A hit movie with a trailer that is comically horrible. I guess the trailer doesn't matter.

This movie was a huge thing during my childhood. I was never into slasher flicks. RomComs are scary enough. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/13/this-trailer-is-so-lame-why-d.html

On the planet Wasp-76b, it rains iron. Researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and colleagues observed the planet, 650 light years from Earth, using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in northern Chile. On the planet's "hot side" that faces it star, temperatures can be above 2,400°C. It's a good thing the residents of Wasp-76b carry tungsten umbrellas. From ESO:

“One could say that this planet gets rainy in the evening, except it rains iron,” says David Ehrenreich, a professor at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. He led a study, published today in the journal Nature, of this exotic exoplanet. Known as WASP-76b, it is located some 640 light-years away in the constellation of Pisces.

This strange phenomenon happens because the 'iron rain' planet only ever shows one face, its day side, to its parent star, its cooler night side remaining in perpetual darkness. Like the Moon on its orbit around the Earth, WASP-76b is ‘tidally locked’: it takes as long to rotate around its axis as it does to go around the star.

On its day side, it receives thousands of times more radiation from its parent star than the Earth does from the Sun. It’s so hot that molecules separate into atoms, and metals like iron evaporate into the atmosphere. The extreme temperature difference between the day and night sides results in vigorous winds that bring the iron vapour from the ultra-hot day side to the cooler night side, where temperatures decrease to around 1500 degrees Celsius.

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/13/the-strange-planet-where-it-ra.html

A Toronto Star article profiles married couple Manny Ranga and Violeta Perez, who drive around to Costcos and load their pickup with hand sanitizer bottles and disinfectant wipes, then resell the items on Amazon at quadruple the purchase price. They claim to have made over $100,000 so far by gouging.

From the article:

The couple say they’ve made a bundle in the past three weeks hitting up every Costco store in the region each day, buying up as many Lysol wipes and liquid cleaners as they can — spending thousands of dollars at a time — and then reselling them, mostly on Amazon, to private individuals and companies.

...

Ranga, 38, said one six-pack of wipes that goes for $20 at Costco can fetch four times that online. (A check of Amazon on Thursday showed that a six-pack was going for $89 under their seller name “Violeta & Sons Trading Ltd.”)

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/13/husband-and-wife-team-proudly.html

The Drive reports that "the stars of Discovery Channel's Diesel Brothers television show are being ordered to pay $851,451 for their role in producing and selling modified diesel pickups that wreaked environmental havoc in the state of Utah."

They were found guilty of stripping emissions equipment from diesel pickups. The trial was initiated by Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, which purchased a modified truck from the Diesel Brothers and tested it for emissions. The "results showed it emitted 36 times more pollution and 21 times more particulate matter than if it was equipped with proper emissions systems," reports The Drive.

The federal judge in the case also said the gentleman, known as "Heavy D" and "Diesel Dave," are also on the hook for the plaintiffs' $1.2 million legal fees and that the fines can't be avoided through bankruptcy. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/13/reality-tv-stars-of-diesel-bro.html

At r/Seinfeld, MrJonLott writes:

At the Raynham flea market 2 years ago I found a DVD with 80 minutes of previously unseen Seinfeld bloopers. These are different from the official DVD bloopers, which are already on YouTube. This DVD was in a bootleg case with a bootleg design, and a simple unvarnished disc inside. I ripped the footage from the DVD and uploaded it raw to YouTube. Forgive the video quality; the DVD has low-grade video.

The DVD was produced in 2000, which makes me think it's a bootleg of a blooper DVD made for the cast and crew of Seinfeld in 1998 or 1999, to be shared in the days before internet. There is nothing else on the disc.

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/13/watch-80-joyous-minutes-of-new.html

In this segment of Curiosity Show we are presented with an illusion involving two playing cards. In just a couple of minutes we get an entertaining lesson in art history, perspective, and vision. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/13/optical-illusion-demonstrates.html

Netflix just released the third season of its anime Castlevania adaptation, and I certainly never expected to be so excited such a thing. Sure, I played the games a little bit as a kid. But I don't usually go in for that much anime, or that many video games adaptations.

