Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren: "During the campaign, Donald Trump told the American people that he was going to change Washington by taking on Wall Street. Donald Trump's choice for Treasury scretary, Steve Mnuchin, is just another Wall Street insider. That is not the type of change that Donald Trump promised to bring to Washington – that is hypocrisy at its worst. After his bank pocketed billions in taxpayer dollars from the bailout, Mnuchin moved on to make a fortune running another bank that aggressively foreclosed on families still reeling from the crisis. This pick makes clear that Donald Trump wants to cater to the same Wall Street executives that have hurt working families time and again." (Images: Bernie Sanders, AFGE/CC-BY; Elizabeth Warren, Tim Pierce/CC-BY)
Wednesday 30 November 2016
Sanders and Warren issue joint statement slamming Trump's new finance industry alligator for his private DC swamp
U.S. ethics office tweets sarcastically at Trump on his business conflicts
It's come to this, folks. The office of the United States that oversees ethics in government is sending sarcastic tweets to president-elect Donald J. Trump. Yes, he of the still unreleased tax returns, the many conflicts of interest, the recent $25 million fraud settlement, and the late-night Twitter wars.
Tuesday 29 November 2016
Silent treatment, love-bombing, gaslighting and other traits of Narcissist Personality Disorder
Maureen Herman & Katie Schwartz wrote a piece about Narcissist Personality Disorder and how to defend yourself against a world leader who might have it.
We want to urge the press and public to understand what Narcissist Personality Disorder is. It manifests as impairments in the way someone functions and interacts with others, combined with the specific pathological personality trait of antagonism, characterized by grandiosity and attention seeking. We feel the finer points are something the public should promptly familiarize itself with.
The negative effect of NPD happens in stages, and we have watched Trump's relationship with his supporters, and it is very familiar to us. In a classic NPD relationship. first comes the love-bombing: the narcissist tells you what you want to hear. Then they manage down expectations: doing whatever they want, and expecting or demanding that you accept it without incident. Now, the pathological lying comes full force: you call them out on what they said or did and they vehemently deny it, making you question your sanity. Then comes the devalue stage: because you questioned or criticized them, they discredit you. Now, the discard: the punishment and alienation begins, and any attempts to please them are used to give them more control over you. It doesn't end there. The cycle continues and the disorder becomes your new normal. It's not.
There are known narcissistic terms, strategies, and agendas. We urge the media to learn the
terminology, and use it: , silent treatment, love-bombing, gaslighting, devalue & discard phase, narcissistic abuse, managing down expectations, and flying monkeys (Kellyanne Conway).
Technology post-CELTA (3): Technology for teaching
Monday 28 November 2016
NASA's Space Poop Challenge
NASA issued a public $30,000 bounty "for fecal, urine, and menstrual management systems to be used in the crew's launch and entry suits over a continuous duration of up to 144 hours." From the competition brief:
Current space suits are worn for launch and entry activities and in-space activities to protect the crew from any unforeseen circumstances that the space environment can cause. A crew member could find themselves in this suit for up to 10 hours at a time nominally for launch or landing, or up to 6 days if something catastrophic happens while in space.
The old standby solution consisted of diapers, in case astronauts needed to relieve themselves. However, the diaper is only a very temporary solution, and doesn't provide a healthy/protective option longer than one day.
What's needed is a system inside a space suit that collects human waste for up to 144 hours and routes it away from the body, without the use of hands. The system has to operate in the conditions of space - where solids, fluids, and gases float around in microgravity (what most of us think of as "zero gravity") and don't necessarily mix or act the way they would on earth. This system will help keep astronauts alive and healthy over 6 days, or 144 hrs.
Space Poop Challenge (HeroX)
The Earth and I – is climate change moving too fast for a new book on climate change?
It is obviously unfair to dismiss the entire contents of a book for a single tin-eared statement, but the clunker that comes near the end of The Earth and I by Gaia-theory originator James Lovelock is a doozy. The inexplicable passage follows a dozen essays by journalists, a Nobel Prize winner, and several Ivy League professors, who make a pretty good case for both the insignificance of human beings in the universe and their unique ability to end life as we know it here on Planet Earth. In an attempt, then, to give his shell-shocked readers a sliver of hope by celebrating the success of the Montreal Protocol, which banned chlorofluorocarbons in 1989, Lovelock crows about how these ozone-destroying compounds were replaced by hydrofluorocarbons, which, he writes, “are far less harmful to the planetary environment.”
Somewhere between the time Lovelock wrote those words and the publication of his book, hydrofluorocarbons were added to the Montreal Protocol's list of banned substances – eliminating “less harmful” hydrofluorocarbons is expected to keep our warming planet's temperature from rising by a full half-degree Celsius.
The inability of even an authority like Lovelock to keep pace with current events points out how quickly both the science and politics of climate change are a changing. In this light, understanding the holistic view of the planet's processes – from the weather above us to the meaning of the geological history below our feet – has never been more important. The Earth and I delivers on these topics and more, while Jack Hudson's engaging illustrations lure us in and invite the eye to linger. Many readers may well be tempted to do just that, but they shouldn't – at last report, Greenland and Antarctica were melting at alarming fast and irreversible rates.
The Earth and I
by James Lovelock (editor) and Jack Hudson (illustrator)
Taschen
2016, 168 pages, 8.5 x 10.9 x 0.8 inches (hardcover)
$23 Buy a copy on Amazon
Sunday 27 November 2016
Ransomware creep accidentally hijacks San Francisco Muni, won't give it back
A ransomware criminal's self-reproducing malicious software spread through a critical network used by the San Francisco light rail system, AKA the Muni, and shut it down; the anonymous criminal -- cryptom27@yandex.com -- says they won't give it back until they get paid.
(more…)
Saturday 26 November 2016
Malcolm McLaren's son torched his punk collection to protest the 40th anniversary of punk "celebrations"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXuL3io7pQw
Joe Corre -- founder of the Agent Provocateur lingerie stores; son of Sex Pistols impressario Malcolm McLaren and fashion designer Vivienne Westwood-- torched £5m worth of punk tat in the middle of the Thames, topped with effigies of Tories including Boris Johnson, George Osborne and David Cameron.
