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January 17, 2020
22:00
What’s It Like to Wear A 3D-Printed Sneaker?
» ‎ Geek.com

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Adidas' Alphaedge 4D sneaker takes footwear to the future. (Photo: Adidas / Twitter)
What does a shoe with a sole 3D-printed from a base of light and oxygen feel like on your feet? The short answer: a little heavier than you might expect, but pretty good. The long answer is way more interesting though, I promise.

One of the great sneaker innovations of the last decade was adidas’ innovations in 3D printing. Using a process called Carbon Digital Light Synthesis, they pioneered the adidas 4D line, a series of shoes with soles printed using a process primarily based on light and oxygen particles to create pliable, sturdy shoe soles that are designed to best aid in human performance.

The tech first launched in April of 2017 in tight, limited quantities that restricted accessibility. Since then though, it’s expanded, adorning dozens of adidas sneakers and becoming far more accessible to the public.

Traditional shoe soles of just about any kind are created with injection molding. Carbon Digital Light Synthesis does away with the process entirely, instead opting for an elaborate building process that went through 50 different designs before being settled on – the current process allowing for the sole’s performance to be tested early on in the design phase, which eliminates the need for prototypes.

When speaking with sneaker publication High Snobiety, adidas explained that, “It is a photochemical process. It works by projecting light through an oxygen-permeable window into a reservoir of UV-curable resin.

Informed by a data-driven process.#ALPHAEDGE 4D is available now: [https:]] pic.twitter.com/NSVgUcLZ9L

— adidas Running (@adidasrunning) November 17, 2018

As a sequence of UV images are projected, the part solidifies and the build platform rises. Oxygen inhibits the photochemical reaction so that there is always a thin, liquid interface of uncured resin between the window and the printing part.” What sets this tech apart from traditional 3D printing is that UV-curable resin – traditional 3D printing uses plastics, which are stiffer and more difficult to mold.

So what’s the end result? What’s it like wearing a shoe that has been 3D-printed using light and oxygen? Recently I got the chance to try out the adidas Alphaedge 4D and, well, it’s like I said: a little heavier than you might expect. Given that adidas’ most popular sneaker innovation of the last decade has been Boost foam, you’d expect a comparable lightness, right?

Boost is famous for being ultra lightweight and responsive. Wearing it makes you realize just how heavy every other shoe you’ve ever worn is. It’s cushy and pliable, making for one of the most comfortable shoes on the market today. Given this, wouldn’t a heavier shoe feel like something of a downgrade?

Born from liquid. Sculpted by light. Perfected by oxygen.
This is what happens when sport meets Silicon Valley.

ALPHAEDGE 4D, available at [https:]] #ALPHAEDGE #ADIDAS4D pic.twitter.com/p6SNkqfJTU

— adidas (@adidas) May 31, 2019

Not necessarily. Yes, these 4D soles have a bit more heft to them than something like an Ultra Boost. But the weight serves a purpose, the first being durability. It might not feel like running on a pillow the way that Ultra Boosts do when you first put them on, but the support is unreal.

The printed webbing absorbs and redistributes shock and movement as your foot strides, seeming to respond to individual muscles and each part of your foot accordingly. It also, in the world of professional sports, allows for maximum customizability. The structure of the webbing can easily be altered in the design process (again, without the need for creating prototypes) to suit the needs of the athlete in question.

Cut sharper, push further.

Shop men and women ALPHAEDGE 4D or visit select retailers worldwide: [https:]] #ALPHAEDGE #adidas4D pic.twitter.com/Yn1vvoJkIw

— adidas (@adidas) November 17, 2018

It doesn’t hurt that the shoe’s upper is comprised of an ultra-lightweight knitted material similar to that of the Ultra Boost or the Nike Epic React Flyknit. The obvious benefit is that it doesn’t add any unnecessary weight to the shoe, though it’s perhaps more important to note that knit uppers cradle your foot far better than most materials. It locks your foot down into the sole and conforms to the shape and contour in order to maximize the shoe’s performance as well as that of your body.

I’m not going to lie – it takes a little while to get used to. There’s a peculiar sensation to the 4D soles that isn’t quite like anything I’ve ever felt in a shoe before. It’s like walking on a bed of super-light springs. Once you’ve gotten used to the peculiar sensation and the strange weightiness of it though, you won’t want to take it off. This tech marks such a leap forward into the future of sneakers that it honestly makes sense that you might not initially be prepared for the sensation of wearing them. How can you be prepared for lacing the future onto your feet?

You can pick a pair of adidas’s 4D sneakers for yourself over at their website.

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21:00
Top Movie and TV Trailers of the Week: ‘Morbius,’ ‘Westworld,’ and More
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'Morbius,' which stars Jared Leto, is coming to theaters on July 31, 2020.
TGIF. While you’re planning for the long weekend ahead, we’ve rounded up the top movie and TV trailers that you may have missed during the week.

Jared Leto goes full vampire in Sony Pictures’ Morbius, while HBO’s Westworld teases a chilling, high-tech future. From Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina to Marvel Studios’ Black Widow, here are the top movies and TV shows to keep on your radar.
Westworld
There is a global war brewing in Westworld Season 3, which is set in the near-ish future. The show, which returns on March 15, is bringing back Evan Rachel Wood and Thandie Newton, while Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul is joining the star-studded cast.
Black Widow
Natasha Romanova is done running from her past, and Black Widow tells a little more about her chaotic backstory. The movie, which stars Scarlett Johansson as the heroic maven, hits theaters May 1.
Penny Dreadful: City of Angels
Set in 1938 Los Angeles, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels brings together the supernatural and community tensions into a thrilling series. Game of Thrones’ Natalie Dormer plays a shape-shifting demon in Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, which premieres on Showtime April 26.
Morbius
Jared Leto plays a biochemist-turned-vampire in the thrilling film Morbius, which hits theaters on July 31. Vowing to cure himself from a rare blood disease, Michael Morbius conducts a controversial experiment with not-so-great results. Can he stop the monster inside?
Insecure
Insecure is coming back for Season 4 this year: The comedy series, which stars Issa Rae and Yvonne Orji, may put their characters’ friendship to the test, as they navigate dating and other life milestones.
The Stranger
A picture-perfect family is turned upside down in The Stranger, which is coming to Netflix on Jan. 30: When a husband is approached by a woman he doesn’t know, he finds out that his wife is living a secret life. After tragedy strikes, he must find out what happened to the woman he loved.
Bloodshot
What does it mean to be a human weapon? Bloodshot, which stars Vin Diesel, puts this question to work, as a wounded soldier is given a second chance to be a killing machine. Can he get his life back? This movie hits theaters on March 13.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Sabrina Spellman goes from cheerleader to super-witch in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Season 3. The series, which returns to Netflix on Jan. 24, follows Spellman’s quest to claim the throne and save Greendale.

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20:40
Watch These Movies Before ‘Bad Boys For Life’
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Finally, now in January 2020, there’s a new Bad Boys movie. Bad Boys For Life reunites Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as hotshot Miami cops, even if they’re now old enough to be grandfathers. Sure! 90s nostalgia and legacy revivals are huge right now. So let’s watch a third Bad Boys movie.

Watch these movies before Bad Boys For Life.

Bad Boys 2
You should probably watch the first Bad Boys, but you should definitely watch Bad Boys 2. Michael Bay’s epic action insanity basically smashes multiple movies into one for a two and half hour buddy cop comedy epic with so many explosions and shifts in tone that you’ll feel like you’re on the drugs the cops are trying to contain.
Pain and Gain
Speaking of Michael Bay, while he has directed many bad movies, I’ll never say he’s a bad director. That’s because it takes a true artist to direct Pain and Gain, a true story of bodybuilders turned criminals. Bay’s trademark hot, slick, glistening patriotism here becomes a brutal tool of satire for the rotting grifting heart of the American Dream.

Martin Lawrence on SNL
Martin Lawrence proved himself to be a real bad boy when we delivered a Saturday Night Live monologue so vulgar he was banned from the show. The full clip has been washed clean from the internet, but you can track down a transcript easy enough.
The Beach Bum
Harmony Korine’s blissed-out The Beach Bum is a one-man show powered by Matthew McConaughey’s zen poet Moondog. But Martin Lawrence’s cameo as a Vietnam veteran dolphin tour guide Captain Wack is so powerful and pure that we hope he gets his own Renaissance.
Aladdin
We’re pretty sure we hallucinated Will Smith turning into a blue CGI genie in one of last year’s ill-advised Disney live-action remakes. But leave a comment if you also shared this delusion.
Snowfall
Instead of Michael Bay, Bad Boys For Life is directed by Belgium duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. In America the pair might be best known for directing several episodes of Snowfall, the 1980s LA crack epidemic drama co-created by the late John Singleton. After Bad Boys though their next project is Beverly Hills Cop 4.
LA’s Finest
Did you know there’s an extended Bad Boys universe? In Bad Boys 2 Gabrielle Union plays Syd Burnett, a detective and sister of Martin Lawrence’s character. And last year she started starring in a spin-off, LA’s Finest, where she partners up with Jessica Alba’s Detective Lieutenant Nancy McKenna. And it’s the first original show for Spectrum. Sure!
17:48
‘Smash Bros.’ Byleth and ‘Mortal Kombat’ Joker Are Your Next Fighting Game Clowns
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mortal Kombat 11 are two of the best and biggest fighting games out right now. A huge part of their appeal comes from their wacky casts of characters, casts that are only getting larger and more packed with crossovers thanks to ongoing DLC. We recently saw gameplay for two new characters coming to these games in just a few days. And they both make us laugh, albeit for different reasons.

Let’s start with Smash Bros. because it’s maybe the funniest. Soon after launch we were promised five additional DLC characters in the Fighters Pass. And the first four were all pretty awesome and surprising third-party guest picks. Joker from Persona 5, the Hero from Dragon Quest, Banjo and Kazooie, and Fatal Fury’s Terry Bogard. However, that streak came to an end when the fifth fighter was revealed: Professor Byleth from Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Another anime swordsman. The eighth Fire Emblem character. The fifth one with blue hair. What a joke.

Still, I can’t get so mad. Fire Emblem: Three Houses was my runner-up game of the year so of course I’m stoked to battle at Garreg Mach Monastery and listen to that music. Byleth’s colors reflect different house leaders and characters (although not the new students of the hidden fourth DLC house). And their moveset mixes things up with a sacred lance, axe, and bow alongside the chain sword.

Besides, other more creative characters like Altair and Ravings Rabbids at least got some Mii costume love. There’s even a dope Sans-esque Cuphead costume complete with jazz music. But man, if any of the six upcoming fighters of the next DLC wave are from Fire Emblem we revolt. Sakurai thinks he’s got jokes with that binary code tease. He better learn how to say “DOOM” with his fingers next.

You know who else knows about revolts? It’s Batman villain and Oscar darling The Joker. We already knew the clown who loves crime was coming to Mortal Kombat 11. But now we have a gameplay trailer showing what kind of hilarious brutality the character is capable of free from softer rating of Injustice. They even fixed his face! Here’s hoping for a Joaquin Phoenix skin.
Buy Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Buy Mortal Kombat 11
16:36
Every Video Game Got Delayed This Week
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2020 has just started and it already promises to be a crazy year for video games. That’s what happens when two brand new consoles, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, are slated for the end of the year. But before that hardware even arrives, publishers are keen to get out that their last wave of big games that squeeze every last drop out of these current boxes.

With time running out, tons of huge titles are slated to launch right on top of each other. Doom Eternal got delayed to the exact same day as Animal Crossing: New Horizons. And the not-so surprising remake of Resident Evil 3 is soon after that. The lineup was getting stacked to the point of daunting, which is why we’re honestly more relieved than disappointed about the various game delays that got announced this week.

After a lifetime of baiting fans with the promise of a next-gen Final Fantasy VII remake, pushing the game back from March 3 to April 10 honestly isn’t so bad. The similarly long-gestating Final Fantasy XV got a similar final delay. And besides, this is just the first episode. Fans of this game are going to have to get used to waiting.

Square Enix also delayed its biggest game from its Western studios. Marvel’s Avengers was previously slated for the summer blockbuster slot of May. But now we won’t be able to play as these bootleg superheroes in this melee-focused Destiny clone until September. Here’s hoping they fix the faces.

The most heartbreaking, if unsurprising, delay into September is Cyberpunk 2077. Originally planned for April, CD Projekt Red needs more time to perfect its Keanu Reeves paradise. And that’s not even counting the multiplayer not coming until, like, 2022. Witcher 3 was also delayed and that turned out pretty okay. In fact, we suspect the extra sales of Witcher 3 following the Switch port and Netflix popularity helped make this Cyberpunk delay possible.

And speaking of cyberpunk, Iron Man VR seems like one of the most promising combinations of franchise and technology based on our hands-on demo. Marvel’s virtual reality high-tech superhero adventure was supposed to release in February. But now it’s flying away from Half-Life: Alyx VR and into the vacant May slot Avengers left behind. At least we can play as one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
16:28
NBC’s Peacock Is Coming for Your Budget-Friendly Streaming Needs
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Peacock, NBC's new streaming service, will be available starting April 15. (Photo Credit: Peacock / Twitter)
Move over, Netflix: Peacock, NBC’s new streaming service, arrives later this year and it’s offering a variety of subscription tiers for your binge-watching budget.

NBCUniversal showed off Peacock to investors on Thursday, revealing launch date details and its eye-catching Peacock Free option, which offers free (yes, free) TV shows and movies to stream.

The streaming market is already crowded (hello Hulu, Disney+, and CBS All Access), but Peacock does have some key advantages over competitors. We break down all the information for you here.
When Is Peacock Launching in the US?
Peacock is launching is the U.S. on April 15 for Flex and Comcast X1 customers. Cox cable and Comcast subscribers will also get free access to one of Peacock’s premium subscription tiers. (More on that below…)

Not subscribing to any of the services above? You’ll have to wait until July 15 to access streaming content on Peacock.
How Much Will It Cost?

Timeless shows and movies. Exclusive originals. Plus timely news, sports and pop culture. Perch here for a sneak peek of it all and make sure you sign up for updates at [https:]] . Weâ€™re Free as a Bird! #PeacockTV pic.twitter.com/36nHvYQFa2

â€” Peacock (@peacockTV) January 16, 2020

One benefit of Peacock is all the pricing options: You can watch content for free and there’s an affordable tier of subscriptions available for those who don’t want to deal with ads.

There are three types of subscriptions available: Peacock Free, which offers some programming without a fee, a complete version with ads that’s free for Comcast customers and $4.99 per month for non-customers, and Peacock Premium, a $10 per month option that’s ad-free and open to anyone interested in the service.
Peacock Free
With more than 7,500 hours of programming, Peacock Free gives you next day access to classic series, curated daily news, sports broadcasts, and popular movies.Â You will have to deal with ads, but having the option to not pay for a subscription is a steal, especially since other services can cost $6 or more per month.
Peacock Premium
Even though Peacock Free is the most affordable streaming option, Peacock Premium comes with additional perks, including early access to popular late-night shows and live sports.

Don’t want to wait until 11:35 p.m. ET to watch The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon? Peacock Premium will allow you to watch the show at 8 p.m. ET earlier in the day, so you can eat dinner, catch up on celebrity gossip, and head to bed at a reasonable time.

Sports programming is another plus: Unlike other subscription services, Peacock Premium will let you watch live games. Non-televised soccer games will be available to watch starting in August, so you can cheer on your favorite team from the comfort of your own couch.

For more information on Peacock’s streaming content and availability, head over to the services’ website. If you want to explore non-cable entertainment, check out our streaming TV services roundup here.

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16:00
The Best Drug Trips In Movie History
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This week sees the release of The Wave, a new flick that stars Justin Long as a business square who goes out with a friend to celebrate a forthcoming promotion only to get dosed with a powerful psychedelic that completely warps his perceptions. Now he has to get through the night, discover what’s up with a mysterious woman who may or may not be real, and find his damn wallet. Drug trips have been catnip for movie directors for nearly as long as films have been made – they’re a great way to use the power of illusion to illustrate the inside of somebody’s bamboozled brain. We took a double dose and dropped into the vaults to pull out the best drug trips in movie history.

Easy Rider
Let’s kick off with an all-time classic. Dennis Hopper’s road movie is one of the most important counterculture documents of the late 60s, a rambling tale of a pair of bikers riding their hogs from Los Angeles to New Orleans with the cash from a drug deal hidden in one of their gas tanks. On the way, they run into all kinds of people; some friendly, and others less so. Early on they are given some LSD, and once they get to the Big Easy they drop it in the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and have a hell of a harrowing trip with a pair of prostitutes that judders between quick, abstract cuts and winds up with one of the men nestled in the arms of a statue.

Young Guns
This 90s franchise was more known for assembling the decade’s hottest young hunk actors into one franchise, but some historians praised how accurate the Billy the Kid story was. At one point, the three leads head down to Mexico to hide out from a pursuing posse, where they engage in a traditional peyote ritual with a tribal elder. The powerful hallucinogenic has different effects on all the men, ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime. It manages to be both amusing and unsettling, especially when you blend Kiefer Sutherland’s stoned philosophizing with Dermot Mulroney yelling “Did you guys see the size of that chicken?”

Harvard Man
James Toback’s 2002 comedy-drama is pretty forgettable for the most part – a college basketball player needs to make money to buy his parents a new home, so he agrees to throw an important game for a Mafia boss. When the FBI gets involved, our protagonist accidentally downs a heroic dose of LSD and spends a sizable chunk of time completely losing his mind. CGI morphing effects make the world ooze and undulate around him as his heightened emotional state sends him into a deeply bad trip. It all ends happily, as a friend takes him to a doctor who snaps him out of his psychedelic nightmare.

Skidoo
Otto Preminger’s mostly forgettable 1968 gangster comedy holds a spot on film history lists for its incredibly bizarre and out-of-place LSD sequence. Preminger, a veteran of Hollywood productions since the 1940s, was reaching the end of his storied career when he cast Jackie Gleason as retired hitman Tony Banks. When Banks takes one last job to liquidate an informant behind bars at Alcatraz, he accidentally licks an envelope suffused with LSD and embarks on a trip that involves the floating head of Groucho Marx and other

Altered States
This 1980 Ken Russell joint stars William Hurt in his screen debut as Dr. Edward Jessup, who is studying the effects of sensory deprivation when he makes the extremely poor decision to add psychedelics into the mix. After visiting Mexico, he comes back with a tincture made from the extremely potent Amanita muscaria mushroom and starts taking it while isolated in his light-proof, sound-proof flotation tube. The end results are some of the most horrific, surreal and gruesome sequences of the year, replete with biological horror and religious symbolism. And that’s not even mentioning what happens to Ed when he comes out of the tube.

Mandy
Panos Cosmatos’s wild-ass revenge horror thriller was one of our favorite movies of 2018, an uncompromising and brutal jaunt through madness. When Nicolas Cage’s lumberjack Red Miller goes on a mission to take out the demented cult and their biker army that killed his girlfriend, he ends up accidentally consuming a titanic amount of cocaine mixed with LSD that sends him on an extremely dark trip. His visions do lead him to the Chemist, the man who supplies the bad guys with their extremely pure acid, and from him to the Church of the New Dawn and his ultimate vengeance. The film’s last shot strongly implies that all these substances may have bent Red’s brain permanently, though.

The Big Lebowski
Typically the Dude in the Coen brothers’ cult classic doesn’t go for anything stronger than a White Russian at the bowling alley. But when he’s surreptitiously dosed with an unidentified substance by pornographer Jackie Treehorn, it sends him into a musical reverie that might be the funniest thing on this list. The major elements of the Dude’s life coalesce into a Busby Berkeley-esque fantasia of dancing girls, bowling pins, and smooth moves. It’s a great sequence that might be the most iconic bit in a movie crammed to the gills with iconic bits. We just want to know what was in that cocktail, man.

A Scanner Darkly
Richard Linklater is a dude who is not afraid to push the envelope with his projects – his 2014 film Boyhood was filmed over the course of a dozen years, letting main actor Ellar Coltrane go from six to 18 over the course of the story. He has also experimented with animation, most notably with Waking Life and his 2006 Philip K. Dick adaptation A Scanner Darkly. That movie tells the story of an undercover agent played by Keanu Reeves who trips on the mysterious “Substance D,” and the whole film has us drifting in and out of hallucinations made real by the unsettling rotoscope animation.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
When a director decides to tackle a book previously deemed impossible, they need to move heaven and earth to make it happen. It took decades for Hunter S. Thompson’s manic vision of Sin City on a boatload of drugs to come to the screen, but under the gimlet eye of Terry Gilliam we got one of the most nauseating trips ever lensed. When Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo walk into their Vegas casino, they’re peaking on acid so hard that the hotel bar is populated by fornicating lizard creatures as the walls undulate grotesquely around them. It’s almost difficult to look directly at the screen during the sequence.

Bad Lieutenant
Harvey Keitel uses all sorts of drugs in Abel Ferrara’s exploitation classic Bad Lieutenant, but it isn’t until the very end of the film that it all catches up with him. His brain absolutely melted on heroin, the cop heads into a church to tell a nun who was sexually assaulted that he’s going to kill the men that did that to her. When she requests forgiveness instead, the drug cocktail inside his head incapacitates him, granting him a vision of Christ come off the cross to grant him forgiveness for his many sins. It’s an emotionally harrowing scene that shows how drugs can smash down your inner boundaries, for better or for worse.

Performance
One of the best British films of the 1970s, Donald Cammell and Nicolas Roeg’s brilliant Performance stars James Fox as a British gangster who goes into hiding after murdering a former friend. He winds up at a country house owned by a rock star (played by Mick Jagger, not much of a stretch) and tries to figure out what he’s going to do with his life. That question is answered by dosing on hallucinogenic mushrooms, which let our hitman experiment with emotional openness. Fox actually dropped Dimethyltryptamine during the production, which explains his striking believability.
15:48
Surprising Experiment Proves Wolf Cubs Can Play Fetch
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Wolf pup Flea comes from a non-fetching litter, born in 2015. (Photo Credit: Christina Hansen Wheat)
Toss a ball across the room, and most domesticated dogs will naturally fetch it.

Turns out wolf pups* will, too.

Researchers were shocked to find that the ability to interpret human cues that enable a dog to pick up and return a ball also exists in wolves.

As described in a paper published this week in the journal iScience, a pair of Stockholm University scientists tested 13 wolf cubs from three different litters to assess various behaviors.

During the experiment, three eight-week-old wolves spontaneously showed interest in a ball, and returned it to a stranger—with some encouragement.

“When I saw the first wolf puppy retrieving the ball I literally got goosebumps,” study co-author Christina Hansen Wheat said in a statement.

The discovery comes as a surprise, considering popular belief suggests the cognitive abilities necessary to understand human cues arose in dogs only after they were domesticated, some 15,000 years ago.

“It was so unexpected,” Hansen Wheat said. “I immediately knew that this meant that if variation in human-directed play behavior exists in wolves, this behavior could have been a potential target for early selective pressures exerted during dog domestication.”

Turns out that wolves can fetch! Check out our paper on how standing variation in the expression of human-directed behaviour in ancestral populations could have been an important target for early selective pressures exerted during dog domestication [https:]] pic.twitter.com/4QWXd3Cwl2

— Christina Hansen Wheat (@ChristinaHWheat) January 16, 2020

To study how subjugation affects behavior, the team raise wolves and dogs from the age of 10 days, putting them through a battery of tests.

Among them: a person the animal does not know throws a tennis ball across the room and, without any prior experience or training, encourages it to return the object.

Researchers never really expected wolf pups to catch on; after the first two litters showed little to no interest in balls, let alone retrieving one, they assumed the experiment was a bust.

Until they tested the third brood.

Indeed, some of the pooches not only played with the ball, but also responded to social cues from an unfamiliar person and brought it back.

“It was very surprising that we had wolves actually retrieving the ball,” Wheat said. “I did not expect that. I do not think any of us did. It was especially surprising that the wolves retrieved the ball for a person they had never met before.”

In retrospect, though, it also makes sense.

“Wolf puppies showing human-directed behavior could have had a selective advantage in early stages of dog domestication,” she added.

Moving forward, the team will continue their work to learn more about the behavioral differences and similarities between hand-raised dogs and wolves.

* Geek does not advocate the breeding of wolves as pets

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15:08
Giant Squid Genome Is Fully Sequenced
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Giant squid (Architeuthis dux) (Photo Credit: Glenn Rankin / Smithsonian Museum / EOL)
The elusive giant squid—a 10-armed invertebrate said to have dragged ships to the ocean floor—has finally had its genome fully sequenced.

Important clues about the anatomy and evolution of the mysterious Architeuthis dux have been revealed by a team of scientists from the universities of Copenhagen and Chicago.

“These new results may unlock several pending evolutionary questions regarding this mantled species,” according to research lead Rute de Fonseca, an associate professor with the Center for Macroecology, Evolution, and Climate (CMEC) at the University of Copenhagen’s Globe Institute.

Giant squid—estimated to grow up to 43 feet from posterior fins to the tip of two lengthy tentacles—is second only to the colossal squid, which, at an approximate 46 feet long, is one of the largest living organisms.

In 2004, Japanese researchers took the first images of a live giant squid in its natural habitat; additional video sightings have confirmed their existence in Asia and North America.

But no sea serpents have been caught and kept alive, so their biology remains a secret to scientists.

Until now.

Scale of size between human and giant squid. (Photo Credit: Center for Macroecology, Evolution, and Climate / Globe Institute / University of Copenhagen)

It turns out the giant squid’s genome is also, well, giant: With an estimated 2.7 billion DNA base pairs, it’s about 90 percent the size of the human genome.

“In terms of their genes, we found that the giant squid look a lot like other animals,” Caroline Albertin, of the University of Chicago’s Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), said in a statement. “This means we can study these truly bizarre animals to learn more about ourselves.”

As described in a paper published in the journal Oxford Academic, important developmental genes present in almost all animals (Hox and Wnt) exist only in single copies in the giant squid genome.

That means this titanic invertebrate, long a source of sea-monster lore, did not grow through whole-genome duplication—a strategy evolution assumed long ago to increase the size of vertebrates.

How it did, however, remains unclear.

“A genome is a first step for answering a lot of questions about the biology of these very weird animals,” Albertin said.

Questions like how they acquired the largest invertebrate brain, sophisticated behaviors and agility, and the knack for instantaneous camouflage.

Giant squid sucker rings. (Photo Credit: Trustees of the Natural History Museum)

“While cephalopods have many complex and elaborate features, they are thought to have evolved independently of the vertebrates,” she continued. “By comparing their genomes we can ask, ‘Are cephalopods and vertebrates built the same way or are they built differently?'”

Despite challenges in the lab (i.e. uncooperative samples), the team also identified more than 100 genes in the protocadherin family within the giant squid genome, and analyzed the reflectins gene family that, so far, is unique to cephalopods.

“Having this giant squid genome is an important node in helping us understand what makes a cephalopod a cephalopod,” Albertin said. “And it also can help us understand how new and novel genes arise in evolution and development.”

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13:51
Nancy Pelosi Slams Facebook’s ‘Shameful,’ ‘Misleading’ Behavior
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Photo Credit: U.S. Government)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi laid into Facebook during a Thursday press briefing, accusing the social network of caring only about profits and “misleading” the country.

“The Facebook business model is strictly to make money,” Pelosi (D-Calif.) said, alluding to the company’s policy not to remove or fact-check political ads.

“They don’t care about the impact on children, they don’t care about the truth, they don’t care about where this is all coming from,” she continued. “I think that they have been very abusive of the great opportunity that technology has given them.”

Following a September ruling that politicians are “exempt” from third-party fact checking, Facebook last week announced changes to its political ad system.

New functions like searching for ads with exact phrases, grouping similar plugs, and filtering content will allow for “more efficient and effective research,” according to the firm.

Except, instead of sifting out falsehoods promoted by party members, the updates will simply boost confirmation bias and spread misinformation without verification.

“This does not mean that politicians can say whatever they like in advertisements on Facebook,” Rob Leathern, director of product management, wrote in a blog post.

Which is to say: hate speech, harmful content, and messages designed to intimidate or stop people from exercising their right to vote are prohibited, but misleading adverts are A-OK.

Pelosi, whose constituency includes Silicon Valley, is the latest in a string of prominent people condemning Facebook’s actions.

Actor Sacha Baron Cohen in November penned a Washington Post op-ed on social media site regulation. And ~~Luke Skywalker~~ Mark Hamill just quit the social network, accusing Zuckerberg of valuing profit over “truthfulness.”

South Bend mayor and presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg, meanwhile, recently questioned Zuckerberg’s influence in an interview that inspired this week’s question to Pelosi.

“All they [Facebook] want are their tax cuts and no antitrust action against them,” Madam Speaker said. “And they schmooze this administration in that regard because so far that’s what they have received.”

She added “But I think that what they have said very blatantly, very clearly, [is] that they intend to be accomplices for misleading the American people with money from God knows where.

“They didn’t even check on the money from Russia in the last election; they never even thought they should.”

Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Despite a lack of advertising scrutiny, the company did promise to crack down on deepfake videos and manipulated media ahead of the 2020 U.S. election.

The new policy, however, does not cover all doctored clips: Content deemed parody or satire is excused, as are clips edited solely to omit or change the order of words.

Last year’s viral video of Pelosi, modified to make her seem drunk during a public appearance, does not fit Facebook’s new guidelines. Neither does a recording of former VP and presidential candidate Joe Biden, which was heavily trimmed so he would sound racist.

“They have been very irresponsible,” Pelosi said. “And I think their behavior is shameful.”

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12:37
Future Mars Habitats Could Be Made From Moldy Material
» ‎ Geek.com

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Bricks produced using mycelium, yard waste, and wood chips as a part of the myco-architecture project. (Photo Credit: 2018 Stanford-Brown-RISD iGEM Team)
I want to say one word to you. Just one word: Fungi.

NASA’s Ames Research Center is prototyping technologies to “grow” extraterrestrial habitats out of fungus—specifically vegetative mycelia.

