Sunday, March 15, 2020

TPS Consulting Daily


TECHNOLOGY AND MORE!

Americans are hitting bars and bragging about not social distancing

69KMashable / 10h
The nation's top infectious disease researchers have repeatedly warned , if not begged, Americans to practice social distancing as the contagious coronavirus spreads through the population.
"Social distancing is based on the principle of altruism," Jason Farley, a nurse practitioner for the Division of Infectious Diseases AIDS Service at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, told Mashable last week.

You Can Virtually Tour These 500+ Museums and Galleries From Your Couch

18KLifehacker / 12h
Social distancing means that we’re all spending a lot more time at home, canceling or rescheduling vacations, and probably not going out to things like movies and museums. Staying at home doesn’t mean you can’t experience a little travel, and maybe a little culture, from your home computer. Google Arts & Culture has a collection of more the 500 different museums and galleries up on its site that

FDA reveals berry and shrimp recalls over norovirus and Listeria

500+SlashGear / 11h
Over the past two days, the FDA has published two different food recall announcements that involve potentially contaminated food products sold to the public.
Joining the berry recall is another published by the FDA on Saturday, March 14, including whiteleg shrimp with the tail still on.


Workers at America’s largest companies are not covered under coronavirus aid package

60TechCrunch / 19min
These large employers have already responded by closing stores or reducing hours in areas where most cases of the novel coronavirus have been diagnosed — and companies operating in most of those states are required by law to offer paid leave to their hourly employees and contractors.
As part of a brokered agreement between House Democrats and the White House, a bid to include guaranteed paid time off or sick leave for every U.S. worker affected by the coronavirus outbreak was rejected.

Motorola's zero-bezel Edge phones may include a more affordable model

33Engadget / 27min
XDA-Developers has shared leaked photos and details that appear to confirm that a non-plus Edge model not only exists, but that it should be considerably more affordable.
Just because Motorola might return to flagship phones with its high-end Edge+ model doesn't mean it's forgetting its more cost-conscious fans.

Verily COVID-19 website will screen eligible testing candidates

SlashGear / 36min
The tool that Verily, not Google, has been working on is practically an online test to triage and sort out the hundreds of people who might want to get tested for COVID-19.
To help at least whittle down potential candidates to eligible recipients, Alphabet’s Verily subsidiary is launching an online tool to help screen for high-risk individuals in San Francisco.

Canadian Government Advises Against International Travel

30One Mile at a Time / 42min
This is because we don’t want the elderly and immuno-compromised people that we know to die, or the doctors we know to be put in the position of having to choose which patients get life-saving care and which do not.
Now that there’s a federal advisory in place, your travel medical insurance likely won’t cover you if you leave the country .

Pixel 5 might not be flagship material based on Google Camera app

Pro Max Google Pixel 4ASlashGear / 1h
It’s also possible that Google may be paving the way for an “Ultra” variant of the Pixel 5.
Granted, the way 9to5Google arrived at that theory is a bit roundabout and starts with the Google Camera app for an alleged Pixel 4a prototype.

United Airlines cuts capacity by half through at least May

87The Points Guy / 1h
The Chicago-based carrier will halve its capacity in April and May with cuts likely to extend into summer, Munoz and United president Scott Kirby told employees in a memo on Sunday night.
United Airlines will slash capacity this spring with CEO Oscar Munoz saying the coronavirus crisis for the carrier is severe and “getting worse.”

Police in Spain Are Using Drones to Tell People to Stay in Their Damn Homes During Coronavirus Crisis

300+Gizmodo / 1h
This weekend, officers in the capital city, Madrid, began using very loud drones to tell people that are out and about during this crisis to stay home.
ENAIRE, Spain’s air navigation manager, announced on Twitter that it was coordinating with the Madrid police in the drone operation as well as with the country’s Air Force.

