Places and Things

Destiny 2 is getting a big expansion next week, and some lapsed players are thinking about coming back to the game. A lot’s happened over the past year, so you could be forgiven for not following all the story developments closely. That’s what I’m here for. from https://kotaku.com/everything-you-need-to-know-going-into-destiny-2-forsa-1828746767 https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--XQSrdSk_--/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/dfplpyar5eikibzgscpd.png

Under Trump’s policy, roughly 1.8 million people wouldn’t get an automatic pay boost next year, including Border Patrol and ICE agents. That stance puts vulnerable GOP lawmakers representing northern Virginia — home to tens of thousands of federal workers — in the political crosshairs. from https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/30/trump-cancels-pay-raises-federal-workers-804574 https://static.politico.com/dims4/default/57dc76e/2147483647/resize/1160x%3E/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.politico.com%2F14%2F7b%2F36d6c7944401bfcb59ab54878e43%2F180830-donald-trump-ap-773.jpg

One of the biggest announcements at IFA 2018 so far has been Acer’s new Predator Thronos gaming chair (I mean that literally — it’s almost five feet tall and weighs over 485 pounds). Sitting down in the Predator Thronos is an experience all its own. from https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/8/30/17799330/acer-predator-thronos-gaming-chair-hands-on-ifa-2018 https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/12755465/THORNOS_SYNC.00_07_47_16.Still003.jpg

from https://store.google.com/product/titan_security_key_kit http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Earlier this month, Apple became the first American company with a market cap over $1 trillion. That was mostly due to the iPhone, possibly the most profitable product in modern history. from https://www.businessinsider.com/9-people-who-knew-the-iphone-was-going-to-be-a-flop-2017-6 https://amp.businessinsider.com/images/54b9458469bedd3745d23c95-750-500.jpg

The second quarter of the year is always the slowest one for iPhone sales, as consumers hold off for the new models announced in September, but that didn’t stop the iPhone from topping US smartphone sales … Counterpoint Research includes the snippet in a new report today. from https://9to5mac.com/2018/08/29/iphone-sales-q2-2018/ https://9to5mac.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2018/08/apple_union_square_023.jpeg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1500

Past group photos of White House interns under President Donald Trump have drawn criticism for showing a group of overwhelmingly white young people. This summer, the White House didn’t make much progress on diversity — they just didn’t release the photo. from https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/8/29/17793104/white-house-intern-picture-summer-2018 https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ODlunhfGSWxghZyJGvg_PqGFO8I=/0x0:3000x2000/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:3000x2000)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/12669761/Summer_2018_White_House_intern_class.jpg

Let's get right to it: The Microsoft Surface Book 2 is available for $1540.32 on Walmart. Normally, this model Surface is listed at $3144.99, saving you a whopping $1600 on this killer 2-in-1. Under the hood, the Surface Book 2 is packing pretty nice power for a 2-in-1 laptop. from https://mashable.com/2018/08/28/microsoft-surface-book-2-walmart-deal/ https://i.amz.mshcdn.com/nTJvyhoizS-DAzPz8367VOiEEGM=/950x534/filters:quality(90)/https%3A%2F%2Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fcard%2Fimage%2F835393%2F11550417-b323-4892-bce3-c8680575d57d.jpeg

(CNN)Hurricane Maria caused an estimated 2,975 deaths in Puerto Rico, according to a new report from George Washington University. Researchers calculated excess deaths that occurred in the US commonwealth between September 2017 and February 2018. from https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/28/health/puerto-rico-gw-report-excess-deaths/index.html https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/180320165732-puerto-rico-prepares-for-direct-hit-from-hurricane-maria-exlarge-169.jpg

Service Announcements: Destiny 2 Update 2.0 will bring many changes to the Destiny 2 experience in preparation for Forsaken. Some features may not be fully operational until September 4. This is the final week of Season 3. Season 4, “Season of the Outlaw,” begins on September 4. from https://www.bungie.net/en/Explore/Detail/News/47127 http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

The release of Destiny 2's biggest DLC expansion yet, Forsaken, is right around the corner, and to get players pumped for the game's next chapter, Bungie has released a new launch trailer. from https://www.gamespot.com/articles/destiny-2-forsaken-gives-players-their-voice-back-/1100-6461427/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

The widow of former Grand Valley State University quarterback Cullen Finnerty was among four family members of deceased college football players who filed wrongful death lawsuits against the NCAA on Monday, alleging brain disease caused by concussions led to the players' premature deaths. from http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/24497876 http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