(more…)
Friday 25 November 2016
Hold the Babadook Book!
When the film The Babadook came out in 2014 I watched it, lights out, dark room, and felt the lick of terror roll up the back of my neck. It's a remarkable accomplishment for both the director, Jennifer Kent, and the leading actress, Essie Davis, neither of whom I'd heard of before. The monster is Mister Babadook, and he comes to life when the single mother in the film reads a large pop-up book, whose artwork would not be out of place in a German Expressionist film like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, to her son. The boy pulls it off his shelf and asks her to read it. She asks him where he got it, and he replies, “On the shelf.” And then Mr. Babadook shows up and we get some classic horror cinema at its finest.
Much like everyone's first thought upon seeing the Evil Dead-I want that book!-or Hellraiser-I want one of those boxes!-lots of us thought “I want that Babadook book!” The book is central to the film's plot and in a
“… illustrator Alex Juhasz's designs for Mister Babadook, the sinister pop-up book that plants the first seed in the young boy's imagination, also played a major role in the look of the film: Rather than design the movie and commission a prop to match, Kent modeled the film on the sharp edges and small imperfections of Juhasz's work. 'The book felt handmade and raw, and that's how I wanted the energy of the film to feel,' she says. 'We created that world as much as possible first, and the production design then had to mirror that'.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKa5Eeb9QdA
The director and the book's designer decided to try a crowd-funded experiment to see if people just thought they wanted it, or if they really wanted it. I purchased my copy on November 24, 2014, for $80-the selling price during the crowd-funded campaign. The director wrote to the purchasers of the first 2,000 books:
“To all our incredible fans (and especially to you, the first 2000 owners of our special edition Mister Babadook book …)
“Thank you for being such solid supporters of this book and of the film. We are thrilled that The Babadook has received so much love and support from around the world. I never thought when we were shooting this film that so many people would see it, let alone give us the opportunity to put this special book into print. This is all happening because of the support from each and every one of you, and I will never forget that.
“I have written some more story pages for this special edition, and I'm going to be working with Alex Juhasz (our brilliant illustrator) over the coming months to create some very beautiful pop ups to go with that extra bit of Babadook story. You will be owning pages not even seen in the film. It is special for Alex and I to now be able to create this 'stand alone book,' and I believe it is going to be a very special book to own.
“In order to show my appreciation for your support, I have made a decision to sign each and every book that is sold in our campaign. So not only will your copies be numbered, they will also be signed. Thanks again to you all.”
And then they went to work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe3RU4lsF90
In an article in
The Creators Project we learn more about what was required to create a product from a film prop:
“Since its premiere at Sundance in January 2014, the film's fans quickly rallied for the production of the pop-up book seen on screen. 'We didn't know how the film would do,' says illustrator Alexander Juhasz. 'So when I made the book for the film, we were joking about how if it became a big hit, people might want the book in their home.' … requests to get the book made-bordering on demands-were heard loud and clear. …
“Once it came time to prepare the limited edition book for production, the team brought on paper engineer Simon Arizpe. Juhasz had to recreate all of the original artwork and reverse engineer much of what was made for the film. 'We had to rethink a lot of stuff for the design and format to work. In the film, the book ends abruptly, so we had to add some content. But we wanted to keep the integrity of the original-all of images that are in the movie are in the book, except maybe for one, I think,' explains Juhasz. Arizpe adds: 'Between the three of us, we figured out what we wanted each page to do. Alex gave me his art and I would mess around with it to make it move.' Once the prototype was completed, it was sent off to the printing house, where the paper is die cut, then folded and glued by hand.”
The print run was just 6,000 copies (only the first 2,000 are numbered and signed) and they sold quickly. It took two years for the purchasers to receive the book-it just arrived at the end of this October. It's hard to imagine anyone not being thrilled with the enormous pop-up book that not only exactly replicates the main prop in the film, but goes further with the story.
The easiest place for you to obtain Mister Babadook is on eBay, where copies are selling for between $300 and $600. You might get lucky and snag an unsigned copy for just over $200 if you keep your eye on things. If your means are more modest, and you want to include watching the film in your purchase, you can buy it at amazon.com in a deluxe edition Blu-ray with a single pop-up inside the front cover.
Whatever your choice, I would strongly suggest that you do not read the book aloud. If you foolishly ignore my advice, don't look up at the ceiling, because Mister Babadook is keeping his eye on you.
Trump to Romney: grovel before me for Secretary of State job
Fox News reports that Donald Trump's still thinking of offering Mitt Romney the job of Secretary of State. The catch: Trump wants a public apology.
A transition official told Fox's Ed Henry that some in Trump's inner circle want the former Massachusetts governor to apologize in order to be seriously considered for the secretary of State.
Trump is reportedly considering whether to pick Romney or former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani for the coveted cabinet position.
Giuliani is the preferred choice of Trump's loyalists and grassroots supporters, while Romney is a favorite of establishment conservatives.
Here's Romney, before lining up behind the new power:
“Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. He gets a free trip to the White House and all we get is this lousy hat ... There is a dark irony in his boasts of his sexual exploits during the Vietnam War, while at the same time, John McCain - who he has mocked - was imprisoned and tortured.”
RIP Brady Bunch mom Florence Henderson
Actress Florence Henderson, most famous as "iconic matriarch" Carol Brady and recent turns on Dancing with the Stars, is dead at 82.
"We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear mother Florence Henderson from Heart Failure," the Henderson family said in a statement. "On this day of thanks, our beloved mother was surrounded by her devoted children and dearest friends. We thank all of her fans for their many years of love and ask that we be allowed to grieve in private.
10 Black Friday doorbuster deals you'll regret not buying today-up to 50% off
The biggest shopping day of the year is here, and the best part is that you no longer need to wait in line to take part. We've compiled 10 ridiculously good deals that will be gone tomorrow, so whether you're shopping for the holidays or yourself, you'll definitely find something.
You can check out all our Black Friday Mega Price Drops here. In addition to these already discounted products, you can use the coupon code BLACKFRIDAY15 to redeem extra discounts up to 15% off on other products throughout the entire store. Some exclusions apply.