The space agency’s myco-architecture project envisions a future where human explorers can carry compact lodgings, built of lightweight material and dormant fungi, on long journeys to the moon, Mars, and beyond.

Upon arrival, simply unfold the basic structure, add water, and voila! Fungus grows around the framework into a fully functional accommodation—all without contaminating alien environments.

Future astronauts might one day live in habitats fabricated with fungus. (Photo Credit: 2018 Stanford-Brown-RISD iGEM Team)

“Right now, traditional habitat designs for Mars are like a turtle—carrying our homes with us on our backs—a reliable plan, but with huge energy costs,” according to Lynn Rothschild, principal investigator on the early-stage project.

“Instead,” she continued, “we can harness mycelia to grow these habitats ourselves when we get there.”

The green initiative, supported through the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program, could even lead to more sustainable ways of living on Earth.

“We’re a very long way from being able to grow usable habitats for Mars,” a NASA press release said. “But the early-stage research is well under way to prove the potential of these creative solutions. That works all starts with experimenting with fungi.”

Humans are no stranger to fungus: The eukaryotic organisms are found in antibiotics like penicillin, bread and beer yeasts, and edible mushrooms.

But the unseen mycelia—tiny threads that build complex structures with extreme precision—are ideal building blocks for not only Martian homes, but also the furniture that could bloom inside them.

Imagine a three-layered dome:
- The outermost crust is made of frozen water ice, perhaps trapped from resources on the moon or Mars, to protect from radiation.
- That water trickles down to the second layer—the cyanobacteria—which harnesses energy from the sun to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen for astronauts and nutrients for fungi.
- The final layer of mycelia is what organically grows into a sturdy home, first activated in a contaminated environment, then baked to kill any lifeforms.
A stool constructed out of mycelia after two weeks of growth. (Photo Credit: 2018 Stanford-Brown-RISD iGEM Team)

“But this is just the start,” NASA boasted.

Mycelia could be used for water filtration and biomining systems to extract minerals from wastewater. Or as bioluminescent lighting, humidity regulation, and self-generating habitats capable of healing themselves.

“When we design for space, we’re free to experiment with new ideas and materials with much more freedom than we would on Earth,” Rothschild said. “And after these prototypes are designed for other worlds, we can bring them back to ours.”

There’s a great future in fungi. Think about it. Will you think about it?

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January 16, 2020
23:36
Town Buys Weird Odor Device to Sniff Out Stinky Marijuana Plants
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A Michigan town bought a Nasal Ranger device to track smelly marijuana plants. (Photo Credit: St. Croix Sensory)
Bessemer, a small city in Michigan, is investing in a new gadget to crack down on potent marijuana plants.

The town recently voted to spend around $3,400 on the Nasal Ranger, a field olfactometer manufactured by St. Croix Sensory that can sniff out smelly weed.

“The city of Bessemer stinks. You can smell marijuana everywhere,” Council Member Linda Nelson said at a recent meeting. “We’ve got people who can’t sit in their backyard because the smell from their neighbor is so bad.”

This is where the Nasal Ranger comes into play: The device can measure and quantify odor strength in the ambient air, according to the product’s webpage. It can notify users about the strength of the oder they are trying to sniff out, such as pot.

Police officers will also be trained on the device, so they can help regulate neighbors’ “weed farms” efficiently and properly fine individuals who don’t comply with the law.

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22:15
Build-A-Bear to Sell Baby Yoda Dolls
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Baby Yoda dolls are coming to Build-A-Bear workshops soon. (Photo Credit: Lucasfilm Ltd.)
Disney got a lot of things right with The Mandalorian. Despite being shot with a TV budget, the show’s practical effects look exactly like what Star Wars fans have come to expect, and the program’s adventure-of-the-week format allows it to explore the galaxy far, far away’s many nooks and crannies without ever becoming exhausting.

Unfortunately, one opportunity Disney didn’t see coming at release was just how popular the show’s Baby Yoda, known officially as “the Child” (for now), character would be. The house of mouse was famously slow to release official merchandise of the character during the first few weeks of the internet’s obsession with the little green gremlin, leaving fan products to scrap up most of the early revenue.

Now, however, Disney is striking back with Baby Yoda merchandise of its own, including a soon-to-be-released plush coming to Build-A-Bear workshops later this spring.

Build a Bear Baby Yoda will be coming in the next few months

Via business insider #TheMandalorian pic.twitter.com/gJHnVmOCR7

— Acing Entertainment (@U_S_Ace) January 14, 2020

According to Business Insider, Build-A-Bear CEO Sharon Price John first revealed the partnership at Orlando’s ICR Conference earlier this week, telling a crowd of reporters and investors “I’m excited to share we will be one of the first companies to provide the digital and internet phenomenon who is trending higher than all the presidential candidates combined.” Holding up a prototype of the plush for all to see, she continued “We now will have The Child, also known as Baby Yoda.”

John then explained that, despite not being ready for release, Build-A-Bear and Lucasfilm started the process of making a Baby Yoda plush “almost with the first episode,” and reassured the audience that the unnamed charmer would be available at Build-A-Bear workshops in the next few months, beating out the long pre-order waits for many other official products.

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm Ltd.

Unfortunately, we don’t have a hard release date as of yet, nor do we know how much of the brand’s trademark customizability will be available with its Baby Yoda plush. What we do know is that the company is planning the product for all-ages, not just children.

Closing her remarks, John reminded her audience of the importance of partnerships to Build-A-Bear’s business, and said that though much of its products have historically been aimed at children, almost half of its sales now are for items intended for teens and adults, many of whom focus on buying Build-A-Bear partner products using the brand’s online storefront.

Hopefully, the Baby Yoda plush will also be cheaper than the real Baby Yoda puppet, which purportedly cost five million according to the Mandalorian cast member who had to punch it, very cautiously, in the first season’s finale.

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21:35
‘Game of Thrones’ Spinoff ‘House of the Dragon’ May Launch in 2022
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'House of the Dragon' is likely to debut on HBO in 2022. (Photo Credit: HBO)
House of the Dragon, HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel series, will likely hit HBO in 2022, according to industry reports.

HBO President of Programming Casey Bloys sat down with Deadline at TCA to discuss the upcoming show, which focuses on House Targaryen.

“My guess is sometime in 2022,” Bloys said at TCA. “They are starting writing.”

Bloys declined to comment on additional details, but it would be interesting to see if House of the Dragon will debut in two years or have an earlier premiere date.

Based on George R.R. Martin’s novel Fire & Blood, House of the Dragon takes place 300 years before the Game of Thrones series plot. It dives into the rich history of Daenerys Targaryen’s family and their power struggles with other monarchs. Martin even teased that there will be dragons, too, throughout the series.

Balerion The Dread #HouseOfTheDragon pic.twitter.com/W7OzF6RqyG

— House of the Dragon HBO (@HOTD_official) January 16, 2020

There is no casting information available yet, but Bloys emphasized how House of the Dragon will be first priority among other Game of Thrones spinoffs.

“For me for right now, I think getting House of the Dragon on the air will be the number one priority. There are no other blinking green lights or anything like that,” Bloys added. “Sometime down the road who knows, but there are no immediate plans. We are all focusing on House of the Dragon.”

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19:35
‘Nancy Drew’ Season 1 Episode 10 Recap: Back to School Murders
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Kennedy McMann as Nancy Drew. (Photo Credit: Bettina Strauss / The CW)
Hey, Nancy Drew solves a mystery for a change. Two weeks have passed since last month’s midseason finale, and they haven’t been kind to Carson Drew.

He’s being held in jail while the DA tries to get Nancy to testify against him. For some reason, he’s also not explaining any of the evidence against him. Possibly attorney-client privilege, but either Nancy doesn’t think of that or the show wants us to think it’s something more.

Nancy, meanwhile, is in a depressive spiral, not talking to anyone and forgetting things like Ace’s first day back at work after the accident. She’s also not thrilled about the attention the town showers upon her for finding evidence implicating her “killer father.” That’ll put anyone in a bad mood. She’s not even excited about new leads, as the last few she followed hurt people she loves.

Even one as seemingly safe as finding out what poison killed Tiffany Hudson. It’s particularly rare variety that makes the death look like a cardiac arrest. She looks into it and finds the last case in which the poison was used. And it involved Ace’s father. Of course it did. Instead of leading to more hurt, it leads to a new mystery! Thankfully.

I was so happy when we finally got a standalone episode-length Nancy Drew mystery in the first half of the season. I was worried it wouldn’t become a habit. What better way to welcome the show back than by giving us everything we want out of Nancy Drew stories in a single episode?

Maddison Jaizani as Bess, Leah Lewis as George, and Tunji Kasim as Nick. (Photo Credit: Bettina Strauss / The CW)

It’s not that I’m not interested in the Tiffany Hudson and Lucy Sable mysteries. They’re still intriguing, and I enjoy the occasional updates and twists. But they’re season-long stories. One mystery per season isn’t going to cut it for a show based on the Nancy Drew books.

Even if it’s exploring a red herring in Tiffany’s murder case, I’m glad Nancy gets to do something else for an hour. It’s a fun mystery to bring back the show with, too.

Nancy and Ace visit his father and look through his files on an old serial poisoning case. When Ace’s dad got some positive press, the killer started sending him strange codes. Nobody could figure them out. Nancy, now with the power of Photoshop, figures out the codes were always a decoy. The real message was hidden in a layer mask in the photos. Combining them, Nancy realizes the killer was sending messages with the names of the victims.

Ace’s father feels guilty over his failure to save the victims when he had a name the whole time, but Nancy sees it as an opportunity to catch the killer after all these years. She makes a video challenging the killer to poison her. The killer sends her a new message containing a different name: Claire. “My game, my rules,” it says.

All they have to go on is a first name, but when Nancy, George, Ace and Nick all cross-reference the new name with the previous victims, they find a commonality: They all went to the same high school. One that closed down years ago. She tries involving the cops but gets a message saying, “I told you no cops” with a picture of the closed school’s scoreboard counting down. Now, she has even less time to save Claire.

Leah Lewis as George, Tunji Kasim as Nick, and Alex Saxon as Ace. (Photo Credit: Bettina Strauss / The CW)

She breaks into the old school by herself, but George, Ace, and Nick aren’t far behind. That’s what I really love about this episode. The friendships in this series have come a long way since the pilot, and this episode was all about how much they’ve come to depend on each other.

It lessens the frustration of watching Nancy, ostensibly this brilliant detective, make dumb decision after dumb decision. She is smart and she’s great at solving puzzles and putting together clues, but she’s impulsive. She has massive blind spots, and that’s what her friends are for. The best Nancy Drew books always made mystery-solving a team effort. This is the best episode of the show so far, and it has the same vibe. I love watching these people help each other out and open up to each other. It’s so much more fun than pouting and catty anger.

They search the school and find evidence of a person being dragged through the hall. Nancy figures the culprit must be a woman who wears size 7 shoes. Nancy finds Claire tied to a chair in a classroom. As soon as she rushes into save her, the doors electronically close. Nancy is separated from her friends and poison starts to come in through the vents.

This whole sequence is fun and scary as we get to see the mystery solved from two different angles. The more Nancy talks to Claire, the fewer things add up. Claire says she was attacked by a man, which contradicts the evidence Nancy saw outside. Meanwhile, Nick and George find the chemistry lab where the poison is being made and pumped into the vent. They also find VHS tapes of previous killings. They watch one, and it shows a dying woman answering questions as she succumbs to the poison. The same kind of questions Claire is asking Nancy.

Tunji Kasim as Nick, Maddison Jaizani as Bess, and Miles Gaston Villanueva as Owen. (Photo Credit: Bettina Strauss / The CW)

It’s a fun twist, and this is exactly the kind of story I’ve been wanting from Nancy Drew since the beginning. As the truth dawns on Nancy, Ace follows the wire from the automatic doors back to the computer that controlled them. He’s able to unlock the doors just as Nancy passes out from the poison. Claire makes her escape, but Ace catches her and hands her over to the police.

Meanwhile, just before the doors opened, Nancy deduced that the antidote to the poison must be on the pearl ring Claire wears, as it’s missing one of the pearls. With that, George and Nick are able to administer the poison and save her life. Oh and because we can’t have an episode with no ghost stuff at all, Nancy sees the ghost of Lucy Sable as she’s about to die. The end of the episode implies that she brought the ghost back to Horseshoe Bay. So there’s going to be more of that.

I’m so glad Nancy Drew returned with an episode this good. I hope it’s a sign of things to come for this show.

I don’t mind that the whole thing was a detour. The poison being the same that killed Tiffany was just a coincidence. Claire bemoaned the artlessness with which that poisoning was carried out. It let the entire gang team up to solve a mystery. Just like I’ve wanted them to do all series.

Next week will probably return to the one or both of the big mysteries at hand. Ryan Hudson is holding onto an urn that ties his family to the ship accident, and refuses to help the Marvins implicate his father. (Oh yes, Bess is officially a Marvin, and everyone’s cool with it. Nice.) Then there’s the matter of getting Nancy’s father out of prison.

Yes, the show will continue to explore the big season-long questions, but here’s hoping for more detours like this along the way.

Nancy Drew airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on The CW.

Previously on Nancy Drew:
17:12
Enter the TARDIS in ‘Doctor Who’ VR Special ‘The Runaway’
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Enter the TARDIS in VR. (Photo Credit: BBC VR Hub / Passion Animation Studios)
International Doctor Who fans can finally step into the TARDIS for an immersive virtual reality experience.

Starring Jodie Whittaker as an animated Thirteenth Doctor, BBC’s The Runaway is now free to watch via the official Doctor Who YouTube channel.

Recruited as the Time Lord’s unlikely assistant, viewers join a race against time to return a potentially dangerous creature to its home planet.

On the plus side, you get your own (digital) sonic screwdriver.

Can you help a lost alien make its way home before impending disaster strikes? (Photo Credit: BBC VR Hub / Passion Animation Studios)

“Fans will find themselves at the center of this wonderfully animated story, helped by the natural charm and humor of Jodie Whittaker, in an adventure that really captures the magic of Doctor Who,” Jo Pearce, creative director for the BBC’s digital drama team, said last year, when the episode launched in the U.K.

“Viewers are in for a treat,” she added. “For those who ever dreamt of helping to pilot the TARDIS, this is your opportunity.”

Previously, The Runaway was available only in the U.K. on high-end headsets like Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Samsung Gear VR.

Now, a YouTube 360 version enables anyone with an entry-level device (Google Cardboard works great) to journey through space and time.

It is also free to download in two forms:
- 13-minute interactive version from Steam, Oculus Store, and VIVEPORT for use on Oculus Rift and HTC Vive
- 11-minute 360-degree adaptation from BBC VR App for use on Oculus Go and GearVR
The BBC VR Hub last summer took The Runaway on the road, visiting local libraries across the U.K.

“This is the most ambitious project yet from our team in the BBC VR Hub, and the result is a magical adventure that Doctor Who fans everywhere will simply love,” chief Zillah Watson said in May. “It also shows the enormous potential that virtual reality has for creating new kinds of experiences that appeal to mainstream audiences.”

Experience “The Runaway” in 360 VR. (Photo Credit: BBC VR Hub / Passion Animation Studios)

Featuring original music from series composer Segun Akinola, Doctor Who: The Runaway was written by Victoria Asare-Archer and directed by Mathias Chelebourg (Alice, Virtual Reality Play, The Real Thing VR). The original script was published today on the BBC Writersroom blog.

It premiered at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival, and has since been shown at the Sandbox Immersive Festival in China and the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, among other events.

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16:38
‘Human Screenome Project’ Wants to Record Your Every Digital Move
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Every five seconds that the phone screen is activated, a screenshot is recorded, compressed, encrypted, and transmitted to secure servers at the Human Screenome Project. (Photo Credit: Stanford Screenomics Lab)
With increased automation comes increased concerns over digital behaviors.

Does screen time really impair concentration, lead to anxiety and depression, hinder social conduct, and weaken our ability to tell reality from fiction?

Researchers at Stanford and Penn State universities want to find out by recording and analyzing everything people see and do on their phones.

Their so-called “Human Screenome Project” (a play on the Human Genome Project, aimed at mapping the world’s genes) promises a detailed approach to “observing the complexities of current digital lives.”

Our screen time is mostly invisible to researchers; studies tend to rely on participants to self-report usage, which is highly inaccurate.

But even when time spent on one app or website is measured more accurately via software, the numbers don’t necessarily reflect the various types of content in which folks engage.

For instance, one user’s hour on Facebook keeping up with social posts from friends may have very little in common with a neighbor’s hour on Facebook reading political news, or a co-worker’s hour on Facebook stalking and bullying strangers.

“No matter what you study, whether it’s politics, addiction, health, relationships, or climate action, if you really want to understand people’s beliefs and behaviors, you really need to look at their ‘screenome,’ because so much of our lives is now filtered through our digital devices,” Stanford medical professor and study co-author Thomas Robinson said in a statement.

To properly diagram society’s digital life, researchers have installed software on personal devices (with the user’s consent), which records, encrypts, and transmits screenshots every five seconds—whether or not the handset is turned on.

Those images are funneled into the project’s shareable database, which can be used to observe moment-by-moment changes across content and screens, or to describe longer-term variations over days, weeks, or even years.

“We now have a way in which we can observe all of that movement and begin quantifying and studying it,” commentary co-author Nilam Ram, professor of human development and psychology at Penn State, said. “Now we’re in a position to be able to launch the Human Screenome Project as a large-scale, interdisciplinary effort that brings all that technology and domain experts together.”

The Stanford Screenomics Labs has so far collected more than 30 million data points from 600-plus participants.

That’s not enough, though.

“We need thousands and tens of thousands of people generating even more screen data,” according to co-author Byron Reeves, a professor in Stanford’s School of Humanities and Sciences.

Moving forward, researchers hope the project’s findings can be used to encourage healthier screen use.

“It’s not just giving people information about what they’re doing, but actually building interventions around it,” Robinson said. “If a person is struggling with becoming more physically active, we can identify their digital media use associated with periods of sedentary behavior and steer them, using precisely timed and personally tuned interventions, towards healthier outcomes.”

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15:36
Ben & Jerry’s New Flavor Is Perfect For Binge Watching
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Peanut butter ice cream with sweet-and-salty pretzel swirls and fudge brownie. (Photo Credit: Ben & Jerry's)
I am no stranger to a spoon, a tub of ice cream, and a solo movie marathon.

Which makes me the target market for Ben & Jerry’s newest flavor: Netflix & Chilll’d.

The peanut-butter ice cream—mixed with sweet-and-salty pretzel swirls and chunks of fudge brownie—won’t leave you unsatisfied, sneak out in the middle of the night, or ignore your texts.

In fact, it will always be there when you need it most, and will never judge you for finishing a whole pint in one night.

“There’s something for everyone to watch on Netflix and flavors for everyone to enjoy from Ben & Jerry’s,” the product page said. “So we’ve teamed up to bring you a chillaxing new creation that’s certain to satisfy any sweet or salty snack craving.”

The new flavor will be available soon in grocery stores and scoop shops; sign up online for updates when Netflix & Chilll’d goes on sale near you.

And yes, there is a non-dairy version made with almond milk.

It’s a flavorful world, and everyone is invited to grab a spoon. (Photo Credit: Ben & Jerry’s)

Last summer, Netflix partnered with Baskin-Robbins to introduce Stranger Things-themed treats, including Eleven’s Heaven—a waffle cone-flavored ice cream—and a Demogorgon Sundae.

The Upside Down eats (as well as supplementary collectibles) were part of a nationwide season-three promotion.

For more, take Ben & Jerry’s Netflix flavor-matching quiz or find out which original show pairs best with which ice cream.

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14:22
2019 Was Second-Warmest Year on Record
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Climate change is real. (Photo Credit: stevepb / Pixabay)
Global temperatures in 2019 were among the hottest on record.

And that’s not a good thing (despite the giddy I’m-wearing-shorts-in-January updates from my East Coast USA family and friends).

Last year’s high temps—second only to those in 2016—continued the planet’s long-term warming trend, rising 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit over the 1951-to-1980 mean, according to NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS).

“The decade that just ended is clearly the warmest decade on record,” GISS Director Gavin Schmidt said in a statement. “Every decade since the 1960s clearly has been warmer than the one before.”

Temperature records from NASA, NOAA, Berkeley Earth, Cowtan and Way, and the UK Met Office Hadley Center show rapid warming in the past few decades, with a recent upswing in thermal energy. (Photo Credit: NASA GISS / Gavin Schmidt)

Using climate models and statistical analysis of global temperature data, scientists confirmed what we already know: This is the product of increased CO2 emissions caused by human activities.

“We crossed over into more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit warming territory in 2015 and we are unlikely to go back,” Schmidt explained. “This shows that what’s happening is persistent, not a fluke due to some weather phenomenon.”

“We know that the long-term trends are being driven by the increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,” he added.

Not every location on Earth experiences the same amount of warming, though.

Weather dynamics affect regional temperatures, which may explain why the Arctic region has heated up slightly more than three times faster than the rest of the world since 1970.

Scientists have warned of irreversible climate tipping points—between 1.8 and 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels—which many believe could be reached within the next decade.

In November, more than 11,000 experts declared a climate emergency, suggesting that “untold human suffering” is unavoidable without profound shifts in activity.

Achieving the Paris Agreement goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius (34.7 degrees Fahrenheit) global warming is ambitious, yes. But it could also mean that a child born today could see an end to coal use by their sixth birthday, and net-zero emissions by their 31st.

For more insight, check out NASA’s full 2019 surface temperature data set and methodology online.

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12:43
Jack Dorsey: Twitter Will ‘Probably Never’ Get Edit Button
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Twitter will 'probably never' add an edit button. (Photo Credit: Wired / YouTube)
No matter how many times you shake that Magic 8-Ball asking whether Twitter will introduce an edit button, the outlook is always “not so good.”

In a Wired “Tech Support” video (below), Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey answers frequently asked questions about the social network—including the popular “Can we please have an edit button?”

Well? Can we?

“The answer is no,” Dorsey deadpanned directly to camera.

Twitter launched in 2006 as an SMS text messaging service. And, as anyone who’s ever used a phone knows: once you send a text, there’s no taking it back.

“We wanted to preserve that vibe and that feeling in the early days,” Dorsey explained.

But no one tweets using Short Message Service anymore, and web and app users yearn for the ability to revise their 280-character commentary—whether to fix a spelling mistake or mend a broken link.

There are, however, fundamental issues with making amendments to published posts, according to Dorsey.

“You might send a tweet and then someone might retweet that and then an hour later you completely change the content of that tweet, and that person who retweeted the original tweet is now retweeting and rebroadcasting something completely different,” he said.

The company has considered a workaround: In an interview last year with Joe Rogan, Dorsey addressed the possibility of a short window during which users can refine their message before unveiling it to the world.

He has teased anything from a 5-second to one-minute lag in sending, allowing folks a few moments to annotate.

“But that also means that we have to delay sending that tweet out,” Dorsey said. “Because once it’s out, people see it.

“So, there are all the considerations, he continued, adding that “we’ll probably never do it.”

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0:20
26 Sci-Fi and Fantasy TV Shows Coming in 2020 (And How to Watch Them)
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Here are all the cool sci-fi and fantasy series coming to streaming services and TV networks this year. (Photo Credit: Jojo Whilden / AMC)
There is a whole calendar year ahead of us and that means one thing: A ton of exciting new sci-fi and fantasy TV shows are coming our way.

The year is going to kick off with some truly fun ones, including HBO’s Avenue 5 starring Hugh Laurie and Josh Gad, as well as CBS All Access’ Star Trek: Picard, which not only brings us back into the world of Star Trek, but also back into the life of beloved Star Trek: The Next Generation character Jean-Luc Picard.

We should expect the good times to keep on keepin’ on as we go through 2020, too, because there are tons of shows, both new and returning, which are set to return on various cable channels and streaming services to help keep us entertained.

Below you’ll find a line-up of sci-fi and fantasy TV shows coming in 2020, some of which have already been scheduled and some which don’t have premiere dates yet, but we know for sure will arrive before December 31.

Also, be mindful this list includes shows we only know about and can confidently announce; there could be some surprise new shows that may come to a certain streamer or TV channel soon. Here’s what we have so far.
Scheduled Avenue 5
HBO’s upcoming comedy Avenue 5 comes from Veep creator Armando Iannucci and stars Hugh Laurie, Josh Gad, and Zach Woods. Set in the future where you can take a cruise in space, the series highlights the misadventures a space cruise liner’s crew and guests face after a technical malfunction. Check out the hilarious trailer here. (Premieres Jan. 19 on HBO)
Picard
Patrick Stewart returns to the world of Star Trek in his best-known and most beloved role of Jean-Luc Picard. The CBS All Access series Picard picks up years after Picard’s retirement from Starfleet, a move which occurred following a tragic incident involving himself and his fellow USS Enterprise crew members.

Picard finds himself drawn back to the vastness of space when a young woman, Dahj (Isa Briones), who may or may not have ties to the collective known as the Borg, finds him and asks for his help. The former Starfleet captain assembles a new crew (played by Allison Pill, Santiago Cabrera, Michelle Hurd, Harry Treadaway, and Evan Evagora) and re-teams with old friends including Riker (Jonathan Frakes), Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), and Hugh (Jonathan Del Arco) as he tries to figure how to help Dahj before time runs out. Watch the trailer here. (Premieres Jan. 23 on CBS All Access)
Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia alum Rob McElhenney puts a Silicon Valley-esque spin on the world of gaming with his new Apple TV+ series Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet. The show’s title is taken from the fictional game cocky video game designer and his development team as they try to create an epic fantasy video game. Watch the trailer here. (Premieres Feb. 7 on Apple TV+)
Locke & Key
One of the first, big Netflix original series, Locke & Key, arrives in early February. The series is adapted from the comic book series of the same name written by Joe Hill and illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez.

In Locke & Key, we follow the Locke siblings — Tyler (Connor Jessup), Kinsey (Emilia Jones), and Bode (Jackson Robert Scott) — who move back to their recently deceased father’s childhood home with their mother (Darby Stanchfield).

The Lockes quickly discover keys of all shapes and sizes hidden around the home and realize each key opens a different door and each door is a portal to a different world. When the siblings accidentally wake an ancient evil, they soon learn about the power of the keys and how their father was connected to the being they’re fighting. Watch the trailer here. (Premieres Feb. 7 on Netflix)
Dispatches From Elsewhere
AMC is seeking to serve up a puzzle box of a story with Dispatches From Elsewhere starring Sally Field, Jason Segel, André Benjamin, and Richard E. Grant. The series focuses on four unconnected individuals who find themselves roped into a puzzle they are told is hiding in plain sight in their everyday lives. As they search for answers to the puzzle, questions over what’s really going on and why they were chosen come into focus. Check out the trippy trailer here. (Premieres March 1 on AMC)
Devs
Alex Garland (Annihilation, Ex Machina) returns with a new, strange sci-fi tale called Devs. The series follows Lily Chan (Crazy Rich Asians’ Sonoya Mizuno), a computer programmer who is drawn into the secretive development branch of the tech company she works for after her boyfriend, Sergei (Karl Glusman), goes missing shortly after he begins working there. Lily soon comes up against the branch’s overseer, Forest (Nick Offerman), and soon discovers the wild secrets of his program. Check out the enigmatic trailer here. (Premieres Mar. 5 on FX and FX on Hulu)
Westworld (Season 3)
The supremely twisty and unexpected series we all love to puzzle over, HBO’s Westworld, is coming back for Season 3 in mid-March.

Series regulars Evan Rachel Wood, Tessa Thompson, Ed Harris, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, and Rodrigo Santoro are set to return as new cast members including Aaron Paul, Lena Waithe, and Vincent Cassel join the story.

That story? Well, we don’t know too much, but the trailer have revealed to us that Wood and Thompson’s characters, Hosts Dolores and Charlotte, seem hellbent on freeing all tech from human control and Paul’s character will no doubt get swept up in the revolution. Meanwhile, Newton’s character, Maeve, is living in a new theme park world set in World War II France.

Check out the latest trailer here as well as the Season 3 premiere date trailer which teases how the world falls apart in the fictional near future of the show. (Premieres Mar. 15 on HBO)
Unscheduled/Coming in 2020 The Boys (Season 2)
The first season of The Boys ended in a very surprising place after we spent a season with Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) and his team (played by Laz Alonso, Tomer Capon, Jack Quaid, and Karen Fukuhara) as they tried to wrangle and untangle the mysteries of an elite group of corporate-owned superheroes.

With revelations about the connection Billy has with his archnemesis, the Captain America-like hero Homelander (Antony Starr) now out in the open as well as the secrets about how superheroes are manufactured rather than naturally-occurring, Butcher and his boys are going to be on the warpath as they try to bring all superheroes to justice. Watch the Season 2 trailer here. (Coming in 2020)
Carnival Row (Season 2)
Fantasy series Carnival Row stars Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne living in a world where magical creatures like fairies, witches, and satyrs co-exist with humans.

In Season 1, we watched Philo (Bloom) and Vignette (Delevingne), two star-crossed lovers, meet after years apart and tried to survive in their city as the government sought to control all magical beings.

Along the way, huge truths about the past came to light and in Season 2, we’ll see Philo and Vignette fight the power while also trying to stay together. With filming on Season 2 done or close to done, this Amazon series should be coming in mid- to late 2020. (Coming in 2020)
The Wheel of Time
It’s been a long time coming, but Robert Jordan’s beloved fantasy series of the same name is coming to Amazon Prime Video in 2020.

Starring Rosamund Pike, The Wheel of Time follows Moraine, a member of a group of women with magical abilities who saves a group of children from a growing dark force and believes one of those children may be part of a prophecy which reveals how to stop these evil forces from taking over the land.