The president had a long-running feud with the Arizona senator, refusing to issue a statement about his life and keeping the American flag over the White House at half staff for the shortest amount of time allowed. "It was done, repeal and replace Obamacare, it was done. from https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/hazelshearing/trump-white-house-john-mccain-flags-statement https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2018-08/27/9/asset/buzzfeed-prod-web-02/sub-buzz-20972-1535375121-5.jpg

On a particularly gassy day, it may seem like your body is doing some serious work to get those farts out. So you may be wondering (or, at the very least, wishfully thinking) whether farting actually burns any calories. from https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a22822203/does-farting-burn-calories/ https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/mh-turtle-fart-1524498617.jpg?resize=480:*

Once Google Lens wraps up with its analysis, it will automatically highlight any words it recognizes. from https://android.gadgethacks.com/how-to/use-google-lens-translate-text-from-books-websites-more-google-photos-0186664/ https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/23/93/63670617968178/0/use-google-lens-translate-text-from-books-websites-more-google-photos.w1456.jpg

You've already got the Google Assistant on your phone, and carry it pretty much everywhere as a result, but don't for one second think that means Google and its hardware partners are any less interested in making Assistant's reach positively ubiquitous. from https://www.androidpolice.com/2018/08/24/lg-bringing-google-assistant-tvs-markets-around-world/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Epic’s decision to bypass the Play Store and have users download an APK on the web was widely criticized from a security standpoint. That backlash was quickly proven to be warranted after Google discovered a flaw in the Fortnite install process. from https://9to5google.com/2018/08/24/google-found-security-flaw-fortnite-play-store/ https://i2.wp.com/cdn02.nintendo-europe.com/media/images/08_content_images/news_5/2017/january_9/CI_NSwitch_Console_02.jpg?resize=300%2C250&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1

Unceremoniously pulled a day after being introduced, the Google Material Theme for Android Messages is now returning. A new version of the app is beginning to roll out today with features like dark mode available once more. On August 16th, version 3. from https://9to5google.com/2018/08/26/android-messages-google-material-theme-2/ https://i2.wp.com/cdn02.nintendo-europe.com/media/images/08_content_images/news_5/2017/january_9/CI_NSwitch_Console_02.jpg?resize=300%2C250&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1

CHICAGO — The Democratic National Committee voted Saturday to significantly curtail the power of superdelegates and make presidential caucuses more accessible, overcoming objections from a small but vocal minority of its membership. from https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/democrats-vs-trump/democrats-strip-super-delegates-power-reform-caucuses-historic-move-n903866 https://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Video/201808/n_ari_jahanna_180816_1920x1080.760;428;7;70;5.jpg

Despite being 2D in design, researchers have found a way to 3D print graphene into some of the strongest structures possible. It appears that atom-thin graphene has struck again in making an astounding breakthrough, this time by taking the 2D structure and bringing it into the 3D world. from https://www.siliconrepublic.com/machines/3d-print-graphene-breakthrough http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

The administration denies it is intentionally obstructing refugee resettlement, and maintains that it has merely introduced new security vetting that takes more time but keeps Americans safe. from https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/trump-admin-intentionally-slowing-fbi-vetting-refugees-ex-officials-say-n903346 https://media4.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2018_17/2410971/180425-rohingya-camp-bangladesh-njs-1148_303f2d5958b2c34090a0aa54de693338.fit-760w.jpg

Russian trolls weren’t just trying to cause division in U.S. politics. A new study shows that they were also trying to sow discord in one of the country's most heated debates around public health: vaccinations. from https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/russian-trolls-pushed-divisive-content-over-vaccines-researchers-say-n903286 https://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2018_34/2541926/180823-immunization-chart-se-351p_d7a221aaafd0926343903dd8fe14b2d3.fit-760w.png

In a remarkable new interview with Fox & Friends’ Ainsley Earhardt, Donald Trump reminds us of what a fundamentally low situation the United States has landed in. from https://www.vox.com/2018/8/23/17772990/trump-fox-and-friends-transcript https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/F9qBq1DYT9Mb-GpmvTJoIiXf4b4=/0x0:3000x2350/1200x800/filters:focal(1600x741:2080x1221)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60994543/956921152.jpg.0.jpg

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Tuesday came out with new rules scaling back Obama-era constraints on coal-fired power plants, striking at one of the former administration's legacy programs to rein in climate-changing fossil-fuel emissions. from https://apnews.com/13ae7fdfa76f4c3ab19f66c681456d32 https://storage.googleapis.com/afs-prod/media/media:e056600f4d72449fbe21fb5fbf7f9ad2/800.jpeg

