text:
Thursday, December 31, 2020

No Agenda Episode 1308 - "Swiss Cheese Model"

  • "Swiss Cheese Model"
  • A picture named NA-1308-Art-SM
  • Direct [link] to the mp3 file
  • Experimental IPFS RSS Feed

End of 2020 Technology and More!

 Technology and more...

Puerto Rico commits $8 million to rebuild Arecibo telescope

100+Engadget / 35min
There’s a glimmer of hope for the collapsed Arecibo Observatory telescope as 2020 draws to a close. El Nuevo Dia reports that Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez has signed an executive order approving $8 million to help rebuild the radio telescope. Its reconstruction is important as a matter of “public policy” and reestablishing the Observatory as a “world-class educational center,” the Governor’

Qatar Airways Will Fly To Seattle, Partner With Alaska

1KOne Mile at a Time / 38min
Several weeks ago Qatar Airways announced that it would start flying to Seattle. The airline has now moved forward the launch date of this route by several weeks, from March 15 to January 29. This is part of Qatar Airways’ continued US expansion — the airline recently began flying to San Francisco , and Seattle is its next US gateway. Qatar Airways will fly from Doha to Seattle As of January 29,

Drone users face new rules across Europe and UK

2KBBC News - Technology / 3h
The regulations relax the distinctions between commercial and recreational drone use.

How to See When Apps Access Your Camera and Microphone on Android

How-To Geek / 10min
Privacy is a big topic when it comes to mobile devices. iPhones and iPads show little orange and green indicator icons when apps access the device’s camera or microphone. Here’s an Android app that can do the same. Read This Article on How-To Geek ›

Apple Purges 39,000 Games From China's App Store

Apple China App Store•
Gizmodo / 13min
In its biggest single-day purge, Apple removed 39,000 games from its China store as part of a crackdown on games without a government license in the country. Read more...

Thursday's Best Deals: LG 4K Monitor, Google Nest Audio 2-Pack, Crash Team Racing, Sunday Scaries CBD Gummies, Style & Co Dress Boots, Aukey Power Bank, and More

64Gizmodo / 13min
An LG 4K monitor and Google Nest Audio 2-pack lead Thursday’s best deals. Read more...

Watch these stunning New Year's Eve fireworks from the safety of your home

28Mashable / 14min
At this point you all should know the drill: Please don't go to New Year's Eve parties. The pandemic is as bad as it's ever been, and one drunken night with pals (or strangers) truly is not worth making this thing worse. OK, now that we got that out of the way, just because you shouldn't be out for New Year's Eve doesn't mean you can't watch wonderful fireworks. In fact, you've got lots of option

Two weeks with Apple Fitness+

Engadget / 16min
I’m at the stage of my pandemic fitness routine where if I finish a workout without having yelled in frustration, I have to wonder if the session was too easy. Whether it’s because I’ve grown bored or I’m getting stronger, I’ve struggled to find exercise videos that suit my needs. Admittedly, I’m also very picky — I get annoyed by coaches who are too peppy, talk too much about themselves or don’t

Thursday's Best Deals: LG 4K Monitor, Google Nest Audio 2-Pack, Crash Team Racing, Sunday Scaries CBD Gummies, Style & Co Dress Boots, Aukey Power Bank, and More

44Lifehacker / 19min
An LG 4K monitor and Google Nest Audio 2-pack lead Thursday’s best deals. Read more...

US government agencies told to patch SolarWinds flaws now

20TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 24min
All federal agencies using Orion are asked to update to v2020.2.1HF2.

Windows and Linux servers turned into crypto miners

20TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 24min
New worm brute-forces its way inside poorly protected servers.

Save 40% on Aukey's Very Reliable 20,000mAh Power Bank

Gizmodo / 31min
Aukey 20,000mAh Power Bank | $36 | Amazon Prime Read more...

Apple purges nearly 40k games from Chinese App Store to close out 2020

Apple China App Store•
SlashGear / 34min
As the world turns the page into 2021, Apple has removed a huge number of apps from the iOS App Store in China. In all, the company removed 46,000 apps from its Chinese storefront, the vast majority of which were games. The apps that were removed come from publishers who didn’t provide Apple with a license to sell in-app purchases … Continue reading

15 courses on how to become quality management-certified

20Engadget / 34min
Companies must improve their output quality and eliminate waste if they want to reach maximum efficiency. Hiring quality management professionals certified in Lean Six Sigma allows them to do that, ultimately saving them time and money. That makes Lean Six Sigma a valuable asset in any industry, and The 2021 Six Sigma Training Suite Bundle can help you get accredited. This bundle is packed with 4

TPG round-up: Top 5 business-class meals in the sky

The Points Guy / 45min
We’ve already sampled the delights and disasters of economy and premium economy dining, so now it’s the turn of business class. Related: TPG round-up: Top 5 economy meals in the sky TPG round-up: 5 worst economy meals in the sky TPG round-up: Top 5 premium economy meals in the sky TPG round-up: 5 worst premium economy meals in the sky While writing these round-ups, I quickly discovered that the r

LG's Envisioning Futuristic Sushi Bars With Transparent OLEDs

Gizmodo / 55min
Even though CES 2021 will be completely virtual this year, that’s not stopping LG from being a lil extra with its OLED demos. This year, the company’s setting up not one, not two, but three flashy demos of its 55-inch transparent OLED display. Read more...

How to Use Outlook’s “My Templates” Add-in For Quick Text Entry

How-To Geek / 1h
Almost everyone who uses email at work types the same phrases multiple times a day. Save time by using “My Templates,” Microsoft Outlook’s add-in for one-click text entry, to store and add phrases of your choice. Read This Article on How-To Geek ›

Proposed U.S. Covid-19 Testing Requirement Will Strand Americans Abroad

View from the Wing / 1h
An American citizen presenting themselves at the border is entitled to enter the country. They can be questioned, searched, and required to quarantine as a public health measure. But as a general matter citizens cannot be denied entry into the country. Here the government places a requirement on airlines to prevent citizens from presenting themselves at the border. You can't even get tested in mu

LG brings its transparent OLED TV to beds, restaurants and public transit windows

24TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
We're getting closer to owning a 55-inch transparent OLED.

Hacked home cams used to livestream police raids in swatting attacks

200+BBC News - Technology / 1h
The FBI issues an alert saying offenders have sometimes spoken to police via breached smart devices.

5G Was a Tax on Smartphones in 2020

24Gizmodo / 1h
2020 was supposed to be 5G’s big coming out party. The year people used 5G to order food from their seats at stadiums, the year people used 5G to stream movies from the cloud, and most importantly, the year when a lot of people would finally have access to 5G on a shiny new smartphone. Read more...

A year of tech events without tech events

36Engadget / 1h
In late October, Huawei did something different to mark its latest smartphone launch: It hosted a “drive-through’ press event. It hired a fleet of luxury cars to taxi me and other reporters to a warehouse in the south-east of London to showcase the new Mate 40 Pro, its latest smartphone. The device, as it turns out, was waiting in the car for me. I stayed in the car for the duration of the event.

New FCC robocall rules promise monthly limits and new blocking tools

SlashGear / 1h
The FCC is hoping to better crack down on persistent unwanted robocalls, with new rules putting more responsibility on phone companies to prevent them getting through. It’s the latest escalation in an ongoing battle against unwanted and illegal robocalls, particularly those which aren’t telemarketing, with new limitations being applied and extra tools for blocking repeat offenders. While regulati

Perk up Your Coffee Station With Our Favorite Coffee Makers

20Lifehacker / 1h
I don’t know about you, but I can’t start my day without coffee. And with the pandemic still raging on, I’m trying to limit the time spent outside of my apartment as much as possible. If you’re a germaphobe like me, then you’ve probably also had to sacrifice trips to your local coffee shop for the foreseeable future. Read more...

Today is the last day you can play the original 'FarmVille'

100+Engadget / 1h
Now’s your last chance to squeak in some web game nostalgia. As Zynga warned in September , today is the last day to play the original FarmVille . The developers are shutting down the 11-year-old game after December 31st, 2020, in sync with Adobe ending Flash support needed for the game to run. You can still play the follow-ups, of course, but it won’t be quite the same if you’re looking to reliv

How to Improve Your Balance So You Don't Fall This Winter

61Lifehacker / 1h
Though it’s easy to label someone who frequently slips, trips, falls and/or knocks into things as being “clumsy,” there is usually more to the story than that. While it’s possible that their main problem is not looking where they’re going or paying attention to their surroundings, a large part of being steady on your… Read more...

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi Launching Early 2021

100+One Mile at a Time / 2h
About a year ago we first learned about the concept of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi. Despite the pandemic, that airline is now just a couple of weeks from launching. This is Abu Dhabi’s second low cost carrier to start operations during the pandemic. Air Arabia Abu Dhabi started flying over the summer, and that’s a joint venture between between Air Arabia and Etihad Airways. The basics of Wizz Air Abu Dhab

How to Use Shortcuts Directly From iPhone and iPad Home Screen

How-To Geek / 2h
There is a myriad of ways to launch a shortcut, including from the shortcuts app, Siri, and widgets. But the fastest way is by using a home screen shortcut. Here’s how to use shortcuts directly from the iPhone and iPad home screen. Read This Article on How-To Geek ›

Tesla launches the world's largest Supercharger station in Shanghai

93Engadget / 2h
Tesla has launched the world’s largest Supercharger station in China, the company announced on Wiebo . The 72-stall facility in Shanghai easily bests the 56 stall station the company opened last month in Fresno county, California, as Electrek noted. Unlike the outdoor California station, the Shanghai Superchargers also appears to be covered, according to images posted by Twitter user @JayinShangh

Dungeons, Dragons, and Diversity

200+Wired / 2h
Dungeons & Dragons has spent the past few months pushing a new era of diversity and inclusions, but it’s still got a lot of work to do.

Romantic, practical, or creepy: Should you share your location with your partner?

36Mashable / 2h
Some couples share everything from toothbrushes to their best friend’s secrets. But sharing your location? That’s a whole new level of intimacy. These days, smartphones track your every move , including your location , making it easier than ever for third parties to know where we are (and, possibly, what we’re doing). And sometimes those third parties might be our partners, spouses, and significa

This Smartwatch Is the Definition of Overpriced

Gizmodo / 2h
Smartwatches have only gotten more affordable in recent years, and budget options under $200 can be surprisingly full-featured, especially if you don’t mind sacrificing sophisticated health features. So when a $350 smartwatch like the Zepp Z debuts, it has to deliver on multiple levels to make it worth the extra… Read more...