MGM and Wynn Las Vegas hotels, casinos close doors due to coronavirus

300+The Points Guy / 1h
The closure will go into effect on Tuesday, March 17, at 6 p.m. The properties are expected to be closed for two weeks, after which the company will “evaluate the situation,” according to a tweet Wynn Las Vegas put out Sunday night.
In a major move from the Las Vegas hotel and casino scene, both MGM Resorts and Wynn Las Vegas announced Sunday night they would be closing their doors due to coronavirus concerns.

Frozen 2 is now on Disney+ to help while away your #StayAtHome time

Frozen 2 Disney SWSlashGear / 1h
It was supposed to arrive on Amazon, Vudu, and other digital distribution channels on Tuesday, March 17 but the Force pushed that a few days early, perhaps to account for the sudden increase in the number of people stuck at home.
But to “surprising families with some fun and joy during this challenging period” of being stuck at home waiting for the virus to go away, it is making Frozen 2 available to Disney+ subscribers early.

Westworld S3, episode 1: O brave new world, that has such hosts in it

32Ars Technica / 1h
(My wife Laura, who is far smarter about Westworld than me and who would probably be writing this review if she didn't have her own full-time job, points out the downright palliative possibilities of using a therapeutic AI like Francis to talk to departed loved ones, to tell them the things you weren't able to say in real life.
Westworld 's third season premiere, " Parce Domine ," is the first episode of the show to be set completely outside the park (well, okay, unless you count that post-credits scene).

Nokia C2 gives Android Go another go

Android iOS Wear OSSlashGear / 2h
Its main appeal, of course, is the budget price, which is still unknown, that comes with a lite Android experience.
Now along comes HMD Global and its mission to corner all the corners of the market on all tiers, announcing the Nokia C2 as the newest and so far the only new Android Go phone in the market.

TikTok will stop using China-based moderators to screen foreign content

TikTok China Based100+Engadget / 2h
The move to region-oriented moderators theoretically reduces the chances that TikTok will censor political statements and other content the Chinese government doesn't like.
The reduced involvement of China-based staff theoretically shows that it's not an organ of the country's authoritarian government.

Watch this adorable penguin visit his neighbors on a 'field trip' around his empty aquarium

500+Mashable / 2h
If you need a 30-second respite from the avalanche of terror and anxiety bearing down upon us like a 10-ton Mack Truck, here's something that might help. On Sunday, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago released a short but adorable clip of a resident waddling over to visit his neighbors. Shedd Aquarium is unfortunately closed to the public until Mar. 29 due to coronavirus concerns. However, it has given som

Apple's Powerbeats 4 show up on shelves ahead of official announcement

28TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 2h
Although Apple hasn’t let loose any official word on the Powerbeats 4 wireless in-ears, rumours and leaks of their existence have been popping up over the last few weeks.
Powerbeats Pro vs Apple AirPods : which buds are best?

TikTok Says It'll No Longer Moderate Overseas Content With China-Based Staff: Report

TikTok China Based59Gizmodo / 2h
In an effort to assuage U.S. national security concerns , TikTok announced that it’s no longer relying on China-based moderators to screen content from overseas.
In addition to these national security concerns, TikTok and Bytedance have also landed in hot water among parents and legislators for violating children’s privacy laws and failing to protect the data of its roughly 500 million global users .

GM, Ford, Fiat Chrysler join UAW to form coronavirus task force

GM Ford UAW 15 FCA68TechCrunch / 2h
The Big 3 Detroit automakers — GM, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles — have partnered with United Auto Workers to form a task force aimed at protecting workers and limiting the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. The task force was announced Sunday. UAW President Rory Gamble along with leaders from the three automakers, a group that includes GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra, Fo

Motorola Edge (non-plus) could be a formidable mid-range option

SlashGear / 3h
The Motorola Edge also has three cameras like the Edge+ but its design makes it look like it has four instead.
Based on leaks about the Edge+ and this new Edge, the two will be immediately identified by their “waterfall” screens, the new marketing term for extremely curved displays.

Australians are poking fun at how Tom Hanks eats his quarantine Vegemite

200+Mashable / 3h
Attached to the tweet was a photo of two pieces of toast smothered in Vegemite, with a bite taken out of one of them.
Great to see our mate @tomhanks is being taken care of in isolation but we have to say bit of a thick spread there mate *cue the sound of thousands of Australians telling him he’s put waaaaaaay too much vegemite on that toast*😂 In all seriousness, get better soon Tom!

