A woman who was exercising her God-given right to release a miasma of aerosolized saliva in a confined space during a deadly pandemic was shouted at by other shoppers in a New York supermarket.Image: YouTube Read the rest
If you misplace something, say a pair of headphones, think about its surface texture and the way it feels rather than what it looks like. This will help you remember where you last left it, says Jason Fischer, Ph.D., a cognitive neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University’s Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences.From Well and Good:The study reached this conclusion by asking participants to identify items in a sea of clutter. Those who looked for a given object by remembering tactile traits—like hardness or softness—won at the impromptu game of I Spy about 20 percent faster than their counterparts who focused only on visual traits like color and shape. “What makes the finding particularly striking from a vision science standpoint is that simply knowing the latent physical properties of objects is enough to help guide your attention to them,” Dr. Fischer tells Medical Xpress. “It’s surprising because nearly all prior research in this area has focused on a host of visual properties that can facilitate search, but we find that what you know about objects can be as important as what you actually see.”Image: Jumpstory/CC0 Read the rest
Bill Gates has designed tiny location-tracking microchips that he plans to implant into hundreds of millions of people when they get the COVID-19 vaccine. Only 26% of Republicans surveyed believe the preceding sentence is false.From Cnet:A conspiracy theory that Gates is planning to use a future COVID-19 vaccine to implant microchips in billions of people in order to monitor their movements has gained supporters particularly among Fox News viewers and Republicans, the survey found.The representative survey of 1,640 US adults by YouGov for Yahoo News found that half of respondent Americans who say Fox News is their primary television news source believe the conspiracy theory. It's the largest group responding this way, followed by self-described Republicans and "Voted for Donald Trump in 2016" -- 44% of both those groups said they believed the conspiracy theory was true. Twenty-six percent of respondent Republicans said it was false, and 31% said they weren't sure.Image: Yahoo/YouGov Read the rest
In Cincinnati, Ohio, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted more than $250,000 in counterfeit US bills on its way from Shenzhen, China to Guthrie, Oklahoma. From Fox19:The money, which was not washed or bleached, was printed from a high-end printer on regular paper.Officers say the currency number was the same for every bill, and on the back of the bill there was foreign writing in the location where one of the security features would exist.Translated, the "foreign writing" read: Made in China. Just kidding on that last part. I think.(Thanks, Charles Pescovitz!) Read the rest
To my disappointment, North Korean state media stated that Kim Jong Un did not use his family's mastery of magic to teleport or time travel out of the public eye.“In fact, people can’t disappear and reappear by folding space," stated a report in the Rodong Shinmun, the newspaper of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea. From Mysterious Universe:Chukjibop, literally a “method of shrinking the earth,” is described as the ability to quickly move towards the blind spot of an enemy at a speed so fast that the attacker seems to temporarily disappear. The mythical version of a concept in East Asian martial arts has been attributed to several figures in Chinese and Japanese mythology, and more recently depicted in Japanese animation, or through the use of special effects in Chinese Kung Fu movies.According to myth, [Kim Jong Un's grandfather] Kim Il Sung was able to use the chukjibop technique to win a battle against imperial Japanese soldiers during the time when Korea was a colony of Japan (1910-1945), when he was purportedly leading Korean guerillas in exile[...][Last week's] report marked the first time that state media flatly denied that a Kim family myth was true, South Korea’s Unification Ministry said.“We need to pay attention to the current leader’s denial of the mythification of his predecessors, including his criticism of them in October, at Mt. Kumgang,” a ministry official told reporters. Read the rest
Dalton and Kanaan Dern turned their Apopka, Florida abode into a skatepark. Watch them shred the house. Don't tell mom.The brothers won the "Murder Your House" contest sponsored by Liquid Death and The Berrics. The prizes included six months of mortgage payments (up to $10,000) but not the new roof that they'll likely need sooner rather than later. Read the rest
From the stately and elegant Batmobile Cadillac seen in the 1943 movie serials to the latest militaristic models, this is the on-screen history of Batman's Batmobile. Of course the true high point was the 1955 Lincoln Futura tricked out by George Barris for the 1960s TV series. Read the rest
Popping a new battery in a smoke detector or adding salt to your water softener are easy fixes. But if you run into trouble or a necessary repair in a cramped, tight place, sometimes with no obvious fix or easy access, it can be a pretty frustrating exercise.Since flying blind is the absolute worst, having a solid, dependable borescope camera to see inside hard-to-reach places and spot problems you couldn’t see otherwise can be vitally important. Right now, you can add that piece to your toolkit with a versatile inspection camera like the Sinji Flexible Borescope Camera for Android and iOS. Whether you want to see under floorboards, assess what’s blocking a drain, or just poke around in the smallest nooks and crannies, this cam with nearly 6.5 feet of reach can do the job.Once you download the Sinji app to your phone, tablet, or laptop and sync up, you're all ready to go. The 2-meter cable can snake its way into the darkest of places, but equipped with six powerful adjustable LED lights, you’ll get a crystal clear, HD quality view on your device screen of exactly what you’re up against.With its WiFi compatibility, you can also snap pictures or capture video, then save the footage right to your device. The 8mm camera lens gives you a full look with a 70 degree viewing angle at the end of the MicroUSB to USB cable. And considering many of those pipes and drains are probably pretty nasty, wet places, the Sinji camera is IP67 waterproof certified. Read the rest