How to Close All Google Chrome Windows at Once

How-To Geek / 2h
While browsing the web with Google Chrome, it’s easy to get carried away and open dozens of windows filled with hundreds of tabs. Luckily, it’s easy to close multiple Chrome windows at once on Windows, Linux, and Mac. Here’s how. Read This Article on How-To Geek ›

This Is the Fastest, Easiest, Most Secure Way To Buy Cryptocurrency Online

Futurism / 2h
If you’re interested in the world of cryptocurrency but don’t really know where to begin, good news. CoinSmart is a cryptocurrency platform that’s extremely easy to use while also being fast and secure. Basically, it’s the superior way to sell, trade, and buy cryptocurrency online, with none of the pitfalls that one can run into on other platforms. Once you set up an account with CoinSmart , it u

This Pet Food Is Being Recalled After the Deaths of at Least 28 Dogs That Ate It

100+Lifehacker / 2h
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a recall for some Sportmix pet food products , following the deaths of at least 28 dogs after eating the food. So far, there are concerns over the safety of nine total lots of cat and dog foods manufactured by Midwest Pet Food, Inc. for potentially fatal levels of a… Read more...

3-Ingredient Cocktails to Celebrate the End of This Hellish Year

36Lifehacker / 2h
I am so tired of thinking and typing about this stupid year, but I’m still a little excited that it is finally ending (if only because that means I can quite thinking and typing about it). I don’t believe that 2021 will necessarily be any better—we will, as far as I can tell, still be living through a serious health… Read more...

2021 could be a great year for 'alternative' consoles

63Engadget / 2h
Despite the pandemic, it’s been a pretty great year for video game hardware. Microsoft launched the Xbox Series X , a powerful obelisk packing a 12-teraflop GPU, and the smaller Series S , which can run games natively at 1440p resolution. Sony, meanwhile, released the PlayStation 5 and a cheaper Digital Edition that doesn’t come with a disc drive. Both companies are struggling with stock shortage

Turkey Adds Travel Coronavirus Testing Requirement

200+One Mile at a Time / 2h
For the first time since opening to tourists over the summer, Turkey is now requiring all visitors to get a coronavirus test. I first wrote about this several days ago, but Turkey has now changed the exact rules for the third time, so I wanted to update this post to reflect that. The latest update will make life easier for transit passengers, as they aren’t required to get tested. Rather these ne

Wireless earbuds, vinyl, and Alexa: 10 biggest audio trends of the last decade

28TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
Streaming, smart home, and the search for something superior to stereo – we cover the trends that defined audio in the 2010s.

The Internet Archive now has better scans of Computerworld magazine

100+Engadget / 2h
The Internet Archive announced that it has made Computerworld ’s print issues from 1967-2014 available online in better quality than ever. The publication provides a historical record of sorts for computing, as it launched during a key period in the industry and documented significant events like a 75 minute Steve Jobs interview in 1995. The Internet Archive and its Wayback Machine store old web

7 reasons to stay at the newly renovated Westin Maui on your next trip to Hawaii

The Points Guy / 3h
When you visit Hawaii , where you stay is important. Each island has a distinct vibe, and different areas of each island offer a unique experience. For many who visit Maui, Ka’anapali on the western side of the island is a much-sought-after area because of its gorgeous beach, view of the neighboring islands and proximity to shopping, restaurants and activities such as snorkeling, surfing and golf

How to Get Started With Google TV

How-To Geek / 3h
The Chromecast with Google TV introduced the company’s vision for its smart TV devices. If you have a streaming device running Google TV, there are some things you should know. We’ll help you get the most out of your experience. Read This Article on How-To Geek ›

How to Enable the Hidden Tap Gesture on iPhone or Android

52Gizmodo / 3h
Shortcuts and gestures can help do more with your phone in less time—you just need to know the right ones to use. Thanks to the rollout of iOS 14 and the efforts of third-party developers on Android, you can now access a very helpful new shortcut: tapping the back of your phone to launch apps, take screenshots, open… Read more...

Activist hedge fund advises Intel to outsource CPU manufacturing

100+Ars Technica / 3h
(credit: Andrew Cunningham) Activist hedge fund Third Point has taken a stake of nearly $1 billion in Intel and called on the chipmaker to consider shedding its manufacturing operations, throwing a core part of its strategy into question. The firm with $15 billion in assets run by Daniel Loeb made a number of demands in a letter sent to Intel’s chairman Omar Ishrak on Tuesday and seen by the Fina

Proscenic P11 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner Review

SlashGear / 3h
You don’t need to be able to connect to the Internet or even just smartphones to be smart, even though the marketing term has been appropriated exactly to describe that. Sometimes, you just have to be smart about squeezing the best out of features to make life more convenient for people. The Proscenic P11 cordless vacuum cleaner isn’t exactly smart … Continue reading

Apple removes more unlicensed games from the App Store in China

Apple China App Store•
75Engadget / 3h
The App Store is reportedly looking a little different in China today. According to Reuters , Apple has removed roughly 39,000 games owned by developers and publishers that don’t have an ISBN (International Standard Book Number) from the Chinese government. Research conducted by Qimai, a specialist firm in China, reportedly reveals that many Western titles were included in the purge, including As

How Tech Could Help Us Contemplate Our Own Mortality

73Wired / 3h
Monks stared at skulls to ponder the inevitability of death. We stare at our phones.

Your Password Manager Can Do More Than Just Store Passwords

34How-To Geek / 3h
It’s common sense that everyone should be using a good password manager (we hope, at least). It’s also worth noting that password managers have tons of other amazing features that you might not be using. These features are both convenient and security-centric, and they can help you stay safe online and get the most out of your password manager. Read This Article on Review Geek ›

Get an On-Screen Windows Key Shortcut Guide on Windows 10

40How-To Geek / 3h
Windows 10 features a rich collection of Windows key shortcuts that can make using a PC speedy fast—if you remember them. Luckily, thanks to PowerToys, you can quickly see a convenient pop-up guide to many of the most useful ones. Here’s how to use it. Read This Article on How-To Geek ›

Forget No Change Fees, Qatar Airways Makes All Tickets Refundable

38View from the Wing / 3h
Doha-based oneworld carrier Qatar Airways has been among the most creative during the pandemic . They've let customers get more credit than the value of their ticket if willing to forego a refund, they've offered to let customers convert flight credits into miles. They've even improved their award chart , reversing a past devaluation. Now Qatar has announced that all tickets purchased by April 30

Volvo's first electric SUV runs on Google

85Mashable / 3h
I spent two hours driving Volvo’s first electric SUV around San Francisco last week. The thing I loved most about it: Google Maps. The XC40 Recharge hits the U.S. market in January for just under $55,000. Volvo doesn't try to push its own software. Instead, it's one of the first cars with an infotainment system entirely run on native Google software. (We're not talking about Android Auto, which r

Google Pixel Adaptive Charging requires alarms to be set during a specific window

SlashGear / 3h
In December, a new update for Google Pixel smartphones added in some new features. One of the most interesting features was Adaptive Charging, designed to allow the phone to charge slowly overnight to help preserve its battery health. The idea is to help preserve battery health over time by dynamically controlling how quickly a Pixel device charges. The goal is … Continue reading

You Might Abandon Your New Year's Resolutions, But the Internet Never Will

40Gizmodo / 3h
After the past year’s wall-to-wall cavalcade of death and dreck, it’s not a surprise to see a lot of folks stepping into 2021 with what can best be described as “modest expectations” for the world writ large and their Capacity To Deal with whatever it throws their way. This is the year that we’ve seen people finally… Read more...

Ticketmaster fined $10m for business 'intrusions'

200+BBC News - Technology / 3h
The US Department of Justice says the firm unlawfully tried to "choke off" a competitor's business.

Basking shark families go on road trips in search of fine dining

98Ars Technica / 3h
Enlarge / Basking sharks in the aquarium, Loro Parque, Tenerife, Canary Islands, 2007. (credit: Heritage Images | Getty Images) Picture the scene. Swimming off Scotland’s west coast during a summer holiday you notice a large dark shark nearly 10 metres long headed towards you. A prominent triangular dorsal fin cuts the surface, the powerful rhythmically beating tail driving it silently through th

The Morning After: Intel, AMD and Apple made 2020 a big year for CPUs

66Engadget / 3h
Very, very soon, 2020 will be over. Did it take an eternity to get here, or did the year fly past for you? We’ve commissioned a run of end-of-year stories that touch on what happened in tech over the last 12 months, how we’re on the brink of a processor revolution, how Twitch kept its streaming crown, as well as our favorite games and gadgets of 2020. It’ll be January 1st 2021 tomorrow, and we’ll

Aspark Owl hypercar is officially on sale in North America and Europe

SlashGear / 4h
One of the coolest hypercar’s shown off in a while comes from a new company called Aspark. The car itself is called the Owl and is billed as the fastest accelerating car in the world. The vehicle is capable of accelerating from a standstill to 60 mph in 1.72 seconds. The incredible acceleration is thanks to horsepower numbers ranging from … Continue reading

FCC orders phone companies to help trace illegal robocallers

200+Engadget / 4h
The FCC has been adopting more and more measures to combat robocalls, and the latest set of rules (PDF) it’s implementing include limiting even non-telemarketing calls made to residential phones. Non-commercial, commercial and nonprofit organizations can now only make up to three calls per residential number within 30 days and are required to allow recipients to opt out. The FCC didn’t have a lim

The best games of 2020: don’t miss these essential titles

32TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 4h
It's been one hell of a year, but thankfully the best games of 2020 have helped make it a bit more bearable.

Yes to Masks. No to Parties. 2021 Will Be a Lot Like 2020

500+Wired / 4h
Sorry, folks: Thanks to Covid, next year won’t be much more fun than this one, at least until enough vaccines arrive.

Timnit Gebru’s Exit From Google Exposes a Crisis in AI

200+Wired / 4h
The situation has made clear that the field needs to change. Here’s where to start, according to a current and a former Googler.

