Rebecca MacKinnon has posted a must-read analysis of the news around China and Google. "I think the Chinese government is making a mistake by reacting so badly to Google's move today. Here's why."
Rebecca MacKinnon on China and Google: "I think the Chinese gov is making a mistake by reacting so badly."
Voices from entire Chipmunks movie pitch-corrected
On YouTube, you may now watch the entirety of The Chipmunk Adventure with the chipmunks' voices returned to the actors' normal pitch. "I can't believe I did this," writes editor NerdRush. Granted, a full 80-minute movie of this is asking a lot, so here's some of their "classic" chipmunkfied covers slowed to reveal the normal… READ THE REST
People are imagining how they would explain 2020 to 2019
Folks on Twitter are imagining what some of the crazier highlights of 2020 would be like to explain to someone in 2019. I had to add a few: Previously: Humorous video: Now-self explains the pandemic to past-self READ THE REST
Racial traits in D&D are pretty problematic. "Ancestry & Culture" is a great homebrew solution.
Dungeons & Dragons is great. It also, unfortunately, has long-fed into the inherently colonialist tropes that have long dominated the fantasy genre. Wizards of the Coast has recently made some strides to disentangle their tabletop role playing games from these harmful stereotypes — things like the essential racial traits of Orcs, which peg them as… READ THE REST
The Aura Smart Strap makes your Apple Watch an even smarter fitness trainer
Going back to the Dick Tracy days of the 1940s, the idea of the ultra-powerful wrist-bound computer has been an ongoing fascination. We've finally crossed over into that world of tomorrow this century with the technology of the Apple Watch and other amazing smartwatches that do pretty much everything. Well…maybe almost everything. Because, while packing… READ THE REST
This standing desk will get you on your feet for under $200
We've all heard about the positive impacts of using a standing desk versus the traditional sitting desk. Exactly how much a user benefits from standing is up for debate, though some argue the upside can be pretty great. One thing that we know, however, is that a sedentary life kills. Researchers do know that sitting… READ THE REST
This tiny, durable drone has stable flight features and a 4K camera, all for under $100
If you only think of drones as silly diversions or big kid toys, you're selling the technology and its overall impact short. In Southern California, police drones and the AI running them are changing how law enforcement is being done. In Australia, companies are using drones to install bird protectors on power lines. And, news… READ THE REST