Boing Boing

As any true gamer will tell you, the only thing that can truly ruin an epic gaming session is having to sit in an uncomfortable chair or at a poorly positioned desk for hours on end. So before you kick back and launch into another marathon session against your computer or friends, check out our list of these top-rated gaming desks and chairs that will help you conquer the digital realm.1. AKRacing™ Masters Series PRO Gaming ChairMSRP: $389 | Sale Price: $549 (28% off)This chair features cutting-edge ergonomics and a full spectrum of high-end features that will take your gaming to the next level—including cold-cured foam for added comfort and lockable tilt positions.2. AKRacing™ Office Series Onyx Deluxe Executive ChairMSRP: $599 | Sale Price: $389 (35% off)Combining next-generation functionality with sleek style, this seat features a high backrest for added neck support, a dedicated recliner setting, and sophisticated leather upholstery.3. Quest 45" Wide PC Gamer Computer DeskMSRP: $298 | Sale Price: $220 (26% off)Do your neck and spine a favor with this ergonomic gaming desk that comes loaded with a cup holder, a headphone hook, and a built-in power console that features three grounded outlets and two USB charging ports.4. Zone 47" Wide PC Gamer Computer DeskMSRP: $338 | Sale Price: $250 (26% off)Upgrade your gaming experience with this minimalist desk that features a 47-inch surface along with a specialized headphone hook, cup holder, and a cord management hole that hides all your wires. Read the rest

2020 is finally here, and if you’re going to smash that resolutions list you’re going to need to have a great cup of coffee by your side as you battle the day. From programable coffee makers to automatic brewers and rapid beverage coolers, there’s something on this list for anyone who wants to tackle their to-do list with the perfect cup of coffee by their side. Enjoy.1. Gourmia® GCM3600 Single Serve Coffee & Tea MakerMSRP: $120 | Sale Price: $60 (50% off)Easily brew coffee or even tea with the push of a button with this multifunctional 14oz brewing machine that features an easy-to-use control panel, detachable filters for easy cleaning, and K-cup compatibility.2. Gourmia® GCM2865 12-Cup Programmable Coffee MakerMSRP: $60 | Sale Price: $50 (16% off)Start your day on the right foot with this programmable coffee maker that will wake you up with your favorite brew—thanks to a series of controls that make it easy to schedule brews at any time of day.3. Gourmia® GCM3250 Dual Mode Pourfect Pour-Over Coffee MakerMSRP: $65 | Sale Price: $60 (8% off)This dual-mode coffee maker gives you the option of automatically or manually brewing your favorite cup of coffee, and it’s easy to match the precise amount of grinds and water needed per cup thanks to a one-click setting.4. Gourmia® GCM4700 Coffee Maker with Built-In GrinderMSRP: $140 | Sale Price: $100 (28% off)This 10-cup coffee maker comes with a built-in grinder so you can enjoy a truly fresh cup of Joe every day. Read the rest

I love the Ars Technica "War Stories" series where they interview designers of some of the most iconic and popular computer/video games on the challenges they faced.This episode features Rand Miller, one half (with brother Robyn) of Cyan, Inc. creators of the early 90s puzzle adventure game, Myst. The game was developed on hacked, maxed-out consumer-grade Macs using the HyperCard program. Myst would go on to become one of the most successful and inspirational games of all time.Image YouTube Read the rest

In this video on StandUpMaths, Matt explains the unique and rare palindromic qualities of the date 02/02/20. Besides being a palindrome in both US and European dating formats, 02/02/20 is also the 33rd day of the year, and because 2020 is a leap year, there are also 333 days left in the year.Image: YouTube Read the rest

Andrew Coyle and B.C. Jackson have published a baby board book featuring key concepts of Cult Trump. A is for Alternative Facts, C is for Covefe, D is for Drain the Swamp, F is for Fake News. My favorite part: "Reading Level: Presidential."Claude Taylor's Mad Dog PAC is selling this book. Buy it from them to support their humorous, in-your-face anti-Drumpf activities. Read the rest

When posed with the question "What are you doing?" this Wheel of Fortune contestant gave the obvious answer, which was unfortunately wrong.Image: YouTube Read the rest

A father and son who paid almost $300,000 for a white Lamborghini Huracan Spyder are suing the dealer after the paint job took on a yellow tinge, reports CTV News. Calogero Caruso took a second mortgage on his home to buy the Italian sports car for his son, because it was his child's “dream to own such a luxury vehicle... instead, it has been a total nightmare.” From CTV News:The plaintiffs claim the problem developed just days after they took possession of the luxury car when they noticed it had started to turn yellow.The Carusos say the dealership's boss, John Scotti, told them the car was indeed white but can look a little yellow in the sun.The plaintiffs say they gave the dealer the benefit of the doubt and parked the car indoors but still noticed that it was turning yellow.Caruso and son no longer want the car. They want a refund plus damages, but the dealer won't give it to them. Caruso returned the car to the dealership, but he is still making mortgage and insurance payments.Photo by Thomas Haas on Unsplash Read the rest

