Boing Boing

A court in Moscow today issued fines of 4 million rubles each against Twitter and Facebook for the social media companies' refusal to store data about Russian citizens inside Russia.The fines of nearly $63,000 are, as the saying goes, barely a rounding error for either of those massive internet companies. But they're the largest fines Russia has levied against any tech company since president Vladimir Putin began tightening his grip on the internet starting around 2012, with a bunch of new laws that give his government greater powers to surveil citizens online. From the Associated Press:One provision required tech companies to keep servers in Russia for storing personal information they gather from Russian citizens. Russia’s internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, has tried unsuccessfully for several years to force large companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google to move Russian user data to Russia.Commenting on Thursday’s court rulings, Roskomnadzor said Twitter and Facebook would be fined 18 million rubles ($283,000) each if they don’t comply this year.Last year, Twitter and Facebook were fined the equivalent of $47 each for violating the same personal data regulation. The punishment had no effect on the two companies, so in December Russian authorities increased the fines. More at AP:Twitter, Facebook fined for not moving user data to Russia Read the rest

With the rise of the gig economy, it's easier than ever to either make extra money or work on something you're passionate about. If one of your passions happens to be photos—taking or editing them—you've got lots of options for jumping in, including starting your own business. Seriously. Even with no prior experience, you can follow your creative dreams with this 10-course Side Photography Business Bundle.Most Americans have reported getting into the side hustle game, earning over $8000 a year on average. There's no better moment to dive in, especially since it's so easy to learn in your spare time with this 300-lesson course bundle that covers everything from how to start a business to shooting and editing photos to marketing yourself and more.Leverage the information in this bundle, presented by professionals who are teachers, photo retouchers and editors, and Photoshop masters, and you'll learn essential skills for any budding photographer including camera basics like focus, white balance, flash, creative filters, and burst mode, plus deep dives for Canon and Nikon models.Know your way around an f-stop already? You'll benefit from courses that cover advanced editing techniques in Lightroom and Photoshop, including insights on how to make your retouching more creative.For anyone, the course on going pro with your own business is essential. It includes info on registration, licenses, taxes, creating a website, marketing, and more. As a really cool bonus, you'll learn about an app for shooting long exposure photos with an iPhone, and there's a whole course on travel photography, from prep to final editing, using any camera: DSLR, mirrorless, smartphone, or point-and-shoot. Read the rest

NBC5 Dallas/Fort Worth reporter Katy Blakey posted impressive video from a road in Southlake, Texas where thieves picked a Chevrolet Silverado clean, leaving not much more than the shell of the cab behind. There's been a rash of Silverado thefts in the area, possibly because the OnStar tracking systems are easily disabled, according to police. From NBC-DFW:“Within 3 minutes [thieves] were able to pop the lock, pop the hood, change the computer, disable the OnStar and steal my truck,” (said Silverado theft victim Jarrod Hamlin, who reviewed surveillance footage of the crime.)He tried to log on to his MyChevy app to use OnStar to track the vehicle, but it showed a failed connection and he realized OnStar had been disabled.So he called police, filed a report, then turned to social media and started hearing similar stories from other Silverado owners in the area.“They all said the same thing: no glass was broken, their keys weren’t used and the OnStar was disabled so fast that a lot of these people said OnStar’s last known location was in front of my house,” Hamlin said.(via Geekologie) Read the rest

WTF is even going on anymore.Today, impeached president Donald John Trump did another bad thing right out in the open.And I'm not even talking about the dumb 'The Godfather' joke.On Twitter, he said New York “must stop all of its unnecessary lawsuits & harrassment” if state residents want the ability to apply for 'Global Entry' status with the Department of Homeland Security. The program, which costs $100 to apply for, enters you in a federal database and allows you to go through TSA airport screenings quickly and with a little shred of your dignity sort of intact. This is super wrong and seems against the law? But nothing matters.Here's how the former director of the Office of Government Ethics responded.Holy cow! He appears to be engaging in another quid pro quo right before our eyes. I don't know what to say but HOLY COW! NY must drop its lawsuits against him if New Yorkers want Global Entry status? HOLY COW!!! HOLY COW!!! https://t.co/4NPUgc9LNt— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) February 13, 2020Again, here is what President Trump is demanding in the screenshotted tweet above: the governor and law enforcement entities of New York, a state which was his residence until very recently, must stop investigating Trump family crimes if New York residents want to receive federal services.This is fine.Also, however -- Trump appears to believe that Cuomo, the governor, is responsible for filing these lawsuits against Trump.He's not.The state attorney general is, you big dummy. Read the rest

