Social Media Marketing and Online Shopping: January 2020

Friday, 31 January 2020

Former Coast Guard Lieutenant Is Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison on Gun and Drug Charges

By BY MICHAEL LEVENSON from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2uaZAQp

Democrats unsuccessfully try to force four amendments.

By BY EMILY COCHRANE from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2RJiGWO

Trump signed off on the plan for his trial’s close.

By BY NICHOLAS FANDOS from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2UlkUxz

Requiem for a Dream

By BY ROGER COHEN from NYT Opinion https://ift.tt/2GKelfI

Why My Dark Vanessa Is the New Book Everyone’s Angry About

On the heels of the American Dirt controversy comes a new literary dustup.

from Slate Magazine https://ift.tt/36MpdEk

What Are the Democratic Candidates’ Climate Proposals for Black America?

South Carolina is a battleground in more ways than one.

from Slate Magazine https://ift.tt/2RNx7Jm

The Weinstein Trial Isn’t the First High-Profile Case to Feature a Graphic Description of the Defendant’s Genitals

From Michael Jackson to Bill Clinton to Jeffrey Epstein to Harvey Weinstein.

from Slate Magazine https://ift.tt/2Oh86Eh

Roberts says it would be ‘inappropriate’ for him to act as a tie-breaker.

By BY CATIE EDMONDSON from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2UfphtG

Giuliani Sought Help for Client in Meeting With Ukrainian Official

By BY RONEN BERGMAN, ANTON TROIANOVSKI AND KENNETH P. VOGEL from NYT World https://ift.tt/3b0Qu9x

Watch Live: Senators Debate Impeachment Trial Amendments

By Unknown Author from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/3aZYp78

Hillary Clinton Slams Bernie Sanders for Not Working to Unite Democrats in 2016

By BY SHANE GOLDMACHER from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2RM2iF6

Plans for Alabama’s Deadly Prisons ‘Won’t Fix the Horrors’

By BY KATIE BENNER from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/3aZLFgP

Brexit Has Arrived. But Boris Johnson’s Reign Is Just Beginning.

By BY RICHARD SEYMOUR from NYT Opinion https://ift.tt/2RNUGC1

Senators say they’ve settled on a schedule that would end the trial on Wednesday.

By BY PATRICIA MAZZEI AND MAGGIE HABERMAN from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2UbLc5b

Battle Lines Quickly Form Over Radical Property Tax Proposal

By BY EMMA G. FITZSIMMONS, MATTHEW HAAG AND JEFFERY C. MAYS from NYT New York https://ift.tt/2tgjTeQ

This $350 Baby Yoda will not love you back

Part of the appeal of Baby Yoda, our collective name for the Mandalorian character officially known as The Child, was that he came into our lives almost entirely merch-free. Both the showrunners and Disney CEO Bob Iger believed that The Mandalorian's biggest surprise would be ruined by the long lead times and inevitable leaks inherent in the figurine businesses. Baby Yoda could have been the hottest toy of Christmas 2019. Instead, for a few months, we were able to bask in the joy of something all too rare: an uncomplicated, noncommercial love for a fictional creation.

But Disney, lest we forget, is a for-profit, publicly-traded company that is legally obligated to create more value for its shareholders every year. And so, in 2020, the stormtroopers from sales struck back. They cracked down on Etsy sellers making a crust with their Baby Yoda homages. They announced so-so T-shirts, a $25 plush 11-inch model that barely resembled The Child, an equally cheap-looking crib version, an oddly unsatisfying, plastic-y cartoonish Hasbro Black Series model, and, of course, the inevitable Funko Pop. Read more...

More about Baby Yoda, Entertainment, and Star Wars

from Mashable https://ift.tt/2uVxtog

Making your own cold-pressed juice is easier (and cheaper) than you think

Looking for our picks of all the best juicers? Go here.

Raw. Organic. Superfood. Buzzwords that would have been roasted in an early 2000s episode of Sex and the City have turned into the pillars of modern wellness. The green juice trend is one that has really taken off, and drinks made with nothing but fruits and veggies can be a really good thing — when done right.

For people who don't buy produce regularly (or who simply don't want a side salad for every damn meal), juicing is a way to keep up with vitamin intake in a few swigs. Consistent supplement takers might switch their loyalty to raw juice after finding out that their vitamin C capsules probably aren't doing much. Though juiced fruits and veggies are *not* a meal replacement and can't take the place of eating a regular old carrot, they're still a healthy, refreshing drink with less sugar than a smoothie or orange juice from the carton. Read more...