Here are our our favorite price drops:
#1 Lytro Illum Camera + Accessories Bundle
The Lytro Illum Camera is the first camera to capture the entire light field, meaning you can refocus and change perspective on your images after the fact. This bundle includes: the Lytro Illum Camera, the quick-adjust shoulder/neck strap, the global Lytro quick charger with additional power cords for Europe, UK, and Asia, and the Lytro Illum 72mm neutral density ND8 filter. Normally the Lytro Illum bundle retails for $1499.96, and Boing Boing offers it for a sale price of $459.99. But today only, you can get the individual camera for just $299.99 or the entire bundle for just $349.99.
#2 The Big Data Bundle
The Big Data Bundle comes packing 64.5 hours of content on some of the most pertinent Big Data topics and skills today-including Hadoop, MapReduce, Spark, and more-to prepare you for one of today's fastest growing IT careers. This bundle normally retails for $681, and Boing Boing's regular sale price is $45. Today only, you can get the Big Data Bundle for just $28.
#3 Geek Fuel Mega Pack
Geek Fuel's monthly boxes come packing a random assortment of 5-8 toys, collectibles, and comics from some of the most popular franchises, including Star Wars, The Avengers, Doctor Who, and Super Mario Brothers. And this Mega Pack takes all of that to a whole new level, with an exclusive welcome box, plus one Geek Fuel box each month for the next three months-that's a minimum $50 value per box. The Mega Pack normally retails for $225, and Boing Boing's normal sale price on it is $79.99. But today only, you can buy it for $69.99.
#4 The Complete Machine Learning Bundle
This bundle includes 10 hands-on courses and 63.5 hours of training in machine learning, specifically designed to help you master AI and catch the eye of top employers. The Complete Machine Learning Bundle normally retails for $780, and Boing Boing offers a deal for $39. Today only, that price drops to $29.
#5 Code Black Drone with HD Camera
The Code Black Drone is Boing Boing's #1 selling drone, and for good reason: it's palm sized, it's seriously powerful and maneuverable, and it comes packing a high tech HD camera. The Code Black Drone regularly retails for $399, or $69.99 with Boing Boing's usual deal price. But today only, you can grab it at its lowest price yet, just $44.99.
#6 Complete Arduino Starter Kit & Course Bundle
With 25+ hours of training content, four courses designed to give you hands-on instruction, and a full Arduino toolkit of your very own, the Complete Arduino Starter Kit & Course Bundle is the real deal. You'll have everything you need to start building robots, light sensors, and more.
The bundle retails for $519, and our normal Boing Boing deal is $62.99. Today only, get it for $59.99.
#7 FEZ Vaporizer
The compact, stylish FEZ vaporizer is a sleek, smoking gadget equipped with the latest technology. It's uniquely designed to eliminate toxic compounds, and it heats up in under 60 seconds, too. It normally retails for $139, and Boing Boing offers it for $99. But today only, it's on sale for $79.
#8 The Complete Guide to Photography Bundle
If you've always wanted to grow your photography skills, this bundle will help you do so on a budget. It comes with five detailed courses and 37.5+ hours of training designed to help you snap everything from portraits to landscapes to everything in between. The bundle normally retails for $623, and Boing Boing's usual deal offers it for $49. But today only, you can get it for $29.
#9 Getflix Lifetime Subscription
Getflix is a best-selling service that allows you to bypass online geo-restrictions. It works to reroute only the necessary Internet traffic through a different server, and unblocks more than 100 streaming channels around the world so you can watch movies, TV, sports, and more wherever you are. A lifetime subscription retails for $855, and normally Boing Boing offers a $39 deal. But today only, you can buy a lifetime of Getflix for just $29.
#10 Become an Ethical Hacker Bonus Bundle
Ethical hacking is one of the fastest growing careers out there today. With this bundle, you'll be on the fast track to securing company networks and protecting against outside threats. This bundle comes with 9 courses all offering hands-on instruction on topics such as beginner ethical hacking and less common web attacks. The bundle normally retails for $681, and Boing Boing usually offers this deal for $49. Today only, you can buy it for just $25.
The German Emigration Centre: People between Dreams and Uncertainty
Thursday 24 November 2016
Ivanka Trump on Donald's sexual interest in her: "If he wasn't my father, I would spray him with Mace"
In 2006, president-elect Donald Trump remarked that if Ivanka Trump wasn't his daughter, "perhaps I'd be dating her." In response, she said "If he wasn't my father, I would spray him with Mace."
https://twitter.com/sarahkendzior/status/801805498991288320
The remark was unearthed by Sarah Kenzidor from the Aug. 24, 2006 issue of The Chicago Tribune; it's one of several.
“Yeah, she's really something, and what a beauty, that one. If I weren't happily married and, ya know, her father . . . “ Trump said to Rolling Stone in 2015.
In a 1999 interview with radio host Howard Stern, Trump said his daughter ― who was then 17 ― made him promise he would never date a woman younger than her.
Reminder: the incoming President of the United States of America wants to bang his daughter.
Tuesday 22 November 2016
1946 short film about despotism
Encyclopedia Britannica made this 10 minute video about how a country slides into despotism.
Monday 21 November 2016
The best 2 seconds in the history of reviewing servers
Looking into my options for a compact, inexpensive home server, I chanced across PC Magazine's May 2016 review of the Dell Optiplex 3040. In the middle of it, reviewer and PC Magazine Lead Analyst Joel Santo Domingo is seen very briefly to caress the Dell. Pack it in, gadget reviewers: the best 2 seconds in the history of reviewing servers is over.
I added the music.
Here's the full review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX2Y3Tv1onw
Trump's Hamilton tweetstorm: calculated distraction from fraud settlement, or fragile mediocrity?
Yesterday, Donald Trump's news cycle was dominated by two stories: first, that the president-elect of the United States of America had a well-developed sense of the sanctity of the theatre, such that any on-stage politicking shocked his conscience to the core; second, that he had settled a lawsuit over Trump University, handing $25,000,000 to people whom he had defrauded.