If you are an Android user looking to download cryptocurrency applications, be careful of malicious app developers masquerading themselves as legitimate sources. Tricksters are taking advantage of the cryptocurrency hype, especially among the amateurs who want to hold some bullish tokens. from https://www.ccn.com/android-app-scam-tricks-users-into-buying-fake-ethereum-token/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Sydney Valencia was eager to vote in the Chattanooga, Tennessee, primaries on July 20. She was also nervous. After transitioning last year, she was going to vote for the first time as a transgender woman. from https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/new-ride-share-app-will-help-lgbtq-voters-get-tennessee-n902611 https://media4.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2018_34/2540056/180822-sydney-valencia-ew-1120a_eac6a2df8b0e6d8088a6351b298c345a.fit-760w.jpg

Awarding a specific motherboard the gold trophy was a difficult task, but we decided that the ASUS Z170 Pro Gaming series motherboard is still the best bang for your buck. from http://www.windowscentral.com/best-motherboards https://www.windowscentral.com/sites/wpcentral.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2016/10/msi-x99a-godlike-gaming-motherboard.jpg?itok=pyH7Kuwg

Humans are off the scale. Modern human brains are about threefold larger than those of our earliest hominin ancestors and living great ape relatives. Across animals, brain size is tightly correlated with body size. But humans are the extreme outlier when gauged against this typical scaling relation. from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-makes-the-human-brain-special/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

We've gone over why using two-factor authentication on your online accounts is a good idea, and showed you how to set it up for your Google account as well as how to get started with Authy if you use more than one phone or computer. But we're not done yet! from https://www.imore.com/how-add-usb-2fa-key-your-google-account-without-activating-advanced-security https://www.imore.com/sites/imore.com/files/styles/xlarge/public/article_images/2016/07/2fa-usb-key-2-qqts.jpg?itok=gMjKfIDG

There's water ice on the surface of the moon, a team of scientists has confirmed, and future expeditions could harvest it for human settlements. from https://www.engadget.com/2018/08/21/nasa-confirms-ice-moon-poles/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Weeks after Microsoft revealed it detected Russian hackers targeting multiple 2018 campaigns (including Senator Claire McCaskill) the company is announcing it found and disabled six spoof domains created by "a group widely associated with the Russian government. from https://www.engadget.com/2018/08/21/russian-phishing-apt28-microsoft/ https://s.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/bff0d29646a25305d16f784d5af2c2f5/206607847/accountguardmicrosfot.jpg

They're incredible. Amazing. Magical. But perhaps the most fantastic thing about lucid dreams – in which the dreamer becomes aware they're dreaming – is how realistic they seem. from https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-figured-out-new-technique-having-lucid-dreams-acetylcholine-galantamine-alzheimer-s-drug https://www.sciencealert.com/images/2018-08/processed/cody-black-483620-unsplash-0_600.jpg

Microsoft said Tuesday it has uncovered new Russian hacking attempts targeting U.S. political groups ahead of the midterm elections. from https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-hackers-targeting-republicans-ahead-of-midterms-2018-8 https://amp.businessinsider.com/images/5b7b9904dcee301c008b5672-750-375.jpg

The legislation plans to require the city’s largest buildings to reduce energy use by 20 percent by 2030, as well as to set a framework for increasing the cuts by 40 percent to 60 percent by 2050. from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/nyc-carbon-footprint_us_5b7a338ee4b018b93e952f64 http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

While their rivalry is perhaps a bit more good natured than it used to be, it’s still not every day you find Microsoft and Sony working together in the console gaming world. from https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnarcher/2018/08/18/xbox-and-ps4-join-forces-to-make-cutting-edge-games-look-even-better/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

In a quest to cut the cost of clean electricity, power utilities around the world are supersizing their solar farms. from https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/supersized-solar-farms-are-sprouting-around-world-maybe-space-too-ncna901666 https://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2018_33/2535131/180817-solar-star-california-mn-1320_9ac4ae93b01669dc37428993155d8b9a.fit-760w.jpg

What are the best accessories for Microsoft's Surface Book? Read on. We refreshed this list to ensure you're still getting the best Surface Book accessories, including the new Bamboo Ink smart stylus. from https://www.windowscentral.com/best-accessories-microsoft-surface-book https://www.windowscentral.com/sites/wpcentral.com/files/styles/larger/public/field/image/2015/10/surface-book-top-closed.jpg?itok=2YT2vfgH

