Places and Things

Indonesia has announced plans to build a new capital city, as its current capital, Jakarta, struggles with pollution, traffic gridlock — and the fact that the city is sinking. from https://www.npr.org/2019/04/29/718234878/indonesia-plans-to-move-its-capital-out-of-jakarta-a-city-thats-sinking https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2019/04/29/ap_19119410945348_custom-b2ce40888b3c03e266eb36aeb0d3aebf7266e7e8-s1200.jpg

via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BwzzHUBnxtgvn4GSnANtTyncSdP55xkS-ESzWU0/

Russian hackers were able to breach one Florida county’s voting systems during the 2016 Presidential Election, Florida Senator Marco Rubio confirmed in an interview, noting that that hackers not only accessed the county’s systems, but had the ability to change voter roll data, according to The N from https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/28/18520387/russian-hackers-florida-county-voting-records-marco-rubio-presidential-election https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63687657/103573357.jpg.0.jpg

Game of Thrones has never been about giving readers or viewers what they most want. Its author and screenwriters prefer to build fan expectations, then overturn them for narrative impact and, sometimes, pure shock value. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/27/18516648/game-of-thrones-got-season-8-hbo-final-hope-chest-character-death-survival https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63673841/6a77d8b839d14aec73604c6ad5ab5807507a35dbd7066370ebbc348e72f37c6d.0.jpg

What in the world is going on over at Samsung in the wake of the Galaxy Fold delay? The whole situation keeps refusing to normalize, and instead gets weirder nearly every day. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/25/18516875/ifixit-takedown-samsung-galaxy-fold-teardown https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63674202/akrales_190417_3377_0309.0.jpg

One unfortunate side-effect of our modern buy-everything-online lifestyle: package theft. A box or pile of boxes left sitting on your front stoop makes an easy target for "porch pirates," some of whom follow delivery trucks and scoop up packages moments after they're dropped off. from https://www.cnet.com/how-to/ways-to-keep-packages-from-getting-stolen-off-your-porch/ https://cnet2.cbsistatic.com/img/mUk9T6_Mwln0abMBjqTmFU0F6aM=/620x0/2018/01/09/9be2baef-f4da-4386-89e1-e04ae098ef74/boxlock.jpg

Tim Cook has tweeted a commitment that Apple will help to fund the rebuilding of Notre-Dame de Paris, the famous French cathedral which was devastated by fire last night. from https://9to5mac.com/2019/04/16/apple-notre-dame/ https://9to5mac.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/04/Apple-Notre-Dame.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1500

President Trump has just under 60 million Twitter followers. This is a lot. Barack Obama has over 106 million. This is a lot more. The discrepancy is precisely the type of thing that would infuriate the current occupant of the White House and, according to the Daily Beast, it does. from https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-twitter-followers-obama-826471/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

For the time being, breakfast holds the grand title of “the most important meal of the day. from https://www.inverse.com/article/55187-skipping-breakfast-costs https://fsmedia.imgix.net/2b/a4/32/04/be39/48d0/b3a4/1d5c5b414ecd/skipping-breakfast-comes-at-a-steep-cost.jpeg?rect=0%2C761%2C3205%2C1602&auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&w=650

Humans are pumping more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at an accelerating rate. But climate change is a cumulative problem, a function of the total amount of greenhouse gases that have accumulated in the sky. from https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2019/4/24/18512804/climate-change-united-states-china-emissions https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dXFN0WPqHghkqovSkZUNqpL_Grw=/0x0:2261x1565/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2261x1565):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16185122/gw_graphic_pie_chart_co2_emissions_by_country_2015.png

The Chinese government has drawn widespread condemnation in recent months over its extensive use of public surveillance and facial recognition technology to monitor the movements of some 12 million Muslim citizens. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/04/24/san-francisco-first-us-city-ban-facial-recognition/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D5184%252C3456%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1067%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2019-04%252F07169590-669d-11e9-af25-d1d3575912b3%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3Dd669755631f0753b1bcc810b74f30d74de18b319&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=651264f5eabec8ecb98d9eb495755c5bbea33013

Stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other medical conditions can rob people of their ability to speak. from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/scientists-take-a-step-toward-decoding-thoughts/ https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/31F61CAD-444D-4502-BFF264E581F5B96F_source.jpg?w=590&h=800&305D671C-BD66-43EC-86C3BE6C1491B091

Disney just pulled off an impressive preview of its Disney+ subscription video service. We even got a price and launch date, which is more than Apple has been willing to share about its forthcoming Apple TV Plus offering. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/24/18514195/att-warnermedia-streaming-service-september-october-announcement https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63664739/acastro_180322_1777_0001.0.jpg