More about Food And Drink, Kitchen, Juicer, Mashable Shopping, and Culture

IMAGE: Amazon

MOST VERSATILE

Omega Slow Juice Extractor (J8006)

Choosing between a juicer and a blender? This Omega can make anything from wheatgrass juice to butter or ice cream.

Power: 200-watt motor
Slowest speed: 80 RPM

$299.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Hurom

MOST HIGH-TECH JUICER

Hurom HZ

We stan a juicer with brawn and brains. The Hurom HZ is the slowest on the list, can clean itself, and comes in rose gold.

Power: 150-watt motor
Slowest speed: 43 RPM

$599 from Hurom

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST WIDE-CHUTE SLOW JUICER

Breville Big Squeeze

The locking issues can definitely be overlooked when Breville's cold press provides such a high yield of gloriously clean juice.

Power: 280-watt motor
Slowest speed: 80 RPM

$399.95 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST VERTICAL JUICER

Tribest Slowstar

Make perfect cold-pressed juice when you want it, switch to the mincing attachment, or easily store it in the corner.

Power: 200-watt motor
Slowest speed: 47 RPM

$379.95 from Amazon

IMAGE: 139.99

BEST AFFORDABLE OPTION

Aicok Slow Juicer

Juicing newbies will like this budget juicer's straightforwardness and pros might just be impressed with how well it handles greens.

Power: 150-watt motor
Slowest speed: 80 RPM

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST CITRUS PRESS

Jamba Juice Citrus Press

Jamba Juice ain't new to juicing, and now you can achieve that authentic, freshly-squeezed feeling at home.

Power: N/A
Strongest press force: 550 pounds

$159.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST JUICER FOR GREENS ONLY

Original Healthy Juicer (Lexen GP27)

If you're only in it for the kale, celery, or wheatgrass game, this well-reviewed manual juicer saves serious money.

Power: Manual
Slowest speed: N/A

$64.95 from Amazon

from Mashable https://ift.tt/2Sahb2P

Live: Sitharaman to present her 2nd Budget

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her second Union Budget on Saturday. Budget includes detailed statement of the estimated revenues and expenditures to be incurred by the government in a particular fiscal year. Stay here for important and quick updates on the Centre's most important business-centric presentation:

from The Times of India https://ift.tt/2uP1iae

Fixing the Flicker Afflicting a Night Light

It’s hard to part with some things, even if they’re broken and were worth next to nothing to begin with. But some things are just special, y’know? And we would say in this case, the thing was definitely worth saving.

[Taste the Code]’s daughter’s beloved night light had a terrible flickering problem, and then stopped working altogether. Eager to make her happy, he cracked it open and found that one of the wires had disconnected from the outlet pin it was soldered to. That’s a simple enough fix, but trying to solder in tight quarters where the walls are soft plastic can be quite challenging.

Once that was fixed, [Taste the Code] plugged it in to a test outlet. It’s back to working, but also back to flickering, because there is no capacitor to smooth out the signal going to the LEDs. [Taste the Code] measured the voltage drop across the output of the bridge rectifier and soldered in an electrolytic cap with more than double the necessary voltage rating, just to be safe. You can check out the video after the break.

This goes to show several things: one, you can learn from fixing and improving cheap electronics from the likes of your local dollar store. Two, you can also get some kinds of components there quite inexpensively from things like magnetic sensor-based window alarms and dirt cheap solar garden lights.

You can also do some fun stuff with those cheap IKEA lamps designed for children. Here’s an adorable cloud lamp with an RGB LED upgrade that shows the weather mood using an ESP8266.

from Hackaday https://ift.tt/2RPiQw9

Which Republicans Had the Worst Excuses for Ending the Impeachment Trial With No Witnesses?

Republican Senators were coming out of the woodwork to explain why they'd refused to try to obtain any new evidence.

from Slate Magazine https://ift.tt/38ULkKq

Can Pete Buttigieg Find a Stable Place in the Middle of a Divided Iowa?

The South Bend ex-mayor is pitching himself as the middle-ground candidate between Sanders and Biden. Is he, though?

from Slate Magazine https://ift.tt/2OflZTw

This Screenshot of a Woman Cancelling on Her Date at the Last Minute Is “The Dress” of Social Interactions

“You can truly dodge a bullet with men by inquiring to reschedule a first date day of and seeing how they respond."

from Slate Magazine https://ift.tt/2uNzdjz

DNC Changes Debate Requirements to Favor All Candidates Named Michael Bloomberg

Turns out advertising isn’t the only way to buy your way onto the nation’s TV screens.

from Slate Magazine https://ift.tt/36LlC9F

Thursday, 30 January 2020

Coronavirus: Why are we catching more diseases from animals?

