please enjoy this video of a canterbury cathedral cat stealing the dean's milk during his morning sermon pic.twitter.com/RRIPLQGCQT

 queen of bitch island (@kittynouveau) July 20, 2020

Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, is delivering online sermons from the garden during the pandemic. 1 Peter 2:2 informs us that newborn babes desire the "milk of the word of God", but Willis's cat is thirsty for the standard stuff.

Moreover,

Oups !! i deleted my tweet :( here it is again #SecretParty pic.twitter.com/UO0Xxhespj

 k0ya (@_vinCy) July 20, 2020

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https://boingboing.net/2020/07/21/cat-helps-self-to-dean-of-cant.html

Darth Vader bought a lottery ticket at the Di Endz Sports Bar in May Pen, Jamaica and won $95 million. Darth showed up to claim his prize in full armor, revealing nothing to the public other than his abbreviated alias, W. Brown. From the Daily Star:

[Simone Clarke-Cooper, assistant vice president at Lottery sponsor Supreme Ventures Limited] said, "Unfortunately, Jamaica is not like other markets. In other markets, they don't necessarily do it, but here I think they opt to do it to keep themselves safe. We are not going to tell them not to do that because their safety is of paramount importance to us as well.

"People have been coming with their own disguises. They usually don't need our help, and they are usually very creative, perhaps beyond anything that we could think of or imagine, and it has been very effective over the years," she added.

More on Mr. Brown's big win in the Jamaica Gleaner: "Lotto Winner Claims $95 Million Jackpot" Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/21/darth-vader-wins-95-million-l.html

Typefaces of Protest: A Short Survey1/ Paranoid Light pic.twitter.com/MSuBYvDvp1

 Tom Sutcliffe (@tds153) July 13, 2020

Tom Sutcliffe compiled a helpful survey of "Typefaces of Protest" hand-drawn by covidiots, conspiracists, and other "truth" tellers.

6/ Dipshit Condensed pic.twitter.com/7CAsuUi9T8

 Tom Sutcliffe (@tds153) July 13, 2020

(via Kottke) Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/21/illuminati-bold-dipshit-conde.html

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/21/you-must-wear-a-face.html

Ubisoft was already in the middle of scandal about the mistreatment of workers in the game industry, but Jason Schreier's report on the scale of misconduct there reveals it as a black hole of abuse, harassment and corporate ass-covering: "I've talked to more than 40 current and former Ubisoft employees about sexual misconduct and abuse allegations. Their accounts make one thing clear: Ubisoft has known about these problems for years."

More than a dozen people made public claims of sexual harassment and abuse against employees of Ubisoft over the past few weeks. The outpouring is part of a broader #MeToo movement taking hold in the game industry, and the Paris-based company has been the most frequent target of allegations. Interviews with more than three dozen current or former Ubisoft employees indicate that these claims, and many others that haven’t previously come to light, had been gathering dust in company logs for years. In some instances, Ubisoft took action, but for the most part, complaints were ignored, mishandled, or undermined, employees say. ...

Allegations that Hasco"et behaved inappropriately around women extended to the office as well. In a meeting at Ubisoft's headquarters in Paris, one of the top creative leads on a big game was presenting to Hascoet and other decision-makers at the company. When the lead, a woman, left the room to use the bathroom, Hasco"et pulled up a YouTube video, according to two people present at the meeting. He played a French song describing sexually explicit acts with a woman who has the same name as the presenter.

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/21/ubisoft-at-epicenter-of-game-i.html

Trump's re-election campaign and supporting political action committees have already spent $983m to try and secure him a second term, a record for this point in a presidential run, reports The Washington Post. Joe Biden's spending trails so far behind as to be both reassuring (he has a double-digit polling lead anyway) and alarming (quantity has a quality of its own.)

Despite the historic spending, Trump has been slipping in national polls and approval ratings amid the spread of the coronavirus and a weakened economy. Biden holds a double-digit lead nationally and Trump faces a narrow path to victory through electoral college majority in battleground states, according to a Washington Post analysis.

It's funny how threadbare the results of the spending seem to be--a handful of amateurish campaign ads and sparsely-attended rallies--and tempting to imagine that his campaign is acting as a cash funnel to the proverbial swiss accounts he'll end up exiled to. But the spending has hardly begun, and that prospective Biden win is nowhere near secure. A lot of people will be debagged and defenestrated should Trump be turfed out of office and the incentives to keep him in it are vast Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/21/trump-and-his-allies-have-alre.html

If your company makes it out of this COVID 19-fueled nightmare one day, you may well have the cloud to thank for part of that.

