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How Industrial-Scale Tar Production Powered the Viking Age https://ift.tt/2qdW0j8 Vikings acquired the capacity to produce tar at an industrial scale as early as the 8th century AD, according to new research. The protective black goo was applied to the planks and sails of ships, which the Vikings used for trade and launching raids. Without the ability to produce copious amounts of tar, this new study suggests, the Viking Age may have never happened. Tar sounds like a relatively modern invention, but itâs actually been around for quite some time. By the 16th century, Europeans had developed a technique whereby piles of wood, placed in funnel-shaped pits, were burned slowly under an oxygen-constricting layer of an earth-clay mixture and charcoal. Dripping tar from the burning wood fell into an outlet pipe, from which the precious material was collected. Hundreds of years earlier, however, Vikings were also making and using tar, but their production methods were a mystery to archaeologists and historians. New research published today in the journal Antiquity is shedding new light on this unanswered question, revealing a unique method of tar production previously unknown to scientists. The lone author of the new study, Andreas Hennius from the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History at Uppsala University in Sweden, documents the discovery of large tar-producing pits in the Swedish province of Uppland. Archaeologists have uncovered a surprising number of these extra-large pits over the past 15 years, which have been carbon dated to between 680 and 900 AD. This both pre-dates and coincides with the Viking Age (roughly 750 to 1050 AD). The Vikings used this tar to seal and protect structures made of wood, such as boats and longships, and to waterproof sails. These tar pits were located several miles away from villages, likely due to their closer proximity to an essential ingredient of tar production: forests filled with wood. Like the tar pits of Early Modern Europe, the Viking pits were funnel-shaped, but instead of using an outlet pipe, the Vikings placed a 3-foot-wide (1 meter) container at the bottom of the pit to collect the drippings. This technique required the Vikings to dig out the entire pit to remove the container and its mucky contents. These pits were enormous in size, capable of producing 50 to 80 gallons (200 to 300 liters) of tar during each production cycle. The discovery shows that Vikingsâas early as the 8th century ADâhad acquired the capacity to produce tar at industrial-scale levels. Hennius refers to these facilities as âforest factories for tar production.â Given this scale of production, itâs hard to believe that archaeologists are only discovering this now. Hennius says itâs only been during the last 15 years that archaeologists have been able to investigate, interpret, and scientifically analyze these types of tar pits. âThere are many more pits in Swedish forests, for now interpreted as charcoal production pits, trapping pits for animal hunting, and numerous other purposes,â Hennius told Gizmodo. âMany of these interpretations are probably wrong and there are a large number of tar pits hiding out there. But it will be quite a time-consuming effort to inspect all of these.â Building, operating, and maintaining the larger pits in the forest required considerable work, said Hennius, involving such tasks as forest management, the cutting down of trees, chipping and stacking wood, and monitoring the firing. Afterward, a supply of barrels would have to transported to various locations. This level of tar production seems excessive, and itâs certainly more than a single household would ever need, but Hennius said itâs consistent with developments in Viking Age shipbuilding and maritime expansion that were happening at the time. To construct a single longship, the Vikings needed an estimated 132 gallons (500 liters) of tar, about 630 cubic feet of wood, and 1,600 hours of manual labor, according to Hennius. âTar is very useful for protecting wood from decay in house construction but especially within shipping,â he said. âTar was used in enormous amounts within shipping up until boats were made from steel. For the Viking ships it was not only used for the wood in the boards but also for the caulking between the planks, the rigging, and the sails. Viking sails were made from wool and needed a coating to be effective.â But the demand for tar didnât just end there; the Vikings had to constantly replenish tar coatings on Viking vessel timbers and sails, creating further demand for the black material. Vikings managed fleets ranging from dozens to possibly even hundreds of ships. These ancient Scandinavians had an intimate connection with their maritime vessels, even burying high ranking individuals inside of ships. Itâs within this context that the Viking need for industrial-scale tar production starts to make sense. And in fact, Hennius goes so far as to suggest that the Viking use of voluminous amounts of tar, and their reliance on the forested outlands of Scandinavia, is what made the Viking Age possible. With their tar-coated ships, the Vikings traveled along Russian rivers, conducting trade with the wealthy regions of the East Roman Empire and the Middle East. And as Hennius points out, the Vikings also traded their sticky goo; Viking tar barrels dating back to this time period have been found in Lower Saxony, now Germany. âThis paper presents a production feature for tar production that is unknown to most people,â Hennius told Gizmodo. âIt also highlights a change in the mode of production from small-scale household production during the Roman Iron Age to large-scale production in the forests just before the Viking Age. I interpret these changes and the increased production as fundamental for the Viking maritime culture but also as an indication of more specialized handicraft and production during this time.â Itâs important to point out that this study is based on limited evidence from a limited geographical area in Sweden. Further excavations and investigations will likely provide a clearer picture of Viking tar production and its effect of Viking society. Humans have been inventing useful materials for quite some time. Neanderthals made glue as far back as 200,000 years ago, Paleoamericans in California produced tar-like bitumen some 5,000 years ago (which sadly exposed them to dangerous toxins), and Romans developedhighly durable concrete 2,000 years ago. Humans, as history shows, are good at making the stuff that makes even better stuff. Digital Trends via Gizmodo https://gizmodo.com October 26, 2018 at 11:27AM
