charges against Chauvin to second-degree murder, and three other officers will be charged with aiding and abetting murder. https://t.co/velVW8xTgb— Star Tribune (@StarTribune) June 3, 2020FAMILY’S REACTION: This is a bittersweet moment. We are deeply gratified that @AGEllison took decisive action, arresting & charging ALL the officers involved in #GeorgeFloyd's death & upgrading the charge against Derek Chauvin to felony second-degree murder. #JusticeForGeorge pic.twitter.com/jTfXFHpsYl— Benjamin Crump, Esq. (@AttorneyCrump) June 3, 2020My colleague @davidschaperNPR pulled the amended criminal complaint. Derek Chauvin now charged with second degree murder in the killing of George Floyd. When Floyd said "I'm about to die," after pleading for breathe, Chauvin and two other officers continued to hold him down. https://t.co/FJYE81okMa— Leila Fadel (@LeilaFadel) June 3, 2020BREAKING: Minnesota's Attorney General Keith Ellison is upgrading the charges against former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd to 2nd degree murder. Read the rest
Parents can send their family's questions in about protests, racism and diversity HERE.CNN: The 60-minute special "Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism. A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall for Kids and Families" will air on Saturday, June 6, at 10 a.m. ET.The show will talk to kids about racism, the recent nationwide protests, embracing diversity and being more empathetic and understanding.Big Bird will join CNN commentator Van Jones and CNN anchor and national correspondent Erica Hill to moderate the event. They will be joined by "Sesame Street" characters -- including Elmo, Abby Cadabby and Rosita -- and other experts answering questions submitted by families...How to watch: The town hall will air on CNN, CNN International and CNN en Español. It will stream live on CNN.com's homepage and across mobile devices via CNN's apps, without requiring a cable log-in.You can also watch on CNNgo, and subscribers to cable/satellite systems can watch it on-demand.image via CNN Read the rest
Bout ready to just give up pic.twitter.com/PKxykWu2nn— Peter R. Quinones (@PeterRQuinones) May 24, 2020Covid-19 physical distancing has sparked a new trend among Catholics with a sense of humor: baptism by water pistol.The telltale sign that this child is a girl might not be the christening gown, but the pink water gun. Interesting too, because historically pink was associated with the masculine (it was considered a variant of red) and blue was attributed to the feminine (because The Virgin Mary was most often depicted wearing blue). So this just goes to show that the Catholic church can, in fact, to some degree, change with the times.Image: Jumpstory / CC0 Read the rest
Her name is Keke Palmer. She is amazing. She's an actor in Los Angeles, and an activist. Watch the entire video.Watch all of this. pic.twitter.com/YHq0QhXrnw— Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) June 2, 2020“Control this area?” Keke Palmer asked the guardsman. “What is it to control, man? March with us. It would send a huge message if we just march. Just march with us. March the whole round with us.”The National Guard member's name is Koenig. She literally brings a group of Guardsmen to their knees at a George Floyd and Black Lives Matter protest in Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 2, 2020.I love all you guys.— Keke Palmer (@KekePalmer) June 3, 2020I love @KekePalmer. She’s out in the streets of LA talking with the National Guard. pic.twitter.com/7iZ2tvubXn— Anthony Dominic (@alloveranthony) June 2, 2020.@KekePalmer's pleas led to a beautiful moment between National Guardsmen and protestors. https://t.co/W0XkylVT7E— ESSENCE (@Essence) June 3, 2020Keke Palmer Is Being Praised For This Video Of Her Confronting The National Guard At A Black Lives Matter Protest https://t.co/JJH6F5YRAe— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) June 3, 2020Keke Palmer urges National Guardsmen to join George Floyd protest https://t.co/Uh2KK7BL1j pic.twitter.com/IeG5ZKc7YZ— Page Six (@PageSix) June 3, 2020 Read the rest
The White House released this photo of the Trumps in a church. The idea is to show Donald and Melania as serious Christians after the bungled Bible photo-op, but they just look like characters from a reboot of The Omen. Read the rest
Kpop fans have subverted neoNazi calls to get #whiteoutwednesday trending on Twitter.kpop stans ruining every white supremacist hashtag. i truly love to see it. #whiteoutwednesday pic.twitter.com/zctCl4FaDN— fico (@fantasfico) June 3, 2020 gotta love the kpop stans for taking over #whiteoutwednesday and #WhiteLivesMatter so hard they change the category the #’s are under ? pic.twitter.com/0DuQm6jIQW— ˗ˏˋ ALIX ˎˊ˗ (@My_Meatloaf) June 3, 2020 Thank you, kpop fans! I hate nazis. Read the rest
