When the COVID-19 threat hit in March, most Americans didn’t have much of a choice about their new work-from-home existence. But now that a majority of the workforce have settled into their new routines, it may be hard for many to snap back to the daily commute and the office grind again.

And the numbers spell it out — remote working...well, works. A survey found remote workers actually logged almost 60 more hours of core work per year than those in an office. And remote workers saved anywhere from 2 to 5.5 hours a day without commuting and time-consuming in-person meetings. 

With results like those, the only real question is how do you ensure your core work hours are truly time well spent? With The Remote Work and Productivity Bundle, you can learn the techniques that will help keep you focused on your key tasks so you can enjoy the work from home lifestyle with zero guilt.

This package collects seven courses that bolster both the physical and mental approaches to working remotely so you can do high-quality work in less time and with less hassle.

With How To Be Hyper Productive In Your Home Based Business, you’ll develop the disciplines and habits needed to take your home-based job or business to be both highly productive and highly profitable. Meanwhile, the Coronavirus and Remote Work: Tools and Tactics for Business Continuity course take that training a step further, minimizing work disruption, managing expectations, and feeding your creativity and innovation, all from home. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/05/23/working-from-home-doesnt-ha.html

After two months, all those stockpiled snacks and days spent indoors have likely taken their toll. If you happened to pick up a few pounds during quarantine, join the club.

However, you may be thinking that it’s time -- or maybe, well past time -- to get back on that fitness horse. Rather than heading down to that recently reopened, but likely still deeming with possible infection neighborhood gym, we’ve pulled together a handful of equipment and services that can help get your body moving and on the road to a fitter you.

And just so we can leave you with a fitter wallet as well, you can use the code SUMMERSAVE20 at checkout and that’ll slice another 20 percent off your total. 

Gear

If you’re ready to work out, gear up first. For yoga and Pilates regulars, this Non-Slip Yoga and Pilates Towel with Bag ($18.39 after discount; originally $75) is designed just for you. The towel is created to stay on top of the mat without slipping, catching all the sweat so you aren’t sliding all over. Thankfully, it dries quickly and can be stowed in the mesh bag for washing.

The Men's Z-Liner Antimicrobial Orthotic Insoles ($19.19 after discount; originally $29.99) can save your feet from ill-fitting or broken down shoes. Crafted with ZL Hexcore and breathable mesh fabric, these insoles cradle and form to your feet, keeping them cool, dry, and odor-free. They’ve even got arch support and an adaptive heel-cup for better balance and stability while reducing common pains. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/05/23/20-home-workout-deals-on-sale.html

Journalist Patrick Radden Keefe has done plenty of extensive and gripping longform journalism, including his most recent book, Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland (which I could not recommend more highly). His newest project is a slight departure from covering topics of crime and radical separationists, but still deals heavily with espionage and subterfuge.

It's about the Scorpions, the English-speaking German rock band who rocked you like a hurricane. And also the CIA.

Here's the official blurb:

It’s 1990. The Berlin Wall just fell. The Soviet Union is on the verge of collapse. And the soundtrack to the revolution is one of the best selling songs of all time, the metal ballad “Wind of Change,” by The Scorpions. Decades later, journalist Patrick Radden Keefe heard a rumor: the song wasn’t written by The Scorpions. It was written by the CIA. This is his journey to find the truth.

Told through exclusive interviews with former CIA officers, on the ground reporting, and more - this podcast embodies the traditional tones of investigative journalism while keeping listeners on their toes through its cinematic pacing, simulating the theatricality of the critically acclaimed film Argo in a podcast. This 8-part series follows Patrick’s search for the truth, a 10 year investigation that traces the 70 year history of our government's meddling into pop music, including everyone from Louis Armstrong and Nina Simone, to Bon Jovi and the Beach Boys.

I've listened to the first two episodes available so far (which is also embedded below), and I'm absolutely hooked. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/05/23/a-new-podcast-explores-the-cia.html

From NPR:

Deaths from motor vehicle crashes and fatal injuries are the biggest source of organs for transplant, accounting for 33% of donations, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, which manages the nation's organ transplant system.

But ever since the coronavirus forced Californians indoors, those accidents have declined. Traffic collisions and fatalities in the state dropped by half in the first three weeks of shelter-in-place restrictions, according to a study by the University of California, Davis. Drowning deaths dropped 80% in California, according to data compiled by the nonprofit Stop Drowning Now.

From March 8 to April 11, the number of organ donors who died in traffic collisions was down 23% nationwide compared with the same period last year, while donors who died in all other types of accidents were down 21%, according to data from UNOS.

Well this is awkward.