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R.I.P. FilmStruck, the best streaming service for classic films https://ift.tt/2EMGOn8 Sad news for movie fans: FilmStruck, the streaming service developed by Turner Classic Movies, is shutting down. A message on the FilmStruck website says it’s no longer accepting new subscribers, with plans to shut down on November 29. Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter suggests that this was an expected move — now that it’s part of AT&T, WarnerMedia (which owns Turner) is planning to a launch a comprehensive streaming service next year. “While FilmStruck has a very loyal fanbase, it remains largely a niche service,” WarnerMedia said in a statement. “We plan to take key learnings from FilmStruck to help shape future business decisions in the direct-to-consumer space and redirect this investment back into our collective portfolios.” In addition to classic Hollywood films, FilmStruck was also known for being the online home of the Criterion Collection, with its library of restored art-house and international films. “Like many of you, we are disappointed by this decision,” Criterion says in a blog post. However, Criterion has worked with Hulu in the past, so it seems like could find another digital partner. And indeed, the post says Criterion is “still committed to restoring and preserving the best of world cinema and bringing it to you in any medium we can,” and it continues, “We’ll be trying to find ways we can bring our library and original content back to the digital space as soon as possible.” So it’s possible that much of this content will eventually find its way back online. Still, the transition from DVDs to digital, and now to subscription streaming, has made many classic film titles unavailable. FilmStruck was one of the few streaming services to fight that trend. It will be missed. Digital Trends via TechCrunch https://techcrunch.com October 26, 2018 at 11:19AM
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Man Arrested for Attempted Theft of Magna Carta After Display Smashed With Hammer https://ift.tt/2CH6BKQ On Thursday, a 45-year-old man wielding a hammer reportedly smashed through a glass screen protecting one of only four copies of the original Magna Carta. The incident, which predictably has a lot of people making National Treasure jokes, happened at Salisbury Cathedral in the UK. The man, who is not Nicolas Cage, is now in police custody. The document remains intact and there are no reported injuries. In a statement to Gizmodo, Wiltshire Police said that alarms went off at the cathedral a little before 5 p.m. local time after a man tried to “smash the glass box” surrounding the historic document. Staff were then made aware of the incident, and the police were called. A suspect is in custody as of this morning, “arrested on suspicion of attempted theft of the Magna Carta.” The suspect, who police said matched the description given by witnesses, was also arrested for possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage. A hammer-wielding man tried to escape the scene, but cathedral staff brought him down, Dean of Salisbury Nicholas Papadopulos told The Guardian. According to the paper, Papadopulos said the incident happened “in front of horrified onlookers” and staff held the man down “for 12 minutes” until police arrived. Police said in their statement that they “are aware there were a number of witnesses to the incident who may not have spoken to the police.” It makes sense that there would be a number of people around as someone tried to smash the Magna Carta’s protective screen. The incident reportedly happened shortly before the exhibition closed for the day. The Salisbury Cathedral website notes that it has “the best preserved” example of the known copies of the Magna Carta. The exhibition is currently closed “until further notice,” the cathedral website states. “We aim to reopen as soon as possible.” It remains unclear what the man’s motivation was for allegedly trying to steal the 13th-century document in broad daylight. Digital Trends via Gizmodo https://gizmodo.com October 26, 2018 at 11:15AM
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2019 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth first drive review https://ift.tt/2OSzc6Y Two years ago, we hopped behind the wheel of the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider and embarked on a road trip from Los Angeles to Pebble Beach for Monterey Car Week. Logging more than 700 miles with the Fiat over the course of a few days gave us a chance to really get to know all the ins and outs of the car, along with how it differed from the fourth generation Mazda MX-5. Even today, it’s difficult to discuss the 124 without mentioning the Miata in the same breath. While the Fiat wears an Italian badge, the two cars are built on the same production line at Mazda’s Hiroshima assembly plant and share quite a bit of mechanical DNA. But upon its debut, the 124 offered a compelling alternative to the MX-5 not only because of its Italian bodywork, but because of its Fiat-sourced, 1.4-liter turbocharged MultiAir engine. Offering up to 164 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque in the performance-tuned Abarth trim, the 124 Spider’s boosted power plant offered a tangible and compelling alternative to the naturally aspirated two-liter under the hood of the Mazda, which delivered 155 hp and 148 lb-ft. of torque. But that was then. Mazda’s engineers have spent some time revising their four-pot in the time since, and the powerplant now delivers 181 hp and 151 lb-ft., and the mill now revs all the way to 7500 rpm. While that might not have wholly reinvented the 2019 Miata, it does offer something more for sports car cross-shoppers to ponder. The Fiat 124 Abarth’s competition isn’t exclusively relegated to its Japanese cousin, either. Like the 124 and MX-5, the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 are the results of a shared effort between the two automakers to develop rear-wheel drive, budget-friendly sports cars which share their mechanical underpinnings while offering a compelling driving experience that’s unique to each brand. Starting at $29,290 in Abarth guise, the Fiat 124 hasn’t been reinvented for 2019, but there are a few worthwhile changes on hand. Those include a switch to turbocharged power across the model lineup, along with new options like the Record Monza performance exhaust system and various appearance tweaks. Can the performance-tuned Fiat continue to hold its ground in face of rising competition? We headed to Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, California, to find out. Design and techApart from newly-available options packages like the Veleno Appearance Group – which adds red exterior accents and a few upgrades to the cabin – the exterior of the Fiat 124 Abarth remains ostensibly unchanged from its debut in 2016. That’s not necessarily a bad thing though, as the 124’s retro-inspired design gives the drop-top a distinctive style that still remains unique today. Opting for the Abarth trim brings with it a number of upgrades that include 17-inch aluminum wheels, a mechanical limited-slip differential, a performance-tuned suspension with Bilstein monotube shocks, quad-tipped sports exhaust, unique sport seats, and raft of Abarth-specific aesthetic tweaks inside and out. While the cabin doesn’t stray far from the fourth generation Miata’s layout, Fiat and Abarth have applied their own touches here as well, adding some Italian flair by way of contrast stitching and a reworked gauge cluster. A 7.0-inch Fiat Connect touchscreen infotainment system with a back-up camera is outfitted as standard, as are heated seats in Lusso and Abarth-trimmed models. However, it’s worth noting that the optional Recaro sport seats provide excellent lateral support while remaining well-padded and comfortable during extended stints behind the wheel. We preferred those to the standard Abarth buckets. Dropping the top remains a nearly effortless, one-handed task, and the simplicity of the operation invites the driver to do so frequently. Although a lightweight cloth top can only