A U.S. judge on Thursday ordered the Pentagon to temporarily halt work on the cloud computing 'JEDI' contract, in what represents a major win for Amazon.com and Jeff Bezos.In granting Amazon.com’s request for a preliminary injunction, the court has effectively paused the U.S. Department of Defense and Microsoft's up-to-$10 billion cloud computing deal. Amazon.com claimed they were unfairly discriminated against in the federal contract granting process by the administration of Donald Trump.Judge Patricia E. Campbell-Smith made public her order but did release a sealed opinion accompanying the decision. She also ordered Amazon to post $42 million in the event that the injunction was issued wrongfully.Earlier this week, Amazon’s Amazon Web Services unit said it was seeking to depose President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Mark Esper in its lawsuit over whether the president was trying “to screw Amazon” over the contract. NEW: A federal judge has temporarily blocked Microsoft from starting work on the Pentagon’s multibillion-dollar JEDI cloud contract until Amazon’s contracting protest can be resolved. pic.twitter.com/NzfXzMIbR2— Brian Fung (@b_fung) February 13, 2020Court orders Pentagon to halt work on Microsoft’s JEDI cloud contract after Amazon protestsvia @Post_AG https://t.co/DmSRDUVlpb— Washington Post PR (@WashPostPR) February 13, 2020A judge has approved Amazon’s request to temporarily halt Microsoft’s work on the $10 billion JEDI contract. https://t.co/62BdZfZOZJ pic.twitter.com/xzGIxa1ViU— CNBC (@CNBC) February 13, 2020Judge grants preliminary injunction barring @DeptofDefense from proceeding with #JEDI contract awarded to @Microsoft over @amazon.— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) February 13, 2020Judge grants preliminary injunction barring Pentagon from proceeding with JEDI contract awarded to Microsoft; orders Amazon to put up $42 million in event that the injunction was wrongfully issued pic.twitter.com/W9mb6oqCGG Read the rest

Like sands through an hourglass are the days of Royal lives, as this week’s tabloids continue the gripping saga of the bold and the beautiful behind palace doors.

White House plans to divert $3.8 billion from DoD to build Trump's long-promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, for which he lied that Mexico would pay “Trump is preparing to divert $3.8 Billion in total from programs across the Department of Defense,” tweeted Foreign Policy reporter Lara Seligman today, “including a controversial war account used to fund emergency requirements, as well as the procurement of ships, aircraft and Army vehicles, to build the wall.”An excerpt from her scoop for FP:For the second year in a row, Trump will raid the Department of Defense’s coffers for money for the U.S.-Mexico border wall, dipping into funds earmarked for counterdrug activities and military construction. But this year, a significant chunk of those dollars will be funneled from a controversial war, according to a Feb. 13 reprogramming action signed by acting Pentagon comptroller Elaine McCusker obtained by Foreign Policy.The account, the Overseas Contingency Operations fund, was established after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 to fund emergency requirements. It has been criticized as a “slush fund” used to circumvent mandatory spending limits set by Congress. As it did last year, the White House is planning to transfer funds from elsewhere in the Pentagon’s budget into the counterdrug account. From there, the White House has argued it can legally transfer that money to build additional miles of the wall under U.S. Code Section 284 (b). In total, the department plans to divert $1.6 billion from the Overseas Contingency Operations account to the counterdrug account, according to the reprogramming. Read the rest

Three female mountain gorillas -- one pregnant -- and one male infant were killed by lightning in Uganda's Mgahinga National Park. With just 1,000 or so left in the world, their deaths is a "big loss for the species," according to the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration that works to conserve wildlife in the region. From the BBC News:The four that died were part of a 17-member group, which has been called the Hirwa family by the authorities."The potential of the three females for their contribution to the population was immense," (GVTC executive secretary Andrew) Seguya said.He added that the 13 surviving members of the Hirwa family have been found and are feeding well.image: "Mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei), 10 month old baby, Titus Group, Rwanda" by Charles J Sharp (CC BY-SA 4.0) Read the rest

My old friend and favorite DJ, DF Tram, pulls threads from from far-out jazz, psych, experimental ambient, spoken word, downtempo EDM, and avant-garde classical to create transgenre ambient mixes. A crate digger of the highest order, he has turned me on to countless artists, tracks, and albums that I'd never hear anywhere else. A collaborator with Alex Patterson, Mixmaster Morris, and Youth, DF Tram has toured with The Orb and performed at the most prestigious electronic music festivals in the world including The Big Chill, Glastonbury, and OZORA. Above is his live set from the 2019 OZORA Festival. Lose yourself.Artwork: Imaginary Foundation Read the rest

Remember back in 2017, when the entire Right Wing Propaganda Machine suddenly decided that Antifa — literally just some loose affiliations of scrappy anarchists in black bloc attire — were the single greatest threat that humanity had ever faced? (And were also somehow being funded by Hillary Clinton and the DNC and George Soros even though they're anarchists and not liberals?)One such event, which threw the National Review into a tizzy, involved the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation, which had to cancel its annual re-enactment of the Battle of Cedar Creek for fear of violent attacks by "lib-terrorists" in balaclavas who are somehow also snowflakes. The group received a letter, in an envelope marked with a red-and-black flag, saying:You need to cancel your coming up celebration of the Civil War on October 13, 14, 15, 2017…Many of us have dogs, so will bring dog feces to throw on people! We will also throw cups of human urine! We might resort to actually firing guns into the camps and at the re-enactors! We will put poison in the water, we will use noise to disrupt the battles and sleep! These events must stop! Our local organizer tells us he is ready to go! You have been warned, now if it is not called off, we will destroy you! You have less than 1 month to issue a cancellation notice, do it asap!Then, during the actual event, an unexploded pipebomb was found on the premises — further proof of the Intolerant Left and their evil agenda. Read the rest

