Friday, August 25th, 2017

Time	Event
2:52a	The wrong way to put a motorcycle in a truck http://boingboing.net/2017/08/24/the-wrong-way-to-put-a-motorcy.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543186 "Got it!" (Comment on this)
12:47p	Gorgeous and fascinating look into the science of animal schooling http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/gorgeous-and-fascinating-look.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543189 Animal collective behavior is not well understood, but thanks to new technologies, it's possible to isolate individual animals in order to understand how flocks, swarms, herds, and schools move as a group. (more…) (Comment on this)
12:47p	As bacteria build fortresses, scientists seek weak points for attacks http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/as-bacteria-build-fortresses.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543193 Bacteria are extremely adept at building biofilm cities, often in places humans don't want them: catheters, sewer lines, and our teeth, to name a few. Now scientists are working to unlock the structural mysteries in order to eradicate unwanted bacterial buildup. (more…) (Comment on this)
12:47p	Trucker gets tattoo of himself driving his own body http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/trucker-gets-tattoo-of-himself.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543019 Tattoo artist: What you want? Trucker: Combine my love of trucking and Cartesian mind-body dualism. Tattoo artist: Say no more. (more…) (Comment on this)
12:47p	Learn to make corn and eels just like mom's great-grandma's grandma made http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/learn-to-make-corn-and-eels-ju.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543197 If you've had a hankering for 18th-century eel succotash, you'll love the early American cooking and crafts on the James Townsend & Son channel. Aside from the recording gear, they commit completely to old school living. (more…) (Comment on this)
1:05p	Half-Life 3 synopsis posted by series writer -- or maybe it's just fanfic http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/half-life-3-synopsis-posted-by.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543226 Half-Life 3 is a running joke (or tragedy) among fans of the series who waited more than a decade for it to exist. With publisher Valve's business shifting to its Steam platform and key writer Marc Laidlaw leaving the company, the writing seemed on the wall. Turns out, though, it's on his blog: Epistle 3 is a lightly-cloaked synopsis (already edited by fans to remove obfuscating elements) of what was, in another world, the greatest game of 201A. a Certain Sinister Figure appeared, in the form of that sneering trickster, G-Man. For once he appeared not to me, but to Alyx Vance. Alyx had not seen the cryptical schoolmaster since childhood, but she recognized him, instantly. "Come along with me now, we've places to be and things to do," said G-Man, and Alyx acquiesced. She followed the strange grey man out of the Borealis, out of our reality. For me, there was no convenient door held open; only a snicker and a sideways glance. I was left alone, riding the weaponized research vessel into the heart of a Combine world. An immense light blazed. I caught a cosmic view of a brilliantly glittering Dyson sphere. The vastness of the Combine's power, the futility of our struggle, blossomed briefly in my awareness. I saw everything. Mainly I saw how the Borealis, our most powerful weapon, would register as less than a fizzling matchhead as it blew itself apart. And what remained of me would be even less than that. Laidlaw describes it as "fanfic": https://twitter.com/marc_laidlaw/status/900960760481726464 "Isn't everything you have written about half life technically a fanfic?" a twitter user asks. "Psych!" Laidlaw replies. (Comment on this)
1:14p	My Little Ponies generated by neural network http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/my-little-ponies-generated-by.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543232 Janelle Shane trained a neural network on the names and attributes of My Little Ponies, then shared "some of the worst ones." I used a program called a character-level recurrent neural network (char-rnn), which looks at examples of text (Pokemon, or Harry Potter fan fiction, or even guinea pig names) and learns to imitate them. I gave the neural network more than 1,500 names from My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Wiki, and let it start learning. (Comment on this)
2:00p	This dino-shaped aquarium is filled with thousands of bioluminescent new friends! http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/this-dino-shaped-aquarium-is-f.html http://boingboing.net/?p=542212 For the uninitiated, dinoflagellates are the single-celled organisms behind the eerie algal bloom known as red tide. But some of these tiny marine creatures are capable of producing a beautiful bioluminescent glow, and you can harness their natural light with a Dino Pet, available now in the Boing Boing Store. This dinoflagellate-filled aquarium is shaped like an apatosaurus to give your home some charming, punny decor thats also a low-maintenance marine ecosystem. Just give it a shake, and theyll instantly put on a dazzling blue-green light show that works any time of the day or night. Their reaction is powered only by sunlight, water and the small amount of nutrients included in the Dino Food blend. Just feed your microscopic friends once a week, and you can enjoy their alluring glow for years to come. You can grab a Dino Pet from the Boing Boing Store for $49.99. (Comment on this)