i have to share this bc i cannot stop watching it! #BlackLivesMattter protest in Loiza #PuertoRico ??‼️- if this doesn’t move you idk what to tell you ! pic.twitter.com/5f1G3uVNz3— pelua? (@xcc_l) June 3, 2020 Here is what a protest in Loiza, Puerto Rico looked like yesterday. Read the rest
A personal hero, Bill Nye is now available as a Funko Pop!This one goes next to my Mr. Rogers.Funko Pop! AD Icons: Bill Nye - Bill Nye The Science Guy via Amazon Read the rest
Trump and Barr keep saying Antifa is the cause of violent outbreaks that are taking place alongside peaceful police brutality protests, but the FBI released a report saying it found no evidence of antifa activity on May 31 in Washington DC. However, the FBI did note that a far-right group “called for far-right provocateurs to attack federal agents, use automatic weapons against protesters.”From The Nation:Antifa, short for “anti-fascist,” is a type of militant anti-racist, anti-nationalist organizing that does not rely on the justice system to confront the far right. Groups associated with antifa have destroyed property and committed violence in the past, but the fact that the FBI’s situation reports cannot find any evidence of such involvement now suggests that fears about such groups may be exaggerated.The report did warn that individuals from a far-right social media group had “called for far-right provocateurs to attack federal agents, use automatic weapons against protesters.” (The Nation is withholding the name of the group in order to not disrupt any potential law enforcement investigations.) Read the rest
It's game over for those holding out hope Zoom would do more for user privacy: the company's CEO explicitly cited law enforcement as why it will not offer encrypted calling to free (i.e. undocumented) users.Yuan said free users won’t enjoy that level of privacy, which makes it impossible for third parties to decipher communications.“Free users for sure we don’t want to give that because we also want to work together with FBI, with local law enforcement in case some people use Zoom for a bad purpose,” Yuan said on the call.Google Duo and Apple Facetime are already encrypted, and these companies are no enemies of the state. Zoom's position is not just cooperative but collaborative: assume they are already working with law enforcement to make general surveillance of Zoom as simple and pushbutton as possible. Read the rest
If you want to add a fun new trick to your magic performance routine, watch this video, which explains how to escape from plastic handcuffs, Houdini style! Read the rest
Residents of Magangué, Colombia recently broke the compulsory quarantine to visit Jesus Christ who was hanging out in a tree. Praise be to pareidolia. From a El Tiempo via Google Translate:"It looks clear and everyone is praying to him and asking him to cure the land of this evil and to protect Magangué," says Agustina Díaz, a town clothing merchant, who closed her store in the center of town for the pandemic.What worries local authorities is that the image is becoming a point of pilgrimage and worship and people are taking to the streets en masse, ignoring the health emergency in the country. Read the rest
ICYMI: GOP senators avoid answering whether there was an abuse of power, after police clear peaceful protestors with tear gas. #mtpdaily @SenRonJohnson: “I didn’t really see it.”@SenPatRoberts: “I don’t have any comment. Thank you.” pic.twitter.com/drOgtZrMcg— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) June 3, 2020MSNBC reporter Casey Hunt asked Republican senators what they thought of Trump's gassing and grenading of people peacefully protesting the murder of George Floyd. “I didn’t really see it.”“I don’t have any comment. Thank you.”"...""I'm late for lunch.""I didn't watch that closely enough to know what happened there." Read the rest
Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NAID), says we should have a coronavirus vaccine by the end of the year. But with less than half of Americans willing to get the vaccine, who knows how effective it will be in eradicating Covid-19.A recent poll by Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that only 49% out of 1,056 Americans asked said they would definitely get the Covid-19 vaccine. To get herd immunity, we need at least 70%–90% of the population to get vaccinated, according to Johns Hopkins. The most popular reason for not wanting to get the vaccination is fear of side effects from the shot. Others shrug off the future vaccine as something they don't think will do much good. And then there are those who think they will catch the disease from the shot itself.From Popular Science:The most common concern cited by far ... is one that some people express about every vaccine: potential side effects. Again, it’s absolutely true that there are some side effects to vaccines. But in the vast majority of cases, these are minor reactions. Often they’re symptoms that mimic the disease itself, like a fever, since the body is mounting an immune reaction against the virus—that’s how vaccines work, after all.Of those who say they wouldn’t get a coronavirus vaccine, more than 40 percent said they would be concerned about getting COVID-19 from the vaccine itself, which is scientifically not a possibility. Read the rest