Bret Michael Wilson (57) (aka the "Nighttime Nailer") received a 30-day sentence for criminal mischief and four counts of disorderly conduct after admitting that he had thrown roofing nails onto busy Oregon streets for two years, reports The Oregonian. He will also have to pay $2,000 in restitution and refrain from drinking alcohol.From the article:Oregon City police finally arrested Wilson in October after officers who were staking out The Nighttime Nailer saw him chuck fistfuls of nails from his car as he drove along South Center Street before dawn.After he was nabbed, the suspect copped to scattering the metal spikes numerous times before.“By Mr. Wilson’s recollection, he has thrown nails over 50 times onto our busy streets over the last couple of years,” police said in a news release at the time.Wilson’s early morning ritual — always done before sunrise so as to avoid detection — was in response to drivers he felt were rude or had slighted him, Brock said.“It was his form of anger management. It made him feel better,” Brock said.Image: Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Read the rest

In the new book, Sinking in the Swamp: How Trump's Minions and Misfits Poisoned Washington, by Lachlan Markay and Asawin Suebsaeng, it's revealed that Trump appeared to have an interest in badgers:After Trump was reminded that the short-legged omnivore was practically synonymous with the Badger State, he'd make a point of bringing it up at seemingly random occasions to his beleaguered chief of staff [Reince Priebus, a Wisconsin native]."Are they mean to people?" Trump at least twice asked Priebus in the opening months of his presidency. "Or are they friendly creatures?" The president would also ask if Priebus had any photos of badgers he could show him, and if Priebus could carefully explain to him how badgers "work" exactly.He wanted Reince —--resident White House badger historian, apparently -- to explain to him Wisconsin's obsession with the animal, how the little critters function and behave, what kind of food they like, and how aggressive or deadly they could be when presented with perceived existential threats.Trump also wanted to know if the badger had a "personality" or if it was boring. What kind of damage could a badger to do a person with its flashy, sharp claws?An obviously enthralled president would stare at Priebus as the aide struggled for sufficiently placating answers, all the while trying to gently veer the conversation back to whether we were going to do a troop surge in Afghanistan or strip millions of Americans of healthcare coverage.[via Business Insider]Photo by Vincent van Zalinge on Unsplash Read the rest

NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) said a "potentially hazardous" asteroid is headed our way. According to NASA, "Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) are currently defined based on parameters that measure the asteroid's potential to make threatening close approaches to the Earth."The asteroid, with the catchy name 163373 (2002 PZ39), is taller than the largest human-made building and is moving at 34,000 miles an hour, reports International Business Times.From the article:NASA and other space agencies have warned that kilometer-sized asteroids can do a lot of damage to Earth. If 163373 (2002 PZ39) hits the planet, its initial blast would instantly kill off millions.Then, due to its size, the energy from its explosion would be enough to trigger a global nuclear winter that could last for years. The harsh environmental changes triggered by the asteroid’s impact could lead to the mass extinction of different species.According to CNEOS, 163373 (2002 PZ39)’s near-Earth intersection will happen on Feb. 15 at 6:05 a.m. EST. During this time, the asteroid will pass over the planet from a distance of 0.03860 astronomical units or around 3.6 million miles away.Image: by NASA - [1], Public Domain, Link Read the rest

Robo Revenge is the latest brainchild of Joshua Browder, creator of the robolawyer parking-ticket-fighting app called DoNotPay. Robo Revenge gives you a burner credit card, which provides its robolawyer with the contact info for the telemarketer, and then files a suit against them. Vice has more details:Robo Revenge combines both features to automatically add you to the Do Not Call Registry, generate a virtual DoNotPay burner credit card to provide scammers when they illegally call you anyways, use the transaction information to get the scammer’s contact information, then walk you through how to sue them for as much as $3,000 per call under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), a law already on the books meant to protect consumers from calls that violate the Do Not Call Registry. The app also streamlines the litigation paperwork by automatically generating demand letters and court filing documents.“There are two types of scammers. There are the scammers based abroad who are trying to get your bank details—those people you can’t sue because you don’t even know where they are. But the type we can stop is the businesses like a U.S. based travel company trying to sell you a cruise and asking for your credit card number,” Browder said. “We can take them out with U.S. based laws. If they’re calling someone and every time they’re calling someone, there’s a risk of a penalty, maybe they’ll think twice.”Exciting news! We are launching a new service that gets you compensation from robocallers:1. Read the rest

Just in time for Valentine's Day, NPR's All Songs Considered spoke with a bunch of celebrated songwriters such as Phoebe Bridgers and M. Ward and asked them about the love songs that they wish they'd written — the masterful melodies and heartfelt turns of phrase that other poets envy and only dream to one day emulate.It's also just a really great playlist of songs. And now it has me thinking of which song I would choose myself.Since both "First Day of My Life" and "Love Song" were already chosen for this list, I think I'd have to go with "The Way I Feel Inside" by the Zombies or "She Is Beautiful" by Andrew WK.What would you pick?The Love Song I Wish I'd Written [Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton / NPR] Read the rest

A man reportedly exposed his genitals at a Houston Whataburger, then was struck and killed by an 18-wheeler truck while fleeing on foot. CBS Austin reports that police had arrived and tried to arrest him, but did not pursue him into the freeway.It happened around 10:15 p.m. at the Whataburger on East Freeway and Wayside.Houston Police officers responded to a call for a man exposing himself at the drive thru.When the officer arrived, the man took off on foot, running across I-10. Read the rest

