In this year's Reporters Without Borders international press freedom index, the U.S. slumped to 47th place, a fall of 27 places, largely due to arrests of journalists covering protests. The full report is available in PDF format. [RSF]
US slumps in press freedom rankings
Google Maps is turning the world into one huge SimCity model
Coming soon to Google Maps — a new way to navigate cities in the form of highly detailed digital models that look like 3D movies. Here's how "Immersive View" is described on the Google Blog: Thanks to advances in computer vision and AI that allow us to fuse together billions of Street View and aerial… READ THE REST
Site maps the abandoned railroads of America
Abandoned Rails maps thousands of miles of abandoned routes, complete with photos and articles about the history of America's railroads. For example, check out the West End Branch, abandoned only a few years ago, one of the many rusting lines across the country which always strike me as potential elements of passenger light rail services… READ THE REST
Fun browser game tests how well you know your geographic area
Back of Your Hand is a fun browser game that tests how well you know the streets of a particular city or area. Apparently for me, the answer is not very well. I blame it on Google Maps and Waze. READ THE REST
Become a MS Office productivity legend and help kids in need for just $30
Getting back into the groove of learning can be challenging, especially if it's been a while since you were in school. Hell, it can be challenging even if you're still in school. And with new versions of essential software coming out every few years, like the Microsoft Office Suite, it gets even more difficult to stay… READ THE REST
Breeze through your reading list at a low price while helping students in need
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. If you're trying to better yourself, finding out where to start can feel challenging. But having a mentor can be incredibly helpful, especially if you want to advance in your career or… READ THE REST
This multi-faceted charging station does everything short of brewing your morning coffee
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. You've got quite the arsenal of gizmos and gadgets these days. So whether it's an extra-large monitor, your phone, or a smart home speaker, you've got a lot of stuff on your desktop.… READ THE REST