After 2020, Live Events Might Not Look the Same. Good!

76Wired / 4h
This year radically changed what live events—at least those that weren’t canceled—look like. It also taught organizers some lessons.

Apple fan 3D prints very cool MagSafe Duo charging stand

SlashGear / 4h
One of the coolest things about 3D printing is that the devices have allowed individual users to build their own gadget accessories. Before the era of 3D printing, building your own charging stand for an iPhone 12 and an Apple Watch would’ve been almost impossible. With the arrival of 3D printers, anyone with a printer and some time can create … Continue reading

Apple executes New Year's Eve apps purge in China

Apple China App Store•
100+BBC News - Technology / 4h
The tech firm removed about 46,000 apps in a day to meet a 31 December deadline.

How to Watch the 2020 Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball Drop

48How-To Geek / 4h
No spectators will be allowed in person to watch the ball drop in New York City’s Times Square to mark the transition from 2020 to 2021. Thankfully, there are still plenty of ways to watch the annual tradition from home. Read This Article on How-To Geek ›

Ars Technica’s 2021 Deathwatch—2020 was just the beginning

53Ars Technica / 4h
Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson) Here at Ars Technica, we would like to formally congratulate you for surviving the year that was 2020. COVID-19 may have changed everything about normal life in the last 12 months, but things are looking up for 2021. A vaccine is currently rolling out , a more science-friendly US administration will take office in January, and maybe we can even look forward to a re

FarmVille Once Took Over Facebook. Now Everything Is FarmVille.

1KNYT > Technology / 4h
The game, a phenomenon a decade ago, is shutting down on Thursday. But its legacy — for better and for worse — carries beyond gaming.

SpaceX outlines plan to catch Falcon Super Heavy booster for reuse

SlashGear / 5h
One way SpaceX works to make placing satellites and other objects into orbit cheaper is by landing and reusing its Falcon 9 booster rockets. It has a long history of successfully landing the first stage boosters, both on land and on drone ships in the ocean. SpaceX is now outlining its plan to capture and reuse the Falcon Super Heavy … Continue reading

A look back at our best photography of 2020

56MIT Technology Review / 5h
Even amidst stay-at-home orders and restricted mobility, the photographers commissioned for stories this year were able to connect us with events around the world. Inside Singapore’s huge bet on vertical farming ZAKARIA ZAINAL Finding homes for the waste that will (probably) outlive humanity SPENCER LOWELL Asia’s biggest climate migration SUSHAVAN NANDY How to turn filming the police into the end

Our best illustrations of 2020

52MIT Technology Review / 5h
From the MIT Technology Review art team, here are some of our very favorite illustrations of the year: Is getting pregnant “medically necessary” right now? INA JANG Zooming DOGBOY 10 Breakthrough Technologies: Hyper-personalized medicine JULIA DUFOSSé Your biggest questions about coronavirus, answered PAIGE VICKERS What the 1930s can teach us about dealing with Big Tech today SOPHY HOLLINGTON Alg

Ticketmaster pays $10 million fine after hacking a startup rival

400+Engadget / 5h
Ticketmaster has agreed to pay a $10 million criminal fine to avoid prosecution over charges that it illegally accessed a rival’s computer system, Reuters has reported. “Ticketmaster employees repeatedly — and illegally — accessed a competitor’s computers without authorization using stolen passwords to unlawfully collect business intelligence,” acting US attorney Seth DuCharme said in a press rel

10 TV shows we can't wait to see in 2021

78Mashable / 5h
We're not certain of much headed into 2021, but the upcoming TV slate gives us reason to hope. Despite pandemic related delays, tons of shows are launching and returning in the new year — giving those of us still socially distancing plenty to sift through Impeachment: American Crime Story , Tuca & Bertie Season 2, Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings series, HBO Max's Gossip Girl reboot, and many

How performative became the most searing callout in 2020

20Mashable / 5h
Whenever I read the word “performative” online I hear Ziwe Fumudoh’s voice. Specifically the voice she used to shut down Instagram influencer/ Only Fans short-timer / bad friend Caroline Calloway during an Instagram Live over the summer. “And when you say Black people, do you capitalize the B?” Fumudoh asks after Calloway describes her appearance on the Instagram comedy show as a way for Fumudoh

Boston Dynamics puts on a show to close off 2020

Popular Mechanics / 5h
The post appeared first on Popular Mechanics .

Researchers invent microfiber tech for delivering and activating drugs in the brain

SlashGear / 5h
An MIT associate professor, Paulina Anikeeva, and James Frank from Oregon Health and Science University developed a microfiber technology used to deliver and activate a drug that can be induced to bind to a receptor in the brain by exposure to light. Frank said that one of the significant barriers in light-controllable drugs for modulating neural circuits in the brain … Continue reading

TikTok faces legal action from 12-year-old girl in England

400+BBC News - Technology / 5h
An English court rules the girl can remains anonymous over claims TikTok misuses children's data.

Year in review: The biggest tech news of 2020 - Indian perspective

34TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
We have curated a list of top tech news that amazed us in 2020. It includes Apple’s new M1 chipset to Tesla finally announcing its arrival in India.

All Reliance Jio calls to other networks in India to be free

28TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Jio Infocomm has said all voice calls from it to other networks in India will be free from January 1, 2021 as Interconnect Usage Charge (IUC) regime comes to an end.

German Automakers Are Charged Up and Ready to Take on Tesla

1KNYT > Technology / 6h
As Tesla completes a factory in Berlin, Mercedes-Benz and Audi are introducing electric cars in bids to defend their dominance of the luxury market.

Save 20% on this galaxy projector and lie beneath a sea of stars every night

24Mashable / 6h
TL;DR: Light up your room with this Sky Lite Galaxy Projector , on sale for $47.99 with code HOLIDAY20 as of Dec. 31. Everyone loves the idea of lying underneath the stars. But between the frigid temperatures and the discomfiting thought of bugs and wild animals running amuck, it’s not always as enjoyable as it seems. We can't all be outdoorsy people. That’s why galaxy projectors that fully immer

Snag this convenient $89 PS5 charging dock for only $33 to ring in the new year

Mashable / 6h
TL;DR: Apply "HOLIDAY20" at checkout for an extra 20% off a PS5 charging dock making it $32.76 as of Dec. 31. If you’re one of the lucky ones that found the highly sought after Playstation 5 under the tree this holiday, we’re super happy for you. If not, you could try your luck at the Ultimate Gaming Giveaway and potentially win one. Otherwise, shift your focus to the restocks near you, and your

This adorable Motorola Bluetooth speaker doubles as a wireless charger

32Mashable / 6h
TL;DR: Get pumped for a better listening experience, courtesy of the Motorola Sonic Sub 500 Wireless Fast Charging Speaker for $42.36 — which is a total of 28% off with the promo code HOLIDAY20 as of Dec. 31. There are a lot of fish in the sea when it comes to Bluetooth speakers. But if you're in the market, few check as many boxes as this Motorola Sonic Sub 500 Wireless Fast Charging Speaker. Un

The 20 best documentaries on Netflix

200+Mashable / 6h
Escapism is bliss, but knowledge is power. It's why the humble documentary is more important than ever, unearthing truths, offering different perspectives, and introducing you to stories you might not have come across in your short time on this planet. Netflix's documentary offerings are strong stuff, with many of the streaming service's films and series proving some the most talked about watches

Tackle your creative writing New Year's resolution with this virtual bootcamp

Mashable / 6h
TL;DR: Get your creative juices flowing with The Creative Writing Course Bundle for $39.99, a 95% savings as of Dec. 31. Maybe you loved creative writing in school and find yourself missing it today. Maybe you've been thinking of tapping into your inner creative writer as a goal for 2021. Or maybe, you see creative writing as a new career path or side hustle. No matter your "why," you might need

New Samsung Galaxy S21 leak could be bad news for a lot of people

66TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
Yet another Samsung Galaxy S21 leak suggests that the upcoming phones will ditch the charger and headphones.

'Wonder Woman 1984' memes are good, but they can be better

300+Mashable / 7h
This year was bad, but the next can be better Wonder Woman 1984 has gifted us with one final meme to see out 2020, and it's an uncharacteristically optimistic one considering the anxiety and disaster that plagued the last 12 months. Released Dec. 25, Wonder Woman 1984 sees Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) come up against Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal), a charismatic businessman most famous for his ads stati

Another leak hints at a January 14 launch of Galaxy S21 series

Samsung Galaxy S21•
28TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
Samsung has not announced the launch date of its upcoming flagship Galaxy S21 series, but we are already getting contradictory reports of the launch date.

Google Cloud Print to go out with 2020

32TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
2020 is ending and it seems so is another Google product. Google Cloud Print will no longer be supported by the platform from Friday, December 31

Nvidia RTX 3080 is apparently coming to the most powerful gaming laptops

67TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
A new leak suggests Nvidia RTX 3000 series mobile GPUs are coming to laptops in early 2021.

Pixel phones only use Adaptive Charging if your alarm is set between certain hours

100+Engadget / 7h
Adaptive Charging is one of the most useful features Google rolled out this month for Pixel phones. It makes sure the device’s battery gets filled slower than usual if you leave it plugged in overnight, which is something that can help maintain the battery’s original capacity. As 9to5Google has spotted on a support page , though, there’s something important you need to know if you plan to put it

LG wants to put transparent OLEDs in restaurants and subways

100+Mashable / 7h
LG's got a transparent OLED display, and if you're wondering how such a device could be useful, the company has a few ideas to share. Ahead of the upcoming CES 2021 show, LG shared a few ideas on how its transparent OLED products could fit into real-world situations. One idea is having a transparent OLED at a restaurant, where the display would pop up from the bar, between the customer and the wa

You can still upgrade to Windows 10 for free

32TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
When Windows 10 was released in 2015 Microsoft made a major push for the new software by allowing Windows 7 users to upgrade for free

Gaming industry needs transparent, clearer rules: Octro

28TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
Legalised online gaming set-up will encourage growth in revenue channel for the government, says Manav Sethi, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Octro Inc. It is India's top mobile gaming company.