Filming on The Wheel of Time began in September 2019 so it’s likely we’ll see this show in mid- to late 2020. (Coming in 2020)
The Walking Dead: World Beyond
The world of The Walking Dead expands as we follow a newer, younger generation of survivors of the zombie apocalypse. Specific story details have, for the most part, been kept under wraps, but TWD creative chief officer Scott M. Gimple revealed World Beyond is set in a Nebraska community around the same time as the current season of TWD. The series will focus on teenagers who have grown up in this entirely new world and who eventually leave their community and go out into the zombie-ridden landscape. Watch the first trailer here. (Coming Spring 2020)
See (Season 2)
The Jason Momoa-led series See comes from Steven Knight (Peaky Blinder) and takes viewers a few centuries into the future, where humans have lost their eyesight. When Baba Voss (Momoa) and his partner, Maghra (Hera Hilmar) discover their infant twins have the power of sight, they must do everything they can to protect them from those in power who don’t want their status threatened. Season 2, set to arrive later in 2020, will focus on Baba and Maghra’s continued efforts to protect their children, as major shifts in their community set big events in motion. (Coming in 2020)
For All Mankind (Season 2)
Apple TV+’s For All Mankind offers an alternate look at the space race of the 60s and 70s and comes from the mind of Battlestar Galactica alum Ronald D. Moore.

In Season 1, we watched as the U.S. space program lost the race to get to the moon first and the Soviets claim the honor. Spurred to make radical advancements, the season grappled with the introduction of female astronauts and talks of building a colony on the moon.

Season 2 will not only expand the personal dramas of those working as NASA, but will show how history continues to diverge and even more innovations in the space race are made. (Coming in 2020)
The Twilight Zone (Season 2)
Jordan Peele will return to narrate a new season of The Twilight Zone in 2020. The anthology series is an update on the classic mid-century sci-fi TV show which presents singular, unsettling tales with different lessons to be learned. The Season 2 cast includes Billy Porter, Tony Hale, Ethan Embry, Chris Meloni, Jenna Elfman, Tavi Gevinson, and Joel McHale. (Coming mid-2020)
The Stand
Stephen King’s The Stand is getting adapted once again for TV, this time at CBS All Access. It was announced at the TCAs in Los Angeles in January that the updated take on The Stand would debut in late 2020. The series will tell the story of a man-made plague which ravages America and divides the survivors into two factions and end up clashing for the soul of humanity. One group is led by a centenarian with possible psychic powers, while the other is led by a man who is the definition of evil. The series stars James Marsden, Amber Heard, Alexander Skarsgärd, Whoopi Goldberg, Greg Kinnear, and Nat Wolff. (Coming Winter 2020)
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Currently in production is The Falcon and the Winter Soldier starring Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, a.k.a. Falcon, and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, a.k.a. the Winter Soldier. Also joining them for the ride is Emily VanCamp, who returns as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Sharon Carter and Daniel Bruhl as Zemo, the big bad in Captain America: Civil War who was responsible for activating Bucky as the Winter Soldier. We still don’t know too much about the plot, but those details should be coming soon to Disney+. (Coming Fall 2020)
WandaVision
Paul Bettany and Elizabeth Olsen reprise their MCU roles in WandaVision, which was officially confirmed to debut some time in 2020.

Details are slim on the new series, but it has been teased as having sitcom elements and may even involve Wanda, a.k.a. Scarlet Witch (Olsen), creating an alternate reality where her true love, Vision (Bettany) is still alive.

The series will also star Teyonah Parris as a grown-up Monica Rambeau, Kathryn Hahn as Wanda and Vision’s nosy neighbor, Randall Park as the FBI agent last seen in Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis, who we last saw in Thor: The Dark World. (Coming in 2020)
The Mandalorian (Season 2)
The first original Star Wars series from Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian, has already been renewed for Season 2 with Favreau writing up the script as we head into 2020. Series regulars Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, Carl Weathers, and Giancarlo Esposito will all return for a new season which sees the Mandalorian (Pascal) and his charge, Baby Yoda, searching the Outer Rim for answers about the Force-sensitive child’s origins while being hunted down by the Moff Gideon (Esposito). (Coming in 2020)
Lovecraft Country
Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions is behind the forthcoming HBO series Lovecraft Country. The series is set in 1954 and stars Jonathan Majors (The Last Black Man in San Francisco) as Atticus Black, a young Korean war vet who embarks on a cross-country mystery to find his father, Montrose Freeman (Michael K. Williams). Atticus brings childhood friend Letitia (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) and his uncle, George (Courtney B. Vance), to help in the search. Along the way, the trio encounter the sinister racism burbling at the heart of America as well as actual supernatural terrors the could have come right out of a Lovecraftian novel. (Coming in 2020)
Solar Opposites
Rick and Morty fans are gonna love Solar Opposites, the new animated series from Justin Roiland. The animated Hulu series features the voice talents of Roiland, Mary Mack (Aqua Teen Hunger Force), and Sean Giambrone (The Goldbergs). Over the course of the first 16 episodes, we’ll follow an alien family as they move to middle America and try to blend in with humans in their new world. Considering this is springing from the mind of one of the Rick and Morty co-creators, we should expect lots of nutty hijinks to ensue on Solar Opposites. (Coming in 2020)
Helstrom
The last gasps of Marvel’s formerly massive TV line-up at Hulu takes the form of a new series, Helstrom. Adapted from the comics series of the same name, Helstrom follows Daimon (Tom Austen) and Ana (Sydney Lemmon) Helstrom, two siblings who also happen to be the children of a mysterious and powerful killer who may or may not have a connection to Satan.

Daimon is an ethics professor who moonlights as an exorcist and is thoroughly disillusioned with the world, but is committed to ridding the world of supernatural evil, while Ana is an auctioneer during the day but at night, becomes a vigilante hellbent (no pun intended) on ridding the world of evil. Inevitably, these siblings will soon discover the true identity of their dad as they get more and more involved in supernatural events. (Coming in 2020)
Cursed
This Netflix series starring Knives Out and 13 Reasons Why lead Katherine Langford has been in the works since 2018, but it’s finally coming to the streaming giant this year.

Cursed is a fantasy series based in Arthurian legend which follows Nimue (Langford), a young woman who discovers she has magical abilities and goes with Arthur on his quest to find the legendary sword Excalibur. Cursed is a live-action series adapted from the illustrated novel of the same name from Frank Miller and Tom Wheeler. (Coming in 2020)
Space Force
Coming to Netflix is the Steve Carell-led comedy Space Force. The show is based on the very real and very unfortunate announcement made back in June 2019 that our president wanted to create a sixth branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, a Space Force. The series will fictionalize what the creation of the Space Force would look like and will be filmed in a documentary/cinema vérité style, just like The Office. (Coming in 2020)
Stranger Things (Season 4)
Details are still sparse on Stranger Things Season 4, but we do know it’s coming later in 2020. It’s likely Season 4 will pick up where Season 3 left off as the Byers family, plus their new, adopted family member Eleven, will be starting over after leaving Hawkins, Indiana, while the rest of the kids try to move on. But, we still have to find out who “the American” is that is currently being held prisoner over in Siberia and we need answers on whether Hopper is truly dead. (Coming in 2020)
Snowpiercer
Daveed Diggs and Jennifer Connelly star in the TV adaptation of Bong Joon-ho’s Snowpiercer, which originally starred Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, and Ed Harris.

The TV series will have a similar premise to the film, but with a few interesting twists. The basics remain the same: Following humanity’s failed attempt to reverse the effects of global warming, which results in the activation of a new Ice Age, just 3,000 humans across the entire world have managed to survive by finding safe passage on a large, transcontinental train called Snowpiercer.

The train becomes a caste system, with the wealthy living at the front of the train and the poor living at the end. The big twist is the TV series takes place just six years after the failed global warming reversal process, which means it happens before the events of the movie.

It seems Diggs’ character, a tail-ender named Andre, is planning one of the many revolts mentioned in the Snowpiercer feature film — but we’ll have to wait and see to be sure. Watch the first trailer here. (Coming in 2020)
Brave New World
Alden Ehrenreich (Solo: A Star Wars Story), Harry Lloyd (Game of Thrones), and Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey) star in a new, nine-episode TV adaptation of Aldous Huxley’s dystopian novel Brave New World.

Lloyd plays Bernard Marx and Findlay stars as Lenina Crowne, two residents in the utopian society of New London where wealth, power, and pleasure come together.

When Bernard and Lenina venture outside the borders of New London, they discover and entirely different world where humans live comparatively more on the edge. They encounter John (Ehrenreich) and bring him back to New London, but his arrival exposes the darker side of New London’s utopian lifestyle. The series is coming to USA Network later this year. (Coming in 2020)

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January 15, 2020
22:19
Female Lion Dies Days After Losing Her Mate at Chicago Zoo
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Isis, a 14-year-old female lioness at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, died after sustaining injuries from a fall. (Photo Credit: Brookfield Zoo / Twitter)
The Brookfield Zoo and greater Chicago community are mourning the loss of Isis, a 14-year-old lioness who suddenly passed away on Tuesday.

Late Monday, Brookfield Zoo staff found Isis lying on the floor of a moat, after she apparently fell and hurt herself. According to staff reports, Isis’ death was “sudden” and she wasn’t having any health or medical issues prior to the tragic incident.

We are grieving the loss of our female African lion Isis. Her death comes less than 2 weeks after the loss of her mate Zenda. Monday, Isis was observed laying on the floor of her moat injured. Despite intensive treatment, the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize her. pic.twitter.com/pxz00AmXw1

— Brookfield Zoo (@brookfield_zoo) January 14, 2020

“We are grieving the loss of our female African lion Isis. Her death comes less than two weeks after the loss of her mate Zenda. Monday, Isis was observed laying on the floor of her moat injured,” The Brookfield Zoo said in an emotional tweet. “Despite intensive treatment, the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize her.”

Both Isis and Zenda arrived at Brookfield Zoo in May 2008 and were beloved by staff and visitors alike. These charismatic lions will be greatly missed by the dedicated staff who cared for them. pic.twitter.com/ZjFoEJSqxc

— Brookfield Zoo (@brookfield_zoo) January 14, 2020

Earlier this month, Isis’ mate, Zenda, was euthanized after he had difficulty standing and walking. The zoo announced his death on Jan. 3 and less than two weeks after, Isis tragically passed away as well.

It’s unclear what caused Isis to fall and the Chicago Zoological Society, along with the Brookfield Zoo staff, are looking into the devastating occurrence.

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19:37
YouTube Allegedly Leaks Colin Trevorrow’s Script for ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’
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image via StarWars.com
Late last week, we covered a recent Star Wars leak about the alleged setting for Disney’s next Star Wars film series, the High Republic. But it seems leakers aren’t quite done with the Skywalker Saga yet either, as YouTube, Reddit, and a number of trusted outlets such as AVClub have now come together to release and verify what was supposedly Colin Treverrow and Derek Connoly’s first script for Episode IX before they were taken off the project. Originally coming to us from filmmaker Robert Meyer Burnett’s YouTube channel and later posted on the r/starwarsleaks subreddit, the newly revealed script is titled Star Wars: Duel of the Fates, after the iconic score John Willaims wrote for key lightsaber duels in the prequel trilogy, and tells a drastically different story from what we ended up getting in The Rise of Skywalker.

Supposedly written in December 2016, about a week before Carrie Fisher’s unfortunate passing, Trevorrow’s script features many key differences from The Rise of Skywalker, such as keeping Emperor Palpatine dead and rejecting the idea of Kylo Ren redeeming himself. Instead, it opts for a more direct follow-up to The Last Jedi, where Rey is still descended from nobody in particular, Kylo Ren is the main villain, and Rose Tico is still a major character. This time around, the plot instead focuses on a galaxy taken over by the First Order, which has cut off interplanetary communication to prevent rebellion, as well as Kylo Ren’s continued fall to the dark side. Let’s walk through its basic plot beats.

Continuing with the split story structure of The Last Jedi, the film opens with Rose, Finn, C-3PO, and R2-D2 spearheading an assault against the now promoted Chancellor Hux on Coruscant to activate an old Jedi beacon that would re-establish galactic communications for the Resistance. Meanwhile, Poe, Rey, and Chewbacca instead go on a distant journey to find a more Force-centric solution to the Galaxy’s problems. Kylo Ren, on the other hand, is busy tracking down Palpatine’s old master, “Lovecraftian” monster Tor Valum, to finish his training in the dark side, after stealing a Sith holocron Palpatine left behind for Darth Vader pinpointing Valum’s location in case he died and Vader needed a new way to train a turned Luke in the dark side.

Along the way, characters argue over whether Kylo Ren can be redeemed, with Rey believing in him and Finn and Leia being more skeptical (Here, we get a particularly cute line where Rey tells Finn that he’s the one who convinced her of the power of redemption in the first place). Luke, seemingly on Rey’s side, also takes advantage of his Force ghost powers to haunt Ren throughout the film, trying to turn him back to the light. In case you’re thinking the whole film is just talking heads and philosophy, though, don’t worry. While fan favorites like Babu Frik are absent in this draft, we instead get Finn and Rose hijacking a Star Destroyer, Chewbacca flying an X-Wing, a droid modeled after Darth Maul, and Rey wielding a new hybrid weapon constructed from her Force Awakens staff and the shattered remnants of Luke/Anakin’s lightsaber after it was destroyed in The Last Jedi (how exactly did she put that thing back together in Rise of Skywalker, anyway?).

After a film’s worth of adventure, the story would conclude on Mortis, a planet from the Clone Wars cartoon that once served as home to a number of beings that can only be described as Force Gods. Here, Rey would duel Ren as the ghosts of Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Luke appear to try to turn him back to the light, before ultimately failing and deciding that he must be defeated for the good of the galaxy. If you’re wondering where Anakin is, it seems Ren would have dropped his Vader-worship by this point in the film, throwing his helmet over a cliff and claiming the old Sith Lord betrayed the dark side by letting love weaken him in the end. On the less mystical side of things, Lando Calrissian would meanwhile be busy uniting the Galaxy’s smugglers to form a navy to take down the First Order fleet.

There’s a lot to take in with this story, and to be fair, some of it does sound like fan fiction. In particular, bringing Mortis into the films and involving a Darth Maul doppelganger droid may have been a touch too lore-obsessed for mainstream audiences. But other touches, like maintaining Rey’s parentage, following Kylo Ren’s character arc from sidekick to main villain, and even Rey’s makeshift saber staff seem to give the film a more conclusive feel than The Rise of Skywalker’s more reboot-centric tone. It’s not the film we got, and it’s tough to know if it would have worked out on screen- movies are more than their scripts and Treverrow is still the director behind the critically maligned The Book of Henry– but, like Rey, I suppose it’s up to you to decide if he deserves redemption.

Still, neither Colin Trevorrow nor Lucasfilm has as of yet confirmed the script’s veracity, so as enticing as some of its plot points may be, remember to take it with a big heaping Crait-sized grain of salt. That said, aside from YouTube and Reddit, both AVClub and Slashfilm claim to have independently verified the script as legit, and for what it’s worth, are responding positively to its story.

Regardless, even if the script turns out to be a hoax, this recent explosion of interest in alternate takes on Episode IX does point to a larger dissatisfaction with what we actually ended up getting, something Disney will have to keep in mind as it decides where to take its flagship sci-fi series next.
19:18
‘Pokemon: Twilight Wings’ Is an Animated Galar Adventure
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Pokemon Sword and Shield really shook things for the Pokemon games. They’re on an HD home console, they have pseudo-open world areas, and they’re getting substantial expansion packs in lieu of third versions.

But Sword and Shield are shaking up the Pokemon anime as well. After becoming a Pokemon Master at the end of the Sun and Moon arc, you’d figure Ash Ketchum’s next adventure would be take him to the Galar region. That’s technically true, but the current Pokemon anime, Pocket Monsters, actually takes place all over the Pokemon world, not just the fake United Kingdom.

If you want to watch a Pokemon cartoon set exclusively in the new Galar region, check out the Pokemon: Twilight Wings miniseries.

Instead of a whole season of television, Pokemon: Twilight Wings is a seven-episode series of shorts exploring life in Galar. Separate from the main continuity, it sticks closer to the storyline of the games, similar to the Pokemon Generations miniseries.

It’s also a lot more dramatic than a normal Pokemon anime? This first episode centers around a sick little boy in a hospital who dreams of watching Champion Leon battle in an arena. He has an encounter with Chairman Rose in front of a gorgeously animated Corviknight flying taxi. And we get brief glimpses of Galar gym leaders. Honestly, the actual Pokemon Sword and Shield games could’ve used some storytelling (and voice acting) like this.

For more on Pokemon Sword and Shield check out this mod that adds Digimon to the game and pour one out for the currently missing Pokemon who may be brought back to life in the DLC.
17:11
Finally, You Can Play as Ninja in ‘Fortnite’
» ‎ Geek.com

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If you’ve heard of any professional video game streamer it’s probably Tyler “Ninja” Blevins. Whether it’s his sneaker partnerships, free agent-esque moves from one streaming platform to another, or his weird issues with collaborating with women, this dude and his colorful hair have figured out how to make bank playing video games better than any of us.

Ninja demonstrated his skills in various shooters for years, but he really shot up in popularity alongside the meteoric rise of Fortnite Battle Royale. And now that partnership becomes official. Soon you can buy a Ninja skin in Fortnite.

I’ve dreamt of having a skin in Fortnite since I started playing the game. Today, my dream becomes reality. Get the Ninja Fortnite Skin in the Epic store Thursday 6 p.m. CST-Sunday 7 p.m. Don’t forget to use code NINJA! #NinjaSkin #EpicPartner pic.twitter.com/xTn9UlbkGI

— Ninja (@Ninja) January 15, 2020

Fortnite has already featured plenty of famous fictional characters like Marvel and DC superheroes, John Wick, and Star Wars familiar faces. And the game has dabbled with real people, too, as it expands beyond mere multiplayer shooter to social hub. Remember those “live” Marshmello and Major Lazer concerts full of kids doing emotes?

But from Jan 16 to Jan 19 Ninja will be the first actual person to become a paid Fortnite skin. His brand is already strong enough visually to make a smooth transition. There will even be different versions of the costume including one with two katanas like a real ninja.

Ninja may be the first real-life Fortnite skin but don’t expect him to be the last. Alongside this news Epic Games announced the “Icon Series” for bringing other famous gamers, musicians, and entertainers into the game. Skins based on streamers Loserfruit and TheGrefg are already in the works. We figure Drake is already sitting by the phone.
16:48
Second All-Female Spacewalk Is Underway at Space Station
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NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir are replacing batteries on the space station's solar arrays today. (Photo Credit: NASA / Twitter)
Two NASA astronauts are conducting the second all-female spacewalk at the International Space Station (ISS) and you can watch the mission here.

At approximately 7 a.m. ET, NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir went outside the space station to start the first spacewalk of the year. Today, they’ll be focusing on replacing batteries on solar arrays located outside of the orbiting laboratory. The repairs are expected to take approximately 6.5 hours.

During the first part of the spacewalk, Koch experienced some technical difficulties when her helmet lights and video camera system become loose. Even though the pair were set back about 30 minutes, they were able to continue their tasks efficiently after the small hiccup.

Today’s spacewalk follows the first all-female spacewalk, which took place in October 2019. Koch and Meir made history on Oct. 18 after they successfully fixed a battery charge/discharge unit outside the orbiting laboratory.

✅ First spacewalk task complete! @Astro_Christina & @Astro_Jessica removed one of the @Space_Station‘s old nickel-hydrogen batteries, which are being replaced with new lithium-ion batteries that store and distribute power from the solar arrays. Watch: [https:]] pic.twitter.com/qOaujrJkzz

— NASA (@NASA) January 15, 2020

“In the end, I do think it’s important, and I think it’s important because of the historical nature of what we’re doing. In the past women haven’t always been at the table,” Koch said. “It’s wonderful to be contributing to the space program at a time when all contributions are being accepted, when everyone has a role.”

On Wed., Jan. 15, @Astro_Christina and @Astro_Jessica will venture outside @Space_Station on a ~6.5 hour spacewalk to continue replacing batteries for the power channel on one of the station’s solar arrays.
🕠 NASA TV coverage begins at 5:30am ET: [https:]] pic.twitter.com/oPceQFnk45

— NASA (@NASA) January 15, 2020

For more spacewalk updates, follow NASA’s Twitter account.

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16:30
‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ Parts 4-5 Recap: Eight More Years
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Osric Chau as Ryan Choi, Ruby Rose as Kate Kane/Batwoman, Melissa Benoist as Kara/Supergirl and David Harewood as Hank Henshaw/J'onn J'onzz -- Photo: Dean Buscher/The CW
Usually these CW crossovers only last a week. I guess that just wouldn’t do for a story as big as Crisis on Infinite Earths. While the first three parts aired on consecutive nights back in December, we had to wait a month, into a new year and decade, to see the conclusion. When last we left the heroes, the last Earth had winked out of existence. The paragons were sent to the Vanishing Point outside of time and space so they’d survive. Jon Cryer’s Lex Luthor used the Book of Destiny to become one of those paragons, taking the place of Brandon Routh’s Superman. Got all that? Oh, and Oliver Queen is dead. Sarah Lance and Mia Smoak tried to bring him back with Constantine’s help (and Lucifer’s), but… couldn’t. That makes this continuation especially complicated given that the first show of the night’s conclusion is…

LaMonica Garrett as The Anti-Monitor — Photo: Dean Buscher/The CW

Arrow:
The episode begins, as most episodes of Arrow have, with a flashback. This time to Planet Maltus 10,000 years ago. We finally get an origin story for The Monitor. It’s about time. He’s been a presence in a few CW-verse shows this season, and they never told us anything about them. We see him as a normal-ish person. Someone who just wanted to travel through time. His wife, also his monitor (hmmm), keeps tabs on him as he travels through the dawn of time. It doesn’t go well. He ends up at the dawn of time in an anti-universe, which creates the Anti-Monitor. And that’s how this entire mess was set in motion. I’m happy we’re finally getting some answers, but this sequence should have been the first thing we saw in the crossover. It would have given the fights and big moments in the first three parts the stakes they needed. Stakes they had a lot more trouble reaching than they should have.

Back at the Vanishing Point, things aren’t going so well. With no idea what to do, everyone’s preparing for a battle in their own way. The problem is none of them know how, when or if that battle is going to happen. And The Flash has disappeared. That’s only temporary though, as he suddenly reappears hurt and out of breath. He tried running into the Speedforce, but hit a wall. After the destruction of the multiverse, the Speedforce is currently inaccessible. Fortunately, Oliver, who became a Specter in Purgatory, shows up and gives them a way forward. Half the team has to go to planet Mallus to stop the Monitor from creating the Anti-Monitor in the first place. The other half needs to stop the existing Anti-Monitor from making his destruction permanent. Both of those can be done by going into the Speedforce. Specter-Oliver gives Barry the power to enter the Speedforce and bring the team with him.

Caity Lotz as Sara Lance/White Canary and Ruby Rose as Kate Kane/Batwoman — Photo: Dean Buscher/The CW

The first plan goes awry almost instantly. Lex Luthor disappears and when Supergirl finds him, he ambushes her with some new Kryptonian powers. Replacing Superman as a Paragon came with some perks, it looks like. He knocks her and Ryan Choi out, and finds The Monitor himself. He starts trying to enact his plan, to gain some of the Monitor’s powers in exchange for knowledge about the future. He gets pretty far into his spiel before Supergirl busts through the wall and we have a Luthor-Kara super fight. Having that go on in the background as Ryan Choi explain what will happen if the Monitor steps through his time portal adds some much-needed fun to a scene that’s basically two guys going over stuff we already know.

The other half of the plan didn’t go so well either. When The Flash tried to run into the Speedforce this time, the Anti-Monitor was waiting in attack. As a result, the Speedforce is coming apart and the team is separated. Specter-Arrow is using all his energy to hold it together while Barry runs through the infinite Speedforce to find his missing friends. This leads to the most surprising cameo of the entire crossover. I thought we were done with these back in December, but Crisis had one more up its sleeve. Barry Allen runs into Barry Allen, as played by Ezra Miller. Yep, the Justice League version of the hero showed up in the TV universe. It’s a huge get, considering this is the same show that had to stop using Deadshot and the Suicide Squad after Warner Bros. decided they wanted those characters for the movie. It’s also a hilarious scene that reminds us why, for all Justice League’s problems, Miller’s Flash was the best part. His movie may still be in development hell, but after this short performance, I really hope it doesn’t stay that way.

Ezra Miller, Grant Gustin (Photo via The CW)

Oddly enough, this episode is turns into something of a clip show. Everyone is trapped in memories from past crossovers and big Arrow episodes. Kate watches Ray and Oliver argue about how best to save the city. Sara is lying dead on a table while Diggle convinces Laurel to become the Black Canary. J’onn is watching Kara and Oliver argue about the Dominator invasion. It’s a cool way to celebrate Arrow’s legacy that doesn’t feel shoehorned in like most clip show’s do. Barry collects everyone from the memories they’re witnessing, including the real Oliver from the end of Elseworlds. He collects Kara and Ryan just after they convince The Monitor not to go though with his plan, and they all end up at the beginning of the anti-matter universe. They can stop The Monitor from creating him in one Universe, but his creation, he says, is inevitable.

For the fourth part of a five-part event, this one sure ends with a climactic fight. I think it’s because this is the real series finale of Arrow. The show has a series finale next week, but it’s really more of a pilot for the next spinoff, Green Arrow and the Canaries. This is Oliver Queen’s last adventure, and it feels like it. The paragons hold the line against the time wraiths while Oliver faces the Anti-Monitor one-on-one. It’s the final fight scene Arrow deserved, with Oliver using everything he’s ever learned over eight seasons to beat this guy. In the end, he knocks Anti-Monitor back, and focuses on re-creating everything that was destroyed. The Paragons help him out, by focusing everything they know about Hope, Courage, Destiny, Humanity, Honor, Love, and Truth. We already know Lex Luthor focusing on Truth is bound to have some side effects. For now though, it doesn’t matter. The Paragons undo the damage caused by the antimatter and the dawn of time disappears around them. Which leads us right into…

Jon Cryer as Lex Luthor, Melissa Benoist as Kara/Supergirl, Osric Chau as Ryan Choi, Ruby Rose as Kate Kane/Batwoman, Grant Gustin as The Flash, David Harewood as Hank Henshaw/J’onn J’onzz and Caity Lotz as Sara Lance/White Canary — Photo: Dean Buscher/The CW

Legends of Tomorrow:
After the creation of a new universe, everyone wakes up back in their homes. Supergirl is back in her apartment, having apparently just defeated a white martian and is about to miss the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. She makes it there just in time to see the prize go to Lex Luthor. This was the “truth” he was focusing on, I guess. The Nobel prize isn’t the only thing he made happen, Lex Luthor is now her new boss and Supergirl’s biggest supporter. Things get weirder when Weather Witch shows up downtown. If you’ve been watching The Flash this season, you’ll remember her from that show. Not Legends or Supergirl. In any case, she’s about to fight the villain when The Flash shows up and does it for her. For a moment, they each think the other is on their Earth. It soon becomes obvious. There is no more multiverse. The new world Oliver created at the end of Arrow is one with only one Earth.

Sara ends up in Star City where she meets back up with Ray. He doesn’t realize anything’s different. To him, there has always been only one Earth. J’onn shows up and restores his memories of the way the Earth used to be. He’s been going from city to city making sure everyone important knows the whole story. Only the Paragons have true memories of the way things used to be. That includes Caitlin Snow and Nash Wells, who feels terrible about the destruction he helped cause. Meanwhile, Sara searches for Oliver only to find out that he didn’t bring himself back when creating this new universe. He’s still dead. She and Team Arrow cry and commiserate, but the somber moment is interrupted by news of an attack: A giant Beebo is rampaging through downtown Star City. Oh yeah, this is why Legends is my favorite CW-verse show.

Dominic Purcell as Mick Rory/Heatwave and Grant Gustin as The Flash — Photo: Colin Bentley/The CW

The best part of these crossovers continues to be how each show retains its core personality while telling its part of the big story. Just like Arrow was the serious epic climactic fight, Legends of Tomorrow is all about exploring the new world everyone finds themselves in and having heaps of fun doing it. The superheroes team up to fight the giant Beebo, including Mick Rory who was at a book signing after publishing his erotic novels. Perfect. They soon find that none of their attacks work. Beebo is an illusion. Rory points out that such a distraction would be perfect cover to rob a bank and wouldn’t you know, Sara stops a special-effects-using bank robber in the act.

Legends of Tomorrow had maybe the most to do of each show involved in this crossover. It had to introduce the new status quo of all former Earths existing as one. It had to give us a fitting conclusion to the CW’s most ambitious crossover. And it had to say goodbye to Oliver. Since his death, the characters haven’t had the chance to really deal with it. Now, they have some downtime, and it leads to some genuinely sad and heartfelt scenes. Barry and Sara commiserate over his loss. For her, she’s lost her only remaining connection to this city, and even this world. The somber moments don’t always land on these shows, but this one has all the right weight behind it. It’s incredibly well-executed.

Melissa Benoist as Kara/Supergirl, Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer/Atom and Grant Gustin as The Flash — Photo: Colin Bentley/The CW

Eventually though, the main plot of the crossover catches up with everyone. Nash Wells detects a surge of anti-matter underneath the city. The Anti-Monitor is still alive. Being made of anti-matter, he can neither be created nor destroyed. Now, he wants to undo the world the Paragons created, so he sends his army of time wraiths after them. Arrow gave us the personal showdown, Legends gives us the epic whole-team vs. giant bad guy version. It’s fantastic. Not only do we get Heatwave teaming up with Killer Frost, Black Lightning shows up too. He’s a full-fledged member of the team now. The only awkward bit is that Freeland is still occupied by the ASA in his series. Presumably that’s still happening on this Earth. Did he get things to a point where he could tear himself away from that and help out in Star City? Eh, this is a big enough event that I guess the quarantined police state can wait. I’m just glad he’s here. Seeing every CW DC hero fight off a hoard of time-zombies and a giant Anti-Monitor is so cool, I didn’t want it to end.