CDC suggests postponing mass events until mid-May

SlashGear / 3h
Some organizers and individuals are still unsure whether to push through with plans or incur the costs of postponing or even canceling mass events.
Unfortunately, there are no signs of that happening just yet and the CDC doesn’t want people taking the chance and is recommending an 8-week period before resuming such mass activities.

UK lays out plans for legal e-scooters, medical drones and more transportation innovation in test cities

UK Universe British68TechCrunch / 3h
The UK’s Department for Transport today announced a new consultation into exploring new transportation modes that include e-scooters and e-cargo bikes, as well as bringing the on-demand model (popularised by services like Uber) to buses and other public transport alternatives, and using drones for medical deliveries.
Now, in an effort to wean people off the use of individual automobiles, the government may finally be coming around to bringing its rules up to speed with the times, moving one step closer to legally using e-scooters alongside other new mobility technology, such as drone deliveries for medical supplies, in the coming years.

Israel will use anti-terrorist tracking tech to fight coronavirus outbreak

100+Engadget / 3h
He wasn't specific about the tech besides referencing "digital means" similar to those from Taiwan, but Israel's Shin Bet domestic security service confirmed to Reuters that it was looking at wielding its methods.
The use of surveillance tech is relatively novel, though, and this might prompt other countries to follow suit if the law allows.

Coronavirus: PM urges industry to help make NHS ventilators

5KBBC News - Technology / 4h
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC engineering firms should consider switching some manufacturing to help ramp production of the vital equipment.
One company told him that comparisons with the accelerated production of Spitfire aircraft during World War Two were misplaced as there was no accepted design nor guarantee components could be source quickly.

Bill Gates steps down from Microsoft board to focus on philanthropy

Bill Gates Microsoft 101KBBC News - Technology / 4h
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is stepping down from the company's board to spend more time on philanthropic activities.
One of the world's richest men, Mr Gates, 65, has also left the board of Warren Buffett's massive holding company, Berkshire Hathaway.

“Liftoff! Disregard.” Watch SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Abort a Planned Launch at the Last Second

SpaceX Falcon Starlink100+Gizmodo / 4h
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket aborted a planned launch on Sunday morning at the last second due to an engine power issue.
According to Space.com , apparently, the Falcon 9’s onboard computer aborted the launch just before liftoff because it detected an issue with one of the rocket’s nine Merlin 1D engines.

CDC issues new guidance against gatherings of 50 or more people for the next 8 weeks

CDC 50 Coronavirus1KTechCrunch / 4h
The updated guidance, issued on Sunday night, also indicates that gatherings (of any size) should only take place provided that they can do so while also honouring the recommendations that exist around limiting exposure to especially vulnerable populations, as well as those around hand hygiene (hand washing and sanitization) and social distancing (increasing personal space to lower the chances of transmission from an infected individual).
As with less stringent, earlier guidance against larger group gatherings, the CDC notes that this guideline should not be considered to apply to the “day to day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses.”

Y Combinator may go fully remote for its next cohort

100+TechCrunch / 4h
Y Combinator said that it may make its Summer 2020 accelerator program entirely virtual , proving that even the world’s premiere accelerator isn’t immune to having its business reshaped by the novel coronavirus spreading across the world. YC has already made its Demo Day for its Winter 2020 cohort an online only affair . The accelerator also accelerated the timeline for the Demo Day, which will b

Insane: American Airlines Is Still Spending Money To Add Seats To Aircraft

28View from the Wing / 4h
Insane: American Airlines Is Still Spending Money To Add Seats To Aircraft
The one thing American Airlines has too much of is seating capacity.

