Not all smarthome devices make sense to buy. Many are expensive, hard to use, and offer little if any benefit compared to a typical “dumb” device. Do you really need a smart pillow or a smart fridge? No, you don’t. Smart Fridges Go Obsolete Quickly When you buy an appliance like a stove or a fridge, you usually expect it to last many years. They are significant investments and typically expensive, so you don’t want to replace them every two or three years. Smart fridges only add to that investment, and in some cases cost $800 more than their “dumb” equivalent. You might be able to justify the extra cost if the refrigerator lasts as long, but manufacturers have a terrible track record when it comes to maintaining the software in a smart fridge. Because of that fact, your expensive refrigerator may not even last a decade. And the features they provide, like a touch screen interface or voice assistant, can typically be replicated by a tablet. … [Read more...] about 5 Smarthome Devices You Shouldn’t Buy
What Small Token Is Secreted Aboard NASA’s Juno Spacecraft?
Answer: Aluminum LEGO Minifigures Hidden under the layers of insulation blanketing the Juno spacecraft are three very special passengers: Jupiter, his wife Juno, and Galileo. If you’re wondering how they found the space to pack three passengers on the spacecraft, the scale is important: the three of them are artfully rendered in miniature out of aluminum and fashioned to look like LEGO minifigures. The figures were included with the probe as a nod to the heritage of the planet (both in namesake and discovery) that the spacecraft was destined to study, as well as inspire children to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. … [Read more...] about What Small Token Is Secreted Aboard NASA’s Juno Spacecraft?
Everything We Learned From Marvel’s Hall H Panel
Marvel’s back in Hall H after a short hiatus and it’s brought an incredible amount of news to celebrate its return. From the cast of The Eternals film, to details on Black Widow’s last (?) hurrah, to some idea of what actual movies will go with all those release dates Disney and Marvel already announced through 2022. Phase 4 Phase 3 of Marvel’s cinematic universe ended earlier this month with Spider-Man: Far From Home. Marvel has announced a whole lot of films that would theoretically appear in Phase 4, with many of them already in pre-production and at least one currently shooting, but we haven’t known which films would be released on which dates until now. Black Widow is currently shooting so it makes sense it would be taking the first open slot on Disney and Marvel’s big Phase 4 calendar, but what about the rest? May 1, 2020 - Black Widow November 5, 2020 - The Eternals February 12, 2021 - Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings May 7, 2021 - … [Read more...] about Everything We Learned From Marvel’s Hall H Panel
What’s in Boris Johnson’s in-tray if he makes it to No 10?
If Boris Johnson is declared the winner of the Conservative leadership contest on Tuesday and moves into Downing Street the next day, the hard work will begin immediately. Here’s a look at what will be top of the Johnson in-tray. A cabinet reshuffle This is the first task of any new PM and while it involves rewarding some loyal allies it means disappointing more. Several Johnson loyalists, old and new, for example, have had their eye on the post of chancellor, but only one can do it. While a complete clearout of May’s cabinet is expected, not least of remain-minded ministers, if a rapid changeover is required Johnson could always leave many junior ministers in their posts. Brexit The big one, and the issue that will – probably even more than for Theresa May – define a Johnson premiership. He has promised to rapidly renegotiate almost all of May’s departure deal, ditching the Irish backstop border guarantee policy, something that would seem a huge task over … [Read more...] about What’s in Boris Johnson’s in-tray if he makes it to No 10?
Former MEP berates ‘culture of sexism’ in European parliament
When Marietje Schaake was elected to the European parliament for the Dutch liberal D66 party a decade ago, she knew what she wanted to do – protect people’s rights online and promote transatlantic relations. Schaake had not bargained for comments on her clothes and weight, or unwanted advances from male colleagues. As she left parliament after 10 years as an MEP this month, she wondered if her younger self would have been “courageous enough” to run for office had she understood “what I was getting myself into”. Having published her 2009 election manifesto as a series of tweets, the tech expert was 30 when she first walked into the European parliament buildings. “I was automatically assumed to be an intern or an assistant,” Schaake said. At a reception, a man plucked her drink out of her hand, assuming she was a waitress. Schaake does not blame people who mistook her for an assistant, since so few people her age were MEPs, but said she has … [Read more...] about Former MEP berates ‘culture of sexism’ in European parliament