Monday, 31 July 2023
Available Tax Credits, Rebates and Incentives on Home Energy Upgrades - CNET
You can take advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act's tax credits now, but you'll have to wait a little longer for the rebates. Here is how to apply and when the rebates will be ready.from CNET https://ift.tt/U3VZ6pk
2023 FIFA Women's World Cup: How to Watch, Livestream Team USA - CNET
Team USA needs a win or a draw to advance to the round of 16.from CNET https://ift.tt/hMpu2c3
A nonprofit tracks hate speech online. Elon Musk's X threatened to sue them for it.
Fresh off of making legal threats to Microsoft and Meta, X (Twitter) has its sights set on a new potential lawsuit: One against a nonprofit that tracks hate speech and disinformation online.
On Monday, the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) shared a letter, sent by Twitter's legal representative Alex Spiro, threatening legal action against the organization for allegedly making "a series of troubling and baseless claims that appear calculated to harm Twitter generally, and its digital advertising business specifically."
In response to the letter, as first reported by the New York Times, the CCDH's own legal counsel responded and cautioned against any further attempt from Twitter to silence the organization. Imran Ahmed, who heads the CCDH, also responded in a post on their website beside embeds of both letters.
"Elon Musk’s actions represent a brazen attempt to silence honest criticism and independent research in the desperate hope that he can stem the tide of negative stories and rebuild his relationship with advertisers," said Ahmed.
In a series of tweets on Monday, Musk also responded to the CCDH's statements.
Tweet may have been deleted
"They should save their words for the jury," Musk posted. "Let’s pull the mask off this organization and see who is really behind it."
Tweet may have been deleted
While the CCDH has published numerous reports researching hate speech and the spread of disinformation on Twitter, the letter from Twitter's lawyer specifically mentions one that focused on Twitter Blue, the company's $8 per month paid premium subscription service.
The CCDH report on Twitter Blue found that the company failed to act on 99 percent of Blue-subscribed accounts that were reported for hate speech. Twitter disputes CCDH's findings in the letter, saying "claims in this article are false, misleading, or both, and they are not supported by anything that could credibly be called research."
"We have reason to believe that your organization’s operations—and thus its campaign to drive advertisers off Twitter by smearing the company and its owner—are supported by funding from X Corp.’s commercial competitors, as well as government entities and their affiliates," the letter from Twitter's representative continues.
Twitter has struggled with advertisers, traditionally the company's biggest revenue driver, since Musk's takeover of the company in October of last year. Half of the social media platform's top advertisers stopped ad campaigns on the site shortly after Musk's acquisition. And recent reports have found that advertising on the platform is still way down compared to before Twitter became privately owned by Musk. In fact, Musk has admitted so himself in a tweet earlier this month.
"We’re still negative cash flow, due to ~50% drop in advertising revenue plus heavy debt load," Musk said
As for the allegations that CCDH is "funded" by its competitors and government entities, the organization says it does “not accept any funding from tech companies, governments, or their affiliates.”
The CCDH received significant attention in early 2021 after releasing a report detailing how the majority of COVID vaccine disinformation online stemmed from just 12 anti-vaxx influencers, which the report branded as the "Disinformation Dozen." In the months following the report, platforms like YouTube and Facebook took action against these accounts.
Earlier this month, Musk even responded to a tweet that was critical of the CCDH's Disinformation Dozen report.
Tweet may have been deleted
"Who is funding this organization?" Musk tweeted. "They spread disinformation and push censorship, while claiming the opposite. Truly evil."
The specific tweet Musk responded to was referring to Facebook's own previous critiques of CCDH's research into its own platform. Facebook's parent company, of course, is Meta, which recently launched Threads, Twitter's biggest competition yet.
As previously mentioned, the platform formerly known as Twitter has also sent legal threats to Microsoft and Meta in recent months. Musk has accused Microsoft of "training illegally using Twitter data." The company has also alleged that Meta used Twitter "trade secrets" and intellectual property in building Threads, a claim which Meta denied.
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The 13 Best Weed Accessories and Gadgets - CNET
It's time to level up your cannabis gear.from CNET https://ift.tt/qWG9Hks
How to watch the Netball World Cup 2023 for free
The Netball World Cup is an international netball tournament that takes place once every four years. Inaugurated in 1963, the competition has been dominated by Australia and New Zealand, but that could all change this year.
If you are interested in watching the Netball World Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is the Netball World Cup in 2023?
The Netball World Cup will run from July 28 to Aug. 6. 16 teams will be battling it out over the 10 days, with only one winner.