Update: Xbox Live is back online after global outage

Xbox Live Mixer Support52TechRadar - All the latest technology ne.../ 4h
UPDATE: Though it was down earlier today, Xbox Live should now be back online according to the Xbox Support Twitter account. Original article below: If you were planning to spend your time in self-isolation with a bit of online gaming, think again: the official Xbox Support Twitter account has reported that users are having difficulty with sign ins and match-making on Xbox Live . Best Xbox One ga

The Man With 17,700 Bottles of Hand Sanitizer Just Donated Them

23KNYT > Technology / 4h
On Sunday morning, Matt Colvin, an Amazon seller outside Chattanooga, Tenn., helped volunteers from a local church load two-thirds of his stockpile of hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes into a box truck for the church to distribute to people in need across Tennessee.
A Tennessee man who became a subject of national scorn after stockpiling 17,700 bottles of hand sanitizer donated all of the supplies on Sunday just as the Tennessee attorney general’s office began investigating him for price gouging.

The Man With 17,700 Bottles of Hand Sanitizer Just Donated Them

66KNYT > Technology / 5h
On Sunday morning, Matt Colvin, an Amazon seller outside Chattanooga, Tenn., helped volunteers from a local church load two-thirds of his stockpile of hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes into a box truck for the church to distribute to people in need across Tennessee.
A Tennessee man who became a subject of national scorn after stockpiling 17,700 bottles of hand sanitizer donated all of the supplies on Sunday just as the Tennessee attorney general’s office began investigating him for price gouging.

Broadcom lawsuit blames your Netflix habit for a drop in chip sales

Netflix Broadcom 4100+Engadget / 5h
Broadcom's success still depends in part on selling chips for cable set-top boxes, and it's apparently upset that TV viewers are headed elsewhere. The company has sued Netflix for allegedly violating eight patents covering data transfer and video playback, and that the streaming service is profiting from that claimed infringement by encouraging cord-cutting and hurting Broadcom's chip sales. In o

As social distancing measure, Starbucks temporarily shifts to ‘to go’ model in US and Canada

1KTechCrunch / 5h
We want to make sure we play a constructive role by taking responsible actions, in partnership with the CDC and local public health authorities, so we can continue to do what’s right for our partners and customers.”
One of the more sweeping actions taken by a major food chain, the coffee giant is looking to adhere to advice about social distancing among an exponential uptick in cases of COVID-19.

Onward Leads a Low Box Office as AMC and Regal Limit Ticket Sales To Combat the Novel Coronavirus

69Gizmodo / 5h
Also contributing to the low turnout is a deliberate effort to encourage social distancing, as Mashable reports that AMC and Regal are moving to reduce their ticket sales in order to avoid crowded theaters.
Of all the businesses hit by the spread of the novel coronavirus, collective forms of entertainment like theatrical movie releases are being particularly heavily impacted.

How to watch Westworld online: stream season 3 from anywhere

Westworld Season 328TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 6h
So if you just need reminding about how to watch Westworld season 3 online - or, indeed, any of the previous episodes - keep reading and we'll tell you your option from your corner of the globe.
We know you won't want to miss a single piece of the puzzle, so read on to find out how to watch Westworld online, with a live stream available wherever you are in the world.

Drama unfolding at sea as countries turn away coronavirus-hit cruise ship

100+The Points Guy / 6h
A British cruise ship in the Bahamas that is experiencing an outbreak of the new coronavirus is scrambling to find a port that will allow it to dock.
Olsen Cruise Lines* on Sunday said its 929-passenger Braemar was at anchor about 25 miles off the coast of Freeport, Bahamas, while diplomatic efforts involving the U.K. government were underway to find a way to get passengers off the ship.

FCC gives T-Mobile extra spectrum to cope with demand during coronavirus

200+Engadget / 6h
T-Mobile pledged to keep people online during the coronavirus outbreak , and it's getting some help from the government to make that happen. The FCC is granting T-Mobile access to more 600MHz spectrum for the next 60 days to help it cope with customer demand for internet access while the pandemic continues. The carrier had asked for the additional airwaves for remote work, education and health ca

You Can Play These Popular Board and Card Games Online With Friends

500+Lifehacker / 6h
Turns out, almost every board game you can think of can actually be played online, and there are a number of websites out there to make the magic happen.
A lot of them will require you to register if you want to play with friends but will let that gameplay happen free once you do thanks to some ads.

