%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fnews.google.com%252Fnews%252Furl%253Fsa%253Dt%2526fd%253DR%2526ct2%253Dus%2526usg%253DAFQjCNFVtqjslx7-JsRsCWhG0QmiaaM1xw%2526clid%253Dc3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331%2526cid%253D52779165108857%2526ei%253DpS-UV7DnArTWzAainbfQCg%2526url%253Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.bigshinyrobot.com%252F59739%252F3-comics-sticking-it-to-the-man%252F%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: 3 Comics That Are Sticking It To The Man - Big Shiny Robot!
3 Comics That Are Sticking It To The Man Big Shiny Robot! Comic books have a long history of taking shots at the establishment. Superhero comics are pretty much predicated on the little guy standing up to the big corrupt guy; but if we're being honest, they're pretty tame in their dissent. They are published ...
%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fnews.google.com%252Fnews%252Furl%253Fsa%253Dt%2526fd%253DR%2526ct2%253Dus%2526usg%253DAFQjCNHc_bnWaCbOfG-USf5w1RZaBdw8xw%2526clid%253Dc3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331%2526cid%253D52779164365405%2526ei%253D7tWTV_DaG_G_zAamh4yoDA%2526url%253Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fdailycaller.com%252F2016%252F07%252F23%252Felon-musk-makes-self-driving-machines-yet-fears-a-possible-robot-takeover%252F%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: Elon Musk Makes Self-Driving Machines -- Yet Fears A Possible Robot Takeover - Daily Caller
Elon Musk Makes Self-Driving Machines -- Yet Fears A Possible Robot Takeover Daily Caller One group, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), foisted its annual Luddite Award honor on various groups of technologists and scientists critical of artificial intelligence in January, but aimed the bulk of its scorn at Hawking ...
%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fnews.google.com%252Fnews%252Furl%253Fsa%253Dt%2526fd%253DR%2526ct2%253Duk%2526usg%253DAFQjCNELDYSV7g7R7DzJqG1B3dBowO6jXw%2526clid%253Dc3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331%2526cid%253D52779164796694%2526ei%253DGJGTV6CSLreNzAaJzJ6gCQ%2526url%253Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.informationweek.com%252Fiot%252Fcan-3d-printed-fingers-help-police-solve-a-murder%252Fd%252Fd-id%252F1326371%253F_mc%25253DRSS_IWK_EDT%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: Can 3D-Printed Fingers Help Police Solve A Murder? - InformationWeek
%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.theguardian.com%252Fsustainable-business%252F2016%252Fjul%252F23%252Fnhs-robots-doctors-hospital-surgery-staff%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: Why your NHS surgeon could be a robot in the future
Day-to-day interactions between humans and machines may well become commonplace in hospitals within a decade
Long waiting times, staff shortages, exorbitant agency fees, doctors' working hours: it's no secret that the NHS is facing a labour crisis. Post-Brexit it could very well get worse, with the NHS Confederation now warning of a reluctance by EU doctors and nurses to come and work in the UK.
Difficult times call for radical measures. So, with an estimated staff shortfall of 50,000 for the NHS in England, is it time to start thinking seriously about the mass adoption of robotics and other automated technologies in the health service?
%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fnews.google.com%252Fnews%252Furl%253Fsa%253Dt%2526fd%253DR%2526ct2%253Dus%2526usg%253DAFQjCNElSNnI-E9zwDXaoewhKVXa4bV1cQ%2526clid%253Dc3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331%2526cid%253D52779161720759%2526ei%253D4TaTV5BOrerMBuuOlLgJ%2526url%253Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.theverge.com%252F2016%252F7%252F19%252F12225082%252Fsoftbank-arm-singularity-masayoshi-son%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: Why did SoftBank buy ARM? To prepare for our robot overlords, of course - The Verge
Why did SoftBank buy ARM? To prepare for our robot overlords, of course The Verge SoftBank has its own robot, Pepper, that will use AI to try and form an emotional attachment with its human owners. And both Apple and Google made AI a central theme in the launch of their latest mobile software, and ARM's chips will be used to power ...
