SCAN (Scientific Content Analysis) is a lie-detecting method invented by Avinoam Sapir, a former Israeli spook turned polygraph examiner that involves picking out small textual details from writing samples to determine when someone is lying. Sapir has used his method to determine the veracity of the Book of Genesis, and to conclude that Anita Hill might be a secret lesbian and that James Comey was likely sexually assaulted as a child.
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Several West Virginia state employees have been suspended after a photo emerged depicting a training class of roughly 30 correctional officers performing a Nazi salute.
Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety Director Jeff Sandy sent a letter to all employees Wednesday describing the photo as “distasteful, hurtful, disturbing, highly insensitive, and completely inappropriate.”
The photo, on state letterhead, shows almost all of Basic Training Class No. 18 displaying the Nazi salute. Text above the photo reads: “HAIL BYRD!” [a reference to the trainees' instructor]
While it's good to know that a "number" of these employees have been "suspended," it would be far more comforting to know that they were all fired, along with all the other officers who condone such activity. But I'm not actually expecting much more than a few slaps on the wrist and one or two high-profile Fall Guys before the whole thing gets brushed aside and these Neo-Nazis end up patrolling the streets.
So you missed Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Well, there's one more holiday milestone coming up: Green Monday, on Dec. 16. It's one of the busiest online shopping days for the simple reason that it will be 10 days before Christmas, which is when last-minute shoppers start to stress.
Our advice? Don't wait for that panic to set in. Here are 15 gift deals that are already on discount, and you can take an extra 20% off any of them today by using the online code GREENMONDAY20.
This super-simple alternative to a full scuba rig includes a hand pump, regulator and more. Just fill it up and you're set to dive in up to 30 feet of water.
Attack sore spots and recover quicker from workouts with this massager that comes equipped with 6 speeds ranging from gentle pressure to high-impact therapy.
Need a little extra mood boost with your morning joe? These beans are infused with 240 mg of full-spectrum CBD. (Contains zero THC. Customers must be 18+ to purchase. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and you should check with your physician as well as your local, state, and federal laws before purchasing).
No, your coffee isn't spiked (unless it is). This heat-sensitive cup reacts with hot liquid to reveal the planets in this wraparound panorama of the solar system.
Make the great outdoors a little greater with this inflatable lantern that doubles as a phone charger. The included Heroclip is also useful for attaching multiple items to a backpack or other gear.
This polycarbonate shooter is a huge design improvement over the old-school singshot, and it can even propel arrows at speeds up to 350 feet per second. (Customers must be 18+ to purchase).
This flexible plastic light fits onto any shoe and provides a more fashionable way to run safely. Whether continuously on or flashing, the FireFly lets you be seen even on foggy nights.
Imagine an infinitely generated world that you could explore endlessly, continually finding entirely new content and adventures. What if you could also choose any action you can think of instead of being limited by the imagination of the developers who created the game?
The screencap above is from an adventure Nick found posted at Hacker News.
I decided to try a few games as The Mandalorian. For my first attempt I used the recommended fantasy setting, and chose to play as a knight named Mando. Here's what unfolded:
You are Mando, a knight living in the kingdom of Larion. You have a steel longsword and a wooden shield. You are on a quest to defeat the evil dragon of Larion. You've heard he lives up at the north of the kingdom. You set on the path to defeat him and walk into a dark forest. As you enter the forest you see a large black dragon flying through the sky. He looks like it is ready to eat you
> compare dragon's likeness to my bounty puck
The black dragon looks very similar to your bounty puck. The only difference is that this one has a red stripe down its side. You decide to take the dragon for yourself.
> use grappling hook to climb onto dragon
You grab hold of the dragon's neck with your hand and pull yourself up onto his back. You then begin climbing up towards his head. The dragon lets out a roar as you climb up towards his head. You continue climbing until you reach the top of his head
> say "hello dragon, you are my bounty"
You say "Hello dragon, you are my bounty". He gives a smile and begins to fly away. You look at him from above and he seems to be enjoying himself.
> fly to village
You fly over the village and land on the outskirts of it. You notice that there are several houses here, but no people. You wonder if they all fled or something. You see a man walking along the road and you fly closer to him.
> check tracking fob
You fly close to the man and see that he is wearing a tracking device. You press your foot against the ground and feel a small electric shock run through your leg. You quickly turn around and fly off into the distance.
> look for dragon
You follow the trail of blood leading from the man's body and find the tracks of a large black dragon. It flies slowly across the sky and disappears behind some hills. You can't wait any longer; you need to get rid of this beast!