do so much to curtail road noise at speed, it’s aided by an acoustically-treated windshield and additional sound deadening to help keep the racket at acceptable levels – and noticeably lower than its Mazda-badged counterpart. Two-seater ragtops aren’t typically known for their roominess or storage capacity, but the 124 does boast best-in-class cargo room at 4.94 cubic-feet, while head and legroom are surprisingly ample for taller folks like your author. Driving experienceOur seat time in the 2019 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth was exclusive to the various performance driving exercises that the folks at Skip Barber Racing School had set up for us on and around the Streets of Willow road course. Driven back to back with the Fiat 500 Abarth – a model which is motivated by the same engine and has a nearly identical curb weight – highlights the brilliance of the 124 Abarth when driven with sporting purpose. While the rear-wheel drive layout gives the 124 an obvious advantage right out of the gate, it’s the chassis balance that’s perhaps most striking, aided in no small part by the near 50-50 weight distribution with a driver on-board. The Abarth loves to dance, and slightly more aggressive suspension tuning that Abarth engineers applied here versus Mazda’s tuning for MX-5 Club curtails a noticeable of the body roll exhibited by the Japanese sports car, and that in turn bolsters driver confidence at the limit. Truth be told, we’d prefer even flatter handling than what the 124 Abarth offers, and we’d be willing to give up a little bit of suspension compliance to get it. A Sport Mode selector on the center console also helps differentiate the driving experience from the Miata, dialing up the throttle sensitivity and steering weight while loosening the reigns of the stability control system. However, when really pushing the car, some drivers may find the electronic nannies to still be a little too invasive for track use, even when Sport Mode is active. But disabling traction and stability control is as simple as the push of button, and doing so enhanced both lap times and fun factor in our experience. High horsepower cars can be handful on track when you tell the electronics to take the night off, but in a car like the 124 Spider Abarth, it just allows the chassis to display its true character. And that’s a wonderful thing. Warranty
Fiat offers a four-year, 50,000 mile basic warranty, a four-year, 50,000 mile powertrain warranty, and a 12-year, unlimited-mileage warranty against corrosion on a new 124 Spider Abarth. Four years of roadside assistance is also included. How DT would configure this carThe 124 Spider Abarth is a standout on a road course, so track capability would be our top priority. Accordingly, the Recaro sport seats and optional Brembo front brakes are a must. We’d consider the Record Monza exhaust to be essential as well, not just for the snarl but because we noticed it can be difficult to hear the engine revs over wind and road noise at speed with the top down. When swapping gears manually it required us to take our eyes off the road to look at the tachometer more often than we would have liked, so an authoritively loud exhaust system serves more of a purpose than just bumping up the cool points in this situation.
2019 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth Compared To
Most examples of 124 Spider Abarth are going to spend plenty of time on public roads as well, so it’s important not to forget about the creature comforts, too. The optional nine-speaker Bose premium audio system would be well worth the weight penalty to us, while the optional adaptive LED headlamps that are included as part of the Visibility Group package enhances safety and visual appeal with no drawbacks other than a thinner wallet. ConclusionThe Fiat 124 Abarth was a great sports car when it debuted in 2016. The problem, however, is that it remains almost unchanged today while its rivals continue to refine their offerings – Subaru recently debuted the Performance Package as well as the STI-tuned tS model for the BRZ, while Toyota recently unveiled a TRD-tuned iteration of the 86 that ostensibly mirrors Subaru’s Performance Package for the BRZ. But as nimble and capable as the 86 and BRZ may be, they’re notably larger and heavier than the 2,500-pound Fiat 124 Spider Abarth, and that makes the Fiat’s Japanese cousin the primary competition. The Mazda MX-5 is even lighter than the Fiat by about a hundred pounds, but in years past, the 124’s turbocharged powerplant helped to even the score. However, now that the MX-5 has received the aforementioned engine updates for 2019, the value proposition offered by the Fiat has become less clear. While the boosted Fiat mill still offers an additional 33 lb-ft. of torque compared to the MX-5’s naturally aspirated two-liter, it’s now down 17 hp to the Mazda. Power plants aside, the reality is that neither the 2019 Fiat 124 or the 2019 Mazda MX-5 are wildly different from the machines they were a few years ago. But the fact that Mazda continues to develop and hone its sports car, while Fiat seems to be content to simply maintain pace, may prove to be the deciding factor for many cross-shoppers. Digital Trends via Digital Trends https://ift.tt/2p4eJdC October 26, 2018 at 11:06AM
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Reelgood acquires Guidebox to bring streaming TV data to more places https://ift.tt/2EIYhNm Reelgood, a startup aimed at helping cord cutters find shows and movies to watch on the services they subscribe to, has made an acquisition in the hopes of bringing Reelgood’s data to more places. The company has bought Guidebox, a streaming availability data provider which powers Roku, TVGuide, Metacritic and others. Deal terms weren’t disclosed, but we understand the price was in the “multi millions.” Guidebox began its life in 2012 as a consumer-facing website that brought together full show and episode data in one place, then pointed you where you could watch – very much like today’s Reelgood, in fact. But over the years, it shifted its focus to working with publishers and device manufacturers. For example, it’s been well known to be the service that powers Roku’s universal search feature. It was most recently reported that Guidebox was sold to video data and recommendation startup ColorTV. However, Reelgood says that deal never actually happened – the announcement of the acquisition was premature. (ColorTV now appears to be shut down, as it turns out. We’ve attempted to reach them for confirmation.) Reelgood says it decided to buy Guidebox because it aims to be more than just a guide for streaming TV. “Imagine asking your Alexa, ‘Which of my shows has a new episode?’ or reading about a show online and, embedded within the article, seeing where you can watch it,” the company explains in its announcement about the deal. “For TV to ‘just work,’ we need to make it easier to get Reelgood’s data onto other products, too.” The need for better organization of streaming services’ content is more critical than ever in today’s cord cutting era, as consumers increasingly ditch their cable and satellite TV subscriptions to build their own bundles of video services. The average U.S. household now uses four different streaming apps, says Reelgood, and this acquisition will allow it to expand its reach to over 50 million of those households. The company says it will build on the existing Guidebox technology to make it even easier for companies to help their own users find streaming content. This data will be made available through an API. That also means that Reelgood isn’t shutting down Guidebox or ending its existing business relationships – it aims to expand them, as well as pursue new business opportunities. It’s currently in the process of renegotiating some of Guidebox’s deals with larger TV and cable media-centric companies which provide service to some of the bigger networks, we understand. Guidebox had been working with content providers like Lionsgate, the WWE and Fandor, Variety reported last year. In terms of the Guidebox team, not all are joining long-term. The executive team is on an earn-out plan, and will help to integrate the technology with Reelgood and transition the client relationships. A few employees working on data integrity and quality assurance have been hired by Reelgood to help as it expands the product and service. “No one wants to spend time hunting through apps for the right show,” says David Sanderson, Reelgood founder and CEO, in a statement about the deal. “People expect their devices to help them decide what to watch and where to watch it. Whether it’s a search engine, website, streaming media player, or voice assistant, this is an opportunity for companies to get the experience right.” Digital Trends via TechCrunch https://techcrunch.com October 26, 2018 at 10:53AM
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China’s ByteDance leapfrogs Uber to becomes world’s most valuable startup https://ift.tt/2D3Fb2R Move aside Uber, China’s ByteDance is now the world’s highest-valued tech startup. That’s according to reports from Forbes and Bloomberg both of which claim that the company has completed a $3 billion investment that values the company at $75 billion. A source with knowledge of the deal confirmed the round to TechCrunch and suggested that the value is pre-money, which, adding the round, would put ByteDance’s valuation at $78 billion. That’s ahead of Uber’s most recent $72 billion valuation, although the ride-hailing giant is being tipped to go public next year at a valuation of up to $120 billion. ByteDance did not respond to a request for comment. We previously reported that ByteDance was in talks with KKR and General Atlantic, and they were joined by SoftBank in the round — with Bloomberg reporting SoftBank plans to put in a total of around $1.8 billion which will include buying out some existing investors via secondary sales. On that note, the publication also claims that the round remains open to additional investors so the amount raised could increase. ByteDance operates a range of digital media platforms, but it is best known for Toutiao, its AI-based news aggregator that has become one of China’s most-used apps with over 120 million users, and short video platform TikTok, which recently gobbled up Music.ly which ByteDance acquired via a $1 billion acquisition last year. But it isn’t just popular in China. That TikTok-Music.ly merger is aimed at growing the platform globally, while ByteDance operates a number of Toutiao-like global services too. It has carefully fenced its Chinese and international versions, though. TikTok and Chinese equivalent Douyen are restricted to their respective markets, principally due to censorship concerns. ByteDance has done the impossible and become an internet giant in China, breaking the dominance of Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent — the so-called BAT big three — but U.S. giants are also paying attention. Because imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Google is said to be (controversially) developing a Toutiao-like news app for China, while TechCrunch reportedly this week that Facebook is hatching a TikTok clone. It hasn’t been plain sailing, though. ByteDance has been reprimanded by the Chinese government which has seen its services given app store bans, and the company’s content moderation team grown from 6,000 to 10,000. That’s part of the growing pains and in many ways, interest from Beijing is definitely a compliment that shows just how influential the company has become. Digital Trends via TechCrunch https://techcrunch.com October 26, 2018 at 10:53AM
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Friday's Best Deals: Humidifiers, K-Beauty, Travel Mugs and More https://ift.tt/2qdslXm A Samson USB microphone, humidifiers, and Contigo’s SnapSeal Byron lead off Friday’s best deals from around the web. Bookmark Kinja Deals and follow us on Twitter and Facebook, or sign up for our newsletter to never miss a deal.
Best Tech DealsIt won’t turn you into the next Sarah Koenig or David Roth, but this highly rated Samson USB microphone will at least make your voice sound The worst part of Apple Watch ownership is packing the power cord when you travel. Not only is it a lot bulkier than a Lightning or microUSB cable, it’s also probably the only one you own, meaning you have to remember to take it out of your nightstand charging dock, and put it back when you get home. So annoying! That’s what makes this battery pack so genius. At only 700mAh, it’s small enough to attach to your keychain, but big enough to charge your watch 1.5 times, which should get you through a weekend with ease. And for longer getaways, you can even plug in a microUSB cable (which you probably already have in your bag) and use it as a wired travel charger too, allowing you to keep your main charging cable at home. Just use promo code RHLDHVS5 at checkout to save $12. $59 is a decent price for the 4K-capable Roku Streaming Stick+—it typically hovers between $59 and $69, but occasionally goes lower—but when you throw in a $15 Vudu credit, it’s a fantastic deal. That’s enough to rent a few movies in 4K, or even buy one for keeps. Your laptop is one of the most expensive things you own, and it deserves to be treated as such. Rather than throwing it roughshod into your bag, slip it into one of PicasoLabs’ beautiful, hand-stitched leather sleeves, now back on sale just for our readers, this weekend only. Advertisement Jesus Diaz raved about these and interviewed the creator on Gizmodo a few years ago, and now you can pick your own from Amazon for 15% off with promo code KINJA015, plus $8 if you want it engraved. There are several options available, and prices will vary depending on the size of your laptop. They’re all designed specifically for various MacBook models, but compare measurements, and you could probably find one to fit your Windows Ultrabook as well. No matter which one you choose, you’ll save 15% at checkout with that promo code. You know those cool 360 videos you’ve seen on YouTube, or even in a VR headset? All you need to make your own is the Samsung Gear 360, and the 2017 4K version can be yours for an all-time low $85 today on Amazon. Even if you don’t have access to like, a helicopter or speed boat to capture truly jaw-dropping video, you could easily plop this thing into the middle of a party or get-together, and relive the whole thing in 360 degrees later. I wish I’d had one for my wedding. Advertisement Here’s a sample of what you can capture from the Gear 360. On desktop (Chrome only), you should be able to click and drag around, and on mobile, your phone’s accelerometer should be able to rotate the video within the YouTube app. If you want to start collecting Eneloop batteries (and you should), the