NYPD forced an Associated Press film crew to stop covering protests in New York City, the news agency reported today, pushing and threatening to arrest the journalists in lower Manhattan. The AP describes it as the latest act of aggression against media by police during protests against the killing of George Floyd.Portions of the incident were captured on video by videojournalist Robert Bumsted, who was working with photographer Maye-E Wong to document the protests in lower Manhattan over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.The video shows more than a half-dozen officers confronting the journalists as they filmed and took photographs of police ordering protesters to leave the area near Fulton and Broadway shortly after an 8 p.m. curfew took effect.An officer, using an expletive, orders them to go home. Bumsted is heard on video explaining the press are considered “essential workers” and are allowed to be on the streets. An officer responds “I don’t give a shit.” Another tells Bumsted “get the fuck out of here you piece of shit.” Did you know the NYPD's annual budget is $5.6bn? The only other force with a budget this big appears to be London's Metropolitan Police. Together the two forces have a similar budget to the Iranian military. Either alone would rank in the top quartile of the world's armed forces."Get the fuck out of here you piece of shit," NYPD officers to clearly identified @AP reporters, as they shove media and force them to stop covering NYC protests. Read the rest
Yesterday, Ella Jones became the first black, and first female, elected mayor of Ferguson, Missouri where an uprising kicked off in 2014 after a white police officer shot and killed Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, and was not indicted. From the New York Times:Ms. Jones, 65, and her opponent, Heather Robinett, 49, had both vowed to continue changes enacted after the 2014 shooting of Mr. Brown, including a federal consent decree, a legally binding agreement requiring reforms to a police department.“I’ve got work to do — because when you’re an African-American woman, they require more of you than they require of my counterpart,” Ms. Jones said after her victory, in a video (below) posted online Tuesday night by the journalist Jason Rosenbaum of St. Louis Public Radio. “I know the people in Ferguson are ready to stabilize their community, and we’re going to work together to get it done.”image: Ferguson City Council directory Read the rest
In 1984, Leonard Nimoy produced and starred in "Star Trek Memories," a TV special in which he reminisces about Star Trek: The Original Series and the first two Star Trek movies, and teases the forthcoming Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984). Never one to be outdone, Captain Kirk released "William Shatner's Star Trek Memories" straight to video a decade later. Watch that below.(via r/ObscureMedia) Read the rest
A bit of a cliffhanger, although I feel like the cat is not particularly impressed by the rat's flashy fighting style.Also, the way they trot off together makes me think there may be a Tom & Jerry dynamic at play here. Read the rest
In a new interview with the Journal of the American Medical Association above, Anthony Fauci, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NAID), said he expects the US will have 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine before the end of the year. “Then, by the beginning of 2021, we hope to have a couple hundred million doses,” he said.The vaccine in development by Moderna in partnership with the NAID will enter final clinical trials this summer and the company will start cranking out doses at scale before the testing is complete. Meanwhile, several other promising candidates have also been fast-tracked around the world. “I’m cautiously optimistic that with the multiple candidates we have with different platforms, that we are going to have a vaccine that will make it deployable,” Fauci said. From CNN:Fauci said he is a little more concerned about what the durability of the response will be. People develop antibodies to fight common colds caused by other strains of coronavirus, but that protection generally only lasts about a year. That might mean people would need a fresh vaccine every year, as is the case with influenza. Read the rest