This one, however, is written by Warren Ellis and directed by Adi Shankar, and it was been a consistently enjoyable ride. Ellis himself acknowledges that he's never played the "vampire jump game" at all, and just used Wikipedia to figure out the relationships worth mining to tell a good story. And at that, he succeeded. The dialogue is hilarious and crass; the bloody, brutal action sequences often make me squee with delight; and the characters are all complex enough to make you want to spend time with them, even when they're absolutely awful people. Hell, this show might have the most empathetic and sympathetic depiction of Dracula I've ever seen — which is impressive for a dude who starts a global war to feast on humans.

I'm only halfway through season 3 — which adds Bill Nighy and Lance Reddick to an already-excellent cast that includes Richard Armitage, James Callis, Alejandra Reynoso, and Jamie Murray — and I'm eager to finish the rest.

If you're looking for something to keep you occupied during your self-quarantine, and you don't mind a lot of blood and cursing, I highly recommend it. If the plot-based trailer above doesn't intrigue you, then perhaps this will:

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/13/netflixs-castlevania-show-is.html

In 1997, The Notorious B.I.G. (aka Biggie Smalls) visited the Manhattan offices of The Source, then the most influential hip hop publication in the world. Biggie was there for a photo shoot and took off his size 52 pleather belt to change clothes. He told Source writer Rigo “Riggs” Morales to hold on to the belt and he'd grab it later. Biggie forgot. A couple weeks later, Biggie was killed in a drive-by shooting. A few years later on his last day at the magazine, Riggs instructed the office's incoming resident, writer Aliya S. King, that Biggie's belt was never to leave that room. Over two decades, nine people were charged with keeping the belt safe Over at Level, King tells the tale of Biggie's belt and why it matters so much to her:

It didn’t feel like a monumental relic or symbol of hip-hop history. It wasn’t one of Big’s infamous Coogi sweaters or the Versace sunglasses that he wore or shouted out in his rhymes. It was a no-name brand size 52 belt. And yet, Riggs decided it needed to stay in that spot. “That belt doesn’t leave this office,” Riggs said to me.

I nodded.

“Not under any circumstances,” he continued. “It stays right there. Right on that hook. Unless Big himself comes here to get it, it doesn’t move.”

“I got it.”

“If you move offices or if you leave The Source, the belt stays here. You can tell the next person who moves in here.”

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/13/the-legend-of-biggie-smalls.html

“Pornhub is donating its March proceeds from Modelhub to support Italy during this unfortunate time," the company said on Twitter:

Model earnings will remain untouched, this is coming straight from Pornhub's share. Italy will also have free access to Pornhub Premium throughout the month. Forza Italia, we love you!

pic.twitter.com/8ckeikKKnv

 Pornhub ARIA (@Pornhub) March 12, 2020

It's kind of wild that a porn site has already done more to fight coronavirus than the US President Who Has Sex With Porn Stars, but here we are.

Pornhub offers free premium service in Italy to ease coronavirus pains [Joe Tacopino / NY Post]

Image: Public Domain via Pexels Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/13/pornhub-offers-free-premium-se.html

From Politico:

The U.S. government proclamation initiating the ban targets 26 European countries that comprise a visa-free travel zone known as the Schengen Area.

The United Kingdom, which is home to Trump Turnberry and Trump International Golf Links, and Ireland, which is home to another Trump-branded hotel and golf course at Doonbeg, do not participate in the Schengen Area. Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania are also not part of the Schengen Area. All three of the resorts are struggling financially.

To be fair, this is probably not a deliberate gerrymandering scheme; the Trump Organization simply doesn't have any property in the designated area. Presumably, the argument in favor of blocking travel to that part of Europe has to do more with open borders; while Ireland might still be part of the EU, at least the water keeps things separate.