Climate change is shifting our relationship with the animal kingdom and helping diseases evolve.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2UaUzSt

Trump Lawyer’s Impeachment Argument Stokes Fears of Unfettered Power

By BY CHARLIE SAVAGE from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2OdsS86

Defense team continues to portray the president as a victim.

By BY SHARON LAFRANIERE from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2S2hmNQ

Citing ‘Soul of Our Democracy,’ Pastor of Dr. King’s Church Enters Senate Race

By BY RICHARD FAUSSET from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2Odr1QG

Trump Travels to Iowa to Energize Supporters for Caucuses Next Week

By BY ANNIE KARNI from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2GBRnr0

Coronavirus Is Now a Global Health Emergency. That’s Not as Scary as It Sounds.

This will mostly enable better funding for addressing it.

from Slate Magazine https://ift.tt/2RKtnbT

These Brands Said No to Running Super Bowl Commercials

By BY TIFFANY HSU from NYT Business https://ift.tt/2tT2fyh

We May Never See John Bolton’s Book

By BY JAMEEL JAFFER AND RAMYA KRISHNAN from NYT Opinion https://ift.tt/3aWu6hs

Republican senator laments starkly partisan nature of the trial.

By BY PATRICIA MAZZEI from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/38TGtZS

New York Is Urged to Consider Surge Pricing for Taxis

By BY BRIAN M. ROSENTHAL from NYT New York https://ift.tt/2GzItup

More American Troops Sustain Brain Injuries From Iran Missile Strike in Iraq

By BY THOMAS GIBBONS-NEFF from NYT World https://ift.tt/2t90lce

Everyone Wants a Piece

By BY LISA LERER from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2OgG4ZQ

¿Hará el papa Francisco un milagro con la deuda de Argentina?

By BY MARCELO J. GARCÍA from NYT en Español https://ift.tt/2RIDCgw

Alexander asks about the differences in bipartisanship under Nixon and Trump.

By BY EMILY COCHRANE from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2uKxHPa

Day 9 of Trump’s Trial: Tedium and Tea-Leaf Reading

By BY MICHELLE COTTLE from NYT Opinion https://ift.tt/36N2iJq

Fred Silverman, 82, Is Dead; a TV Force When Three Networks Ruled

By BY NEIL GENZLINGER from NYT Arts https://ift.tt/3aT23zv

Fotis Dulos, Connecticut Man Accused of Killing Jennifer Dulos, Is Dead

By BY MICHAEL GOLD from NYT New York https://ift.tt/2S7xWM8

Senators break for dinner.

By BY NICHOLAS FANDOS from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2UerWE3

Ancient skulls unearthed in Mexico reveal surprising diversity of early humans

Four ancient skulls unearthed from submerged caves in Mexico suggest that early humans in North America were much more diverse than previously believed, according to a new study.

from FOX News https://ift.tt/319kxXZ

This Is It For The Particle Mesh Network

The long-held dream of wireless network hackers everywhere is to dispense with centralised network infrastructure, and instead rely on a distributed network in which the clients perform the role of distribution and routing of traffic. These so-called mesh networks promise scalability and simplicity on paper, but are in practice never as easy to implement as the theory might suggest. Much venture capital has been burned over the years by startups chasing that particular dream, yet most of our wireless connectivity still follows a hub topology.

An exciting development in our sphere concerning mesh networking came in early 2018, when Particle, the purveyors of wireless-equipped dev boards, launched their third generation of products. These offered mesh networking alongside their other features, but this week they have announced that they’ll no longer be developing that particular side of their offering. The Wi-Fi-equipped Argon and Cellular-equipped Boron will remain on sale, but they will henceforth discontinue the mesh-only Xenon. Existing owners of the now orphaned board will be compensated with store credit.

Their rationale for discontinuing mesh networking is interesting, and reflects on the sentiment in our first paragraph. Mesh networking is hard, and in particular their attempt to make it work with zero configuration was simply not successful. But then they talk about the realisation that maybe mesh networking was not the right solution for the IoT applications the boards were being used in, and perhaps another technology such as LoRa would be more appropriate.

So the mesh experiment from Particle is over, but the company and its connected dev boards are very much still with us. We salute them for being bold enough to try it, and we wonder when we’ll next find a piece of similar mesh networking hardware.

from Hackaday https://ift.tt/36JaeLq

Friday, 31 January 2020

Thursday, 30 January 2020

Wednesday, 29 January 2020