Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover has been chaotic since its slapdash inception, so it’s only fitting that his first change will scramble the platform’s social hierarchy. Last weekend, as Musk’s reign began, news broke that he was implementing a plan to scrap the company’s current verification process, where a blue check mark signifies that someone is… Continue reading The Blue Check Rapture Will Render Verification Meaningless
Author: Wired Magazine
Twitter Had a Plan to Fix Social Media. Will Elon Musk Follow It?
Musk’s chief concern will be whether he can align his philosophical affection for decentralization with the need to turn Twitter into a profitable business. He has previously expressed a desire to open source the Twitter algorithm in the name of transparency, but ceding control of the algorithm (the mechanism by which people are kept on… Continue reading Twitter Had a Plan to Fix Social Media. Will Elon Musk Follow It?
30 Outdoor Gift Ideas (2022): Binoculars, Helmets, Trekking Poles
Got friends and loved ones who love to camp, hike, trail run, fish, or hunt? The experience is the whole point, but many outdoorsy people love to geek out over all the cool gear released every year. Not every gift has to be useful in the backcountry (although those are certainly appreciated). Their favorite gift… Continue reading 30 Outdoor Gift Ideas (2022): Binoculars, Helmets, Trekking Poles
The Rise of Rust, the ‘Viral’ Secure Programming Language That’s Taking Over Tech
Whether you run IT for a massive organization or simply own a smartphone, you’re intimately familiar with the unending stream of software updates that constantly need to be installed because of bugs and security vulnerabilities. People make mistakes, so code is inevitably going to contain mistakes—you get it. But a growing movement to write software… Continue reading The Rise of Rust, the ‘Viral’ Secure Programming Language That’s Taking Over Tech
The Strange Death of the Uyghur Internet
Making a living as a programmer also became hard, says a former Bilkan developer, who asked to remain anonymous out of concern for his family’s safety. In 2016, the government started requiring that websites establish Communist Party branches or be supervised by a party member, making it difficult to avoid blacklisting. Authorities have also expanded… Continue reading The Strange Death of the Uyghur Internet
Seeking Psychedelics? Check the Data Privacy Clause
Next week, Coloradans will vote on a ballot initiative that, if approved, would create a regulated market for psilocybin in the state. Under this initiative, called Proposition 122, or the Natural Medicine Health Act, psilocybin would be produced in Colorado and administered under supervision at licensed “healing centers.” (Other substances could be added in a… Continue reading Seeking Psychedelics? Check the Data Privacy Clause
Rolex Deepsea Challenge 2022: the Deepest Diver You Can Buy
Rolex describes its new release, the Deepsea Challenge, as “a watch that defies the limits.” That means the limits of depth and atmospheric pressure in addition to engineering, since the Deepsea Challenge is designed to be able to function up to 11,000 meters—almost 7 miles—underwater. But you’d be forgiven for concluding it means the depths… Continue reading Rolex Deepsea Challenge 2022: the Deepest Diver You Can Buy
AWOL LTV-3500 Short Throw Projector Review: Bright but Expensive
However, this is the first projector I’ve used where I felt I didn’t need blackout curtains (or significant modifications to my home). During the day, I could put on music videos or shows and still see what was happening perfectly well. As evening sets in, the lighting naturally becomes perfect for a movie night, with… Continue reading AWOL LTV-3500 Short Throw Projector Review: Bright but Expensive
12 Best Subscription Boxes for Kids (2022): All Ages, STEM, Books, and Snacks
Here is a proposition: Rather than delight your kid once or twice a year with a big, expensive present that will eventually get put aside, why not surprise them with a small, delightful package once a month? I have two kids, a 5-year-old and a 7-year-old, and they love it when something arrives in the… Continue reading 12 Best Subscription Boxes for Kids (2022): All Ages, STEM, Books, and Snacks
Asus Zenfone 9 Review: Small but Mighty
There’s no shortage of big phones these days. Apple even went so far as to nix a successor to last year’s iPhone 13 Mini and instead replaced it with the iPhone 14 Plus. Small phones are hard to come by, but they’re not completely extinct yet. If you’re tired of straining your fingers to reach… Continue reading Asus Zenfone 9 Review: Small but Mighty