Category Archives: Blog

There are a few reasons to recommend Outlaw King, David Mackenzie’s medieval movie starring Chris Pine as Robert the Bruce.

For one, it’s pretty. Like, really pretty. Mackenzie never misses an opportunity to showcase the pristine beauty of the Scottish countryside, with its rolling hills and soft mists. There’s one particular shot of a rainbow that nearly made me gasp. 

It’s also got plenty of fighting, if you’re into that sort of thing. The film rarely goes longer than 20 minutes without a battle scene, some more doomed or more epic or more violent than others, but all convincingly choreographed to look difficult and exhausting and flat-out brutal. Do you wish Game of Thrones had way less talking and way more action? Outlaw King might be for you. Read more…

More about Movies, Chris Pine, Outlaw King, Entertainment, and Movies Tv Shows

Twitter’s website is about to get a big makeover.

The company’s currently testing a redesigned version of its website, which will bring bookmarks, the explore tab, and a new “data-saver” mode to its desktop website. It’s also really, really, white.

Officially, the redesign won’t roll out to everyone for some time, though the company showed off a brief preview in a tweet Thursday. But Twitter’s already already testing the new look with a “small number” of its users who are able to opt in to the new look. 

My account was apparently in that group because I received a pop-up Thursday asking if I wanted to try out the “new Twitter.” After using it for just over 24 hours now, I’m here to report that, yes, it’s very, very, white. But, despite the new minimalist look, Twitter has made a few nice additions as well. Read more…

More about Tech, Twitter, Social Media Companies, Tech, and Social Media Companies

Another “wake word” has entered the lexicon. Instead of “OK, Google” or “Hey, Alexa,” this time it’s “Hey, BMW.”

With BMW’s new virtual assistant, coming to the German car maker in 2019, voice commands are front and center in the car. It’s a new way to interact with your vehicle.

The assistant was revealed Thursday at a TechCrunch Disrupt main stage event. BMW senior vice president of digital products, Dieter May, showed it off, extolling its skills beyond “just voice commands.” He said the assistant would “live side by side with you” — which is either super helpful or super creepy. Read more…

More about Bmw, Voice Controls, Voice Assistants, Tech, and Transportation

In a letter addressed to the Office of U.S. Trade Representative, Apple says President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on China will increase the prices on many of its most popular products including the Apple Watch and AirPods.

“Our concern with these tariffs is that the U.S. will be hardest hit, and that will result in lower U.S. growth and competitiveness and higher prices for U.S. consumers,” Apple said in the letter.

Apple spells out in clear terms which of its products would be most affected by the tariffs: The Mac Mini, Apple Pencil, HomePod, and many of its chargers and adapters would all become more expensive to produce. As a result, customers would most likely have to pay more for those gadgets. Read more…

More about Apple, Tariff, Tech, and Consumer Tech

These nuns are fighting guns with guns. Sort of. 

The Northwest Coalition for Responsible Investment, a collective of about a dozen nun associations, invests in companies so they can then use their shareholder status to sway the companies into supporting human rights issues. 

Issues have ranged from climate change to indigenous rights, but in the last few years, the nuns have shifted their focus to gun control, specifically investing in gun manufacturers because they are the “only group that isn’t involved in the issue.”  Read more…

More about Parkland, Gun Control, Social Good, and Web Culture

Barack Obama is well-known for his dad behavior, particularly in the style department. On Friday, though, he achieved his most dad accomplishment yet — accidentally assuming two people were a couple.

The incident occurred during a campaign stop with Illinois gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker. The two visited Urbana restaurant Caffe Paradiso, where they drank tea (Obama paid) and met with constituents.

According to tweets from CNN political reporter Dan Merica, Obama asked two people he was chatting with if they were a “pair.” They reportedly did not answer right away — an ominous sign that they had perhaps not yet Defined the Relationship, or were, in fact, not dating at all. Read more…

More about Politics, Culture, Barack Obama, Culture, and Politics

We went to Whisperlodge, an in-person ASMR experience advertised as a “spa for the senses” where trained guides use everyday objects to help you relax. Read more…

More about Mashable Video, Asmr, Culture, and Web Culture

Mac Miller has reportedly passed away due to a drug overdose, according to TMZ. 

The 26-year-old rapper was allegedly found in his home on Friday, and was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The musician worked with folks across the entertainment industry, and produced critically acclaimed albums throughout his career. His latest album Swimming was released on August 5th.  

Celebrity and fan reactions began pouring in on Twitter once the news broke on Friday afternoon. 

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Read more…More about Sexting, Apps. Security, Mashable Reels, Sn Reels, and Tech

Last night, a man took a relaxing hit off a joint. Or, to put it another way for readers in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Alaska, Nevada, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and the District of Columbia: It was a Thursday.

The man happened to be Elon Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX. The joint — technically a spliff or blunt, as it was marijuana mixed with tobacco — happened to be proffered by comedian and wrestling commentator Joe Rogan, who was streaming his show live from the state of California. “It’s legal, right?” asked Musk as he took Rogan up on his offer.  

More about Tesla, Marijuana, Cannabis, Marijuana Legalization, and Culture