Let's check in with what's happening following the Brexit vote. Increased racial and ethnic tensions, broken promises (or more like "we never meant to enact all those things we told you we would"), economic collapse, higher taxes and lower services, and the EU basically saying "don't let the door hit you on the way out." So, about the same as before.
Mur Lafferty announces Netflix acquires right to the Shambling Guides. You go, Mur! This may mean something, this may mean nothing (still waiting for that OMW movie Scalzi!), but it means money for the writer so they can continuing writing (and podcasting).
Lessons learned in self-publishing with a company that failed to deliver on its promises. Just as a reminder, for most businesses there are no test or oversight boards to make sure they're following best practices. While the author of the post is reluctant to say it, I'm pretty sure she was scammed (either by intent or neglect, it doesn't really matter). (Grokked from someone, Wesley Chu I think, sorry, lost the link)
Is it live or is it Memorex? Can a computer write a poem like a human. Shakes Magic 8-Ball, signs point to no.
"One of the most surprising findings of the Reuters report is that news consumers on social media don’t necessarily watch video. Platforms and publishers alike have been pouring money into video sharing, such as Facebook Live." It's only taking those publishers and platforms who don't actually use their software are or engaged in social media from an actual user perspective. Also shows how media markets completely misunderstand how people use their site. (Grokked from Kameron Hurley)
To boldly go out of the gift shop. The USS Enterprise original series film model goes on display in the Flight Hall at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.
"Now the Hubble Space Telescope has been officially granted a reprieve. The orbital telescope will remain operational until at least June 30, 2021, and is expected to continue beyond that point, according to a post on the NASA website. It'll operate alongside the James Webb Space Telescope, which will specialize in infrared imaging." Another five years of Hubble! That's fantastic… until you remember that its coolant is running out (and some of its systems have already been shut down). But five more years of visible light imagery is still worth being happy over. (Grokked from Steven Gould)
Jim Purdue sees the light when it comes to the lives of the chickens he sells. I especially like the concept of selling slower growing chickens. Frankly the current chickens we buy are tasteless and their meat has a weird texture, IMHO. For me, this has meant I eat more vegetables these days (although those are also not a tasty as they were). Oh, and just for comparison, that chicken you're eating probably hasn't seen a birthday. You're lucky if it's been alive for more than one season.
Rolling Acres Mall, once the happening place, goes to the City of Akron for potential redevelopment. (Grokked from Dan)
Man discovers a tracking device on his car. Now he wonders what to do with it. I have some suggestions. Tear it apart. Keep it in the car but go to really weird places, develop a storyline for yourself. Play "hot potato" with friends. Turn it in at a lost and found, like at a strip club. Go into your local police department/FBI office and ask them if they lost one. Put it on someone else's car, like a random car at the mall. Figure out what the garbage collection times are and toss it in a dumpster, or better yet, in the dumpster for a restaurant.
"It turns out that each body part has its own very distinct lifespan. The lining of the stomach, constantly under assault by digestive acid, is renewed every few days. But bones are refreshed once a decade. And there are a few parts of you that stay with you from birth to death."
"After the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando… Twitter brimmed with news reports of the carnage. But some posts on the massacre that claimed 49 lives also included a curious phrase: 'false flag.'… The victims in the shooting? They were 'crisis actors' hired to promote the story as a pretext to impose tighter gun restrictions, the theory goes." You know, I'm starting to support the idea of FEMA re-education camps.
In a surprise move, House Republicans fault President Obama with the report from the seventh Benghazi committee. They've got nothing, and they know they've got nothing except the word "Benghazi." So the fault is the Obama administration "didn't move Heaven and Earth" to help Ambassador Stevens and his security team. You know, nothing about the House having slashed the line item for embassy security in their appropriations bill. The NPR reporting on the Benghazi committee report is a little more forgiving, saying that the report faults the military for not following the standing orders of the President and Secretary of Defense. The Fox News report "slams" the President and that Secretary Clinton mislead the American public. Because, you know, Fox News.
A Pakistani clerical council issue fatwah on transgender marriages in Islam. With some caveats, they say it's okay. Problem is, being transgender in Pakistan is still illegal/not recognized by the government. (Grokked from Deborah Beale)
"Can you imagine an America when a child’s life was so insignificant that he was intentionally put into the pen of a dangerous zoo animal? An America when a child was intentionally placed at the edge of alligator-infested waters to lure the ferocious beast for hunters?" Trigger warnings, but a part of American history. (Grokked from Patrick Nielsen Hayden)
The Red Cross distributes a pool safety poster that is pretty racist. This is why diversity matters. It's also why you need art directors that know WTF they are doing. I'm sure this wasn't intentional, but shows just how ingrained racism is in our society. Sure, there is ONE white kid doing something not cool (okay, and another white kid chasing an African American kid, but are listed as "Not Cool"), but the old "Cool" people are white. Hey American Red Cross, and the designer/illustrator who did this, Not Cool. Seriously, you need to make conscious choices. And if it was conscious, you deserve the shit storm coming your way.
The new push of anti-abortion, they're the ones who are pro-woman and pro-health of women. Yeah, right. It's just amazing the lies and twisted world-view the pro-life movement has been peddling. Also note the shift from "The Supreme Court is the final law" to "that's the last place these decisions should be being made." What a difference a heart attack makes.
The Huckster forks over $25,000 for use of "Eye of the Tiger" during his (presidential campaign) rally for Kin Davis. Dear campaigns, your use of music is considered a broadcast or performance, you need to secure rights to use it. If you don't understand that by now, you need new campaign managers. (Grokked from Dan)
Speaking of Ms Davis, a federal judge rules against Mississippi'e religious conscious bill saying "'the marriage license issue will not be adjudicated anew after each legislative session.'" Of course there will be an appeal. (Grokked from Dan)
You know how the Trumpster said he didn't want anyone critical of him to speak at the RNC? Turns out even before that qualification they're having a hard time filling the speaking slots. (Grokked from Lisa Morton)
The Trumpster again reiterates it's only "a ban on people from countries that have known links to terrorism." So, anybody want to explain Pakistan, India, Indonesia, and, oh, hey look at all those Americans who have joined al Qaeda, al Shabab, and even ISIS. Why, it's almost like we have known links to terrorism. Plus, Hamas operates in Israel. Man this this just keeps expanding. Also, that would mean cutting off access to people who translated for us, or helped our military integrate into places in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen. Oh, and look at all that money that flowed our of Saudi Arabia to help what we designate as terrorist organizations. And can you say Sinn Féin? Ireland, you're right. Same old Trumpster, just as racists but trying to learn how to dog whistle. And he's not "changing" his policy, he's refining it. How reporters don't laugh in these people's faces is a testament to professionalism.
That research showed that Trump has a long-standing habit of promising to give to charity. But Trump’s follow-through on those promises was middling — even at the beginning, in his early days as a national celebrity. There's one real big reason, until now he's gotten away with the sham. Not that it'll affect his standing among his supporters. (Grokked from TPM)
Members of the white nationalist group involved in the Sacramento brawl says they're heading to Cleveland to protect Trump's supporters. The company you keep.
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