While Superman and Supergirl take shots at Anti-Monitor from the air, Ray and Ryan are in the lab putting together their plan. They can’t completely destroy the Anti-Monitor, so they build a bomb that will shrink him infinitely. It will send him irrevocably to the universe below the atomic level. The atom-verse as Ray calls it. Ryan suggests Microverse, but Ray mentions that might be taken. This show is the best. Ray shows up just as Kara is about to fly into the Anti-Monitor, possibly sacrificing herself to save Superman. Ray shows up and shrinks Superman down enough so he falls out of the Anti-Monitor’s hands, then hits the Anti-Monitor with a bomb. It’s a thrilling ending to CW-verse’s biggest fight yet.

Tyler Hoechlin, Cress Williams (Photo: Screenshot via The CW)

The rest of the episode is a celebration of everything they’ve built over the last eight years. This franchise has earned it. We get one final tearful goodbye to Oliver, which includes an address from the president and a small memorial Barry builds in a warehouse. He also reveals the warehouse is actually a new headquarters for what looks a lot like a proto-Justice League. Barry reveals a table with a chair for everyone, including an empty one for Oliver, for the next time they all have to team up to stave off the end of the world. As Black Lightning learns, that happens more often than you’d think. It’s a fitting final scene for Oliver Queen’s story, and it got me hyped to keep watching these DC superhero shows as long as they keep making them. I’m excited to see what they do from here on out, especially with all the Earths we’ve known being combined into one. We even saw appearances from the upcoming Stargirl series as well as Titans, Doom Patrol and the sadly cancelled Swamp Thing. We even saw a glimpse of Green Lantern. Oh god, please tell me that’s next.

The first three parts of the crossover were lots of fun, but were hindered by the fact that we didn’t know anything about the Anti-Monitor yet. The battles felt like they were there for the sake of having battles. The shows threw terms like Harbinger, Paraiah and Paragon without any explanation for what they mean or why we should care. These last two parts fixed pretty much all of that. It focused all that chaos into an exciting, touching and hilarious conclusion. After this, I can’t wait to see what they do with Stargirl and future seasons of The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow. Especially after that final shot. As the heroes gather round a table, they hear something in escape. It sounds like a monkey. The camera lingers on an open cage and a sign that reads “Gleek.” Oh my god, is one of these shows going to introduce the Wonder Twins?

Legends of Tomorrow will air Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on The CW

Previously on Crisis on Infinite Earths:
- Crisis on Infinite Earths Parts 1-3 recap
16:06
Rian Johnson on Future Star Wars Plans
» ‎ Geek.com

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Despite its reputation among certain fans, now that its follow-up has hit theaters and had some time for the dust to settle, Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi is currently coming out on top among the Star Wars sequel trilogy, at least as far as Metacritic’s critic score is concerned. Holding a score of 85, 4 points above The Force Awakens and a whopping 31 points over The Rise of Skywalker, some fans are now considering whether the film’s director, Rian Johnson, should return to the series to pick up where he left off. Although Metacritic is not a perfect metric, it’s also worth noting that both Looper and Knives Out, films Johnson made before and after Star Wars, also hold similarly high ratings.

While rumors have gone back and forth over the past few weeks over the likelihood of more Rian Johnson Star Wars down the line, with fans and outlets debating over whether a previously announced Johnson trilogy is still in the works given how Disney has responded to Last Jedi backlash, a new interview with Variety has given us fresh insight from the director himself.

Speaking with the outlet this Monday about Knives Out’s Oscar nomination, Rian Johnson said he was “blown away, man.” He then specified that “We just set out to make a fun movie that audiences could enjoy,” and spoke a bit about how Daniel Craig’s tight shooting schedule forced the team to be economical about their time.

While hinting that he’s considering, but not settled on a Knives Out sequel, Johnson also told Variety about his future with Star Wars, confirming that he might not be done with the galaxy far, far away yet. “I’m still talking to Lucasfilm but they haven’t announced anything on their Slate yet.”

This comes after a question asking if Johnson was in active development on a Star Wars project, making the coy response even juicier. Unfortunately, it seems like we might have to wait for Lucasfilm to find out what exactly is going on. However, the language Johnson is employing here sounds a little too much like a boilerplate NDA response to not hold at least a little bit of hope that the filmmaker currently has another contract with the studio.

In the meantime, check out our retrospective on Johnson’s filmography.
15:04
Heathrow Airport Implements Anti-Drone System
» ‎ Geek.com

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Watch where you're flying. (Photo Credit: StockSnap / Pixabay)
Be careful where you fly your drone: The U.K.’s busiest airfield can now detect and track unmanned aerial vehicles within its boundaries.

Surveillance company Aveillant Limited this week announced deployment of anti-drone technology at Heathrow Airport, as part of a “bespoke set” of end-to-end measures.

A new counter-drone system, provided by Operational Solutions Ltd., pinpoints rogue UAVs in Heathrow’s no-fly zone and alerts officials. Fast and accurate detection aims to keep passengers safe while supporting the airport, law enforcement, and air traffic controllers.

The technology also aims to help Heathrow meet its sustainability objectives, by reducing fuel waste and additional flight stacking caused by unauthorized drones.

“The safety and security of our passengers and colleagues is our No. 1 priority,” Jonathan Coen, director of security for Heathrow Airport, said in a statement.

“That is why we’re investing in this new cutting-edge technology,” he continued, “which will enhance our capabilities in the detection and deterrence of drones in and around our airfield.”

This move comes after a January 2019 report that Heathrow and Gatwick airports invested millions of pounds in military-grade drone-fighting gear.

Other UK runways are expected to follow suit, though not all at the same scale as the London hubs.

Just before Christmas 2018, Gatwick shut down operations following reports of drones flying over the airfield. The runway briefly reopened early the next morning, but closed 45 minutes later due to another sighting.

Reports continued trickling in through the day, forcing Gatwick to remain closed and reroute inbound flights to alternative airports as far away as Amsterdam and Paris.

In August of last year, climate activists threatened to disrupt Heathrow traffic by flying toy drones, creating an “exclusion zone” and effectively shutting down the seventh busiest airport on the planet—which also happens to be Britain’s single largest source of carbon pollution.

In the U.K., it is illegal to steer a drone through the Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ), which extends 5 km (3.1 miles) beyond any airfield boundary, and could cost the operator five years in prison.

More on Geek.com:
14:05
Billie Eilish Youngest Artist To Write, Perform Bond Theme
» ‎ Geek.com

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Billie Eilish wrote and produced the new 007 theme with her brother, Finneas O'Connell (via Twitter)
Singer-songwriter Billie Eilish will perform the title track for the 25th James Bond film, No Time to Die.

The 18-year-old virtuoso, who wrote and recorded the song with brother Finneas O’Connell, is the youngest artist to record a 007 theme.

Initial reactions to the news of a green-haired teenager inducted into the Bond Hall of Fame—alongside greats like Shirley Bassey, Paul McCartney, Louis Armstrong, and Tina Turner—have been, well, less than positive.

Sorry but this is going to be TERRIBLE. I can understand she’s critically acclaimed and many love her, but it’s not going to be remotely ‘Bond’. Probs won’t be able to understand a word of it. Bond themes are for all time, not just what’s ‘in’ at the time.

— Wincombe Mooredge (@Adt1001) January 14, 2020

Another reason to not watch this movie. They hire a satanist to write the score. pic.twitter.com/XK25eZ9wqU

— NoWeatherModification (@ModificationNo) January 14, 2020

Also the first Bond theme by an artist who'd never heard of James Bond beforehand😂😂😂😂

— ⓑⓐAlvaro Rodriguez❽❶ (@BigAl_81) January 14, 2020

Others, meanwhile, went to bat for the singer.

Loving all these angry boomers

You can't change the fact she's doing the title, like it or not.

It'll probably be a banger

— Feral Shibe #savejaga (@Wise_Shibe) January 14, 2020

People who are criticising this just have zero clue how capable and talented she is. Her music is purposely styled a certain way, as is his voice. Does nobody realise that singers manipulate their voices to sound different when they sing? She can sing in multiple styles.

— Craigy Boy 🏳️‍🌈 (@craigy_xo) January 15, 2020

Eilish boasts six Billboard Hot 100 top 40 singles, including “Bad Guy,” which became her first No. 1 in the U.S. (and still permeates global advertising).

She also has eight gold and four platinum singles in the U.S., two American Music Awards, two Guinness World Records, and three MTV Video Music Awards. Not to mention six Grammy nods (and the title of youngest artist ever nominated in the four main categories in the same year).

How many Twitter trolls can say the same?

“It feels crazy to be part of this in every way,” Eilish said in a statement tweeted by the official James Bond movie account. “To be able to score the theme song to a film that is part of such a legendary series is a huge honor.”

“James Bond is the coolest film franchise ever to exist,” she added. “I’m still in shock.”

The last two themes—Adele’s “Skyfall” and Sam Smith’s “Writing’s On the Wall” (from Spectre)—won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

“Writing the theme song for a Bond film is something we’ve been dreaming about doing our entire lives,” according to Finneas O’Connell, with whom Eilish created her debut album “When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?”

“There is no more iconic pairing of music and cinema than the likes of Goldfinger and Live and Let Die,” he continued. “We feel so so lucky to play a small role in such a legendary franchise. Long live 007.”

Details on the new song are scant: The Bond song is usually released in the month leading up to the film’s premiere, the BBC reported. No Time to Die hits theaters on April 2.

Hans Zimmer (Driving Miss Daisy, Thelma & Louise, The Lion King, Gladiator, Interstellar, Blade Runner 2049, and about 200 other films) will compose the film’s score.

The latest installment features Daniel Craig in his fifth and (supposedly) final outing as the titular MI6 agent; it is directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (True Detective, Beasts of No Nation, Maniac), who co-wrote the screenplay with Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and the incomparable Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, Killing Eve).

Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Rory Kinnear, Léa Seydoux, Christoph Waltz, Ben Whishaw, and Jeffrey Wright reprise their roles, with Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch, Billy Magnussen, and Craig’s Knives Out co-star Ana de Armas joining the cast.

More on Geek.com:
12:52
Spotify Now Curates Playlists For Your Pet
» ‎ Geek.com

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Spotify has the pawfect playlist for you and your pet. (Photo Credit: Spotify)
My cat (RIP Pumpkin) loved three things: Lounging in the sun, eating expensive food, and endless strokes. She never showed a shred of interest in music.

But I think she would have enjoyed the Pet Playlist Spotify curated for her.*

Most pet owners believe their furry (or feathered/scaly) friends like music—preferably classical or soft rock, according to a Spotify survey.

A majority of respondents said the melodies help boost animals’ happiness, relieve stress, and provide companionship.

“That being said, we created a unique experience to help you craft the pawfect algorithmically generated playlist for you and your pet to enjoy together,” the streaming service wrote in a blog announcement.

Visit spotify.com/pets for a playlist you can share with your dog, cat, hamster, bird, or iguana.

You’ll first have to answer a few questions about said animal: Are they relaxed or energetic, shy or friendly, apathetic or curious?

“Select which trait most aligns with your pet’s personality,” Spotify urged. “It will help us pick the playlist vibe.”

I think my late cat would have enjoyed a bit of Fleetwood Mac. (Photo Credit: Spotify)

Add an optional name and image, let the data crunch, then grab your domesticated animal and dance the night away.

“While music for pets isn’t an exact science, we consulted with experts in the pet industry for the best approximation for what might work best for our featured animals,” the site’s FAQ said.

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to accommodate every species. Don’t see your beastie listed? Try one of the current playlist options, anyway.

“You may find your rabbit really likes hamster music,” Spotify suggested.

Popular pets like goldfish, tarantulas, and snakes are not included “because they don’t have ears.”

Each playlist comes with a personalized share card featuring a handful of included artists and a cover photo, so you can show off your pet’s good taste on social media.

Click “Listen Now” to dive in.

* Yes, my cat is dead. Yes, I still answers the questions and allowed an algorithm to create a 30-song setlist for her.

More on Geek.com:
11:47
Instagram Tests Desktop DMs (Finally)
» ‎ Geek.com

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DMs, but make them desktop (Photo Credit: Instagram)
Sliding into someone’s DMs has never been easier.

Instagram is testing desktop direct messaging, allowing users to communicate via the web.

This update—more than six years in the making—streamlines the social network’s messaging process (so you can send and reply to texts on the DL during work*).

DMs, but make them desktop. 👍

We’re currently testing Direct messaging on the web, so you can read and reply to your messages from wherever you are. pic.twitter.com/VJ06EpETxG

— Instagram (@instagram) January 14, 2020

“For those of you into your DMs, today we start to test Direct on the desktop web,” Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri tweeted on Tuesday. “It’s only a small percentage of people for now—we need to make sure it works well—but we hope to bring this to everyone soon.”

I’ve not yet been graced with the new function, which appears as a paper-plane icon (same as the mobile app) in the upper right corner—next to the Explore, Like, and Profile symbols.

Still in testing mode, this is one feature that will likely stick.

Software engineer and tipster Jane Manchun Wong first spotted the trial early last year, during its “dogfooding” days (used by employees to identify bugs or necessary changes).

Web DMs are certainly more tenable than Instagram’s ill-fated attempt at a standalone direct messaging service: Direct is a Snapchat-like app that opens to the camera for quick and dirty shots you can send straight to friends and followers.

The move comes as Facebook attempts to merge its messaging services, enabling users to send texts across Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram without switching apps.

All three platforms would remain separate, but be brought together under a single protocol. Executives hoped to finish their project in early 2020, but technical issues may delay that timeline.

* To be fair, this is an actual perk for social media managers or influencers who work on a full-size computer all day.

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January 14, 2020
23:24
Nike’s Latest Bruce Lee Sneaker Has Leaked
» ‎ Geek.com

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The Kyrie 6 Bruce Lee may be coming to stores later this year. (Photo Credit: Don Baloncesto / Twitter)
While the iconic Bruce Lee sneaker will always be the yellow Onitsuka Tigers he wears in Game of Death, there’s a rich history of sneaker brands paying homage to the greatest martial arts movie star of all time. No company has done it better than Nike, who have produced a select few iconic colorways in their basketball sneaker line over the years to offer tribute to the legend.

They first got the ball rolling in 2010 with the Kobe 5 Bruce Lee, a stellar sneaker featuring a yellow and black colorway and a quartet of red slashes as a reference to Lee’s iconic performance in Enter the Dragon. Over the years they threw together a few more Kobes in this colorway, including the Kobe 9 EM Low and the Kobe 11 Elite Low.

PJ Tucker customized the “Bruce Lee” Kobe 5 to include a pair of aces on the tongues. pic.twitter.com/0hLiSgtfSD

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 21, 2018

However, the cream of the crop came in 2017 with the Kyrie 3 Mamba Mentality Bruce Lee. The Mama Mentality line has traditionally featured basketball sneakers taking note from iconic Kobe Bryant colorways and this stands out not only as the best of that line, but one of the best basketball sneakers Nike has produced.

NEW ARRIVAL:#Nike #Kyrie 3 MAMBA MENTALITY “BRUCE LEE” now available in select sizes in-store and online.

SHOP: [https:]] pic.twitter.com/U577nXvh8f

— Stay Fresh Canada (@StayFreshCanada) October 13, 2017

This mid-top Kyrie 3 features the same yellow/black colorway emphasized in the prior Kobe releases with the added bonus of themed patterns on the left and right side of each shoe. The outer upper features Japanese kanji while the inner sports a speckled snakeskin pattern in tribute to Kobe, long known as the “Black Mama.” The iconic slash marks adorn the toes in a bright red.

🔥 Primer vistazo: Nike Kyrie 6 “Bruce Lee”. #DBKicksMX pic.twitter.com/bcx8MznD2Y

— Don Baloncesto (@DonBaloncesto) January 14, 2020

Nike’s Bruce Lee sneakers aren’t an annual occurrence by any means, so it’s always special when a new one surfaces – which looks to be happening again soon. Photos recently leaked of an upcoming colorway of the Kyrie 6 that looks to be the next installment in the line – and one that takes the tribute in a new direction.

The Kyrie 6 Bruce Lee is primarily red and black with yellow accents on the tongue, sole, and stitching. The slash marks, traditionally red, are now yellow and cut through the Nike logo on either side of the shoe. All in all, it’s a super exciting new take on the collaboration and we can’t wait to see a more in-depth and official look at the shoes.

There’s no telling for sure when they’ll hit shelves, but our bet is sometime during May – likely right around Nike’s now-annual Mamba Day event. That said, there’s no guarantee this is part of the Mamba Mentality line, so we could be seeing them sooner. We’ll be sure to keep you informed as to when more information is available. For now, make sure you have the Nike SNKRS app downloaded as that’s more than likely to be where the shoe is available for purchase when it goes live.

More on Geek.com:
December 11, 2019
22:30
‘Forza Horizon 4’ Gets a Racing Battle Royale, Sure!
» ‎ Geek.com

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For once we’re in a bit of a Forza dry spell as Microsoft paused the annual racing series surely to get ready for a next-gen launch title next year. But the open-world automobile majesty of 2018’s Forza Horizon 4 is more than expansive enough for multiple years of fun. And fortunately we keep getting nifty new content like a mode that turns the beautiful racer into an even more beautiful Lego car world.

So what’s next for Forza Horizon 4? How about a racing battle royale mode? Check out this first trailer for “The Eliminator.”

Battle royale games don’t have to be shooters like Fortnite and PUBG and Apex Legends. Heck, I think they’re better (or at least more creative) when they find reasons to pit dozens of players against each other that have nothing to do with guns. Tetris 99 might be my Game of the Year.

“The Eliminator” drops this same concept into Forza Horizon 4’s online multiplayer open world. 72 players driver around the massive English countryside, racing to knock each other out at upgrade from scrub cars to better racing behemoths. Initially, randomly generated races will pop up all across the map similar to the countless skirmishes you find yourself in when playing other battle royale games. However, as the circle closes in and the players dwindle, eventually all the survivors will be summoned for a final test of speed where the winner takes all.

“The Eliminator” battle royale mode comes to Forza Horizon 4 for free on December 12. For more on Forza Horizon 4 watch us play the game while unboxing some sweet Fast and Furious toy cars.
22:00
PlayStation 4 Is the Most Popular Pornhub Console
» ‎ Geek.com

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While we get ready for the PlayStation 5 next year, the PlayStation 4 sure is going out with a bang. As Sony celebrates 25 years of the PlayStation platform, the PlayStation 4 became the fastest console to reach 100 million in sales. And it has amassed a pretty great library of games along the way.

But who cares about any of that. Today the PS4 reached its true crowning achievement. It’s the most popular video game console for porn.

As part of its annual survey, Pornhub released some interesting factoids about users enjoy its service. People still love them some Overwatch porn (arguably more than they love the game itself). And it looks like Apex Legends was smart to ape that horny character design format based on Pornhub’s stats.

But as for which gaming console gets the most Pornhub use, the PlayStation 4 is the big winner. 51.5 percent, just over half of all game console traffic, comes from PlayStation 4. The Xbox One follows with 34.7 percent. At first we just figured this reflected sheer numbers and tech realities. The PlayStation 4 has the advantage of course because there are just way more of them out there. And the similarly popular Nintendo Switch doesn’t have a web browser so it can’t access Pornhub at all. However, the extremely dead Sony handheld the PlayStation Vita somehow comes in third with 9.1 percent. So maybe there just is something special about porn and PlayStation.

For more on Pornhub, kick yourself for not getting this Black Friday membership deal and check out the top Pornhub searches from 2018 to see how far we’ve come.
21:50
13 Best Gifts for Tech-Savvy Globetrotters
» ‎ Geek.com

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The jet setter in your life will appreciate these travel-friendly tech gifts. (Photo Credit: Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart)
Nothing beats a nice winter escape during the pre-holiday season madness. Unfortunately though, some of us can’t afford to send our favorite jet setter on vacation. However, you can give them tech-savvy gifts that will support them on the road.

If you’re not sure what to buy as a present, we’ve got you covered. From noise-cancelling headphones to personal Wi-Fi hotspots, here are the best tech gift picks for globetrotters.
Fire HD 8 Tablet
Photo Credit: Amazon

Watch TV shows, read e-books, listen to music, and play games with the Fire HD 8 Tablet. Its battery lasts for 10 hours and you can use Alexa, so you’ll be entertained for hours on bus rides or flights.

Buy it Here
Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Photo Credit: Best Buy

Tune out loud passengers on flights and enjoy beats with these Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones.

Buy it Here
Potok Selfie Stick Monopod with Integrated Tripod
Photo Credit: Amazon

Document your travel journey for the ‘gram with this Potok Selfie Stick Monopod and Integrated Tripod Set.

Buy it Here
Anker PowerCore Portable Charger
Photo Credit: Amazon

Finding an outlet on the go doesn’t always end well, but you can be prepared for low battery warnings with this Anker PowerCore Portable Charger. You can juice up your tablet and smartphone at the same time sans stress.

Buy it Here
Fujifilm Instax Mini 7S Instant Camera
Photo Credit: Walmart

Snap and print travel photos on demand with this colorful Fujifilm Instatax Mini 7S Instant Camera.

Buy it Here
Apple Watch Series 4
Photo Credit: Best Buy

You can monitor your heart rate, track your fitness activity, and more when you wear the Apple Watch Series 4 on your next global adventure.

Buy it Here
ili Instant Offline Language Translator Device
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Need help conversing when you’re abroad? The ili Instant Offline Language Translator Device instantly translates three languages and doesn’t require a Wi-Fi connection.

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Skyroam Solis Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot & Power Bank
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If you can’t disconnect on your next trip, the Skyroam Solis Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot & Powerbank gives you top-notch internet access across six continents.

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goTenna Mesh
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Stay on the grid (literally) with the goTenna Mesh. It’s a GPS device that pairs with your phone to help you navigate and stay in touch with your travel buddies.

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Hidrate Spark 3 Smart Water Bottle
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Drink all the water you want (and stay hydrated) with the Hidrate Spark 3 Smart Water Bottle. Sensor technology tracks your water intake and you can check your daily stats in a smartphone app. (Buh bye plastic water bottles.)

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Tile Mate
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Keep track of your essentials abroad with the Tile Mate, a Bluetooth-enabled GPS tracker that rings if an object becomes lost.

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Bluetooth Sleeping Eye Mask
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Catch up on your beauty rest and listen to soothing tunes with this Bluetooth Sleeping Eye Mask.

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Unidapt International Power Adapter Travel Charger
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Traveling abroad? Unidapt’s International Power Adapter Travel Charger works in 160 countries, including Australia, Israel, Spain, and the U.K. You can easily charge your smartphone, computer, tablet, or other tech gadgets when you’re in a new destination.

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21:22
Marvel Previews New Kylo Ren Origin Comic
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With Kylo Ren’s story set to wrap up in The Rise of Skywalker, fans are torn over where his character arc will end. The #Reylo crowd, for instance, wants redemption for the troubled “Sith,” and romance with main character Rey. Meanwhile, other fans and even Adam Driver himself question “What does he have to be redeemed for?” With the debate still raging on, Marvel is hoping to add fuel to the fire by previewing its new origin comic, The Rise of Kylo Ren, which is set to release next Wednesday.

Written by Charles Soule, who penned The Death of Wolverine X-Men series and the Darth Vader prequel comic Dark Lord of the Sith, the series follows the events between Ben Solo destroying Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Temple in a flashback during The Last Jedi and his appearance on Jakku in the opening scene of The Force Awakens. According to StarWars.com, the comic will also delve into Luke’s response to Ben’s turn, and how it leads to his self-imposed exile prior to Rey’s visit in The Last Jedi, ultimately building up to what Soule says will be a “mythological moment” similar to Anakin’s battle with Obi-Wan in Revenge of the Sith.

“It was about creating a story that felt epic and above all emotional for Ben Solo,” Soule explained. “Because this transition, this turn to the dark side has to be as good and stand at the same level as some of the other big turns to the dark side we see.”

Earlier, StarWars.com gave us a glimpse into the comic itself, with a 7-page preview that shows three of Ben’s classmates returning from a mission to find Luke’s Jedi temple in flames and Ben standing alone among the wreckage. They debate back and forth over what happened, Ben’s supposed role in the disaster, and what to do with him. Two of the students eventually decide to duel Solo, with Ben simply responding that “None of you are Jedi.”

In just these seven pages, Ben and his classmates go through grief, anger, accusation, and betrayal, each having a different response. As for Ben himself, he still seems to be in shock, split between two paths. As Soule explained about Ben’s character, “In one of the very early moments…we kind [of] see the two sides of Ben where you can see him emotionally hurt and then he starts to put up this shield, this outer shield. Within the course of two panels, you want to show in one instance this is a frightened boy and in the second instance he has the potential to be this really, really dark person.”

Aside from Ben and Luke, the comic is also set to provide more context for the mysterious Knights of Ren, who recently made their first direct appearance outside of an off-hand mention or force-powered vision in a trailer for The Rise of Skywalker. According to Soule, comic readers will “learn an awful lot about the Knights of Ren very, very fast,” providing much-needed context for the lore behind the group just before The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters. Soule also reveals some of the Knights’ personality quirks, saying he was inspired by motorcycle gangs, classic Westerns, and Samurai tales in depicting their interactions with Ben.

“They’re not as powerful as a Jedi or a Sith, but they use it [the Force] when they fight…they have some sort of a code, like a motorcycle gang, but it’s not elaborate. They’re flexible.” He explains further about their selfish nature. “Mostly they’re just kind of out to live their lives the way they want to live them and take what the galaxy will give them and eat what the dark side sends.”

Read Marvel’s preview of The Rise of Kylo Ren over on StarWars.com, where you can also read a preview for Empire Ascendant, a new series set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back.
20:50
Play These Free Demos Thanks to The Game Awards
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In theory, The Game Awards are about celebrating the best video games of the year, video games that have already come out and that you can play right now. It’s why Geoff Keighley’s award show might give the top prize to Geoff Keighley’s Death Stranding. But as we all surely know by now the event is really about showcasing glossy ads for upcoming video games you can only pre-order.

A cool thing about games though is that even if a game isn’t finished, there are still ways to play it. And for this year’s Game Awards the show is letting the viewers at home get a taste of upcoming releases with some exciting limited-time free demos in The Game Festival.

“Let’s face it: Not everyone can attend a physical trade show or consumer event,” Keighley said in a statement. “The Game Festival is designed from the ground-up as an event without barriers, extending the benefits of a physical event to the global gaming community that watches The Game Awards.”

The Game Awards start this Thursday night, and earlier that day (1 P.M. Eastern time) Steam users can enjoy a bunch of free Game Festival PC demos for 48 hours. Here’s the whole list!
- System Shock (Nightdive Studios)
- Eastward (Pixpil / Chucklefish)
- Spiritfarer (Thunder Lotus)
- Moving Out (SMG Studio / Devm Games / Team 17)
- Röki (Polygon Treehouse / United Label)
- Chicory (Greg Lobanov)
- Wooden Nickel (Brain&Brain)
- Haven (The Game Bakers)
- Heavenly Bodies (2pt Interactive)
- Acid Knife (Powerhoof)
- The Drifter (Powerhoof)
- Carrion (Phobia / Devolver)
- SkateBird (Glass Bottom Games)
Skatebird! So when The Game Awards start, while you spend some time watching what games bring home the trophies (and spend more time watching commercials), why not spend the rest of your time playing some free new and upcoming video games.
20:19
NASA’s Rainbow Treasure Map Shows Water Ice on Mars
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This colorful map could help scientists select the best landing spots for future Mars missions. (Photo Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / ASU)
NASA aims to send humans to Mars and a new map could help determine where future expeditions should land on the Red Planet.

A new paper, which was published in Geophysical Research Letters, details a map of water ice that’s believed to be an inch (2.5 centimeters) below the surface, according to NASA. Water ice is a key consideration for potential landing sites, because astronauts will need an adequate source for drinking water and creating rocket fuel.

Future #Mars explorers: check out @NASA‘s treasure map for water ice on the Red Planet. [https:]] #AGU19 #Artemis pic.twitter.com/nyQxI9OgSq

— NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) December 10, 2019

This concept, which NASA calls “in situ resource utilization,” is important for determining human landing areas on the Red Planet. Satellites orbiting Mars could help scientists select the best places for building the first Martian research station. The authors of the paper used data from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and the Mars Odyssey orbiter to find water ice that may be within reach of astronauts on Mars.

“You wouldn’t need a backhoe to dig up this ice. You could use a shovel,” said Sylvain Piqueux of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. “We’re continuing to collect data on buried ice on Mars, zeroing in on the best places for astronauts to land.”

Martian water ice is considered “treasure,” because it is underground throughout Mars’ mid-latitudes. These bizarre regions near the poles have been analyzed by NASA’s Phoenix lander, which scraped up ice, and the MRO, which has snapped many images of meteor impacts that have dug up this ice.

But where will astronauts excavate the ice? The paper proposes two heat-sensitive instruments: MRO’s Mars Climate Sounder and the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) camera on Mars Odyssey to help locate good digging spots. Buried water ice alters the temperature of the Red Planet’s surface, and data from the study suggests that there’s water ice located throughout the Martian poles and mid-latitudes.

This map shows underground water ice on Mars. (Photo Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / ASU)

This is where the rainbow-colored map comes into play: Scientists prefer Mars’ northern and southern mid-latitudes for astronaut landing sites, since they have a lot of sunlight and warmer temperatures.

A region called Arcadia Planitia, which is located in the Red Planet’s northern hemisphere, has been a potential landing target. The map above points out a lot of blue and purple hues in this region and they represent water ice less than one foot (30 centimeters) below the surface, while warm colors are over two feet (60 centimeters) deep. Black zones on the map show areas where a spacecraft would sink into the planet’s dust.

“The more we look for near-surface ice, the more we find,” said MRO Deputy Project Scientist Leslie Tamppari of JPL. “Observing Mars with multiple spacecraft over the course of years continues to provide us with new ways of discovering this ice.”