Sweden didn't lock down much at all, whereas the UK seems consumed with lockdown theater. This chart, from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, paints a bleak picture either way. Read the rest
Matt Round created an AI-driven face generator specializing in UK Ministers of Parliament: This MP Does Not Exist. The results have the special look of British portrait photography, political culture and nutritional standards, and (unusually for neural-network driven generators) the small pool of source images only heightens the results' inbred luster.Using MPs’ official photos, we trained a neural network to generate a whole new UK Parliament Read the rest
In the 1930s, Sinto boxer Johann Trollmann was reaching the peak of his career when the Nazis declared his ethnic inferiority. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll describe Trollmann's stand against an intolerant ideology and the price he paid for his fame.We'll also consider a British concentration camp and puzzle over some mysterious towers.Show notesPlease support us on Patreon! Read the rest
Spoken Word with Electronics is an audio series delivering to you a two side recording of unusual stories paired with vintage modular electronic soundsWelcome back to Spoken Word with Electronics. This week we're in a good David Wojnarowicz mood. Which I mean to say David is a strong energy force for when you are upset and want to focus it into making work. In this Covid era, David's message about government neglect and illness is especially profound. He died of AIDS in 1992, which is awful. And he was one of the coolest people to have ever walked the planet, which is wonderful.In this tribute episode, hear a discussion of his art, specifically a focus on his music, both the band 3 Teens Kill 4 and his amazing collaboration with Ben Neill, ITSOFOMO. A review of the book A Definitive History of Five or Six Years on the Lower East Side is also provided. Along the ride we discuss the late evening drive in highschool when our car was haunted by David Bowie's Suffragette City and play a track from The Cicadas. SPOKEN WORD WITH ELECTRONICS #11: A Tribute to David Wojnarowicz View this post on Instagram I’m sure we’ve posted this pic before, but it’s just too good. Happy belated bday to our dear friend Donovan Pierce. Thanks for all your help over the years at sb ❤️A post shared by Sacred Bones (@sacredbones) on Mar 24, 2020 at 1:28pm PDT Like what you're hearing? Tell others about the show. Read the rest
Firing up the engines each morning and attacking the day with gusto and purpose can feel like a mighty tall order sometimes. We’ve all been there. But on those sluggish, why-don’t-I-just-stay-here-in-bed-all-day kinda days, it might just take a rational, calming, reassuring nudge to make it happen. No matter what it takes to keep you motivated and on point, Quotely has your back. Holder of a solid 4.9 out of 5-star rating in the Apple App Store, Quotely Daily Motivational Quotes is all about cultivating good thoughts and sending them your way to brighten and broaden your universe, one life-affirming quotation at a time.With a subscription to Quotely, you decide when and how often you’d like to see inspiration reminders delivered as well as the look and feel you like. Assembled from a database of literally thousands of quotes, Quotely then serves up words of comfort, motivation, and self-determination right when you need them the most. You can set up Quotely to serve up a pick-me-up each morning as your daily mantra to help sharpen your resolve and focus on what’s ahead. When you’re not receiving quote notifications, you can also browse their 10,000-strong library of inspiring sayings from nearly 20 different categories, including everything from life lessons and sayings to depression beating quotes to philosophy from mankind’s greatest minds to stellar film lines.You can also use Quotely to find motivational books, customize your presentation, share great quotes with others, or to your social media pages and more.A lifetime subscription to Quotely usually comes with a $280 price tag, but with this offer, you can keep yourself feeling positive, focused, and ready to achieve your dreams each and every day forever for only $29.99 Read the rest
Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit failed on its first rocket launch attempt, which took place out of the Mojave Spaceport in Southern California. Here's a quick shot from takeoff. pic.twitter.com/7nt1u58ogs— Virgin Orbit (@Virgin_Orbit) May 25, 2020The small satellite launcher's first live launch test took place on Monday, May 25, the Memorial Day holiday in the United States.In a series of tweets, the company stated:In this first launch demo, we successfully completed all of our pre-launch procedures, captive carry flight out to the drop site, clean telemetry lock from multiple dishes, a smooth pass through the racetrack, terminal count, and a clean release from the aircraft.LauncherOne maintained stability after release, and we ignited our first stage engine, NewtonThree. An anomaly then occurred early in first stage flight. We'll learn more as our engineers analyze the mountain of data we collected today.As we said before the flight, our goals today were to work through the process of conducting a launch, learn as much as we could, and achieve ignition. We hoped we could have done more, but we accomplished those key objectives today.The team's already hard at work digging into the data, and we're eager to hop into our next big test ASAP. Thankfully, instead of waiting until after our 1st flight to tackle our 2nd rocket, we've already completed a ton of work to get us back in the air and keep moving forward.Here's our next rocket, built and ready for system-level testing in our final integration area as it waits for its turn to fly to space. Read the rest