best place to start is the 4-pack of AAs with a charger, and you can get it for just $16 right now, a couple bucks less than usual, and within a few cents of the best price we’ve seen all year. Just when you thought you had car chargers pegged, Anker went out and made the smartest one you’ve ever seen. Advertisement Similar to the Nonda Zus, the Roav by Anker SmartCharge Spectrum connects to your phone over Bluetooth while you drive. When you turn the car off and the Bluetooth connection breaks, the Roav app will mark down your parking location on a map, so you can find your way back. Perhaps more usefully, every time you start your car, the SmartCharge will also log the health of your car battery, so you can track its charge over time from your phone, and get a replacement ready before you get stranded in your office parking garage on a Friday evening. Those features alone (along with Quick Charge 3.0 charging) would make this worth $16 (with promo code BGREXLF6), but it does have one last trick up its sleeve: A customizable accent light. The LED ring around the USB ports can display 16,000 different colors, and you can choose your favorite from the app to make it perfectly match (or stand out from) your car’s own dashboard lighting. Range extenders aren’t a cure-all for networking issues, but if there’s one corner of your home that just can’t get a good signal from your router, they can be the right tool for the job. This entry-level 802.11n model from TP-Link is just $18 today, if you want to give it a try. Need more storage space for your action cam, dash cam, tablet, or Nintendo Switch? This 128GB card from SanDisk is down to its best price ever right now. VPNs have been in the news, and whether you want to get around video geoblocks, circumvent proxy filters, or just keep prying eyes out of your browsing data while using sketchy public Wi-Fi, reader-favorite Private Internet Access has a deal to fit your needs. Advertisement Private Internet Access doesn’t do much in the way of discounting, but they offer exclusive pricing and packages just for our readers that you won’t find anywhere else. Here are your options, and what you’d pay if you bought the same plan elsewhere:
These deals are only for our readers, but we aren’t sure how long they’ll be available, so go ahead and sign up while you can. Best Home DealsAs winter sets in, you should put a blanket in your car. Who wouldn’t want to stay warm and cozy while driving or riding, separated from the elements by a thin steel frame and large panes of glass? Advertisement I’ll take that one step further...you should have a heated blanket in your car. This $19 model plugs right into your car’s power outlet, and would be especially welcome in cars that don’t have heated seats. You can serve up professional-looking fajitas at home with this Lodge serving pan, now down to an all-time low $13, which is less than you’d spend on a half pound of chicken fajitas at your nearest Mexican joint. Advertisement You wouldn’t want to cook directly in this pan, but you can throw it in the oven or on the stove to heat up, then add your fajitas later for serving. It also includes a wooden base and a chili pepper handle mitt. Meat not included, sadly. Contigo’s Autoseal West Loop travel mugs are a longtime reader favorite, but the similar SnapSeal Byron is marked down to just $7 today on Amazon, after you clip the $2 coupon. When we post deals on these mugs, it’s usually the West Loop model, but the Byron’s a little bit different. Unlike the West Loop, the Byron’s lid doesn’t open and close automatically, though many reviewers say it’s easier to clean. The Byron also includes a rubberized non-slip sleeve, which is a nice touch, especially at these prices. When it comes to measuring food temperature, ThermoWorks, and specifically its Thermapen, has the market pegged.The Classic model has a rare discount down to $59 right now, the best price we’ve ever seen, so grab one for yourself, and a few more as holiday gifts. There is a newer model of this available, which includes a rotating, backlit display, longer battery life, and better water resistance, but the actual nuts-and-bolts temperature measurement is exactly the same. You might have noticed that Amazon’s running a $190 deal on a refurbished Roomba 650 today, which is a solid price for one of the most popular robotic vacuums ever made. But if you’re willing to forego your two-day Prime shipping, you can actually get the exact same model from Massdrop for $10 less, with the same 90 day iRobot warranty. You don’t need to buy a new car to get a life-changing backup camera, you just need $60 (with promo code CJBRVBPM), and a few minutes to run the wires. This model attaches to your license plate, and runs to a special rear view mirror that attaches in front of your existing mirror. Advertisement Oh, about that mirror...it has a dash cam built into it! Just pop in a microSD card, and you have a backup camera, plus a dual-lens dash cam to record any accidents. We love Aer’s Travel Pack for its thoughtful organization tools and TSA friendly designs, and our friends in Promotions have worked out an exclusive 30% off deal on bag, plus some of their other travel essentials. Head over here for all of the details. With holiday travel on the horizon, this deal couldn’t be better timed. Dry winter air is knocking at the door, but you can fight back with this highly rated Levoit humidifier, on sale for an all-time low $67, today only. Advertisement The humidifier’s 6L tank can run for up to 36 hours before refilling, depending on the humidity level you desire, an an easy-to-read display lets you know how humid your surroundings already are. It even has both warm and cool mist modes; warm for faster humidifying in the winter, and cool for use in air conditioned rooms during the summer. Just note that this is a Gold Box deal, so don’t let the special pricing run dry. You might not have an immediate need for a pressure washer, but if you own a home, it’s a useful thing to stash in the back or your garage for tough outdoor cleaning jobs. For a limited time, Amazon’s marked down a popular GreenWorks washer down to $80 today, within a couple bucks of the best price we’ve ever seen. Not convinced? Go check out /r/pressurewasherporn, and then report back here. If you’ve lost or worn down half of the drill bits in your collection, you can get a complete new set for just $20 today on Amazon. That gets you a total of 40 drill bits, screwdriver bits, and even some impact-ready bits. 4.6 stars from over 1,200 customers can’t be wrong. Update: We posted this at $70 last week, but it just got even cheaper. For those who don’t need a gooseneck kettle for pourover coffee, and aren’t willing to spring for the ultimate tea maker, the Cuisinart PerfecTemp is one of the best (and best looking) electric kettles around. It’s down to $61 on Amazon right now, the best price we’ve ever seen. Just be sure to grab yours before this deal boils dry. Update: Beach days may be behind us for now, but today’s as good a time as ever to add this to your cart. The Sport-Brella has just been marked down to $38. Advertisement Beach weather will be here before you know it, and bar none, Sport-Brella is the umbrella you want to take with you to the shore. Amazon’s discounting the blue and red model to just $43 today. That’s the best price since September for the blue one, but the red has been as low