Where is the Netball World Cup in 2023?
The Netball World Cup 2023 will take place in Cape Town, South Africa. This is the first time the tournament has been held in Africa.
Where can you watch the Netball World Cup?
Sky Sports and the BBC have the rights to broadcast matches from the Netball World Cup 2023. All of the games will be shown live across Sky Sports channels. The BBC will have live coverage of matches from July 31 (including the final).
If you are looking to watch the Netball World Cup 2023 for free, BBC iPlayer is your best bet. Normally, this service is only available to streamers connecting from the UK, but with a VPN, you can bypass this geo-restriction to stream the Netball World Cup from anywhere in the world.
How to watch the Netball World Cup for free
With a VPN, you can hide your real IP address and connect to a secure server in another country, meaning you can access sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world. This process might sound complicated, but it's actually really straightforward:
-
Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
-
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
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Sign in to BBC iPlayer
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Watch the Netball World Cup 2023 from anywhere in the world
Unfortunately, the best VPNs for streaming are not free. But the good news is that most VPNs offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By using these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you plenty of time to watch the Netball World Cup for free.
What is the best VPN for sport?
There are plenty of VPNs that can reliably unblock BBC iPlayer, including popular options like NordVPN and CyberGhost VPN. These services are great, but ExpressVPN is tough to beat. ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking streaming services, for a number of reasons:
-
Servers in 94 countries including the UK
-
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
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Fast streaming speeds free from throttling
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Up to five simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. The money-back guarantee means you can unblock BBC iPlayer to watch the Netball World Cup, and then recover your investment after the final.
Watch the Netball World Cup 2023 for free with ExpressVPN.
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How to unblock Xnxx for free
TL;DR: The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN. This high-speed VPN can reliably bypass content restrictions to unblock porn sites like Pornhub, XVideos, and OnlyFans.
There is a time and place for visiting your favourite porn sites. There are plenty of locations around the world that block access to sites like Pornhub and xHamster, and that's probably for the best. But equally, there is something to be said for retaining your online freedom.
We're definitely not suggesting that you bypass online restrictions to access porn sites in inappropriate places, but sometimes you'll want to watch your favourite sites in a totally appropriate time and place, but you won't be able to do that because a block is in place. In this situation, you should consider using a VPN.
If you're looking for the best way to unblock sites like Xnxx from anywhere in the world, we have the information you need.
How to unblock Xnxx for free
VPNs can hide your real IP address and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access porn sites like Xnxx from anywhere in the world. The process is actually really quick and easy:
-
Sign up for a VPN
-
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
-
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Xnxx
-
Watch Xnxx videos from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for accessing porn sites are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By using these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Xnxx and then recover your investment at a later date. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can retain access to porn sites when travelling or away from home.
What is the best VPN for porn?
There are multiple VPNs that can reliably unblock porn sites, including popular options like CyberGhost VPN and NordVPN. These are strong choices, but ExpressVPN remains the top pick when it comes to unblocking porn sites like Xnxx. ExpressVPN is the best VPN for porn, for a number of reasons:
-
Servers in 94 countries
-
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
-
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
-
Fast streaming speeds free from throttling
-
Up to five simultaneous connections
-
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. You can use the money-back guarantee to unblock Xnxx without fully committing with your cash.
Unblock Xnxx for free with ExpressVPN.
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This Adobe Creative Cloud course bundle is on sale for under £25
TL;DR: The 2023 All-in-One Adobe Creative Cloud Suite Certification Course Bundle is on sale for £23.33, saving you 83% on list price.
The Adobe Creative Cloud Suite is widely recognised as an essential set of tools for both professional and creative projects. However, new users might find it challenging to know how to get started, while seasoned Adobe users might be on the lookout for a new program to explore.
The 2023 All-in-One Adobe Creative Cloud Suite Certification Course Bundle is here to help. With ten courses available on sale for £23.33, you will learn how to utilise the eight programs included in the suite — no coupon required.
Get access to these courses and more:
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Lightroom CC — edit your photos and adjust lighting, colouring, and more
-
After Effects 2022: The Beginner's Guide — create custom shapes and learn logo animation
-
Animate Games & Characters Course — learn how to draw, animate, and create games from mobile phone size to large-screen TV
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Illustrator for Beginners — design logos and graphics using shapes, text, masking, effects, and exporting
-
Photoshop Beginner to Advanced — learn ten must-have skills to master Photoshop including thumbnails, logos, and removing backgrounds
-
XD UI UX Design Essentials — produce high-quality and functional mockups and design websites and mobile phone apps
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Premiere Rush — clip edit, add audio effects, arrange clips, and more
These courses include a comprehensive set of instructions that guide you through the fundamentals, as well as advanced features of these programs so you can become proficient in each one. Get educated in Adobe Creative Cloud with help from the instructors including Phil Ebiner, Nicholas Lever, Juan Galvan, and others.