British Prime minister Boris Johnson today pushed out five cabinet members and saw another quit rather than accept the terms of staying on, reports the BBC. Sajiv Javid, exiting his role as Chancellor of the Exchequer, said that Johnson demanded he replace his aides with people hand-picked by Downing Street, a condition "no self-respecting minister" would accept. Sacked colleagues untarnished by the remark include Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith and Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom; those remaining to consider their self-respect include Home Secretary Priti Patel and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.Javid's replacement is a man who was a junior housing minister barely months ago, described by one opposition MP as a "stooge" of top Johnson advisor Dominic Cummings. Cummings was reported to have already sidelined Javid, who refused to agree to big spending plans and tax cuts that the government hopes to sweeten Brexit with.He has been replaced as chancellor by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rishi Sunak - who just seven months ago was a junior housing minister. Mr Javid had been due to deliver his first Budget in four weeks' time. The former home secretary was appointed chancellor by Mr Johnson when he became prime minister in July. His resignation follows rumours of tensions between Mr Javid and the prime minister's senior adviser Dominic Cummings.Barely weeks after a general election victory! Read the rest

The gym is a responsibility for most of us, not a calling. We go because we need to shore up damage from a sedentary lifestyle and bad eating choices. So as we dutifully work to battle gluttony and decay, all we want is some help to make those hours of sweating a little less painful.Music and podcasts are how most of us survive those sessions -- and the TREBLAB xFit Bluetooth Sports headphones are just the workout buddy needed to help you power through.These ultra-lightweight ergonomic wireless buds are weighted to sit snugly in your ears without falling out while perfectly pouring on the sound, no matter whether you’re running and working out or even just commuting or out running errands.Of course, the xFits aren’t just a pretty face -- they’re designed with a roster of cool features as well. When synced via Bluetooth 5.0, you’ll enjoy advanced passive noise cancellation, multi-device connection support and a built-in mic for handling single-touch smartphone calls, all through a single button control.While most wireless buds get by on 4 to 5 hours of battery life, the xFits can go up to six on a single charge, but you also get an extra 25 hours of juice out of the tiny charging case that can easily slide into your pocket, so you’re always ready.But it really doesn’t matter how the xFits look and operate if they don’t sound fantastic too. Thankfully, these top-flight buds deliver true HD sound with crystal clear treble and soul-bouncing bass to rival any wireless earbuds you’ll find. Read the rest

Iowa Democratic party chairman Troy Price, who oversaw last week's botched caucus, today announced his resignation. A half-baked precinct reporting app failed on the night and paper headcounts took several days to gather and count. Moreover, the close race and bizarre caucus rules led to Pete Buttigieg winning the most delegates despite trailing rival Bernie Sanders by thousands of votes. Pete Buttigieg won with a narrow 0.1% victory over Bernie Sanders in terms of delegates, while Senator Sanders won the popular vote. Since then, the Sanders campaign has asked for a "recanvassing" check of the vote. Iowa Democratic leaders will elect a new local leader on Saturday.Photo: YouTube Screengrab Read the rest

I've just watched a trailer for The Iron Mask, a forthcoming Russian/Chinese movie where Arnold Schwarzenegger appears to be playing the chief beefeater at the Tower of London with Jackie Chan as his prisoner. Jason Flemyng, Charles Dance and Rutger Hauer (his final performance!?) are also in it. And now you will watch this trailer also. [via Syfy]The Iron Mask sees action legends Jackie Chan and Arnold Schwarzenegger team up in a high concept fantasy historical epic featuring breath-taking fights and stunning visuals. Set in the 18th century, The Iron Mask follows English traveller Jonathan Green as he journeys from Russia to China encountering dragons, black magic wizardry and a dragon king during an incredible but deadly adventure. The movie was released in 2019 in Russia and China as Viy 2, the sequel to an earlier fantasy adventure also starring Flemyng and Dance. It only got a limited release in the west but they're giving this one the blockbuster rollout thanks to the beefed-up cast. I get the feeling the Flemyng-in-China stuff is the actual movie and the Schwarzenegger-Chan thing is a brief frame story around it. Read the rest

The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake was Japan's worst of all time, leading to more than 15,000 deaths and meltdowns at three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. But all the footage I'd seen of it was of the subsequent tsunami and flooding that claimed most victims' lives. Here's high-definition footage of the earthquake itself, shot by a traveler in an airport. First, there's the shock and chaos of the quake; then the waters come. I didn't see anyone hurt in this footage, but it's terrifying all the same. Read the rest

Presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg's billion-dollar ad spend has already upended the 2020 race to challenge Donald Trump, but yesterday's bizarre and coordinated campaign of meme-style content, published by influencers, has certainly gotten him more attention. Taylor Lorenz:Mick Purzycki is the lead strategist of the Meme 2020 project. He is also the chief executive of Jerry Media, a media and marketing company that is a powerful force in the influencer economy. The company’s portfolio includes some of the most notable meme accounts on Instagram. Jerry Media was at the center of controversy last year after a debate around proper crediting in meme culture.Lorenz refers here to Fuck Jerry, the Instagram swipe account whose operators are now coordinating Bloomberg's cringey memes. The memes are screengrabs of made-up private message chats with Bloomberg, portraying him as a tech-savvy, funny billionnaire. Bloomberg is one of those things.Here's Bloomberg spokesperson Sabrina Singh:“Mike Bloomberg 2020 has teamed up with social creators to collaborate with the campaign, including the meme world. While a meme strategy may be new to presidential politics, we’re betting it will be an effective component to reach people where they are and compete with President Trump’s powerful digital operation.”Dollars to donuts Bloomberg doesn't have the first clue about what's being done in his name here, and would not be able to answer questions about it meaningfully should they be asked.I noticed at least one journo doing this on their insta. This is potentially career-limiting behavior. He's paying a lot. Read the rest