I decided to see if I could get a more Star Warsy-feel using a custom prompt (in bold). Here's my second adventure:
You are a bounty hunter known as "Mando" and are accompanied by a child. You have run away from imperial soldiers. You fly to a planet and see an old man with a cane who is not the emperor. He tells you that he has been sent here to bring you back, but you will be killed if you do not return to him immediately
> You say "what is your name".
The old man looks at you and says "I am called Mondo, I am a mercenary. My name is M-O-N-D-O-R".
You look around and find yourself in a forest
> You say "your name is ridiculous".
The old man smiles and says "No it isn't, my name is Mondo. It's pronounced like 'more' or 'doe'. But it means 'biggest'".
> You say "let's make a deal".
Mondo nods his head and says "Sure, let's do that".
> Say "I'll give you credits and you will forget you ever saw us".
Mondo nods his head and says "Deal, but only if you don't tell anyone about this".
> You say "goodbye mondo".
The old man smiles and says "Goodbye Mondo" and then walks away.
> You look for town.
You walk through the woods until you see a sign saying "Welcome to New Haven".
> You look for restaurant.
You enter the diner and order a burger and fries. The waitress brings them out and hands you back your money. She also gives you a smile and waves goodbye as she leaves.
> You give food to child.
You give the food to the little girl who looks up at you with big eyes. She runs over to hug you and kisses you on the cheek. Then she runs off.
On Back to the Future Day (that's October 21, 2015), a film short premiered at Universal CityWalk in Hollywood that imagined Marty McFly arriving to the future — meaning, October 21, 2015. Back to the 2015 Future reunited several original cast members (but used a Michael J. Fox impersonator) and, in the four years it's been online, has garnered over 3 million views.
Now, YouTuber Pacto Copernico has made a deepfake version of the 15-minute short where Michael J. Fox's face is put on the impersonator's, Tyler Dunivan. There's still a decent amount of uncanny valley but, if you squint, you might be able to suspend your disbelief a little to enjoy this "sequel."
My kaleidoscopes are not your typical everyday kaleidoscopes. I make a variety of 2-, 3-, and 4-mirror kaleidoscopes which are 2-, 2.5-, and 3-dimensional in nature. I use domestic, U.S.-made, colored glass as the decorative exteriors, and dynamically moving, sparkling oil for the object chambers at the end of the mirror systems. My kaleidoscopes create images reminiscent of fireworks, cathedral rose windows, outer space, and psychedelics.
In motion, they remind me of Spock's entry into V'ger:
This week, I've been doing our family's annual charitable giving (here's a guide to some of the charities we support), a long process that involves using Charity Navigator to verify that the groups we support are still spending money effectively, figuring out how much to give, and then submitting the receipts to my wife's employer for donation-matching.
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BrickinNick created this LEGO model of the new Tesla Cybertruck. BrickinNick posted it to the LEGO Ideas site. If enough people like the design, it could become an actual LEGO product. From the LEGO Ideas specs:
While its design may not be for everyone, many different elements and functions of the Cybertruck lend themselves well to an electrifying LEGO build. At this time, only the frunk (front trunk) and tailgate function. Opening passenger doors, a full interior, fold or slide out ramp, opening charging ports, steering, suspension, the Tesla ATV, and more could all be integrated (and are being worked on for future project updates) making for an incredibly fun building experience. LEGO motorization could even turn this into a truly all-electric vehicle in brick form!
Dimensions: 35.6 cm L x 15.2 cm W x 12.7 cm H (14" L x 6" W x 5" H)
Truth be told, I'm not the biggest Star Wars nerd on my home world. I've seen all of the films and played the Star Wars: X-Wing miniatures game. That's it. So, I don't know much of deeper lore, like what the hell a Mandalorian is. The origins of Beskar? Forget about it.
I ended up watching a bunch of YouTube videos in search of answers. Most of them only left me confused and with more questions than answers. Once again, the Templin Institute offered up my favorite summary.
As scientists make great strides in their research on psychedelic therapies for depression, PTSD, OCD, addiction and other conditions, new ways to deliver the drugs are also emerging from laboratories. Oregon company Silo Wellness announced the availability of a new nasal spray for psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient in magic mushrooms. The company conducted their research and formulated the product in Jamaica where psilocybin is legal. From the Silo Wellness press release:
The key to the nasal spray is that it bypasses the gut, going directly to the bloodstream through the nasal mucus membranes and eventually the liver for metabolizing.
