Cambridge Analytica whistleblower says Facebook data could be stored in Russia

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Another day, another twist in the Cambridge Analytica saga. And like any political scandal of the past year, now Russia is involved.

Facebook already upped the number of its users whose data was unknowingly used for a political data firm from 50 million to 87 million users, but the whistleblower who exposed the data scandal said this weekend that number could be even higher.

On Sunday’s Meet the Press, Cambridge Analytica cofounder Christopher Wylie told Chuck Todd that, “I think that it could be higher, absolutely,” when asked about even more people affected by the Trump campaign-connected data firm.  Read more…

More about Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, Data Privacy, Cambridge Analytica, and Tech

Chief Taco Officer could be your next career move

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Taco ’bout a tasty offer: a month traveling the country giving away free tacos and eating a few yourself.

That’s the job description for this sweet job title, Chief Taco Officer at Moe’s Southwest Grill.

All those hungry Chief Technology Officers can move aside, this is for true taco lovers of the Atlanta-based taco chain. Though to apply you do need some social media savvy and know how to download an app. 

SEE ALSO: Dude lands a job by making this super catchy rap video instead of a cover letter

Applications are already piling in, a company spokeswoman said in an email Sunday. Some standout entries include this woman’s reasoning for why tacos are life. She says tacos are “good with any mood; happy, sad, excited; tacos are always there for you.” Read more…

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Random family does better rendition of ‘Les Mis’ than the 2012 movie cast

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Most Broadway fans are guilty of having put on a private performance or two of Les Miserables. But I bet it didn’t sound nearly as professional as the LeBaron family’s near-perfect rendition of “One Day More.”

The Utah family from Fruit Heights took on the classic musical’s climactic number on Easter Sunday, and their performance sparked the fire of the French revolution in millions on the internet.

“Anyone looking to do Les Miserables for their next show? Better yet…anyone looking for an entire cast?” wrote Jordon LeBaron in the Facebook post.

For fans of the musical, his brother Landon’s killer performance as Javert is almost enough to help us forget the brutal massacre that was Russell Crowe’s attempt at the role in the 2012 movie. Read more…

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#MeToo founder calls out Tony Robbins for his tone-deaf comments on the movement

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Life coach Tony Robbins dug himself into a hole last month when his comments suggesting that some women use the #MeToo movement to make themselves “feel good” made the rounds online. Now, the backlash is picking up steam.

On Saturday, #MeToo movement founder Tarana Burke weighed in on Robbins after a video from Now This News brought his comments back into the spotlight.

SEE ALSO: Jennifer Lopez speaks out about her own sexual harassment #MeToo experience

Oh the video is MUCH worse. His misogyny runs deep. To even repeat that story of his ‘friend’ who wouldn’t hire the ‘pretty woman’ as if it’s the MOVEMENT’s fault and not the sexist man’s fault is all you need to hear. It’s deplorable. But SO many folks misunderstand this work.

— Tarana (@TaranaBurke) April 7, 2018 Read more…

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15 times we screamed while watching Drake’s celeb-heavy new video

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The last time Drake dropped a new music video, we cried. (He bought strangers groceries! So nice!) Now, thanks to his new celebrity-packed video for “Nice For What,” we’re screaming. 

The 4-and-a-half minute video from 22-year-old director Karena Evans features cameos from 16 super famous women, including Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, and Misty Copeland. 

SEE ALSO: Drake gives away almost a million dollars in the new ‘God’s Plan’ music video

Drake’s there too, serving as filler between shots of Olivia Wilde writhing on a table and Tiffany Haddish smoking cigarettes. But forget Drake for a second: This video’s all about the women.  Read more…

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My day riding ‘Bird’ e-scooters shows how the tech industry has changed my hometown

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When I was a teenager growing up in West LA, a friend of mine from a different part of the city derisively called my neighborhood “Scooter-Ville” because it was so “wholesome.” He’d look out of my big bedroom window to see the neighborhood kids riding their Razor scooters up my empty block, around the cul-de-sacs, over and down the circular driveways.

Now, a different sort of scooter has come to town: “Bird” electric scooters.

SEE ALSO: E-scooter company CEO wants to ‘Save Our Sidewalks’ from bike litter

Bird is a new transportation company that places un-docked electric scooters around a city. Users can unlock them with the touch of an app and use them to travel short distances at 15 mph. It’s one of a host of new dockless transportation companies — along with LimeBike, Jump, and others — bringing easy-to-use, non-car transit options to cities across the country. It’s also one of the more recent technology companies to call Santa Monica its home base and effectively its beta testing ground.  Read more…

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A new YouTube Kids app will use human curators to protect your young ones

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YouTube might have finally figured out a way to keep creepy, exploitative videos away from children using the YouTube Kids app: Human curators.

An upcoming, technically-not-yet-confirmed new version of the app eliminates the algorithm that selects which videos show up for viewing. Instead, a team of actual humans will review content and handpick channels that are kid-friendly.

SEE ALSO: This song addresses what it’s like to grow up surrounded by social media

The existence of this “whitelisted” YouTube Kids app is noted in a new BuzzFeed report, citing “a source familiar with YouTube’s plans.” The older, algorithm-powered version of the app will continue to exist as well; the human-curated release will complement it, offering parents an alternative. Read more…

More about Tech, Youtube, Cybersecurity, Algorithm, and Youtube Kids

Oklahoma mom ’embarrassed’ that her child’s textbook once belonged to Blake Shelton

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Don’t take it too personally, Blake – this isn’t really about you.

As Oklahoma mother Shelly Bryan Parker shared on Facebook this week, she was “embarrassed” to find that a textbook she believes was once used by singer Blake Shelton in the 1980s is the same book her young daughter is using in school today. Shelton originally hails from Ada, the same town that Parker and her daughter call home.

SEE ALSO: 10 times high schoolers had the most extra promposals

The problem for Parker isn’t Shelton, but Shelton’s age – or, rather, the age of her child’s textbook. 

“I’m 40 and these people are my age!!!” she wrote. “Thank you to every teacher/parent/support staffer/etc. for fighting for my kids education!!! Don’t give up until education is FULLY FUNDED!!!!” Read more…

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New ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ TV ad spends a lot of time in Wakanda

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There’s not one Starbucks to be found in Wakanda, apparently.

The new “Chant” TV spot for Avengers: Infinity War highlights how the Earth’s mightiest heroes assemble to face off against the forces of Thanos on Black Panther’s home turf. There’s plenty of new footage to feast your eyes on, and that’s about the extent of it.

Marvel has been more cagey than usual about its Infinity War story, which ties together all of the previous Marvel Cinematic Universe releases to date. Just this week, directors Anthony and Joe Russo issued a weird threat on social media regarding spoilers.

Avengers: Infinity War hits theaters on April 27. Read more…

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