The next Samsung folding phone is expected to be announced this month, and what is purported to be a first hands-on video with the device to be released in February just appeared online.Samsung Galaxy Z Flip - First Hands On Video pic.twitter.com/4b8Uzt5kRB— Ben Geskin (@BenGeskin) February 2, 2020“Leaker Ben Geskin has posted a short clip purportedly showing the phone, said to be called the Galaxy Z Flip, in action on Twitter,” Sam Byford writes for The Verge:The video doesn’t show a great deal more than what we’ve already seen in leaked photos and renders — we still can’t tell whether the phone is using a new form of “ultra-thin glass” from Samsung, for example. But if you’ve been wondering how the Z Flip might work out in practice, it may well be of interest. The phone does look like it might be quite a bit easier to slip into a pocket or handbag than pretty much anything else out there — except maybe Motorola’s similar upcoming Razr.We’re expecting the Galaxy Z Flip to be officially revealed at Samsung’s Unpacked event on February 11th in San Francisco. The main announcement at that launch, however, should be the much-leaked Galaxy S20 flagship smartphone. READ MORE: Alleged leaked video shows off Samsung's folding Galaxy Z Flip[theverge.com via techmeme.com, SCREENGRAB: Ben Geskin / Twitter]this looks ridiculously long when you fold it out. I think foldables need to offer a phone and tablet experience, but never compromise on the phone experience to get there. Read the rest

A gentleman in Florida man is accused of using a Wisconsin woman's debit card information to purchase $68 worth of Little Caesar's pizza. From the breaking news alerts of @FloridaMan, obviously:According to to a Marshfield Police Department police report, Elle Wolf of Marshfield had a transaction on her bank statement from a Fort Lauderdale, Florida Little Caesar's location without her consent.The report says the unidentified Florida man purchased one bacon wrapped deep dish pizza, three stuffed crust pizzas, and three orders of Caesar wings and had delivered to his address via Door Dash.The charge of $68.80 currently has a process hold on the charge at Wolf's financial institution. Read more:Florida man uses Wisconsin woman's debit card information to buy pizza Read the rest

China’s central bank today announced plans to inject 1.2 trillion yuan worth of liquidity ($174 billion in U.S. dollars) into the financial markets via reverse repo operations on Monday, as stock markets prepare to reopen amid an escalating Wuhan coronavirus outbreak.Stock, currency and bond markets have been shut down in China since January 23, and were due to re-open last Friday. China's securities market regulator said in a People’s Daily [warning: .cn] interview Sunday that no further delays are planned.From Reuters: Chinese authorities have pledged to use various monetary policy tools to ensure liquidity remains reasonably ample and to support firms affected by the virus epidemic, which has so far claimed 305 lives, all but one in China.The People’s Bank of China made the announcement in a statement on Sunday, adding the total liquidity in the banking system will be 900 billion yuan higher than the same period in 2019 after the injection. According to Reuters calculations based on official central bank data, 1.05 trillion yuan worth of reverse repos are set to mature on Monday, meaning that 150 billion yuan in net cash will be injected.Investors are bracing for a volatile session in Chinese markets when onshore trades resume on Monday after a break for the Lunar New Year which was extended by the government.Read more:China to inject $174 billion of liquidity on Monday as markets reopen [Cheng Leng, Brenda Goh, Reuters.com] Read the rest

“Punk,” says a Wuhan hardcore band member, “is a way to help me keep my mind fresh.” The wonderful Aaron Stewart-Ahn tweeted today, “Something you haven’t been told about Wuhan during this outbreak is that it is China’s punk music capital.” And he's right.Excerpt from “In Wuhan, Punk's Not Dead,” a fascinating 2016 archival item by by Lin Qiqing at sixthtone.com -- which obviously predates the 2020 Novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV epidemic --Nathanel Amar, a recent doctoral graduate of Paris’ Sciences Po university where he specialized in Chinese underground culture, says the trajectory of China’s punk scene over the past two decades is closely tied to the country’s drastic socio-economic pivot. In the ’80s, a decade marked by the growing exposure of China’s economy and society to Western cultures, Chinese youngsters fixated on a brighter future turned to rock music. Flagbearers of the genre were generally musically trained: Before his distorted guitar became the call to arms of a disillusioned generation, “godfather of Chinese rock” Cui Jian was a classically trained trumpet player.However, says Amar, the ’90s brought about a widening income gap and, with it, a new generation of disillusioned youth: economically disadvantaged urban youngsters who did not necessarily share the musical tastes of their forebears from the previous decade. Punk, driven not by musical complexity but guttural emotion, was their weapon of choice. “If you knew three chords, you could start a band,” says Amar. Indeed, fiddles and tin whistles come and go, tempos change, but those very chords — the root, fourth, and fifth — are a constant throughout many of SMZB’s songs. Read the rest

The best impressions SNL has ever seen are the work of Kate McKinnon. Read the rest

A Princess Bride themed pop-up bar is opening in Chicago. Perhaps you can find the man who killed your father...NBC Chicago:Inconceivable! "As You Wish," a "Princess Bride"-themed pop-up bar, will soon open in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood.The Sixth, which is located at 2202 W. Lawrence Ave., is launching the immersive bar on Feb. 11 with decorations replicating scenes from the 1987 film, according to Eater.The bar will also have 16 cocktails named after some of the movie's most quotable lines including "Twue Wuve" which is a concoction of Lucy Pistolas Mezcal, Arakku, Fino Sherry, caramel pineapple simple syrup, coconut and blueberry foam. Read the rest