The cruelty is the point.Impeached and manifestly unfit president Donald Trump spent Memorial Day 2020 doing what he does every other day. Tweeting disinformation about the coronavirus pandemic that has killed nearly 100,000 Americans and shows no sign of stopping, despite Trump's repeated lies.“Great reviews on our handling of Covid 19, sometimes referred to as the China Virus,” tweeted Trump on Monday, May 25, 2020. “Ventilators, Testing, Medical Supply Distribution, we made a lot of Governors look very good - And got no credit for so doing. Most importantly, we helped a lot of great people!”There is no bottom.This one from Trump last night sounded better in the original Russian, as noted by the experts:Schools in our country should be opened ASAP. Much very good information now available. @SteveHiltonx @FoxNews— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2020America nears the 100,000 deaths mark. Trump's just getting started. Read the rest
You may not realize it, but one of the fastest-growing employee benefits over the past several years is one that’s keeping thousands of workers feeling happier and healthier. Back in 2013, only 13 percent of employers were willing to provide or subsidize standing desks for their workers, but by 2019, that number had exploded to 60 percent.Part of that increase is directly tied to research that’s shown a standing desk that encourages workers to spend less time sitting can help attack a variety of health problems, including back, knee, shoulder and elbow pain, poor circulation, muscle fatigue, headaches, and even sexual performance issues.With endorsements like those, it may be worth picking up an item like the RiseUp Electrical Height Adjustable Standing Desk. This desk from Uncaged Ergonomics is all about finding each user’s sweet spot. From a standard sitting height, three-stage lifting columns can elevate this steel and wood product frame almost 4 feet with the push of a button. With that much range, it only takes a little work to determine exactly what elevation is the proper height for each person to optimize their sitting and standing postures.Once you’ve found the spot that sings for you, the memory keypad can lock it in, one of four positions the desk can memorize and serve up for immediate adjustment.The dual powerful motors raise and lower the desk quickly and smoothly, all while holding up to 250 pounds on your desktop, more than enough to hoist a computer monitor, phone, and other assorted desk bric-a-brac with no problem. Read the rest
White House adviser Kevin Hassett said the quiet part out loud just now: “Our human capital stock is ready to go back to work.”White House adviser Kevin Hassett: "Our human capital stock is ready to go back to work." #HumanCapitalStock pic.twitter.com/Yl9KwJf6KP— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 25, 2020[Captured by Vox media journalist Aaron Rupar] Read the rest
The World Health Organization said on Monday that parts of the world where coronavirus infection rates are declining may face an “immediate second peak” if they prematurely loosen restrictions to slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.From Reuters:The world is still in the middle of the first wave of the coronavirus outbreak, WHO emergencies head Dr Mike Ryan told an online briefing, noting that while cases are declining in many countries they are still increasing in Central and South America, South Asia and Africa.Ryan said epidemics often come in waves, which means that outbreaks could come back later this year in places where the first wave has subsided. There was also a chance that infection rates could rise again more quickly if measures to halt the first wave were lifted too soon.“When we speak about a second wave classically what we often mean is there will be a first wave of the disease by itself, and then it recurs months later. And that may be a reality for many countries in a number of months’ time,” Ryan said.“But we need also to be cognizant of the fact that the disease can jump up at any time. We cannot make assumptions that just because the disease is on the way down now it is going to keep going down and we are get a number of months to get ready for a second wave. We may get a second peak in this wave.Read more at Reuters:WHO warns of 'second peak' in areas where COVID-19 declining Read the rest
The U.S. Department of Justice is reported to now be investigating the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery as a possible hate crime.White House reporter Yamiche Alcindor of PBS NewsHour tweeted:Confirmed: DOJ is officially investigating shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery as a possible hate crime, according to Arbery’s family’s attorney. US Attorney met w/ the parents Thurs & told them DOJ also investigating county & state response for possible equal protection violations.— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) May 25, 2020Previous Boing Boing posts on the killing of Ahmaud Arbury are here. Read the rest
This foldable step stool is 11 inches high, and is only 1.5 inches thick when folded up. It has replaced a non-folding plastic step stool that we'd kept in on the floor in the closet. It feels very sturdy when I stand on it. Read the rest
When ex-jewel thief Larry Lawton went to prison, he learned a lot of useful skills, which he is now sharing on YouTube. In this video, he teaches you how to boil water with a "stinger," made from two shower drain covers, an electrical cord, and a few other odds and ends.Image: YouTube Read the rest