(more…)
24-hour sale: 3 unique gift ideas leading up to the holiday season
Most holiday gift guides show you the same old boring products. Here are 3 gift ideas that are totally unique and even useful. Plus, they all feature one-day price drops today only.
#1 Blue Apron: 3 Delivered Meals for 2 People
Blue Apron is a great holiday gift option for someone across the country, or even just someone that's impossible to buy for. This subscription service delivers recipes for gourmet meals and a box of fresh ingredients straight to the front door. This deal is usually $59.94 and is discounted to $27 in the Boing Boing Store. With this one-day deal, you'll get pre-portioned ingredients for 3 recipes to be eaten by 2 people for just $25.
#2 Nifty MiniDrive MicroSD Card Adapter for 13" Macbook Air
The Nifty MiniDrive MicroSD Card Adapter is the perfect gift for family members still carrying around clunky USB drives. This adapter plugs directly into MacBooks and integrates with Time Machine to add up to 200 GB of extra space. This deal retails at $39.99 and is discounted to $36.99 in the Boing Boing Store. Just for today, you snag one for just $32.99.
#3 The Complete Machine Learning Bundle
The Complete Machine Learning Bundle is a package of 10 courses on everything from the basics to practical applications of machine learning. Courses on this growing technology (think self-driving cars) is an amazing gift for your favorite overachieving techie. Valued at $780, this bundle normally sells for $39 in the Boing Boing Store. Today only, you can buy this bundle for just $29.
Word of the day: Kakistocracy
Kakistocracy n. (kak·is·toc·ra·cy / kækɪsˈtÉ‘kɹəsi) Government by the worst persons; a form of government in which the worst persons are in power.
(more…)
Knit mermaid blankets
Laghcat's $24 knitted mermaid tail blankets come in kids' (56"x28") and adults' (71"x35.5") sizes and 40 color schemes/styles; the thousands of positive reviews praise the construction as being robust and durable (and feature photos of "mermaids" lounging cozily around their homes in their tail-blankets), and the blankets can be machine washed and tumble-dried. (via Incredible Things)
When Mike Pence came to Hamilton, the cast added a special afterword, just for him
Vice President-elect Mike Pence went to see Hamilton last night; he was booed on the way to his seat, but afterward, the cast acknowledged him with a brief set of remarks written by the show's creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda: "We, sir - we - are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights. We truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf all of us."
(more…)
The Snoopers Charter is now law in the UK: "extreme surveillance" rules the land
Britain's love-affair with mass surveillance began under the Labour government, but it was two successive Conservative governments (one in coalition with the Liberal Democrats, who are nominally pro-civil liberties) who took Tony Blair's mass surveillance system and turned it into a vicious, all-powerful weapon. Now, their work is done.
(more…)
24-hour sale: save 84% on these Bamboo Fiber Sheets
I've definitely needed a new set of sheets for a while, and this deal seemed like the perfect excuse to do it. These brushed sheets are made with a combination of bamboo yarns and strong microfiber, and I've found them to be both durable and comfortable.
The best part is that the Bamboo Fiber Double Brushed Sheets are on sale today only at their lowest price - just $39.99.
They come mercerized and preshrunk for longevity and shape retention, so you can be sure you won't have to replace them for years. For the price, you get one flat sheet, one fitted sheet, and four pillow cases to give your bedroom a full refresh. The Bamboo Fiber Double Brushed Sheets fit all types of mattresses, even extra thick, thanks to their all-around elastic and deep pockets.
So if you're ready to improve your sleeping experience, these sheets are the best deal you'll find. They retail for $249.99 and are usually on sale for $59.99 in the Boing Boing Store. But for one day only, pay just $39.99 in for Full, Queen, and King sizes.
Also explore Boing Boing's other 24-hour sales during Deals Week:
The Big Data Bundle ($45 lowered to $33)
Twitterbot experiment suggests that public disapproval by white men can reduce harassers' use of racist language
NYU PhD candidate Kevin Munger made a set of four male-seeming twitterbots that attempted to "socially sanction" white Twitter users who habitually used racial epithets (he reasons that these two characteristics are a good proxy for harassment): the bots could be white or black (that is, have names that have been experimentally shown to be associated with "whiteness" or "blackness") and could have 2 followers or 500 of them.
(more…)
19 questions to frame a reconciling conversation with your opposite-voting loved ones
Michael Barbaro proposes that you sit down over a meal with a loved one who voted in a way you find incomprehensible and indefensible and have each of you discuss 19 questions, while not letting "imperfect word choices tank the conversation," forgetting "the policy debate for now," and assuming "the other person has generally good intentions."
(more…)
Park dedicated to Adam MCA Yauch vandalized with pro-Trump swastikas
The incredibly well loved, respected and admired Adam Yauch was a buddhist.
Cops are here and investigating. Park will be closed until it is removed, I'm told. Peace to #Shadrach #Meshach #Abednego pic.twitter.com/tHjirVaAkX
- Jeremy D. Larson (@jeremydlarson) November 19, 2016
Create a customizable animal robot
Our pals at Two-Bit circus have designed this paper craft robotic owl, to give kids a "taste of basic mechanical principles, electronics and programming." It looks really cool.
- Build the mechanics, electronics and paper shell for your Oomiyu owl. Oomiyu was designed to show you how all the different systems come together to create an awesome robotic creature.
- Customize your Oomiyu owl by decorating its paper shell. We've included a set of accessories to get you started in bringing out your Oomiyu's personality. And this is just the beginning. Show us what you got and make Oomiyu your own!
- Play with your Oomiyu owl! Oomiyu comes with pre-programmed behaviors and games: ask it yes-or-no questions, pet it until it goes to sleep, or set it up as your alarm clock. In addition, you can control, add, or change any of those behaviors with the companion app for even more fun.
Hack it. We have built Oomiyu on top of the Arduino 101, which is powered by the Intel Curie module, to create a flexible technology platform that can be customized with other off the shelf components and sample code. Because the Arduino 101 is part of a lively open-source community, there are many resources available to help expand what Oomiyu can do.