Since you will have access to these courses for a lifetime, you can go through them at your own pace and even go back and retake each course again for a refresher.
Get the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite Certification Course Bundle while it's just £23.33.
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Sunday, 30 July 2023
Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for July 31
New week, new day, new Wordle! As always, we're here with some tips and tricks to help you figure out the solution.
If you just want to be told the answer, you can jump to the end of this article for July 31's Wordle solution revealed. But if you want to solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
Not the day you're after? Here's the Wordle answer for July 30.
What's the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you like being strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?
Though usually Wordle will only accept one correct solution per day, occasionally it will rebel against the norm and deem two different answers acceptable. This is due to changes the New York Times made to Wordle after it acquired the puzzle game.
The Times has since added its own updated word list, so this should happen even less frequently than before. To avoid any confusion, it's a good idea to refresh your browser before getting stuck into a new puzzle.
Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:
It could also be an answer in Taylordle.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?
Not today!
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...
Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.
What's the answer to Wordle today?
Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to Wordle #772 is...
STYLE.
Don't feel disheartened if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
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Apple confirms Screen Time bug in Parental Controls
Apple has admitted to a Screen Time bug that has parents upset.
According to The Wall Street Journal, parents have been complaining on Apple forums and Facebook groups that Screen Time settings aren't "sticking," meaning kids have had unlimited access to devices. Screen Time settings appear to reset to default mode even when changes have been made.
Screen Time, a feature within Apple's cloud-based Family Sharing tool, allows parents to set up screen time limits and content and privacy restrictions across Apple devices. In those Screen Time settings, Downtime has been a useful tool that lets parents define how many hours each day their kids can use their device—either limiting their usage or making the device unusable. For busy parents, it's a helpful way to ensure kids don't spend too much time on devices and protect them from accessing inappropriate content. But it hasn't been working.
Previously, Apple said it fixed the bug with an iOS 16.6 update, citing an issue with syncing across devices. But the bug has persisted even with the iOS 17 beta. One parent told WSJ that it took him three tries to change his child's Downtime hours.
Apple issued a statement to the Journal, acknowledging the ongoing problem, saying "We take these reports very seriously and we have been, and will continue, making updates to improve the situation." For now, frustrated parents are left with third-party apps to monitor devices or changing the restriction settings on each individual device.
from Mashable https://mashable.com/article/apple-confirms-screen-time-bug-parental-controls
iPhone 15 may see major design changes and a slight price increase this year
It's hard to believe, but the September iPhone event is only weeks away. With that, new rumors have brought expectations about the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro into focus.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the standard iPhone 15 will replace the notch with the Dynamic Island, and the iPhone 15 Pro will have significantly thinner bezels. This, plus camera and material upgrades might also hike up the price.
iPhone 15
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will reportedly get the Dynamic Island that was released with the iPhone 14 Pro models last year. That means, all of the newest models will have replaced the dreaded notch with the interactive pill-shape cutout that was the headlining news at Apple's iPhone event last year. The iPhone 15 is also rumored to come with the same A16 chip that powers the iPhone 14 Pro
We've already heard strong rumors about this, but the iPhone 15 lineup will likely (finally) come with a USB-C port instead of Apple's proprietary lightning port. Thanks to EU regulations, this change is inevitable, but it was a matter of when. Gurman is confident that the iPhone 15 lineup will be the one built with a universal charging port.
Tweet may have been deleted
iPhone 15 Pro
Apple's quest to whittle down the bezels on its devices might make this year's iPhone 15 Pro look noticeably different. Gurman reported a new display technology called "low-injection pressure over-molding" (LIPO) that will pare the border down to 1.5 millimeters from the current 2.2 millimeters. It doesn't sound like a lot, but that adds up when we're talking about a handheld device.
Earlier rumors talked about solid-state haptic buttons instead of physically press-able buttons for the power and volume buttons. But now, Gurman says, those buttons will remain the same, and instead give the mute/ring switch an upgrade. This would be a customizable button like the one on the Apple Watch, where users can assign different functions like mute, Focus mode, or turning on the flashlight.
The iPhone 15 Pros are also rumored to replace the stainless-steel design with titanium design, and come with a speedy 3-nanometer chip.