The Universal Serial Bus specification was introduced by a consortium of large tech companies in 1996 to standardize the way peripherals connect to computers. In this episode of Nostalgia Nerd on YouTube, you can learn about the history of USB, and why the connector configurations change so frequently. This 20-minute video was more interesting than I thought it would be, mainly because not a single day in my life since 1998 has gone by that I haven't plugged in or unplugged a USB connector, and I really knew nothing about them until now. Now I know everything I want to know about them.Image: YouTube Read the rest
Science teacher Bruce Yeany demonstrates a ramp walker he made from a pizza box and some scrap cardboard.Ramp walking toys have actually been around for quite a while, the first ones were metal elephants produced back in the 1800s. In the 1930 and '40s the popular material was plastic made that was made into Disney and other popular characters. Recently there has been a surge in wooden ramp walking toys. The wooden toys are very durable but require woodworking tools for making them. While less durable it is also possible to make these toys out of paper and cardboard. Here is an example of ramp walkers made out of used pizza boxes. In future videos. I will show additional ramp walkers made from recycled materials that are easy to build with simple hand tools. Read the rest
I don't know who created this cursed chart but they are responsible for a lot of suffering on the internet this morning and should be brought to justice. [via Megadestructo]I saw it. Now you have to see it, too. pic.twitter.com/dUxb5uryqk— Eric C. (@Megadestructo) May 25, 2020 Read the rest
COOPH put together a video featuring DIY smartphone video rigs put together with stuff lying around the house.Want to make your smartphone footage more creative than ever? In our latest video the COOPH photographers share some of their best hacks on how to create stunning images and videos with your smartphone and everyday tools, no expensive gear required! From smooth time lapses and steady shots to an easy DIY gimbal – this video has it all! Disposable DIY rigs and jigs are essential for learning what works and what's possible creatively. If I spend money on something I'll be less likely to push it, to risk sacrificing the investment for self-improvement's sake. But if I'm already familiar with what a tool actually gets me, I won't be intimidated or disappointed when I buy a decent one. Read the rest
First, they were all about serving a protective necessary function. But now, about 10 weeks after the explosion of the COVID-19 outbreak, face masks are beginning to serve a different role. Just like all the fashion accessories that came before them, face masks are now showing off a little piece of ourselves to the everyday world, making a quick, mouth-and-nose-covering statement to all those who cross our paths.Since face masks appear to be sticking around for a while and you might as well make the best of it, we’ve got a variety of cotton face mask four-packs available. Each comes with a fun print that says, hey, just because I’m covering up doesn’t mean I’m okay with some boring white N95 mask.No, these sets each come with a distinct vibe to them, so like the rest of your wardrobe, you can match your personal fashion sense with your particular mood or style. Each is made from premium cotton to stay soft, breathable, and comfortable with a pair of adjustable earloops to keep your mask firmly secured.And the looks...well, that’s what it’s all about, right? Beyond the life-saving protection, obviously. With the Kid in You four-pack, you get a boldly-colored set with paint splotches, a rainbow-colored animal maw and even the ever-popular gray camo look.Meanwhile, the Tie-Dye set is a bit more muted, yet still artistically vibrant. They may not inspire true 60’s flashbacks, but the hippie aesthetic is alive and well here.The Fun with Kids pack is, well, made for the kiddies...or Read the rest
Food manufacturers will be permitted to substitute ingredients in products without changing the labels. The FDA posted a "temporary flexibility policy" permitting inaccurate labels, claiming it is necessary to "support the food chain" during the Covid-19 pandemic.The FDA is providing flexibility for manufacturers to make minor formulation changes in certain circumstances without making conforming label changes, such as making a change to product ingredients, without updating the ingredient list on the packaged food when such a minor change is made. Other temporary flexibilities that FDA has issued address nutrition labeling on food packages, menu labeling, packaging and labeling of shell eggs and the distribution of eggs to retail locations.An interesting thing about me not saying what was in the food is you not proving what was in the food. Read the rest
There have been modern designs for portable Commodore 64s, and the official portable Commodore 64 you perhaps didn't even know about, but none of them are as handsome as Cem Tezcan's.The Adafruit Blog:As a part of my monthly product design practice, I decided to make an handheld Commodore 64 that uses “mini cassettes” to load programs or games.I inspired by most of the old Commodore electronic products to create this dream device All it needs is a giant leather holster. Read the rest
Samara Ginsberg (previously at BB) performs Stu Philips' Knight Rider theme tune on eight cellos. PREVIOUSLY: Alternate version of the Knight Rider theme tuneBONUS: Australian beer ad ☟ Read the rest
Former Apple and NASA engineer turned YouTube sensation Mark Rober (previously) decided to spend his quarantine birdwatching until his neighbourhood squirrels defeated his supposedly squirrel-proof birdfeeders.Realizing that squirrels are way, way smarter than one may think, he went ahead and set up a Rube-Goldberg-and-Wipeout-inspired course that, if completed successfully, would provide a nutty nirvana to the furry contestants, while allowing the birds to feast unhindered, watching the mayhem unfold.Rick, Marty, Frank and Gus - his four contestants, were indeed up to the challenge, and what follows is some of the best backyard games and feasting you're likely to see this weekend.Find Mark's many other engineering-centric projects on his YouTube channel. Read the rest
Promoting products is almost nothing like it was back in the Mad Men days. In fact, the digital landscape has changed the ad game so much that it barely even resembles early Grey’s Anatomy days anymore. Marketing a product digitally isn’t about the right ad slogan or color scheme. It’s about crafting the narrative around that product through blog posts, social media, videos and other legitimate content that demands a potential customer’s attention and motivates action.Did you know Facebook is the primary content distribution channel for marketers today? Or that those marketers usually create unique content for up to three completely separate audience segments? Or that digital marketing is now a $100 billion per year business?Reaching just the right audience on just the right platform with just the right message is just as tough as it sounds. However, the training in The Complete Digital Content Marketing Certification Bundle will help you find your people, hone your message and take advantage of the strengths and weaknesses of each platform to craft the messaging story you want around your product.This collection features eight courses including 40 hours of instruction as you learn everything you need to know to craft a fully-formed digital content strategy.The Certified Facebook Marketing 2020 (Complete Masterclass) opens your tutelage with a look at the no. 1 digital content hotspot on the web, including how to create an optimized home for your brand, proven Facebook marketing tactics, a Facebook Ads primer and how to reach Facebook groups to drive sales on the platform. Read the rest
Concept artist and illustrator Vlada Monakhova (artstation, ko-fi) reports that a family acquaintance is "stuck in a hotel in Saudi Arabia" but has been given a menu to work their way through until the pandemic lockdown lifts.So my mother's friend's husband is stuck in a hotel in Saudi Arabia and this is the order menu they gave himDo I have any Arabic speaking followers that can help make sense of this but also, tag yourself, I'm "Normal doubt" pic.twitter.com/MVemyCCON9— Vlada ✨?✨ (@vladadraws) May 24, 2020I'd like to try the she is suspicious of cheese, please. Read the rest
Every once in a while, we see a new product come along that’s so versatile and elegantly simple that it’s strange no one’s ever gone there before.Portable lights themselves aren’t new, but there’s something about the MOGICS Coconut Light that’s so seamlessly well-designed and adaptable that it feels startlingly original.The Coconut is basically just an orb of light. Yet the more than $105,000 this portable, foldable light source generated during its enthusiastic run on Kickstarter proves that its appeal goes far beyond its humble origins.Made from durable, non-toxic, kid-safe silicon material, the Coconut Light is a minimalist perfect sphere of light that can adapt to almost any situation. The Coconut self-inflates and sports four different lighting modes, so whether it’s serving as a desk light, a table centerpiece, a camping accessory, or poolside ambiance, it effortlessly conforms to your environment.The silicon sturdiness and clever engineering mean you don’t have to handle the Coconut Light with kid gloves. In fact, with its inflatable, balanced, durable construction, it’s practically like having a glowing rubber ball shining in the darkness.The three-point design subtly creates a balance, so if the Coconut Light is set on a table, it doesn’t roll away. At the base, the invisible switch can toggle through normal, flash, breathing, and warning light modes.In case you’re skeptical about carrying a rubber ball around with you, don’t worry -- the Coconut Light folds down to about a sixth of its original size. Then once you pop it out of its carrying case, the Coconut’s unique valve design expands it to its regular dimensions. Read the rest
LG makes a 86-inch 3840 x 600 display—that's a 58:9 aspect ratio—and you can buy it for abour four grand [Amazon]. I was thinking of having them send one over to do a deadpan serious Gamer Review of it. Imagine this 7ft monster vesa-mounted on a 5ft desk, with little computer speakers stuck awkwardly on arms out to the side. Would many games even run at that resolution? It was suggested to me further that I review it in portrait orientation. Read the rest
With the U.S. cautiously reopening, it’s probably time to take stock of where you're at. After spending all these weeks in the house, you’ve likely already assembled a little list of items you either realized you were missing or need to replace. And those kinds of revelations probably apply to nearly every room.We got you. From the bedroom to the kitchen to the bathroom, we’ve put together a list of some cool items all under Memorial Day discounts right now. On top of that, use the code SUMMERSAVE20 during checkout and you’ll get an added 20 percent off everything. Load up!The BedroomComfort always starts with some great sheets, so the Bamboo Comfort 4-Piece Luxury Queen Sheet Set ($26.39 after discount, originally $109) offers a high-quality microfiber and bamboo blend that’s soft, breathable, hypoallergenic, and wrinkle-free.Of course, wrinkle-free is easier said than done...but the problem of wrinkled sheets and mattress toppers gets crushed by the Bed Scrunchie 360° Fitted Sheet Tightener, Holder & Extender ($25.59 after discount, originally $59.95), the world's first 360-degree all-in-one bed tightening system. Clip it to the edges of your sheets, tighten the clamps and you’ve got a flawless hotel bed look and military corners in seconds.And if you’re having a little trouble drifting off to sleep, the LectroFan High Fidelity White Noise Machine ($31.99 after discount, originally $49.99) sports 20 unique digital sounds with pinpoint volume control to mask noises, focus your mind for relaxation, and get you a more peaceful rest each night. Read the rest