%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fnews.google.com%252Fnews%252Furl%253Fsa%253Dt%2526fd%253DR%2526ct2%253Duk%2526usg%253DAFQjCNF0V5J7y4Wk-6NL58BrRHb50EVybw%2526clid%253Dc3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331%2526cid%253D52779165184227%2526ei%253DSySTV7iHL4ObzAbeuKG4Cw%2526url%253Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fww2.kqed.org%252Fscience%252F2016%252F07%252F22%252Ffinally-nasas-rover-2020-will-look-for-life-on-mars%252F%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: Finally! NASA's Mars 2020 Rover Will Look for Life on the Red Planet - KQED
%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fnews.google.com%252Fnews%252Furl%253Fsa%253Dt%2526fd%253DR%2526ct2%253Duk%2526usg%253DAFQjCNFMbIIJN0TmXrg25je1mjnK9Q4sRA%2526clid%253Dc3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331%2526cid%253D52779165636139%2526ei%253D97mSV-DRBIry1Ab4tpHACw%2526url%253Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.rt.com%252Fusa%252F352811-fcc-ftc-robocalls-pressure%252F%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: Hold the phone: FCC pressures phone companies to end robocalls - RT
%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.slate.com%252Fblogs%252Fbrowbeat%252F2016%252F07%252F22%252Falways_be_marketing_the_new_mantra_for_today_s_tv_shows.html%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: Always Be Marketing: The New Mantra for Today's TV Shows
When Mr. Robot aired its season-one finale last September, USA Network execs were understandably happy about the show's solid ratings, amazing buzz, and clear brand-changing potential. The launch was nothing short of a triumph, particularly in an era when grabbing viewers' attention sometimes seems next to impossible. Until recently, USA might have been content to simply bask in that success for a few months, shifting its focus to other series until the time came to begin hyping last week's season-two premiere. But that's not how it works in the age of on-demand viewership: With audiences trained to consume shows however (and whenever) they want, networks are now promoting their biggest titles year-round, particularly when such series are in their infancy. Indeed, as soon as Robot season one ended, USA was already actively pushing audiences who'd heard the buzz about Robot to binge the show online, while figuring out ways to keep those already hooked thinking about the series up until its return. “You can never stop messaging your franchise,” says Alexandra Shapiro*, executive VP of marketing and digital for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Networks group. “The moment you stop is the moment the fans stop paying attention.”
Networks have different names for the new never-ending marketing. AMC talks about “Live plus 365,” playing off Nielsen's various ratings measurement windows; Shapiro and her USA colleagues call it “the always-on phenomenon.” Whatever the terminology, the consensus in the TV industry is, with apologies to David Mamet, that networks should Always Be Marketing. Rob Sharenow, general manager of Lifetime and A&E, says the evolution in how viewers watch TV is what has prompted this seismic shift in how networks manage their programming assets. “It used to be enough to just say, ‘Okay, Project Runway is coming back. Let's just throw some promos on leading up to the premiere,'” he explains. “Now, it's a more complicated, multilayered, ongoing game to keep your engagement, to keep people consuming it.” Or, as AMC/Sundance chief Charlie Collier puts it, “It's our job to keep shows alive all year long.”
The continuous loop of hype has been particularly aggressive with shows launched in 2015 and early 2016. TBS has kept the spotlight on its Rashida Jones slapstick comedy Angie Tribeca by shortening the window between seasons. Because the network had ordered a second season six months before the show's premiere, TBS was able to have season two on the air just a few months after the weekly run of season one ended. “The awareness of the show was so much higher because season one had just finished airing,” says TBS programming chief Brett Weitz. “We didn't have to work as hard. We didn't have to start from a walk—we were starting from a nice comfortable jog.”
Lifetime leaned into critical accolades as part of its intraseason promotion of UnREAL. Awards voters and even TV journalists were targeted, with the network sending the latter group a “binge-watch survival kit” featuring the full first season of the show on DVD and assorted munchies. While networks and studios have been wooing TV Academy members for years with For Your Consideration campaigns, including journalists and critics is less common. “We were conscious of smart influencers we knew who liked the show,” Sharenow says. “In season one, no one knew what it was. In season two, we already had a lot of critical accolades, and true fans of the show, in the communities we respect. So we went deep with influencers in all the marketing.” The show's Peabody win in April allowed Lifetime to once again cast the show as a major brand departure, just as the network was gearing up its campaign for Emmy nominations. While reviews and awards might not always result in big ratings gains, Sharenow believes they've become far more important in the VOD era. “The role critics and commentators play has been very elevated,” he says. “People want stuff curated, and they want their choices validated.” (Lifetime's year-round marketing of the show has also included the network's first-ever digital spinoff series, The Faith Diaries, which launched in April and featured a key character from season one.)
AMC didn't need to do anything special to get audiences to sample Fear the Walking Dead. TheWalking Dead spinoff benefited from being associated with the biggest show on TV among viewers under 50. And yet, per Collier's “Live plus 365” effort, the network made sure to keep audiences engaged with the newbie zombies in between seasons. Once Fear wrapped its shortened six-episode freshman season, AMC had a digital offshoot called Flight 462 ready to go. The roughly 20-minute short was sliced into 16 installments, with a new one airing during commercial breaks of the original's sixth season. A character from 462 then made the transition to Fear when that series returned for season two. The network has also been a leader in using fan-centric platforms such as Comic-Con to help drive year-round interest in The Walking Dead and even Breaking Bad. And while viewers haven't always loved the idea of split seasons, AMC's early decision to serve up single Dead seasons in two distinct chunks was a savvy way of keeping audiences attached to the show for longer period of time (while also allowing late adopters to catch up between half-seasons).
In the case of Mr. Robot, USA made sure (as most networks do these days) to keep the show available on the network's video on demand platform, allowing cable subscribers who'd heard echoes of last summer's drumbeat of praise for the show to catch up. But then, at the start of 2016, it did something unusual: It put together a sort of director's cut of the show for VOD platforms in which episodes ran with unbleeped profanity and unedited adult content, as well as very limited commercials. “We re-pitched the entire season (to viewers) as an almost binge-like experience,” Shapiro says. USA stepped up its marketing of this sort of Robot 1.1, and VOD plays of the show “skyrocketed” in January, she says. Another bump came after the network's aggressive campaign for the Golden Globes paid off with two wins for the show. Shapiro and her team kept the momentum going in March by investing heavily in SXSW, where the show had premiered a year earlier. “We owned the skyline there,” she says, literally speaking: USA transported the show's Coney Island ferris wheel to Austin for the convention, sparking a sizable social-media response.