Brave's privacy-focused browser rolls out a version for Apple's M1 Macs

53Engadget / 9h
If you have a new M1-powered Mac and you’re looking for a non-Apple, non-Google , non-Mozilla browser, then good news, Brave has updated the release channel of its privacy-focused browser with native Apple Silicon support. At the moment, the Microsoft Edge team is still testing M1 support in its Canary release channel. For anyone running the `x64` version on a new Apple CPU Mac, please replace wi

Samsung's New HDR10+ TVs Automatically Adapt Picture Quality to Ambient Lighting

500+How-To Geek / 9h
HDR is optimized to work in a super dark environment, but most people spend their TV time surrounded by ambient lighting, like sunlight or the light from a lamp. That’s why Samsungs upcoming QLED TVs contain a new feature called HDR10+ Adaptive, which automatically adjusts and optimizes picture quality based on the ambient light in your living room. Read This Article on Review Geek ›

Hogmanay drone swarm lights up Scottish skies

500+BBC News - Technology / 9h
Edinburgh's Hogmanay has been lighting up the skies online with a drone display of Scottish icons.

Gain access to hundreds of micro books for under £50

20Mashable / 11h
TL;DR: A lifetime premium subscription to the 12min Micro Book Library is on sale for £43.59 as of Dec. 31, saving you 85% on list price. What if instead of doom scrolling before bed, you were diving into topics and stories that enriched your mind? By doing so, not only would you have conversation starters for awkward moments, but you may find yourself advancing in your career or picking up new f

GM's CES keynote will reportedly show off an electric Chevrolet pickup

66Engadget / 11h
Last month, GM announced that it was ramping up its electrification efforts and aiming to have 30 EVs on the market by the end of 2025. Turns out we might see some of those vehicles very, very soon: according to Bloomberg , the automaker will give us a peek at some of its EVs at the online-only CES in January. GM CEO Mary Barra will also give the opening keynote on January 12th and will reportedl

Vivo Y20A with triple rear cameras, 5000mAh battery launched in India

40TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
Vivo has announced its new Y series smartphones in India that pack in a massive battery. This is the watered down version of the Vivo Y20 which was launched earlier this year.

OnePlus 8T update reportedly comes with audio, video bugs

SlashGear / 12h
OnePlus is one of those manufacturers that try to be more upfront, consistent, and speedy with their monthly updates. That said, it still hasn’t been able to push a stable version of Android 11 to even the OnePlus 8 Pro. In the meantime, it continues to update all its phones, including the OnePlus 8T that already runs on Android 11. … Continue reading

Samsung vice chairman Jay Y. Lee faces nine-year sentence in bribery case

100+TechCrunch / 12h
Samsung Electronics vice chairman Jay Y. Lee faces a nine-year prison term in the bribery case that contributed to the downfall of former president Park Guen-hye. Prosecutors argued that the length of the sentence is warranted because of Samsung’s power as the largest chaebol, or family-owned conglomerate, in South Korea. “Samsung is a group with such overwhelming power that it is said Korean com

Gazelle phone trade-in program is shutting down

SlashGear / 12h
Many might no longer be familiar with Gazelle but the company has, for years, cornered the trade-in market for smartphones. It made a name for itself first with iPhone trade-ins and then moved on to include even Android phones. Its business even put it into a position to discern market trends when it comes to what consumers are will to … Continue reading

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

No Agenda Newsletter

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No Agenda News & Shopper

Show 1308

Good Riddance 2020
Start the Hammering
Dear Producer,

Tomorrow is the last No Agenda show of 2020 and you are offered one of the special $333.33 Executive Producerships. This will be for the "2020 End of Year Special." Click here for that special executive producership. This will help us finish the year off and get rid of any thoughts of 2020.

And, of course, you can contribute any amount to help the show todayClick here and donate what you think the show is worth to you. Everything counts All credit cards accepted.

No Agenda is genuine independent media focused on deconstructing and analyzing the news for you. It’s only possible with your support.
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Tomorrow’s Show.
You’ll hear about some slick marketing by the State Department to thwart Huawei’s attempt to dominate the world’s 5G market. It’s an astonishing tale that the mainstream media refused to cover for fear that it might anger its Chinese benefactors.
Panel cartoon showing man melting from 5G
There are plenty of reasons not to like 5G
The January 6th deadline approaches for the final election results. Kamala Harris is now cropping up to remind us all exactly how annoying she is as a person. If Biden can make it through four years without dropping dead or being incapacitated, Harris is the shoe-in to run for President in 2024 giving the Republicans back the office for sure.
Mike Pence
Wishful thinking or cold reality?
Tomorrow we will also look back at 2020 and discuss the highlights and lowlights of the year and what it all means for the next few years.

More importantly we wrap 2020 and say good bye. Let’s finish the year off right with the kind of support your No Agenda Show needs for 2021.
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No Agenda is your show for 2021. Contribute your support for the show today, you will never regret it. There is nothing like it.

THE NO AGENDA PLEDGE: There are no creepy advertisers or Chinese influencers telling us what to cover and how to slant things (or how to vote).

No Agenda is true independent media. It cannot exist without your help. Please contribute to support the show today. Click here, contribute and be part of the team.
John C. Dvorak & Adam C. Curry
PS Checks should be sent directly to the No Agenda Show, Box 339, El Cerrito CA 94530. Your support means everything.
The Show is healthier with sustaining donations known as subscriptions. Here are a few to choose from.
The favorite is the lucky $33.33 a month.
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And there is a weekly version of that too. Click here.
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Copyright © 2020 No Agenda Show, All rights reserved.
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Wednesday Morning Technology and More...

 Technology and more...

World Of Hyatt Selling Points For 25% Off (Last Chance)

500+One Mile at a Time / 2h
A few weeks back, World of Hyatt launched its current promotion on purchased points . This could potentially be a great deal, especially in conjunction with the current 15-25% rebate on award redemptions , plus the easy ways to earn World of Hyatt Globalist status in 2021. If you’ve been considering this promotion but haven’t yet made a purchase, this is your last chance to do so, as the promotio

The Morning After: Boston Dynamics' dancing robots are back

100+Engadget / 1h
Today, we’ve got stories on Apple’s “ultra” security measures, someone squeezing entire movies on floppy disks and a deep dive on the ways we might connect, without touch, in a post-pandemic world. But for this opening salvo, let’s home in on a family of dancing robots . Watch the Atlas robot and the entire Boston Dynamics family, including the dog-like Spot and box-stacking Handle , dance to “Do

What Is “Binning” for Computer Components?

41How-To Geek / 2h
You might not realize it, but every time you purchase a new desktop CPU, you also get a ticket for a giveaway called the “silicon lottery.” Two CPUs of the same model can perform differently when pushed to their limits thanks to something called “CPU binning.” Read This Article on How-To Geek ›

Chase Targeted Spending Bonuses: Are You Eligible?

87One Mile at a Time / 4min
Credit card issuers have been offering all kinds of additional perks and bonuses on spending in order to keep cardmembers engaged in these difficult times. For the past several months, Chase has been offering limited time spending bonuses on select cards. That trend is continuing, as Chase has just rolled out the first 2021 spending bonuses for cards. Chase’s new card spending bonuses Chase is of

UK internet use doubles in 2020 due to pandemic

BBC News - Technology / 11min
Openreach said the rise was driven by live sport, gaming and working from home.

Los Angeles to offer vaccine record on iPhones

44BBC News - Technology / 11min
Los Angeles County will offer a digital record of vaccinations in the Apple Wallet app on iPhones.

Amazon still hasn’t fixed its problem with bait-and-switch reviews

Ars Technica / 16min
Enlarge / Our $24 drone. You can see the missing propeller on the right. (credit: Timothy B. Lee / Ars Technica) Like thousands of other parents, I decided to get my kids a cheap drone for Christmas. I spent $24 for a plastic flying machine with rudimentary collision-avoidance capabilities. A plastic cage mostly kept small fingers away from the four propellers. The kids were delighted for the fir

Modeling the bizarre remnants of a supernova

22Engadget / 17min
When stars of a certain large size and energy run out of fuel, the result is a supernova explosion that can be spotted with the naked eye just once in a lifetime. Some leave behind a relatively spherical supernova remnant . However, others expand within dense clouds of gas and dust, so the leftover shells can become wildly distorted. Astronomers from the INAF-Palermo Astronomical Observatory mode

Chase First Quarter Spending Bonuses Coming To Most Co-Brand Cards

View from the Wing / 26min
Chase has spending bonus offers that appear to be available for January – March on all of its non-Southwest co-brands. These offers haven’t been promoted yet, and not all of the links appear to be allowing registration yet, so it’s possible something could be on offer for Southwest as well (or one or more of these may ultimately not be promoted). Continue reading ...

The Most Common iOS 14 Problems and How to Fix Them

Gizmodo / 26min
Every new version of iOS comes with a bunch of bugs and issues, some bigger than others, and iOS 14 is no different. Apple will iron out many of these problems with subsequent software updates, but it’s useful to know whether the issues you’re seeing on your own phone are known bugs in iOS 14—and to learn about some… Read more...

How to Turn off or Restart Your Playstation 5

How-To Geek / 27min
The PlayStation 5’s (PS5) user interface places the power options within a hidden menu, making them somewhat difficult to find. We’ll explain how to find the options, so you can easily turn your console off, put it into Rest Mode, restart it, or turn the system on again as needed. Read This Article on How-To Geek ›

10 most exciting US theme park attractions coming in 2021

The Points Guy / 31min
2020 was supposed to be a great year for new theme park attractions. And sure, the year started with the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway opened just in the nick of time in March out in Florida. But like with almost everything else, 2020 was not kind to theme parks. The COVID-19 pandemic not only slowed the construction of many theme park att

2020: A credit card year in review

The Points Guy / 31min
I think it’s safe to say that 2020 was filled with surprises — from new card launches to major refreshes to tightened approval criteria and just about everything in between. With 2021 just around the corner, let’s take a look back at the past year and all the credit card shake-ups that defined the industry in 2020. Want more from TPG? Sign up for our daily newsletter! American Express hits the gr

Ubisoft+ would be a great addition to Xbox Games Pass, but will it happen?

32TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 46min
EA Play joined Xbox Games Pass Ultimate in 2020 and rumors suggest that Ubisoft+ might do the same.