When the COVID-19 threat hit in March, most Americans didn’t have much of a choice about their new work-from-home existence. But now that a majority of the workforce have settled into their new routines, it may be hard for many to snap back to the daily commute and the office grind again.And the numbers spell it out — remote working...well, works. A survey found remote workers actually logged almost 60 more hours of core work per year than those in an office. And remote workers saved anywhere from 2 to 5.5 hours a day without commuting and time-consuming in-person meetings. With results like those, the only real question is how do you ensure your core work hours are truly time well spent? With The Remote Work and Productivity Bundle, you can learn the techniques that will help keep you focused on your key tasks so you can enjoy the work from home lifestyle with zero guilt.This package collects seven courses that bolster both the physical and mental approaches to working remotely so you can do high-quality work in less time and with less hassle.With How To Be Hyper Productive In Your Home Based Business, you’ll develop the disciplines and habits needed to take your home-based job or business to be both highly productive and highly profitable. Meanwhile, the Coronavirus and Remote Work: Tools and Tactics for Business Continuity course take that training a step further, minimizing work disruption, managing expectations, and feeding your creativity and innovation, all from home. Read the rest
After two months, all those stockpiled snacks and days spent indoors have likely taken their toll. If you happened to pick up a few pounds during quarantine, join the club.However, you may be thinking that it’s time -- or maybe, well past time -- to get back on that fitness horse. Rather than heading down to that recently reopened, but likely still deeming with possible infection neighborhood gym, we’ve pulled together a handful of equipment and services that can help get your body moving and on the road to a fitter you.And just so we can leave you with a fitter wallet as well, you can use the code SUMMERSAVE20 at checkout and that’ll slice another 20 percent off your total. GearIf you’re ready to work out, gear up first. For yoga and Pilates regulars, this Non-Slip Yoga and Pilates Towel with Bag ($18.39 after discount; originally $75) is designed just for you. The towel is created to stay on top of the mat without slipping, catching all the sweat so you aren’t sliding all over. Thankfully, it dries quickly and can be stowed in the mesh bag for washing.The Men's Z-Liner Antimicrobial Orthotic Insoles ($19.19 after discount; originally $29.99) can save your feet from ill-fitting or broken down shoes. Crafted with ZL Hexcore and breathable mesh fabric, these insoles cradle and form to your feet, keeping them cool, dry, and odor-free. They’ve even got arch support and an adaptive heel-cup for better balance and stability while reducing common pains. Read the rest
Journalist Patrick Radden Keefe has done plenty of extensive and gripping longform journalism, including his most recent book, Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland (which I could not recommend more highly). His newest project is a slight departure from covering topics of crime and radical separationists, but still deals heavily with espionage and subterfuge.It's about the Scorpions, the English-speaking German rock band who rocked you like a hurricane. And also the CIA.Here's the official blurb:It’s 1990. The Berlin Wall just fell. The Soviet Union is on the verge of collapse. And the soundtrack to the revolution is one of the best selling songs of all time, the metal ballad “Wind of Change,” by The Scorpions. Decades later, journalist Patrick Radden Keefe heard a rumor: the song wasn’t written by The Scorpions. It was written by the CIA. This is his journey to find the truth.Told through exclusive interviews with former CIA officers, on the ground reporting, and more - this podcast embodies the traditional tones of investigative journalism while keeping listeners on their toes through its cinematic pacing, simulating the theatricality of the critically acclaimed film Argo in a podcast. This 8-part series follows Patrick’s search for the truth, a 10 year investigation that traces the 70 year history of our government's meddling into pop music, including everyone from Louis Armstrong and Nina Simone, to Bon Jovi and the Beach Boys.I've listened to the first two episodes available so far (which is also embedded below), and I'm absolutely hooked. Read the rest
From NPR:Deaths from motor vehicle crashes and fatal injuries are the biggest source of organs for transplant, accounting for 33% of donations, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, which manages the nation's organ transplant system.But ever since the coronavirus forced Californians indoors, those accidents have declined. Traffic collisions and fatalities in the state dropped by half in the first three weeks of shelter-in-place restrictions, according to a study by the University of California, Davis. Drowning deaths dropped 80% in California, according to data compiled by the nonprofit Stop Drowning Now.From March 8 to April 11, the number of organ donors who died in traffic collisions was down 23% nationwide compared with the same period last year, while donors who died in all other types of accidents were down 21%, according to data from UNOS.Well this is awkward.Organ Transplants Down As Stay-At-Home Rules Reduce Fatal Traffic Collisions [April Dembosky / NPR]Image: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons Read the rest