Irene Triplett's father fought in the civil war as a young man and remarried as an elderly senior. Triplett, born 1930, inherited his veterans' benefits due to her own disabilities. With her death at 90, the U.S. government closes the books on the last outstanding civil war pension.MSN:Pvt. Triplett married Elida Hall in 1924. She was 34 when Irene was born in 1930; he was 83. Such an age difference wasn’t rare, especially later, during the Great Depression, when Civil War veterans found themselves with both a pension and a growing need for care.Both mother and daughter suffered from mental disabilities. Irene Triplett recalled a tough childhood in the North Carolina mountains, beaten by teachers at school and parents at home.“I didn’t care for neither one of them, to tell you the truth about it,” she told The Wall Street Journal in 2014. “I wanted to get away from both of them. I wanted to get me a house and crawl in it all by myself.”Photo: Screenshot from 2016 interview Read the rest
Last night, police in New York city kettled hundreds of protestors on the Manhattan Bridge, preventing them from dispersing for hours, even after curfew fell. The New York Times reports that the protestors "found a way" around police blocking access to the Brooklyn end of the bridge, which seems an unlikely scenario, but nonetheless offers details on them being subsequently held there.As the curfew descended on Tuesday, hundreds of protesters made their way from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn onto the Manhattan Bridge with the goal of continuing their march on the other side. They wound up hemmed in from both ends for roughly two hours.Two New York Times reporters who followed with the protesters onto the bridge documented the episode, which ultimately ended peacefully, in a series of tweets.The police tried to block entry to the bridge on the Brooklyn side.Some people found a way on anywayA large group walked across toward the Manhattan side.Once they reached Manhattan, a police blockade kept them from exiting.The crowd became increasingly restless as police vehicles arrived.The demonstrators were eventually allowed to return to Brooklyn.Police not allowing protestors from Barclays across the Manhattan Bridge pic.twitter.com/kbXfeSKJxj— Sandra E. Garcia (@S_Evangelina) June 3, 2020With group of protestors who bypassed police blocking the Manhattan bridge who crossed side street, hopped a barrier to enter from another direction. pic.twitter.com/uDgPvcQTxO— Amy Julia Harris (@amyjharris) June 3, 2020Crossing the Manhattan bridge at dusk with hundreds of protestors while cars honk in solidarity pic.twitter.com/XvtYrlqYzH Read the rest
Not every house has a fireplace. And to be honest, not every homeowner wants to deal with the hassles and maintenance of a fireplace. But it’s tough to argue that the intoxicating glow and dance of a licking flame isn’t mesmerizing, not to mention all of a fire’s practical uses.For those looking to enjoy a cool fire aesthetic without all those other difficulties, the FLIKR Fire2 Personal Fireplace might just scratch that item.The FLIKR Fire2 was created with a simple goal in mind: to devise a simple, safe, indoor fireplace option that runs on a clean-burning, inexpensive and readily available fuel. This unit burns on some basic isopropyl rubbing alcohol, just like the kind you can find in any store.Fire it up with just 5 ounces of rubbing alcohol and you’ve got anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour of cozy warming flame. The alcohol ensures you’ll never get soot or smoky buildup damaging your ceiling, enough heat so you won’t have to turn up your home thermostat, and it’s even safe to cook over.Crafted using a proprietary non-absorbent, high-temperature cement on a man-made, quartz-like solid surface base, the FLIKR Fire2 cuts a dynamic, naturalistic profile in any room. The organic look is inspired by the Japanese wabi-sabi aesthetic, which embraces transition and imperfection while celebrating a device that simply does what it was designed to do. It fits in seamlessly to almost any environment, so you can take the FLIKR Fire2 from room to room or even out on the road to get the full fireplace effect with none of the drawbacks. Read the rest