With all these snazzy new features and materials, the iPhone 15 Pro might come with a price hike. The current iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max start at $999 and $1,099 respectively, so expect to shell out more than a grand for a lightweight, thin-bezel, USB-C compatible iPhone 15 Pro.
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Saturday, 29 July 2023
Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for July 30
Ah, Sunday at last! Time to celebrate with a brand new, totally unsolved Wordle. As always, we're here with some tips and tricks to help you figure out the solution.
If you just want to be told the answer, you can jump to the end of this article for July 30's Wordle solution revealed. But if you want to solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
Not the day you're after? Here's the Wordle answer for July 29.
What's the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you like being strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?
Though usually Wordle will only accept one correct solution per day, occasionally it will rebel against the norm and deem two different answers acceptable. This is due to changes the New York Times made to Wordle after it acquired the puzzle game.
The Times has since added its own updated word list, so this should happen even less frequently than before. To avoid any confusion, it's a good idea to refresh your browser before getting stuck into a new puzzle.
Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:
You'll need water.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?
Not today!
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...
Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.
What's the answer to Wordle today?
Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to Wordle #771 is...
BATHE.
Don't feel disheartened if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
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Best VPN Service 2023: VPNs Tested by Our Experts - CNET
The best VPNs for private streaming, gaming and torrenting, rated by our expert staff.from CNET https://ift.tt/nc0Nd73
'Quordle' today: Here are the answers and hints for July 30
If Quordle is a little too challenging today, you've come to the right place for hints. There aren't just hints here, but the whole Quordle solution. Scroll to the bottom of this page, and there it is. But are you sure you need all four answers? Maybe you just need a strategy guide. Either way, scroll down, and you'll get what you need.
What is Quordle?
Quordle is a five-letter word guessing game similar to Wordle, except each guess applies letters to four words at the same time. You get nine guesses instead of six to correctly guess all four words. It looks like playing four Wordle games at the same time, and that is essentially what it is. But it's not nearly as intimidating as it sounds.
Is Quordle harder than Wordle?
Yes, though not diabolically so.
Where did Quordle come from?
Amid the Wordle boom of late 2021 and early 2022, when everyone was learning to love free, in-browser, once-a-day word guessing games, creator Freddie Meyer says he took inspiration from one of the first big Wordle variations, Dordle — the one where you essentially play two Wordles at once. He took things up a notch, and released Quordle on January 30. Meyer's creation was covered in The Guardian six days later, and now, according to Meyer, it attracts millions of daily users. Today, Meyer earns modest revenue from Patreon, where dedicated Quordle fans can donate to keep their favorite puzzle game running.
How is Quordle pronounced?
“Kwordle.” It should rhyme with “Wordle,” and definitely should not be pronounced exactly like "curdle.”
Is Quordle strategy different from Wordle?
Yes and no.
Your starting strategy should be the same as with Wordle. In fact, if you have a favorite Wordle opening word, there’s no reason to change that here. We suggest something rich in vowels, featuring common letters like C, R, and N. But you do you.
After your first guess, however, you’ll notice things getting out of control if you play Quordle exactly like Wordle.
What should I do in Quordle that I don’t do in Wordle?
Solving a Wordle puzzle can famously come down to a series of single letter-change variations. If you’ve narrowed it down to “-IGHT,” you could guess “MIGHT” “NIGHT” “LIGHT” and “SIGHT” and one of those will probably be the solution — though this is also a famous way to end up losing in Wordle, particularly if you play on “hard mode.” In Quordle, however, this sort of single-letter winnowing is a deadly trap, and it hints at the important strategic difference between Wordle and Quordle: In Quordle, you can't afford to waste guesses unless you're eliminating as many letters as possible at all times.
Guessing a completely random word that you already know isn't the solution, just to eliminate three or four possible letters you haven’t tried yet, is thought of as a desperate, latch-ditch move in Wordle. In Quordle, however, it's a normal part of the player's strategic toolset.
Is there a way to get the answer faster?
In my experience Quordle can be a slow game, sometimes dragging out longer than it would take to play Wordle four times. But a sort of blunt-force guessing approach can speed things up. The following strategy also works with Wordle if you only want the solution, and don’t care about having the fewest possible guesses:
Try starting with a series of words that puts all the vowels (including Y) on the board, along with some other common letters. We've had good luck with the three words: “NOTES,” “ACRID,” and “LUMPY.” YouTuber DougMansLand suggests four words: “CANOE,” “SKIRT,” “PLUMB,” and “FUDGY.”