We've been writing about Lea Redmond since 2009 here on Boing Boing. She's just one of those kind of people who consistently makes neat things — a real Happy Mutant! Well, her latest creative venture is Home Sweet Home, an activity deck for kids (and the young at heart). It offers inspiring prompts for whimsical, reflective mini-adventures in and out of the home. Half the deck is available now for free download, and the second half will be available as part of a full physical deck (when it's safe to get them printed). Read the rest
Last year, over 43 million Americans hit the road to celebrate Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer. That was the second-highest travel volume this century, according to AAA, but with COVID-19 fears and quarantine orders only now starting to ease, it’s safe to say this year probably won’t attract numbers anywhere close to that high.However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have your car prepped with a few essentials for that day soon when you do need to hit the road. To help, here are 20 car accessories that can help make your trip an easier one -- and when you use the code SUMMERSAVE20 when you purchase, you’ll get an additional 20 percent off your total. Car Trouble?Emergencies happen on the road all the time -- and with the 5-in-1 Emergency Car Tool with Portable Power Bank ($15.99 after discount; originally $25.99), you’ll be ready for them. It includes an LED flashlight, a red SOS light, an emergency seatbelt cutter, a glass breaker, and a portable power bank with 2,200mAh battery capacity. Or you could go with the Kelvin.7 Automotive Emergency Multi-Tool ($31.99 after discount; originally $49.99) which, in addition to those earlier talents, also adds four built-in magnets and a hand-crank power generator to your multipurpose roster of abilities.Unless you’re a mechanic, car trouble can be frustrating and mysterious, but the THINKCAR 1S: OBDII Full-Systems Car Scanner with a Free Lifetime Subscription ($29.59 after discount; originally $54.95) is like having your own diagnostic computer that syncs up with your phone. Read the rest
IT'S ABOUT TIME!!CNN:To ensure the crayons accurately reflect the world's array of skin tones, Crayola partnered with Victor Casale, CEO and co-founder of cosmetics maker MOB Beauty.The Colors of the World crayons will come in packs of 24 and 32, with the 32-pack also including four crayons each for hair and eye colors, according to the company. Each pack will also include a side panel that serves as a color reference, while each crayon label lists the color name in English, Spanish, and French.These "Colors of the World" crayons will be available in July.Thanks, Tracy!images via CNN/Crayola Read the rest
According to a new study from the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour in the Netherlands, our speaking voices actually register subtle changes along with our gesticulating limbs.It’s all about acoustics: the pitch and volume of a voice change together with the movement of arms and hands. "That change is very subtle with a wrist movement," says Pouw. “It is less subtle with an arm movement. The pitch jumps up slightly whenever a movement slows down.”According to Pouw, there are two different causes for these acoustic differences. One of the causes is the creation of vibrations. The forces involved in a movement cause vibrations in your body. Through the connective tissue that holds your body together, vibrations end up in your lungs, affecting the pressure in your lungs.The second cause is muscle tension around your lungs that is needed to maintain balance. We do not merely use our arm muscles when we move our arms. “When starting the process of stopping your arm from moving, for example, other muscles are suddenly addressed to prevent your body from falling over. These muscles that maintain balance include muscles around your lungs.”Pretty cool!Acoustic information about upper limb movement in voicing [Wim Pouw, Alexandra Paxton, Steven J. Harrison, and James A. Dixon / PNAS]Body language can also be heard [Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour]Image: Public Domain via NeedPix Read the rest
It doesn’t do you much good to come up with a brilliant concept that you can’t translate into a working real-world prototype. Whether you’re thinking about building a home, a mechanical tool or a toy, that’s where the magic of computer-aided design and drafting software like AutoCAD comes into play. The longtime leader in the field, AutoCAD by Autodesk is used by architects, designers, engineers, and loads of other professionals to help flesh out 2D drawings into 3D structures, all crafted to scale. In the right hands, AutoCAD can turn creativity into practical reality and show everyone exactly how to do it.As with most ultra-powerful software tools, AutoCAD mastery comes with a fairly steep learning curve. However, the instruction in The Ultimate AutoCAD Training Bundle makes this versatile software accessible, helping everyone from first-timers to advanced users take full advantage of all the drafting and modeling tools AutoCAD has to offer.This training features 12 hours of content covering everything AutoCAD can do. Once you’ve got AutoCAD installed and you’re comfortable with the user interface and basic tools, the course guides learners into actual project work, drafting small objects to get a feel for all of the software’s capabilities.But as you advance through the course, the training wheels come off as students are challenged to improve their abilities and find better ways to fashion cleaner, more effective plans. With modeling skills on the rise, users will craft 3D structures of their design ideas, then get a deeper understanding of how AutoCAD’s roster of features can translate those items into blueprints for real-life builders and manufacturers. Read the rest