Apple pulled an app that promoted potentially COVID-unsafe parties

26Engadget / 47min
Apple has pulled an iOS app called Vybe Together that promoted private parties in New York City and elsewhere during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Verge has reported. The app quickly gained notoriety yesterday following critical tweets by New York Times reporter Taylor Lorenz and others. Its account was also banned on TikTok. Some terrible people built a whole app for finding and promoting COVID-uns

Why The First Boeing 737 MAX Flight Back In Service Was The Most American Airlines Flight Ever

View from the Wing / 55min
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips. Continue reading ...

How to Make Calls from Windows 10 Using an Android Phone

How-To Geek / 55min
If your computer runs Windows 10 and you also have an Android phone, you should probably be using Microsoft’s Your Phone app. You can do a lot with it, including making and receiving phone calls on your PC. Let’s do it! Read This Article on How-To Geek ›

Calculated Properties in PowerShell Functions

How-To Geek / 55min
Many times a returned property from an object in PowerShell may not be ideally named, or the value is not quite in the necessary format. For those instances, PowerShell has the calculated properties construct. This useful feature allows for modifying the returned value easily during select operations and quickly and easily return what’s needed in the pipelined output. In practice, what does this

Which Streaming Gadget Should You Buy: Roku, Fire TV, or Chromecast?

How-To Geek / 55min
At this point, the set top box market has settled on three major choices—or rather, two major choices and a dark horse. For most consumers who want something besides their smart TV’s built-in interface, or who are shopping for a new TV and want a widely supported UI baked in, you’ve got a choice between Roku, Fire TV, and Chromecast. Read This Article on Review Geek ›

NASA heliophysics missions get the green light

SlashGear / 56min
NASA has confirmed the approval of two heliophysics missions to explore the Sun and the system driving space weather near Earth. The mission includes the Extreme Ultraviolent High-Throughput Spectroscopic Telescope Epsilon Mission, or EUVST. The other mission is the Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer or EZIE. The goal of the missions are to help scientists better understanding the Sun and Earth …

New Samsung TVs will calibrate HDR10+ movies in response to ambient light

F. Mode Samsung QLED HDR•
28TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 1h
New Samsung TVs are taking a lesson from Dolby Vision IQ, with an HDR10+ Adaptive feature to calibrate in response to ambient light.

Buy The Adria Airways Brand For ~$12K

27One Mile at a Time / 1h
If you’ve ever wanted to buy an airline at a price you may be able to afford, this is your chance. Okay, not an actual airline, but the name of an airline… an airline that’s no longer in business. Former Slovenian flag carrier and Star Alliance member Adria Airways liquidated in September 2019 . The airline had been struggling for years, and the situation was so dire even before the coronavirus p

Protecting great apes from the unknown effects of COVID-19

Ars Technica / 1h
Humans can transmit many diseases to chimps, orangutans and their kin. People who study and care for the creatures are taking lockdown-style measures to limit the risk. (credit: ) Wildlife veterinarian Stephen Ngulu starts his typical working day watching from a distance as the chimpanzees under his care eat their breakfast. He keeps an eye out for runny noses, coughing or other hints of

A rugged off-roader called the Bremach Taos is coming to America

SlashGear / 1h
A rugged Russian-built off-road vehicle called the UAZ Patriot has been tackling the terrain in Siberia and other rugged and remote areas for years. A version of that vehicle will be coming to the United States for the 2022 model year from a company called Bremach. It’s called the Bremach Taos. The Bremach Taos is a rugged body-on-frame four-door SUV. … Continue reading

How My Record Player Helped Me Feel the Music

69Wired / 1h
If streaming can’t cure your stay-at-home blues, a spinning platter just might do the trick.

30 Years Since the Human Genome Project Began, What’s Next?

100+Wired / 1h
Eric Green, head of the nation’s top genomics research institute, looks back on how far the field has come and shares his bold vision for the future.

Apple suffers a loss in lawsuit against maker of iPhone emulators

100+Engadget / 1h
Apple sued security start-up Corellium last year, accusing it of violating copyright law for offering researchers access to “virtual” iPhones that can help them find bugs in iOS products. Now, a federal judge in Florida has tossed Apple’s copyright complaint, giving Corellium a major victory in its legal battle against the tech giant. Apple also accused Corellium of violating the Digital Millenni

How Daniel Mertzlufft helped jumpstart the Ratatouille musical

Mashable / 1h
“Ratatouille: the TikTok Musical” is a TikTok sensation. Now it’s going to be a live show . Daniel Mertzlufft helped make it all possible. But first, let’s get this out of the way. Despite his iconic line, “Remy the Ratatouille!,” in “ Ode to Remy ,” Remy is NOT a ratatouille. Remy is a rat, and he is the star of Ratatouille . Now, back to how this all started. How "Ratatouille: The Musical" was

Cool portable Nintendo N64 is about the size of a retro game cartridge

SlashGear / 2h
Game consoles today play games that are either downloaded from the Internet or on discs. Gamers who’ve been around long enough to remember when consoles like the Nintendo N64 were the top-of-the-line gaming consoles will recall plugging cartridges into the console to play. A YouTuber going by the name GmanModz has created a customized portable N64 that puts controls, screen, … Continue reading

New Apple patent could let you change every letter on your keyboard

41TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
Customizable keys could come to future MacBooks to help with gaming, language changes and accessibility.

Drive-in everything: How COVID made car culture cool again

20Mashable / 2h
It was the drive-thru flu shot that did it for me. In years past, getting the seasonal jab was kind of a hassle: Head to our local medical center, risk hitting traffic on the way, find parking, walk in, find the right floor, check in, wait around on plastic chairs near coughing patients for the shot that should help keep us healthy. Time indoors: half an hour minimum. This year, thanks to COVID-1

Researchers believe dark matter could be composed of primordial black holes

SlashGear / 2h
Researchers from the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe have been conducting a study of black holes that could’ve formed in the early universe. These so-called primordial black holes are believed to have formed before stars and galaxies were born. Primordial black holes could account for all or part of dark matter and be responsible for … Continue reading

Apple removes app promoting private parties in pandemic

200+BBC News - Technology / 2h
US platform Vybe Together advertised "gatherings every weekend" to its thousands of users.

Snap to the future: the 12 most exciting cameras of 2021

32TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
Cameras have had an eventful year, but what treats will 2021 bring? Here are the ones we're really looking forward to shooting with.

A new musical Twitter meme is here to fill the gap between Christmas and New Year

28Mashable / 2h
Sometimes the best kind of memes are the ones that make little to no sense. A few days ago, in that strange void-like space between Christmas and New Year, podcaster Josh Fitz took to Twitter to ask a simple question — and more importantly, a question that could only really have one answer. My straits? Dire — Josh Fitz (@JoshF618) December 27, 2020 Fitz's initial tweet received a couple of hundre

Alaska Airlines to Ban 'Emotional Support' Animals Starting January 11

44Gizmodo / 2h
Alaska Airlines announced on Tuesday that it will no longer allow passengers to bring emotional support animals on its aircraft for any reservations made after January 11. The airline is the first to ban emotional support animals following new guidance from the U.S. Department of Transportation about what kind of… Read more...

Researchers from Japan are creating wooden satellites

Popular Mechanics / 2h
The post appeared first on Popular Mechanics .

How to practice gratitude after a grim and hellish year

Mashable / 2h
It might not seem like there's much to feel grateful for as we transition into 2021. The pandemic destabilized virtually everything we treasure and may have taken for granted. COVID-19 put our health, jobs, and lives in peril. And common ways to relieve stress, like socializing with friends at home or eating out at a restaurant with loved ones, can spell illness or even death. Yet, people flocked

You don't have to celebrate New Year's Eve this year

Mashable / 2h
We made it. It's finally the end of an awful year. Typically, the world collectively celebrates a staggered New Year's Eve with the clock striking midnight in each time zone and copious amounts of alcohol, impressive fireworks displays, and a substantial spread of cheeses and meats. We watch tourists in diapers and branded purple hats piss themselves for the chance to see an unimpressive ball "dr

Mira Nair's 'A Suitable Boy' is a visual feast set in post-colonial India

Mashable / 2h
A lot of books are becoming TV shows lately, but the 2020 adaptation of A Suitable Boy is nothing short of momentous. Based on Vikram Seth's 1993 novel of the same name, BBC's six-episode adaptation took years to bring to the screen with director Mira Nair and at the helm. And the result is nothing short of mesmerizing . A Suitable Boy makes its way to the U.S. on the heels of high praise in inte

10 video games we can't wait to play in 2021

Mashable / 2h
The hell-year of 2020 actually did have one shimmery silver lining: great games. We might have been stuck inside coping with the stress and worry of a global pandemic, but at least we had welcome diversions with great new video games dropping almost every month. And now that 2020's almost in the rearview, it's time to start thinking about what's next. What is next, you ask? More great games. The

Quadriplegic feeds himself using brain signals and advanced prosthetics

SlashGear / 2h
A quadriplegic man named Robert Chmielewski was recently able to feed himself by manipulating a pair of advanced prosthetic arms using signals from his brain. Researchers say the accomplishment marks a step towards restoring function and independence for those impacted by illness or injury, resulting in partial or total loss of the use of all four limbs and torso. To … Continue reading

The 2020 Good Tech Awards

100+NYT > Technology / 3h
This year, technology firms big and small stepped up to help with the Covid-19 pandemic and other thorny challenges.