I have never taken the idea of large-scale colonization of Mars very seriously, at least not for the foreseeable future. Nothing about these two videos changes my mind. When thinking about colonization, we often focus on the fact that Mars is pretty much hellbent on killing organics. But what about Lord of the Flies-like tribes of humans turning on each other in a desperate fight for resources or via the phantasms in their heads as settlers go loco from the deprivation and isolation? I'm with Bill Nye. Exploration? Yes! Settlement? Hell no. Image: YouTube Read the rest

Yesterday, I posted Sam Rowley's fantastic photo of two brawling mice on a subway platform that won the London Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year LUMIX People's Choice award. Also in the animals-that-fight vein is Aaron Gekoski's photo of a pugilist orangutan, a beautiful and ultimately tragic image that earned Gekoski a Highly Commended award in the Natural History Museum's competition. From the photo caption:Orangutans have been used in degrading performances at Safari World, Bangkok – and many other locations – for decades. The shows were temporarily stopped in 2004 due to international pressure, but today the shows continue – twice a day, every day – with hundreds of people paying to watch the orangutans box, dance, play the drums and more.Image: Aaron Gekoski/Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. Read the rest

As the world gets weirder, so do the faux passengers that unscrupulous drivers employ to gain access the HOV lane. Washington State Patrol officer Rick Johnson pulled over a speeding driver and discovered that the gentleman's only passenger was a stuffed dinosaur. Fortunately, the dinosaur was wearing a safety belt.According to a UPI report, "The driver could be facing a hefty fine thanks to a law that took effect last summer that adds a $200 fine to the $186 base fine for a HOV violation if a driver is caught 'using a dummy, doll, or other human facsimile to make it appear that an additional person is in the vehicle.'" Read the rest

Bedsheets are the sort of thing you don't think much about until you realize yours are torn, stained, or have seriously seen better days. And that's a shame because, with the variety of oh-so-soft and oh-so-affordable fabrics out there today, you could be slipping into the best slumber of your life instead of under those mismatched sheets from the '90s your mom gave you. Take, for instance, this 4-piece set of Home Collection Ultra-Soft Sheets from iEnjoy, starting at just $37.Made with the finest imported double-brushed microfiber yarns, these hypoallergenic, antimicrobial sheets will shock you (in the best way) with their cozy, comfy, downright-divine feel. Ideal for allergy sufferers and those with sensitive skin, the premium breathable 90 GSM fabric is more durable than cotton, completely wrinkle-free, fade-resistant, and comfortable all year long.Each set includes a flat sheet, a fitted sheet, and a pair of pillowcases, for that grown-up cohesive look you can't go wrong with. Have one of those ginormous mattresses? No worries—the 16" deep-pocket fitted sheet will work with most of them.Available in queen or king sizes and in neutral hues of gray, navy, or white, these half-off Home Collection Premium Sheets are so buttery soft, all you'll want to do is have breakfast in bed and indulge in some actual butter (on pancakes). Apologies in advance to your boss. Read the rest

I have a few questions about this video of Joe Biden giving a talk to some kids at a swimming pool.First, is it fake? I don't think so, but it's possible, given its from Facebook, the only major social media platform that openly welcomes doctored and deepfaked political videos.Second, what is he talking about regarding his leg hairs? From the video:"And by the way, you know, I sit on the stand and I get hot, I got a lotta, I got hairy legs that turn blonde in the sun. And the kids used to come up and reach in the pole and rub my leg down so it was straight and then watch the hair come back up again. And they looked at it. So I learned about roaches and I learned about kids jumpin' on my lap."More importantly than what he is saying, is why is he telling this bizarre story to a bunch of kids who look completely tuned out to his blustering and bloviating?Next, Biden segues to the time he insulted a local bully nicknamed Corn Pop. Like a scene out of a bad S.E. Hinton juvenile fiction knock-off, Biden says that as a lifeguard at the pool he spotted Corn Pop on the diving board. Biden noticed that Corn Pop had pomade in his hair and was concerned that it would pollute the pool water. Biden says he caught Corn Pop's attention by saying "Hey 'Esther,' (after the famous swimming celebrity Esther Williams), you, off the board or I'll come up and drag you off." Read the rest

The incredible Julia Garner stars in the upcoming horror movie, The Assistant, which Vanity Fair says,"tracks a day in the life of Jane (Julia Garner), a recent college graduate working as a junior assistant to a powerful, abusive (and unnamed) movie mogul in Manhattan." Vanity Fair has a brief exclusive clip from the movie. Above, the trailer. Read the rest

I love old paperbacks, especially their great hand-lettered titles. I grabbed a few from my shelf to show you what I mean:Not many books feature hand-lettering, but there are still a number of people who keep the tradition alive. Ivan Castro, a graphic designer in Barcelona, Spain, is one such craftsman. He teaches lettering in design schools, and his book, The ABC of Custom Lettering is a beautiful and practical guide for the aspiring letterer.Here are some sample spreads: Read the rest