Most of the alphabet is now eliminated, and you’ll only have the ability to make one or two wrong guesses if you use this strategy. But in most cases you’ll have all the information you need to guess the remaining words without any wrong guesses.
If strategy isn't helping, and you're still stumped, here are some hints:
Are there any double or triple letters in today’s Quordle words?
No.
Are any rare letters being used in today’s Quordle like Q or Z?
No.
What do today’s Quordle words start with?
S, W, A, and D.
What are the answers for today’s Quordle?
Are you sure you want to know?
There’s still time to turn back.
OK, you asked for it. The answers are:
-
SHAWL
-
WRITE
-
ALONG
-
DEMON
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Free Solar Panels: Here's What the Fine Print Means - CNET
Everything companies mean with their power purchase agreements and solar leases spiel.from CNET https://ift.tt/u5gXRrb
Elon Musk's X launches ad revenue sharing program for creators
Elon Musk's X — the social media site formerly known (and still kind of called) Twitter — officially launched its ad revenue sharing program for creators this week.
Certain people posting on the site can now, in theory, make money off of their posts. But don't get too excited just yet — most people aren't going to be raking in the cash. There are three main factors for becoming eligible, laid out by X. And they are:
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Be subscribed to Blue or Verified Organizations.
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Have at least 15M impressions on your cumulative posts within the last 3 months.
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Have at least 500 followers.
From there, the person or organization can set-up payouts through a Stripe account and the monetization section of the X app. The user should then get payouts at a regular pace, so long as they generate at least $50.
"We want the process to be as simple as possible, so all eligible X Blue and Verified Organizations subscribers are entitled to revenue share so long as they meet the eligibility criteria and join," the company wrote on its site.
Musk has long promised that creators would make money on the site. Back when the site was still called Twitter, it began paying out a select few users earlier this month. As Matt Binder wrote for Mashable at the time, the folks who did get paid out were largely right-wing influencers, gimmicky accounts, or other creators with whom Musk is buddies. Some of those folks posted screenshots claiming to make tens of thousands of dollars.
Now Musk's X is saying it will bring the ability to make posts to anyone willing to meet its requirements. My new X account, Elon Musk Is Cool And Not Lame And You're Just Jealous, will soon pay for my retirement.
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DreamCloud Premier Rest Mattress Review: Most Plush Luxury Bed? video - CNET
Owen Poole, a certified sleep science coach, reviews DreamCloud's high-end Premier Rest mattress. Owen explains the construction, firmness and feel of the bed. At the end, he gives his verdict on who might be interested in the Premier Rest mattress.from CNET https://ift.tt/7pve3dI
Friday, 28 July 2023
Compare Current Mortgage Rates in July 2023 - CNET
Stubbornly high mortgage rates make it more important than ever to compare offers from multiple lenders to find the best deal.from CNET https://ift.tt/ktr2Jfj
Store everything with SanDisk products up to 70% off at Amazon
Cloud systems are great and all, but microSD cards, hard drives, and flash drives are still great ways to back up your files and media. If you've been looking for external memory drives or cards, now is a great time to check out some SanDisk deals at Amazon as of July 28.
Memory cards are essential for content creators, photographers, and anyone who wants to back up important or sensitive documents. You can find great SanDisk product deals on Amazon as of July 28 for all of your external memory drive card needs.
Best SanDisk 4TB Extreme PRO deal
Why we like it
Save up to 4TB of media and documents in a write speed of up to 2000 MBs thanks to the SanDisk 4TB Extreme PRO. Usage conditions and other factors can affect write speed, but you're sure to get speedy memory-saving capabilities nonetheless. Your documents, photos, and videos will stay safe thanks to a sturdy forged aluminum chassis. Confidently take the Extreme PRO anywhere thanks to drop resistance of up to two meters, as well as water and dust resistance rated at IP55. And yes, that is a carabineer loop you can use to attach this drive to straps, keychains, or even your own clothing.
Best portable external drive deal
Why we like it
The SanDisk 4TB Extreme Portable SSD is capable of write speeds of up to 1000MB and is now a whopping $480 (or 69%) off its usual price of $699.99. Like the Extreme PRO, it also resists drops and is dustproof and waterproof so you know you can take it on all of your adventures. This external memory drive was created to work in temperatures ranging from freezing to 113 degrees Fahrenheit. And 256-bit AES encryption ensures privacy, so you can be sure that confidential documents and media will stay safe from both the elements and onlookers.