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20:12
British Illustrator Designs Awesome Star Wars Museum Mock-Up
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Image credit: Alistair Williams
Star Wars is no stranger to museums. The series regularly serves as inspiration for seasonal exhibits at museums like New York’s Rubin Museum of Art or the Denver Art Museum, and even parts of Disney’s Galaxy’s Edge theme park lands are similar to museum displays. But for such a pivotal series to the history of film, Star Wars doesn’t yet have a museum dedicated fully to itself. Even George Lucas’ in-construction Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has a wider subject matter beyond just Star Wars. But thanks to British illustrator Alistair Williams, we now have an idea of what a dedicated Star Wars Museum would look like.

Museum of the Skywalkers…to be continued#starwars #starwarsfanart #RiseofSkywalker #illustration #art #fanart pic.twitter.com/irQY7gjlJr

— Alistair Williams (@aw_illustrator) December 9, 2019

On December 9, Williams posted an art piece to his Twitter account titled “Museum of the Skywalkers.” Here, we see a mock-up of a potential Star Wars museum, which takes visitors through the props and important scenes of the Star Wars films in chronological order.

We start on the first floor, where Qui-Gon and Padmé meet a young Anakin Skywalker and his mother, Shmi Skywalker, outside the museum entrance. The floor then shows off key Episode 1 props, like Anakin’s podracer, as well as core moments, like Yoda training Anakin for the first time. After that, we move on to the second floor, where the Episode 2 exhibits include Anakin and Padmé having dinner as well as Anakin’s first duel with Count Dooku. Revenge of the Sith gets two floors, with one showing off the majority of the film and the other wholly dedicated to the creation of Darth Vader and the birth of the Skywalker twins.

After that, we move onto the original trilogy, with Episodes 4, 5, and 6 being represented in the same way, right down to Return of the Jedi having two floors rather than one. The new trilogy follows, with a special twist for The Rise of Skywalker. As we don’t yet know Episode 9’s story yet, it takes over the museums ceiling rather than its own couple of floors. Here, prospective visitors could walk into a massive exhibit of Rey and Kylo Ren doing battle, complete with red and blue fire effects.

This museum mock-up has received high praise since, with the official Star Wars Twitter account tweeting the following gif at Williams:

pic.twitter.com/hXBAWOATCP

— Star Wars (@starwars) December 10, 2019

The piece is also the latest in Williams’ “Museum of” series, which has also covered various series across the MCU. Additionally, Williams has similar illustrations for Joker, Alien, Spider-Verse, and even real-world cities like Lisbon, though they aren’t organized as museum mock-ups. Similarly, he’s also previously covered Star Wars under his “Sci-Sfi Stories” series.

Museum of Endgame#Marvel #MarvelStudios #AvengersEngame #D23Expo2019 #art #illustration #fanart pic.twitter.com/HQMaAmMhHE

— Alistair Williams (@aw_illustrator) August 26, 2019

With a new movie set to release soon and The Mandalorian giving fans fresh content every Friday, right now is a productive time in Star Wars fan art. Williams announced that the Museum of the Skywalkers was “to be continued” in his original tweet. Whether this means that he plans to add onto the illustration once Episode 9 hits theaters, or whether he’s pointing out that the Star Wars series as a whole is still going strong, remains to be seen.

Check out all of Alistair Williams’ geeky illustrations on his Twitter page.
18:30
Last Full Moon of the Decade Peaks at 12:12 on 12/12
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The last full moon of the decade will appear in the night sky at 12:12 p.m. EST on Dec. 12. (Photo Credit: NASA / JSC)
Bundle up and grab a telescope: The last full moon of the decade will illuminate the night sky at 12:12 p.m. EST on Dec. 12.

If there are clear skies, the full moon will be bright and appear much larger than it really is, ABC 7 noted. It will be full a little after midnight on Thursday morning, Dec. 12, and appear “opposite” the sun at 12:12 a.m. EST, according to NASA. The moon will look full for roughly three days centered on this time, from Tuesday evening to Friday morning.

December’s full moon was nicknamed the “Cold Moon” by the Algonquin tribes due to the month’s long, cold nights. Another historic European name for this moon is the “Oak Moon,” a name that may be connected to ancient druid traditions of harvesting mistletoe from oak trees.

On 12/12 at 12:12 a.m. ET, the 12th full moon of the year will be visible in the night sky. December’s full moon is also known as the #ColdMoon: [https:]] pic.twitter.com/uRZskuWuZi

— AccuWeatherAstronomy (@AccuAstronomy) December 11, 2019

The month’s moon is also the closest to the winter solstice, and it’s also called the “Long Night Moon.” The plane of the moon’s orbit around our planet almost matches the plane of the Earth’s orbit around the sun. When the path of the sun appears lowest in the sky for the year, the path of the full moon opposite the sun appears at its highest point in the sky. Some areas in the U.S. will get to see the moon in the sky for more than 13 hours.

The Cold Moon isn’t the only celestial treat of the month: Check out our skywatching roundup for more details on how to spot planetary pairings and more sights in December.

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17:19
‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ Parts 1–3 Recap: ‘Supergirl,’ ‘Batwoman,’ and ‘The Flash’
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Grant Gustin as The Flash, Melissa Benoist as Kara/Supergirl, Tyler Hoechlin as Clark Kent/Superman, Ruby Rose as Kate Kane/Batwoman, and Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer/Atom in 'Crisis on Infinite Earths.' (Photo Credit: DEAN BUSCHER / THE CW)
This is it. This is what the entire seasons of Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Batwoman have been building up to. Since Fall, we’ve been promised a gigantic story bringing together nearly every DC show ever made, and boy did these episodes deliver.

Though I wish these shows had done more to set up the Anti-Monitor before this, the crossover does a decent enough job of selling the Crisis without it. After all, when entire universes are being swallowed up by antimatter, who’s responsible isn’t always the most pressing concern. This is The CW’s sixth crossover and they’ve gotten real good at making these. Hell, the movies could probably take some notes. But let’s get to it. The first three parts of the five-chapter event began on Sunday night with…

Supergirl: If there was ever any doubt that this event is huge, the opening puts it all to rest. As the antimatter wave destroys Earth after Earth, we get a ton of fun DC Easter eggs showing the spread of the Crisis. It hits the Gotham of Batman: The Animated Series (God, that music cue hit me right in the heart), the one in Titans, and even the one from the 1996 TV series. Calling it right now, Burt Ward has the best line of the crossover. Just as the Crisis is hitting, Lyla, who’s been turned into Harbinger, collects all the big heroes together on Earth-38. She warns Supergirl the Crisis is starting. She sends Team Flash on a reconnaissance mission. She interrupts a trivia night attended by Ray Palmer and Sarah Lance, and finally, she saves Clark Kent and Lois Lane from the antimatter wave at the last second.

Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen/Green Arrow and Katherine McNamara as Mia. (Photo Credit: Katie Yu / The CW)

The first thing they have to do is defend some quantum towers the Monitor set up to defend against the Crisis. They also have to evacuate everyone from this Earth before Crisis takes it. That ticking clock makes for a stressful fight scene where the whole team works together to stave off the Anti-Monitor’s shadow demons long enough for a portal to another Earth to open, and for everyone on this Earth to escape through it. They really opened this crossover with a bang. Everyones’ powers are on full display as they take down an endless hoard of demons.

The episode ends on a downer though, with the Monitor evacuating everyone to Earth-1, and Oliver choosing to stay behind. He makes sure everyone is off Earth-38 before allowing himself to be taken. When The Monitor finally teleports him, it’s too late. He says a tearful goodbye to Barry, Kara, and his daughter Mia, who now wears her own Green Arrow costume. It’s a sad scene on its own, but it becomes more worrying when The Monitor speaks. That’s not how he saw Oliver dying. They’re all in uncharted territory now.

Batwoman: The second part opens with Kara, Sarah, and Kate sharing a drink to say goodbye to Oliver. It’s a somber moment to open an episode with, which is familiar territory for Batwoman. Harbinger picks up an alternate universe version of the Waverider where all the Legends of Tomorrow have retired. Only Mick Rory is still on the ship. He lives there in solitude with a computerized Leonard Snart to bicker with. I’ve missed that show. With a functioning lab and more of the crew assembled, the Monitor gives them their mission for this episode: They have to find seven Paragons who might be able to stop the Crisis. They already have two: Sara Lance and Supergirl. They need to find two more: A future, even more reclusive Batman, and a brooding Superman. Kara and Kate go to find the future Bruce Wayne while Clark, Lois, and Iris West-Allen hunt for the other Superman.

Ruby Rose, Kevin Conroy (Photo Credit: The CW)

This episode makes the Crisis more complicated as each group runs into the different versions of superheroes. Kate and Kara meet a Bruce Wayne played by Kevin Conroy who’s gone all the way dark. He started killing people, which got easier and easier until he lost count of how many he’d killed. Kara finds a disturbing trophy case full of mementos from the supervillains he killed. Along with one from a hero. He killed this Earth’s Superman. Bruce attacks Kara with a kryptonite-holding gauntlet, and Kate defends her. She pushes him back into a generator, electrocuting him. They didn’t fail to find the Paragon, though. After returning to the ship, Ray Palmer completes his Paragon-detector and finds the Paragon they were looking for is on board. It was Kate all along.

Meanwhile, The Monitor has set Lex Luthor free with the Book of Destiny. Lex plans to kill Superman in every dimension. Clark, Lois, and Iris have to track down the right one before Lex reaches him. They try the Clark Kent from Smallville, and it’s good to see Tom Welling again. That show wasn’t perfect, but none of the current DC shows would exist if not for it. As we learn when Lex shows up trying to kill him, this Superman gave up his powers to have a family with Lois Lane. As such Kryptonite no longer affects him. It’s a very sweet tribute and a fitting farewell to the actor who really started all this.

Clark, Lois, and Iris find the Superman they’re looking for, and it’s Brandon Routh from Superman Returns. His movie may have not been the best, but Routh made a great Superman, and it’s so much fun watching him play the role again. Lex shows up and controls the Paragon Superman and we get a great high-flying Supes fight to fill out the episode’s action quota. Lois and Iris knock Lex out and grab the book, ending the fight. Four Paragons assembled, three to go.

TOM WELLING, ERICA DURANCE (Photo Credit: The CW)

Though we spent a lot of time with the other characters, Batwoman got a full arc in her episode. Each show did its best to retain its feel and character through-line in its part of the Crisis. Being Batwoman, that means there’s a little bit of dark foreboding thrown into the episode. When Kara says she plans to use the Book of Destiny to bring her Earth back despite the monitor’s warning, she pulls out a container of Kryptonate she took from her alternate Earth cousin. She might not ever go that dark, but she’s prepared to kill a Kryptonian if she has to. Elsewhere, The Flash, Mia, and Sarah bring Oliver back via a Lazarus pit, but the antimatter is weakening Constantine’s magic. He can’t restore Oliver’s soul. For now, he’s stuck as a Monster. If those images weren’t bleak enough, the Anti-Monitor summons Harbinger, and it looks like she’s about to turn on the team. Despite being the second part of five, Batwoman feels like the dark middle chapter of a trilogy. Will The Flash be any more hopeful?

Brandon Routh as Superman. (Photo Credit: Katie Yu / The CW)

The Flash: This is definitely the busiest of the first three parts. The rest of Team Flash shows up on the Waverider, having all survived. Yay! Elongated Man is so pure as he takes in all the strangeness that suddenly surrounds him. As Killer Frost says, it’s his first crossover. I’d be excited too. Ray’s Paragon finder locates the other three. Conveniently, two of them are already among the superheroes aboard the ship: J’onn J’onzz is the Paragon of honor and Barry Allen is the Paragon of love. Aww.

The other is on Earth-1. A doctor named Ryan Choi. Those of you who’ve been reading DC comics recently will recognize that name as the new Atom. Will we be see him on Legends of Tomorrow after this? Ray, Elongated Man, and Iris are the ones sent to collect him. He’s not willing to go at first, though. Once they convince him the world is actually ending, he decides he needs to be with his wife. It takes a sincere talk from Iris, non-powered human to non-powered human, to convince him to come along.

The team has another errand on Earth-1 as well. Cisco’s calculated the source of the antimatter wave, and it’s in an underground tunnel in Central City. The Monitor restores his Vibe powers against his will, saying he’ll need them. Killer Frost, Vibe, and The Flash head to the tunnel, where they find Nash Wells/Pariah. He’s the one who freed the Anti-Monitor and is now forced to be a witness to tragedy. That bodes well for this visit. Vibe uses his powers to see Nash’s memories and find out how to get inside the Anti-Monitor’s hideout. They hope to be able to shut down the source of the antimatter wave. Inside, they find a machine being powered by a treadmill. And trapped on that treadmill is The Flash from Earth-90. You know, because it’s from the 1990 TV series. Clever.

LaMonica Garrett as The Monitor and Carlos Valdes as Vibe. (Photo: Katie Yu / The CW)

Vibe portals Flash-90 off the treadmill which begins to erupt with no one powering it. They need a way to shut the machine down, so Pariah brings Black Lightning in from the end of his episode. At first he’s angry that he’s been taken away from his family at such a pivotal moment, then horrified that they’re all wiped from existence. When he takes in the full scope of the situation, he agrees to help. He absorbs the generator’s energy, but that only buys a little bit of time. To stop it, The Flash needs to fulfill the headline on that future newspaper in the Time Vault and vanish in Crisis. Barry gets ready to say goodbye to his friends, but Flash-90 steals his speed. The Flash has to disappear in Crisis, but the Monitor never said which one. He runs back onto the machine, running so fast that he destroys it and vanishes into thin air. Just before he does, we get one last shot of him and Tina from the 1990 show. This crossover’s really hitting all the nostalgia marks. With that, the anti-matter wave disappears.

Meanwhile, Jon, Mi, and Constantine try a different tactic to get Oliver’s soul back. They need to go to purgatory and bring it back themselves. To even get there though, they need to get a card from the devil. Constantine takes them to a nightclub where they meet Lucifer. I don’t know why, but of all the cameos, this one made me happiest. Now that was a cool show, cancelled too early. They find Oliver in Purgatory, and are able to make him remember them. He still can’t come back though. A specter appears and tells him that to save the world his soul still has a purpose to play. The show’s not giving us a lot here to latch onto yet. Here’s hoping this all leads up to something satisfying in January.

John Wesley Shipp as Flash-90 and Cress Williams as Black Lightning. (Photo Credit: Katie Yu / The CW

The Batwoman/Supergirl conflict doesn’t lead to much. It’s really only here to justify why they can’t use the Book of Destiny to put all the Earths back. It’s been a while since The Flash has had a can-I-talk-to-you hallway, but they dust it off for this. Kara eventually sees that it’s too dangerous to use it and Kate shows her the Kryptonite she took from Bruce. Kara trusts Kate to keep it and not use it on her. That’s about it. I know there’s a lot else going on, but this felt like a whole lot of build up to just drop the story like this.

Things really pick up just before the end, though. Once all the Paragons are gathered on the ship, Harbinger reappears. She pretends to be Lyla again for a second, but The Flash figures out that the Anti-Monitor is controlling her. And the only reason Pariah would be here is if a tragedy is about to happen. This is truly the dark middle chapter of the crossover, and it’s going to make us wait more than a month for the conclusion. With the Anti-Monitor’s power, she defeats every superhero almost instantly. She and the Monitor have an energy beam fight, but the Anti-Monitor has already grown too strong. Harbinger kills the Monitor. Finally, Pariah redeems himself and teleports all the Paragons to safety in the Vanishing Point, a place outside of time and space. Everyone else, including Iris, himself, John, and Black Lightning, are left to vanish as an antimatter wave takes out Earth-1 and the Waverider.

Jon Cryer as Lex Luthor (Photo: Dean Buscher / The CW)

Crisis on Infinite Earths has already given us an impossibly huge, amazing crossover and there are still two episodes left. Sure the cameos were mostly fan service, but that’s what these crossovers are for. It’s a reward to the DC fans who’ve stuck around this long, not only with these series, but with all the DC superhero shows that came before the Arrowverse. That’s what made the Smallville cameos and the Flash clip so special.

I do wish one of these shows had made the Anti-Monitor matter before this moment. We spend most of these episodes hearing about how bad and scary he is without any evidence of it. It’s hard to get really invested in a villain when we only see him once in three hours. That’s why I was so grateful for that last scene on the Waverider in The Flash. It made the Anti-Monitor matter. We saw how powerful he really is. Now this crossover has a truly threatening villain for the Paragons to fight.

They’ll have to do it without Superman, though. The final twist before Crisis takes a month-long break is that Lex Luthor edited the Book of Destiny to suit his own ends. Seeing that the Paragons would be saved, he replaced Superman’s name with his own. So no more Brandon Routh Superman and a whole lot more Jon Cryer Lex Luthor. I mean, I like this Lex a lot, but now I’m extra mad at him for taking Routh’s Superman away from us again. There is a ton they can do with this dynamic though. It’s just a shame we have to wait until 2020 to see it.

Crisis on Infinite Earths continues on Jan. 14.

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15:40
Nonbinary Pronoun ‘They’ Is Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year
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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year for 2019: nonbinary pronoun "they." (Photo Credit: Merriam-Webster)
Three months after formally defining pronoun “they”—used to refer to a single person whose gender identity is nonbinary—the Merriam-Webster dictionary crowned it their 2019 Word of the Year.

The term (Dictionary.com’s runner-up) has gained attention recently thanks to entertainers like Sam Smith, Asia Kate Dillon, Tommy Dorfman, Indya Moore, and Lachlan Watson.

According to the reference site, searches for “they” increased by 313 percent this year.

The word ‘they’
– was looked up 313% more this year than last.
– had a new sense added in September.
– is increasingly common in both public and personal communication.

‘They’ is our 2019 #WordOfTheYear. [https:]]

— Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) December 10, 2019

The singular “they” has a long history in English, but the term as a nonbinary pronoun is relatively new—and immensely important.

Its use, according to Merriam-Webster, is growing in published, edited text, as well as on social media and in personal interactions.

“It is increasingly common to see they and them as a person’s pronouns in Twitter bios, email signatures, and conference name tags,” according to a blog announcement.

Nonbinary “they” has also been prominent in the news this year.

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) in April revealed during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the Equality Act that her child is gender-nonconforming and uses “they.”

And the American Psychological Association’s blog officially recommended that singular “they” be preferred in professional writing over “he or she” when referencing a person whose gender is unknown.

Unlike Dictionary.com, which correctly chose “existential” to represent the past 11 months, Merriam-Webster highlighted the top lookups of 2019, including politically charged terms “quid pro quo,” “impeach,” “clemency,” “tergiversation,” and “exculpate”; cultural phrases “crawdad” and “camp”; and a grab bag of random words: “egregious,” “snitty,” even “the” (in reference to The Ohio State University’s trademark application).

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14:26
This Hot ‘Pot’ Chocolate Won’t Harsh Your Marsh-Mellow
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Grab a cup of something that'll make you feel merry faster than you can say "yule log." (Photo Credit: Kiva Confections)
Happy holi-daze: Following their cannabis-infused turkey gravy launch, Kiva Confections announced a limited-edition pot-based hot chocolate.

The company’s “fast-acting” technology, which isolates individual molecules so they can be absorbed one at a time, allows for speedier saturation than traditional edibles.

Consumers should start feeling merry and bright in 15 minutes or less.

That’s downright hasty compared to the typical onset of 90-plus minutes, creating what Kiva called “a more immediate and predictable experience every time.”

“We are excited to continue Kiva Confections’ mission in making cannabis accessible to a variety of consumers through new and innovative products,” CEO Scott Palmer said in a statement.

The technology may be complex—it involves terms like “encapsulated molecules” and “endocannabinoid receptors”—but the directions are easy.

Just add the powdered chocolate to hot milk or water and stir.

Move over, Dirty Snowman: Each pouch of Kiva’s single-serve drink is blended with cacao and infused with 5mg of THC, “making this the adult version of everyone’s favorite childhood holiday treat,” the company said.

A little naughty and a little nice, the limited-edition product is on sale for $5 at more than 40 California dispensaries and via Goddess Delivers (while supplies last).

Everyone else will have to deal with holiday stress the usual way: Hide in your childhood bedroom with Netflix, a bottle of whiskey, and a bag full of THC gummies.

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13:18
Walmart Uses Autonomous EVs to Deliver Groceries
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First-generation Nuro R1 loaded with Walmart bags for delivery. (Photo Credit: Nuro)
Walmart and Nuro have teamed up to bring autonomous grocery deliveries to Houston households.

The pilot program—a “natural extension” of Walmart’s Grocery Pickup and Delivery service (which includes direct-to-fridge drop-off)—is initially open only to select customers who have opted in.

The firms plan to expand the option to the general public “later in 2020.”

“Our unparalleled size and scale have allowed us to steer grocery delivery to the front doors of millions of families—and design a roadmap for the future of the industry,” Tom Ward, Walmart’s senior vice president of digital operations, said in a statement.

Boasting more than 50,000 personal shoppers, the retail giant has grown its online grocery footprint to nearly 3,100 pickup locations, with deliveries coming from 1,600-plus stores.

“Along the way,” Ward continued, “we’ve been test-driving a number of different options for getting groceries from our stores to our customers’ front doors through self-driving technology.”

One of Nuro’s neighborhood-friendly, self-driving electric vehicles. (Photo Credit: Nuro)

The service will use Nuro’s custom-built R2 delivery vehicle—which carries only products, no driver or passengers—and autonomous Toyota Priuses, all powered by Nuro’s self-driving software and hardware.

No further details have been revealed; it remains unclear exactly where (“Houston”), when (“in the coming weeks”), and to how many people the program will extend.

“Walmart’s dedication to its customers aligns with our desire to help people save time and money while making shopping easier,” according to Cosimo Leipold, Nuro’s head of partner relations.

“Working alongside Walmart gives us an incredible opportunity to improve our door-to-door operations, serve Walmart’s loyal customers, and continue to integrate and engage with the Houston community,” he added.

Nuro launched early last year—the brainchild of two former Google employees—and has already inked deals with Kroger and Domino’s to transport groceries and pizza to customers’ doors… er, driveways.

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12:28
Google Chrome Provides Real-Time Phishing Alerts
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Better password protections in Chrome. (Photo Credit: Google)
Google Chrome now warns users when a password has been stolen.

Type your credentials into a website and the browser automatically alerts you if your username and passcode have been compromised in a data breach.

The tech titan introduced this technology in February with the launch of a Password Checkup extension, which later became part of the Google Account, where users can scan saved passwords anytime.

“And now it has evolved to offer warnings as you browse the web in Chrome,” senior product manager AbdelKarim Mardini wrote in a blog announcement.

Control the feature via Chrome Settings > Sync and Google Services.

“For now, we’re gradually rolling this out for everyone signed into Chrome as part of our Safe Browsing protections,” Mardini said.

If you’ve ever used the Internet, you’ve probably fallen victim to malware, a data breach, or phishing. We’ve all been there: I recently had to change my online grocery password after unwittingly following instructions in a spoofed email.

But despite defenses (like Google’s Safe Browsing list), some phishing sites can slip through the cracks. So Chrome now offers real-time protections on desktop, warning users when visiting malicious sites in 30 percent more cases.

This protection, according to Mardini, has been in place since 2017. An update, however, means the feature works for all passwords stored in Chrome’s password manager—even if Sync is not enabled.

“Hundreds of millions more users will now benefit from the new warnings,” Mardini boasted.

Including those who share a computer or use multiple profiles. To ensure you’re creating and saving passwords for the right account, the desktop browser now includes a visual representation—i.e. a profile picture—in the upper right corner.

Click the image to switch between accounts and check whether you’re signed into Chrome.

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December 10, 2019
21:36
Finally, Pay Thousands For Louis Vuitton ‘League of Legends’ Clothes
» ‎ Geek.com

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Not that long ago Riot Games reached a settlement in its ongoing gender discrimination lawsuit. Collectively, women who work at the company or have worked in the company during the past five years will receive $10 million in restitution to make up for years of sexual harassment. We’re happy for the victims but considering just how much money Riot makes through its massively popular MOBA League of Legends, to many the punishment just seemed like a slap on the wrist.

After all, imagine how quickly they’ll make that money back through these pricey Louis Vuitton League of Legends clothes alone.
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A few months ago, the luxury French fashion brand began its inexplicable partnership with the utterly baffling fantasy esport. Similar to their work with trophies in other sporting leagues like FIFA, Louis Vuitton designed the travel case for the World Championship Summoner’s Cup trophy, the ultimate prize for pro League players. Louis Vuitton also designed some posh designer skins for certain champions.

But Louis Vuitton is best known for making real clothes in the real world. And they’ve extended their partnership with Riot Games into this arena as well. For as little as $170 you can now purchase items from LVxLoL: The Collection, all sorts of apparel that barely even seems video game related to the untrained eye.

You can get a Diamond Bracelet for $345, a pair of Archlight Sneakers for $1,140, a key holder and bag charm for $515, and a Leather Biker Jacket for $5,650. Wallet-melting stuff, although let’s be real some people pay way more than this through in-app purchases alone.

For more on League of Legends check out Riot’s upcoming plans for mobile spin-offs and new games in this universe. For more on classy nerd clothes, check out Michael B. Jordan’s anime-inspired threads and these Red Dead Redemption 2 cowboy clothes.
20:12
‘Axiom Verge 2,’ ‘Sports Story’ and More Continue Nintendo Switch Indie Love
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This year’s showcases of indie games on Nintendo Switch blew our minds with unexpected teams ups like an indie-developed Zelda rhythm game or straight-up Microsoft games like Cuphead and Ori and the Blind Forest coming to the rival system. The final Indie World of the year had no such megaton. However, it was a nifty reminder that the little console’s love of little games isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Arguably the two biggest announcements were sequels to two beloved indie games from the past few years. Axiom Verge is one of the finest examples of the Metroidvania subgenre, using abstract retro graphics to perfectly capture the isolating alien feel of Metroid specifically. Axiom Verge 2 will continue telling the story of this world next year. Meanwhile, if the adventure mode of Mario Tennis Aces disappointed you, Sports Story takes the comedy RPG approach to arcade golf games in Golf Story and expands it to all sorts of physical activities like tennis, baseball, and volleyball.

There’s not much else unifying the rest of the announcements, other than the fact they’re intriguing indie games!

The free multiplayer monster hunting game Dauntless makes its awaited Switch debut today, as does the previously VR first-person puzzle game The Talos Principle.

The Escapists got a jungle island monkey training survival game spin-off called The Survivalists. Street of Rage 4 and Gleamlight both look beautiful, even if one is about being stained glass and the other is about kicking ass.

SuperMash lets you cook up new video games by mixing genres while Bake ‘n Switch is a party brawler about literally playing as food. Boyfriend Dungeon is about dating the sword you use to kill monsters. Murder by Numbers is an anime Picross detective game. Sail Forth is a pirate roguelike .Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath brings the Xbox-era cult classic shooter to Switch after its announcements months ago.

And my prayers were answered because SkateBIRD, a lo-fi hip-hop skateboarding game where you play as a little bird, has been confirmed for Switch.

For more on Nintendo Switch here’s everything you need to know and here are some cool Switch games to play right now.
20:00
IS IT A CHRISTMAS MOVIE?: ‘Home Alone’
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It is, as they call it, the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, which means it is time for any and all traditions associated with said Wonderful Time. Perhaps your traditions include tacky sweaters or screaming matches with your weird uncle over basketball and/or human rights. They’re different in every household. But it feels safe to say that no matter how off-kilter your household’s method of commemorating the holidays and the end of the year is, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t have a couple of movies they have to sit down and watch during the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

Before we commence with this monthly column of hot takes and dissenting opinions, let the record state that I love the holidays and the traditions that come with them, even if someone’s traditions aren’t exactly my speed. I’ve got no room to judge anyone for what movies they want to put on come December and have a few weird ones myself. I’m far from a Whovian but for some reason must watch the Doctor Who special “The Day of the Doctor” between Thanksgiving and Christmas and for over ten years have almost always watched Michael Bay’s Transformers (a movie I don’t even like that much!) on December 25th. This is to say that I’d never legitimately disparage anybody’s film-centric holiday traditions.

THAT BEING SAID…

We have got to collectively figure out what is and isn’t a Christmas movie. As Twitter has become more Hot Take-Centric it’s been hard not to notice that every year a new take makes the rounds either declaring a tangentially-Christmasy-at-best movie (almost always a violent action flick) to be a definitive Christmas movie or that a long-standing holiday staple is not, in fact, a Christmas movie. It’s exhausting! Being online is exhausting. Why do we do it?!

This December, we’re going to dive deep on this. Every week we’re going to take a look at a different so-called Christmas Movie and determine once and for all (once and for all!!) whether or not it is actually a Christmas Movie. As such, we must begin by first answering the question as best we can in this moment: what makes a Christmas Movie?

It’s not as simple as being set during Christmas. Holidays are more than set dressing, more than timing. I’ve got more love for Iron Man 3 than most but I’d never say that it qualifies as a Christmas Movie solely based on a collective three minutes in which Tony dances to a hip holiday tune and then buys Pepper a giant stuffed bunny.

No, a Christmas Movie is about mood, theme, and how it makes you feel when you watch it more than it is about the time in which the story takes place. The holidays in real life mean something different to everyone but the holidays in the world of movies function under a far less malleable array of emotions. If we’re going by the standard of the classics (films like It’s A Wonderful Life or Elf) a great Christmas Movie uses the inevitable coming together of families and loved ones during this time of the year as a device through which the importance of love, emotional honesty, and family (found or born) is explored. It’s a deep well to draw from and few approach it the same way twice as there are no specific tropes or emotional beats required to secure a place in the subgenre.

Moving forward we’ll be accepting this as the baseline definition of what makes a Christmas Movie, and under these guidelines it seems absolutely ludicrous that there are people out there who say that Home Alone isn’t a Christmas movie.