Organ Transplants Down As Stay-At-Home Rules Reduce Fatal Traffic Collisions [April Dembosky / NPR]

Image: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/05/23/now-that-driving-is-down-so-a.html

We've been writing about Lea Redmond since 2009 here on Boing Boing. She's just one of those kind of people who consistently makes neat things — a real Happy Mutant! Well, her latest creative venture is Home Sweet Home, an activity deck for kids (and the young at heart). It offers inspiring prompts for whimsical, reflective mini-adventures in and out of the home. Half the deck is available now for free download, and the second half will be available as part of a full physical deck (when it's safe to get them printed).

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/05/23/this-deck-of-wholesome-activit.html

Last year, over 43 million Americans hit the road to celebrate Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer. That was the second-highest travel volume this century, according to AAA, but with COVID-19 fears and quarantine orders only now starting to ease, it’s safe to say this year probably won’t attract numbers anywhere close to that high.

However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have your car prepped with a few essentials for that day soon when you do need to hit the road. 

To help, here are 20 car accessories that can help make your trip an easier one -- and when you use the code SUMMERSAVE20 when you purchase, you’ll get an additional 20 percent off your total. 

Car Trouble?

Emergencies happen on the road all the time -- and with the 5-in-1 Emergency Car Tool with Portable Power Bank ($15.99 after discount; originally $25.99), you’ll be ready for them. It includes an LED flashlight, a red SOS light, an emergency seatbelt cutter, a glass breaker, and a portable power bank with 2,200mAh battery capacity. Or you could go with the Kelvin.7 Automotive Emergency Multi-Tool ($31.99 after discount; originally $49.99) which, in addition to those earlier talents, also adds four built-in magnets and a hand-crank power generator to your multipurpose roster of abilities.

Unless you’re a mechanic, car trouble can be frustrating and mysterious, but the THINKCAR 1S: OBDII Full-Systems Car Scanner with a Free Lifetime Subscription ($29.59 after discount; originally $54.95) is like having your own diagnostic computer that syncs up with your phone. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/05/23/20-auto-deals-you-can-save-ext.html

IT'S ABOUT TIME!!

CNN:

To ensure the crayons accurately reflect the world's array of skin tones, Crayola partnered with Victor Casale, CEO and co-founder of cosmetics maker MOB Beauty.

The Colors of the World crayons will come in packs of 24 and 32, with the 32-pack also including four crayons each for hair and eye colors, according to the company. Each pack will also include a side panel that serves as a color reference, while each crayon label lists the color name in English, Spanish, and French.

These "Colors of the World" crayons will be available in July.

Thanks, Tracy!

images via CNN/Crayola Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/05/23/crayola-makes-crayons-in-24-ne.html

According to a new study from the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour in the Netherlands, our speaking voices actually register subtle changes along with our gesticulating limbs.

It’s all about acoustics: the pitch and volume of a voice change together with the movement of arms and hands. "That change is very subtle with a wrist movement," says Pouw. “It is less subtle with an arm movement. The pitch jumps up slightly whenever a movement slows down.”

According to Pouw, there are two different causes for these acoustic differences. One of the causes is the creation of vibrations. The forces involved in a movement cause vibrations in your body. Through the connective tissue that holds your body together, vibrations end up in your lungs, affecting the pressure in your lungs.

The second cause is muscle tension around your lungs that is needed to maintain balance. We do not merely use our arm muscles when we move our arms. “When starting the process of stopping your arm from moving, for example, other muscles are suddenly addressed to prevent your body from falling over. These muscles that maintain balance include muscles around your lungs.”

Pretty cool!

Acoustic information about upper limb movement in voicing [Wim Pouw, Alexandra Paxton, Steven J. Harrison, and James A. Dixon / PNAS]

Body language can also be heard [Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour]

Image: Public Domain via NeedPix Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/05/23/people-can-hear-your-gesticula.html

It doesn’t do you much good to come up with a brilliant concept that you can’t translate into a working real-world prototype. Whether you’re thinking about building a home, a mechanical tool or a toy, that’s where the magic of computer-aided design and drafting software like AutoCAD comes into play. 

The longtime leader in the field, AutoCAD by Autodesk is used by architects, designers, engineers, and loads of other professionals to help flesh out 2D drawings into 3D structures, all crafted to scale. In the right hands, AutoCAD can turn creativity into practical reality and show everyone exactly how to do it.

As with most ultra-powerful software tools, AutoCAD mastery comes with a fairly steep learning curve. However, the instruction in The Ultimate AutoCAD Training Bundle makes this versatile software accessible, helping everyone from first-timers to advanced users take full advantage of all the drafting and modeling tools AutoCAD has to offer.

This training features 12 hours of content covering everything AutoCAD can do. Once you’ve got AutoCAD installed and you’re comfortable with the user interface and basic tools, the course guides learners into actual project work, drafting small objects to get a feel for all of the software’s capabilities.