I missed the opening of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance by a few weeks. Star Wars Galaxys Edge is wonderful.OC Register:On most days, the backup boarding group threshold tends to be in the 80 to 83 range, meaning visitors with boarding groups below that number are expected to get on the ride. The backup boarding group threshold has been as low as 42 — which happened on Wednesday, Jan. 29, when the park was closing early for an 80s Nite after-hours party.Disneyland has been able to accommodate some backup boarding groups on most days. The park made it all the way to boarding group 122 on Jan. 27, one of the best operational days yet for Rise of the Resistance. On the flip side, the park only made it to boarding group 81 on Jan. 19 and 26. On most days, Rise of the Resistance reaches backup boarding groups in the 105 to 115 range.Back-to-back downtimes hurt the most — and Rise of the Resistance has had its share of them during the first two weeks of operation. The ride had back-to-back breakdowns that stretched for approximately two hours or more on Jan. 22, 23 and 25, according to Touring Plans.But those weren’t the worst days by far. Back-to-back breakdowns stretched for approximately 4 hours on Jan. 19, according to Touring Plans. On Jan. 26, Rise of the Resistance went down three times in a row over the course of an 8-hour period, resulting in no backup boarding groups being called, Touring Plans data shows. Read the rest

It's a brand new year, and that means it's time to hit those resolutions lists so you can take on both your personal and professional lives with a new level of tenacity and overall awesomeness. It also means, however, that it's time to land some of the best deals on the best-selling items of 2019, and we've listed 20 of them right here.1. FusionLens™ for iPhoneMSRP: $85 | Sale Price: $80 (6% off)Your iPhone’s camera is already pretty impressive, but this clip-on lens will take your smartphone photography to the next level by allowing you to take HD anamorphic, wide-angle, fisheye, and 360-degree shots with the push of a button.2. TaoTronics 120" 16:9 Projector ScreenMSRP: $30 | Sale Price: $25 (16% off)Transform virtually any room into a full-fledged movie theater with this 120-inch semi-permanent projection screen, which boasts a 160-degree viewing angle, premium PVC canvas, and 10 grommets that make it easy to quickly put up and take down.3. Joan 6: Meeting Room DisplayMSRP: $549 | Sale Price: $500 (8% off)This Fortune 500-approved display provides a comprehensive overview of meetings, team availability, room information and more—all within a compact enclosure that’s easy to install on any clean surface. Used by more than 800,000 office workers globally, this display also allows you to quickly check the availability of up to nine rooms.4. Blue Light Blocking GlassesMSRP: $60 | Sale Price: $30 (50% off)Protect your vision and sleep better through the night with these blue-light-blocking glasses, which feature comprehensive UV400 protection, proprietary tints, and a specialized filter to block out harmful blue light. Read the rest

Valentine's Day always tends to creep up on even the best and most thoughtful gift-givers—leading people to scramble to the flower store on the big day in vain. So this year for Valentine's Day, give the gift of long-lasting roses that will both stand the test of time and arrive directly at your loved one's door with these best-selling premium rose packages.1. Rose Box™ Golden Box & Long-Lasting RosesMSRP: $249 | Sale Price: $187 (25% off)Make that special person in your life feel extra special this Valentine’s Day with this unique box of 9 to 10 long-lasting roses that will stay fresh for a full year without any maintenance.2. Rose Box™ Velvet Gray Box & Long-Lasting RosesMSRP: $199 | Sale Price: $150 (25% off)Available in a variety of colors, this velvet box of roses comes with 8 to 10 flowers that will stand the test of time without any upkeep.3. 24 Rose Square BoxMSRP: $350 | Sale Price: $215 (38% off)Available in red, yellow, blue or pink, these 24 everlasting roses come wrapped in a luxurious black velvet box.4. 24 Roses Round Box - RedMSRP: $350 | Sale Price: $200 (42% off)Perfect for a significant other or a family member, these long-lasting roses come in a variety of colors and are handpicked by local farmers.5. Red Everlasting RoseMSRP: $155 | Sale Price: $105 (32% off)Perfect for lovers of Beauty and the Beast, this gorgeous rose comes with its own beautiful crystal glass case that will protect it for months to come. Read the rest

Andy Gill, founding member, guitar player, and "Supreme Leader" of the hugely influencial post-punk band, Gang of Four, has died. He was 64.Members of the current Gang of Four line-up tweeted the following:Andy Gill. pic.twitter.com/DHNCz5lAe6— GANG OF FOUR (@gangof4official) February 1, 2020“This is so hard for us to write, but our great friend and Supreme Leader has died today,” Gang of Four wrote. “Andy’s final tour in November was the only way he was ever really going to bow out; with a Stratocaster around his neck, screaming with feedback and deafening the front row.”The band continued, “One of the best to ever do it, his influence on guitar music and the creative process was inspiring for us, as well as everyone who worked alongside him and listened to his music. And his albums and production work speak for themselves. Go give ’em a spin for him…”Read the obit at Rolling Stone.Image: YouTube Read the rest