For executives such as Shapiro, the job of selling TV shows was “a lot easier five, ten years ago,” when marketing efforts were almost entirely focused on driving viewers to a limited linear run—i.e., the rollout of new episodes at a scheduled time each week. While making it clear there's still a “laser focus” on getting (and keeping) linear audiences, “that's no longer our only objective,” Shapiro explains. “We're in the franchise-building business. We're trying to build [series] that are able to have success over a long period of time.”
The move to maintain marketing momentum year-round is being driven mostly by necessity. Huge swaths of the audience are abandoning both live viewing and even DVRs in favor of on-demand platforms, pushing down Nielsen ratings—and thus ad revenue—for both cable and broadcast series. Ongoing marketing serves two purposes: It helps shore up linear ratings by making sure existing fans of a show remain engaged while at the same time allowing networks to woo new audiences more inclined to watch via on-demand platforms. Those digital viewers might not represent as much potential profit as those who still watch on TV, but they're growing in number. And while USA doesn't get paid more in the short-term if Robot gets a ton of streams on Amazon, the network stands to benefit over time as it negotiates future deals for streaming rights.
All of this is a shift from just a few years ago. Some industry insiders draw parallels to the feature film business, where movie studios market tentpole franchises—think Star Wars or any of the Marvel movies—as relentlessly as McDonald's pushes Big Macs. “Television networks … need to become more like studios, reducing their reliance on first-window revenues and reorganizing around longer monetization periods,” AMC/Sundance's Collier wrote earlier this year in an essay posted at Redef.com “This will likely make networks far more platform-agnostic over time and more focused on the duration and sustainability of intellectual property versus the immediate gratification of overnights (or even live+3 or live+7 ratings).”
We're already seeing networks adopt this philosophy of patience in other ways: AMC's Halt and Catch Fire and FX's The Americans are both examples of networks sticking by shows despite multiple seasons of meh ratings. And we're now seeing a similar dynamic play out with aforementioned newbies such as Mr. Robot, UnREAL, and Angie Tribeca. All three have experienced a bit of growth in their second seasons this summer, but nothing dramatic. Just a few years ago, there'd probably be palpable disappointment at USA, Lifetime, and TBS right now that months of aggressive marketing and, in the case of Robot and UnREAL, amazing critical response didn't immediately translate into big Nielsen gains. “You used to judge success of a show based on the first 15 minutes of a premiere,” Shapiro admits. But she insists that's no longer true. “Do we want to see growth in linear? Sure. But no one [platform] defines success.” Indeed, Shapiro notes that while Mr. Robot has never attracted more than a couple million viewers as measured by traditional ratings, internal USA Network research indicates a much broader audience has sampled the series. “To date, we've had over 30 million people and counting consume this franchise. That's a staggering number,” Shapiro says. “That's not a linear Nielsen number. That's a total audience number, when we look at all the legal places people see it. That number is how we keep ourselves motivated. We're in this for the long haul.”
%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fnews.google.com%252Fnews%252Furl%253Fsa%253Dt%2526fd%253DR%2526ct2%253Dus%2526usg%253DAFQjCNEP9IX0XcAU_e0AGrcJTdObrzkFCw%2526clid%253Dc3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331%2526cid%253D52779159072893%2526ei%253DB3iSV-v-AoObzAbeuKG4Cw%2526url%253Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.slate.com%252Fblogs%252Fbrowbeat%252F2016%252F07%252F14%252Fthe_2016_emmy_award_nominations_illustrate_the_emmys_impressive_knack_for.html%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: The Emmys Have a Knack for Being Both Stodgy and Trailblazing at Once - Slate Magazine (blog)
The Emmys Have a Knack for Being Both Stodgy and Trailblazing at Once Slate Magazine (blog) Joining The Americans as a first time Best Drama contender is the incisive Mr. Robot, whose star Rami Malek adds some fizz to the Best Actor in a Drama category. ... I'm sure these groups have overlapping taste, but this dynamic would explain both the ...
%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Ffeeds.mashable.com%252F%7Er%252FMashable%252F%7E3%252FO5CrGbHfTkE%252F%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: Listen to Justin Bieber and Major Lazer's 'Cold Water' and swoon
Justin Bieber and Diplo would like to splash back into your hearts with their latest collaboration, a pledge of eternal devotion titled "Cold Water."
The Major Lazer track was co-written with Ed Sheeran and Benny Blaco. "Cold Water" also features vocals from Danish singer MØ, who said in a statement that when Major Lazer approached her with the song, she "would jump into a volcano to be a part of that record."
%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Ffeeds.mashable.com%252F%7Er%252FMashable%252F%7E3%252F5MBBunvY7Xg%252F%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: Watch this delivery through the eyes of a self-driving robot
Soon we might be sharing our sidewalks with these self-driving delivery robots, zipping around the streets to bring us takeout and packages.