Best micro SD card deal
Why we like it
Photographers, videographers, and content creators know just how important is to keep extra micro SD cards around. At $13.99, the SanDisk micro SD card (128GB) is a steal. It's equipped with a transfer speed of 100MB, is certified to work with Android devices and Chromebooks, and supports Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixel) video.
More deals like this
-
SanDisk micro SD card (512GB) — $39
$51.49(save $12.49) -
SanDisk Cruzer Glide USB (32GB) — $6.19
$17.99(save $11.80) -
SanDisk Ultra SD card (256GB) — $20.99
$32.99(save $12) -
SanDisk portable SSD (2TB) — $99.99
$134.99(save $35)
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Thursday, 27 July 2023
Google's Genesis AI Tool Could Write the News. It Should Be Stopped - CNET
Commentary: Generative AI isn't fit to write news stories. We should ensure it stays away.from CNET https://ift.tt/yG0XBzR
Get that deep clean feeling with a Bissell combo vacuum and steam mop for 30% off
SAVE 30%: As of July 27, the Bissell PowerFresh vacuum and steam mop is on sale at Amazon for $129.99, which is $55.40 off its original price of $185.39. That's a discount of 30%.
Summer comes with lots of fun in the sun, but can also mean more visitors and time spent at home (in the AC) — and that can mean more dirt, germs, and way too much time spent cleaning. If you're ready to upgrade your home cleaning rituals, a mop and vacuum combo could give you that deep clean feeling you've been craving. And there's a powerful one from a TikTok-favorite brand on sale right now.
The Bissell PowerFresh vacuum and steam mop is on sale at Amazon for $129.99, or $55.40 off its original price of $185.39. That's a discount of 30%.
For the uninitiated, a steam mop works to clear grime and sanitize the floors using the steam from hot water. The Bissell PowerFresh vacuum and steam mop is great for those with limited storage space, as it has a slim design and weighs less than 10 pounds. It comes with two washable microfiber pads (one soft, one scrubby) to remove 99.9% of dirt from the floor, and works on all floor types, from hardwood or linoleum.
You can choose from three easy settings (steam, high steam, or suction) and this vac also boasts Bissell's signature Dry Tank Technology, which keeps moisture out of the debris in the dirty tank (so dumping the tank stays a simple, rather than grotesque, task). Plus, you can steam mop and vacuum at the same time or separately.
Overall, the Bissell PowerFresh vacuum and steam mop is a convenient and powerful way to combine sanitizing features with a traditional vac. Check out this deal for a cleaner home while it lasts.
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Home Equity Loan Rates for July 2023 - CNET
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Wednesday, 26 July 2023
How Samsung flubbed its K-pop-infused foldables event
Samsung's Fold and Flip rollout has been a little...messy. The tech giant's Unpacked event took place in South Korea, its home turf, this year, so its promos have been themed to Korean culture.
Last week, ahead of today's Unpacked livestream, the tech company invited me to preview their new phones at their New York city pop-up, which opened to the public this morning. Unpacked is taking place in South Korea this year, so the event promised a "K-culture" experience including a manicure and interactive photo booths.
The space was cute but, reader, they manicured a single finger of mine and grabbed the photo booth prints from me before sending me out the door empty-handed (well, except for that one glossy nail). They said they wanted to make sure I didn't share the photos before the space opened to the public, even though it's my job to respect embargoes. The best photos I got from the event, ironically, were taken on my iPhone.
The experience felt awkward, like it fell short of its potential. Unpacked felt like that, too.
Marketing for the company's foldable devices, especially it's Flip phone, have featured young, bright-eyed Gen-Zers — members of a generation that adores K-pop and is curious about Korean culture. And Samsung invited (and likely paid) a handful of the industry's top artists to attend Unpacked. But instead of leveraging their immense influence to create social buzz, sell phones, or even to share Korean culture, Samsung left its MVPs on the bench.
Take BTS's Suga, for example. The Seoul-based septet have been Samsung's most prominent ambassadors for the past several years, hawking BTS-themed phones and earbuds in their signature purple. It made sense that Unpacked opened with a flyover montage of Seoul set to Suga's hit "Daechwita." So far, so good.
About 20 minutes into the presentation, they threw to a pre-recorded video of the rapper asking a few basic questions about the Fold. Less than three minutes later, the camera cut to Suga — live and in the flesh — sitting in the front row at Unpacked, flashing a custom Fold emblazoned with "D-Day" (the name of the solo album he released in April). So...why didn't Samsung just give him a microphone and have him ask the questions live? Why didn't they have him perform "Daechwita" to open the event? We may never know.