The latest Nintendo Switch console is undeniably awesome, but these nine best-selling and top-rated accessories will take your Switch gaming experience to the next level. From wireless controllers to projectors, you're sure to find something here that will change the way you play for the better.1. 8BitDo® SN30 Bluetooth Gamepad (Red)MSRP: $30 | Sale Price: $24 (20% off)Play your favorite games in unparalleled retro style with this Game Boy-inspired Bluetooth gamepad that comes in a variety of colors.2. Nintendo Switch Bluetooth Audio AdapterMSRP: $60 | Sale Price: $40 (33% off)Connect your favorite wireless headphones to your Switch for a more immersive, wire-free gaming experience with this simple audio adapter.3. Nintendo Switch Battery Charger CaseMSRP: $60 | Sale Price: $40 (33% off)This charger case will give your Switch twice the battery power when you're on the move—ensuring that you’ll never have to take a break from your favorite games.4. Wireless Controllers for Nintendo SwitchMSRP: $50 | Sale Price: $38 (24% off)These unique controllers will dramatically expand the functionality of your Switch, by allowing you to customize and configure each button and control. They even feature an accelerometer and gyro-sensor for added awesomeness.5. GameCube Controller Adapter For Wii/PC/Nintendo SwitchMSRP: $20 | Sale Price: $10 (50% off)Play your Switch (or even your Wii or PC) with the convenience and functionality of a GameCube controller with this external adapter.6. Nintendo Switch Dual PokeBall Charging DockMSRP: $15 | Sale Price: $10 (33% off)Charge your Switch in style with this PokeBall dock that offers a sleek and stylish design along with overcharge protection for your gear. Read the rest

I've been to Japan at least 8 times, so I feel like I am pretty good at knowing what I need to do before I go. This video, "Must-Do Things Before Flying to Japan" has a number of useful tips, like how to book a good restaurant in advance, how to get a SIM card, how to book tickets to Disneyland, how to get a rail card, how to get a visa (most countries give you 90 days with no visa required), and which medications not to bring with you. Read the rest

Face-synthesizing algorithms often struggle with facial details like eyes and teeth. These features sometimes get pinned to a fixed spot as a head turns, resulting in an uncanny valley dweller.A new algorithm, StyleGAN2, fixes this problem and produces "eye-poppingly detailed and correct images." It can also generate never-before-seen cars, churches, and animals.Image: YouTube Read the rest

A few years back, my brother Rick Pescovitz came up with Under The Weather Pods, single-person pop-up shelters. You may have caught Rick on Shark Tank (video below). Rick was sick of getting soaked at his kids' soccer games and was inspired by a portable toilet he saw by the field. Under The Weather Pods are designed for watching sports, fishing, and other outdoor events where it's raining, windy, or cold, but you are either obligated to watch or having so much fun you don't want to leave. As travelers are taking unusual steps to protect themselves from the Coronavirus, from wearing water jugs on their heads to covering themselves in plastic tarps, my brother thought to see how his StadiumPod, meant for seated spectators at sports games, would work on an airplane. He tells me the flight attendant happily took his photo and that the man who sat next to him didn't even bat an eye. Stay safe out there! Under the Weather Pods Read the rest

Michael Harriot's take on why the NFL rejecting PETA's ridiculous ad is so notable is the best I have read....On one hand, PETA gentrifying the movement for social justice by likening the “human prejudice of fur coats, trained circus tigers and ribeyes” (yes, they actually said that), to the institutional racism that permeates America is despicable but expected. It’s just the next logical leap from Black Lives Matter to White and Blue Lives Matter. We know that whites are always gonna white, especially at the Super Bowl. I’m sure, somewhere in the PETA office, there’s someone explaining that “this is what MLK would have wanted.”On the other hand, I am not on the NFL’s side either. The NFL might contend that they don’t want to invite such a divisive political statement during the most-watched television event of the year. But you know what else is white as fuck?The Donald Trump ad claiming America is stronger, more united and more prosperous, which is scheduled to air during the Super Bowl. Or the $11 million Michael Bloomberg ad that will air during the Super Bowl. Or—and I just like to list things in groups of three—perhaps the whitest of them all:The Super Bowl itself.So, yes I’m conflicted. I can’t decide if my position of “Fuck PETA” is strong enough to overcome my “Fuck the NFL” stance. It’s like watching that time when white supremacist Richard Spencer lamented that Donald Trump isn’t racist enough. Or if Chris Cilizza played a game of Stupid Jeopardy! Read the rest

In 1982, Susan "Sulu" Dubow recorded "Ode to Spock," her terrific musical response to the Vulcan's death in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Dubow will be familiar to fans of Dr. Demento's radio show of odd music -- dozens of her songs were played on the program. The following is from Dubow's mini-autobiography on IMDB. What a fun and creative life!Sulu, Susan Denise Lubin Dubow, was born in Chandler, Arizona in 1956 and acquired her name while performing on the Dr. Demento Show. She has received numerous awards for her songwriting and began writing poetry as a young child at Calvert Street School in Woodland Hills, California. Her sixth grade teacher informed her parents that she should pursue her talent which she did. Sulu begun winning poetry and songwriting contests beginning at age 13. She also took classes in dance, drama,improvisation, guitar and piano to overcome her shyness.Sulu, an avid fan of the Dr. Demento show while in college in 1976 began submitting songs to Dr.Demento in 1976. Shortly after that songs such as "I Love Your Toes,"and "Locked in the Closet" were popular on The Top Ten and eventually became "1.Sulu was asked to join the live show in 1977 where she became a sidekick. She performed with Dr.Demento in venues such as The Pomona Fair and The Wolf and Rissmiller Country Club continuing to write nearly 100 songs that were aired on the Dr. Demento Show.Sulu also wrote jingles and performed them on KABC's Ken and Bob Show on KABC Talk radio in the 80's and 90's and for Sports Talk KABC. Read the rest