Laid Off Expedia Employees Speak Out Against The Company

View from the Wing / 6h
Citibank is an advertising partner of this site, as is American Express, Chase, Barclays and Capital One. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by my advertising partners.
Editorial note: any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

No travel required: 10 iconic museums you can tour online

100+The Points Guy / 6h
You can enjoy the Guggenheim’s Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary-era art exhibits with Google’s Street View.
With Google Arts & Culture, you can take digital tours of some of the world’s most famous museums.

Moana's Personality Comes Through Even in the Storyboards

100+Gizmodo / 6h
In a new video, Disney showcases one of the movie’s most stirring moments, when Moana and her grandmother sing the song “I Am Moana”, with storyboards on the top of the video and the actual theatrical animation on the other.
It does a really powerful job of capturing the sincerity and emotive energy of the final film, even in such an early stage.

Ohio will close all its bars and restaurants to slow down coronavirus

90Mashable / 7h
As coronavirus picks up steam in the U.S., Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the state would close down all its bars and restaurants Sunday night — to keep people from infecting one another.
"We will be issuing an order closing all bars and restaurants in #Ohio beginning at 9:00 tonight," DeWine, a Republican, tweeted on Sunday afternoon.

Qatar is suspending all commercial flights due to coronavirus fears

300+The Points Guy / 7h
As state-funded airline Qatar Airways only flies internationally, this essentially halts all commercial flights in and out of the country.
While European airlines are slashing flight schedules amid new travel restrictions, the country of Qatar just announced it would also stop all commercial flights into Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) starting Wednesday, March 18, for 14 days.

These Children Ask Tom Holland Some Intense Questions About Spider-Man and His Career

100+Gizmodo / 7h
Recently, the BBC had Tom Holland on the program, where a series of children ask Tom a whole litany of goofy and invasive questions about his career , Spider-Man, and his former Marvel co-star Robert Downey, Jr. It’s extremely precious.
That’s the premise behind BBC Radio 1’s series of “Kids Ask” interviews, where children ask their own questions of various celebrities.

Chilling Italian obituary pages show the rising dead from coronavirus

Italy Italian UCI Rihanna5KMashable / 7h
The tested and confirmed cases of COVID-19 — the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus pandemic spreading around the globe — are exploding in Italy.
The number of confirmed Italian cases has doubled in the past five days, according to ourworldindata.org , a site maintained by the University of Oxford.

Essential Coronavirus Information & Updates

100+One Mile at a Time / 8h
A few weeks ago, before the full extent of the potential pandemic and contagion rates were known, we tried to make the point that going somewhere was effectively the same as going anywhere, and advised people not to change their travel destinations based on where COVID-19 might theoretically be, and instead assume that it was present everywhere, and act accordingly:
Science suggests that it is possible for the COVID-19 virus to be controlled, and to limit the social and economic effects of the outbreak, but it will take an immediate and concerted global effort.

Don't miss out on the chance to save up to £324 with these Sky TV and broadband deals

32TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 8h
And if neither are the right offer for you, make sure you check out our best broadband and TV deals guide.
See today's best Sky TV deals

The games I’m playing during coronavirus self-isolation

SlashGear / 8h
Given that Terraria is one of the best-selling games of all time (at least according to this list ), it stands to reason that many have already played it, but even if you have, there’s plenty of reason to dive back in and give it another go.
World of Warcraft Classic takes us back to the days when WoW was at its best (or shortly before WoW peaked, depending on who you’re asking), and just like it was in 2004, it’s a fun way to kill a lot of time.

Islamic State Ceases Non-Essential Business Travel, Jihad Will Have To Take Place Remotely

100+View from the Wing / 8h
Islamic State Ceases Non-Essential Business Travel, Jihad Will Have To Take Place Remotely
In fact you know that business travel done when the Islamic State declares non-essential trips to be haram .