We’ve all been spending a lot more time in the kitchen over the past couple of months, some of us more successfully than others. But if you’re feeling ambitious, aren’t afraid of power-packed spice blends, and have a place to hang raw meat in your home for a few days, consider upping your Covid-19 culinary game with an Armenian appetizer that’ll make you weak in the knees.For the uninitiated, basturma is a salt and spice-cured tenderloin encased in a deep red crust of paprika, fenugreek, allspice, black pepper, cumin, cayenne and lots of fresh garlic. Some call it Armenian salami. It’s not very pretty, but what dried meat is really, and you’re unlikely to find a more addictive match when placed alongside olives, Armenian string cheese, and lavash.The sumptuous new book, Lavash, by food writer Kate Leahy (of Burma Superstar fame), chef and food stylist Ara Zada, and photographer John Lee finally gives Armenian food the culinary and cultural fetishization it so rightly deserves, and demystifies the process of transforming fresh beef into razor-thin, almost translucent slices of zesty piquant basturma.The book’s central focus, lavash, is only a jumping off point for the dozens of other recipes—while somewhat arcane, many are also surprisingly simple—all exquisitely photographed and accompanied by thoughtful and intriguing histories and editorial.Heghineh Cooking Show demonstrates the basturma-curing process in a how-to vid (and I do love her Russian-Armenian accent). Videos by the Lavash authors (including a how-to for lavash) can be found here. Read the rest
Steve King, the Republican congressman who openly embraced white supremacy, will not be the party's candidate in November's general election. Sen. Randy Feenstra defeated him in Tuesday's five-way primary race.Republicans in northwest Iowa ousted Rep. Steve King in Tuesday’s primary, deciding they’ve had enough of the conservative lightning rod known for making incendiary comments about immigrants and white supremacy throughout his nearly two decades in Congress.The nine-term congressman, shunned by his party leadership in Washington and many of his longtime supporters at home, lost to well-funded state Sen. Randy Feenstra in a five-way GOP primary. The challengers argued that King’s loss of clout, even more than his continuous string of provocative and racially-charged statements, was reason enough for turning on him.Some on the left thought it would be better strategery for King to have won as he was so widely hated, but the district was unlikely to turn blue this November even with a white supremacist on the GOP ticket: the party still led 51%-40% on a generic ballot poll in March. So this can be seen simply as a slightly reassuring preference among Republicans for less blatant racists. Read the rest
For much of the first half of the 20 century, another mysterious virus was freaking people the hell out, and no one understood what it was or how it spread. Children got hit the worst. It touched the wealthy and the poor. It paralyzed and even killed. Nothing seemed to stop it, and “Polio season” came back with a vengeance every summer. Public swimming pools were the kiss of death—or at least paralysis—and attending a gathering at a birthday party, a bar mitzvah, or even a playground was a recipe for disaster. Speculation about its source ran rampant: the public considered everything from poisonous gasses from Europe, to horses, to radio waves, to cigarette smoke, to parents tickling their kids too much. Children touched by the virus were deemed pariahs and sent off to hospitals and sanitariums for treatment, while their panicked parents “cleaned” their homes by tossing toys, burning bedding, scrubbing floors and ripping down wallpaper, unsure of where the virus lurked or how long it incubated. Then, in 1953, Jonas Salk created a vaccine that stopped polio in its tracks.And Jayne Mansfield did her part to promote the March of Dimes immunization program.My friend Bill Franklin, writer, educator, and publisher, was a Southern California grade-schooler at the time. It was announced to his 5th grade class that the movie star Jayne Mansfield (the infamous headline-grabber, pin-up, and star of the films Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter, The Girl Can’t Help It, Too Hot to Handle, and Promises! Read the rest
On Monday night, Washington, D.C. resident Rahul Dubey gave refuge to some 60+ strangers last night during the protests. He was on his Swann Street stoop at around 8:30 p.m. when protesters started gathering nearby. He began talking to them and allowed them to sit on his steps, charge their phones, and use his bathroom. He also let those that had been "pinned in" to escape through his house and out through his back alleyway. When he returned to his front door, by his account, there was a man who was "screaming" while "pushing and shoving" and pepper spraying. That prompted a "human tsunami" into his home as he flung the doors open. Police were corralling the protesters and forcing them down the street with pepper spray.We are trapped between 14th & 15th Streets on Swann St NW. Cops at both ends of the street even in the alleys. #dcprotest pic.twitter.com/xFHfaK3Rb4— Ken Duffy (@KenDuffyNews) June 2, 2020USA TODAY:Dubey also told NBC Washington that police tried to enter his home a few times but that each time he spoke with them, saying the group was welcome in his residence."There was love there. In the mayhem of the darkness, minutes, hours after, there was love pouring out at 3 a.m. from people that should be sleeping, but they didn't. And that's what really is amazing," he told the TV station.One of Dubey's neighbors, Becca Thimmesch, shared this:Officers staked out outside Dubey's house for hours and were harassing him and the demonstrators inside, Thimmesch said. Read the rest