Cotton Branch Farm Animal Sanctuary in Leesville, South Carolina is seeking volunteers to cuddle pigs and, eventually, adopt the animals as pets. The organizations rescued more than 200 pigs from a Kentucky property about a year ago. After suffering abuse and neglect, the pigs need more human time before they are ready for their forever homes. "These pigs weren't socialized because they lived in such large numbers," said Joshua Carpenter Costner, the sanctuary's director of operations. "We noticed how quickly a lot of them were coming around when we spent time with them, and in order to find them homes, we thought it was a good idea to have people start coming out."According to the ad posted on Facebook, "belly scratches, cookies, sitting with, and even just talking to our pig friends can get them ready for their new home."(CNN)Does loving-on sweet little faces like these seem like a good time? Then we have some GREAT news for you! We need piggy cuddlers!Visit https://t.co/ukyFtZ09Dt to sign up!Can't come visit? You can still make a difference in their https://t.co/mcFHyzcQz7 https://t.co/MkPVXFD686 pic.twitter.com/c6euFXjNp9— Cotton Branch Farm Sanctuary (@cottonbranch) January 29, 2020 Read the rest

This Bodum pour-over coffee maker with a permanent stainless steel filter works great and is one of the cheapest I found.This thing works to make pour-over coffee and costs less than $20. If you want pour-over coffee this is a pretty good way to get there. I started drinking pour-over a few weeks back and prefer the smooth taste.I also prefer hot coffee to cold so there is that.Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker with Permanent Filter, 1 Liter, 34 Ounce, Black Band via Amazon Read the rest

The decade-old warning to stay off public WIFI systems is no longer valid.EFF:There are still a few small information leaks: HTTPS protects the content of your communications, but not the metadata. So when you visit HTTPS sites, anyone along the communication path—from your ISP to the Internet backbone provider to the site’s hosting provider—can see their domain names (e.g. wikipedia.org) and when you visit them. But these parties can’t see the pages you visit on those sites (e.g. wikipedia.org/controversial-topic), your login name, or messages you send. They can see the sizes of pages you visit and the sizes of files you download or upload. When you use a public Wi-Fi network, people within range of it could choose to listen in. They’d be able to see that metadata, just as your ISP could see when you browse at home. If this is an acceptable risk for you, then you shouldn’t worry about using public Wi-Fi.Similarly, if there is software with known security bugs on your computer or phone, and those bugs are specifically exploitable only on the local network, you might be at somewhat increased risk. The best defense is to always keep your software up-to-date so it has the latest bug fixes.What about the risk of governments scooping up signals from “open” public Wi-Fi that has no password? Governments that surveill people on the Internet often do it by listening in on upstream data, at the core routers of broadband providers and mobile phone companies. Read the rest

...and then the kids wanted Rambo. Read the rest

Anyone who works in the great outdoors or in a variety of fields that require the use of a good old-fashioned blade every now and then needs to have a good knife handy at all times. But walking around with a blade in your pocket all day simply isn’t practical (or safe) for most of us.Enter the Higher Objects© Sawyer Utility Bracelet, which makes it easier than ever to safely and discreetly carry a blade in any environment.Perfect for police, construction workers, campers, fishermen, and pretty much anyone else who needs to be able to get themselves out of a bind quickly and safely, this wearable multitool lets you fashionably carry a sharp knife and a handy screwdriver right on your wrist.This practical and stylish accessory is perfect for conquering a wide range of odd jobs both indoors and outdoors, and it’s so light that you’ll barely notice it on your wrist when it’s not in use.It also features a genuine leather strap that fits all wrist sizes and is made to stand the test of time—regardless of whether you primarily use your blade on camping trips or in your tool shop.Outfit yourself with this practical and fashionable utility while it’s available for over 35% off MSRP at just $24.99. Read the rest

When the new civil war kicks off, will you have fourteen 1980s machine gun VHS babes on your side? They're sharper shooters than the F35 Joint Strike Fighter, that's for sure. Consider this your weekly reminder that Robocop was a documentary. Read the rest

Straight from Latvia comes a sweater that, when worn, looks like a cat is hanging off your back and holding on for dear life with its claws. A red heart and the simple word "cat" are there to possibly remind us that our feline friends are to be loved even when they're ripping up our stuff. Made by Etsy shop Rata Blanca Sweaters and is currently sold out.(Geekologie) Read the rest

In the digital age, it can seem as though the life of the physical notebook or diary has come and gone. But most serious writers will tell you that there’s a special connection that comes from putting pen to paper, and these Leather Notebooks & Journals will help you bring that magic back.Relive the golden era of writing down your thoughts and ambitions using good old-fashioned pen and paper with these elegant, handmade notebooks and journals.With unique designs and hand-stitched embossed leather patches, these notebooks are great gifts for lovers of the written word.They come in a variety of styles, feature durable hardcover backings, and come loaded with 50 sheets of handmade, tree-free cotton paper that can be used to record anything your creative mind can dream up.They’re also light and compact enough to take with you without weighing you down.Embrace your inner storyteller with these Leather Notebooks & Journals, starting at just $35.10. Read the rest

The Psychedelic Furs have just announced a spring release for their eight studio album entitled "Made of Rain." It's been a 29 year wait. The first single off of the record, "Don't Believe," has been posted to YouTube.The album is now available for pre-order. Read the rest