Ahti Heinla, chief executive of Starship Technologies, takes us for a test delivery to a Silicon Valley resident in the video above. We see how the robot detects and navigates obstacles as it rolls on down the street.
%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.metafilter.com%252F161126%252FThe-Entrepreneurial-State%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: The Entrepreneurial State Mariana Mazzucato is Rethinking Capitalism (pdf; via)
Lunch with the FT: Mariana Mazzucato - "The first time I saw Mariana Mazzucato in action was when she intellectually eviscerated a guileless American venture capitalist..."[1,2,3; pdf]
%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.engadget.com%252F2016%252F07%252F22%252Ficymi-homeless-robots-modern-brain-maps-and-giant-vortex-canno%252F%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: ICYMI: Homeless robots, modern brain maps and giant vortex cannons Today on In Case You Missed It: A French artist created a remote-controlled robot disguised as a homeless man. It's name is Dirk. Additionally, a team of neuroscientists from Oxford University scanned the brains of 400 volunteers to create the mo... robots
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%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fnews.google.com%252Fnews%252Furl%253Fsa%253Dt%2526fd%253DR%2526ct2%253Duk%2526usg%253DAFQjCNERMc2B3CRV_s5Ne55TZNDjtnmnNw%2526clid%253Dc3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331%2526cid%253D52779165184227%2526ei%253DBTCSV-iALK--zAbHmpngCQ%2526url%253Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.computerworld.com%252Farticle%252F3098956%252Frobotics%252Fmars-rover-uses-ai-to-decide-what-to-zap-with-a-laser.html%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: Mars rover uses AI to decide what to zap with a laser - Computerworld
%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.slate.com%252Fblogs%252Fbrowbeat%252F2016%252F07%252F22%252Fhow_the_bleeped_f_bombs_on_mr_robot_explain_this_season_s_central_flaw.html%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: How the Bleeped F-Bombs on Mr. Robot Explain This Season's Central Flaw
Great first seasons aren't exactly common, but the last several weeks of TV have served as a reminder that great second seasons are even rarer. First, UnReal, one of 2015's most promising new shows, jumped the rails with series of ill-conceived episodes, and now Mr. Robot is threatening to follow it into the ditch. Last night's episode, “Kernel Panic,” wasn't a total disaster, but there were passages so cringe-inducingly bad I felt the urge to hide, as if I'd been confronted with an embarrassing grade-school photograph. (The line “Control is about as real as a one-legged unicorn taking a leak at the end of a double rainbow” made me want to run out of the room.) The USA network has thrown its weight behind the show, allowing creator Sam Esmail to direct every one of the season's episodes, but he's used that creative freedom to double down on Mr. Robot's worst tendencies.
Mr. Robot's first season ended, audaciously, with the suggestion that fsociety, the group of anarchist hackers led by Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek), had succeeded in erasing the world's debt records, effectively putting anyone with a bank account instantly in the black. Part of what was exciting about the show's second season was how the show would address what a post-debt world looks like, especially since there's no conceivable to way to wipe out the computerized records of what people owe without wiping out their virtual savings as well. In a medium where common practice is to restore the status quo at the end of every episode, it seemed like a radical, even thrilling idea.
Unfortunately, the primary way Mr. Robot's second season has dealt with the consequences of fsociety's hack is by not dealing with them at all. One of Elliot's hackers calls it “the crime of the century,” but apart from the fact that corporate fat cats now have to pay for their fancy dinners up front, precious little seems to have changed. People still hold jobs, Fox News and Bloomberg TV are still on the air, pickup basketball games continue uninterrupted. After tossing around a lot of second-semester wisdom about the evils of corporate control, it seemed like Mr. Robot was finally making its way into less familiar territory, but instead, Esmail's taken a giant step backward. The season's first episode featured an entry-level lecture on the workings of the stock market presented as a devious conspiracy theory, and in “Kernel Panic,” Elliot unleashes a long, sub-Richard Dawkins tirade about the evils of organized religion, concluding, “Fuck God.”
Or rather, “F*** God.” “Kernel Panic” included what might have been a record number of bleeped obscenities for a scripted drama; I lost count after half a dozen. Given that Email knew his F words would be obscured for broadcast, stacking up so many in a single hour of TV seems willfully perverse. (They're included, unbleeped, in the digital version available from iTunes.) It's a distraction every time the sound cuts out, and a needless one. Esmail seems like like a teenager dropping f-bombs in front of his parents just to see how they'll react, getting giddy pleasure from his insignificant rebellion.
On their own, “Kernel Panic's” string of bleeped profanities would be just a mild annoyance, but they're an extension of how hard Mr. Robot is trying to seem “edgy” while actually backing off the show's more radical aspects. Instead of considering how society could actually survive without credit, or adapt to its loss, we get Grace Gummer's FBI agent masturbating to X-rated (but blacked-out) online chats and Elliot scooping half-digested Adderall out of his own vomit. Even the length of the second season's episodes—83 minutes for the two-part premiere, 63 for “Kernel Panic”—feel like an attempt to assert the show's importance without backing it up with actual heft.