as $40 recently. Unlike a regular umbrella, Sport-Brella leans backwards and attaches to the sand with stakes, creating a kind of semi-private cocoon with enough space for a couple of chairs and a cooler. Best of all, it sets up in about five minutes (once you know what you’re doing), and can provide a full day’s worth of privacy and sun protection. A big-ass duffel bag is something everyone should keep handy, and you can get one for $19 today in the color of your choice. Just be sure to use promo code 7YCOEOH9 at checkout. Or, grab a more reasonably sized 60L bag for a few cents less with the code Q98HLP4B. You need dishwasher detergent anyway, so you might as well buy it on sale. While supplies last, Amazon’s offering a 20% coupon on this 82-pack bag of Finish Quantum tabs, bringing it down to $13 when you combine it with Subscribe & Save, or about $.15 per load. Firstleaf is an online wine club that learns your preferences, offers tons of options, and most importantly, saves you money compared to buying from the store. It’s a solid deal any time, but it’s even better for our readers today. Advertisement Every new Firstleaf member gets an introductory delivery with three bottles of wine for just $15, plus $5 shipping. Considering that you aren’t locked in and can cancel any time, that’s a bargain. But it gets even better for our readers, as promo code Kinja will waive the $5 shipping charge, for a limited time. That’s three bottles of wine (all of mine had MSRPs over $20) for just $5 each shipped, with no commitment. You can read more about the service in my review, but if you choose to remain a member (I did), every box thereafter includes six bottles for $80, plus $10 shipping. Best Lifestyle DealsKorean beauty brand Banila Co. launched its cult favorite products on Amazon earlier this year, but now is probably the ideal time to take the plunge into this expertly skin-priming line: A few of its most beloved products are up to 22% off today. Advertisement Most notably up for grabs is the Sherbet Cleansing Balm Clean It Zero, an oil-based cleanser known for its silky smooth texture that melts away makeup, dirt or any other residue with the greatest of ease—and without over-drying. It’s formulated with all-natural, sensitive skin-safe acerola, rooibos, bamboo, Angelica extracts, plus vitamins C and E for an extra luminous appearance. The cleansing balm is technically step 1 in the two-step cleaning doctrine breached by true K-beauty enthusiasts; this one is meant to be followed with a traditional lathering, water-based cleanser. At just $15 for one delightfully pink tub, your newly squeaky clean pores (and your future shelfies) are in for a major upgrade. If you don’t know about Dallas-based Breda, you need to. The watch brand creates minimalist, easy-to-wear styles of watches that aren’t overworked or over priced. And we’ve got an exclusive discount in time for the holidays: use the code GIFT30 and grab your choice of dozens of different watches and colorways for $30 off. Options start at $80, so it’s definitely time to save. When I first navigated to this deal on women’s apparel, I had to double check which site I was on. Amazon is taking up to 50% off a whole bunch of their own clothing brands — and a good amount of the items are actually chic. Advertisement The standouts of this sale include a ton of on-trend outerwear from Amazon’s label, called Haven, and a pretty solid contingent of shoes from brands The Fix and 206 Collective (I’m particularly interested in the duck boots, slides and block-heeled ankle boots, just saying). If there was ever a good time to stock up on new styles for winter, it would be now. If your Halloween costume this year involves some sort of face makeup artistry or a just a plain ol’ scary mask, chances are your skin will be a little spooked come November 1. But never fear: First Aid Beauty is here to raise those of us with sensitive skin from the dead via their 20% off facial masks sale, through October 31. The Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask is a particularly effective cult favorite, but really, any of these offerings is sure to have you looking less ghoulish in mere minutes. Hats might sit atop our heads, but admittedly, they’re rarely top of mind on laundry day. But with a Ballcap Buddy Cap Washer, now $5 at Amazon, giving your favorite headpieces a good scrubbing is as easy as washing your dishes. This hat sanitation innovation fits perfectly in the top rack of your dishwasher, and can even be used after the fact to help your caps, of both the curved- and flat-billed variety, keep their shape. Just because it’s cold out doesn’t mean you don’t need some shades. Today at MassDrop, you can grab a pair of polarized Carreras for just $42, compared to $80-$100 elsewhere around the web. Or, if you’re more of an Oakley person, these ruby-tinted aviators are down to $70 (from $100+) at Daily Steals with promo code KINJAOAK. The changing of the seasons is a great time to buy new clothes, and Marmot is thinking about getting you geared up to go outside outside for less. Right now, they’re is taking an extra 25% off sitewide during the company’s Friends & Family sale. Just use promo code FRIENDS, then start planning your fall outdoor excursions while you wait for the gear to arrive. Advertisement Need somewhere to get started? The Marmot Precip and Minimalist were both among our readers’ favorite rain coats. This is enough to put a spring in anyone’s step. ThinkGeek is taking 30% off all slippers with promo code BEATFEET, just in time for Halloween festivities — though you certainly don’t need a holiday to enjoy this wide range of slipper themes. Encase your feet in anything from plush astronaut boots to zombie heads to a pair of light-up anglerfish, and bask in all the wacky comfort year round. Now’s a great time shop at Uniqlo with free shipping on every order, no minimums required. Seriously, you could buy one pair of socks and get it shipped for free. On top of that they’ve got the perfect seasonal discounts, taking $10 off select merino and ultra light down for both men and women. Choose from down jackets and vests, merino sweaters, full-zip fleeces, leggings, and more in the limited offer section. Retinol is basically a miracle compound that works wonders for your skin, and if you’re curious to try it out, you can save $2 ($1 from Subscribe & Save, and $1 from a clippable coupon) on this face and eye cream from Baebody. With 4.3 stars from over 3,500 Amazon customers, it comes highly rated. Now, you won’t have to steal from your girlfriend. Well this is about the easiest sale to get behind. Eddie Bauer is taking 50% off just about everything (with promo code SPECIAL) during the company’s Friends & Family sale, and they’re doing it right as the weather’s turning cold. That’s impeccable timing considering they’re best known as the company that patented the first quilt down jacket. Shop men’s, women’s and even gear to stock up on everything you need for the winter, from base layers and flannels, to parkas and shells, it’s all* 50% off. If you think adding yet another brush to your grooming routine is superfluous, think again. While a hair brush might transform your mane into a lustrous cascade of flowing locks, this dry brush will do the same — but to your entire body. On sale for just $6 over at Amazon, this fine specimen’s natural bristles will exfoliate your skin into its glowiest