2:38p	India supreme court rules sexual orientation is a fundamental right http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/india-sexual-orientation-is-a.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543235 India, the world's largest democracy, declares freedom of sexual orientation of fundamental right. Indias Supreme Court has given the countrys gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans community the freedom to safely express their sexual orientation. In a historic decision on Thursday, the nine-judge panel declared that an individuals sexual orientation is protected under the countrys Right to Privacy law. Sexual orientation is an essential attribute of privacy, the decision reads. Discrimination against an individual on the basis of sexual orientation is deeply offensive to the dignity and self-worth of the individual. Equality demands that the sexual orientation of each individual in society must be protected on an even platform. The ruling does not obviate existing laws criminalizing or discriminating against queer folk but lays the groundwork for doing so, especially a pending court challenge to Section 377. (Comment on this)
3:06p	Boomers are news-illiterate couch vegetables stuck in front of their yelling, ad-saturated TVs http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/boomers-are-news-illiterate-co.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543240 A Pew Research study found that "younger adults are more likely than their elders to read the news," but there are other ways of seeing the data. Overall, more Americans prefer to watch their news (46%) than to read it (35%) or listen to it (17%), a Pew Research Center survey found earlier this year. But that varies dramatically by age. Those ages 50 and older are far more likely to prefer watching news over any other method: About half (52%) of 50- to 64-year-olds and 58% of those 65 and older would rather watch the news, while roughly three-in-ten (29% and 27%, respectively) prefer to read it. ... our research also reveals that, in the digital realm, [younger adults] often get news at equal or higher rates than older Americans, whether intentionally or not. The most literate and literary people in human history. (Comment on this)
3:23p	Instagram reactivates The Nude Blogger's account http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/instagram-reactivates-the-nude.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543242 Instagram's policy on nudity: "We know that there are times when people might want to share nude images that are artistic or creative in nature, but for a variety of reasons, we dont allow nudity on Instagram." (more…) (Comment on this)
3:29p	Watch: Drivers try to warn truck that bucket is up, then truck takes down entire highway sign http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/watch-drivers-try-to-warn-tru.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543245 The people shooting this video try to warn a truck driver in Texas that the truck's bucket is raised, but the driver is oblivious. And then the truck crashes into a highway sign and takes it out, along with the entire trestle. Never seen anything like this before! Via ABC 13 (Comment on this)
4:06p	Person tests Amazon's "unlimited" cloud storage by uploading 1.8 petabytes of porn http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/person-tests-amazons-unlim.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543252 A fellow who goes by the handle beaston02 wanted to see how unlimited Amazon's "unlimited" cloud storage plan was, so he uploaded 293 years' worth (2 million gigabytes or 2 petabytes) of PornHub videos to his account. (more…) (Comment on this)
5:27p	Bear needs piano lessons http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/bear-needs-piano-lessons.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543272 https://youtu.be/iTPuZYVuGd0 Less musically inclined than the average bear? (Comment on this)
