The Fictional Brands archive: a growing collection of trademarks/brands from film and TV https://fictionalbrandsarchive.com

"My quest for the perfect Tunnel of Fudge had me searching the far reaches of the food-blog world, telephoning the headquarters of baking companies, and inadvertently coating my kitchen in a substance that resembles, but is not, chocolate." https://slate.com/life/2024/11/tunnel-of-fudge-cake-recipe-pillsbury-bundt-frosting.html

"Paxton’s actions are part of a disturbing pattern of Republican leaders who claim to be free speech champions, but are quick to use government power to punish speech they dislike. From DeSantis’ attacks on Disney to Trump’s threats against media critics, the right increasingly sees free speech as a one-way street."
https://www.techdirt.com/2024/11/22/texas-ag-declares-war-on-advertisers-who-snub-musks-extwitter/

A new business insurance offering can shield CISOs from personal losses in the event of a lawsuit.
https://cyberscoop.com/ciso-liability-insurance-coverage-protection-crum-forster

Alice Brock, who was one of the inspirations for the Arlo Guthrie song “Alice’s Restaurant” has died.
https://theberkshireedge.com/alice-brock-of-alices-restaurant-dies/

A short rumination on literary muses, from Zelda Fitzgerald to Neal Cassady. https://lithub.com/notorious-literary-muses-from-best-to-worst/

"Cornell researchers have developed two technologies that track a person’s gaze and facial expressions through sonar-like sensing." (from April) https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2024/04/ai-powered-sonar-smartglasses-tracks-gaze-and-facial-expressions

Me at a coin-operated gas station, 1966

“They Ripped Up My Resignation Letter”: 1 in 5 Japanese Workers in Their 20s Turn to Resignation Agencies https://metropolisjapan.com/resignation-agencies/

"They pointed to trends from the first Trump administration, and forecasted that bureaucratic barriers to processing FOIAs will grow more challenging in the coming years." https://www.niemanlab.org/2024/11/what-will-a-second-trump-term-mean-for-the-freedom-of-information-act/

On this week in 1883, railway companies in the US and Canada transformed time in both countries, leading to the ground-breaking concept of time zones worldwide.
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20241115-how-railroads-inspired-the-creation-of-time-zones

Does Science Fiction Shape the Future?

Conversations with visionary science fiction authors on the social impact of their work: N.K. Jemisin, Andy Weir, Lois McMaster Bujold, David Brin, Cory Doctorow, Charles Stross. THIS IS GREAT.
https://nautil.us/does-science-fiction-shape-the-future-543468

Andy Serkis took on the persona of an ape and read a defiant letter "written" in 1929 by a chimpanzee to a scientist regarding an insult.
https://laughingsquid.com/andy-serkis-reads-1929-chimp-letter/

Press-ure: "Marty Baron, the former executive editor of the Washington Post, says he expects the incoming administration 'to go after the press in every conceivable way ... [using] every tool in the toolbox — and there are a lot of tools.'" On this edition of Fresh Air, Marty Baron and David Remnick discuss the upcoming, increasing threat to the press. https://www.npr.org/2024/11/20/nx-s1-5192627/trump-press-marty-baron-david-remnick

Railway travel in 19th century France. https://victorianparis.wordpress.com/2024/11/01/from-diligence-to-high-speed-trains-paris-to-lille-then-and-now/

What Is Memory Park Assist?
Plenty of new cars promise to park the vehicle without assistance and to get better at the task over time. Here’s how that happens under the hood.
https://www.aptiv.com/en/insights/article/what-is-memory-park-assist

"Even though hiring has held up well for lower-earning workers, it has plunged for people earning six figures or more. We're in the midst of a white-collar recession." https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careers/tech-jobs-are-mired-in-a-recession/ar-AA1uhCqH#

You need this to start your day. Trust me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUleKnUUaGI