Author Archives: Carol Edwards

The private space race is heating up.

U.S. and New Zealand spaceflight company Rocket Lab successfully completed its first commercial launch called “It’s Business Time” on Sunday, sending seven payloads to orbit.

Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Māhia Peninsula at 4:50 p.m., shortly reaching orbit afterward.

More about Space, Private Spaceflight, New Zealand, Rocket Lab, and Science

Fans of the Philadelphia Eagles were spotted on the morning of Nov. 11 transporting what appeared to be an actual coffin decked out with stickers commemorating the Dallas Cowboys, the Eagles’ opponents in the Sunday night game. 

The message was clear: we will bury you. 

The funny (if slightly morbid) gesture was captured by Steven Fisher, an NBC news reporter on assignment at Lincoln Financial Field. 

More about Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Eagles Cowboys Game, Philly Fans, and Entertainment

At an excavation of a pharaoh’s 4,500-year-old pyramid complex, Egyptian archaeologists discovered dozens of mummified cats — in addition to 100 ornate cat statues. 

Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Dr. Khaled El-Enany announced the ancient cat artifacts on Nov. 10, and the Ministry took to Twitter to share images of the long-deceased felines, wrapped in ribbons of cloth.

Ancient Egyptians may not have worshiped their cats, but there’s ample evidence that they viewed the small mammals as divine. 

More about Science, Cats, Egypt, Archaeology, and Mummies

When Donald Trump didn’t like a press pool question from CNN’s Jim Acosta, he sent in a White House intern to yank his microphone away. 

On Saturday Night Live‘s Weekend Update, the “intern” (Cecily Strong) paid a visit to hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che and did what she does best: try to yank things out of people’s hands while staring into the middle distance for instructions. Read more…

More about Snl, Weekend Update, Snl White House Intern, Entertainment, and Movies Tv Shows

You like booty? Great, but Saturday Night Live‘s “Permission” video is here to remind you that butts have boundaries. Future, Lil’ Wayne, Kenan Thompson, Chris Redd, and Pete Davidson in character as someone called “Uncle Butt” spit bars about respecting women’s space, donating to civil rights causes, and generally keeping the club a safe environment for all to enjoy. 

Standout line: “Treat that booty right, ’cause we allies in this bitch.” Read more…

More about Snl, Future, Lil Wayne, Snl Permission, and Snl Music Videos

The California fire season should be winding down by autumn, but it’s alive and well. The Camp Fire largely turned Paradise — a town of over 26,000 — to ash while burning fleeing victims alive in their cars. On the other side of the state, in palm tree-laden Malibu, the city posted an urgent, ominous message on Nov. 9 as the Woosley Fire approached: 

“Fire is burning out of control, heading into populated areas of Malibu. All residents evacuate now.”

These late-season fall fires — stoked by weather but enhanced by global warming — have taken at least 23 lives. Below are 3 reputable, vetted ways to help those who have fled or are combating the nation’s latest environmental catastrophe.  Read more…

More about Science, Social Good, Climate Change, California Wildfires, and Charity Relief

George RR Martin may not be writing any of the Game of Thrones prequel series, but he certainly has insider knowledge about the stories they’ll tell.

And he just spilled the beans on two of them.

While Martin had hinted on his blog that one of the not-yet-greenlit series has something to do with the Targaryens, he revealed in an interview with The Guardian that “at least two of them are solidly based on material in Fire and Blood. Those haven’t been greenlit yet.”

Fire and Blood is a canon history of the Targaryen conquest, which is what happened when Daenerys and Jon’s great-great-super-great grandparents rained, well…fire and blood on the continent of Westeros. Read more…

More about Game Of Thrones, The Winds Of Winter, George Rr Martin, Fire And Blood, and Game Of Thrones Prequels

Never underestimate the power of single people buying themselves stuff. 

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba reported its highest individual sales day ever on Singles Day, an informal holiday dedicated to people who aren’t in relationships. 

Singles Day is on 11/11 (see all those “1”s? they symbolize being alone) and has become in recent years a bigger Chinese shopping day than Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Alibaba was a pioneer in offering discounts on the holiday, and their sales are promoted with a live TV show advertising the discounts available on the website.  Read more…

More about Alibaba, Singles Day, Singles Day Sales, Alibaba Sales, and Business

As thousands of firefighters battled uncontrolled flames in both Northern and Southern California on Saturday, President Trump tweeted out an ill-informed, distorted message about the cause of these deadly autumn infernos. 

But the firefighting community quickly rebutted the president’s claims, wherein he blamed “gross mismanagement of the forests,” while also threatening to cut federal support to fire management efforts. 

More about Science, Global Warming, Climate Change, Wildfires, and President Trump

Rihanna has struck a blow to the Donald Trump team by denying their rallies the rights to play her music. But the fight may not be over yet.

The music publishing company Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) has backed up Rihanna’s efforts to stop President Trump from using her songs at his rallies, according to Rolling Stone.  That could have implications for other artists, like Guns N’ Roses, that have pushed back against Trump’s use of their music

Unfortunately, the legal world of music licensing is so thorny that Trump rallies still might be able to bump Rihanna’s jams.

More about Rihanna, Trump, Tech, Music, and Politics