In 2019, a 3-year-old Nubian goat named Lincoln was officially inaugurated as the first mayor of Fair Haven, Vermont. And then she pooped. As Town Manager Joe Gunter explained at the time, "Originally we did it as a fundraiser to replace the playground behind the school, but it really turned into a small civic lesson for the children. 'Come out and vote. Get involved in the town.'"But that election only guaranteed a one-year term, and Lincoln only narrowly defeated Sammy, a K-9 cop. And now Sammy's taking another shot at the top seat in town. If elected, Sammy has promised to release her tax returns and recuse herself from all police business that might come before the town to avoid any conflicts of interest, according to her representative, Police Chief Bill Humphries. Humphries has also tried to soothe the concerns of Fair Haven's feline population, which has a long history of hostile relations with canine police officers.In response to Sammy's campaign, Lincoln has released a budget proposal that includes $0 spending on grain, $0 spending on hay, and a promise that there will be no tax increases to fund the playground that formed the foundation of her historic run for the town's inaugural mayorship.Fair Haven will hold the contentious election at their Town Meeting on March 3, 2020. And while I don't want to be partisan, I think it's only fair to point out that one candidate is literally a cop, and the other one is literally the GOAT, so I think we all know who deserves to be in charge. Read the rest

John Wilcock's foray into biography, documenting many of the Factory personas -- in what is largely considered the first critical assessment of Andy Warhol and his entourage -- From John Wilcock, New York Years, by Ethan Persoff and Scott Marshall. (See all Boing Boing installments) Read the rest

US to halt issuance of visas that can lead to permanent residency for nationals of Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar and Nigeria

Animals, including a bee, snake, eagle, and fish, all take a knee in PETA's animated Colin Kapernick-inspired ad created for the Super Bowl airwaves. The controversial commercial, which has voices gently humming the "Star Spangled Banner," calls for an end to "speciesism." But, the animal rights organization is reporting that it was blocked by the NFL and won't be showing on TV this Sunday, or ever. The National Football League (NFL) apparently found our new Colin Kaepernick–inspired ad—with its message of inclusion and respect—too daring and pressured FOX to snub our commercial.In 2016, Kaepernick put a national spotlight on the racial inequality that plagues the U.S.—and we applaud him for doing so with the simple yet powerful and peaceful act of taking a knee.PETA worked with a talented group of advertisers and artists who came up with the idea for our beautiful ad. Positively acknowledged by Kaepernick himself, this project pays homage to all movements that remind us to open our hearts and minds and reject all forms of injustice, including sexism, ableism, racism, ageism, homophobia, and speciesism.THIS is the PETA #SuperBowl ad the @NFL apparently didn’t want you to see and pressured @FOXSports to snub.It envisions a world where respect is the right of every being and pays homage to Kaepernick and movements rejecting injustice. https://t.co/kD1osnKhuX #EndSpeciesism pic.twitter.com/clXzU79aZV— PETA (@peta) January 31, 2020screengrab via PETA/YouTube Read the rest

Footage from George Lucas’ abandoned 2010 Star Wars TV series, "Star Wars: Underworld," has surfaced on YouTube.Released test footage from 2010 of the cancelled Star Wars TV show "Underworld," which was to take place in the lower levels of Coruscant. The series was set after the events of Order 66. The video game "1313" was to be a tie-in of this series. Due to the immense cost of shooting the series, as well as the selling of Lucasfilm to Disney, "Underworld" was delayed and eventually cancelled. Read the rest

Nothing is worse than firing off an important email only to realize later on that it was riddled with typos and plagued with poor sentences. This WhiteSmoke Chrome Extension ensures that you’ll never have to endure such post-send woes ever again, and a 5-year subscription is available for over 90% off its usual price right now.Whether you’re a professional writer or simply want to tighten up your grammar and spelling, this simple browser extension has your back.WhiteSmoke uses a series of advanced algorithms in order to scan your writing for a wide variety of errors ranging from grammar and spelling mistakes to punctuation slips and overall sentence structure, and it includes a 50-language translator to boot.Your subscription even grants you unlimited access to a huge database that you can use to check your work for inadvertent plagiarism.Take your writing to the next level with a 5-year subscription to the WhiteSmoke Chrome Extension for just $39.99—over 90% off its usual price today. Read the rest

Douglas Rushkoff is one my oldest and dearest friends. He's also one of the sharpest media theorists and cultural critics I know. It's always a thrill to have a conversation with him because he makes me question my opinions and I alway end up with a changed brain. So it was great fun to have him on the Cool Tool podcast.Douglas is named one of the "world's ten most influential intellectuals by MIT. He's an author and documentarian who studies human autonomy in a digital age. His twenty books include the just-published Team Human, based on his podcast, as well as the bestsellers Present Shock, Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus, Program or Be Programmed, Life Inc., and Media Virus. He also made the PBS FRONTLINE documentaries, Generation Like, The Persuaders, and The Merchants of Cool. He's a professor of Media Theory and Digital Economics at Queens College, a columnist for Medium, and his novels and comics, Ecstasy Club, A.D.D., and Aleister & Adolf are all being developed for the screen. You can find him on Twitter @rushkoff and Youtube.Subscribe to the Cool Tools Show on iTunes | RSS | Transcript | See all the Cool Tools Show posts on a single pageShow notes:Written languageWritten language is definitely a tool. It's a medium. It's an environment. There's all these ways to think about it, but I love thinking about words as a tool. Because particularly, when I'm mad about something or I feel like there's something that people don't get, once I can put words around it, once I can articulate what's happening, what people are feeling, or the dysfunction, or the paradox, I feel like it empowers me and so many other people to then go do something about it. Read the rest