possible state by improving circulation and sloughing off those pesky dead skin cells. Plus, the polished wood and neutral linen strap will look good in your bathroom. Now that’s luxury. Nordstrom Rack just got a bunch of new styles in from Nordstrom proper, and it’s all up to 60% off over 5,000 styles, for a limited time. As always, use the sidebar to sort through the deluge by type of clothing, and you can also browse the available brands from a dropdown on top. Advertisement A bunch of stuff in here starts under $20, so go get your fall wardrobe in order on the cheap. Best Media DealsLove to read but don’t have the time to sit down and actually read a book? Sign up for Amazon’s audiobook service, Audible, during this extended trial offer for Prime members. Advertisement For a limited time, Prime members can get three months of the service for free, rather than the typical one-month trial. That entitles you to a new book of your choice each month, plus two free Audible originals of your choice. Plus, every book you choose is yours to keep, even if you cancel. The offer is available to new subscribers only. Note: After the three month trial ends, you’ll automatically be charged $15 per month, so be sure to cancel if you don’t like it. iTunes gift card discounts are noticeably less common than they used to be, so if you need more credit for apps, music, movies, iCloud storage, or anything else, buy a $100 gift card from eBay for 15% off, while supplies last. Best Gaming DealsIf you could use a spare Xbox One controller, Amazon’s marked this standard black model down to $40, complete with a microUSB cable. Considering that the battery isn’t rechargeable, and most PCs have Bluetooth, I don’t think the cable is all that necessary, but it doesn’t hurt. And if you missed it yesterday, the Sport White model is also on sale, though it’s more expensive. If you want to take your streaming game to the next level, Elgato’s time-saving and workflow-automating Stream Deck Mini is down to an all-time low $79 right now, down from its usual $100. Advertisement Its six keys are actually tiny, customizable LCD screens, and you can assign them to different actions and workflows on YouTube, Twitch, and other popular streaming platforms. It’s basically a very cool, very elegant alternative to custom keybindings and keyboard shortcuts, and it would make a great gift. Update: The Xbox One is now $459. The wide open western vistas and dynamic horse balls of Red Dead Redemption 2 deserve to be enjoyed on one of the new, more powerful consoles, and Walmart’s making it awfully tempting to upgrade to an Xbox One X today. For $440, you can get an Xbox One X NBA 2K19 bundle (other bundles are available to choose, but they’ll add a bit to your cost), a copy of Red Dead Redemption 2, a PowerA wired Xbox controller, and a $5 Xbox gift card. Considering that the MSRP of the Xbox One X alone is $500 (and NBA 2K19 bundle is currently on sale for $480 at Amazon). All told, you’re saving over $100 here, so go rustle up some savings. Advertisement More of a Sony loyalist? This $399 PS4 Pro bundle is also in stock, and includes a free copy of the game. That’s just MSRP, as the PS4 Pro is a less expensive console than the Xbox One X, but you’ll hear no complaints from us about the free game. Amazon never ran a Prime preorder promotion for Red Dead Redemption 2, but if you have an Xbox One and still want to save, MassGenie is marking it down to $48 right now. You won’t get it on release day, but they should ship out tomorrow. Say what you will about the Xbox One, but Microsoft indisputably makes the best looking game controllers on the market. Their Sport White model is marked down to $60 today, from its usual $70, plus an additional $2 off when you clip the on-page coupon. That’s still more than you’d pay for a standard controller, but look how pretty it is. $9 is less than you’d spend on a lot of basic, standard sized mouse pads. But today, that gets you a massive 2.5' x 1' model that can accommodate your keyboard as well. So luxurious! Just be sure to use promo code FJ26JS93 at checkout to get the deal. Final Fantasy XV is one of the top-selling video games in Kinja Deals history, and you can get the Royal Edition, which includes all of the season pass content, for an all-time low $25 right now on Amazon. TechStorage
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Digital Trends via Gizmodo https://gizmodo.com October 26, 2018 at 10:51AM Workers Found a Thousand Human Teeth in an Old Building's Wall and This Isn't the First Time10/26/2018
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Workers Found a Thousand Human Teeth in an Old Building's Wall, and This Isn't the First Time https://ift.tt/2CHgesL It’s not unusual for construction workers to find historical objects inside of walls. But the team renovating the T.B. Converse Building in Valdosta, Georgia, were caught off guard when they found an estimated 1,000 teeth buried in a second-floor wall. The weirdest thing is that the same thing has happened in two other Georgia towns. The likely explanation for these discoveries isn’t as creepy as it could be, but it’s also not not creepy. What the three locations have in common is the fact that they were once dentists’ offices. In the case of the most recent situation in Valdosta, two dentists occupied the second-floor office of the Converse Building from its construction in 1900 until at least 1930. A current Valdosta dentist named Dr. Pat Powell recently found an old receipt for a tooth extraction from this very office, shedding some light on how those many hundreds of teeth ended up in the wall. There were previously teeth found in the walls of former dentists offices in Greensboro and Carrolton, Georgia. Advertisement Just a heads up, there is a photo of a pile of human teeth below. It’s not too bad, unless you start zooming in:
These facts all demand we ask, why the heck did these Southern dentists stored people’s teeth inside of walls? Was this standard procedure or just a local hobby? And furthermore, why did they just leave all the teeth inside the wall, when they moved out of the office? Wouldn’t it seem unusual for future generations to find a giant mountain of human teeth if the wall ever got taken down? That kind of thing could really take the fun out of having some exposed brick detail in someone’s historical office building, because who knows maybe there are human teeth in the bricks, too. Advertisement It’s hard to know the answers to these questions for sure. One likely explanation might be the fact that sanitation and waste management services simply didn’t exist in many parts of the country at the turn of the 20th century. After all, New York City built the nation’s first garbage incinerator in 1885, just a couple decades before the creepy teeth-collecting presumably started in Valdosta. It’s possible that the dentists just didn’t have a better place to put the teeth. And while a reasonable person might suggest burning the medical waste in a barrel out behind the building would have sufficed, it’s possible that would have been considered bad manners. Another thing worth considering is the public health implications of throwing rotten teeth into a standard garbage pile. While cavities are a nuisance when the tooth is inside a person’s mouth, the bacteria that cause them can be very dangerous. Recent research shows that cavity-causing microbes