Xiaomi's new phones won't come with chargers

36TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 3h
Xiaomi confirmed they will not be including a charger in the new Mi 11 box

If you make videos and have a Mac, you need this software

32Mashable / 3h
Apple computers — MacBook and iMac — are arguably some of the best available on the market. They’re often the top choice for artistic types, designers, illustrators, and other creatives. Macs have also become a preference for professional video editors because of their price-performance ratio, retina display, and powerful RAM that’s up to the task of video editing. In fact, there’s very little ro

Save over $30 on this quirky Scandivanian heater and hand warming gadget

24Mashable / 3h
TL;DR: Stay warm with a Värme Portable Air Heater for $67.99 with the code HOLIDAY20, as of Dec. 30. Even with fluffy socks, a sweater, and a weighted blanket , it can be tough to stay cozy in the winter. But you can quickly transform those frigid rooms in your home into toasty dens of zen — and warm up your icicle fingers in the process — with one of these Värme Portable Heaters . The Nordic Hyg

This $39 data science bootcamp will give you invaluable skills for 2021

33Mashable / 3h
TL;DR: Further your career with the 2021 Business Intelligence and Data Science Super Bundle for $39.99, a 96% savings as of Dec. 30. If you're looking for a sign that studying up on data science is worth your time, you don't have to look far. Data science is booming — that's a fact LinkedIn's 2020 Emerging Jobs Report listed the Data Scientist as the third-highest emerging job with 37% annual gr

The best-selling lifetime subscription to Babbel is over half off to ring in the new year

Mashable / 3h
TL;DR: Make your New Year's resolution to learn a new language. A Babbel lifetime subscription can help you learn up to 14 languages, and it's on sale for $179 as of Dec. 30. It’s easy to fall into the same old stagnant routine — especially when you’re stuck at home with nowhere to go and nobody to see. But rather than allowing yourself to double down on bad habits and boredom, now’s a great time

Skip the Powerbeats Pro and snag these $50 earbuds for all your 2021 workouts

28Mashable / 3h
TL;DR: Power through your next workout with a pair of TREBLAB X3 Pro earbuds for $51.19 with the code HOLIDAY20 at checkout, as of Dec. 30. The science is clear: working out while listening to music improves both your performance and your recovery . Whether your favorite music to run or lift weights to is Metallica, the Weeknd, or Taylor Swift (no judgment here), you’re going to push yourself har

Future MacBooks might have little displays on each key

84Mashable / 4h
Keyboards have come a long way in the past couple of years; Apple's best laptops now have a built-in fingerprint scanner and the programmable Touch Bar. But what if every single key on the MacBook keyboard was also a little display? This might actually happen in the future Patently Apple has unearthed an Apple patent which describes a "reconfigurable keyboard," where every key has an "associated

Interpol issues COVID-19 cyberthreat warning

TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 4h
Interpol warned that specific attacks and attempts to undermine users, using COVID-19 as a cover, are increasing

Take the power of Galaxy Note20 to the next level, with Galaxy Ecosystem

28TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 4h
Redefine the rules of work and play

Tech 2020: Our biggest stories and what happened next

100+BBC News - Technology / 4h
The most read BBC tech story of each month of the year, and how they panned out.

Budget Galaxy Z Flip phone could rock a mid-range chipset

28TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 4h
Samsung is looking to bring an affordable variant of the Galaxy Z Flip foldable phone without a flagship chipset and 5G connectivity.

Amazon eyes launching its computer science education program in India

100+TechCrunch / 5h
Amazon is planning to extend its computer science program Future Engineer to India, demonstrating its growing interest in the education space in the world’s second largest internet market. In a job recruitment post, the company said that initial research for Amazon Future Engineer , through which it aims to bring computer science education to underserved and underrepresented children and young ad

Boeing 737 Max returns to the skies in the US

American Boeing 737 Max US•
100+BBC News - Technology / 5h
The plane was grounded in March 2019 after two separate deadly crashes within five months.

Is the Ant Group shake-up a sign of things to come?

100+BBC News - Technology / 5h
The wind has changed for China's financial technology giants who now face increased scrutiny.

2020 in wearables: Apple Watch 6, Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 and more

65TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 5h
2020 has been a big year for wearable tech, and here's our roundup of what happened.

Realme V15 could be a new mid-range smartphone with 50W fast charging

40TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
Realme is gearing up to launch more powerful mid-range smartphones in 2021. Codenamed Realme Koi, the device could be the next device in the V series.

Year in review: Edtech attracted dollars and controversy in 2020

30TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
The sudden lockdown following the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in educators and students getting together on virtual platforms, a trend that brought in more than $2.2 billion to this still nascent industry.

Samsung Galaxy A31 just got a price cut in India

28TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
Samsung Galaxy A31 which launched in India earlier this year just got a price cut. The new price brings the smartphone down under the 20,000 mark.

NASA approves two missions to better understand space weather

100+Engadget / 6h
NASA will take part in two heliophysics missions that could give us the data needed to better understand solar winds and explosions, or space weather as a whole. The agency has officially announced its participation in the Extreme Ultraviolet High-Throughput Spectroscopic Telescope Epsilon Mission (EUVST) and the Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer (EZIE) program. They were two of the three space

LG Will Unveil Its First 8K QNED Mini LED TV Line at CES in 2021

100+How-To Geek / 6h
LG is already known for its impressive OLED TVs, and now it’s adding multiple new models to its LCD TV line. The models use Mini LED technology, which LG has dubbed QNED. We’ll get our first real look at the new QNED line at LG’s virtual CES event in January of 2021. Read This Article on Review Geek ›

EA's Excellent 'Star Wars: Squadrons' Game Is on Sale for 40% Off

How-To Geek / 6h
For a while, EA had a bad rap for expensive games filled with endless microtransactions. Then along came Star Wars: Squadrons, an inexpensive space fighter game with zero microtransactions. If you buy the PC version, you’d even get VR included; no extra purchase necessary. What could be better? A 40% off sale bringing the price from an already reasonable $40 to $23.99. Read This Article on Review

RentPath drops acquisition deal with CoStar after FTC antitrust lawsuit

100+TechCrunch / 7h
RentPath , owner of property listing sites including and Apartment Guide, said today it has cancelled its agreement to be acquired by CoStar Group after the Federal Trade Commission sued to block the sale. CoStar, a commercial real estate data and analytics provider that also operates listing sites like and, agreed in February to buy RentPath for $588 m

Jio and Mediatek bring the biggest online gaming tournament - Gaming Masters

33TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 7h
The registration for the tournament will go on till January 9. There is no registration or participation fee and it is open for all Jio and non-Jio users.

Google Cloud Print goes offline on Friday

21SlashGear / 7h
Another Google product will be biting the device right at the turn of the year. Granted, there are indeed some products and services that are long overdue their retirement, it’s still somewhat notable when Google adds another body to its notorious graveyard. This time, it will be Google Cloud Print that will be signing off after the last day of … Continue reading

Snapchat boss: US faces ‘century of competition’

100+BBC News - Technology / 7h
The billionaire founder of messaging app Snapchat also said he was "happy" to pay more taxes.

Google is selling the Home Max smart speaker again, for now

52Engadget / 8h
Despite Google’s Home Max being officially retired and pulled from sale a couple of weeks ago , the Google Store is once again offering the speaker for sale. While flashing a message saying the device is sold out and prompting customers to try out a pair of the new Nest Audio devices instead, it will still let you check out a Charcoal-colored Home Max speaker for $179. Buy Google Home Max at Goog

This useful app helps you make better real-time trading decisions

24Mashable / 8h
TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to the Currency HeatwaveX Financial Tool is on sale for £36.81 as of Dec. 30, saving you 95% on list price. If you're a currency trader (or want to be), then you know reaction time is everything. You need to be ready to act on a moment's notice. That means you need to keep a close eye on constantly changing exchange rates in order to be successful. And Currency Heat

Raspberry Pi VCR plays full-length movies on a single floppy disk

30SlashGear / 9h
There have been a lot of retro projects and products over the years, especially on crowdfunding platforms, that try to bring the past forward to the present. A few of those let you actually relive that past as it was back then, but even fewer actually let you use technologies and objects long gone. That is one of the things … Continue reading

Samsung HDR10+ Adaptive feature will take into account ambient light

SlashGear / 10h
Pixel count, although an important spec, isn’t the only factor that will determine a picture’s or video’s quality. Other elements come into play but color and brightness are two of the most important ones. After inundating the market and consumers with 2K, 4K, and now 8K marketing, TV makers have started focusing on HDR and brightness/contrast as key marketing points. … Continue reading

Samsung's HDR10+ Adaptive takes your room's lighting into account

100+Engadget / 10h
Last year one of our Best of CES awards went to Dolby Vision IQ . It expanded on the display spec that already tweaked HDR output to look its best from scene-to-scene by taking into account the lighting conditions. That way content can look the way it was supposed to look when mastered, even if the room a TV is sitting in means making the picture a little brighter or dimmer to get there. Now Sams

Galaxy S21+ leaked hands-on photos confirm the flat face

SlashGear / 10h
The Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ will come out flat, though it remains to be seen if that will actually be a good thing or not. After years of using curved edge screens as a design hallmark of its Galaxy S series, Samsung has suddenly taken a step back to offer once again flatter options. We’ve already seen renders of … Continue reading

Vivo X60 and X60 Pro flaunt ZEISS optics, Funtouch OS successor

Vivo X60 Pro Exynos 1080•
SlashGear / 11h
Vivo has definitely been rising in the global smartphone market, in no small part thanks to some of its rather bold new features. The Vivo X50 Pro, for example, brought the world’s first phone camera gimbal system and, despite the lukewarm reception, is returning this month to a slightly smaller degree. That said, the Vivo X60’s claim to fame won’t … Continue reading

New York licenses GMO Internet to issue the first JPY-pegged stablecoin

100+TechCrunch / 11h
The New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) has approved Tokyo-based GMO Internet to launch GYEN, the first stablecoin pegged to the Japanese yen. GMO Internet, an internet conglomerate that offers a large array of services, including domain hosting, online advertising and what it claims is the world’s largest foreign exchange trading platform, will set up Trust Company (GMO T

Daily Crunch: Judge dismisses Apple copyright claims against Corellium

100+TechCrunch / 11h
Apple faces a major setback in one of its legal fights, VMware sues a former executive and Google tests a new short-form video feature. This is your Daily Crunch for December 29, 2020. The big story: Judge dismisses Apple copyright claims against Corellium Apple filed a lawsuit last year against Corellium, a company that allows security researchers to create virtualized iOS devices in the browser

Apple patent reveals a keyboard that can change its display

21SlashGear / 11h
Computer keyboards haven’t really changed that much over the decades. Some keys have grown additional functions and the Fn and Ctrl keys on laptops keep switching places but that standard set of keys and their arrangements are pretty much set in stone. That makes it difficult and even wasteful to have different keyboard layouts and different languages, as different models … Continue reading

Cryptocurrency Exchange Coinbase Reportedly Paid Women and People of Color Like Shit

36Gizmodo / 12h
The cryptocurrency exchange startup Coinbase consistently paid women and people of color less than other employees performing similar jobs, new data from the New York Times has found, exposing a glaring pay gap that’s large even by the tech industry’s miserable standards. Read more...