“Oswald didn't kill JFK!” and more tabloid stunners
What are we coming to when the 'National Enquirer' accurately reports Donald Trump's speech promising reforms in his “first 100 days” in office? They even add, in giant print on the front page, "in his own words” - because they know how rare it is for anyone quoted in the 'Enquirer' to actually be quoted correctly.
Of course, the Trump-supporting rag can't resist gloating, putting it all beneath the cover headline: “We Told You So!”
How long can it be before the New York Times is reporting on Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie's divorce, or Prince Harry's latest girlfriend? Oh wait -- they've already done that.
But the 'Enquirer' can't maintain its facade of accuracy for long, plunging headlong into a series of highly dubious fact-free zones. Princes Harry's girlfriend, American actress Meghan Markle, is reportedly enduing a “Nude Photo Horror!” But it's typical 'Enquirer' wishful thinking. Markle evidently told a humorous anecdote about skinny-dipping in a New Zealand lake one day in 2012, only to find that pranksters had stolen her clothes. “She's panicked that the photos will be published,” raves the mag. Except there are no photos. Never were. There's no suggestion that a single photo was snapped. No nude photo horror. No panic.
Actress Jennifer Garner is saving her troubled marriage to Ben Affleck by having a baby, reports the 'Enquirer,' for at least the second time this year. This is based on a photo that shows Garner is a loose-fitting shirt. Just like the photos of her six months ago in a loose sweater, when they also swore she was pregnant. This is one of those games where they will keep reporting she's pregnant until one day she actually will be, and the 'Enquirer' will congratulate itself for always being right. “We were right Again, Again and Again!” the 'Enquirer' proclaims in this week's issue, ignoring the times it was wrong about Ted Cruz's father being involved in the assassination of John F Kennedy, or the Queen's abdication, or actor Nick Nolte's death -- the 'Enquirer' gave him “four weeks to live” many months ago and -- many, many other fantastical tales.
In a “custody bombshell,” the 'Enquirer' cover claims that “Brad's secret tapes destroy crazy Angie!” The mag reports that Brad Pitt “has damaging tapes exposing her insane rages -- and sick sexual kinks.” But these aren't tapes of Angelina Jolie behaving badly. The tapes -- if they even exist -- are allegedly recordings of Pitt complaining, made by Pitt's “lifelong confidante, celebrity psychic Ron Bard.” Even if Bard decided to breach the confidentiality agreement he undoubtedly signed, such tapes would prove nothing more than Brad making unsubstantiated allegations about Angie. It's proof of nothing, and would have no effect on their custody battle.
Best of all is the "Enquirer World Exclusive” offering a “jailhouse confession” by prison inmate Gary Olivia, who was reportedly “once a key suspect” in the murder of infant pageant queen JonBenet Ramsey, But despite the headline's suggestion, he's not confessing to killing the six-year-old. He simply “confesses” to having “partied” with her ghost, building a shrine to JonBenet in his cell, and allegedly admits that he is a “deranged pervert obsessed with the death of a small child.” Why would the 'Enquirer' publish the ramblings of a self-confessed deranged pervert in the first place? Because they can.
'The Globe' claims that TV's 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin “committed suicide,” according to a "chilling new autopsy report.” But the 'Globe' story goes on to admit that there is no new autopsy, only the original one performed a decade ago. And claims that he was suicidal because of neck pain are not made in the coroner's report, but dubiously come from an unnamed “insider.” Presumably Irwin was killed by a stingray that had been paid large sums of squid to hurl its barb into Irwin's chest, because stingrays are the hitmen of the ocean. Right.
“Skinny Angelina” has been warned: “Eat Now or Die!” according to the 'Globe,' which claims the actress has dropped to 76 pounds, while in the same issue reporting that Pitt's first wife Jennifer Aniston “gains 50 lbs!” If Pitt's estranged wife would only eat all his ex-wife's meals, perhaps they could both be fit and happy. Mel Gibson also “packs on 50 lbs” and “goes from hunk to chunk” says the 'Globe,' whose reporters are routinely recruited from State Fairs, where they work in 'Guess Your Weight' booths.
“Oswald didn't kill JFK!” screams the cover of the 'National Examiner' -- which would put Ted Cruz's father in the clear -- claiming that it was a Castro hitman who killed the president. Presumably because Castro couldn't pay a stingray enough to do the deed, due to the famous Cuban squid shortage of 1963.
Fortunately we have 'Us' magazine's crack investigative team to tell us that Olivia Culpo wore it best, Christian Serratos carries a copy of 'Fifty Shades of Grey,' lip balm and post-defecation fragrance “Poo-Pourri” in her Stella McCartney tote, and that the stars are just like us: they swim, they stretch before exercise, and “they hold onto their bags.” Yep, that's the best caption they could come up with for a photo of Liev Schreiber "(wearing a Tiffany CT60 watch) headed to work in NYC Oct. 31.” Presumably because they rejected the caption: “The stars are just like us: They hate being photographed by strangers.”
Onwards and downwards . . .
A hard-sell con that cleaned out its desperate victims: behind the $25,000,000 Trump University settlement
Victims of the Trump University con were roped in by an initial free class endorsed by "the most celebrated entrepreneur on earth" that would, in Trump's words, "turn anyone into a successful real estate investor, including you."
(more…)
A more advanced fidget gadget from Chris Bathgate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=THOIp4yXZkc
Sculptor-machinist Chris Bathgate has improved on his Slider "worry-stone" gadget for occupying your nervous hands, using techniques he learned through his collaboration with spinning top-maker Richard Stadler.
(more…)
The Voynich manuscript has been bewildering scholars for more than a century
In 1912, bookseller Wilfrid Voynich discovered an illustrated manuscript that was written in a mysterious alphabet that had never been seen before. The text bears the hallmarks of natural language, but no one has ever been able to determine its meaning. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll learn about the Voynich manuscript, which has been bewildering scholars for more than a century.
We'll also ponder some parliamentary hostages and puzzle over a tormenting acquisition.