Sunday's Best Deals: Star Trek, Fossil Watches, Massagers, and More

20Gizmodo / 8h
Available in Blue, Purple, or Pink, the Fire 7 Kids Edition also includes one year of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, giving your little ones access to educational games, apps, videos, books, and more, all completely monitorable thanks to deep parental controls.
The Amazon Fire 7 is a great way to do it, and the kids’ edition comes with a fun protective case to make sure they don’t break the thing.

No, 5G Does Not Cause Coronavirus

500+How-To Geek / 9h
COVID-19, better known as the Coronavirus, is a respiratory disease that has spread to over 100 countries and has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). But if you spend more than five minutes online, you’ll find someone shouting that 5G is the real cause of people’s illnesses. Simply put, these claims are factually false. Read This Article on How-To Geek ›

Airbnb expands cancellation policy to cover stays affected by coronavirus

100+Engadget / 9h
More than a few travel plans have been disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak , and Airbnb is acknowledging that with a broader cancellation policy. The service is expanding its worldwide Extenuating Circumstances coverage to allow no-penalty cancellations for stays and Experiences made on or before March 14th, with check-in dates between March 14th and April 14th. This won't cover mainland China,

Ahead of the Pack, How Microsoft Told Workers to Stay Home

Bill Gates Microsoft 101KNYT > Technology / 9h
Four days later, he and his executive team told tens of thousands of Microsoft employees in the Seattle area that they could work at home.
With its headquarters in Redmond, Wash., across Lake Washington from Seattle, Microsoft’s executives and employees worked and lived near the first major coronavirus outbreak in the United States.

How to cancel an Airbnb if your reservation is affected by coronavirus

The Points Guy / 9h
It’s important to note that if your reservation doesn’t fall under the aforementioned extenuating circumstances policy, but you want to cancel because of the coronavirus, a banner on the “change or cancel” page will provide information on how to request a refund.
Reservations for stays and Airbnb Experiences made after March 14, 2020 will not be covered under our extenuating circumstances policy except where the guest or host has contracted COVID-19.

Doha Airport Shutting Down… Or Is It?

300+One Mile at a Time / 9h
If that’s the case that would be massive news, as it would mean that Qatar Airways is more or less shutting down for a period of at least two weeks.
It sounds to me like it could be that the airline will continue to operate as-is for transit passengers , and just won’t allow foreigners into the country, through immigration.

The Writers Behind The Walking Dead Are Well Prepared to Work Safely During a Pandemic

100+Gizmodo / 9h
The show’s producer and showrunner, Angela Kang, discussed how the show’s writing staff has a robust work from home infrastructure that, if you’re running a writer’s room, you should probably seek to emulate.
And that’s why, for now, at least, work on The Walking Dead will continue, albeit only in the writer’s room.

librarycompany: These pressed flowers were sewn onto a page...

Music, Arts & Literature / 9h
librarycompany : These pressed flowers were sewn onto a page and surrounded with lines of verse as a New Years gift to Sarah from her mother in 1843 Found in: Pleasant memories of pleasant lands. By Mrs. L. H. Sigourney. Boston: James Munroe and Company, 1842.

Netflix shuts down all shows due to coronavirus safety, including Stranger Things season 4

Netflix Broadcom 449TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 10h
Netflix has shut down production on all of its US and Canada-shot shows and movies for at least two weeks, "due to government restrictions and health/safety precautions".
Any concerns of how it might affect release dates of future Netflix shows isn't worth thinking about, really: for one, we don't know how long coronavirus is going to delay everything right now, including Hollywood productions.

American Airlines Parking Jets, Down To 3 Long Haul Routes, Cuts Domestic By 30%

30View from the Wing / 10h
Internationally these changes mean American is suspending Sydney and Auckland (just 12 days before it was scheduled to end seasonal service anyway) on Monday.
American Airlines, slow off the dime in its moves to protect its business compared to United and Delta, already began major capacity cuts in response to the administration’s ban on non-U.S. residents entering the country if they’ve been to Schengen Area countries of Europe within the past 14 days.