A show like Mr. Robot or UnReal can get by for a season on an intriguing concept and long-term promise; you overlook its flaws because it's new and exciting, and hope they'll work out some of the kinks next time around. But when those flaws persist, or even deepen, you have to be concerned that they're endemic, that Esmail really thinks Elliot's adolescent anti-establishment rhetoric is profound, and that there's something subversive about smuggling it onto a TV network owned by one of the world's largest media conglomerates. Mr. Robot's first season held such potential, but now it seems more and more like the show was writing checks it can't cash.
In a July 22 Politics, Rachael Larimore misspelled Reince Priebus' last name.
In a July 21 Brow Beat, Matthew Dessem misspelled Ally McBeal.
In a July 21 Slatest live blog, Josh Voorhees misspelled Fran Tarkenton's first name.
In a July 20 Brow Beat, Sam Adams misstated that in the TV show UnReal Rachel arranged for Ruby's father to show up on the set of Everlasting. Quinn invited Ruby's father.
In a July 20 Moneybox blog post, Jordan Weissmann misstated that Donald Trump Jr. and his father are Wharton MBAs. They both have undergraduate degrees from the business school.
In a July 20 Moneybox blog post, Jordan Weissmann misidentified Youngevity founder Joel Wallach as Ben Wallach.
In a July 20 Slatest, Josh Levin misstated the source of a passage in Donald Trump Jr.'s speech. It was from the American Conservative, not National Review.
In a July 20 Slatest, Ben Mathis-Lilley misspelled Slate writer Jordan Weissmann's last name.
In a July 20 Slatest, Seth Stevenson misstated the date of the BuzzFeed party. It was Tuesday night, not Wedneday night.
In a July 19 Foreigners, Hamna Zubair misspelled Fouzia Azeem's first name.
In a July 19, Moneybox blog post, Henry Grabar misstated that Gretchen Carlson had been the host of Fox & Friends until June. Her last job at Fox News was as the host of The Real Story With Gretchen Carlson.
In a July 19 Science, Mike VanHelder misstated that a robot was made from silicon. It was made from silicone.
In a July 19 Slatest, Catherine Piner mistakenly included a tweet by Washington Post reporter Ed O'Keefe in a roundup of conservative pundits' reactions Donald Trump's nomination. O'Keefe is a political reporter, not a conservative pundit.
In a July 18 Brow Beat, Matthew Dessem suggested that a fake Katy Perry tweet was real. He also misspelled Selena Gomez's first name.
In a July 18 Climate Desk, Ben Adler misstated that Rep. Bob Dold was likely going to the Republican National Convention. He is not.
In a July 18 Slatest, Ben Mathis-Lilley misstated that Young Republicans national chairman Dennis Cook has two children. Cook has at least three children.
In a July 17 Slatest, Emily Tamkin wrote that protesters in Baltimore were arrested after blocking traffic on Sunday. The episode took place on Saturday.
In a July 15 Science, Rosa Li misstated the number of shootings that occurred in Houston from 200015. It was 500, not 1,500. The story has also been updated to clarify that there is a federal database documenting shootings by U.S. law enforcement, but it is not comprehensive.
Slate strives to correct all errors of fact. If you've seen an error in our pages, let us know atcorrections@slate.com. General comments should be posted in our Comments sections at the bottom of each article.
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%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fnews.google.com%252Fnews%252Furl%253Fsa%253Dt%2526fd%253DR%2526ct2%253Dus%2526usg%253DAFQjCNFcTAnH6aSetOBrTcI_Sogcz8L4uw%2526clid%253Dc3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331%2526cid%253D52779159705301%2526ei%253DBTCSV5j3KcOazAaQ5Lz4Cw%2526url%253Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.dallasnews.com%252Fnews%252Fcrime%252Fheadlines%252F20160715-el-centro-moves-on-after-shooting-we-will-not-be-defined-by-this-at-all.ece%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: El Centro moves on after shooting: 'We will not be defined by this at all' - Dallas Morning News
El Centro moves on after shooting: 'We will not be defined by this at all' Dallas Morning News In the end, Johnson was holed up in an El Centro hallway when police used a robot armed with explosives to kill him and end the standoff. Adames was able to tour his campus ... “People could envision the future of that space rather than the past,” said ...
%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.slate.com%252Farticles%252Fpodcasts%252Fgabfest%252F2016%252F07%252Fthe_republicans_unconventional_convention_in_cleveland_and_the_departure.html%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: The “Your Word is Your Bond” Edition
To listen to the discussion, use the player below:
Become a fan of the Political Gabfest on Facebook. We post to the Facebook page throughout the week, so keep the conversation going by joining us there. Or follow us @SlateGabfest. The email address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (Email may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
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On this week's Slate Political Gabfest, David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss the Republicans' unconventional convention in Cleveland and the departure of Fox News head Roger Ailes amid a sexual harassment suit filed by former host Gretchen Carlson.
Here are some of the links and references from this week's show:
Gretchen Carlson's suit against Roger Ailes is an uphill battle against the secrecy and arbitration provisions in her Fox News employment contract
Emily chatters about voter ID decisions, in particular the federal appeals court ruling against a Texas law.
John chatters about Elektro the Motoman, a 7-foot-tall robot built by Westinghouse for the 1939 World's Fair that could move under its own power and smoke. He had a cameo in “Sex Kittens Go to College”—a 1960 exploitation film that Trailers From Hellbreaks down.