An elementary school teacher in Pennsylvania called police after a kindergarten-aged girl pointed a "finger gun" pretended to shoot her. The child was not arrested.From CNN:Administrators concluded that Margot made a "transient threat" and didn't intend to harm anyone, but they still called Tredyffrin police.The district said calling law enforcement is part of its safety protocol. But [the Margot's mother Maggie] Gaines said that in her daughter's case, the district misinterpreted its own policy."It was very clear from the beginning that she didn't understand what she was saying," Gaines told CNN affiliate KYW. "Her having Down syndrome is one aspect of it, but I'm sure most six year olds don't understand what that means."She said police filed a report on the incident that mentioned Margot by name. Tredyffrin police didn't immediately respond to CNN's requests for comment, but the school district told CNN that police didn't create criminal or juvenile records for Margot.By User Jeremykemp on en.wikipedia - Jeremykemp, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link Read the rest

In today's hyper-competitive business world, generating leads and converting them into viable business is a vital numbers game that can be the difference between your operation scaling and stagnating. Unfortunately, leads are becoming more and more expensive to generate, meaning any mishandled or dropped leads can have a huge negative impact on your bottom line.Communication is key. Staying aligned with leads, current clients, former clients, and your entire sales team is exceedingly difficult given how many communication mediums there are these days. Between the phone, email, webchats, and more, it's easier than ever to forget to follow up by simply misplacing where the original conversation took place.That's where amoCRM shines. By centralizing each customer's communications (be it on Skype, Instagram, email etc.) into their own lead profile on the platform, this customer relationship manager (CRM) helps you keep track of all of your past communications and continue ongoing conversations without switching apps. This way, you can chat with your leads on their platform of choice, and gain quick access to all of your conversations without closing apps or switching platforms.With the power of unified communications, your sales team is empowered to solve problems, not navigate through them. Retain and convert leads like never before with amoCRM. Right now, you can register for an extended 30 day trial through this link. Read the rest

-- TWO WILCOCK COMICS REMAIN UNTIL THE SERIES CONCLUDES! -- From John Wilcock, New York Years, by Ethan Persoff and Scott Marshall -- (See all Boing Boing installments) Read the rest

In this clip from Late Night with Seth Myers, comedian Maria Bamford talks about how she tried to take out a restraining order against "the unregistered sex offender in the White House." She said she felt unsafe having such a person in the Oval Office.She says she "went down to the local courthouse. Saw a judge within a half hour. He denied me. Ultimately a useless gesture that didn't further the conversation in any way and wasted the time of caring professionals."There are some other funny and heartwarming moments during the interview. Like, Maria picks people on Twitter and then meets up with them at Dunkin' Donuts to workshop her comedy. She also talks about the comedy special she did in front of an audience of two: her parents. And she talks about her show "What's Your Ailment?," where she talks, mainly to celebrities and fellow comedians, about dealing with mental health issues, something that Maria has very openly and courageously struggled with.Image: YouTube Read the rest

The coronavirus test kits distributed to various U.S. states and 30 other countries by the U.S. Centers for disease control may not work, and are feared to deliver results that are at best 'inconclusive,' officials said today.In the United States, 13 cases of the infection in patients have been confirmed so far. An estimated 850 evacuees who are American have quarantined at military bases after flying from China. Others are self-quarantining at home.From the New York Times:The kits were meant to enable states to conduct their own testing and get results faster than they would by shipping samples to the C.D.C. in Atlanta. But the failure of the kits means that states still have to depend on the C.D.C., which will mean several days’ delay in getting results.The C.D.C. announced last week that it had begun shipping about 200 kits to laboratories in the United States and roughly 200 more to labs in more than 30 other countries. Each kit can test about 700 to 800 specimens from patients, the agency said.On trial runs in some states, the kits produced results that were “inconclusive,” Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said at a news conference on Wednesday.“Things may not always go as smoothly as we may like,” Dr. Messonnier said.Read more:Coronavirus Test Kits Sent to States, 30 Countries Are Flawed, C.D.C. SaysPHOTO: CDC.GOV, the tests now seen as flawed:This is a picture of CDC’s laboratory test kit for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Read the rest

Last June, Chloe Haines (26) was on a flight from Dalaman in Turkey. She suddenly got out of her seat and shouted to the 206 other people on board, "I want to die" and "I'm going to kill you all" as she lunged at an exit door handle. The crew and passengers were able to restrain her.This week, Chelmsford Crown Court court found Haines guilty and sentenced her to two years in prison, reports The Standard:Judge Charles Gratwicke, sentencing the 26-year-old at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday, said: "Those that are trapped in the confined space of the aircraft will inevitably be distressed, frightened and petrified by the actions of those who in a drunken state endanger their lives."For some it will be their worst nightmare come true."(Image by dayamay from Pixabay) Read the rest

The deputy said the inebriated man initially refused a breath test, saying: “You didn’t pull me over. I pulled you over.”