Memorial Day has always been the traditional start to the summer season — and there’s never been a summer with more people more ready to get out and enjoy life outside their home than this one.Of course, food will be a big part (if not the centerpiece) of all of our summer celebrations, so to make sure you’re prepared, we’ve assembled a few dozen of the best kitchen, food, and food prep items available with some healthy savings right now. And if you use the code SUMMERSAVE20 at checkout, you’ll get an extra 20 percent discount off each of these handy kitchen helpers. Be versatile Counter space is always at a premium, so every appliance there needs to be a multipurpose tool like the A4-Box Induction Cooking Device ($175.99 after discount; originally $249). It features a non-stick grill pan and flat pan perfect for everything from grilling and sauteing to baking, all in one compact, convenient, and stylish package that keeps the pots and pans juggling under control.Speaking of versatile, sous vide cookers that expertly regulate cooking vacuum-sealed food in a water bath are all the rage right now — and the SOUS°V Pot Precision Sous Vide Multi-Cooker ($88.80 after discount; originally $129.99) is a great introduction. With easy to set DualAccuTemp technology for controlling temperatures needed for any ingredient, your meal will be done when you want it and how you want it, no matter whether you’re sauteing, cooking rice, steaming, boiling, or even making yogurt.Meanwhile, the Mellow Sous Vide Precision Cooker ($159.99 Read the rest
This interview presents a conversation with Ignatz award-winning cartoonist Noah Van Sciver (Fante Bukowski, Grateful Dead: Origins, Disquiet, Please Don’t Step On My JNCO Jeans, One Dirty Tree, Blammo, Saint Cole, More Mundane, Constant Companion, 1999, The Hypo: The Melancholic Young Lincoln) about his life, art and work.Jeffery Klaehn: In addition to winning an Ignatz award in 2016 for your autobiographical mini-comic, My Hot Date, you were nominated for multiple Ignatz awards throughout 2010 to 2016 for Outstanding Comic (Blammo #6 and #8), Outstanding Artist (Saint Cole and Disquiet), Outstanding Graphic Novel (Saint Cole), and Outstanding Minicomic (The Death of Elijah Lovejoy). You were nominated for an Eisner Award in 2016 for Best Writer/Artist (Fante Bukowski) and A Perfect Failure: Fante Bukowski Three was nominated for an Eisner in the Best Humor Publication category. How do you define success at this point in your career, Noah? What does it mean for you?Noah Van Sciver: Success in comics to me is a publisher and readers that have faith in you and the stories that you want to tell. A publisher that is happy to help you put your ideas together no matter what they are. Those aren’t things that come easy, and you’ve really got to earn them!JK: Your The Complete Works of Fante Bukowski released earlier this year from Fantagraphics and is available in both hardcover and digitally via Kindle. It’s 450 pages and collects all three volumes of your Fante Bukowski graphic novels, with extensive bonus material. Read the rest
In this U.S. Navy video, the USS Portland (LPD 27) conducts a Laser Weapon System Demonstrator Test in the Pacific Ocean off Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.#USSPortland (LPD 27) conducts Laser Weapon System Demonstrator Test in Pacific: https://t.co/zZJglgDIcf @USNavy @USNavyResearch #NavyLethality pic.twitter.com/K8xtcEWiRz— U.S. Pacific Fleet (@USPacificFleet) May 22, 2020pic.twitter.com/jQsmR6CpqN— U.S. Pacific Fleet (@USPacificFleet) May 22, 2020The test aboard USS Portland - LPD 27 in the Pacific, which resulted in successfully disabling an unmanned aerial vehicle, was the first system-level implementation of a high-energy class solid-state laser.More on the laser weapons systems test at the U.S. Navy website:Amphibious transport dock ship USS Portland (LPD 27) successfully disabled an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a Solid State Laser - Technology Maturation Laser Weapon System Demonstrator (LWSD) MK 2 MOD 0 on May 16.LWSD is a high-energy laser weapon system demonstrator developed by the Office of Naval Research and installed on Portland for an at-sea demonstration. LWSD's operational employment on a Pacific Fleet ship is the first system-level implementation of a high-energy class solid-state laser. The laser system was developed by Northrup Grumman, with full System and Ship Integration and Testing led by NSWC Dahlgren and Port Hueneme.“By conducting advanced at sea tests against UAVs and small crafts, we will gain valuable information on the capabilities of the Solid State Laser Weapons System Demonstrator against potential threats,” said Capt. Karrey Sanders, commanding officer of Portland.The U.S. Navy has been developing directed-energy weapons (DEWs), to include lasers, since the 1960s. Read the rest
CNBC's Megan Graham set up a website full of scraped news from other sites. Most ad networks she submitted it to approved it for ad placement.I only put a few hours of work into this site, but I don’t do this for a living. Real bad actors can get a lot farther than this with only a little more work. For instance, they can set up a site with actual original content, get approved, and only then start scraping content. Or, they can easily buy an existing website that’s already monetizing with adtech partners, and just flood it with plagiarized content. They can buy fake traffic to conduct traffic arbitrage, a fancy way of saying that they pay less for traffic than they gain from the ad impressions. They can set up more automated means to keep scraping huge amounts of automated content to keep the website looking fresh.Google appears to be the only platform that rejected her site. Implicit in this is the fact that Google would not have given her scraper site any respectable placement in search results, and would not have let it into Google News at all. Which gets us to an important omission from the story: she made $0. Ad networks should not have approved her in the first place, but the real check happens when a check is cut. The shadyness in all this deserves a deeper dive. Read the rest