Proposed Mission Would Explore Interstellar Object ‘Oumuamua

2KFuturism / 10h
Remember ‘Oumuamua, the first-ever object from interstellar space that astronomers spotted cruising through our solar system?
“We now know such a mission, at least in principle, is achievable,” Initiative for Interstellar Studies representative Adam Hibberd told the magazine.

Scandinavian Airlines Suspends Operations Due To “Non-Existent” Demand

500+One Mile at a Time / 11h
Scandinavian Airlines has today announced that they are putting “most” of their operations on hold as of Monday, March 16, 2020, for an indefinite period of times .
SAS has therefore decided to put most of its operations on hold, starting Monday March 16 and until necessary prerequisites for commercial air traffic returns.

Around the World, People Are Grocery Shopping in Hazmat Suits

2KFuturism / 11h
In a grim new trend, people around the world are wearing hazmat suits in public — an apparent bid to avoid catching the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes the sometimes-deadly disease COVID-19.
Mari Armstrong-Hough, a professor of public health at New York University, said that she’s seen even more evidence that members of the public aren’t wearing the suits properly.

How to properly disinfect your travel gear after a trip

21The Points Guy / 11h
Even if you’re religiously following the current advice to wipe down your airplane seat, your tray table, the overhead vent button and the seat belt with a disinfectant cloth, Pottinger says it’s a good idea to wash your hands when you get off the plane and to do it again when you walk in the door of your home.
When you get home, it’s also a good idea to clean all the clothes you had in your suitcase, said retired nurse practitioner and frequent traveler Diane DeGraff, “not just the ones you wore.”

Wine lovers rejoice — your credit card could unlock perks and savings

The Points Guy / 11h
However, there are also several more obscure benefits to holding certain cards — and one is the potential to save on wine purchases and winery experiences.
If you have a Visa Signature or Visa Infinite credit card, you can get exclusive benefits and offers at participating wineries and vineyards.

That video of Italians singing Rihanna is fake. What they're actually doing is way funnier.

Italy Italian Coronavirus200+Mashable / 11h
When a Rihanna stan account posted a video of a locked down neighborhood in coronavirus-stricken Italy coming together to sing "Bitch Better Have My Money," the idea of people making the best of a bad situation with a little help from Robyn Fenty seemed too good to be true. It was. The video, which has 95,000 retweets and over 300,000 likes as of now, is fake. It does show isolated Italians sin

How to Watch Tonight's Democratic Debate

Democratic Joe Biden500+Gizmodo / 11h
Vice President Joe Biden will take on Senator Bernie Sanders tonight at 8pm ET in a televised debate from CNN’s studio in Washington, D.C. The debate was originally scheduled to happen in Arizona, but was moved late last week “out of an abundance of caution and in order to reduce cross-country travel.” In addition to a new location, the debate also has a new moderator. Univision’s Jorge Ramos was

Call of Duty: Warzone should have been a mobile game

52TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 11h
Call of Duty: Warzone just landed; it’s a new free-to-play battle royale game from Activision that’s set to take on genre stalwarts like Fortnite , PUBG and Apex Legends .
However, Call of Duty: Warzone is still missing something big – a feature that elevated Fortnite and PUBG from popular battle royale games to huge cultural icons in their own rights.

lilacstudybuddy: [colourful classical books in the library]

Music, Arts & Literature / 11h
lilacstudybuddy : [colourful classical books in the library]

I'm still annoyed by Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, three months later

Star Wars TRS Skywalker53TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 12h
And then it made me swear under my breath when the film rowed back The Last Jedi's best decision – that Rey was the child of some nobodies – in favor of her being Palpatine's granddaughter, forcing the audience to consider the idea that the wrinkly Emperor once had sex (it turns out Rey's father was a failed clone , one of many things this movie fails to explain).
The filmmakers feel like they're pandering to a vague hive mind of Star Wars fans, rather than making decisions for the good of the story.

Coronavirus cancellations: What to do if you’ve booked travel through an OTA

The Points Guy / 12h
The good news is that travel companies around the globe are offering travelers more flexibility when it comes to rescheduling and canceling plans due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
The OTAs follow the policies of its partners, which means that any credit, refund or change will be at the discretion of the airline, hotel, cruise line or other travel provider.