It feels borderline pedantic to recount the plot of a movie so thoroughly ingrained into our collective culture but for anyone who’s somehow uninitiated on this one, Home Alone follows 8-year-old Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin) who is left home alone (ThatsChappieTweet.jpg) by his vacationing family over the course of the days leading up to Christmas. Thanks to a perfect storm of circumstances that include a power outage, an obnoxious kid neighbor, and the all-too-real chaos that comes with trying to organize a family vacation, the McAllisters oversleep the morning of their holiday flight to Paris and board their plane without the most precocious of their children. With phone lines down and the family an ocean away, Kevin is left to relish in the joys of living in a world free of supervision or consequence – that is, until a duo of bandits peg his house as their next mark, with Kevin as the only thing standing between them and his home.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: who on earth has said that Home Alone, a consensus all-timer in the field of Christmas Movies, ISN’T a Christmas movie? Please allow me to draw your attention to the Internet, a dumb place full of bad people with stupid doo-doo-brained ideas. Well, perhaps that’s a little harsh. Media juggernaut Bill Simmons is far from a doo-doo brain but he’s dead wrong about perhaps the hottest take he’s ever spouted, that being that Home Alone isn’t a Christmas Movie in a recent episode of the podcast (appropriately) titled The Hottest Take. He’s far from the only person to chime in on the matter but he’s easily the most well-known – and the one who’s made the strongest case against it.

I’m gonna die alone on this hill and that’s fine. [https:]]

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) August 4, 2018

Simmons argues that Home Alone’s timing and setting during the Christmas season is entirely incidental and that the film could take place at any time. He also notes that any emotional resonance is diluted by the McAllister parents being about as neglectful as possible. Simmons is speaking from the perspective of a parent so hey, maybe your take on the movie changes once you have kids (I don’t).

However, framing the movie this way stems from a real “Daniel is actually the villain of The Karate Kid” point of view (for the record, he absolutely is not). It’s selective in its read of the film’s text and fails to take much of what makes the film both resonant as a movie and as a Christmas Movie into account.

Regarding the neglect of the parents, one of the elements of the film that may surprise you in its effectiveness is how empathetic it is towards them. The events leading up to their leaving Kevin behind are so meticulously crafted to create a situation in which it feels completely plausible that he would be lost in the shuffle. From the power going out (which causes their alarm clocks to reset, creating a mad rush to make their flight on time in the morning) to the number of family members traveling on the trip (it’s about 15 or so) to the fact that they travel to the airport in two vans, it’s the perfect storm of circumstance. You don’t condone their actions but you certainly understand how it may have happened. It’s also notable that the family goes out of their way to correct the error as soon as they realize what they’ve done, instantly disregarding their European vacation plans and instead moving the heavens to make sure their child is safe. It never feels like they see it as a burden or inconvenience. Rather, they’re ashamed of themselves, despite the circumstances being so out of their control.

There’s also no time of year in which this film could take place besides Christmas, both thematically and narratively. If you’re really trying to pick a fight you could argue that there are other seasons in which the vacation could take place. It could be a cruise in the summer or a trip to a lake house in August, sure. But it’s worth noting that the McAllisters aren’t the only family away from home in their neighborhood – nearly half a dozen other families have left the block for the holidays, which is why the Wet Bandits have marked the neighborhood as their next score. When you consider that and the fact that a winter storm has downed the phone lines, you’ve got the only situation in which a kid could be at home alone in the suburbs and not have a dozen neighbors storm in to rescue him at the behest of his parents.

But really, this is all splitting narrative hairs. We all know the real reason Home Alone has to take place during the Christmas season. It’s a movie about not realizing how much you need your loved ones until they’re gone. It’s explored both through Kevin and his parents, who both come to realize that they haven’t been as kind or empathetic as they could to one another. Kevin enjoys his stint of total freedom (and proves as precocious as he presents himself) but ultimately realizes that he isn’t ready for a world in which his family has disappeared.

This all also sets up the most touching emotional beat of the film, that being when Kevin finally talks to his creepy senior neighbor and, after getting to know him a bit, encourages him to reach out to his estranged son. It’s almost A Christmas Carol-esque in its poeticism. Kevin sees a glimpse of what a future without his loved ones could look like, but more importantly, he realizes it’s never too late to mend bridges you’ve long thought burnt.

Home Alone is absolutely a Christmas Movie, and one of the best of all time. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise, ya filthy animals.
16:45
PlayStation State of Play Has Deadly Zombies, Horrible Geese
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To be brutally honest, it’s still kind of shocking to me how a video game platform as massively successful as the PlayStation can present its slate of upcoming games in such a ho-hum way like these State of Play shows. Maybe Nintendo Directs are harder to imitate than we thought. Maybe they’re just biding time for the PlayStation 5.

But whatever, PlayStation has been putting out great games for 25 years. Ken Kutaragi, the father of the PlayStation, even showed up to reminisce. And this State of Play did have some stuff worth getting excited about in the future.

The leak was true. Resident Evil 3 is getting the same lavish remake treatment as Resident Evil 2 earlier this year. Play as Jill Valentine in Raccoon City as the doomed town approaches its zombie-filled destruction. The game releases next April, which made us wonder about the other upcoming Resident Evil game the multiplayer-focused Project Resistance. But it turns out these are just the same game, you get them both with your purchase.

Speaking of horrible monsters, the show opened with the news that Untitled Goose Game, the smash-hit indie animal chaos simulator of the year, is coming to PS4 next week. Other intriguing indie and indie-adjacent games include the “surreal wildlife simulation” Paper Beast for PlayStation VR, the “mind-bending first-person puzzler” Superliminal, and the fantasy battle royale Spellbreak.

As for bigger third party games, we got a new look at the upcoming Predator: Hunting Grounds, PlatinumGames and Square Enix finally showed off gameplay for their next fantasy action collaboration Babylon’s Fall, and somehow Kingdom Hearts 3 has enough story left to tell for a substantial paid DLC pack next month.

There wasn’t much on first-party Sony games (outside of the news that MLB The Show is bringing its baseball sports sim to other platforms) but the ambitious game creation software Dreams got a final release date of next February while Ghost of Tsushima will get a new trailer and this Thursday’s Game Awards.
16:30
Toy Tuesday: The Best Combiner Toys
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True geeks know that there’s strength in numbers, and no toy illustrates that quite like combiners. First making their debut in Japan in the 1970s, these are giant robots that are made up of other things. Probably the most famous example here in the States is Voltron, which took five dope robotic lions and fused them together to make a sword-swinging space warrior that tore through his foes with ease. As the holiday season is the time for togetherness, we decided to celebrate in the Geek way with a shopping list of some of the coolest combiner toys on the market.

Combiner Wars Devastator
The first combiner toy that really made a splash in the States, Devastator was the Decepticons’ secret weapon in the early days of Transformers. When six neon green construction vehicles unite, they form a gargantuan wrecking machine motivated by one goal: to smash everything in its path. The conflicting personalities of his constituent parts make Devastator’s mind a chaotic mess, but he’s possessed of physical strength that dwarfed anybody on the Autobots’ side when he was introduced. This exceptional reproduction fixes a few of the flaws with the original design while maintaining its iconic look.

Get it at Amazon.com

Tamashii Nations Woody Robo Sheriff Star Chogokin
One of the most absurd toys we’ve ever seen, this set from Bandai’s high-end Tamashii Nations line takes a number of the characters from Toy Story and lets them combine together to form a rootin-tootin space sheriff of justice. Cowboy Woody forms the torso and base of the figure, while Slinky Dog and Bullseye make up the arms and Rex and Hamm the legs. The final product is a gleefully weird giant robot that also kicks a bunch of ass. Bandai made a Buzz Lightyear combiner as well if you just can’t get enough.

Get it at Amazon.com

Jinbao Predaking
The first few Transformers combiners were a little janky, as designers were still ironing out the quirks of making independent robots with vehicle forms that could also believably make up parts of a bigger humanoid. But by the time Predaking hit store shelves in the States in 1986 they’d really mastered how to do a combiner. Six bestial Decepticons with animal alt modes fuse to create the most cunning combiner in the franchise, a skilled hunter who boasts massive bestial strength. Cool Predaking fact: he’s voiced by WWE wrestler Samoa Joe in recent cartoons.

Get it at Amazon.com

Tamashii Nations Gao Gai Gar
Fans know that what came to the States as the Transformers was actually a mash-up of a bunch of robot franchises, mostly produced by Takara. But there were a ton of other transforming and combining robots that didn’t get swept up in the action, and this is one of the swaggest. Gao Gai Gar made its debut in a 1997 anime series, as the final installment in Takara and Sunrise’s Brave universe. An alien child and a human cyborg fuse three vehicles and a robot lion to form a badass bipedal robot with his hallmark Gatling Driver weapon.

Get it at Amazon.com

Toynami Voltron Ultimate EX
It would be inconceivable that this list would go by without the inclusion of the grand-daddy of combiners, the five lions that make up the mighty Voltron. Toynami’s top-tier take on the intergalactic warrior stands over a foot tall and boasts tons of really cool details. Each of the five lions completely transforms, boasting more poseability than we’ve seen previously. When assembled, the mighty Voltron wields sword and shield to battle back the Galra Empire.

Get it at Amazon.com

Kohsoku Denjin Albegas Figure
Originally under discussion to be the third season of Voltron, U.S. audiences were robbed when 1983 anime series Lightspeed Electroid Albegas failed to make its way to our shores. The combiner gimmick in this one was a little smaller-scale than the previous series, as only three units combined to make the titular mecha. When an evil alien race attacks the Earth, our last line of defense is a trio of robots made by high school engineering prodigies and refitted to combine together by a professor. The gimmick of Albegas was that the robots could stack in multiple different formations for specific situations, and this insanely cool toy lets you do just that.

Get it at Amazon.com

Tamashii Nations Combattler V
One of the most storied giant robots on this list, Toei’s Combattler V blazed the trail for dozens of melding mecha to come. Debuting on Japanese television in 1976, the series starred a team of five pilots, each dressed in their own signature color and controlling a different machine. When faced with threats too big to tackle individually, they’d fuse together to form Combattler V. Fully assembled, this impressive robot toy stands over a foot tall and contains a generous amount of diecast metal, like they used in the old days. It also boasts light-up and sound features to really set the mood.

Get it at Amazon.com

Volcanicus Combiner
When the Dinobots were first introduced to Transformers continuity in 1984, we couldn’t think of anything more dope than a quintet of badass robots that transformed into dinosaurs to wreak havoc. Guess what? They managed to pull it off in the Power of the Primes series by giving Grimlock, Slag, Sludge, Snarl and Swoop the new ability to merge together to form the towering Volcanicus, a juggernaut of destruction armed with a massive sword and a bad attitude. This version of the set uses the original G1 colors for maximum coolness.

Get it at Amazon.com

Tamashii Nations Disney Cho Gattai King Robo
Oh, you thought the Toy Story combiner was the most ridiculous thing we’d put on this list? You don’t know us that well, friend. Bandai made an earlier collaboration with Disney for King Robo, which lets you take seven of Walt’s most enduring animated animals – Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald and Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto and the steamboat from the mouse’s debut in Steamboat Willie and combine them together to make a massive juggernaut of brightly-colored robotic goodness.

Get it at Amazon.com

Super Heavy God Gravion Figure
Airing in the early 2000s, Gravion was a deliberate throwback to classic 20th century mecha action, featuring a team of young pilots, each of which controls their own vehicle to battle back an alien armada. When things get too hot to handle, they fuse together to make the massive Gravion. Built around the frame of the Gran Kaiser mecha, Gravion is a tour de force of modern design, all sharp angles and well-placed details, and this screen-accurate figure is one of the best we’ve ever seen. Diecast metal, translucent parts, tons of articulation and accessories combine to make this everything you could ask for.

Get it at Amazon.com

Tamashii Nations Dairugger XV
Real heads have a soft spot for “vehicle Voltron,” the less-remembered second series that debuted at the same time as the more famous Lion Force version in many markets and even aired in alternation in some. It took the concept to a mechanically awesome but narratively weird place, as the mighty mech was composed of a flabbergasting fifteen separate vehicles. The original Japanese series was about a team of explorers charting the unknown universe when they’re attacked by an alien empire and have to robot up to defend themselves, and this dope figure breaks apart into the constituent vehicles and reassembles into a trio of combat modes.

Get it at Amazon.com
16:23
‘Doctor Who’ Immersive Adventure Lands in London in 2020
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A new 'Doctor Who' immersive adventure is coming to London in 2020 (via BBC Studios)
It’s time to be the hero.

Doctor Who: Time Fracture – An Immersive Adventure puts you in the TARDIS driver’s seat as the fate of the Earth hangs by a thread.

BBC Studios and Immersive Everywhere teamed up for a new type of experience, set to premiere in London late next year.

Featuring creations and characters from the world of Doctor Who, the 90-minute production takes visitors on a journey through space and time.

“Audiences will discover a great challenge lies ahead and that it’s time to be a hero, step up, and save the planet,” the BBC said in a press release.

From the team behind the UK’s longest-running immersive theater show (The Great Gatsby), Time Fracture promises “amazingly realized worlds” where folks can play an active part in the story and engage with actors, or simply watch as it all unfolds.

No further details are available; Whovians are encouraged to sign up online for future updates.

In the meantime, you can purchase a Gallifreyan Coin token, redeemable against one ticket to a performance of your choice, as well as an exclusive pin badge (received from the TBA venue). Early birds also get priority booking access once dates and times are announced in February 2020.

Keep an eye on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more Doctor Who: Time Frame news.

Each £57.50 ($75.76) token is redeemable against one ticket to a performance of your choice, as well as an exclusive pin badge (received from the TBA venue).

Early birds also get priority booking access once dates and times are announced in February 2020.

Doctor Who season 12 premieres on Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 8 p.m. ET on BBC America. Two-part special “Spyfall” features guest stars Stephen Fry and Sir Lenny Henry.

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November 18, 2019
23:58
Newegg’s Black Friday Ad Teases Top Gaming and Tech Deals
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Newegg's Black Friday 2019 ad features deals on gaming laptops, PC monitors, and more computer building gear. (Photo Credit: Newegg)
If you need gaming and tech gear for everyone on your list, Newegg’s">[https%3a%2f%2fpromotions.newegg.com%2fnepro%2f19-2408%2f1920x360.jpg&icid=546681">Newegg’s] Black Friday ad is offering many discounts on gaming laptops, PC monitors, and other electronics.

The retailer hasn’t disclosed specific hours for Thanksgiving and Black Friday yet, but our sister site BestBlackFriday.com notes that there are no offline store locations. However, Newegg will likely drop more Black Friday sale details over the next couple of days.

✨ Our #BlackFriday ad is out! ✨ This year, we’re extending our sales, dropping the best deals on Nov. 25. More deals will be unleashed through #CyberMonday, ending on Dec. 8.

Take a peek at the #BlackFriday2019 and #CyberMonday2019 coming your way ► [https:]] pic.twitter.com/CPe6FrpBuE

— Newegg (@Newegg) November 16, 2019

In the meantime, you can take advantage of some pre-Black Friday sales on Newegg’s website. (Items we’re eyeing include the MSI GL65 9SC-004 Gaming Laptop and the SkyTech Archangel Gaming Desktop PC.)

For a detailed forecast on Black Friday 2019, visit our general guide and if you need some last-minute tips on how to save money during the holiday season, you can read our Black Friday tips article.
Gaming
Photo Credit: Newegg

MSI GL Series GL65 9SC-004 Gaming Laptop for $599 (Save $200)

Skytech AMD Ryzen 5 2600 AMD RX Gaming Laptop for $639.99 (Save $110)

Acer 24-Inch 144HZ 1MS FHD Built-In Speakers Gaming Monitor for $149.99 (Save $50)

ABS Intel Core i7 NVIDA RTX 2060 Gaming Desktop for $1,199.99 (Save $250)
Tech
Photo Credit: Newegg

Samsung 28-Inch 4K UHD FreeSync Monitor for $249.99 (Save $100)

GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Elite Motherboard for $149.99 (Save $50)

ASUS 27-Inch FHD IPS Slim Bezel Monitor for $134.99 (Save $25)

Cooler Master H500 ATX Mid Tower Tempered Glass Computer Case for $79.99 (Save $40)

For more deals, including all of the latest Black Friday announcements, check out our sister site, BestBlackFriday.com.

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22:25
Where Does The Rock Go From Here?
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Dwayne Johnson in 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation.' (Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures)
Let the record state that The Rock is good. I love The Rock. You love The Rock. We all love The Rock. In this day and age he is, like Thanos, inevitable.

I worry that there will come a time when we no longer love The Rock and I worry that it will be The Rock’s own doing.

Some lie in bed at night tossing and turning, worrying about their loved ones, or decaying relationships, or bills they have fallen behind on. They worry about the certainty of death and whether or not anything comes after it, whether their loved ones who have passed on are in a better place or if they were greeted with a vast nothingness. I, on the other hand, have spent most of my tossing and turning time obsessing over the precarious point at which The Rock’s career currently sits and how he will course-correct – or if he will at all.

See, we all love The Rock. But we are slowly reaching a point where we love The Rock’s movies…less. It’s not so much that there’s been any drastic change in quality. Most of his movies since his debut in the Fast & Furious universe back in 2011 have been bonkers action movies that are often generally mediocre in objective quality, but get by on The Rock’s indomitable star power and the appeal of their general insanity (G.I. Joe: Retaliation being a prime example of this). His pattern has grown steady: two, MAYBE three movies a year, one of them usually being something with some semblance of family appeal (Moana, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle). All the while he starred in a hit HBO show in Ballers, a show that certainly existed for five years and broke numerous ratings records despite the fact that I know like, five people who have ever watched it.

Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham in ‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.’ (Photo Credit: Frank Masi / Universal Pictures)

That’s the thing about The Rock: it doesn’t always matter if the movie is good. You’re paying to see The Rock do Rock shit, not watch a masterpiece. He’s such a compelling screen presence and such a radiant celebrity in real life, you can’t help but want to engage with whatever he’s working on.

Then 2018 happened. 2018 was rare for The Rock in that it was…bad. It was a bad, bad year. He had two films hit theaters in relatively close proximity, those films being Rampage and Skyscraper. Rampage proved an interesting case in that it should have been an absolute slam-dunk, being that it’s a movie in which The Rock fights giant monsters, something I have wanted to watch since I was a small boy. It ultimately proved a disappointment. It certainly didn’t help that the film opened just before Avengers: Infinity War (perhaps you have heard of it) which quickly sucked up any and every box office dollar in sight for weeks on end, but it largely came down to the middling response the film received. It’s a clunker. A concept that should have printed money for all those involved ended up coming dangerously close to being an outright bomb.

And then there was Skyscraper, the most non-event moment in The Rock’s recent history. It came. It went. Nobody seemed to care. It made a little bit of money overseas but largely went forgotten.

‘Skyscraper’ (Photo Credit: Universal Pictures Corporation and Legendary Pictures)

That was it. 2018 was a wash for The Rock. Something was beginning to become evident: he cannot do this forever. To clarify, “this” does not refer to “acting” so much as it does “maintain this level of stardom while making this sort of movie in the long term.” The luster of this version of The Rock is starting to fade. It can be saved, but not without significant action being taken.

Take a look at The Rock’s filmography and you’ll notice that most of the films in which he’s involved are produced or co-produced by Seven Bucks Productions, the production house he runs with Dany and Hiram Garcia. Seven Bucks is The Rock’s baby, a production juggernaut that has had a hand in everything from San Andreas to The Titan Games. As such, The Rock serves as a producer on almost every film he’s worked on since becoming the biggest star in the world.

‘Ballers’ (Photo Credit: HBO)

It’s a savvy financial move, but one with implications beyond that. The Rock’s role as a producer grants him significant control over the films and TV shows he works on, far more than most actors in starring roles are likely to have. Now, keeping this in mind, look at the directors he’s worked with this decade. It’s not a list without some talented names attached (his Fast & Furious directors are reliably great and he acted under Michael Bay for Pain & Gain), but you’ll find that it’s mostly directorial journeymen, guys without a distinct sense of style. They’re not without their hits (Jake Kasdan made Walk Hard! and Rawson Thurber is responsible for Dodgeball!), but they’re not household names by any means.

Look a little further back in his filmography and you’ll notice that there was a particularly notable instance in which he worked with an auteur: 2006’s Southland Tales, directed by Richard Kelly (who brought us Donnie Darko just a few years before). While its reputation has warmed in the years since its release, it was a notorious bomb when it first hit theaters. It was the first real bomb of The Rock’s career and he’s since seemed largely averse to working with anyone remotely resembling an auteur.

When taking this into consideration, his role as a producer and his choice of directors seems to paint a picture of an actor afraid to surrender control. The Rock is, after all, the undisputed king of image and brand management in Hollywood today. While it feels unfair to assume that it was just the one experience that spooked him, Southland Tales does feel like the moment in which The Rock realized that in order to fight the uphill battle ahead of him (transitioning from wrestling to Hollywood is a path few are able to traverse), he’d need to play it safe. And once he made it to the top, playing it safe clearly kept him there.

But no one stays at the top forever, at least not in the same form in which they ascended. What changes does he need to make in order to preserve his status as the most beloved leading man in Hollywood?

‘The Fate of the Furious’ (Photo Credit: Matt Kennedy / Universal Pictures)

I’m no agent or producer (though I am a Professional The Rock Liker), so take this with a grain of salt, but it would seem that the best way to restore public faith in The Rock would be for The Rock to be in better movies – not simply better versions of the movies he’s been making but better movies outside of that very confined field. Here’s the thing: The Rock is a pretty good actor and the few instances in which he’s taken on roles that skew outside of his comfort zone (Central Intelligence, Jumanji, and Moana) stand out as some of the best work of his career.

But these moments are often limited in quantity due to his aversion to working with big-name directors. If he works with a Shane Black, Greta Gerwig, or Martin Scorsese type, he is no longer in a position in which he has the sort of control he clearly likes to exert over his projects. It’s an understandable fear for someone who wears as many hats as he does to hold – what if he gives up that control and it backfires? The thing is, even a great failure under a bolder director is going to be more interesting to the public than a middling success (or outright failure) of yet another movie in which the plot is “The Rock fights _____.”

‘Jumanji: The Next Level’ (Photo Credit: Frank Masi / CTMG)

Now, in this instance it’s pertinent to note that The Rock isn’t in the Winning Oscars business – he’s in the Making Money business, and a critically acclaimed black comedy or awards-bait drama is never going to make as much money as the most middling of blockbusters. However, movies like those come with a potential reward that transcends the financial and cannot be quantified. They would keep The Rock’s brand and image fresh in the coming years, showing audiences that he’s capable of far more than just blowing stuff up and punching bad dudes (which, given the limits of even the most extraordinary human bodies, he cannot do forever). Taking these risks with directors who push him to become more than just an action star just once a year (he’d still have time for a big loud summer blockbuster every year if he wanted) would be a long-term investment in his future as a bankable movie star. A drama about cancer patients, for instance, might not make Hobbs & Shaw money, but it might serve to make people a bit warmer to the idea of showing up in theaters for his next Hobbs & Shaw*-esque endeavor.

It’s paradoxical, I know. In order to seize back control of his public image and reputation, The Rock must surrender some of the control he’s worked so hard to earn over the last decade. It may seem critical to say so, but I saw it because I love The Rock – sincerely, I do. Movie stars come and go and I think the ones who manage to stick around and navigate the highs and lows that he has since breaking out in The Scorpion King have something special. I want The Rock to be in movies for a very long time – it’s just that in order to do that, he needs to be willing to take the risk and make better ones.

Tres Dean is a Geek contributor who covers The Rock frequently for the site. You can pick up his first book For Your Consideration: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, published by Quirk Books, in stores and online now.

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21:00
Logitech’s Adaptive Gaming Kit Makes the Xbox Adaptive Controller More Accessible
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Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Controller (XAC) facilitates gaming for players with accessibility needs. While a forward-thinking device, the XAC isn’t without limitations. To get the most out of the peripheral, users must purchase separate triggers, switches, and other accessories. Doing this can get expensive, especially for those living on a limited budget. Logitech has a solution with its upcoming product: the Logitech G Adaptive Gaming Kit. I recently participated in a conference call where I got to see what the Adaptive Gaming Kit is all about.

Well before Microsoft revealed the XAC, the Redmond-based company asked Logitech to provide it with joysticks. Logitech happily did so without fully knowing what Microsoft needed them for. A month prior to its reveal, Logitech saw the XAC and immediately became excited over the product’s potential. The XAC fits with Logitech’s mission statement of bringing gamers together. It’s also an area the company had never focused on. The XAC gave Logitech the base to understand the disabled gamer community.

Logitech took field trips around the world to conduct research for the Adaptive Gaming Kit. The company went to the United Kingdom and met with SpecialEffect; a charity organization that works with folks who have accessibility needs. Not only did Logitech meet with SpecialEffect, but they also spoke with a number of gamers who showed the company their accessibility needs and how they solved their individual problems. Every user’s situation was unique, so the challenge became making a product that served as many people as possible.

Inspiration for the Adaptive Gaming Kit came from SpecialEffect. When making house calls, the organization assembles a large box of parts that it uses to set up gaming solutions for users. Logitech took this basic concept (a bento box of parts) and created a device that incorporates all that it learned from players. The end product is something that Logitech feels solves the problems of 80% of those with accessibility needs.

“Out of the box, the XAC is a base station,” says Logitech. “However, to truly unlock its potential, the user needs to connect other input devices like joysticks, buttons, or triggers to its many parts. The $100 Xbox Adaptive Controller is just the start.

“The availability of accessories is limited; for example, the cost of individual buttons can start at $40 each and go up from there. This can quickly become complicated and expensive. We realized that if we wanted gaming to be more inclusive, then a simpler solution with a lower barrier to entry was required.

“Therefore, Logitech G worked with Microsoft and select organizations, like SpecialEffect, AbleGamers, and Mt. Sinai’s Abilities Research Center, to create a new offering — the Logitech G Adaptive Gaming Kit. It is designed to be a simple, flexible, and robust solution to further expand the possibilities of play of the Xbox Adaptive Controller.”

The Adaptive Gaming Kit has a set of controls users can easily configure. This includes a wide range of buttons and triggers with “gaming-grade components for performance and durability.” Below, you’ll find everything that comes in the box:
- Light touch buttons – Sensitive triggers containing small switches that activate with less force.
- Variable trigger controls – Pressure-sensitive triggers that function like gas pedals, ideal for racing games or other applications.
- Small buttons – Mechanical switches that lend precise actuation to the 1-inch buttons.
- Large buttons – Mechanical switches with a wider 2.5-inch diameter and a short, low-profile, design.
- Hook and loop pads – Solid and flexible hook and loop pads along with ties that create a simple and flexible system to personalize to different needs.
Both the large and small buttons have mechanical keyboard switches inside. In fact, these are the same switches you’ll find in Logitech’s G915 gaming keyboard. Like those keys, the Adaptive Gaming Kit’s buttons are very durable, stable, and low-profile. The latter is important since a lower profile has a lower actuation point; meaning the buttons are easier to press. There are also stickers and labels that match the symbols found on an Xbox controller. This helps users know what functions and commands each button or accessory has assigned to it.

Considering how the XAC has 19 different slots for each individual controller function, wire management can become an issue. The Adaptive Gaming Kit solves this by including flags one can wrap around the cables. This is also an ideal solution for when it’s time to disconnect and reconnect the buttons. Numerous blank stickers let users fill in their own commands.

Like the XAC, the Adaptive Gaming Kit’s box is accessible. The brown cardboard box containing the package doesn’t have tape or wrapping. Instead, it has a one-peel pull tab that’s easy to rip off. The Adaptive Gaming Kit’s product box does not have security tabs. It is held together by a hook and loop attachment (via velcro). Like Ikea instructions, the user manual only uses pictures. This makes it simple for users from all over the world to follow the instructions. You don’t need tools to open anything inside the box. Everything slides in and out. The box also doubles as a storage unit for the device.

“The Logitech G Adaptive Gaming Kit is designed to be the perfect companion to the Xbox Adaptive Controller, giving gamers the necessary tools they need at a more affordable price point,” says Ujesh Desai, vice president, and general manager of Logitech Gaming. “It also supports our commitment to inclusivity and diversity in gaming, because fundamentally we believe that life is more fun when you play, and everyone should be able to experience the joys of play.”

“We believe that technology has the ability to empower all of us,” said Phil Spencer, executive vice president of gaming at Microsoft. “With the addition of Logitech G’s Adaptive Gaming Kit, together we are able to push the boundaries of what technology can do in a concerted effort to be inclusive of everyone around the world.”

“The goal of AbleGamers is to find a way for people with varying abilities to play video games,” said Steve Spohn, chief operations officer at AbleGamers. “Everyone’s needs are different, and the Logitech G Adaptive Gaming Kit delivers a wide range of configuration options to make gaming a possibility for all. We appreciated the opportunity to work closely with Logitech G on the design of this kit and look forward to continuing our partnership in the future.”

According to Logitech, the Adaptive Gaming Kit is only the beginning. The company plans to reveal more accessible products in the near future. Unfortunately, they didn’t tell me when we could expect such an announcement. But the fact Logitech plans to continue down this route is good news in and of itself.

Play your way and unlock the potential of your @Xbox Adaptive Controller with the #LogitechG Adaptive Gaming Kit. #KeepPlaying [https:]] pic.twitter.com/isaw2ROYLg

— Logitech G (@LogitechG) November 18, 2019

The Logitech G Adaptive Gaming Kit will be available on Logitech G’s website and through select Microsoft retail stores later this month for $99.99. It makes a perfect gift for anyone who owns the Xbox Adaptive Controller. For more information, make sure to check out Logitech’s site, blog, and Twitter account.
20:50
NASA Scientists Detect Water Vapor on Europa
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Views of Europa snapped by the Voyager 1 spacecraft, the Voyager 2 spacecraft, and the Galileo spacecraft. NASA scientists recently confirmed the presence of water vapor on Europa. (Photo Credit: NASA / JPL)
Europa, one of Jupiter’s 79 moons, may have the ingredients necessary to support life. A team of NASA scientists recently detected water vapor above Europa’s surface for the first time and their findings could help us better understand the inner workings of this mysterious place.