Monty Python co-founder Terry Jones who died last month was also a scholar of Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, having penned two books about the great English poet. Before Jones's death, he was collaborating with an international team of Chaucer geeks on a Canterbury Tales app called "General Prologue." It is the first in a series. “We want the public, not just academics, to see the manuscript as Chaucer would have likely thought of it—as a performance that mixed drama and humor,” said University of Saskatchewan English professor and project leader Peter Robinson.“We were so pleased that Terry was able to see and hear this app in the last weeks of his life. His work and his passion for Chaucer was an inspiration to us,” Robinson said. “We talked a lot about Chaucer and it was his idea that the Tales would be turned into a performance.”From the University of Saskatchewan:The app features a 45-minute audio performance of the General Prologue of the Tales—the masterpiece work by the most important English writer before Shakespeare—along with the digitized original manuscript. While listening to the reading, users have access to supporting content such as a translation in modern English, commentary, notes and vocabulary explaining Middle English words used by Chaucer.The app, an offshoot of Robinson’s 25-year work to digitize the Canterbury Tales, contains key new research work. This includes a new edited text of the Prologue created by USask sessional lecturer Barbara Bordalejo, a new reading of the Tales by former USask student Colin Gibbings, and new findings about the Tales by UCL (University College London) medievalist professor Richard North. Read the rest

Within Disney's fantastically complicated five-tier ticket pricing scheme, the cost of a one-day pass has increased from $199 to $209 per day. Here are other highlights from the SFGate article about Disney's new prices:The MaxPass, which enables a park visitor to digitally book reservations for rides and attractions instead of waiting in line, increased to $20 from $15.Parking stayed flat at $25 a day.The price of the least expensive annual pass, the Select Pass, which blocks out holidays and peak-demand days, rose 5% to $419 from $399. The most expensive annual pass, the Premier Pass, which gives guests access to Disney parks in Anaheim and Orlando, Fla., without blocking any dates, jumped 13% to $2,199 from $1,949.(Image: Mickey Mouse riding toy in Chinatown, New York City, by Benjamin Thompson, CC-BY-SA 2.0) Read the rest

President Trump today was asked by a reporter if he would pardon Roger Stone.His reply:“I don't want to say that yet...”During a photo op in the Oval Office, Donald Trump again thanked his Justice Department for intervening in the sentencing recommendation for Stone yesterday. Again, the impeached president called a 9-year sentence "a disgrace."Trump from pooler @Laura_Figueroa -”They treated Roger Stone very badly...”“no one even knows what he did...it’s a disgrace...they ought to apologize to him”Asked if he would pardon Stone:“I don't want to say that yet...”— Debra J. Saunders (@debrajsaunders) February 12, 2020"I don't want to say yet," says Pres Trump, asked if he's considering a pardon for Roger Stone. During Oval Office photo op, Trump thanks Justice Dept for intervening in the sentencing recommendation for Stone. Again calls a 9-year sentence "a disgrace."— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 12, 2020Per pool reporter, President Trump was just asked in the Oval if he would pardon Roger Stone. He replied: “I don't want to say that yet.”— Eamon Javers (@EamonJavers) February 12, 2020President Trump when asked if he would pardon Roger Stone, per pool:“I don't want to say that yet...”— Meridith McGraw (@meridithmcgraw) February 12, 2020NEW: @realDonaldTrump asked again by pool reporters if he is considering a a pardon for Roger Stone?.@realdonaldtrump responds: “I don’t want to say yet.”— Fin Gomez (@finnygo) February 12, 2020Vaguely surprised this didn't exist yet. Interesting timing. "Michael Caputo, former campaign advisor to President Donald J. Read the rest

Ex-convict, sex scandalist, and TV evangelist Jim Bakker is at it again.The 'Christian television pioneer' and snake oil entrepreneur is now selling a purported coronavirus cure that also turns you blue for no additional charge. He's implying in this video clip snipped by @RightWingWatch that a colloidal silver bullshit product he sells will kill coronavirus within 12 hours (it does not).Only one way to test this out, though. Dump him in Wuhan with only a bottle of colloidal silver and let God sort it out.The Jim Bakker Show is suggesting that the silver solution it sells can kill the coronavirus within 12 hours. pic.twitter.com/kbUGnUp69m— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) February 12, 2020We have written about this idiot many times before.[H/T: @wokyleeks] Read the rest

During a promotional event for the movie Sonic the Hedgehog, Jim Carrey was asked by Heat Magazine's Charlotte Long if the actor had anything remaining on his bucket list (things one wants to do or see in life before “kicking the bucket”). “Just you”, he replied.Super gross. Jim Carrey condemned over 'creepy' sexual remark to female journalist https://t.co/wUv4QzTA1V— The Independent (@Independent) February 12, 2020An entertainment journalist got an unexpected reply when she asked Jim Carrey what was left on his bucket listhttps://t.co/ImtFYGwJTa— ES Entertainment (@StandardEnts) February 12, 2020Jim Carrey raises eyebrows with inappropriate response to journalist's bucket list question https://t.co/s4PA0ZUN7X— HuffPost UK (@HuffPostUK) February 12, 2020 Read the rest

'Secret Service had been charged up to $650 per night for rooms at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida, and charged $17,000 a month for a cottage at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster'

The season finale of the Mandalorian is certainly not the first time Star Wars has introduced 'the Darksaber.' Created by the first Mandalorian jedi, Tarre Vizsla, this laser sword has a long history...Star Wars...The Darksaber goes back to the time of Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian to become a Jedi Knight. He created a one-of-a-kind lightsaber with a flat blade of dark, swirling energy. In the Star Wars Rebels episode “Trials of the Darksaber,” Fenn Rau shared more of the Mandalorian folklore surrounding the weapon.“Legend tells that it was created over 1,000 years ago by Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian ever inducted into the Jedi Order,” Rau told Kanan Jarrus. “After his passing, the Jedi kept the saber in their temple. That was, until members of House Vizsla snuck in and liberated it.”While not much is known about Tarre Vizsla, we do know he is a revered figure on Mandalore who later became one of its rulers. His legacy was so well-respected that the Darksaber became a symbol of power the Mandalorians rallied behind as they supported the leader wielding it.“[House Vizsla] used the saber to unify the people and strike down those that would oppose them. At one time, they ruled all of Mandalore wielding this blade,” said Rau...What is the Darksaber/StarWars.com Read the rest