In 1911, the Mona Lisa disappeared from the Louvre. After an extensive investigation it made a surprising reappearance that inspired headlines around the world. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll tell the story of the painting's abduction, which has been called the greatest art theft of the 20th century.We'll also shake Seattle and puzzle over a fortunate lack of work.Show notesPlease support us on Patreon! Read the rest
Attorney General William Barr has granted the Drug Enforcement Administration the power to investigate people protesting George Floyd's murder, even if drugs are not involved. The DEA has been central in ruining the lives of countless minorities in its disastrous War on Drugs, so having them "investigate" protestors is especially alarming. From Buzzfeed:Attorney General William Barr issued a statement Saturday following a night of widespread and at times violent protests in which he blamed, without providing evidence, “anarchistic and far-left extremists, using Antifa-like tactics,” for the unrest. He said the FBI, DEA, US Marshals, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives would be “deployed to support local efforts to enforce federal law.”Barr did not say what those agencies would do, however.The DEA is limited by statute to enforcing drug-related federal crimes. But on Sunday, Timothy Shea, a former US attorney and close confidant of Barr's who was named acting administrator of the DEA last month, received approval from Associate Deputy Attorney General Bradley Weinsheimer to go beyond the agency’s mandate “to perform other law enforcement duties” that Barr may “deem appropriate.” Read the rest
The Washington Post reports that "James N. Miller, undersecretary of defense for policy from 2012 to 2014, provided The Washington Post with a copy of his resignation letter, which he submitted to Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper on Tuesday evening."Dear Secretary Esper,I resign from the Defense Science Board, effective immediately.When I joined the Board in early 2014, after leaving government service as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, I again swore an oath of office, one familiar to you, that includes the commitment to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States . . . and to bear true faith and allegiance to the same.”You recited that same oath on July 23, 2019, when you were sworn in as Secretary of Defense. On Monday, June 1, 2020, I believe that you violated that oath. Law-abiding protesters just outside the White House were dispersed using tear gas and rubber bullets — not for the sake of safety, but to clear a path for a presidential photo op. You then accompanied President Trump in walking from the White House to St. John’s Episcopal Church for that photoPresident Trump’s actions Monday night violated his oath to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed,” as well as the First Amendment “right of the people peaceably to assemble.” You may not have been able to stop President Trump from directing this appalling use of force, but you could have chosen to oppose it. Instead, you visibly supported it.Anyone who takes the oath of office must decide where he or she will draw the line: What are the things that they will refuse to do? Read the rest
It’s impossible for anyone to truly escape the effects our COVID-19 lifestyle changes have made, but if you’re a web developer, there’s a decent chance your work life might be virtually unchanged. Even before the quarantines and work-from-home orders, over 16 percent of web developers were already self-employed. And with a growing number of tech companies, including Twitter and Facebook, already allowing or anticipating a day when most of their workforce will work remotely, it’s increasingly a high paying position you can perform almost anywhere.For those looking to join their ranks, be smart. Not only is the Python coding language one of the most popular programming tools, but its versatility and connection with emerging technologies also make it a natural addition to any developer’s skill set. With The Epic Python Developer Certification Bundle, those hoping to get