“Many psilocybin patients, particularly women, complain of upset stomach or vomiting when taking high-doses of mushrooms,” Board Advisor and Silo Wellness investor Becky Rotterman, a Missouri pharmacist, stated. “We want to bring this wonderful natural medicine first to Oregon and then the flyover states – to those who would be afraid to eat a handful of fungi and who feel more comfortable seeing their medicine in a familiar delivery modality, such as a metered-dose nasal spray...."
Regarding the expansion of legalization efforts, Arnold explained that “this is the sort of product that activists can discuss with their legislators to show that safe consumption is possible within a legal framework.”
“With proof of concept in hand, we are taking pre-orders and entertaining licensing proposals for research abroad and manufacturing for the product in advance of jurisdictions coming online legally, similar to Oregon’s proposed medical-marijuana-like psilocybin initiative,” COO Scott Slay, of Eugene, Oregon stated. “
Weighted blankets are officially a thing. And if you've ever tried one, you know there's a reason for the fuss. Parents have known for generations that swaddling a baby has a profound calming effect, and the gentle pressure that blanket weights provide can have the same effect on restless sleepers.
Pretty much all parts of the body can respond to this kind of treatment, which is why the Nodpod® Weighted Sleep Mask is poised to become just as essential for serious bedtime prep.
The cotton/fleece covering is comfy enough, but inside the mask are four gently weighted, BPA-free microfiber pods. They cause the mask to hug the contours of your face without putting undue pressure on your eyeballs - just the right kind of pressure to make you feel secure. Want to sleep on your side? It's just as effective thanks to a pull-through slit that you can use to tie the Nodpod on. No hair-tugging Velcro here.
Kentucky Fried Chicken teamed up with Enviro-Log to bring back the 11 Herbs & Spices Firelog that apparently sold out in just a few hours last year. On its site, JFC uses big bold type to make darn sure buyers understand that this log is "NOT ACTUALLY FRIED CHICKEN." The 11 Herbs & Spices Firelog available exclusively at Walmart. 'natch.
I don't have this particular LED tracing light box, but it's super cheap on Amazon when you use code HC37AVDP. (If you don't know what a light box is, you probably don't need one.)
Why is it that people like Lee Baca, Paul Manafort, Bill Cosby, and Harvey Weinstein suddenly develop debilitating health issues when it's time to prosecute them? Variety reports that accused sex criminal Harvey Weinstein "hobbled into the downtown courthouse limping and relying, at times, on a cane or the help of an assistant. He was dressed in an ill-fitting light grey suit, his hair was thinning, and he looked pale and enfeebled." One of Weinstein's team of high-paid lawyers overflowed with sympathy for her client: " “This is tough on anybody going through this and dealing with the scrutiny not only in the courtroom, but in the court of public opinion.”
Here is #HarveyWeinstein hobbling out of the courthouse with his defense. He walked in with a cane, but didn’t use the crutch on the way out. pic.twitter.com/HyJNYPFtLn
NEW: Harvey Weinstein left a New York courtroom as prosecutors sought to raise Weinstein's bail to $5 million cash over allegations he violated his ankle monitor conditions; A judge postponed the decision until next week. https://t.co/yRoNBOrZXTpic.twitter.com/f9jLtJIEO9
Harvey Weinstein appears in New York court for bail hearing where prosecutors asked a judge to increase his bail to $5 million for sometimes failing to wear the required tracking device https://t.co/6RUPNVGcPHpic.twitter.com/geRfjXi5fu
Yesterday the Netflix Twitter account issued a challenge to other brands: "What's something you can say during sex but also when you manage a brand twitter account?" Some E Cards collected a few of the responses, some of which are more risque than others:
In a recent installment of his Plenary Session podcast, hematologist-oncologist Vinay Prasad observed that "There are interventions that disperse wealth, … and they give people jobs, and they send them out in the community; and there are implantable drugs, implantable devices, there are drugs, there are cancer screening tests, and we will always prioritize interventions that consolidate money in the hands of the few, over interventions that disperse money to the hands of many, with the same levels of evidence."
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Here's Bond's wristwear from Dr. No to Spectre. While the Seiko M354 Memory Bank Calendar from Moonraker (1979) and the Hamilton Pulsar LED watch seen in Live and Let Die (1973) were high-tech icons of their age, it's the, er, timelessness of the Rolex Submariner from Dr. No (1962) that always feels so right now.