But as you advance through the course, the training wheels come off as students are challenged to improve their abilities and find better ways to fashion cleaner, more effective plans. With modeling skills on the rise, users will craft 3D structures of their design ideas, then get a deeper understanding of how AutoCAD’s roster of features can translate those items into blueprints for real-life builders and manufacturers. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/05/22/autocad-is-the-software-that-t.html

Memorial Day has always been the traditional start to the summer season — and there’s never been a summer with more people more ready to get out and enjoy life outside their home than this one.

Of course, food will be a big part (if not the centerpiece) of all of our summer celebrations, so to make sure you’re prepared, we’ve assembled a few dozen of the best kitchen, food, and food prep items available with some healthy savings right now. 

And if you use the code SUMMERSAVE20 at checkout, you’ll get an extra 20 percent discount off each of these handy kitchen helpers. 

Be versatile 

Counter space is always at a premium, so every appliance there needs to be a multipurpose tool like the A4-Box Induction Cooking Device ($175.99 after discount; originally $249).  It features a non-stick grill pan and flat pan perfect for everything from grilling and sauteing to baking, all in one compact, convenient, and stylish package that keeps the pots and pans juggling under control.

Speaking of versatile, sous vide cookers that expertly regulate cooking vacuum-sealed food in a water bath are all the rage right now — and the SOUS°V Pot Precision Sous Vide Multi-Cooker ($88.80 after discount; originally $129.99) is a great introduction. With easy to set DualAccuTemp technology for controlling temperatures needed for any ingredient, your meal will be done when you want it and how you want it, no matter whether you’re sauteing, cooking rice, steaming, boiling, or even making yogurt.

Meanwhile, the Mellow Sous Vide Precision Cooker ($159.99 Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/05/22/you-wont-want-to-miss-out-on.html

This interview presents a conversation with Ignatz award-winning cartoonist Noah Van Sciver (Fante Bukowski, Grateful Dead: Origins, Disquiet, Please Don’t Step On My JNCO Jeans, One Dirty Tree, Blammo, Saint Cole, More Mundane, Constant Companion, 1999, The Hypo: The Melancholic Young Lincoln) about his life, art and work.

Jeffery Klaehn: In addition to winning an Ignatz award in 2016 for your autobiographical mini-comic, My Hot Date, you were nominated for multiple Ignatz awards throughout 2010 to 2016 for Outstanding Comic (Blammo #6 and #8), Outstanding Artist (Saint Cole and Disquiet), Outstanding Graphic Novel (Saint Cole), and Outstanding Minicomic (The Death of Elijah Lovejoy).  You were nominated for an Eisner Award in 2016 for Best Writer/Artist (Fante Bukowski) and A Perfect Failure: Fante Bukowski Three was nominated for an Eisner in the Best Humor Publication category.  How do you define success at this point in your career, Noah?  What does it mean for you?

Noah Van Sciver: Success in comics to me is a publisher and readers that have faith in you and the stories that you want to tell. A publisher that is happy to help you put your ideas together no matter what they are. Those aren’t things that come easy, and you’ve really got to earn them!

JK: Your The Complete Works of Fante Bukowski released earlier this year from Fantagraphics and is available in both hardcover and digitally via Kindle.  It’s 450 pages and collects all three volumes of your Fante Bukowski graphic novels, with extensive bonus material. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/05/22/talking-comics-with-ignatz-awa.html

In this U.S. Navy video, the USS Portland (LPD 27) conducts a Laser Weapon System Demonstrator Test in the Pacific Ocean off Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

#USSPortland (LPD 27) conducts Laser Weapon System Demonstrator Test in Pacific: https://t.co/zZJglgDIcf @USNavy @USNavyResearch #NavyLethality pic.twitter.com/K8xtcEWiRz

 U.S. Pacific Fleet (@USPacificFleet) May 22, 2020

pic.twitter.com/jQsmR6CpqN

 U.S. Pacific Fleet (@USPacificFleet) May 22, 2020

The test aboard USS Portland - LPD 27 in the Pacific, which resulted in successfully disabling an unmanned aerial vehicle, was the first system-level implementation of a high-energy class solid-state laser.

More on the laser weapons systems test at the U.S. Navy website:

Amphibious transport dock ship USS Portland (LPD 27) successfully disabled an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a Solid State Laser - Technology Maturation Laser Weapon System Demonstrator (LWSD) MK 2 MOD 0 on May 16.

LWSD is a high-energy laser weapon system demonstrator developed by the Office of Naval Research and installed on Portland for an at-sea demonstration. LWSD's operational employment on a Pacific Fleet ship is the first system-level implementation of a high-energy class solid-state laser. The laser system was developed by Northrup Grumman, with full System and Ship Integration and Testing led by NSWC Dahlgren and Port Hueneme.