Forty years ago, a Voyager spacecraft captured images of Europa and revealed the brown cracks present on the moon’s icy surface. Scientists previously had evidence that liquid water is present under the moon’s surface and may occasionally erupt into space in giant geysers. However, scientists haven’t been able to confirm the presence of water vapor in these plumes.

This is where the team, which was led out of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, came up with a solution: peering at Europa and measuring water vapor with one of the world’s largest telescopes in Hawaii. The team reported these measurements in the journal Nature Astronomy on Nov. 18.

“Essential chemical elements (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur) and sources of energy, two of three requirements for life, are found all over the solar system. But the third — liquid water — is somewhat hard to find beyond Earth,” said Lucas Paganini, a NASA planetary scientist who led the investigation. “While scientists have not yet detected liquid water directly, we’ve found the next best thing: water in vapor form.”

Confirmed: there’s water vapor present above the icy surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa.

A research team led from @NASAGoddard made the detection — which supports the idea that below the ice, Europa has an ingredient necessary for life: liquid water. More: [https:]] pic.twitter.com/pTunrBYA9J

— NASA (@NASA) November 18, 2019

What Paganini and his team found was shocking: They detected that enough water was being released from Europa (5,202 pounds per second) to fill up an Olympic-sized swimming pool in a couple of minutes and that the water shows up infrequently.

Here’s how they investigated this weird activity on Europa: While observing the moon from the W. M. Keck Observatory, which is located atop of the dormant Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii, they saw water molecules at Europa’s leading hemisphere, which always faces the direction of the orbit. The team used a spectrograph that measures planetary atmospheres’ chemical composition through the infrared light they absorb or emit.

After detecting water vapor on Europa, scientists can now study the moon’s bizarre environment. This update helps support the idea that there may be a liquid water ocean, potentially twice as big as our planet’s, existing beneath Europa’s ice shell. The plumes could also be obtaining water vapor from shallow reservoirs of melted water ice below the moon’s surface.

One step closer to Europa! Our upcoming mission to Jupiter’s intriguing ocean moon is ready to move into the next phase. Coming up is the final design, followed by construction and testing of our spacecraft and science payload. Details: [https:]] pic.twitter.com/8Y2WAmAckP

— NASA Europa Clipper (@EuropaClipper) August 19, 2019

The Europa Clipper mission, which is expected to launch in a few years, will further explore Europa, which is much more than a “veiny eyeball” near Jupiter.

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20:00
Geek Pick: ‘Death Stranding’ Delivers the Goods
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Death Stranding isn’t an easy game to categorize, let alone describe. Its jumble of narrative themes and gameplay mechanics make it something unique within the AAA game space. Death Stranding is both different from and exactly what you would expect from its storied creator, Hideo Kojima. This automatically makes it a divisive title. Some (like myself) will love it, while others won’t. Whatever camp you fall into, it’s safe to say Death Stranding is a game many will talk about for years to come.

The game’s story takes place in the near future after the world suffered an apocalyptic event called the (you guessed it) Death Stranding. As protagonist Sam Porter Bridges (played by The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus), your job is to venture across a devastated America in an attempt to bring the country back together. You do this by delivering packages to various individuals and organizations. The trek isn’t easy thanks to the treacherous terrain, acidic “Timefall” rain, and deadly enemies (both human and paranormal) that you’ll encounter along the way.

As is typical of Hideo Kojima games, Death Stranding’s story has a high learning curve. In the beginning, the game throws many phrases and acronyms that aren’t explained until much later. Though convoluted and filled with numerous twists, the core theme of people needing to connect (or reconnect) with one another resonates; especially during a time where society feels more fractured than ever. Even if some of the crazier concepts go over your head, you’ll be able to understand Death’s Stranding’s main underlying theme.

Since Sam Bridges is effectively a delivery man, you’ll spend most of your time going around the world delivering packages to various settlements. These come in the form of distribution centers, waystations, and prepper settlements. Each has packages for you to deliver to the other settlements. At first, this isn’t easy since you’re going to locations on foot. As the game progresses, you’ll get items that facilitate travel. This includes robotic exoskeletal legs, bikes, trucks, and more. By opening up your map, you can plot the best, most efficient routes to your destinations. What’s cool is that the game never erases routes taken; letting you know which to take and which to avoid. Since travel is such an integral part of Death Stranding, the ability to map out routes is crucial.

Using a device akin to Star Trek’s replicator, you can construct bridges, generators, beacon towers, and delivery kiosks. Bridges are especially important for getting across deep rivers or massive chasms. At a certain point, you’ll be able to construct highways that span large sections of the map. As you can imagine, driving on a nice paved road is preferable to doing so on rock-filled terrain. You’ll need materials to build these constructs. Thankfully, there are plenty of metals, ceramics, special alloys, and chiralium crystals scattered across the world. One can spend a significant amount of time rebuilding roads and making constructs if they wish. Though you’re rebuilding to ease your journey, there’s another reason why it’s good to build up the world.

When initially entering a new location, you’ll find it devoid of most man-made structures. After connecting a location to the Chiral network, you’ll see player-made constructs pop up all over the place. Yes, Death Stranding does indeed feature an online component. And it’s rather neat. Most of the bridges, ladders, grappling hooks, and even vehicles I used came from other players. This made getting around much smoother. Adding to the fun of seeing these player-made constructs was the fact you could, quite literally, smash “Like” on them when prompted. There’s a weird satisfaction that comes with “liking” what others built and having them do the same for yours. It helps you feel connected to a wider world, which is what Death Stranding’s central theme is all about.

Though there’s a lot of walking involved, this is not a “walking simulator.” You can and will have to engage in combat. Human enemies called MULES will try to rob you of your packages if you step into their territories. You can use melee attacks and firearms to take them down. My personal favorite anti-MULE weapon is the bola gun since its ammunition ties enemies up and renders them immobile. You have the option of killing MULES if you wish. The game doesn’t penalize you. However, for reasons I won’t spoil in this review, it’s best to incapacitate them non-lethally.

BTs (Beached Things) are the game’s deadliest foes. You know you’re in BT territory when it begins to rain and your BB unit (the baby attached to your chest) starts fidgeting. You can avoid the normally stationary BTs by carefully (and slowly) walking around them. Later in the game, you’ll get tools to take out these supernatural entities. If you’re familiar with Kojima’s Metal Gear series, then the stealth you’ll need to employ when navigating BT (or MULE) territory will feel familiar.

A large tar-like lake forms underneath your feet when a BT catches you. If you don’t make it outside of the lake’s perimeter, the BT will pull you into the murky substance and toss you into the middle of a boss fight. You have the option of escaping the immediate area or dealing with the oversized BT boss. What’s cool about these battles is that they take place above a rolling black ocean. You’ll have to jump to whatever surfaces you find floating above the tar to evade and attack the BT. There are also some truly epic story-based BT boss battles. These typically play out like the aforementioned encounters, only you cannot escape from the area. I never avoided battles against BTs because I had so much fun taking them on.

Death Stranding runs on a modified version of Guerrilla Games’ Decima Engine. This is apparent in the game’s varied environments and color palette. Every location, be it mountain valley, foggy swampland, snow-covered peak, dense forest, or crimson desert, looks stunning. What’s even more impressive is that, despite the size of the (mostly) open-world, there is never an instance of graphical instability. Death Stranding runs great.

Well-known actors portray most of the cast, and each resembles their real-life counterparts. Whether it’s Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen, Lindsay Wagner, or even director Guillermo Del Toro, everyone looks amazing. This also extends to their performances, which were all motion-captured. If you’ve seen Norman Reedus on The Walking Dead, you’ll be familiar with Sam Bridges’ mannerisms. Hideo Kojima always wanted to make films and Death Stranding is the closest he’s come to realizing that dream.

One thing I wanted to touch on is how the characters appear as if they came straight out of Kojima’s previous Fox Engine. There were many instances where I felt like I was watching cutscenes from Metal Gear Solid V. I suppose this isn’t too much of a surprise since Hideo Kojima developed both titles. Or it could just be me seeing something that isn’t there. Either way, I absolutely love the character models and feel they set a new standard for other games to follow.

There’s more I can say about Death Stranding. Like I mentioned in the intro, the game has a ton for people to delve into it. But I think I’ve given you a good breakdown of what to expect. Again, it isn’t a game like Spider-Man or God of War in terms of mainstream appeal and instant satisfaction. This is very much for those who are willing to play something that’s unusual for the AAA space. As a massive fan of Hideo Kojima, I’m very satisfied with this game. If you’re also an admirer of Kojima or simply want to try out something that’s truly out there, you should give Death Stranding a try. You may love it. You may hate it, but it’ll get you talking regardless.
19:45
Watch: Giant Whale Swims Under Oblivious Surfers in California
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A drone captured footage of an enormous gray whale swimming through a group of surfers in California. (Photo Credit: Payton Landaas / Stealth Photos)
A massive gray whale swam close to unsuspecting surfers and the rare encounter was caught on camera last week.

Approximately 12 surfers were relaxing in the waters off Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, California, when the giant animal approached the group, Fox 5 News reported. Payton Landaas, a high school senior who lives in the area, captured footage of the whale’s movements with his drone.

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“I knew how rare this moment could be so I ran to get my drone,” Landaas told For the Win Outdoors.

According to experts, the gray whale appeared to be in good health and they typically hang out close to shore while they’re changing locations.

“Gray whales are pretty docile; they’re known as the friendly whale,” Capt. Corey Hall, from Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching, explained to KTLA.

Hall said it may have been the creature’s first or second time migrating south for the winter. Gray whales use landmarks instead of echolocation to navigate their journeys, which could be why this whale was spending time near the shore.

Landaas, who was amazed at the special moment he filmed, recently launched Stealth Photos. You can see more of his drone footage and photography here.

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18:00
Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot Join Calls to Release Zack Snyder’s ‘Justice League’ Cut
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Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, and other celebrities are calling for the release of Zack Snyder's original 'Justice League' cut. (Photo Credit: Warner Bros.)
Many stars, including Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot, are urging Warner Bros. to release Zack Snyder’s cut of Justice League.

In 2017, Snyder, who previously worked on Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Man of Steel, had to step away from Justice League due to a family tragedy, Slate.com reported. Joss Whedon took over Snyder’s role and completed the film’s production efforts, however, fans and celebrities want to see Snyder’s original cut of the movie, Entertainment Weekly noted.

On Sunday, Affleck and Gadot both tweeted #ReleaseTheSynderCut,” and joined thousands of fans calling for the original version of Justice League. DC actors Ray Fisher and Christina Wren also demanded the Snyder cut on their social media accounts.

#ReleaseTheSnyderCut

â€” Ben Affleck (@BenAffleck) November 17, 2019

#ReleaseTheSnyderCut pic.twitter.com/wssMmlPqEK

â€” Gal Gadot (@GalGadot) November 17, 2019

Two Years. #releasethesnydercut pic.twitter.com/0hxRdzsH4b

â€” Ray Fisher (@rehsifyar) November 17, 2019

Snyder also responded to the #ReleaseTheSynderCut movement and praised the stars and fans for their efforts.

This ancient Amazonian canâ€™t be wrong. #releasethesnydercut [https:]]

â€” Zack Snyder (@ZackSnyder) November 17, 2019

Neither can Batman. #releasethesnydercut [https:]]

â€” Zack Snyder (@ZackSnyder) November 17, 2019

“This ancient Amazonian canâ€™t be wrong.Â Neither can Batman,” Snyder tweeted on Nov. 17.

Warner Bros. has not provided comment on the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut activity.

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18:00
Review: Google Stadia Just Isn’t Finished Yet
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The Pro version of Google Stadia that you can now pay actually $130 for is called the Founder’s Edition, and the subtitle isn’t there to just flatter your inner colonizer. After messing around with Google’s wildly ambitious reinvention for what a video game platform should even be, I was impressed by how close the tech actually came to this grand vision. But coming close isn’t the same thing as succeeding. And at least at the moment, much of my earlier skepticism has proven true. Google Stadia just isn’t finished yet.

At a core level the fundamental appeal of Stadia is that it makes gaming simpler. Instead of buying bulky hardware you simply stream the games from whatever internet-connected screen you have. But since all the pieces are not yet in place, right now setting up Stadia is arguably more complicated than plugging a box into a wall. You’ll need to download multiple apps on your phone, juggle looking between different screens, and configure multiple pieces of hardware like the wireless controller and Google Chromecast streaming dongle.

And speaking of hardware, right now Stadia’s hardware needs are so finicky that, again, it doesn’t feel all that different from just buying a traditional proprietary game console. You won’t just need a Chromecast Ultra, you’ll need the Chromecast Ultra that specifically comes in this kit at least until a later firmware update. The only currently compatible phone is Google’s Pixel series, which I used for testing. And even then you can’t play wirelessly. That only works on Chromecast. To play on a phone you’ll need to physically connect the wire to the (perfectly comfortable and fine) controller via USB-C and a little harness.

However, the phone quickly became my preferred way to play, and not just because it felt like a Nintendo Switch with a crisper display. The biggest question threatening to smother Stadia in the crib is whether or not streaming online would introduce so much input lag as to make games unplayable. And the answer is… mixed.

I tested Stadia with the WiFi here in the office as well as with my gigabit Ethernet connection at home. Playing on the phone I was astonished at what felt like a native offline experience. I experienced virtually no issues. Playing Destiny 2, a game I don’t like, still felt almost magical as I watched such a high-end shooter pipe through the tiny display with this level of responsiveness. And not bothering with loading or installations felt like the height of indulgent convenience. It wasn’t quite as novel, but I was also pleased with the results on my laptop.

Unfortunately, any sense of magic soon disappeared when I went over to the TV. For whatever reason, both at the office and at a home, lag increased considerably when I wirelessly played this way. You could see the delay with your naked eye between pressing a button and getting a result onscreen. A fighting game like Mortal Kombat 11 is basically unplayable. And even my girlfriend could notice the unpleasant feeling of wading through thick soup trying to play Just Dance 2020.

Streaming massive modern video games over the internet is a monumental task. While I found the visuals on the office TV weirdly gray, at home the visuals were clear and colorful on my 4K TV. Again, it’s impressive how close Google gets here. And maybe if I could wire the controller to the TV like I can with the phone, the issue would vanish. Or maybe the phone’s lower resolution makes the difference. But as it is now, whatever the cause, Stadia’s input lag is just untenable. And who’s to say that an influx of new users won’t make the problem even worse.

That’s not the only issue here, though. While a healthy amount of publishers have pledged support in the coming months, since these are just PC games at max settings, the initial limited launch lineup leaves much to be desired. Aside for the admittedly moody original adventure game Gylt, you just have a small grabbag of ports like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Red Dead Redemption 2. The situation was dire that at the last possible minute Google doubled the launch lineup from 12 to 22, but even then it’s still full of titles we’ve already seen before.

Also keep in mind that you still need to pay full price for these games that only exist on the cloud. While subscribers can snag Destiny for free, the paid subscription only gives you the ability to purchase these games. It won’t be until next year that you’ll get games in your library just for signing up. Some still see this as a better bargain than dropping a few hundred dollars on a console, like paying for Xbox All Access in small installments, but your mileage may vary.

And that’s far from the only substantial Stadia feature not arriving until next year. According to a recent Reddit AMA, you’ll be waiting until 2020 to get features like 4K PC streaming, achievements, family sharing, cheaper 720p Stadia Base, and Buddy Passes. Sure sounds like a beta release to us. At least the game saves your place for a few minutes if you briefly go offline.

Google Stadia could still go either way. Steam’s launch was a mess but soon enough it became the standard of PC gaming marketplaces. Virtual reality headsets are still sticking around. And clearly Google aren’t the only ones thinking about the potential of a streaming future. Just ask Microsoft. There’s a chance these are just the birthing pains of a truly futuristic service that Stadia even today frequently offers tantalizing glimpses of.

Or maybe the lag can never been fully fixed. Maybe the internet data cap restrictions of most people are too harsh to make this make sense on the market. Maybe the games you buy here will soon be buried in the Google Graveyard. That all also feels depressingly possible. In any case, our best advice for Google Stadia is to just wait. Even compared to other experimental tech, being an early adopter here just doesn’t seem worth the purchase. It’ll crash and burn or become the real deal, and either way your patience will be rewarded.
17:51
‘Street Fighter V: Champion Edition’ Finishes the Game Again
» ‎ Geek.com

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Street Fighter IV famously revived the franchise, and 2D fighting games in general, on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. With the genre already secure, Street Fighter V had a bit of rockier experience this generation. The fighting fundamentals were as solid as they had ever been. But between initial online woes, limited content, and confusing monetization strategies, the game was an early victim of the “games as a service plague.” It took two years for us to finally get the game we were promised in Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition.

However, even after that first revision, Capcom kept plugging away at its prize fighter, adding a bunch of new characters and costumes and stages. If you already have the game, you can buy that content for yourself piecemeal (or grind out fight money if that’s still a thing?) But next year you can just get everything bundled together in Street Fighter V: Champion Edition.

This complete collection offers you just about everything you can get from Street Fighter V. 40 characters with new V skills, 34 stages, and over 200 costumes. Only thing missing are weird branded deals.

One of those characters is brand new for this version. While it had issues, Street Fighter V’s wacky story mode finally brought the convoluted Fast and Furious-style continuity full circle with its links back to Street Fighter III. And now Gill, the nude red-and-blue god man final boss of that game, is finally playable in Champion Edition.

Street Fighter V: Champion Edition launches February 14, 2020 for $30 on PC and PlayStation 4. For more on fighting games read our ultimate history of the fighting game genre and learn more about the Capcom vs. SNK rivalry.
17:11
The Best Deals In Wal-Mart’s Toy Book
» ‎ Geek.com

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Every day the spectre of Black Friday looms larger over our wallets, and we’re already trying to budget out the spending so we don’t have to eat ramen until Easter. One of America’s best-known retailers for competitive pricing is Wal-Mart, and their massive 2019 toy book has a panoply of deals. If you don’t have time to sort through the whole thing and filter out all the weird slime and Ryan’s World cash-ins to get the good stuff, we’re doing it for you. Here are our picks from Wal-Mart’s Black Friday toy book.

12 Inch Godzilla Figure
It’s impossible to measure the happiness we feel because Godzilla, the one true King of the Monsters, is back in active circulation. He’s a true cultural icon who should be allowed to smash cities and wreck other giant beasts for as long as he wants to. If you’re going to add a Godzilla toy to your collection, you want it to pack some scale, and this Wal-Mart exclusive kaiju toy does just that. Standing a full foot tall, he’ll rampage through your puny toy shelf with impunity. Six points of articulation and an extremely long tail perfect for whipping at his frenzied foes.

Get it at Wal-Mart

Harry Potter Invisibility Cloak
Okay, so this thing won’t actually let you become invisible in the real world – no one geek should have all that power – but it’s a pretty clever little gimmick anyways. One side of the cloak is printed with chromakey green (like they use in special effects filming), and with the aid of a special app you can take shots on your iPhone and merge them with the background so it looks like you’re vanishing in plain sight. Now if only they’d figure out how to make a Time Turner.

Get it at Wal-Mart

Bakugan Battle Bundle
In the 80s, animated cartoons were created to promote toy lines all the time, and it was good. But after the glory days of 22 minute commercials faded, it took some time before toy companies got ballsy enough to try again. A modern take on the gimmick is Bakugan, a strange but compelling tabletop skill game that created an anime series to give context to its fantasy world of mystical creatures. This set gives you everything you need to get playing right out of the box, including eight BakuCores, four ability cards, and four character cards as well as four Bakugan (including two exclusive to this offer).

Get it at Wal-Mart

Nerf Ultra Blaster
The Nerf arms race has been escalating dramatically in recent years, as the company continues to up the ante with more and more devastating foam-shooters. If you’re looking to take out a whole group of office-mates non-lethally, one of the best picks is the Ultra One motorized blaster, which uses the new Nerf Ultra darts that fly farther and straighter than ever, up to 120 feet. The high-capacity dart drum will allow you to squeeze off 25 shots before you reload, plenty to batter your enemies into submission. Unless they also have an Ultra One. Maybe you should get two of them.

Get it at Wal-Mart

LEGO Hidden Side Paranormal Intercept Bus
The geniuses at LEGO are always looking for new ways to jazz up their kits with modern technology, and their Hidden Side line is the latest. Using a special phone app, the kits let kids play as paranormal investigators spotting ghosts roaming around their builds in augmented reality. It’s a really fun gimmick that adds a layer of play to the classic LEGO experience. The Paranormal Intercept Bus lets ghost hunter Jack Davids and his crew get from scene to scene and also comes with a haunt or two of its own.

Get it at Wal-Mart

Monopoly For Millennials
Hasbro’s really milking the Monopoly franchise right now, busting out customized rulesets and game boards for all kinds of audiences. They haven’t got to zoomers yet, but for our millennial readers rest assured you can play a take customized to your interests. Instead of buying up property in Atlantic City – because who can afford that in this economy – the spaces you land on represent Instagrammable vacation destinations and life experiences. OK, boomer. Who can say which mentality is actually healthier, though?

Get it at Wal-Mart

Funko Pop Marvel Advent Calendar
No, you’re not getting 25 full-sized Funko Pops in a massive box here – that would be simply absurd. These are Pocket Pops, standing just one to two inches tall but sculpted and painted with the charm and detail you expect from the pop culture surfers over at Funko. The Avengers are the reason for the season, and every day you’ll be able to crack a box and release one of Earth’s mightiest heroes (and an occasional villain) from advent calendar imprisonment. These tend to sell out fast, so pop it in your cart now before you forget.

Get it at Wal-Mart

Star Wars Skywalker Saga Figures
One of the more interesting lines we saw at Toy Fair this year were Hasbro’s new set of “Skywalker Saga” Star Wars figures. There’s an upcoming LEGO Star Wars game with the same title, but these aren’t brick-based construction sets. Instead, they’re new sculpts of some of the most iconic characters in the franchise, but instead of your normal pint job they’re all finished in gold. The rationale behind this is a complete mystery, but there’s no denying that they look really cool. They’re a Wal-Mart exclusive, so if you want them act fast.

Get it at Wal-Mart

Moto Kicks Hover Shoes
Sure, hoverboards are OK, but isn’t it time we pushed the envelope a little bit? Enter the Moto Kicks Hover Shoes, which take us one step closer to a totally motorized future. With a top speed of seven miles per hour, these aren’t going to replace your car any time soon, but there’s something very satisfying about gliding along smooth surfaces and leaning to accelerate, brake and turn. A maximum range of six miles between charges lets you wander far afield, and they’re light enough to easily carry. The shoes even come with a connector so you can use them like a standard hoverboard.

Get it at Wal-Mart

For more deals, including all of the latest Black Friday announcements, check out our sister site, BestBlackFriday.com.

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16:39
Google Maps Turns Spotlight on Local Guides
» ‎ Geek.com

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Bringing Local Guide recommendations straight to you. (Photo Credit: Google)
Google Maps has replaced more than just road maps.

The navigation app suggests meals, predicts public transit crowds, and translates foreign place names.

It can even help plan your next adventure, thanks to Local Guides.

The program enables users to contribute to Google Maps—add reviews and photos, upload videos, correct information—in exchange for perks and benefits.

Visiting Bangalore? Melvin John’s reviews will guide you through the city’s microbrewery scene. New to Tokyo? Check out Ayaka Ohkawa’s photography as you explore local landmarks, cuisine, and culture.

Across 24,000 cities and towns, the platform boasts 120 million Local Guides, all of whom are “passionate about sharing their experiences by contributing reviews, photos, lists, and more,” Product Manager Austin Wells wrote in a blog post.

But those endorsements can easily get lost among the hubbub of Google Maps.

Which is why the company is piloting a new feature that makes it easier to get advice from Local Guides.

Folks in Bangkok (Thailand), Delhi (India), London, Mexico City, New York, Osaka (Japan), San Francisco, São Paulo (Brazil), and Tokyo—will soon see top Local Guides featured in the “For You” tab of the app.

“When you follow one of these Local Guides, their recommendations will be surfaced to you in Google Maps,” according to Wells. “So you can get inspired with ideas of things to do and places to go.”

There is no word on what criteria “top” Guides must meet.

If you live in one of the nine test cities, keep an eye on the mobile application and “you might just discover something new with help from a local,” Wells said.

More on Geek.com:
16:30
‘Batwoman’ Season 1 Episode 7 Recap: A Warm-Up Team-Up
» ‎ Geek.com

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Camrus Johnson as Luke Fox, Ruby Rose as Kate Kane, and Christina Wolfe as Julia Pennyworth in 'Batwoman.' (Photo Credit: The CW)
The season’s big crossover is a few weeks away, so Batwoman is going to warm up with a surprising in-show team-up. Necessitating this double act is a sniper named The Rifle, who is in the middle of an assassination attempt at an Italian restaurant. Batwoman thwarts the attempt by stringing him upside down just as he fires the bullet. Best Bat-move? Probably. The shooter gets away when the Crows show up, and Kate has to deal with the fact that Sophie knows she’s Batwoman. Her dad wants the crows to bring her in, and Sophie’s threatening to reveal her identity. If that happens, there’s no more Batwoman. Kate needs to convince her to keep quiet.

More pressing though, is the presence of an assassin in Gotham. Luke Fox figures out he’s targeting scientists who work for Catherine’s company. Now that Batwoman knows who the next target is, she can figure out where The Rifle’s going to be. She does too, but the guy still gets away thanks to the presence of another vigilante. It’s Julia Pennyworth! Not only does Alfred’s daughter dabble in superheroism, she’s Kate’s ex. She’s never had a relationship that wasn’t super complicated, has she? At first, Kate reacts like pretty much all of us would if our ex just showed up at our job out of nowhere. She tells Julia she doesn’t need her and tries to handle both issues by herself.

Ruby Rose as Kate Kane/Batwoman and Meagan Tandy as Sophie Moore. (Photo Credit: Katie Yu / The CW)

It’s only after a date with her other ex goes incredibly wrong that she accepts some help. These scenes are what the episode really does well. The action is about standard for this series. One fun, well-choreographed fight scene toward the end, but nothing too spectacular. The episode shines when it comes to the emotional stuff. Ruby Rose is so good in this role. I genuinely hurt for her when she confronts Sophie. She initially invites Sophie to a restaurant to convince her not to say anything. Then a restaurant manager tries to kick the one gay couple out by selectively enforcing the dress code. Kate is all ready to call out what’s really going on, while Sophie doesn’t want her to make a scene. That brings back some painful memories.

Once again, the show has figured out how to use flashbacks effectively. Not only do they communicate new information, they enhance the emotional tone of the modern day scenes. Sophie telling Kate that she broke things off with her years ago because she “got a second opinion” is so much sadder when we see that it was Jacob Kane who gave her that opinion. In both the past and the present, we’re watching an argument play out between two people who still love each other but are either too angry or afraid to admit it. Both women leave the dinner unhappy and Sophie tells Jacob who Batwoman is.

Garfield Wilson as The Rifle. (Photo: Katie Yu / The CW)

When that doesn’t work out, Kate thinks up a new tactic. Julia and Lucius Fox are currently free to help too, as the Rifle’s target was stabbed (by Alice no less) and the assassin’s trail has gone cold. The show tries to build on some tension between what we know and what the characters know. We know that Alice is the one having The Rifle kill these scientists. We know the Rifle is doing it in exchange for a weapon these scientists built that can pierce Batwoman’s armor. The Rifle now has this weapon and Batwoman is in danger, but she doesn’t know it. For most of the episode though, Alice and Rifle’s plans are unclear. We don’t know what they’re doing or why. I got the sense that the show wanted us to be worried that Batwoman would be ambushed, but it never told us when or why.

The actual superhero story leaves a lot to be desired, but surprisingly, the character drama is good enough to make up for it. Kate has Julia dress up as Batwoman and arranges for Sophie to see them in the same room. It’s a clever plan, and it works. Sophie is clearly shocked to see Batwoman and Kate standing next to each other. Then, Julia takes a blast to the stomach from that high-powered weapon. I really wish there had been some kind of dread leading up to that moment, but it was still a shock. For a second, I legit thought Julia had died. She’s still alive though, for some reason. The Crows capture the woman they think is Batwoman and are about to bring her to Jacob. Kate chases the van and shoots the lock off the back door. After incapacitating a bunch of crow guards in the episode’s coolest, most exciting fight scene, she rescue’s Julia. Just like us, Kate wonders how her friend is still alive.

Dougray Scott as Jacob Kane and Elizabeth Anweis as Catherine Hamilton-Kane. (Photo Credit: Michael Courtney / The CW)

The episode ends with a cool twist to answer that question, though. Before giving the gun to Rifle, Alice sabotaged it. Not only didn’t it work, it’s broken, and the only people who could fix it are now dead. Alice was protecting her sister… for whatever she’s got planned coming up. Alice is still a villain here. She just doesn’t want other villains (who haven’t even been seen on the show yet) killing Batwoman before her tea party. It won’t be long before we find out what that is.

The next episode, airing in two weeks, is titled “The Mad Tea-Party.” Whatever it is, it involved ensuring Catherine started to reconcile with Jacob. Early in the episode, we’re told that Jacob is somewhere upstate. When he’s back, we don’t really question it. At the end of the episode, it’s revealed that he’s been upstate this whole time. Mouse has been impersonating Jacob in Gotham. Meaning that the real Jacob never learned who Batwoman was.

It is a little disappointing though, that we seem to be done with the secret identity threat already. As clever as Kate’s plan was, there was still a ton of drama to be mined from her knowing Batwoman’s identity, and even more from Jacob suspecting it. Now, we’re back to normal and nothing really came of it. It’s a waste of a good premise.