A survey found that almost 40 percent of companies have used cloud technology to scale infrastructure to better help them meet demand and control costs brought on by virus-driven changes. Meanwhile, over 75 percent said cloud services were making their work-from-home efforts possible and an overwhelming 92 percent said the cloud was a big part of maintaining their basic day-to-day continuity.

Already an exploding tech sector, the cloud is now already driving business operations more than we ever would have expected even six months ago. Those who know the ways of the cloud are set to benefit both professionally and financially in the coming years — and The Complete 2020 Cloud Foundation Certification Bundle is a perfect introduction to how all the pieces work together.

As your primer to life as a cloud administrator, this four-course package lays it all out for you, not only covering all the basics of building, managing, securing and growing cloud-based networks, but all the tools and features at your disposal on the three largest cloud service provider platforms.

Even a novice to the cloud world can pick up the basics with CompTIA Cloud+ (CV0-002), which runs through all the foundational knowledge, skills, and responsibilities of a certified system admin. With over 12 hours of content, you’ll understand all the latest technologies, how to use cloud resources correctly and how to problem solve networking solutions on our way to CompTIA certification, one of the most important IT credentials you can add to your resume. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/21/with-this-training-youll-l.html

Ludwig G"oransson goes in front of the camera in this moody video of him performing his theme song for The Mandalorian in the studio and out in nature.

The Mandalorian is of course best known for The Child (aka "Baby Yoda"), featured in this delightful supercut:

Among his many other great scores, G"oransson won the Oscar for his Black Panther score, which included the super-cool and ominous Killmonger theme:

Image: YouTube / Star Wars Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/21/watch-the-composer-perform-the.html

With Trump threatening to deploy more agents to other U.S. cities, we should be paying close attention to what's been happening in Portland.

Over the weekend I asked a friend up there, one who's been showing up for the protests regularly, what the scene is really like and if she knew what needed to be shared to a wider audience. The main message? Protesters are hoping people outside Portland understand that "this a fight for all of us." She also shared:

Having the FEDS here is super scary for the state of our democracy (and a sign that Trump is a bloody fascist). The local cops have also been gassing and beating up protesters here for weeks with no oversight and little provocation.

The clashes between protesters and police here on the ground is isolated to a small area and happens late at night — but the threat to our democracy is real and present. The cops — both local and Feds are brutalizing people, mostly young and dis-enfranchized folks like the houseless and mentally ill. They pepper spray and beat them every night. It is scary to see.

"There is a nationwide call now for solidarity marches on July 25 -- one in most major cities including Oakland," she also wrote.

She offered press collective @45thabsurdist as a "real-deal" trusted source, "they're the ones out every night getting gassed." Here's a tweet from them, dated June 26:

Here’s what the hell we’re doing & why.

Please support folks reporting on the ground.

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/21/what-portland-protesters-want.html

The only dog ever enlisted in the Royal Navy was a Great Dane who befriended the sailors of Cape Town in the 1930s. Given the rank of able seaman, he boosted the morale of British sailors around the world. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll tell the story of Just Nuisance and his adventures among the sailors who loved him.

We'll also examine early concentration camps and puzzle over a weighty fashion.

Show notes

Please support us on Patreon! Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/21/in-1939-a-great-dane-joined-th.html

The YouTubers at Squirrel Monkey make videos that imagine what modern tech would look like in the past. Their latest humorously imagines what video conferencing via Zoom would have been like in the late eighties — a real PITA! We've come a long way technology wise since 1988.

Squirrel Monkey, previously on BB

screengrab via Squirrel Monkey/YouTube Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/21/funny-video-imagines-zoom-call.html

Francis Ford Coppola's 1974 classic gets a moody and modern title sequence in F.D. Lazzari's tribute. Lots of great colseups of tjhe vintage analog tech that was state of the art at the time of filming.

The original titles for comparison, which feature a cacophany of sounds as the camera slowly pushes in from a large crowd to the main characters:

Fun fact, The Conversation was the best film about audio surveillance until the 1981 film Blow Out, and the reigning champ is the 2006 drama The Lives of Others. OK, maybe not a fact, but certainly an opinion.

Image: YouTube / F.D. Lazzari Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/21/this-updated-title-sequence-fo.html

EU designates 750 billion-euro COVID-19 recovery fund to help member states mitigate economic crash

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/20/european-union-leaders-agree-o.html

They're having a great time.

The cats of Japan-based kagonekoshiro blog are at it again, enjoying Japan's hot summer months by cooling off in the garden with nice crisp lettuce on their furry little kitty heads.

Images courtesy kagonekoshiro.com Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/20/two-cats-relax-in-a-garden-wit.html

The ACLU says it is suing the administration of Donald Trump "for imprisoning Michael Cohen in retaliation for his plans to publish a book" critical of the president.

