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Tech NewsIs Apple’s New Meditation App More Full of Shit Than Deepak Chopra?
Hundreds of so-called “mindfulness” apps already clutter the web. Now Apple is integrating such an app into its watch, and pitching it with a quote from new-age garbage peddler Deepak Chopra—just a few days after Chopra introduced his own mindfulness app. During WWDC yesterday, Apple introduced Breathe for the Apple Watch. By reminding users to … Continued
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Tech NewsBecause the Words In That iMessage Just Weren’t Good Enough
Weren’t you just saying that iMessage would be so much better if it was less about words and more… well, more like Snapchat? No? Well, too bad. Sometimes it’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it that matters. Here are some things you’ll now be able to do with iMessage’s new features, … Continued
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Tech News
Apple Is Trying to Do What Google Photos Already Does
Hmmm, a photo tool that uses face recognition, can be easily searched, and plots all your geotagged photos onto maps? Where have I heard all this before? At today’s WWDC 2016, Apple announced a few Photos features that gave us a serious case of deja vu. That’s because Google Photos already does pretty much the … Continued
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Tech News
Apple Thinks You Should Breathe More, Sponsored By Noted Bullshitter Deepak Chopra
Breathing is important. There’s really no disputing that. But when Apple announced its new breathing app at WWDC 2016 today, it included an endorsement from one of the biggest spewers of feel-good pseudo-scientific garbage, Deepak Chopra. The new app, Breathe, is part of WatchOS 3, and will help guide you through meditation and breathing exercises … Continued
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Tech News
Getting High on Cannabis Cocktails
It was the perfect afternoon for day drinking: Not too warm, a pleasant breeze, the weekend within easy reach. On a sun-dappled Los Angeles patio around 3:00 p.m., I found myself pleasantly buzzed from both alcohol and cannabis. But I didn’t even have to resort to chugging a beverage while surreptitiously toking under the table—it … Continued
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Tech NewsBurning Man Just Bought a Permanent Outpost in the Nevada Desert
For the past few years the future of the most famous temporary city on Earth has been in limbo. The annual Burning Man festival has grown larger than its site can feasibly accommodate from an environmental perspective, causing some Burners to break off and start their own events. Now, the acquisition of property nearby might … Continued
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Tech News
Only Three US Cities Have Good Jobs, Affordable Housing, and High Quality of Life
When looking for a place to live, people are generally looking for three things: affordability, a strong economy, and good quality of life. Most US cities can only claim excellence in one of these areas. A dozen cities specialize in two. But if you truly want it all, you only have three choices. And they’re … Continued
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Tech News
This Might Get the World to Finally Pay Attention to Climate Change
Six British warships stationed in the Persian Gulf are breaking down because the water is too hot. This week, members of the British Navy testified to the UK’s Defence Committee that their Type 45 destroyers keep losing power because of high ocean temperatures. When the ships’ turbines get overheated, they can’t generate as much energy, … Continued
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Tech NewsOne of These US Cities Will Get $40 Million to Make Commutes Suck Less
Earlier this year, seven cities were named as finalists for the Smart City Challenge, a chance to win $40 million from the US Department of Transportation to become a connected, automated city of the future. Today, the mayors of Austin, Columbus, Denver, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Portland, and San Francisco made their final arguments for why … Continued
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Tech NewsA Band of Thieves Dressed Like Apple Workers Keeps Stealing iPhones From NYC Stores
Earlier this year, three individuals stole a total of 67 iPhones from an Upper West Side Apple store. Last week, 19 more iPhones were snatched from a SoHo store. How could these criminals possibly infiltrate the impenetrable security of a retail store run by certifiable geniuses? By dressing like Apple store employees, of course. It’s … Continued
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EartherClimate Change
Climate Change Made the Flooding in France More Deadly
Last week’s flooding in France saw rivers reach their highest levels in 50 years, forcing the Louvre to move its art away from rising waters. After the floods caused 18 deaths and nearly one billion Euros in damage, French President Francois Hollande made a statement urging his country to take stronger action against climate change. … Continued
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EartherClimate Change
Los Angeles Has a Plan to Stop Importing Its Water
For over a century, Los Angeles has famously siphoned its water from mountain streams hundreds of miles away. Now LA believes that it can wean itself off its many aqueducts, and has approved a 25-year plan to do exactly that. A new strategic plan from LA’s Department of Water and Power claims that by 2040 … Continued
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Tech NewsWatch a Massive Sinkhole Swallow a Minivan
Downtown Ottawa is the latest city to remove cars from its streets. Actually it’s just a single minivan. That got sucked into the bowels of the Earth. A huge sinkhole opened on a busy Ottawa street this morning due to a water main break. It seemed like emergency crews had everything under control and then… … Continued
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EartherClimate Change
Arctic Ice Is On Track to Reach its Lowest Level in History
It’s been a hot year in the Arctic, with sea ice melting earlier and faster than ever before. New data shows that May saw its lowest-ever sea ice extent, by a significant margin. Which means it’s very likely that by the height of summer, Arctic sea ice will be at its lowest levels ever recorded. … Continued
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Tech News
Reporter Rushes to Scene of Bee Truck Crash, Gets Trapped by Bees
A truck collided with two other vehicles on a busy North Carolina highway today, upending a swarm of bees onto the road, and trapping at least one news photographer in his car. And every single tweet that local news station WBTV posted about this situation is a gem. First: A crash. Looks bad. We don’t … Continued
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Tech News
Bjarke Ingels Built a Real-Life Minecraft Structure in London
Each year, the opening of the Serpentine Pavilion heralds the beginning of summer with a temporary structure installed in a London garden. This year, the pavilion was designed by Bjarke Ingels, the Danish superstar architect who was recently brought onboard to design Hyperloop One stations. Depending on where you stand, it’s either a very convincing … Continued
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Tech News
Journalists Are Backing Out of the Olympics Over Zika
Athletes have already expressed concern about traveling to the heart of the Zika outbreak to compete in this summer’s Olympics. Now journalists are opting out entirely. Several NBC employees will not travel to Brazil to cover the games, including Today anchor Savannah Guthrie, who announced today that she’s pregnant. The CDC made a recommendation in … Continued
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Tech News
How to Protect Your Drinking Water From Lead
After the full impact of the Flint water crisis was revealed, it was almost inevitable that more cities would start to see the same problems when it came to lead in their water supplies. Now it’s been proven that dozens of utilities are underreporting the amounts of lead in their water: 33 cities in the … Continued
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Tech News
Chicago Might Plug Its Giant Hell Pit With a Highway-Straddling Skyscraper
You remember the hell pit, don’t you? That giant abandoned hole punched in the Chicago landscape? Here’s a plan to make that hole a lot less holey. The 110-foot wide, 76-foot deep hole was dug with the best intentions. It was supposed to house the tallest tower in the Western Hemisphere, Santiago Calatrava’s Chicago Spire. … Continued
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Tech News
Jesus’ Tomb Is Finally Getting the Restoration That Bickering Monks Delayed for 200 Years
The are many reasons one might put off a much-needed home improvement project. Budget. Can’t find the right contractor. When it came to the tomb where Christians believe Jesus was buried, it was two centuries of infighting between some very possessive monks. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, located in the Old City of Jerusalem, … Continued
Alissa Walker
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