Gary Gulman's hilarious history of postal abbreviations for states
Gary Gulman does a meandering six-minute set on how the post office came up with the two-letter abbreviations for each state. The trivia and asides get increasingly absurd as the bit continues. (more…)
Guy restores a century-old letterpress to perfect condition
Jimmy DiResta kept passing by a 1911 Chandler & Price letterpress sitting out in the rain. After buying it from the neglectful owner, he spent several years lovingly restoring it, eventually learning how to print with it. (more…)
Stabilized footage of a cow playing with a hay bale
London Mayor sends VW a £2.5m bill for Dieselgate cheaters' Congestion Charges
Drivers in London have to pay a daily "congestion charge" intended to encourage the use of public transit and bicycles, but low-emission vehicles are exempt, and so for years, drivers of VW diesels got free rides thanks to the company's fraudulent claims about their cars' pollution.
(more…)
Governments see social media as "a new front in warfare"
Bat embryos with the skeletons dyed are kinda creepycute
This magnetic space putty is oddly satisfying
If you're looking for the perfect Christmas stocking stuffer, look no further than Scientific Magnetic Space Putty. I have to admit I've always loved silly putty, and this version just took an old favorite to new levels.
This viscoelastic putty doesn't just stretch and smoosh-it also has magnetic properties. I stick it to my walls to use magnets anywhere I want to hang something. But when I'm not using it for that purpose, I'm getting hours of entertainment.
It's perfect for stress relief, and since it's easy to tear apart and even bounces, it really never gets old. For a limited time, the Scientific Magnetic Space Putty is on sale for $9.99. Or grab a two-pack for just $14.99.
- Coding
- Learn to Code 2016 Bundle (Pay What You Want)
- Smartwatch
- Martian Notifier Watch (76% off)
- Music + Entertainment
- Cord-Cutting
- Ghost Indoor HDTV Antenna (57% off)
Reviving the GWB-era American Apology shirt for the Trump era
Remember the GW Bush years, when Americans abroad sported this tee: ""I'm sorry my president is an idiot. I didn't vote for him" (with the message in five languages)?
(more…)
Friday 18 November 2016
So much for transparent aluminum
I added a line of dialog to Star Trek: First Contact.
PREVIOUSLY: Yeah, Obi-Wan Remembers the Truth Alright
Thursday 17 November 2016
Hollywood accent coach critiques 32 actors' accents
Erik Singer, a dialect coach, was shown clips from 32 famous actors playing roles that required them to adopt an accent. He critiqued each one. As you might expect, Meryl Streep, Daniel Day Lewis, and Philip Seymour Hoffman get top marks. Tom Cruise and Kevin Costner, not so much. The worst? Not Dick Van Dyke's Cockney accent in Mary Poppins. It's Mickey Rooney's ridiculous Japanese accent in Breakfast at Tiffany's. This video was directed and edited by our friend, Joe Sabia.
Tuesday 15 November 2016
Happy birthday "Shakedown Street"
https://youtu.be/MccLsc5YzrI
The title track from the Grateful Dead's November 15, 1978 release Shakedown Street is one my favorites.
I'm helping launch Echoes of Sherlock Homes at LA's Chevalier Books tomorrow night
In 2014, lawyer and eminent Sherlockian Les Klinger comprehensively won the legal battle to establish that Sherlock Holmes is in the public domain and available for anyone to use, abuse, alter, celebrate or mock; now with a new anthology of completely unauthorized Sherlock tales, Echoes of Sherlock Holmes, Klinger and co-editor Laurie R. King have shown just how much life there is in the old tales.
(more…)
Monday 14 November 2016
Kickstarting "Bears vs Babies," a new game from the Exploding Kittens team
Elan Lee writes, "Bears vs Babies is a monster-building card game from the creators of Exploding Kittens, Elan Lee and Matthew Inman (The Oatmeal). Described as a game of 'strategic benevolent betrayal' it has already raised more than $2.5 million in funding on Kickstarter from 67,000 backers. Bears vs Babies completed the original $10,000 funding goal in less than 10 minutes after its launch. The game is set to join the ranks as one of the most successful crowdfunded gaming campaigns in history."
(more…)
Michael Moore's to do list for a revolution: an intervention for liberals
We have a new leader in America. Known for his distinct regional accent and often seen wearing a baseball cap at rallies, he starred in a show on NBC, and holds strong opinions about guns and the NRA. He may not be the leader you saw coming, but you're going to see a lot more of him: Michael Moore. The documentary filmmaker shuns the activist label he is often given. In a recent LA Times interview Moore asserted, "I'm not an activist, I'm a citizen. It's redundant to say I'm an activist. We all should be active." Moore has been very active, and has made films that take on some of America's most complex and controversial topics -- globalization, gun violence, 9/11, our healthcare system, the economy, war, and most recently, Donald Trump, someone he did see coming. Unlike the Democrats.
Moore tried to warn the left in July, when he wrote a piece titled simply "5 Reasons Why Trump Will Win. In it, he did not mince words: "Go ahead and say the words, 'cause you'll be saying them for the next four years: 'PRESIDENT TRUMP.' Never in my life have I wanted to be proven wrong more than I do right now." With his midwestern directness and efficiency, Moore then proceeded to list how and why Donald Trump was going to win.
A week after Trump's election, Democrats and progressives are still raw with shock and grief. The agony is acute. The mood of over half the country? Political satirist Barry Crimmins nailed it in a tweet, saying "We're now kids trapped in the back of our blowhard, road-raging, shitty-driver, dad's car for a 4-yr trip and he's issued a "No Talking" edict."
Liberals feel aimless and powerless, falling all over each other trying to figure out what happened. Like teenagers at a party that went off the rails, some are locked in the bathroom crying, some are fighting amongst themselves, others are telling everyone it's going to be fine, and some are standing on the kitchen table yelling, trying to restore order in futility. The left needs a designated driver, and Michael Moore is already in the driveway with the car warmed up, waiting for Democrats to pull themselves together and get in.