Google Fit, the fitness tracking app that was redesigned on Android last year, has arrived on iOS. The app integrates with Apple Health, meaning your progress in other Health-compatible apps like Nike Run Club, Sleep Cycle, and Headspace will contribute towards your Google Fit goals. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/24/18513918/google-fit-ios-release-date-features-move-minutes-heart-points-rings https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63663626/google_fit_both_images.0.jpg

NASA’s InSight lander has detected the first known ‘marsquake’. The spacecraft picked up the faint trembling of Mars’s surface on 6 April, 128 days after landing on the planet last November. The quake is the first to be detected on a planetary body other than Earth or Moon. from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/first-marsquake-detected-on-red-planet1/ https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/111F78E9-7FA8-4782-B751D562AB3D6748_source.png?w=590&h=800&79CB25D5-1F91-46C7-8B7D4CF7A6B45F1A

Samsung has announced a 10-year, $116 billion plan to take over the lead as the world’s foremost processor maker by 2030, as reported by Bloomberg today. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/24/18513906/samsung-semiconductor-chips-money-apple-huawei-qualcomm https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63663559/samsungex.0.jpg

Though it’s not technically the first time we’ve seen the innards of the now-delayed Samsung Galaxy Fold, iFixit’s teardown of the folding device is absolutely the most informed and detailed we’ve seen. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/24/18511692/samsung-galaxy-fold-teardown-ifixit-hinge-gaps-dust-dirt-debris-broken-screen https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63663507/Ml3WmZVmE6krswhy.0.jpg

Apple is gearing up for the launch of its Apple TV+ streaming service this fall with the creation of a new YouTube channel dedicated to movie and TV shows. The channel serves up teasers, clips, behind the scenes looks, interviews and more about upcoming shows. from https://www.cultofmac.com/621208/apple-launches-youtube-channel-all-about-tv-and-movies/ https://cdn.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/D81BBACA-D853-43E2-892F-5629B427A8BF-780x546.jpeg

As she scanned the letter's black type, Alexis Patterson felt herself go numb. "The U.S. Department of Treasury ... applied all or part of your payment to delinquent debt that you owe," it read. Patterson stopped reading. One thing mattered now. from https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/23/more-student-loan-borrowers-are-getting-their-tax-refunds-seized.html https://fm.cnbc.com/applications/cnbc.com/resources/img/editorial/2019/04/12/105848852-1555076989022123_1.530x298.jpg?v=1555950745

Windows 10 is available in 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) architectures, and if your PC is using a 32-bit installation, you can upgrade to 64-bit as long as you have a capable processor and enough memory. from https://www.windowscentral.com/how-upgrade-32-bit-64-bit-version-windows-10 https://www.windowscentral.com/sites/wpcentral.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2018/08/windows-10-about-system-type.jpg?itok=1jS_t9_I

Mesh Wi-Fi kits are becoming popular for people who are sick of dead spots in their network coverage. Whether you have a large home or a small place with thick walls, grabbing one of these kits can alleviate a poor signal. from https://www.windowscentral.com/best-mesh-wi-fi-kits https://www.windowscentral.com/sites/wpcentral.com/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/2017/06/amped-wireless-ally-press-01.jpg?itok=X9wLPFEH

With iOS 13, Apple will let third-party apps import photos directly from external storage, reports 9to5Mac. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/23/18512251/ios-13-photos-import-third-party-apps-lightroom-cc-arkit-marzipan-siri-improvements-wwdc-2019 https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63657097/akrales_181102_3064_0113.0.jpg

The question has divided the nation's lower courts. WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court said Monday it will decide whether existing civil rights laws ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, a question that has divided the nation's lower courts. from https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-rule-whether-civil-right-law-bans-discrimination-against-n996996 https://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2019_17/1165006/150809-supreme-court-rainbow-flag-344p_199bcd1ae64b3d57cc0f0d2c740134ec.fit-760w.jpg

Russian hackers recently attacked a number of US embassies around the world by emailing malicious attachments disguised as official State Department documents to officials, according to a new report from Check Point Research. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/22/18508172/russian-hackers-united-states-embassy-cyber-attack https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63651711/hacker-stock1_2040.0.jpg

It's the fourth anniversary of Project Fi, and to celebrate, Google is offering half off of Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL phones for today only. There is one catch: The offer is only available to new and existing Google Fi customers, and applies once you connect to the network. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/04/22/google-pixel-3-half-price-discount/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D1600%252C996%252C0%252C72%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C996%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2019-04%252Fb96277b0-64e4-11e9-bfff-0f23102d1da5%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D096ec9e1318a5fb8114d87011062c561c8a6ca1d&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=33b83cab98daac1b39fa6154560637dc559e0637