Trump’s travel ban sidesteps his own European resorts [Ryan Heath / Politico]

Image: Whoisjohngalt/Wikimedia Commons (CC 4.0) Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/13/trumps-coronavirus-travel-ba.html

And we're done! We (along with John, who loved that this was serialized) would like to thank everyone on Boing Boing, and all readers, for following this story over the pace of a page or two every month. The obvious question: What's next? Answer: There will be a Kickstarter -- likely around June -- to fund a complete volume, along with extensive notes and extras. Why, it's the perfect addition to any academic library, hip comic book shelf, counterculture gift, or journalism course syllabus worth its Real News salt, naturally! You can follow on Twitter for info (Scott or Ethan) -- You can also follow this project's Kickstarter profile. Additionally, we're aware of the many of you who have purchased a Book One of the series. Your patience and support will not be ignored! We'll have a Book Two available in the Kickstarter, along with a Complete Volume (Books One and Two together). In the meantime, here's an ad for Book One - Get one before it's gone - Genuine thanks, Ethan and Scott.

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/13/after-eight-years-on-boing-boi.html

The video below shows a customer in a vehicle at a Burger King drive-through window. The restaurant is clearly ablaze, with smoke billowing from the roof and fire alarms shrieking. Staff, who have evacuated the building, call for her to move away from the burning structure. The customer demands a refund.

MAN EMPLOYEE: "Is anyone still inside?"

WOMAN EMPLOYEE: "Move! It's on fire!"

CUSTOMER (emerging from car): "I don't give a fuck! I just moved! Now give me my money! That's what I'm asking for!"

MAN EMPLOYEE: *Incoherent anguish*

CUSTOMER: "Y'all were just laughing in there. Now you come out here and act all serious? You're fucking stupid!"

MAN EMPLOYEE: [further incoherent anguish*] stupid motherfucker.

CUSTOMER: You ... this is why you work at Burger King. That's why you work at Burger King making $13 an hour homes!

Exeunt right. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/13/customer-demands-refund-at-bur.html

If numbers and data science are all just a big mystery to you, think of today’s data scientists as modern-day versions of the old California gold rush prospectors panning the water. They’d sift through virtual mountains of soil, gravel and loads of various river debris, all in search of the tiniest fleck of valuable gold material.

Data science is a similar pursuit, sifting through volumes of raw and processed data, seeking patterns and conclusions that can give you an edge. With the training found in The Dynamic Data Scientist Bundle ft. Power BI, Python, and MATLAB, you can learn the methods and tools to become a digital prospector, plucking extreme value from all that data chaos.

This seven-course, 33-hour collection spotlights some of the most important tactics for organizing and analyzing large data sets to find meaningful takeaways that can inform important decision making in business or scientific endeavors.

Applying structure to all that data is a key first step — and the Easy to Advanced Data Structures course will have students creating efficient algorithms to bring a workable form to all that information. Power BI Desktop: Data Analytics for Everyone introduces new users to Microsoft Power Business Intelligence (BI), a program that allows small businesses to use data analytics, modeling and more just like companies with big internal IT departments.

Python is one of the most versatile programming languages for data science, so a pair of courses — Data Visualization with Python for Beginners and Master Data Visualization with Python — get users familiar with Matplotlib, a Python-based program used to plot data to create visually compelling representations that drive home the meaning of all your numbers. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/12/learn-some-of-the-most-importa.html

Stock investors who are reeling after today's disaster on Wall Street can take comfort in the fact that people hodling Bitcoin fared even worse. The price of a bitcoin dropped from $7900 to $4900 in less than a day.

From Coindesk

Nearly $63 billion has been wiped from the markets as the total market capitalization of all crypto fell from $223 billion to $161 billion, with BTC falling more than 39 percent over the past 24 hours to levels not seen since April 2019.

Balances containing 100 or more bitcoin have fallen to their lowest point since Dec. 31, 2019 signaling a flight to cash as other supposed safe-haven assets like gold fell 3.5 percent.

