From the outside, [Zillow]. Inside, it's a sprawling yet utterly featureless place where everything is just a little off: peculiar angles, odd symmetries, expansive yet weirdly cramped spaces, and open areas with no sense of place or purpose abutting tiny kitchens or huge store-rooms. Not a right-angle to be found."Absolutely none of the rooms are shaped like rooms," . "Doesn't seem like a place humans ought to live."Is it a former cult compound, a bland oregonian ? A ""? A more likely speculation, based on business records found online, is that it was the home and place of business of an...…From the outside, [Zillow]. Inside, it's a sprawling yet utterly featureless place where everything is just a little off: peculiar angles, odd symmetries, expansive yet weirdly cramped spaces, and open areas with no sense of place or purpose abutting tiny kitchens or huge store-rooms. Not a right-angle to be found."Absolutely none of the rooms are shaped like rooms," . "Doesn't seem like a place humans ought to live."Is it a former cult compound, a bland oregonian ? A ""? A more likely speculation, based on business records found online, is that it was the home and place of business of an...WW…

, as created and prepared by Central Grocery on Decatur in New Orleans, is my second favorite sandwich on earth. I recently spent a week in New Orleans trying Muffaletta at various locations to see if I might possibly like one better than the OG sandwich sold across from the French Market. I could not.While the location may be part of the experience, and I certainly do love sitting at a counter in the back of Central Grocery, drinking an Abita Amber and enjoying a Muffaletta with , I figured I could make this sandwich at home.The ingredients are commonly available. Mostly the sandwich is...…, as created and prepared by Central Grocery on Decatur in New Orleans, is my second favorite sandwich on earth. I recently spent a week in New Orleans trying Muffaletta at various locations to see if I might possibly like one better than the OG sandwich sold across from the French Market. I could not.While the location may be part of the experience, and I certainly do love sitting at a counter in the back of Central Grocery, drinking an Abita Amber and enjoying a Muffaletta with , I figured I could make this sandwich at home.The ingredients are commonly available. Mostly the sandwich is...WW…

• Facebook is one of the big-tech entities behind American Edge, a new lobbying group in DC to fight antitrust regulators and push back against lawmakers trying to rein in Big Tech."Facebook is working behind the scenes to help launch a new political advocacy group that would combat U.S. lawmakers and regulators trying to rein in the tech industry, escalating Silicon Valley's war with Washington at a moment when government officials are threatening to break up large companies," reportsThe organization is called American Edge, and it aims through a barrage of advertising and other...…• Facebook is one of the big-tech entities behind American Edge, a new lobbying group in DC to fight antitrust regulators and push back against lawmakers trying to rein in Big Tech."Facebook is working behind the scenes to help launch a new political advocacy group that would combat U.S. lawmakers and regulators trying to rein in the tech industry, escalating Silicon Valley's war with Washington at a moment when government officials are threatening to break up large companies," reportsThe organization is called American Edge, and it aims through a barrage of advertising and other...WW…

//“Texas is investigating Facebook for possibly running afoul of state laws on the collection of biometric data, according to June documents uncovered by a tech watchdog group,” reports .And the attorney general of Texas may just be on to something.Facebook users in Illinois recently secured a major settlement over the issue of biometric data collection.Excerpt:The Texas AG is investigating Facebook for possibly violating its Texas Deceptive Trade Practices — Consumer Protection Act by improperly collecting biometric identifiers, according to the documents, obtained by the Tech Transparency...…//“Texas is investigating Facebook for possibly running afoul of state laws on the collection of biometric data, according to June documents uncovered by a tech watchdog group,” reports .And the attorney general of Texas may just be on to something.Facebook users in Illinois recently secured a major settlement over the issue of biometric data collection.Excerpt:The Texas AG is investigating Facebook for possibly violating its Texas Deceptive Trade Practices — Consumer Protection Act by improperly collecting biometric identifiers, according to the documents, obtained by the Tech Transparency...WW…

"Hours after the United States voted, the president declared the election a fraud — a lie that unleashed a movement that would shatter democratic norms and upend the peaceful transfer of power." —Just out on Sunday night, this extensive of Donald Trump's failed 77-day attempt to subvert American democracy, and overthrow the 2020 presidential election. That's quite the shared byline, too, a lot of reporting power.:Across those 77 days, the forces of disorder were summoned and directed by the departing president, who wielded the power derived from his near-infallible status among the party...…"Hours after the United States voted, the president declared the election a fraud — a lie that unleashed a movement that would shatter democratic norms and upend the peaceful transfer of power." —Just out on Sunday night, this extensive of Donald Trump's failed 77-day attempt to subvert American democracy, and overthrow the 2020 presidential election. That's quite the shared byline, too, a lot of reporting power.:Across those 77 days, the forces of disorder were summoned and directed by the departing president, who wielded the power derived from his near-infallible status among the party...WW…