Recently, I read a book about a man named Matthew Cowley, who was an incredible missionary and humanitarian to the people in New Zealand over 100 years ago. The book detailed the man’s life and one thing really stood-out to me. from https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/this-iphone-feature-can-improve-your-life-and-relationships http://img.youtube.com/vi/IKzWoErhxn4/0.jpg

Let me be frank: I only keep a Facebook account to engage with listeners of my national radio show. I don’t use my personal account. I stepped away from the social media platform, and I never looked back. I think everyone should take a social media break from time to time. from https://www.foxnews.com/tech/stop-facebooks-targeted-advertising-by-changing-your-account-settings https://a57.foxnews.com/a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2019/04/640/320/1862/1048/AP19099531041022.jpg?ve=1&tl=1?ve=1&tl=1

Crypto markets are marching slowly and steadily higher as another weekend unfolds. Total market capitalization is back over $180 billion again as it approaches the previous high for 2019. from https://www.newsbtc.com/2019/04/20/crypto-market-wrap-unstoppable-binance-leading-markets-back-to-2019-highs/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Your Apple ID account is used for so many things you can do with Apple devices and services, such as shop on the iTunes Store, sign in to iCloud, buy apps on the App Store, and more. If you forget your Apple ID password, all is not lost. from https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/change-or-reset-apple-id-password/ https://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2017/08/apple-passwords-id-login-800x362.jpg

In the battle between Washington and Huawei, there has long been the taunt from Shenzhen that U.S. officials have failed to produce any evidence of actual collusion between the telecom equipment giant and the Chinese state. Has that now changed? from https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/04/20/cia-offers-proof-huawei-has-been-funded-by-chinas-military-and-intelligence/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Following a tease earlier this year from Apple software chief Craig Federighi, it’s not entirely surprising that the next version of macOS will support the use of certain iPads as external displays. from https://venturebeat.com/2019/04/16/macos-10-15-will-reportedly-turn-ipads-into-external-touchscreens/ https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Screen-Shot-2019-04-16-at-10.25.02-AM.jpg?fit=578%2C344&strip=all

It will surprise no-one that I was an early adopter of the Kindle, buying one almost the moment they went on sale back in 2007. I was doing a lot of business travel at a time, and absolutely loved the ability to carry a whole load of books with me at all times in essentially zero space. from https://9to5mac.com/2019/04/17/kindle-paperwhite/ https://9to5mac.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/04/books.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1500

At 25 years old, Peter Perez was a college graduate with his whole life ahead of him. But one thing kept getting in the way: his weight. In the prime of his life, Perez was 342 pounds—the product of stress, work, and an inability to regulate his emotions without food. from https://www.menshealth.com/weight-loss/a27198556/weight-loss-elimination-diet-cutting-out-sugar/ https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/screen-shot-2019-04-18-at-5-11-01-pm-1555621881.png?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=480:*

Avery Fauth and her family love to scour the sand for shark teeth whenever they’re on a beach. But Fauth attributes her recent prehistoric find — a megalodon shark tooth — on North Topsail Beach to luck. Fauth’s dad got the family interested in searching for shark teeth. from https://www.foxnews.com/science/megalodon-shark-tooth-north-carolina-beach https://a57.foxnews.com/media2.foxnews.com/BrightCove/694940094001/2019/02/13/931/524/694940094001_6001681861001_6001679812001-vs.jpg?ve=1&tl=1

Following the fire that devastated Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris this week, Ubisoft has pledged €500,000 ($564,000) to help restore the iconic church. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/04/17/notre-dame-fire-apple-ubisoft-assassins-creed-unity/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D828%252C435%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C841%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2019-04%252F95c60d60-6130-11e9-bfbe-9db127442dc2%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D607c9090f9a227cda208c2cb8d710de3866df74e&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=48436b38eef6b15af6df059fbae6e60c1d44ac0e

Game of Thrones returned to HBO with some of its highest ratings yet last Sunday, but even those numbers were dwarfed by an even bigger audience. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/17/18412159/game-of-thrones-got-season-8-premiere-pirated-55-million-times-first-24-hours-hbo https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63574151/gameofthrones15_39.0.0.jpg

Apple might be preparing to move into Tile's territory, as it's reportedly developing a physical tag you'd be able to attach to any object to track its location. It's also working on an app that will essentially merge Find My Friends and Find My iPhone, according to 9to5 Mac. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/04/17/apple-tile-tracker-find-my-iphone-replacement/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D2000%252C1149%252C0%252C59%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C919%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%252F2019-04%252F422da220-6122-11e9-bcab-14f697cad1b2%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D34e0b844d907791ea3d5edb348648622d493efee&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=c5e823e3fefe349a245230dae62086f866ca9560