After the election, Moore posted another 5-point list, this time, a" Morning After To-Do List." Item number one? "Take over the Democratic Party and return it to the people. They have failed us miserably." It might sound like pointing fingers, or running for office, but it's not. It was statement of tough love telling us what was necessary to lay the groundwork for an effective movement against Trump. Two days later, in an interview with LA Times reporter Steven Zeitchik, he said he that he wanted to head that movement:
You live in a country where a majority of its citizens have said they believe there's climate change, they believe women should be paid the same as men, they want a debt-free college education, the don't want us invading countries, they want a raise in the minimum wage, and they want a single-payer true universal health care system. None of that has changed. We live in a country where the majority agree with the "liberal" position. We just lack the liberal leadership to make that happen.
Hillary Clinton won the widest margin of the popular vote in the history of presidential election defeats, but lost in electoral votes -- and her supporters are still losing their minds. Also, on the 100th anniversary of a woman's right to vote, electing the first female president seemed like it was meant to be. Now, Twitter reads like a manic-depressive's drunken journal, riddled with earnest hashtags desperately trying to unify the bloodied left, and gloating trolls on the right who were all absent from gym class the day the other kids learned what sportsmanship was.
After appearing on CNN's "State of the Union" along with Rudy Giuliani and Paul Ryan yesterday morning, the in-demand Moore took time to answer questions from Boing Boing:
***
Maureen Herman: Do you see yourself as a leader or what role do you see yourself in now?
Michael Moore: I am doing my part to help lead the opposition, and will work with others to do so. Less meetings, more action. I tried to warn people about Trump winning -- I now have a responsibility to stop him from doing any harm. At least now people are listening to me.
***
He was right when he said Trump would win, but his article did not go particularly viral at the time, considering Moore's general popularity. It didn't get re-posted, re-tweeted, or shared the way the left, myself included, spread around self-soothing articles on our preferred candidate or editorials painting Trump as an impossible joke. Maybe Moore's perspective was not taken seriously, or it was ignored out of fear of facing the reality we are in now. Maybe we thought that embracing the possibility of a Trump presidency would jinx the election. Whatever the reason, we didn't listen, and we also didn't listen when he said back in 2015 that Trump was going to be the Republican Party's nominee.
"That doesn't make me feel good, the fact that I was right. I never wanted to be more wrong," the outspoken liberal director said in an LA Times interview. "I just don't live in the bubble of New York and L.A. and I was worried with what I was witnessing in the Midwest, the Rust Belt, what I call the 'Brexit' states."
Moore does not make his predictions based on algorithms, polls, and self-satisfied soothsaying. He pays attention to the root causes, he sees how systemic problems play out in individual lives -- it's what he has always done in his films. Michael Moore is as woke as they get. He kept his eye on the ball while the rest of us looked away, assuming it would land in our glove. Well, it got dropped and we lost the game.
There's no Red Cross for losing an election, but that's the kind of thing people are looking for. Sure, there are existing Democratic organizations, and nonprofits that work for liberal concerns, like the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and NAACP, and donations are coming in. People want to do something. But they need to do something different. Well, yesterday, Michael Moore posted a handy to do list on Twitter:
#1. A massive nationwide opposition movement has exploded. It must continue. I am part of this. You are, too.
Must quickly and decisively form an opposition movement, the likes of which hasn't been seen since the 1960s. I will do my part to help lead this, as I'm sure many others (Bernie, Elizabeth Warren, MoveOn, the hip-hop community, DFA, etc.) will, too. The core of this opposition force will be fueled by young people who, as with Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter, don't tolerate B.S. and are relentless in their resistance to authority. They have no interest in compromising with racists and misogynists.
#2. Prepare for Trump's Impeachment now. Narcissism and greed and the fact he's a sociopath will lead to him breaking the law.
Prepare to impeach Trump. Just as the Republicans were already planning to do with President Hillary from Day One, we must organize the apparatus that will bring charges against him when he violates his oath and breaks the law -- and then we must remove him from office.
#3. Plan now to join millions in civil disobedience when Trump nominates his first Supreme Court Justice.
Must commit right now to a vigorous fight (including civil disobedience, if necessary) which will block any and all Donald Trump Supreme Court nominees who do not meet our approval. We demand the Democrats in the Senate aggressively filibuster any nominees who support Citizens United or who oppose the rights of women, immigrants and the poor. This is non-negotiable.
#4. The DNC must apologize to Bernie Sanders for trying to rig the fight against him, for defaming him, for cheating.
Demand the DNC apologize to Bernie Sanders for trying to fix the primaries against him, for spinning the press to ignore his historic campaign, for giving Clinton the questions in advance at the Flint debate, for its latent ageism and anti-Semitism in trying to turn voters against him because of his age or religious beliefs, and for its anti-democracy system of "super-delegates" who are elected by no one. We all know now had Bernie been given a fair shot, he probably would have been the nominee and he -- as the true outsider and "change" candidate -- would have inspired and fired up the base and soundly defeated Donald Trump. If no apology is soon forthcoming from the DNC, that's ok -- when we take over the Democratic Party (see yesterday's To-Do List, #1), we will issue the apology in person.
#5. Obama must appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the FBI Director's illegal interference in the election.
Demand that President Obama establish a Special Prosecutor to investigate who and what was behind FBI Director James Comey's illegal interference into the Presidential election 11 days before the vote was held.
#6. Abolish electoral college and electronic voting; Election Day held on the weekend, restore voting rights of former prisoners
Begin a national push while it's fresh in everyone's mind for a constitutional amendment to fix our broken electoral system: 1. Eliminate the Electoral College -- popular vote only. 2. Paper ballots only -- no electronic voting. 3. Election Day must be made a holiday for all -- or held on a weekend so more people vote. 4. All citizens, regardless of any run-ins with the criminal "justice" system, must have the right to vote. (In swing states like Florida and Virginia, 30-40% of all Black men are prohibited by law from voting.)
#7. President Obama: send the Army Corps of Engineers to Flint to replace the water pipes. The water is still unusable.
Convince President Obama to immediately do what he should have done a year ago: Send in the Army Corps of Engineers to Flint to dig up and replace all the poisoned pipes. NOTHING HAS CHANGED; the water in Flint is still unusable.
Will try to get these done by sundown. More To-Do tomorrow...