Aretha Franklin, the "queen of soul" who became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, has died in Detroit at the age of 76. The legendary singer was diagnosed with cancer in 2010 and announced last year she was retiring from music. from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-45169609 https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/840D/production/_102950833_franklin2_getty.jpg

The Jamaican Stock Exchange (JSE) has partnered with Toronto-based FinTech company Blockstation to allow digital asset trading, according to an August 14 press release. from https://www.ethnews.com/jamaican-stock-exchange-to-allow-crypto-trading http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Former CIA chief John BrennanJohn Owen BrennanBrennan on Trump calling Omarosa a dog: You'll never be a 'good, decent, & honest person' John Brennan rips Trump on Twitter about what it means to be 'presidential' What would the intelligence community's 'insurance policy' against Trump look like? from https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/402031-brennan-fires-back-at-trump-i-will-not-relent http://thehill.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumb_small_article/public/brennanjohn_06142018.jpg?itok=HrkfBcK1

According to a recent tweet from the team behind Cash App, the mobile payment app developed by financial services company Square Inc., users can now buy and sell bitcoin across the US, from Alabama to Wyoming and every state in between. from https://www.ethnews.com/cash-app-bitcoin-service-now-available-in-every-us-state http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

If you played Destiny, you may be familiar with Xur, the weekly Exotic item merchant. In Destiny 2, he’s back, and he can now appear all over the map. This week, he’s in the Tower, and there’s a helpful icon on the planet map to show you where he is. from https://www.polygon.com/destiny-2-guide-walkthrough/2018/8/10/17675634/destiny-2-xur-location-and-items-aug-10-13 https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60796639/Xur_Destiny_2_.0.jpg

At $595 a pop, Vollebak’s new graphene jacket isn’t for everyone. But if even half of what its creators promise is true, it could be worth every cent. from https://www.fastcompany.com/90205090/the-first-graphene-jacket-is-here-and-its-magical https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/w_596,c_limit,q_auto:best,f_auto/wp-cms/uploads/2018/08/7-graphene-jacket.jpg

Aside from a small pilot program along the coast of Finland, offshore wind turbines have not been placed in waters that freeze during winter. Moving ice can act like a battering ram, pushed by storms and unpredictable currents, knocking into masts that hold up spinning blades. from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-offshore-wind-turbines-succeed-in-the-great-lakes/ https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/81614116-F05F-40D3-B990EF6FD0542388.jpg?w=590&h=393&4FFA5D28-06AE-4992-92F9EC8CEB1206B4

Programmers tend to have their own distinct styles, but it's not really feasible to pore over many lines of code looking for telltale cues about a program's author. Now, that might not be necessary. from https://www.engadget.com/2018/08/12/machine-learning-can-fingerprint-programmers/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Apple is delaying its FaceTime group chats feature. While FaceTime group chats were originally scheduled for the iOS 12 release, developer Guilherme Rambo has revealed the feature has been removed in the latest iOS 12 beta 7 release today. from https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/13/17684154/apple-group-facetime-chats-delay-ios-12 https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60821481/apple_WWDC_2018_3020.0.jpeg

World of Warcraft’s newest expansion, Battle for Azeroth, is set to launch today. That’s exciting! There’s just one problem: Even players who log in every day may have missed out on bits and pieces of the story. from https://www.polygon.com/2018/8/13/17683650/world-of-warcraft-battle-for-azeroth-lore-recap-comics-books https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60820937/4g6Qre5.0.png

A nude scene long believed lost featuring Marilyn Monroe in John Huston’s The Misfits has been re-discovered. The footage, cut from the film by Huston, was previously believed to have been destroyed. from https://deadline.com/2018/08/marilyn-monroe-lost-nude-scene-from-the-misfits-discovered-1202444346/ https://pmcdeadline2.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/marilyn-monroe-cannes__120518004013.jpg?w=446&h=299&crop=1

The FBI has fired Agent Peter Strzok, who helped lead the bureau’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election until officials discovered he had been sending anti-Trump texts. Aitan Goelman, Strzok’s lawyer, said FBI Deputy Director David L. from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/fbi-agent-peter-strzok-fired-over-anti-trump-texts/2018/08/13/be98f84c-8e8b-11e8-b769-e3fff17f0689_story.html http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Destiny 2 is a game with many complicated systems, and few of them are explained within the experience itself. The infusion system is one of the most opaque ones, so we’re going to teach you how to use it to get the highest level possible. But there’s much to understand before we get there. from https://www.polygon.com/destiny-2-guide-walkthrough/2017/9/26/16369222/power-level-infusion-guide http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png