The film is adapting the classic Dark Phoenix storyline, first published in the 1980s, in which mutant Jean Grey is struck by a solar flare and transformed, returning to earth as the Phoenix, a being of pure thought. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/17/18412037/x-men-dark-phoenix-final-trailer-watch http://img.youtube.com/vi/azvR__GRQic/0.jpg

It’s a universal truth that everyone has to start somewhere. It’s also true that when you start something new, you’ll make mistakes. All the expert writers on this site will have gone through this process – myself included. from https://digital-photography-school.com/photography-errors-when-youre-new-to-photography/ http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

When it comes to facial recognition, it seems Microsoft truly has been trying to do good. Company president Brad Smith has revealed that the tech giant recently turned down a request from law enforcement to equip officers' cars and body cameras with face recognition tech. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/04/17/microsoft-facial-recognition-california-police/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D4909%252C3057%252C0%252C215%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C996%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2019-04%252F8c36d6a0-60fc-11e9-bff3-cafa68905d76%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3D86b57bb9112ac65eba425352887f268309711cfe&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=b46eb126e6a7184d4a860262d01a348196c03630

The lack of diversity within artificial intelligence is pushing the field to a dangerous "tipping point," according to new research from the AI Now Institute. from https://www.engadget.com/2019/04/17/artificial-intelligence-diversity-disaster/ https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?quality=85&image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fcrop%3D5600%252C3900%252C0%252C0%26quality%3D85%26format%3Djpg%26resize%3D1600%252C1114%26image_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fs.yimg.com%252Fos%252Fcreatr-images%252F2019-04%252Fc2f919b0-6100-11e9-b7bf-6cd96ce9ac90%26client%3Da1acac3e1b3290917d92%26signature%3Dea7c7100d12e606f910bc3db40ca90943ccef2b1&client=amp-blogside-v2&signature=ba826a85f384445c6d1a40fd7dd31f3b718cc319

Historic finds are common on construction projects in older cities like London or Rome, and the same applies for their smaller neighbors. from https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/archaeology/a27154940/iron-age-skeleton-discovery-oxfordshire/ https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/old-bonesy-1555363362.png?resize=480:*

If you thought that deactivating your Facebook account was enough to keep it from tracking your data, you're wrong. Turns out that the social network continues to track you even after you've deactivated your account. from https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-delete-your-facebook-account-so-the-social-network-stops-tracking-your-data/ https://cnet4.cbsistatic.com/img/kardcCscq6RwOSR6aTp4Eye1gl0=/2019/04/11/4577bd20-454b-478f-8b38-797624320d54/delete-facebook.jpg

Google Pay can now automatically import loyalty cards, tickets, and offers from your Gmail account. The feature, first spotted by 9to5Google, advertises that by using it “You won’t get more offers, it will just be easier to use them.” from https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/16/18390318/google-pay-gmail-import-loyalty-cards-tickets-offers https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63541888/acastro_180130_1777_0003.0.jpg

“#notreDame Et ainsi va la flèche.. Reste à espérer qu'il n'y ai pas de blessés. https://t.co/KtqAGqvpeh” from https://twitter.com/herpsonc/status/1117850599628759040 http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Our TV channel is also available in French, in Spanish and Arabic. You can watch all our VOD programs. Join us on Facebook and Twitter and, get FRANCE 24 on your mobile. from https://www.france24.com/en/livefeed http://img.youtube.com/vi/live_stream/0.jpg

Smoke could be seen billowing out from the top of the medieval cathedral, as flames leaped out besides its two bell towers, a Reuters witness said. This story is developing. Please check back for updates. from https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/15/paris-notre-dame-cathedral-on-fire-reuters.html https://fm.cnbc.com/applications/cnbc.com/resources/img/editorial/2019/04/15/105852839-1555348759830damfire.530x298.jpg?v=1555348835

Two months after an announcement where Samsung talked about the Galaxy Fold but didn’t allow anybody to actually touch it, we finally got our hands on it today. The $1,980 device begins shipping on April 26th, but it will likely be in very limited quantities. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/15/18311109/samsung-galaxy-fold-photos-video-foldable-screen-phone-hands-on-impressions https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16033714/fold1.gif

Spoilers ahead for “Winterfell,” episode 1 of Game of Thrones, season 8, and for season 7. Game of Thrones is back for its long-awaited eighth season. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/15/18310897/game-of-thrones-got-hbo-season-8-last-hearth-new-introduction-credits-sequence-explained-winterfell https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63409340/Screenshot_28.0.png

Microsoft has admitted that its Outlook.com security breach was worse than the company initially revealed. The software maker started notifying some Outlook.com users late on Friday night that a hacker was able to access accounts for months earlier this year. from https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/15/18311112/microsoft-outlook-web-email-hack-response-comment https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63409823/acastro_180507_1777_microsoft_0002.0.jpg