--Michael Moore
It is not just Moore's accurate political predictions or successful films that make him the right person to lead the left out of the darkness, and it's not his common presence on major talk shows that inspired me to write this article. It was my personal experience with Michael Moore during the 2000 presidential campaign that revealed the kind of guy he was, his core values, and what he thought was possible for America. Sustained, passionate and authentic concern for the welfare of others is hard to find, and even harder to fake. That is what I learned that Michael was all about.
We met the night of the 2000 MTV Video Awards, when a video he directed for Rage Against the Machine was nominated for Best Video. I became friendly with him and his wife, was invited to see him speak at a Ralph Nader for President rally, and a few weeks later, out to dinner. It was at dinner that he spoke eloquently and personally about his hopes and dreams for America, always peppering his points with the stories and struggles of real people. He was so full of belief in the promise of real change, and most importantly, in the ability of everyday people to come together to make it happen. He was supporting Nader's campaign with gusto, and in fact, that nights, he inspired me to vote third party for the first time. Moore left New York not long afterwards to work on what would become the Oscar-winning documentary, Bowling for Columbine. We all know what happened in the 2000 election, when votes for Ralph Nader ate up Al Gore's margin and won George Bush the presidency. I plead guilty.
For as right as he's been, Moore is just as able to admit past mistakes, which he demonstrated famously on Bill Maher's Real Time, when he and Maher literally begged Ralph Nader not to run for president again in 2004. It was not a stunt. He learned the hard way something very profound and critical from the 2000 election: that real change only happens from the bottom up. In a 2010 interview with Amy Goodman for Democracy Now, Moore reflected on his changed stance about third parties:
I have this basic position about Ralph. I've known him for many, many years. He has done so much good for this country. I also believe that he doesn't really have a handle on what the proper strategy is to get this country in our hands. I don't see him ever working with the grassroots or with the people or being in touch with the people in any way, shape or form. if we really want to try and get this power in our hands, in the people's hands, in the hands of the working people of this country, then we should, on a very grassroots level, from the bottom up, be doing things -- whether it's running for local office, or taking over the local Democratic Party."
The game is rigged in America when it comes to third parties. There's no way that that's ever going to work. And so, then how, instead of letting the game, I guess, rig us, what can we do to the game itself? And if the game is, well, we have these two political parties which are really very much like one party, why don't we make sure that one of those parties actually is a second party and start locally and do that? And that's what I encourage people to do. That's my approach."
If earnest optimism and the belief in significant change were Moore's greatest flaws in 2000, they are now an asset that over a half of the country desperately needs. What he learned from that election and every one since, is reflected in his to do list. This is not just wild revolutionary posturing. This came from being in the trenches. It came from losing and understanding what it takes to win. It came from seeing the impact of an election on the working folks who have inspired his life's work, and wanting sincerely to stop the suffering.
So the morning after the 2016 election, when MSNBC's Rachel Maddow very accurately posted the very real impact of third party votes, it echoed the frustration of 2000. So if anyone was wondering why Moore and others who initially supported Bernie Sanders didn't go "Bernie or Bust," like our younger counterparts, it comes from what voters like myself experienced firsthand, having lived through eight years of a Bush presidency.
https://t.co/DeYriwyUZv pic.twitter.com/n4U5NmrmGy
- Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) November 9, 2016
Moore is not afraid to call the Democratic party out on its mistake with Bernie Sanders, and the role that played in the election, and he makes that clear on his to do list. He doesn't blame third party voters for Trump -- He holds the Democratic party responsible for leading them there. He knows there are other factors, like the impact of prisoners without voting rights -- people who are subject to punishment under the law, but not allowed to participate in the system of government. He recognizes that even if Hillary had won, things are still very broken, just by virtue of what happened to Sanders. Moore's razor sharp focus is on changing, the Democratic party from the inside.
Just catching up on all the economic anxiety in my inbox pic.twitter.com/wo2BlkcBV8
- Daniel Dale (@ddale8) November 13, 2016
Moore is also careful not to blame racism for the election results. He is very aware of and concerned about the racial tension in the country, but he stresses that it should not keep us from looking at the very real economic issues that put Trump in the White House, as he told the LA Times:
The Democratic Party doesn't seem to get it. Working people that are both African American and white -- don't make it a racial thing -- have suffered at the hands of both Republicans and Democrats," Moore said. He grew more fiery. "The DNC has to resign. They all have to resign."
***
Maureen Herman: People would love to see Trump ousted from office, but most think it's unrealistic. What do you say to that?
Michael Moore: We must work every path that leads to stopping Trump -- legal, popular opinion, mass protest, forcing elected officials to obstruct his every negative move.
***
In his "Morning After" list, Moore warned that Democrats in Congress who were not ready to fight "must step out of the way and let those of us who know the score lead the way in stopping the meanness and the madness that's about to begin." In the LA Times interview, Moore doubled down on the goal of removing Trump. "I don't believe anyone in the media who says we're going to have four years of Trump. This is a man who doesn't have any ideology; the only thing he believes in is Donald Trump. And that's usually a one-way ticket out of office."
Love the fact that the small groups of protesters last night have passion for our great country. We will all come together and be proud!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 11, 2016
***
Maureen Herman: What can people do immediately to get involved with this movement?
Michael Moore: Find the protests in your area and show up. If there are none, start one. Post photos and video on social media. Stay aware of other things going on and get involved!
***
Another documentary filmmaker, comedian Bobcat Goldthwait, posted a text message to his daughter, in answer to her asking how he was doing after the election. It sums up where a lot of us are, or need to be right now:
Numb, but it's just put the fire back in me. It's time for me to make a big noise. Protect your rights, protect the gays, protect minorities. This will wake up the strength and good people. I know it sounds crazy, but a lot of good will come from this. Too many good people just got a huge wake up call. It's OK to be sad and scared, but love, the real beautiful kind of love, comes out of times like these. We're the new 60s. Time to love and kick ass, and stand up to sexism and racism.
The dumbest thing anyone does at any protest, rally etc will be the first thing seized upon by the media and/or your enemies.
- Barry Crimmins (@crimmins) November 14, 2016
So all hands on deck. Get in the car with Uncle Mike. And yes, we can stop at Denny's on the way home. You're going to need your energy.
With additional reporting by Katie Schwartz