can actually invade a person’s heart, causing a deadly infection. This specific information was not readily available to World War I-era dentists; however, the germ theory was well established by the time these teeth ended up in the walls. It’s possible that the dentists were just trying to keep the bacteria on extracted teeth away from other patients. Which does raise the incineration question again, but you know, maybe it would have been a fire hazard. One more explanation is that storing teeth in the walls was some sort of tradition. People did store a lot of weird things in walls back in the day, and it is not uncommon for people to find anything from an old shoe to half a dog’s skull in the walls of old American buildings. Similarly, the longer history of tooth disposal reveals some very strange rituals. All over the world, from Russia to Mexico, there has been documented evidence of giving children’s lost teeth to rats and mice with the belief that this might help the kids grow new teeth that are as strong as the rodents’. So maybe the dentists dumped the teeth in the walls to give the rats a feast of teeth and, hence, lots of good luck to their patients. Advertisement Outside of superstition, it might have been a turn-of-the-century dentist’s habit to save extracted teeth in order to make dentures, as was the custom. This theory would actually explain why the dentists didn’t just burn the teeth. They were effectively supplies for helping more patients. Making well-fitting dentures must have been hard back then, too, so you could maybe assume that the dentists wanted a lot of tooth options to choose from. Then again, it’s still pretty weird to store teeth in the wall. Why not store them in a box on the shelf, like a normal medical professional? So here we are. It’s 2018, we’ve found many hundreds of teeth inside the walls of some dentists’ office, and we’re left with more questions than answers. But what fun would mysteries be, if they were easily solved? About as fun as a wall full of a thousand human teeth. Digital Trends via Gizmodo https://gizmodo.com October 26, 2018 at 10:33AM
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Chat fiction startup Hooked unveils ‘Dark Matter,’ its first feature-length thriller https://ift.tt/2Rh1HYT Chat fiction startups have been exploring the types of stories that you can tell in the form text message conversations, and now Hooked is taking that exploration one step further with the launch of “Dark Matter.” The company describes this as its first feature-length story. “Dark Matter” tells the story of Tasneem (Taz) Singh, a South Asian American student at Stanford who, after the mysterious death of her twin sister, discovers that she has the ability to interact with the paranormal. The story debuts today on Snapchat, with a new chapter coming out every day until Tuesdsay, October 30. According to CEO Prerna Gupta, the full script totals 32,000 words — in other words, it’s the length of a feature film script or short novel: “I think it’s fair to say this is the longest chat fiction story. It’s certainly the longest on we’ve ever produced for Hooked.” If you’re you’re not already a chat fiction fan, you may be skeptical about reading something that long in text message format. Gupta admitted that she and her husband Parag Chordia had similar doubts when they started the company together. “I would be lying if I didn’t say if we also didn’t have that question ourselves,” she told me. “When a new kind of format or really new medium comes up, you start with the basics first. You tell the simplest stories, then as you become more adept at communicating with that format, you can start to go deeper.” That’s meant going beyond text — “Dark Matter,” for example, will include a voice track and custom illustrations. “The length makes a big difference,” Gupta added. “You can take your time, slow it down and spend more time with world, developing deeper relationships between the characters.” “Dark Matter” was written by Hooked staff writer Elyse Endick, but Gupta said the writing process was “almost more like a writers room — it was very collaborative, she did a show bible, then at each step she and I and our head of content would sit in a Google Hangout and just kind of flesh it out.” Although the story is premiering on Snapchat, it will also make its way to the main Hooked app. Gupta said that she’s less focused on owning the distribution channel than on reaching big, global audiences — and distributing via Snapchat can help with that. “I’m not trying to be the next Instagram,” she said. “It’s not about the app or any given app. For me, it’s really about our stories.” And while Snapchat has recently lost some of its luster (daily active user count fell by another 1 percent in its most recent quarter), Gupta said, “I think people are underestimating their whole strategy around entertainment, around being TV for the next generation.” She added that engagement around Hooked content on Snapchat has been “insane.” “Why are we investing our resources with Snap? Because of what we’re seeing,” she said. “Our audience and how engaged they are, that’s real.” Digital Trends via TechCrunch https://techcrunch.com October 26, 2018 at 10:32AM
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Tap, a new startup from Sam Rosen, wants to be the Google of drinking water https://ift.tt/2yAUGv1 MakeSpace founder and former CEO Samuel Rosen is ready to launch his next venture, and it has little or nothing to do with the on-demand economy. This time, Rosen is setting his sights on the world of water. Tap aims to be the world’s first public index and global search engine for drinking water. Plastic water bottles are, in many ways, the scourge of the planet. More than 90 percent of the environmental impact of plastic water bottles happens during manufacture, and the Guardian reported that more than 1 million plastic water bottles were sold a minute across the globe in 2016. Some people have switched over to reusable water bottles and canteens, but once they do, there is no way to search for water fountains or sources of drinking water. That’s where Tap comes in. In its first iteration, Tap is a bit like the Waze for water. Using a combination of user-generated content and data from water fountain manufacturers, Tap aims to be a public search engine for where to find water. As it stands now, Tap has more than 34,000 Refill Stations across 30 countries indexed on the app. But Tap also has ambitions to offer a backend system for water fountain companies. Normally, these companies sell a number of units to airports or other commercial or government properties. Those customers then install the fountains wherever they see fit, and the water fountain company is more or less uninvolved. However, those companies then need to maintain the fountains, installing new filters and repairing broken parts, etc. But one fountain may be far more trafficked than another, and thus need higher frequency maintenance. Tap wants to offer an SDK to these companies so that when users report bad filters or a broken water fountain, that information shows up on their dashboard. Rosen sees an opportunity to generate revenue in a manner similar to Google, offering an advertising product for companies down the line. Digital Trends via TechCrunch https://techcrunch.com October 26, 2018 at 10:32AM |
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