It-girl Wonyoung, a member of girl group IVE, attended Unpacked, too. She took selfies with Sydney Sweeney in a pre-planned bit, but was never introduced to the viewing audience. Neither were Brazilian superstar Anitta or TWICE member Jeongyeon, who sat next to Wonyoung and looked on in silence.
Anitta and Wonyoung later posted about the event on their Instagram stories, but Samsung missed out on claiming the cool points that come with having pop's top talent at your event. Instead, these superstars were simply unnamed women sitting next to Sydney Sweeney.
Behind this group of women was Stray Kids, an eight-member band with the second best-selling K-pop album ever. Beyond a pre-event red carpet photo opp, Samsung made little use of the group's attendance.
That's especially frustrating given how much of Unpacked focused on the Flip5 phone's ability to elevate your creative expression, especially through its front-facing selfie camera. Imagine Stray Kids closing out Unpacked with a high-energy live performance, snapping selfies on Flip5s as they sang (they even have a song called "Cheese," which would have been perfect). Instead the livestream concluded with a montage of Seoul landmarks set to the tune of Australian band Temper Trap's "Sweet Disposition," a song that is nearly 13 years old.
It's impossible to quantify just how much money Samsung missed out on by letting these stars sit and watch, instead of playing to their strengths — those hypothetical Stray Kids selfies, for instance, which would have garnered massive engagement when posted on social media.
It's a pretty silly flub for Samsung especially considering that, just last week, Apple managed to get K-Pop's most promising new act — NewJeans — to film an entire music video on their iPhone.
Well, there's always next year.
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Automakers Plan New EV Charging Network with 30,000 Chargers - CNET
The move will almost double the number of public fast chargers across the US and Canada.from CNET https://ift.tt/wahz1bY
'Barbie's 25 most WTF — and hilarious — quotes
The Barbie script is genius. So genius in fact that for the past week I've unapologetically been calling my home "the mojo dojo casa house," exclusively pronouncing The Godfather as Issa Rae did in the film, and quoting Ken's (Ryan Gosling) distaste for the patriarchy's exclusion of horses at any opportunity I get.
The Barbie movie has left a pink handprint on all of our hearts. I personally cried, laughed, and screamed for the entirety of its runtime. And while there's a lot about the movie to fall in love with, from its Easter eggs all the way to its beautiful bench scene, there are a couple — okay, a lot — of one-liners from the film I hope we all quote forever.
So without further ado, let's hop into Barbie's pink convertible, take a trip down memory lane, and relish in the film's best, funniest, most underrated, and even most shocking lines.
1. "Yay space!" — Barbie
Everyone greets each other in the morning in BarbieLand, even the Astronaut Barbies all the way up in space. The only right answer to a bunch of Astronaut Barbies waving you a good morning? "Yay space!" So succinctly put. So brilliant. So funny. I love joy like Barbie (Margot Robbie) loves science.
2. "NooOOOOOOOOooooo!!!!!!" — Allan
The beauty of this line is in its delivery. Allan (Michael Cera) belts out this visceral, screeching, unapologetically empathetic "NoooooOOOOOOO!!" when Ken (Ryan Gosling) has a big beach accident — after all, he is Ken's buddy. And while it's no secret that Allan is Barbie's best character, this one "NOOOOO" kickstarted our absolute adoration for him.
3. "And what a good job you do at beach." — Barbie
While Doctor Barbies treat Ken after his surf accident, he goes on a passionate tangent explaining that his job's really hard. Ken's not a lifeguard. He's not a surfer. His job is just beach and it's SO hard. But Barbie (Hari Nef) reminds him, oh so empathetically, that he does a great job at beach. 10/10 line delivery yet again for the most absurd line ever. Beach is now entirely a real job.
4. "I don't want you here." — Barbie.
Barbie says this to Ken right before girls' night, and she's so right for it. I wish I could bear such brutal honesty in my own life.
5. "Hurry up, Barbie, the president's here!" — Doctor Barbie
"I am. You're welcome!" — President Barbie
While Barbie tries to get rid of Ken, the other Barbies at girls' night remind her that they have some serious slumber partying to get to. The president's even here! And she knows they should all be honored! President Barbie (Issa Rae) 4ever.
6. "Stop it, Ken." — Barbie
Kens aren't allowed to retch at Barbie getting flat feet, only Barbies are allowed to do that. This throwaway line from Barbie (Sharon Rooney) might be quick, but its message is irrevocably the heart of the film. Stop it Ken (Kingsley Ben-Adir), seriously.