Apple loss in Corellium copyright lawsuit could have repercussions

SlashGear / 12h
It’s often the case that big companies suing very small ones go under the radar. It is even more often the case that those small companies often lose or settle the matter out of court, sometimes causing the business to fold completely. That’s why it almost comes as a shock that Apple lost this round against security startup Corellium. More … Continue reading

Tesla uses three free months of 'Full Self-Driving' to push year-end sales

45Engadget / 12h
The “ Full Self-Driving ” system that Tesla sells as a $10,000 option isn’t available in subscription form yet, but the car company is already using that idea to boost sales. Reported earlier by Electrek and confirmed in a tweet by Elon Musk , “All Tesla cars delivered in the final three days of the year will get three months of the Full Self-Driving option for free.” Absolutely. We will release

The Lasso of Truth Is Wonder Woman 1984's Real Star

100+Gizmodo / 12h
In Warner Bros.’ Wonder Woman 1984 , princess Diana of Themyscira whips out a bevy of new, magical tricks to aid in her fight to save the world. She does battle with both Max Lord and Cheetah, two villains meant to embody all wanton greed and consumption that defined the decade . Though both her foes are armed in their… Read more...


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Plan Sponsors Ask…

We are revamping our communications for the new year. Retirement plans and investing are complex. What’s the latest thinking on how to communicate these concepts to our varied employees in a way they will understand?

Two principles come to mind: keep it simple, and keep it positive. Invesco studied the topic of clear participant communication recently and found that the language we use to communicate with employees about their plans really does make a difference. For example, participants respond much more favorably to “free money” than “matching contribution.” While “free money” certainly clarifies the definition of matching contribution, it also resonates as a positive. Overall, 39% of employees responded favorably to the term; in contrast, 23% responded favorably when the concept was expressed as the more negative aspect of “leaving money on the table.” Understanding and proper use of target date funds also improves when clear language is used to describe them. Participants of all ages understand target date funds best when the term “managed for you” is used. The frequently used term “glide path” seems distasteful to them, with just 4% preferring it when the topic is discussed. Compare that to the phrase “risk-reduction path,” which was preferred by 40%. For more on this topic, visit I

Consider TRA's 3(16) Plan Administration Relief Services (PARS)

To alleviate the day-to-day administrative burdens of yours or your clients retirement plans.

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We hope that your holiday season has been merry and bright so far. Here at TradeSmith, we’ve been hard at work to bring you another new feature. This new feature is easy to use, and we’re sure you’re really going to love it.

What is the New Feature?

We’re glad you asked! When you’re logged into a TradeSmith product, you should see your name in the top right corner of the program. If you click your name, you’ll see the new feature.

menu drop-down after clicking your name

You can now see all of the various products that we offer in this menu. The best part is that you can easily switch between products with a simple click.

For example, if you were in Ideas by TradeSmith and wanted to review something in TradeStops, you’d need only click TradeStops from this menu. You don’t have to type the URL anymore! It’s a great time-saver and can make researching a position across products more efficient.

Using the Switch Feature Fully

When you initially use this feature, it might ask you to log into the other program. Rather than having to log in every single time you switch, you can use the “keep me logged in” feature on the login screen of each program.

log in screen highlighting the keep me logged in feature

If you click this check box, a message will appear. You will need to accept (or decline) using this feature. Note that you should only use this feature with a personal computer. Don’t do this with a public computer — like at the library or a friend’s house. Someone else could gain access to your account if you use the log in feature on a public computer.

Once you set up this feature, it makes switching between programs even easier. You won’t have to enter your credentials again for two weeks when switching between programs. Again, just be sure to only use this on a personal computer.

Bulletin Board

If you have a long-term portfolio that’s sitting on large unrealized gains, it can be difficult to monitor the historical high-water mark — especially in a market downturn. But don’t worry — Tom Meyer and Marina Stroud made this easy to understand in their latest webinar. You can access it here.

With the current market volatility, you may have heard rumblings about the inverted yield curve by now. It can sound pretty scary, but there’s no need to worry. You can read what TradeSmith has to say about it here. We think it’ll assuage some of your fears.

For those invested in the crypto markets, it goes without saying that the markets have been a little haywire lately. On TradeSmith University, we make it easy to find the latest crypto news. Make sure to check out some of our latest articles to stay on top of the most recent breaking news.

Signing off

We hope that you enjoy the new ability to easily switch between TradeSmith programs. It can really help you optimize your experience researching investments across products. Our Customer Success team will be happy to help you with any questions you may have about it. And, if you’re curious about a program you don’t yet own, be sure to ask about that too.

TradeSmith Customer Success Team


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Bar Chart

Posted by TradingDrills Academy on

A bar chart displays price changes within a specified period of time. This chart consists of several bars, each of which alone represents the four prices during a specified time period: initial (open), maximum (high), minimum (low), and final prices (close). Analysts use this information to analyze short term and long term market trends. In a bar chart, like many of the price charts, the vertical axis (Y) represents the price scale and the horizontal axis (X) represents the time scale.

bar chart

In a bar chart, as shown in the figure above, price movements are shown using a vertical line with two small horizontal lines on the sides to indicate the starting and closing prices over a period of time. The bottom of the vertical line at the bottom and top shows the maximum and minimum prices for the time period shown by that bar. The starting price of the transaction is indicated by a horizontal line on the left side of the vertical line, and the final price is indicated by a horizontal line on the right side of the same initial vertical line.

The time period the bar chart interprets can be changed depending on the level of analysis required. For example, if a trader uses daily price fluctuation information for analyzing market trends, it can be set so each bar represents the starting, ending, maximum, and minimum prices for one day. If a trader wants to find information for a time period of one minute, a bar chart can be set so one vertical line indicates the price fluctuation over a minute of time.

Bar charts help traders analyze price trends, guess potential return points, and monitor price fluctuations. Bar charts are a great visual tool which allows analysts and traders to see the market trends quickly and accurately. If there is an increase in price over a set time period, the color of the vertical bar will typically be black or green. If there is a decrease in price over a time period, the vertical bar will be red. This color scheme is available to traders as an adjustable option available in most trading infrastructures.

Interpretation of Bar Charts

There is a lot of information that a trader can extract from bar charts. If there is a big gap between the initial and final price, it means there is a significant price movement in that period. If the closing price is significantly lower than the starting price, it means that sellers were very actively selling in that time period, which may indicate selling interest in future time periods. A small gap between the initial and final price shows low price movements, which can indicate low liquidity within a time period.

Long vertical bars indicate that there has been a significant difference between the maximum and minimum price of that period. This means that the volatility in this range has been high, and conversely, when these vertical bars are short, it indicates the low volatility of the price in this range.

The position of the final price also conveys valuable information to us in comparison with the maximum and minimum prices. If the price of an asset in the target range is very high but still below the maximum price and is quite close to it, it could indicate that near the end of the time period the sellers have entered the flow and the intensity of the cow The market has shrunk.

If the bars are colored by descending or ascending in the relevant time frame, these colors can also transmit information to us at a glance. An upward trend and bulls are generally shown in green and black and upward one-way movements, and declining trends are generally shown in red for bars and quick downward movements.

An Example of a Bar Chart

Below is an example of a bar chart for the top 500 companies in the United States. During market downturns, bars generally rise and show an increase in price fluctuations. During this period, the color of the bars is generally red, and the number of red bars increases compared to green bars.

As prices rise, the number of green bars increases compared to red bars, making it easier to visually identify the trend. Although both red and green bars are seen during an upward (or downward) trend, the number of one of these bars is always higher than the other, and this actually causes the price to move.

In order for the price to move up in a range, the price bars must show this by moving upwards on average. If the price starts to decline on average, and this is further illustrated by the creation of red bars, it can be concluded that the price has actually entered a polarization or a reversal of the price.

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Kenai Peninsula Travel Guide

Kenai Fjords Kayaking: A Genuinely Life-Changing Experience

Once winter subtly turns into spring, hundreds of thousands of nature enthusiasts jet to the Kenai Peninsula to explore 25,000 square miles of jaw-dropping beauty. Whether you aim to try salmon fishing, horseback riding, or hiking/backpacking this summer, you’ll leave Trail Lake Lodge with a deeper understanding of nature itself. And one of the world’s great wonders is just a short drive from Moose Pass, Alaska: Kenai Fjords National Park. Kenai Fjords is known for its massive glaciers, picturesque sea stacks, curious wildlife, and life-changing sea kayak tours. In fact, Kenai Fjords kayaking typically lands near the top of everyone’s Alaskan bucket list.

Horseback Riding in Alaska, an Awe-Inspiring Experience

A true Alaska horseback riding adventure awaits in the sprawling, mountainous forestry near the charming community of Cooper Landing. Nothing compares to the bond between human and beast, especially a majestic, well-trained stallion. There are many ways to explore the Chugach National Forest; must travelers lace up their hiking boots, board a helicopter, and even hook themselves to a zipline. But horseback riding in Alaska remains an awe-inspiring, old-world experience that should be included in every Trail Lake Lodge adventure-based package.

Lean, Tender, and Delectable: Top 25 Alaskan Halibut Recipes

Most visitors here at Trail Lake Lodge choose this undeniably breathtaking region for its Kenai River salmon runs, Chugach National Forest hiking trails, and Kenai Fjords marine cruises. But don’t overlook the world-class Pacific halibut fishing in both Cook Inlet and the Gulf of Alaska. Very few thrills on earth rival the feeling one obtains during a battle with a monstrous flat fish deep at sea. You’ll likely return home with so much processed halibut inside insulated, airline-certified boxes that it will make your head spin. But, luckily for you, we’ve compiled 25 of our favorite Alaskan halibut recipes ranging from classic, pan-seared delights to delicious, blackened fillets.

5 Unique Things to Do in Moose Pass, Alaska

Before their arrival, a lot of guests ask us, “so, where is Moose Pass, Alaska?” Well, we’re 28.3 miles straight north of Seward, Alaska, in the heart of the jaw-dropping Chugach National Forest, to be exact. Moose Pass, Alaska, is a quiet, idyllic small town that’s fully encircled by dreamlike bodies of water, such as Kenai Lake, Trail Lakes, and Crescent Lake, three of the most beautiful destinations in the world. And, of course, Trail Lake Lodge is conveniently located near all of the deep wilderness excitement, including world-class salmon fishing, breathtaking hiking trails, and exhilarating ATV adventures.