IEEE Spectrum's David Schneider participates in Quaker meetings where there are many elderly people who, even though they are wearing hearing aids, have a hard time catching comments from others around the room. One common solution to this problem is to provide headphones with FM receivers to pick up the sounds of the microphones. That approach isn't ideal, Schneider writes, because "a little awkward, in part because it makes you stand out. So Schneider and a friend bought a 1,000 feet (304 meters) roll of two-conductor, 20-gauge wire $125 and homebrewed an audio frequency induction loop that transmits the sound so it can picked up directly by hearing aids that contain a telecoil (T-coil). From IEEE Spectrum:These hearing aids can be switched to a mode whereby they pick up audio-frequency signals electronically instead of using their built-in microphones. This system for passing the signal wirelessly doesn’t involve radio transmissions—it just uses magnetic induction. Suitable audio induction loops for energizing T-coils are found in all sorts of places, including museums and theaters; even some taxicabs are equipped with them...(SI constructed an induction coil from a six-turn square loop of magnet wire that was about a half meter on a side (I taped the wire to a flattened cardboard box), using wire of the right diameter to make the loop resistance 8 ohms. I then attached it to the speaker terminals of an ordinary stereo receiver, one that was collecting dust in the back of my garage....(Encouraged by initial tests and further refinements of the , another friend and I recently placed a similar wire loop in the attic of the building—which was a lot harder than laying it on the floor because we had to snake the wire around an obstacle course of roof trusses and HVAC ducting. Read the rest

Watch this immediately.@CBSThisMorning’s @tonydokoupil using an epic pie analogy to show how the plutes own everything. pic.twitter.com/p4AShY04rA— Anand Giridharadas (@AnandWrites) January 31, 2020I knew the ultra rich own almost all the wealth, but this video really drives the point home in a powerful way. I was shocked all over again. Read the rest

This suture practice kit, which lets you stitch rubber wounds, comes with training videos created by a board-certified surgeon. What a fun gift idea. You can buy them on Amazon.This suture kit that allows you to practice stitches: from r/DamnthatsinterestingImage: Reddit video screenshot Read the rest

As predicted, via the Trump White House — the Pentagon is relaxing its policy on the use of landmines by U.S, forces, so that landmines can be used on the Korean peninsula.A Friday afternoon statement by the Trump Press Secretary formally announced that Trump has canceled the Obama Administration’s policy to ban United States military forces from using anti-personnel landmines outside of the Korean Peninsula. Said Stephanie Grisham to reporters: "The President is unwilling to accept this risk to our troops."PREVIOUSLY ON BOING BOING:Landmines are actually good, says Defense Sec as Trump prepares to undo Obama-era landmine banPresident Trump formally cancels Obama-era restrictions on use of landmines, WH announces pic.twitter.com/Se1MBNwtcP— Jordan Fabian (@Jordanfabian) January 31, 2020Just in from the White House - Pentagon is relaxing its policy on use of landmines so that they can be used outside of South Korea/DMZ— Josh Lederman (@JoshNBCNews) January 31, 2020Trump has canceled the Obama Administration’s policy to prohibit United States military forces from employing anti-personnel landmines outside of the Korean Peninsula. pic.twitter.com/ExZlHr19Jl— Jason Leopold (@JasonLeopold) January 31, 2020From Afghanistan & Angola to Cambodia & Colombia, anti-personnel landmines have devasted soldiers & civilians alike.For nearly 3 decades the US has limited their use, production & export — and for the past decade, used them only on the Korean Peninsula. https://t.co/Ey8KbUMaGe— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) January 31, 2020The U.S. will now allow "advanced, non-persistent landmines specifically designed to reduce unintended harm to civilians and partner forces" to allow the military more "flexibility and capability." Read the rest

What unreleased FSD Autopilot sees. Straight from Tesla Autopilot recruiting website. pic.twitter.com/EaI5DzKbYs— The Tesla Show (@TheTeslaShow) January 31, 2020From The Tesla Show Twitter feed: "What unreleased FSD Autopilot sees. Straight from Tesla Autopilot recruiting website."From the job description:Apply cutting-edge research to train deep neural networks on problems ranging from perception to control. Our per-camera networks analyze raw images to perform semantic segmentation, object detection and monocular depth estimation. Our birds-eye-view networks take video from all cameras to output the road layout, static infrastructure and 3D objects directly in the top-down view. Our networks learn from the most complicated and diverse scenarios in the world, iteratively sourced from our fleet of nearly 1M vehicles in real time. A full build of Autopilot neural networks involves 48 networks that take 70,000 GPU hours to train 🔥. Together, they output 1,000 distinct tensors (predictions) at each timestep.Image: Twitter screengrab Read the rest

Some activists must have been heard, California's Attorney General has delayed the transaction wherein a private equity firm is buying the .ORG tld, seeking more information.Mashable:California Attorney General Xavier Becerra sent a letter to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) demanding more information about the private equity takeover of the .org domain registry. The attorney general is seeking answers to 35 questions concerning the sale as well as documents sent between ICANN, private equity firm Ethos Capital, and Public Interest Registry (PIR), which manages the .org domain.Ethos Capital disclosed last year that it was acquiring PIR from its non-profit parent organization, the Internet Society, for $1.135 billion.ICANN, the non-profit organization that oversees domain names, disclosed the letter on its website along with its own correspondence with PIR, informing it of the development. Previously, ICANN had until Feb. 17 to approve or deny the sale. According to ICANN, as a result of the California AG’s letter, it’s seeking to delay this deadline until April 20. Read the rest