Register For Chase Freedom Q2 2020 Bonus

200+One Mile at a Time / 12h
The Chase Freedom will offer 5x points on the first $1,500 spent at grocery stores, and on gym memberships and fitness clubs, between April 1 and June 30, 2020 .
Virtually all standalone grocery stores are eligible for the Chase Freedom bonus category, including Aldi, Publix, and many more.

Is it safe to travel to Mexico during the coronavirus pandemic?

77The Points Guy / 12h
The CDC currently lists Mexico as a level 2 travel advisory, noting that, “Sustained community spread of respiratory illness caused by the novel (new) coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring globally.”
Is it safe to travel to Mexico during the coronavirus outbreak?

#StayTheFHome urges people to stop the spread of the coronavirus

1KMashable / 12h
In an effort to get people to stay inside and reduce community exposure to the coronavirus, a German software engineer has created a website with a simple, catchy message for the world: Stay the fuck home. The site, staythefuckhome.com , contains a 12-point "Self-Quarantine Manifesto" that encourages best practices like not shaking hands, cancelling events, and avoiding public transport. It's be

Everything you need to know about authorized users

21The Points Guy / 12h
Adding an authorized user to your credit card account can be a great way to meet spending requirements, accrue more points and even help a novice build their credit history.
If you have a credit card that offers a big spending incentive , adding an authorized user is a great way to help you meet that requirement.

After Math: How COVID-19 is already clobbering 2020

200+Engadget / 12h
In a stunning display of just how easily their most draconian business practices can be done away with on a whim, the nation's major telecom carriers (including the Big Four) announced last week that for the next 60 days, would not cancel service or enforce late fees for customers who cannot pay their bills due to the outbreak.
However the company announced last week that it is temporarily suspending those charges until we get a handle on this outbreak.

Westworld's Creators Preview What to Expect in the Third Season

Westworld Season 392Gizmodo / 12h
Nolan and Joy also explain how, in the future of Westworld , and perhaps in our own world, the lives of people are not all that different from the lives of Hosts, and that comparison point—after spending seasons making it clear how much Hosts are like humans—will be an important grounding idea in this upcoming third season.
He went on to describe how their vision of the outside world of Westworld is shaped by a desire to do the present but, well, more and expanded upon, an extrapolated future that imagines things continuing the way they’ve been going.

Laptops armed with 10th-generation CPUs and Nvidia Super GPUs could be coming

32TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 13h
We’d hold off on buying your next gaming laptop until April, as the next generation laptops are coming soon, according to the latest rumors.
A new breed of laptops are apparently hitting the streets in Q2, according to Wccftech , touting Intel’s 10th-generation processors and Nvidia’s Super line of GPUs for laptops, both of which are slated to launch on March 31 according to this rumor.

EA suspends live game competitions: Apex Legends and FIFA impacted

SlashGear / 13h
The company said in a statement on Friday that is suspending all of its live competitive game events, including ones planned for hit games Apex Legends , FIFA 20, and Madden NFL 20.
On Friday, EA said that it is suspending the Apex Legends Global Series, FIFA Online 4 Live Events, FIFA 20 Global Series, and Madden NFL 20 Championship Series.

Why Cathay Pacific Is Adding US Flights Right Now

400+One Mile at a Time / 13h
Well, now Cathay Pacific is adding back some flights to the US over the coming days, which otherwise counters the global trend.
As Cathay Pacific describes it, this capacity increase is because the airline “understands that many Hong Kong students and citizens in North America are eager to come home as soon as possible in time for the Easter break.”

New MacBook Air laptops could appear as early as next week

36TechRadar - All the latest technology ne... / 13h
While the coronavirus might be shutting Apple Stores for the time being, the hardware product cycle goes on – and it seems we might be in line for a MacBook Air refresh as early as next week.
If the MacRumors source is accurate, Apple could announce the MacBook Air refresh at some point next week and then start shipping the laptops in April.

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