Photo Credit: The CW

At least the Kate-Sophie relationship got some desperately-needed fleshing out, though. By the end of the episode, they’ve sworn off each other and Sophie’s assured her husband she only loves him. I don’t think that’s entirely true, though. When Kate tells Sophie they should steer clear of each other, there’s so much hurt in both actors’ voices. They do such a fantastic job in that scene that it made me tear up a little. Especially when Kate opens the present Sophie left for her: Her old sharpshooting medal their military academy tried to scrub from their records. Sophie has been holding onto it this whole time. Yeah, they still love each other.

Even though it is a little frustrating to see the show bend over backwards to restore everything to the way it was before the episode started. I like the Arrowverse shows because they do move the world forward in meaningful ways sometimes. This should have been one of those. But if the characters continue to get this kind of development in the future, I can’t complain too much.

Batwoman airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on The CW.

Previously on Batwoman:
16:30
‘Watchmen’ Season 1 Episode 5 Recap: Never Gonna Dance Again
» ‎ Geek.com

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Tim Blake Nelson (Credit: Mark Hill/HBO)
This season of Watchmen has so far stayed away from depicting the era the comic book takes place in. We’ve only seen either the distant past, or 34 years in the future. So when this week’s episode began in 1985 New Jersey, it was a fun departure. We get to see some direct effects of the events of the comics. We even got to see something excised from the movie entirely.

The intro follows a group of Jehovah’s Witnesses preaching to sinners at a New Jersey fair. Among them, is a very young, very nervous Wade Tillman. A punk girl lures him into the fun house and acts like she’s going to have sex with him. When he’s distracted, she runs off with his clothes, leaving him naked and alone. Then, he hears a loud sound. All the mirrors shatter, and when Wade steps out of the fun house, everyone’s dead. The camera pulls back and we see the alien squid in all its terrifying glory. God, I’ve been wanting to see that since 2009.

This week’s episode moves the story along like I was hoping it would, but more than that, it really lets us get to know Wade. I’ve been curious about his character since we first met him. Partly because I like Tim Blake Nelson and always want to see more of him, but mostly because we know so little about Wade. He appears to be a good cop, and on the same side as Sister Night. Beyond that though, we had no idea what kind of person he is. Why he’s on the Tulsa police force to begin with. This episode gives us some of those answers, and man, are they heartbreaking.

Tim Blake Nelson, Jean Smart (Credit: Mark Hill/HBO)

As you might imagine, that experience in Jersey really messed Wade up. And Laurie Blake can see it. She correctly figures out that he became a policeman after they were allowed to wear masks. His chosen persona, Looking Glass, gives him the perfect cover to wear reflective material that blocks psychic blasts. The same material also lines his red baseball cap, and he has an inter-dimensional alarm that he constantly tests. He panics when it malfunctions and pays double to have a new one overnighted to him. He’s not a healthy man. A fantastic, affecting musical motif runs through the episode. Any time he’s feeling conflicted and really wrestling with himself, we hear a different version of “Careless Whisper.” We hear the original in the intro when the punk girl has him naked in a fun house. We hear it again when he visits his ex-wife (whom he’s still clearly in love with) for information on those pills Angela gave him. It’s just an aural punch in the gut every time. Yeah, I never thought anything could make “Careless Whisper” inspire any emotion other than laughter either.

His ex-wife reveals that the pills are an illegal drug called Nostalgia. They’re personal memories in pill form. She also tells him to find someone else: A good woman he can maybe begin to trust. And for a brief scene it looks like that just might happen. A woman shows up at his squid trauma support group and the two hit it off. They drink together, and Wade starts falling for her. Then, as she drives off, a head of lettuce falls out of the truck. He realizes it must be the truck whose driver shot the police officer back in the first episode. He follows the truck, and yeah, they’re Seventh Kavalry. Inside their facility, he finds them experimenting with a portal machine. That freaks him out enough that he tries to arrest the Kavalry members all by himself.

Regina King (Credit: Mark Hill/HBO)

That was part of the plan, it turns out. The woman, the truck, the lettuce, it was all designed to lure him out and get him to do something for them. They even hijacked his radio signal so his call for backup wouldn’t make it out. And it turns out that the Seventh Kavalry isn’t just a bunch of rednecks in Rorschach masks. When the Kavalry captures Wade, the leading member reveals himself to be Senator Joe Keene Jr. Even in this seeming utopia, a land where racial equality appears to truly exist, racism is still systemic. It’s not just a problem of ignorant yokels, the way we like to pretend it is. It’s wealthy, well-connected people with an interest in making sure society doesn’t progress too much.

Crawford, Keene reveals, was Kavalry, too. He kept up the appearance of peace in Tulsa so the Kavalry could work on this portal project in secret. His murder threatens that appearance of peace, and that’s why Keene’s here now. And that’s why they need Wade. Keene wants Wade to point the investigation into Crawford’s murder toward Angela. To convince him, he shows Wade a secret video that Ozymandias made in 1985 for future president Robert Redford. It confirms that the squid attack was orchestrated to bring an end to hostilities between the US and Russia, and to create a better world out of fear. We all knew this from the comics, but it’s chilling watching Wade learn all this for the first time. A scared, honest man just trying to be a good person turns into a pawn for white supremacists. I wonder if this is what it’s like when someone reads Watchmen and somehow comes away thinking Rorschach was the good guy.

He tears himself up about it, but in the end, Wade does what he’s told. Knowing that Laurie bugged the cactus on his desk, he tells her he wants to help. She tells him everything: That the pills belong to her grandfather. That her grandfather claims to have killed Crawford, but he’s an old man in a wheelchair. That she covered up the crime scene. That’s when Laurie calls for her arrest. Just before the other cops cuff her, Angela downs all the pills, setting up what’s sure to be a surreal, trippy episode for next week. For now though, we stick with Wade.

Jeremy Irons (Credit: Mark Hill/HBO)

Man, I was so excited when I saw that this episode would focus on Wade. I really should have guessed it wouldn’t be pretty. Turns out he was a pretty good guy until this very moment. Even after it, he’s still conflicted. As the final version of “Careless Whisper” plays, he tosses his hat away. He’s about to do the same with his new inter-dimensional breach alarm. He doesn’t, though. He pulls it out of the trash. The Seventh Kavalry got a couple hooks into him, but he’s still not entirely sold. I wish I could say that was hopeful. As he enters his home, a van full of Kavalry pulls up to his house. They cock shotguns and kick his door down. They got what they needed, and it seems they don’t want to take a chance on whether he’ll stick with them.

I honestly don’t know what to expect from Watchmen when I tune in each week, but it’s always a fantastic surprise. This show continually impresses with the stories it tells and how it chooses to tell them. As far as pushing the main plot forward, this was the episode I was hoping for after the last couple weeks. I was not expecting a melancholy character study to go along with it. We knew so little about Wade at the beginning of the episode, and the show was still able to build an effective tragedy around him.

We even got some forward progress in Ozymandias’ story, too. His assistants launched him into the sky where we find out that he’s actually imprisoned on one of Jupiter’s moons. He tries to deliver a message to a passing satellite: “SAVE ME,” written in the frozen bodies of the assistants he sent up before. That’s when the warden of the prison pulls him back inside. It’s too late, though. We know Ozymandias will eventually collide with the story in Tulsa. It’s just a question of how much worse the situation gets when he does.

Watchmen airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO

Previously on Watchmen:
16:20
‘Rick and Morty’ Season 4 Episode 2 Recap: There’s a Place for Poop
» ‎ Geek.com

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(Via Adult Swim)
If you’ve ever wondered where and how Rick Sanchez poops, this is the episode for you. Yes, an entire half of this episode involves Rick having, and desperately trying to protect, his private toilet. How’s that for a second episode? We open with the revelation that Rick is a shy pooper. So much so that he can’t even tell his family that’s what he’s going to do. He tries to deflect it with a joke about Solo and Ron Howard. Jerry overcompensates by proudly announcing his evacuation intentions, making it weirder by saying he’d be proud to have Ron Howard involved. OK then, Jerry.

Jerry’s insecurities are the cause of the episode’s bigger story. Before running off to poop in peace, he gives his intern, which he has now, some busywork to do. His intern is a small alien (voiced by Taika Waititi) with the phrase “Do not develop my app” tattooed on his forehead. As you might imagine, he is relentless about finding a development partner for his app. He brings every conversation back around to the app. Basically, he’s everyone in San Francisco with half an idea. And of course, Jerry falls for it instantly. They develop an app called Lovefinderrz that instantly matches people with their soul mate. It does such a good job that its users immediately fall for their matches… which tend not to be the person their currently with. Engaged couples, new parents, everyone immediately breaks off their current relationship to chase down the idea of a true love.

The commentary on Tinder is a little obvious and ham-handed here. The point that the app facilitates disposable, performative acts of love isn’t new or particularly interesting at this point. The show also doesn’t appear to have much to say about that fact. This might be the most “What if X but too much” plot Rick and Morty’s ever done. At least it’s not trying to make it some grand point. If anything, it just serves as a launching pad for more Beth vs. Summer antics. Summer wants to hop from soulmate to soulmate, while Beth is willing to resort to melee combat to be a good mother. I love how Summer’s matches keep getting worse and worse. Her first “soul mate” is a member of a Phish cover band. One of her last is a much older woman who takes her shoes and socks off on airplanes. To the episode’s credit that is a novel and funny way to point out that maybe we shouldn’t trust our romantic decisions entirely to algorithms.

(Via Adult Swim)

The app, in any case, turns out to be a plot by a race of Kiwi-accented aliens. Morty instantly sees the trouble the app causes and demands the servers be shut down. Rick’s intern takes them to the mothership where his commander (voiced by Sam Neill) explains the whole thing. These aliens figured out the secret to love long ago. Turns out it’s way more common than most humans think it to be. It’s more common than water, which is what the aliens are really after. While humanity is chasing each other around because of an app, they’ll steal all of Earth’s water. Rick is still indisposed, so it’s up to Morty and Jerry to stop this plot.

Even though we’ve heard this particular bit many times before, the show’s constant dumping on Jerry is still funny. Morty’s travels with Rick have hardened him to situations like these. Morty tells his dad he’s completely embarrassed by him, and the only reason they’re in this situation is because of Jerry’s stupidity. There’s no but. Morty just thought he’d reiterate why they have to fix this. It’s great. Still though, it’s because Jerry’s so pathetic that they’re able to save the Earth. Neither he nor Rick’s intern have any matches, so Jerry’s able to connect with him. He convinces the intern to shut it all down, rather than live a life without finding anyone. The intern puts up an ad wall, causing everyone on Earth to delete the app and move on.

(Via Adult Swim)

Meanwhile, Rick went to his remote toilet in the middle of a forest only to discover evidence that someone else had been there. Analyzing the one foreign stool shows him the sandwich that created it. From there, he tracks down the robot who delivered it, who’s currently fighting a robot uprising against some lizard creatures. Rick has to singlehandedly win the robot war to get the information about who ate the sandwich. It’s a guy named Tony who works in a cubicle. The Jeffrey Wright-voiced alien sees right through Rick instantly. Rick is lonely and feels he has no control over his life. That’s why he exerts such control over where he poops. Rick, as he always does, rejects the frank analysis, but decides not to kill Tony. Instead he opens up a portal containing a butthole on Tony’s conference table. It poops out a perfect middle finger.

There’s nothing in this episode we haven’t seen Rick and Morty do before. For that reason, the jokes don’t hit quite as hard as they should. The poop jokes in this episode are clever, the Beth-Summer chase is fun, and Jerry’s stupidity is still hilarious. The episode just doesn’t do anything new with it. This is kinda what we were worried about when the show was renewed for 70 episodes. With so many, could it keep up the high level of quality it’s enjoyed? Here, the answer is still yes. This is a very good Rick and Morty episode. It’s just that it’s going back to old formulas here. While it still executes on them very well, we’re starting to see diminishing returns. The premises are good, the jokes are clever, but they aren’t making me laugh as hard as they usually do.

(Via Adult Swim)

Right at the end though, the show reminds me why I love it so much. Tony figures out that what Rick really wants is a friend. Rick of course denies this completely, but he never can explain why he’s so obsessed with some guy who pooped in his toilet. He gives the guy a vision of heaven, where he can be reunited with his wife and poop freely. He constructs an elaborate prank for the next time Tony uses his toilet only to find out that, after seeing his idea of heaven, Tony decided to start living life to the fullest and died. Rick puts up the same mean front he always does, but he’s genuinely affected. Even insulting Tony to his dad at his funeral doesn’t fool anyone. Tony’s dad consoles Rick about how hard it is to lose a friend. In the end, all Rick can do is sit on his toilet himself and watch the prank he left for Tony. Rick sits there as a bunch of holograms of himself call him stupid. The king of shit.

Even in a more formulaic episode like this, its focus on character and empathy really carry it. To think a show can have me genuinely feel for a character after an entire story about poop is kind of wild. I also loved that, even with all the jokes about dating apps and love being more common than water, it showed love as work. The aliens behind the app said they figured out love. When the emperor talks to his wife, he listens to what she has to say about her day. The secret they figured out is apparently constant work on your relationship and being an active, caring listener for your partner. And even then, they still fight. When they fail to get Earth’s water, they start arguing. “I want a divorce!” “You can have one for a glass of water.” Is probably the funniest big relationship fight I’ve ever heard. This may have been just an OK episode by Rick and Morty standards. But with the past three seasons being so spectacular, that means it’s still pretty great animated TV.

Rick and Morty airs Sundays at 11:30 on Adult Swim

Previously on Rick and Morty:
15:43
Dunkin’ Donuts’ Double Cup is Breaking Up
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Double-cupping is a thing of the past. (Photo Credit: Dunkin' Donuts)
Dunkin’ Donuts and polystyrene are consciously un-cup-ling.

The nation that runs on Dunkin’ is all-too-familiar with those branded foam cups—often doubled up to act as an insulating sleeve.

But it takes styrofoam hundreds of years to biodegrade. Which means every single Dunkin’ Donuts cup discarded over the company’s seven-decade history is still sitting in a landfill somewhere (if it’s not been consumed by an animal that’s mistaken it for food).

In an effort to escape this environmentally abusive relationship, the coffee conglomerate in 2018 announced plans to eliminate all polystyrene cups in its global supply chain.

“Our decision to eliminate foam cups is significant for both our brand and our industry,” Karen Raskopf, chief communications and sustainability officer at Dunkin’ Brands, said last year in a statement. “We have a responsibility to improve our packaging, making it better for the planet while still meeting the needs of our guests.

Now, its foam phaseout has begun in New England—home to the double-cup habit—where it is expected to be complete by Dec. 1.

In its place will be a double-walled paper cup, made with Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standard-certified paperboard to keep your coffee, latte, macchiato, tea, or hot chocolate warm (and your hands cool).

It even comes with the same re-closable lid you know and love.

Dunkin’ Donuts aims to eliminate foam cups worldwide in 2020. (Photo Credit: Dunkin Donuts)

This move, according to a Dunkin’ Donuts blog post, is part of the restaurant’s “commitment to serve both the planet and people responsibly.”

Patrons in Boston and Providence can expect to see slogans like “The Double Cup Is Breakin’ Up” and “Iced, Delicious, and Single” slapped across Dunkin’ locations, employees, and advertising.

“The light-hearted campaign was inspired by the feelings synonymous with the end of any significant relationship,” the company explained.

Boston 25 News even tipped giveaways to “help customers cope.”

“We know that we have some customers who have been waiting for this, and others who will miss the foam cup,” the blog said. “We know that change is hard, but that it can also be a good thing, and we hope that our customers will embrace the double-walled paper cup along with us.”

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14:29
Watch: Deepfake Hollywood Roundtable Gets Weird
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Jeff Goldblum and Tom Cruise were not actually part of a streaming video roundtable discussion. (Photo Credit: Collider)
The streaming wars are heating up. And who better to weigh in than five of Hollywood’s most notable white men?

Film site Collider created a deepfake roundtable featuring Tom Cruise, Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Goldblum, George Lucas, and Ewan McGregor.

And while the video is obviously phony, it’s also pretty entertaining.

The 15-minute conversation darts from one topic to the next, covering everything from unreturned DVDs, body odor, diaphragms, Friends, and dandruff to the diuretic effect of Star Wars.

Basically: anything but streaming.

Moderator Mark Ellis is the only kosher character in the whole creepy clip. Everyone else is the product of a machine learning technique called deepfake, which replaces an existing image or video with someone else’s likeness.

The process has recently gained attention for its use in celebrity porn, fake news, and financial fraud.

Deep Fake, uh, finds a way. #JeffGoldblum pic.twitter.com/XK0sSb5ND1

— Josh Robert Thompson (@joshrthompson) November 16, 2019

Collider Video, meanwhile, employed it for pure entertainment, creating a broadcast that no one asked for, but everyone should see.

The results aren’t perfect. RDJ’s neck is not that thick, for example. But they are compelling.

“The world of deepfakes is both new and frightening, as this video demonstrates,” Collider Video said in a launch announcement.

The Fake will be with you. Always. pic.twitter.com/GPRB5tGoGM

— Josh Robert Thompson (@joshrthompson) November 16, 2019

The technology, as The Verge pointed out, can’t magic up a whole new character (yet). It can, however, confuse audiences into thinking fiction is fact.

Check out Collider’s Twitter feed for behind-the-scenes GIFs showcasing how it turned Josh Robert Thompson into Lucas, Evan Ferrante into Cruise, Jamie Costa into McGregor, and Jeff Richards into Downey Jr. (Thompson also expertly portrayed Jeff Goldblum in all his gesticulating glory.)

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12:38
Endangered Hawaiian Duck Saved From Brink of Extinction
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The koloa is a "petite, buffy brown, and charismatic duck," similar to a female mallard (Photo Credit: Christopher Malachowski / Oregon State University)
While the Hawaiian duck may look like a run-of-the-mill, invasive female mallard, it is actually fast approaching genetic extinction.

New research, however, suggests otherwise.

As a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, Davis, Caitlin Wells studied the birds, which she described as “petite, buffy brown, and charismatic.”

Often found in pairs instead of large groups, the wary koloa maoli (“native duck”) are secretive and rarely associate with other animals. They can usually be found in the tall, wetland grasses and streams near the Kohala volcano on Hawaii.

The team—including scientists from UC Davis; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; University of Texas, El Paso; Wright State University; Oregon State University; and Hawaii’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife—analyzed 425 koloa, mallards, and hybrids from populations across the islands.

They gathered more than 3,300 genetic data points, including blood samples, from hundreds of the birds before releasing them back into the wild. Researchers also collected information from the carcasses of koloa retrieved following botulism outbreaks.

“We used a lot of tissue samples from salvaged birds that unfortunately died from those disease outbreaks,” Wells, a research scientist at Colorado State University, explained.

The largest population of koloa is on Kauai, where the team found very few hybrids. On other islands, however, all of the birds were crossbreeds or feral mallards.

This study is pivotal in the struggle to save koloa from extinction. (Photo Credit: Christopher Malachowski / Oregon State University)

Historically, koloa existed throughout the main Hawaiian islands. Unfortunately, habitat loss, predators, and unregulated hunting meant they disappeared from everywhere except Kauai and Niihau by the late 1960s.

Wildlife managers began captive breeding and release programs to re-establish the koloa. But since mallards were never removed, rapid hybridization continued.

Efforts are now underway to remove mallards from the 50th state to help preserve the genetic diversity of the endemic Hawaiian duck.

“Its recovery could be viewed as a beacon of hope for the many dozens of critically endangered birds found in the islands,” according to study co-author Andy Engilis, curator of the UC Davis Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology.

Hybridization is a tricky issue in terms of conservation: Sometimes it threatens a unique gene pool, while other times it adds more diversity to a population.

“But here’s a case where we have enough individuals with enough genetic variation in the koloa, and we’ve also genetically identified the hybridizing species,” Wells said. “It seems very clear that we can separate those going forward.”

Previously, wildlife managers mistakenly believed that leaving koloa hybrids alone would allow them to eventually evolve back into pure ducks.

“That’s not what we found,” Wells added. “If you don’t have pure koloa parents that outnumber the feral mallards, you’re not going to get any decreases in those hybrid proportions.”

The team’s research provides insight into successful conservation management, and, fingers crossed, may one day lead to the koloa being taken off the endangered species list.

More on Geek.com:
November 15, 2019
23:51
Top TV and Movie Trailers of the Week: ‘Sonic The Hedgehog,’ ‘Seberg,’ and More
» ‎ Geek.com

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'Sonic The Hedgehog' (Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures)
TGIF. While you’re planning for the long weekend ahead, we’ve rounded up the top movie and TV trailers that you may have missed during the week.

Sonic The Hedgehog finally received an updated trailer, while the movie Fantasy Island teases a screwed up tropical escape. From Paramount Pictures’ The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run to Netflix’s Selena The Series, here are the top movies and TV shows to keep on your radar.
Fantasy Island
What if your dreams can come true on one vacation retreat? Fantasy Island, a thriller about people who get to take revenge or seek closure, is a chilling mind trip that blurs the lines of reality. Fantasy Island premieres in theaters on Valentine’s Day.
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run
Gary goes missing in The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run. When the beloved pet gets “snailnapped,” SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star go on the craziest adventure where Keanu Reeves appears as a chill tumbleweed and they encounter “the lost city of Atlantic City.” The animated film hits theaters in May 2020.
SCOOB!
The Mystery Machine crew is back in the animated movie SCOOB!. Shaggy and Scooby end up in a creepy spaceship and Velma, Daphne, and Fred need to rescue their friends and solve the case before it’s too late. SCOOB! is coming to theaters in summer 2020.
Sonic The Hedgehog
After some backlash, the new Sonic The Hedgehog trailer steps up to fan’s expectations. When the superpowered creature shows up to Earth, he has to protect humans from the evil Doctor Eggman (Jim Carrey) and not get caught. Sonic The Hedgehog premieres in theaters on Feb. 14.
Seberg
Seberg is Amazon Studios’ upcoming thriller focused on the life of Jean Seberg (Kristen Stewart), an actress who was targeted by the FBI in the ’60s. When Seberg decides to support the civil rights movement, she becomes harassed by the government and tries to gain back control of her life. Seberg is coming soon to select theaters.
Selena: The Series
A series about Queen of Tejano music Selena Quintanilla is coming to Netflix next year. The Walking Dead’s Christian Serratos stars as the famous singer in the new show, which doesn’t have a set debut date yet.

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November 12, 2019
21:40
Watch: Orca Pod Chases Great White Shark Near Boat
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Footage captured a pod of orcas swimming after a great white shark near Seal Island. (Photo Credit: NOAA / Unsplash)
A video recently captured a pod of orcas chasing a great white shark and the predator encounter was very scary to watch.

The footage, which was uploaded by Oceans Research on Facebook, shows a squad of orcas swimming after a great white shark near Seal Island, which is located off the coast of South Africa. According to a person on the boat, the great white shark appeared to “be scared,” as the massive creatures followed it in the water.

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Witnesses appeared to be rooting for the great white shark, which was startled by the orcas. The great white shark wasn’t alone though: a few other great white sharks in the area were hanging out nearby and they didn’t seem to care about the orcas’ presence.

“Orcas were spotted chasing a white shark, and a few other white sharks were in the vicinity at the time,” Oceans Research wrote below the video. “One white shark appears to be unnerved by the presence of the orcas, but another shark didn’t seem too perturbed.”

Oceans Research said it will be monitoring the orca and great white shark activity over the next few days to see if there are any changes in behavior.

Great white sharks are considered to be some of the biggest predators on the planet, but orcas can easily eat them for a snack. It’s unclear why orcas hunt down some great white sharks, but it may have something to do with great white sharks’ tasty liver, Newsweek reported. Biologists say great white sharks’ liver is abundant in fat, which is an important nutrient for orcas.

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21:30
The Weirdest Black Friday 2019 Deals
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This year’s Black Friday, like all Black Fridays, is going to have all sorts of deals of products everyone already knows they want. You don’t need anyone to explain to you why sweet deals on televisions and video games are appealing. However, for a shopping holiday to be massive enough to influence the entire economy, it can’t limit itself to just certain kinds of products. Retailers are selling absolutely everything they can. And that includes some pretty weird stuff from the lowest levels of the internet gutter.

These are some of the weirdest products we’ve seen advertised for Black Friday so far. So if you’re looking for savings on anything from bidets to burrito throwing games to Unicorn oil diffusers, keep reading.

True Glow by Conair Sonic Facial Brush with UV Sterilizer ($15 off at Costco): Clean your face!

MyRide Heating and Cooling Gel Seat Cushion ($15 at BJ’s): Heat your seat!

Tyto Home Medical Exam Kit ($199, $100 off, at Best Buy): Check up your child!

Throw Throw Burrito game (50% off at Target on Black Friday): Throw your food! From the makers of Exploding Kittens!

Hungry Bear Game ($19.99 from JCPenney on Black Friday, usually $29): Feed the beast!

Protocol Dino Bite T-Rex Muncher ($9.99 for Black Friday at JCPenney, usually $20): Stuff your hand in the dinosaur!

Zuru Pets Alive Boppi the Booty Shakin’ Llama ($14.99, $10 off, at Best Buy on Black Friday): Dance with the llama! Rotate its head all the way around!

Bio Bidet Luxury Bidet Seat ($219, $180 off, during Costco’s pre-Black Friday sale, which runs until Nov. 21): Luxuriate your bathroom!

Wembley Tree Stump Chair Pad ($14.99, $10 off, at JCPenney): Sit on a tree!

Airome Unicorn Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser ($19.99 at JCPenney on Black Friday, usually $49): Smell the fantasy!

For more deals, including all of the latest Black Friday announcements, check out our sister site, BestBlackFriday.com.

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20:00
Watch: Extremely Bright Meteor Takes Over Night Sky in St. Louis
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Many residents spotted a bright meteor streaking across the night sky over St. Louis, Missouri, on Nov. 11. (Photo Credit: Alyce Galletto Bava / Facebook)
A glowing meteor streaked across the sky over St. Louis, Missouri, on Monday night, according to local news outlets.

Residents reported spotting an illuminated flash of light across the St. Louis metro area, while others heard a loud explosion-like noise as the meteor appeared at approximately 9 p.m. CST on Nov. 11, CBS News noted.

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It’s possible that this meteor was part of the Northern Taurids meteor shower. According to NASA, the Northern Taurids are visible each year from September to November, as Earth passes through a large stream of debris left behind by Comet Encke. Dust from the comet hits our planet’s atmosphere at 65,000 mph and burns up, producing the beautiful Taurids in the process.

For more November celestial sights, check out our monthly skywatching roundup here.

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19:46
‘Star Wars: A New Hope’ Has Hilarious New Han/Greedo Edit on Disney+
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At this point the rich history and mythology of Star Wars as a brand is bigger, stronger, and more important than any of the individual movies. These are stories about sacred texts that have since become sacred texts themselves. And along with lightsabers and X-wings, a key part of Star Wars fan lore also revolves around being angry at George Lucas for continuing to mess around with those sacred texts.

Well joke’s on you, dorks. Continuing to prove that he is in fact cooler than any of his creations, George Lucas apparently did one last hilarious bit of editing to Star Wars: A New Hope. For years folks whined that space outlaw Han Solo got prematurely neutered when a new edit no longer had him firing first but second and in self-defense. However, on Disney+ (if you can even get it to work) Han still doesn’t shoot first. And now Greedo gets the last inexplicable word.

In the Disney+ version of Star Wars Greedo now shouts “MACLUNKEY” before getting shot. This is now my favorite version because why the hell not? MACLUNKEY! #starwars #maclunkey pic.twitter.com/k1XmP8wAZT

— Eric Fell (@ericfell) November 12, 2019

Maclunkey! Oh my god, that’s so funny. I really thought we hit peak ironic Star Wars editing in 2011 with Obi-Wan’s whooping dragon call and Darth Vader shouting “No!” when tossing Sheev down the drain. But now on this streaming TV service we finally get to see this weird green monster shout some pointless gibberish before Harrison Ford murders him. That’s already worth the $7 per month as far as I’m concerned.

And even better Vanity Fair reports that this final change did in fact come from George Lucas before he sold Star Wars to Disney. Considering how many millions of people are trying out Disney + right now, surely we would know about any other changes by now. But I’m holding out hope there’s a secret extra 4K HDR scene of Emperor Sheev Palpatine saying his full name out loud. Or maybe they’re saving that for The Rise of Skywalker.

For more Star Wars on Disney+ read our review of The Mandalorian series premiere. Maclunkey!
18:00
Get Into The Virtual World With $30 Off Oculus Go
» ‎ Geek.com

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If you’ve been looking to a VR headset for yourself or as a gift for someone for Christmas then you are in luck! For a limited time you can get Oculus’s innovative new Oculus Go HMD with a $30 discount.

The Oculus Go HMD lets you break out of your home and away from your computer. The VR system is entirely contained inside of the headset, which means you can use it anywhere at any time without the need of a computer or any other equipment.

As a mobile friendly VR headset, the Oculus Go differs significantly from Oculus’s other VR headsets. Without the extra processing power of a computer the Oculus Go is incapable of playing the cutting edge VR games that were developed for the Oculus Rift. The Oculus Go is able to play some games, but these games are necessarily less graphically advanced and closer to the sort of games you would expect to see on your smartphone, but with VR.

The Oculus Go is also able to display VR video content, giving you the feeling of being inside of your favorite shows. You can also use it enter VR chatrooms and talk to people from all over the world. There are also several other VR experiences you can partake in.

The headset and VR content can be controlled using either a series of hand gestures or with a small controller that is included with the HMD. Currently there are two versions of the Oculus Go available. The basic version comes with 32GB of internal storage space and an MSRP of $199, whereas the premium version features 64GB of storage space and a $249 price tag.

Purchasing either headset from Oculus with promo code GO32TAKE30 will drop the price by $30, making your final cost $169 for 32GB version or $229 for the 64GB model. This offer is valid until the end of the day on Veterans Day, which means it will expire after 11:59PM on November 12.