Reuters reports that VW is about to tell the federal judge in San Francisco in charge of its case that it will offer to buy back nearly half a million of its diesel vehicles from owners who were deceived about the cars' emission standards and performance when the company engineered its cars so that they would act daemonically, performing differently based on whether they were being tested or not.
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Wednesday, 20 April 2016
VW offers to buy back 500K demon-haunted diesels
Tupac talks Trump's greed in newly unearthed 1992 MTV interview
Tupac knew what was up. In a previously unreleased interview with the rap icon shot in 1992, Tupac Shakur concisely and accurately analyzes Donald Trump's greed.
Monday, 18 April 2016
In 1928, 199 men set out to run 3,400 miles across the United States.
In 1928, 199 runners set out on a perilous footrace across America, from Los Angeles to Chicago and on to New York. The winner would receive $25,000 -- if anyone finished at all. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll tell the story of the Bunion Derby, billed as the greatest footrace the world had ever known.
We'll also learn some creepy things about spiders and puzzle over why one man needs three cars.
nationalforest/5734775201">Image: FlickrSunday, 17 April 2016
Hand over the tools: technology for learners, not teachers
My presentation for OneStopEnglish at IATEFL 2016, in Birmingham last Saturday. For OneStopEnglish, I have written a series of articles on tasks which involve the learners, not the teachers, using technology either inside or outside the classroom. The articles, for a wide variety of levels and ages, include around 70 … Continue reading
A look back at the D&D moral panic
Retro Report did a short feature on the moral panics about D&D in the 1980s. It's a fun, 13 minute look back at the moment when D&D totally changed a bunch of kids' lives, only to be vilified and literally demonized by opportunistic members of the religious right.
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Saturday, 16 April 2016
$25 bluetooth headphones that sound good
I've wanted a set of bluetooth headphones for a while. The cord free-ish operation, and no need to actually be tethered to my phone seemed too good to be true. This $25 pair does it all.
The earliest generations of bluetooth headphones seemed that this technology would never take to quality listening. It may still not be for the audiophile, but for active folks, who enough spending time moving around a bit more, these AYL QY8 Bluetooth headphones do the trick.
The earbuds fit easily into your ear, come complete with several varied size tips for a more custom fit, and have a simple pressure latch that holds them in your ear. Controls, from activation, to volume adjustment, are made via button press on the right side earbud. Pairing was easy, and charging was quick.
It is very nice having no extra cord dangling from my head, into my jacket or back pocket, when I'm walking the dogs. I'm frequently working two leashes, and I hate it when the phone gets tangled in the mess. The other place I'd hope to use them is on the motorcycle, but inside a helmet, with no ability to control the unit, its kinda limited to just playing music. Also, when I did manage to get the button jammed up against the foam, it just held it in and powered the unit off.
The sound quality on these phones is certainly good enough for an afternoon out walking the dogs. fishing, or paddling. When compared to other $19-50 bluetooth headsets, as well as my in-helmet Sena bluetooth communications system, sound better. They are not tinny, have enough bass for the wide variety of music I like, and present a bit of a sound stage. My prior experience with bluetooth streamed music has been something along the lines of AM radio. These AYL QY8s are the first lower end bluetooth headphone I've found that I was willing to use. For phone calls people said they sounded fine.
For $25 this is a fine set of outdoor/active sport headphones where the wires can be tucked up under your hat, and won't yank at your phone.
Friday, 15 April 2016
The ultimate minimalist wristwatch
Jesper is offered as "the ultimate minimalist watch," reducing the psychological baggage of personal timekeeping to the simplest possible state by "opting out of telling time altogether."
Jesper's perfectly-weighted 45mm plated gunmetal body, sapphire crystal glass, and lush genuine leather band create a striking affront to today's excessive lifestyles. Changeable bands lets you easily switch between camel brown (pictured above), desert sand tan, and charcoal gray to complement any look.
It's real. It's $79.
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