5:31p	People buy products with faces to stop from feeling so lonely http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/people-buy-products-with-faces.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543270 People prefer products that have faces on the packaging, especially when they are lonely, according to a study published online this month in the European Journal of Social Psychology. From University of Oregon: This finding, published online this month in the European Journal of Social Psychology, is rooted in peoples fundamental need to belong and their desire to form and sustain relationships. When humans lack these social connections, they often attempt to fill the void in other ways, including through their purchasing habits. Previous research linked our need for social connection with consumer behavior and judgment, but very little was understood about the role that visuals play in social connection and brand likability, [Prof. Dr. Ulrich] Orth explained. Our study builds on prior research by demonstrating that seeing a face in a brand visual increases a consumers liking of the brand, especially if they feel lonely. To be effective, the face on the label does not need to be as obvious as the one smiling back at [University of Oregon professor Bettina] Cornwell from the bag of potato chips in the hotel gift shop. Consumers often imagine humanlike characteristics in nonhuman visuals, a process also known as anthropomorphism. Orth explains that loneliness can enhance peoples tendency to exhibit this kind of wishful seeing and is most apparent in the case of faces. A lack of interpersonal relationships motivates people to actively search for sources of connection, Cornwell said. Individuals who are lonely are more likely to find faces in visuals because they so greatly desire this social connection. Image: Kevin Harber/Flickr (Comment on this)
5:46p	Moonlighting's 'Atomic Shakespeare' episode http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/moonlightings-atomic-shake.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543276 The amazing cast of Moonlighting performed William Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew in character. It was wonderful! It has been decades since I've watched Moonlighting seriously, but every year or so I rewatch Atomic Shakespeare. (Comment on this)
6:06p	LED lighting for your tent http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/led-lighting-for-your-tent.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543291 These easy to hang LED lanterns are great camping, working under a car, or really anyplace that is dark! Invariably I am searching my tent or van for some small item I critically need, but can not find in the dark. These hanging lanterns make it easy for me to just turn on a light and find what I need. Solidly made, I take one camping wherever I go and have put the spare in my emergency bug out bag. 2 Pack E-TRENDS Portable LED Lantern Tent Light Bulb for Camping Hiking Fishing Emergency Light via Amazon (Comment on this)
6:15p	Watch: Incredible glowing bug moves too lifelike to be just a puppet http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/watch-incredible-glowing-bug.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543293 This incredible finger/hand puppet is puppeteer Barnaby Dixon's latest creation. When it's in action, the glowing bug looks more like an animated Pixar character than it does a puppet. Made from light-weight form-fitting plastic, its movements are very lifelike and nimble (it can even pick things up with its delicate hands). Amazing!! If you like this, here's another one of Dixon's brillant creations: https://youtu.be/-RrBiFI9FZA (Comment on this)
6:26p	Video about differences between visiting North Korea and South Korea http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/video-about-differences-betwee.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543297 Sixty years ago, North Korea and South Korea were one country. Jacob Laukaitis recently spent a week in each country and made a video of the differences he saw. His guide in South Korea was a man who escaped from North Korea. He told Jacob that only the most privileged North Koreans get to live in the capital of Pyongon. He paid human smugglers $30,000 to take him out of the county. He spent three years working on a farm in China to pay off the debt. (Comment on this)
6:33p	Good deal on Tub Shroom hair catcher http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/good-deal-on-tub-shroom-hair-c.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543302 The popular Tub Shroom, which catches hair before it clogs your tub drain, is on sale on Amazon today for $11. It's got 4.3 stars on Amazon with 9,618 customer reviews. (Comment on this)
7:21p	Interview with Wired founder Louis Rossetto about his new novel, Change is Good http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/interview-with-wired-founder-l.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543307 My guest on the Cool Tools Show podcast this week is my friend and former Wired editor, Louis Rossetto. Louis co-founded Wired with his life partner Jane Metcalfe. During his five years directing Wired, it won the National Magazine Awards for General Excellence twice and was Adweek's Hottest Magazine of the Year. Wired also pioneered commercial web media, launching HotWired the first website with original advertising and Fortune 500 advertising. Since Wired, he's pursued different obsessions from real estate to helping start and run the high end chocolate company TCHO, to writing his new novel Change is Good. (more…) (Comment on this)
9:14p	Pop Tarts replaces model's eyes with mouths in nightmare ad http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/pop-tarts-replaces-models-ey.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543328 I am become death, destroyer of worlds. https://twitter.com/PopTartsUS/status/890261476266696704 Behold my works! Corinthian Leather: the collected political nightmare photoshops. (Comment on this)