hired will find a foundation and a starting point to kickstart a new career.While one of the most user-friendly languages around, Python learning does require some effort -- as this 12-course package with more than 90 hours of rigorous training proves. But once you’re up to speed with this primer collection, you’ll be ready to get hired in a variety of interesting new roles.The Python for Beginners: Learn Python from Scratch and Learning Python 3 Programming for the Absolute Beginner courses get the training started right, introducing students to the basic structure and commands that make Python a favored choice among coders. These beginners-guide courses cover Python basics like variables, strings, and operators while helping newbies become comfortable using Python to solve problems with hands-on practice exercises with fully explained solutions that make the language truly accessible. Read the rest
“I Cannot Remain Silent,” former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen writes in an Atlantic op-ed today, “Our fellow citizens are not the enemy, and must never become so.”Excerpt:It sickened me yesterday to see security personnel—including members of the National Guard—forcibly and violently clear a path through Lafayette Square to accommodate the president's visit outside St. John's Church. I have to date been reticent to speak out on issues surrounding President Trump's leadership, but we are at an inflection point, and the events of the past few weeks have made it impossible to remain silent.Whatever Trump's goal in conducting his visit, he laid bare his disdain for the rights of peaceful protest in this country, gave succor to the leaders of other countries who take comfort in our domestic strife, and risked further politicizing the men and women of our armed forces.There was little good in the stunt.While no one should ever condone the violence, vandalism, and looting that has exploded across our city streets, neither should anyone lose sight of the larger and deeper concerns about institutional racism that have ignited this rage. Mike Mullen was the 17th chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.Read the rest:I Cannot Remain SilentPHOTO: Impeached President Donald “Bunker Boy” Trump Visits St. John's Episcopal Church, after armed goons tear-gas Americans and push priests out of the way. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead, Public Domain) Read the rest
In this video, you can see Donald Trump appearing to ask First Lady Melania to 'smile' during today's fascist photo op.Nah, man, you have to pay extra for that.Hey, if ANTIFA means anti-fascists, does that make the Trumps “FA”?Trump asks Melania to smile during today's photo op. pic.twitter.com/B59YeDHKRM— The Recount (@therecount) June 2, 2020Here's a close-up: pic.twitter.com/yZK46OWFOC— The Recount (@therecount) June 2, 2020[via The Recount]Trump's tweets about Antifa show his ignorance of US lawWhen asked about Trump's desire to use military on Americans, Justin Trudeau pauses for 20 secondsTrump threatens to use military to stop protests for #georgefloyd #blacklivesmatter Read the rest
PSA: If you're using a black square on Instagram as a way to show you are "muted and listening" to Black voices and/or to show your solidarity with the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, STOP using the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag. That hashtag is meant to share resources and information and using it for a "Blackout Tuesday" post is drowning out the voices that need to be heard, activists say. Better yet, they ask, remove the empty squares completely. Removing the BLM hashtag from your black square post isn't enough, as it will keep the post in the previously tagged category. Best to take it down completely and start using your platforms to amplify Black voices and share information, activists write. Listen but don't be muted.stop posting black squares under the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag on Instagram. it is intentionally and unintentionally hiding critical information we are using on the ground and online. pic.twitter.com/EIS44aDXXd— y’all don’t read the room ? (@anthoknees) June 2, 2020Yeah and now the hashtag is blank on Instagram because of everyone hashtagging black squares pic.twitter.com/lnlY4Nrzxx— dillonfrancis (@DillonFrancis) June 2, 2020What CAN you do? Here's a start (and please add relevant and helpful resources in the comments):We don’t need you to make your profile photos black or for you to take your anti-racism journeys in our mentions or DMs. You can simply:- elevate Black voices on here- huddle up with Black friends - use your body as a barrier- correct racist friends and family- vote— Jay Coles (@mrjaycoles) June 2, 2020White allies! Read the rest