Self-proclaimed white nationalist and Richard Spencer has been bogged down in a for his part in helping to organize the "" rally in Charlottesville, Virgina, which resulted in much calamity, including the of activist Heather Heyers at the hands of another proud self-proclaimed white nationalist. Spencer is — perhaps, sadly, fittingly — the , and that privilege has helped him to finance his campaign of hate. But increasing legal (and marital) pressures have finally started to milk his racist wallet dry. From :Richard Spencer's attorney has asked for the court's permission to withdraw...…Self-proclaimed white nationalist and Richard Spencer has been bogged down in a for his part in helping to organize the "" rally in Charlottesville, Virgina, which resulted in much calamity, including the of activist Heather Heyers at the hands of another proud self-proclaimed white nationalist. Spencer is — perhaps, sadly, fittingly — the , and that privilege has helped him to finance his campaign of hate. But increasing legal (and marital) pressures have finally started to milk his racist wallet dry. From :Richard Spencer's attorney has asked for the court's permission to withdraw...WW…

Yesterday Kamala Harris made her since becoming the 2020 vice presidential nominee, and in the blink of an eye came "Prosecute Trump," another delightful anti-Trump video by the progressive group Meidas Touch.Using parts of Harris's speech as the narration, the video presents an "open and shut" case as to why Trump is a criminal failure. We're reminded of the recent US catastrophes created by Trump's mismanagement and utter ineptness, including "a crisis of poverty, of homelessness, of hunger, more than 165,000 lives that have been cut short."And then we're reminded of why we were doing...…Yesterday Kamala Harris made her since becoming the 2020 vice presidential nominee, and in the blink of an eye came "Prosecute Trump," another delightful anti-Trump video by the progressive group Meidas Touch.Using parts of Harris's speech as the narration, the video presents an "open and shut" case as to why Trump is a criminal failure. We're reminded of the recent US catastrophes created by Trump's mismanagement and utter ineptness, including "a crisis of poverty, of homelessness, of hunger, more than 165,000 lives that have been cut short."And then we're reminded of why we were doing...WW…

In 2003, University of Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom presented a mathematical argument that we are likely living inside a computer simulation created by some future intelligence. Of course, decades before Bostrom and The Matrix, other folks like Jacques Vallee, John Keel, Stephen Wolfram, Rudy Rucker, Ed Fredkin, and Hans Moravec also explored this . Now, Columbia University astronomer David Kipping has used Bayesian reasoning—a common method of statistical analysis—to calculate the odds that reality is unreal. There's a 50-50 chance we're living in a simulation, he says. And the...…In 2003, University of Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom presented a mathematical argument that we are likely living inside a computer simulation created by some future intelligence. Of course, decades before Bostrom and The Matrix, other folks like Jacques Vallee, John Keel, Stephen Wolfram, Rudy Rucker, Ed Fredkin, and Hans Moravec also explored this . Now, Columbia University astronomer David Kipping has used Bayesian reasoning—a common method of statistical analysis—to calculate the odds that reality is unreal. There's a 50-50 chance we're living in a simulation, he says. And the...WW…

In 1977, West German tourist Erwin Kreuz spent three days enjoying the sights, sounds, and hospitality of Bangor, Maine. Unfortunately, he thought he was in San Francisco, on the other side of the continent. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast, we'll describe Kreuz's unlikely adventure, which made him a local hero in his adopted city.We'll also consider an invisible killer and puzzle over a momentous measurement.…In 1977, West German tourist Erwin Kreuz spent three days enjoying the sights, sounds, and hospitality of Bangor, Maine. Unfortunately, he thought he was in San Francisco, on the other side of the continent. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast, we'll describe Kreuz's unlikely adventure, which made him a local hero in his adopted city.We'll also consider an invisible killer and puzzle over a momentous measurement.WW…

Public Enemy has released a new track and video, "State of the Union (STFU)." Produced by legendary DJ Premier, the track is described in the press release as "a fiery return to the frontlines as they take on Donald Trump and his fascist regime."The press released included the lyric sheet for the track.Image: YouTube screengrab…Public Enemy has released a new track and video, "State of the Union (STFU)." Produced by legendary DJ Premier, the track is described in the press release as "a fiery return to the frontlines as they take on Donald Trump and his fascist regime."The press released included the lyric sheet for the track.Image: YouTube screengrabWW…