• CDC issues federal quarantine orders for 195 Americans evacuated from China, who are being housed at March Air Reserve Base• First CDC quarantine in 50 years. Last federal quarantine was issued in the 1960s for smallpox. • The repatriated individuals will remain quarantined for 14 days, starting from when the flight left China.FRIDAY, 1PM EASTERN, JAN 31 2020: The United States Centers for Disease Control, under the authority of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, says 195 American citizens are quarantined at a military base after having been evacuated from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of a growing global coronavirus outbreak. The 195 quarantined persons arrived earlier this week at March Air Reserve Base in California.Here is the CDC's tweet:The CDC, under statutory authority of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, has issued federal quarantine orders to all 195 United States citizens who repatriated to the U.S. on January 29, 2020. The quarantine will last 14 days from when the plane left Wuhan, China.— CDC (@CDCgov) January 31, 2020From the Washington Post: BREAKING: The quarantine authority, rarely used in the United States, would restrict the travelers’ movements for 14 days from when they left Wuhan, China, because officials say they’re still uncertain about how readily the virus spreads.All American citizens returning to the United States from Wuhan, China, will be quarantined, according to the Friday announcement.Last time the CDC imposed a quarantine order was in the 1960s, for a smallpox evaluation, the CDC official said on a Friday call with reporters. Read the rest

Trump asked national security adviser last spring in front of other senior advisers to arrange meeting between Rudolph Giuliani and Ukraine’s new leader ZelenskyWell, who bet that more Bolton book bombshells would explode on Friday? You win.“Trump asked Bolton to call Zelensky to ensure he would meet with Giuliani. Cipollone and Mulvaney were in room.” -- @nytmike.Oh boy.Excerpt from new reporting Friday by Maggie Haberman and Michael Schmidt at the New York Times:More than two months before he asked Ukraine’s president to investigate his political opponents, President Trump directed John R. Bolton, then his national security adviser, to help with his pressure campaign to extract damaging information on Democrats from Ukrainian officials, according to an unpublished manuscript by Mr. Bolton.Mr. Trump gave the instruction, Mr. Bolton wrote, during an Oval Office conversation in early May that included the acting White House chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, the president’s personal lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani and the White House counsel, Pat A. Cipollone, who is now leading the president’s impeachment defense.Mr. Trump told Mr. Bolton to call Volodymyr Zelensky, who had recently won election as president of Ukraine, to ensure Mr. Zelensky would meet with Mr. Giuliani, who was planning a trip to Ukraine to discuss the investigations that the president sought, in Mr. Bolton’s account. Mr. Bolton never made the call, he wrote.Read more at the Times. Read the rest

Drones are now hovering over people in the streets of china, scolding those who aren't wearing face masks to protect them from the coronavirus, and it's quite eerie. Watch the video in the tweet below from the Communist Party's Global Times of the different folks the drone calls out, including an older woman: “Yes, auntie, this is the drone speaking to you. You shouldn't walk about without wearing a mask. Yes you'd better go back home and don't forget to wash your hands.”Chinese officials in rural areas are creatively using #drones to make sure local residents don‘t gather together without wearing masks during the nationwide battle against the #coronavirus. https://t.co/e6khcWvUrx pic.twitter.com/td7u1ZZ4Kz— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) January 31, 2020 Source: The Washington Post Read the rest

This Redragon 10-keyless mechanical gaming keyboard has increased my gaming enjoyment.I moved from controller to KB+M gameplay and things are better! I mostly wanted the insane update that moving to a modern graphics chipset, ram and storage would bring but the increased control of playing games with a keyboard and mouse are a huge bonus.I settled on this Logitech gaming mouse.The Redragon keyboard is a tactile delight. Solid and well made it is pleasing to rest my hand upon. The keys offer good resistance and click. Keys also are firmly in place and I do not feel any wiggle or give under my fingers, there is no side-to-side torsion to worry about.The keyboard itself sits firmly on my desk and doesn't want to slide around as I am pushing W and constantly driving my character forward.For less than $40 this keyboard is a winner, and helps me be one.Redragon K552 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, RGB Rainbow Backlit, 87 Keys, Tenkeyless, Compact Steel Construction with Cherry MX Blue Switches for Windows PC Gamer (Black)by Redragon via Amazon Read the rest

Vice asked its readers to tell them about scams they'd been subjected to trying to book and stay at AirBnB locations. It received thousands of stories: enough to generate a ranked list of the most widespread frauds pulled by AirBnB listers.The stories quickly started to fall into easily discernible categories. Scammers all over the world, it seems, have figured how best to game the Airbnb platform: by engaging in bait and switches; charging guests for fake damages; persuading people to pay outside the Airbnb app; and, when all else fails, engaging in clumsy or threatening demands for five-star reviews to hide the evidence of what they’ve done. (Or, in some cases, a combination of several of these scams.)In the aggregate, these emails paint a portrait of a platform whose creators are fundamentally unable to track what goes on within it, and point to easily exploitable loopholes that scammers have steamed their way through by the truckload.The company's solution appears to be generous to screwed-over customers, booking hotels and handing out nearby upgrades, but to let the scams happen and to let the scammers stay. They've presumably calculated that policing listings would be more expensive. The moral hazard this creates -- consider people who don't complain, or who are simply tricked out of money rather than literally stranded -- is overwhelming. Read the rest