7. "Fine, get cellulite. I don't care." — Weird Barbie
Of Weird Barbie's (Kate McKinnon) many iconic lines in the film, this specific one broke me. While Barbie's reluctant to go to the real world, Weird Barbie reminds her of what's at stake — cellulite. I just…yeah. A 10/10 WTF moment. A 10/10 tongue-in-cheek moment. It's incredible just how much this movie made fun of itself.
8. "I'd like to see what kind of nude blob he's packing under his jeans." — Weird Barbie
If you get it, you get it. If you don't, you don't.
9. "Don't blame me. Blame Mattel; they make the rules." — Weird Barbie
Another Weird Barbie gem that I can't believe actually made it into the film. I feel like its layers speak for themselves.
10. "What if there's beach?!" — Ken
When Ken turns stowaway on Barbie's trip to the Real World, he argues to stay by questioning, "What if there's beach?"
Valid. What if there is beach?! How could Barbie ever beach by herself? Barbies may be astronauts, Nobel Prize winners, physicists, and president, but beach is firmly Ken turf. Thank you Ken for your very necessary concerns.
11. "I have all the genitals." — Ken
Forget the nude blob, Ken has genitals BTW. When a crew of construction workers rudely hit on Barbie in the real world, she, in good grace, reminds them that she and Ken have no genitals. But Ken's having none of it. In fact, he claims he has all the genitals. Every single one.
I'm forever indebted to Greta Gerwig for writing this script.
12. "We sell dreams, imagination, and sparkle. And when you think of sparkle, what do you think of next? Female agency." — Mattel CEO (Will Ferrell)
He's right.
13. "You fascist." — Sasha
My jaw fell when Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt) dropped this banger. We can all call Barbie many things, but a fascist? Absolutely absurd — but brilliantly hilarious nonetheless.
14. "She thinks I'm a fascist? I don't control the railways or the flow of commerce!" — Barbie
I don't know how Margot Robbie said this line while crying and keeping a straight face. It is, without a doubt, the most underrated moment in the entire film. She does not control the railways guys!!! OR the flow of commerce!!!!
15. "Why didn't Barbie tell me about patriarchy?" — Ken
I love Ken. Like I just really love Ken. I too wonder why she didn't, bud. I'm thinking about it every night.
16. "I'm a man with no power, does that make me a woman?" — Aaron Dinkins
Bless you, Aaron (Connor Swindells). It doesn't, but thank you so much for getting that point across.
17. "Horses are just men extenders." — Ken
Another Ken quote full of brilliant, wise, remarkable Kenergy. It's genius. Horses are, in fact, men extenders. For further evidence, see Oppenheimer.
18. "These are archival!" — Gloria
As Ken throws out Barbie's clothes to make room for his mojo dojo casa house, Gloria (America Ferrera) reminds him that the beautiful outfits he's throwing out aren't to be treated like trash. Barbie's sparkly ice skating dress? How DARE he?! They're ARCHIVAL, Ken.
19. "She's going to watch the BBC Pride and Prejudice for the seventh time." — Depressed Barbie ad
I hate to say this again, but the people that get it, get it. They get it oh so deeply.
Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, you are always there when we need you.
20. "Oh you are Allan. That's great!" — Gloria
There's just something about Gloria acknowledging Allan and giving him the recognition that he deserves that tickled my heart. It may or may not also have to do with the fact that Ferrera delivered this line in the same vein of a parent complimenting their kid's macaroni art, but I digress. Allan, you are great!!
21. "All of NSYNC? Allans!" — Allan
NSYNC's music video for "It's Gonna Be Me" walked so Barbie could run.
The boy band presents themselves as dolls that dance — while being underappreciated. Of course, they're Allans.
22. "It's like I've been in a dream where I was really invested in the Zack Snyder cut of Justice League." — Barbie (Alexandra Shipp)
I scoffed. I screamed. I couldn't believe Warner Bros. actually green-lit their own roast. Snyder bros everywhere, this one's for you.
23. "That's because they're dream houses, motherfucker." — President Barbie
The Mattel logo could only bleep out so much.
24. "I'm a liberated man. I know crying's not weak." — Ken
Once again, Ken's life of blonde fragility is a lesson all men can learn from. Take notes, gentlemen. Go to a therapist. Cry. Don't let yourself feel hemmed in by suffocating gender norms. Please let yourselves cry.
25. "To be honest, when I found out the patriarchy wasn't about horses, I lost interest anyways." — Ken
Ken, you are so right and real for that. I hope others will follow suit soon.
How to watch: The Barbie movie is now playing in theaters.
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