9:44p	The skeuomorphic hell of music-making apps http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/the-skeuomorphic-hell-of-music.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543331 Audio plugins are renowned for their insane efforts to mimic real-life hardware UI, right down to 70s'-style dials and warped burl paneling. If they could smell of sweaty pleather, they would. John Lagomarsino takes us through his favorite ones and tries to figure out why on Earth all this is so. Alone, each plugin is hideous in its own unique way. A panel of 3D knobs here, a pixelated oscilloscope there. But when a project really gets cooking, one can amass eight or ten of these interfaces overlapping each other on the screen at once, and that's when skeuomorph hell really comes into focus. I don't know why audio software has looked like this for the better part of two decades, but I'd like to honor these sins of UI with a tour of some of the most egregious examples. (Comment on this)
10:35p	Mueller investigating Flynn's role in seeking Clinton's stolen emails to help Trump campaign http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/mueller.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543336 Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his team of investigators are looking into whether former Trump cabinet member Mike Flynn may have been part of an effort to get a hold of Hillary Clintons emails, hacked by Russia. (more…) (Comment on this)
10:35p	Bomba-style retro flip clock http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/bomba-style-retro-flip-clock.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543335 I've always wanted one of these, and now I can get one pretty cheap! The KABB Modern Digital Flip Clock is $44, comes with black or white number flaps, and runs off a single D battery. It looks a bit cheap in the photos—I certainly don't think it'll pass for a vintage Bomba—but that hardly matters, as it's just another totem of my anxious and obsessive grasping at nostalgia for a technological age I am too young to have experienced, a timeless jumble of false comfort doomed to be discarded in a convulsion of minimalism that is itself merely another manifestation of the deracinating consumer identities to which we are all measured against and fed to like krill. Nice gift for dad, though! (Comment on this)
10:46p	North Korea fires 'several' ballistic missiles into Sea of Japan, reports South Korean military http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/north-korea-fires-ballistic-mi.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543344 North Korea has launched what is likely to be multiple short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast into the Sea of Japan, according to South Korea's military. (more…) (Comment on this)
11:35p	Racists cancel San Francisco rally http://boingboing.net/2017/08/25/bigots-cancel-san-francisco-ra.html http://boingboing.net/?p=543352 The racist bigots planning to rally in San Francisco's Crissy Field have cancelled their event, citing fear of violence and the fact that they'd be far out-numbered. Joey Gibson, the rallys organizer and the founder of the conservative group Patriot Prayer, said that he believed that tons of extremists would be coming to his event and that it could become dangerous. Were not going to have a rally at Crissy Field, Gibson said in a Facebook Live broadcast. It doesnt seem safe. A lot of peoples lives are going to be in danger tomorrow. Another rally in Berkeley on Sunday will go on, Gibson said, citing a conversation he had with Amber Cummings, the organizer of that event. Were excited to go into Berkeley. Were going to put our effort and our resources into Berkeley, Gibson said. He blamed politicians like House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee for characterizing the San Francisco rally as a white nationalist event, which he said would attract people with extreme views. After several conversations with the police and understanding the situation of whats going on, weve decided that tomorrow really seems like a setup, Gibson said. We decided to go ahead and take the opportunity to not fall into that trap. And some protesters could still show up at Crissy Field on Saturday even with the official event called off. The free speech rally had attracted a broad backlash from residents and local leaders since deadly violence broke out at a white nationalist protest in Charlottesville, Virginia earlier this month. While organizers with the Portland-based Patriot Prayer insisted they denounced white supremacy, past events organized by the group have attracted neo-Nazis and devolved into violence. The organizers said they would hold a news conference Saturday at 2 p.m. in San Franciscos Alamo Park and that they wouldnt talk more about their reasons for canceling the event until then. Via the Mercury News</p> Go home, bigots. (Comment on this)

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