David chatters about Atlas Obscura's new podcast “Escape Plan” that he's hosting with Reyhan Harmanci and John's live shows in New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., for his new book Whistlestop.
Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest (#heygabfest). (Tweets may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Jocelyn Frank. Links compiled by Kevin Townsend.
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%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.engadget.com%252F2016%252F07%252F21%252Fcuriosity-rover-can-shoot-lasers-at-any-rock-it-wants%252F%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: Curiosity rover can shoot lasers at any rock it wants Is there anything cooler than sending a robot to Mars to shoot rocks with lasers? Probably not -- which is why NASA is giving the Curiosity rover the ability to shoot even more rocks with lasers. Okay, technically NASA is giving the Martian rover the... robots
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%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.slate.com%252Fblogs%252Ffuture_tense%252F2016%252F07%252F21%252Fhacking_mr_robot_week_2_elliot_descends_further_into_madness.html%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: The Trauma of Digital Warfare, on Hacking Mr. Robot: Week 2
Slate and Future Tense are discussing Mr. Robot and the technological world it portrays throughout the show's second season. You can follow this conversation on Future Tense, and Slate Plus members can also listen to Hacking Mr. Robot, a members-only podcast series featuring Lily Hay Newman and Fred Kaplan.
The third episode of Mr. Robot (don't forget that the premiere was two parts) dropped on Wednesday night, bringing hacker protagonist Elliot Alderson deeper into his madness and despair. It's unclear how long the show will keep Elliot isolated and too confused about reality to actually, you know, do things, but it seems like this episode was the complication before some resolution.
Knowing the show, that resolution will almost certainly be complicating and strange. But Elliot is a talented hacker—he can't live a remote, analog life forever. Meanwhile, the fallout from Fsociety's massive hack of ECorp continues. People close to Fsociety keep getting murdered, an FBI agent is poking around, and ECorp CEO Phillip Price takes an interest in Elliot's childhood friend Angela Moss, who now works in communications for ECorp.
This week's episode didn't have technology driving the plot the way Mr. Robot episodes often do. It was more about exploring the parallels between our digital selves and our interior selves—parts of us that are very real, but don't have a physical manifestation. Season 2 also seems to be meditating on the impacts of digital warfare. Though there's no violent combat, Elliot still seems traumatized by the display of Fsociety's power and his own. Or is it Mr. Robot's power?
%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.scientificamerican.com%252Farticle%252Frobot-with-sea-slug-parts-makes-cyborg-debut%252F%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: Robot with Sea Slug Parts Makes Cyborg Debut Mollusk mouth contractions propel a 3-Dprinted plastic frame
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.theguardian.com%252Fsport%252F2016%252Fjul%252F21%252Fjoe-root-interview-england-cricket-pakistan%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: Joe Root: ‘This year whenever I've made a mistake I've paid the price'
England's No3 recalls his ugly shot in the first Test against Pakistan that had dire consequences and forging his steely character aged 12 in the Yorkshire leagues
“Unfortunately I am a human being and not a robot,” Joe Root says with a dry little smile as he looks down at the beautifully sunlit expanse of Old Trafford while remembering the ugly shot that cost him his wicket in the first innings of England's Test defeat against Pakistan at Lord's. As Pakistan carry out fielding drills in preparation for the second Test, starting on Friday, Root shakes off his lingering disappointment from a dismissal that changed the course of last week's fascinating match.
England's best batsman came to the crease on the second morning at Lord's. Pakistan had been bowled out for a decent if hardly imperious 339. Yet, after Alex Hales was caught in the second over, England were eight for one and Root was tested again. Batting in a new position, in the vital role of No3, he needed to build a foundation with Alastair Cook while shifting pressure back on to Pakistan.
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Just because you're outdoors and/or floating on a body of water doesn't mean you can't have something comfortable to sit on. This $38 CloudLounger inflates in seconds, folds down to fit in a small bag, and even comes with a water-resistant Bluetooth speaker. Just note that this is a Gold Box deal, so be sure to pick one up before it floats away. Multiple colors available.
As part of its Black Friday in July sale, Best Buy is offering up $5 gift cards when you purchase $50 in select gift cards to other retailers, or $10 when you buy $100.
Best Buy's Black Friday in July sale offers up deals on TVs, computers, and more, but the most exciting discounts are probably on an array of video games and gaming accessories.
Scroll down to the gaming section to find deals on dozens of games, both major consoles, hardcover game guides, amiibo, headsets, and more. Just note that you'll need a free My Best Buy account to get the discounts.
If you're in the market for a home theater audio upgrade, you can pick up a pair of Harman Kardon HKTS 30 satellite speakers for $89 today on Amazon. That's the cheapest they've ever been, and they typically sell for around $200 per pair.
Note: Unfortunately, the regular .edu discount doesn't seem to stack with this promotion. You'll also need a free My Best Buy account to see the discounts.
You can adjust the color temperature of this LED desk lamp by sliding your finger along its arm, or change the brightness by doing the same on its base. Plus, its brushed aluminum design looks way nicer than most LED desk lamp deals we've seen.