“We're suing the federal government for imprisoning Michael Cohen in retaliation for his plans to publish a book critical of Trump,” @ACLU tweeted late Monday night.

“We will defend the First Amendment from government censorship — as we have for a century now.”

BREAKING: We're suing the federal government for imprisoning Michael Cohen in retaliation for his plans to publish a book critical of Trump.

We will defend the First Amendment from government censorship — as we have for a century now.

 ACLU (@ACLU) July 21, 2020

Habeus petition filed by @ACLU on behalf of @MichaelCohen212 seeking his immediate release to home confinement. https://t.co/6XvlAOK16k

 Steve Herman (@W7VOA) July 21, 2020

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https://boingboing.net/2020/07/20/aclu-suing-trump-administratio.html

Trump outspent Biden in June by $13.4 million dollars.

Also, in June Trump also spent about twice what he spent the month prior.

Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's presidential campaign spent $36.9 million in June, ending the month with $108.9 million in cash, according to a disclosure filed on Monday with the Federal Election Commission.

Biden's campaign ended the month with $108.9 million in cash, according to a disclosure filed on Monday with the Federal Election Commission.

[Read more at Reuters].

Impeached U.S. President Donald Trump's re-election campaign increased spending in June, spending more than $50 million - about twice what Trump spent the month before.

Trump ended the month with $113 million in cash, according to a disclosure filed on Monday with the Federal Election Commission. Trump’s campaign funneled money into television ads as public opinion polls showed his Democratic opponent Joe Biden increasingly building a significant lead ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

[Read more at Reuters] Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/20/trumps-re-election-campaign.html

“We’re sending law enforcement,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We can’t let this happen to the cities.”

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/20/trump-threatens-to-send-armed.html

We’re a latest and greatest kind of culture. We want the newest, shiniest, fastest piece of tech in existence -- and many are willing to pay top dollar for the privilege of saying no one owns one better.

The reality is that life at the tech pinnacle is incredibly fleeting. Within months, sometimes weeks, even the most hyped new technology is inevitably surpassed. But does that make that computer or device or accessory less valuable than when it was the hottest item on store shelves? No. It just means someone created something a tiny bit faster or more powerful or more versatile.

In many cases, old tech gets cast aside when it’s still got years of valuable service left in its trusty innards. And if you can land fully certified, refurbished equipment guaranteed to run like new like these Dell Optiplex 7010 desktop PCs, you score premium computing at often hugely cut-rate prices.

Each of these desktop units has been checked through a thorough testing and refurbishing process by a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher to ensure every computer is running as well as the day it rolled off the assembly line.

Powered by the reliable performance of an Intel Quad-Core i5 processor with 16MB of memory, it’s more than up to the task of handling everything from everyday web surfing and correspondence to hardcore multitasking using multiple apps at once. In fact, those Intel processors are only a tick behind the abilities of Intel chips currently running industry-leading computers topping the 2020 marketplace. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/20/get-a-fully-refurbished-and-ce-2.html

The much-awaited sequel to Ernest Cline's Ready Player One (2012), called Ready Player Two, is available for pre-order. It'll be released on November 24. According to Wikipedia, Cline says the sequel will have a "different story-line involving all of the characters, while still exploring pop culture references like the first book." Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/20/pre-order-the-sequel-to-ernest.html

If you want an easy, on-the-go listening option, you can always just make the simplest move, join the herd and pick up the latest AirPods Pro. It’s only $250, right? 

While AirPods are great, they aren’t perfect. Once you shop around a bit, you’ll find there are loads of quality earbuds out there that are just as versatile and just as great for less. A whole lot less, in fact.

Case in point — the Skullcandy Jib Wireless Earbuds. They’re ridiculously simple. They deliver some surprising sound. And as PCMag puts it, “Bluetooth earphones don't get much more affordable.” They also named these earbuds a PCMag Editors’ Choice, which says a lot for a pair of headphones priced under $15.

That’s really the whole point of Jib Wireless, offering a hearty audio experience with almost nothing in the way of extra features and unneeded additions to get in the way of quality sound and a rock-bottom price.

Strictly on performance, you’ll likely find it hard to believe these are low-cost earbuds. With a powerful bass that doesn’t get distorted like other comparable headphones, the Jib Wireless brings strong, focused audio that at home delivering your favorite music, listening to a movie or television show or just fielding phone calls on your phone.

Speaking of your phone, the Jib Wireless also includes an in-line microphone so you can make and answer phone calls with ease as well as track and volume controls to keep a close hold over everything you hear. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/07/20/these-wireless-earbuds-from-sk.html