Drawdowns from Recent Highs:

Oil: -53%Bitcoin: -46%Delta Airlines: -46%Tesla: -42%Goldman: -40%JP Morgan: -38%Transports: -36%Russell 2000: -35%FANGs: -28%S&P 500: -27%Nasdaq 100: -25%Amazon: -23%Consumer Staples: -19%Gold: -7%Cash: 0%

via: @BearTrapsReport

 Lawrence McDonald (@Convertbond) March 12, 2020

Image: Trading View Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/12/cryptopocalypse-bitcoin-dro.html

California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order that will allow the state to take over hotels to house coronavirus patients in case hospitals are overloaded.

From The Los Angeles Times:

Under the order, the California Health and Human Services Agency and the Office of Emergency Services will be able to execute agreements to commandeer hotels, or medical facilities that are not in use, to quarantine, isolate and treat COVID-19 patients or those with a high risk of exposure, the order states.

The order also allows trained laboratory personnel to perform COVID-19 tests, which are ordinarily completed only by microbiologists.

I hope the Beverly Hills Hotel, owned by a gentleman who has expressed his desire to kill gay people, is the first place the state takes over. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/12/california-governor-issues-ord.html

In the face of a pandemic of facts, tabloid reporters appear to be self-quarantining to avoid all contact with reality.

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/12/coronavirus-cured-again-bri.html

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/12/file-under-aw-hell-no.html

Disneyland Park and California Adventures in Anaheim, California today said it will close on March 14 through at least the end of the month due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This is only the fourth time in Disneyland's history that park operations have been fully suspended.

No word on Walt Disney World in Florida yet.

The three previous times Disneyland Park closed were on 9/11, after the Northridge earthquake, and on a national day of mourning following the assassination of U.S. president John F. Kennedy.

Disney stock fell 1.6% in late trading.

pic.twitter.com/P9Xg2ee5Ly

 Disney Parks News (@DisneyParksNews) March 12, 2020

JUST IN: Disneyland in CA closing as of Friday because of coronavirus. Only 4th time in history that operations have been fully suspended: 9/11, Northridge quake, nat'l day of mourning after JFK assassination

 Brooks Barnes (@brooksbarnesNYT) March 12, 2020

Disneyland in California is closing for only the fourth time in history https://t.co/YDkvOVFIZb

 Rebecca Rubin (@rebeccaarubin) March 12, 2020

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/12/disneyland-closing-due-to-coro.html

Citing “the COVID-19 public health threat,” the NCAA is canceling March Madness and all other winter and spring men's and women's college basketball tournaments amid a growing coronavirus pandemic.

MARCH MADNESS has been cancelled due to coronavirus pic.twitter.com/rEOyQsynHt

 Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) March 12, 2020

NCAA cancels March Madness men's and women's basketball tournaments due to coronavirus concerns https://t.co/0mOwHSQtBz

 USA TODAY (@USATODAY) March 12, 2020

BREAKING: NCAA cancels March Madness amid coronavirus fearshttps://t.co/pdrbkUa8uD

 VirginianPilotSports (@PilotSportsNow) March 12, 2020

NCAA has just canceled the men's and women's basketball tournaments altogether. Seemed inevitable. Hard to imagine such a tournament without Kansas and Duke. https://t.co/ppKP54pAvL

 JamesVGrimaldi (@JamesVGrimaldi) March 12, 2020

THE 2020 NCAA MEN’S & WOMEN’S TOURNAMENTS HAVE BEEN CANCELED pic.twitter.com/SV3vMqCyXE

 kelly cohen (@ByKellyCohen) March 12, 2020

Breaking News: The NCAA has canceled its March Madness tournaments because of the coronavirus. Follow live updates on how the pandemic is affecting the U.S.https://t.co/jmTJTSHFZx

 The New York Times (@nytimes) March 12, 2020

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/12/ncaa-cancels-march-madness-due.html

NYC mayor: 95 confirmed coronavirus cases, 42 just since yesterday

https://boingboing.net/2020/03/12/coronavirus-ny-mayor-declares.html