When I tell Americans what British children's TV used to be like, they just won't believe it. Some might concede that Watership Down offered a level of brutal matter-of-factness seldom found in U.S. programming aimed at youngsters, for example, and I'll shake my head and say, "No, that's not it. You just don't understand." I have related accurate specifics only to be looked at askance, with the clear implication I'm just making it up.But now I have this clip to show them.There's not much to know about Mr. Spanky, a deeply memory-holed creation. Here's one description, from Glad You Remember.We were gobsmacked by the filthy innuendo, the various presenters blatantly taking the piss out of their own personas and the incredible regular characters ... Mr. SpankyThis character, a velvet-clad man with a mask whom the presenters avoided naming on air, was introduced in episode 1 when he came over to a table laden with Batman prizes and marvelled at the "jew-ells" before revealing his "waistcoat of roast beef" many years before Lady Gaga dressed in meat.He used to run amok squirting children with "ghee" from a small plastic tortoise, "Naughty Torty". Mr. Spanky was gone by Christmas 1992. In a later episode, Simon and Andy found Torty hibernating in Pat Sharp's head. Following a sneeze, the character appeared as a giant tortoise who squirted audience members and guests with white foam from a doll. Thank you very much to Michelle Davies for most of these details. Read the rest

Back in 1938, a local Florida cruise operator called Colonel Tooey — "Colonel" was in fact his first name, according to the New York Times — let loose about a dozen rhesus macaque monkeys onto a man-made island inside Silver Springs State Park. According to National Geographic, Colonel had big plans to build a Tarzan-themed attraction there.But naturally, the monkeys escaped, and over the years, multiplied. The International Primate Protection League tried to keep their eye on them, and they (apparently) became a bit of a tourist attraction. Eventually, wildlife officials tried to tame the population, approving the removal of more than 1,000 of these feral macaques. As of 2018, a study in the Journal of Wildlife Management estimated that there were still around 300 of them now roving around the strip malls of suburban Florida. And some of them have migrated more than 100 miles away, as far as Jacksonville.And about 30 percent of the remaining feral rhesus macaques also have Herpes-B, also known as "monkey herpes."Monkey herpes is rare in humans, with only about 50 known cases (none of which were actually contracted from monkeys). But it can kill a person in just six weeks.More and more of these rhesus macaques have been found roaming around residential neighbors in Florida. While they tend to be pretty skittish, they can also get aggressive around humans; they've even been known to organize mass raids of deer feeders in Florida. So local authorities are raising red flags, in hopes of preventing the inevitable Florida-Man-Gets-Bitten-By-Feral-Herpes-Monkey headlines. Read the rest

When you’re out camping or just relaxing as the sun lazily slips below the horizon, there’s an elegant romanticism to the darkening sky and the onset of inky blackness. But when you’re stuck outside fixing a flat, trying to navigate or simply find something in the dark, all the charm and wonder of the night disappears pretty darn fast.At that point, you just want some serious wattage right now. Thankfully, the ZeroDark 3-Piece Tactical Set is the instant light you need, regardless of your situation.The set includes a lantern, flashlight and headlamp...but these are no ordinary light sources. Each is packed with a wickedly robust LED light array, blasting up to 40 times brighter than even a standard LED light. If you need your surroundings to go from pitch black to light of day in an instant, each of these handy accessories can do the trick.The lantern is collapsible, with a beam capable of radiating up to 2 miles. Meanwhile, the flashlight is no lightweight either, packing six different light modes and an adjustable zoom. Finally, the heads-free headlamp has three light modes of its own and can be maneuvered into five swivel positions to throw light in any direction it’s needed.Each of these lights is weather-resistant, comes with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty and is delivered with their own batteries. You don’t even need to make a trip to the store to light up the night right out of the box.Regularly a $59.99 package, the three-piece kit is now 66% off at just $19.99 Read the rest

When the first glint of light appears beneath the right nostril of MSNBC's Chris Matthews, during another of his bellowing yet sedentary ramblings about Dem frontroller Bernie Sanders, it's an amusing moment. One empathizes, even – who has not been forced to deal with the sudden runny nose that comes only when everyone's looking? Then he licks the snot off. Read the rest

Markhacks creates cardboard pendulums and such. Here's one with a bunch of bothersome magnets underneath the weight.I made another pendulum of cardboard. Using multiple magnets with reversed polarity causes chaotic motion. Read the rest

The coronavirus outbreak (previously) has now claimed more victims than SARS, with more than 1,000 dead in China and 45,000 infected worldwide. The Chinese government, illiberal by any measure, is definitely taking prisoners: video shows biohazard-suited men dragging people off, purportedly to quarantine facilities, in an effort to prevent the disease's spread.PREVIOUSLY: Coronavirus exposes China's surveillance state Read the rest

"Fire in the hole!" shouts an engineer as a detonator sparks. A second later, the shockwave and the thunder--a close shave with the last sight some people ever saw. The video apparently depicts work on Indianapolis' sewer system. Read the rest