The joy of video game music

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The joy of video game music

I find myself coming back to video game music again and again when I don’t know what to listen to on any given day.

Music is my lifeblood, and it’s rare for me to have a moment without it. When I’m hanging out alone, or hanging with friends, or cleaning my apartment, or driving, or walking, or doing literally anything, I put on music.  I listen to plenty of more traditional music, bouncing between my favorites bands and exploring new artists. Sometimes, though, I need something that hits a different note in my soul.

Right now, I’m listening to the soundtrack from 2011’s indie game Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP, by musician and composer Jim Guthrie.  Read more…

More about Nintendo, Entertainment, Music, and Gaming

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“Joker,” “It Chapter Two,” and more new movies in 4K on sale at Amazon

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"Joker," "It Chapter Two," and more new movies in 4K on sale at Amazon

Even the most anti-tech parents and grandparents have to admit how convenient streaming services are. They afford way more options than cable and allow us to cross movies and TV shows off our lists without hoarding physical copies.

But for some movies, a good old 4K DVD can’t be replaced. You never know when Netflix or Hulu is about to remove it from the lineup — and those physical copies will come in handy if your WiFi ever shits out. (Gasp!)

Joker, It Chapter Two, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood are among Amazon’s selection of recently released 4K and Blu-ray DVDs on sale, adding some of 2019’s best films to your entertainment artillery for as low as $18.99. Read more…

More about Streaming, Joker, Mashable Shopping, It Chapter Two, and Entertainment

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If the holidays suck for you, head to the nicest place on the internet

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If the holidays suck for you, head to the nicest place on the internet

This is a wonderful time of the year, where friends and family gather in love and harmony — in theory.

Unfortunately, not everyone is able to embrace the holiday spirit. 

For reasons ranging from familial fallings-out, to a lack of available friends, to having no living relatives, to simply having to work over the holidays, many people the world over will be spending Christmas alone. Meanwhile, many others will spend the day surrounded by people but wishing they were by themselves instead.

The holidays can be a trying time for everyone, so English comedian Sarah Millican came up with an initiative to help people make it through. In 2010 she started the #joinin hashtag on Twitter, aimed at bringing tidings of comfort and joy to anyone struggling through this time of year. Read more…

More about Christmas, Holidays, Mental Health, Sarah Millican, and Lonliness

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This swing-set illusion is the last great pointless internet argument of the decade

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This swing-set illusion is the last great pointless internet argument of the decade

If you’re steeling yourself for arguments over the Christmas table this year, bookmark this now. When the conversation turns to impeachment, climate change, or whether Star Wars is ruined now, pull out your phone and show them this video of a silhouetted figure on a swing set in the snow. 

Then ask them which way the swinger is facing.

User @ectupper originally posted the illusion on Twitter in February, and then to TikTok recently, where it blew up and made its way back to Twitter to wrinkle brains and cause arguments about forced perspective. 

Like other conflict-inciting viral illusions, of the Dress or Yanny/Laurel kind, at first it seems obvious which way the swinger is facing. You can’t even understand why anyone would see it the other wa—  Read more…

More about Viral Videos, Illusions, Tiktok, Culture, and Web Culture

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Unbanked, credit card-less riders can now rent scooters with cash

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Unbanked, credit card-less riders can now rent scooters with cash

As more stores go cashless, one electric scooter rental company is going the other direction. 

Scoot, the bright red scooter-share bought by Bird earlier this year, announced Monday that anyone in San Francisco can rent its scooters with cash. For the unbanked or those without credit and debit cards, this opens up the world of scooter-sharing.

Up until now, to rent a Scoot e-scooter (and all other companies offering scooter rentals) you had to download the app and plug in payment information, usually a credit or debit card number. But now you can pay for Scoot credit at a CVS pharmacy store or 7-Eleven convenience store at 89 locations throughout San Francisco.  Read more…

More about Cashless, Scoot, E Scooters, Tech, and Transportation

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