Jackery's newest battery packs include Quick Charge 3.0, and they're offering $8 launch discounts on both the 10,050mAh and 20,100mAh varieties today. Just use promo code THUNDERJ at checkout.
I know we're all sweating under the heat dome right now, but winter will be back soon enough, and if you plan ahead, you can save big on coats, jackets, vests, and more in Patagonia's 30% off summer sale.
These $6 deals from Andake can support your neck, your back, and your senses while sleeping on a plane. If you have any long trips on the horizon, these are no-brainers.
Whether you're enticed by the idea of a Bluetooth-connected toothbrush, or just want it to get off your lawn, $85 is a great deal for an Oral-B toothbrush with a pressure sensor, five modes, and compatibility with several different brush heads.
If you want to pair it with your phone to track your brushing habits and learn which parts of your mouth aren't getting enough attention, great! If not, it's still worth buying at this price. Just be sure to clip the $15 coupon.
With an extra 20% off sale items, PUMA's Semi-Annual Sale could score you two pairs of sneakers for the price of one. Apparel, bags and accessories, and workout gear are also included in this extra discount. Just add your choices to your cart, and you should see the discount at checkout automatically.
We see lots of deals on SSD enclosures, but this $5 USB to SATA IIII cable achieves the same ends while showing off the SSD itself, rather than hiding it behind plastic. Obviously, you wouldn't want to go this route if you're throwing the SSD in a bag, but if it's just going to be sitting on your desk, it looks pretty damn cool.
We're no strangers to portable car jump starter/USB battery pack combos around these parts, but this new model from Aukey is unique in its ultra-compact, flashlight-like design. In addition to its 12,000mAh USB power bank, it can put out 400 peak amps through a set of included jumper cables, which should be sufficient to start most standard car engines.
Running shoes for a reasonable price are usually one of two things. They're either terribly quality or a ridiculous colorway. These Asics GEL-Flux 2 Running Shoes are neither, and they're only $38 on Asics' eBay storefront firght now right now, compared to $50-$70 elsewhere.
We know you guys like Velcro cable ties, but if you're interested in a different option for keeping your wires organized, these neoprene zip-up sleeves are cheaper than we've ever seen before.
Mpow's extra large motion-sensing solar outdoor lights can illuminate your entire front or back yard, and you can get one for $17, or two for $31 today on Amazon.
Today only, Amazon's slashing prices on CRKT and Kershaw blades, ranging from tiny folding knives to freakin' machetes. This is a Gold Box deal though, so hurry (but don't run, because knives) over to Amazon to lock in your order.
Unlike smartphone lens add-ons that require a special case or a specific phone model, Mpow's 3-in-1 kit uses a clamp to attach to your device, which means it should work with virtually any smartphone. Once that clip's in place, you get to choose from three different lenses: Fisheye, wide angle, and macro. Several Amazon reviewers have uploaded sample photos and videos, and they look pretty great to my eyes, particularly the close-up macros.
You can seemingly build just about anything with a Raspberry Pi, including your own miniature NES, and here's a great deal on the newest Raspberry Pi 3. The kit comes with everything you need to get started, and will only set you back $57 with promo code D9UXNAIL.
We see a lot of deals on Eneloop AA batteries, but your collection isn't complete without those pesky AAAs. While supplies last, Amazon will sell you a 12-pack for $20, or about $6 less than usual.
Roombas have been bopping around our houses for about a decade now, but the Roomba 980 is the first model that might actually be considered “smart.” It's certainly not cheap at $760 (via Adorama's eBay store), but that's still $140 less than elsewhere, and the best price we've seen.
We've seen our fair share of cheap Bluetooth ear buds, but how about on-ears? Mpow's Muze Touch headphones are wireless, foldable, and can run for 12 hours on a charge. That's a heck of a package for $36. Remember, your next phone might not have a headphone jack, so this is as good a time as any to get accustomed to wireless.
This compact RAVPower battery pack can fit in just about any pocket, but still has enough juice to charge your phone about two full times, making it perfect for your next Pokémon Go outing. Plus, it's 2A input allows you to recharge it twice as fast as most comparable battery packs.
Just when you thought you knew everything there was to know about cable management, the depths of Amazon toss you a surprise. This magnetic cable clip system includes one magnetic base that you can stick anywhere via its included adhesive, and three magnetic clips that you attach to your most-used cables, allowing them to stick to the base effortlessly.
There are surely less expensive cable holders out there—we post deals on them frequently—but the allure of just dropping your cable onto a magnetic base and knowing that it'll stay put is awfully tempting.
When it comes to having a corner on the market, nothing really compares to Nike. Use the code KICKS20 to score an extra 20% off already reduced men's and women's clearance items and hop on that sportswear bandwagon.
Away Travel, $20 off with code KINJA, free shipping, expires 7/25 at 11:59pm.
Away Travel arrived with a perfect set of reasonably-priced luggage for everyone, and they're offering Kinja Deals readers the company's first ever discount. Use promo code KINJA to take $20 off your order, and head over to this post to learn more.
If the SD card currently in your camera takes too long to write images, or if it just doesn't offer enough space for your upcoming vacation, this 64GB Sony is a fantastic value at $15.