“By conducting advanced at sea tests against UAVs and small crafts, we will gain valuable information on the capabilities of the Solid State Laser Weapons System Demonstrator against potential threats,” said Capt. Karrey Sanders, commanding officer of Portland.

The U.S. Navy has been developing directed-energy weapons (DEWs), to include lasers, since the 1960s.

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/05/22/watch-u-s-navy-tests-a-laser.html

It's curious, isn't it. It's now 6 months after impeached President Donald Trump said he was starting his 2020 physical.

He hasn't completed the routine medical examination he said he started in November.

The White House won't say why.

I wonder why.

In November 2019, exactly six months ago this week, Trump began what the White House at the time described as “portions” of his third physical during a two-hour examination, report Geoff Bennett and Monica Alba at NBC News:

Senior administration officials did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment about the delay — despite Trump announcing this week he was taking an unproven and potentially dangerous drug after being exposed to an aide who tested positive for coronavirus.

Asked in early March about when he would complete his physical, the president told reporters, “I’m going probably over the next 90 days. I’m so busy, I can’t do it.”

A month later, as the coronavirus pandemic hospitalized UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Trump said he would finish the exam “at the appropriate time” adding, “but I feel very good.”

A president’s annual physical typically occurs at the beginning of a new year. Trump’s 2019 exam was conducted in February, and his 2018 physical was conducted in January. It is uncommon for a president to complete a routine physical exam months apart and in multiple stages.

I'm sure it's a very cool and normal. A perfect physical. Great.

Read more:6 months on, Trump hasn't completed his physical. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/05/22/wonder-why-donald-trump-is-6-m.html

CNBC's Megan Graham set up a website full of scraped news from other sites. Most ad networks she submitted it to approved it for ad placement.

I only put a few hours of work into this site, but I don’t do this for a living.

Real bad actors can get a lot farther than this with only a little more work. For instance, they can set up a site with actual original content, get approved, and only then start scraping content. Or, they can easily buy an existing website that’s already monetizing with adtech partners, and just flood it with plagiarized content. They can buy fake traffic to conduct traffic arbitrage, a fancy way of saying that they pay less for traffic than they gain from the ad impressions. They can set up more automated means to keep scraping huge amounts of automated content to keep the website looking fresh.

Google appears to be the only platform that rejected her site. Implicit in this is the fact that Google would not have given her scraper site any respectable placement in search results, and would not have let it into Google News at all.

Which gets us to an important omission from the story: she made $0. Ad networks should not have approved her in the first place, but the real check happens when a check is cut. The shadyness in all this deserves a deeper dive. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/05/22/cnbc-sting-most-ad-networks-a.html

Kremlin sent 45 Aventa-M ventilators to the United States after Trump and Putin call

https://boingboing.net/2020/05/22/how-did-45-russian-ventilators.html

Write-Only is a "typewriter", in that you can type but you cannot delete. You can copy what you've written to the clipboard and go full-screen, and that's it. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/05/22/write-only-a-simple-web-typew.html

Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden, on Friday, May 22, addressed a remark he made during an interview with Charlamagne Tha God:

"I should not have been so cavalier. I have never ever ever taken the African American community for granted."

"I shouldn't have been such a wise guy," he added.

“No one should have to vote for any party based on their race, their religion, their background."

He was apologizing for saying "you ain't black" if you're deciding between Biden and Trump.

A testy exchange at the end of the interview with @cthagod. Biden, clearly frustrated by the insinuation he hasn't done enough to help the black community, tells him "If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump then you ain't black" https://t.co/7u1IReMy6B

 Marianna Sotomayor (@MariannaNBCNews) May 22, 2020

JUST IN: In a call with Black business leaders, @JoeBiden apologizes for his AM comments to @cthagod: "“I should not have been so cavalier. I've never, never, ever taken the African American community for granted." (more)

 Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) May 22, 2020

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/05/22/joe-biden-apologizes-for-sayin.html

Like a third-rate children’s party magician who’s given up caring, this week’s tawdry tabloids indulge in some heavy-handed misdirection.

https://boingboing.net/2020/05/22/kim-jong-un-is-dead-prince-an.html

Trump: 'I will override the governors' if they stop houses of worship from reopening

https://boingboing.net/2020/05/22/trump-says-houses-of-worship.html

Gel-based super glue is much easier to use than regular super glue because it's thick and easier to control. You can apply a dab to a vertical surface without having it drip. It's also slightly tacky to begin with, which helps to keep parts sticking together without holding them. And because it's thicker, it works well on porous surfaces, like the ones on this elephant coffee creamer that one of our cats broke. The kind I use is Gorilla Super Glue Gel. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/05/22/gel-super-glue-is-the-best-kin.html