The Best Black Friday Fly Fishing Deals

We’re fast approaching the wildest, most-anticipated shopping day of the year: Black Friday. Every November, millions of Americans flock to expansive shopping centers, retail giants (such as Walmart), and various online megastores to save bundles on a wide variety of prized goods. Here at Trail Lake Lodge, we’re always looking for ways to save a few hundred bucks for our valued customers, which is why we’ve pieced together some of our favorite places to find those out-of-this-world Black Friday fly fishing deals.

Top 10 Alaska Bucket List Activities

As we rapidly approach yet another decade, thousands of families and couples meticulously piece together bucket lists. A bucket list is no longer a late-in-life activity—it’s also a fun and easy way to plan a dream vacation to a faraway location. The Last Frontier remains one of the most desirable locales in North America, especially for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy fishing, hiking, kayaking, and horseback riding. Creating an Alaska bucket list is mildly challenging because there are so many unforgettable experiences worth exploring. But it can also be a whole lot of fun selecting a wide range of exhilarating activities. Luckily for you and your family, Trail Lake Lodge, located in serene Moose Pass, is minutes away from ten of the most popular Alaska attractions.

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Royal Leopards v Petro de Luanda, Saturday 14th March 2015, 3.30pm

Swaziland is less than four hours drive from where we live but after a year and a half in South Africa, we still hadn’t got around to going there. I think I’d subconsciously been hanging on to try to combine any visit with the Reed Dance. You know the one I mean, it’s that ceremony where as a way of helping the King select another bride the local women dance around their handbags without their blouses on.

I’ve no time for the monarchy, but if we had events like that outside of Buckingham Palace I imagine I could probably put my Republican sympathies to one side for the afternoon.

In the absence of any royal events involving girls in states of undress it was the prospect of seeing the Swazi Police team Royal Leopards in the equivalent of a UEFA Cup game against a side from Angola that proved sufficient to tempt us over the border.

We stayed at the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary in what was described as a beehive hut. I can’t imagine anything worse than staying in a giant beehive, perhaps except a giant wasp or hornet‘s nest, but as there weren’t any bees inside it worked out fine.

Beehive hut

Beehive hut

The Somhlolo National stadium in Lobamba was only ten minutes drive away from our hut and there was plenty of parking on the field outside. Soon after paying our thirty Swazi wotsits on the gate we heard our car alarm going off, but fortunately we were close enough to be able to use the remote to silence it. I spent the rest of the game wondering what might have been nicked.

We watched  the first half in the South Stand behind one of the goals. The main West Stand housed most of the spectators, with a handful in the North and one or two loitering on the grassy terrace to our right.

View from the South Stand

View from the South Stand

We attracted a little more attention than we usually do, starting with a fella in a Kaizer Chiefs shirt who was insistent that I tried some of his home-brewed morula. It was a cloudy beige liquid and he had two litres of it in an old coke bottle. I detected a hint of apple in my quick swig with perhaps the slight bouquet of anti-freeze. Whatever it had been made from, it certainly had a kick to it.

We were then joined by a small girl who quietly exchanged pleasantries with Jen before asking her for money.

The game kicked off five minutes early at twenty-five past three. They wouldn’t get away with that at the Riverside where people have the timing of downing their final pre-match pint down to a fine art. Mind you, missing the first five minutes at the Riverside due to an earlier than scheduled kick-off wouldn’t be as bad as the game kicking off later than planned and you arriving in your seat to discover that you have five minutes of Me Mark Page’s gobshitery to contend with.

Hat of the day.

Hat of the day.

Royal Leopards had done well to be in the current round of the CAF Confederations Cup. They’d lost the away leg of the previous tie at Bidvest Wits three-nil, but had then rallied at home to turn it around and get through. Oh Massimo.

The hosts  looked to have their work cut out in this round too as with game no more than five minutes old the Angolans, in yellow and blue, converted a cross from the left at the near post.

Leopards equalised midway through the first half with a penalty after a contentious handball. The linesman flagged for it just a few minutes after ruling that a shot that had bounced down from the Petro crossbar hadn’t crossed the line. I felt that each decision could have gone either way and suspected that the linesman felt under pressure not to rule against the home side twice in quick succession.

One each.

One each.

At half time I bought a couple of pieces of grilled chicken. I could have had beef or pork, but I couldn’t peel off the skin from those as I could with the chicken and as the lad on the stall seemed to have minimal interest in chasing away the flies that kept landing on the food, chicken seemed marginally safer.

Half-time snacks.

Half-time snacks.

For the second half we moved to the South Stand, mainly to avoid the prospect of any more morula. We were successful, although we did end up handing over twenty rand each to a six year old girl selling what we subsequently discovered was probably tap water in re-filled plastic bottles.

Tap water and nuts.

Tap water and nuts.

Ten minutes after the re-start a goalmouth scramble ended up with Leopards taking the lead and a mass celebration that included all of the bench and a couple of the ball boys. They couldn’t hold on though and Petro squared the game with a quarter of an hour to go to set themselves up nicely for the second leg.

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Why I rarely use car washes

When I bought my Stewie, I made the commitment to keep it clean. I washed it every week, waxed it typically once a month (give or take) and polished/sealed the paint every year. I have all the gear, and all the chemicals to do this, and I actually enjoy it.

However, lately I have been pretty busy, and my schedule has slipped. I have gotten lazy, and there is a pretty decent hand wash place nearby. My time is valuable enough that it is worth the $15 to get my car cleaned. They do a good job, and take pretty good care of the finish. Not as good as my three bucket wash, but it is a good compromise.

But it reminds me of what I hate about commercial car wash places. They have a “greeter” who keeps trying to up-sell you. Are you sure you don’t want the VIP wash for $12 more? “no”. But it comes with a free exterior wash in a week. “no”. How about a hand wax/detail? “no”. You can bring it back for it later if you are in a hurry… “no”.

Now, I get that they are comped on how much they sell, and I appreciate the effort. But, the third time I decline, GIVE UP THE GHOST and move on.

And then there are the vultures who want to repair your windshield. For the record, I have several repaired dings in my windshield (hey, I live in Arizona, the capital of cracked windshields), and it never fails that they zero in on me to offer their services. They are almost worse than the greeters.

At least the team of finishers do a great job, and are appreciative of the few bucks I toss at them as a tip.

It is time to get back in the habit of washing my cars myself. I need to lay in some supplies, but that is cheap.

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The Hot Hatch

I have a confession to make. I stumbled onto The Humble Mechanic on Youtube when I clicked on a video where he tore down a Volkswagen W12 engine. I had heard about that, and I had owned a 2000 Jetta with the VR6 motor so I knew that VW had some mojo for exotic engine design.

And it was addicting. Watching him to disassemble it, show the cool bits, and the strengths/weaknesses was intoxicating. Since then I have watched a ton of his videos, especially as he rebuilds a well abused VW R32. Teardown, finding bad things, fixing them. All good gear head stuff.

Continue reading →

Alien movie observations

I first saw Alien in a theater in 1979. It was a field trip, organized by my high school biology teacher, Fred Granger. He wanted to contrast what a real ET “contact” might be like, to counter the too cute by half “E.T. The Extra Terrestrial” that came out the year before.

Continue reading →

Ruh Roh

Sunday, I totally over did it. Started with a 4+ mile walk with Cerberus. He was on a tear. Then I felt compelled to get the bicycle down and do a modest ride.

I had awoken with some pain below and behind my left ear, but it was more of a discomfort than anything worrying. I truly though I had just slept wrong.

Then middle of the night Sunday/Monday I woke up to void my bladder, and I had the shivers. Crap. About 3:00AM I took my temperature, and it was 99.4.

Woke up about 6:00 and my temperature had risen to 100.8, and I was feeling achy all over. The pain behind and below my ear had moved both up and down.

So, a quick telehealth appointment, and a referral for a COVID test, and now I wait.

Never before have I hoped that this is either an early season flu, or something else. But I have my doubts.

Sleeping, lots of gatorade, and tylenol to help cut the fever while I await the results of my test.

One thing is positive, I have no respiratory symptoms. So there is that!

Drobo @#$%

My first exposure to Drobo was when I bought a firewire version with 4 drives wayyyyyy back in 2011. Billed as the hassle free external storage, it uses proprietary algorithms (more than just RAID) to ensure that data isn’t lost when a drive goes bad.

Prior to this, I had just used external drives to store stuff (way back in the 1990’s I used tape, but then in the early ought’s it became far cheaper to just buy bigger disks).

Continue reading →

Covid-19 and the shutdown

Back in early March (March 9th for me), employers, and officials began acknowledging that the COVID-19 outbreak was spiraling out of control, and that the prudent course of action was to institute drastic social distancing to slow the spread and to prevent the healthcare system from collapsing.

Continue reading →

Bloody hell, I am old

As a recent …

Ok, an indication of just how old I am, I began this draft a week ago, and completely forgot what point I was going to make.

So get off my lawn, dammit.

COVID Upsides

While we are about to crest 100K official deaths due to Corona Virus in the US (the reality is certainly a LOT higher than that) there are a few positives.

Many sellers are offering incentives to keep business flowing. If some of these are items that you are considering, this might be a good time to jump, if you can afford them that is…

Continue reading →

Update: Who Visits Here?

I started this on a whim in 2009 more as a way to just post some top of mind items, and whatever tickled my fancy.

11 years later and more than 1,000 posts, and I have yet to go viral even once. No matter, this is for me. If anyone else gets any value from it, then so be it.

Continue reading →


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Google helping the police in Essen

In December 2015 the police in Essen questioned a speaker of Arabic who they suspecting of stealing a jacket and some drinks from a supermarket. As they could not understand Arabic, they consulted Google Translate, RP Online reports. As the paper points out, this appears to be an infringement of the right to a fair hearing (Anspruch auf rechtliches Gehör). The police say they used the program to establish the man’s identity. It looks as if there will be no conseqences, since the man was given an interpreter the next day and at following hearings. The public prosecutor’s office in Düsseldorf confirmed what had happened, but did not answer the question as to whether the police often use Google Translate.

(via law blog: Google übersetzt für die Polizei)

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