Since iOS devices don't let you use microSD cards for extra storage, this could come in handy for offloading your phone's vacation photos if you're running low on space, or storing extra movies and TV shows for long flights. We've seen deals on a few similar products in the past, but $30 for 32GB is the best price we've seen.
If you want to dip your toes into the world of electric toothbrushes, Philips' entry level Sonicare Essence line is an amazing value at $20. I've been using this brush for years, and I still love it.
You'll have a wait out a short backorder, but just clip the $5 coupon on the page to get the deal. This is easily the best price we've ever seen on any Sonicare brush.
While we do see 20% discounts from time to time, a $100 iTunes gift card for $85 is still a solid deal if you pay for Apple Music, iCloud storage, or PokéCoins.
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%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.slate.com%252Fblogs%252Fbrowbeat%252F2016%252F07%252F21%252Fcreamy_frozen_yogurt_recipe.html%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: Make Genius, Creamy, Scoopable Frozen Yogurt in Three Ingredients (and 20 Minutes) Flat
Remember when frozen yogurt was just a sweet, low-fat ice cream substitute that we all resented? (The carob chips probably weren't helping.)
To be fair, we didn't know what we wanted our frozen yogurt to be—yet. In digging deeper into our national relationship with froyo, one of the earliest mentions I found was from 1978, when The Country Gentleman advised, “In desserts, the tartness (lactic acid) [of yogurt] can be overcome with honey or fruit.”
It took Pinkberry's world takeover* in 2005** to help us realize how much we love—really, really love—frozen yogurt that actually tastes like yogurt.
That bright, undeniably yogurt-y flavor should have been our first clue. Because, as it turns out, making tart, sweet, creamy, soul-rebirthing-on-a-hot-day frozen yogurt at home is literally as simple as sticking yogurt in an ice cream maker, along with a little salt and a little more sugar.
You can eat it like soft-serve (like Pinkberry) straightaway, but even if you pack it up in the freezer, it will stay creamy and scoopable, not icy or grainy—particularly if you use this formula, developed and stress-tested by Max Falkowitz, and co-author of the forthcoming Dumpling Galaxy Cookbook.***
For one thing, think of frozen yogurt more like a sorbet than an ice cream, as Falkowitz and pastry chefs do: “It illustrates one of the most elegant heuristics about sorbet (and frozen yogurt, despite the dairy, behaves basically like sorbet): You want about 4 parts liquid to 1 part sugar by volume for something scoopable,” he wrote to me. After looking up heuristics, I agreed.
That said, frozen yogurt still holds onto a lot of richness in the form of dairy fat, so it's creamier than sorbet, too. I might even say it has a balance between sparkly-crisp and milky-comforting similar to my my signature ice cream float from second grade—lemon-lime soda over scoops of cookies & cream—but I don't expect you to agree with me.
To pre-empt your questions: Don't substitute nonfat yogurt. (Or don't say I didn't warn you.) Yes, you can use Greek yogurt, but you might want to cut it with a little liquid to keep it from being too creamy, like in the white wine version linked above. Yes, you can play around with different sweeteners and mix-ins and infusions. (Max's tips are here.) If you don't have an ice cream maker, do the things that people tell you to do. But also, did you know they cost approximately $50 and will do the stirring for you?
And yes, once you can get going, you can call yourself a frozen yogurt machine. Just not world's first frozen yogurt robot—I'm afraid that's taken.
***Falkowitz would want you to know that credit should be shared with Ethan Frisch, his former co-writer of the ice cream column onSerious Eats. “Ethan's a legitimate 100% genius, in the kitchen and out of it, and when he's not doing NGO work in Afghanistan and Syria he's cooking beautiful elaborate meals in tiny kitchens,” Falkowitz says.
%feed http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredirect.viglink.com%2F%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fnews.google.com%252Fnews%252Furl%253Fsa%253Dt%2526fd%253DR%2526ct2%253Dus%2526usg%253DAFQjCNEJeRiNHjZC1W4B6nZZ6NYki0OeHQ%2526clid%253Dc3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331%2526cid%253D52779159705301%2526ei%253Dg7KRV-jTOsyp1Qb21JXgAw%2526url%253Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.dallasnews.com%252Fnews%252Fcrime%252Fheadlines%252F20160715-el-centro-college-moves-on-after-dallas-police-shooting-we-will-not-be-defined-by-this-at-all.ece%26key%3Dddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8 r0B0t: El Centro College moves on after Dallas police shooting: 'We will not be defined by this at all' - Dallas Morning News
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Today on In Case You Missed It: A French artist created a remote-controlled robot disguised as a homeless man. It's name is Dirk. Additionally, a team of neuroscientists from Oxford University scanned the brains of 400 volunteers to create the mo... ![]("http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/GLOB/crop/3500x2409+0+0/resize/1600x1101!/format/jpg/quality/85/http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/56af6ba2586b4de6fa454d411684f994/204110399/RTR3DK6B.jpeg")
Is there anything cooler than sending a robot to Mars to shoot rocks with lasers? Probably not -- which is why NASA is giving the Curiosity rover the ability to shoot even more rocks with lasers. Okay, technically NASA is giving the Martian rover the... !["Today's]("http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--bRjW3nV6--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/m1g9k6kxiowwrowfmxmn.jpg")
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